BoomerGirl Diary

Spring no 'trifling' matter

This is one of my easiest dessert recipes to throw together, and it is wonderful for taking to potlucks or picnics.

The many, and healthy, ways to live with cancer

When David Stellar found out his cancer was back — this time in his lungs — he sat down with his wife to talk about what they should do. It was a short conversation.

From binding to degrading, gossip can’t be ignored

Next time you’re in a crowded restaurant, ease back, hold your tongue and take note of the chatter. In the swirl of conversation, you’re likely to hear exchanges about bosses and co-workers, natter about neighbors and nitpicky in-laws.

Here's what's new on the site this weekend

We've got new stories on the Health and Friends page, a fresh food column and a brand new blog today. Read on to get previews and links to whatever you're interested in.

Anointing: simple practice with profound effects

Ceremony and ritual, steeped in history and enriched with tradition, have given us many practices for celebrating and acknowledging the Divine, a divine that represents our sacred truth. Anointing with sacred scent is one such practice that has evolved as an act of faith for passing forward spiritual blessing.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

As mature women, we hopefully become wiser, more patient and infinitely more loving. The down side to maturing is that our bodies are no longer slim, tight and totally desirable to us or to our partners.

Rebel with a cause

53-year-old sets beauty, currency as destinations in dance

Karole Armitage didn’t set out to be a rebel. For most of her first 20 years of life, she executed pirouettes and jetés in pretty tutus as a classical ballerina. When that started feeling rigid and automatic, she ditched Europe for New York and became a modern dancer.

Let's play!

Easy, fun strategies turn ordinary cakes into something special for Easter

For many of us, the Easter menu is a set piece, like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Family tradition dictates the dishes, and they don't vary much from year to year.

Handle eggs gently for best flavor

Be a good bunny this Easter and be kind to your eggs. Cook them gently, store them safely in the fridge, and don't be tempted to eat the ones that Peter Cottontail left in your basket overnight.

Special for you, special for them during Easter, Passover

You have company coming for dinner. Maybe it's Easter or Passover, or maybe it's just an average Sunday. The problem is, the rest of your life won't be put on hold just because a few guests are on their way.

Here's what's fresh on the site this Friday

We've got a new sex column, a fresh blog by Pat Detmer and Easter recipes galore today on BoomerGirl. Read on to get previews and links to what you want to read right now.

Southwest pork packets

The bath's splashiest new item

I've seen a lot of kooky or impractical things in designer show houses. But even this jaded journalist was stunned when I saw the ultimate show house wake-up call - a urinal.

Fur Seals and wetas

Hotel lobbies are always full of information about local tours and tourist activities. Our Wellington Hotel is no different. From a hallway long rack of colorful brochures we pick two: “Seal Coast Safari” and “Wellington Movie Tour”. Both are half-day trips, and we decide we can do both in one day.

Does Smashbox have another hit?

I heard about Smashbox's latest product, O-Glow, a blush that goes on over bare skin and adjusts to your complexion. It's said to give a natural, fresh-from-a-run flush. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

Here's what's new on the site this Thursday

We've got a new Beauty column, a new Dear Crabby, another installment of Kiwi Chronicles and news of a new home trend you've got to see to believe. Read on for links to whatever floats your boat.

Low libido calls for physical, emotional remedies

Dear Crabby: What can I do about my libido? I used to be a hot mama and now I'm more like a cold fish. I tried to discuss this with my doctor, and he handed me a free sample of Viagra, which I never took any of because it scared me. There must be something that would bring back that old desire in me.

Flashback of the day

What were they searching for? Tomorrow. And they couldn't wait.

Zesty shrimp and pasta

Customize your workouts to your body type

Any person can do any exercise and reap the benefits. However, knowing your body type can help you design an exercise program that will fit your needs and maximize your capabilities.

Tropical fling

While vacationing, family takes backseat to lust for exotic plants

I’m pretty sure I have an obsession, teetering on the brink of an addiction. When I travel, I spend more time observing the waxy leaves of a croton plant, a sea of bougainvillea cascading down a wall or palm fronds fluttering in the tropical breeze than I do watching where I walk.

Here's what's brand new on BoomerGirl this Wednesday

We've got a new blog in the Men's Room, two new stories on Fitness and Gardening plus a new artist in the Gallery today. Read on to get previews and hot links to what you want to view.

Flashback of the day

Someone must like her best!

Give your toothbrushes their personal space

Avoid germs with this helpful hint.

