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5 Top Hair Trends to Try in 2023

2023-01-10T11:01:00

(BPT) – Is the beginning of a brand new year inspiring you to try a fresh new look? Before splurging on an entirely different wardrobe, try a tactic that will instantly elevate your style and give your confidence a boost: refreshing your hairstyle.

This year’s hair trends are all about movement, and also making the most of your own natural hair type for a great new look — and feel! Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to upgrade your look thanks to Great Clips Online Check-In, so you can embrace the new year with a trending haircut near you, in no time.

Here are some fun hair trends for women and men that may just make you smile and do a double take when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.

For Women:

All these trending do’s have the advantage of working well with any kind of hair, from straight to curly or fine to thick. You can make any one of these styles your own for a fresh new look you’ll love.

Bangs —

Try this trending fringe to guarantee your year will start with a bang! From ’70s-inspired butterfly bangs to timeless side-swept bangs, any fringe with texture is making a comeback in the new year. Bangs frame your face and can create instant volume, making them a great accent for any hair type, length and texture.

And don’t worry about the upkeep with your bangs. With Clip Notes, Great Clips stylists keep personalized notes about each haircut and trim to make sure you get the same great haircut every time.

Not sure how to style your new fringe? Ensure that your bangs look great and stay in place all day long with American Crew’s Pomade — a match “po-made” in heaven!

Modern Shag —

This version of the shag is here to stay! Inspired by ’80s rock stars, this layered cut features face-framing bangs, texture and layers. Also known as the wolf cut, a shag haircut is a versatile style that works great with any hair type.

Lots of Layers —

2023 is the year of flowy hair. No matter what your hair’s curl pattern or texture type, layered styles that emphasize movement are sure to be a hit! Keep your hair feeling weightless by using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner for a boost of bounce.

For Men:

Take on the adventure of an amazing new style, with help from American Crew products that can help you look your best all year long.

Brushed-Up Styles —

Inspired by the looks of the 1950s, TikTok and YouTube influencers are bringing an exciting modern twist to classic brushed-up hairstyles. This new take on a retro haircut includes medium-length hair on top that is styled back, usually in a messy way. The short sides are cut in a fade, undercut or taper. Finish off the look with American Crew Grooming Spray to easily keep your hair in place, no matter the weather.

Embrace Texture —

Whether your hair is straight or curly, this year is texture’s time to shine! Try products like American Crew’s Fiber Cream to define your hair and add rough texture without making it feel crunchy or stiff.

Ready for a fresh new start? Welcome 2023 by finding your next great hairstyle at Great Clips and visit GreatClips.com to find a salon closest to you.

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4 ways to maintain your wellness goals this winter

2023-01-10T09:01:00

(BPT) – Now that winter is officially in full swing, cold weather and shorter days are upon us, which can make it harder to stick to your wellness goals and resolutions. However, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner offers the following tips that can help you invest in your well-being and stick to your health goals this season.

1. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can boost your immune system, which helps your body avoid illnesses during the colder months. According to The New York Times, several studies have shown a strong link between regular exercise and lower risks of infection, including respiratory infections. Regardless of what exercise you partake in, 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week can give your body an edge against cold and flu season this winter.

2. Winterize your hydration

Staying hydrated benefits your health in many ways, including aiding in the regulation of body temperature, preventing infections, delivering nutrients to your cells and lubricating your joints! It can also improve your sleep, cognition and mood. If you aren’t craving big glasses of ice water on cold wintery days, winterize your hydration by reaching for hot drinks like herbal teas or add a squeeze of winter fruit like oranges or grapefruit to your water to make it more flavorful.

3. Eat Vitamin D–rich foods

Eating foods rich in Vitamin D is always important, but especially in the winter. We make Vitamin D from sunshine, so when we are seeing less of the sun we have to make sure we are getting it in our diet. Vitamin D is associated with bone health, muscle function and immunity and is found in foods such as fatty fish, fortified milk, certain mushrooms and egg yolks. Eggland’s Best eggs contain six times more Vitamin D than ordinary eggs. Plus double the Omega-3s, 25% less saturated fat and more than double the Vitamin B12; they’re really a nutrient powerhouse!

