One plan advises you to follow it three times a week. Another allows no snacks — except on certain days. And a third advocates for eating up to 20 percent less.

Kevin Kopjak doesn't care much about carbs, fat, sodium or high fructose corn syrup. He generally reads only two things on a nutrition label: the portion size and the calories. He says the strategy has helped him lose and keep off 100 pounds.

This Mother's Day, consider skipping the flowers and the cards. Instead, go with your mother to get a mammogram, and get one yourself if you're a woman who is old enough to need one, says "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon.

Throwing a barbecue is one of the joys of summer, but it can get pricey. The secret to backyard entertaining without breaking the bank is to build the meal around foods that are good values or sale items. Pantry items and ingredients that add multiple flavors with one stroke complete the package.

For every woman who has her heart set on a pouffy princess wedding gown, you'll find another who wants a sleek sheath. The good news for next year's brides is that there is a gown out there to suit any taste.

In a pickle? Colonel Brandon is ready to lend an ear and share his wisdom. Write to him at o8sis@wfaa.com.

Lisa Holewa was amazed by how easily her daughter's kindergarten class moved from one project to another. There was no whining, no tantrums.

People who sleep fewer than six hours a night — or more than nine — are more likely to be obese, according to a new government study that is one of the largest to show a link between irregular sleep and big bellies. The study also linked light sleepers to higher smoking rates, less physical activity and more alcohol use.

The founder of an organization that honored Dina Lohan as a "Top Mom" says things "spun out of control" when the media focused all its attention on the tabloid magnet.

Consumers may soon get a break from high penalty fees and retroactive rate increases on their credit cards. The Federal Reserve and other banking regulators last week proposed new regulations designed to end unfair and deceptive credit card practices that have cost consumers billions of dollars. As Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke put it, the rules "are intended to establish a new baseline for fairness in how credit card plans operate."

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Linda Wobinson is greeted by welcomers after she returns from a year in Iraq.

Returning soldiers always receive welcome home greetings as they exit their planes at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Linda Robinson was always among them. But on Wednesday, she was on the receiving end.

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The garden, north of McKinney, is displaying heirloom roses, which get special gardening care from North Texas rose societies.

Chambersville Heritage Rose Garden provides a spot for visitors to see collections of heritage roses in a pastoral setting. The garden, on a historic Collin County Farm, is open on spring and fall weekends to the public.

You can leave those blinding white sneakers out of your summer vacation suitcase: Comfortable walking shoes are a fashion dilemma no more. Not only is it possible to find shoes that are both stylish and wearable, it's probable. Shoe designers, manufacturers and retailers are paying a lot of attention to the burgeoning category of "ath-leisure" — the industry code word for what most people would call weekend shoes.

Faux bois is something of a lost art. It's also everywhere. French for "false wood," faux bois encompasses anything that reproduces the appearance or texture of wood. Though only a handful of artists still produce the intricate, cement-covered steel pieces prized by serious collectors, the technique also is being applied to every home decor product imaginable: Pillows. Plates. Candles. Coasters. Scones. Sheets. You name it, someone has slapped a woodgrain pattern on it.

American adults said they planned to spend more this year than last year for Mother's Day — although their moms wish they wouldn't.

Nineteen women have signed up for Lyn St. James' Project Podium, a new grant program that provides matching funds to women drivers who have generated sponsorships.

Struggling with soaring food costs and cash-strapped customers, restaurants across the country are swapping expensive ingredients for cheaper fare and adding new dishes that won't break their bottom line.

Relationship journalist and radio host Amy Spencer is the girl to go to when people want to know how the whole love thing works.

If you want to tap into the maximum creativity of everyone you hire, Google figures it might just take a whimsical mishmash of colors, shapes, textures, nooks and crannies to do so.

You don't have to pay through the nose to keep cool this summer. Here are some steps you can take to lower your bill, improve comfort and help save the planet.

If your morning java just isn't giving you enough jolt, now you can get a boost while channeling your inner child.

Ten years after graduating from Taylor High School in Katy, Texas, Tina Lee Naro learned some surprising things about her former classmates. One committed atheist became a Mormon. A tightly wound "business school" type became a laid-back bartender at a Montana ski resort. And a formerly hirsute friend is now completely bald. Naro, now a consultant in New York City, learned all these things not in person, but on the social networking site Facebook — enough that she now plans to skip her 10-year reunion this September.

You won't find For Keeps (Seal Press, $15.95), edited by Victoria Zackheim, on the same bookstore shelf as most books aimed at middle-age and older women – you know, the books about anti-aging techniques, the latest in tummy tucks and collagen creams, or how to dress "appropriately for one's age."

Everyone's genes spell out a risk for some disease, and a coming anti-discrimination law is about to give genetic testing a boost. But discrimination is just one hurdle. The bigger quandary: Doctors don't yet know how many of the genetic tests being pushed for dozens of conditions are truly useful — and how many are misleading at best.