You get more if you wait

Social Security checks are bigger after 62

Resist the urge to tap into your retirement assets prematurely and you could boost your annual Social Security benefits for one-third.

Here's what's new on the site this Tuesday

We've got two new blogs, a preview of a special PBS documentary and info on how to increase your Social Security payments! Read on to get previews and quick links to whatever piques your interest.

PBS examines the generation that transformed America

Watch "The Boomer Century: 1946 - 2046" on Wednesday night and discuss it here on BoomerGirl on Thursday.

We're the generation who coined the phrase "Never trust anyone over 30," remember? Now, as the first of the baby boomers are turning 60, a new documentary says boomers will rewrite retirement and redefine aging, just as we've transformed every other stage of our lives.

Flashback of the day

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

National conference on aging delivers wake-up call to boomers

Get ready. You're going to do much of the family caregiving yourself - caring for your parents, helping navigate them through a sea of doctors, often doing it long distance.

Here's what's new on the site this Monday

We have a new column, a new blog and two fresh stories for you today on BoomerGirl.com. Read on to find previews and links to whatever you want to read.

Flashback of the day

A major announcement

Dry feet need a great balm to get sandal-ready

Winter boots only can cover your battered tootsies for so long. With open-toed shoe season upon us, it's high time we stop ignoring our tired-looking feet.

Be well

Right now this column is found under the sub-heading of "Spirituality" under the heading of "Be well." Everybody wants to be well. In the short term a lot of folks manage to achieve it. In the long term, nobody does.

Here's what's new on the site this weekend

For those of you not caught up in March Madness (or even for those who are), we've got new gardening stories, a Health article on sleeplessness, a new artist in the Gallery and a Herspectives column submitted by a reader. Read on to get previews and links.

Pressed for time, women increasingly starved for shut-eye

They're sleep-deprived and struggling through the day on caffeine and nerves. Sex? Forget it. Friendships? No time. They forgo sleep, exercise and fun in favor of work. Instead of winding down at night, they're doing the chores and worrying about tomorrow.

Converting to organic takes time, patience

It seems everyone has a tale to tell about why they decided to grow organic.

Gardening with a greener thumb

Small changes can make eco-friendly difference

We can do it. I know we can. Gardeners, I believe, by nature have an indelible urge to improve their little piece of the environment and leave the earth a more luscious, hearty and healthy place.

Tuna with tomato, mint and capers

AIDS: Who cares?

Now that I have your attention: I, for one, do care. I know I am not alone in that, and I am not as deeply affected by the virus as many millions of people. But, as removed as I can consider myself from the epidemic — the pandemic — I care.

Tax e-filing: Point, click and return

Paying taxes is bad enough, but spending money to have your government tab calculated can feel like being handed a bill for a lousy meal.

Don't update your résumé — it's already a dinosaur

Remember eight-track tapes? Polyester leisure suits? Beer-can openers? The printed résumé - long the standard way to apply for a white-collar job - may soon join those once-ubiquitous products in history's dustbin.

Tending to a hungry recuperating friend - with food

She needed a new knee. And post-surgery recovery would be a challenge, but my friend Ania is no sissy.

Flashback of the day

She told me more about me than I knew myself

Here's what's new and different on the site this Friday

We're gearing up for a great spring weekend with a new blog and fresh stories on our Friends, Learn and Business pages. Read on for highlights and links to the stories that interest you most.

Beef tenderloin with a sauce of three chiles

Bag-and-shoe combos take a womanly turn

Fashion continuity is returning this spring, as matching dressy bags with shoes makes a comeback.

The basics of getting back in the dating game

Dear Crabby: I’m 53 and newly divorced. I was married for a long time, and my husband was only my second sexual partner. I am terrified of “getting back in the game,” but I don’t really see myself spending the next 30 years alone, either. What do I need to know in today’s dating/sex world?

Wellington and Te Papa

Facing the entrance to Te Marae is an enormous door of stained glass. The outside light coming through this wall of glass casts a beautiful pattern of colors across the floor of a large gathering area. Important visiting dignitaries are often welcomed to Wellington in Te Marae. I cannot imagine that they would not be impressed.

Here's what's new on the site this Thursday

We've got a new blog, a new "Dear Crabby" column, an entry in the "Kiwi Chronicles," and two fresh stories in our Fashion and Create departments. Click through to find previews and direct links to what you want to read right now.

Flashback of the day

It goes up, but never comes down ...

Patti Smith still doesn't change horses midstream

"When I was younger, I didn't feel I could answer the question — 'Are you experienced?' — with a yes," rocker Patti Smith says. "I wanted to be able to back up the boast."

