My children are lovely, but the chaos they create in my house is not. So I've found some simple things that have helped me keep my house calm in the midst of the craziness that is having children. It's amazing what a few simple rules have done to keep things from getting overrun! 1. Load the dishwasher every night, and empty it first thing in the morning Dishes are a never-ending chore when you have kids, but I've found that the best way to make the process easier is to stay on top of things.

Many people believe that introverts are shy and reserved while extroverts are boisterous and loud, but that is not always true. The key question to tell whether you're an extrovert or an introvert is: "Where do you get your energy?" Extroverts get energy by being around other people. When they feel burnt out or emotionally drained, they’re the ones planning a girls' night out or asking a few friends over for a movie. Introverts are the exact opposite.

Modern medicine is amazing at helping us feel better when we're ill, but as any parent who's taken their kid to the doctor for a common cold knows, there isn't always a prescription that can help. Luckily, there are natural ways to fight the cold and flu that can be just as effective as anything found in a store. Many of these natural cold remedies can be whipped up quickly and easily, using ingredients that are probably already in the house.

I stayed married for a long time past the point when I wanted to call it quits. I had a lot of reasons, but they all pretty much boiled down to the fact that I didn’t want my kids to grow up in a broken home, because, you know, that apparently screws kids up. I read the studies and knew that, statistically speaking, kids do better growing up with both a mother and a father present in the home.

The new year always feels like a hopeful time. A time to start fresh. A time to resolve to do things better going forward. Maybe it's the year to aim for self-acceptance ("flaws" and all), the year to finally look for a job that's a better fit, or the year to be more present for the kids. Maybe it's the year to finally accept every "imperfection" for what it is. Of course, it's also a time for reflection. We can't do better unless we look back and learn a few things from our past.

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will break my heart and soul. Let’s face it — if you have an ex that you share children with, you’re going to have some sort of contact with them. And you can be sure of one thing: Your ex will say things that hurt, whether intentionally or not. After all, there’s a reason you got divorced. Toward the end of my marriage, I got really good at dodging my husband’s hurtful comments, which I thought of as word bullets.

It was hour four at the Houston airport. After a week of work travel, I was hungry and tired, so I grabbed a Diet Coke and Cobb salad from a restaurant near my gate. I had just stuffed a bite of hard-boiled egg into my mouth when a super buff 20-something guy approached me. He said “hello” with a big smile and then gave me a thumbs up. I wasn’t sure what I had done to merit the thumbs up, especially since I’d never seen him before in my life.

With a new year comes the chance to make meaningful changes in your family's lives. In honor of the season of improvement, we've got six resolutions that are guaranteed to give your family something to smile about all year long. 1. Go on an adventure Let 2020 be the year of fantastic adventures.

When you become a mom, your whole life changes. Priorities, free time, activities, and things that were simple before become quite different. This includes your New Year's resolutions. Sure, you could make a bunch of resolutions that you'll never actually follow through with, or you could stick with these much more doable ones. 1. Get at least four hours of sleep a night Now this might seem like a long shot, but you can do it, mama! I mean, granted, if your little angel allows it. 2.

Everyone wants to ring in the new decade in style, but no one wants to break the bank on a fancy party that guests won't even remember by Valentine's Day — thanks to all those powerful and pricey cocktails you’re planning to serve, of course! So this year, even if one of your New Year's resolutions isn't to stay within a budget, consider some ways to cut costs and still have an amazing, last-minute bash. 1.