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Most Dangerous Holiday Traffic Day
 The most dangerous holiday to drive is New Year's Eve, right? Wrong! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the most dangerous holiday to take to the road is Thanksgiving. So be sure to drive safe this week. It seems that Thanksgiving is a perfect storm of event: long distance travel, packed roads, long days of drinking wine and beer, sleepy drivers from the turkey and general stress. Independence Day is the second most dangerous day, followed by Memorial Day and Labor Day. New Year's Eve doesn't show up until number five. The best advice they recommend is to stay home, which isn't an option or most, or to fly. If you must drive, then wear a seatbelt, make a plan for getting home if you're going to be drinking and don't speed. Labels: advice, health, holidays, study
Will Smith: The Secret to Marriage Is...
 It's sad that it's so abnormal, but the fact that Will Smith and wife Jada have made their Hollywood marriage last 11 years is something worth noting. It seems that marriages in Hollywood are in dog years. So what's their secret? In an interview with Essence magazine, Will says it's dedication. "The secret is removing divorce as an option. Anyone who gives themselves that option will get a divorce," says Will. Jada adds in the interview that in order for any relationship to survive, you need to work at it. Will says that in life, we're all alone. "But when somebody loves you, that experience is shared," says Will. "Love is the only real connective tissue that allows you to not live and die by yourself." What's your secret to a successful marriage? Labels: advice, celebrity
One Couple's Cost Cutting Tips
We know times are tough...the market tumbled again a few hundred points today. If you're looking to save money here and there, check out the daily habits of this couple, which include unplugging all the electric devices in their home every morning before going to work. What have you done to save money? Labels: advice, money
What to Do With Your Money
 Are you a deer in headlights when it comes to your money in the market? You probably feel like the rodent that's been run over. Regardless, Newsweek offers some advice. It says to put your money back into the market--as much as you can--really. Their logic is that over the long haul, the market will go up. Here are some more specific bits of advice: Put your money in a Roth IRA"You'll pay income taxes on the amount you convert, but that amount is probably a lot lower than it would have been without the recent market rout. And given the astronomical deficits that Washington will have to fix sooner or later, your tax rate may be at an all-time low. Once your money is in a Roth, you'll be able to reap all the future earnings without paying taxes on them." Invest for income. "High-yield stocks and corporate bonds have been among the hardest hit in recent market sell-offs, but they are exactly what you want in your portfolio as you head into retirement" Use a health savings account.The theory behind these is that they enable you to save up to your deductible without paying taxes on it... For 2008, you can contribute $5,800 and an additional $900 in catch-up contributions if you're 55 or older." What have you done with your money, anything? Labels: advice, money
ADHD Kids Strain Marriages
 It's not surprising that kids can affect and put strain on a marriage, but this stat is high. According to a study by State University of New York-Buffalo, parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are almost twice as likely as other parents to divorce by the time their child is 8 years old. The authors of the study say, however, that if you and your spouse can survive the eighth birthday, the rate of divorce stops climbing. Further adding to the stress is the fact that ADHD is hereditary and mothers with ADHD children are are 24 times more likely than other mothers to have it while fathers are five times more likely. Meaning, while trying to deal with a child, one of the parents is very likely to also have ADHD, which can be a point of conflict on its own. Some good news came out of this article from USA Today, researchers in Canada found no difference in divorce rate of parents with ADHD children. Do you have a child who's been diagnosed with ADHD; and has that affected your marriage? Labels: advice, health, kids, parenting, study
"Honey, It's Time for a Diet"
 Belittling a loved one about being too fat and then undermining efforts to lose weight are common mistakes among couples according to experts in this article from MSNBC. For example, making jokes about your spouse's weight, then when they do start losing the pounds, bring home a thing of cookies. In this article, this scenario happened and the couple eventually got divorced. So how do you tell your spouse that they're gaining a little too much weight and you're worried about them? Here are a few tips: 1. Don't nag 2. Be loving 3. Don't judge 4. Help solve problems 5. Don't sabotage 6. Be a role model 7. Don't play cop 8. Be a role model To get more in-depth explanations on these steps, click here. Do you think you're spouse needs to lose weight? Talk about it on our forum. Labels: advice, food, health