4. Add seasonal produce

With each season our cravings change. The fruits and veggies we wanted in the summer like crisp, cold salads will likely be different in the winter. So lean into the season and add winter produce to your routine such as kale, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and spaghetti squash. Produce adds beneficial antioxidants and fiber to help keep cells and digestion healthy.

Check out this hearty Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl from Eggland’s Best and don’t forget to nourish your body during the coldest winter months while satisfying your taste buds!

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Yield: 2 bowls

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes (chopped into 1-inch cubes)

• 2 cups of baby spinach

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

• Pinch of salt

• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder

• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

• 1 large avocado (salt and pepper for taste)

• 4 Eggland’s Best eggs, large

Preparation:

1. Add sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.

2. Put the sweet potatoes in the air fryer for 25 minutes at 375 degrees for the perfect texture. Shake the basket at about 10 minutes.

3. While the sweet potatoes are cooking, lightly coat your nonstick pan with oil over medium heat. Once the pan heats up, crack 4 eggs into the pan, season with salt and pepper and cover it.

4. Cook until the whites are set, but the yolks are still runny.

5. Divide the sweet potato and spinach between 2 bowls. Top each bowl with 2 sunny-side-up eggs and half an avocado.

6. Serve with sausage or veggie links if desired. Enjoy!

By following these four tips, you’ll be sure to set yourself up for wellness success this year! For more tasty and healthy recipes featuring Eggland’s Best eggs, visit EgglandsBest.com.

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These decadent chocolate bars won’t derail your New Year’s resolutions

2023-01-10T09:01:00

(BPT) – The new year is a time to reflect and think about how you can live better both for yourself and the world around you. One popular resolution is to eat less sugar, but chocolate lovers struggle to give up their favorite treat. The good news is, now you don’t have to.

If you’re resolving to eat less sugar this year, there are chocolate options that will satisfy your cocoa cravings and keep you on track:

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is lower in sugar and full of antioxidants, so stock up on this feel-good treat to help you stick to your New Year’s resolution. A square or two of dark chocolate with your mid-morning cup of coffee or after lunch can satisfy that sweet craving! Check out the more than 40 dark chocolate options from Chocolove that are made with high cocoa content, which means lower sugar content.

Not sure where to start? Try the Strong Dark Chocolate Bar, featuring strong, Belgian dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, and only 30% sugar content. The intense and well-rounded flavors have a pleasant and velvety finish that is indulgent and satisfying. A 77% Extra Strong also is available with extra cocoa butter that adds balance and softness.

Want to go to the extreme with your dark chocolate? Try the Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar with 88% cocoa. High cocoa content of 88% means lower sugar and high polyphenol content.

How does chocolate low in sugar still taste great?

By using only top-quality cocoa beans and taking great care through the roasting and grinding process, Chocolove avoids the need to add excess sugar to dilute bitterness that can come from poor quality beans. This is why even the highest cocoa content bars taste smooth and delicious.

What’s more, you can feel good about enjoying these bars because they are made with traceable cocoa beans and are Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning the chocolate is sourced using methods that support social, economic and environmental sustainability. They are also Non GMO Project Verified.

No-sugar-added chocolate

Chocolove XO is no-sugar-added chocolate sweetened naturally with inulin from chicory root and isomalt from beets. There are no artificial sweeteners, which helps deliver a smooth, delicious taste. This higher-fiber, keto-friendly option is a great choice for those following a low-sugar diet and for those who want to enjoy high-quality chocolate with fewer calories and less sugar per serving.

If you crave the combo of chocolate and fruit, try the XO Elderberries & Blueberries in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. It’s a perfect pairing of dried elderberries and freeze-dried blueberries in creamy dark chocolate that offers a sophisticated taste with both floral and fruit notes.

Nuts contain healthy omega-6s, so if you want a touch of healthy crunch, try the XO Almonds & Sea Salt in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. The dry-roasted, crunchy almonds combine perfectly with sea salt crystals.

If you love mint and how it mingles perfectly with the flavor of dark chocolate, try the XO Mint in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. The creamy dark chocolate and refreshing peppermint flavors swirl on your palate, ending in a cool mint finish.

