Winter can take a toll on anyone's beauty regimen. Extreme cold makes skin dry and flaky, wind strips moisture from hair and temperature changes from inside to outside make it hard to dress appropriately. U.S. Olympic athletes who are gliding down ski slopes, spending hours on the ice and training in biting temperatures know firsthand how harsh winter elements can do more than put a damper on your looks -- it can also affect the health of hair and skin.

So when top-performing athletes like skier Lindsey Vonn, ice dancer Tanith Belbin, speed skater Allison Baver and bobsled gold medalist Vonetta Flowers prepare for winter, they pay special attention to their beauty routines and have excellent advice on how to handle the winter weather and its effects on how women look and feel.

Even in the cold, stay cool

Rigorous activity, no matter how cold the temperatures, will make your temperature rise. To stay fresh throughout training -- or even on days off -- athletes want an antiperspirant that can keep up with their demanding lifestyles.

The best options out there combine strong protection against odor and perspiration, and a fresh scent that will last throughout the day. "Antiperspirant is a must-have for U.S. Olympic athletes during training and competition," says bobsled gold medalist Vonetta Flowers. "Staying fresh and cool with Secret Clinical Strength Sport gives me confidence that I can be dry and comfortable all day long."


Show off your hair

With cold winds whipping through their hair, Winter U.S. Olympic athletes know just how dried out hair can get. Their hair products have to stand up to some of the most extreme conditions because when the helmet comes off, or the spotlight shines on them, they want their hair to look its best.

It often takes more than just one product to maintain healthy locks through the trials of winter weather. "I'm in and out of hot and cold environments throughout the winter, which strips moisture and is tough on my hair," says Lindsey Vonn. "I like the way Pantene Ice Shine keeps my hair moisturized and looking great."


Beat dry skin

The lack of humidity in the air throughout the season is also a concern. Even normally well-balanced skin throughout the year calls for extra effort to keep it moisturized in the winter. Winter U.S. Olympic athletes rely on products that help to keep their skin soft and supple."I spend a lot of time in a cold arena and my skin gets very dry. I love that I can start fighting dryness in the shower with a moisturizing body wash like Olay Body Wash with Body Butter Ribbons," says ice dancer Tanith Belbin.


A shining moment

As winter weather tends to be windy and drying, lips may also feel parched and flaky. To keep lips looking shiny and fresh, these athletes use a gloss to add some sheen and keep them looking their best. "I like Covergirl ShineBlast lip gloss because it gives my lips beautiful shine and lasts for hours," says bobsled gold medalist Vonetta Flowers.

Because they are always on the go, training across the country and competing around the world, these U.S. Olympic athletes look for products they can find easily, even when they're away from home. To keep your look in gold medal condition, take the extra steps that will fight off the beauty-diminishing effects of winter.


Courtesy of ARAcontent

Today on Facebook, I stumbled upon this idea in a note from fitness trainer Tony Horton (creator of P90X). He is a stickler for eating right. We all know that the foods that you eat are going to play a really big role in whether you get a flat stomach or not. Tony says the one simple food tip for a flat stomach is to count your ingredients, not calories. This is a new one that I've never heard, but it makes a lot of sense.

The goal is to eat single ingredient foods or foods with as few ingredients as possible. Foods like eggs, oatmeal, nuts, berries, apples, spinach, chicken, salmon, sweet potatoes, etc. If you eat mainly these foods, you will naturally stay fuller and there won't be any need to count calories.

Tony asks, "Wanna take it one step further? Keep an ingredient log, not a food log." If you're eating the foods above, your ingredient log IS your food log, right? But suppose you ate some Smart Start cereal and some Reduced Fat Wheat Thins as an example, your ingredient list would look something like this:

RICE, WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SUGAR, OAT CLUSTERS (SUGAR, TOASTED OATS [ROLLED OATS, SUGAR, CANOLA OIL WITH TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, MOLASSES, HONEY, BHT FOR FRESHNESS, SOY LECITHIN], WHEAT FLAKES, CRISP RICE [RICE, SUGAR, MALT, SALT], CORN SYRUP, POLYDEXTROSE, HONEY, CINNAMON, BHT [PRESERVATIVE], ARTIFICIAL VANILLA FLAVOR), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, HONEY, MALT FLAVORING, ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, REDUCED IRON, SODIUM ASCORBATE AND ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, YELLOW #5, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), BHT (PRESERVATIVE), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, FOLIC ACID, BETA CAROTENE (A SOURCE OF VITAMIN A), VITAMIN B12 AND VITAMIN D.WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CORNSTARCH, MALT SYRUP (FROM BARLEY AND CORN), INVERT SUGAR, MONOGLYCERIDES, SALT, VEGETABLE COLOR (ANNATTO EXTRACT, TURMERIC OLEORESIN). CONTAINS: WHEAT. BHT ADDED TO PACKAGING MATERIAL TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, etc.

Not a pretty picture, is it? Now, I know it's not easy to eat whole foods all the time, but let's try out best together. Tony gave me a good reminder, as a former Reduced Fat Wheat Thin eater myself. I think I'll go grab an apple instead.

All the best in health and fitness,

One of the hardest things as a parent is to step back and allow a child to learn on their own. As parents (especially moms, because of our nurturing natures) we want to step in and force them to learn it right the first time they try. We want to pick them up the instant that they fall down, we want to show them exactly how a puzzle fits together, we want to give them the answers to their math problems. It can be so hard to watch our children struggle as they try so hard to learn something new.

Although it is hard to step back, one of the most important things we can do for our children is to let them learn on their own. Like the butterfly who cannot survive if helped out of the chrysalis, our children will struggle in adulthood if they have not learned how to solve problems without the aid of their parents. That is not to say that as parents we should not help and offer guidance through our children’s struggles, but we also need to know when to let them learn on their own.

I have always enjoyed watching while my children worked hard to find a solution to a problem. This may seem a bit cruel, but I can see them learning and growing a little bit each time they solve a problem. I have watched my two year old realize he couldn’t reach the light switch that his daddy had asked him to turn off, and grab a step stool (that was almost as big as him), push it all the way to the light, then proudly switch off the light. Sure, he struggled to push the step stool, but his feeling of accomplishment was so much greater when he was done, than if I had simply gone in and switched off the light.

There are certainly times when it is important that we step in. When our children are in danger, we should always keep them from harm. But, when there is no danger, the best thing we can do is allow them to learn on their own.


- Christine

Posted by Christine of Sticky Fingerprints

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Q: Although I'm not jumping up and down at the prospect of dating online, I do want to get back into the swing of things with regard to finding a mate, and I do know that it makes sense to have a look at all my options. But I'm in my fifties now, feeling like perhaps I'm not as marketable as I was twenty or even ten years ago, and although my hormones are keeping up their end of the bargain, I wonder what kind of men will look at someone like me and see everything I have to offer. Any suggestions for attracting the right mate?


