Saturday, June 30
Mosquito magic?
I brought back a new mosquito-repelling device from a recent garden-writers conference, but the pink plastic bracelet looked too innocuous to be serious.
Mind your manners while making the rounds at the art fair booths
Here's what not to do at the next art festival you hit: Don't drink and browse - you might break something.
Can drug store cleansers stand up to pricier products?
They are dermatologists' perennial favorites: drug store facial cleansers that have been around long before today's cleverly marketed choices. Gentle, cheap and unfussy, they're the answer to skin care regimens that have become increasingly complicated.
Salads with star status
Declare independence from predictable potlucks with these zingers
You might call salads the supporting cast of the Fourth of July barbecue. They may not be the star of the production, but then, few leading men or women can carry the entire show by themselves.
Check out what's new on the site this weekend
We're happy to offer you four brand new stories for your pre-holiday reading pleasure today. Click through for links to what sparks your interest.
Friday, June 29
Recipes to spark your 4th of July
With Independence Day just around the corner, the thought of barbecued ribs is sparking my appetite. Hearty, succulent pork ribs, smoked and basted with barbecue sauce, are a uniquely American tradition. I'll admit, I'm no barbecue expert, but I've found a method of cooking ribs that gets expert results without much fuss. The goal is to get moist, tender ribs from the grill to the grin with as little effort as possible.
Decorate your home with a patriotic theme
When I visited the home of Jan Hamilton I was struck by her desire to create a patriotic them in her home that lasted all year long.
See what's new on the site today
We're toasting another Friday with new stories on our Food, Business, Home and Herspectives pages, plus the first entry from a brand new blogger today! Read on for details and quick links.
Flashback of the day
An art collector drops a pretty piece of change.
Thursday, June 28
At home in the gym
Maybe it's the thought of everyone and their grandchild touching the free weights with their sweaty hands. Or maybe it's that you don't want to have to get dressed up to work out. Or the gym isn't open when you get off work at 3 a.m.
Look at what's fresh on the site today
We're got new stories on the Fitness, Retirement and Men's Room pages plus to brand new blogs today. Click through for previews and links to what interests you.
Getting inside the male and female brains
As both genders age, their brains become more similar. "When you mature, you have to learn how to think both like a man and a woman," says Dr. Malcolm Stewart, a neurologist at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.
Your retirement number can ease your mind
Retirement is right around the corner for Dianne Dunlap, 55, a computer engineer at Cisco Systems, and her husband, Larry Leis. Unlike many people their age - many are worried about having enough savings to retire - this Raleigh, N.C., couple is ready.
Wednesday, June 27
Bringing up Mommy
While someone happening upon this scene might shout, "Midlife crisis!" to my way of thinking, midlife crisis sounds like an old person in a car accident. I choose to see what I'm doing as a direct response to all those years of paying for piano and viola and cello and voice lessons for my kids.
Founding father’s methods blossom in modern gardens
I found myself in central Virginia last week, I did what any red-blooded American vegetable gardener would do: I took the Monticello garden tour. While most people think of Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence, vegetable gardeners know him for his contributions to organic gardening and to garden design.
Hot party, cool wine
Let crisp, lively wines revive heat-flagged palates at your next dinner party
Hot foods and hot wines don't cut it on hot nights, but summer is no time to quit entertaining. Just shift gears — and flavors — to perk up torpid taste buds with the freshest ingredients and boldest tastes. Then pair it all with crisp, refreshing wines.
See what's new on the site this Wednesday
We've got new stories on the Garden, Passions and Wine pages plus two new blogs today! Read on for highlights and links to whatever piques your interest.
Flashback of the day
Barnabas Collins rises from the grave.
Tuesday, June 26
Five things to know about thread count
Once upon a time, 300 thread-count sheets were the standard for luxury. But now, 500- and even 1,000-count linens are available. Which makes us wonder, what's the deal with ever-growing numbers?
Performance anxiety?
Dear Christine, Some people say no news is good news. Is that true in the workplace as well? If you are getting NO feedback, should you accept that to mean you are doing a good job? Or does it mean "they" are unhappy and you may be out the door soon? How do you read between the lines to figure out whether the bosses are happy with your work?
Supplements can't match power of fruits and veggies
Dear Crabby: I just read that women who get calcium from food have a better bone density than women who take calcium supplements. Is this true?
