With Black Friday just a week away, we're making our holiday lists and checking them twice. Here's one tool we're using to cut shopping time and help find Southern gifts:The GiftGuide application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It works like this:

Simply download the free "GiftGuide" app to your iPhone or iPod Touch from iTunes. You'll see a listing of various magazines and retailers. We're a little biased, but our favorite category is "Southern Living: 15 Exclusively Southern Gifts."

Voila -- you'll see 15 of our favorite items made in the South at various price points. If you see an item you like, just click on it and you'll be directed to a website where you can order online. It's one stop shopping in the palm of your hand.

The Gift Guide can also suggest presents for you based on the recipient, and can recommend ideas from other sources as well. Pretty nifty.

Related Links:

Made By Southern Hands

Black Friday 2009

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Each week at Live Healthy we feature a Southern Blogging Mom whose writing has left an impression. This week we are thinking about special Southern Mom Blogger, Anissa Mayhew.

We don't know Anissa personally, but have followed her story. This Atlanta mom of three suffered a stroke earlier this week. Bloggers around the world have rallied around Anissa and her family, rallying in their support of her and her family.

Anissa has been through many challenges, including her daughter Peyton's treatment for cancer. From that experience she started Hope 4 Peyton, where she chronicled her family's journey, and writes about her life as a mom at Free Anissa.

Rachel at A Southern Fairytale has complied a list of bloggers who have written posts for Anissa here. It's clear when you read them how many people care about Anissa and her family, and it also speaks to the bonds that are formed between those who share their stories online.

As Rachel says, "We first connect with our hearts and later, often in real life.  Our bonds are truly powerful."

Anissa, please know that your friends at Southern Living are pulling for you. 

If you are interested in following updates on Twitter, search using #prayersforanissa.  

Related Links:

How To Help

Mommy Blogger Suffers Stroke: Support Shows Power of Social Media

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Is it just us, or have you looked up and seen holiday decorations everywhere you go? Starting to get save- the- dates to parties and calls from relatives about who is doing the cooking? Wondering how you are going to do it all and actually enjoy the meaning of the season?

With Thanksgiving a little more than a week away, we're soon to be in the middle of one of the happiest -- and potentially stressful -- times of the year. To help you keep feeling good in the coming weeks, we'll bring you some of our favorite tips here at Live Healthy.

To kick things off, here's a Southern Living Web Exclusive with Molly Gold, who is the subject of a story in our December issue. Molly, a North Carolina resident, is the founder and CEO of GoMom Inc., a business devoted to helping women of all ages and life stages control their schedules.

I had the opportunity to spend time with Molly and her family during a photo shoot last summer, and enjoyed learning the time management tips she uses to stay organized. In fact I left so inspired I created my own family command center, a bulletin board that helps me keep track of everything from permission slips to party invites.

We think you'll enjoy her tips too -- to stay organized now and all year.

We'd love to know: how are you staying organized this holiday season? Please share your tips with us!

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Confession:  I recently turned 28 and I am getting my first wrinkle.  It's a barely-noticeable line that goes across my forehead.  No, I'm not panicking. However, I am upping my use of moisturizer.

I found a wonderful new line of products made by a fellow Southerner that I'm just in love with!  Garden of Eve Skin Care includes facial cleansers, masques, creams, and toners for a variety of skin types, including aging, dry, pregnant, and so on. 

The owner, Eve Stahl, is from Virginia and started developing her own skin care products after she got really sick. She started using herbal remedies and found they made a difference for her. 

As I've been using her products, what I notice most is that my skin doesn't feel filmy (like there's too much oil in her products) or ashy (like there's too much alcohol).  Instead, it feels fresh and renewed.  I've never been a moisturizer type because I find they break out my skin (hence, the confession about the wrinkle).  However, I've been using Eve's Nature Renewal Face Cream and haven't had any breakouts to speak of. 

My favorite part is that Eve offers her products in trial size versions, so you can experiment with a few without a hefty investment.

Check her out and let me know what you think.

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The trick or treaters have come and gone and the leaves are bursting their splendid fall colors ... November is officially here! Before things get too hectic planning for the holidays, grab the November issue of Southern Living to check out these features:

Mosey on up to the ranch, for an honest to goodness chat ...

