Sometimes I need to give myself a gentle reminder— if I have the time, I need to find the patience to let my kids help me when they ask. It sounds like a no-brainer, but admit it — if you're a parent, you've probably suffered from "it'd be so much easier if I could just do it myself… " Whether it's loading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, or preparing lunch, our kids present us with a wonderful opportunity for teaching and bonding when they ask, "Can I help?" More

Listen up folks, it's 2013. I don't know about you, but that number sounds scary high to me. Remember when we were all worried about Y2K and wondering if the new millennium officially started in 2000 or 2001? That was 13 years ago; babies born then are now teenagers! So what does that mean for you? It means YOLO (you only live once), so fix up your rental already. More

There's nothing better after a hard day than coming home to a place where you can begin to wash off some of the day's struggles. It's one of the only places we have in our lives that we get to make work specifically for us. You may not live in your perfect dream home now, but there are always ways to create happiness no matter where you live. More

My birthday party planning is a bit delayed this year, as two of my dearest friends have been out of town, but it's given me time to think about why I like to have birthday parties in the first place. I know there is a vocal group of people in the "Stop Throwing Parties About Yourself" camp, as well as the "No Presents, EVER" faction, but to me, a birthday party is a way to thank everyone who's made the past year of my life so fantastic… More

There comes a time for many of us when we have to watch over those that once watched over us. It's a stage of life you may be familiar with, and one I know I'll be entering into myself soon. So it was a pleasant surprise to see the Philips Lifeline GoSafe unveiled at this year's CES. It's an advanced monitor and emergency response system that can give you peace of mind that your aging parents are safe, while giving them the freedom to live independently. More

Lately I've been on a bit of a kick with all things vintage. I love odd little pieces with a serious sense of history but sometimes I have trouble reimagining them for my home. More

When we were kids, we used to beg our parents to drive us down to the local library for story time. A little dorky, but you know what? I never really outgrew my childhood love of listening to stories. It turns out I'm not the only one. More

These days I live in mild San Francisco, but I spent the first 23 years of my life in Chicago, a city where a windchill of -20ºF (that's -29ºC) turns waiting for the bus into an extreme sport. I've learned a few things over the years.. More

I was at Target the other day, and standing in front of me in line was a gentleman buying a plunger. That's it. A plunger. While I really should have been feeling bad for him, because after all, the poor guy was out on a plunger run, I found myself staring at him in wonder, dazzled by his ability to get out of Target with only one darn thing.
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Anyone who might someday live with me has a bit of an advantage: 400+ posts full of my bad habits, hang-ups, and obsessions. But what about the rest of us? What do you recommend knowing about each other before you move in together?

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