Quick Study [kwik stuhd-ee]: The Huffington Post Canada's tips to make your life a little sweeter, five minutes at a time. Think of it as a cheatsheet for your general well-being.

As the tax deadline fast approaches, more people start scrambling for financial help -- and like so many other lifestyle choices, women go about getting it together completely differently than men, relying on mentors, family and friends to educate and influence them.

Barbara Stewart, a Toronto chartered financial analyst, is the author of the white paper Rich Thinking: A Global Study - A Guide to Building Financial Confidence in Girls and Women. According to a 2010 Angus Reid survey she commissioned, more than 50 per cent of women say their financial knowledge was mainly acquired through informal instruction from other people.

"There's a disconnect between what we’re teaching women about financial literacy and how they actually learn," Stewart said. "Most of what I see in textbooks and on websites for financial institutions is very dry information."

Last year, Stewart spoke to 50 accomplished women from around the world about the messages on money they received while growing up. For many of the women, linking lifestyle to money was key.

SEE: The 10 financial tips Stewart uncovered for women. Full story continues below slideshow.

"It's important to have a conversation with young people. We all hear that sort of corny question, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?" she said. "Instead of just that, we should ask 'How do you want to live? and 'How much money do you think you'll need to live that lifestyle?"

Stewart put together Rich Thinking in an attempt to give young women a 10-step toolbox that she hopes will help them form their live paths.

"The main message that came through it all was to be independent. Being independent is the root to building financial confidence," Stewart said. "Understand that what we want costs money fundamentally and then learn how to deal directly with money yourself."

Imagine a website of just breasts. Nothing more. It’s not hard, the internet is flooded with them.

But imagine one that’s for a good cause. Yes, that’s right. You can settle down and spend a good half-hour or so (perhaps not in the office) perusing pages and pages of breasts without an ounce of guilt.

Working off the tagline “showing your breasts on the internet is good, showing them to your doctor is better”, Boobstagram is the brainchild of two Frenchmen who have painstakingly compiled thousands of Instagrams of women's bosoms.

The claim is this will to encourage people to keep abreast (ahem) of awareness of the disease, which claims the lives of nearly half a million women worldwide every year.

National Cleavage Day: Holly Willoughby Wins Best Breasts, With Scarlett Johansson And Beyonce In Hot Pursuit

Boobstagram founders Julien GLT and Lionel Pourtau say they tried to create a fun prevention campaign “when most campaigns use fear”. It strives to “avoid the pitfall of moralism” and “be heard in the public arena overwhelmed with messages”.

Well, wall to wall breasts is certainly one way of achieving these aims.

Literature on the website adds: “By using this approach and targeting young people, those most comfortable with new technologies and most comfortable with unconventional messages, we attempt to raise awareness amongst those who must change their behaviour today, in order to changed their future tomorrow.”

Although National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, the official website advocates all efforts to “raising awareness and educating individuals about breast cancer throughout the year.”

Does Boobstagram get the relevant message across? What do you think?

An icy stare may do more than just chill your heart metaphorically — it can literally change the way you perceive ambient temperature, making a room feel several degrees colder. This cooling effect is most pronounced in people who tend to be anxious in their relationships, new research finds.

So planting fever has grabbed you, and you're heading out to your favourite nursery or thumbing through a catalogue to see what's available in shrubs.

Decisions, decisions. Should your shrubs offer tasty berries or good looks?

No need to choose between the two; there are plenty of shrubs that are ornamental and bear edible berries as well.

Berry shrubs are as easy to grow as strictly ornamental shrubs. Pests rarely pose a threat, which is fortunate, since you're likely to plant ornamentals near living areas where you can enjoy their looks, and you don't want to have to spray anything near where you dine al fresco or where children regularly tumble on the grass.

OK, there is one pest that might bother your shrubs: Birds. However, some berry shrubs bear more than enough fruit to share with feathered friends. And if you like birds, attracting them may just be another plus for these plants.

Make the most of your gardening space with these tips.

LOCATION, LOCATION

Although a berry shrub can be as easy to grow as any forsythia or lilac, berry shrubs do — like those two ornamentals — need some attention. As with any plant, check out site conditions before you plant.

For berry shrubs, make sure that soil drainage is adequate. If water still stands in a foot-deep hole for more than 12 hours after you pour water into it, the site is too boggy for most shrubs.

In that case, either plant your shrub atop a wide mound of soil to get its roots up and out of the waterlogged zone, or choose a site with better drainage.

Another requirement of most berry shrubs is abundant sunlight — at least six hours per day. They need light both for flavour and yield. The sweetness in a blueberry fruit, for example, represents the conversion of the sun's energy to sugar. Red currants are exceptions; they fruit well in the shade.

A LITTLE PRUNING FOR A LOT OF BERRIES

Finally, many berry shrubs require regular pruning — as do, again, forsythia, lilac and many other strictly ornamental shrubs. Pruning allows stems to bask in light and bathe in air, keeping a shrub productive and limiting disease problems. Regularly removing old stems also makes way for younger, more productive ones.

