Precious

If you haven't seen it yet the Community Arts Center will be playing Precious Feb. 1st through Feb. 4th.  All shows start at 7:30pm and it is Rated R.  

Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels follows up his 2005 directorial debut, Shadowboxer, with this adaptation of author Sapphire's best-selling novel about an overweight, illiterate African-American teen from Harlem who discovers an alternate path in life after she begins attending a new school. Clareece "Precious" Jones is only a teenager, yet she's about to give birth to her second child. Unable to read or write, Clareece shows little prospect for the future until discovering that she has been accepted into an alternative school. There, with a little help from a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton) and a kindly nurse (Lenny Kravitiz), the young girl receives something that most teens never get -- a chance to start over. Mo'nique co-stars in an inspirational drama featuring the debut performance of screen newcomer Gabourey "Gabbie" Sidibe.

Mo'nique just won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this movie. 

Click here for more info and tickets 

[Image from caclive.com]

And the Grammy goes to..

Catch the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards LIVE this Sunday, January 31st on CBS

Can't wait to see the gowns, swag, and it's always fun to watch the performances which, among others, will include: Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Pink, Taylor Swift, the Zac Brown Band, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, and Usher in a special 3-D GRAMMY tribute to Michael Jackson; and Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli in a special fund-raising segment for Haitian relief.

Click here for the list of nominations

Expand The Mind

Mireya Mayor National Geographic LIVE

When: This Sunday, January 31st @ 3:00pm

As a two-time Emmy Award-nominated field correspondent for the National Geographic Channel, Mireya Mayor has reported to audiences worldwide on pertinent wildlife and habitat issues. Closest to her heart is her ongoing study of a newfound species of Microcebus, or mouse lemur, which she discovered on a 2000 field expedition in Madagascar.

Relive with Mayor her wild ride as this daughter of Cuban immigrants blossoms from NFL cheerleader to Fulbright Scholar to field scientist to National Geographic TV
correspondent and most recently, to Ph.D.

Click here for tickets and additional info

[Images from caclive.com]

Go Apple or Bust

So the latest in Apple's quest to take over the world of technology is their ever clever iPad Tablet.  It functions like a computer but it happens to be a phone that's jam packed with computer like abilities.  It's 10 inches and weighs up to 1 1/2 pounds.  Not too shabby.  The iPad is capable of running 3G applications so you can search the web and get your email but also has applications allowing videos, newspapers, photos, music, e-books and so much more.  So now you have the iTunes Store, the App Store and the iBook Store.  Prices range from $499 to $899 pending the model and data package.  Here the team talk about it's greatness below:

It's amazing!!

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Another cold gray January day...so to warm it up I wanted to share this extra yummy soup that we love.  I came across it online and it quickly became a household favorite.  I made a few adjustments but the original recipe is from Cooking Light, September 2004 on My Recipes.  Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quick-cooking wild rice

cooking spray

1 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 cups cubed peeled baking potato

1 1/2 cups frozen chopped vegetables (peas, corn, carrots, beans)

3 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

1/2 cup all purpose flour

10 oz. light processed cheese, cubed (velveeta light)

3 cups chopped roasted skinless boneless chicken breasts (3 breasts)

4 cups chicken broth

3/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1/3 tsp. salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.  

Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Coat pan with cooking spray.  Add onion and garlic: saute 3 minutes.  Add broth, potato and vegetables: bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Cover, reduce heat, simmer 5 minutes or until potato is tender.  

Combine milk and flour, stirring well with whisk.  Add milk mixture to potato mixture; cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat: add cheese, stirring until cheese is melted.  Stir in rice, chicken, pepper and salt.  Garnish with parsley if desired. 

[Image courtesy of myrecipes and Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr]

Good Cause

Tonight starting at 8:00pm on all major networks and more (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, Centric, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SOAPNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Greet, and more PLUS you can watch it live on YouTube) there will be a Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief.  It's a two-hour telethon with performances by Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Beyonce, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, Rihana and lots more.

Answering the phones are the likes of George Clooney, Ellen Degeneres, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Anderson Cooper and lots more...AND Robert Pattinson will be appearing via satellite from London.

