Even though a full-blown run or bike ride is optimum to get your blood pumping before you battle the AM, there are some simple alternatives to start your day that don’t involve a giant cup of overpriced coffee.
Crunches and Leg Presses

When that alarm goes off, don’t use your strength to beat it into submission.  Embrace the wake up call with a few sets of crunches, and then leg lifts (leg lifts require you to lay down, raise your legs together as close to 90 degrees as possible, and slowly lower back to the original position.)

Dips and Pushups

After the ab work, roll out of bed, and using your bed frame or nearby chair, bang out a couple sets of dips.  Then, hit the floor for a few sets of pushups.

Calf Raises

You brush your teeth right? Good. While doing so, try a few sets of calf raises, pushing yourself up on the balls of your feet and back down.

Getting aggressive – Chest flys/presses

If this is all too easy, then put a few resistance bands in your nightstand. When morning rolls around, attach them to your bedpost, and sweat out a couple chest flys/presses.

The benefit?

The best part of working out in the morning is that it jumpstarts your metabolism, which increases the number of calories you burn even while driving to work or sitting at your desk.   This, in conjunction with a healthy breakfast, can be a great way to keep your weight down, even if you spend most of your day inactive.

Also, early exercise pumps blood and oxygen into your brain, increasing alertness.  Furthermore, European studies have show that a large glass of water after these morning routines decreases appetite and caloric intake throughout the day.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and many would argue that it’s the most important.  It stops your insides from spilling out (obviously), but it also keeps you cool and protects you from invaders that cause disease and sickness.  It’s vital that you take care of it, and keeping it in tip-top shape also means that it will be absolutely gorgeous.  If you don’t currently see a dermatologist, schedule an appointment with a doctor recommended by your general practitioner.  This specialist can provide you with all the information you need about keeping your skin healthy and beautiful.  Take the following list of questions with you to ensure you are getting the best possible care.

1. Does the make-up I use affect my skin adversely, and if so, do you recommend a particular brand for my skin-type?
2. What are the signs of skin cancer?  How often should I have my skin checked?
3. What level of SPF is appropriate for me?  When do I need to wear my sunscreen and I should I look for any particular ingredients when I buy?
4. Do the medications I take affect my skin?
5. What anti-aging products should I be using, and which ones aren’t worth the money?
6. What are the best products to improve the appearance of scars and sun-damage?
7. What should my facial cleansing/toning/moisturizing + SPF routine entail?

This recipe for Scallop Picatta, recommended by Cooking Light magazine in November 2009 is truly outstanding.  Cooking Light is my favorite foodie publication, and I make many a piping hot dinner for the beau due to their delightful recommendations.

This recipe is so easy tangy in flavor, light on your stomach and a breeze to make (it takes me under 10 minutes once the cooking has begun).  Serve on a bed of whole wheat angel hair pasta (yum).  Here is the recipe, thanks to the best mag ever:

Ingredients:
1 1/2  pounds  sea scallops (about 12)
1/4  teaspoon  salt
1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
5  teaspoons  canola oil, divided
1  garlic clove, chopped
1/2  cup  vermouth
3  tablespoons  chopped fresh parsley
2  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice
2  tablespoons  butter
4  teaspoons  capers
angel hair pasta
1  (10-ounce) package fresh baby spinach

Prep:

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle salt and freshly ground pepper over scallops. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add scallops; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned and done. Remove from pan; keep warm.

2. Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped garlic to pan; cook 10 seconds. Add vermouth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; cook 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat. Add parsley, fresh lemon juice, butter, and capers, stirring until butter melts. Pour sauce in a bowl.

3. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add spinach; sauté 30 seconds or until spinach almost wilts. Drizzle sauce over scallops; serve with spinach on top of cooked pasta.

Photo courtesy of myrecipe.com

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Western massage began in Sweden, when a man named Per Henrik Ling developed techniques to expedite recovery from physical trauma.  Using light pressure and long strokes, Swedish massage has five main moves: effleurage (sliding, usually with oil), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (percussion), friction (cross fiber) and vibration and shaking. For most of us, the Swedish is most stereotypically what we envision as massage, and likely what you’ll try to recreate when trying asked by a friend or lover.

