(ARA) - An annual tradition, Americans have their minds on resolutions for the New Year. While most hope to loosen their pants, others try to tighten their belt. Whether it is through eating out less, shopping less or traveling less, most try to cut costs in their life, timed to the change in the calendar.

(ARA) - Something old, something new;

(ARA) - The current gloomy economic conditions contain some good news for the small-business sector.

(ARA) - Imagine waking up every morning wondering if you'll someday be able to find a home to call your own or how you'll find your next meal. For so many pets, not having enough food in their bellies or a safe home are harsh realities. Fortunately, there are simple ways pet lovers can be heroes in the lives of pets.

(ARA) - Home decorating and interior design trends change in tandem with fashion trends. Staying on top of these allows you to update your home the same way you update your closet. You don't have to make drastic or expensive changes to keep your home in style. It's easy to incorporate new interior design trends into your existing decor in creative and affordable ways.

(ARA) - Now that 2010 is in full swing, we can look back on 2009 and see it for what it was: one of the biggest years in entertainment news.

(ARA) - Remember when your spring break was a hedonistic ritual that focused on excesses of sun, wild parties and alcohol? Now that you've outgrown that, you don't have to give up the spring ritual of getting away from it all. Whether you are able to travel to a warm, sunny location for a vacation, or simply need a stay-at-home break to escape from work, school or daily stress, there's a physically and mentally healthy alternative. Some indulgent applications of aromatherapy provide a natural way to transport yourself healthfully and affordably to a well-earned place of springtime renewal.

(ARA) - If you're planning a trip to the capital of Louisiana, you know there's plenty to see and do. Baton Rouge is the heart of the Deep South and offers something to inspire each and every one of your senses.

(ARA) - Children can add so much to a wedding day - from the ring bearer toddling down the aisle carrying a pillow with precious cargo, to the flower girl who sweetly perfumes your path to the altar by dropping tender petals in her wake. As special as you feel on your wedding day, you'll want even your littlest helpers to share in the feeling and know that you appreciate them.

(ARA) - The beginning of a new year - and a new decade - is the time many people pledge to live differently. For many, that change means living a more sustainable lifestyle. Sustainability, once only a buzz word, is now fast becoming the way to live consciously.

(ARA) - "White or wheat?" Restaurant patrons are often presented with this familiar, yet inaccurate, question when ordering toast or a sandwich. Given the confusion between whole and enriched grain products, it's not surprising that this phrase is universally accepted among the general public. The truth is, whole (wheat) and enriched (white) wheat bread are both wheat-based products and part of a healthy diet.

(ARA) - Aging in place - updating one's home to accommodate changing needs and abilities as one ages - doesn't have to mean sacrificing a home's style and decor. From attractive lighting designed to work well for aging eyes to barrier-free shower stalls that compete in beauty and practicality with what you might find in a luxury community for those 55 and older, plenty of home modifications now make it possible to age in place gracefully and stylishly.

(ARA) - As home heating and cooling costs soar, your energy dollars literally might be going out the window - and the walls. Small and not-so-small air leaks through covered walls, floors, ceilings and normal openings such as windows and doors can add up to big losses. While retrofitting older homes with weather stripping, insulation and caulk helps seal air leaks, for new homes and additions, building tight walls can prevent air from escaping.

(ARA) - It's no secret. In small towns and large cities across the country, colleges and universities are magnets for crime, both on and off campus. While students may feel relatively safe at college, the reality is that at some point in their college careers, many college students will become a victim of crime, ranging from relatively minor incidents such as the theft of a bike or a backpack - the most common form of campus crime - to more serious crimes such as sexual assault, identity theft and hate crimes.

(ARA) - A disorganized home wastes time, and time is money. It can be frustrating if you're constantly misplacing items, throwing out spoiled food that went missing in the kitchen and paying surcharges for unpaid bills that got lost in the shuffle. But it's easy to put a little happiness back into your life if you just get organized. Here are some tips for getting your home - and your life - back in order.

(ARA) - The best investment you can make in your home - both for your pocketbook and your personal enjoyment - is in landscaping. Real estate experts agree that every dollar you put into your yard eventually will return one to two dollars when you sell. And at a time when home values are sagging, that's something to consider.

(ARA) - As winter approaches, snow, ice storms and fewer daylight hours mean more drivers are at the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Would you know what to do if you were driving and hit another vehicle, a pedestrian or a biker?

(ARA) - Pets are members of our families. They are our best friends and love us devotedly.

(ARA) - For many new homeowners, it can be very confusing to decide whether you should buy an individual insurance policy from a reputable life insurance company to protect your new home from the unexpected, or if you should purchase a mortgage insurance policy through your lender.

(ARA) - From MP3 players to e-books, technology is an integral part of the modern home. However, when we think of technology and how we use it on a daily basis, entertainment is top of mind, not health and wellness. As a doctor and a mom, Jennifer Trachtenberg, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, recommends four household gadgets that will help make for a healthier home and family.

(ARA) - When Sunny, a 3-year-old golden retriever, began working for San Diego Unified School District last spring, one of her first students was a fourth-grader with cerebral palsy, mobile only with the aid of a walker.

(ARA) - If you recently bought a TV, chances are, it's an HDTV. Whether you know a lot about this technology or nothing at all, you have likely heard people raving about the lifelike detail of an HD picture. It's true: the future of television is high definition. The only problem is that many people who currently own HDTVs are not actually seeing shows in high definition. Are you one of them?

(ARA) - If you want to play in the air, on land or even underwater on your next vacation, don't look any further than a trip to Cancun, which has it all.