Want To Spend Less?

Brigham Young University found that the higher the heel, the less likely you are to overspend.  Concentrating on your balance may be the trick to tricking your brain into making more balanced decisions.  Well, I could have told you that walking the mall in high heels is just plain uncomfortable so that would end my shopping trip in a hurry. 

Delicious Dinner on a Dollar

Here is one of my favorite recipes that is cheap to make:  Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs
(Serve over hot sticky rice or buttery noodles)
Meatballs:
1 egg
 1/4 cup milk
2 slices of bread ripped up
1 pound of ground beef
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp oil
In a large bowl mix the egg with the milk then add the bread pieces.  Add the ground beef and spices and onion.  Pour the oil into a frying pan.  Form meat balls.  Brown for six minutes on medium heat.
Apple Glaze:
1 cup apple juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp corn starch
Add everything together over medium heat.  Boil for two minutes until it thickens.
Pour sauce over fully cooked meatballs.   Top with green onions.  YUMMY!

16 No-Diet Weight Loss Tips

16 No-Diet Weight Loss Tips:  The NO DIET PLAN
1.  Fill up with fruit.  Penn State researchers found that people who ate one large apple 15 minutes before lunch ate 187 fewer calories during lunch that those who didn't.
2.  Sleep away your flab.  University of Chicago scientists discovered that people that lost 3 hours of slumber ate about 200 more calories that day just from snacks.
3.  Pump up with protein.  University of Illinois found that people who ate higher amounts of protein were more likely to stick to their diets than those who ate more carbohydrates.
4.  Fight fat with fat.  Fish isn't just good for your heart; it's good for your gut.  Omega-3 fatty acids make you feel fuller longer.  Eat salmon.
5.  Control your anxiety.  Researchers from the Netherlands found that stress and anxiety cause you to overeat when you are not hungry.
6.  Unplug the TV.  Watching TV while you eat may cause you to consume more food later.  UK scientists found that people who watched a video during lunch ate more later.
7.  Make fit friends.  Keeping excess weight off can be difficult if you have heavy pals.  We tend to emulate our friend's behavior.
8.  Walk away from chocolate.  Take a short walk can weaken you chocolate cravings.
9.  Resist the BLOB mentality.  When you eat with an obese person, you are more likely to have seconds.
10.  Write off those pounds.  That's right, record everything you eat.  Keep a food journal.
11.  Ignore your server.  Don't ask for more butter or bread.  Pass on the sugary drinks and sodas and desserts.
12.  Order the small.  Fast food chains encourage you to super size everything but resist the big gulps and go for small.
13.  Watch out for weekends.  We tend to eat more on the weekends when we don't have a set routine..
14.  Don't clean your plate.  Stop eating when you are full not when you have cleaned your plate.  Try to leave some leftovers.
15.  Drink more water.  Some people confuse thirst for hunger.  Water fuels your body's fat burners.
16.  Cut up your food.  Japanese researchers proved that slicing your food into strips or small chunks help you eat less.

7 Habits of Highly Obese People

Here are David Zinczenko's 7 Habits of Highly Obese People:
1.  They use larger plates. 98% of those with the highest BMI had the larger of the two plates at a buffet.  Fool yourself and use a smaller plate that makes you look like you have more.
2.  They eat while looking at food.  The sight of food makes you want to eat more so face away from the food counter or buffet.
3.  They eat with maximum efficiency.  Use chopsticks instead of forks.
4.  They clean off their plates.  94% cleaned off their plates.  It's OK to leave a bite behind.
5.  They chew less.  Researchers actually showed that obese people take fewer chews.
6.  They dive in.  Leanest people usually scope out their food and food choices before eating while obese people just start loading up.
7.  They skip breakfast.  By skipping breakfast you raise your risk of obesity by 450%!!

Find Your Most Flattering Skirt!

Skirts are amazing and flattering.  They can hide all kinds of flaws (unlike pants).  You can dress them up or go more causal.  Here is the way to find your most flattering skirt:
1.  If you have a tummy-Ruffles down the front hide a pooch while the skirt shape keeps the rest of you slim.
2.  If you are pear shaped-A flowy skirt with a defined waist will emphasize your trim mid-section and balance your curvy lower half.
3.  If you are a curvy hour glass-The pencil skirt is your best friend.  It hugs your shape creating a lean line that makes you look lean, not large.
4.  If you are petite-A swingy skirt that hit to the knee and give you alot of movement and add some length to your legs.

How To Wear Flats (And Not Look Frumpy)

Flats are huge right now and they are so fun and functional.  They are coming out in so many styles and colors.  They are so chic that you can wear them instead of heels.  Here's some hints on how to wear flats without looking frumpy:
1.  Pointy-when the shoes is pointy and shaped it looks elegant and elongate your legs.
2.  Go for the gusto-try bright colored shoes or graphics or two toned
3.  Get the right hand bag-wear a bigger hand bag instead of a dinky bag
4.  Go for the Jackie O. look-patterned pants and a shirt and flats

How To Wear Patterned Pants

There are some fun patterned pants that every woman can wear.  Here's how:
1.  Top it off with a solid black or navy pull over sweater and a heel
2.  Go bold with a button down cardigan like in bright yellow and a scarf
3.  A cute peplum with a scarf and flats or heels
4.  A flowy cardigan that drapes and disguises.  Wear gold earrings and a gold watch and flats.

LaVell Edward's Chocolate Chip Cake

BYU football season is coming right up and here is former BYU coach's LaVell Edwards famous Chocolate Chip Cake:  (Super easy and yummy)
1 yellow cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
1 package of instant chocolate pudding mix (small)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350.  Mix all of the above ingredients.  Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes.  Cool one hour before removing from pan.  (I personally like to drizzle my cake with a buttercream frosting), made with 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla and 3 cups of powdered sugar.  Add cream to soften and drizzle.

Some of My Favorite Products

Here is a list of some of my favorite every day products:
1.  Maybelline New York Volume Express the Rocket Mascara-$8
2.  Eyeliner-Pacifica Enlighten Eye Brightening Shadow-$12 Target
3.  Blush-Almay Smart Shade Powder Blush-$11 drugstores
4.  Foundation-L'Oreal Paris Visible Lift CC Cream-$13 drugstores
5.  Concealer-L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer-$9 drugstores
6.  Primer-Sonia Kashuk Perfecting Brightening Primer-$15 Target
7.  Nail Polish-OPI Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer-$9