You Can't Send Letters To Injured American Soldiers

An e-mail encouraging readers to send letters to injured American soldiers has been gaining popularity, but there is one problem; your correspondents will never get to a soldier. The e-mail lists the address of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., but according to the United States Postal Service, they are legally unable to deliver your cards.

Msnbc.com reports, The U.S. Postal Service will not deliver any letter, post card, or package that is not addressed to a specific individual. Anything sent to “A Recovering Soldier,” “Any Wounded Soldier,” or “Any Service Member” is unacceptable. “We cannot accept any mail that is not specifically addressed to an individual or an organization at the medical center,” says Terry Goodman of Walter Reed. Sometimes one of these letters will make it through to the medical center. If that happens, it is returned to sender. Goodman says officials are just following Department of Defense policy designed to ensure the safety of patients and staff at all military hospitals. And don’t try to contact Walter Reed or any other military medical facility to get the name of a wounded service member to write. Because of medical privacy regulations, hospital officials can’t give out that information.
So what can you do?Walter Reed suggests visiting the “American Supports You” Web site where you can make a donation to one of the more than 300 non-profit organizations dedicated to helping U.S. troops and their families.
Other resources:
· The Postal Service Web site lists ways to support our troops.
· You can post greetings on the “To Our Soldiers” message board.
· You can donate a USO Care package via the USO site.
If you want to do something for the military men and women from your area, contact your local military base or the local National Guard or military reserve unit.

What Makes A Woman Sexy?

The sexiest thing a woman can do is in the eye of the beholder. InStyle magazine asked some celebrities what they think! Do you agree?

"Mc STEAMY" "Grey's Anatomy" actor Eric Dane, who is married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, says what is most sexy is the small of his wife's back. "It's soft, it's secret, and if there's a good curve, maybe a dimple or two, well, that's something that pulls my focus."

Rachel Bilson, of "O.C." fame, told InStyle, "Confidence. The most important thing a woman can be is confident in herself. And a cute pair of shoes doesn't hurt."

Fergie says it's mystery, while Terrence Howard says it's watching someone make music.

Meanwhile, singer Rihanna says good skin is sexy. "You want to have good skin and be blond and all that good stuff."

"Idol" winner Katharine McPhee told InStyle, "Men are sexy, but I always think of women being more sexy than men, in a different kind of way." Huh?

But rapper Pharrell Williams insists it is style that is sexy. He told the magazine, "Style, because it's everything that matters, believe it or not. Whether you have great style or bad style, it's the only thing that counts--your sense of individuality."

Beauty pageant titleholder and sometime "Entertainment Tonight" and "Access Hollywood" reporter Maria Menounos can sum up sexy in three words: "Victoria's Secret lingerie."

Model and actress Rebecca Romijn insists it's shoes. And not just any shoes. "High heels. I'm 5'11", and sometimes I get self-conscious about wearing 4-inch heels. But [my husband] loves me in them, so who am I to say no?"

Thanksgiving To-Do List

Thanksgiving To-Do List by Holly Clegg,
author of The Holly Clegg Trim & Terrific™ Cookbook
Courtesy of iVillage.com

"I come from a family of cooks. Every year, I look forward to the taste of my aunt's cornbread dressing and my mom's sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving dinner. I like to take on the desserts -- cakes, trifles and pies for about 50 people. On many occasions, I have hosted and organized the event, too.
When there's this much oven time, counter space and refrigerator room involved, I resort to list making. Below is a list of holiday tasks. Use it to develop your own timeline for this year's Thanksgiving feast. May it be one of your easiest and most delicious ones ever!"

EARLY NOVEMBER

• I always make my sweet potato and vegetable casseroles about this far in advance. They store well in the freezer. Just make sure to wrap them up well.

• Make a grocery list.

• Purchase all your nonperishable staples. Last-minute groceries should include only foods that spoil quickly.

• Decide on your guest list. Now's even a good time to make your seating arrangements.

• Sort through your serving dishes. Label the dishes, matching recipe to platter.

• Bar cookies freeze well. Make them in advance and store them in the freezer. Same for layer cakes. Don't assemble the cake until you are ready to defrost and serve it, though.

• This week at the grocery, pick up all those extra canned or bottled drinks for your company.

MID-NOVEMBER

• Buy holiday-themed paper plates and napkins. I like to use them for dessert. Not only are the paper plates festive, but no one has to wash those dainty, china, dessert dishes.

• Check the linen closet to make sure your tablecloth is clean and ready to use. Do you have enough napkins for all your guests?

• This is when we order the turkey in my family.

• If your local bakery or fancy food store makes a holiday specialty you like, order it this week. In some cases, they'll need even more notice.

• Buy fresh cranberries. In fact, buy extra now, while they are available. You can store them in your freezer for up to one year.

THANKSGIVING WEEK

• Pick up any pre-ordered items.

