Costco Etiquette

My daughter told me about an interesting experience she had at Costco while we were shopping there yesterday.

If you've been to Costco or any grocery store that has a tray of samples, you can probably relate.

Grab it while you can!
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The spicy cheese quesadilla stand was attracting a lot of interest. My daughter and another women were the only two people left after everyone else grabbed their sample. And there were two quesadilla samples left. Sounds simple, right?

Not so much. The woman next to my daughter took one, and just as my daughter was about to take the last one, the woman took it, also. She looked at my daughter and explained that her husband would like to try one, too. OK, kind of strange, but not outrageously rude. At least not yet.

The woman then proceeded to eat both samples herself!

My daughter said she felt as if she were playing Larry David on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."


Do you have a similar rude story? Share it below. We can use a laugh!

What Causes a Man to Have a Hard Fat Belly?

Now that it's toward the end of summer, I'm sure everyone has seen it: men with hard fat bellies. Ever wonder why or how men can get rid of it?

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You probably refer to the phenomenon of a man with a belly that protrudes similarly to a pregnant woman's as a "beer belly." But the reason men get hard, fat bellies is not always as simple as beer consumption. The reason is the type of fat they carry: omentum fat. Dr. Mehmet Oz, professor of surgery at Columbia University, said on the Oprah TV show that the only purpose of the omentum organ is to store fat. And it stores it underneath the stomach muscles, which makes a man look fat but have a hard belly.

Bad Fat

Though the terms for hard, fat bellies are affectionate and funny: beer belly, potbelly or spare tire, nothing is funny about omentum fat. Doctors also call this sort of fat visceral fat, and it is the most dangerous fat to carry around. Visceral fat is stored under the muscles as opposed to subcutaneous fat, which is stored under the skin. Fat released from the omentum organ travels to the liver. It is processed and then goes to the arteries, which is what causes high LDL cholesterol. Belly fat is supplying

a "feeding tube to your vital internal organs."

What Causes It

The way men and even some women develop hard, fat bellies is from ingesting too many calories. Beer can cause it, but so can eating too much food and drinking sugary sodas. Beer, however, is a big contributor to the problem for several reasons. Beer contains alcohol, and the liver burns off the alcohol instead of the fat, says Michael Jensen, an endocrine expert with the Mayo Clinic. Beer also has lots of calories, and if you drink several, you are ingesting too many calories. Also, the foods many people eat with beer tend to be fattening, such as pizza, chicken wings, onion rings and french fries.

Why Men

If you take in too many calories, your body needs to store the fat somewhere. Women tend to gain subcutaneous fat under the skin as opposed to visceral fat under the muscles. So women can store fat in their legs, buttocks and arms in addition to their bellies. But fat in men tends to go mostly to the belly. If your hard, fat belly measures more than 40 inches, you are at increased risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea, says Jensen.

Get Rid of It

The way to get rid of your hard, fat belly is the same way you'd get rid of any type of fat: burn more calories than you take in. Start eating healthy foods and reduce your portion sizes. Also, get moving. Check with your doctor to see whether you can do some moderate aerobic exercise 150 minutes per week. Add a couple of days of strength training to the mix. If you don't already exercise, start slowly by walking. Though you can do situps or crunches as part of your overall exercise regimen, abdominal

exercises by themselves will not get rid of your belly fat. Losing weight is the most important way to have a flatter belly. There is some good news about visceral fat, however: It's typically the first type of fat to go when you start to lose weight.

How I Rehabilitated an Abused Dog

This post is for my little buddy who is always by my side. Here's the story of how I got Winston:

My middle child is just like her grandmother was and how I am, in at least one way: None of us could or can resist bringing home an animal in need. So the day when my daughter came home with a frightened and starving little creature that immediately took cover under my bed, I knew that we just laid eyes on the newest member of the family. Prince, our rescue from two years prior, would need to learn to share top dog billing in our house. It was obvious this new little guy desperately needed a good home, and we would give it to him.

 Abused Dogs Might Not Learn to Trust

We were told that his prior owners had abused this 8-month-old rescue dog, which we soon named Winston. (Combining "Winston" with "Prince," we nicknamed the canine duo "Princeton.") I knew that, because Winston had been abused at a young age, he might never be a fully trusting dog. According to Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, a veterinary behaviorist, many dogs never recover from abuse experienced during key formative periods of their lives. It did not take long to see the initial signs of abuse: Winston was starving. We could see his bones through his fur, and he had a peculiar white stripe around his hound dog muzzle. This was scar tissue where his mouth had been bound. We would not find out what it was bound with until several months later.

 Use the Calm and Quiet Approach

Winston, as any abused animal would behave, would not explore his environment. He mostly hid under the bed or under a table with a floor length covering. This is common for an abused animal. According to Dr. Dodman, abused animals often remain quiet and reclusive. I just let Winston know that I was there if he needed me and went about my day. But Prince was not so willing. He wanted to get to know Winston. I put Winston and Prince together in a small space in the basement, and I sat between them. When Prince became too aggressive and pushy, I calmly commanded him to "back off," a behavior we teach our dogs before allowing them to interact with others. I was protecting Winston, and I think that he could tell. After about 15 minutes, I had my daughter bring Prince upstairs, and I sat with Winston and calmly petted him. We were bonding.