A: This can be such a tricky situation, and I can understand where you're coming from, because it's basically the same dilemma that anyone faces when dating: how to present yourself in an accurate way, without making it look like you're nothing but a bunch of problems and negativity. There has to be some balance there, for sure. On the one hand, you don't want to make the mistake of coming across like everything is perfect all the time, like the things that are happening to you really aren't. On the other hand, you don't want to push your doubts about yourself so far forward that you come across as warning men rather than inviting them to get to know the complexities of who you really are.

The key is to remember that men are not in such a different situation. After all, who among us doesn't age, doesn't go through transitions, or gets out of this life alive? There's absolutely no shame in embracing all these elements of being human, and moving on to see the bigger picture. Even though menopause can be a roller-coaster of physical changes and emotional craziness, it's also something else: temporary. We are so much more than the phases we go through, and even though some of those phases can be really major at the time, in the end they are only one aspect of our total being.

So try adopting a frame of mind where you accept the truth of your entire situation, with all its ups and downs and even humorous aspects. Know that your future partner is going through something similar, and will be happy to hear that he doesn't have to hide things any more than you do. Embrace everything that you are - wise, confident, passionate, menopausal, loving, tolerant, intelligent... all of it. If you're placing ads, start off by getting the difficult stuff out of the way first, so that the truth is out there already, and you can weed out those who can't or won't get real with you.

Try starting your ad with something like this: "Fifty-something woman seeking man who is into reality and sharing the transitions of life." Go on to list the things you love doing, really love doing, and also list the things you would expect him to be into. Then move on to talk about things that don't have anything to do with age, the things you want from a partner regardless of stage in life. Respect, kindness, and a dedication to the spirit of life are essential, of course, and you are seeking someone who thinks of dating as a partnership rather than a band-aid for fears and doubts. Be honest about wanting someone who can move forward with you as you learn about each other's passions and prepare for whatever is ahead in your lives together. Good luck with it - just be yourself and don't worry about the little bumps in the road!


- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

It is my pleasure to present my review of the Draft shoe from KURU Footwear. I had never heard of KURU and was excited when they contacted me to provide a review. I am totally a comfy shoe gal. I have picky feet and most shoes are not comfortable for me. Like most women, I will wear shoes for a night out to look stylish, but most days, I just want to be comfortable and feel supported from the ground up. Of course this starts with a great shoe.

The KURU Draft is one such shoe. I LOVE IT! There are very few shoes that feel comfortable when you first put them on. There is often a “break-in” period. These shoes felt like they molded to my feet in about 2 minutes. I wore them for the rest of the day all around the house. I love them so much, I may need a pair for indoor slippers and a pair for outdoors.

In addition to being comfortable, it is quite stylish. My shoe is like the one pictured above. It’s black with pink trim. It also comes in blue, a green/brown combo and orange. It is a slip on style with a small heal backing so your foot does not slip out.

This same shoe was featured in SKI Magazine. The editor had a great review saying, “KURU, like it’s Finnish namesake-a city so environmentally pure you can drink straight from its rivers and lakes-Utah-based Kuru believes in clean, naturally inspired living. Its line of soft-shell footwear, including the Draft clog with anatomically correct midsole, is designed with that-and apres ski comfort-in mind.”

Whether or not you ski, this shoe is great to envelope your feet in comfort from grocery shopping to running errands to simply walking around the house. Heck, maybe I’ll need to take up skiing just to explore the “apres ski” effect.

Here is the company summary of the Draft shoe:
The Draft is a supreme comfort shoe that fits like a slipper and features water shedding soft shell uppers. The perfect shoe for aprés-sport, running to the coffee shop, a quick errand, or simply lounging around the campfire. Take off your trail shoes and enjoy the comfort of the Draft shoe. (I could not agree more!)

Retailing for $89.95, the Kuru Draft Features:

* Nylon Textile Soft Shell Uppers conform to your foot like a sock
* Leather toe and heel for durability
* Super Comfy Anatomical KuruSole™ Midsole
* Antimicrobial treated microsuede shoe footbed
* Water and Stain resistant BombrSpec™ Soft Shell uppers
* Collapsible uppers, perfect for stashing in your luggage
* Breathable & moisture wicking shoe lining

Check out Kurufootwear.com for more information about the Draft shoe and all of there other great shoes for men and women. I also appreciate that Kuru is a very socially responsible company. They have a page dedicated to donating to charities chosen by customers. Check them out and let me know what you think. Hopefully, I’ll even be able to offer a giveaway soon. Keep checking back for details.

Canned Goods Set a Guinness World Record, Ship to Food Banks
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2010) – Against the backdrop of a world-record sculpture of canned goods destined for food banks, Disney Parks officials on Thursday announced a major milestone with the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, a first-of-its-kind effort to help inspire 1 million people to perform volunteer service.

Since the program’s launch only six weeks ago, more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for volunteer projects in their communities, announced Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“With the launch of our ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program, we hoped to spark something truly special,” Staggs said. “But even we have been overwhelmed with the response.”

To recognize their good deeds, in 2010 Disney Parks is celebrating those who volunteer through the program by giving them a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Volunteers can start the search and sign-up process by going to www.disneyparks.com.

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute and the largest volunteer network in the nation, is supporting the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program by connecting volunteers with projects.

According to Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of Points of Light Institute, 10,000 community organizations, through the Disney Parks program, are getting the volunteers they need to meet important community challenges.

“The level of volunteerism we have seen in the first weeks of 2010 is tracking to new highs,” she said. “Our dream at HandsOn Network is for everyone to recognize their power to make a difference. Disney is helping us make that dream a reality, a million times over.”

Since the launch of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program on Jan. 1, 2010, volunteers have trekked through wetlands near Long Beach, Calif., and through mountain preserves in Phoenix, Ariz., clearing away non-native vegetation. A continent away, volunteers have whisked away trash on Atlantic Coast beaches in Brevard County and Dade County, Fla. In Port Huron, Mich., “soccer families” have picked up paint brushes to help spruce up a community center. In Atlanta, Ga., volunteers have assisted hospitalized children as they create arts and crafts projects. And with the forecast for a cold night ahead, the homeless in Central Florida were handed blankets by caring volunteers.

In addition to celebrating the “Give A Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney Parks welcomed to Walt Disney World Resort Thursday other outstanding volunteer families from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who gave back to their communities in special ways, as part of Disney’s celebration of family volunteerism in 2010.

“Today we are here to celebrate you,” Staggs told the families. “With each of your efforts, you make a difference.”

Canned-Food Structure Unveiled, Verified Largest-Ever by Guinness World Records®

As part of the event celebrating family volunteers and to dramatize the spirit of giving, Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday unveiled a mammoth structure of canned goods – food that will be donated to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta.

The canned food sculpture – titled “Celebrate Volunteers” – was revealed for media and guests at Epcot. Disney VoluntEARS shaped the sculpture with a larger-than-life Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto – all sculpted out of cans. Goofy’s trademark hat consisted of cans of bread crumbs, for instance. Mickey’s famous head was shaped from cans of black olives, and cans of sliced pineapple made up Pluto’s eyes.