Don't Count on Holiday Bonuses
 It may be a little early talking about the holidays, but they are just around the corner. And with the economy going crazy like it has, it's worth planning now than get stuck on December 24th with no bonus check for relief. The AP just came out with a story saying that many who are expecting and have received year-end or holiday bonuses in the past shouldn't expect to get them this year. Obviously if the company you work for is doing well and has been doing well, you may not have anything to worry about. Then again, they may be planning for rougher waters ahead. Either way, here's your friendly reminder that it's not wise to plan on non-guaranteed money. Labels: advice, holidays, money, news
Secret to Happy Marriage: 4 Hugs a Day
 A study, which this article from the Telegraph doesn't say from where, says four hugs a day is a key to a happy marriage. The study interviewed 4,000 couples and also found many other secrets. Like the four hugs, many are surprisingly specific. For example, seven evenings in together every month with two proper dinner dates. Another is two romantic walks a month and at least one visit to a pub or cinema without the children or other friends. Other highlights from the study are: - Husbands should give their wife flowers or another gift at least once a month - People to spend at least one evening away from their partner a month What's the secret to your happy marriage? Labels: advice, date night, real people, romance, study
Stop the Wandering Eye
 New research by Florida State University reveals that men and women have less temptation when their significant other is on their mind. This could be as simple as a phone call made when your husband is out with the boys or a text when your wife is out dancing with her friends. One of the study's authors, Gian Gonzaga says "This must be very deeply ingrained in us, because it happens so quickly, and we can't consciously control it. The findings show that both sexes can curb the urge to cheat by thinking about their significant others." Another study by UCLA showed that men and women just thinking about their mate curbs their attention toward the opposite sex. So go ahead and let your spouse have fun with their friends, just remind them before they leave or while they're out that you love them. Do you have any rules about your spouse going out? Labels: advice, men, study, women
Get Your Wife Into Gaming
 Ok, so this article from MSNBC ( click here) is on getting your girlfriend into gaming, but the same rules apply after you're hitched. The first rule: Don't be a jerk, meaning don't throw your controller, drop f-bombs, and ignore your spouse when they're right there next to you because you're engrossed in the game. Another tip is to pick the right game. Don't try and force them to like Halo if they're not into it. Remember, gaming is suppose to be fun. Some recommended games mentions are Harry Potter, Rock Band, and Elite Beat Agents. Finally, try playing co-op. Many games have a cooperative mode, where you and a buddy can tackle missions as a duo. Don't forget to compliment when your spouse on their video game successes either. Do you and your spouse have a favorite game? Labels: advice, entertainment, video games, women
Know What Gets Better With Age?
 Marriage. So says, author Maggie Scarf in her new book "September Songs: The Good News About Marriage in the Later Years." Scarf has spent more than 30 years studying relationships and has been married herself for 55 years. USA Today interviewed Scarf and you can read the interview here. Here's what Scarf responded to the question of how do couples get better with age? "As you age, it's no secret that you lose memory, vision, hearing, but there is one domain in which you probably get a lot better, and that is emotional control and emotional processing. These emotional changes promote a motivation to get the toxic people out of your life." Labels: advice, book, study
Put Marriage Before Kids
 This article from The Christian Science Monitor says the secret to a happy marriage is to put your marriage before your kids. By making your kids the center of your universe, parents become anxious and exhausted and it's not just bad for marriage, but in the end it's bad for the kids too. Here are some tips from the article: There are three keys to a successful marriage and family:
1) Recognize that we've already chosen the perfect spouse. No, we would NOT choose better next time;
2) Recognize how often our fight-or-flight instinct overrides our passion in marriage. To create a happy marriage, we need to go from the fantasy, "It's his/her fault that I'm unhappy" to the truth, "I wouldn't do any better in my next marriage, so I might as well give 100 percent to this one;" and
3) Recognize that if we build a great marriage, we create a great role model for our kids, and they learn self-reliance and cooperation in the process. Do you find that your kids come before your relationship? Labels: advice, kids, parenting
Marriage, World of Warcraft Don't Always Mix