Give Them What They Want

Winston was a fast learner. By the next day, he was comfortable eating next to Prince, and he was not hiding as much. By the third day, he wanted to explore outside in the backyard. Later, I took him on a walk with Prince.

The Daily Walk

To this day, Winston lives for his walks. When I have been sitting at my computer too long, he will nudge my leg and spin around in a circle to let me know he wants to go exploring. Although this is really not good behavior, I give Winston some slack because of the past abuse.

Learn to Desensitize

We knew from the start that Winston's mouth had been bound, but we did not realize it was with duct tape until months later, when we were making a craft. Winston, at his normal post at my feet, suddenly shot his tail between his legs and darted up the stairs, shivering uncontrollably. The sound of the duct tape being pulled from its roll must have brought back a dark memory for this poor, loving little dog. It was a heartbreaking moment. But by this time, Winston trusted me, so I walked over to him with the roll of duct tape in my hand. I began petting him with the other hand while I let him sniff the duct tape. I did this for several minutes with the goal of desensitizing Winston to duct tape. Two months later, when my daughters and I did another duct tape craft, Winston did not blink an eye.

I Cosigned a Car Loan: Am I Responsible After an Accident?

As soon as your kids are ready to buy a car, they might ask you to cosign. You might want to, but you should first know what you are responsible for before you do.

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You might want to help a friend or family member who can't get a car loan on his or her own by cosigning on the loan. You probably realize if that person defaults on the loan, you need to pick up the slack and make the payments yourself. Either that or tank your credit score and, if that happens, you'll be the one who'll need a cosigner in the future. But what about if the person you cosign for has an accident? Are you responsible for that, too?

Everyone's particular circumstances differ. The answer depends on many factors such as these:

• Whether you're on the title
• Whether you have an auto insurance policy
• Whether the car is listed on your insurance
• Whether you have an umbrella insurance policy

An umbrella insurance policy covers more than a standard

policy does. It could cover you if you are sued for damages resulting from an accident the person you consigned for was in. If you cosign on a car loan, you might want to consider adding this policy.

Cosigner or Co-borrower?

Generally, a distinction is made between a cosigner and a co-borrower. A co-borrower is listed on the car's title, and a cosigner is not. The co-borrower is considered the owner of the car just as much as the person who drives the car. You are more likely to be held responsible after an accident if your name is on the car's title. But you should still check with your insurance company or an attorney to determine what would apply in your case.

Negligent Entrustment

You might also be sued because of a term in the law called "negligent entrustment." This would apply if the person suing you could prove that you knew the person you cosigned for was unfit to drive the car safely. Reasons could include age, inexperience and a history of reckless driving.

6 Home Remedies for Bad Breath

If you're like me, you never want to force your possible bad breath on an innocent bystander. And, when you're in a social situation, you cannot just breathe into your cupped hand to check. Popping mints and gum might mask bad breath for a little while, but those methods do not deal with the underlying problem. Several home remedies for bad breath are out there that address the two reasons for bad breath: oral hygiene difficulties and digestive tract problems; you just need to learn what those home remedies are.

Oral Hygiene

1. Drink Water

This first of the bad breath remedies is so basic you might not have even considered it: drinking more water. The Mayo Clinic says that when you don't drink enough water, your mouth can become too dry to wash away bacteria and food particles. Keeping your mouth moist helps wash all that nasty stuff away.

2. Rinse with Mouthwash

Using mouthwash works the same way water does; it rinses away bacteria and food particles. But it's important to choose a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol, which can actually contribute to bad breath. Alcohol dries out the mouth, and we now know from the Mayo Clinic that dry mouth encourages bacteria that cause bad breath.

3. Brush Your Tongue

Beside brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, you need to brush your tongue if you have bad breath. Bacteria can collect there. Brush as far back as you can using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper.

Digestive Tract Health

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 4. Eat Celery, Apples and Carrots

Celery, apples and carrots have a high fiber count. You need to chew fibrous foods well, which produces saliva in your mouth, a cleansing agent. Fibrous fruits and vegetables can also help break down plaque and sulfur compounds, which contribute to bad breath. Note that a white coating on your tongue indicates you have high sulfur content in your mouth, explains Jonathan B. Levine, a world-renowned dentist.

5. Eat Foods with Vitamin C

Fruits that contain vitamin C, such as blueberries and citrus fruits, create an unfriendly environment for bacteria. And vitamin C does double duty as a bad breath remedy because it helps prevent gum disease, which leads to bad breath. You cannot substitute vitamin C supplements for food to fight bad breath because the supplements could upset your stomach, which could cause bad breath, according to Cynthia Sass, a registered dietician and ADA spokesperson.

6. Drink Black Tea

Black tea contains polyphenols that kill bacteria responsible for bad breath, according to 2003 research conducted by scientists at the University of Illinois. The polyphenols in the black tea also help prevent plaque from forming on teeth. Black tea specifically helps to get rid of the sulfurous rotten egg smell.