City seen
Metro transplant’s art hails urban landscape
Janet Satz attempts to capture the mystery of the city, as well as the energy and constant motion of the urban environment, in her latest series, “Urbanscapes.” The pieces are collages that combine manipulated photographs, lithographs, painting, tape and thread.
Look at what's new on BoomerGirl this Tuesday
We've got great new stories on the Business, Create, Home and Health pages, plus a new blog by the McHugh family today. Read on for details and quick links.
Monday, June 25
Peace Corps wants older recruits
Within the next two years, one of America's most venerable service organizations wants 15 percent of its new recruits to be older than 50. If baby boomers are ready to retire, the Peace Corps is ready to hire.
Get handle on deal for knobs
Kitchen remodeling projects have hidden costs, including the perhaps unexpected expense of replacing knobs and handles for cabinets and drawers.
Flashback of the day
Vicki and Marley, Felicia and Cass, Mac and Rachel, and that dastardly Carl.
After 2 decades one way, give another option a chance
Dear Susan: Every year my husband and I go to Minnesota and meet up with my extended family at the same lake resort. For over 20 years it was the only time the kids got to really connect with their cousins. Now the kids and cousins are grown, and out two kids have jobs where they can’t get off (and they are going off with their friends when they do get off). Not everyone makes it anymore, but I still like to go. My husband says he wants to do something just with me and not my family. He also says he doesn’t want to stay in a cabin where we cook and all. I think he is being selfish since he has me when we’re home.
Main Street of Manitou Springs
You could spend two or three days just enjoying Manitou Springs, Colo., and all it has to offer. Its main street is filled with art galleries and unique shops with beautiful jewelry, native crafts, clothing and more.
Check out what's new on the site today
We're excited about a new Travel column today, plus fresh stories on the Home, Legacy and Advice pages and a new, reader-submitted Herspectives essay! Read on for quick links to the hot stuff!
Saturday, June 23
Cookbooks now serving fruit, vegetables as main dish
At first glance, cookbooks simply are collections of recipes. But look closer, and you'll see they chronicle political, cultural, social and health trends. This year's message: Fruits and vegetables no longer are just an accessory to meat. Rather, it may be the opposite.
Look at what's new on the site this weekend
We've got fresh content on the Garden, Business, Books and Health pages for your weekend reading. Read on to get previews and links to whatever strikes your fancy.
Water world
Aquatic gardens a low-maintenance alternative
There’s nothing quite as soothing as the sound of water gurgling and splashing in the landscape.
Web site helps you find someone to do your chores
Have domestic chores turned your life into drudgery? A new Web site has a solution: Outsource them.
Yes. No. I don't know
Dealing with debilitating indecisiveness
Janice Davis is standing in front of 636 greeting cards. Talk about weighing your options.
Friday, June 22
Annual checkups can give you the gift of time
If you're a woman, chances are there is a man in your life who steadfastly refuses to go to the doctor.
True-crime author's lethal weapon: the indelible image
Fun bit of trivia: Ann Rule's favorite book is Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Here's my confession: Every time Ann Rule comes out with a new true-crime book, I read it the same day it arrives.
Retractable screens keep bugs out, doors safe
Dear Mi-Ling: I am in desperate need of screen doors for my home. I have double doors and single doors that need screens.
The other Oz: Cairns and Sydney
Here we go with that first impression thing again! As we are looking through the welcome to our hotel notebook provided by our beachfront Palm Cove hotel outside of Cairns, Australia, we notice that it says to stay out of the ocean. It is still “stinger season.”
This is what's fresh on the site today
TGIF! We've got new stories on the Travel, Books, Home and Men's Room pages, plus a new blog by the Showbiz Kid today. Read on for details and links to whatever piques your interest.
Thursday, June 21
During an attack, fight for your life
Women used to think they should be submissive during an attack. Those who resist, they thought, are more likely to get injured. "The old school of thought to comply is wrong," said Capt. Chelly Pfeifer of the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department.
Sometimes, sleeping like a baby is impossible
A good night's sleep can literally add years to your life. But the older you get, the harder it can be to spend six to eight hours snoozing.
Want to cater your own party?
