Blog Posts by Kara Gaskin

For better or for worse, lots of married women change their names, as of 2009, about 80 percent. But what most people don't know until they face the wedding-cake sized stack of paperwork is what a huge hassle it can be. The average woman has to reach out to 27 different organizations and services, and spends between 10 and 15 hours filling out forms, following up, waiting at the DMV and other activities not at the top of a honeymooner's list.

The tedium of the process inspired newlyweds Marco and Priti Wirasinghe to found a business that does it for you. The idea was born when Priti told Marco she was happy to take his name, so long as he did the paperwork. "She was my first client," he says.

Upon spending hours, of what should have been wedding bliss, looking online, filling out unnecessary paperwork, and speaking to the wrong people, Wirasinghe created NameChangeExpress in 2006, a site aimed at removing the frustration.

For the "do it yourself" bride however, Yahoo!

From adorable to working professionals, take at look at how these celebrity kids have grown!

Take a look back at these hot celebrity couples that time forgot!

From lavish and elegant to just plain over-the-top, these kids rooms are out of this world unique.

Early intervention can be enormously helpful in the treatment of autism, but the condition has so far been difficult to screen for in children under 18 months.

Now, it may be possible to pick up warning signs earlier, with the help of a questionnaire for pediatricians to use developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The promising results of the tool were released July 13 on the university's Health Care page.

Using birth records, researchers sent the survey to North Carolina residents who had children nearing the age of 12 months. Nearly 700 parents completed the 63-question "First Year Inventory" (FYI) which asks about typical skill functions identifiable in 12-month-olds such as reflexes, social skills, and hearing-all associated with normal human development.

"Many of the parents at 12 months were not concerned about their child's development. They filled it out because they were helpful, not necessarily because they were worried about their child,"

We love pictures of tiny kittens - but we love them even more when a big dog in the SAME picture makes them seem even MORE tiny, especially when they're all fluffed up and indignant about getting stepped on or treated like a Kong. So cute! And now, without further ado, big dogs and tiny kittens. (Okay, there's a few regulation-size cats in there.)

Captions by Sarah D. Bunting. Curation by Kara Gaskin.

national ice cream monthNational Ice Cream Day is July 15, but in case you missed it, the sweet treat is celebrated throughout the entire month of July.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared the third Sunday of July National Ice Cream Day. Citing its nutritional benefits, sans sugary toppings, Reagan declared a special day for the beloved frozen dessert. And why not? After all, Americans consume more ice cream than any other nation in the world -- an average of 20 quarts a year per head.

In celebration this year, many ice cream shops across the nation are scooping up great deals to satisfy your sweet tooth. Offers that still stand throughout the month of July:

JellyBelly.com - 10% off Cold Stone Ice Cream Parlor Mix products.
Maggie Moos- Half off Any Single Serve Coupon, Monday through Friday between 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. through July 28.
Marble Slab Creamery- Half off Any Single Serve Coupon, Monday through Friday between 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. through July 28.
DQ Miracle Treat Day - Buy a