Here are three terrible Valentine’s Day gifts and what you can do to ensure you don’t get them:

1. Exercise equipment - Unless your mate has very specifically requested a new workout DVD, gym membership, diet book or voucher for plastic surgery, don’t go there. Even if your gift of good health is grounded in the best of intentions, you are sending the message that your significant other is less than perfect. If you fear you may be on the receiving end of a new pair of toning sneakers, don’t be subtle. Say “Remember that romantic dinner we had last Valentine’s Day? It would be so nice to go back to that restaurant again sometime.”




2. Stuffed animals - Though plush toys (stubbornly) remain one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts, giving your true love a stuffed animal is only appropriate if you still need your parents’ permission to see an R-rated movie. When the occasion arises, let your significant other know that you are all set in the pink teddy bear department. Say something like “What a sweet little guy! This is the perfect way to complete my stuffed animal collection – I won’t ever need another one!”




3. Drug store chocolates - Nothing says “I picked this up at the last minute on my way home from work because I completely forgot about Valentine’s Day,” like a cardboard box of stale candy wrapped in dusty cellophane.

Timing is everything, so be sure you start dropping hints about a week or so before V-Day. That way your honey has plenty of time to find the perfect gift… or at least to come up with the perfect excuse.

2011’s Super Bowl XLV was to be the experience of a lifetime for thousands of football fans. For some 3,200 of them, however, the big game was a big bust. This year, nearly 250 of those ousted from Super Bowl XLV are willing to give the NFL a chance to make it right, says Brian McCarthy, Vice President of Communications for the National Football League.

Cowboy Stadium was the scene of a seating debacle last year when officials at the Dallas venue were forced to turn away thousands of Super Bowl fans whose temporary seats had failed to meet mandatory safety regulations. Some fans were barred from the game completely, while others had to wait to get to their seats or were relocated to the standing room only bar area.

To appease disgruntled fans, the NFL offered several pretty attractive options. Fans who were relocated to other areas of the stadium could choose to take either a cash payment equal to the face value of their ticket or a single ticket to any future Super Bowl. Those turned away at the gate were offered cash equal to three times the face value of their ticket, plus a ticket to this year’s contest in Indianapolis; one ticket to any future Super Bowl, including airfare and four nights in a hotel; or a check for $5,000 or more, depending on their expenses.

According to NFL officials, about 246 fans affected by the Dallas seating fiasco are set to use those complimentary tickets to attend Super Bowl XLVI on February 5th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. Capacity for this year’s game is approximately 68,000; only 254 temporary seats were added to the stadium and all have been approved by safety officials.

Will you be tuning in to watch the Super Bowl this year? Did you know that out of the hundreds of people that have won the Super Bowl over the years only three have won as both player and coach; Mike Ditka, Tom Flores and Tony Dungy.

Weight Loss. It amazes me how much money is spent, how many articles are written, how much misery is inflicted by weight loss. I am not a dietician or personal trainer but I am really good at math. If you want to lose weight it’s a very simple equation: calories-in minus calories-out equals weight loss (or gain). There are a number of ways to go about losing weight, and there are many great products and services to help you accomplish this, but the fact remains that all you need to do is decrease the calories going in and maintain or increase the calories going out.

And before we continue, let’s dispel a popular myth. Sure, metabolism plays a part in weight loss. If you eat more meals per day of less food per meal you can fool your body and burn a bit more. However, this is a non-factor for all intents and purposes. I hear people say that if you reduce your food intake too much or don’t eat enough times per day then your body will go into hibernation mode where your metabolism will slow to a crawl and you will not lose weight. Well how do they think starving people get skinny? Eating too often? If you reduce food intake you lose weight, period. Sure, you might plateau from time to time, but just keep up the pace and it will come off.

1. Find out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight based on your height, age, sex, and current activity level. Once you have that number, reduce your calorie intake by 200 – 300 calories per day and the weight will melt off at 5 – 10 lbs. per month. The calorie counter I use is http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm.
2. Change what you eat. Reduce your carbs and fats and increase your vegetables. This will allow you to eat similar quantities of food but ingest fewer calories. You will need to track the number of calories in everything you eat so use a site like http://caloriecount.about.com/ which has just about anything you could ingest. I use a spreadsheet to track my calories.
3. Increase activity (although it is not mandatory in order to lose weight). If you keep your activity level the same and just reduce calories you will lose weight. However, in the long run it is better to add muscle because just having more muscle burns more calories – even while you are sleeping.
4. Remember that after you lose some weight you need to go back to the calorie calculator because the less you weigh the fewer calories you need to maintain that weight.