Here are costs, decisions and work involved
My friend Molly is great at handling last-minute assignments. But when one of them was to throw a reception, she asked me for help finding a caterer. I had another idea: Why not do it ourselves?
Zucchini, basil, peppers offer a quick fix
"Quick-Fix Vegetarian" serves up 150 simple but tasty vegetarian dishes that can be prepared in "less time than it takes to have a pizza delivered."
Look at what's fresh on the site this Thursday
Treat yourself to new stories on the Learn, Health, Legacy and Entertain pages, plus a new adventure from Seattle blogger, Pat Detmer, today. Read on for previews and quick links to whatever you find interesting.
Go from green to red
Now that summer's here, we're impatient for the fresh produce.
Flashback of the day
All for the love of Jodie Foster.
Wednesday, June 20
`Mama, mama! My jail jumpsuit is too orange!'
We simply won't accept seeing our daughters unhappy, even if they've brought it all on themselves.
Twin sisters weaving a pattern of respect
Fingers fly with mathematical precision as Sharron Nelson and Karen Reed weave strips of moistened cedar bark together. They chat as they work, weaving their personal stories, along with generations of their Puyallup and Chinook heritage, into their creations.
Sinking your teeth into Daytona one last time
For some folks, the quality of the food can make or break a vacation. For others, not so important. So if you don’t care about food, skip down to fishing and sailing, or chocolate (which is a food group in itself), or shopping … or turtles. But if you like food, take notes.
Here's what's fresh on the site today
We've got new stories on the Home, Travel, Family and Women in Profile pages plus the debut of a new blog, all the way from Gay Paree! Read on for details and quick links.
Check your homeowner’s policy
Most homeowners begin their relationship with insurance because they need it to satisfy lender requirements for a mortgage, and they need it by settlement day. With everything else going on, they assume they are being taken care of by someone, and as long as they have proof of a policy, they are OK with it.
Tuesday, June 19
BoomerGirls take to the skies
Today, the field of aviation is dominated by men, but two women haven't let their gender or their age stop them from pursuing their dreams.
Denim company takes aim at boomers' bottom line
It's not easy to please baby boomers, a massive group of consumers who are both picky and quick to spend. But boomers were low on the radar of premium denim makers when they began cranking out jeans earlier this decade.
Infidelity and other ways to cheat
Sexual infidelity is the headline grabber when most people think about betrayals in love relationships. But, there are everyday breaches of trust that slide under the radar and can erode even the strongest of relationships.
Stressed out by incontinence
Dear Crabby: I’m having a lot of trouble with my bladder. I’ve always been active, but I can no longer run or cough without serious leakage. Other than medications, is there anything else that I can do?
This is what's new on the site today
We've got high-flyin' women and new stories on the Health, Love and Fashion pages, plus a new Home Alone blog today. Read on to get previews and quick links to whatever tickles your fancy.
Keep those copper kettles bright
A tip for one of your favorite things.
Flashback of the day
Get out your teddy bear and bake a lasagna!
Monday, June 18
Even $54 million pants don't make the man
There are numerous reasons to question whether Roy Pearson has any mother wit, the most obvious one being his belief that a dry cleaner's error with a pair of his pants justifies a $54 million lawsuit. But even from a fashion perspective, his obsession with a pair of slacks that may or may not have gone missing is odd.
Mammograms go digital
To the patient, it looks like a regular mammography machine. It works like a regular mammography machine. Unfortunately for some, it still feels like a regular mammography machine. But digital mammograms are beginning to replace traditional film mammograms at major hospitals and imaging centers.
15 ways to leave your garden
... and go on that carefree summer vacation
Sometime this summer, chances are you're going to go on vacation. But what about your plants? How will they live without you?
Pamper me at Punta Mita
"Would you care for an amenity, miss?" the handsome young cabana attendant asked me for about the 87th time that day. Luxuriating in true princess fashion in my own private cabana, I had already indulged in Haagen Dazs ice cream, frozen orange slices with red pepper, a mango smoothie and a hibiscus foam margarita.
Look at what's fresh on the site today
We're battling the Monday blues with new stories on the Garden, Travel, Health and Men's Room pages, plus a new adventure in midlife dating from New York City blogger Michelle Churchill. Read on for quick links.
Flashback of the day
A hit from "Rumors" makes it big.
