Cures For Aging Hair

Let's face it. It's not all about vanity when it comes to wanting shiny, shipshape hair. Our manes say a lot about us.

So undo all of that makes-you-look-old damage on the cheap with these three kitchen cures from the hair experts at RealBeauty.com.

Culinary Conditioners
Who needs costly salon products when you can give your hair a little TLC with these food-based treatments?

1. Eggs: To help strengthen and repair damage to hair follicles and give your hair a shine and body boost, mix a couple of eggs in a bowl like you're going to scramble them. Use the egg mixture as a conditioner after shampooing, allowing the mixture to soak in for a minute or two before rinsing.

2. Bananas: The potassium in this fruit can help soothe blow-dryer and chemical-induced damage. Mash a ripe banana into a smooth puree, and massage it into your locks. Let it sit about 15 minutes before rinsing.

3. Mayo: This sandwich staple can help soften coarse and bristly strands. Just apply a cup of the stuff to your hair when it's dry, and massage it into your scalp. Shampoo it out after about 15 minutes.

Fried Green Tomatoes

By: Jennifer Anderson

Green tomatoes can be used in all sorts of dishes, from relishes to pies…and of course, fried green tomatoes!

Perfect Green Tomato
Not all green tomatoes are alike. When those shiny emerald orbs first begin to appear on the vines, they're not yet edible. The best-tasting green tomatoes are those that have reached full maturity--that is, the jellylike substance around the seeds has fully formed--and have just the faintest hint of a red blush about their flesh. Once picked, these mature green tomatoes can keep for weeks, slowly edging towards redness. If you do want to store them long-term, arrange them in a single layer in a cool (but not cold) place and check them frequently: one bad tomato can spoil the whole batch.

Avoid Restaurant Catastrophes

To us, a restaurant catastrophe isn’t just when a waiter spills something on you or when you accidentally miscalculate the tip. When it comes to your health, a catastrophe is what can happen in the first and last 10 minutes of a meal. But it doesn’t have to. Here’s how to dine out, enjoy your meal, and be trim and healthy, too:

Before You Go

Don’t arrive starving! Eat a little healthy fat -- like about six walnut halves -- before a meal. The healthy fat in walnuts triggers a chain reaction that slows the rate at which your stomach empties, so you’ll feel fuller faster. But the chain reaction takes 30 minutes, so plan for it.

The First 10 Minutes

• Raise a glass. Of water. To your lips. This can fill you up, so you don’t overeat.

• Ask for cut-up veggies instead of bread. Most quality restaurants (including inexpensive ones) provide this option.

• Dip in olive oil. If the restaurant brings you whole-grain bread, dip it in olive oil. People who opt for this over butter eat less bread.

• Request the bottles. Order oil and vinegar on the side. Relying on the kitchen to dress your salad -- even with oil and vinegar -- can deliver as many as 450 extra calories!

The Last 10 Minutes

• Share. Get one dessert for every four or five people, and have just a few bites. If there are just two of you, take half of the dessert home, and freeze it for a special occasion.

• Savor your wine. Ending a meal with a glass of wine lets you avoid the cloying aftertaste of sweets . . . and helps you avoid calorie-bombs, too.

• Go European. Do what many Europeans do: Make salad the last thing you eat.

Sources: Real Age

Staying in the Black

With the economy in its current shape, everyone is looking for ways to avoid financial hemorrhaging. At home and at work there are a few tried-and-tested tips that can help to keep you in the black.

At Home

Preventing loss at work is important, but it's not the only aspect to preventing loss during the current economic situation. Being smart around the house can help save some money as well. Here are a few ways to keep your household budget under control.

Put on a Coat

Wear an extra layer instead of turning up the heat when it's cold outside (or don't turn it up as much as usual). Try cooking dinner in the oven, which will give off ambient heat and help warm the house. Also, with the changing seasons, take advantage of cooler nights by opening windows instead of using the A.C.

Hug a Tree

Many times, being friendly to the environment can also be friendly to your budget. Buying energy-saving light bulbs and higher efficiency appliances when they are needed will pay off in energy bills in the long run.

Shop Smart

By planning out weekly or monthly menus, grocery shopping is farm more effective and less goes to waste. Now is a great time to buy in bulk and stock up on food storage. And don't forget to check out the coupons available for stores in your area. Lots of places are conscious of customers' needs and are giving more opportunities for savings.

Last-Minute Turkey Tips

• Turkey thaws faster in ice-cold water (about 30 minutes per pound). Keep in air-tight wrapper while thawing, and change out water every 30 minutes to be extra food-safe.

• Remember: Average 15-lb turkey should roast for about 4 hours. Internal temperature should be 170-180°.

If you have lost track of time and are finding yourself in a Thanksgiving crisis, never fear: With just a day until the big feast, we've got recipes for fast Thanksgiving feast solutions.

Fast & Light Appetizers

Fast Holiday Sides

Holiday Casseroles

Fuss-Free Desserts

Turkey Leftovers

All Thanksgiving Recipes