Friendship Test: Would You Lie for a BFF?

By Deborah Goldstein
You’d gladly spot a friend who’s short on cash at lunch. Or listen sympathetically while she vents about her significant other (or lack thereof). And of course you’d tell her, discreetly, if she had something stuck in her teeth. But would you lie for her?
Meditation: The Best Stress-Reliever You Haven’t Tried

By Deborah Goldstein
You’ve decided that 2012 is the year that financial worries, cranky kids, your boss—whatever or whoever is causing you grief—will not get the best of you. But how? Try meditation. It doesn’t require much time and once learned, doesn’t have to cost anything. It offers a respite from stress so effective it’s even shown to relieve chronic pain. Shed any new-agey stereotypes you may have and check out this guide to the most popular forms of meditation.
Diamonds in Distress: What to Know Before You Buy a Ring

By Alicia Oltuski
Author of Precious Objects
Diamonds are an archetypal Valentine’s Day gift. They seem almost as integral to the seasonal landscape as chocolates and the color red, and go along well with the timely trend of giving gifts that signify love and romance. This winter, though, the diamond industry is in a state of distress. Here’s what it means for you and your loved one.
Household Multi-taskers: Use Vaseline to Clean Leather, and More

By Deborah Goldstein
It softens and protects winter-battered skin, but did you know Vaseline also helps care for leather furniture? The following items—from vanilla extract to blankets to cookie cutters (don’t pack them away just yet!)—are more versatile than you think.
10 Drastic Ways to Cut Your Expenses by $600 per Month

If you’ve done your budget and are still coming up short each month, you need to cut expenses. But how? These short-term sacrifices will get you in a better long-term financial standing. From The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine.
Working Mothers: 8 Ways to Find a Job You Love

By Nicholas Lore
Author of The Pathfinder
How can you find a career that’s engaging and fulfilling and allows you to be the best mom you can be? Whether you are a new mom, frustrated with your current job, or a mother who has decided to go back to work, this guide is chock full of creative solutions for creating a unique career that is perfectly suited to you and allows you to balance work and time with your kids.
How to Take the Cash-Only Challenge: Live without Plastic to Save Money

The best way to get motivated to stick to your budget is to cut out all the plastic (even debit cards) for three months. Most people who take the Cash-Only Challenge save quite a bit of money. Learn how to get started with tips from The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine.
How to Stock Your Bar

Hosting a New Year’s party? Instead of serving wine, mix cocktails for your guests—it’ll save you money. Get started by stocking your bar with help from Just Married & Cooking: 200 Recipes for Living, Eating, and Entertaining Together, by Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione.
7 Great Family Bonding Activities from Lisa Oz

You may have a full house for the holidays. Here’s how to reserve a block of time each day to connect with the people who mean the most to you: your family. It will help everyone get along, we promise! From Lisa Oz, author of Us: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most.
Why Do Women Avoid Ending Friendships?

It’s simple human nature to want to avoid conflict. But by not addressing the problem—or by mishandling the breakup—you might guarantee discomfort and unhappiness for days, weeks, maybe years, says Liz Pryor, Good Morning America’s advice guru and author of What Did I Do Wrong?: When Women Don’t Tell Each Other the Friendship Is Over. She shares the story of former friends, Terry and Mia, to illustrate.
Holiday Decorating Idea: How to Make Glitter Snowflakes

Kids home from school for the holidays? Give them a great craft activity with these simple, sparkly handcrafted snowflakes. From Homemade: The Heart and Science of Handcrafts by Carol Endler Sterbenz.
Dog Owner? 10 Things You Should Never Do

By Deborah Goldstein
“Happiness is a warm puppy,” Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz once said. And apparently, many Americans agree: There are currently 78.2 million owned dogs in the U.S., according to the Humane Society. But with a dog’s unconditional love and loyalty come responsibilities that every owner should take seriously—for the pup’s sake and for everyone around you.
6 Last-Minute Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas

By Crystal Paine
Author of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget
Are you crunched for time and money this holiday season? We feel your pain. Here are six simple and inexpensive last-minute gift ideas that convey the spirit of the season without draining your bank account.





