You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2553 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Adding A Fashionable Touch To At-Home Celebrations (NAPSA)—Style-savvy hosts are always looking for ways to create chic celebrations for family and friends. This season it’s all about bringing the hottest fashion trends and runway looks into your party-planning process. According to celebrity stylist and entertaining expert Robert Verdi, this season is all about the color purple, using layers of accessories, combining a mix of high-end and affordable items, and customizing your look to make sure your own style shines through. Below, Robert and Ecco Domani Wines of Italy share the top five tips for hosting an unforgettable fete. 1. First impressions are crucial when people enter your home, and just like in fashion, making a memorable statement goes a long way! Create a warm and welcoming environment for guests by illuminating your entryway—just place a collection of candles around the space to create a festive but intimate vibe. 2. Just as you would with your wardrobe, take inspiration from one signature piece and build your party around it. For example, pick a signature wine for the evening that not only tastes great but looks great on your table and make it the centerpiece of your chic gathering. Ecco Domani just introduced a Pinot Noir with vibrant blueberry and blackberry aromas that can serve as the perfect accessory for stylish gettogethers. The sleek black, purple and silver bottle will add a fashion-forward accent to your decor. 3. Chic and easy touches add a personal dimension of style to your tabletop without breaking your budget. For example, think outside the box when creating Thyroid Problems Can Affect Your Health (NAPSA)—The thyroid, a 2inch-long gland in the front of the neck, makes hormones that affect nearly every organ in the body. When the thyroid doesn’t work properly, health problems can result, including weight fluctuation, skin disorders, depression, fatigue and trouble sleeping. One tip for throwing an unforgettable fete is to choose a stylish wine bottle and use it as your centerpiece. place cards—show your flair for fashion by placing brooches from your favorite local vintage shop on each plate with your guest’s name attached. Or, if you want to add a splash of color to your table, try draping a vibrant purple scarf over plain linen for added interest. 4. From the hottest shows on TV to the trendiest looks on the runway, ’60s style is back in a big way! Put your own spin on that stylish era by treating guests to a modern version of the classic cocktail party punch bowl. Or try mixing and matching inexpensive glassware to create a statement by using unique vessels that match your theme and add character. A set of mason jars or a collection of handblown artisan glassware will give your guests a unique style from which to sip. 5. To ensure an unforgettable evening, send your guests home in style with a fashionable gift bag. Fill a purple-colored tote with a collection of small candles, a vibrant printed silk scarf and a bottle of the new 2008 Pinot Noir. For more entertaining and recipe ideas, visit www.ecco domani.com. Nearly 27 million Americans have thyroid problems—among the most common are underactive and overactive thyroid. Underactive thyroid is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, which in turn slows many of the body’s functions. This condition often occurs after pregnancy. Overactive thyroid is when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone, causing symptoms such as hand tremors; a rapid, irregular heartbeat; and bone thinning. Thyroid problems are more common in women and older adults. If you suspect a problem with your thyroid gland, your doctor can test the amount of thyroid hormone in your blood. Your treatment will depend on the cause and severity of your thyroid problem. Visit the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service Web site at www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/info for free publications about thyroid problems. Getting The Most From Your Credit Cards (NAPSA)—Credit cards can help to make life more convenient for consumers in a number of ways. However, many find that managing their credit cards efficiently can be a real challenge. To help, here are a few tips from the Federal Reserve Board. They’re designed to help you get the most from your credit cards: • Pay on time. Paying your credit card account on time helps you avoid late fees as well as penalty interest rates applied to your account, and helps you maintain a good credit record. • Know the date your payment is due. If your bill is due at an inconvenient time of the month, contact your credit card company to see if it will change your billing cycle to fit your cash flow. • Stay below your credit limit. If you go over your credit limit on your card, your card issuer could charge a fee and increase your interest rate to a higher penalty rate. To avoid this, keep a record of your spending or check your balance online. • Avoid unnecessary fees. Credit card companies not only charge late payment and over-thelimit fees, but also charge fees for cash advances, transferring balances and having a payment returned. Some even charge a fee when you pay your bill by phone. Pay attention to the transactions that trigger these fees. Read your credit card agreement to learn more about the fees that your credit card company charges. • Pay more than the minimum payment. If you can’t pay your balance in full each month, If your bill is due at an inconvenient time of the month, contact your credit card company to see if it will change your billing cycle. try to pay as much of the total as you can. Over time, you’ll pay less in interest charges—money that you will be able to spend on other things—and you’ll pay off your balance sooner. • Watch for changes in the terms of your account. Credit card companies can change the terms and conditions of your account. They will send you notices 45 days in advance, telling you about changes in fees, interest rates, billing and other features. By reading these “change in terms” notices, you can decide whether you want to change the way you use the card. For example, if cash advance fees increase on one card, you may decide to use a different card for cash advances. Read your bill carefully and take note of any changes. For more information on this and other topics of interest to consumers, visit the Federal Reserve Web site at www.federalreserve.gov.