No great skill is needed to prune a shrub, and pruning is generally not needed until your plant's fourth winter. Just take your hand shears or lopping shears (the latter if stems are thicker than about 1/2 inch) and cut a few of the oldest, thickest stems to ground level, or to lusty, low-side shoots. Shrubs differ in how many new shoots they send up at or near ground level each year, and the more new shoots that a particular shrub makes each year, the more old ones you will have to prune away.

The only other pruning needed is to clip back any stems that look out of place.

WHAT LOOKS AND TASTES GOOD

Spend the next few days looking around your yard for places that might be beautified by pretty shrubs. Fruit-bearing, ornamental shrubs include lowbush and highbush blueberry, juneberry, quince, gumi, seaberry, beach plum, Nanking cherry, red (white and pink) currant, rose, huckleberry, pineapple guava, pomegranate and clove currant.

For more about getting both fruit and beauty from trees and vines as well as shrubs, see my "Landscaping with Fruit" (Storey Publishing, 2010).

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http://leereich.blogspot.com/

http://leereich.com/

For a spring project that can get your family working and learning together — and also help some beautiful insects — try a backyard butterfly garden.

With just a little planning, you can create an attractive and welcoming habitat for butterflies through the warm weather months, says Rick Mikula, author of "The Family Butterfly Book" (Storey Publishing, 2000).

The biggest problem facing butterflies is destruction of habitat, Mikula says. Even if your garden offers just a few butterfly-friendly blooms in pots or containers, it can help the insects' population — and improve the look of your living space.

"Any offering for butterflies in a garden, no matter how small, is like chicken soup for a cold," he says. "It can't hurt."

From the positioning tip that leads to better-tasting veggies to why you should plant by the light of the moon, help your garden flourish this year by following these 8 unusual steps, perfect for flower beds and vegetable patches alike. Story continues below.

The choice of nectar-producing plants on which butterflies feed varies by region. But wherever you are, Mikula says, your options don't have to be fancy. Simple flowers such as varieties of Echinacea, daisies, asters and even some violets can serve as butterfly-friendly snacking spots. Non-invasive milkweeds can be especially appetizing to migrating butterflies, without taking over your yard.

"Even one or two plants like that are going to be great because when the butterflies are moving, there's a place for them to stop," says Mikula, who lives in Hazelton, Penn.

You can start your research with books such as Mikula's, or by contacting a nearby co-operative extension office for free advice about what flowers are best for your region. Find your closest office at www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

Online, try bugguide.net or butterfliesandmoths.org, recommends Nathan Brockman, curator of the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University, in Ames. Some garden-supply retailers, such as Lowe's Home Improvement stores, offer online and in-store advice as well.

There are some concessions you may need to make if you plan to entice butterflies into your yard, Brockman says.

One is understanding that caterpillars, the butterflies' offspring, are going to eat host plants, including some herbs and vegetables you may have planned to serve at your own dinner table. Plant extra, and remember you'll be rewarded for the sacrifice when caterpillars turn into fluttering butterflies.

Also, be prepared to give up the use of pesticides on vegetable gardens or lawns.

"Don't use any at all if you are truly gardening for butterflies," Brockman says.

Mikula's tip is to soak tomato leaves overnight in water, then strain and spray the solution onto plants as an effective and organic pesticide that won't harm butterflies.

Butterfly gardening can either be budget-friendly or, Mikula says, it can be like buying a car and getting carried away with all the extras. Don't overlook smaller, less costly nectar-producing flowers that will entice tiny but attractive butterflies, he says.

Brockman suggests choosing plants native to their region. They're most beneficial to the environment and require less maintenance.

Colleen Maiura, a spokeswoman for Lowe's stores, says there are more ways to make a garden hospitable to butterflies besides offering flowers. Butterflies like to bask in the sun, so putting out flat rocks near feeding spots can provide a perfect place for them to rest.

While butterflies can get most of the moisture they need from feeding, many like to gather around puddles and wet places. You can offer a "puddling station" by simply creating a damp area of ground covered with sand.

"Place stations where butterflies — and you — can easily see them, and where they are sheltered from the wind," Maiura advises.

Beyond the "sheer joy" you get when finding a butterfly in your garden, Mikula says, butterfly gardening also can teach families about the life cycle of insects, and about caring for plants and their environment.

The best part, he says, is that you will be doing the beautiful insects "a world of good."

Don't be disappointed, Brockman cautions, if you don't draw a lot of butterflies right away. Keep at it, and try to get neighbours to grow a few plants that will encourage butterfly activity too.

We "need to instil in our youth that insects are good," he says. "Fortunately for the butterflies, they are considered the pretty ones."

___

Online:

Rick Mikula: http://butterflyrick.com/

Reiman Gardens: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/

Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/

Co-operative Extension System: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

WASHINGTON - Be happy — it seems to be good for your heart.

Scientists have long known that Type A personalities and people who are chronically angry, anxious or depressed have a higher risk of heart attacks.

Now a Harvard University review of the flip side of that psychology concludes that being upbeat and optimistic just may help protect against heart disease.