Chocolove is sold at major retailers nationwide — including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Kroger, Walmart and Sprouts — and is available at Chocolove.com and a variety of independent natural retailers. This is chocolate that tastes good and that you can feel good about eating.

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Three Ways to Tweak Retirement Spending to Save on What Matters Most

2023-01-10T07:01:00

(BPT) – Big economic changes can, and should, prompt big changes in individuals’ personal financial habits. That can look different from household to household but changing economic conditions doesn’t mean depriving yourself of what makes life enjoyable — much less healthy — especially at the retirement stage of life.

With the help of AARP Member Benefits, retirees can save on the everyday essentials — such as buying prescriptions, traveling to important life events, and staying connected with friends and family — so they can relax and enjoy this period of their lives while still having savings to continue enjoying their retirement well into the future.

Here are three ways you can tweak your retirement spending and save on what matters most:

1. Make Savvy Savings Choices on Essential Health and Wellness Products

Focusing on your health and well-being, including mental and physical health, is a necessity for anyone 50+, but the right savings options are available to keep costs low. Stay up to date on medical appointments, including eye exams, to evaluate any vision loss or early signs of disease. If correction is needed, members and their families can access exclusive discounts from AARP® Vision Discounts Provided by EyeMed at participating retailers and independent provider locations nationwide, as well as online. Members save 50% on prescription lenses with the purchase of a frame at LensCrafters, 30% on complete pair of glasses (frames and lenses) at Glasses.com, and an additional $10 on a complete pair at Target Optical.

If you’re an AARP member, you have access to a free prescription discount card from AARP® Prescription Discounts Provided by Optum Rx® that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on all FDA-approved medications. The program is open to anyone, but AARP members have access to additional benefits, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for dependents and more.

You can look to Walgreens when stocking up on your everyday beauty care essentials and vitamins. When members link their AARP membership and myWalgreens® account, they can earn 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on Walgreens-branded health and wellness products. AARP members also receive 7% Walgreens Cash rewards on Walgreens branded beauty and personal care products and 3% Walgreens Cash rewards on all other qualifying beauty and personal care products.

2. Hit the Open Road at a Low Cost with Gas Discounts

One of the most enjoyable parts of retirement is being able to hit the road for those once-in-a-lifetime vacations or to visit friends and family. With that said, it’s in the best interest of your retirement savings to do this without breaking the bank. If you’re driving, there are ways to save on the high cost of gas prices that many aren’t aware of — through your AARP membership. Members can link their AARP membership with their Exxon Mobil Rewards+TM account to earn extra points on fuel, car washes and convenience store items, and you’ll earn 2x the points on fuel on member days. Every 100 points you earn is the equivalent of $1 in savings on eligible purchases. And when you become an Exxon Mobil Rewards+ member, you receive a 500-point welcome bonus — that’s a five-dollar value — after your first fill-up. If you’re going to fill up anyway, why not save while you’re at it?

3. Connect with Loved Ones at Your Leisure by Keeping Cell Phone Costs Low

Having more time to connect with family and friends is one of the great pleasures of retirement. You can find so much joy in catching up with your child, grandchild, or close friends via a daily or weekly phone call. Paying for a phone service is a necessary expense, but there are hacks to saving on this monthly cost. AARP members can save 5% on monthly service and usage charges and 30% on accessories with Consumer Cellular. Talk, text, and data plans start at $20 per month per line, require no contract, and include free activation and an extended risk-free guarantee. In addition, AARP members can get unlimited talk, text and data for two lines for just $55/month. Make sure you enter or mention your AARP membership number or card at Target stores to access these savings and enjoy your conversations stress free.

Retirees can easily adjust their plans to ensure they don’t miss out on the moments that matter most, such as spending time with loved ones or taking an unforgettable vacation. The discounts and savings from AARP member benefits can help you enjoy the special moments in life during retirement without compromising on the flexibility and security you deserve. Check out aarp.org/save to view more benefits and savings available to AARP members.

Neither AARP nor its affiliates is the insurer. AARP and its affiliates are not insurance producers, agents or brokers, and do not sell or service insurance products. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.