Grill without leaving half your chicken behind

Try this tip for stick-free outdoor cooking.

Broiled salmon with herb mustard glaze

Garden becomes battlefield in war on rabbits

Every time I come up my driveway at night and park in front of my house, cottontail rabbits scatter in the headlights. The gardener in me knows this is a bad sign — a very, very bad sign. I don’t have to dig too far back to summon memories of bean plant stumps and holes in the soil where lettuce plants used to be.

The expert advantage

How to attract clients with ease

Get that certificate framed, finish that article, get yourself on a panel. To make your business soar position yourself as an expert.

Opening the heart, Part two.

Many people close off areas of their heart due to emotional injury. Instead of fluidity, stagnation sets in. Our spiritual arteries harden and clog with unnecessary emotional clutter.

Garlic gets gourmet makeover as consumption increases

Americans have developed an enormous appetite for garlic. And that demand has spurred an industry offshoot — gourmet garlic, special varieties that connoisseurs claim are to typical supermarket cloves as a great Gruyere is to processed cheese slices.

Flashback of the day

The cliffhanger that had the world wondering.

Here's what's fresh on the site this Wednesday

It's "Hump Day," and we're offering you new stories on the Spirituality, Garden, Food and Business pages. Read on to get previews and links to whatever you find fascinating.

Are you the messiest cook in the household?

Use this tip to keep your counters clean.

Sleep-weary consumers wake up pricey mattress sales

Can you put a price on a good night's rest? Betting weary-but-wealthy baby boomers are willing to do just that, mattress companies are fluffing up their selections of ultra-luxe beds that retail for more than the cost of cars, college tuition and parcels of land.

Back-Out basics

Is honesty really the best policy? One writer tries three ways to get out of sticky situations. See which worked best.

New knees are just what the doctor ordered

Marlene Freed knows what's coming. For 10 minutes, she has been lying on her back, with ice chilling the swollen tissue around a seven-inch scar on her right leg — the spot where doctors inserted her new titanium knee.

Butternut squash and sausage pasta

Here's what's new on the site this Tuesday

We've got new stories on the Family, Health, Travel and Home pages today. Read on to get a sneak peek and quick links to whatever you're interested in.

Flashback of the day

Next stop: the "Bed-In."

Post-cruise depression

The best depression you can hope to have

Having just returned from an eight-night cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, I’m having a little trouble with re-entry. The diagnosis is obvious: PCD (Post-cruise depression.) I don’t expect sympathy, but a little understanding would be nice.

Ice, ice baby!

Use this tip to keep your ice clean and tasty.

Mojo beef kebabs

After 50, time to rediscover who you set out to be

When Gail Sheehy wrote her seminal book, "Passages," she ended her research when women reached age 50. "I was in my 30s," she says. "How did I know what happens after 50?"

Acne care for grown-ups

Day after day, you diligently slather your skin with anti-aging facial mists, eye gels, retinols and shea butters, proud that you're so careful to keep your over-40 skin in top form. You're going for healthy, supple and fresh, but is too much testing wreaking havoc on your skin?

Wireless wizardry

It’s magic: Network devices transmit music, data without cords

One of my daughter's party guests looked surprised at my outdoor stereo setup. “How?” he asked me. He pointed at the iBook laptop computer sitting on a desk inside the house, which had iTunes running. Then he pointed his other hand out to the stereo that was booming music from the laptop to the guests across the back yard.

Stage a fun gathering

A group outing to a musical or play can win you rave reviews

Going to the theater can be loads of fun, and it's a great way to entertain friends who love the stage as much as you do.

Here's what's new on the site this Monday

There's no such thing as a Blue Monday on BoomerGirl. Not when you've got great new stories to read. Click through for previews and direct links to whatever interests you today.

Flashback of the day

Dylan enters the fray.

What to wear with your new spring shoes

So, you’ve bought into a trend. Maybe it was those retro wood platforms that you couldn’t resist, or a pair of camel-colored peep-toe patent leather pumps.

Food's often the culprit behind that annoying, sometimes debilitating headache

Headaches roam the pain meter from annoying to unbearable, from dull throb to the nausea and pulsing agony of the migraine.

More tips for repairing a broken trust

A few weeks ago I wrote about steps for repairing a broken trust, an essential process in any serious relationship. Here are some additional steps in the repair process.

