Did you know that the single most important thing you can do to improve your health is to quit smoking? No wonder it’s always top of the New Year resolutions list!

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and mortality in the world. Every year, over 400,000 American lives are lost to smoking-related diseases, both directly and indirectly. Quitting smoking significantly decreases your risk of suffering a heart attack, lung cancer, heart disease…the list goes on. It’s never too late to stop – even those that quit during middle-age halve their chances of dying from a smoke-related disease.

The health impacts of smoking are well-known – but if that’s not enough to discourage you, think of the other advantages to quitting:

Quitting smoking could save you thousands of dollars per year! Put that money towards something fabulous – a holiday, weekly massages, a whole new wardrobe or even a car?

You will smell nicer! Stinking of stale smoke is not attractive. The smell lingers in your hair, clothes and fingernails for hours afterwards – not to mention your house, if you smoke indoors. Even though you probably won’t notice it, others will.

Food will taste better! Tobacco dulls your sense of taste, but most people find this improves after just a few days of quitting smoking.

Smoking causes premature aging as the skin is starved of oxygen and vital nutrients. The skin becomes wrinkled and takes on a haggard appearance. Just one month after quitting, you will see a visible improvement in the condition of your skin. Give it a boost with a good moisturizer, such as Olay Total Effects, to fight the signs of premature aging.

Replace lost vitality with Hair, Skin & Nails supplements to provide essential nutrients that will improve your appearance. Smoking causes yellowing of the teeth – so use Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste to restore a healthy white sheen and improve your dental health.

Some people find that they snack more when they quit smoking – if you’re worried about gaining weight, chewing sugar-free gum can provide a useful distraction without piling on the calories. If you find yourself drinking more coffee to fill the void that smoking left, try switching to Splenda sweeteners to keep the calories down.

Spring clean your house to remove old smells – it’s surprising how they linger in curtains and soft furnishings. Use Lysol Summer Breeze disinfectant spray to freshen up and destroy stale odors. Throw away old ashtrays, lighters and anything that reminds you of your previous smoking habit. Make a fresh start!

Quitting is not easy and requires plenty of willpower. Set yourself small goals to keep you going – treat yourself to a new lipstick or perfume every time you reach a milestone. As each month passes, you will feel happier and healthier – not to mention richer! Counseling and nicotine replacement products can increase your chances of quitting for good. It may take several attempts but it is worth persevering – so don’t give up on giving up!

How to… Stay Fit and Healthy

It is estimated that around two-thirds of American people are overweight or obese, so it’s no wonder that many people want to get fit and lose the extra pounds. Staying fit and healthy isn’t always easy in a world where it’s quicker to grab fast food and drive to work, rather than find the time to exercise and cook healthy meals from scratch. But don’t worry – you CAN stay fit and healthy by making small changes to your daily lifestyle.

Get active

Maybe you don’t have time for the gym, but you can introduce exercise into your life in other ways. Remember, anything that gets your heart rate up can count towards exercise, even if it’s three 10-minute bursts each day.

• Vacuuming, carrying heavy shopping bags or scrubbing the kitchen floor will all help to boost your circulation and burn calories!
• Getting off the bus a few stops early provides a chance to incorporate a brisk walk into your daily commute.
• Take the kids out on their bikes to let off some steam and enjoy the fresh air.

If you’re new to the idea of exercise, ease yourself in gently and remember to warm up before each session, to prevent muscular strains. Keep a Thera-Med Hot Pack handy to soothe aches and pains.

Eat right

We all know what we should be eating, but let’s be honest – at the end of a long day we don’t always feel like preparing a salad. A life without treats is not worth living, so you can still have the occasional cake or ice-cream if you try to eat healthily the rest of the time.

If you feel like you’ve over-indulged recently, try cutting back on those salty and fatty snacks that are full of calories with little nutritional benefit. If you suffer from digestive problems, try using Pepto-Bismol and limit your intake of rich foods. Make a snack-box of ready-chopped carrot and celery sticks and store in the refrigerator for when you need a crunchy snack. Curb your sugar intake by using Splenda sweeteners wherever possible.