Those most apt for a Swedish massage are those who have never had a professional massage, as it guarentees a good introduction into the world of touch.   Those looking for a predictable, relaxing experience should also opt for a Swedish.  If this sounds fitting, but you like a little force, ask for a “firm Swedish.”

2. Deep Tissue

Deep tissue massages are not for the faint of heart.  When ordering this modality, be prepared for the massage technician to come at you with linebacker strength, bend your pain threshold, and dig into parts of your body that you didn’t know could squeak, crack, or throb.  Designed as recovery after an injury or surgery, deep tissue massage will rock and roll your body into submission, with the intention of punishing any physical ailments.

But be careful.  Many think that because they like massage a little bit hard, deep tissue is the way to go. This is not the case.  Deep tissue is intense physical therapy, and should only be sought by those who have a concrete reason. It is painful, it is grinding, and it’s only necessary in certain cases.

3. Thai

Thai massage has become a bit of a buzz phrase in the past decade, without much of an explanation of its true identity.  There are two forms: Northern Style and Wat Po Style, both which traditionally require two-and-a-half hour sessions and encompass a total of 220 different moves.  They differ in that the former is sensitive to the patient’s range of motion, while the latter will push your body’s limits.

Those who might be interested in this eastern art of, ultimately, relaxation should be flexible, perhaps yogis, looking for a new experience, or even post-injury.

4. Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage, which, despite its reverent name, is not even a century old.  Inspired by a mystical group of blind practitioners, Shiatsu is derived from the word “shi,” meaning “finger,” and “atsu,” meaning “pressure,” which combined, pretty much explains this still-emerging world.

Shitasu massage is a thumb-driven form of acupressure, an eastern medical practice in which therapists find point in the body to treat various conditions.  Think of Shiatsu massage as acupuncture with thumbs instead of needles.

Those best suited for Shiatsu should be shopping for something different with an open mind for traditional Chinese medicine.

5. Hot Stone Massage

Sweeping spas around the world, the Hot Stone Massage fad is heating up.  Simply, a hot stone massage involves rocks of anything from jade to basalt, heated up to anywhere from 120 to 150 degrees, and spread out across the back for a relaxing, soothing sensation.  Many times massage technicians will integrate stones into other forms of massage, to heighten the experience, or warm up loose muscles.

6. Pregnancy Massage

Although in a perfect world, pregnant women should be massaged every night in reverence, there is a form specifically for women with someone on the way.  A combo Swedish, pregnancy massage pays special attention to the woman’s back and shoulders, and aims to unwind, reduce swelling, and ease joints that are overworked due to extra baggage.

7. Reflexology

Reflexology is an alternative medicine that attempts to treat our bodies by pinpointing corresponding spots on our hands and feet.  For example, if a massage therapist feels the area between one’s second and third toe, he can judge the condition of one’s eyes, and by rubbing same area with his hands, can correct inflicting disorders if necessary.  In this sense, our hands and feet are maps of our bodies, and are essential for locating and treating abnormalities.

General tips for massage

• Communicate with your massage therapist.  You will get more out of the experience if you’re brutally honest, and they will appreciate the input immensely.  “That’s too much” or “could you work harder on that part” will ensure a better experience.
• Develop a relationship with a massage therapist. If you’re serious about massage, get to know someone, so they can get to know your body, and tailor each session around your needs.

They say our nails give a major first impression about our appearance, Its no secret that well kept nails is an easy way to look chic & polished. While Im a firm believer in this I also know that in this economy regular salon manicures and pedicures add up $$. In a crunch for cash? Follow these Steps for an easy in home manicure to get your nails (even toes) looking pretty & clean like the gorgeous Eva Mendes herself.

Step 1: Remove old nail polish with acetone.  Don’t use the weak nail polish remover from the drug store,  Acetone does the job quickly.

Step 2: Use cuticle remover  to get rid of all the goo surrounding your nails.  A few drops on each cuticle should do the trick.  Once it has moistened the cuticles, push them back using a metal cuticle pusher.  I prefer one with a slightly curved edge.  Once all the old cuticles are pushed back, snip them off using a jaw clipper.

Step 3: File the nails into the desired shape using a filer file.

Step 4: Apply Oil, or some other lotion you like to the fingertips and cuticle area.  That’ll soften and hydrate any whiter, dry areas surrounding the nails.  Then, using a Q-tip dipped in acetone, clean the oil off each fingernail (so the polish sticks better).

