• The Importance of Ritual

    By | At Home – Thu, Nov 17, 2011 5:16 PM EST

    Do you have a ritual that sets your writing routine in motion? Setting aside 15 minutes a day is in itself a ritual, of course. But how you begin can make all the difference.

    A ritual doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Twyla Tharp discusses ritual in her book The Creative Habit (which you should own, by the way). She begins each day by getting up at 5:30 am (a time of day that makes me cry if I happen to find myself awake during it, but never mind), putting on her workout clothes, leaving her apartment, and hailing a cab. Then she goes to the gym, where she begins her day. The ritual, she says, is not in the exercises she performs: the ritual is the cab.

    Related: How to keep your childless friends

    It's not fancy, but then, it doesn't have to be. You can ritualize whatever it is that signals your beginning: whether that's lacing up your shoes, turning on your computer, lighting a candle, putting a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door, turning off your cell phone. Perform these acts

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  • Older men love younger women. This isn't a shocking statement and likely won't surprise anyone (and if it does, one might ask where you have been). The lecherous older man in his 50s drooling over the 24-year-old blonde is about as shocking as a dog peeing on a hydrant. It happens every day.

    But why it happens is somewhat surprising. According to Jezebel, the reason men like younger women isn't that they're more attractive or even more fertile, though both of those come into play. It's because they're seeking validation for their own attractiveness and fear of aging, and they're getting it through younger women.

    More from The Stir: The Dumbest Hubby and Wife Arguements

    It's as if he is saying: "If she likes me, I am not REALLY 45." And sadly, I kind of get it. As a woman who is close(ish) to the dreaded 35 -- the age at which women are no longer AS attractive to men, according to Jezebel -- I know what it means.

    I certainly relish things men say to me that I used

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  		• Aries (March 21 - April 19)
    Where's the fun to be found? Anywhere mom is, at least early in the day. You're primed for adventure, even if it is just a space station made out of couch cushions. Later, it's back to earth and those mundane chores that can't be ignored.

    Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Chinese Luck Prosperity and Longevity Reading


    		Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
    There is strength in numbers. Today would be an ideal day to forge new alliances with other moms or co-workers. You never know who could become a friend. Later, the time is ripe for an outstanding date night and a break from baby.

    Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Past Life Reading


    		Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
    The active trend continues, at least for the first half of the day. Let the good times roll on, as you are happily in synch with baby. Later,
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  		• Aries (March 21 - April 19)
    The perfect amount of chili and coconut in your curry is just one of the many ways you can display your brilliant skill of balance today. You have scales in one pocket and the yin and yang in the other, so don't be reluctant to throw out the recipe and go from memory like you were playing the piano by ear. Now where is that lemongrass?

    Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Romantic Compatibility Reading for two


    		Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
    Yes, it's almost like a summer evening with the sun still high in the sky and as time seems to stand still, you reminisce about summers past. You're playing badminton until you lose all of the birdies and rackets in a tree. You're taking a ride in a convertible. Let your mind wander a little as you send a kid to shimmy up the tree for the birdies.

    Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Intimacy Secrets Reading
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  • Dirty SilverDirty SilverAre you ready for all those guests yet? I pulled out all my silver serving dishes tonight…..yikes! Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me! It can be overwhelming to think about getting the house prepared for the holidays so I've compiled my fall cleaning list and a few other pointers all into one post!

    Before you get too close to the holidays, you probably want to make sure your dishwasher has been cleaned and is working properly! It's going to be on overdrive with all of those Thanksgiving dishes and breakdown would be a nightmare.

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  • Spike TV's It isn't difficult to see that actor Mickey Rourke has had something of a hard life; it's written all over his face. Remember the strikingly handsome, extremely cocky, captivating young actor from the 1980s, with his performances in films like "Diner," "Rumblefish" and "Nine 1/2 Weeks"? That guy is long gone, replaced by a man with an almost unrecognizable face that has seen the inside of one too many plastic surgeon's offices. A man whose Hollywood career took such a deep downslide that he believed he'd never get work again.

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    But somehow, Mickey Rourke has pulled off the impossible, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Ever since his striking performance in "The Wrestler" in 2008, which garnered him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, he's been regularly getting work in big Hollywood films. Currently, he's starring in the box-office winner "Immortals," playing a vicious, tyrannical king

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  • Kindle FireKindle Fire
    Courtesy of Amazon    I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but expect to see a time -- in the next five years or so -- that you and your kids will devour books solely on an e-reader and not on paper. Sure, there will still be board books and novels floating around, but let's face facts: It's an e-reader world and you will eventually want to invest in one of the modern models if you haven't already.

    That said, do you need to jump on board now? And which e-reader is best for you? If you do any reading on your iPad or tablet, you're probably safe. Tablets offer an excellent reading experience that will only get better with time.

    More from The Stir: eBooks With Sound Effects Aren't Worth the Noise

    Still not convinced? Consider a cheaper e-ink device. These are small and extremely portable -- they're perfect for reading on the beach, for example -- and are a way to dip your toe into the e-reader market.

    No matter what you think about e-books now, if you're still buying

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  • Stay Organized This Holiday

    By | At Home – Thu, Nov 17, 2011 10:46 AM EST

    ComstockComstockby Fanny Van Nevel

    Think back to the days just after Christmas last year. Were you on your hands and knees picking tinsel out of the rug? Would you have broken the legs of the very next gingerbread man that came your way? Sometimes, creating all that holiday spirit makes you feel more Grinch than great. But you don't have to do it all. Honest. As a matter of fact, you can do exactly what you want (without too much stress) if you get organized now and keep it that way.

    Plan, Plan, Plan!

    1. Right after Thanksgiving, make a list of everything you want (and need) to accomplish during the weeks to come-shopping,decorating, sending cards, baking. Set deadlines to fit your schedule. If you know you'll be pressed for time, make choices now. For example, would you rather bake cookies or send out holiday cards?
    2. Write down important dates-"To Do" deadlines, parties, concerts, travel plans-on one calendar. Line up babysitters as soon as possible.
    3. If you are

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