Heidi Klum and Seal split

After seven years of marriage, one of the most famous celebrity couple falls apart. Singer Seal and supermodel Heidi Klum released an official statement, informing their fans that they have decided to call it quits. 

“While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate”, Heidi and Seal say in their statement to the media. Even if they still love each other, they claim they have “grown apart”. Just like any other couple announcing a separation, the two asked for respect of their privacy. “We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support”, they said and added the split was amicable.  

Seal, 48, and Heidi, 38, got married in 2005 and since then, they renewed their vows every year.  They have three kids together: Henry, who is 6, Johan, who is 5 and Lou, who is 2. Heidi has a daughter, Leni, who is 7, from a previous relationship. A short while after getting married, Seal adopted Leni.

Coffee keeps women happy

A recent study says that coffee, if taken in certain amounts, keeps women happy. It is a known fact that women are more prone to depression, due to their more sensitive nature. So a new proven natural source of dopamine is more than welcomed. Read below to find out how much coffee do you need to be in a good mood all day.

Studies have shown that 90% of Americans consume caffeine-based products every day. It is not a surprise. After all, there is a reason there is a Starbucks coffee shop at every street corner. Caffeine helps improve the learning ability and gives us that pump of energy in the morning. But a recent study has demonstrated another positive effect of the popular drink. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine the study says that coffee is able to prevent depression in women.

The study has been carried through questionnaires on 50,000 middle-aged women, who also drank tea, soft drinks and chocolate [other beverages containing caffeine]. Those didn’t show any valuable impact on their mood, mainly because they contain less caffeine than coffee.  But the results showed that drinking two or three cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of depression in women by 15%.  Four or more cups decrease the changes of a depressing mood with 20%.

Coffee acts in the cells as a defender for neurons prone to neurodegenerative disease.  This is why some of the Alzheimer’s drugs include coffee compounds. Plus, caffeine increases dopamine levels, which are responsible for one’s level of happiness.

Researchers highlight that this doesn’t necessarily mean that coffee has a direct impact against depression. But what they are sure of is that it does work on the mood by having an influence on the brain chemicals. Moreover, they say that people should not begin drinking more coffee just for this reason, as coffee is not a drug to treat depression.

3 rules for the perfect coffee cup

Most of us can’t start the day without a good cup of coffee. We present you 5 simple rules to get the perfect breakfast coffee.

Rule Number One: Buy Fresh Beans.

Fresh beans still have that rich flavor we so much adore. The best places to buy fresh coffee from is a local store. You can buy it roasted, or you can roast it yourself.  Roast coffee is best consumed within a few days after roasting so keep in mind to buy just the amount you would drink in the following couple of days.  Buying coffee from local supermarkets is not a good idea. Even the one kept in storage tubes loses its quality, as it is exposed to light and oxygen.

Rule Number Two:  Look For High Quality Coffee

If you are a coffee fan, you might as well delight yourself with high quality Arabica. Choose the 100% pure Arabica beans. Unlike Robusta, Arabica the perfect combination of caffeine content and flavor. You may have not given any thought to such details until now, but if you are to drink one of the most common liquors in the world, you might as well be informed of the numerous types of beans and ways to obtain great coffee.

Rule Number Three: Prepare It High Style

Use bottled spring water, avoid the cheap filters if you are using any, and keep your coffee maker squeaky clean. And one more thing! It is important to know that the perfect brewing temperature is 200 degrees F, of 45 seconds off a full boil. Too much boiling could make it more bitter. Reheating it will turn it even bitterer.

Wine and TVs will be cheaper in 2012

In 2012, electronics and wine will be among the products that are expected to lower their prices. Of them, TVs will be a lot cheaper, experts say.

Lindsay Sakraida, features director of deal-tracking site DealNews.com predicts lower prices for electronics and wine.

January and February are usually months characterized by price cuts. This time a year, electronics are hugely discounted, as manufacturers and distributors introduce the new models on the market. However, this year, it is expected that electronics will have even greater discounts than last year and the year before. For example, in 2010, a 42-inch LCD screen was priced at 600 dollars, while last year it had a price tag of 500 dollars.

On the other hand, wine consumers are not expected to pay as much for their favorite beverage. Sakraida says that wineries will be more concentrated on low priced rather than the quality of the wine they will be selling. “People are now less likely to spend over $30 a bottle, so wineries are focusing on lower price points”. With discount reaching 50 percent, the wine bottles may mask so-so vintages.

Among other products expected to have price droppings are international travels, text-message plans and even interest rates.

Celebrities' plans for 2012

What do you expect from 2012? Celebrities have made their own list of “to do” things this year. So get inspired!

Stacy Keibler doesn’t want romance, money, glory or anything like that. Her wish for 2012 is a bit more spiritual. She wants to “stay centered and balanced and to breathe”. That is what a former wrestler would believe is most important, obviously.

Hunter Parrish wished he would get more in shape. He admits that every year, his top wishes on the list are to eat right and exercise. “I've had a departure from my workout routine recently, so maybe to get more into that”, he plans for this year.

Bryan Batt wants to keep drinking. Yeah, it may not seem right, but he has a good explanation for it. “My last checkup, I was fine. I'm always fine. So why bother?”

Patti Stanger is planning on “de-cluttering”, referring to both her own self and her home. “I'm going to have an estate sale”, she writes.

After a painful and, at the same time, relieving divorce that left him with less than 50% of his entire fortune, Hulk Hogan is ready to look forward. He says his plan for 2012 is to try and better himself with each day. “I've moved on with my life, things are great again, and I know what it's like to be happy again”. We are glad to hear that!

Rob Kardashian has fashion plans. “I have a dress sock line I'm working on”. He plans on launching it this year. Plus, he always thinks getting into shape and staying like that is big for him.