Issue Date: September 23, 2007
OnlineSmart LADAN NEKOOMARAM
Find a "sitter" online
Finding someone who can walk Fido while you're out of town should be as easy as booking a flight. At least that's the philosophy behind Care.com, a website launched in May that offers a variety of services for people in need.
Members of Care.com who are looking for a groomer or an in-home pet sitter can find "providers" in all 50 states. A $15 registration fee and a monthly subscription fee are required to get access to all the benefits. Fees for services are worked out with the individual providers. Having someone feed, walk, groom and stay overnight with your pet may cost $15 an hour. Regular babysitters and tutors are available, too.
Care.com's providers come with background checks, references and contact information for interviewing. And the site soon will feature audio-recorded references.
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Grab a free airline seat
Why is it so difficult to get an airline seat using frequent-flier miles? Because during heavy demand, it makes more financial sense for the airlines to sell a seat than to let it go to a passenger under a travel award program. So how can you get a seat using those 25,000 miles? Plan your flights about a year ahead of time; most airlines announce them 330 days before the actual flight. Or book at the last minute, no more than two weeks ahead, when unsold seats are up for grabs. You must be flexible; if you live in New York and JFK has no seats, then try Newark or LaGuardia. And get creative: There may not be any room on a non-stop Delta flight from, say, Boston to Salt Lake City, but you may find seats on a pair of connecting flights to get you to your destination.
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Fruity salad for fall
Use red-skinned pears to make this salad colorful as well as nutritious. Pears are a good source of vitamin C -- and a very good source of fiber.
Honeyed Pears on Greens with Blue Cheese
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
4 Tbs. fresh lemon juice or to taste
2 tsps. honey
2 tsps. fresh thyme, plus extra for garnish
Dash of salt
2 ripe but firm pears, cored, unpeeled and cut in chunks (about 6 pieces per half pear)
3.5 ounces (5 cups) greens, such as baby arugula
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup crushed honey-coated almonds (optional)
In a small saucepan, combine oil, lemon juice, honey, thyme and salt. Add pears, while gently stirring, and bring to a rapid boil. Simmer at high heat for 1 minute. Pears should hold their shape and not be mushy. Refrigerate until cool.
To assemble, divide greens on 4 plates. Top with pears, including liquid. Add blue cheese. Garnish with thyme and almonds.
Serves 4
Per serving (without almonds): 259 calories, 7g protein, 19g carbohydrates, 19g fat (6.7g saturated), 21mg cholesterol, 3g fiber, 404mg sodium
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Balance training 101
Chances are, if you have picked up a fitness magazine recently, you've seen something about balance training. From foam rollers to stability and BOSU balls, balance training is everywhere -- and its benefits are numerous.
"Aside from the obvious benefit of fall prevention, balance training improves posture, enhances movement skills for sports and for daily living, as well as increases confidence at a very elemental level," says David Weck, who invented the BOSU Balance Trainer. "Balance training also requires you to be present, meaning it's a great way to improve mental focus."
Whether you are looking for a great activity to make you alert in the morning, something to prepare you for an athletic event or a new type of exercise, balance training may be right for you.
To start, try practicing a few simple moves at home next to your bed for stability. Weck suggests taking your shoes and socks off one at a time while standing on one leg; or, if that's too intimidating, walk heel to toe along a line on the floor. He also recommends that you try certain activities with your eyes closed so you can better focus on your movements. "Stand up from a chair with your eyes closed and compare that to when your eyes are opened," Weck says. "Then, to increase the challenge, raise your heels and stand on your tiptoes -- first with your eyes open, and then closed."
Other moves: Stand on two tennis balls without letting your feet touch the ground (use a wall or a chair back for support at first). Or, if you're more advanced, "walk" on the tennis balls as you roll them forward.
For balance training tips and other sample moves, visit bosufitness.com.
Contact FitSmart columnist Jorge Cruise, author of the upcoming fitness book "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12secondsequence.com.
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