Blog Posts by Babble.com

I love spending time in the kitchen and most often, cooking is a pleasure, rather than a chore. But there are days when time is limited, and reverting to convenience foods is just too - well, convenient. Fortunately, convenience and health aren't mutually exclusive; beyond the frozen dinners and packaged mixes there are real, whole, nutritious foods streamlined to save us time, without costing us our health. Here are 5 of the most convenient, healthy foods everyone should have in their pantry!


Canned Chickpeas and Other Beans1. Canned Chickpeas and Other Beans
A can of chickpeas costs about a dollar, and they're loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. A quick rinse and they're ready to go in these barbecue cranberry chickpea wraps.
Make BBQ chickpea cranberry wraps
















Related: The 25 healthiest foods for under $1





2. Canned Tomatoes Canned Tomatoes
Having good-quality canned tomatoes at the ready in your pantry means a fast sauce from scratch - in the same time it takes to cook your pasta! Try this classic turkey

Read More »from 5 Healthy Foods You Should Always Have in Your Pantry

Flower power on your feet!Floral prints are a great way to add something fun and bold to your wardrobe! Whether you like to mix and match crazy patterns or add just a hint of it with a pair of floral ballet flats, there are plenty to choose from. I've rounded up 12 of my favorites and included everything from bold floral heels to casual tennis shoes. Take a peek!









Related: 20 things ALL women do but hate to admit


Red floral heelsRed Floral Heels
These strappy heels are stained with a bold crimson backdrop and layered with delicate baby blue and purple flowers. Wear these feminine heels with a cute over-the-knee skirt or dress!
Buy them here for $80


















Black floral flatsBlack Floral Flats
Hello, peep-toe! It's rare to see black paired with flowers -- notably because of their stark contrasts. But when it is together, the flower prints stand out more. Semi-goth lovers, rejoice!
Buy them here for $29.98













Related: 14 things you should never say to a woman


Sparkly floral flatsSparkly Floral Flats
Anything embellished with sequins is a win in my book! These flats are

Read More »from Walk on the Floral Side: 12 Flowery Shoes for Summer

See 3 more best sun-kissed self-tanners on Babble!Although I absolutely look best bronzed, I made a promise to my sunscreen: Never shall we part. So that leaves me to rely on faux tanning products for my summery skin.

I've certainly had my share of mishaps -- streaky legs, pigmented patches on my knees, an overall orange tint -- but I'm here to tell you one thing: Don't give up, my friends. The right sunless tanner is out there for you, and I've researched the tried-and-true favorites, as well as tips as to why your faux tan looks so…fake.

Read on for my top 7 self-tanner picks and fool-proof self-tanning tips:






Related: 12 bronzers to complement your summer glow






Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Glow Pads
These self-tanning wipes are packed with Vitamin D and anti-aging properties. "There's no greasiness, no stench, no realizing you missed the entire right side of your face halfway through the day. They're easy to apply, and after only two uses, I looked like I had spent a few days on the beach," said Sophia Panych, associate

Read More »from Sun-Kissed: 7 Ways to Fake a Tan

For Father's Day my man is getting a... vasectomy!My underwear drawer is full of granny panties. Worse, lots of maternity underwear. The last time I treated myself to a new suite of panties was three years ago when my heart dropped into my feet at the sight of a positive pregnancy test. That would make those maternity panties. Sexy.

My husband and I have three children, two boys (7 and 5) and one girl (2 years old). The first child was carefully planned, lovingly scheduled to fit into our lives and to build a life around. The second? Totally a hurricane baby. My meticulous planning fell all to hell when we lost our home in a hurricane and, finding ourselves disorganized and still panicked in a family guest house in a demolished landscape, I miscalculated my times of the month and we made ourselves baby number two.