The cans represent approximately 70,000 meals, according to Dave Krepcho, president/CEO of Second Harvest of Central Florida. “Each can makes a difference in someone’s life who cannot afford this food,” he said. “Much of this food goes to children in need, working moms trying to provide, senior citizens coping on fixed incomes and people whose disabilities keep them from working.”

The spectacular, character-themed structure – consisting officially of 115,527 cans – was also a world record, according to Guinness World Records, the internationally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. Guinness World Records Thursday authenticated the achievement as the Largest Canned Food Structure ever created, easily eclipsing the previous record of 54,527 cans set in June 2009 in New Zealand.

Some volunteer families also shared star billing Thursday with stars of the Disney Channel and Disney XD. As part of Disney’s youth environmental movement, Friends for Change: Project Green (www.Disney.com/ProjectGreen), Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato and others joined the celebration, making special appearances throughout the day to show what’s possible when kids and families get together and volunteer to help the planet.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:
Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. One ticket per person. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.

Have you ever had a craving for Chinese food but didn’t feel like dealing with the hassle of going out? Next time, why not stay at home and satisfy your craving with Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken?

Now available in the freezer case at Target, Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées offer restaurant quality Chinese food without the trouble of having to leave home.

Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken has all of the ingredients needed to prepare a great-tasting, complete Chinese meal for 2 in only 14 minutes! With lightly battered chicken breast pieces that stay crispy when prepared and wholesome Asian-style vegetables, like tender broccoli florets, snappy julienne carrots and delicate baby corn, Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken will make you feel as though you’re enjoying a meal at your favorite Asian restaurant! It even comes with fluffy, tender Jasmine rice and a tangy orange glaze that adds the perfect touch of spicy heat.

Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées are also available in four other delicious varieties including Shrimp Lo Mein, Spicy Garlic Chicken and Sweet & Sour Chicken. Additionally, all of the entrées have no added MSG!

There is a $1.50 off coupon available at http://www.wanchaiferry.com/.

For meal tips to enhance your Wanchai Ferry frozen entrée check out their website at http://www.wanchaiferry.com/MealTips.aspx.

As a member of my blog spark, I was lucky enough to receive a Wanchai Ferry “Perfect Night In” prize pack that included one coupon for a free package of any of the Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees, a set of great Asian-inspired rice bowls, chopsticks, bamboo placemats, flavored fortune cookies, and a $25 Target gift card.

We have one Wanchai Ferry “Perfect Night In” prize pack to give away to one lucky reader!

There are several ways to enter - here are the rules:

Please note: Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! - Giveaways are open to those with a US shipping address ONLY.

• Leave us a comment here at Pink Lemonade - share which Wanachi Ferry variety you would most like to try or describe your idea of a perfect night in.


• Become a follower on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know your twitter name (if you are already a follower, leave me a comment with your twitter name).


• Become a fan on our Facebook page. Leave me a comment to let me know your Facebook name.


• Subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up to receive Pink Lemonade by Email. Leave me a comment to let me know you. If you are already a subscriber, leave me a comment and let me know.


• Blog about our contest on your blog. Leave me a comment with your post url.


• Place our widget on your blog (it's toward the bottom of this page in the far right column - just click "get widget" at the bottom of the widget). Leave me a comment with your site url.


• Members of Club Pink Lemonade get an extra entry! Just leave a comment with your member name. Not a member? It's super simple to join! (Your membership must be approved before the contest deadline - finalized memberships will be approved in less than 24 hours)

There you have it! Seven very simple ways to enter our contest - how easy is that? Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.

This contest ends Sunday, February 21st at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all seven entries! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.

- Liz

~Please note that Wanchai Ferry Provided Pink Lemonade with a “Perfect Night In” prize pack through MyBlogSpark.

To start the week off right, take time out to create a sweet Sunday morning moment with your family with Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls.

Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls are warm, fresh, and ready to serve in just minutes. With an ooey-gooey texture and a delicious orange icing, Orange Sweet Rolls have a mouth watering aroma that is sure to bring your family together like no other breakfast! Packed with the love and flavor of a treat made from scratch, but without the time and cleanup, Orange Sweet Rolls are the perfect addition to your family’s Sunday morning traditions.

We think it might be fun for you to post a photo of one of your family’s sweet Sunday morning moments. Your photo may even have a chance to appear on the official Pillsbury website!

As a member of my blog spark, I was lucky enough to receive a Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls gift pack that included a coupon for Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls as well as a photo album to help keep my family’s sweet Sunday morning memories close at hand.

We have one Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls gift pack that includes a coupon for Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls and a photo album to give away to one lucky reader!

There are several ways to enter - here are the rules:

Please note: Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! - Giveaways are open to those with a US shipping address ONLY.

• Leave us a comment here at Pink Lemonade - share how your family enjoys Sunday mornings together or what your favorite childhood memories of Sunday morning breakfasts are.


• Become a follower on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know your twitter name (if you are already a follower, leave me a comment with your twitter name).


• Become a fan on our Facebook page. Leave me a comment to let me know your Facebook name.


• Subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up to receive Pink Lemonade by Email. Leave me a comment to let me know you. If you are already a subscriber, leave me a comment and let me know.


• Blog about our contest on your blog. Leave me a comment with your post url.


• Place our widget on your blog (it's toward the bottom of this page in the far right column - just click "get widget" at the bottom of the widget). Leave me a comment with your site url.


• Members of Club Pink Lemonade get an extra entry! Just leave a comment with your member name. Not a member? It's super simple to join! (Your membership must be approved before the contest deadline - finalized memberships will be approved in less than 24 hours)


• To recieve a special bonus entry - post the url to a picture of your family enjoying a sunday morning breakfast together!

There you have it! Seven Eight very simple ways to enter our contest - how easy is that? Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.

This contest ends Sunday, February 21st at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all seven entries! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.

- Liz

~Please note that Pilsbury provided Pink Lemonade with a Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls gift pack through MyBlogSpark.

We all want the finer things in life, but while many of us have expensive tastes, we don't always have lavish budgets. And, when it comes to updating the kitchen, many items can have large price tags that - in today's market - we won't be able to recoup. Luckily, with a little creativity you can achieve a cost-conscious kitchen remodel that gives you maximum enjoyment on a minimal budget.

Finished look for less

Does your kitchen have shiny brass light fixtures? If so, updating these can instantly make your home look more current and stylish. Home improvement retailers offer a wide variety of stylish and affordable choices in popular finishes, such as stainless steel or old world bronze. Or, for an even more economical choice, turn your current lighting fixtures from brass to beautiful by spray painting them with a new contemporary finish. Manufacturers such as Krylon offer unique choices, like Stainless Steel or Oil-Rubbed Bronze, that add beautiful texture for a high-end look.

Fashionable, functional focal point

Most kitchens have a basic faucet - but as the focal point and most-used item in the kitchen, updating this mainstay can create a functional and fashionable change that everyone will notice.