Saturday, June 16
Fear of cancer could be self-fulfilling prophecy
Ten years ago, reaching the age of 50 was a milestone for my sister Dora. Given that our mother celebrated her 50th birthday in a hospital room — and died a week later from breast cancer — Dora wondered if she would suffer the same fate. My sister and I expect the worse: not whether we'll get cancer, but when.
Tips to have a spiritual summer
It's mid-June and you're thinking about summer plans. And likely, they don't include spiritual activities. This is the time of year when worship attendance drops and churches reduce their schedules.
Savor the book and locally grown food
Barbara Kingsolver does not want to remove the Cheetos bag from your hand, necessarily. But if you come away from her latest book more mindful of your food choices, she'll be pretty pleased.
Silly over sentimental?
Choosing a Father's Day card
Since Father's Day was proclaimed an official holiday in 1966, Dad's big day has celebrated the fishing, golfing, farting, napping, grilling, remote-hogging, car-fixing, emotion-free money machine that he is. Or so greeting cards would have us think.
Look at what's new on the site this weekend
Help yourself to new stories on the Books, Health and Spirituality pages and get some Father's Day card-giving advice in The Men's Room today. Read on to get previews and quick links to what interests you.
Friday, June 15
Homeowners have options for installing wood floors
Dear Mi-Ling: I am making improvements to our home. One of the first things we want to do is add hardwood floors to the upstairs hallway. My dilemma is based on which direction to lay the planks on the floor. Does it really matter if I lay them horizontally or vertically?
When getting away for a vacation ... be sure you do 'get away'
Dear Susan: We have a blended family and it sometimes feels like we’re in that blender: all stirred up. We have two kids going to be seniors in high school, and then two younger ones (fourth & fifth grades). We’ve been together for three years, but have never managed a full family vacation. We can get along but I can’t see us all sharing one cabin out at Estes and hiking happily up the mountain.
Speak up and have a better trip
You want to linger over lunch in a charming village. Your best friend, however, is itching for a quick bite and a sprint through three museums. The secluded beach looks like heaven to you, but your teenager pronounces it creepy and heads instead for the pool. Your partner wants to have sex immediately after tipping the bellhop, and you just want to sleep for two days.
Spiritual growth
Mikell Adams barely knew the difference between a dogwood and a redbud until she purchased her home and began to discover the joys of gardening. Today, her landscape is an everyday awakening to the outdoor life that shares her address.
Here's what's fresh on the site today
We're welcoming another Friday with new stories on the Home, Travel, Advice and Garden pages, plus a new blog from our Costa Rica BoomerGirl, Ronna vonKnorring.
Gloss up your plants
A use for mayo that won't add an inch to your hips!
Flashback of the day
The meeting of a lifetime.
Thursday, June 14
Energy, love keep family with 9 kids afloat
Janine Weber is the mother of nine. When they head out for a family pizza night, she says, "you can see people counting heads, trying to figure it out." Janine, 42, and her husband Bob, 45, stopped trying to figure it out long ago.
For your other 600 muscles
The People Who Know What's Good For Us have made life progressively difficult, moving from general recommendations such as "maintain ideal weight" to detailed orders for 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day.
Nightstand 911
What you should keep in your drawers.
Check here for what's new on the site this Thursday
Treat yourself to new stories on the Business, Family, Beauty and Fitness pages plus a new blog from Marcia MacFarlane today! Read on for details and quick links.
Weaving a tradition
Collecting with Longaberger baskets spans the decades
When Cindy Albert's two sons were young, she wanted an enjoyable at-home way to earn extra income for unexpected family needs. That was 26 years ago and she's still making money — selling Longaberger baskets.
Rimmel rocks
I first stumbled upon Rimmel cosmetics in a drugstore while amusing myself during an over long wait for a prescription.
Flashback of the day
The first silk stocking murder.
Wednesday, June 13
Flashback of the day
The song that led to the end.
Busy bees keep gardens growing
All vegetable plants that produce a bloom depend to varying degrees on bee pollination to produce fruit. For those of us who have spent our lives being fearful of stinging insects, this is tough news to hear.
Summer in a bottle
Capture the delectable flavors of summer by making your own liqueurs
The season for sun-kissed, vine-ripened strawberries is fleeting. If only there were a way to bottle and save this taste of summer. Actually, there is. When you make your own liqueurs from fruits, vegetables and herbs, you can have your summer produce and drink it, too.
