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Cranberries are a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants.  They also contain proanthocyanidins,  which protect you against bladder and urinary tract infections.  Reportedly, other health benefits include lowering cholesterol, heart disease, kidney stones, gum disease and stomach cancer. Do you have 15 minutes and a wooden spoon?  Lately I have tried my hand at making my very own fruit preserves.  Homemade cranberry preserves is a delectable sweet-tart combination and so easy to whip up with just three simple ingredients ( If you can eat cranberries without adding sugar, more power to you.  Just the thought makes me pucker. ) : Cranberry Preserves Ingredients : 2 14 ounce bags cranberries 2 cups water 1   cup brown sugar Optional: Some cooks like to add orange zest or fresh grated ginger. I tend to keep it pure. Directions : 1. Pour all the ingredients into a pot.  Stir and bring to a boil on a stovetop. 2. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for a...

The Weekender Collection If you wear makeup, but desire a natural look -- like you're not wearing makeup -- then Jouer is the perfect beauty brand for you.  Launched in 2008 by Christina Zilber (herself, a busy entrepreneur and mother of two), the cosmetics are created to be simple, chic and modern.  All formulas promote a healthy glowing complexion. The pigments are rich and stay on your face. From shimmering nudes to rich matte chocolates, the colors are ultra wearable and timeless.  Peachy pink lip glosses, radiant moisture tints and earthy eye shadows glide on to enhance a woman's natural beauty. The packaging is clever and practical too.  Select a customized palette that is right for your personal style.  All the products in a collection are designed to interlock .  They snap together like legos , so you can configure your makeup anyway you like, making it compact and easy to carry. The collections are the better value.  Although at $58 they ar...

For designer duds, it's Target again!  Mark you calendar for February 10 th , the day Prabal Gurung's Target Collection goes on sale in stores and online.  Gurung is a Singapore born, Nepali bred, American designer.  He successfully designed for Bill Blass before launching his own label.   Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lawrence (+ other Hollywood red carpet walkers) wear his dresses.  He says his Target collection is inspired by  ♥ l o v e ♥  -- all of the stages from  first cru sh  to everlasting. ♥ ♥ ♥   The apparel and accessories are colorful, fresh and feminine ... with a bite. The limited edition collection consists of 80 plus pieces: clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry.  The price ranges from $13 (crystal stone earrings in silver) to $200 (for a blue leather jacket), with most falling under $40.  To see the entire Prabal Gurung Target offerings, click here .  The designer claims that red ...

Photo by Jane Smith  ( Flickr ) As the new year begins, many people focus on physical fitness.  While some aim to lose a few pounds, others just want to embrace a healthy lifestyle.  Sometimes what you don't do, is as important as what you do.  With that thought in mind -- Here are 15 exercises to avoid in 2013 * : 1. Grasping at straws 2. Wading through paperwork 3. Running around in circles 4. Pushing your luck 5. Spinning your wheels 6. Adding fuel to the fire 7. Beating your head against the wall 8. Climbing the walls 9. Beating your own drum 10. Dragging your heels 11. Jumping to conclusions 12. Jumping on the bandwagon   13. Fishing for compliments 14. Throwing your weight around 15. Passing the buck * source: Mickey's Funnies (hosted by the Agathongroup ) Though I'm featuring bright plastic straws above, #1 actually refers to a drowning man grabbing at the thin reeds that grow by the side of a river.  A last ditch ... and likely futile effort. ...

Photo by Duane Reade Baby, it's cold outside  ♬ ♪ ♪  and dreary.  Time to hydrate skin and wake-up your features with color.  Have you checked the aisles of a drugstore lately?  You will find a treasure trove of affordable beauty products.  If you need  help to battle Old Man Winter, then try a few of the top-notch products listed below.  Pamper yourself with: Skin Care: Face (formulas with retinols and rich moisterizers) 1. L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Concentrated Serum 2. L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Deep-Acting Moisturizer 3. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer   4. Neutrogena Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream 5. Olay PROx Intensive Wrinkle Protocol - a kit that includes (1) Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30, (2) Deep Wrinkle Treatment and (3) Wrinkle Smoothing Cream 6. Roc  Retinol Correxion  Deep Wrinkle Serum 7. Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream 8.  Roc Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resur...

Here are three variations of one of my favorite dress styles.  The look is dressy, clean and feminine.  The dress is cut to draw the eye down the sems, creating a slimming effect.  It has a classic princess neck.  Without hugging the waist or hips, the dress tapers at the waist, then flares out from the hips down to the bottom.  Both the style and length -- which is just above the knee -- is very flattering.  A Fit and Flare dress can have long sleeves in the winter and cap sleeves in the summer.  And, it is comfortable to wear.  Sometimes this lovely style is so hard to find in stores.  Why?!? The dresses I used to illustrate the style are: 1.  Plenty by Tracy Reese Woman's Ponte Flirty Dress  - $178 2.  Kensie Women's Textured Twisty Knit - $88 3.  Suzi Chin Women's Fit and Flare Dress - $158 This is my style.  What's your style?  Knowing what you feel good wearing helps you avoid buying mistakes and lets yo...

Photo by Tim Mazurek/ Lottie and Doof   On New Year's Day I made a dinner created by David Tanis in  Bon Appetit .  The original recipe is  here , and of course, I tweaked it a little bit.  Why not start a New Year by roasting chicken a new way?  It is a healthy meal using a few fresh ingredients without a lot of fuss ... or pans.  I love one pan, crispy, spicy food. The chicken is moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and the roasted potatoes collect all the deliciousness that drips off the chicken.  It's perfect for a holiday, or any day. Chicken Ingredients : 4 garlic cloves, finely grated 1 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoons smoked paprika ½ tablespoon hot smoked Spanish paprika One 4 pound whole chicken 1 large bunch fresh thyme or marjoram Potatoes Ingredients : 2 pounds potatoes, unpeeled (Eyeball it: a potato per person) salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 ½ tablespoons olive oi...