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Dreaming of spring? Check out National Garden Bureau’s 2023 Green Thumb Award Winners

2023-01-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – Do the cold winter months have you dreaming of flowers blooming and digging in warm soil? Get ready for spring with National Garden Bureau’s (NGB) newest Green Thumb Award Winners for your garden. NGB, the 102-year-old nonprofit organization that promotes and inspires gardeners, recognizes the most innovative plants and helpful gardening products to assist and encourage gardeners everywhere.

Here are this year’s Green Thumb Award winners in six different categories:

1. Flowering shrub

Rose Eau De Parfum™ Bubbly: This rose delivers big fragrant blooms with a high petal count, offering the classic rose look with disease resistance provided by modern breeding. Bubbly features champagne-colored blooms that form lovely buds which slowly unfurl to their full glory. Their lush foliage makes these excellent shrubs to grace any garden with blooms from early spring until the first frost. This rose is hardy to USDA Zone 5 and grows 3-4 feet tall.

2. Perennial

Astilbe Dark Side of the Moon: A new instant classic for any landscape, Dark Side of the Moon is the only dark-leafed astilbe with purple flowers available for your garden. Its rich, deep chocolate burgundy leaves form an incredibly attractive 18- to 24-inch mound of foliage. Emerging leaves are yellow, with a dark margin and glossy sheen that becomes completely dark as they age. Dark stems hold raspberry buds that burst forth with rosy, purple flowers. The pollinator-friendly astilbe can be grown in beds or containers, and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.

3. Annual (a tie resulted in two winners for this category)

Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta) Royal Hawaiian® Waikiki: Veteran plant pros and new gardeners alike are talking about the exciting new colors on this colocasia. Royal Hawaiian® Waikiki offers glossy green foliage with flamboyant white and flamingo pink veining, and is bred to be happy in full sun. Disease resistant and compact, its clumping habit — 3 feet tall and wide — is ideal for patio containers, poolside plantings and color-packed garden beds. Waikiki is also a 2023 All-America Selections National Winner, making it a dual award winner!

Starflower Paper Moon: The novelty of this annual is what makes it a 2023 Green Thumb Award winner. Small, pale blue blossoms on wiry stems transform into highly decorative, bronze-colored geometric and globe-shaped seed heads. These plants are grown primarily for their papery seed pods, which are useful for both fresh and dried bouquets. These plants grow 2-3 feet tall and attract many beneficial insects.

4. Edible

Tomato Sun Dipper: Sun Dipper’s unique elongated fruit can easily be held between your fingers for easy use with dips and sauces. No more accidental finger-dips in the ranch sauce! Its orange fleshed fruit looks great on a vegetable platter and tastes even better. They grow well in a sunny area with the support of a trellis or cage, and have great resistance to in-ground diseases, so you’ll harvest trusses of 2-3″ long Sun Dipper tomatoes until the first frost.

5. Houseplant

Tradescantia Pistachio White: A breeding breakthrough allows this all-new Tradescantia to maintain heavy white variegation while still supporting vigorous growth. An excellent selection for small pots as well as hanging baskets, Pistachio White also makes an eye-popping item for combination plantings. You can bring them indoors for fantastic performance as a houseplant in winter months, and it grows to only 12” tall, but can get up to 18-24” wide. For warmer climates, this plant is hardy to Zone 8a when left outdoors.

6. Garden products (a tie resulted in two winners)

TruDrop Flex: This self-watering planter from Crescent Garden provides phenomenal results, helping make successful gardening accessible to everyone. The innovative insert has a 10-year warranty and can be easily removed so you can change the design, change out plants and/or easily maintain your plants. The outer shell serves as a great water reservoir that allows it to go weeks without watering, delivering phenomenal results by watering through the roots, while at the same time saving water and fertilizer usage for a truly sustainable container garden. TruDrop Flex can be used indoors or out.

Dibby XL Dual-Purpose Gardening Tool: No more sowing seeds with pencils, sticks, spoons or chopsticks! The Dibby XL from Spoken Garden helps all gardeners, of any skill level, consistently plant vegetable and flower seeds at the correct depth for germination. This means more plants with less time and less effort. It also makes thinning and transplanting seedlings easier. While other tools are hard to maneuver around tender seedlings, this new tool helps easily transplant and thin seedlings, giving them more room to develop. Made in the USA.