At Home With The Pioneer Woman-- A day in the life of Ree Drummond, the wildly popular Oklahoma blogger who shares her tips and tricks for the busy home cook.

Features Rees very own recipes (cowboy nachos, slow cooked mushrooms, cowboy dip sandwiches -- yum!)

Take in the inspiring sights ...

Why The Everglades Owns My Heart-- SL editor Annette Thompson and photographer Robbie Caponetto shares a glimpse into the gorgeous wilds of Florida.

And in Healthy Living, look for better for you holiday sides, a nonprofit that transforms discarded flowers into bouquets for hospice patients and the retro fun activity of hula hooping for fun and fitness.

Those are just a few of the stories in this month's issue, which is of course full of tips to help you plan for Thanksgiving and the months to come. Sit down, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy.

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This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Katie Anderson of Growing Green, which she describes as a blog "written from the perspective of a Southern, small-town mom with good intentions to be green, but with a lot to learn."  

Katie writes that she is a thirty-something "Green Mama of 2 children, 1 dog, 2 turtles." She blogs about her attempts to help the planet and her family's through things like recycling, planting her own vegetable garden, and learning more about what foods she eats.

Growing Green chronicles Katie's burgeoning green adventure here in the South. She writes:

So, anyhoo, I’ve decided to go green.  Or, greener.  And, I’ve decided to blog about it.  Now, I know if you live in LA or New York, or any city, you are probably way greener than I am.  You were green, when green wasn’t cool.  And you may not remember or even know who Barbara Mandrell is.  But, now green is cool and it’s everywhere to you.  You’re probably going blue now, or some new environmental term I haven’t heard.    However, if you lived in a small town in Georgia like I do, you would not even have recycling curb pickup. 

Katie shares her tips and links to resources that have been helpful to her as she goes green. For that, and for the fact that she is sharing her journey of helping the environment Southern style, we recognize her as the Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week!

Want to recommend a Southern blogger to be featured on Live Healthy? Drop us a line here, or on our Twitter account:

@livehealthyblog

Related Links:

Southern Living: 22 Easy Ways To Save The Earth

Southern Living: Eco Friendly Kitchen

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My friends used to tell me that I was an old lady, because I'd always try to get to sleep around 10 p.m.  I thought that was a respectable time to be in bed, and necessary, considering the fact that I get up at 6 a.m. during the weekdays to get ready for work.

If I'm really tired, I can fall asleep in just a few minutes. However, when I'm restless, it can be quite a battle finding that internal snooze button. However, one thing that always works to help me fall asleep is wrapping up in my polar fleece blanket.

I first became attached to having a polar fleece blanket when going to sleep a few years ago, when I was on a long flight and an attendant handed me a thin fleece throw to wrap up in.  It was so soft and cuddly, that it did the trick.  When I got home, I bought a dark gray polar fleece blanket, and soon wore that one out. Now, I have a light blue one that keeps me wrapped up at night. I have to have it to get a good night's rest.

Getting the right amount of sleep is so important in staying healthy--physically and mentally. According to a Washington Post article:

"The amount of necessary sleep varies from person to person, with some breezing through their days on just a few hours' slumber and others barely functioning without a full 10 hours, experts say. But most people apparently need between about seven and nine hours, with studies indicating that an increased risk for disease starts to kick in when people get less than six or seven, experts say."

On the other hand, according to Harvard University research, getting the right amount of sleep can help your:

• Memory
• Metabolism
• Cognitive functions
• Body repair tissue

So, it seems that my polar fleece blanket is, in a way helping me to stay well by helping me get to sleep. 

We want to hear from you: "What kind of nighttime rituals do you have to prepare for a good night's sleep?"     

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.

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This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Southern Fried Mama.

Trista is an Alabama mom who writes about her adventures of being a stay-at-home mom of two. She writes about her challenges -- and solutions -- of raising two young kids and managing a part-time job, with a husband who travels for work.

"I started my blog to keep a journal of what the kids were doing, but then  started connecting with other moms and being part of an online community," she says. "With my husband on the road and being at home there are days when I don't talk in person with another adult. Connecting with other moms helps me stay in touch with the outside world."

