With the New Year right around the corner, here’s a great way to keep our families looking great and staying healthy.  Starting January 8, we can take care of America when we take care of our families – and our wallets – with Johnson & Johnson Healthy Essentials.  Look for the Healthy Essentials savings pack in your Sunday paper January 8, and for each coupon redeemed through January 15, Johnson & Johnson will donate one meal to FEEDING®AMERICA™, up to one million meals!

The Johnson and Johnson Healthy Essentials savings pack includes $190 in coupons and rebates on family favorite brands including: AVEENO®, NEUTROGENA®, LISTERINE®, Johnson’s®, Splenda®, BAND-AID®, OneTouch®, VIACTIV®, RoC®, REMBRANDT®, VISINE®,  DESITIN®, NEOSPORIN®, LUBRIDERM®, BENGAY®, STAYFREE®, CAREFREE®, CORTAID®, and REACH®.  Coupons can also be downloaded starting January 8 via www.healthyessentials.com.

Stay hydrated!  Drink at least one half your body weight of water in ounces each day.  (i.e. a 200 pound person needs at least 100 ounces per/day)  Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are dehydrators. Don’t substitute them for water. On shopping days, you may need to drink even more water.

A calorie is not a calorie.  Empty calories coming from sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed foods have no nutritional value and can increase your appetite for 90 minutes after consumption.  On average, people gain five to six pounds during the holidays.  Make choices that include organic fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.

Minimize or avoid sugar. The equivalent of two cans of soda, which equal 100 g. or 8 Tbsp.  decreases the ability of white blood cells to kill “germs” by 40 percent.

Stretch, Stretch and Stretch again. Be sure to stretch before and after a long day of shopping. When you are stressed-out, your muscles are less flexible than usual.

Leave your purse at home. Carry a smaller purse or clutch and consider wearing a light fanny pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead. Pack only those items that are absolutely essential (driver’s license, credit card, etc.).

Wrapping Gifts.  Since there is no “ideal” position for wrapping gifts, the most important thing to remember is to vary your positions. For example, try standing at a table or countertop for one package, sitting on a bed for another, sitting in a comfortable chair for another, etc.

Don’t forget to rest.  Sleep is vital. Your body literally rejuvenates and heals while you are sleeping.

Parents need to talk with children about safety before heading out to a busy shopping mall or boarding a plane, train, or bus this holiday season. Crowds are greater this time of year and children may easily become separated from their parents, causing confusion and fear. If that should happen, parents need a plan and children should know what to do. 

“Unfortunately many adults and children don’t know what to do if they lose each other in a public place or are faced with other unsafe situations,” said actor Tim Kang.    “That’s why the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is offering advice on how to remain safe and avoid panic and potential dangers.”

ALWAYS:

•  Keep children with you at all times while shopping.
• Accompany and supervise children in public facilities, including restrooms.
• Have a plan in case you become separated, including a pre-designated spot to meet.
• Teach children to look for people who can help, such as a uniformed security officer, salesperson or mother with children. 
• Remind children to remain in the area where they become separated.

NEVER:

•  Dress children in clothing that displays their first or last names, prompting unwelcome attention from people looking for an opportunity to start a conversation with your child.
• Leave children in toy stores or public facilities expecting supervision from store personnel.
• Go shopping or attend a public event with a child if you feel you’re going to be distracted. Make other arrangements for child care ahead of time. 
• Allow younger children to shop on their own to purchase surprise gifts for friends or family members.
• Drop off older children at a mall or public place without agreeing on a clear plan for picking them up, including: where, what time, and what to do in case of a change in plans.

If your child is flying or riding a train or bus alone this holiday season, NCMEC urges parents to remember the following travel safety tips:

•  When you make reservations for your child, specify that the child will be traveling alone. 
• Whenever possible, book a non-stop flight or direct route.  Avoid booking the last flight of the day.
• Plan to visit the airport, train or bus terminal prior to departure. Let your child know what to expect, so the experience will not be so intimidating.
• In case of delay or cancellation, remain at the station or gate until the train, plane or bus departs.
• Make sure children travel with proper identification and parents or guardian contact information.
• Always have a back-up plan for the person or people meeting the plane at the destination, in case they are delayed.
• Encourage children not to become too friendly with other passengers or to reveal any personal information. 

