Are you thinking about how to kick start your new year with a few resolutions?  According to several surveys and even a government website, we have compiled a list of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for you to consider. Whether you want to take a life changing trip or are going to exercise your way to great abs, the best way to achieve a goal is to make it specific and measurable and then tell all your friends.  Peer pressure is also good for support of your New Year’s resolutions.

Here are the most popular New Year’s resolutions:

·        Lose Weight

·        Quit Smoking

·        Drink less alcohol

·        Get a better education

·        Find a better job

·        Reduce and manage debt

·        Save more money

·        Take a vacation or trip

·        Volunteer to help others

·        Reduce, reuse, and recycle

Many of our New Year’s resolutions fall into one of these categories.  What will be your primary New Year’s resolution?

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Are you going to host a most excellent holiday party?  A little planning can go a long way.  While others are out shopping for the top tech gifts, you can save a little time and aggravation with this list of Top 10 tips for throwing a great party that will always be remembered:

·        Start the party with an empty dishwasher

·        Separate couples at a seated dinner

·        Have a music playlist ready to start when the first guest arrives

·        Keep appetizers to one bite, it helps conversation

·        Set up a self serve bar with recipes for top drinks available

·        Don’t wait for late guests, focus on those that have arrived

·        Never run out of ice

·        Don’t be in a rush to clean up the table completely, it signals the end of the party

·        Allow guests to help with touches, it makes for great icebreakers

·        Serve a great desert – It will leave a lasting impression

All of these may or may not apply to your party but most of all remember to have fun at your own party.  Do you have your own go to tip?  Share it in the comments below:

Tags: top 10, top 5, best, list, rank, most, rated, top, holiday, party, tips

Did you know that Americans spend over $600 million on sunscreen every year?  That is a good thing since the sun can be damaging to skin.  Some studies have shown that having only 5 sunburns increases your chances of developing melanoma.  Yikes!  So slather on the sunscreen and manager your time in the sun on the beach this summer and check out this list of things to know about sunscreen.

ü  SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays (not much need for more)

ü  Vitamin D is blocked by using sunscreen. Make sure you supplement from other sources

ü  Water-Resistant needs to be applied every 40 minutes

ü  Waterproof needs to be applied every 80 minutes

ü  SPF only refers to blocking UVB not UVA which can also damage skin

Sunscreen is necessary whether you are playing golf or visiting Disney to protect your most important organ. 

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Is stress and anxiety keeping you from being your best?  The anxiety of tomorrow can be taxing for most.  The leading cause of stress is money but we still continue to go shopping for deals.  There are studies that show that 3 of 7 drink a glass of wine to take the edge off.  Having your beverage of choice should not be a tool to relieve stress in the ideal world.  Here are a few things you should know about stress and anxiety:

ü  Over 24% of people feel like their stress level is an 8 on a scale up to 10

ü  39% feel anxiety about paying all of their bills on monthly basis

ü  The number of people that check their e-mail of vacation is 38%

ü  Loss of sleep due to anxiety is a leading contributor to stress

ü  37% feel significant holiday stress

Knowing the causes does not always stop stress but it can help address the issue.  So make sure you get enough sleep and exercise in order to make sure that you physically and mentally prepared to take on the world. 

Tags: stress, anxiety, facts, tips, list, rank, best, top

Are you an average woman? We thought not but we have start somewhere when putting together lists based on feedback from surveys.  Staying in shape can be a challenge with a hectic schedule and the fastest meals are sometimes the worst for your diet. So the next time you are out shopping for new clothes for your new figure, keep this statistics in mind:

ü  64% of Women are on a diet at any given time

ü  “Seeing an Ex” is the top reason for going on a diet

ü  56% are motivated when getting in shape with a partner

ü  9% of women never diet

ü  Alcoholic beverages are the toughest item to cut from the diet

So load up your iPod with your favorite music and get active.

