Blog Posts by Babble.com

Going out on a date can be so overrated. The restaurant can be expensive, the movie even more so. It might rain or you might not get a cab. Plus, it takes valuable time to get ready and get out there that you might otherwise spend getting closer to that special someone. Instead, why not spend an extra special night in the comfort of your home, and get the romance of night on the town, by having an at-home date night! Pick out your favorite movie and plan the entire evening around it - including your meal, decor, and outfit. There are actually many more options for a romantic and fun night in than you might expect. Click through for 7 ideas for at-home date nights! -By Jacinda Boneau

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Vitamin A-derived retinoids are considered the gold standard for anti-aging. While prescription-strength retinoids can have a more dramatic effect on skin, over the counter products are less irritating. Here are 7 products containing retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinaldehyde that can be purchased without a prescription and are clinically proven to be effective with continued use.

-By Sonya Lee Benham

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greenThere is a lot of talk about the safety of the various chemicals we are using for our daily cleaning tasks, but the good news is you can get your house just as sparkly clean and fresh smelling with green options! No need for the store-bought chemical cleaners. Here are 5 alternatives for a naturally clean home! Bonus: they're also less-expensive that the traditional cleaners.

1. Glass/Window Cleaner

Vinegar is a great alternative to the pricier glass cleaners that contain chemicals. With a clean, lint-free cloth add some vinegar and wipe away handprints and other grime from your windows. The vinegar will remove tough messes and leave a streak-free shine. You can also add the vinegar to a spray bottle and coat the glass to remove the residue on extra dirty windows.

Related: 25 cleaning solutions you'll wish you knew sooner

2. Tile Shower/Floor Cleaner

If you have tile walls or floors, grout can get messy. You don't need a bleach-based or harsh chemical cleaner to

I've been dying to chop off all my hair lately. I've worn it extremely long since growing it out from the short, platinum bob with pink highlights that wrecked it in 2003-2004. I swore that once I restored my hair to its healthy and happy state, I'd keep it long for as long as I could. But it's been nearly 10 years now, and I think it's time for change. And while I'd love to fall back on my favorite bobbed style, I think I'll keep it a bit on the longer side this time. So I'm taking major hair inspiration from the shoulder dusting lengths with BIG VOLUME from the 1990′s and pocketing styling tips from the supermodels of the time, like deep side parts, messy beachy waves, and blown-back voluminous curls. Check out 7 of my favorite looks! -By Maegan Tintari

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lunch

My husband tip-toes past the office where I'm working furiously on the computer in an attempt to get as much done before the day breaks and our three young children tumble out of their beds and demand breakfast like a gang of starving, just-released prisoners.

He leans against the doorway for a moment, stretching and yawning before he plods over to give me a quick goodbye kiss.

I tilt my face up towards him and tell him to have a good day.

"Oh, and don't forget your lunch," I call down the hallway. "I packed it for you last night."

Yup, I'm one of "those" wives.

The kind that packs her husband's lunch for him. Each and every day.

It never used to be this way. In fact, probably for the first three, maybe even four years of our marriage, I let my husband fend for himself in the world of lunch. Part of me clung to my admittedly feminist streak-let him make his own darn lunch, I thought. How hard is it anyways? It's not like anyone makes me lunch when I'm working!

Now I'm not saying these sweatshirts in the boys' section are particularly feminine. But what I am saying is that if you're not checking out the menswear sections of your favorite online shopping sites, you may be missing out. Sweatshirts shrink after 1-3 washes and if you're anything like me, you like your sweaties oversized and comfy (and tend to steal them from your man's closet on the regular). So why not just shop in their department? Mens' styles are made more narrow now than they used to be, but stick to ordering the smaller sizes if you like a fitted look. And in the mean time, add a little eye candy to your shopping experience!

-By Maegan Tintari

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At my previous job, I traveled at least two weeks out of every month. I maintained this schedule for three solid years. I was on the road so much that I had to check my itinerary every morning just to remember where I was. I reached the point where business travel was making me and my family miserable. I felt guilty about leaving them so much and they missed me while I was gone. Although many people believe that business trips are glamorous, they really aren't. Most of the time you only get to see hotel rooms and airports. But business travel doesn't have to be all drudgery. After a couple of years of bland hotel food and general travel frustation, I decided to change my attitude about travel and make the most of the opportunities I was given. Click through for 7 ways working parents can make business trips more bearable! -By Frederick J. Goodall

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I recently found a new favorite internet meme - The Bad Joke Eel. All of the jokes are terrible, but since I love things that are corny and in bad taste, it's sort of a perfect fit. I specifically picked jokes to share with you that you could tell your kids. I recently had the kids at the bus stop giggling (and moaning) with how bad and funny these eels' jokes are. I hope you enjoy them, too!- By Julie W. Miner

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