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Moreover, scientists observed an even greater drop in heart rate when students broke into a “Duchenne smile” (the type that engages the eyes and the mouth). “Smiling can jump-start the process of happiness,” says Jeff Brown, MD, a Harvard psychologist and the author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Great Health ($9.95, amazon.com). “When you smile, you trigger a psychological and neurobiological alignment with positive emotions.” “Refueling with food is the main reason we stop in the middle of the day, and it’s important to step away from your desk to do this,” says Regina Ragone, MS, RD....

In addition to feasting and gathering family members (or friends for Friendsgiving) from every corner of the country, many Thanksgiving traditions include some form of expressing gratitude—this holiday is a day for giving thanks, after all. Whether your Turkey Day crew is the type to go one-by-one around the table to share what each person is thankful for or you pull out the Thanksgiving conversation starters, you’ve probably been doing at least some reflection of your own on what you feel thankful for....

This post contains affiliate links to products for your convenience. If you purchase via my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Disney Frozen Games Any of these games would be great for a Frozen party! There’s everything from printable scavenger hunts to Olaf inspired snowball tosses. If you’re looking for Disney frozen party games, you’ve come to the right place! And don’t forget to make this DIY Elsa Let It Go shirt – I mean what else could be perfect for a Frozen party!...

Editor-Loved Valentine’s Day Gifts: And Palace Ceramic Love Vase Set, $40 Royal Craft Wood Bathtub Tray, $50 MyGift Modern Copper Stemless Wine Glasses Set, $30 (was $33) Soho Floral Arts Signature Box Preserved Roses, $75 Dearfoams Women’s Fireside Shearling Scuff Slipper, $49 (was $75) Rooted Alocasia Polly Potted Plant, $19 De Buyer Nonstick Crepe Pan, $22 (was $25) Vitruvi Organic French Lavender Essential Oil, $18 Zaful Women’s Loungewear Set, $38 (was $40) BrüMate Hopsulator Three-in-One Stainless Steel Insulated Can Cooler, $30 Weighted Idea Cooling Weighted Blanket, $40 with coupon (was $90) Reese’s Valentine’s Day Gift Set, $25 Naturally Med Olive Wood Cheese Board, $46 Sweetened Loose Leaf Tea Drops Sampler, $15 L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Body Oil, $50 OXO Steel Single Wall Cocktail Shaker, $21 Man Crates Jerky Heart Gift Set, $40 Auselily Women’s Long Sleeve Maxi Dress, $37 Riedel Performance Champagne Glasses, $67 Gund Snuffles Teddy Bear, $20 Rembrandt Charms Corkscrew Necklace and Bracelet Charm, $50...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Culver’s. The opinions and text are all mine. Culver’s Mission Statement & My Summer Mission Last week I had the chance to visit the Culver’s headquarters in Sauk City, Wisconsin. During that visit I had the chance to tour the headquarters, meet many members of the Culver’s team including the CEO Joe Koss and one of the co-founders Lea Culver, and sample the six brand new flavors that Culver’s is adding this year to their current rotation of flavors of the day!...

With the Summer Olympic Games just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some Olympic themed party ideas so you can host a little summer games of your own! I’ve split this guide into three different sections – food, things to do, and decorations and party favors. It’s literally everything you need in one place to host a competition of epic proportions this summer! Click on each of the links in the guide below to be taken directly to that idea!...

Puerto Rico is more than just a place with nice beaches, and I hope this list of 25 things to do in San Juan Puerto Rico and beyond with kids convinces you that it’s the perfect place to vacation with your family! I’ve been to Puerto Rico twice in my life. Once with my best friend for spring break during our senior year of high school and once with my family for a couple of days before we went on a cruise....

Gifts that give back support particular nonprofit groups or causes. Some provide employment at fair wages to people who need help getting their foot in the door, some trigger one-for-one donations, and others contribute funds to charities and charitable efforts. However they give back, you can give these presents with the knowledge that your purchase is making the world just the tiniest bit better. Take a look at these top gifts that give back and shop with a little extra purpose this year....

Best Health and Beauty Stocking Stuffers Gift them with something that’ll help them look and feel better this holiday season, with some affordable (and wonderful) stocking stuffer gifts for beauty fans. Burt’s Bees Orange Blossom & Pistachio Hand Cream Help them fight off winter dry skin with this all-natural rich shea butter hand cream, scented with orange blossom and pistachio. Grow a Beard Beard Care Kit Help him keep his beard on point with this sweet set of beard grooming tools, which comes in two different wood styles—bamboo or black—and perfectly packaged for taking on the go....