Additional safety tips can be found at www.missingkids.com.

While Curel® Skincare offers the soothing care to help heal and replenish dry skin, Katie Brown is taking care of the rest, giving you tips and tricks to survive the holidays and care for your friends, your family and yourself during the season of giving. The author of numerous books on cooking, gardening and decorating, home expert Katie Brown is the beloved host of multiple successful TV shows.

“The holiday season can be so hectic, it’s easy to lose sight of what it’s all about—appreciating the friends and family who support us,” says Brown. “I’m thrilled to be working with Curel® Skincare in their support of Meals On Wheels to help those who don’t have that support system.”

 Consumers can log on to Curel.com to watch exclusive videos, featuring Katie’s holiday survival tips.

“Over 6 million seniors are facing the threat of hunger in our country,” said Enid Borden, president and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America. “We are proud that the Curel® Skincare experts are working to support our mission.”

To view Katie Brown’s exclusive holiday survival tips and learn about the mission of Meals On Wheels Association of America, visit Curel.com. To receive therapeutic skincare all holiday season, visit your local drugstore to find restorative Curel® Skincare moisturizers.

 Arthritis affects more than 50 million Americans and is the nation’s leading cause of disability.  Recent studies have shown that regular use of massage therapy can lead to a reduction in pain and joint stiffness and enhance range of motion for those with arthritis.    

 To schedule an appointment for October 12, visit MassageEnvy.com to locate the clinic nearest you.  Visit www.arthritis.org to learn about the Healing Hands for Arthritis event and the benefits of massage for those with arthritis.

Since 2009, ULTA Beauty’s Windows of Love campaign, this year called Windows of Love – Donate with a Kiss, has created a visual testament to the combined efforts of ULTA Beauty customers and employees to support BCRF’s mission to fund research related to the causes, treatment, prevention and cure of breast cancer in our lifetime.   In 2010 ULTA Beauty raised more than half a million dollars to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

 ULTA Beauty will provide several ways to contribute to fund-raising efforts for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation:

 DONATE WITH A KISS

•  Those who donate $1 to BCRF at ULTA Beauty stores can register to win a beauty bag of pink products, valued at $598; one winner per store will be chosen by random drawing.  A “kiss” decal will be given for each $1 donation, which can be posted in the store or windows.
• Those who make a contribution of $10 to BCRF can receive their choice of a Pink Ribbon Umbrella or a Pink Ribbon Cosmetic Bag, and receive 10 “kisses!”*
• The Pink Ribbon Cosmetic Bag is also available at ULTA.com.

*With every $10 contribution, customers will receive their choice of an umbrella or cosmetic bag and a donation of $7.00 will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. For customers who choose not to receive an umbrella or cosmetic bag, 100% of the contribution will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

 LIMITED EDITION, EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS TO BENEFIT BCRF

•  Philosophy offers ULTA Beauty’s #1 selling moisturizer in special pink packaging!  Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar Limited Edition in Pink is the award-winning, lightweight daily moisturizer that hydrates and provides antioxidant protection, while improving skin texture and tone, leaving it smooth and radiant. Exclusive to ULTA Beauty stores and available online at ULTA.com for $38.  Philosophy donates $5.00 to BCRF from the sale of this product.
• Stila is offering their “Empowered in Pink” Travel Palette exclusively at ULTA Beauty stores for $14, with $1 from each sale donated to BCRF.  The palette includes a collection of four Stila eye shadows, cheek color, and highlighter in a chic, mirrored palette.
• Both Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar Limited Edition in Pink and the Stila “Empowered in Pink” Travel Palette exclusive products are also available at ULTA.com.

THE SALON CUT-A-THON

•  Customers can participate in The Salon at ULTA Beauty’s Cut-A-Thon benefitting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation on Sunday, October 16th from 11a.m. – 6p.m. in all ULTA Beauty stores nationwide.   For a minimum suggested donation of $10, supporters can receive a cut, shampoo & style by ULTA Beauty’s professionally trained stylists.  All proceeds, 100%, will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  The Salon at ULTA Beauty proudly uses Redken and CHI professional products.

