The Atlanta Journal Constitution, one of my favorite Southern news sources, put out an online holiday fitness gift guide.  For our Healthy Living gift guide, check out this story:

For the Atlanta Journal article, click here .

Be sure to send me your ideas and suggestions for healthy gifits. I'd love to hear them!

Christmas is less than a week away, and the New Year less than two. I find myself thinking ahead to 2009 resolutions, given that my 2008 ones are long forgotten.

I'm always looking for ways to be just a little bit better, whether it's the food I eat, the way I listen, or even the number of steps I take each day. I'm competitive, but mostly, I'm competitive with myself.

So it's time to make a serious yearlong commitment to a handful of goals, ones that I can work on regularly, but won't be discarded by (irony alert) Epiphany (or Jan. 6). Where do I want to be in 2010? Who do I want to be? The path I take in 2009 determines all of that.

[My colleague Amy Bickers Mercer will have a great cover story in January's Healthy Living about long-term self-improvement. Don't miss it.]

So, my five New Year's resolutions for 2009 are ...

Look what I got in a press e-mail today!   You have got to watch this video of this arm fat concealer--Rachel Ray is wearing it!!!

http://www.flabulessu.com/video.html

Getting a head start on your 2009 resolutions? Instead of resolving to slim yourself down, take a look instead at your house.

Health magazine did, presenting ideas for every spot in your home starting with the front door in "How to Make Your Home a Skinny House."

What's the idea behind this package?

“Everything from the lighting in your dining room to the size of your dinnerware could be making you gain weight,” says food psychologist Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. You can think of it this way, though: If your home can make you gain, it can help you lose, too.

Find tips for:

• Front Door
• Kitchen
• Family Room
• Bedroom
• Your Bed
• Bathroom
• and more

For example, in the kitchen: "Grow a zero-calorie garden: Having fresh herbs in plain sight—and smelling their irresistible aromas—tempts you to eat healthy: You’ll add amazing flavor and almost no calories, says food psychologist Marci Pelchat, Ph.D. Also, keeping your favorite healthy cookbooks close at hand ensures that you’ll whip up the good stuff."

So start 2009 with a new you by shaping up your house.

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Related posts:

• Extreme Make Under: Closet Edition
• Artful Expression

My job offers Jazzercise here on campus after work. For a small fee, I'm able to exercise for an hour, twice a week, at a convenient location.  That said, I'm wondering what I'll do while I'm on vacation and during the holidays.

I was thinking about popping in some of my DVD workouts at least three times a week. I have enough now to where I could change them up, and I wouldn't get bored--Richard Simmons one day, Susan Powter the next, and Denise Austin to top it off.

Only thing is, with the class, I have accountability.  If I don't show up, I'll be asked about my missed attendance by fellow Jazzercisers and by my instructor.  However, if I don't put in Richard Simmons during the break, he's not going to question me (he's way too nice!).

I thought about using walking around the mall as a strategy, but that might tempt me to buy things I don't need.  Right now, the weather is so nice here in the South that even during the fall and winter, you can exercise outside (most days, anyway). 

We have a local lake that has a track around it. I believe if you walk around twice, you've done a mile.  If I do that at least twice a week, that would be a great way to get my exercise in. Furthermore, research shows that people who exercise outside are more likely to stick to their routine.

So, the goal is to stay motivated during the holidays. To not forget how much I love to exercise and not forget how much progress I've made.  I think that  will prove motivation enough to keep me going!

I  had my wisdom teeth removed Friday. The experience itself was wonderful, because I got to be asleep in the middle of the afternoon, which is almost always excellent. The rough part, of course, came after I woke up and found that I had a mouth full of gauze, a bruised and swollen left cheek, and four fewer teeth in my head.

For me, the worst part of recovery hasn’t been the pain. My pain has been manageable, and for that I am quite thankful. The worst part, aside from feeling generally gross due to not being able to maintain proper dental hygiene, is the whole not being able to eat solid food thing. Since Friday afternoon, I have eaten nothing but yogurt, soup, and ice cream slash milkshakes. I did eat some scrambled eggs last night, in a desperate attempt to consume some protein, but that doesn’t really count as “solid” food. For the most part it’s been tomato bisque, cherry yogurt, and milkshakes. I mean, I love milkshakes, but I just really want a burger right now.

Many of you are trying to save money, any way you can. The economy has worsened, plus you still have a long holiday shopping list. Welcome to the world of frugalistas.

Or to borrow a Jeff Foxworthy phrase, you know you're a frugalista when ...

• You're a stay-at-home mom looking to work at home, too (but trying to avoid the scams).
• You're trading coupons on eBay. [More tips from Al's Morning Meeting at Poynter.]
• You never miss updates from the Frugalista Files, written by Natalie McNeal of the Miami Herald. Hot tip for shopping at the Salvation Army and other thrift stores: "*Make friends with the sales associates at the stores. Tell them what you are looking for and they will let you know if it enters the store. For instance, if you need a a size 10 little black dress, let the friendly associates know and if they like you, they will be alert you when the store has it available."
• You weigh in on your favorite money-saving tips, as these NPR listeners did for this entry. Rachel says, "Hooray for closet shopping! My girlfriends and I used to regularly trade paper bags full of clothes, with the implicit understanding that if you didn't like it, you could donate it to Goodwill. To me this is even better than shopping for new clothes, because I get to share a part of my friends' lives, and share my life with them."
• You prefer the term to recessionista.