If you can, try to find a bird from a smaller farm or ranch. The massive, industrial turkeys that tip the scales at 20-plus pounds don’t pack as much flavor. Also, you don’t have to get your turkey weeks before the big day. If you buy yours a few days before, it’ll be fresher. Once your turkey has been cooking for some time, and you suspect it’s within 20 minutes of doneness, take that turkey pan out and deploy the thermometer....

You can actually train your core by incorporating some easy standing exercises into your day, and there are tons of great benefits to doing so. We’re sharing some useful know-how along with a simple standing exercise routine that you can complete without any equipment. Benefits “By doing standing abdominal work, you utilize the core in an upright, vertical position while holding your own body weight, or what we often call bracing the core,” says Denise Chakoian, a certified personal trainer and the founder and owner of CORE in Providence, R....

Tips for Harvesting Herbs The best time for harvesting herbs is in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the afternoon sun has sapped the plants’ color and fragrance. For the health of the remaining plants, leave a few inches of stem on each as you make your cuttings. And never harvest more than one-third of the plant at a time. How to Dry Herbs When growing herbs in your garden, your aim is to give the plants the water and sunlight they need to thrive....

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I host a lot of parties, and I get a lot of hostess gifts, but I’m here to tell you that most of the time those hostess gifts get put on a shelf somewhere to never be used again. I want to help you give your hostess a gift she’ll actually want, one that she’ll actually use and appreciate....

These clutter hotspots may differ between households, but there are some common ones (e.g., kitchen counters and bedside tables). The problem: Once we’ve picked up a habit, like tossing mail on the counter when we walk in the door, it can be tough to break. Here are easy organization systems you can set up to help adjust these routines. Set up a system: Place a small, stylish wastepaper basket in your entryway or next to your kitchen counter, so you can toss out unwanted catalogs right away (when you have time, contact the companies to unsubscribe)....

What Kind of Wild Animals Will We Encounter? In our backyard, which is four acres of mostly woods, there is a fox den—with actual foxes living in it. Those foxes (while beautiful to see occasionally wandering around our yard) have killed all of our chickens, and one even stole my infant child’s sun hat that fell out of a stroller. We’ve spotted wild rabbits, deer, skunks, porcupines, raccoons, mice, and rats, and one year—when our raspberry patch was especially robust—a black bear, which nearly gave me a heart attack....

Start With Chicken Stock Ali Slagle, recipe developer and author of I Dream of Dinner, recommends cooking chicken in chicken stock to jumpstart the process of making a rich, chicken-y base. Find a store-bought chicken stock that you like (Slagle prefers Swanson), and use that instead of—or in addition to—water when cooking your chicken to amp up the broth’s flavor. “This is especially worthwhile if you’re making soup with boneless, skinless chicken, since the bones and skin contribute so much of the soup’s flavor,” Slagle notes....

Donut Themed Ideas Looking for a party idea that’s fun, easy, and oh so yummy? Enter the donut themed party. It’s everyone’s favorite dessert that’s kicking cakes to the curb: donuts. Donut parties are perfect for a kid’s birthday party, a girl baby shower theme a bridal shower, or a donut engagement party. Even national donut day gives us a great excuse to throw a donut party. A donut themed party is about much more than serving everyone’s favorite treat....

Outdoor Activity Ideas Plant a spring garden (or even just a plant or two). See the cherry blossoms. Have a picnic at the park. Seek out the first crocuses, snowdrops, and other spring flowers. Go for a run. Take a hike. Play softball. Ride a bike. Enjoy the spring weather at an outdoor café. Visit a farm to see the baby animals. Walk on an empty beach. Play a round of golf....

Easy Super Bowl Party Ideas Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest food consumption day for the U.S., second only to Thanksgiving? That means that at the end of the day your Super Bowl party needs to center around food. That doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your other Super Bowl party ideas, and I’ve got some of the best game ideas (that will add to, not distract from the game) and cute decoration ideas to let your party come out champion of the night!...

The Scientific Reason You Hate Cilantro A study from researchers at Cornell University sought to answer the pressing question of why some people like cilantro and some people don’t. They surveyed 30,000 people and used the results to look for common genetic traits. Their finding: A specific gene—OR6A2—may determine your relationship with cilantro. This receptor gene is responsible for coding messages from aldehyde chemicals, which are also found in soap and some bugs....