Rather than focusing only on how to lessen heart risks, "it might also be useful to focus on how we might bolster the positive side of things," said lead researcher Julia Boehm of the Harvard School of Public Health.

Boehm reviewed dozens of studies examining a positive outlook — as determined by various psychological measurements — on heart health. Optimism in particular seems key, as a number of studies found the most optimistic people had half the risk of a first heart attack when compared to the least optimistic, Boehm said.

Why? Previous work shows the stress associated with negative psychological traits can lead to damage of arteries and the heart itself.

Boehm found that people with a better sense of well-being tend to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, and are more likely to exercise, eat healthier, get enough sleep and avoid smoking. But she cautioned that it will take more research to tease apart if a positive outlook makes people feel more like taking heart-healthy steps — or whether living healthier helps you feel more positive.

The review, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was published Tuesday by the Psychological Bulletin.

More research is needed but that link between psychological and physical well-being makes sense, said Dr. Elizabeth Jackson of the University of Michigan and American College of Cardiology, who wasn't involved with the review. Among her own heart patients, she has noticed that those who feel they have some control over their lives and are invested in their care have better outcomes.

What if you're by nature a pessimist? "That's a hard question. There's no magic happy pill," Jackson said.

Some research has found that asking people to smile helps put them in a better mood, Boehm noted, although long-term effects aren't clear.

"Sometimes it's hard, particularly in tough economic times, but taking a moment to just relax and enjoy a sunny day might be good heart health," Jackson said.

It's a prom must-have, right up there with the dress and shoes: The guy's tie must match the girl's gown. And many teens today use cellphones to aid the colourco-ordination.

Kourtney Ziercher took a picture of her dress in the store to send to her date, Michael George, for her prom last year at Barat Academy in Chesterfield, Mo.

"I told him it was burnt orange, and he got the tie to match," she said.

"She knew that it was not a typical colour, but the tie I got even had a little design on it that matched the design on the dress," Michael said, referring to a light tiger stripe print on the fabric. "She was really excited about it. The girl's dress is a big deal. If the outfit doesn't go perfectly, if the guy isn't matching, it's a problem. I made sure it worked."

In Fort Collins, Colo., Amy Weintraub sent a picture of her chocolate brown dress to her date, Luke Siddens, and he used the image to get a matching tie and vest for their prom last week at Poudre High School.

"I didn't realize he wanted to match me," Amy said. "He just kind of decided that on his own. It was a little lighter than the dress, but it matched pretty well."

For homemade dresses, ties can always be made from leftover fabric. For a 2010 prom at the Stanley Humphries Secondary School in Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, Arielle Roberts made her own dress with the help of a grandmother and aunt. Her date's mom sewed a matching tie "when the green bow-tie and cummerbund she'd ordered for him weren't quite the right shade," Arielle said.

But with so many dresses store-bought these days, and with cellphone photos sometimes producing unreliable hues, stores often provide physical swatches to assist in colourco-ordination. David's Bridal, which expects to sell 110,000 prom dresses this year in 300 stores, sells fabric swatches for $1 with dress purchases.

Sarah LaRue, a senior at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore., picked out a dress at the local David's Bridal and was happy to have the fabric scrap to give her date. "It's a turquoise blue, and with that dress, you need the exact colour to match it," she said. "If it was even a little bit off, it wouldn't look right."

David's Bridal also has a partnership with Men's Wearhouse that makes it easy for young men to get accessories in co-ordinated hues for their dates' dresses. Guys can order ties, vests and cummerbunds from Men's Wearhouse using the same terms David's Bridal uses to identify the dress colours — names like "watermelon pink" or "Malibu blue" — and be guaranteed an ensemble that works.

Amanda Nohrenberg, store manager for David's Bridal in Eugene, says "90 per cent, if not 99 per cent" of her prom customers want their dates to match. "If they aren't co-ordinating, it's because the guy is wearing a neutral colour like black or white."

Many couples also plan matching corsages and boutonnieres. "The girls are saying, 'This is what I'm wearing and I want it to match the flowers,'" said Pennylyn Kaine, owner of Blossom & Bee Floral and Event Design in Newfoundland, N.J.

Sometimes the boys come in "either with their phone picture or a physical swatch, but now what's happening more often is, the girls are coming in and picking it out in advance," said Kaine. "They're actually saying, 'This is what I want. I'm going to send my boyfriend in and he's going to pay for it.'"

Kaine, who's 32, added, "It's not like when I was in high school and people didn't care so much. You just got the white mini-spray of roses."

But sometimes, despite all the planning and purchasing, last-minute improvisations are required.

Sarah Perreault's date "had been obsessed with making everything perfect" to co-ordinate with her red dress for the 2010 prom at Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Maine. "We were going to dinner and he had forgotten his pocket square," she said. "He was so upset. His outfit wasn't complete. So a girl made him a pocket square out of a napkin, and he wore it the entire night."

Luckily, the napkin was red.