How to win friends and influence people by faking it
These days it's fine to fake it. OK, not if you're the guy "Catch Me If You Can" was based on - the con man who pretended to be a physician, pilot for a major airline, attorney and teacher. And not if you're an athlete on steroids or a dean at a university who falsified a resume.
This is what's new on the site today
We've got fresh stories on the Garden, Entertain, Food and Men's Room pages plus a new Herspectives essay by Sue Langenberg today. Read on for details and quick links to what lights your fire.
Meal-in-one for a warm summer night
As the weather warms up, lighter meals cooked on the grill fit my summer mood. A meal-in-one of pork tenderloin and seasonal vegetables grilled and served on a bed of salad greens hits the spot on a warm, starry night.
Tuesday, June 12
Create those theme-park container gardens at home
Pamela Crawford wondered why the best-looking container gardens were always in theme parks. She loved the huge hanging baskets at public places like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens, but couldn't figure out how to duplicate them for the home gardener.
Program helps moms with job re-entry
With a boost from a new program to help professionals restart careers after time off, 44-year-old Pamela Sturm is headed back to work. Her experiences span a period of evolution in the decades-old debate about women's roles at work and home.
DMV eye test puts new focus on boomers
Sadie Johnson is concerned. The 60-year-old Sacramento woman must renew her driver's license soon. Last week, at a Department of Motor Vehicles office, she got a glimpse at what may await her.
Look at what's new on the site this Tuesday
We've got fresh stories on the Travel, Business, Garden and Health pages plus a new blog by our Showbiz Kid in Hollywood. Click through for highlights and links to whatever catches your eye.
Keep your candles on needles and pins
Get some use out of those large candles that don't burn well
Flashback of the day
The challenge that helped end the Cold War.
Dip your toes into Daytona's culture
Not into bikes, bikers or speed? More interested in a picture-perfect beach, with every amenity within an arm's length? Or some culture so you feel that you weren’t a total beach bum?
Monday, June 11
Flush with the seat down
Try this tip to control household bacteria.
More than page-turning needed to pull out of depression
Dear Susan: My sister is 33, with 2 kids, and a hard-working husband. She, herself, has not had a job in 15 years. Her problem is that she is a self-help junkie. I stopped by a few days ago and she was sitting in the living room reading this new book “The Secret,” which she saw on Oprah and immediately had to go buy.
Can food really turn you on?
The other day, when I told my boyfriend, Sean, that I was going to be doing a little research on aphrodisiacs, he was surprisingly keen to help out. "I'll buy the bacon," he said. "Bacon is not an aphrodisiac," I said. "Wanna bet?" he challenged.
Look at what's fresh on the site this Monday
We've got three new stories on "The Secret" phenomenon, a stimulating story on the Sex page and a brand new blog by Pat Detmer today. Read on for details and links to the stories that interest you.
Spiritual movements meet pop psychology
Did you know? You can change anything in your life. Your life is in your hands. The secret potion is a mixture of several spiritual movements; mix in a few additives from psychology, philosophy and science - shazam! - you have "The Secret"!
Noodle frittata
Finally, something to do with your leftover pasta.
Flashback of the day
Breaking out of Cell Block B
Saturday, June 9
Shelf life
Figuring out when to toss aging food can be tricky pursuit
It’s a common culinary quandary. There’s a bottle of ketchup lurking in the back of the fridge, some mustard sitting in the door and a jar of pickles hiding behind the orange juice. Frankly, you can’t remember the last time you used any of them.
Turn up the sweet for summer desserts
Sweet wines perform magic with desserts, too, of course. Summer desserts celebrating sweet-tart berries, from blueberry sorbets to strawberry shortcake, harmonize with wines featuring similar flavors.
As summer heats up, add some cool ideas for family meals
Summer has arrived — that whimsical season when we live more simply and throw out the routine. That's true for the kitchen, too.
Skin fixers that work
When "Ugly Betty's" fashion-editor character injected her wrinkles with trend-of-the-minute duck fat and swelled up from a horrific allergic reaction, women over 40 all across America laughed. Then some of them cringed, realizing they would have probably given it a shot, too, in their quest for a flawless face.