 Men love video games. Women love video games too, but that's another post. Men who spend too much time playing World of Warcraft (WoW) could find themselves creating an unhealthy relationship environment. This self-professed writer and WoW addict uses guidelines such as setting time limits on his play ( click here). This can be applied to all video games--Madden '09 just came out! For other tips, you could set aside a certain day you play, throw a game party, play when the other is out or asleep, or invite them to play with you. Out of curiosity, have you and your spouse argued over too much video game play? This reminds me of that movie with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, The Break-up. Remember the scene where she's trying to get him to help get ready for a party and he's trying to squeeze in some Grand Theft Auto time? Like this one and in most other cases, video games aren't the problem just a symptom. Remember, video games are supposed to be fun, telling your friends and family you got divorced because you play them is not. Play responsibly. Labels: advice, entertainment, men
Train Like an Olympian
 In case you haven't seen a newspaper, TV or been on the web recently, today is the start of the Beijing Olympics. When you're watching those finely tuned athletes perform swifter, higher and stronger and realize that you'll never be able to do that, it doesn't mean that you can't train like an Olympian. Best Life magazine interviewed a few Olympic coaches to get training tips for us non-Olympians. Larry Nicholson, assistant coach for USA Boxing says to get quick nimble feet, place eight cones three feet apart in a line, and then do three sets of each of the following exercises: Weave through them at a sprint, weave through them while high stepping, jump over them with your feet together, and weave through them while facing sideways. Bob Bowman, coach to Michael Phelps says the key to Phelps success is his long swim stroke. To get you own gold-medal stroke consciously extend your arms. Bowman says, "It will feel awkward at first, like you're exaggerating each stroke, but once you start hitting those longer strokes at your previous short-stroke speed, you'll be faster, stronger, and fitter." To read the advice of all the coaches, click here. Labels: advice, event, health
Do Self Breast Exams Work?
 According to Cochrane Collaboration, there is no evidence that monthly self exams reduce breast cancer deaths. This article in U.S. News & World Report then asks the question: What should you do then? While checking yourself regularly may not help according to the new findings, experts say if you do feel something unusual, get it checked out. The report also is not suggesting that self exams are bad, just that it's not correcting the breast cancer problem. It's not surprising, however, that some doctors still feel that self breast exams are helpful. The bottom line according to the article is that if you are currently conduction your own regular exams, you don't need to stop, but know it might not be as effective as once thought. And if you're not a regular self-examiner, you don't have to feel guilty about it. Labels: advice, health, study, women
Couple Mark 70 Years of Marriage
 British couple Arthur Lewis, 93, and Irene, 88 married on July 30, 1938 and just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. For their 60th and 65th anniversaries they received messages from the Queen. No royal congratulations this time, but they are satisfied with two prior recognitions. So what's the secret to their success? Mr Lewis said they had always managed to settle their disagreements. "We've had differences of opinion over quite a lot of things," he said. "But we never went to bed on an argument. We didn't make a big issue out of things, we've been partners in everything." What's the secret to your marriage success? Labels: advice, real people, romance
Mindfulness and the Art of Choice
 Our very own Dr. Karen Sherman has a new book out titled, "Mindfulness and the Art of Choice: Transform Your Life." Dr. Sherman was recently featured on the Reader Views website, which offers a review of her book, a video overview of what you can get out of her book, an interview with Dr. Sherman, and you can listen to the audio interview with Dr. Sherman. Here's a brief snippet of their review of her book: There are many books on the market that cover the same issues as Dr. Sherman, however, there isn’t one that is as concise and to the point as "Mindfulness and the Art of Choice" is. In less than 100 pages she helps the reader become aware of personal issues/reactions embedded in the memory. Within a few simple exercises we can change the feelings associated with the situation. At the same time we can move away from recreating those same feelings in another situation. It may sound like a difficult task, and it could be. However, Dr. Sherman simplifies everything for us through her explanations and exercises--to a point where "Mindfulness and the Art of Choice" becomes truly a self-help book. If you weren't aware, Dr. Sherman is a regular guest on the Hitched Podcast and can also be found on the Hitched website here.Labels: advice, book, hitched, resource
