February is the month when we think about hearts; candy conversation hearts, Valentines cards decorated with hearts and heart shaped boxes of candy. But there’s one heart, in particular, that perhaps you haven’t thought about this month; your own heart!

Heart disease is the number one killer among women – not cancer. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Reducing your cholesterol level is one way to prevent heart disease. Here are ten excellent ways to reduce your cholesterol and keep your heart healthy.

If you’re not in love, then Valentine’s Day can be annoying or even stressful. Even if you are in love, it can be a day fraught with expectations that may or may not get met. I’ve seen many a family member, friend, or student bummed out on what should be a nice day to celebrate special relationships. The Valentine Day stress seems to start early. I remember hurt feelings back in elementary school when some kids did not get as many cards as others or when the special cards ended up on the “wrong” desks. My best friend in fourth grade, for instance, thought one of the boys in class was fabulous. She was in puppy love. He gave the fancy card from his pack to a girl on the next row over. That girl wasn’t smitten with the boy. Even today I remember that being an awkward class moment.

I did something today that I haven’t done in years; something that instantly made me feel more organized. It’s a small thing – not a big deal – but it had been nagging at me and I finally decided that today was the day I was going to do something about it.

Today I spent just 30 minutes gathering up all of our loose CD’s and DVD’s and I put everything back into its proper case. I know, it’s not exciting, but it’s one less thing now on my very long list of things that should be done, but I never get around to accomplishing.

Here are ten more things that you can do in less than thirty minutes to instantly feel more organized. Do one a day, one a week or one a month, but make 2011 the year that you start to feel a bit more organized.

Who scheduled so many major holidays right in a row? Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas. Hanukah. Kwanza. New Years. ARGH! It’s little wonder that people get stressed. It’s hard to relax and enjoy everything when there’s so much to do and in such a short time, but learning to “let go” (even a little bit) can make a big difference.

I remember the year I maxed out over the holidays. I made it right up to Christmas week, and then I got pneumonia. I muddled through, although I still don’t recall much about Christmas Day. The day after all the Santa stuff, I was at the emergency medical center. Ugh. That was not the merriest of times, and it took over a month to bounce back or close.

Since that year, I’ve learned that it’s better to do less and enjoy the time more. If that means that some things do not get done, then so be it. If I send out cards at the first of the year instead of during December, the world does not stop spinning. I just buy holiday or snow themed cards in case I’m running behind. I also remember to take advantage on online shopping, can save a ton of time when you buy toys online.

One of the relatives came halfway across the country to visit and then spent the entire time on her cell phone texting. I’m thinking she’s a lot better company electronically than in person, so she really ought to save her money and just send text messages. If you are addicted to your cell phone, then your friends and family may be thinking the same thing, so here’s an etiquette guide for cell phone fanatics. 

Hanging curtains may seem like a daunting task.  Really, it just takes some patience, technique and time.  It’s not a quick job; certainly one you don’t want to rush though.  But, you don’t need a professional to install curtains for you; you can easily do it yourself.  However, having someone around to lend a helping hand isn’t a bad idea.

Fortunately, cats are easy to litter box train. Unfortunately, cats can’t clean the litter box. If you are a cat owner or are considering a cat, then you will get very familiar with kitty litter. There are different types, and some litters work better for some families while other kitty litters work better for others.

My family adopted a rescue kitty. Sugar may have been down on his luck, but he had his pride. One thing he could not tolerate was a dirty litter box. He would go in the litter box regardless, but he would not step in it if it did not meet his standards. He would balance on the edges of the box with his claws and give us the evil eye. So, he quickly trained us to keep the litter box very clean.

Purchasing furniture for your home is a major investment.  Like a car, you want it to last for several years.  In order for that to happen though, you will need to know how to properly care for and treat your different types of furniture.

There’s nothing worse than a project without the right tools. While you may never know what sudden fix is in your future, it’s best to be prepared for them all. You may not be handy, but having the right toolbox (and appropriate tools to go in it) is just plain smart. Prepare someone moving in to a new home, a new college student, or beef up your own toolbox with our best tool tips.

Let’s face it: Dental work is insanely expensive. The best way to avoid dental issues and the high expenses that tag along with it is to maintain a healthy daily regimen for your teeth and gums. While brushing, flossing and rinsing are great ways to maintain a healthy smile, we gathered some helpful hints that may boost your pearly whites to shiny gems.