See what's fresh on the site this weekend
We've got new stories on the Food, Wine and Beauty pages plus more action in The Men's Room for your weekend enjoyment. Read on to get highlights and easy links to what you want read.
Friday, June 8
Look at what's new on the site today
We've got Paris fallout (sorry, it had to be done) and new stories on the Garden and Food pages, plus a new blog in The Men's Room today. Read on to choose what you want to read right now.
Lessons for the rest of us
Wow. Am I ever glad I don't have impressionable young kids these days. I don't think I could handle their questions about what transpired yesterday in Los Angeles County.
Flashback of the day
Turn around, bright eyes!
Healthy herbs and spices
Benefits can go beyond aroma, taste
Can your kitchen keep you well? It might help. Studies show that some spices and herbs have benefits beyond the delicious tastes and aromas they lend to our food. These seven are found in nearly every kitchen, and the amount needed for benefits isn’t huge. But if a cayenne toddy isn’t your cup of tea, you can find them as supplements at health food stores.
Garden shoes galore
My closet is overrun with this funky and functional footwear. Most are great for light-duty gardening, and I keep at least two pair right by the back door for dash-outside convenience. All are hose-friendly. And there are no laces to worry about re-tying when I'm all gloved up.
Garden with ease
Love to garden but tired of the back-breaking effort required to dig around in the dirt? Ergonomic gardening tools are specially designed to give your hands and back a break.
Thursday, June 7
There’s a fungus among us
Dear Crabby: I’m really bummed, because I’m ready to get out my strappy sandals for spring, and I noticed that my toenails are thick and yellow. They look totally disgusting! What can I do?
Summer white: Clean, crisp, cool
It's time to take back the white from blushing brides. It's a Statement Look that women of all ages can pull off (think Diane Keaton in that great dinner suit in "Something's Gotta Give").
The other Oz: Perth, part two
The main event the next morning is a chance to swim with dolphins. As we get off of the bus, one traveler asks if it is OK to swim now, at night. Our bus driver replies that anyone who can tell the difference between a shark and a dolphin in the dark is welcome to a nighttime swim. I think we all stayed on land that evening.
Fanning the flames of decor in the back yard
As the weather warms and people spend more time outside during the evening hours, outdoor lighting can provide guidance along paths. While many fixtures are lit with electricity or solar panels, there are others that have real flames and can give yards a different atmosphere.
Look at what's new on the site this Thursday
Treat yourself to new stories on our Travel, Fashion, Health and Home pages plus a new Home Alone blog today. Read on for details and links to whatever floats your boat.
Flashback of the day
A new duo helms the news
Wednesday, June 6
Unpin me, kind sir!
Free the pin without sticking your fingers.
Does Paula Deen make you melt?
Or does she spread it on too thick?
There are two camps on Paula Deen. Love her or hate her? With Deen on tour this summer for her stage show, "Paula Live!", it's something to consider.
Love blooms anew for 1967
The flowers that they wore in their hair have long since wilted, but the generation that came of age in the 1960s will spend the coming months recalling a summer four decades ago, when rock music, drugs and sexual liberation fused to create the Summer of Love.
This is what's new on the site today
Take your pick from new stories on the Food and Love pages, a reader-submitted Herspectives column, new art in the Gallery and a fiery debate on marriage and families in Red Skirt/Blue Skirt. Click through for previews and links.
Flashback of the day
The "rillly big shew" has its last hurrah.
Tuesday, June 5
How hard can it be to change a light bulb? It depends
Can't they make it easier to change a light bulb in a microwave? Was this a microwave conspiracy? Was it a special light bulb? Do convection ovens have special light bulbs? Did it really matter?
The dynamic duo behind a cutting-edge boutique
It is 21 years since Paige and Tuni Blackwelder launched their boutique — and turned their close mother-daughter relationship into a business partnership based on mutual respect and a delight in all things fashionable.
Make pillow talk sneeze-free
Use this tip before you go to sleep tonight.
‘Seasoned’ straw makes best mulch for vegetable gardens
Most people wouldn’t lament the fact that they had run out of partially rotten straw, primarily because they wouldn’t keep the stuff around in the first place. But I do and I did run out, and for me, this was a minor tragedy.
Aren't we a little old to have a 'boyfriend'?
