Cheap tip for a real glow? Buy a fair-sized mirror, place it on your dining room table, buffet or mantel and cover it with tea lights. Beautiful!

You could achieve this same easy transition keeping green and brown for basic background and using accents of burgundy and rust. This is a more subtle look for Christmas than bright primary red, but it works just as well.

Also make some trips to your local Goodwill and Thrift Stores and visit some garage sales. People give away most amazing holiday decorations that can be yours for pennies. I’ve found everything – hand towels, wreaths, pillows, stuffed animals, wall pictures, water globes and statuettes. Since they’re used only for a short time, you hate to spend too much on them.

And here’s a neat tip. My Goodwill store has a selection of lamp shades and I have lamps, don’t you? You can change out your lampshades to fit your decorating scheme. Did you ever think of that? It only takes a minute. Just make sure before you go that you know which kind of lampshades you have, and match them.

Oh and don’t forget to check out picture frames at resale shop. You could move a favorite photo to a holiday frame and place that up on mantel as well.

In fact if you don’t already have some great holiday photos, take some this year. I have a great photo of my grand-daughter sitting with a pumpkin I move to a central location at Thanksgiving, and then a collage of my own children at former Christmases I bring out in December. I bought an ugly print at a garage sale that had a beautiful forest green frame, threw away print and substituted with collage. It’s such a dear reminder.

And while you’re decorating, don’t forget yourself! Most thrift stores set up displays of holiday apparel you’ll want to take advantage of for you and kids. Some planning ahead can help you save time and money and still allow for a festively decorated home for holidays.

Get clearance from your doctor, of course, and get supervision when you start by hiring a qualified trainer. Details of program I use are in my book. I started a regular exercise program I've become "hooked" on when I was 60. What's your excuse? Age? Physical condition? Hey -- just do it!

SUPPLEMENTS

Just take "One-A-Day" vitamins and you're home free. NOT!!

The so-called "Recommended Daily Allowances" (RDA) of vitamins and minerals are woefully below optimum level you need to maintain vibrant health. There is no real excuse for this. There are thousands of studies of effect of supplements and best daily dosage. Unfortunately, if you try to follow these guidelines with individual supplements like Vitamin C, beta carotene, CoQ10, colloidal silver, selenium, astralagus, etc., etc. you will soon go broke.

Better to find one of formulas put together by knowledgeable health professionals. I mention one I have used for about 15 years in my book. I am 73 and in perfect health. It is Dr. David Williams' Daily Advantage. It costs about $44 a month, but it has kept me healthy ever since I started taking it (and exercising regularly). You can get more information at Dr. Williams' web site: http://www.DrDavidWilliams.com/

or by calling Mountain Home Nutritionals in Ranson, West Virginia at (800) 888-1415.

I get no compensation of any kind from any of products I recommend. My conviction that this is best, however, was reinforced recently when I read a book called "Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements," by Lyle MacWilliam, BSc, MSc, FP. The author had compiled charts which compared 500 "nutritionals" supplements. Daily Advantage was not one of them. However, when I compared its ingredients with "top 5" in book using his "blended standard," it was better than any of them.

Your age now is immaterial. Whatever age you are, whatever your current health condition is, starting a sound supplement program is essential. I started getting this right when I was 58.

THE FOUR-LEGGED STOOL

The above three "vitals" -- diet, exercise and supplements -- form what many have called a "three-legged stool of health." The idea is that if you neglect any one of legs, "stool" (your health) collapses.

Others have suggested that "stool" has a fourth leg, which is spiritual faith. I don't try to cover it in my book, but there is evidence that it has a strong role in maintaining or regaining your health.

I'll be back soon with an article on specific recommendations for overcoming cancer. I am just a "reporter," not a medical professional. Any changes in your health regiman should be discussed with your doctor.