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By Laurel House IN Home & Garden 1 minute ago
You don’t have to be an Extreme Greenist to Go Green! Just one Daily Green Decision can go a long way.
The average person decides to Go Green for one of three reasons:
-The Environment (*)
-Their Health (+)
-Save Money ($)
Choose one of the 10 green actions below to help the Earth today. Then select something different tomorrow, and the next day……. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Feb 21
Being Vegan isn’t just a trend. It is a movement that can change bodies, and your health, some say it can change the Earth. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Feb 17
If there is one thing I have learned from being a travel writer, it’s NEVER CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE (except for extreme circumstances where lots of luggage is a must). The second thing I learned about luggage by being a travel writer? There is definitely an art to packing the most efficient, space-saving, light yet loaded carry-on bag. Here's how... + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Feb 7
You're “not in the mood”… again. Instead of reaching for some chemically-concocted pill, faking it, or simply ignoring him, do something to help the situation… Eat! Yes, there are Bites with Benefits that act as aphrodisiacs. This is the list of foods to get her in the mood (another one will be posted soon to get him in the mood too). + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Jan 9
From homeland security to sting-less jellyfish, kayaking with sharks to discovering a hidden WWII bunker strewn with sake bottles and war helmets... it's no wonder "Survivor" selected Palau as the place for season 10. But beyond the show, any adventure should seek to survive Palau too. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 23 2011
A post-holiday dinner walk is custom for lots of families. But a marathon? Before you serve yourself with several helpings of Thanksgiving dinner, think about the amount of calories that are quickly adding up, and what the after-dinner repercussions will be. Charles Stuart Platkin, author of “The Diet Detective’s Count Down” breaks down each food item’s calorie and fat content, then equates it to the amount of time you will have to spend working it off! Be afraid, be very afraid….. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Dec 20 2011
Trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro, climbing Mt. Everest, cross country skiing to the North Pole... for an extreme adventurer those aren't that crazy. “People often ask me what I am planning to do when I can no longer climb or do things like ski to the top of the world. I guess that is when I will take up golf.” + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Dec 19 2011
I’m the first to admit that an out-of-town attitude includes skipping out on my regular workout. But that’s the great thing! It's your opportunity to try something new, work new muscles, and maybe even LOSE, as opposed to GAIN weight! I know... the holidays can be brutal for your diet. You're too busy, tired, and full to do your entire regular workout routine. Instead, slip in several quickie workouts into your day, every day, to keep your metabolism stoked and naturally burning off even more calories for you. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Oct 17 2011
What's the point of traveling half way around the world only to sit in a tour bus and "see" the sights? Next time you travel, don't just sit there, get in there! Ask the tourism bureau about festivals (like the Alpabfart Festival), find out about local favorite activities and foods, then go and experience them! Your vacation, and your life, will be richer because of it. Here's a sampling of what you can do when in Switzerland. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Sep 1 2011
Sometimes known foods and ingredients have surprising uses aside from tasting good, like how beer has been shown to have pain-killing benefits and how conch is a known aphrodisiac. Well... same goes for ice. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Aug 29 2011
I needed to get away, regroup, think about who I am, where I have been, and where I’m going. There was one destination that I felt was calling my name- Hollyhock. Situated on Cortes Island in British Columbia, between the glaciers of Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountain range of the mainland, is Hollyhock Retreat, a healing oasis that guests can’t help but make repeat pilgrimages to. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Fashion & Beauty Aug 18 2011
Instead of stressing about your tresses this summer, take a few preventative measures to ensure that your hair’s health stays strong so that you can focus on having fuss-free fun in the sun. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Aug 5 2011
Andros Island is the largest island in the Bahamas, but somehow it is the least densely populated and nearly untouched by tourism. No wonder Andros is a hot spot for honeymooners—it’s far, far away from “real life,” in more ways than just geographically. It’s one of those few hidden havens that you want to get to before the rest of the traveling population does. One other little detail about Andros that makes it a great place to fall in love or stay in love: the island is bursting with aphrodisiacs. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Jul 16 2011
When it comes to getting your butt into vacation shape, there are two things you must do:
-Get a Fanny Facial
-Do a Quickie Workout in Bed (daily)
Exfoliated, lifted, and toned, you will soon be able to put your best butt forward and show off those assets on your beach vacation. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Tech & Transport Jun 22 2011
Super Mario Bros., Tetris, Zelda… aside from seriously working the fingers, plus the occasional shoulder and back action as your body uncontrollably gets into the gaming action, video games of the past were, yes, sedentary activities. Not anymore. The Wii put fitness gaming on the map, and now with the new Kinect for Xbox, “playing” a video game can rival, if not beat, any gym workout (a fact that some personal trainers are expressing concerns over). + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Jun 21 2011