Dear Natural Light Beer, By the time you read this letter, your cardboard box will be rotting in a landfill. I've cleared you out of my refrigerator – and my life – because our relationship is over.

Most bottled vinaigrette salad dressings are good for one thing — marinating meat. Which is why when it comes to dressing summer-fresh produce, you are much better off making your own. The flavors are bold and crisp, the sodium and fat usually are lower, and the process is cheap and easy.

It's all the fun of ice cream without the drips.

I can grill up a burger, hot dog or even a swordfish steak with the best. But truth be told, perfecting the chicken breast — juicy in the middle, caramelized exterior — is a nerve-racking experience. But it can be done with a little grill sense.

Jim Schwartz remembers feeling a little bewildered when he started his job developing beauty care products at Procter & Gamble Co.

Africa has long been considered an adventure-seeker's paradise. And for the wildlife enthusiast, the chance to see migratory herds on the open savanna or an abundance of colorful birds is nothing short of thrilling.

So you want to live to be 100? Join the party. And quite a party it's getting to be. An estimated 73,674 Americans were 100 or older in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mompreneur movement continues to grow.  More moms are taking the plunge and developing their own businesses or creating their own products.  Many moms are able to work from home and strike a balance between bringing home the bacon and bringing up the kids.  The internet has also opened a world of possibilities making this an ideal time for Moms to launch their own enterprises.  Still, the notion of launching an enterprise (regardless of size) can be overwhelming, intimidating, and downright terrifying.  So before you empty your savings account or refinance your home, consider these tips to ensure a successful transition to the world of Mompreneurs!

The last-minute doubt before a wedding is one of the most enduring themes in movies and literature, and here it is again in "Made of Honor," a tale of a man's 11th-hour profession of love for his best friend. But such real life situations are hardly the stuff of the funny movies, those close to them say. When pre-wedding drama happens, lots of people stand to get hurt, even if things work out in the end.

Soup can be a great healthy and filling lunch or supper. But only if you choose the right one.

The shimmer of hope that carried Cindy Mesaros through her medical ordeal came in whimsical pastels. When the San Francisco woman underwent an emergency cesarean section, narrowly saving her daughter after an umbilical cord rupture, she was wearing a patterned hospital gown she had purchased with giving birth in mind. And when things got dicey, the gown helped her get through, she said.

Google Inc.'s once-austere Web site is turning into an eclectic art gallery.

On October 2, 2006, the unimaginable happened.  A lone gunman entered the quiet schoolhouse of an Amish community in Pennsylvania and opened fire, killing 4 girls ranging in ages from 6 – 14 before killing himself.  What is almost as unimaginable is the extraordinary forgiveness that was extended by members of the Amish community to the family of the shooter.

It's no secret that spas are on the upswing, here and abroad. Less known is that men are a growing segment of spagoers. The International Spa Association reports that men comprised 31 percent of spa patrons in 2006, the latest year for which data are available, up from 29 percent in 2003.

Author Jen Lancaster has the ability to make you belly laugh. Snort. And belly laugh some more. She has a new book hitting store shelves this month: SUCH A PRETTY FAT: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or, Why Pie is Not The Answer. Here's a little more about the woman who keeps us in stitches.

Gardenias and woody florals are among the favorite notes of perfumers these days, as are scents that add a bit of masculinity to an otherwise classic female fragrance.

WASHINGTON — Frightened by headlines about Lasik side effects? Lasik gets all the advertising, but there are half a dozen alternate eye surgeries — from a simpler laser approach to implantable lenses — that might solve your squint. They all have their own risks. A key is finding a surgeon who doesn't have a favorite but is qualified to evaluate patients for all of the options, to find the best fit.

The challenge was to come up with an idea that can transform public education, particularly in poor communities. The winner: an educator with a passion for making school fun. Michael Bitz won a national competition with his idea for helping students learn academic subjects while creating their own record labels.

Undeterred by a growing list of grocery competitors in the Dallas area, Sunflower Farmers Market, a Colorado-based organic and natural supermarket chain, said it's opening a Plano store later this year.

As headlines about a struggling economy pour in, parents worried about their wallets are waiting longer to register their children for summer camp and more are asking for financial aid.

The U.S. Olympic Team's new uniforms will be designed to mark them not only as American athletes in Beijing this summer, but also as diplomats of sorts.

Miley Cyrus' struggle with her controversial photo in "Vanity Fair" presents a great opportunity for parents to discuss how seemingly innocous photos posted to a blog or social networking site can be misinterpreted, experts say.

I got home the other morning and realized I did preschool drop-off and pick-up with my pants unzipped. I don't think anyone noticed. Or maybe they were just being polite.

