How to Lose Belly Fat has got to be one of the most searched issues on the internet, wouldn't you agree?  A google search on the matter will produce millions of results.  Health and weight loss are important topics and it is understandable - to a point - that in this age of information at our finger tips we look for ways to optimize our health and appearance. But at some point you have to move on from the "research" and put into place some action and good habits that will produce the results you're searching.

First of all, when it comes to weight loss and good health in general, don't be fooled by all the information available, into thinking that there is something magical out there.  There is not.  We already know everything we need to know. The key to a healthy body is to eat a balanced diet, in moderation, and exercise. SIMPLE!  It doesn't get any easier than that.

One problem is we are hard wired to want more and want better. Bigger, better houses, cars, salaries, clothes, etc. Everything in excess, including what we eat!  So we eat too much and we have gotten so far away from natural whole foods with all the gravies, special sauces, and deep fried everything, that we are not only piling empty fats into our foods, but we are depriving our bodies of basic things that benefit them.

The other big problem is now that you are armed with all the information to make good decisions and have made a plan to build a healthy, fit body, you have to REMEMBER to do it.  We are such creatures of habit that we simply forget what we intended to do.  If you have 30 minutes to leave work and grab something to eat, it does not immediately cross your mind to drive through Subway if you have been eating at McDonalds every day for 6 months. It is a great idea to do some sit ups and glute squeezes during your Sunday night TV watching marathon!  But week after week you forget until the next day.  For many people, it is not the know how or the motivation that is lacking, it is the breaking of old habits and starting new ones!

This takes us back to the old WRITE IT DOWN method.  It's not as fancy to say as, "I'm on the South Beach Diet", but it is MORE effective. Put notes about making good food and exercise choices all through your to do list for the day.  If you don't use a to do list, START NOW!  We have too much to remember day after day and something always gets forgotten.  And what gets forgotten, put on the back burner, or skipped over entirely is always the stuff that pertains to us, our bodies, our health, and well being.   

SO regardless of whether you decide upon a new eating style, dietary supplement, or work out plan,  focus on the HABIT of making those changes, and the changes will fall into place. 

I am not really into jewelry at all.  I don't like diamonds, I am not dazzled by gold.  I do like great big fashion necklaces and bold rings to accessorize an outfit, and I like Tiffany's silver because I am a big fan of the movie BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S.  Other than that, unless the piece has some special meaning, such as the silver rope mustard seed bracelet I received from a friend when I was going through a tough time, I am not likely to get excited about it.  Jewelry means different things to different people and that is probably the most important thing to consider when contemplating giving jewelry as a gift.

In addition to a woman's personal taste in jewelry, jewelry can say many things ranging from "I have fun with you" to "you are the one".  So guys, if you want to make your girl happy, you have to recognize what she likes AND give some thought to the message you want to send.

In my blogging travels I ran across a jewelry website that offers some simple guidelines to giving a gift of jewelry.  Whether or not you would find just the perfect bauble for your lady, I can't say.  But in my opinion as a woman, they have nailed the essence and appropriateness of each piece of jewelry.

The jewelry tips for guys  at the website hooked me right away by starting with earrings and claiming they are probably the first piece of jewelry a guy will buy for his girlfriend.  The first gift my husband bought me, for our first Christmas together, was diamond earrings.  I was nodding in agreement as I read on about the intimacy of having a necklace fastened around my neck, the sense of commitment that accompanies a ring, and the fun reminder of my suitor's affection as I see the bracelet dangling from my wrist.

Sometimes we trip over our words or just plain have a hard time expressing ourselves.  The right piece of jewelry can say just the right thing if know how to use it. Likewise, the wrong piece of jewelry can make a real mess of things.  So take the time to figure out what she likes, and consider those jewelry tips for guys, regardless of what stage of the relationship you are in and what you're trying to say.  

With so many choices right now in affordable housing, it is easy to find just what you're looking for, assuming you can obtain a mortgage. Stick built, foreclosures, modulars and manufactured homes are all at rock bottom prices and yours for the picking.  Which one is right for you?

When it comes to financing, refinancing, and resale, a stick built home is always your best option. These are traditional houses, built on site, conforming to HUD and local codes.  These homes will best hold their value and will come with the lowest interest rates from the bank.  An owner occupied stick built home is typically the best choice for the average home buyer because it is most likely to have been well maintained and appropriately updated. A foreclosure will generally be priced lower but the condition will vary from intentional damages to simple neglect from being vacant. If you have some cash to make necessary repairs, this is a good option.

Modular and Manufactured homes are two other options.  Although the resale value is significantly lower and the banks charge higher interest rates and stricter guidelines, they tend to offer more square footage for the money, making it the best choice for families who need a lot of space, but have a smaller budget.

If you're contemplating buying a home, a loan officer is the best place to start asking questions about financing each of the above options and finding out what will be best for you. 

It seems like we are zooming right past Fall and into Winter, doesn't it? As it is, this time of year hosts so many problems for me, from how to dress to stocking the medicine cabinet.  Autumn is such a beautiful time of year it is disappointing to have it shortened. 

You know we have barely made it back to school and made good use out of the back to school clothes we had to buy because the kids had big growth spurts over the summer.  We had to get a few summer type outfits but the bulk of shopping was the cooler weather stuff. Temperatures have dropped so much, though, that we are almost in need of our winter clothes already.  In addition to that we have been nickeled and dimed by school supplies, school pictures, after school activities, fund raisers, and more.

Luckily I was a little proactive and started stocking the cold and flu season portion of the medicine cabinet as things have gone on sale.  Of course the best treatment is prevention and you could save some money and stress by getting your flu shot ad H1N1 shot now. Some insurance companies, like bcbsnc, are even covering the cost of the H1N1 shot for its members.  Might be worth the call to find out.

I know we are nowhere near what winter is really like and I do enjoy fall, but if it's going to bounce back and forth and spend time in this in between state I would rather it just take us into winter.  It may be cold and miserable but at least we can be prepared.   

So seriously I think I have developed ten year's worth of wrinkles in the twelve months.  I don't get it. I suppose it could have something to do with turning 40.  Then there is the fact that I am carrying a lot of stress.  And oh yeah, my very strict skincare routine that I have had since I was a pre-teen has desintigrated over the last five years or so. 

Turning 40 was not really that bad.  I think I have actually reallly embraced it.  The calm, the wisdom, and the attitude are all welcome additions to what had, in recent years, become a frazzled existence.  Everybody frazzles when they become parents, though, right?  It's a temporary chaos, one I am glad to see fading away as the kids have become so adjusted and happy in their newest surroundings.

Stress wreaks havoc all over your life, at any age, doesn't it?  Money is probably the biggest stressor in most households in the world. For the most part I haven't had a problem making the necessary adjustments to keep us on track financially. My biggest challenge is keeping my husband from becoming negative, dwelling on what we cannot get and feeling like we are sinking while everyone else around us is thriving.  Not many people are thriving, unfortunately, and we are fortunate to still have a roof over our heads and food in the fridge.  It might not be AS MUCH food, or as abundant in snacks and variety of food, but we aren't going hungry.  We need to be thankful for that.

This wrinkles business, however, I am having a harder time with! So I decided to figure out how I could afford myself some skincare products without spending as much as I have in the past.  There are so many things I need though. The cleanser, the toner, the moisturizer, the anti wrinkle cream, and the lip treatment.  That's not even counting the make up! I'm rolling with eye shadow and powder from 2005.  Even the most generic brands in all these products are going to cost a lot and it's giving me hot flashes thinking about it. Forget it.  I better just buy some warm weather school clothes for the kids. I suppose that's higher on the priorities list anyway.