You’ve been preparing for your big beach vacation for weeks, getting your body in bikini-strutting shape, waxing out every last hair, even tending to those back pimples. You feel like a million bucks when as you step onto that sand and strip down to your barely there skivvies, finally showing off that bod that you you’ve been hiding underneath your heavy clothes. But after a week of eating too much, drinking too much, and exercising… um, not at all, you feel more than ready to wrap it up and hid behind your clothes one again. Not this year! + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Jun 16 2011
The last time my dad took me to the zoo, a walrus pee’d in his mouth then spit up into the crowd… spraying me in the face. I was 7. I haven’t been back since. But this year, 26 years later, my dad and I decided to take a car-free getaway to Santa Barbara to celebrate Father’s Day. In an attempt to get over my Zoo issues, we also decided to visit the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a definite father/daughter bonding vacation. Thankfully there were zero walrus sightings. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Jun 13 2011
“Never let them see you sweat” may be a mantra that has been drilled into you thanks to sweat's perceived relation to nervousness. But what about “smelling” you sweat? Odd but true: the Journal of Neuroscience reports that humans, like rats and butterflies, may use chemosignals to attract mates. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Jun 9 2011
With only 2 calories per serving, just plain coffee (without the fatty whip, syrups, and sugars) is a great way to get a jolt of energy without having to then use that extra energy to burn it off. More than its lack of calorie content, coffee is also antioxidant rich and studies have shown that it could in fact boost the mood and help zero in- improving focus and concentration. Here are 3 other great reasons to drink the caffeinated stuff: + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Fashion & Beauty May 30 2011
You can wear a loose shirt if you’re feeling bloated and apply some self-tanner if you’ve spent too much time indoors, but no matter how much make up you apply, it’s hard to totally cover up a pimple. And you feel like it’s the only thing any one sees! Here are totally essential tips to know to get rid of a pimple and fast! + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health May 26 2011
More than a display case to show off your favorite pair of chandelier earrings, your ear lobe, and the many crevices that make up the visible area of the ear, is actually a useful body part. As the foot is to reflexology, the ear is the gateway to the body according to the principles of ear acupuncture, or auriculotherapy. But needles need’nt be used to get effects. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health May 19 2011
Inflammation, which causes redness, heat, swelling and pain, brings more blood to a certain area. It is a very powerful mechanism, but it can be destructive if it doesn’t stop when it should. According to Dr. Weil, “a new idea is that many kinds of chronic degenerative diseases have their root in inflammation.” An anti-inflammatory diet can help. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Home & Garden May 6 2011
Did you know that the air inside your home is probably more polluted than the air outside? The average home contains 62 toxic chemicals swirling around and comfortably settling in your carpet, on your pillow, and on your toothbrush. Clear out the chemicals with condiments from your pantry. Yes. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors May 4 2011
Brunch, tea, even a sunset dinner… I’ve done them all in celebration of my mom on Mother’s Day. This year I wanted to do something a little different, shake it up a bit, and do something that she will actually remember. I wanted to go rock repelling. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Fashion & Beauty May 1 2011
You eat organic food, plant trees, wear bamboo clothes and drive a hybrid. So why do you still choose to slather chemical-filled makeup and skincare products on your face? Have you ever even looked at the ingredients list on your face cream, blush, or nail polish? You probably can’t even pronounce them. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Home & Garden Apr 27 2011
Maybe one green change alone can’t make this world a greener place, but thousands, millions of ones will. One drop in a bucket hardly makes a splash. But millions of individual drops make an ocean. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Apr 24 2011
There is something about frozen yogurt. The mouth-filling creamy, sweet, decadent flavor is definitely crave-worthy. But it also makes me bloated, gassy and sugar-high, not to mention that it can be filled with calories, fat, or even loaded with chemicals! Until now. I have discovered a non-dairy, no-sugar added, unprocessed, all-natural, raw, vegan, fat free, luxuriously creamy “soft serve”… that you make at home and you don’t need an ice cream mixer or even more than 3 minutes to make it. It’s bananas. Actually literally. It's just bananas. Yeah, it's not yogurt at all. It's No-Yo. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Tech & Transport Apr 23 2011
The first time I saw a Prius, Dustin Hoffman was behind the wheel. Then celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston were seen pulling up to red carpets all over Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Brentwood in the hyped hybrid. That’s when I began to dismiss the Prius as merely a “statement car.” + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Apr 1 2011
Sure, a driving road trip can be spontaneous and convenient, but you inevitably sit in traffic, spend an arm and a leg on gas and pay up the wazoo for parking. And airports have their own sack full of stress. Really, the easiest, least stressful, dime-saving way to travel these days is by track. Train tracks that is. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Mar 31 2011
Sometimes, regardless of the fact that you know you should workout, you just somehow can’t convince yourself to. In fact, you have pretty much become a pro at convincing yourself otherwise. You are able to justify exactly why you don’t have to work out and why it’s ok for you to eat that entire bag of M&Ms… until the next am when you regret that decision. Here are 10 ways to motivate yourself to stay on your fit plan. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Mar 27 2011
