Issue Date: April 13, 2008
3 ways to ease walking into your day
Whether you are young or old, walking has a long list of potential benefits. Besides being good for your heart, it promotes emotional wellness, reduces stress and improves brain function.
It's recommended that you get moving for 30 minutes a day, which on an average day, can seem impossible. Here are some tips to fit walking into your routine.
Break up the 30 minutes. Try walking for 15 minutes during your lunch break and 15 minutes after work. It will help to clear your mind and improve your focus.
Walk briskly for 20 minutes before you eat breakfast. Studies show that you'll boost weight loss.
Add an extra 10 minutes of activity to your day by parking farther away from store entrances and taking the stairs.
Need to get motivated? Take part in the American Heart Association's national Start! Walking at Work Day April 16. Bring sneakers to work on Wednesday, and encourage your co-workers to do the same.
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How to pay less in property tax
Think falling prices have affected the value of your home and your tax bill is too high? Mount an appeal using tips from the National Taxpayers Union.
Check sales of similar homes.
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Arm yourself with data. Ask a local real estate agent for recent sales prices of similar homes in your neighborhood to compare to your assessment. Prices may be far lower than what your town thinks your house is worth. Visit the assessor's office to see your property record and those of similar homes in your neighborhood. (Bring addresses.) If you're paying more than your neighbors are, that may help with an appeal.
Check details. Are there mistakes on your property record, such as square footage or number of rooms? Is your house near a bus stop? Is the slope in your front yard steeper than that of your neighbors? List all mistakes or property flaws in your appeal.
Hire an appraiser. Not all jurisdictions allow appraisals as part of an appeal, but if your town does, pay the $250 to $400 fee. An objective appraisal can be convincing.
Walecia Konrad is an award-winning consumer writer.
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Delayed? Work out at the airport
The next time your flight is delayed, work out your frustration with a workout. Several airports have fitness clubs in the terminal or in hotels attached to the terminal. A typical day pass is about $15, not bad for access to a fully equipped gym.
Chicago The Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport charges $11 a day and offers a fitness center, pool, whirlpool and sauna.
Detroit The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport in the McNamara Terminal charges $15 for a fitness center day pass.
Las Vegas McCarranInternational Airport has a24 Hour Fitness branch where a day pass costs $10 to access the fitness center and sauna.
Boston The Hilton Boston Logan Airport has a 6,000-square-foot fitness center,lap pool, whirlpool, saunas and steam rooms. A day pass is $10.
Vancouver The Fairmont Vancouver Airport charges $15Canadian a day to access its pool and fitness center.
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Good-for-you candy
Mix whole-grain cereal with high-antioxidant chocolate, cherries and good-fat walnuts for a healthful treat.
Chocolate Cherry Clusters
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups Cheerios cereal
1 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
In medium bowl, microwave chocolate on high 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 more minute, until nearly melted. Stir until smooth. Quickly stir in cereal, cherries and nuts until well coated. Using a tablespoon, drop clusters on a baking sheet. Refrigerate 2 hours, until no longer sticky.
Makes 24 clusters
per cluster: 137 calories, 2g protein, 15g carbohydrates, 10g fat (4g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 2g fiber, 13mg sodium
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Add a garden path
A pathway can connect all of your garden's points of interest and be a powerful design element. Here are some tips to help you design one:
Determine the width.
Will your path be used often or rarely? If it's a primary pathway, perhaps leading to the front door, make sure that it's wide enough for two people to walk abreast (minimally 4 feet wide). If it's not going to get lots of foot traffic, make it narrow to offer a longer perspective.
Choose straight vs. winding.
A straight path is the shortest distance between two points. Creating an undulating front walkway doesn't make sense because visitors want to reach the front door as quickly as possible. But you can soften the look of the front walkway by creating a gently winding one, or you can plant up the sides to camouflage its edges. If you've created a flower garden to beckon visitors, then a winding pathway is the perfect choice.
Pick types of materials.
Select appropriate colored and textured materials to build your path and complement your garden. If you are creating a formal garden, then it makes sense to use hard materials such as patterned brick, pavers or flagstone. If your yard has a more informal feel, finely shredded mulch, gravel or old bricks will add a relaxed, natural effect.
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