Don't lend or give money to friends today -- no matter how badly they tell you they need it. Instead, think of more practical ways of sharing the wealth. Make a big pot of Irish lamb stew and invite them over for dinner. Let them take leftovers home for a gift that keeps on giving.

Look to music for your dinner inspiration today. Your choices are many and varied: rock lobster, mashed potato, apple, peach or pumpkin pie and, of course, sugar, sugar should help you prepare an interesting menu. Crank up the tunes tonight and eat to the beat.

Forget about the one and focus on the many today -- like all the people in the world who live with hunger every day. You may feel helpless in the face of such a tragedy, but don't let that stop you from doing your part. Donating even just a few cans of chicken noodle soup to a food drive is still better than doing nothing.

Treat yourself to something special today -- but it's not jewelry, electronic gadgets or clothing you're interested in. For you today, the only thing you crave is a big bag of Oreo cookies and a big glass of chocolate milk. Now that's a treat!

With its mighty antioxidant properties and heart-healthy benefits, it's well known that olive oil is one of the best foods you can put in your body -- but putting it on your body can be just as beneficial. Using olive oil on your hair, skin and nails can restore and revitalize them to their natural beauty.

Rebooting a long-dormant fitness routine is easier if you recruit a friend. Misery loves company, and together you can push each other to new healthy heights. You can also act as nutrition watchdogs, making sure to order the egg white omelets and chicken sausage rather than the eggs Benedict as a post-workout meal.

The day is mentally taxing, and too much thinking could give you a migraine -- but look to lemons to help stop the pounding in your head. Lemon juice in a cup of tea has been proven to cure headaches, but don't throw away that rind. Applying it to each temple can also bring relief.

You may lately be seeing hot peppers in your dreams. This could be a subconscious urge to make spicy and exciting changes to your life, but take baby steps when enacting them in your waking life. Overload a bowl of chili with too many habanera peppers and the next thing you dream about is a pitcher of water.

Lately you may be seeing potatoes in your dreams. Sleep experts state that such imaginings denotes feelings of laziness, so it may be best to do as little as possible today. Don't let that give you free rein to eat at fast food restaurants. Too many French fries might just kill your dreams of fitting into that sexy swimsuit.

Let the experts deal with complicated home repairs today. The money you save by doing it yourself isn't worth it. Stick with what you know; setting up the grill for a big barbecue spare rib dinner might not be complex, but at least there's no threat of burning down the house.

It doesn't take much imagination to make a dinner choice on this National Lasagna Day, and while dinner at an Italian restaurant is fun, making your own could be a real hoot. Get the family to pitch in and the resulting feast will be a true bonding experience.

When this world gets too intense, it's always good to appreciate the life's smaller pleasures. Whether that's a beautiful sunset, the birds chattering outside your window or the wonderful taste of a sliver of mint infused chocolate, it's the little things that matter most today.

Your work pace is at the mercy of those around you today. Their slow and plodding versus your fast and furious may set the stage for conflict, so cut back on the Red Bull and heavily caffeinated coffees to keep from flying off the handle. Then have a big turkey club for lunch. A little tryptophan should have a mellowing effect that could last the rest of the day.

It's National Milk Chocolate Day, so show a little imagination when celebrating. Milk chocolate gives creamy richness to cookies, mousse, pudding, deep-dish brownies, and a host of other yummy recipes -- but if that sounds like too much work, tossing back a few kisses is like a mini love letter to yourself.

A fast-paced day could make it hard to sleep tonight. A light snack of less than 200 calories an hour before bed could help produce sleep-inducing serotonin. A banana with a teaspoon of peanut butter or a half-cup of bran cereal and skim milk is perfect, and doesn't pack on the pounds.

Your nighttime hours may be punctuated by dreams of chocolate. Sleep experts theorize that such dreams denote that you may be indulging too much and need to practice restraint. Being that today is National Milk Chocolate Day, this news couldn't come at a more inopportune time. Maybe you should start that restraint thing tomorrow.

Do things today that invoke a sense of nostalgia. Listen to Buddy Holly records, watch a few episodes of Lucy or read 'Catcher In The Rye.' End the day by having dinner at a fifties-style diner. The hot open face roast beef sandwich should take you right back to the good old days.

You're the eye of the hurricane today, the calm in the middle of the storm. Keeping your wits about you while coworkers are losing theirs should make this a productive day for you. Consider that your reward for starting the day with an energy packed brekkie of oatmeal, fruit and OJ.

Happy birthday, Bugs Bunny! That screwy rabbit's first cartoon short debuted on this date in 1940. Funny how well he's aged, and as hilarious as ever! Give a shout out to America's favorite long-ear today. A big slice of carrot cake with perhaps a side of carrot juice is perfect.

Your mind may wander today, and take you to strange and wondrous places. You may be a deep-sea superhero trapped in the watery lair of a marauding horde of mussels, oysters and clams. Armed only with a giant lemon wedge and a trident, it looks like you have to eat your way out!