A new study in Clinical Epigenetics suggests that the epidemic of autism amongst children in the U.S. may be associated with the typical American diet. The study explores how mineral deficiencies, affected by dietary factors, such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), could have a potential impact on how the human body frees itself of common toxic chemicals, for instance, pesticides and mercury.

Tossing food scraps in the trash is an incredible waste -- especially when you can reuse leftovers around the house.

Reusing food odds and ends would do a big favour for the planet, not to mention our wallets and our health, Ed Bruske of DC Urban Gardeners advises in the video above.

“Did you know that 25 per cent of everything we send to the landfill is kitchen scraps like this?" he says, while emptying out a compost bin.

Canadians toss out around 40 per cent of our food each year, valued at $27 billion, a George Morris Centre study reported. And when food rots in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, notes Environment Canada.

Saving your scraps from landfills can cut down on that methane production, so Bruske recommends composting any organic material around the house for your garden, and shows you how in the video above.

There's more than one way to reuse your refuse, though. Have you ever considered using egg shells to clean your kitchen drain, or bananas to shine your shoes? These solutions and many more can help you get extra use from your leftovers -- just don't forget to compost afterwards.

We've all been warned away from processed foods enough times by now to start examining the contents of our pantry a bit more closely. Just what's in that can of beans, you wonder? And how long can I really keep that jar of kernels?

One author has found that making your own items to stock up the kitchen could be a simpler and cheaper way to approach the task. Alana Chernila, creator of blog Eating From The Ground Up, recently released her book, "The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making." The book helped her stick to her family's budget, as well as make the best use of the produce she discovered while working at her local farmer's market.

Check out the gorgeous options to make at home from Alana Chernila's The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making -- and find the recipes below:

Ketchup
Makes 4 cups
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup diced onion (1 large)
5 garlic cloves, minced
6 pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and cored, or three 28-ounce cans tomatoes, drained
3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional to taste
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder, plus additional to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar, homemade or store-bought
1 tablespoon honey
1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute, while stirring.
2. Add the tomatoes, salt, paprika, cinnamon, cloves, celery salt, cumin, dry mustard, chili powder, and ground pepper and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
3. Blend until smooth with an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to an upright blender in two batches and puree until smooth. If transferred, return the mixture to the pot.
4. Add the vinegars, brown sugar, and honey. Cook over medium heat, uncovered, stirring often, until the ketchup thickens, about 30 minutes. Adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder to taste.
Storage:
Fridge in a covered container for 2 weeks.
Freezer in a freezer-safe container for 6 months (thaw in refrigerator and whisk to re-emulsify).
Excerpted from The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila. Copyright © 2012 by Alana Chernila. Excerpted by permission of Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission from the publisher.

Maple Popcorn
Makes 18 cups
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, plus additional to butter the bowl and pans
1 cup unpopped popcorn
1 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup raw sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, homemade or store-bought
1. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Butter two 9 × 13-inch baking pans and your largest bowl.
2. Pop the corn according to your preference and transfer the popcorn to the buttered bowl.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter with the maple syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and let it cook, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the baking soda and vanilla and stir to combine. The mixture will foam up and bubble and smoke.
4. Very gently (or your popcorn might deflate!), pour 1 cup of the sugar mixture over the popped corn and stir until evenly coated. Coat with more sugar mixture and stir again, repeating until all of the sugar mixture is coating the popcorn. Divide the popcorn between the two baking pans.
5. Bake for 1 hour, stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes. Cool before serving.
Storage:
Room temperature in a covered container for 3 weeks.
Freezer in a freezer-safe container or bag for 6 months (great right out of the freezer)

Potato Leek Soup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large leeks, cleaned and chopped, using all of the whites and the lower half of the green
2 pounds potatoes, peeled or unpeeled to taste, and quartered
5 to 7 cups stock, homemade or store-bought, or water
3/4 cup whole milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
1. Melt the butter and olive oil in a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté until soft and shiny, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the potatoes and 5 cups of the stock. Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes fall apart when poked with a fork.
3. Using an immersion blender, blend in pot until smooth; otherwise transfer to an upright blender and puree in batches. Blend for only a few seconds at a time—potatoes can transform to a glue texture with too much blending. If the soup is quite thick, add the additional stock, 1/2 cup at a time. If freezing the soup, do so now, before adding the milk.
4. To serve immediately, return the soup to the pot and add the milk, salt, and pepper. Reheat, if necessary.
Storage:
Fridge in a covered container for 3 days.
Freezer (puree without the milk) for 6 months (thaw in refrigerator or microwave, reheat with milk, salt, and pepper, and blend if necessary for a smooth texture)

Excerpted from The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila. Copyright © 2012 by Alana Chernila. Excerpted by permission of Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House.

Dick Clark -- the beloved host of "New Year's Rockin' Eve" and "American Bandstand" -- has died at age 82 from a heart attack, according to multiple news outlets.

Clark died of a heart attack that he suffered this morning, TMZ reported. However, TMZ said that more details about the death are still not clear.

In 2004, Clark had suffered a stroke, which resulted in partial paralyzation and problems speaking, ABC News reported.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow through the coronary artery is blocked to the heart.

