Blog Posts by SheSpeaks

We've all heard stories of women who claim they "just knew" the moment they became pregnant and others who didn't realize until weeks or even months had gone by.

What is it, aside from a missed period, that makes us feel pregnant in those early stages? Early pregnancy symptoms, like tiredness and nausea are sure to tip some women off, but others still insist the only symptom they had was a "gut feeling".

A recent report from People reveals how a now 8-months-pregnant Jessica Simpson became aware that she was indeed carrying a baby. While Simpson and boyfriend Eric Johnson began to get ready for a road trip, she started to have second thoughts. Simpson explains, "We were going to [go] all-day drinking…ride our bikes, hang out. But I started feeling this overwhelming guilt. Why would I feel guilt at the idea of going out and having cocktails with my friends?"

Simpson then thought of taking a home pregnancy test which revealed why she was feeling guilt over the idea of

Read More »from How Do Some Women "Just Know" when They Are Pregnant?

Eva Lorenz is a blogger who shares her thoughts with us at SheSpeaks

This day is close to my heart because it allows ordinary citizens to act as watchdogs over politicians and governments. But at the same time, it also teaches us an important lesson about how much we allow others to look into our lives.

March 16 is a day to remember that access to information also has implications for our own personal liberties. Events in several cities teach us the dual role of this day. One event is organized by the First Amendment Center in Washington DC and brings together groups concerned with freedom of information and open records, from government, media and the legal system. Not by accident, the Freedom of Information Day is celebrated on March 16th; this date is also the birth date of James Madison, who is considered the "father" of the First Amendment.

For legal scholars there are also events that delve deeper into the political importance of Freedom of Information, such as "how transparent

Read More »from Freedom of Information Day on March 16th

Julee Morrison is a blogger who shares her thoughts with us at SheSpeaks

Summer is right around the corner, which prompts moms everywhere (me included!) to ask: How am I going to entertain my kids?! You don't want them sitting in front of the TV or computer for a solid three months, but it can be tough to find a way to keep them occupied -- especially if you have teens at home. This is when you realize it's time to look outside the home for ideas. There are plenty of options for summer programs out there, from day camps and sleep-away camps to local craft classes put on by your local rec center. Trending right now are real working ranches. Imagine sending your child to the heart of Wyoming for four weeks living life as a cowboy/girl--wrangling and feeding horses, building barns, fishing, backpacking and learning about Western Horsemanship. These camps negate the competition for being "popular" and share teamwork and work ethic. Best of all, they spend four weeks far away from iPads,

Read More »from How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Kids

Alison Groen is a blogger who shares her thoughts with us at SheSpeaks

Everyone knows the Ides of March as the day Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. But what makes March 15th an ides? Ides is actually the singular form of the word. Ides according to the Roman Calendar, was the day of the full moon each month. Most months that meant an ides was actually the 13th day, but its the 15th of March, May, July and October. It also marked the first day of spring for the Roman calendar.

The Ides of March was also special to the Romans in that it was the day of the year that the new Consuls (two leaders of Rome) took office. The Consuls would rule jointly for about a year. This is how they kept each other in check. This makes Julius Caesar's assassination being on the Ides of March even more auspicious. It definitely showed that the Roman elite didn't want him as a ruler.

The Ides of March is special to me not for these reasons but because its my birthday. I've always known

Read More »from Ides of March

"Pink slime" may sound more like something from science-fiction, but if you're keeping up with the headlines you know the term is in reference to what's found in a lot of the ground meat we are consuming today. Since pink slime (the left-over trimmings from the cow that butchers usually toss out) is so cheap, fast food joints, grocery stores, and school lunch programs have been using it for a while and the government claims it is safe to eat. But others disagree and want the slimy stuff off the market.

A recent report from NPR's All Things Considered discusses the movement to take the so-called "lean, finely textured meat" off the menu. Thousands of people are stepping up to sign a petition urging the government to stop endorsing pink slime.

What's so bad about the pink stuff? About a year ago food revolutionist Jamie Oliver offered a very informative segment on why we should steer clear of the pink slime.

And investigative reporter, Michael Moss, warns that since

Read More »from Is Your Meat "Pink Slime" Free?

Many of us may remember those self-conscious teenage years hoping no one would spot up walking out the door in sweats. Teens still have these worries, but with the addition of Facebook and smartphones (that allow a photo to be snapped and uploaded for all to see instantly) the feeling of being seen looking untidy is all the more devastating. And with 7.5 million Facebook members under the age of 13, these worries can start at a very young age.

A recent New York Times report discusses how teens of today feel they have to do a lot more primping and posing in public than ever before. One eighth grader, Grace, describes how she avoids video chats when she is looking less than perfect. Grace explains, "Before a video chat, I'll fix my hair and make sure that I look good. If I just got out of the shower and my hair is wet, or I'm wearing my sweats, I'll cover the camera with a Post-it, or I just won't accept the video chat."

Other teens describe how posing in a sexy way or

Read More »from Is Your Teen Living Under the Lens?

Vicky Cianci is a blogger who shares her thoughts with us at SheSpeaks

Bubbles and bubbles fly around watch how they float in the sky. Why am I excited to say that National Bubble Week is beginning Sunday, March 11 and ending on Sunday, March 17? With the weather beginning to change, it now gives the opportunity to enjoy the coming of spring with your family, friends and kids. It is not just for kids, it is for everyone and anyone from 0 to 90.

In 2000, Oddzon, the makers of Koosh Bubbles, held the first National Bubble Week. They sent out a press release stating the purpose of this celebration. It stated, "The grassroots 'bubblebration,' to be inaugurated through events in markets around the country, was created to herald the first day of spring-the unspoken first day of the bubble-blowing season." It's obvious that they wanted this little known holiday to catch on nationwide.

There are many ways to celebrate bubble week as a family by making bubbles at home. The best partRead More »from Bubblicious!!

For couples like Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, who spent a longer time planning their lavish wedding than actually being married, deciding what to do with the wedding gifts has probably been difficult. TMZ recently revealed Kim K's solution; she has doubled the value of her wedding gifts which she estimates to be about $100,000 worth and made a large donation in her guests' honor.

This may seem like an acceptable solution to some but to others, like Kim K's ex-hubby Kris Humphries, they believe the right thing would have been to return all of the gifts on top of making a donation. And with their separation announced months ago, some feel Kardashian has taken her sweet time in dealing with the issue of her wedding gifts.

With reports of Kris Humphries' disapproval over Kim's handling of the gifts, one has to question why he wasn't more involved in the decision. And there is also the question of why he hasn't returned personal gifts he received, like a $5,000 gift

Read More »from Wedding Gift Wars: Should Guests Get Their Gifts Back If a Marriage Fails?