The worlds of reality and fantasy may collide today. In your mind, you're wining and dining at a medieval bacchanal, feasting on lamb, game hen and deep goblets of ale. In actuality, it's you alone in your kitchen, waiting for your Salisbury steak TV dinner to thaw.

Sufferin' succotash -- it's Bugs Bunny's birthday! That wascally wabbit's first cartoon short was released on this date in 1940, unleashing 60 years of hilarity -- so if today someone asks you 'What's up, doc?' just hand them a big bag of Bugs' favorite food while quoting the master: 'Carrots are divine -- you get a dozen for a dime. It's maaaa-gic.'

You may not have as much cash as you think, so check your banking account balance before splurging on big-ticket items today. Like it or not, you may have to scale back your expectations until your cash flow is better. Forget about dinner at a local four-star; spaghetti with marinara sauce out of a jar is as good as it gets tonight.

Today is a good one to mingle amongst the masses. Direct your activities to crowded movies, malls, and wherever else you can feed off the energy of people. After the day is done, seclude yourself at home with a pasta dinner. You don't need a lot people staring at you while you're trying to eat.

Don't be resistant to good life changes today. Replacing white rice and pasta with quinoa, millet or buckwheat as your dinner starches: good change! Dyeing your hair purple and wearing it in a pompadour: bad change!

You're a wellspring of intellectualism today. Your thoughts are sage and your observations deep. Perhaps all of this brainpower can be attributed to a power lunch of grilled salmon and greens. The Omega-3's in the fish are obviously doing their stuff, even if you still can't remember where you left your keys.

The future is now, and you've finally achieved the lean, sexy body you've worked so hard for -- but don't get complacent, as it's too simple to fall back into bad habits. A little wedge of chocolate can easily become a lot, and you may come to wish you had saved those size 40 jeans. It's all about self-control today.

Money may be tight, so avoid wasting cash on sugary, high priced sodas, energy drinks or fruit juices. Old-fashioned aqua pura should be your drink of choice today. Water flushes toxins from your body, hydrates your body and gives you glowing skin. Cheap and healthy -- you can't beat that today.

Paying attention to new food trends could add years to your life. Quinoa is a whole grain that's all the rage for good reason. It's packed with enzymes, antioxidants, fiber and an amazing nine amino acids. It's thought to help with cardiovascular health and may prevent certain cancers, so use it as a heart-healthy substitute for rice or potatoes at dinner tonight.

Being cash-strapped may force you to rethink your expensive lunch habits. Packing your own is a great way of minding both your budget and your health, so make pitas your new BFF. Stuff them with grilled chicken, olives, feta cheese, hummus, veggies -- whatever you like. Cheap and healthy should be your keywords when it comes to lunch -- at least until payday.

You may be thinking about making changes to your lifestyle. That's great, but don't get too outlandish. Keep things subtle and reasonable. No matter how daring you'd like to be, eating raw fish isn't up your alley. Stick to the traditional California roll instead.

Your hard work should pay off in accolades and salutations. It isn't the raise you expected and you can't spend or eat compliments -- but for today, it's okay to treat yourself to an expensive lunch; you deserve it. Grilled trout with lemon couscous and asparagus beats the bologna sandwiches you've been living on.

Your sandwich plans may be thwarted today when you find your bread has gotten somewhat stale, but showing a little creativity could give that loaf new life. Stale bread can be used for croutons, breadcrumbs, a sauce or soup thickener, or a foundation for bread pudding. Anything beats just throwing it out.

You're a perfect match for the exciting and vivacious tempo of the day. As a result, fun will follow wherever you go. Keep the spirit alive by having dinner at a lively Tex-Mex restaurant. You can eat plenty of spicy chili and nachos while learning to line dance. Viva life!

You often question the strange culinary habits of some of your friends. Someone as practical as you just can't see the sense in eating raw foods or those that need to be set on fire. That's no way to think on the National Creme Brulee Day, as you just don't know what you're missing.

Exploring old experiences a little deeper today can open up a whole new world. Your local Chinese restaurant has more to offer than chicken chow mein and egg roles. Get daring and try the Chinese Pho Bo Beef Noodle Soup. It may sound weird, but the amazing flavors are anything but.

Get outside today and feel the pulse of the community. Having lunch outdoors is a great way to watch people and enjoy the vibrancy of the lunchtime bustle. You may even meet someone new who takes a shine to both your homemade Caesar salad and your friendly personality.

Kanye West has nothing on you today as your ego veers out of control, so expect to spend lunch alone. But you still brag to anyone within earshot that your homemade Philly cheese steak is better than anything in Philly, even though you've never been there.

A tight budget may have you packing your own lunches, but with a little imagination you can eschew the traditional PBJ or ham sandwich route. Try making a Hum Yum -- roasted red peppers, hummus, tahini, crushed garlic garbanzo beans and veggies of your choice nestled between bagel slices. It's anything but ho-hum.

A change of routine may throw you off your game today. Distressing, yes, but going with the flow is the best way to keep from collapsing in a heap of stress. Don't panic if the deli runs out of chicken noodle soup. You can always have navy bean instead.