From the National Institutes of Health:

Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open) inside of an artery. This causes a blood clot to form on the plaque's surface. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.

When the heart is unable to receive blood, it can become damaged and can lead to death, the Mayo Clinic reported.

Damage from a heart attack can lead to fatal conditions like heart arrhythmia (where your heart beats abnormally because of damaged heart muscle), heart failure (where your heart can't pump correctly, leading to less blood being pumped out to the rest of the body) and heart rupture (where the heart muscle actually ruptures and a hole develops in the heart), according to the Mayo Clinic. Heart valves may also be damaged and leak after a heart attack.

The National Institutes of Health points out that it's especially important to get help immediately when you think you are having a heart attack, because the longer you go without treatment, the more likely the heart muscle is to die.

The National Institutes of Health reported that coronary heart disease most commonly causes heart attacks, though a less-common cause is a coronary artery spasm. That condition occurs when the coronary artery is tightened, thereby cutting off the flow of blood to the heart.

Symptoms of heart attack generally include some sort of chest pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the chest; other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue and discomfort in the arms, neck, upper stomach or jaw, according to the National Institutes of Health.

However, that's not to say that you will feel all of these symptoms if you are having a heart attack. HuffPost reported on a study of 1 million heart attack patients published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which showed that 35 percent of those patients didn't have the "hallmark" symptoms of chest pain or discomfort.

And symptoms are not equal between men and women. Women were less likely to present with the chest pain and discomfort symptoms than men were, according to that study.

Call it the new Reconstruction era. Americans spent $10.4 billion on cosmetic surgery in 2011. That's more than the gross domestic product of nations such as Chad, Liechtenstein and Suriname.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said plastic surgery spending is up 3 percent over 2010, powered in part by a 71-percent uptick in chin augmentations.

Americans forked over more than $38 million on chin jobs last year, having one every 25 minutes, according to the society. The procedure costs an average of $1,851, according to NPR.

In a press release, the society stated that the study's finding suggest that people "have more extra money to spend on themselves." But this conclusion is hard to swallow amidst reports that consumers are spending more, despite stagnant paychecks.

The recession caused Americans to cut back on plastic surgery, as total expenditures in 2009 fell 3 percent over the previous year.

The surge in Mentoplasty (that's doctor-ese for chin enhancement, not a candy implant) is relative, however. While Americans got 20,680 chin jobs last year, breast implants were still number one with 307,180 surgeries. The latter will run patients $5,000 to $15,000 a pop, according to yourplasticsurgeryguide.com.

MILAN -- Lenny Kravitz has taken a childhood compunction to decorate his bedroom and turned it into another creative endeavor.

To rocker, songwriter and actor, add designer.

Kravitz created a series of chairs for Kartell based on Philippe Starck's iconic "Mademoiselle" armchair, clad, like, at times the rocker himself, in python, leather or fur. And he designed black and white tiles inspired by water drops and waves for Lea Ceramiche.

Both projects were unveiled this week against the squealing backdrop of adoring fans during Milan Furniture Fair, which runs through Sunday.

For Kravitz, it all goes back to childhood, to his drive to create an environment where he felt comfortable to create, to write songs.

"Since I was a kid, it was always important how my room was put together. I would buy all these posters, fabrics and lighting, and I would make the room the way I wanted it to be," Kravitz said in an interview late Tuesday night as he perched on a leather version of his chair in a Kartell store window made to look like a stage.

Outside, fans held back by barriers snapped photos with smart phones, the eager hoard blocking traffic. The attention at a design event seemed to surprise Kravitz – despite his status as a rock venue veteran fresh off tour in Korea, whose most recent film appearance was in the box office hit "The Hunger Games."

"The most important thing was to create a vibe," he said. And once that vibe was achieved, "my world was set."

Kravitz exercised his designer spirit decorating his home, and his first creation, an L-shaped sofa upholstered in crocodile, still adorns his New Orleans home.

"When I started getting my own homes, I found myself making pieces maybe I couldn't find, or making pieces I couldn't afford and copying them," Kravitz said. "It was always about creating an atmosphere."

Along the way, he drew the favorable attention of Starck, who got to know Kravitz through his musician daughter, Ara Starck, half of the band, "The Two." Kartell's unofficial designer emeritus introduced the rock star to the design house, and "Kartell goes Rock," was born.

"It is just a beginning. But he did it well," Starck said. "He is very, very smart guy. And like all musicians, with a very strong intuition. And also he can bring the air of the night, the fresh air of the night, in design. Design is creative, but always a little bit sleeping. We are cool guys, but we are not from the night."

Kravitz said his aim was to give the chairs "feel, texture and plushness."

"It is just about reinterpreting it and putting my spin on it. For me, it was about feel, texture and plushness," he said.

Kravitz arrived in Milan with design credentials of his own. He founded his own design company Kravitz Design Inc., in 2003, and has previously worked with Swarovski on a series of crystal chandeliers, designed a luxury recording studio in Miami Beach and conceived the Florida Room lounge at the Delano hotel in Miami, among other projects. The two Milan debuts represent a step toward larger scale production.