Excited to explore some of these award-winners? Ask about all of these plants and products at your favorite garden retailer or on the NGB website.

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How technology can be incorporated in your bathroom to enhance wellness

2023-01-10T05:01:00

(BPT) – Creating a spa-like bathroom that enhances your overall well-being is seriously on trend, and for good reason. Self-care can become part of your daily ritual if you make your bathroom into a calm oasis that supports your well-being — and technology can help create that sanctuary. Technology can also help you feel better knowing that you’re conserving water and protecting your home from potential problems such as freezing pipes. Knowing your systems are safe will allow you to relax and stay calmer.

If you’re ready to make improvements in your bathroom, here are some recent innovations to help you put your wellness front and center.

Personalize your bathing experience, smartly

If you’d like to have better control of your shower, the innovative Anthem Smart Showering Valves and Controls can simultaneously deliver different temperatures, pressures and spray settings for each water outlet with the touch of a button for a personalized shower experience, every time. Rinsing with warm and cool water at the same time offers hydrotherapy benefits and creates a spa-like experience right in your home. The Anthem smart showering systems control up to six water outlets, and the digital control display will also show how much water was used after each shower to help inform you about your water consumption. This is an effective way to use technology to provide smart water delivery and management in your everyday life.

Shower luxuriously — using less water

If water conservation is important to you, the Statement VES (Variable Eco-Spray) Showerhead and Handshower use up to 40% less water than a typical 2.5 gallons per minute showerhead. Statement VES’s low-flow spray is optimized to provide strong rinsing coverage while still maintaining warmth — addressing two key shower experience needs. The Statement collection includes Kohler’s Katalyst air-induction technology that infuses air into water droplets to make them feel larger while retaining heat longer, for a more luxurious soak while still using less water. Even better, Statement showerheads are compatible with existing pipes for an easy upgrade.

Protect your home for more peace of mind

If you have ever had to cope with plumbing leaks or frozen pipes, you know how devastating and costly these problems can be. Achieve a sense of serenity in the bathroom by planning ahead so you can avoid these calamities in the future. H2Wise Smart Water Monitoring Systems, powered by Phyn monitors and tracks all household water usage, alerting you to leaks and providing pre-freeze warnings. H2Wise plus features remote shutoff functionality in case of a catastrophic leak. A new frozen pipe mitigation smart feature will even detect if pipes begin to freeze and instruct your KOHLER Konnect water fixtures to briefly relieve pressure and minimize potential damage.

Improve personal cleansing, with style

For next-level hygiene and personal care, the Eir Smart Toilet exemplifies the art of innovation, offering convenient features such as a heated seat, customizable personal cleansing, a hands-free auto open and close lid, a nightlight, automatic flush and smart automatic flush capabilities that meet the EPA’s WaterSense criteria. Its sleek, tankless design and multiple finish options allow for concealed connections, making the toilet a beautiful centerpiece in your bathroom.

Bring the spa into your home

If you’re looking for easy ways to turn your daily bath or shower into a spa-like experience, look no further than Sprig, Kohler’s new lifestyle brand. You can easily install one of their shower infusion systems with natural shower infusion pods, their versatile body and linen mists or premium bath bombs to provide peaceful escape through aromatherapy. Sprig infusion systems easily retrofit to your existing shower to diffuse aromatherapy into the water, making it simple to elevate your daily routine into a moment of escape to enhance your well-being. You can also use their versatile body and linen mists for an aromatic burst of freshness — spritzed directly onto skin, into the air or onto a pillow, towel or yoga mat. Whether you love bath bombs or haven’t tried one yet, you’ll love their clean, natural, premium bath bombs featuring botanicals and skincare superstars like coconut oil, shea butter and kaolin clay.

Learn more about these products and other innovations to help transform your bathroom into your personal retreat and enhance your well-being at home by visiting Kohler.com.

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Top 5 cooking trends for 2023 to check out

2023-01-10T02:01:00

(BPT) – If you love exploring ingredients and new ways to cook old favorites, 2023’s cooking trends will delight and inspire you. GoodCook Culinary Chef Anthony Serrano shares trends he’s seeing in kitchens everywhere, along with helpful tools to help make your culinary adventures more successful.