When selecting a new kitchen faucet, look for a high-arc style with pulldown functionality. Models such as the Moen Anabelle Eco-Performance faucet feature this unique design - with the added benefit of up to 32 percent water savings. The multi-function wand offers both a fast-fill stream for filling pots, as well as two Eco-Performance sprays that conserve water while allowing you to complete everyday tasks such as washing dishes or preparing foods - all with the same great performance. Available at Lowe's in both Stainless Steel and Mediterranean Bronze finishes, this kitchen update will have you saying "wow" with the aesthetic, functional and water-saving benefits. For more information on Moen Eco-Performance kitchen faucets, visit moen.com or lowes.com.

Sensational shelves

Nothing can make a kitchen look worse than cluttered countertops. But when it comes to storing necessities or displaying decorative items - there often is no other spot. While adding new cabinetry can solve your storage issue, it can be costly. Instead, build exposed shelves to give your kitchen a more updated look and an open, airy feel.

Home improvement retailers offer a variety of pre-made wood shelving in a variety of materials and finishes, or, if you are handy, you can build your own to save even more. Once they are complete, utilize them for a mix of decorative and functional kitchen items and be sure to keep everything neat and clean for a polished look.

Breathtaking backsplash

Adding ceramic tile in your kitchen can add color, texture and a high-end appearance, but upgrading your entire floor or countertops can be very pricey. Instead, adding a tile backsplash can make a dramatic change - with minimal cost and effort. Whether you're an experienced do-it-yourselfer or not, there are many online step-by-step guides, and many home improvement retailers offer classes for this simple project. And, in no time at all, you'll have a beautiful tile masterpiece that will accent - and protect - your walls.

With these few updates, your kitchen will look great and be more functional - all without breaking the bank.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

As we approach a weekend celebrating love, I thought I would share with you some of the reasons I love children. While there are days that I think I am going to go crazy with five little ones underfoot, I truly love children. They bring a completely different perspective and sweetness to life. Here is a list, in no particular order of why I love children:

1. They are brutally honest! They don’t mince words; they tell it like it is.
2. They forgive quickly. One minute they are angry and the next they are giving you hugs. They don’t hold grudges like we do as adults.
3. They enjoy the simple things in life. A cardboard box, falling snow, puddles for jumping; all are filled with infinite possibilities in the mind of a child.
4. Cuddling. Seriously, what is better on a chilly morning than snuggling up under a blanket and reading a book or watching cartoons with your little ones? Sure, you can cuddle with your spouse, but he will usually have an ulterior motive.
5. They smile often. Somewhere during our teen and adult years, we seem to unlearn the simple joy of smiling. Children smile often and when my children smile, they help remind me to smile. It sure feels good to smile 
6. They don’t let a fear of failure keep them from having fun. Turn on music, and a child will dance with abandon. They proudly sing, in tune or not, along with their favorite songs.

I am so lucky to be the mother of five amazing children, who continually teach me through their examples. What do you love most about children?

- Christine

Posted by Christine of Sticky Fingerprints

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

How refreshing to have your child's next birthday party be more meaningful and less wasteful!
A fresh twist on the conventional birthday party is empowering today's youngsters to help preserve our planet and give back to important charities. I thought you may want to cover.

Kids from coast to coast are setting a new trend! Forget the glut of excess plastic toys and packaging, today's children are using their birthdays to make a difference in the world around them through ECHOage.com (www.echoage.com).

ECHOage is a web-based service that plans eco-friendly, charitable birthday parties for kids. It gives kids a unique platform (their birthday party) to inspire change and contribute to much-needed causes. Plus, it makes birthday party planning and clean-up easier on parents!

Here's how it works: Instead of bringing wrapped and packaged presents, guests simply rsvp and make secure online contributions that are pooled together. Half goes to purchase ONE memorable gift for the child and half is donated to ONE meaningful cause of the child's choice. ECHOage arranges everything, so no need for guests to drive, shop, wrap or even pick up the phone to make a donation.

Jason Castro has just released a special Valentine's Day Ecard! Head over to JasonCastroMusic.com/ecard to take advantage of the card creator just in time for the holiday this weekend. Choose from a variety of backgrounds, graphics and messages to customize the perfect card today.



Jason's new EP, The Love Uncompromised, is available on iTunes now.

Lifehouse's new album, Smoke & Mirrors, won't be released until March 2nd, but fans can get a sneak preview right now of five songs from the album on the band's official website, LifehouseMusic.com. Register on the site (using email or a social networking account) to listen to song samples and watch exclusive video clips about the recording process, the stories behind the songs, and more.

The first single from Smoke & Mirrors, "Halfway Gone," is the fastest growing single of Lifehouse's career and is currently on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Download the song now on iTunes, and stay tuned for an exclusive Smoke & Mirrors pre-sale starting on Tuesday, February 16th.

The “Main Street Electrical Parade” lights up the streets of Magic Kingdom and headlines a season of after-dark excitement coming to Walt Disney World Resort.

“After the sun goes down, our Walt Disney World parks will light up the night with ‘Summer Nightastic!’, ” announced Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort, at a media event Wednesday.

Disney magic will shine and shimmer in a whole new light. Here’s a look around:

With floats and characters appearing for the first time at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” returns with its joyous sights and sounds. Direct from Disneyland and marking its first engagement in Florida since 2001, the cherished parade will be led by Tinker Bell waving from the basket of a magical balloon aboard a new float. Pinocchio and Snow White join the parade this summer, aboard bright new floats. Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” is set for its summer-long nighttime premiere in early June at Magic Kingdom.

The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror welcomes “drop-ins” this summer with even more pulse-racing surprises. New lighting effects and the addition of a new drop sequence, created especially for “Summer Nightastic!”, will bring unexpected frights to guests who step into that infamous service elevator. If they dare.

What could be more summery than fireworks on a star-studded night? Magic Kingdom will treat guests to a special summer fireworks spectacular. The night sky will explode in vivid colors and brilliant visual effects as whimsical music fills the air.

Other fun! The return of the Sounds Like Summer concert series to Epcot and extended evening hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom several times a week add up to summer fun as only Disney can do – at all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

Childhood Obesity and Its Affect on Self-Esteem

By Margaret Lewin, MD,FACP – Medical Director, Cinergy Health

More than 30% of American children are overweight (50% in African American and Latino communities), and more than two-thirds of obese children over the age of 9 will become obese adults. The resulting medical problems of diabetes, premature heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, degenerative arthritis, breathing problems and sleep apnea, as well as cancer of the uterine lining, breast, prostate and colon are well-known, but the psychological problems surprisingly less so. Society in general responds negatively to obese individuals. Obese children in particular are often socially stigmatized and face discrimination from their peers, teachers, and even physicians and nurses – often leading to poor self-esteem.

Self-esteem refers to an individual’s sense of his or her value or worth – a favorable or unfavorable attitude toward one’s self. Formal studies show that parents’ and peers’ acceptance weigh most heavily on many children’s sense of self-esteem.

In a country with very thin celebrity role models and where it is common to say, “you can never be too thin,” being obese can be devastating to self-esteem, especially during childhood and adolescence.

