· Monitor Your Level of Exertion.
Use the perceived exertion scale, the talk test, or the heart rate range to help you determine an appropriate intensity level. Stay at the lower end of the scale (11-13) and build up over several weeks.

· Increase Your Training Slowly.
Increasing training (mileage, time or amount of weight lifted) more than 10 percent per week increases your risk of injury. To avoid this, increase your training gradually over the weeks.

· Avoid All-Out Efforts Until You Build a Solid Base of Fitness.
Depending upon how much inactivity you had over the winter, it could take as long as 6 weeks to re-establish a solid fitness base. Start your exercise program with slow, steady aerobic sessions. When you add intervals or all-out efforts, make sure you allow enough rest and recovery (at least 48 hours) between those hard effort training days.

· Follow a Training Program and Keep Records.
If you really want to build back up to optimal fitness, it helps to establish a training plan and stick with it. There are many training programs for all types of sports and having one is not only good motivation, but it helps keep you from doing too much too soon.

· Cut Yourself Some Slack.
If you took the winter off, don't expect to be back to peak fitness in a week or two. It's ok to go slow and just enjoy being outside again. There's plenty of summer left, so don't worry about going a bit slower in the beginning.

· Train With Others at Your Fitness Level.
If you can find a few people with the same fitness level and goals as you it can help kept you progressing at a good pace. Training with those who are farther along will only encourage you to overdo it, get injured or feel ‘behind’ in your training. Workouts with more fit people can be motivating and help you improve, but only after you have a good solid base to work with. Otherwise they can be harmful.

· Remember to Have Fun.
Keep in mind that this is Spring Training which is a time for fun, light-hearted exercise. You aren't competing and you aren't burnt out yet. So just relax and enjoy your activity.

#1: The Sexy Sundress
A comfortable, light-colored, and beautiful sundress will bring you back to your childhood and will help you exude a carefree yet sophisticated style. Flower prints, simple solid colors, and white colors are some ideas for your dress of choice. Try a dress with a simple yet attractive cut. Springtime isn't the time for over-complicated fashion. Go to e-Bay or Overstock.com to find a cheap, beautiful dress.

#2: Forget Dark and Dreary Colors
Nobody wants to see you in dark and dreary clothing at the start of Spring! Put away your blacks and dark blues, and take out your whites, reds, pinks, and yellows. Don't look good in light colors? Then simply accessorize with them.

#3: Don't Go Too Serious on the Makeup
Light, Natural Looking makeup is a must for Spring as well as Summer. Remember that the light is brighter, the sun hotter in Spring than in Winter, so too much makeup will be extremely obvious. Excess foundation and eye makeup will quickly melt in the spring sun, not to mention that it will look cheap and silly. For makeup advice, go to Sephora, The Body Shop, or your favorite department store makeup booth and get a professional makeup consultation for free.

#4: Embrace Your Wonderful Femininity
Wear your hair down, take out your girly clothes, and celebrate your womanhood. Spring is the time of rebirth, so re-introduce yourself to your feminine side.

#5: Ditch the Pants and Go For Skirts and Dresses
You don't have to wear boring jeans every day. Instead, buy some colorful skirts and dresses to brighten your Spring Wardrobe. If you hate wearing anything you can't run around in, find some colorful slacks that look nice.

#6: Get some sexy heels and flats
Spring is the time to show your toes. Get yourself a pedicure and then go somewhere affordable like Target or Nordstrom's Rack to look for great shoe deals. Buy a nice array of heels and flats in a variety of colors and styles. Remember, don't buy a pair of shoes just because they are pretty, buy a pair of shoes because they fit nicely and are comfortable enough to walk in. To check out online deals, check out shoes.com.

#7 Relax!
Okay, so this isn't exactly a fashion tip, but a relaxed and carefree attitude is essential for pulling off Spring Fashion- nobody likes a high-strung person, especially during springtime. So go outside, read a book, go shopping, and RELAX.

Follow these tips and I guarantee you will have a brighter, cooler, and more fashionable Spring. Happy Spring Everyone!

· Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, $3 for a canister of 35 wipes, available at grocery stores. Use on hard, nonwood surfaces — your sink, counters, refrigerator door, stove tops, tubs, and toilet exterior.