ALSO, starting today you can pre-order the Hope For Haiti Now live performance album as well as the video of the entire telethon.  100% of the proceeds from your purchase will go to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme and Yele Haiti Foundation.

Or you can always give now to the American Red Cross

[Image courtesy of HopeForHaitiNow.org]

Card Me Now

I LOVE cards...love, love, love them. I could sit at Hallmark and go through every card they have. Seriously. Just ask anyone who's had to go card shopping with me before. Now always remembering those special events in advance on the other hand..not so great. Well Jack Cards is my new favorite find. It's fantastic, easy to use, AND you'll never have to shop in the Belated section again. The best part - it's free to join. They also have an amazing selection of cards to pick from and they start at $2.

Add all of your important dates
Select your cards online
They mail them to you, ready to be signed and ready-to-mail

In the age of computers and e-cards they're bringing traditional greeting back. I know, I know..feel free to thank me.

Punctuate that mark

It's official - a company has come out with a SarcMark to clarify when you're using sarcasm in a sentence or message and even one for your cellphone. You can purchase and download it for $1.99 for each device. Check out their ever creative commercial below (clearly I haven't purchased the mark)



Because even sarcasm needs a mark...

Hoops For Haiti

University of Kentucky Coach John Calipari was able to raise over 1 million dollars in 4.5 hours Sunday in a telethon! They also have some AMAZING eBay items you can bid on and ALL proceeds will go to helping Haiti. Everything from Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler tickets to dinner at the Calipari house with Ashley Judd.



Click here to view eBay items up for aucion and click here to learn more at Coach Cal's website

Peace, Love, Wine

Time to stock up - It's the 9th Annual Wine On Ice next weekend January 22nd and January 23rd!!

If you've never been up to the Finger Lakes or tried any of the wineries you MUST take part. They're fantastic and it's soo much fun. This will be held at First Arena in Elmira. They will have entertainment as well as local restaurants and local craft businesses.

Tickets Available At:
First Arena Box Office, Info Center in Corning, Holiday Inn in Elmira, Holiday Inn in Horseheads, and online at www.ticketmaster.com

Ticket Prices:
Individual-Day of – Session I $25.00 + Applicable service charge
Individual-Day of – Session II $23.00 + Applicable service charge
Individual-Day of – Session III $27.00 + Applicable service charge Group

**Advance Only SAVE $5 per ticket**
20 or more Admission includes a Souvenir Tasting glass
No one Under 21 allowed.

For more information and a complete list of vendors click here

Save A Life

I was reading the January issue of Women's Health and was shocked when I read this tidbit:

"It's not only financial banks that are affected by the economic meltdown. Blood banks have seen a major decline in donations - as much as 15 percent in some states. With corporate cutbacks and unemployment at an all-time high, company blood drives are drawing fewer people or not happening at all. Still, every two seconds in the U.S., someone needs blood."

Why is your blood needed? According to the American Red Cross the blood supply needs to be continually replenished. Only 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood and of those only 8% do. That amounts to only about 3 out of every 100 people.

That's some scary business! And to think 1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives. YOU can make a difference. Here are the next few blood drives coming up in our area:

January 26th from 12:00pm-6:00pm

Loyalsock Community

Site: Saint Ann's Catholic Church

1220 Northway Road

Williamsport, PA 17701

Donation Types: Blood, Double Red Cell Donations

January 27th 12:00pm-6:00pm

Williamsport Community - West

Site: Fleming Parish Center

720 West Fourth Street

Williamsport, PA 17701 Donation Types: Blood, Double Red Cell Donations

February 15th 12:00pm-5:00pm
Newberry Community

Site: Saint John's Newberry United Methodist Church

2101 Newberry Street

Williamsport, PA 17701

Donation Types: Blood, Double Red Cell Donations

Click here to register online. Go ahead, Save A Life.

Get Paid

Our bill's may be going up this month but PPL Electric will pay YOU to get rid of old electric guzzling appliances that could be costing you up to $150 a year. They now have an Appliance Recycling Program. You can get up to $35 for that spare refrigerator or freezer you have in your garage or basement and an old air room conditioner can be worth up to $25.