Children can be cruel, especially to overweight peers who are often teased about their weight. Although any child whose physical appearance or intellectual capacity differs from the norm often is subjected to merciless teasing, it can be worse for obese children – who are blamed for their “different-ness” and closely watched (and criticized) in their eating and exercise habits. Studies have shown that obese children tend to have a smaller circle of close friends, leading to isolation and loneliness. Parents often join in the torment even if they are overweight. It can be difficult to escape from the self-image of unattractiveness and body dissatisfaction.

LJ Griffiths’ study of children at age 7 ½ showed that obesity predicts a higher likelihood of bullying (boys – presumable because of their physical dominance in their peer group) or being bullied (both sexes) than normal weight (or even moderately overweight) children.

Overweight girls are especially stigmatized when it comes to dating. In a study of adolescents, only 12% of the students had dated someone who was overweight, with only 8% of boys dating overweight peers.

Formal studies suggest a relationship between self-esteem and health. Whether obese or not, adolescents with poor self-esteem are more likely to engage in early sex, less likely to use birth control, have higher rates of teen pregnancies, are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, and to attempt suicide. Obesity can also lead teenagers into binge-eating, sometimes purging as well. In 2007, a study reported a 20 year research of obese adolescents in upstate New York. They found that obese girls were nearly four times more likely than normal weight girls to suffer major depression and anxiety disorders as adults.

Another study on overweight adolescents found that they were less likely to be married, had lower household incomes and higher rates of household poverty. The study concluded: “Overweight during adolescence has important social and economic consequences, which are greater than those of many other chronic physical conditions.” The New York Times yesterday printed an article saying that child obesity risks death at an early age. Heavier kids are twice as likely to die before age 55 of illness or self-inflicted injury.

Obese children can have a brighter future. This year, Sacher published the results of a randomized, controlled British trial of the MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, DO it) program, a family-based community intervention for childhood obesity. Parents and their obese children attended eighteen 2-hour group educational and physical activity sessions held twice weekly in sports centers and schools, followed up by a 12-week free family swimming pass. Compared to the controls, the study children not only reduced their weight and waistlines and increased their cardiovascular fitness and physical activity levels, they also had significant improvement in their self-esteem.

Doing something about childhood obesity and related issues of self-esteem is a kindness, but we also need to do so in our own self-interest. The economic consequences of childhood (and subsequent adult) obesity are staggering and threaten to overtake our healthcare system and national budget. For these reasons, Michelle Obama, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, and the nations’ mayors and other local leaders are placing a high priority on combating this growing problem. It will require enormous investing in education, availability of food in schools, making healthy affordable food more accessible in low-income neighborhoods, building schools within walking distance of residential areas, and building playgrounds and walking and biking paths. It will involve setting standards for marketing food to children and reconsidering the nutritional value of foods available on supermarket shelves. These investments are worth it – both to us and our nation’s children.

Dr. Margaret Lewin
Chief Medical Director of Cinergy Health
A graduate of Case Western University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Lewin's undergraduate degree from Purdue University is in Aeronautics, Astronautics, and the Engineering Sciences and she holds an M.S. in applied mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, she is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She is affiliated with New York-Presbyterian Hospital and The Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dr. Lewin has worked throughout her career to improve the American healthcare system. She has been on the boards of state and local medical societies and is Immediate Past President of the New York County Medical Society and Immediate Past District President of the American College of Physicians. Her decades-long volunteer work has included service to many local projects and organizations and has been enriched by her medical missions to the Third World.

Dr. Lewin has authored numerous articles in leading medical journals and lay magazines, as well as chapters for medical textbooks. Her areas of special interest and expertise include primary and preventive care, travel medicine, men's health and women's health.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, The Food Channel® (foodchannel.com ) editorial staff is encouraging visitors to the site to “be chocolate” and embrace the lessons one of America’s favorite indulgences can provide. “We have been watching chocolate ever since it was named one of the top food trends of the decade,” said Kay Logsdon, managing editor of The Food Channel . “This week, in particular, it seemed appropriate to commemorate how chocolate can enrich our lives—in ten fun ways.”

It’s Important to Hold Your Temper
It’s not easy to melt chocolate perfectly, just as it’s not easy to find your own boiling point and keep it under control. The fact is, for chocolate to form properly into all those fun shapes that go into the candy box, it has to be tempered. That means it has to be fed the right amount from the chocolate block, at the right time during the melting process, all the while being constantly stirred. In life, it means we have to guard what we take in, and be willing to move and change as necessary in order to get better.

Soft Centers Usually Have a Hard Shell
The best liquors, the softest centers, all need some protection around them. So remember that when your co-worker has a tough façade or your friend appears sort of brittle. Could be they are protecting their soft insides.

Meltdowns Can Be Avoided
Real chocolate starts to get soft at 72 degrees. Great candy stores keep the temperature cool rather than add vegetable oils to the mix. You can keep your cool if you remember to turn down the heat.

A Little Nuttiness Doesn’t Hurt
Unless you have an allergy, nuts add a new dimension to chocolate. A little crunch, a different flavor, a higher antioxidant level—it all just adds to the variety. So accept a little nuttiness in your life.

You Can Find an Excuse for Almost Anything
If society can pile sugar and cream into dark chocolate and call it a good-for-you antioxidant, then surely your teacher will believe someone ate your homework. Just tell her you wrapped it in chocolate.

Variety Matters
When it comes to chocolates, there is great variety. You have your soft creams, your liquors, your ganache, and your buttery caramels. You have your chews and your nuts. You’ll have your favorite, but at some point all of the varieties have to go in the box together. Learn to get along with variety.

Sometimes You Have to Feed the Need
Chocolate reportedly stimulates the release of hormones in the brain, and feel-good endorphins in the body. And, face it. Sometimes that is a craving that needs to be met. When hormone meets hormone, everyone feels better.

Some Things Are Just Worth It
We know the bad, the calories, the fat, the pound-for-pound guilt. We also know that there are lots of entrepreneurs who have quit the daily grind in favor of dipping chocolate. It’s a satisfying career, especially when you can lick the bowl.

Addictive Behavior Can Be Controlled
We all have our addictions. We are work addicts, Facebook addicts, Jersey Shore addicts and even nicotine addicts. Chocolate tells you when you’ve had enough—when you tip the scales at a new weight, when you have a stomach ache from eating too much, when you have spent your food money on candy and have nothing left for lunch. You can learn control from chocolate. Small doses go a long way.

Some Things Make Everything Taste Better
It’s the reason why people put chocolate in cookies, breads, drinks and candy. Chocolate is a flavor that goes with everything. Be chocolate.

Logsdon counsels, “Apply these lessons to life and see how far they get you. Hold your temper, recognize when people are softies at heart, reduce the heat and pressure in your life and the lives of those around you, and be a little crazy. Accept change, avoid addictions, and know what you need, physically and emotionally. Most of all live your life so that you can go with anything. Be chocolate. There are lots of lessons that are harder to swallow.”