“Our Windows of Love program is a unique, combined effort that includes our customers, company and its employees,” says Chuck Rubin, CEO, ULTA Beauty.  ”We look forward to another successful year of raising funds together in support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

 ”Through their commitment to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, ULTA and its customers have shown the world how big their hearts are in helping to fund life-saving research,” said Myra J. Biblowit, President of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  ”The Windows of Love campaign is one of the most unique programs.  Windows of Love not only raises much needed dollars, it engages the important ULTA community in this fight.”

 For details on ULTA Beauty’s Windows of Love – Donate with a Kiss campaign, visit www.ulta.com/windowsoflove.

 For women living in Chicago, the Special K brand will host a live runway event on August 30, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thompson Center.  Television personality and style expert Robert Verdi will be on hand to offer women runway secrets for how to look confident while sporting jeans before they take their walk down a pop-up runway. Women can come to support each other, meet Robert Verdi, and take pictures or videos while sampling new Dark Chocolate Special K Protein Shakes and Special K Fruit Crisps.  

 ”As the Special K brand demonstrates with their ad campaign this fall, it’s not the number on the tag of the jeans that matters, but being more confident and secure in your denim,” said Verdi. “Women walk a little taller and strut a little more when they feel good about how they look in a great pair of jeans. When women support and cheer each other on, true beauty surrounds us.”

 Still, with jeans season quickly approaching, many women struggle to fit into their favorite jeans from last season. For them, the Special K Challenge™ can help to kick start their weight-management goals by serving as a simple, great-tasting way to drop a jean size and lose up to six pounds in two weeks(1). Women simply replace two meals with a serving of Special K cereal or meal replacement shake/protein meal bar, followed by a sensible, balanced third meal for a period of two weeks.

 Whether a woman is comfortable with her current weight or wants to drop a few pounds this fall as part of the Special K Challenge(2), Verdi offers a number of tips that will help every woman feel confident and cute in her favorite jeans. Among those tips:

•  Flaunt What You’ve Got: Focus on that body part that you love – whether it is your killer smile or your fabulous hair – don’t be afraid to show off your best assets.  
• Visualize Success: Use the visual cue of yourself on the runway of a national fashion show while you are walking around your home, office, or community. Carry yourself with the same confidence as the famous models.
• Day and Night: Take your daytime denim from casual chic to evening elegant by pairing darker wash jeans with a sequin top, chandelier earrings and a pair of sassy stilettos.
• Color is the Cure for the Post-Summer Blues: Add some color to your jean routine by testing out a pair of red jeans.
• Drop a Jean Size: Feeling a bit sluggish after one too many summer barbecues? The Special K Challenge can be a great way to drop a jean size in two weeks(3).

 The first one million people to sign up for the online class will be eligible to receive an exclusive, limited edition Oprah’s Lifeclass Journal, and can enter for the chance to meet Oprah in-person at the O You! event hosted by O, The Oprah Magazine.  In addition, up to fifteen winners will receive an all expense paid trip to Atlanta to participate in O You!, where they will be the first students in Oprah’s class and join her on stage.

 OWN is partnering with Care2, Shine on Yahoo! and numerous Cable, Satellite and Telco distribution partners to reach the goal of one million students by October 10.

 Sixteen million viewers in the United States alone tuned in for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” finale.  In the historic final hour, Oprah took the stage as teacher in the world’s biggest classroom highlighting the principles that guide her life, many of which were gleaned from the 4,561 hours of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”  In an all-new series, “Oprah’s Lifeclass,” Oprah reaches back through the show’s 25 year history to teach the lessons that matter most to her …  the guidelines for fulfilling your life’s potential, breaking through your barriers, understanding your purpose, letting go of anger, how to use joy to fuel your life, and becoming all you were meant to be.  Oprah will share her most personal revelations, and what she thinks now about those iconic show moments and guests.  ”Oprah’s Lifeclass” will also have an online companion, Oprah’s Lifeclass, including actual course work on Oprah.com, for an even more enriching experience.  “Oprah’s Lifeclass” premieres Monday, October 10 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT), and is produced by Harpo Productions.

O You! will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for a day dedicated to you and living your best life on Saturday, October 15.  Every year, this full-day event brings Oprah fans from around the world together for a truly memorable day of learning, inspiration and fun.  Attendees can participate in panels led by O, The Oprah Magazine contributors Suze Orman, Dr. Oz, Nate Berkus, Martha Beck, Donna Brazile, Peter Walsh, Bob Greene, Adam Glassman and Val Monroe.  For event and ticket information, please visit www.oprah.com/oyou.

David Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, Principal Investigator and a pioneer in the area of glycemic control for diabetics said, “Nuts, including peanuts, can make a valuable contribution to the diabetic diet by displacing high glycemic index carbohydrates and replacing them with vegetable fats and vegetable proteins which have been shown in the long term to be associated with better cardiovascular health and diabetes prevention.”

Peanuts have more protein than any other nut and are a source of mono and polyunsaturated oils.  The paper reports that, “increased proportions of fat and protein, especially of plant origin, may confer metabolic benefits and reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease and diabetes.”

The study, “Nuts as a Replacement for Carbohydrates in the Diabetic Diet”, was conducted at the University of Toronto.  During the study, 117 men and women with type 2 diabetes were randomized into three groups where they received either a full portion of mixed nuts including peanuts, a half portion of both nuts and muffins, or a full portion of muffins. The muffins were made of healthy whole wheat with protein from egg and skim milk powder.  Participants’ fasting blood glucose were tested every other week.

After three months, participants receiving the full portion of nuts showed the biggest decrease in glycated hemoglobin (HgA1c), a measure of blood glucose control. The difference was significantly more than the decrease shown in the participants receiving the half portion of nuts and muffins, and in those solely receiving muffins.  Peanut and tree nut intake also decreased total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol in the blood compared to the other groups. It is notable that reductions in HgA1c and LDL cholesterol were achieved even though the majority of the subjects were already on antihyperglycemic medications and statins that lower cholesterol.

The authors conclude that nuts, such as peanuts, “may be used to increase vegetable oils and protein intake in the diets of type 2 diabetic patients as part of a strategy to improve diabetes control without weight gain.”  

The article says that weight maintenance could have occurred in nut eaters for a few reasons including increased resting metabolic rate, enhanced satiety resulting in decreased intake of other foods, or incomplete absorption of energy.  Studies done specifically on peanut eaters have demonstrated each of these factors.

This new clinical trial is an important milestone demonstrating glycemic control and builds on an earlier population study published in JAMA in 2006.  Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health concluded, “Our findings suggest potential benefits of higher nut and peanut butter consumption in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes in women.”  

Peanuts are the most commonly eaten nuts in America.  Combined with peanut butter, peanuts comprise over two-thirds of U.S. nut consumption according to USDA data.  Numerous studies have shown that consumption of peanuts and peanut butter is beneficial in keeping blood glucose stable, improving satiety and decreasing hunger, maintaining weight, and reducing risk of heart disease.

The 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines called for Americans to shift towards a more nutrient-dense, plant-based diet.  Peanuts, peanut butter and nuts are foods to encourage daily.  This may be particularly useful in preventing the onset of diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is growing at a dangerously rapid rate.  Worldwide, the number of people with diabetes has increased over 40% since 1980.

 The study was funded in part by The Peanut Institute, the International Nut Council, and the Canada Research Chairs Endowment Fund.

 The Peanut Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting nutrition research and educational programs that contribute to healthful lifestyles.  For further information on this and other studies visit www.peanut-institute.org

Cindy shares the following tips for you to keep in mind while manifesting new experiences:

* Value yourself as a beautiful human being.  Know that what you focus on expand — meaning if you see yourself as beautiful, you will become so, and will be viewed this way by others.

* Stop comparing and competing — it will only perpetuate ill feelings of yourself, which in turn will only attract more negative experiences.

* Create a handwritten list of all the things, people, and experiences you deserve.  Taking time to validate your worth is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself; it teaches your subconscious to seek and therefore attract only worthwhile experiences.

* Stop self-deprecating.  Telling yourslef that you’re fat, ugly or old, even in jest, weakens your energy.  You are made up of a positive, loving energy that natrually seeks its “like” components.  When you put yourself down, you halt this ethereal substance and create nonphysical (emotional) blocks or physical (disease) blocks.

* Make a gratitude list, a wish poster, or journal of all the things you wish to receive.  The subconscious only reacts to what you give it — so consciously create a purpose to receive.

* Forgive yourself for being too judgemental towards yourself or others.  Everything you’ve ever thought of has created your life’s experiences up to this moment.  When you choose to forgive yourself and others, you instantly start creating on a new canvas.

For more of Cindy’s tips, check out my book, The Chic Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous (Amazon.com).