Your week
YOUR HEALTH
Cold medications designed to fight multiple symptoms may have more ingredients than you need. You can save cash and prevent overmedicating by buying one or two single-ingredient drugs to treat only the symptoms you actually have, according to Prevention magazine:
• Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan or DM): Blocks the brain’s cough reflex.
• Expectorant (guaifenesin): Thins mucus, making it easier to cough up.
• Antihistamine (diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine): Blocks histamines that trigger your nose to run and dries up excess mucus
• Decongestant (pseudoephedrine; phenylephrine, or PE): Opens breathing passages by constricting blood vessels, moving fluid out of sinuses
• Acetaminophen, ibuprofen: Turns down the body’s thermostat and blocks pain-causing enzymes to fight fever, sore throat and body aches.
» Find more health and fitness tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
YOUR HOME
Winter pests aren’t just unpleasant, they pose severe risks to your health and property. And we’re not just talking mice and rats; squirrels, carpenter ants, spiders and cockroaches prefer to spend cold winter months indoors with us.
The pest experts at the National Pest Management Association (www.pestworld.org) suggest the following preventive tips:
• Inspect firewood before bringing it inside, as several ant and cockroach species prefer to nest in firewood. Firewood piles should be positioned on a raised platform away from the house.
• Clean kitchens thoroughly. Crumbs and leftover messes will attract ants, mice and rats – especially if left on the floor for days on end.
• Store birdseed and dog food in sealed storage containers, not bags. If you have a bird house, make sure it’s at least 20 feet away from your home.
» Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
YOUR FOOD
Hot pepper provides the kick, and honey the caress, in a sweet and spicy chicken dinner that you can have on the table in less than half an hour. For the recipe, see page C5.
» Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
YOUR FUN
Here’s what’s on the schedule for this week:
On CD (Tuesday)
Taylor Swift, “Speak Now World Tour Live”
The Rolling Stones, “Some Girls: Deluxe Edition”
Daughtry, “Break the Spell”
Kate Bush, “50 Words For Snow”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“Super 8”
“Conan the Barbarian”
“Spy Kids: All the Time in the World”
“Prep & Landing”
In theaters (Friday)
“Arthur Christmas” (animated)
“Hugo” (family adventure)
“The Muppets” (family comedy)
On TV
“The Biggest Loser”: The trainers demonstrate how to whip up a healthy holiday meal. (Tuesday, 8 p.m., NBC)
“Dancing With the Stars”: Who will be the lucky 13th-season winner to take home the mirror ball? (Tuesday, 9 p.m., ABC)
“CMT Crossroads”: Sting and Vince Gill team up to play each other’s hits. (Thursday, 8 p.m., CMT)
“Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown”: The new Peanuts holiday special (Thursday, 8:30 p.m., Fox) is preceded by the new “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” (8 p.m.)
On stage
“The Forgotten Carols”: Wednesday, INB Performing Arts Center
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Friday, Spokane Arena
“GI Holiday Jukebox”: Opens Friday, Coeur d’Alene Resort
Around town
Turkey Trot: Thursday, Manito Park
Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony: Friday, downtown Coeur d’Alene
Festival of Trees: Opens Friday, Coeur d’Alene Resort
Campbell House Holidays: Friday-Saturday, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
Festival of Fair Trade: Friday-Sunday, Community Building
» Find a full arts and entertainment roundup in the Thursday and Friday Today sections.