Marriage Counseling Online
 You thought eHarmony was just for people looking to hook up? Well, it used to be, but now they've added eHarmony Marriage, an online program to help couples work through their troubles. This article from The Christian Science Monitor says couples get started by filling out a 40-minute online questionnaire covering issues ranging from finances to housework, trust, family relationships, and spirituality. Each partner answers separately. Their responses generate a computer report outlining their strengths and weaknesses as a couple. Couples pay $150 for the program, which typically takes six to eight weeks to complete. This sounds like a good first step for couples to take if their marriage is in trouble, of course, after reading through our archives of articles! Les Parrott, who created the program says this computerized therapy isn't a replacement of face-to-face counseling, however. Is this something you'd consider? Labels: advice, resource
Perfect Husband Tips
 Best Life magazine author Hugh O'Neill has written an article giving numerous tips on how to be the perfect husband. Do these tips work? Apparently for O'Neill they do, considering he proclaims to be the world's best husband. I actually think it's pretty cool that he makes this claim. Why not be prideful in being a great spouse? Anyway, here are some of his tips: 1. Kill the words "never" and "always." O'Neill explains that they're gas on fire words. 2. Save and focus your "husband" attention at pivotal times throughout the day. For example, when you come home from work and meet up with your spouse, that's a good time to focus your energy on being a good husband. 3. Laugh at your wife's attempts at humor. O'Neill says it's a sign of respect. O'Neill has more tips, but you'll have to click here to read them. Also, what's your best tip for being a good spouse? Click here are start a discussion. Labels: advice, commentary, men, romance
Tech and Internet Don'ts for Marrieds
 There's no doubt that technology plays a huge part in our lives. If you're a young married couple, you might find that it plays an even bigger role in your life considering the Facebook profile you must keep up with, the websites you read daily, the podcasts you listen to and so on. This column from Connected Internet offers four items to look out for when you're married. 1. Don't spend all day blogging. 2. If you must blog, make some money doing it. 3. Don't make any major tech purchases without first consulting your partner. 4. If you have made a purchase, wait a while before you even consider your next one. Each one of these points is given more thought and explanation that you can read here. What's your bad technology habit and how has it affected your relationship? Labels: advice, commentary
Not Smoking is Contagious
 A team of researchers at the Harvard Medical School has found that while the urge to smoke is contagious, so is the act of not smoking. These researchers also showed the same type of connection in the past to obesity. In addition, smokers who don't stop smoking while the rest of their group does increasingly find themselves pushed to the edge of their social circles. If this is the findings for general social behavior, it would only seem logical that couples who both smoke would find better success if they both quit at the same time? Do you have any experience with this? Read the complete article here.Labels: advice, health, study
How to Beat New Luggage Charge
 American Airlines announced today that they'll begin charging travelers for their luggage. No, not starting with their second bag, but the first bag that travelers check-in. American Airlines will impose a $15 fee beginning June 15th. This article from MSNBC offers a few tips for how to beat the new charge. First, read your contract and make sure that AA doesn't try to charge you before June 15th. Second, carry your bag on. Obviously you'd have to pack lighter so that you could carry it on, but for a short trip it'll do. Third, flash your frequent flier card--they're exempt from the new charge. Finally, MSNBC recommends notifying the Transportation Department of your displeasure and ask them to act. Geez, as if traveling in the summer wasn't tough enough. Labels: advice, money, travel
Date Night Wines
 One of our favorite vlogs, WineLibraryTV recently had an episode (451) on date night wines. This episode was targeted toward the pre-married crowd, but we say, why not use these tips to impress your spouse? On the show the host, Gary Vaynerchuk and his special guest, Twanna Hines sampled three different wines, a rose, white and red. One of the big tips from Gary was to break out of your regular box--no, not box wine--you know, the standard Merlot, Chianti, Chardonnay,and try something a little different. For example, they sampled a Barbera d'Asti wine, which is a red Italian wine produced from the Barbera grape variety. To watch the episode, click here. What's your favorite wine? Labels: advice, date night, food
TV in Bedroom is Bad