We like this post about how she makes time for herself by attending Friday night painting classes when she can. (Click here for Southern Living tips on de-stressing with art.)

Thanks for sharing your Southern Fried story Trista, and happy blogging!  

Want to recommend a Southern blogger to be featured on Live Healthy? Drop us a line here, or on our Twitter account:

@livehealthyblog

Related Links:

Southern Living Mama Blogger of The Week: One Mom's World

Education.com: Staying Sane With Young Kids When Your Spouse Travels

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When I first heard about hula hooping as a trend, I reacted the same way a lot of people do: "come again?"

It was this spring when I heard about people working out with a hula hoop. Skeptical that hooping could be a real workout, I started looking for Southern hoopers.

What I found lead to the story that is in the November Southern Living (p. 122) -- "Hooping For Health." The story is about East Nashville resident Sunny Becks Crumpton who teaches women of all ages to get fit, relieve stress and have fun with hula hoops. Yep, like the kind we played with as kids.

I visited Sunny at her studio Hooprama, where I learned that yes, hooping is most definitely a workout. I was amazed to watch hoopers of all ages -- from their 20s through their 60s -- move the plastic circles up and down and around their bodies, twisting and twirling to the booming music. They told me their stories about how hooping helped them lose weight, strengthen their core, and de-stress. Plus it was clear that these women were having a great time. And I know myself -- if a workout isn't fun, I am not going to do it.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on a hoop and try it for myself.

It took a couple of tries -- the hoop seemed so big compared to the ones I played with growing up. (Adult size hoops are actually easier to use -- they stay up thanks to the laws of physics. But it still takes work. A lot of it.)

Sunny explained how there are two basic hooping stances: side to side and front to back. Once I found my groove, I started to gain confidence. This wasn't so difficult, I thought, which would be right around the time I'd get out of sync and boom, the hoop dropped to the floor. So much for progressing to the more advanced tricks out of the gate.

Hoopers say this and it's true -- the repetitive motion of the hoop can be calming, almost Zen like. (OK, I wasn't exactly being enlightened out on the floor but it was relaxing once I got the swing of it.) I took my hoop home and started practicing in my backyard, and got a child's size hoop for my 3 year old.

When I asked Sunny how much time a hooper should practice every day she said that her advice is just to put on one great song and hoop through it. If you're having fun, try another, and another. The advice works -- once I put on my music there's no stopping me. The neighbors are probably tired of hearing The BeeGees blasting from my iPod speakers.

Now hooping has become a part of my routine. Nothing is better than getting home from work and hooping off the cares of the work day. Other times, when I make a long distance call to a friend I go outside and get into the hooping groove, burning calories while catching up.

My tricks are still pretty basic -- I've done my share of throwing the hoop across the backyard on more than one occasion as I try to move it from hand to hand, above my head, and other variations that when done right are super cool. My moves may be laughable, but they are fun, burn calories, and make me laugh. And in my world of Healthy Living, that's what it's all about.

Wanna try hooping for yourself? Check out the story and these resources:

Hooping.org -- This site contains everything you need, from learning the basic moves to starting your own hoop group (they're popping up all over the place!)

Hooprama Blog -- Sunny's blog about all things hooping

Hoopnatica -- Hooping and hoop dance resources, including instructional DVDs

And this video:

Let me know how it goes -- I want to hear from my fellow Southern hoopers!

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Confession: It's been raining nearly every day here in Alabama, so, in order to keep my hair somewhat tame, I've been using more heat (i.e., flat ironing, blowing out) than usual.  Please, please do not tell my stylist.

We've all been told to eat fruits and veggies to gain their nutritional value. Many of the nutrients found in the earth's harvests can heal, protect, and enhance beauty from the inside out. However, can fruits and vegetables be just as beneficial when used topically on your skin in beauty products such as washes, soaps, masques, and scrubs? 

Here, I've provided a breakdown of some of the season's most iconic fruits and veggies, and the power-packed nutrients they hold.  I'm also offering suggestions for products that contain these Fall favs.

