February 9, 2017 Valentine’s Day can be tricky if you are in a brand new relationship. You don’t want to ignore the day altogether, but you also don’t want to spook your new love interest by coming on too strong. Here are some tips for how to avoid the awkwardness and enjoy the occasion. Be…
February 3, 2012 Are you feeling battered, bruised and like you were just run over by a mack truck? Either you just had a monster work out or got divorced. Stress after divorce puts a huge strain on the mind, body and soul. And, let’s face it, if you don’t take care of yourself now,…
January 18, 2012 Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and, though it may be easy for our husbands to please us with flowers and dinner, what are we supposed to get him? Even if he is easy to buy for on his birthday or the holidays, Valentine’s gifts are supposed to have at least a little…
January 19, 2012 You couldn’t find two more different women than my friend, Kristine, and I. We don’t agree on anything. She loves to date. It is her sport of choice and she is fabulous at it. I would much rather go to the dentist than go out on a date with someone that doesn’t…
February 14, 2012 Every year on Valentine’s Day I seem to struggle with gift giving. Do I only gift to my spouse? Am I supposed to let my children exchange gifts with friends and relatives outside of the classroom? The price we pay for love every year adds up rather quickly, and while I want…
February 13, 2012 We had a blast with our recent Valentine’s Day survey. More than 800 SocialMoms participated, and what we found caught us a little off guard. It turns out that most of us — some of the most connected, active women in social media — prefer good old fashioned human connections to the…
April 25, 2012 When a loved one passes away, emotions can take you on a rollercoaster ride. That stomach-dropping ache can feel like it’s hanging on for days, weeks, months, and even years. Grief is an important, painful step, as you move through dealing with the loss of a loved one. There is no one…
April 24, 2012 Cheating. It’s a scary word. When we think of a cheating partner, we usually think of it at a distance. It’s something that we’ve seen in a movie or heard that happened to one of our friends. Very seldom do we believe that cheating could happen in our own relationship. I used…
November 16, 2012 Sometimes the people in your life need a little pick-me-up. Sometimes you just feel like showering the people you love with gifts to let them know that you care. Busy moms and professionals may not have time to run to the store or wait in line at the post office, but there…
January 8, 2013 No one likes talking about this – but not every relationship is meant to last forever. That doesn’t mean we should throw in the towel at the first signs of trouble – but there are some red flags that could signify taking a closer look at your relationship. Here are five signs…
February 19, 2013 Taylor Swift has made a name for herself writing songs about her relationships and breakups. It’s so expected that, as soon as her latest relationship fails, everyone jokes about what the new song is going to be. While that can certainly be entertaining, people are now wondering if Taylor should onsider the…
March 4, 2013 Separating and going through a divorce is hard for everyone involved. Letting go of the dreams we had for our families is heartbreaking and the transitional period that immediately follows is typically pretty rocky. Fortunately most families are able to find some stability in their new lives and, eventually, parents start dating…
March 18, 2013 There’s a reason why there are so many songs and movies showcasing the end of a relationship – it’s hard and we can all relate to the painful steps in the recovery process. Even when you know a relationship isn’t working out, it can be hard to accept that it’s truly over….
April 15, 2013 Whether you are single, one half of a couple, or somewhere in the middle – you have probably felt, at some point, that your needs are not being met. Maybe you feel like what you want takes a backseat, or that your voice isn’t being heard. While it’s true that your partner…
January 12, 2012 While it may seem shocking, interracial marriage was not even legal in the United States until 1967. Children born of interracial relationships before that time were considered a scandal. With celebrities like Halle Berry and Thandie Newton on the scene today (both children of interracial parents) it’s hard to believe the country…
March 9, 2017 Michiel Perry is Southern through and through—even though she was born in the Philippines, where her father was stationed for military service. Her name, pronounced “Michelle,” got its unusual spelling from the physician who filled out her birth certificate, an incident that she likes to tease her mother about. “Michelle isn’t a…
June 21, 2017 Are you and your partner in a sexual rut? Too many couples become busy and distracted by daily life and get used to mediocre (or even non-existent) levels of sexuality in their relationships. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are simple steps you can take to start having better…
June 12, 2017 It’s hard to believe that Father’s Day is just around the corner. When your dad is nearby it’s a bit easier to sneak in a last-minute gift, but if he’s far away it takes a little more planning. Whatever you do, don’t put it off, or you could end up with nothing…
September 25, 2017 Even in the best of circumstances, relationships require work. Whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers, interacting with other people (even those we love) can be confusing and exhausting at times. If you find yourself dreading interactions with a specific person, or you feel some underlying tension, your relationship might need a tune-up….