Here's what's fresh on the site this weekend

We've got new stories on fashion, family and health for your weekend reading on BoomerGirl. Click through for sneak previews and links to whatever catches your eye.

You knew that old paintbrush would come in handy one day

Here's a tip for dusting crackled surfaces.

Roast whole chicken with cauliflower

Total sexual makeover

This 7-day plan promises to make sex feel brand-new again

Even if your sex life is great, chances are you've fallen into a predictable routine that guarantees both of you enjoy the ride, but that is missing the earth-shattering feel it once had.

The essential ingredient

Weird. You collect friends throughout your life who cross over into the category of family. The circle grows. You change, or you move, or you have kids, and a new circle forms. It doesn't replace the old one. It's just another one. This keeps happening.

Myth-busting during National Nutrition Month

Myths about nutrition seem to linger for years, just like urban legends. Remember the one about grapefruit burning fat? What about coffee stunting your growth?

Driven boomers veer toward classic cars

Consider the plight of the Empty-Nester Male: Kids out of the house, tuitions paid, weekends free of family obligations. A man in this pitiable situation might start thinking about freedom ... about the open road ... about a new car, finally, and one that's cool.

Here's what's new on the site this Friday

You can tell how much we love Fridays by the great new stories and blogs on BoomerGirl. Read on to get sneak previews and links to the content you're interested in.

Flashback of the day

The fifth trip down the aisle

Herbed chicken parmesan

Here's what's new on the site this Thursday

We've got two new stories, a new Dear Crabby column and a fresh and funny blog by Michelle Churchill (Party Line) today. Read on to get links to what you'd like to read right now.

Giving up the reins for the rock step

Maybe it's because I got hooked on watching "Dancing With the Stars." Maybe it's because we've been married for nearly 20 years and the closest thing to a formal dance hubby and I can do is the hokey pokey. And even that's dicey because I often forget to put my whole self in.

In Hawaii, she sees sea glass on the sea shore

I'm the kind of person for whom a beach vacation is not complete unless I've scored a piece of sea glass, one of those shards of broken bottle that have been tumbled by water, sand and time into a state of smoothness that renders them treasure.

Sailing the seas of menopause

Dear Crabby: I took HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for about a year but stopped it because of the cancer scare. I am now on an over-the-counter supplement with black cohosh to control the hot flashes.

Flashback of the day

The film made us an offer we could not refuse.

Shower the lampshades you love with love

Here's an easy way to keep your shades dust free

Bread pudding with bacon, mushrooms, feta

‘Super foods’ keep mind, body in shape

If you long to plant an edible garden this spring, it’s time to plan what delectable treats to grow. A garden represents an opportunity to change our eating habits, too — to eliminate trans fats, salt intake, refined carbohydrates and more.

Getting rid of stuff can start one drawer at a time

Ciji Ware calls it "rightsizing" - the upheaval that follows a midlife shift when you realize your house, your life, your world is overburdened with stuff from dishes to collections of seashells to artwork you love but your kids don't want.

Wash your bananas

(and other lessons in cleaning produce)

When it comes to motivating people to wash their produce before eating it, visuals seem to help. Potatoes, for instance. No food safety argument is needed when dirt is that easy to see and feel.

Here's what's new and exciting on the site this Wednesday

We've got fresh stories on our Home, Garden and Food pages PLUS a rousing debate on immigration on the Red Skirt/Blue Skirt blog. Read on to get more highights and direct links to the stories.

Flashback of the day

Same Bat-time, Same Bat-channel ... no more.

Spicy pumpkin & Potato chowder w/ lime, cilantro

Minerals spring to fore in makeup

Natural equals Good. Synthetic equals Bad. That’s the general consensus these days.

Flashback of the day

Don't keep us wonderin'...

Marry yourself

I had this "a-ha" moment during my grandmother’s funeral in 1999. I heard the priest’s monotone voice as he stated that my grandmother “loved her neighbor as herself,” and I kind of chuckled to myself.

Steamboats and eels

Parrots are my favorite birds, so I am thrilled to have dozens of them swooping around our heads as they fly to the raised feeders and then back to the surrounding trees.

Here's what's new on the site this Tuesday

We've got two new stories, a new Showbiz Kid blog and a new columnist to introduce today. Read on to get sneak previews and links to what you want to read this minute!

Here's a gift idea that's going to the dogs

Don't forget the canine when you come for chow.

Linguine with chili, crab and cilantro

Jane Smiley's latest: Sex to the max

Jane Smiley's new novel is not for readers who blush easily.