• Buy your perishables.

• Start cooking.

• Clean the house.

• Start setting the table.

• If you work during the day, remember to prep your ingredients ahead of time and store them in plastic sandwich bags or bowls. That way they'll be ready when you really start cooking.

• The day before Thanksgiving, I run to my local florist just before they close. That way, I am able to purchase flowers for the table at a discount.

Good luck and good eating!

Hottest 20 Holiday Toys!

Courtesy of www.TheToyInsider.com

Here’s an age-appropriate list of which toys experts predict will be the hottest for the holiday. Click on the icons and get shopping!

Weird Celebrity Beauty Secrets

Provided by StyleList.com

Teri Hatcher suggests hanging on to left-over wine and pouring it your bath to soften up your skin. Somerville says: "Wine contains a plant-chemical, resveratrol, that is known for its internal health benefits, especially for the heart. As far as in a bath, wine does contain polyphenols and antioxidants (more in red wine) which do fight free radicals.

When she's in a pinch, Catherine Zeta-Jones apparently uses strawberries to whiten her teeth. According to Somerville, "The juice or pulp of strawberries contains malic acid which serves as an astringent and can lighten surface stains.

Cindy Crawford keeps her skin super-moist by mixing some milk in with the water she spritzes on her face during the day. Somerville says: "Milk is rich in proteins, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. The special property of milk protein has unique characteristics to soothe, hydrate and calm.

Debra Messing uses a Kate Somerville eye cream that contains a certain kind of snake venom to keep her alabaster skin firm and glowing. Somerville says, "This ingredient sounds scary, but it does slow the muscle response in the areas around the eye.

Jennifer Love Hewitt allegedly uses this old wives' remedy: toothpaste to dry up a pimple. Somerville's verdict? "There isn?t any science to support this, but it does work -- to an extent.

Sandra Bullock claims she learned this secret on the set of 'Miss Congeniality 2': She uses hemorrhoid cream under her eyes to reduce puffiness and wrinkles.

Halle Berry allegedly mixes coffee grinds into her body wash to keep her rear looking smooth and firm. Somerville says, "Theoretically, this could work. Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic and when applied to skin it increases blood flow, thus detoxifying and breaking up cellulite-causing toxins and fatty deposits.

We hear Julia Roberts soaks her nails in olive oil to keep her cuticles and her hands soft. Somerville concurs: "Olive oil is rich in fatty acids, specifically, omega-9. It also contains vitamins E and K.

We hear Eva Langoria uses an expensive facial cream that contains placenta protein to keep her face radiant. However, Somerville says, "Placenta cream is fairly controversial. Placenta extracts contain highly active enzymes, proteins, vitamins, anti-oxidants and amino acids important to skin regeneration.

The Most Popular Toys This Holiday Season

Provided by MarketWatch.com

Each holiday season, Toy Wishes magazine tests thousands of toys and predicts which will be the most popular during the crucial holiday season.

American Idol Talent Challenge.

A DVD karaoke machine based on the popular television show.The unit connects to a television, comes with a working microphone and mixer and 12 songs to test your talent.

Compete with friends, who rate you using the DVD remote. You'll hear reactions to your performance from "American Idol" judges Randy, Paula and Simon.

Retail price: $49.99. By Tech2Go.


Aqua Dots Super Studio

Use the translucent, multicolored beads to create designs. Follow the included templates, or create your own. When you're finished, spray with water, and the dots adhere.

Can be used to make decorations, light catchers and other crafts.

Retail price $24.99. By Spin Master.


Barbie Girls

A Barbie toy that interacts with online worlds. The Barbie Girls unit is an MP3 player that connects to a computer and unlocks a virtual world where girls create an avatar -- or virtual character -- and design their own "room," shop at a mall, go to the salon, play games, hang out and chat live with other girls. Add-on packs unlock more content.

Retail price: Device: $59.99. Fashion Pack: $9.99. Deco Pack: $9.99. By Mattel Inc.


Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

The latest in the series of hard-rocking video games that were among the first to use established video-game platforms in a new way. It hooks up the guitar peripheral to a PlayStation, Xbox or Wii.

The new version includes tracks from Alice Cooper, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Heart, Kiss and many more.

Retail price: $99.99. By Red Octane.


Hannah Montana Singing Dolls and Pop Star Stage

The Hannah doll, based on the popular television series, sings songs from the teen sensation. The fold-out Pop Star Stage is the setting for a concert. Hooks up to any music player.

Retail price: Doll: $19.99. Pop Star Stage: $59.99. By Play Along, a unit of Jakks Pacific.


Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot

A target game that builds on the classic Nerf brand. Load the foam disks into the disc launcher, and load your blaster foam darts.

A wireless remote that attaches to your blaster lets you control when to send the disks sailing at different heights and angles to create all kinds of challenges.