His tile collection for Lea is called "Goccia," Italian for drop. The tiles – in smooth anthracite black or sleekest white – create an undulating impression along a wall. Kravitz said he was able to realize the concept through trial and error – creating prototypes, getting samples and making improvements – until he achieved the effect he sought.

"They are really fluid," Kravitz said.

Kravitz seems to be hitting his creative stride, and yet finding time for it all. He said he brings his design team on tour, and they work after shows, one endeavor fueling the other.

"I love that I am maturing. I am glad to be doing what it is that I love. I appreciate it now more than ever. When you are younger ... I think I was running so fast, I didn't get to take it all in," Kravitz said. "I am really savoring being creative, I am really savoring each moment."

The popular belief that gum disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes is a myth, experts said today.

Scientists writing in a respected US journal insisted there was no evidence for a causal link between bad gums and heart and artery problems.

The false message distorted the facts and spread alarm among patients, it was claimed.

A panel of 13 US experts spelled out their views in a scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

The scientists reviewed 500 journal articles looking at links between gum and cardiovascular disease.

They concluded that while people with gum disease may be at greater risk of heart or artery disease, the association is probably coincidental.

Both conditions shared common risk factors, such as smoking, age and diabetes, and both produced similar inflammation markers.

Lifestyle may also play a role, said the experts. People who did not look after their hearts may also be less inclined to care about their dental health.

The common factors could help explain why diseases of the blood vessels and mouth can occur in tandem.

Research has shown that people with gum disease are almost almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without gum disease.

Professor Peter Lockhart, co-chair of the expert panel and chair of oral medicine at the Carolinas Medical Centre in Charlotte, New Carolina, said:

"There's a lot of confusion out there. The message sent out by some in healthcare professions that heart attack and stroke are directly linked to gum disease can distort the facts, alarm patients and perhaps shift the focus on prevention away from well-known risk factors for these diseases.

"Much of the literature is conflicting, but if there was a strong causative link, we would likely know that by now."

He added: "We already know that some people are less proactive about their cardiovascular health than others. Individuals who do not pay attention to the very powerful and well-proven risk factors, like smoking, diabetes or high blood pressure, may not pay close attention to their oral health either."

Only a large, long-term study could prove that dental disease caused heart disease, but there was no likelihood of such an investigation being conducted in the near future.

"It's most important to let patients know what we know now, and what we don't know," said Prof Lockhart.

The belief that infected gums can lead to system problems such as heart disease has been suggested by doctors for more than a century.

Mouth bacteria are known to enter the blood stream during dental procedures, and even while brushing teeth. A number of theories have been suggested to explain the association between gum and heart disease.

One is that mouth bacteria attach to fatty deposits in arteries and trigger blood clots. Another is that they are a source of inflammation, which leads to a thickening of artery walls.

But the experts writing in Circulation said statements that imply a cause and effect relationship between gum and heart and artery disease were "unwarranted" at this time.

By Vanessa Taylor, TheKit.ca

Though neutral shades of sand, cream and khaki have a reputation for being the safe no-fail option—I think they are among the hardest to wear.

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I hear it all the time from friends, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly wear that colour…” yet, they are always dressed in dull, washed out shades of beige. To me, getting the right neutral for your skin tone is far trickier than choosing your favourite colour.

Full disclosure? I don’t subscribe to any colour theory—ie. I don’t believe that we should dress to a specific “season” or stay within a strict palette—if you love it, wear it. Obviously there are colours that stand out beside your hair colour and skin tone, but if it’s your favourite shade—you’ll make it work.

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A bright colour instantly makes the outfit—no need to accessorize. If mixing your colours causes you stress—stick with one bright shade per outfit—like here on Nicole Richie. She’s paired simple neutral accessories with this flirty yellow frock.

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The decision by Toronto city council to send three elephants from the Toronto Zoo to an animal sanctuary in California has apparently cost the Toronto facility its international accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters Wednesday that the full impact of the loss of accreditation is not immediately clear.

“We don't how it's going to affect us and we’ll see,” Ford said.

An AZA spokesperson told CBC News that the zoo will not be able to “fully participate” in its programs as a result of the loss of accreditation.

Spokesperson Steve Feldman also said that the zoo’s loss of accreditation had to do with governance, and not with the way that animals were being looked after in Toronto.

“Animal care, animal welfare, education, research, conservation were not at issue,” Feldman said in a telephone interview from Silver Spring, Md.

Earlier, the AZA said council's decision "regarding the management of animals in the zoo's collection" fails to comply with several governing standards.

It was evidently referring to council's decision to send Toka, Thika and Iringa to the PAWS animal sanctuary near San Andreas, Calif.

Last year, the zoo's board decided to shut down its African elephant exhibit and staff was asked to find a new AZA-accredited facility for the three females.

In October, when no new home had been found, city council stepped in and voted to send the elephants to the PAWS sanctuary.