 A new study published in the journalPediatrics offers a whole bunch of reasons why having a TV in the bedroom of adolescence is a bad idea. We realize that this study was done with teenagers in mind, but listen to the affects and see if you agree that it would also be a good idea to tame TV in the married bedroom. For starters, it leads to more TV viewing (of course), less time spent with the family (hopefully this doesn't apply), less time exercising (very possible), lower fruit and vegetable intake (hmm), and more sweetened beverage consumption (hmm again). Do you have a TV in your bedroom? We did an article a while back with Paul C. Rosenblatt, author of "Two in a Bed". In the article, he addresses this specific issue. Click here to read it.Labels: advice, entertainment, study
Dr. Haltzman appears on Morning Show
 Dr. Scott Haltzman has recently appeared on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet to discuss the topic of infidelity in marriage. Dr. Haltzman did a great job as did some of the other experts who appeared on the show. If you missed the show, not to worry. Click here to view the video. Unfortunately, this website's video player doesn't allow you to fast forward or let us post the video here, but at least it's up and you can view it. If you like what you hear from Dr. Haltzman, be sure to visit his page to get more advice (click here). Labels: advice, commentary, sex
Keeping Your Sex Life Fresh
Preparing For a Layoff
 You can't ignore that the economy is struggling and if you know you're in an industry that's being hit hard, it wouldn't be a bad idea to prepare for a layoff. According to this MSNBC article, 63,000 jobs were cut in February. Is yours next? The article offers 10 steps to help prepare for a layoff. FIrst is to establish an emergency fund. Second, live within your means. Third, use credit cards with caution. Fourth, talk about money with your spouse. Fifth, tackle your high-interest debt. The article offers more details for each of these, plus the final five tips. Have you been laid off or are you preparing to be laid off? How is that affecting your relationship? Labels: advice, money, news, work
Couple Needs $225,000 for Retirement Healthcare
 Fidelity Investments says that couples retiring today would need $225,000 to cover medical costs. That figure is up 4.7% from the $215,000 estimate for 2007 by Fidelity. A separate study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College estimates that couples would need $206,000 to cover medical costs. I guess it's safe to say that you'll need a little over $100k a piece to cover just your medical costs. To really put things into perspective, in 2002 Fidelity projected that a couple would need $160,000. Whoa. To read the complete article, click here. Labels: advice, money, study
Mending Your Marriage After an Affair
 The best way to mend the wounds of an affair according to experts is for the cheater to be open and candid about the affair and accept responsibility. Author John Gray, who examines relationship problems in his latest book, "Why Mars and Venus Collide" says the cheater must admit betrayal and state their desire to be faithful. In this article from Florida Today, wife Angela Gilbert requires her cheating husband to take a lie detector test every year. She says, "I don't trust him the way I did before. I feel safe because of the measures we put in place." Another expert, Rick Reynolds says it takes about 18 months for the hurt spouse to work through all the emotions that come with an affair. He also says it's important to establish ground rules like Gilbert and know when to let the affair go. There's more tips in the article, which concludes by saying the best defense to an affair is to talk openly with your spouse about any temptation. Psychologist Barry McCarthy says, "Lies thrive in secrecy." Labels: advice, real people
Don't Neglect Marriage After Baby Arrives
 An article from AZCentral.com tells the story of new parents and how the child has changed their marriage. At the end of the article, there are many tips for new parents to think about. The tips are broken down into frequency: daily, weekly, monthly and annually. Some of their tips include: make time to talk, go out on a date at least once a week, get away for one night every month, and plan at least one getaway vacation once a year. A point they make at the end of the article is that eventually the children will grow up and leave. If you've nurtured your relationship throughout parenthood, you'll have fun for many years to come. Click here to read the full article.Labels: advice, family, kids, parenting, pregnancy
Special Podcast for Valentine's Day
 If you're not a regular listener to our podcast, now's the time to start. For the first time, we have a special podcast in the middle of the week. Dr. Trina Read, our Sexpert, was kind enough to give us a few minutes of her time to explain how couples can use Valentine's Day to initiate fun and play into your sex life. The entire podcast is less than 10 minutes and well worth it. Who knows, you might even become a regular listener. Here's looking forward to a Happy Valentine's Day. Click here to go to and listen to the podcast. Labels: advice, holidays, romance, sex