About The Food Channel®
The Food Channel ( www.foodchannel.com ) immerses visitors in a vibrant online community—comprised of food enthusiasts, culinary students and professionals—joined together by a passion for all things food. The site includes original features, chef-tested recipes for all occasions, chef profiles, 4-star food photography, book reviews and food-event coverage. Visitors will also find a variety of videos on cooking techniques, recipe preparation and interviews on topics of current interest. Weekly and monthly trend and recipe newsletters are available by signing up on the site. For additional food news, trends, recipes, professional tips and reviews, visit www.foodchannel.com. Follow The Food Channel on Twitter at www.twitter.com/foodchannel or Facebook at www.facebook.com/FoodChannel.

As millions of Americans embark on New Year’s exercise regimens in hopes of meeting at least one resolution this year, many are getting in over their heads. According to Stacy Berman, a New York City certified personal trainer and founder of Stacy’s Boot Camp, “when a person decides to attempt weight lifting and exercise on their own, they are at great risk for injury, which can set them back even further than where they started.”

Stacy notes that almost everyone knows that lifting a heavy object without bending at the knees strains the lower back or running on an uneven surface causes sore knees and hips. What most people don’t know is that even slight changes in posture and incorrect technique while performing weight-lifting movements can cause great injuries. Below Stacy lists the top five exercises that people do WRONG in the gym, and how to correct your own technique to avoid getting hurt.

Sit-ups: The sit-up is not only bad for the neck, it isn’t very effective at toning the mid-section, either. Many people lock their hands behind their head and strain their neck while sitting up, causing a torque in the spine, which ultimately leads to neck and back pain.

• Do it Right: According to Stacy, “For a safe and effective stomach workout, you should do abdominal crunches instead of sit-ups. Lie on your back and position your legs with your feet on the floor and your knees bent. Then, with your hands either behind your head or crossed over your chest, lift your entire torso from the belly button-up to about a 45-degree angle, taking care to keep your spine aligned and your back flat against the floor.” Stacy also notes that slower is better – slowly lift and lower your torso for a better overall ab workout and less strain on your neck and back.

Squats: When done correctly, squats can be a great strength building and toning exercise for the lower body, however, Stacy says, many people overdo it when it comes to weight – which can lead to injury. “Doing a squat exercise with a barbell across your back puts you in a position to lift a great amount of weight many people – men especially – are prone to add too much weight too soon, causing them to default into improper position just to lift the weight.”

• Do it Right: Starting at a low weight is key for squats, notes Stacy, because you can focus solely on your form. The proper positioning for a squat should be as follows: standing straight with a plain (no weight added) barbell across the back of your shoulders and your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, lower your body down as if you are going to sit in a chair. Keeping your knees in a straight line as you lower and stop as your thighs are creating a 90-degree angle with your lower legs. Your knees should stay in line with the rest of your legs (do not let them buckle in or out) and should not at any point bend too far forward as to cover your toes (always keep your toes in sight to make sure your are sitting “deep” enough into the squat).

Shoulder Press: This exercise strains the shoulders, both on the way down and on the way up. The little muscles on the top of your shoulders work too hard and become inflamed, causing “weight lifters shoulder.” It can also a lot of stress on the shoulder joints, which can lead to permanent damage.

• Do it Right: By keeping your spine in line with your shoulders and head, you can avoid potential pain and injury in your shoulders and spine, says Stacy. Just like the squat, moderate weight should be used while you are still developing proper form. Stacy also adds: “you should avoid the common ‘thrust up’ than you may see many weight lifters using at the gym – which creates a lot of force on the way up, making the exercise easier, but very dangerous if you are not in control of the weight you are lifting.”

Push-ups: Push-ups are often the culprit of neck, lower back, elbow and shoulder pain. They require a lot of strength - holding your entire body parallel to the floor is no small feat and it’s easy to overdo it.

• Do it Right: According to Stacy, “the number one sin when doing push-ups is the ‘saggy back,’ which I see in almost all of my clients when they first start doing the exercise.” Stacy recommends you start with modified push-ups on your knees in the proper form – which is hands placed shoulder-width apart and lowering your body until your chest nearly touches the floor, keeping your head, neck and back aligned. “Once you are comfortable doing modified push-ups, start adding just a few ‘regular’ ones into your routine until you are strong enough to completely replace the modified ones,” says Stacy.

Pull-Ups: Ever since Middle School, push-ups have been the time-old test for fitness. Stacy says the exercise is only effective if you do it right – the most common mistake, she notes, is locking your elbows when you are lowering yourself from the bar. “Pull-ups are a combination of raw strength and momentum. Being in control is a top priority – because if you are swinging up and down on the bar, you will strain your arms, neck and back in the process. Knowing when to stop is also a very important piece of advice.”

• Do it Right: Using an assisted pull-up machine at the gym will help you reach your goal while keeping proper form. Using a machine should not make the exercise easy for you, but just “doable” says Stacy. “Position your hands a little wider than shoulder width apart. Traditional ‘pull up’ hand position is to curl your hands under the bar, with your fingers facing you. The primary muscle you will be engaging is your biceps. Lower yourself slowly until your arms are almost completely extended, but not ‘locked’ at the elbows. Pull yourself back up in the same controlled motion. Do this with a little less assistance each time and eventually you will be on your own!”

One final point from Stacy: working out should be fun and leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated, not in pain. Don’t feel pressure to show off at the gym or get ahead of yourself – slow and steady wins the race!

By Lidia Matticchio Bastianich,
Author of Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes

This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, and I'll be celebrating it with my kids and grandkids "Roman style". After all, St. Valentine's origins are actually considered Roman, although many of us look for romantic dishes like lobster, oysters and chocolate covered strawberries. I say keep the holiday simple, wholesome and still full of love with one or two delicious pasta dishes that can be put on the table in literally twenty minutes. That way, there's more time for lots of hugs following dinner!

Regardless of whether you decide to treat your spouse, loved one, or the entire family to these dishes, Valentine's Day does need a little chocolate to top off the meal. And at my house, I'll be serving my traditional chocolate crepes, served with a little fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Now THAT'S AMORE!

LINGUINE ALLA CARBONARA
From Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, published by Alfred A. Knopf
Makes 6 servings

• Salt
• 6 ounces slab bacon, in one piece
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large yellow onions, sliced ½-inch (about 3 cups)
• 1 ½ cups hot Chicken Stock or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth, or as needed
• 1 pound linguine
• 3 egg yolks
• Coarsely ground black pepper

Bring 6 quarts of salted water to the boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat.

Remove the rind, if necessary from the bacon. Cut the bacon into ¼ inch slices, then cut the slices crosswise into ¼ inch strips. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until the bacon is lightly browned, but still soft in the center, about 6 minutes.

The amount of fat in the skillet will vary depending on the bacon. If there is more than 3 to 4 tablespoons of fat in the pan, pour off the excess. If there is less than 3 to 4 tablespoons, add enough olive oil to measure that amount. Add the onions and cook until wilted, but still crunchy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil and adjust the heat to a lively simmer. Cook until the liquid is reduced by about half.

Meanwhile, stir the linguine into the boiling salted water. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 8 minutes.