If you feel you need some help with reducing calories-in, take a look at Weight Watchers which currently has a 30% off your first month of Monthly Pass coupon. Good luck!

A new year is a great time to expand your horizons by learning something new. Whether you take a class, pick up a skill, or do some independent research, our tips can help you get started.

Go Back to School
Taking a college course is a fantastic way to advance your career or to help you get a better job. Sitting in on a course is also a fun way to learn more about a subject you’ve always been interested in. Check the course offerings at nearby institutions of higher learning; if you can’t commit to a traditional physical classroom, look into taking a class or two online.

Discover Your Community
Your local parks and recreation or leisure department is a wonderful resource when you want to learn a new skill. Connect with your neighbors over cooking classes, exercise classes, sewing or crafting classes and more for a small fee and minimal time commitment.

Check It Out
In this internet age, it’s easy to forget the power of your local library. There’s nothing quite like picking up a good book, heading to a quiet corner, and losing yourself for a few hours. Libraries are still amazing places to find information on a variety of topics, from automotive repair to zoology. Browse the stacks on your own or enlist the help of a knowledgeable librarian; you won’t be disappointed.

The Power of the Internet
If you’ve never watched an internet tutorial, 2012 is your year. Sites like YouTube and howstuffworks.com offer thousands of how-to videos on just about anything you can think of, providing easy to follow, step-by-step instructions.

Hoping to start 2012 off with a healthier approach to eating? These are some of this year’s hottest diet trends – maybe one is right for you.

Scientifically Slim
It’s no secret that losing weight can benefit your overall health in a number of ways. This is why many medical clinics, hospitals and research institutions are developing their own plans for healthy eating. Many of these diets are meant to deliver specific results, like lowering cholesterol or combating high blood pressure, but they’ve also proven successful for people who simply want to lose a few pounds in a sensible way. The TLC Diet, the Mayo Clinic Diet and the DASH Diet are a few of the most popular.

Commercial Programs
Companies like Jenny (formerly Jenny Craig), Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem have been around for years, but thanks to some well-timed revamping and a few high profile celebrity endorsements, these commercial weight loss programs are enjoying a resurgence. Most of these plans are meant to be sustained in the long term, with a focus on portion control or calorie counting.

Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free
About 10% of us have some kind of gluten sensitivity, so it’s not shocking that the gluten-free craze has lasted much longer than some experts predicted. Gluten-free or wheat-free eating means cutting out processed carbohydrates, like white bread, rice, pasta and many grains, which often leads to weight loss. There are several gluten-free and wheat-free cookbooks, lifestyle guidebooks and pre-packaged foods to help make the transition easier.

Back to Basics and Real Food
These trends urge consumers to return to their prehistoric roots, choosing only foods that our ancestors would have had access to: meat, fruit, most vegetables and whole grains. Heavily processed foods are seriously restricted or eliminated altogether.

If you’re planning to stock up on post-holiday bargains, here’s how to make the most of every sale.

Stock Up
While it’s easy to find holiday decor and other items on sale after Christmas, don’t overlook post-holiday sales as an opportunity to stock up on gifts for all occasions.  Buy stocking stuffers to use as kids’ party favors, repackaged holiday gift sets make great birthday presents or teacher gifts, and solid colored party supplies and wrapping paper can be used year-round.

Shop Returns
They didn’t want it, but you can score a great deal on it.  This time of year, stores’ clearance sections are full of returns and open box merchandise that have to be sold at a discount.  You can usually find the best prices on electronics, video games, clothing and more.

Holiday Packaging
Special holiday packaging is a big selling point before Christmas, but after the holidays shoppers don’t have much use for it.  The upside is that these items are usually the first to go on sale, so you can often get them really cheap.

Start Small
Drug stores and local retailers are great places to find post-holiday deals.  These stores usually see fewer shoppers than bigger chain retailers – which means they have a better after-Christmas selection – and their merchandise tends to go on sale sooner.

Use Coupons
Check newspaper inserts for coupons on grocery items that tend to go on sale after Christmas – things like baking goods, candy, beverages and snacks.  Look for coupon codes at your favorite discount sites before shopping online, and collect newspaper inserts from retailers for special coupons on already marked down items.