Elephant sanctuary not AZA-approved

But the PAWS sanctuary is not an AZA-approved facility and that raised questions at the time if the AZA and its Canadian counterpart, the CAZA, would withdraw their recognition of the Toronto Zoo.

The loss of accreditation probably won't mean much in the day-to-day running of the zoo, but could have an impact on future loans of animals from other 225 AZA and CAZA-approved zoos.

About 200 animals are currently on loan at the Toronto Zoo, including snow leopards and Indian rhinos. The decision could also affect breeding programs, conservation and education programs.

John Tracogna, CEO of Toronto Zoo, said in a written statement that he was "clearly .... disappointed with the decision made by the AZA."

"There was never any question of the Toronto Zoo's animal care, governance was the key issue," he said.

The fate of the elephants became headline news after former TV personality Bob Barker became involved.

He lobbied for the animals to be sent to a warmer climate — and eventually paid the cost of transporting the elephants to California.

The Toronto Zoo can reapply for accreditation in March 2013.

By Jan Sheehan; Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

You know that working out is good for your health. But did you know that hitting the gym could also help you have better sex? “Working out three to four times a week can do a lot to help your sexual technique, flexibility, and endurance,” says Pete McCall, MS, an exercise physiologist and personal trainer for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). So what types of exercise are best for better sex? McCall recommends the following five “sex exercises.”

SEE: Take a look at the five exercises men can do for better sex -- story continues below:

Weight Lifting

Strength training could be just what the doctor ordered for your sex life. The reason: “Weight lifting causes the body to produce testosterone, which is the primary precursor for the male sex drive,” says McCall, who recommends lifting enough to feel fatigue by the 10th repetition. In fact, some studies have linked short intense exercise, such as weight lifting, with increased testosterone levels. To improve your sex life, do some push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches. These muscle-building exercises can help lead to better sex by strengthening the shoulders, chest, and abs. Strong upper body strength can increase stamina since these muscles are used during intercourse.

Related Story: Getting Started With Exercise

Kegels

Doing Kegels is considered a good sex exercise for men because these exercises can help endurance and control by toning the pubococcygeus (PC) muscles — the ones that let you stop the flow of urine mid-stream. Named after Los Angeles physician Arnold Kegel, they strengthen the muscles in your body’s pelvic floor, which can lead to better sex. “Men can use Kegels to delay ejaculation by contracting these muscles just before orgasm,” says McCall. To do Kegels, start by interrupting the flow of urine when going to the bathroom to get familiar with your PC muscles. After that, you can do Kegels anytime and any place by squeezing the PC muscles. Hold for 10 seconds, relax, and do as many reps as you can before tiring.

Related Story: 50 Ways To Be Healthier

Yoga

Want to shake up your sex life with some new positions? Practicing yoga will give you better sex by allowing your body to get into creative positions for maximum pleasure during intercourse. “Yoga will help your flexibility,” which can result in better sex, McCall says. Some experts say it can also improve your stamina in the sack by drawing your energy in and up. McCall recommends yoga poses that improve pelvic muscles, such as the Bow Pose, Peacock Pose (also called the Forearm or Elbow Balance), and Shoulder Stand.

Related Story: The Yoga Secrets Of The New York Giants

Fast Walking

In a study of 31,000 men over age 50, Harvard researchers found that aerobic exercise resulted in a 30-percent lower risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). More specifically, according to another study, aerobic activity that burns at least 200 calories per day (equal to fast walking for two miles) can significantly lower the risk of ED. Brisk walking is thought to help ED by improving circulation and blood flow. “Fast walking, running, and other aerobic activities help your sex life for the same reason that they prevent heart attacks,” says McCall. “They keep your blood vessels clear.” The result can be stronger and longer erections. Vigorous activities, such as running and brisk walking, also release endorphins and relax you, which can boost sexual performance.

Related Story: Secrets of the Female Orgasm

Swimming

In another Harvard study of 160 male and female swimmers, swimmers in their 60s reported sex lives comparable to those in their 40s. Since sexual activity can be an act of endurance, long-distance swimming can keep you going and going like the Energizer bunny. “Swimming for at least 30 minutes three times a week will increase sexual endurance,” says McCall. Swimming is also a great activity for weight loss, which can also lead to better sex. A randomized, single-blind study of 110 obese men with ED found that losing just 10 percent of their body weight improved sexual function in one third of the men. And it’s no secret that losing excess body fat will help attain those six-pack abs and make you more attractive to potential partners. The result: better sex!

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Try doing some (or all) of the above workouts to improve your sexual technique, endurance, and flexibility. Your mate will be impressed with your sexual powers and, as a side benefit, you’ll get healthier and fitter along the way.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Men's Health Center.

Jane Kassim overcame huge obstacles to become a mother, but now she is facing a new challenge. The teaching assistant from South Yorkshire, U.K. has been denied paid maternity leave because she used a surrogate.

Kassim learned at age 15 that she would never be able to become pregnant because she was born without a womb. Her cousin Amy Bellamy volunteered to help last year after finding out that Kassim, now 30, and her husband Adis wanted to become parents. Bellamy agreed to be their surrogate, The Telegraph reports.

