Bright shades of pink, purple, yellow and green make a pretty sight in a basket. But be careful if you plan to eat decorated Easter eggs; if handled improperly they can be contaminated with salmonella. Some tips:

• Hard-boil your eggs thoroughly, and cool completely before coloring.
  
• Use a food-quality, non-toxic dye.
• Don't apply color to eggs with any cracks in them.
• Put colored eggs back in the fridge after coloring them; the eggs shouldn't be left out for more than 2 hours before eating.
• If kept chilled, they can be stored for up to 1 week.
• Don't hide real eggs for an egg hunt -- they can be inadvertently exposed to bacteria (and what a stink it would create if you neglected to find one).
  

Or, you can really play it safe and blow out the eggs like I did. That way, you can leave them out as long as you want and even save your masterpieces for another year.

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I am a sucker for expensive hair care products. Pricey shampoos and conditioners, any kind of serum that promises shiny results and expensive visits to the salon for a new color are all part of my hair routine. But I also know that fancy packaging and a big price tags don't necessarily guarantee quality, and that there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.

Many of these can be found at home -- in your refrigerator. A couple of years ago I embarked on my only little adventure wherein I tried out a few of the food products that I'd heard were great on your hair to see if they really worked. I was surprised and impressed that most of them did! Although I didn't stick with any of them (lets face it -- hair that smells of mayo isn't as enticing as hair that smells like Aveda), I still think they're worth giving a try if you're curious.

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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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One of the most devastating aspects of fighting cancer can be the long and exhausting courses of treatment. From what I've read and heard, dealing with the physical and emotional after-affects of chemotherapy and radiation can be as difficult as dealing with the disease itself.

A test developed by a scientist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia promises to ease some of the suffering associated with cancer treatments. Basically, a dye is injected into patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation, and molecules in the die attach to any dead or dying cancer cells, allowing doctors to see whether or not the treatment is actually working.

Until now, patients had to endure entire courses of treatment that could last up to six months before being able to assess whether or not their tumors where shrinking, had stayed the same or were growing larger. If the treatment hadn't worked, patients would have to undergo a new, exhausting course of treatment. The new dye test will hopefully allow doctors to tell right away whether or not the treatment on a particular patient is working based on whether or not there is evidence of dead or dying cancer cells.

Hopefully the test will cut down on the trauma associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

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Well, this is the umpteenth time I've covered this, but a report out of England is now saying (again) that artificial colors in foods (and drinks) may end up stimulating hyperactivity in kids.

It's no surprise, and with so many processed foods containing these colors currently, is it any surprise that disorders like ADHD are being diagnosed in increasing numbers?

Taking nutrition variables like this out of the equation should be a priority for everyone. Problem is, these colors are in a majority of the foods found in any modern grocery store. That is, except for health food stores.

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Do you know the health risks associated with getting a tattoo? According to the FDA--and a recent article on MSN Health and Fitness--one in four Americans between the ages of 18 (the legal age to get a tattoo in most states) and 50 has a tattoo, but chances are not all of them are not aware of the health risks of getting inked.

This article had personal appeal to me: I have four tattoos. I made sure before I got the first one to look into any possible health or side effects before committing to one. Although tattoos are no longer "permanent" the idea of them still is, and the effects to overall health can certainly be.

Anyone remember the Pamela Anderson debacle? She got a tattoo, and by allegedly sharing a tattoo needle with Tommy Lee, she got hep C. She underwent outpatient treatment for the disease which required a lot of very powerful medication along with constant visits to the doctor. Hep C is potentially life-threatening but many otherwise healthy people live with the disease.

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