Discover plant-based pastas

While traditional pasta will never go out of style, plant-based alternatives will be making waves in 2023. Traditional pasta is made from wheat flour (AP flour, semolina or whole wheat), but the world of pastas created from plants are colorful, flavorful and nutritious — and great choices for those with wheat allergies or gluten sensitivity. These include pastas made from edamame (soybeans), black beans, chickpeas or chia. Thanks to the popularity of Korean and Japanese cuisines, other options you could try are kelp noodles, shirataki noodles (created from the konjac yam) and cellophane noodles (made from mung beans, potato or sweet potato starch or tapioca). You can also substitute pasta with zoodles (spiralized zucchini) or spaghetti squash, which naturally shreds after cooking into spaghetti-like fibers that are fun to eat.

Whatever pasta dishes you concoct, you’ll need a great cookware set that can handle anything you throw at it. You can’t go wrong with GoodCook’s ProEase Cookware Set, a 12-piece set with 7″ and 9.5″ fry pans, 1.25-quart and 2-quart covered sauce pans, 4-quart covered Dutch oven, slotted spoon, spoon, slotted turner and pasta fork. This cookware is SupremSafe™ Nonstick, making for healthy, easy cooking and cleaning, and the tempered glass lid included allows you to monitor food as it cooks.

Be up-to-date with dates

Have you noticed dates showing up everywhere? This stone fruit from date palm trees can enhance many dishes and cuisines, with a natural sweetness that’s irresistible in savory or sweet applications. Dates add a burst of flavor to everything from stews and stuffing to salads and more. For dessert, bake them in date nut bars or cakes, or enjoy them on their own.

Whether you’re baking treats or concocting savory delights, a great mixing bowl set is vital. You’ll be able to mix, measure and prep ingredients easily with this GoodCook Assorted Plastic Mixing Bowl Set containing 1.5-quart, 3-quart and 5-quart bowls with non-slip bottoms for stability.

Re-vamped nostalgia

While everyone loves their childhood favorites, today’s trend takes them to the next level, adjusting ingredients and/or cooking methods to add a wellness twist. Lovers of everything from pizza bites to mac and cheese will still get those cozy vibes and flavors while appreciating the healthier spin on these classics. Grilling or steaming are just a few techniques that can make your faves better for you by cooking lighter.

Love pizza? You can get pizza parlor perfection at home using the GoodCook AirPerfect Pizza Pan to create that ideal crispy crust, thanks to perforated construction which allows direct contact between the oven heat and the pizza crust. This lightweight pizza pan also has convenient cutting guides to ensure perfect slices.

Enjoy the savory with the sweet

Combining sweet with savory flavors is another trend gaining steam. For example, if you love baking but tire of eating sweet-on-sweet, add savory seasonings into your recipes, as toppers or in the frosting. Chocolate combined with chipotle or jalapenos can really wake up the taste buds, or try cayenne, chili, Chinese five spice, curry or cumin in your dessert. Too much heat? Simply increase the amount of cinnamon, mace or ginger — or sprinkle a little flake salt or freshly ground pepper — and taste the results. They may surprise you!

Whether baking cookies or roasting veggies, you’ll need a great baking sheet. The GoodCook AirPerfect Nonstick Baking Sheet distributes heat evenly for thorough baking. Its scratch-resistant, dishwasher-safe nonstick coating makes clean-up quick and easy, and the multi-use pan can be used for everything from heating appetizers to baking cookies.

Butter up guests with butter boards

Similar to charcuterie boards, spread a board with various butters, hummus and/or other spreads, adding a variety of herbs and seasonings, exotic flake salt or ground pepper guests can enjoy on crusty bread or crackers. Better yet, create individual butter boards using marble coasters so guests can stand and chat while sampling tasty bites.

Sound intriguing? These growing trends and helpful products should inspire you to create wonderful new flavors in the year to come.

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Interested in buying your first home? Here are steps you can take

2023-01-09T09:01:01

(BPT) – Buying your first home is a major milestone which can seem overwhelming — especially financially. Whether you’re tired of renting, growing your family or just want a place that feels like your own, you can take simple steps to prepare for becoming a homeowner. Take time to get your financial ducks in a row before you start visiting open houses, so you’ll be ready when it’s time to make an offer.