Do you have any tried and true bad breath remedies? If so, let me know comment section below!

Why do some guys like feet?

This post I originally wrote for Yahoo! Shine attracted a lot of interest and some great comments. I hope it continues to do so here as well.

Guys who like feet are more common than many people might think. Feet are curvy, sensitive, and oh so responsive to touch. What guy wouldn't like them? But deep down women probably already know this. Why else would we totter around on ridiculously high heels or wear strappy sandals that show off our latest mango-hued pedicure? And besides, all that prancing about requires a nice foot rub at the end of the day.

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Intimacy

Men who like feet want to do more than look at them. To a guy who adores tootsies, sucking toes and licking insoles are as intimate an act as

intercourse, according to self-proclaimed foot fetishist Izzy Cihak. Dr. Reef Karim, psychiatrist and relationship expert, said the fetish "could get a little more freaky like needing to be walked on by smelly, dirty feet." He told me that he has heard the "dirty feet thing" from a few people. But gals who are just looking for a soothing foot massage will be disappointed. A massage is too functional and removes all the sexiness involved.

 Cinderella

Any girl who watched Cinderella as a child drew a connection between men and feet, but not just any feet -- small delicate ones. The prince immediately rejected the big-footed stepsisters for Cinderella, who possessed a perfectly sized foot. Men, like Prince Charming, are visual creatures who are apt to focus on a particular body part.

Theories

Although there is really no telling why some men are focused on feet, theories abound. One Freudian belief suggests it stems from shame. Maybe a little boy sees a sex organ and quickly looks away out of embarrassment, focusing his eyes on the feet instead. Voila. Feet and sex become intertwined.

April Masini, relationship advice expert and author of "Date Out Of Your League," voiced a similar theory. She told me, "Men who are coming of age and discovering sexual feelings as they relate to women's bodies may have had an initial sexual urge at the sight of a woman's usually covered up feet. That memory stays long after the young man is a fully mature man."

Karim pointed out that women's feet can "serve a submissive purpose. Submissive men worship women's feet, like to be walked on by those feet, and the feet show sexy dominance."

Dr. Ava Cadell, who founded the Loveology University, explained to me, "Some foot worshippers can only experience orgasms while making out with a woman's foot because it is the most erogenous of all the sexual zones for them. They often long to be a foot slave to a woman and will suck toes (also known as shrimping) until the point of no return."

Compatibility

Regardless of the reason, if your honey likes feet and you abhor being touched there, well, the relationship will have a difficult time succeeding. On the other hand (or foot), if you like all the foot attention, this just might be a good fit.

The Disadvantages of Reverse Mortgages

My aunt took out a reverse mortgage back when they were a brand-new financial product per my advice. I've learned a lot about them since then. 

A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner 62 or older to borrow against the home's equity. This type of arrangement can be an attractive option for a retired person who has lots of equity built up in a home but doesn't have enough money to afford daily living expenses, as was the case with my aunt. I suggested she take out a reverse mortgage in the early 1990s, before I knew much about them. Although it was probably the right choice for her, I have since learned of the various disadvantages that exist.

They're Complicated

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan, and a complicated one at that. The principal and interest must be paid off at some point -- when the borrower moves, sells the house or passes away. This amount could be quite large since the borrower doesn't pay the loan back monthly. The amount owed keeps increasing, and interest continues to build. The process to determine how much a person can borrow is also complicated; it's based on a percentage of the home's worth, its location and, in the case of co-owners, the age of the youngest borrower.

Source: morgueFile

They're Expensive

Reverse mortgages are expensive when you consider the origination fees and closing costs. Servicing fees also occur throughout a mortgage's term. Because of the high costs, it's a bad idea for borrowers to take out reverse mortgages if they intend to leave their homes in fewer than five years. My aunt had no plans to move, so no worries there. But if health reasons require borrowers to live in medical facilities or nursing homes for 12 consecutive months, the loans become due. This did happen to my aunt but only after she had the reverse mortgage for about 15 years. Which brings me to another disadvantage: keeping these loans out for a long time isn't a great option. The longer borrowers have reverse mortgages the bigger the loans grow because of compounding interest.

Monthly Insurance Premiums

Most reverse mortgages are offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal Housing Administration. All people who take out an FHA-insured reverse mortgage must pay a monthly insurance premium. These fees need to be paid upfront or they'll be added to the reverse mortgage. The latter incurs interest charges.

Less to Leave to Heirs

A reverse mortgage can easily eat all the equity left in the home. My aunt wanted to leave the house to my cousin, but she needed to pay off the loan in full to keep it. The loan was not more than the property's value, but if it were, my cousin would have had to pay a loan larger than the home's value. If she had chosen to sell the house, however, the debt would not have been more than what the house sold for because the loan was from the FHA. A non-FHA loan from a private company, a nonprofit organization or a state or local government might not have the same guarantees or protections.

A Bad Option

Reverse mortgages might be a worse option compared to other choices. A home equity loan, a home equity line of credit and loans made by state and local governments to pay for items such as home repairs and property taxes aren't as expensive as reverse mortgages. They require monthly payments, so they work only if borrowers can afford to make them.