Test your speed, distance and accuracy. Retail price: $49.99. By Hasbro Inc.


Rubik's Revolution

Six addictive electronic games. The games get tougher as each level completed unlocks a new one.

Retail price: $19.99. By Techno Source.


Smart Cycle

An exercise bicycle that powers games on your television. There are different levels of games, developed around preschool concepts like letters and numbers. It comes with one software package, and others are sold separately.

Retail price: Unit: $99.99. Additional Programs: $19.99. By Mattel unit Fisher-Price.


Spotz

An activity toy geared for "tween" girls using the Internet as a source of creativity. Pick a picture, put it in the Spotz Maker, and you'll get a cool collectible to show and share your style. Refills and accessory kits are also available.

Retail price: $29.99. By Zizzle.


Swypeout Online Battle Racing

Connect the USB scanner, go to the secure Web site and swipe your collectible trading cards to power up for all kinds of races. Play with friends around the corner or around the country.

Retail price: $19.99. By Spin Master.


Transformers Arm Blasters & Transformers Movie Ultimate Bumblebee

The Transformers Movie Ultimate Bumblebee is half-Camaro, half-robot. The Transformers Arm Blasters convert right on your arm from Autobot or Decepticon into full-force, soft-dart blaster.

Retail price: Bumblebee: $89.99. Blasters: $29.99. By Hasbro

The Cheapest Days to Buy Stuff

From SmartMoney.com

Airplane Tickets
When to Buy: Wednesday morning.
Why: "Most airfare sales are thrown out there on the weekend," says travel expert Peter Greenberg, a.k.a. The Travel Detective. Other airlines then jump into the game, discounting their own fares and prompting further changes by the first airline. The fares reach their lowest prices late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Cars
When to Buy: Monday.
Why: "Car dealers live for the weekend, which is when they make most of their sales," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "On Mondays, the low foot traffic makes it seem like the weekend will never come." That dealer desperation, paired with fewer consumers on the lot, give you more negotiating power.

Clothing
When to Buy: Thursday evening.
Why: That's the day when stores stock their shelves for the weekend, and when many retailers start their weekend promotions, says Kathryn Finney, author of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista."

Department-Store Wares
When to Buy: Saturday evening.
Why: Department stores have a lot to mark down for their Sunday circulars, so they frequently start the process on Saturday evenings before store closing.

Dinner Out
When to Buy: Tuesday.
Why: Most restaurants do not receive food deliveries over the weekend. "Sunday is the garbage-can day of the week," says Kate Krader, senior editor at Food & Wine magazine. "No doubt, they're cleaning out their fridges. Tuesdays, they're starting fresh."

Entertainment
When to Buy: Wednesday.
Why: Plenty of movie theaters, amusement parks and museums offer extra discounts to consumers who visit midweek.

Gas
When to Buy: Thursday, before 10 a.m.
Why: The price of oil isn't the only factor influencing costs at your local pump. Consumer usage plays a role, too — and weekend demand is high, says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, a price-monitoring site. Prices usually swing upward on Thursdays as travelers fuel up to head out the following day. By hitting the pump before 10 a.m. (when many station owners change their prices), you'll beat the rush and the price jump.

Groceries
When to Buy: Sunday — or Tuesday.
Why: Maximize savings by combining store sales, which run from Wednesday to Tuesday, with the latest round of coupons from your Sunday paper, says Mary Hunt, publisher of Debt-Proof Living, a money-saving newsletter. "It's a smart idea to wait until you have those in hand to match up with the week's sale items," she says.

Hotel Rooms
When to Buy: Sunday.
Why: There are two kinds of hotel managers, and the kind that won't give you a discount on your room rate has Sundays off, says Greenberg. Call the hotel directly, and ask to speak with the manager on duty or the director of sales. These employees are open to negotiation, he says. They'd rather have a booked room at a discounted rate than an empty room.

Football Party Recipes from iVillage.com

Dips
• California Mexican Hot Dip
• Easy Herb Cheese Dip
• Quick Taco Dip
• Savory Vegetarian Spread
• Sun-Dried Tomato Dip

Chili Recipes
• Black Bean Chili with Spicy Tomato Salsa
• Quick Cincinnati Chili
• Spicy Turkey Chili
• Texas-Style Chili
• Vegetarian Chili

Chicken Wing Recipes
• Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Honey-Glazed Chicken Wings
• Uncle Louie's Chicken Wings Marinara
• Savory Chicken Wings
• Spicy Citrus Chicken Wings

Delicious Main Dishes
• Classic Margherita Pizza
• King-Size Beef Kabobs with Salsa Verde
• Spiced Mediterranean Burgers
• Top Secret Recipes version of Chi-Chi's Beef Nachos Grande
•Shredded Pork Burritos
•The One and Only Beer-Can Chicken
•Mixed Grill
•Top Secret Recipes version of T.G.I. Friday's Potato Skins