Spanking is a huge hot-button issue for parents. Many psychologists say that spanking or any other physical discipline harms children and their relationship with their parents. But quite a few parents disagree, and some experts do, too. Lawrence Diller, a behavioral pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., and author of The Last Normal Child, even argues that more parents should consider spanking to speed behavior improvements in young children.

I’m in the no-spanking camp myself, figuring I can’t teach children that hitting is bad if I’m doing it myself. But that doesn’t mean I’ve never given a balky toddler a swat on the fanny. Now that my daughter is in first grade, I wouldn’t dream of smacking her. My challenges come more in trying to figure out how to reward appropriate behavior. Read the rest of this entry »

While exercise can boost mood, its health benefits have been oversold.

Moderate exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes in people at risk. Exercise may reduce the risk of heart disease and breast and colon cancers.

Though the evidence is mixed, exercise may also provide benefits for people with osteoporosis.

Physical activity alone will not lead to sustained weight loss or reduce blood pressure or cholesterol.

Exercise has long been touted as the panacea for everything that ails you. For better health, simply walk for 20 or 30 minutes a day, boosters say — and you don’t even have to do it all at once. Count a few minutes here and a few there, and just add them up. Or wear a pedometer and keep track of your steps. However you manage it, you will lose weight, get your blood pressure under control and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Read the rest of this entry »

It is always said that the easiest way to tell how old a woman is or how she generally takes care of herself is to look at her eyes. The eyelids and the skin under the eyes are among the most delicate areas of the skin. The skin on that area is so thin, it wrinkles easily and is susceptible to puffiness and darkening.

Puffy and dark circles under the eyes can make us look tired and appear older beyond our years. Women approaching their thirties and older generally address this area first when they try to rejuvenate themselves, because puffy and dark circles under the eyes are one of the more obvious indicators of aging. Read the rest of this entry »

Time and again purses left in automobiles result in molten lipsticks, smeary eye shadow and super-sticky mascara. Makeup applied to one’s face fails to fare much better, with smudgy eye makeup and smeary foundation rubbing off every which way.

Looking your best becomes a bit trickier when the warmer weather teases your tresses and melts your makeup quicker than you can bat an eye. A fully made-up mug may not be conducive to looking fresh and fabulous on a hot, sticky day, but a few heatproof makeup tricks and tips could really help you save face, literally! Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps like myself you have seen the mineral make-up commercials. I must admit that I was a skeptic at first, but at the drugstore one day I found a kit that included everything I needed to sample it – on clearance. With the financial investment lowered considerably, I decided that I had to see if it worked as well as everyone claimed.

Mineral makeup was actually created in the mid-1970’s before it became the new fashion trend. It is made up of natural minerals from the earth, fine ground up. There are not any dyes or chemical that you find in other makeup. Read the rest of this entry »

Spinach contains vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, B6, minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, and so much more

Vitamin A helps with things like vision, gene transcription, immune function, embryonic development and reproduction, bone metabolism, haematopoiesis, skin health, reducing risk of heart disease, antioxidant activity. Vitamin C helps in the development of healthy gums and in protecting against infections. Additionally, it strengthens many parts of your body such as blood vessels and muscles. Read the rest of this entry »

For those that are much like me and love their cup of coffee whenever they can get it, there are many positive benefits of drinking that cup of what I like to call, pure “awesomeness.”

1. Helps prevent brain illnesses such as, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. Numerous studies have shown that caffeine helps in the protection from brain diseases. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that the moderate consumption of caffeine cut the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in half! Read the rest of this entry »