Flowers are sweet. When the hot little delivery guy (or girl- whatever your preference) appears at your doorstep with a vase full of fresh blossoms, even incessant stomach spasms are miraculously cured- no thanks to the flowers. But, eventually, the sweet scent turns putrid and, in your sick state, you do all you can to stay as far away from the once lovely blooms as the stench infiltrates your home- nice bonus when you finally get back your sense of smell! You wait until you just can’t stand it anymore and, plugging your nose and blowing out, you grab the vase and toss the entire thing in the dumpster outside. So much for sweet nothings, not to mention- not a green gesture at all (unless they are organic flowers, which is a little better…). + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Mar 25 2011
When you travel, you leave your controlled, clean, routine environment and venture into unmarked territory. You touch, eat, even sleep on lots of foreign and possibly dirty things. But if, like me, you have an ongoing case of wanderlust, the world’s germs aren’t enough to deter your globetrotting ways. You have just learned how to prepare for them. Because the fact is that you can plan and organize your life to a T, but if you get sick all your plans go down the drain. Goodbye trip to Hawaii you planned months ago, goodbye presentation you’re supposed to give at work tomorrow… + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Mar 22 2011
The Indian military is turning to no-tech resources to create new high tech weapons against terrorism: Hot peppers. But not just any hot pepper- Bhut Jolokia, the world’s hottest chili. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Mar 18 2011
With gas prices gorging our pocket books it’s no surprise that many of us are canceling our spring break road trips and opting instead to spend “quality” time relaxing at home instead. Thing is, there are several steps you could be taking to actually save gas and money and still get out of town! Save green and be green by test-driving these tips... + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Mar 6 2011
Think you live in a pretty green town? While smog levels, health food stores, and the number of treehuggers might seem like legit indicators of toxicity levels, have you ever broken it down and analyzed its Air quality, Water quality, TRI (the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory- tracking chemicals released in manufacturing), and Superfund sites (abandoned areas that have become overrun by hazardous waste)? No? Not to worry, Forbes Magazine did the dirty work for you and just released their annual Top 10 Most Toxic Cities list. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Mar 3 2011
Hotels seem to be trend-pushers when it comes to the green world. Makes sense though right? Going green is not only good for the environment, but it also can save you money- if you do it right. So next time you take a trip, instead of simply being impressed by your hotel’s eco consciousness, take note and try to infuse a few of their trade tricks into your life so that you can go green and save money while you’re at it. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Travel & Outdoors Feb 22 2011
Want to have the kind of body that a Brazilian bathing suit was designed to drape over? When traveling to Rio de Janiero, the city that, to many, pretty much defines the ideal image of “beauty,” it’s no shocker your average chick might for a moment wonder: “what trade tricks can I pick up…” And that was my mindset when I boarded the American Airlines non-stop flight from Dallas to Rio. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Feb 14 2011
It’s a fact: 30 percent of American women have low sexual desire. To lift your libido, there are several little-known tricks you can try. Have fun testing out these alternative libido-stimulating options. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Jan 29 2011
You know how when you’re feeling lethargic/depressed/sluggish and you force yourself to go for a run and you feel transformed after? Well, you probably will feel lethargic/depressed/sluggish when you have a cold, but that doesn’t mean running is a good idea. Your transformation could just be into a hospital robe…
+ READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 30 2010
Too lazy to work out? I get it. You’re tired, you need to unwind, all you want to do is lie in your bed and let your brain go numb as you zone out to trash TV. SNAP OUT OF IT! Sure, we all need a break sometimes, but the fact is that moving your butt and getting your blood pumping fresh oxygen to your brain will not only burn some calories, but also revitalize, refresh, boost your ego, and uplift your spirits. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 29 2010
While it may be too easy to take a little white pill and wash our woes away, you can actually find ease without it… in a single yoga pose. Valium now comes in the form of a breath. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 23 2010
Warm tea, steamy cider, mulled wine, hot sauce- yes, hot sauce. The spicy condiment does more than step up flavor and singe the tongue, it actually raises resting body temperature. Yup- it’s been scientifically tested, proven, and reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 21 2010
Looking sexy naked isn’t just about having a perfectly toned physique. There are 3 key things to keep in mind: + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 21 2010
She’s “not in the mood”… again. Whether you’re the guy in this situation, or the girl, it’s not fun for anyone. Instead of reaching for some chemically-concocted pill, faking it, simply ignoring him (if you’re her), or getting annoyed (if you’re him), do something to help the situation… Eat! Yes, there are Bites with Benefits that act as aphrodisiacs. This is the list of foods to get her in the mood (another one will be posted soon to get him in the mood too). + READ MORE
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By Laurel House IN Food & Health Dec 20 2010
Sure, there are tons of energy drinks out there promising to boost your endurance, quicken your pace, and keep you on point for anything- test taking or race. But really… do you want to soup up your body with chemicals and questionable ingredients that you can’t pronounce, have zero idea what they are, and may have actually read about on the “do not consume” list? I didn’t think so. + READ MORE
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