Pumpkin--According to Care2.com, pumpkin contains vitamins A and C, zinc, and alpha-hydroxy acids.    
(PTR Pumpkin Enzyme Peel)

Apple-- Juice Beauty touts green apple's  antioxidant resveratrol  and vitamins A, B, and C. (Juice Beauty Green Apple Eye Cream)

Pomegranate--According to BeyondJane.com, pomegranate is said to regenerate and repair skin. Thedermblog.com says that it contains ellagic acid, which may prevent skin cancer. Plus, this superfruit contains more antioxidants than green tea. (Eminence Organic Cranberry Pomegranate Masque)

Grapefruit--Globalgourmet.com says that grapefruit's citric acid acts as an astringent. (Mario Badescu Alpha Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion)   

Pear--Contains hydroxy acids (antioxidants). (Eminence Organic Pear and Poppyseed Microderm Polisher )

As for enjoying these delicious foods on your Fall table, check out this Health.com slideshow for recipes and more nutritional inspiration.

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This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week is Jen Houck of One Mom's World. Jen (pictured at left with her family) is a North Carolina work at home mom of two girls ages four and six and has been blogging since 2005.

Jen's chronicles daily life, including her healthy weight loss journey. So far she's lost 55 lbs toward her 70 lbs. goal.

Here she is sharing a video update on how she feels healthier since making exercise a daily part of her life (she swears by EA Sports for the Nintendo Wii.)

"I'm just so happy with myself," she says. "I feel like I'm a better example to my girls."

One of our favorite posts on her blog is one about ice skating with her best friend and their families, which puts us in the mood for cold weather activities that are on the horizon:

"You see it has been about 11 years since we both had been. We went together with my church youth group at the time and how neat it was that we went back together 11 years later. This time we got to share in the experience with our children. Let’s just say the children way outdid us. There were falls into the puddles (that would be muah and her daughter M), there was plowing into the sides of the ice skating rink, there were times we wouldn’t let go of the rails, there were times we skated around with the Kid’s bar haha… it was just some plain ole genuine fun ..."

You've inspired us Jen, and for that, you are this week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week!

Also, kudos to the the women of MamaLaw, who organized the successful Blogalicious Conference held in Atlanta last weekend!

     Keep them coming ladies! If you have a mom you'd like to nominate for Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week, please let us know.

Related Links:

Lost: One Tiny Celebrity (Or the Equivalent Thereof)

Southern Living Mama Blogger of The Week: The Wii Fit Mommies

Southern Living: Cool Weather Comfort, Warm and Hearty Stews

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We're well into October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments in the fight so far, remember friends and loved ones and get motivated all over again to make a difference.

In the coming weeks there are so many great opportunities here in the South and around the country to get involved. 

I ran in the Race for the Cure alongside colleagues from Southern Progress and 14,000 other runners and walkers in Birmingham, Saturday.  Even with persistent showers, the downtown streets overflowed with pink.  Within two minutes of the race start I lost my running buddies and fellow interns, (In the photo L to R: Maddie Crawford, Jennifer Barnes, Christy Roach and Katie Melick before the race) but I found the time to soak in the real meaning of the Race.  I read the names pinned to runners' backs, overheard powerful stories and listened to cheers from the sidewalks.

There are 26 races in the South benefitting Susan G Komen in October and it's not too late to join in, just search for a race near you here and lace up your running sneaks.  Your fundraising stays close to home; 75% of the net income of each race funds breast health programs in the local community.  Check out a 5k training guide or take it easy with a fitness walk, both help the cause and get you moving.

Signing up for a race kick- starts your motivation to exercise because every workout builds up to a larger goal. In the weeks leading up to the race every time I saw a Race for the Cure sign, I felt re-energized and ran a little bit faster and farther. 

The race series has progressed in leaps and bounds from humble beginnings in Dallas, Texas in 1983 with 800 runners. Now there are more than 120 races around the world.  It's a venue for people of all ages to show support in their own individual way.  Though most stick with a pink shirt, I saw one daring gentleman in a ballerina costume complete with a tutu.

For more information about breast cancer awareness month, check out the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website, which also has facts about detection and treatment.

Question: What causes are close to your heart and what are you doing to help?