The U.S. breast-feeding rate has hit it's highest mark in at least 20 years with more than three-quarters of new moms nursing their infants, according to a government report released Wednesday.

Author Barbara Bérot knows how dramatic love can be. Her debut novel, When Europa Rode the Bull, is an erotic tale of betrayal and loss.

While Cinco de Mayo is celebrated mainly in the state of Puebla, Mexico, it also is a major event in many Texas cities. It commemorates Mexico's victory over France in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Bad news for salmon lovers: The price of this popular, healthful fish is up for the foreseeable future. "The bottom line is there's definitely a shortage of fish all the way around," says Ricardo Martinez, salmon buyer and general manager for Ocean Beauty Seafood's Dallas operation. That drives prices higher, although he won't predict by how much.

If you're hoping to make a splash poolside this season, try a one-piece bathing suit. It's a dose of retro style that falls in line with the overall fashion of more modest looks. More is more, with an emphasis on chic cover-ups, flattering Lycra-enhanced fabrics and goddess-like silhouettes.

New research challenges the notion that you can be fat and fit, finding that being active can lower but not eliminate heart risks faced by heavy women.

Don Katz has a vision for the kids of America: He wants to take the technology that brings the Jonas Brothers to their ears and use it to deliver the Brothers Grimm.

The number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes has more than doubled in seven years, a California study found, a troubling trend that means health risks for both mothers and newborns.

Suzanne Kreuziger is a registered nurse who uses e-mail almost exclusively to communicate with friends. But when it comes to reaching her doctor, there's a frustrating firewall.

For her supply of fresh vegetables, Arlene Stagg goes to a plot where she can tend the land with like-minded residents of Le Sueur, Minn. The city, population 4,276, has an attractive yet utilitarian community garden sponsored by the local Presbyterian Church.

Here are some tips that I am taking to get my kids off of the couch and into the kitchen.

Ready to hit the road for a culinary adventure? There's a stack of new summer road trip-ready books to help.

Despite its adults-only rating, many adolescents have thoroughly explored the criminal underworld of "Grand Theft Auto" and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the fourth installment in the series, which will be in stores Tuesday.

The reader recipe-driven Taste of Home franchise is getting bigger — and healthier.

Magnificent scenery, fresh mountain air and a range of ways to explore make Colorado a great family destination.

Southwest Airlines is issuing an apology to the San Diego woman who was told she wasn't dressed appropriately on a San Diego to Tucson flight on July 3.

LONDON (AP) -- A report by the British Fashion Council, organizers of London Fashion Week, has stopped short of recommending a ban on ultra-thin models.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Kathryn Robinson had The Talk with her boyfriend this week.

Imagine a video game shop that reinforces good grades instead of undermining them?

Millions of Americans participate in the same ritual week after week: going through the newspaper (or those endless ads stuffed in your mailbox) in quest of valuable coupons.

Hi-I have a huge problem! I am 22 (almost 23) and got married a year and a half ago. The thing is, I felt like I was forced into getting married because it was what everyone in his family thought was the right things to do.

Now that college freshmen have spent a few weeks on campus, they're probably getting the hang of things. They might, however, have some questions about higher education.

MIAMI (AP) - Burger King pledged Wednesday to offer healthier fast-food items for American children under 12, with plans to sell and market flame-broiled Chicken Tenders and apples cut to resemble thick-cut french fries.

Mark it down in the annals of corporate American history. On July 3, 2007, Southwest Airlines Co. officially turned middle-aged.

Dillard's Inc.'s 15th Dallas-Fort Worth store, at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, is trying to appeal to that area's younger-shopper demographic.

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A mother of a child in the Frisco Independent School District is speaking out against the bus service she has called dangerous. Those who live within two miles of a Frisco school don't get bus service unless they pay for it, which many families do.

When you go on vacation, you leave behind work, mail, plants that need watering and pets that need feeding. You swap tight shoulders for loose schedules, watched clocks for timelessness, must-dos for who-cares.In the mountains, where I was for 10 days, you also change – and not just into shorter shorts or odder-looking shoes than you'd wear at home. After all, you could have been wearing those when you arrived. Yet to yourself and those around you, you may as well be sporting a "this is my first day here" sweatshirt.

I am not immune to the nostalgia of a simpler time, when tellers weren't automated, scooters were powered by feet and the neighbor's pet was a bulldog, not a pomapoo.

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Carolyn Thomas.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly one third of all women murdered in the U.S. were killed by a current or former intimate partner and another 2 million are injured. A woman in Waco is an unforgettable face of domestic violence.

Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori reads like a 45-page story of animated sock and glove friends with an additional 17 pages of instructions in the back. We tried some of the adorable crafts, and had a hard time choosing what to make first.

Design with deliberation is the key to a memorable garden, according to Paul Fields of Dallas' Lambert Landscape Co. Mr. Fields considers gardens to be an art form, and it's one he has mastered. Take a look at some of his designs, and get his landscape design wisdom.