· Windex Outdoor, $12 for 32 ounces, available at grocery and hardware stores. It attaches to your hose to clean windows; works even through screens and dries without streaking.

· Windex Glass and Surface Wipes, $3.30 for 25 wipes, www.drugstore.com. Use on windows and chrome for quick clean-ups.

Tools
· Unger Mini Duster, $3, 800-833-6100 for store locations. Perfect for cleaning keyboards, or any hard-to-clean crevices.

· Unger Total Reach Duster, $8 — for tackling cobwebs and for behind the bed, the tops of furniture, and other out-of-reach places.

· Clorox ReadyMop, $20, available at grocery stores, drugstores. Use on tile and wood floors.

· OXO Good Grips Household Squeegee (above, $8, ww.oxo.com — for the shower door and mirrors.

· OXO Good Grips Scrub Brush, $6, www.oxo.com. Works effectively on tub and tile.

More Nontoxic Products
· Enviro-Magic Mildew Stain Away Spray, $11 for 16 ounces, www.amazonpp.com. Use in the bathroom; it leaves no stains or rings.

· Simple Clean Dirt-collecting microfiber cloth, $5 for one, www.safehomeproducts.com — the no-chemical alternative to dusting.

· Earth Friendly Products’ Orange Plus Concentrate cleaner, $7 for 16 ounces, www.ecos.com. It can be used on kitchen surfaces, floors, furniture, wood work, and it can even clean your oven.

· Caldrea’s Stainless Steel Spray, $10 for 11.8 ounces, www.caldrea.com. Works on stainless steel appliances, counter-tops and sinks.

· Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner, $8 for 32 ounces, www.drugstore.com — an all-purpose cleaner that works on all nonporous surfaces.

A Quick Way to Pick Up Cat Hair
To pick up cat hair, put on a wet rubber dishwashing glove and wipe your hand over surfaces. The hair will stick right to it.

Set a Timer While Cleaning
I get very distracted while I'm cleaning, so I set a timer for 30 minutes. It helps me to stay focused, and I get more done in a short amount of time

Store Cleaning Products in a Shoe Holder
I keep cleaning products in a shoe holder over the back of my laundry-room door. They're easy to see and access, and it saves space.

Use Shaving Cream on Red-Wine Stains
A dab of foaming shaving cream can help remove many red-wine spills from carpets.

Cleaning the Bathroom for Guests
If you can clean only one room before company arrives, tackle the bathroom. This is the only room where people spend time solo and may have the time and tendency to notice a mess.

Baking Soda Removes Odors from Plastic Container
When my plastic storage containers start to smell like the food that was in them, I wash them with hot water and two tablespoons of baking soda

Use Lint Roller on Lamp Shades
My vacuum attachment doesn't work on cloth lamp shades, so I dust the shades with a lint roller.

Use an Old Sock to Dust
I wear an old, unmatched sock on my hand when I have to dust the house. I run my hand along chair rails, crown moldings, and doors until the sock is dusty enough to discard or wash and reuse.

Rubbing Alcohol Removes Price Tags
To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, I use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn't mess up my manicure.

Remove Wax with an Iron
To remove hardened wax from fabric, place a paper towel or a brown paper bag on top of the wax and press with an iron on low heat. The paper absorbs the wax, and your iron stays clean

These flowers are quick to make and the children enjoy making them. Younger children may need some help with accordion-pleating the tissue paper.

What you'll need:

· Pastel colored tissue paper
· Chenille stem
· Scissors
· Ruler

How to make it:
1. Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size (5x7" is the size pictured).

2. Stack 4-6 pieces of tissue paper. Use the same color or different colors.

3. Accordion pleat the tissue paper working from the long side.

4. Wind one end of the chenille stem around the middle of the accordion pleated tissue paper.

5. Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower.

6. Let the children make a couple of flowers and put them in a May Basket.

7. Early on the morning of May 1st hang on your mother's door, a neighbor's door, a friend's, or anyone special to you.

8. Remember, it's supposed to be a surprise!

With spring rains, there's more mold growth inside and outside your home. Flowers, trees, weeds, and grasses also begin to blossom. And spring cleaning will stir up dust mites throughout the house.

Keep pollen under control.

Wash bedding every week in hot water. Wash your hair and shower before going to bed, since pollen can accumulate in hair.

