Between blow-drying, teasing, flat-ironing, highlighting and lowlighting, there are many ways to change what Mother Nature gave us. But whether you’re regularly straightening curls, lightening darker hair or vice-versa, there may be a price to pay for rebelling.

"Most women don’t think twice about the hair habits they’ve had for years and years," says long time hair care advocate and health scientist Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.

"Lackluster, frazzled, overworked hair—that’s the price we pay for handling our hair like a pair of jeans. Hair is a fragile fiber that needs to be handled more like a silk blouse," says Davis-Sivasothy, author of "Hair Care Rehab," (www.haircarerehab.com). "Oftentimes, the style we feel the most comfortable with reinforces our bad habits. It’s a problem with all the earmarks of an addiction."

• Substances of choice include:
• Toxic chemicals (perms, relaxers & colors)
• Hair OCD (excessive combing, brushing & heat use)
• Environmental lifestyle (too much exposure to sun, surf, bad air and water)
• Nutritional/dietary (fad diets, smoking, low water consumption)

As with a drug addiction, once you’ve kicked your habit, you’ll liberate your bad hair, unlocking new dimensions of hair potential, says Davis-Sivasothy, who has also authored the popular “The Science of Black Hair” (www.blackhairscience.com).

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The premature appearance of all-things Christmas may make you see red and feel green, but it's actually a good reminder to start budgeting for this year's holiday season. The National Retail Federation estimates the average consumer will spend nearly $750 on holiday-related purchases, up slightly from last year's actual spending. This number doesn't factor in the cost of holiday travel or the time away from your day job to connect with family and friends.

Making extra money is the best way to combat this significant seasonal expense. Since you don't want to spend all your free time working, consider the following easy ways to score some extra cash by Christmas.

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Dearfoams are the leading manufacturer of supremely comfortable women’s house slippers.  Dearfoams premium construction guarantee slippers that are highly fashionable, durable, skid resistant, and most of all, comfy.  Dearfoams offers a large variety of casual slipper styles including booties, clogs, thongs, ballet, knit, as well as sporty street shoes.  There is a unique pair of Dearfoams for everyone.

Each pair of Dearfoams is designed with comfort and style in mind. They are also a mix of timeless design and chic color for every taste.  From pretty pink thongs to rugged brown booties, Dearfoams slippers come in a large variety to suit any personal sense of style.

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Decorating your home for the holidays is an age-old tradition.  As another festive season approaches, it may seem as if many holiday decor ideas are a little tired, so this year, why not come up with a fresh take on some tried-and-true classics?  Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services for Hunter Douglas, the leading name in custom window fashions, and the design expert featured on “Ask Sally & Jen” at hunterdouglas.com, offers the five following tips to expand your concept of seasonal décor:

1.    Updated Natural Elements

Rustic, natural touches make your home feel warmer and more inviting.  Wreaths and poinsettias have been holiday décor staples for generations.  This year, update these basics in your space.  Try making over your wreath by monogramming it.  Add a cardboard stencil letter to the middle of the wreath that can be easily made or found at your nearby craft store.

Hang it from your front door for a personal and festive entrance.  For another innovative approach to a classic, remove poinsettias from the standard foil-lined pots and place them in a turquoise, pink or orange vase for a fresh, colorful look.

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One of the things I remember fondly about being young, is riding my bike around the neighborhood while trying to master "death-defying" stunts.  I thought that I was the coolest girl around because I could pop a wheelie at will and ride for a short distance on just one wheel.  You know what would have been even cooler?  Being able to video tape it and share it with everyone I knew!

If you have a daredevil on your hands, then be sure to keep reading about the easiest way to shoot and share amazing action shots and stunts...with the Action Shot Camera!

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A new study conducted by the New England-based Concord Evaluation Group (CEG) has determined that children who watched episodes of the Curious George PBS KIDS television series or read books based on the Curious George PBS KIDS series were positively impacted in terms of their knowledge about the science and math concepts covered.

The study also found that Curious George TV tie-in books prompted children to use scientific habits of mind, such as making predictions, making observations, asking questions, and hypothesizing. It also indicated that parents who read or watched Curious George with their children reported feeling more confident about exploring science and math with their children and reported they were more motivated to do so.

"Science, math, and engineering sound scary, even to adults," said CEG Senior Researcher Christine Paulsen, PHD. "As preschoolers, it's a very different thing. They're learning how to explore, they're learning how to be curious. Across all platforms, Curious George is an educational winner for kids."

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