Looking to sculpt long, lean muscles? Want to whittle your middle? Then Pilates is what you want, and now, you have a chance to do it at home with STOTT PILATES®.

This week's Fit Beauty Giveaway offers you home fitness in the form of two STOTT PILATES® workout DVDs. The first one is The Secret to Flat Abs, and is a Level 1 video, so even if you've never done Pilates before, you'll have no problem following along. There's also a Level 2 DVD -- Firm & Fit. Both are part of the STOTT PILATES® Pilates Matwork series, which also includes Core Challenge (Level 3), Strong and Streamlined (Level 4) and more.

I've reviewed a couple of products from STOTT PILATES® before and can attest to the fact that this is a relaxing yet challenging way to work out at home. Perhaps you'll win them and find out for yourself! Entering the giveaway couldn't be easier. See below for details.

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about your most creative at-home workout.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Friday, January 16, 2009.
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive two STOTT Pilates® workout DVDs (valued at $29.90).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.
  
  

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winner is notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

My abs aren't exactly my favorite body part. I have a strong core, but I am not a fan of doing tons of crunches -- I just find them boring, and I'd much rather find other ways to work those muscles. If I can work some other muscles and get a cardio workout at the same time, all the better. After all, if I'm going to lose some pounds along with America for ATIO, I need to find something I enjoy, right?

Keeping all this in mind, I was thrilled to have the chance to try out the Core Rhythms Dance Exercise Program. Mary Murphy (from So You Think You Can Dance) dropped three dress sizes in three months using the program, so I knew it had the potential to be effective. What I didn't know was whether or not I would enjoy it.

Newsflash -- I did. A lot. I thought it was so much fun that I invited a group of girlfriends over to do one of the videos with me. A lot of laughing ensued, but by the end of the video, we were all sweating and felt like we'd done a bunch of crunches. Only, you know, we had fun doing it. Since we were all beginners to Latin dance, which is what Core Rhythms focuses on, a few of the special features made the video easy to follow.

Looking for a simple and fairly easy workout to incorporate into your at-home fitness routine? The STOTT PILATES® Toning Ball Power Pack could be just the thing. It's easy to follow, the equipment (two weighted balls) takes up very little room, and it's just over half an hour long, so you can work it in easily.

When I say it's easy to follow, I mean that in a couple of ways. The instructions are clear and simple -- as was the case with the STOTT PILATES® Mini Flex Ball, there is someone demonstrating and someone instructing at all times, so you can watch or listen (in English or French, for that matter). The transition from one exercise to the next is quick but very manageable.

In fact, that's how I could describe the whole workout -- as very manageable, and I think it would be for any level of fitness. I received the Power Pack to review, which includes two one-pound toning balls. To be honest, if I had my choice, I would probably opt for a heavier weight for more of a challenge (and they do offer two- and three-pound toning balls separately, so that's definitely an option).

This time of year, I don't know of anyone who couldn't use a little pick me up. We're all a little tired, slightly stressed, and unfortunately, it shows.

I know lots of folks who take a day and head off to the spa, but that's a little pricey for my taste. Plus, when you go to the spa, you're relying on their products and their ingredients, many of which might have more artificial ingredients than you'd really like.

My suggestion? Set aside a little time this holiday break for yourself (think of it as a gift, if you must) and take advantage of one or two of the all-natural, DIY beauty tips in the gallery. You'll feel better, which will help you look better, which is definitely a bonus when everyone starts snapping pictures around the Christmas tree.

I like nothing more than a workout that burns major calories but still ends up being a lot of fun. That's why I enjoy doing dance classes, especially the ones at which I'm pretty terrible -- I just laugh the whole way through. And, I imagine that's pretty much how I think my first try with an Indo Board Balance Trainer would go.

The Indo Board offers a tremendous core workout, which is important whether you're an athlete, a model, or just Joe Schmoe. It's great practice for any board sport, like surfing (which is what Zac Efron uses it for), wakeboarding, water/snow skiing, and more. And, it can be used to improve skills in a variety of other sports, including football, basketball, golf, volleyball, and more.

You can use the standard Indo Board roller that comes with the board, or switch it out for an IndoFLO Balance Cushion, which eliminates all abrupt changes in direction and offers an even more complete workout.

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As much as I enjoy splurging from time to time on pricey beauty products, I also really like trying out simple, DIY beauty items. Not so long ago I wrote about home-made hair care -- using foods like mayonnaise and beer to soften and brighten your hair. I think what I like about at-home beauty is that, since the tips are usually cheap, barring any major disasters you can figure out which products you like without having to waste a tonne of money on stuff that turns out to be not so great.

I was pretty excited to find this list of 10 great budget beauty products that you can make at home. They're all really simple, containing only a few ingredients each. In addition, a number of the 'recipes' include a lot of the same ingredients -- like essential oils and rubbing alcohol, so you only have to buy a few things and can still try most of the ideas. All you need is a range of empty bottles and containers and you're good to get started.

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I am a hair dye enthusiast -- I love to color my hair. While some do it to cover gray or because they've always dreamed of being a blond, brunette or red head, I do it because I love that it's a non-permanent way to considerably alter the way I look. Well that, and also due to the fact that my normal hair color is an extremely unappealing shade of mousy, ash-brown.

While I'm happy to shell out a fair-sized amount of cash to have my hair done professionally for special occasions, I can't afford to pay expensive salon prices every time I decide I need a change. I imagine this is the case for most of you fellow dye fans out there. I know that many hairdressers will try to persuade all of us that home hair-coloring kits will forever destroy our hair, but I also know of a few who will admit that many of the products currently on the market do a pretty decent job at a much lower price.

Having said that, if you do decide to try the DIY method, it is important to do a little research beforehand as the onus is on you to get it right. A botched at-home job will end up costing even more when you have to go to a professional to fix the splotchy, orange mess you've made of your former crowning glory. With this in mind, it's important to think about the four things listed here before you start the process.

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