A really BIG gift

Stumped on a holiday gift. Tired of the malls. Give a manatee. You can give an adoption package as a gift and you get the tax deduction. Nice, huh. Also the recipient gets an adoption certificate, a manatee photo and a biography, for just 25 dollars. The money goes to conservation and education programs. Details here.

A reason to smile

Smile! It's contagious. When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A study has found that happiness is contagious and that you can spread your cheer easily and to strangers. Study also found happiness can last a year. Now a happy cupcake makes me smile on the inside! More on happiness here.

Small Holiday idea

Think small this year. Forget overpriced gifts that will wipe out your bank account. Go small and help a cause. Adopt a Koala Bear. You get a certificate and information on how the little cute one was rescued for as little as 26 dollars. Details here.

Forget the hourglass figure

If you've been exercising and dieting like crazy to try to get the much sought after hourglass figure, good news, you can stop now. Researchers have found that even though pop culture worships the hourglass figure, it's not natural and the best for women. In fact, the hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress also tend to redistribute fat from the hips to the waist. So what if we look like cylinders! Read more about it here.

Hello to Yellow

With the economy putting everyone in a doom and gloom mood, color experts say we can say hello to yellow in 2009. Yellow to brighten up our grey moods will be found on everything from appliances to fashions. After all, it is the color of the sun! I happen to have yellow in my dining room, so I'm very cheery when I'm eating. Details here.
What color cheers you up?

College affordability?

College affordability sounds like an oxymoron. Who can afford college these days? New study flunks all but one state when it comes to affordability. The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education handed out F's for affordability to 49 states, up from 43 two years ago. Only California gets a passing grade. Read more about it here.

Lots of TV harms kids

If your kids watch a lot of tv, surf the web and play video games all the time, you figure they're probably going to gain weight from lack of exercise. But new research shows that's not all that will happen. The more kids play video games and watch tv, the more likelihood they'll smoke and engage in sexual activity sooner. You can read more about it here and then reconsider that new video game for Christmas.

Toys to avoid

If you're about to go toy shopping for your little ones, please remember safety. There is a top ten list of the toys you might want to avoid because they pose some safety concerns. The number one issue is the choking hazard. Many toys have removeable parts that can be swallowed. The thing to remember is if the toy or part can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it probably could be swallowed. Here's the list.

Students ethically challenged

New study out finds students think they're good, when they're really not. Some 64 percent admit to cheating on a test, 30 percent admit to stealing from a store, but 98 percent think their ethics and characters are good. Sounds like we need more ethics lessons. Read more about it here.

Phones distract drivers most

New study finds cell phones distract drivers more than chatty passengers. It also found that we drive no better whether we're using hands-free phones or not. And that passengers will stop chatting to help us drive better. In the end, phones are bad, people are good. Details here.

Holiday pet dangers

Before you decorate your house with mistletoe and cook up a storm, be careful with certain foods and plants that can be harmful and toxic to your pets. Grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts are dangerous for dogs. Mistletoe, holly and lillies can be toxic. And don't forget chocolate. More details here.

Santa shortage?

Hard to believe in these tough economic times, there is a Santa shortage, but there is. But it's not here in the U-S. It's in Germany, where they have tougher standards. Santa, not only has to be cheerful and chubby, but also has to be a good actor who can't be seen driving to his location. He must park several blocks away, so kids don't see him in a car, and not a sleigh. But the payoff is good. 75 bucks an hour! How do you say Merry Christmas in German? Details here.

Naps are good

With Thanksgiving Day just two days away, good news from the experts: We should all take a nap. A nice nap after a belly full of turkey sounds good. Researchers found when adults take naps, they get creative, remember better and see the big picture. And I see the "big picture" on Thanksgiving Day as a day of eating--after eating turkey and all the fixings, we all take a nap. Then wake up, and have some turkey sandwiches. Details here about napping.

Turkey day tops for fires

If you're cooking this Thanksgiving Holiday, please remember some basic food safety tips, like keeping the kids out of the kitchen and all flammable products away from the stove. Thanksgiving Day is the top day for home cooking fires. More tips here.

Auditions for kids

The Roxy Theatre Group is hosting open auditions for "West Side Story" Friday, Nov. 21st at 6 p.m. Girls, ages 11 to 25 and boys ages 13 to 25, are welcome at the Roxy Performing Arts Center, 1645 SW 107 Ave. in Miami, across from Florida International University South Campus. (305-226-0030)

Sunday fun for kids

It's called Sunday Afternoons of Music For Children. And that's what it is at the University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall this Sunday. Bring the kids to see and hear "Peter and the Wolf & Friends," with the Frost Symphony Orchestra. Before the performance there's the musical instrument petting zoo and after, apple juice, balloons and cookies. Details here.

Childhood obesity link to ads

We all watch tv and see those tempting commercials for food. Now researchers believe there is a link bewteen fast food tv ads and childhood obesity and if there was a ban on those commercials, childhood obesity would be reduced by 18 percent. I'm not sure how they can come up with these claims. But I'm thinking if that were true, let's ban everything tasty looking on TV and we'll all lose weight. More on the research here.

Kids need to play

We're busy and so are our kids. We work, they go to school. And then there's homework, soccer, karate and planned playdates. Experts say kids need to play more and the lack of playtime is hurting them. They say kids need to learn creativity and social skills through unscheduled play time. Kids just being kids. Read more about it here.

Nat'l. Geographic goes video

National Geographic is getting into video games. The first title already out is available for computers and the iphone. It's "Herod's Lost Tomb." They're calling it entertainment with substance. Coming up, they're going to launch games for Nintendo DS about Pandas, and Zoo's. And down the road, titles include "Rain Forests," "Greencity" and "Africa." The timing couldn't be better. How far away are the holidays? Details here.

Pembroke Pines is Tops

In a new survey, Pembroke Pines is ranked as one of the best palces to raise your kids in 2009, according to BusinessWeek. The ranking based on school performance, crime rates, air quailty, parks theater and arts, as well as diversity. If I didn't live there already, I'd move! Read more about it here.