Here’s how you can help the home-buying process go smoothly.

Start by looking at your financial picture

Take an honest look at your finances — including your income, expenses, debt and credit score. If someone is buying the home with you, have a candid conversation together about your finances to ensure your household is ready for a mortgage.

If you don’t currently use a budget, this is the ideal time to start. Use this helpful interactive budget worksheet from Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. to assess your current financial situation.

How to know how much you can afford when homebuying

Many experts recommend your mortgage payment be below 36% of your household’s monthly income. Remember, you may also need to pay for maintenance and home repairs you didn’t worry about as a renter. To allow for unanticipated expenses, you may want to estimate your ideal mortgage payment at 28% of your income instead. You can use this monthly mortgage payment calculator to help estimate what you can afford and your projected monthly payment.

Next, you’ll need to start saving for a down payment. Choose a goal amount that correlates with your budget for a new home. This can range from 3.5% to 20%, although some areas offer programs with 0% down. Start by saving a small, specific amount every month, as it’s much easier to build a down payment over time. Consider using automatic deposit to put a portion of each paycheck into a savings account for this purpose. Finally, calculate your current debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which estimates how much of your gross monthly income (money coming in before taxes) goes toward your monthly debt (money going out to debt payments). Your DTI ratio is one of the factors considered by lenders to determine the loan amount you qualify for. You can figure it out by totaling your monthly debt payments and dividing that by your gross monthly income (GMI). The lower your DTI, the less risky you will appear to lenders.

Get familiar with your credit score

When you’re borrowing for a major purchase, it’s helpful to review your credit score. You can view your full credit report online for free annually. The better your credit score, the better your loan terms and interest rate may be. Factors that affect credit scores include:

  • Payment history
  • Amounts owed
  • Length of credit history
  • New credit
  • Types of credit used

If your credit score is less than perfect or if you don’t have a credit score, you’ll need to give yourself enough time to work on improving it. For building on an already established score, focus on building credit by taking actions like:

  • Paying credit bills on time each month
  • Staying well below your credit limits
  • Pulling your credit report and checking for errors

You’ll see positive change over time if you work on reducing late payments and/or resolving accounts in collection that appear on your credit report. Most people have debt, but your track record needs to show lenders you are timely with repayments and handle debt responsibly.

Consider off-site built housing when searching for your home

While today’s housing market can make homeownership seem challenging, there are new homes available at an attainable price point. For example, off-site built homes have an average price point of around $100,000. Better yet, off-site built homes can appreciate just as well as a site-built home.

Off-site built homes are also constructed with sustainable practices, which translates to lower build costs.

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance can walk you through the process of financing a home, or both land and a home. Visit VMF.com to apply.

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5 Ideas to Infuse Fun into the Family Routine This Winter

2023-01-09T10:21:00

(BPT) – As we enter a new year during the cold, dark months of winter, it’s easy for anyone to lose their spark. It can be especially challenging to motivate your kids after a long holiday break. By shaking up the routine and infusing some fun and creativity into family activities, you can help beat the winter-time blues.

Here are a few fun, family-friendly ideas to help keep spirits up:

1. Get creative in the kitchen. A great (and tasty!) way to have some fun and teach your kids a thing or two is to get creative in the kitchen. Get them started with an easy recipe they can take the lead in preparing. The Frigo Cheese Heads brand has easy, healthy and creative snacks, like Fruity Cheese Kabobs, which are as fun to assemble as they are to eat.

2. Make a point to get moving. Motivation and movement go hand in hand, and there are lots of ways to get everyone in the family moving, even during the chillier months. Explore your local hiking trails or go bowling. If you’re in a snowy climate, embrace it with sledding, ice skating or snowshoeing adventures. Staying in? Consider starting an exercise challenge and up the excitement by offering prizes that your kids will be motivated to earn.

3. Get a change of scenery. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to combat the winter blues. Check out local event sites and plan one day each month for your family to explore a new festival, museum, indoor or outdoor market, park, music show or other unique local offering.

4. Throw a party. Planning a gathering is sometimes just as fun as the party itself. Host a party with your kids and let them be involved in coming up with the theme, menu and guest list. Let them get creative by making up games for a game night that both kids and adults will enjoy. Take it one step further and have them create handmade party decorations and a trophy for the winner to take home.