Click here for program details and to learn more. Get paid to start Spring Cleaning a little early this year!

Check out these globes

The 67th Annual Golden Globes that is! The live telecast will be this Sunday, January 17th, at 8:00pm on NBC hosted by the lovely and hysterical Ricky Gervais. They have quite the slate of presenters (Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks, Cameron Diaz, The Hangover Cast, Harrison Ford, Amy Adams and LOTS more) and check out the goodies the celeb's get to walk home with as reported by People:

The goody-filled giveaway features a large Dooney & Bourke satchel for the ladies or a Tumi duffel bag for the men.

Inside the women's bag will be treats to help her feel beautiful, including Euphoria perfume by Calvin Klein, L'Oreal cosmetics and InStyle's book The New Secrets of Style.

His bag will include Euphoria for men, a custom shirt by designer Alexander West and a style book for guys. Both bags will include a DVD directed by this year's Cecil B. DeMille recipient Martin Scorsese. Each bag is valued at $500.



Not too shabby! Click here to check out this year's nominees.

[Picture and gift bag details courtesy of People.com]

Helping Haiti

This unprecedented earthquake has devastated an already extremely poor nation. I can't even begin to imagine the hardship and suffering...it's just heartbreaking.

We can help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999." Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747. This information was released by the White House.

Music producer and former Fugee Wyclef Jean, who was born in Haiti, has also reached out asking for help. On his blog he said, "Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake - and several very strong aftershocks - struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now."

Either you can use your cell phone to text "Yele" to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit Yele.org and click on DONATE.

Lot's and lot's of prayers!!!

Let's Make A Deal

Looks like they're FINALLY making some progress between the Loyalsock Township School District and the union. They've been able to come to a tentative agreement that will be voted on January 28th. If it's passed it will be retroactive to July 1, 2008 and will expire June 30, 2012.

"Both sides are happy we've reached the tentative agreement. We'll be certainly looking forward to getting everybody back on track," said Gerald McLaughlin, acting superintendent and business manager to the Sun Gazette. "We can really focus on providing quality educational programs and opportunities for students." McLaughlin expressed his appreciation for the district's negotiating teams, as well as the union's negotiators for their efforts.

It's taken a while but so glad they've been able to work out the kinks and come to terms on things. See how major compromise working together toward a common vision pays off? It's all for the kiddies!

Warming hearts AND tummies

Know anyone feeling a bit under the weather? Give them a spoonful of this. Spoonful of Comfort offers homemade Chicken Soup with no additives or preservatives (it's made in small batches) AND comes with a personalized gift card message.

They share the heroic story behind the company on their website and a portion of the proceeds from each purchase goes to The American Cancer Society.

Go ahead...give a little and send some love.

Still On Top

It's been out 4 weeks but Avatar is STILL #1 at the box office! I mean really James Cameron what don't you touch that turns to gold? Having earned $1.3 Billion it's hot on the trails of Titanic as the best selling movie of all time. I haven't seen it yet (normally, alien type movies aren't my thing...and honestly, those 3D glasses look ridiculous) BUT with all the hype I think I may have to drag the hubby.

In case you don't watch any TV here's the trailer:

Official Avatar Movie

Have you gone? Thoughts?

Tempted? Here are the movie times this week up until Friday.

Cinema Center of Williamsport
2:30pm | 6:15pm | 9:30pm
in 3D
1:00pm | 4:20pm | 8:00pm

Great Escape Lycoming Mall only has it in 3D
11:40am | 12:15pm | 3:10pm | 3:40pm | 6:40pm 7:10pm | 10:05pm

Finance FUNdamentals Part 5

Give a little bit.. For the last part of our Finance Resolutions our Finance Guru touches base on something you can do to make a difference, not just in your life but in the lives of many, even if you don't necessarily have the funds.

#5: Give something back. If you don’t currently donate your time and money to any organizations that could use your help, I think you should for two reasons. One, is that it makes you feel really good knowing that someone out there is being helped by your generosity and two, I truly believe that those who give shall receive. So try it out… what’s the worst that could happen?

