Advice

I would have loved a manual on how to raise my kids when I took them home from the hospital.  Literally, a step-by-step guide on each of them.  Since this magical manual does not exist, I had to find...

What is it about that time between the end of the school- and work-day and bedtime that brings out all the crazy feelings and moods? Do you ever feel like you can't get anything done? Wish you had some...

Until recently, I had never painted a wall in my life. I was both completely clueless and totally intimidated. Finally, after Googling "how to paint a wall," I spent a month painting every room in my house a different...

“How do you get protein?” If you’re a vegetarian (or vegan), you have heard this question more than a time or two. I always respond with some combination of the following: “It’s actually not hard,” “I’ve always been perfectly healthy,”...

For my family in the 1980s, the destination for family photographs was a department store portrait studio.  While studios continue to be a great option, outdoor locations can bring personality and variety to framed photos and holiday cards.  Iowa's...

I have been a stepmom for four years now. I’ve learned a lot along the way, and there are definitely things I am still trying to work through. As dynamics change and my stepkids' ages change, it seems like...

One year ago, our family pet–our cat, Tommy–died. He got really sick, really quickly, and it was completely unexpected. We had adopted him from the shelter when he was a kitten and our children were six, three, and one....

I was so healthy I hadn’t even been to the doctor in ten years. I hadn't had so much as a cold since the Clinton administration! But my new health insurance was forcing me to get a checkup. I...

Several months ago, I shared the story of my experience with bullies and ways to combat bullying behavior.  With a new school year underway, there is no time like the present to talk to your kids about bullies and bully...

When my husband and I bought our first house many years ago, I looked forward to having visitors. We finally had enough space for overnight guests, and we would clean the entire house, top to bottom, in anticipation of...