Eat Your Way to a Better Sex Life
 Self magazine has put out an article which lists various foods that will boost your libido in the bedroom. A rule of thumb according to Lynn Edlen-Nezin, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist who co-wrote "Great Food, Great Sex," suggests what's good for the heart is good for the genitals. This is a really great article with lots of scientific explanation as to why certain foods affect your sex life, but we'll cut to the chase. Some of the food listed include: almonds, walnuts, salmon, cod, halibut, tomatoes, red peppers, garlic, spinach, broccoli, beets, berries, red grapes and much more. To read the full article, click here.Labels: advice, book, health, sex
Why Mars and Venus Collide
 Author John Gray, PhD just released his new book this week, "Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress." Gray is best known for his bestseller, "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" and has brought us back to the two planets to focus on the ways that men and women misinterpret and mismanage the stress in their daily lives. These misinterpretations then go on to affect the marriage. From the publisher HarperCollins website it says: Backed up by groundbreaking scientific research, Gray offers a clear, easy-to-understand program to bridge the gap between the two planets, providing effective communication strategies that will actually lower stress levels. Whether in a relationship or single, this book will help both men and women understand their new roles in a modern, work-oriented society, and allow them to discover a variety of new and practical ways to create a lifetime of love and harmony. So are you going to take a trip out of this world? Click here to read more.Labels: advice, book, celebrity
Warning Signs of a Troubled Marriage
 About.com offers a lengthy bullet list of items that are warning signs of a troubled marriage. We've pulled out a couple of them and hopefully they don't look too familiar. - The two of you bicker a great deal. - You don't fight fair. - You no longer have fun together. - You don't trust one another and feel suspicious. - One of you, or both, has been unfaithful. Seriously, that last line is on their list. Labels: advice
What Kills Sex In A Marriage?
 USA Today gives a Q&A with the authors of Sex-Starved Wife (Michele Weiner Davis) and He's Just Not Up for It Anymore (Bob Berkowitz and Susan Yager-Berkowitz) about what kills sex in a marriage. Here's a sample question and answer from that article: Q: Is there an average or normal amount of sexual activity among married couples, and how does it change with time?
Weiner Davis: It's really very subjective. For some couples, if they had sex twice a week, they'd think they died and went to heaven. For others, it would put them in divorce court. Mutual interest needs to be taken into account.
Yager-Berkowitz: To me, what's normal is if both partners are happy. From the first days of a relationship to maybe three years, the brain hormones of people tend to be far more sexual to reproduce or form an attachment for all kinds of cultural and psychological reasons. What's normal in the first year of a relationship is very different in 10 years. To read the full article click here. Labels: advice, book, sex
Get Some Quality Alone Time Together
 The Denver Post interviewed Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "The Weekend Marriage: Abundant Love in a Time-Starved World." The Post asks Kirshenbaum, "Why is it important for couples to get alone time?" Kirshenbaum first makes the distinction between vegging out in front of the TV together without engagement and actually paying attention to the other person. She goes on to say no matter what it is you do, "it's got to be something that makes you feel again the way you felt when you were first together." Sounds like some pretty good advice. Kirshenbaum takes it one step further, too. Saying that couples should shoot for having at least one real connection a day. Doesn't sound too hard right? Her examples include a real meaningful tight hug or a lingering kiss. Of course, you could take these instances further and go for a walk, play games together, etc. As your work loads become unbalanced, Kirshenbaum recommends sitting down once a month to discuss what's on the horizon to help keep your time and relationship in balance. Do you make a concerted effort every day to connect with your spouse? Labels: advice, book
Holiday Tipping Tip Sheet