Ladle off about a cup of the pasta cooking water. If the skillet is large enough to accommodate the sauce and pasta, fish the pasta out of the boiling water with a large wire skimmer and drop it directly into sauce in the skillet. If not, drain the pasta, return it to the pot and pour in the sauce. Bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, stirring to coat the pasta with sauce. Check the seasoning, adding salt if necessary. If necessary, add as much chicken stock or pasta cooking water as needed to make enough sauce to generously coat the pasta. Remove the pan from the heat and add the egg yolks one at a time, tossing well after each. (A salad fork and spoon work well for this.) Add the grated cheese, then the black pepper, tossing well and serve immediately in warmed bowls.

CREPES WITH CHOCOLATE AND WALNUTS
Palacinke
From Lidia's Italy, published by Alfred A. Knopf

Makes a dozen palacinke, serving 6 or more

For the palacinke:

• 2 eggs
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ⅓ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups flour
• 8 tablespoons melted butter or more
• Finely grated zest of 2 lemons

For serving:

• 10 ounces excellent bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (12 ounces, or more, for extreme chocolate lovers)
• 1 ½ cups walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream, chilled (plus sugar to taste)

Recommended equipment:

• A small ladle (⅓ cup volume or slightly larger)
• A 7-inch crepe pan or a non-stick skillet, 7-inches wide on the bottom

To make the palacinke batter, whisk together the eggs, water, rum, vanilla, sugar and salt in a large bowl, until well blended. Sift the flour on top, a bit at a time, whisking each addition until smooth. Drizzle in 4 tablespoons of the melted butter, whisking until the batter has slightly thickened, with the consistency of melted ice cream. Finally, whisk in the lemon zest. Put the remaining 4 tablespoons of melted butter in a small cup and keep it warm.

Break or chop the chocolate into small pieces and put them a bowl set in a pan of hot (not boiling) water. When the chocolate begins to melt, stir until completely smooth and keep it warm, in the water, off the heat.

Set the crepe pan or skillet over moderate-high heat until quite hot. Pour in a couple tablespoons of butter, quickly swirl it all over the pan bottom, then pour excess butter back into the cup, leaving the bottom lightly coated with sizzling butter. (If the butter doesn't sizzle, heat the pan longer before adding the batter). Immediately ladle in a scant ⅓ cup of batter, tilt and swirl so it coats the bottom, and set the pan on the burner.

Lower the heat to medium and cook the palacinka for a little less than a minute, until the underside is lightly browned in a lacy pattern. Flip it over with a spatula and fry for a half minute or longer, until the second side is lightly browned, then remove it to a warm platter. Heat the empty pan briefly, then rapidly coat it with butter, fill it with batter and cook another palacinka. Repeat the sequence, stacking up the finished palacinke on the platter, until all the batter is used up.

Fill and serve the palacinke as soon as possible, while fresh and warm. Keep the platter in a warm spot and cover the stack with a tent of foil or a large bowl turned upside down. Whip the heavy cream, unsweetened or with sugar to taste, to soft peaks. Stir the melted chocolate and reheat it if necessary so it is smooth and warm.

Take one palacinka off the stack and place it with its lacy-patterned side down. Spoon a generous tablespoon (or more) warm chocolate in the center of the pancake and spread it over the palacinka, leaving an inch wide border uncoated. Scatter a spoonful of chopped walnuts on the chocolate layer then fold the round in half, hiding the fillings, and fold again into a plump quarter-round.

Fill and fold all the palacinke the same way. For each serving, place two rounds, overlapping, on a dessert plate, heap some cream on top, scatter some nuts on top of the cream and drizzle warm chocolate in streaks and squiggles over the palacinke and the plate.

Author Bio
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, coauthor of Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipe, is the author of five previous books, four of them accompanied by nationally syndicated public television series. She is the owner of the New York City restaurant Felidia (among others), and she lectures on and demonstrates Italian cooking throughout the country. She lives on Long Island, and can be reached at her Web site, http://www.lidiasitaly.com/

© 2010 Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, authors of Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes

It's not easy being a young girl today. The media often promotes ideals that are unhealthy, unattainable or just plain negative about women.
Now, a brand new online community and webzine is taking an extraordinary approach to steering impressionable tween girls in a positive and empowering direction!

Girl360.net is on a mission to connect with girls between the ages of 9 and 13 and give them a better sense of the women who have come before them, the unique role models all around them and, most importantly, the potential within them! It’s all about helping the next generation of female leaders realize their own “superpowers.”

Founded by two long-standing advocates of women's issues, Girl360 is designed to speak to girls in a language they can relate to while providing the stories of history’s and today’s trailblazing females making an impact. And NOT only their accomplishments -- but the challenges, struggles, and hurdles they faced along the way too. The REAL stories of inspiring girls and women (who were once pre-teens too!).

Anne is writer and advocate whose essays on issues effecting women and girls have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and numerous other publications. She was recently named one of People Magazine's "Heroes Among Us" and is the 2008 winner of the "Making a Difference for Women Award" from Soroptimist International. Randi is a graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a political advocate with over two decades of experience championing issues and initiatives that have a deep impact on the health, well-being and happiness of women and girls.

Red nail polish is a quintessentially classic look and a timeless shade everyone should own.

This February during American Heart Month update your nail polish and give to a great cause. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Each year almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the United States, which is about 29% of all US deaths.

In an effort to help educate Americans about the importance of taking care of your cardiovascular system, Np2 Nail Perfection is donating 10% of all sales of red nail polish to the American Heart Association.

Np2 Nail Perfection is an innovative nail polish duo of durable, chip-resistant color base coat paired with an express top coat. The patented 2-in-1 bottle offers a brilliant, vivid base shade perfectly paired with a superior clear protein nail treatment top coat to provide long lasting wear and healthy nails.

I was helping a reporter with his column, on the subject of Valentine's Day. His first question: "where can a single person go to meet people?"

I told him the truth: that question is impossible to answer without additional information. I mean, if you're hungry, I could send you out to a restaurant that I like, but you might get there and find that you hate it! No two people want or like exactly the same things, and trying to force one standard to fit everyone is an exercise in futility. Yet, that is how most people approach dating, as if there were some magic place out there where anyone could go and find the right person for them. Sure, I can name plenty of singles bars, and you could probably go to any one of them and find "someone"... providing that you're not terribly picky about whom you end up with.

But you probably want something a little more specific than that. So why not take the time and effort and outline exactly what it is you want? Otherwise, dating just becomes random, trying person after person in hopes that this one will be the one. You might get lucky and strike gold, but you'll have a much better chance if you get clear about what kind of person you want to meet before you start looking, and then hang out at the sorts of places where you'd expect that kind of person to be. Or if you like a bit of mystery thrown in there, surround yourself with a peer group who share your preferences and values, and see what happens.

The reporter then asked me about Valentine's Day, and what single people should do to cope. "It doesn't have to be about coping," I replied, "if you take the attitude that this is a day for celebrating the love you have for yourself. There's no need to wait for someone else to give you the things you want - you can start having everything you want right now. Go have a spa treatment, watch your favorite movies, or spend time reading a book you love. Life will reflect back to you exactly what you put out there, so if you use Valentine's day as a celebration of yourself, and carry that attitude out through everything you do, then you won't be single for much longer."