1. Eat better, move more

Improving diet and exercise tops most resolution lists, and for good reason.  Not only will eating better and getting more exercise help you lose weight, but making even small changes in these areas can help ease a variety of health problems like type II diabetes and high cholesterol. Start small to increase your chance of success.

2. Quit smoking and/or drinking

The dawning of a new year is a great time to finally kick your bad habits like smoking and drinking. Every day you smoke or drink too much is another day you increase your risk of serious health problems like emphysema, liver disease and cancer, so it’s a great time to quit. Talk to your doctor about the options that are right for you.

3. Enjoy life and learn something new

Take a class, plan a trip, reconnect with old friends or make time to do the things you love to do; a new year is a great time to turn over a new leaf, make more time for yourself and live your life to the fullest.

4. Get out of debt

Use the New Year as a fresh start for your finances. Create a budget and stick to it; make a plan to get yourself out of debt. Not only will you enjoy greater peace of mind, you’ll have more money to spend on the things you really love.

5. Get organized

Here’s a great tip: for every one new thing you brought in over the holidays, get rid of two things already in your home. Shop after-Christmas sales for great deals on storage solutions and products to help you get organized.

These days there is nothing more convenient than holiday  shopping online.  Shopping holiday sales from home can not only make getting gifts convenient but it will also help you take advantage of rock bottom holiday prices on gifts,  with free or discounted shipping.   What’s not to love about shopping online for deals?  If you want to take advantage of holiday shipping rates, makes sure you get your orders in by the deadline!  Great deals often slow down processing time, so get your orders in early to ensure you get your gifts to your door before Christmas!  Here’s a list of shipping deadlines to make sure your gifts arrive on time!

What are the two words no parent wants to hear during the long, cold afternoons of winter break? “I’m bored!” Here are five sure-fire ways to keep your kids entertained when winter weather forces everybody inside.

1. Cook something together.
Kids love the kitchen, and there’s no better way to get even the littlest ones involved than by cooking together. Break out those old cookbooks and try something new, or teach your kids how to make a family favorite.

2. Go on a living room campout.
Unroll those sleeping bags and set up a tent, make microwave s’mores and tell scary stories late into the night, right in your living room. Don’t have a tent? Set up a blanket fort or pile up some pillows on the floor for lounging.

3. Put on a play.
Encourage your kids to unplug and engage their imaginations by putting on a play or a puppet show. Older kids can write the script and help with costumes; younger ones can decorate large cardboard boxes or poster board for sets. Acting out a favorite book or story is a great idea too.

4. Have a scavenger hunt.
Bring out the pirate in your kids by planning a scavenger hunt around the house. Write out a few simple clues and plant some ‘treasure’ at the end—new books, small toys or a movie to enjoy together.

5. Get crafty.
Kids can use paint, markers, crayons, glitter, glue, fabric or paper scraps, modeling clay or anything else you have on hand. Choose a theme or a household object for inspiration, and display the finished artwork together on a special wall in your very own family ‘gallery’.

The average holiday shopper will spend hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars on gifts this year. Throw in the cost of greeting cards, postage, gift wrapping, party supplies, and other miscellaneous items and you could be well in the red before the New Year. Luckily, you don’t have to bust your budget to give amazing holiday gifts; just follow this simple guide for savings without the sacrifice.

1.  Set a budget.

Decide how much cash you can set aside for gifts and stick to your budget. There’s no sense in racking up credit card debt when a little basic math is all you need. To help stretch your budget, ask friends and family what’s on their wish lists to make planning easier.

2.  Get creative.

There are plenty of non-traditional ways to share the holiday spirit without having to give a gift to every single person you know. If you’ve got a big family or a large group of extended friends, plan a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange, draw names so everyone only buys for one other person, or agree to buy gifts just for the kids. You can also try buying items in bulk at wholesale clubs or getting a single gift for an entire family. If you’re the crafty type, handmade gifts or baked goods are always a hit.

3.  Look for bargains.

With a little effort, you can find great deals on name brand gifts. Shop discount stores, watch your email for offers from your favorite retailers, search the web for coupon codes, and use comparison sites to find the best price for the items on your list.

4.  Save on the wrapping

Gift wrapping and gift bags are expensive and most recipients really don’t care what their gift is wrapped in. Buy inexpensive wrapping and bags from your local dollar store or even use free newspaper or paper bags instead of gift wrapping.