A great website (it received 5 stars from Money Magazine) and the best FREE way to manage your money is mint.com. Click here to check it out.

Here's to reaching our Finance Goals in 2010!!

Tone This

I'm thinking I may just have to break down and get a pair. You have to admit, the concept is pretty genius. They talk of increasing muscle activation up to 28% in the gluteus maximus, 11% in thighs and hamstrings, and 11% in the calves. nice booty. great sole. Reebok EasyTone shoes have been getting us all talking AND with commercials like this it's hard not to:



According to Reebok, they have built-in balance pods (think bosu ball) under the heel and forefoot of the shoes which create a natural instability when you walk. This forces muscles to adapt which encourages toning. So it doesn't eliminate our need to workout but it will give a little pep to our step...and they're actually pretty cute. Score a pair at Dick's Sporting Goods in the Lycoming Mall or on Reebok's website. Don't mind if I do! But hey, your move.

If you've already splurged...thoughts??

Finance FUNdamentals Part 4

This is one of the biggest issues we have in this country. Here's tip 4 of our Finance Resolutions.

#4: Get control of your debts and start a making a snowball… a debt snowball that is. Debt, particularly credit card debt, is one of the biggest issues in American households today. Why not pay yours off in 2010? A great way to tackle your credit card debt is to create what Dave Ramsey calls a Debt Snowball… list ALL of your debts smallest to biggest in terms of balance owned. Along with the balance, figure out what your minimum payment is each and every month and start trying to pay the the smallest debt off as quickly as possible while still making minimum payments on the rest. Once your first debt is eliminated, take the minimum payment from that debt and add it to the minimum payment on the second debt. Now try and pay AT LEAST that amount on the second debt until it’s eliminated and so on. The idea is to have early success and move one. Are there more “mathematically correct” ways of doing this? Sure. But this is a great way to get started and begin your journey to debt-free living.

A great place to find ALL kinds of calculators for debt, portfolio decisions, budgeting, etc. is www.dinkytown.com or click here

Free Shots!

I knew that would get your attention. :) The Health Department is giving away free shots for H1N1, better known as the Swine Flu, today until 4:00. Not quite as exciting as other shots but the way it's traveling around why not take a freebie?

The Health Center is located at:
1000 Commerce Park Drive
Suite 104
Williamsport, PA 17701
570.327.3440

I thought I'd include the symptoms (thanks to stopgerms.org) that can be avoided by getting the vaccination today! Click here for more info

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to seasonal human flu and include:
● Fever ● Cough ● Sore Throat ● Runny Nose ● Body Aches ● Headaches ● Chills ● Fatigue ● Runny Nose ● Some people have also reported nausea, diarrhea and vomiting associated with the H1N1 flu.

Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 flu in people.

Finance FUNdamentals Part 3

The third part in our discussion on Financial Resolutions is an absolute MUST if this is something your employer offers. These are pre-tax payroll deductions and a little goes a long way!

#3: Contribute to your 401k!!! This is a really simple and effective way to save money for your retirement. In some cases, your employer might even match some of your contribution; this means that if you’re not contributing and your employer does match, you are literally leaving money on the table that could be yours… ask your boss or HR person at work for more information.

Also, a great site to find "of interest" articles is www.kiplinger.com or click here

The Scary New Truth

I read a very sobering article today in January's issue of Glamour and it was too important NOT to share. It was titled The New Scary Truth About Women And Driving, BUT I think it has some crazy stats for everyone to hear.

Written by Shaun Dreisbach, December 8, 2009
Car crashes kill more young women then Heart Disease, HIV and Diabetes combined!
It's a sobering thought: Car accidents have been the top cause of death in women under 35 for a decade, and are expected to be again in 2010, experts say. In fact, more women could be killed than ever before because the way we live and drive has changed so much in recent years. The big culprit? Multitasking. "We're simply trying to do too much behind the wheel," says David Strayer, Ph. D., a psychology professor at the University of Utah and a leading researcher on what's called "distracted driving." "Everyone thinks she is a brilliant driver. But when we studied people's driving abilities while multitasking, 98 percent of them failed." You already know you should always where your seat belt and never, ever drive if you've been drinking, but here's the driver's ed update you need for today's roads. These crucial new pointers may save your life.

