Throw a Great (Easy) Party!

From Health magazine

You love having people over but loathe the inevitable party-planning anxiety: How will I get everything done in time? Do I have enough food? Thankfully, there are simple ways to minimize the stress and maximize the fun.

Perfect planning
It’s summer, and the entertaining is easy. Forgo mailed invitations in favor of fuss-free, money-saving Evites, says entertaining expert Michele Adams, who, with Gia Russo, is a co-founder of the style company MiGi and co-author of At Home With Friends: Spontaneous Celebrations for Any Occasion. Post your online invitation two weeks in advance (three, if your party falls on a major holiday like the Fourth of July).

As for the menu, streamline it, Adams suggests. To avoid standing over a hot barbecue grill through the entire party, serve sausages, which can be boiled ahead of time and finished on the grill. Better yet? Jazz up prepared foods with fresh ingredients: Buy steamed shrimp, and cook penne according to package directions; toss with jarred pesto. Another idea: Sauté shrimp with garlic, salt, and pepper to taste; serve on top of pasta.

An alternative to a full bar: Create a “signature” drink, like Cranberry Champagne Punch, and serve it in colorful pitchers (like the one shown below). To cut down on dirty platters, says Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a Clean Enough House, use scooped-out watermelon and cantaloupe halves as summery servers.

Simple setup
Good party feng shui is easy. Stack plates and arrange cutlery on a large buffet table. Place one big platter of food in the center, Russo says, and fan side dishes around it. Use tiered trays (our pick, below), which are great for creating vertical space. And keep the food station from getting jammed by putting the drinks on a different table.

Encourage conversation by grouping lawn chairs around small tables. If you need additional seating, spread a few blankets on the grass, Edelman says. And set up an activity table with art projects to keep kids entertained. Finally, use candles, torches, and lanterns once night falls—good lighting keeps things lively until guests are truly ready to call it a night.

Party favorites
These are our picks for making your summer soirées superL

1/ Venti Oval Party Tub ($75, shown in Regency Lime; http://www.themacbethcollection.com/)

2/ Medium Bowls by Bambu ($17 each; http://www.branchhome.com/)

3/ Three-Tier Buffet Stand ($30, plates sold separately; http://www.surlatable.com/)

4/ Basis Pitcher ($45, shown in Turquoise; http://www.lekkerhome.com/)

Last Updated: February 18, 2009
Filed Under: Home and Family

Your Guide to a Safer Summer Weekend

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

It’s here—the season of cookouts, road trips, and lazy poolside afternoons with family and friends. However you celebrate summer, our smart tips will keep the action safe and healthy.

Start by grilling smart. Grilling mistakes cause thousands of fires every year. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you position any grill at least three feet away from house siding or railings and never place it in an enclosed area or under eaves or tree branches. If you smell gas, turn the tank off quickly and call the fire department. When grilling with charcoal, never add lighter fluid after lighting coals—the flames can leap high.

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Dodge the burn and the bugs
Turned off by greasy sunscreen and smelly sprays? Cabana Life has a line of clothing with UPF 50+ (like SPF for fabrics), including the stylish Gingham Reversible Bucket Hat ($42; www.cabanalife.com). And the Patch Madras Shirt from Orvis ($59; www.orvis.com) is outfitted with Insect Shield, a repellent that wards off bugs for up to 70 washings. (P.S.: We still recommend sunscreen for your face).


Take CPR . . . to the pool
It’s scary to think about, but serious pool accidents happen all the time. You can save a life by immediately performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); that doubles a drowning person’s chances of survival, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). How do you learn? A 30-minute do-it-yourself course is all it takes. Try the AHA’s CPR Anytime ($29.95 for adult kit; www.americanheart.org), featuring a dummy and DVD.