How are y'all pinching pennies these days?

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Related posts:

• Leftover Madness
• At the Pharmacy: A Prescription for Time (and Gas) Savings

The newest study to come out says that happy people don't want a lot of TV.  The author of the study, Dr. John Robinson, a researcher at the University of Maryland, looked at how much time people spent in front of the TV and their happiness level.

Here's an interesting except from the article:

“We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more — visiting others, going to church, all those things — were more happy,” Dr. Robinson said. “TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and happy people did it less."

But the researchers could not tell whether unhappy people watch more television or whether being glued to the set is what makes people unhappy. “I don’t know that turning off the TV will make you more happy,” Dr. Robinson said.

People have likened happiness to an elusive butterfly. Some feel it can't be captured. I say, create a new definition, turn off the TV for a while, and go forth with song.

Read the full article

Keeping track of health information is no small feat. Even for the healthiest person, it can be frustrating to try to remember medicines, the dates of procedures, and results of tests. For someone with recurring health concerns, keeping dates and numbers straight can be a task.

Now at year's end, it's a good idea to have your medical information together for tax purposes, for 2009 planning, for peace of mind.

Like most moms, I'm the keeper of our family's health records, contact information for physicians, and scheduler of appointments. I've tried numerous tactics to manage this data, which includes records for doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, physical therapists ... the list goes on and on.

I've tried a number of strategies, including keeping separate binders for each member of the family (and yes, the dogs have their own binder), maintaining documents on the computer -- even taking notes on my iPhone. It's time to consult the experts ...

We've all heard that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But might it make him a sick boy too? According to this study from MSNBC, it just might.

I know I've heard people complain about their jobs more times than I can count. I don't think I've ever had a job I despised, but I imagine it's not great for you. Dreading going in to work every day must be really bad for your mental healthy, and probably in turn makes you feel ill all over. High-stress jobs can also make your health decline, causing problems like headaches and fatigue, but also more serious ones like heart disease, stomach ulcers, and obesity. Especially in this economy, some of you might feel like work is more of a chore than a joy.

If you're feeling like your job is making you ill, it might be a good idea to take a break. Take a vacation day or a personal day and just relax. We all deserve to feel good about our jobs and ourselves. Good health is a really important part of that.

In light of this year's economic challenges, many people are considering how to downsize their gift giving this holiday season. The sliver lining is that people are talking about how the can celebrate the season by focusing on what's most important while gathering with family and friends.

Amy Clark at the website MomAdvice has compiled this great list of activities to do with your family. They cost little or no money. Instead, the emphasis is on having together time with the people that you care about:

At some point, you'll want to stop working and start enjoying the fruits of your labor. U.S. News and World Report selected America's Best Healthy Places to Retire, a list of 10 cities based on the editors' picks:

These are places way ahead of the healthy living curve—they provide numerous places to exercise, promote strong social support, and encourage healthy lifestyle habits. And each has a little something extra, too.

Three cities in the South—Bella Vista, Arkansas; Punta Gorda, Florida, and Reston, Virginia— made the cut. We featured Punta Gorda earlier this year in Southern Living, and having been there, it's easy to see why this coastal community earns high marks.

Our exclusive photos by Scott Wiseman, after the jump ...

We all know beauty is only skin deep, but having great skin is part genetics and part maintenance.  I have a friend who follows certain beauty rituals every day and her skin is flawless.  Personally, I wash my face with a certain soap that my mother recommended and wear sunscreen 365 days a year, rain or shine. That's about it.

What about you? Help us by answering the following question. Your answer could appear in an upcoming issue of Southern Living!

When it comes to keeping your skin beautiful, tell us about the best tip that has been passed on to you.

Please send your tip to healthyliving@southernliving.com.

Your above submission to SouthernLiving.com, including contact information, gives us the right to modify, use, distribute, reproduce, publish and display the submission indefinitely in all media, means, and forms without any payment to you.  You hereby represent that you haven't copied the content from a book, magazine, newspaper, or other commercial source.

These Memphis College of Arts students are doing some really creative things with their dorm rooms. I’ve always admired a healthy sense of imagination.

I didn’t have the luxury of a dorm experience while I was in college.  I stayed at my parents’ house (albeit, rent free--so I guess there’s always a trade-off in life).  However, I always wanted to do something uniquely me to put my mark on my room.  For instance, I couldn’t change my wall colors, but I could put up decorative, expressive posters. I couldn’t change the way my shelves were arranged in my room, but I could fill them with rows and stacks of my favorite books.

Having a sense of self in whatever environment you live or work in is so important in feeling comfortable and having a productive, low-stress lifes.

Enjoy this article from the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/14/dorm-decor/

Your weekly stress less video usually comes in the form of an adorable animal or two. This week, it's no different.