Step 5: Apply a base coat. Next, the polish itself (2 coats).  Don’t worry too much about making them perfect, but do remove any excess polish that is easy to take care of immediately.

Step 6: Clean up your nails using a small brushand and acetone. I prefer using a small brush over Q-tips  because the little pieces of fuzz from the cotton sometimes sticks to the wet polish.

Step 7: Apply a thin layer of top coat.

Other Manicure Tips

If your favorite polish has thickened up, pour a few drops of acetone into the jar and shake well.

Refrain from doing much with your fingers after you followed these steps or anytime you paint your nails (or toes!) just to make sure your nails are chip free.

Color Recommendations

For the perfect red: Essie polish in “A List”

Dark Plum: OPI polish in “Lincoln park after dark”

Pretty Lavender: OPI polish in “Done Out in Deco”

Grey Mauve: Sally Hansen Polish in “Commander in Chic”

Hot Pink: Essie Polish in”Bachlorette bash”

Muted Pastel Pink: OPI polish in “Mod about you”

Brown Grey: American Apparel Polish in “Mouse”

Nude : Essie polish in “nude”

Black (personal Favorite): Sally hansen extreme wear in “black” (best black!)

Enjoy!

Good News: drinking two to four cups of java a day can protect your heart lowering the risk of  Cardiovascular disease by 20 percent.

• Coffee is more healthful than it is harmful
• Can reduce diabetes risk
• People who drink coffee are 80 % less likely to develop Parkinson’s
• Coffee may help asthma, stop a headache, boost mood and even prevent cavities!
• Coffee beans have lots of antioxidants
• Helps enhance athletic endurance

So go ahead.. brew a pot!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away”?but why? Do you really know what makes an apple so special? Why is it that we never hear an orange or a banana a day keeps the doctor away?
Apples have properties that no other fruits have and its benefits have been proven overtime. You will be able to get the benefits of these properties individually with other fruits, but an apple combines everything and makes it simpler. It has been shown over and over that if it’s not simple, easy and fast, people won’t take care of their health.

1-Apple contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps greatly your immune system. A lot of people who lack Vitamin C in their diet have poor healing, bruise easily and have bleeding gums.

2-Prevent Heart Diseases. The reason it can prevent both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease is because apples are rich in flavonoid. Flavonoids are also known for their antioxidant effects.

3-Low in calories. A regular size apple has between 70-100 calories. Eating an apple when craving for candy or chocolate can make the desire disappear since apple in itself contains sugar, but gives you only ? of the calories.

4-Prevent Cancers. Notice the plural. We all know that cancer comes in several forms and in different places. Apples target multiple cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in women.

5-Apples contain phenols, which have a double effect on cholesterol. It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. They prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a very dangerous form of bad cholesterol which can be deadly.

6-Prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection that seriously damages the structure of your teeth, which is caused primarily because of bacteria. The juice of the apples has properties that can kill up to 80% of bacteria. So there you have it, an apple a day also keeps the dentist away!

7-Protects your brain from brain disease. This is something many people don’t know, and when you consider that your brain makes the person you are, it gives a whole new perspective. Apple has substances called phytonutrients, and these phytonutrients prevents neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsonism.

8-Healthier Lungs. A research at the University of Nottingham Research shows that people who eat 5 apples or more per week has lower respiratory problems, including asthma.

9-They taste great! And not only that, they also come in many flavors and colors. Not in a mood for a green apple? Why not get a red one, or a macintosh! Their taste can vary greatly, but still give you all the apple benefits. Variety is an important element to maintaining your health.

On average, Americans consume around 20 pounds of apples a year, which comes to around 1 apple a week. Unfortunately, while an apple a week is better than nothing, it is nowhere close to being able to extract all the advantages apples have to offer. Eating apples is part of balanced and healthy diet than will increase your longevity, so why limit yourself to only 1 per week?

• Cucumber Scents such as body creams or lotions help reduce stress
• Helps beauty wise, for acne and puffy eyes

• Cam be used for natural home facials ( thinly slice cucumbers and place them all over face leave on for about 15 minute’s  your face will perk up!)
• Nutritious and great for diets
• Helps control constipation, stomach disorders and arthritis.
• They are 96 % water but have many vitamins
• One pound is only 39 calories!