 Kiplinger.com has put together a nice tip sheet on, well, tipping. We've broken out a couple of the tipping guidelines for you. If you want to read all of them, click here. CLEANING PERSONHow much to tip: The cost of one visit if he or she visits weekly or bi-weekly, says protocol adviser Rosanne Thomas. Up the tip amount for a cleaning person who works more often. Exceptions: If you use a cleaning service that works in a team, a box of chocolates for the team is customary. HAIRSTYLISTHow much to tip: The normal cost of a visit for a stylist you've used all year. Exceptions: If your stylist doubles as a confidante, include a small personal gift that speaks to his or her interests as well as a monetary gift. If you don't require as much attention from your stylist or barber, you may prefer to give only about $20 as a tip during your December visit. PERSONAL TRAINERHow much to tip: $50. Exceptions: The key question to ask yourself is whether you have an ongoing, above-average relationship with the professional, says etiquette expert Charlotte Ford. Tip at year end if you feel you've gotten above-average service year-round. BABY SITTERHow much to tip: Nanny or au pair -- one week's pay and a small gift from the child; regular sitter -- one to two nights' pay; day-care provider -- $25 to $70. Exceptions: Only give a holiday tip if you've frequently used the sitter during the year or you had to call on them in an 11th hour emergency, advises Thomas Blaikie, etiquette expert and author of "To the Manner Born." Labels: advice, holidays, money, work
In The Spirit of Thanksgiving: Wine TV
 Hey everyone, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd pass along a really fun and informative wine video blog I've been watching for the past several weeks. The host of the show is Gary Vaynerchuk or Vay-ner-chuk, director of operations at the Wine Library. Amazingly, Gary produces a new video blog every day! The videos are always entertaining and his descriptions of the smell and taste are vivid and encompassing. When Gary's done describing a wine, there's no doubt you'll know what you're getting when you pick up that bottle. Gary's never short of NY Jets references in his quest to build his army of Vaniacs to change the wine world. --Steve Labels: advice, food
The Orgasmic Diet
 I know, I thought it was a daily dose of In-N-Out Double Doubles, animal style (it's a west coast thing), but it's not. Marrena Lindberg is a diet & fitness coach on AOL and also the author of "The Orgasmic Diet," a nutrition and exercise program designed to regulate a woman's brain chemistry and body functioning and bring her to mind-blowing orgasm. Here's a little taste of what her book has to offer: Women on a typical high-carb, high-fat diet are literally starving for dopamine, the "feel good" neurotransmitter, hormone and key to all things sensual. Now you're thinking, How do I get my hands on that stuff? Fish oil supplements. Take 500 mg or more with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA daily.
...Researchers have shown that women who eat a small amount of high-quality dark chocolate every day have better sex lives. Dark chocolate contains chemical compounds that mimic the chemistry produced by that I'm-in-love feeling. That was a nice little tidbit. So what do you think? If your body only performs as well as the fuel you put into it, it makes sense that it would affect your sex drive. Do you have a "sexual" diet you adhere when trying to get in the mood or improve performance? Labels: advice, food, health, sex
Ok To Look?
 An article by Men's Health, asks the question if a wandering eye means infidelity is around the corner? Their answer was no. But they did offer rules of catching a peek. Their first rule is to admit when they're taking a look. They do mention, however, that men shouldn't overdo any compliment about another woman. Their second rule takes a look at the glancers history. Is this how he picked you up? If so, then maybe it's something you should worry about. Their final blurb says that sometimes, men just take a glance at the action in their environment and are not necessarily checking out a particular woman. Unfortunately this advice goes sour in the closing paragraph when the author says, "And a woman who tries to squelch that right with paranoid accusations might actually provoke her man to follow up one of those glances with action." Okay, a little slack since the audience of Men's Health isn't directly targeting married couples. But if you're on a date whether single or married and the man you're with does what this author suggests, that guy has serious character issues. These stereotypes are tired and guys should be given more credit. Click here to read the full article. Labels: advice, commentary
Put Some Broccoli On
 It was something that you were always told to do. But few, if any, of us did. Researches have discovered that broccoli, among many other great things that vegetables do, can help reduce the redness and inflammation caused by sun damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer. In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, lead study author Dr. Paul Talalay said the extract of the broccoli sprout boosts the protective systems of the cell to counteract the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. The extract showed a 37 percent reduction in redness and inflammation caused by UV rays and lasted days after the broccoli extract was washed away. It's suffice to mention the broccoli extract does not act as a sunscreen, which unlike sunscreen, the extract does not absorb UV light, and Talalay stresses that people not replace their sunscreen. Perhaps the two will marry into the ultimate sun protection for you and your spouse's skin. Labels: |