Clean every surface.

Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming, or painting to limit dust and chemical exposure. Vacuum twice a week.

Wash rugs.

Limit throw rugs to reduce dust and mold. If you do have rugs, make sure they are washable.

Keep indoor air clean.

Keep windows closed to reduce pollen entering the house. Change filters in air conditioning units and vents frequently this time of year.

Consider allergy medicine.

Talk to your doctor about a seasonal allergy drug that may be appropriate for your symptoms.

Sun Safety for Babies
· Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun.

· Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.

Sun Safety for Kids
· Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child's back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.

· Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective.

· When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child's face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for protecting your child's eyes.

· If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.

Sun Safety for the Family
· The sun's rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.

· The sun's damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.

· Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.

· When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.

· Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.

· Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

· Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.

· Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.

· Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

Beach Tips *
· Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.

· Stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard

· Never swim alone.

· Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a current, don't try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore until clear of the current.

· Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.

· Watch out for traffic - some beaches allow cars.

Unfortunately, work life rarely gets the same attention. While your home might be in order, you won't feel completely refreshed if your work situation is a mess. Whether you have a job or you're in the process of looking for one, here are some tips to make the most of your spring cleaning.

Update your résumé
You know you should check your fire alarm once a month, but you really only give it attention when the battery's dying and it won't stop beeping. Don't treat your résumé the same way. Even if you're not looking to change jobs, it can't hurt to have an updated résumé. Keeping it current saves you time down the road when you are job hunting. Also, you might not remember all your impressive accomplishments and responsibilities months or years from now, so go ahead and write them down.

Sort through your inbox
E-mail inboxes have become the digital equivalent of the junk drawer. You don't want to delete the message about the upcoming meeting (that took place four months ago) or the memo you'll read when you have time -- so they just sit there.

Truthfully, once the message falls low enough on the page to require scrolling, you're not going to revisit it. Go through each e-mail, trash the ones you don't need and put the important ones in an appropriate folder. You might be surprised how less stressed you feel when you open your inbox and don't see hundreds of messages sitting there.

Tidy up your desk.
Odds are your workspace could use just as much housekeeping as your closets. A tower of memos and wads of Post-Its don't scream "I'm on top of things!" to your colleagues and boss.

Aside from giving a bad impression, cluttered desks are also notorious for making important documents disappear. Throw away what you can and file the rest. Use the extra hour of sunlight to admire that desktop you haven't seen in years.

Clean your closet
While you're at home organizing your closet like a good little spring cleaner, take a look at your business suit. Does it still fit you? Is it tangled up in a knot under a pile of shoes? Is it a leisure suit? If you were to be called to an interview tomorrow, would you be able -- or even want -- to wear it? Much like your résumé, your interview attire should be ready to go at all times. If you need to take it to the cleaners or buy something new, better to do so at your convenience rather than in a rushed panic the night before the interview.

Get schooled
It's not uncommon for professionals of any industry to grow comfortable in their positions after a few years. However, as technology evolves rapidly, it affects every occupation -- whether it's construction, sales or medicine. To keep up with the crowd, see if your company offers classes on industry trends. Some employers will even pay for courses at colleges if it benefits your work. At the very least, pick up a few books or industry journals to see what's going on around you.

Meet your neighbors
People often become so engrossed in their jobs that they forget colleagues are working only five feet away. Learn the names and personalities that belong to the faces you see every day, or even to those you only see occasionally. It never hurts to have contacts who can answer a question or help with a future job hunt. Plus, it's nice to know a little about the people you work next to for eight hours a day.

Schedule some interviews
If you're contemplating a job switch, one way to simplify the decision-making process is to go on some interviews. Although you might not be ready to quit your job just yet, going on interviews gives you an idea of what opportunities are available. You can use these interviews as practice for the ones that matter most if you decide to start a job hunt.

Evaluate your situation
You might not be the type of person who writes out a list of goals and resolutions each year, but you probably have an idea of where you want your career to go. Think back to where you were last spring: Are things going as you hoped? Are you on a career path that will get you where you want to be one or two years from now? Are you earning what you deserve? Decide if you're OK staying where you are or if it's time to make a change.

Spring cleaning doesn't just have to be about tidying up; it can be about starting fresh.