Bellamy gave birth to twins Isla Jane and Ivy May last month. Now, their biological mother is embroiled in a fight to change surrogacy rights.

According to the Telegraph, Kassim has only been offered 13 weeks of unpaid leave -– most mothers in the U.K. are entitled to 52 weeks (one whole year). "Under current law people like me don't have the maternity rights that mothers who give birth themselves or women who adopt are entitled to," she told the paper.

John Healey, a member of Parliament, has taken on Kassim's case and is trying to find a "legal loophole" for all mothers who use surrogates. Healey introduced a new bill under the "Ten Minute Rule" (a process used that enables members to introduce legislation in Parliament), "which calls for appropriate leave, pay and allowance arrangements for those parents." And according to the Mirror, Kassim is pushing an e-petition for the law to be changed that has over 1,400 signatures.

A spokesman for Rotherham Council is actually on board with the campaign. "Clearly we would welcome any changes to legislation which would benefit families and children," he said. Earlier this year, the BBC reported that new paternity leave rules in the U.K. entitle parents to six months off work (each) with compensation and the government hopes the system will be in full effect by 2015.

And while British leave laws have yet to extend to moms who use surrogates, in general, the U.K. remains far more advanced than the U.S. when it comes to maternity leave policy -- currently, American moms are only eligible for six weeks of paid leave. But because of various nuances and rules about companies that are exempt from the law, only about half of women are guaranteed that time.

Recently, the National Center for Children in Poverty has recommended that policymakers allow U.S. mothers at least 14 weeks paid leave. According to Mommyish.com, "The NCCP maintains that at present, six weeks is simply not enough to maintain breastfeeding and develop a bond with baby."

Their reasoning is precisely why Kassim is fighting. "You need time to bond with your children," she said.

If you think allergies in general are worse this year, you're probably not imagining it.

A new Gallup-Healthways report shows that this year's allergy season is, indeed, stronger than the last, largely because the winter was so warm this year and because of the higher pollen counts throughout the U.S.

According to the report, 22.8 percent of Americans reported suffering from allergy symptoms so far this April, compared to 20.8 percent in April 2011 and 21.8 percent in April 2010.

In addition, the report suggests that allergy season may have actually come earlier this year, because this year's March allergy rate is more similar to past years' April or May allergy rates -- the months when allergy symptoms are usually in full swing.

The results of the report are based on the answers the 30,000 interviews conducted every month since Sept. 2008.

However, the researchers noted that the survey results may not be a completely accurate representation of how many people medically have allergies, since some people may be on allergy medications and may not reply that they are suffering from allergy symptoms.

Are you one of the many allergy sufferers around the country? Check out our slideshow of natural ways to relieve your allergies, from Dr. Gailen Marshall, chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) Integrative Medicine Committee.

Legendary Tennessee Volunteers coach Pat Summitt -- who coached the women's basketball team for nearly four decades and is considered the sport's "winningest coach" -- announced her decision to step aside as head coach today (April 18), according to news reports. Summitt, 59, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia-Alzheimer's type less than a year ago,.

"I've loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role," Summitt told the Associated Press.

The AP also reported that the dementia has been causing memory problems for Summitt. She has established the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund to raise money for Alzheimer's awareness, services and research.

Early-onset dementia is named such because it occurs in people younger than age 65. The Mayo Clinic reported that about 5 percent of people with Alzheimer's experience symptoms before they reach age 65 -- about 200,000 people -- meaning they likely had early-onset Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer's Foundation reported that people with early-onset Alzheimer's usually start experiencing symptoms in their 40s or 50s. While for some people the cause of this early-onset condition is unknown, researchers have identified three genes that do seem directly linked with Alzheimer's. People with these genes are more likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms at younger ages, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

For that reason, the Mayo Clinic pointed out that people with a family history of early-onset dementia might consider genetic counseling and/or testing for the disease -- though it's a personal decision.

For example, it may be helpful to consider how a positive test may affect your eligibility for long term care, disability and life insurance. On the other hand, if you know you carry a form of the early-onset genes, you may be able to take steps to make it easier for you and your loved ones to cope with the effects of the disease.

The Alzheimer's Association said that people with early-onset Alzheimer's may want to consider working as long as they are able to. However, they may want to talk to their employer about having accommodations made or taking a leave of absence if things become overwhelming.

Meanwhile, for overall health, the Alzheimer's Association recommends going to the doctor regularly, getting good rest, exercising regularly (as long as your doctor has given approval), eating healthily, not drinking too much, taking your medicines, maintaining social contact with others, and trying to cut stress out of your life.

For more information on how to cope with early-onset Alzheimer's, click over to the Alzheimer's Foundation website.

Summitt is not the only face of early-onset dementia. Actress Rita Hayworth also had early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which she developed at age 42, according to IMDB. And actor Seth Rogen has been outspoken about his support for Alzheimer's awareness, since his own mother-in-law has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, PsychCentral reported.