Related Links:

The Goal Post: Committing to a Race

Fitness Products to Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness

Running Races: A get fit secret Weapon

Runners High: Joggers Live Longer

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My afternoon exercise coach is a real taskmaster! She doesn't care if I'm tired, if I've had a long day, or what.  There she is waiting impatiently for me to change clothes and lace-up my walking shoes.  Before I can catch my breath, we are out the door and heading for a long walk. So who is this personal trainer?  Why our dog, Miss Maya, of course! She's the cute golden retriever in the picture.  If you notice a tail

Even though I go faithfully to the Shades Valley YMCA every morning before work, I find these afternoon walks with Maya give back more than fitting in extra fitness.  They give me a chance to unwind, relax, and stop and smell the woods (almost 300 acres) that surround our house.  On the weekends, we make a point to walk at least 10 miles.  Sure, there have been afternoons or weekends when I think I really need to stay inside.  But then, sweet Maya looks at me, places a paw on my knee, and I'm done!  She is already racing down the driveway knowing I will be following.

We want to hear from you:

"How does your pet keep you healthy?"

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.

Related articles:

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/pets-place-00400000008324/

http://livehealthy.southernliving.com/2009/06/pet-friendly-hotels-loews-nashville.html

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/healthy-eco-friendly-pet-products-00400000052192/

http://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/pick-right-puppy-for-family-00400000008686/

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Confession: I went over my friends house and she was telling me how her hair had been really brittle lately. I know I'd read before that you can put raw egg in your hair as a conditioner to make your hair soft and shiny.  So after shampooing, we cracked two eggs, mixed them around with our fingers to break up the yolks, and let them sit in her hair for a while. Then we rinsed them out. The egg treatment didn't help though. Turns out, her water pressure was low and that's what was causing her brittle hair.

Sept. and Oct. are pomegranate, apple, and pumpkin season in the South. I love to smell these fresh aromas during the season because they remind me of the time of year when we get cooler temperatures and the upcoming holidays.

Aromatherapy works on the premise that scents can be linked to memories, and memories can trigger emotions.  For instance, the smell of candy apples might remind you of going trick-or-treating.  If trick-or-treating is a good memory for you (dressing up in costumes, getting sacks of candy, sharing with friends), then that scent eventually leads to you having happy and upbeat feelings. 

Well, according to Medicinenet.com, the way your house smells can affect your emotions. If your home smells nice, it can bring about a positive effect on your mood. To bring the scents of the season into your home, you could make a table scape of fresh apples, gourds,   and pomegranates.  You could also bake delicious and aromatic treats using apples, pumpkins, pomegranates and such.  I like to burn candles that have pleasant fragrances. The scent from candles is just enough to waft through my home and create a very welcoming and warming environment. If you're wary of burning candles because you have curious pets or children, then you can try  Gold Canyon's pod warmers. They create the same effect, but without the flame and come in seasonal scents including: apple orchard, autumn walk, and cobbler on the porch.  The warmer is about $30 and the pods are about $6 each. 

Here are a few scents and the benefit they are said to have (from Aura Cacia) :

Allspice Berry - The oil has a warm, spicy-sweet aroma. It is used in spicy or masculine scents. It combines well with orange, ginger, patchouli and all of the spice oils including cinnamon, cassia and clove. Aromatherapy benefits: warming, cheering, comforting, nurturing

Cedarwood, Red- Red cedarwood essential oil actually comes from a type of juniper known as Juniperus virginiana, whose common name is eastern red cedar. The balsamic-woody aroma of cedarwood oil evokes a feeling of inner strength and centeredness. It is quite useful in times of emotional stress and anxiety to overcome feelings of powerlessness.

Cinnamon Bark - Also known as Ceylon cinnamon, this is the true cinnamon of world commerce. Its aroma is similar to cassia, or Chinese cinnamon. The aroma of Ceylon cinnamon is preferred to cassia for perfume where it gives a warm, floral-enhancing effect. Cinnamon oil blends well with oriental-woody notes and is often combined with frankincense. It is a skin irritant and should be handled with care. Aromatherapy benefits: comforting, warming.