Wish your wife liked the outdoors? Cough up $49,066 and she'll be a happy camper.

For those of you who still have vacation days to use up this year, some good deals and beautiful weather await.

DayNa Decker, an ex-Kim Dawson and Ford model, has traded the runway for her namesake luxury fragrance line. Check out her new collection of candles, oil lamps and scent diffusers.

Check out Brut, a new jewel-box sip stop for champagne lovers near Hotel Palomar.

A collection filled with designers, haute couture and classic style. Here's a reading list for fashion junkies.

My husband and I have been married for four years. In these four years, we have had two children. We have had our share of squabbles, but I never thought it was anything serious. This past year I decided to return to school. Since my husband works odd hours it was increasingly difficult for us to spend any time together. We would get maybe one night a week alone. The more the school year wore on, the less and less he helped around the house. I also noticed he became more withdrawn. I would beg him to help me, but he never would! I was completely overwhelmed. Then one night, during finals, he got drunk and told me he wanted a divorce. I totally panicked and left the house (the kids were overnight at their grandma’s). Two days later, he had changed his mind and said he wanted to work things out. We went to counseling, but he just sat there and said very little.

Question: I am madly in love with a man I met three months ago. The problem is he has a daughter from a previous relationship. Thankfully, the mom has full custody. We're already talking marriage, and we've discussed having children. This may sound bad, but I don't really want to have to be a mother to his child. I want us to have our own family and I don't want his previous relationship and child to have just as much importance in his life as my kids.

Our style correspondents started pounding the pavement in the Big Apple on Wednesday to preview the spring 2008 designer collections. From the Bryant Park tents to grungy warehouses in off-the-beaten-track locations, F!D's style squad is navigating those choppy fashion waters (through next Wednesday) to bring you all the gossip, celeb spotting, backstage access and runway-show photos of what you should be wearing next season.

If it were up to my eight-year-old, he would happily spend an entire day rotating between video games and TV watching. He would choose screen time over family time, baseball time, meal time and practically any other time including bathroom time. Once, he was hopping around so much, I insisted he take a break on behalf of mother nature. “But Mom, I can hold it just until I get the new high score!”

Swordfish and tuna are good choices for indoor or outdoor grilling. Their firm flesh also makes them ideal for skewers and Asian-style sauces or marinades. This not only gives a change in presentation, but also allows guests to taste both fish.

The emperor of Italian fashion arrives in Dallas this month to celebrate three decades with Neiman Marcus. Find out how he feels about Texas shoppers, his business, and the latest in style.

Tired of living off chips and energy drinks? Then get in the kitchen and cook. Really, it's not hard. Here are basics to get you started.

The process of dating someone is packed with joys and plentiful "love-drug" moments. But in between the hand-holding and dreamy bouts of staring at each other, there are some not-as-easy experiences.

You've probably been through high school science, so we'll assume you know who Pavlov was. He was the guy with the dogs and the bells who trained dogs to want food when he rang a bell, bringing to light the notion that animals can be trained to react a certain way when placed in certain situations.

Forget hemlines. Forget necklines. The shift in silhouette this fashion season is the sleeve. It's true, those things that cover your arms that you probably give very little thought can freshen your look for fall.

Gwen Stefani had a handful of days free between the Asian and European legs of her concert tour – and they just happened to be during New York Fashion Week. The window allowed her to schedule what surely will be a standing-room-only runway show of her L.A.M.B. collection on Wednesday, the first of eight days of spring style previews. Coincidence?

It may be something of a teenage nightmare: limits on when a wireless phone can make and receive calls and to whom, restrictions on text messages and talk time, and set allowances for ring tones and other downloads – all at a parent's fingertips.

Pssst. I'm going to share my secret with you. A secret of dark shame.

Bringing your lunch to work has never looked so good. And it's never felt so good, either. Lean Cuisine is selling insulated lunch bags to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure effort.

When the mayor of the Italian town of Varallo announced that he was going to pay his residents to lose weight, I said, "Brilliant." This seemingly small incentive is a huge breakthrough in helping normal, middle-class people become rich and skinny.

THE WORKOUT: Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer, 21 Day Total Body Circuit ($14.99). This workout DVD takes minimal coordination, looks easy, but feels hard. When it's over, you'll feel well worked-out.

They say “a picture says a thousand words.” In a child’s world, a picture may be the only way he can express the words that are hidden within. Pictures can bridge a divide that exists when words fail, offering important insights and an effective method of communication.

A busy New York sidewalk.

DMN

Is complaining now part of our culture – and is that a good or bad thing?

Reviews of Beyond the Windowsill, The Garden Designer, and Over the Fence with Joe Gardener.

My husband and I would like to thank you for your kind thoughts, well wishes and prayers regarding the arrival of our son, Luka.