March 3, 2018 Laura Tellado received a letter from The Oprah Winfrey Show at age eleven. The letter informed her that the popular television program would not accommodate her desire for them to produce an episode covering spina bifida. It was just one of many in a series of impersonal rejections—if she received a response…
March 21, 2019 Spring is here and everything will soon be in full bloom—can you say the same about your relationship? All couples experience ups and downs, but if it seems like you’ve been in a rut for a long time, you may want to step back and reassess the situation. Does your relationship need rehabbing?…
April 16, 2020 I am a senior in high school. I have never experienced the emotions, confusion, or utter shock that the last month has brought for me. I expected a senior week, a Disneyland trip with my best friend and classmates, a prom, and a walk down a stage accompanied by applause and a…
June 3, 2020 I was recently accepted off of the waitlist from my dream college of five years and will be attending in the fall. When I first found out I was on the waitlist, I actually had little to no hope that I would actually be attending the school. Some say it is the…
June 18, 2020 On my trail walk last month, my son and I found a painted rock, tucked away behind some trees at a little cove we found overlooking a pond with geese. The rock said UNITE. I loved the message. We took a picture and then hid it somewhere else for the next person…
July 6, 2020 Need to plan a special evening but can’t leave the house (or would just rather not)? We’ve got you covered! With a little creativity and imagination, these at-home date ideas for summer romance will leave you weak in the knees. During tough times, prioritizing your relationship is more important than ever. We…
January 18, 2021 Whether you’re riding out a pandemic or simply want to stay in, there are ways to have a great Valentine’s Day at home. While you could snuggle up for a cozy movie night together, we’ve come up with some other easy, romantic ideas you can try! Cook Together You may not be…
February 2, 2021 When the pandemic hit in early 2020, stay at home orders pushed the world of spirits into the 21st century and fast. Consumers were spending less time in stores and creating new mobile shopping habits that favored ecommerce over the traditional retail experience. It’s a trend that has been grabbing a lot…
February 24, 2014 Because of Valentine’s Day, the month of February seems to be synonymous with love – but the 14th is not the only day of the year when we should spread good cheer to others. This is especially important in our workplace. Many of us are at work nearly as much time (if…
July 25, 2019 The summer before my freshman year of high school, my mom basically forced me to “recommended” that I volunteer over the summer as a way to appeal to colleges and fill my summer with activities. Because of my love of animals, I decided to volunteer at my local pet adoption center in…
September 3, 2019 As I write this, I am in the first week of my senior year in high school. Having accumulated first-hand knowledge of the ups and downs of freshman year, I understand how hard it can be for tweens to get adjusted to a new, big, and scary school. As your child hesitates…
September 24, 2019 School has been going on for about a month. For most, a new school year can be the beginning of something larger than expected. For me personally, the beginning of a school year (especially my freshman year) resulted in an extreme change in my personality and style. Both literally and figuratively, my…
December 17, 2019 No matter how long you’ve been in a relationship, the holidays can present some unique challenges. There’s something about this time of year that makes us all feel a little more emotional, which can create unnecessary problems and derail all that good cheer. To help keep the season bright, we’ve tried to…
May 16, 2013 Disagreements are an unavoidable part of life. No matter how much we try, we just can’t get along with everyone all the time. What we can do, however, is change our reactions and our approach to navigating these difficult moments. Naturally, how we fight with our spouse will differ from how we…
April 29, 2013 It happens every year. Flowers, candies, cards, pedicures and brunches, Mother’s Day is supposed to be a day when the matriarch in a family is pampered, spoiled and recognized for everything that she does for us every day. It’s tough, therefore, for those of us who have lost a mother, are feuding…
May 28, 2013 We wait our entire lives to find “the one” – and at some point most of us find it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out. Many factors can contribute to the decision to separate and it is one of the most gut-wrenching decisions, especially when kids are involved. Will they be okay?…
June 24, 2013 Life is tough, so we do all that we can to enjoy the good times. We also expect the people in our inner circle will be happy for our success. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. But what do you do when your friends don’t seem to be very thrilled at your…
July 1, 2013 Good friends are like family members with a benefit – we get to choose them! Some people can be as close, if not closer, than our actual relatives and, while we might get to hang out on occasion, we rarely get to celebrate those relationships like we do with our families. Summer…
July 22, 2013 We hear it on a daily basis: “just let it go!” If it was that easy, we would all do it immediately. Instead, whenever we feel hurt, betrayed or let down, we usually have a hard time getting past whatever brought on those feelings and, unfortunately, we usually suffer for it. Staying…
September 18, 2013 There is definitely a stigma attached to being single and, really, it’s time for that to change. Sometimes, being single is a choice. Other times it’s the result of not yet meeting the right person. Whatever the reason, most of us have spent time on our own and there are many ways…
October 10, 2013 The statistics are sobering – every day, three women die from domestic violence. Too many suffer silently and we must do our part to bring this issue more public. We need to work together to change perceptions about gender-based violence so that we can save lives. The Presidential Proclamation on the White…
July 2, 2019 Dear Moms, Being the oldest sibling has pressures in itself. Having to be a role-model while still maintaining that “cool” status to your brothers and sisters is a hard task, believe me. Additionally, being the “smartest” sibling tacks onto that list. Because I was a first-grade prodigy—I untangled headphones in class for…
September 25, 2014 While mixed-age couples have probably existed since the beginning of time, we are seeing more and more people choosing to pair up – regardless of their age gap. It’s definitely becoming more socially acceptable, but will the relationship have longevity? Only you and your partner know if your goals and needs are…
October 22, 2014 Halloween can be a fun and spooky holiday but, with some minor tweaking, you can also make it incredibly romantic. It’s the one day of the year when you are encouraged to abandon your inhibitions and simply enjoy yourself. Why not make it a great (and unique) date night? Hold Each Other…
August 6, 2015 Life can get really busy and, before we know it, we’ve let our relationship fall into a rut. Your partner is meant to be your companion through life which means that it’s incredibly important to nurture your bond. One of the best times of year to reignite your passion is over the…
March 3, 2016 We’ve all heard of spring cleaning. It feels so good to open the windows, let fresh air in and clear out the cobwebs after being cooped up inside all winter. There are people who take this annual ritual so seriously that they print lists, buy organizational equipment, and assign tasks to different…