Marriage separation can serve two purposes: not only can it serve as a basis for a new relationship between married partners, but it can also serve as an ending point, the last stand before divorce proceedings are begun. Either way,…
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Overview Perhaps you don’t think of Texas as a site for a tropical getaway. However, South Padre Island just might change your mind. Located at the southern tip of the Lone Star State, the barrier island is a year-round vacation…
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Swimming pools draw crowds all summer, to escape the heat and indulge in splashing fun or relaxing in the sun. But pools present hazards. The University of Massachusetts Medical Center reports about 300 children under age 14 drown each year…
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Overview Moving through marriage without running into conflict is rare. According to “Psychology Today,” while more than half of all first marriages end in divorce, 60 percent of second marriages also fail. Therefore, understanding conflict within your marriage and how…
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Overview If you loan someone money or lease them property, you can report the loan or lease, as well as the person’s payment history, to each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Reporting a newly issued debt…
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Overview A restraining order is a court injunction limiting a person’s right to move about freely. Courts will not grant you a restraining order unless you can provide good reasons to do so. If you feel you are in immediate…
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If you suspect that your spouse might be involved in an affair, you can feel a whole range of emotions, including betrayal, shock, anger and depression. However, it is best to find out whether your suspicions are justified, so that…
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In a Reader’s Digest “Marriage in America Survey,” 42 percent of people identified depression as one of the major challenges facing their relationship. Depression can put a drain on even the healthiest marriage, as it is a mental disease that…
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How did you ever get a date before the Net? Online dating sites offer a wealth of interactive features, quizzes, scorecards and similar tools that purport to help you find your perfect match. But maybe you’re disillusioned by the connections–or…
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Reducing your water use means you are not only conserving a precious natural resource. You also are using less electrical energy from water treatment plants and reintroducing less toxins into the air from clean water production. Take small steps every…
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Over 20 million people visit at least one online dating website per month, says “Online Dating” magazine. That means you can choose from a large pool of potential matches, but it can also mean you’re set up for a lot…
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Overview At 34-miles long and just a few blocks wide, South Padre Island, Texas is a small active vacation destination. The island is a summer retreat for inland Texans looking to hit the beach. The resident population includes folks from…
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Overview Grief is a normal reaction to any major loss. Most people move through grief without the help of a mental health professional. However, the healing process can be stalled. Multiple losses or the sudden or traumatic loss of a…
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Overview Allergies to milk and eggs present themselves in early childhood. According to the Food and Anaphylaxis Network, approximately 2.5 percent of children under the age of three are allergic to milk and approximately 1.5 percent of young children are…
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Plastic is nearly ubiquitous in modern society and has proliferated as packaging for foodstuffs in recent decades. According to the plastics business portal Plastemart.com, rigid plastic food packaging is projected to increase in North America from 2008 to 2013 at…
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Solar panels are a popular form of alternative energy. Instead of using power generated by fossil fuels–and sometimes resulting from high energy costs–some homeowners choose to install solar panels to provide power to the home. This energy source can drastically…
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Healthy communication is the foundation for strong, satisfying relationships and friendships. If you play games with each other, you run the risk that someone may not understand what you are talking about or asking for, leading to miscommunication and possible…
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Overview Your credit history is compiled by reporting agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They provide it on request to various entities for different reasons. It is usually used by lenders to evaluate your creditworthiness when you fill out an application,…
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Former First Lady Barbara Bush once said, “To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” The family unit has changed drastically from the 1950s, when June and Ward Cleaver headed up the perfect American family….
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Overview The Family Medical Leave Act, FMLA, provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in any 12-month period to employees who qualify. The leave may be taken to care for the employee’s medical condition, a employee’s family member with…
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Overview Legal separation is permitted in some, but not all states in the U.S., according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law. Although some variations in the statutes exist from one jurisdiction to another, the laws regarding legal…
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Overview Life insurance and annuities are related but distinct products issued by insurance companies. Straight life insurance pays a death benefit to beneficiaries upon the death of the insured, whereas annuities pay accumulated benefits to policyholders, and occasionally to their…
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The plastic that is found in most water bottles—polyethylene terephtalate, or PET—is derived from petroleum and does not break down naturally, explains Science Daily. When it is not properly recycled, PET can end up in landfills and ditches for several…
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Overview According a report prepared by the Institute of Medicine, if you don’t have health insurance, you won’t live as long as someone who does. You will also be less healthy overall, and when you do receive medical care, it…
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Overview Gap liability insurance provides coverage for any difference between your outstanding car loan balance and your auto insurance company’s vehicle valuation. If your car is totaled due to a collision, accident or weather-related incident, your automobile insurance company will…
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Another Friday night passes and you are leaving the club without phone numbers or a serious connection with any of the men inside. You may not know what you’re doing wrong, but it’s what you are neglecting to do that…
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Overview Anchoring the stretch of South Carolina shoreline known as the Grand Strand is the city of Myrtle Beach, which offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for adults and children. Families can enjoy learning about the benefits of the…
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When you’re single and don’t want to be, it can sometimes seems as if the world is filled with couples. Finding a boyfriend involves putting yourself in the position to meet single guys who might be looking for girlfriends. Ask…
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Conservation of natural resources is an important step to ensure sustainable growth and sufficient resources for future generations. Saving water can entail modifying your consumption habits, making wise appliance choices, replacing older water fixtures and performing basic maintenance to prevent…
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Many concerned people are interested in reducing our carbon footprint. Dependency on foreign oil has been at the forefront of the media for some time, not to mention the environmental impacts oil can have. Economic pressures are forcing people to…
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