Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By GalTime Teen Parenting Expert, Barbara Greenberg, PhD

Is Mother's Day confusing for you?...

Happy Mother's Day to the BEST mother in the world! Mom, you made me the person that I am today. Mother you have given me everything and I can never repay you. These sentiments are echoed repeatedly in card after card year after year.

Now, let me suggest a different Mother's Day scenario. Perhaps your relationship with your mom has been less than stellar and you just can't find the right card.

You can't bring yourself to purchase one of the many beautiful and standard cards because the sentiment in the card does not accurately reflect the nature of your relationship with your mother.

Related: When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Imperfect

However, what if you saw one of the following five cards?

1. Mom, you ignored me for years but I hope the day is happy anyway.

2. Happy Mother's Day to a mom who favored my older sister.

3. Let's celebrate today mom. Let's face it we never spend time together on any other day.

4. Happy Mother's Day mom.

Read More »from When Mother's Day is Confusing

By Kelly Rouba, GalTime.com

Kiss her already! Date ideas that will melt your heart

As the weather gets colder and the nights get longer, it's tempting to just stay inside and cuddle up with your partner under a warm blanket while watching a good movie. And while alone time is always nice (and necessary), don't let the winter weather stop you from getting out with your special someone and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

"[Women] should make time for winter dates because it gives their partner a chance to show off his or her romantic side, more so than just walking down the beach on a summer day or having a picnic in the park during the spring. Winter dates scream romance!" says Tierra Fields of New Jersey.

As far as romantic winter dates go, Fields says nothing beats a good old -fashioned carriage ride. Some towns also offer festive trolley rides during the holidays, which is a nice way to see the sights while enjoying each other's company.

Dating expert and founder of the

Read More »from 8 Great Winter Dates

by The Budget Decorator Kathy Woodard for GalTime.com

Christmas Tree Trends

When decorating your home for the holidays this year, why not try one of the hot Christmas tree decorating themes gracing designer's homes?

It's easier than you might think!

Allow me to share the hottest holiday decorating trends as well as how to create your very own designer Christmas tree with these simple and inexpensive tips!

Peacock Tree

If you've ducked your head into any local Christmas shops, chances are you have spotted one of the hottest Christmas tree trends, the Peacock Tree. The Peacock Tree is inspired by the drama and color of the beautiful peacock, serving as a great tree for both traditional and more contemporary households. This theme uses the bright colors of the peacock including turquoise, lime green and purple. Remember: this tree is all about drama, so don't spare the color!

• White lights are the best choice for showing off the colors and grandeur of this fanciful tree. Money saver tip: This

Read More »from Hottest Christmas Tree Decorating Trends

By Kerri Winick, GalTime Beauty Editor

Khloe Kardashian and GalTime's editor Kerri Winick Three things you might be surprised to know about Khloe Kardashian:

1. Mascara is her makeup must-have. She can't live without it!

2. She always applies mascara herself. Even when a makeup artist is on hand. This girl knows how she likes her lashes.

3. While sisters Kim and Kourtney are all about eyelash strips, Khloe just finds them downright irritating.

RELATED Khloe Kardashian Talks Lamar's Rap Ambitions

How'd I get the inside scoop on this Kardashian's beauty faves? Last Friday, I was lucky enough to meet the X-Factor host herself at an event for Khroma Beauty, the cosmetics line that she launched with Kim and Kourtney.

Khloe was refreshingly down to earth, and exactly as she is on TV: a fab, funny girl who isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. And if you think she and her sisters simply lent their famous names to the collection, think again! The girls were involved in

Read More »from Khloe Kardashian's Makeup Must-Have

By Kelly Rouba, GalTime.com

'Tis the season for giving and some men sure know how to spoil their ladies! GalTime asked readers to share what they felt was the best gift a man ever gave them. Some of the responses from these lucky ladies might blow you away and some may even move you to tears.

If you think your guy could use a little inspiration from these gents, you just might want to print this article out and leave it by some milk and cookies!

Here's what women told us about the favorite present from their partner.

"When he proposed to me on Christmas Eve."

Submitted by Trish Cherrington

"As a little girl, I always dreamed of owning a horse. I took horseback riding lessons and even leased a horse for a year, but never did I have a horse to call my very own. Fast forward about 20 years, I'm married with two small children, a husband (who as a cop, works crazy hours), a full-time job of my own and not enough land nor enough discretionary income to

Read More »from "The Best Gift He's Ever Given Me"

By GalTime Teen Expert Jennifer A. Powell-Lunder, Psy.D.

Finals Week

The time before the holidays for your younger kids is usually filled with fun and joy. School projects focus on the season while in class work often seems more like play. There are concerts for which to prepare and pageants that require practice before the big debut.

In sharp contrast however, the return back to school for your middle school, high school and college crew is often not so jolly. Faced with the end of the semester crunch, your teens probably have little time to enjoy the holiday cheer. There are projects to complete, deadlines to meet, and of course the dreaded finals. Who has time to rejoice when you have a ten page paper due in one class and a massive research project due in another?

As a parent, you may feel powerless, especially if your teens are away at college. You wish you could wave a magic wand to make it all okay. While you have much empathy and compassion for their stress, a part of you feel

Read More »from How to Help Your College Kids Through Finals

by Lindsley Lowell, GalTime.com Correspondent

let's party like it's 1997what i learned (and cringed at) while traveling with my husband on business

What happens in China stays in China?

So many hoped this was the case on my recent trip there with my husband and his MBA group. The schedule was a packed five-day extravaganza of tours, meetings and events in Shanghai with local companies. As the little wife and avid traveler, I came along for the ride.

The group had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. China is not exactly a hop, skip and jump from Los Angeles. A few others brought along their spouses and tacked on additional cities to make it a vacation, but most came solo to fulfill the trip abroad requirement.

I was looking forward to having some time with an intelligent, mature group of people. Many were, but many more were ready to party and saw their airplane ticket as a golden ticket back to adolescence. I was amazed at the debauchery.

This was technically a student

Read More »from What's Up with Bad Behavior on Business Trips?

By Dr. James G. Wellborn for GalTime.com

Like so many parental expectations and requirements, getting your kid in the habit of doing chores will help prepare them for the real world (if you can ever get them to move out). Here are some of the most important benefits kids derive from assigned chores.

Responsibility (or "I'm not your maid!")

When you make a mess YOU are obligated to clean it up. The most straightforward reason your kid needs to do chores is to drive the point home that he is responsible for his actions in the world (and the messes he makes).

Personal Obligation (or "You helped create this mess now get up and help clean it up!")

When you live with other people, you're obliged to contribute to the general upkeep of common living areas. Chores help your kid learn to pull her own weight when it comes to keeping shared spaces clean (so she doesn't end up moving back home because even her friends consider her a slob).

RELATED How to Get Your Kids to Do

Read More »from What Kids Learn from Doing Chores