There’s nothing like stressing out over tipping to ruin the end of a great haircut, pedicure, or other treatment. Knowing the basics makes everything better for you—and your aesthetician. Here’s what you need to know:
Twenty percent is a good rule of thumb for the person who performed the service. Throw in a little extra for more labor-intensive or truly spectacular treatments.
The owner of a salon should never be tipped.
Assistants should be: the right-hand people get $10 to $20. Pricey services have their own rules. Cindy Barshop , whose Completely Bare spas specialize in laser hair removal at $150 to $1000 a session, advises clients to give $25 to $40.
Always try to tip in cash. Otherwise, the technician has to wait until the end of the payroll cycle to get the money.
Finally, if you’re paying with a gift certificate, the tip may not be included. If you’re not sure, ask the receptionist to check.

(Source: shine/yahoo.com)

Health experts said yesterday that around 400,000 Americans will be killed by heart disease this year. These astonishing numbers indicate that years of progress in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking are being stalled by rising obesity rates.Two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese - a condition that increases the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses. A study conducted by British scientists found that around half of the heart disease deaths could be averted if people ate healthier and quit smoking.

(source: dialglobal.com)

According to a new study, over 25-percent of women say fitting into an old pair of jeans would feel better than sex! The survey, conducted by Kellogg’s Special K, found that 35-percent of women also own “trophy jeans,” which they once fit into and hope to one day wear again. And if they do manage to squeeze into that old pair, 29.1-percent say it would be better than sex and 28.9-percent say it would beat a promotion.

Truth time. Ladies, do you have a pair of “trophy” jeans you “hope” one day to fit into again?

Mistletoe season has arrived, is your breath smooch-worthy? One in four people have bad breath, according to Colgate.  It’s caused by many various factors, from the foods we eat, to the drinks we consume, to our daily hygiene and general health.

Aside from brushing your teeth—sometimes it’s just not possible, here’s a few tips to freshen your breath!

Mouthwash and sugar-free gum are a good quick fix. Or, if you’re feeling organic, chew a couple fresh mint leaves.

Classroom breath, office breath, church breath: whatever you call it, we’ve all experienced that weird, stale breath that comes from not opening your mouth for a while. It’s actually caused by dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Peppermint tea spiked with anise or cinnamon is also recommended

This sounds awful, but gargling 50 percent hydrogen peroxide with 50 percent H20 for 5-30 seconds is an immediate and lasting cure for microbial bad breath.

 (Source: Shine/yahoo)

Researchers are warning parents and other holiday gift buyers that one of the season’s must-have toys is unsafe — but the maker of Zhu Zhu Pets insists that the robotic hamsters are not only safe, but have passed rigorous testing.

St. Louis-based Cepia LLC challenged consumer-safety group GoodGuide’s claim that the hair and nose on Mr. Squiggles, one of the hamsters, contained higher-than-allowed levels of the chemical antimony.

After GoodGuide on Friday rated the toy a 5.2 on a 10-point scale, Cepia CEO Russ Hornsby fumed, “Being a father of children myself, I would never allow any substandard or unsafe product to hit the shelves.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has opened an investigation, according to MSNBC.

Zhu Zhu Pets retail for about $10 but and have become this season’s toy craze, following in the footsteps of Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids.are reselling for $40 or more on eBay and Craigslist.

(Source: MSNBC.com)

According to a new study released yesterday, 30 percent of youths admitted to “sexting.” That percentage of 14- to 24-year-olds said they had either sent or received nude photos on their cell phones or online. Reasons for sending sexts include, “the assumption that others would want to see them (52%), a desire to show off (35%), and boredom (26%).” About 30 percent of teens also said they have shared sexts as a joke or to be funny. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of 14- to 24-year-olds have experienced some type of digital abuse. The study’s definition of digital abuse includes writing something online that wasn’t true, sharing information you don’t want shared, posting embarrassing photos or video, being pressured to send naked photos and threatening physical harm, among other things.

 A new government task force study just released says most women should wait until age 50 to get mammograms and then have one every two years. This recommendation is a major reversal that conflicts with the American Cancer Society’s long-standing recommendation of annual screenings starting at age 40. Expect a lot of controversy surrounding this new study because it could at some point affect how our insurance covers mammogram costs. Read the complete article from MSNBC below.

New Advice On Mammograms

About one million Maclaren strollers were recalled by the company yesterday after reports of children having their fingers amputated by a hinge mechanism. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recall includes all nine models of single and double umbrella Maclaren strollers. The strollers are sold at Target, Babies “R” Us and other stores around the country. According to the 12 incident reports, the amputation risk occurs when a child’s finger gets caught in the hinge mechanism of a stroller while it is being unfolded. When the stroller opens and locks into place, it can sever the tip of the child’s finger. The company is offering free hinge covers to prevent future incidents.