Here are some stats and blurbs from each section or click here for the article in it's entirety:

DWT (driving while texting) is the new DUI. It causes so many accidents that 18 states have adopted legislation to ban it.

80% of readers in a Glamour.com poll say they've texted behind the wheel and 65% say they do it sometimes or regularly.

Reading or typing messages makes you 8 times MORE likely to have an accident and is WORSE than driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 (which, by the way, is legally drunk)

Sending even a short text takes your eyes of the road for about 5 seconds - or a football field-length distance at 55 miles an hour

Research shows chatting on the phone quadruples your risk of a crash EVEN if you're talking hands-free. Data suggests people process 50% less visual information like brake lights, stop signs and pedestrians when on the phone.

Same goes for eating (71 percent of Americans eat or drink in their cars), digging around in our purses, and doing makeup - “Looking away for two seconds, literally two seconds, doubles your risk of a collision,” says William Van Tassel, Ph.D., manager of driver training for AAA.

Also, they say Stay Alert when you're close to home. People have a tendency to get complacent and not pay as much attention when making routine local trips to places, but more than half of all accidents occur within five miles of a person's own front door, recent research by Progressing Insurance found.

Click here to watch a video of a PSA for Texting and Driving that went viral last summer in the U.K. It is graphic but it shows the devastating consequences of what could happen.

Finance FUNdamentals Part 2

Hot off the press from our Finance Guru here's part 2 on personal finance and our Financial Resolutions for 2010.

#2: Become your own CFO. It’s always amazing to me when I work with business owners who run their business finances with military precision, but when it comes to personal finance, nothing could be farther from the truth! Now, I realize that we don’t have enough hours in the day to get everything done, but I suggest that in 2010, you set aside 1 hour per week (minimum) to sit down and review the past week’s spending. Where did the money go? How could you have saved a little more? Pretend that your personal finances are a business and you’re the CFO; this way you’ll take some of the emotion out of balancing your checkbook. (Also, if you don’t have online access to your checking and savings accounts, you should. It makes this part MUCH easier!)

A great site for basic personal finance news is money.cnn.com/pf/ or Click here

American Gold Rush

So we're just a little bit famous! In case you didn't get to see Lycoming County and the Marcellus Shale explorations featured on the Fox News Channel I've listed the video and some info below.

Click here for the article in it's entirety

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Shale — It's the new American gold rush of the 21st century!

In this jobless recovery, it's generating jobs like crazy, and in some of America's most depressed steel-belt wastelands. The key to the bonanza has been the development of a new technology for liquefied natural gas exploration called hydraulic fracturing.

Now, these "shales" of gas have been identified in multiple states across the country: N.Y., Pa., W. Va, Texas, Ark., La.

A Penn State Univ report, issued this past July, finds that in 2008 alone, the Marcellus Shale industry generated $2.3 billion for Pa -- including more than 29,000 jobs and $240 million in state and local taxes.

James Rosen's Video Report:

Pretty neat if I do say so myself!

BCS National Championship

It'sTexas Longhorns vs. Alabama Crimson Tide for the CHAMPIONSHIP!


For all of us that won't be in Pasadena, you catch the game at Morrone's Pub! There will be Happy Hour from 9:00pm-11:00pm with 75 cents off all drinks.

The game starts at 8:00pm and the kitchen is open until 11:00pm.

Finance FUNdamentals

I thought it was very important that we have some input each month from the desk of my local Finance Guru that covers various topics. With the start of the new year we thought we'd cover some Financial Resolutions. So, over the next few days I'll have pointers and links to websites that will help you get on the right track to better managing your finances.

#1: Don’t try and make an overly optimistic goal you can’t reach. If you saved $10,000 this year, then I think you should make a goal that beats that number for 2010; but if you haven’t saved anything and lived pretty much paycheck to paycheck, be more realistic and set a goal of having $50 per paycheck be directly deposited into a savings account. Once you’ve set this up and realize it was easier than you thought, up the amount.