Four pages into DeLaune Michel's novel, "Aftermath of Dreaming," the as-yet-to be-named heroine says: "I had lunch with an ex- ... Oh, I don't know. What do you call those people anymore, 'boyfriend?' Let's be honest, 'boyfriend' is for high school."
Chicken lettuce wraps
Once found mostly in Asian restaurants, the lettuce wrap began turning up in mainstream restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory and Chili's a few years ago, and it wasn't long before home cooks were eager to integrate the fun food into their own menus.
See what's new on the site today
We've got new stories on Dating, Home, Garden and Business pages plus a new entry by Costa Rica blogger Ronna von Knorring. Click through for details and quick links to whatever interests you.
Flashback of the day
Tragedy at the Ambassador Hotel.
Monday, June 4
Top 10 spiritual books range from housework to globalization
The common thread woven through this year's list of Books for Spiritual Summer Reading is diversity.
Romance of ages — Cougars and Jacks
How many times have you seen this couple — the older guy parading around with a younger woman? Stroll downtown in any major city on any weekend and you are bound to see them as often as you see a bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin behind a bar.
Can your relationship survive retirement?
Jill looked so forlorn when I first saw her in the waiting room, I thought she was in need of grief counseling. Instead, I learned that Jill's husband of 35 years was still very much alive and actually quite healthy, but their relationship, which had been a source of loving support and sexual delight, had become a burden that she was struggling to bear.
Cars and fun in the summer sun
When you think of Daytona Beach, what comes to mind? Speedway? Spring Break? Biker Week? The Pier?
Here's what's fresh on the site this Monday
Treat yourself to great new stories on the Family, Travel, Spirituality, Beauty and Dating pages today. Read on for previews and links to whatever interests you!
Silk and salt can mix
Have an artificial arrangement that's lost its appeal?
Cosmetic surgery goes ethnic
The advertising slogan is a sly double entendre: Washington's Cultura Medical Spa bills itself as "a place where it's appropriate to treat people based on the color of their skin."
Flashback of the day
You would cry too, if it happened to you.
Saturday, June 2
Four hot prospects for summer sipping
Now that we've reached the unofficial kickoff of summer, it's time to stock your wine rack with bottles that will serve you well throughout this barbecue and grilling season.
See what's new on the site this weekend
We've got three great stories on the Wine, Beauty and Advice page plus a new blog and recipe from Lisa Johnson (And Razzleberry Dressing) today. Click through for details and quick links.
Facial scrubs — soothing, smoothing or sandblasting?
With our daily dermal barrage of make-up, lotions and potions, it's no wonder our pores are in regular need of purging. When dry flakes, blackheads and zits pop up, only a proper exfoliation will do. A trio of testers tried three skin scrubbers. Did they get a just-right cleansing or a too-harsh rub down?
Respect teen's grief over broken relationship
Dear Susan: My 16-year-old daughter is driving me nuts. She broke up with this boyfriend of two years about three weeks ago. Now she is spending way too much time in her room, playing the same music over and over and over. I don’t know what it is, but I want to smash the CD. I keep telling her to get over it, get over him, and get on with her life.
Friday, June 1
The influence of 'Sgt. Pepper' grows as time passes
The Summer of Love's soundtrack was issued on June 1, 1967. Within days, Jimi Hendrix was playing his own version of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" onstage. The music poured endlessly from radios and flew out of record shops.
Eek! Ink on your new blouse!
Try this tip to save it.
Kebabs on the grill make entertaining easy
A hunk of meat, a stick to spear it on, and an open fire. Cooking began this way long before recorded history and it's never gone out of style.
Co-parenting that works
Want to trash your ex-spouse's parenting skills? Point out that he lets the kids watch "CSI," or that she dresses the first-grader like a Bratz doll? Want to explain again why you should have custody of the kids full-time?
Burst of lemon
The power of vitality
Late spring and early summer is here — a timely occasion to purify, empower and renew! The seemingly long and dense feeling of winter is now reawakening as earth mother’s wheel has turned with an effervescent reminder to lighten the load — trust the process, have courage and be happy!
Look at what's fresh on the site this weekend
We're celebratng the weekend with a new Pat Detmer blog, new stories on the Family, Food and Spirituality pages plus our lead story on the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper! Read on for quick links.
Flashback of the day
The soundtrack to the Summer of Love