Hummus has gone from the Middle East to the American mainstream

Mainstream grocers give it significant real estate, restaurant menus tout seemingly infinite varieties, and insiders speculate it is well on its way to becoming the next salsa.

Back to school and living in the dorms — at 60

Cynthia Barrentine's cramped dorm room has the typical laptop computer, the photos of family and friends, and the mini-fridge. About the only thing that might seem out of place is Barrentine.

Here's what's fresh on the site this Monday

We're starting a new week with brand new stories on books, food and a 60-year-old college coed plus a new blog in the Men's Room. Read on to find out more and get direct links to what you want to read right now.

Exploring new careers for more fulfilling lives

It's called "re-careering," and it's a trend that's growing among boomer-aged women who are opting for more personally fulfilling work in midlife.

Flashback of the day

Heeeey, Mr. Wilson!

Here's what's fresh on the site this weekend

Kick off your shoes and enjoy these four new stories, selected for your reading pleasure.

Sowing seeds indoors

After months spent indoors, by early March I always have an urgency to plant or die. So, with a gardener’s optimism I germinate a plethora of seeds indoors.

Honestly, you're allowed 1 or 2 Girl Scout cookies

If you ordered extra Girl Scout cookies this year thinking they were trans-fat free, brace yourself.

Can leave-in conditioners fulfill promise of lovely hair?

Leave-in conditioners can be tricky — pick the right one for your hair type and your mane looks soft, glossy and full. Make the wrong choice and you'll wind up with a fiat, lifeless oil slick.

A scent can make a room feel smaller, larger, more calming

Whether it's cabin fever or a real square-footage problem, you have a couple of options when the rooms in your home start looking small.

Cajun Crawfish

Breathtaking views — and yawning crevasses — on Mont Blanc’s famed Vallee Blanche glacier run

“Follow my path exactly,” my guide instructed sternly as we set off on the Vallee Blanche glacier descent, warning me of the crevasses hidden among the blankets of snow and boulders of ice that give the famed ski run its breathtaking beauty.

Throw the perfect tea party

Tea for two, and two for tea; me for you and you for me. Don't you see how happy you will be when you throw a lovely afternoon tea party?

Task, task ... it's a woman thing

An ice chest has turned into a Pandora's box at home.

Here's what's new on the site this Friday

We're toasting the fabulous weekend to come with three great stories and a brand new blog! Read on for sneak previews and direct links to the fresh stuff.

Flashback of the day

One of the most successful product launches in history.

Daylight-saving gardening: Practical do’s and don’ts

When Congress changed the date on which daylight-saving time would commence, it’s unlikely that the needs of vegetable gardeners figured into the decision, but this is one constituency that will benefit from the shift of sunlight to the latter part of the day.

Stitching buddies solve problems

'The Knitting Circle' by Ann Hood and 'The Friday Night Knitting Club' by Kate Jacobs

It's remarkable that these books were released within three days of each other. Though they have different characters and slightly different plots, they share a "Steel Magnolias" story about the bonds between women.

Weighing methods of weights and measures

Dear Crabby: Is BMI an accurate measurement of obesity, and do those body fat calipers really work?

Here's what's new on the site this Thursday

We've got fresh stories on gardening, books and health today PLUS a brand new blog. Read on for sneak previews and quick links to whatever interests you most.

Flashback of the day

Nobody Does It Better ...

Beet Risotto with Roasted Asparagus and Ricotta Salata

She put the 'big O' under the microscope

Sexuality researcher and grandmother of five Beverly Whipple made her name a quarter century ago popularizing the “G spot.” Now she says the biggest sexual organ really is the brain.

Here's what's new on the site this Wednesday!

We've got a travel story from New Zealand, eco-friendly info for your home, a new blog and S-E-X for you today on BoomerGirl.com. Read on to get sneak previews and links to whatever floats your boat!

Put your extra plastic bags to good use

Unless you're a dog owner who scoops you-know-what on a daily basis, chances are there's no shortage of plastic bags in your life.

Art Deco and gannets

From Art Deco buildings to bird-covered beaches, New Zealand has pleasant encounters tucked in every corner.

Flashback of the day

Sail on silver girl, sail on by ...

Curried Chicken and Rice Salad

Stretched to the (nth) degree

For an unbeatable stress-buster, treat yourself to a home facial and luxurious bubble bath, the glamour mags say. As you soak in lavender-infused waters, a couple of limp cucumber slices soothing those still-twitchy eyelids, the kids will magically stop beating each other with action figures and do their homework.