Nutmeg - Nutmeg oil is distilled from whole, dried nutmegs that have been cut into small particles and pressed to remove the fixed oil, also known as nutmeg butter. The oil has the characteristic aromatic, volatile, oily-spicy fragrance of whole nutmegs. Nutmeg oil is a component in men's fragrances and spicy perfumes. Aromatherapy benefits: rejuvenating, uplifting, energizing.

Peppermint - Peppermint has a powerful, sweet, menthol aroma which, when inhaled undiluted, can make the eyes water and the sinuses tingle. Aromatherapy benefits: vitalizing, refreshing, cooling

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We've been working hard on the new Southern Living. As our Editor-In-Chief Eleanor Griffin sums it up:

“We’ve listened to thousands of our readers and we know that the Southern woman is changing. She is embracing the future as much as she values the traditions of the past. She is busier than ever and wants to cultivate her own Southern style in a new, modern way."

The new Southern Living has 15 new franchises. These include features like "Mama's Way, Your Way," which highlights a traditional Southern recipe and a more streamlined version, and "Made By Southern Hands," a roundup of stylish products made in the South.

In Healthy Living we are thrilled to debut "Lighten Up In," in which we spotlight healthy activities to do in great Southern cities.

This month we feature New Orleans. (think: less Bourbon Street and more exploring on foot and eating fresh local seafood). Yes, it can be done.

October's Healthy Living also features a Q&A with Domenica Catelli, chef and author of Mom-a-Licious: Fresh, Fast Family Food For The Hot Mama in You. Domenica shares her secrets to looking and feeling good, including recipes.

Both of these are just the first of many we're excited about.

We're looking forward to continuing to share stories about enjoying all that we love about the South, with an emphasis on taking small steps to health and balance.

As always, we want to hear your ideas about healthy living in the South. Let us know! And thanks for reading.

Related Links:

Video Tour of Southern Living's New Look

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Turns out her insight about the potential of online connection was right.

Today Rachael, who lives in Naples, Florida, is in-demand as a consultant, building websites and working with businesses to design and manage their websites, as well as raising her 21-month old daughter Leila.

She's also one of the founding editors of BlueSuitMom, a website devoted to work/life balance issues. For her dedication to helping working moms we are naming her our Southern Living Mama Blogger of the Week.

Rachael helped found BlueSuitMom in 2000, long before she was a mom. “BlueSuitMom has always been my passion. It was my first baby,” she says. The website features stories about parenting, career, and health, among other things that busy moms talk about.

Readers are encouraged to submit questions to BlueSuitMom's team of experts, a team that includes a career coach, child educators, and professional organizers.

We like this post Rachael did about her the "BlueSuitMom's Working Mom Top 10 Must Haves." Another great post is her book reviewof  "Life's Work: Confessions of An Unbalanced Mom" by Lisa Belkin. An excerpt from Rachael's review:

"This might have been the most powerful message I've read in a book -- ever. Because today I vow that this will change my life. From now on, I'm not going to stay awake until 3 a.m. stressing out about why I'm not good enough. Why do I have to spend countless hours worrying that it isn't good enough."

 

We love that attitude. Keep up the good work Rachael!

 

Related Links:

 

Southern Living Mama Blogger Of The Week: Mama Law

 

Southern Living Mama Blogger Of The Week: The Wii Mommies Cool Guide To Fitness

 

Southern Living: Healthy Weeknight Meals

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Confession: If my cuticles are dry and I don't have hand lotion available, I'll use a dab of my lip gloss to moisturize.  It does the trick.

What does the Southeastern Football Conference have to do with keeping your lips healthy?  There's a new lip balm out from a company called Twist and Pout that represents several of the Southern teams.  The lip balm inside each team-themed ball is SPF 20. So, you can enjoy being outdoors at the game without worrying about your lips getting chapped. (I know what you're thinking: "Who thinks about their lips while cheering their head off at a SEC football game?"  Well, as the months get colder, you'll be glad you're packing these spirited lip lubes.)

My favorite part of the balms is that they can be ordered with a handy clip, so you can hook it onto your jeans belt loop (no more lip-balm bulge in your pockets!).