If you really want to get serious about your finances and get on the right track to reach your 2010 goals, then check out this website www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com or click here

DETOX

It's the start of the year and everyone's New Year's Resolutions are fresh on their mind. One of the most popular resolutions every year circles around getting healthy. A quick jump start, but not the easiest, is to try a Detox. Detox diets have become increasingly popular over the last few years. As listed on About.com, Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. Although detox is primarily thought of as a treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, the term is also used to refer to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body for general health. I've done some research and listed some of the most popular below.

The Master Cleanse is probably the most popular. It's been promoted by nutrition guru Stanley Burroughs. There are 3 phases to this 10 day cleanse: Ease-In, The Lemonade Diet and Ease-Out. The main ingredients are organic lemons, organic grade-b maple syrup, organic cayenne pepper, organic unrefined sea salt and purified water. Some of the downsides and side effects (listed on MSNBC): You are going 10 days without food, plus you're consuming a minimal amount of nutrients. It's an estimated 650 calories a day compared to the normal amount of 1,600 to 2,400 calories a day. Liquid bowel movements are also a side effect. Eeek! BUT people swear by this. This is the cleanse Beyonce used to lose the 20 pounds for her role in Dreamgirls.

Similar to The Master Cleanse is David Kirsch's 48-Hour Detox Diet
it's designed to turbo-charge your metabolism, increase energy and kick-start weight loss. It doesn't help that wellness coach David Kirsch is credited with helping shape and form some of the most well known celebrities, Heidi Klum, Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler. Anne Hathaway used this right before the 2009 Golden Globes. You actually purchase his LemonAid which contains lemon juice, grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, purified water, natural flavors, xanthum gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate. Some downsides and side effects (as listed on DietsinReview): Lack of food may cause binges once diet is over and it may cause side effects like dizziness, reduced concentration and irritability. Weight loss may be temporary.

Martha's Vineyard Detox Diet is also very popular and a little bit longer. Started by naturopathic doctor, registered nurse, and colonic therapist Roni DeLuz, this is a detox and diet that results in weight loss (21 Pounds in 21 Days). She has a Daily Schedule listed right on the website. It consists of juice mixtures, protein shakes, vegetable purees, herbal teas and digestive enzymes. No solid foods are allowed. The downsides and side effects (listed on MSNBC): as you return to normal eating habits you can experience bloating and digestive problems. This also has a reputation of many trips to the bathroom.

The Clean Program is from the New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Alejandro Junger MD. His book Clean Remove, Restore and Rejuvenate walks you through his program to restore the body's natural ability to heal itself. Gwyneth Paltrow has been a huge advocate for this Detox. She wrote about it on her blog Goop. It's a lifestyle change that has you avoid processed foods and buying organic when possible, removing one or more of the foods that cause food allergies, sensitivities and are mucus-forming, such as dairy, bread, pasta, sugar, white rice and red meat, removing the bad bacteria in your gut with plant and herbal antibacterials and use garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano oil, thyme and cayenne pepper – all powerful natural antimicrobials. He asks that you consume nutrient-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes), use supplements to boost availability of your specific depletions (the B vitamins are commonly depleted), and get 15 minutes of sunlight a day. He also has a 21 Day Detox program you can purchase on his site.

You Are What You Eat (as listed on EveryDiet.org) is a book written by Gillian McKeith. She recommends a vegetarian diet for the first eight weeks of the program. Following this initial phase dieters may include small amounts of fish and organic chicken in the diet. Her recommended foods are fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh juices, sprouts, legumes, soy beans, nuts, whole grains such as oats and quinoa, fish, organic chicken, low fat dairy products, cold pressed oils, honey and maple syrup in moderation, herbal teas. Red meat, caffeine, sugar, refined grains, spicy foods, fatty foods, and alcohol are to be strictly eliminated. Some of the Pros: Encourages a high intake of fruit, vegetables and whole foods. Provides information that dieters can use to identify specific patterns of disease in their own bodies. Promotes exercise. The Cons: Will probably require a complete overhaul of the diet with elimination of many foods. Food combining is difficult to follow and has not been proven scientifically to have benefits for digestion or weight loss. Recommends the use of several supplements that do not have adequate scientific evidence to support their effects. Some of the detox recommendations are potentially harmful.