We've all felt like this at one time or another, let's be honest. Get some rest this weekend! Happy Friday!

The Perfect Cookbook

Dreamed of having the perfect Southern Living cookbook to give to family and friends? It's easy: Just use MyRecipes.com and Tastebook to find your favorite recipes from Southern Living, Cooking Light, and Coastal Living (to name a few). Put all your healthy and delicious dishes from our magazine in one handy book.

For example, check out this Favorites from Southern Living cookbook ($34.95), already assembled.

To get started, and to see more variations, visit our special page.

Win a $500 Green Gift Basket

MyHomeIdeas.com and Target want your best tips for making your home healthier. If the judges select your e-mailed entry, you win this fab gift basket:

• evolve Chrome Water Lily Showerhead: $69.99
• 2 Bamboo Storage Boxes: $59.99
• PUR Stainless Steel 3-Stage Faucet-Mounted System (with 1 filter): $47.99
• Tripp Lite Protect It! Surge Protector: $19.99
• 3 GE Energy Smart Light Bulbs: $16.47
• Target Home Organic Queen Sheet Set: $49.99
• Bamboo Bath Accessories: $156.93
• Natural Leaf Frame Set: $29.99
• 4 Soy Powerhouse Candles: $59.96
• 2 Microshield Asthma- and Allergy-Friendly Pillows: $24.98
• method Best in Glass Cleaner: $3.29
• method Go Naked Hand Wash: $3.29
• method Aroma Ring (Vanilla Apple): $6.49
• method Daily Shower Cleaner (Yiang Yiang): $4.29
• method Aroma Spray (Citrus Cilantro): $3.29

How do you enter?

I’m trying to be healthier in an overall way—not just in what I eat, in how I exercise, but also in my daily habits and routines. That said, I’ve gone several weeks without shopping. Anyone who knows me, knows that’s a feat of unparalleled proportions. Yet, with the holiday shopping season upon us, and with the Southern celebrating of hosting holidays in a big way, I’m starting to get worried.

Normally, I get enthralled in the holiday shopping hype and spend with abandon on gifts for family, friends, and (yes) myself.  I’ve found that much of this is unnecessary.  Stores will always have sales—even when it’s not Christmas. So, I plan to have a healthier, less manic, experience this year. I'm sure I'll end up saving money and stress.

Strategy: Avoid the mall and overspending by staying away from the hype.

Tactics: Instead of going out to shop on Black Friday at 4 a.m. (when no one’s reasoning power is at full capacity and therefore the chances of making irrational purchases elevates), I’ll sleep in that morning.

I’ll fix really healthy breakfast and watch some seasonal TV specials. 

I’ll avoid reading the ads and circulars about who has which item on sale for what.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. 

Moving back to Birmingham to take this internship was moving back home for me. I was born here and I spent my whole life here until I moved to Oxford, Miss., to go to school. I decided to make the move home a true move home so I could save some money—for the past six months or so I have been living with my parents.

After being on my own for four years, it’s definitely been an adjustment, but really it hasn’t been bad. They pretty much let me do what I want, I have saved a lot of money, and I come home to a home-cooked meal most nights. So actually, it’s pretty awesome. And I’m starting to think that latter part is probably the best.

Last night I worked a little late and came home to a big plate of homemade spaghetti. My mom has never claimed to be an artist in the kitchen, but her spaghetti sauce is my favorite. I’m not sure what the magical ingredient is. Probably love. It has this really thick flavor, with almost a touch of sweetness. I know she uses a bay leaf because when I was little I used to try to find it and fish it out before she plated it. Anyway, last night it tasted exceptionally amazing, and it got me thinking.

I think homemade meals are where the heart is. It doesn’t matter how bad a day you’ve had, or how stressed out you are—eating something prepared with love can almost always make you forget your worries and just enjoy life. Let me know some of your favorite homemade meals that you remember from your childhood.

Great, now it's almost lunch time and I want spaghetti. I brought chicken vegetable soup, which will be good, but it's no magic spaghetti.

I have always been a fan of Martial Arts, but after taking 2 different disciplines (Hapkido and Taekwondo) I have yet to complete a black belt. Although I had good reason for pausing my study (i.e. I moved as a child, and I gave them up to begin apprenticing under a chef, a good choice in the long run), I still have a desire to earn a black belt and maintain life-long physical activity. I have been occupied with tennis for a few years but I need something else in my exercise regimen for the colder months and something I could forever strive to master. After considering my options I have begun to look closely at Aikido.

Aikido is a very technical martial art that derives its roots from swordsmanship. Aikido's main premise is to use an attacker's own energy against him by employing a variety of joint locks and throws. It is very rhythmic and I regularly hear people comment on its fluidity as it can appear like dancing.

Although it seems rough, you are instructed how to fall properly so you can avoid injury. Almost anyone in good health can enjoy this martial art. It is not based on physical strength; men, women, and children can all paticipate.

The end of 2008, can you believe it? But we can't let the year go without a time to shine and celebrate. Take on the holidays with our latest offerings from Southern Living World Headquarters.

Here's a peek at December's Healthy Living stories in the magazine ...