Should you ever find yourself in the aftermath of a natural disaster, I highly recommend this series of distractions. Sure, it makes it really difficult to find a room in the crowded maternity ward nine months later, but

Read More »from For Father's Day My Husband is Getting... A Vasectomy

8 Things You Need to Throw the Perfect Margarita Party

This weekend marks the fifth annual margarita party that I host every year with my mom at her house on the lake. The tradition began as an itch to throw a little fiesta and has grown into an event that friends and family look forward to all year long. We do up a huge make-your-own taco bar, mix up pitchers of fresh margaritas and litter the yard with lawn games of all varieties. (For ideas, check out my favorite lawn games!) Trust me when I say, this is the perfect party for kids and those kids at heart. Want to plan a fiesta of your own? Here's my guide for throwing an awesome margarita party!

Pinata

1. Pinata
Let me just say, if you're hosting a Mexican-themed fiesta a pinata is an absolute must. Grown-ups and kids can't get enough!
Get the pinata

Festive Invitations

2. Festive Invitations
These invitations are an easy DIY project - use crepe paper fringe glued on colorful card stock and use a rubber stamp to print your message. Details can be handwritten on the back or inside.

Read More »from What You Need to Host the Ultimate Margarita Party

What you need to pack for a cruiseAs far as a family goes, we're pretty experienced travelers. We've been to quite a few countries, we try to take a road trip every summer, and we make weekend trips every few months. You might say we like to move about the cabin.

But I still learned something new about travel on our recent Norwegian Cruise Line vacation, and I think that's because cruises are just a bit different than other types of travel. Specifically, I learned a bit about what to pack, what to leave home, and how to spend your money. Here are 5 tips to help your family pack for your next cruise:

Related: 8 family-friendly cruises you've never heard of

1. Pack light
You really don't need that many clothes. Sure, I saw quite a few sequined dresses and leopard-print stilettos, but if you've got kids, you're mostly lounging around and enjoying a few nice dinners.

Okay, so maybe that's mostly us-if we're given free childcare on a cruise ship, we'd rather chat over a few drinks out on the open sea over getting our

Read More »from How to Pack for a Cruise when You Have Kids

Christine CoppaNo one likes to admit to mental health issues, because mental health issues make you sound crazy and all Girl Interrupted. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder around the age of 19. I was always a nervous kid, or a worry-wort, if you will. But it escalated in college when I started having really bad panic attacks. My friends told me it was all in my head, but why did it feel like there was an elephant on my chest preventing me from breathing? Why was I shaking? Why did my face flush with that freaky cold sweat feeling and why did I pass out on several occasions? I tried to breathe, but all I could do was panic and think about not being able to breathe. I envisioned myself passing out and my ballerina roommate calling 911.

I went to the doctor, convincing him there was something wrong with my thyroid (because I obviously let the Internet diagnose me) and that I wasn't a mental case. He ran blood tests and I was fine. Great. Then he prescribed a low dose of Paxil and a low dose of Xanax

Read More »from How I Made Peace with Paxil

7 Common Myths About WomenIn the infamous words of George Costanza, "It's not a lie if you believe it." We all believe half-truths to make sense of the nonsensical to some degree. When it comes to solving mysteries of the opposite sex, one could argue reconciliation by half-truths is better than nothing at all. In an attempt to understand the complexities of women, men have developed a series of convenient, female "truths." Check out these 10 untruths of the male imagination.

Women fantasize about other women1. Women fantasize about other women
Men, you fantasize about women fantasizing about other women. When in fact we fantasize about Ryan Gosling or Christian Grey...or Ryan Gosling as Christian Grey.






















Girls' nights involve sexy pillow fights2. Girls' nights involve sexy pillow fights
Sexy pillow fights have never once existed outside of a Katy Perry video. Check out these 5 ridiculous things men think happen on girls' night.

















You're the best she's ever had3. You're the best she's ever had
You just might be...but then again you might not be. What is she going to do, tell Read More »from Women Are Desperate to Get Married ... And 9 More Myths in the Male Mind