Practice safe picnicking
No one wants to be stuck in the bathroom when everyone’s outdoors. Avoid food poisoning by putting meat, potato salad, beans, cut and cooked vegetables, and cheese in a cooler, which is 41°F or colder, after two hours on the table, experts say. Try the Big Dipper Collapsible Tub Cooler ($32; www.picnicfun.com), which folds flat for storage.


Get your game on
Why let a silly, preventable injury kick you out of that impromptu tennis tourney? “If you’re not accustomed to playing sports, muscle strains are common,” says Margot Putukian, MD, director of athletic medicine at Princeton University. Solution: Warm up with a few minutes of walking and stretching. Got a bum knee? Wrap it in a brace before you play.

Last Updated: February 18, 2009
Filed Under: Mind and Body

Summer BBQ Menu Makeover

I had some friends over for a little Memorial Day BBQ and plan to do it again for the July 4 holiday and many other weekends before summer ends. While grilling is a healthy cooking technique—it requires no added fat and lets excess fat in meat and poultry drip away—there are many foods that we should keep off our grill sdue to their high calories, saturated fat, and/or sodium content.Here’s my summer grilling menu, which is a lot healthier than the traditional BBQ. I hope it inspires some of you to share your favorite outdoor summer dishes.

Grilled Poultry Sausage vs. Bratwurst
I was at the supermarket and, out of curiosity, picked up a package of bun-sized Hillshire Farm Cheddar Wurst smoked sausage. The pork-and-beef sausages weighed in at 240 calories and 21 grams fat, 8 grams of which were heart-stopping saturated fat. Not to mention the 660 mg sodium. Then I bought my Aidells Portobello Mushroom Smoked Chicken and Turkey Sausage. Each of these stocky sausages weighs in at only 140 calories and 8 grams of fat (with only 2.5 saturated), and 540 mg sodium.

If your dog starts at 250 calories and you add another 120 calories for the bun and at least 75 for condiments, one dog will add up to 450 calories or more. No chances of seconds with that chubby dog.

Poultry sausages deliver all the taste and texture of beef or pork sausages without the calories or fat. Serve them in buns for a healthier alternative. To go even leaner, I cut the sausages into chunks, top with fresh basil and a slice of heirloom tomato, and serve with toothpicks and condiments.

Save: At least 300 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 5.5 grams saturated fat

Grilled Veggie Skewers vs. Coleslaw
I nix coleslaw—more than 250 calories and 15 grams of fat a cup—and grill up summer squash, bell pepper, and mushrooms, and skewer them with small pieces of feta cheese and grape tomatoes for a healthy appetizer that doesn’t add extra fat or calories.

Save: At least 150 calories and 10 grams fat

Portobello Burgers vs. Beef Burgers
I am in my flexitarian (semi-vegetarian) phase, so I’m off beef for now. Instead I like to grill portobello mushroom burgers and serve them with a heirloom tomato slices and goat cheese on a multigrain bun. A traditional, small (3 ounces cooked) beef burger made with 80% lean ground beef served on a plain bun with ketchup and mustard packs in just over 400 calories and 16 grams of fat. The portobello burger—prepared with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper—comes in under 300 calories, even with the bun and condiments.

Skinny Cow Bars vs. Ice Cream
Who doesn’t want ice cream or some frozen dessert in the summer? I do. To satisfy my craving, I opt for Skinny Cow Skinny Dippers chocolate-coated ice cream bars. Premium chocolate ice cream has about 200 to 250 calories per half cup, with 15 grams total fat (11 grams saturated). These Skinny Cow treats weigh in at 80 calories, 3 grams of fat (2 saturated). They satisfy my desire for a creamy, sweet, frozen dessert without blowing the calories in my diet.

Save: At least 120 calories, 10 grams fat, 10 grams saturated fat.

These simple dietitian-approved substitutions can cut hundreds of calories and a day’s worth of saturated fat from your summer menu. And guests won’t feel the least bit deprived—at least, no one complains when they come to our house.