He rephrased his first question in a different way: "where can single people find the hottest meeting places?" he asked.

"Like I said before, it's not about everyone showing up at some magic singles bar," I replied, "because there is no one place that has the answers, except in the sense that the magic place is inside yourself. You have to take the time and effort to learn who you are and what you're looking for, and concentrate on putting that message out to the world. Once you get out there focused on what you want, then life will start reflecting that back to you, no matter where you go."

Think about the dating mistakes you've made in the past. They ended up in heartbreak, yes? So do it differently this time - focus on yourself and what you want, and let that desire point you in the right direction.

In summary: look within yourself rather than "out there," and go out in the world and do the things that make you happy!

Any more questions? Email us at info@maryannlive.com and we’ll answer them on the air every Tuesday morning from 10-11 am on www.healthylife.net.

To find out if you're looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now, watch Maryanne's video on the subject:



- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

I have been testing the ShaToBu, This new type of undergarment promises to help you Shape, Tone and Burn while you wear it. Studies show that ShaToBu helps users burn 12% extra calories. I am thrilled to partner with ShaToBu to offer Pink Lemonade readers a chance to win a ShaToBu of your very own.

I am pleased to report that my own research continues to be have positive results. I find the ShaToBu garment to be quite comfortable. It not only provides extra resistance with every step, it gives me a nice shape under my clothes. Unlike control top pantyhose, which often give me a flat bottomed look, the ShaToBu gives me a lifted appearance to my bottom and slimmer thighs.

Let us know why you think ShaToBu would be helpful in your daily lives. Check out ShaToBu.com for more information. We'll have 6 lucky winners so this is an exciting one to enter.

Winners will be selected at random and then a ShaToBu rep will be in touch to make sure you select the proper garment to fit your needs. Stop by PersonalFitCoach.com to enter. Good luck!

If you're like me you like to do the special little things that make life more fun for your family, especially around the various holidays?

One thing we do that is really easy and fun for the kids is let them make individual pizza's - this way everyone gets what they like and of course, getting your kids in the kitchen is a very good thing.

While there are many, many recipes for homemade pizza dough, if you are pressed for time you can make it really easy on yourself and use canned biscuits (use the jumbo ones if possible) or Jiffy pizza crust mix- a box is less than a dollar.

Let the kids roll out the biscuits or give them a small amount of the dough to make their own heart shaped pizza for Valentine's day then spread on a layer of your favorite pizza or spaghetti sauce (we like the Hunt's and buy it on sale for less than $1 a can).

Top with cheese (we like a combo of mozzarella and parmesan and your favorite pizza toppings- pepperoni, ham, green peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, olives, broccoli, chicken, ground beef, etc... the possibilities are endless. The girls used to spell out words or make faces sometimes, depending on their moods.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes (could be more or lessdepending on your oven- this is what works for us) and enjoy.

A couple of other ideas if you aren't into pizza- heart shaped meatloaf "iced" with mashed potatoes, heart shaped quesadillas (cut the tortillas with sharp kitchen shears or metal cookie cutters), and of course heart shaped sandwiches for lunch. Use your imagination and very little else- it does not take a lot of time or money to make the ordinary very special and your kids will remember it always.


Sherry


Posted by Sherry of Loon-atics In The Kitchen

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

- Christine

Posted by Christine of Sticky Fingerprints

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Addiction is a growing phenomenon in our culture. The dictionary definition of addiction is the state of enslavement to a practice or habit, or to something that is habit forming (either physically or psychologically) to the point where trauma is caused - an emotional shock that damages a person's psychological development in a lasting, damaging way, often leading to neurosis. The word addiction comes from the word addictio, which means to surrender or give something over.

Thomas Moor, the author and spiritual leader, asserts that most addictive behavior is just us distorting or interpreting the longing in our souls. When we don't really know who we are or what we really need or want, we are much more likely to revert to all the conditioned, programmed actions we learned as defense mechanisms when we were children, behaviors that helped us temporarily deal with our longings or quench our thirst for them. When we have potentially harmful internal ways to comfort ourselves, especially where externally referenced "object love" is concerned, often this can unwittingly lay a foundation on which addictive love and relationships are built.

The ancient Greeks had several words for love. Thelema was the desire to do something; storge was natural affection; philia was friendly, loyal love; agape was selfless giving. And of course there was eros, the passionate, romantic love based on longing and desire. In English, although we have many words to describe different aspects of that desire - endearment, worship, affection, lust, passion, rapture - there is in fact only one word we have to describe love itself. When you add addiction into the love equation, you really have something that is in a class by itself, and that can be a really dark and dangerous place to venture for everyone involved.

Pattern forming in itself is not inherently bad, and in fact we often rely on repetition and healthy patterns to make ourselves successful. The problem begins when the repetition we engage in is unhealthy or destructive. If we can catch these patterns before they become addictions, then we have an opportunity for deeper self-examination and self-inquiry.

But what if you're the kind of person who thrives on the dramatic? Bad boys seem so much more interesting than nice guys. And that may be true... for a while. If you think your thirst for drama has lead you down an unhealthy path, here are some ways to help test whether you are affected by relationship addiction:

• Do you try your hardest to be sexier, more agreeable, or more accommodating toward this person in order to keep them interested?



• Do you act in a way you normally wouldn't when you are around this person?



• Do you find yourself rationalizing this person's behavior or actions, to yourself or others?



• Do you and this person have very different core values and behavioral standards?



• Is there something about your relationship that seems exciting and forbidden?



• Does it seem that your attraction for this person has grown into its own entity?



• Do you feel a natural high when you get a call or message from this person?



• Do you find yourself fidgety or restless when you don't know where this person is?



• Do you have a feeling of emptiness, feeling ultimately unfulfilled by this relationship as time goes by?



• Has your relationship caused other important relationships in your life to suffer or fail?



• Do you make excuses to stay even though you know your relationship is unhealthy or dangerous?



• Do you know that this is not the right relationship for you, but you can't bring yourself to leave?

Awareness is one of the most important factors in all this, and I applaud your courage if you think you may be in an addictive relationship and you are finding the strength to label it as such. If you're dealing with that struggle now, try keeping a journal of your relationship habits, and see if that doesn't bring you some clarity. Sometimes seeing things written down can be a big reality check. If you find yourself needing help to overcome an addictive relationship or to start developing healthier relationship patterns, try contacting your local chapter of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, who are dedicated to helping men and women deal with their relationship addictions.


- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Maryanne's teaching another emotional and physical self-defense workshop in Santa Rosa, CA along with karate black belts. More info on http://askmaryannelive.com. Can't get to Maryanne in person? Her new DVD series, launched this week gives you personal, expert relationship advice from the comfort of your own home. Discover: Six critical tools for your relationship tool belt, which of your relationship patterns are destroying your chances for having a great relationship, why having sex too soon can be a deal breaker ~ and more! Click here