Memorial Day means a nod of approval to wear white clothes and shoes and to carry a white bag. For most of us, it marks the unofficial first day of summer and a time for strappy sandals and flip flops….
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Over the last few years, soap has developed a tarnished reputation as far as being harsh on the skin. However, today’s high-tech soaps are actually good for your skin. The trick is to figure out whether you’re buying the right…
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If yours is like most American families, you feel lucky to have even one night a week when nobody has any sports events, music lessons or appointments scheduled. Although you have the best intentions as far as making sure your…
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Before they have children, most parents assume their family will be serene. This mental picture, which usually also involves a lovely holiday scene, is firmly planted until the first child arrives. Picture this familiar scenario. You’ve filled the dishwasher and…
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I knew we were soul mates two weeks after we met. I was 23, just 1 year into a marriage that should never have happened. He was 15 years older, with 3 children and a marriage that had already involved…
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It might be just as sparkly as that gorgeous diamond ring in the jeweler’s display case. But you probably won’t be wearing a nanodiamond anytime soon. Nanodiamonds have a carbon structure a lot like that of the sparkler we’d all…
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March 9, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
The feeling of being euphorically in love on the wedding day can be very different from loving your spouse even just a few years later. Chance are, when you exchanged vows, each of you had a fluttering heart as well…
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When I investigated insuring my latest sparkler, I was shocked at how little it would cost. Like many recipients of holiday jewelry, I typically spent more time admiring the piece than considering whether I should insure it. Kimberly Lankford, writing…
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Alexa knew something was up when she spotted a bag from a local jewelry store tucked behind the driver’s seat of Robert’s car. While she figured it was something sparkly he planned to give her over dinner that night, she…
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February 5, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
The economics of love and marriage goes a lot deeper than whether a married couple pays a higher or a lower amount in income taxes than they would if they had remained single. Read a few interviews with Dr. Phil…
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January 21, 2015 Skin and Body
It’s a frightening thing when parents notice a bump under a child’s skin. They first wonder if the child has hurt himself, then sometimes panic and think of potential catastrophic causes like cancer. Most parents – and grandparents – aren’t…
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Until very recently, I would have agreed that using plus-sized models to present fashions in that size range was preferable than sending size 0s (okay, maybe a few 2s) down the runway. However, after recently losing 50 pounds, I’ve changed…
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January 17, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
There’s a popular saying that insists if you wonder if a marriage is over, it probably is. However, since every relationship is different, it’s unwise to generalize. Often women sense that something in the dynamic they share with their spouse…
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Almost everyone’s first impression of Randy was the same: a real catch for somebody special. He came across as a bright, friendly, conscientious and attractive 28-year-old. However, during encounters lasting more than half an hour, he always managed to turn…
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September 23, 2014 Crisis Support
It’s a support group unknown to most Americans. Launched in 1994, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides assistance for the families of military personnel killed in Iraq or Afghanistan or while on other assignments. The organization seeks to…
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May 21, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
Because the United States has evolved over the last 50 years to a country where serial marriages are common, a better way to pose the questions is, “Do second marriages work?” The short answer: some do, some don’t. Although I…
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