5. Volunteer together. Brainstorm a few simple but meaningful things to do at home that can benefit the world. Seemingly small things like starting a compost pile, collecting food shelf donations or contributing to a charity event at school are great ways to get involved and make a difference. Or consider signing the entire family up for volunteer and fundraising opportunities, such as working at a food bank, participating in park cleanups or walking or running to raise money for a charity.

Most importantly, infuse some fun and positivity during the short days of winter to help your kids keep their spark and revitalize them for the rest of the school year!

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Top 3 financial resolutions Americans are making to cope with uncertain times

2023-01-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – While preparing to ring in the new year, many Americans make resolutions about their finances. Unfortunately, some are feeling less optimistic about the year ahead, according to Fidelity Investments’ 2023 New Year’s Financial Resolutions Study. Over one-third say they’re in worse financial shape than last year, and only 65% believe they’ll be better off in 2023. The good news? About half say they’re ready to “live sensibly” or “plan ahead,” making practical financial resolutions focusing on balancing short-term and long-term goals. Two-thirds of the survey respondents (66%) are considering a financial resolution for 2023.

What financial resolutions are Americans making?

Of those planning a financial New Year’s resolution, 94% say they’re approaching it differently, given the events of the last couple of years, focusing on practicality — with nearly half (45%) considering more conservative goals for the year ahead.

The top financial resolutions are:

1. Save more money (39%)
2. Pay down debt (32%)
3. Spend less money (28%)

For the first time in the study’s 14-year history, more Americans resolve to save for short-term goals rather than long-term goals. Next generation savers (ages 18-35) are evenly split, with 50% saving for the short-term and 50% taking a longer view. Among those making financial resolutions, the top motivations are “achieving greater peace of mind” and “living a debt-free life.”

Inflation’s impact

Inflation was cited as the top financial setback experienced in 2022, and its impact is expected to continue. In fact, respondents ranked it their top financial concern for 2023.

Among those experiencing a financial setback in the past year, 44% had to dip into their emergency fund. Millennials led the way in this regard, with more than half (55%) reporting being forced to take this action. Additionally, 4 out of 10 (43%) Baby Boomers say they and their family are in worse shape financially compared to last year, possibly in part due to declining retirement balances.

Positive practices in a season of living sensibly

While 2022 presented challenges, the study also reveals encouraging news: More people express having a positive relationship with money. When asked to describe their expectations for 2023, 29% describe their outlook for next year as “the year of living sensibly.” Encouragingly, nearly half (49%) expect to maintain savings habits developed during the pandemic, and a similar number (46%) plan to get more involved in charitable giving in 2023.

“Even if your focus is on immediate needs, long-term goals and objectives are what keep us going — and planning can help,” said Stacey Watson, senior vice president of Life Event Planning, Fidelity Investments. “Taking charge of your financial situation is a great way to help you feel a sense of control, even when external forces bring challenges. Saving more and paying down debt, even small amounts, can have a tremendous impact on a household’s financial and emotional well-being.”

Sticking with resolutions

How can Americans resolve to build a stronger financial future in the new year? To start, those in better financial shape this year reported saving more, budgeting better and/or working more hours. In fact, over 80% of Americans say having a plan can help them deal with the unexpected. Making resolutions is a great way to start the year on the right foot — and this simple act can have a positive impact on your attitude and your finances.

Get help planning and reaching financial goals

Want to plan and set achievable financial resolutions? Help is just a click away. Fidelity’s online resource, Life Events hub, was created to help anyone, Fidelity customer or not, plan for and manage life’s significant moments. You can find checklists and resources for situations including job changes, caring for loved ones, divorce and navigating the college journey.

No matter what your focus — building emergency savings, paying down debt, managing spending or saving for retirement — Fidelity can help you create a free, flexible plan for whatever matters most to you at Fidelity.com/freeplan. In January during Financial Wellness month, the company offers 31 days of educational events, financial tips and interactive tools to inspire you to kick off the new year with a renewed focus on finances.

Representatives are available at no cost to answer questions 24/7 at 1-800-FIDELITY, or online at Fidelity.com.