By: Julie Upton, MS, RD
(ALEXANDER SHALAMOV/ISTOCK)

Last Updated: February 20, 2009
Filed Under: Experts and Bloggers

Repair Your Summer Skin

By Jolene Edgar
From Health magazine 

No matter how hard you try to protect your skin with sky-high SPFs and floppy hats, UV rays still manage to make their mark during the summer months. “The sun strips away moisture and revs up pigment-making cells, leaving skin dull, dehydrated, and uneven,” says Kenneth Howe, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. And when skin is dry, fine lines are more noticeable.

The good news? Sun damage can be easily remedied—so easily, you can do it in your sleep. It’s best to repair damage at night rather than during the day, Dr. Howe says, “because the most potent pigment- and wrinkle-fighting formulas rely on ingredients that make skin more vulnerable to sunlight.” Just follow these simple steps before bed.

Cleanse and exfoliate
A glycolic acid–based wash works to diminish spots and lines while you cleanse. Try Glytone Mild Cream Wash (). “Glycolic acid sloughs away dead skin cells gently, without upsetting sensitive skin. But it can react to UV rays, so it’s best to use it at night to prevent sunburns,” Dr. Howe says.

Fight wrinkles and dullness
Exfoliating vitamin-A creams stimulate collagen production and speed cell turnover, making skin plumper and more radiant. Prescription retinoids—like Retin-A, Renova, and Differin—are better for long-term results, but they can be quite irritating to some, causing redness and flaking. If you have sensitive skin, try a less potent, over-the-counter retinol like RoC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment (.99). A weekly at-home peel will also swiftly and safely sweep away dead cells, giving skin a glow and helping anti-aging ingredients penetrate better. Look for glycolic acid formulas that contain built-in soothers. Here’s one to try: L’Oréal Paris Advanced Revitalift Glycolic Peel Kit (.99).

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Skincare

The Best Makeup for Summer

By Jolene Edgar
From Health magazine 

Lose your base
Streamline your routine—and cosmetics case—by trading your usual lotion, base, and sunscreen for a single tube of tinted moisturizer. Pick one rich in SPF and antioxidants, which do damage control, such as Murad Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 15 Sheer Tint ().

Discover mineral powder
Should you need a smidgen more coverage than a tinted moisturizer offers, dust a loose mineral powder like Almay Pure Blends Mineral Makeup (.49) over your T-zone. “It can help veil imperfections without turning greasy in the heat,” says Nick Barose, celebrity makeup artist for Clarins.

Tame shine
Pressed powders are too heavy during warm-weather months, says Alison Raffaele, founder and creative director of Alison Raffaele Cosmetics. Start the day with a thin layer of mattifying gel like OC Eight ().

Get a subtle flush
Switch from a powder blush to one of the latest streak-proof gels or mousses. These formulas are easy to apply with fingertips and offer a just-right wash of color. “They’re sheer, and they let the skin show through, which creates a delicate flush,” Raffaele says. Benefit Posietint () is one of our favorites because the pretty poppy hue can be used on lips, too.

Summerize your eye shadow
Swap powder eye shadows, which crinkle and fade in the heat, for wet-to-dry formulas that “go on sheer and don’t budge all day,” Barose says. Universally flattering gold and bronze hues are as easy to wear as browns and beiges but offer a warmer, more modern sheen. We love Becca Eye Tint (shown in Gilt, ).

Or, skip shadow altogether
Ditch your black mascara for one of the new, splashy aquamarine or seafoam shades, which are far less glaring than their ultraelectric predecessors. Our pick: Clarins Wonder Waterproof Mascara (shown in Wonder Mint, .50).

Go glossy
Retire precision lip pencils and satin-finish bullets, and opt for see-through multitasking glosses and balms instead. Infused with moisturizers and sunscreen, fruit-inspired shades look tasteful on all skin tones. Try Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss (shown in Brightening Cherry, ).

Last Updated: February 20, 2009
Filed Under: Makeup