Retirement is often touted as “The golden years,” but many who have reached that pinnacle might refute that glowing description. Retirement presents many challenges and concerns surrounding finances, health and the question, “Now, what do I do with the rest…
Read more
November 12, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
The theory that “opposites attract” is never more evident than in a marriage between an introvert and an extrovert. Can these two personality types, who are polar opposites in their approach to life, survive and thrive in a united partnership?…
Read more
November 1, 2015 Friends and Peers
If ever there is a time to bite your tongue, it is when a friend confides to you that they want out of a bad marriage. Much as you wish to be empathetic and helpful to your friend, the wise…
Read more
Some families are comfortable and fun to be around. There is an unmistakable positive vibe in the atmosphere of their home. Loving one another isn’t enough; they genuinely like one another and enjoy working, playing and spending time together. Individuals…
Read more
Gathering the family together at mealtime is one way to strengthen family ties and stay in touch with one another’s lives. Today’s hectic lifestyles comprised of two income households, single parents doing it all, extra-curricular activities and other demands imposed…
Read more
There are two main reasons why women buy multiple pairs of shoes: Appearance and comfort. Unlike men, who can get by with a pair of dress shoes and a pair of sport shoes, women have many things to consider when…
Read more
October 12, 2015 Communication
Efforts to really know your partner continue throughout your lifetime. People do not change, but they do mature in their tastes, preferences, attitudes and feelings. What keeps a relationship alive and interesting is your desire to know your partner completely,…
Read more
Small talk is holding light conversations about everyday things. When you engage in small talk, you are perceived as a friendly, outgoing person, which can be beneficial in both business and personal life. For some individuals, small talk comes easy…
Read more
Dinner and a movie sounds like the ideal, lighthearted way to spend time on a date. For a first date, dinner and a movie could potentially be unwise. You and your date might run out of things to talk about during dinner,…
Read more
September 17, 2015 Communication
Saying no produces feelings of guilt, when you have the mindset that saying yes means you are a kind, generous person, and saying no means you are not. The guilt stems from the notion that the requestor will perceive you…
Read more
There is much to consider when purchasing hangers for the closet. The goal might be to get organized, but one also wants to be mindful to select hangers that will protect clothing from unnecessary wear and tear. Clothes hangers come…
Read more
September 14, 2015 Communication
Sometimes your words or actions toward another are out of line and an apology is in order. There is an art to offering a sincere apology. When you have hurt someone, either deliberately or inadvertently, remorse will inevitably set in,…
Read more
September 14, 2015 Communication
Active listening can be defined as paying close attention to what another is saying, giving feedback to ensure you interpreted the speaker’s words correctly, aknowledging the speaker’s feelings, and asking questions when appropriate to encourage further conversation. Active listening is…
Read more
September 13, 2015 Communication
Words can be weapons or magical wands. Words can be used to hurt, destroy and tear down or they can uplift, encourage and inspire. Whether written or spoken, there is no denying the power of words. Words project a visual…
Read more
Dating in the workplace is ill-advised, but if you do become smitten, and simply cannot resist forming a close relationship with someone in your office, proceed with caution. Following suggested protocol for dating in the workplace will help you avoid potentially putting your job,…
Read more
What constitutes romance can vary from person to person. Each individual who has ever been romanced, or pined for romance, might have a different list of criteria for top romantic surprises. To give a successful romantic surprise involves raising awareness of…
Read more
My spouse has many sides to his personality, and I know all of them as well as I know myself. Others might think they know my spouse, but their knowledge is limited, as they have only met one facet of…
Read more
Insults come in many forms. Some are disguised in “left-handed” compliments, some are masked as feeble attempts at humor, and some are downright obvious and rude. In whatever manner an insult is administered, the end result will generally be hurt…
Read more
A bridge enables people to advance, to pass over troubled waters and get to the other side. On a balcony you are hemmed in. You can look out into the distance and imagine what might be, but you cannot get there…
Read more
“What a perfect match!” Such a common phrase, used over and over in reference to myriad persons, places and things. Most often the phrase is used to describe a marriage or couple. Examining other relationships is a favorite pastime. We…
Read more
Praise is an effective tool for motivating, encouraging and raising self-confidence. Praise is the basic philosophy of a successful discipline method referred to as “Positive reinforcement.” The object is to catch a child doing something good and administer praise, as…
Read more
Floral patterns are classic staples in designing clothing and accessories. Most women and girls potentially have clothing or accessory items with some type of floral pattern in their closet and drawers. Men, on the other hand, do not wear flowers…
Read more
Argyle is the repeated pattern of diamond shapes in a fabric or article of clothing. There are many interesting variations incorporated into argyle patterns, such as small and large sized diamonds paired in a design, or geometric lines interspersed onto or…
Read more
Each child that comes into the world is unique and has a different way of interacting with his/her world. Just like adults, children have various dispositions and personality traits. Unlike adults, a child is an ongoing “work in progress,” and…
Read more
Sometimes families tend to take one another for granted. Being caught up in daily activities and demands of busy lives, it is easy to neglect some of the most important and potentially enduring relationships one is apt to have –…
Read more
The baby doll dress is back. A modified version of the sixties fashion item has emerged as a hot trend for evening wear today. In the sixties, the short dress dropped from the yoke with a flare and was sometimes…
Read more
Mature persons accept responsibility for their behavior, resisting the urge to place blame on circumstances or other people if they are unhappy with their life situation. Before an individual is fully mature, it is common to blame a dysfunctional childhood when things…
Read more
Dinner and a movie is often the first thought that comes to mind, when you want to ask someone to go out on a date with you. These days dinner and a move can be expensive, and potentially unsatisfying; especially…
Read more
When warm weather arrives, and winter layers of clothing are discarded, plus-size women might be intimidated about how to fashionably dress without showing too much skin. There are a few fashion tricks you can adopt that will give the illusion…
Read more
Fulfillment in life is obtained through loving relationships. Money and achievement can provide happiness in the short term, but for long-term contentment, most individuals attribute their satisfaction with life to family happiness. Happiness comes from within. External forces cannot dictate…
Read more