You take care of your kids’ health, but remembering your own doctor’s appointments? Well, that’s another story.

Fortunately, there’s a nation-wide effort to help women to give their health priority again. On May 13, National Women's Checkup Day will urge all women -- single or married, con hijos or without -- to make healthcare appointments. The tests they recommend you get run across the spectrum, from breast screenings and PAP smears to tests for diabetes, bone density and other health concerns that affect Latinas.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health started National Women's Checkup Day to encourage women to get into the habit of calling and visiting healthcare professionals regularly. The ultimate goal is to detect and deter all kinds of enfermedades, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions.

Top on the list are heart disease -- the number one killer of American women -- and type 2 diabetes, which is particularly common among Latinas.

Another one to watch out for: cervical cancer. While this disease can be deadly when diagnosed late, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent when found early in a pap smear.

Breast cancer, which is the most diagnosed cancer among Latinas, is another example of a preventable disease. It often goes untreated for longer than it should.

The sooner these conditions are diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated -- and the sooner Mom can get back to her healthy self!

Whether you've always wanted to take mom to Mexico or splurge on a day at the spa, here are some easy tips for saving up dinero for Mothers Day and all year round!

1. Save money at the grocery store

The grocery store can be a big drain on your wallet, but it doesn’t have to be. Consider buying more frozen fruits and veggies, which many nutritionists say are just as healthy for you as fresh produce because they are picked and frozen at their peak of ripeness. Buying frozen broccoli, peas and blueberries lowers your shopping budget but not your nutritional value.

Also remember to keep your eyes focused on the register at the check out counter. Americans lose between 1 and 3 billion dollars a year in scanning errors because of human error or because sale prices have yet to be entered into the computer.

2. Read for free!

Instead of buying the latest bestseller for $15 or more, take a visit to the library or go to PaperbackSwap.com and trade books with other likeminded readers. It’s also a great way to clear the clutter from your home!

3. Be a smart home shopper

Before you buy new furniture, check out furniture sites like Craigslist.org and Freecycle.com, where people post things to give away for free instead of tossing them in the trash. Just put in your zip code and see what goodies you can score, from TV's to furniture and everything in between!

4. Consider the online goldmine

Flash sale on websites like Gilt Groupe and Fab.com offer designer duds and accessories for up to 60 percent off. And ShopItToMe.com takes it one step further by acting like your own personal sale shopper: Simply sign up and fill out your size and favorite labels. When they go on sale in your size, you'll get an email alerting you.

Want to dramatically update your casita’s look this winter without spending a ton? Manja Swanson, chief creative officer at Lamps Plus, says functionality is at the top of the list when choosing any type of lighting. That said, there are three basic types of lighting to keep in mind:

• Task lighting
  Provides illumination for specific tasks, such as cooking or applying your makeup.
• Ambient lighting
  Also called general lighting, provides overall illumination. This type of lighting is good for a laundry space or garage.
• Accent lighting
  Adds drama to a room by creating visual interest.  Accent lighting is used to draw your eye to details around the room like paintings or interesting architectural details.

Otras Opciones
Right now, lighting design is all about a return to glamour and tradition.  You can get this look by choosing lighting with aged gold tones or by installing a gorgeous crystal chandelier. You can also give a room a quick makeover by simply switching out a fixture’s lampshades. "You can do it based on the season, a current trend or your favorite color," says Swanson.

She also recommends installing dimmers, which allow you to adjust a room’s lighting level. "They can take you from cooking dinner, when at the highest setting, to an intimate meal by simply changing to a lower setting." Most DIY-ers can install a dimmer in less than an hour, depending on the style. 

Quickie Tip
Light bulbs are also a fast and easy way to change your home’s ambience. Consider switching your outdoor bulbs to colored ones during the holidays.  For example, yellow bulbs would be fun for Easter, blue or red for the 4th of July.

With winter upon us -- plus loads of winter sales -- now is el momento to whip your house into an invierno haven!

Luxe Linens
January has traditionally been a great time for "White Sales," when department stores slash prices on bedding, linens and towels. This is a great time to buy luxury items on the cheap, such as high-thread-count sheets and luxury towels with soft long-thread cotton.

Mattress Maintenance
Give new life to your mattress and help distribute the wear evenly by flipping it four times a year. Also, vacuum mattresses and box springs with the upholstery attachment every three months (each time you flip it).

Color Your Home Happy!
Add some color to revive and revitalize your home. Lift up the vibe in your bedroom with a splash of color on your walls. Or add pops of primary colors to your living room to offset the dreary days of winter.

You can also use paint to fix problem areas: Warm up a loft or big room by painting it in colors that envelop you, such as red, brown and gold. Make any room appear larger by painting it in hues that recede. (This works with natural panoramic colors such as blue, green and violet -- think of an infinity pool or a far-reaching landscape.) You can also make a ceiling appear higher by painting it a lighter color, like sky blue. A ceiling painted bright white reflects natural light better, making the room seem brighter. Likewise, you could lower a ceiling with a darker shade, such as chestnut.

If the weather in your area is not conducive to opening windows and doors, consider buying low-VOC (low-volatile organic compounds) paints, which don't produce the noxious fumes traditional paints do.

Lighten Up

To combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), replace commonly used light bulbs in your home with brighter full-spectrum (also known as broad spectrum) light bulbs. While more expensive than regular bulbs, they provide light that is similar to natural sunlight.

The holidays are here, which means lots of presents, cheer -- and house guests. If your home repair to-do list is still woefully long, no sweat. Here are some ways to get your pad visitor-ready, rapido.

Start Small

Often the very idea of cleaning or organizing is overwhelming. We either do nothing or everything at once. Instead, pick a room or an area to clean, such as your front coat closet, and a set a time limit so you don’t get carried away.

Take Stock

Go from room to room and scope out the scene. Take note of dingy bed sheets, loose doorknobs, mildewed shower curtains and lumpy pillows.

Assess What Can Save and What You Can Toss

Take a moment to save what’s salvageable before spending unneeded dough during Christmas.

·   Mildewed shower curtains: Toss. Mildew is hard to fight, and the curtains are easy to replace.

·   Stained or torn sheets: Toss. We spend over a third of our lives in bed -- why not invest a little money here to be cozy for you and your guests? Find some sheets with a nice thread count: Typically the higher the thread count -- the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric -- the softer the sheets

·   Loose doorknobs and stained couches: Fix. It’s easy to tighten loose doorknobs, and covering your couch in a pretty piece of fabric will make it seem brand new. Now is not the time to go furniture-hunting!

Scent It Up Buy a bag of pinecones and lay them out to infuse the house with holiday scent. Light some festive candles, and boil some water infused with cinnamon sticks and orange peels. Nothing is more inviting than a cozy-smelling casita!