I've included a link for a short quiz here that will help you learn more about why people detox and what symptoms to look for. There are so many out there and it can be a little overwhelming going through them. Is a detox diet for you? Though they have proven to be effective there are also side effects with each one and it's always good consult to your physician on what's best for you. Personally, I've found it's most important to find a healthy lifestyle that consists of working out AND consuming healthy foods. Our bodies do so much better when we take care of them. We all go through up's and down's in the gym but by creating an overall lifestyle, you're much more likely to stick to things. Good Luck!

Showtime

It just seems like one of those weekends when you want to get out and see a good movie... Or maybe it's just me craving some popcorn with movie theatre butter a giant soda and some candy. Either way, here are the movies and showtimes (courtesy of moviefone), if you can brave the cold long enough to run inside!

Cinema Center of Williamsport
300 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
(570) 601-6860
Regular Adult $8.25 Regular Child $6.00

MOVIES & SHOWTIMES

Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakal
(Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler) PG, 88 min.

12:00pm 2:15pm 4:30pm 7:30pm 9:50pm

Avatar (2009)
(Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver) PG-13, 160 min.
12:50pm 4:05pm 7:20pm

Avatar: 3D (2009)
(Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver) PG-13, 160 min.
12:30pm 3:45pm 7:00pm 10:15pm

Did You Hear About the Morgans?
(Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker) PG-13, 107 min.
1:20pm 4:15pm 7:35pm 9:55pm

Invictus
(Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon) PG-13, 134 min.
10:30pm

It's Complicated
(Meryl Streep, Steve Martin) R, 114 min.
12:30pm 3:25pm 7:25pm 10:00pm

Sherlock Holmes (2009)
(Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law) PG-13, 134 min.
1:15pm 4:10pm 7:15pm 10:05pm

The Blind Side
(Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates) PG-13, 126min.
1:00pm 3:50pm 7:25pm 10:05pm

The Princess and the Frog
(Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman) G, 95 min.
12:10pm 2:25pm 4:35pm 6:45pm 9:40pm

Up in the Air (2009)
(George Clooney, Vera Farmiga) R, 109 min.
12:05pm 2:35pm 5:00pm 7:10pm 9:45pm

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965 Lycoming Mall Circle, Pennsdale, PA 17756
(570) 546-2437
Regular Adult $8.50 Regular Child: $6.50

MOVIES & SHOWTIMES

Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakal
(Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler) PG, 88 min.
11:30am
12:20pm
1:35pm
2:40pm
3:50pm 4:55pm
6:30pm
7:05pm
8:45pm
9:10pm

Avatar: 3D (2009)
(Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver) PG-13, 160 min.
11:40am
12:15pm
3:10pm
3:40pm
6:40pm 7:10pm
10:05pm
10:30pm

Did You Hear About the Morgans?
(Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker) PG-13, 107 min.
12:30pm 2:50pm 5:10pm 7:30pm 9:55pm

Invictus
(Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon) PG-13, 134 min.
2:05pm 6:55pm

It's Complicated
(Meryl Streep, Steve Martin) R, 114 min.
12:40pm 3:20pm 7:40pm 10:20pm

Old Dogs
(John Travolta, Robin Williams) PG, 88min.
12:00pm 4:50pm 9:45pm

Sherlock Holmes (2009)
(Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law) PG-13, 134 min.
1:00pm 4:00pm 7:20pm 10:15pm

The Blind Side
(Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates) PG-13, 126min.
1:10pm 4:10pm 7:00pm 10:00pm

The Princess and the Frog
(Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman) G, 95 min.
11:50pm 2:00pm 4:20pm 6:50pm 9:00pm

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
(Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson) PG-13, 130 min.
1:45pm 4:30pm 7:15pm 10:10pm

Up in the Air (2009)
(George Clooney, Vera Farmiga) R, 109 min.
12:10pm 2:35pm 5:00pm 7:25pm 10:15pm