I'm representing a few of the teams they have available below. Who's your favorite team in the SEC?  And, how do you keep your skin in check at outdoor events during fall and winter?

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It's Friday afternoon, so grocery stores in the South are packed with people buying food to go with their football watching.

Regardless of your team, who doesn't love a tailgate? This season Live Healthy will bring you some of our favorite recipes and tips for tailgating -- healthy style.

Today we bring you a slide show from Health Magazine packed with delicious recipes:

A Healthy Take on Your Tailgate.

Pictured here is the white bean and bacon dip with rosemary pita chips. What a surprise and departure from plain old chips and dip, right?

Stay tuned for more tailgate tips as the season continues, and please let us know about your tailgate traditions!

Southern Living: Game Day Drink Recipes

Southern Living: Tailgate Cooler Packing Tips

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Confession: I have very oily skin. So, at night I've been sleeping on a cotton towel (I just drape it over my pillow) and it's been working beautifully to keep my skin from becoming excessively oily at night.

I went overboard with the carbs this month.  Between the fresh buttered biscuits I made in the mornings (sweetened with a light drizzle of syrup, of course), the cheese straws I snacked on at parties, and the crispy coating on my Southern fried chicken wingettes at lunch, I sort of lost track of how many carbohydrates I was consuming.Sometimes it's not so much that we don't know to eat well, it's that we eat more of something than we expected and not enough of another because we weren't paying attention.

I once went to Weight Watchers for a six-week study, not to lose weight, but partially to learn how to keep sight of the types of foods I was eating. Their "points" system allows you to see how many of each food group you're getting in during your daily intake. Was I getting in my 5-a-day of fruit and veggie servings?  Was I drinking more sweet tea than glasses of water? The system worked well, and helped me be accountable to myself for the choices I made, while also allowing me to visibly see those choices in front of me (so I'd eat consciously). 

When I recently heard about Count Me Healthy jewelry, I thought it would be the perfect solution for someone like me, who could use a little help monitoring their daily intake. The Memphis, TN company's owner, Chelsea Gossett (pictured left...isn't she beautiful?!), came up with a fashion accessory that keeps health in mind--literally.It's a silver bracelet that has slide-able beads, for counting. You can start with all the beads on one side, and move one over for each time you eat or do something you're trying to keep track of, so you keep a mental and visible tally. For instance, pop in a serving of cheese straws, slide a bead over. Scarf down that buttered biscuit with syrup, slide two beads over.  Whatever you limit is (say you only want to consume 4 beads worth of carbs a day), you'll be abe to track your progress right on your arm.

I'm a glamor girl at heart, so it's nice to see something that's healthy and fashionable at the same time.    I'm wearing the bracelet now (that's me, on right, wearing it at the office) to keep track of the carbs I'm consuming each day. So far, I've had a biscuit and a cup of sweetened coffee, so I'll slide over two beads. I'll be sure to report back in with you.

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If you or your coworkers are tuned in to the latest crazy headlines, like me, you probably read this shocker, FDA says residue is frog or toad, about a can of diet soda.  A man had a gross surprise instead of a refreshing sip when he popped the top on his drink on a beach in Florida.  But the standard ingredients in an untainted can make you wonder about reaching for that soda.

I can't pinpoint the exact day, but sometime during high school I realized soda had fallen out of my diet.  I gravitated  to water and 100% juice, simply losing my craving for super sweet drinks.  I feel more refreshed and have more consistent energy after an icy glass of water than an occasional soda.   

I'd rather play it safe and keep myself hydrated with more natural drinks.  It's easy since they are likely already in your home and ready to keep up with your busy schedule.  My full water bottle is glued to my side to remind me to sip throughout my day.  When it feels heavy I know I need to up my intake.

If you're craving something with a bit more oomph,  I can't resist a cup of green tea packed with antioxidants to boost metabolism and just enough caffeine to perk me up.  As a special treat I'll flavor my water or splurge on a carbonated version.  The bubbles tickle my taste-buds and bring a smile to my face.

How do you stay hydrated during these waning warm days of summer?

Tailgating Menus

Drink Your Fruits

Mayo Clinic's drink recommendations

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