Stay healthy

Stave off those winter bugs with Afrin Nasal spray or Vicks Vapo-Inhaler to reduce congestion and fight off the symptoms of a cold. Make sure you get plenty of rest to give your body chance to fight off the infection – you might be too busy to stay in bed, but try to have a few early nights and take it easy if you’re feeling under the weather.

Give your internal system a boost with omega 3 fish oils, which are essential for a healthy heart, joints and immune system. Try to include a range of fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet to prevent nutritional deficiencies, which can affect your health and appearance.

Hand-washing is essential to combat the spread of germs, so get the kids into good habits by practicing what you preach. Choose a gentle, moisturizing soap that is suitable for all the family.

Did you make a New Years Resolution this year to spend less money or save more??

According to StatisticBrain.com approximately 34% of Americans made that same resolution.  Spending less money is a great goal to strive for but many people don’t know where to begin.  So we came up with a few tips to start you on your way…

Do-it-Yourself

• Brewing your own coffee or tea at and taking it to go can save you over $500 per year
• Blow, style, color and curl your hair at home.  Over $100 at the salon or less than $10 per box at home
• Treat yourself to an at-home manicure and pedicure and save over $60 each time
• Pack a lunch, save over $10 per meal, and avoid the greasy fat filled foods that restaurants serve
• Invite friends over instead of going out for dinner/drinks
• Drink more water, not only is it good for you its FREE!

Make a Plan

• Plan meals and shopping outings around sales and discounts available
• Pre-cook meat and vegetables with little seasoning for easy on the go meals that can be customized with flavors as you go.
• Sign up for mint.com and start tracking your spending, plan a budget and save for retirement
• Plan activities for your children that don’t cost a lot of money, you might be surprised at how easily they can be entertained
• Get rid of unused or infrequently used memberships and subscriptions
• Buy used clothes, cars and other items whenever you can

Where else can you save money on all of your favorite products? At Stockn’Go of course.  Check out our Fragrance Sale and other great discounts going on now…

What does it mean to be disorganized? Well according to Thesaurus.com the synonyms of disorganized are  to be “all over the place, not properly planned, chaotic, cluttered, dislocated, disordered, messed up, messy, scattered, scrambled, sloppy, unarranged, unkempt, unsystematic, untidy” and the list goes on.

Hectic, cluttered, confused, not properly planned.  Is that what you want to be? Most likely not.  ”Getting Organized” is the #3 New Years Resolution for a reason.  It can decrease stress levels, make you more efficient in personal and work life, and offer a happy and healthy environment overall.  So where do you start? In the words of Jenny Craig “It’s not what you do once in a while; it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.”

Everything should have its place – Bins, Bags and Boxes will become your best friend! As well as LABELS.

1. Keys, purse, coat, gloves, mail should all have a place (not thrown on the counter) as soon as you walk in the door.

2. Organize your cabinets and create labeled bins or designated drawers for things such as:

• medications, vitamins and supplements
• to go cups, coffee mugs and water bottles
• makeup, hair and nail products
• kids crayons, markers, crafts
• batteries, tape, tools, etc.
• spices

3.  Make your bed as soon as you crawl out of it and pick up your room on your way out.

4.  Wipe down the counters and do this dishes as soon as you are done cooking.

5.  Stop hoarding – get rid of the stuff you don’t use its only causing clutter! At the beginning of every season your should go through your clothes and get rid of the ones you haven’t worn for years.  You should go through your pantry and cabinets and get rid of the food that is collecting dust on your shelves or the junk food that isn’t doing you any favors by being in your house.  Clean out the garage, if its junk then get rid of it.

6.  Do you work from home? Check out these great ideas to organize your at home office space from Destination Design.

7. Lastly – store things where you need them.

• Bedding and sheets in a bin: under the bed
• Keys, coat hangers and kids bins: by the door
• Dust pan and broom: in bathroom, kitchen and anywhere there is a hard wood floor
• Cleaning supplies: under the kitchen and bathroom sinks
• Remote controls in a basket: by the TV
• Extra Blankets: under the beds or in a storage ottoman by the couch

Shop Stockn’Go.com today to get 20% off your first order of $25 or more!