Tags: diet, weight, women, lady, best, top, list, rank, tips, facts

Ever wonder why some women just have that little extra that makes them stand out in a crowd?  Ever person travels a different path to becoming the person they are meant to be.  Some are fortunate enough to gain the perspective that allows them to navigate the world a little differently (not just on their Blackberry).  Guys need to pay attention to these snippets of data in order to interact better with the fairer sex.  So let’s take a look at what makes the fairer sex tick:

·         36% of Women feel confident most of the time

·         1 in 2 have asked a guy out on a date

·         22% have no doubt about their bedroom skills

·         6% had plastic surgery to adjust their looks

·         Top Characteristics of Confident Women:

-          Take charge personality

-          Looks you in the eye

-          Great posture

From working out to receiving a complement, there are many ways to stay confident and focused. So now when we watch some of the greatest female tennis players we will understand what makes them tick. 

Tags: confident, focused, women, lady, girl, female, tips, best, top, list, rank

Strong is the new Beautiful – as the shirt says.  More and more women are working out and getting into shape.  Classes at your local fitness center range from Spinning (going really fast on a stationary bike) to Pilates (Athletic Yoga) to Sculpting (weights with cardio).  There is something for everyone.  So before you go out and buy a Top Ranked Treadmill so you can look like a Top Female Tennis Player, check out this list of stats about the average woman that works out:

·         Most  athletic women work out 4 days a week

·         Her abs are her most important feature she is working to improve

·         Main reason for skipping a workout: Tired

·         Over 15% have found a date at the gym – 63% have been approached

·         Only 1% walk around naked in the locker room

So get out, hit the gym.  Summer is on the way. 

Tags: female, women, girl, workout, tips, facts, best, top, list, rank

The invention of the debit card has changed the way we use cash.  It is so easy to pull out your debit card and punch in your PIN and be on your way (Just make sure you keep up with your bank account balance!).  Before we get to the Top 5 places not to use your debit card, take a moment and check out the Best Financial Websites for additional tips.  Keep in mind that every time you use your debit card it pulls directly from your bank account.  So put away your debit card in these 5 situations:

·         Online Purchases – Always use a credit card for additional protection

·         Deposits – Do not use your bank account for a deposit you may never use

·         Restaurants – The transaction is done out of site (we learned this first hand)

·         Non-Bank ATM’s -  Unless you are desperate for cash, do not use a 3^rd party ATM

·         Expensive Purchased – Get points and protection with a credit card.

It may seem that we endorse credit cards, but we do recognize that they also come with their own set of issues. We do recommend paying off your balance on your credit cards so you do not pay additional interest.  Be Smart. Be Safe.

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Looking for a job can be tough in this economy.  Job searches are tough in a good economy.  Make sure that you follow a few of these tips to ensure that your resume stands out as one of the most professional.  Then send it off to one of the companies list on FasList's  Best Places to Work.  Let’s get started tuning up your resume:

·         Leave off your Hobbies and Interests:  As a hiring manager, it always concerned me when prospects put more than I wanted to know.

·         Make sure every comment is positive:  Negativity on a resume is sure way to end up in the trash can.

·         Customize (a little) the objective to the company: You may feel it is about you but it is about them. 

·         Picture: If they want to see your picture – they can go to Linked-In.  Make sure your FaceBook and MySpace profile is appropriate for a job seeker.  Yes – we do check.

Best of luck in your job search.  We have posted a list of the Best Places to Work for you. Enjoy.

Tags: job, search, resume, tips, best, top, list, rank

Only a few more days until New Year’s Day and the start of 2010 – Time to think about what your resolutions will be for the New Year.  The most popular range from Get in Shape to Stop Smoking to Getting out of Debt.  Here is an article of the Top 10 New Year's Resolutions and some suggestions on how to make it happen.  Improvement occurs one day at a time.  While you are working on your resolutions, check out the list of Top College Bowl Games of 2009 so that you can catch the best games.  Best of luck with those New Year’s resolutions. 

Tags: new years, resolutions, 2010, top, best, rank, tips, college, football, bowl, games