Make-it-yourself-mayo

Difficult? Not really. Decadent? Maybe

Most people assume mayonnaise is something you buy in a jar. So what if I told you that you could make your own mayonnaise at home in less time than it would take you to go to the store and buy it?

How to employ a sommelier

Nothing puts sweat on the palms of the average diner like the prospect of ordering wine in a fancy restaurant from a sommelier.

Here's what's new on the site this Tuesday

We've got stories on food, wine and family stress plus a new mother-daughter blog today. Read on to get links to what you want to read right now.

Don't overcook the veggies

Save time and vitamins

Practically magic

Novelist Alice Hoffman conjures threads of hope from her tightly knit plots

Alice Hoffman is being modest. Her well-crafted, fast-moving tales are lecture-hall examples of structure, plot and imagery. Just ask anyone — except maybe Hoffman herself.

Clutch and carry

Call it the Big Bag Backlash.

Spring the time to retool garden

Just as we occasionally change the carpet and drapes in the living room, it also makes sense to remodel the vegetable garden.

Organic legacy

Want a well grounded life? Want a legacy that cures the soul and the planet? Plant a garden and teach someone else how to do the same.

Is it worth it to get away? The only answer is: yes!

There are moments, like this one, when a woman has to ask herself, “Is it worth it?” I mean, is it worth all the trouble, the lists, the organization, the getting everything covered at work and getting everything covered at home, the obsessing about details, the intermittent panic, just to go away?

Flashback of the day

Back to ordinary, everyday life

Here's what's new on the site this Monday

We're beating the Monday blues with five new stories on a wide range of subjects. Please read on to find sneak previews and links to the articles that interest you most.

'Fresh starts' rejuvenate relationships

Dear Susan: I’m 53 and my husband is 57. We’ve been married for over 30 years, raised three kids and now have time to enjoy our lives together. The problem is that there isn’t much that we seem to enjoy together.

Anna Nicole's taught us a lesson - write, and update, your will

Not that it hasn't been quite the spectacle, but there's actually an important lesson to be learned from the legal battle over the disposition of Anna Nicole Smith's remains.

Can these new bar soaps recapture the gel crowd?

For three lovely ladies, bar soap seemed so passe. Why mess with a questionable bar when you can rely on a trusty shower gel for a quick, clean lather? We tempted them to make the sudsy switch with products in pretty packages. Did any of them take the bait?

Here's what's fresh on the site this weekend

We've got lots of great new stories for your weekend reading on BoomerGirl. Read on for previews and direct links to whatever intrigues you.

Smothers Brothers recall TV censorship battles

When they first appeared on “The Tonight Show,” host Jack Paar told the Smothers Brothers, “I don’t know what you two guys have, but no one’s going to steal it.” True enough.

The ants go marching one by one ...

Somebody stop them!

Feeling the berm

Landscaped mounds enliven flat gardens

Susan NovoGradac has a lot of land — 38 acres to be exact. And 10 of those acres are mowed yard. She was looking for a way to break up the vast, flat view. She was looking for a way to cut down on grass-trimming time. She found her answer in the berm.

Color me what?

Whenever I see a formula-driven fashion theory, I tend to run the other way. My feeling is that we are not only unique, but unique on a daily basis.

Think pink!

Strawberry flavor found frozen in ice cream yearround

The ripe strawberries of June are still months away, so we thought strawberry ice cream might be a viable substitute in the cold of winter. A few brands were up to the challenge but some we tried either tasted artificial or had too little of that fresh berry flavor.

No more losing the perfect lip color

One of my lipstick colors was discontinued. I don’t usually panic about much, but in that moment, I had to stop.

Here's what's new on the site this Friday!

We've got four new stories and a new ShowBiz Kid blog for you today. Read on to get previews and links to what you want to read right now.

When traveling, bag your shoes

Raid the grocery store for this cheap solution.

It's time to grill

It's early March, and I can now go out to the grill without shoveling a path through the snow or wearing a winter coat and gloves. I'm already longing for light spring meals, and what better way to fulfill my fantasies of warm days ahead than to grill a chicken and some spring vegetables?

No secrets to losing weight

Dear Crabby, Tell me about weight loss. Those ads on TV make it look so easy! The losers don't even end up with excess skin! If it was that easy, why aren't we all thin?

Here's what's fresh on the site this Thursday!

It's March (can you believe it?) and we've got three great new stories, a new blog and a brand new feature called "Make It Tonight" to introduce to you. Read on for previews and direct links to whatever you want to read.