Blog Posts by Babble.com

Why I WON'T be talking If you have children of your own, you've probably noticed more then once that kids love to ask questions. It's their curious brain working, trying to make sense of the world, and who better to ask than their parents? It's adorable, annoying, and sometimes it leaves us stumped for what the heck to say.

My kids ask a million questions - seems like more than that with the three of them going - each with their own interest that has caught their curiosity. Most times I have no idea what the answer is, but we spend time thinking about it (and sometimes, when very tired of it all, I just say "I don't know," and leave it at that). But I love that they ask questions and that they ask me.

Related: 7 things you should NEVER say to your child

I have had a few friends of mine, with kids around the same age, post statuses on Facebook or questions on Twitter saying that their kids are at the age where they're asking where babies come from and how they are made - and they're wondering how to talk to

WomanLadies, forgive me as I spill the beans on the weirdly awesome goings-on inside the brain of a woman. I have my reasons.

I recently read 5 Secrets From the Man Vault from MSN Living which I found to be equal parts disturbing and fascinating. When I shoved the article under my husband's nose, he sheepishly admitted guilt to 3 out of the 5 secrets. Which 3 out of 5? He wouldn't tell…because they were secrets. Ugh.





My estrogen levels soared as I felt the need to trump these 5 secrets with about a billion of my own - but why? I'm guessing it had everything to do with the fact that I was surprised by the man secrets. I always considered men to be the straightforward species. What you see is what you get; no surprises here. Women, on the other hand are a completely different story. We don't say what we mean, we hear what men don't say, and above all, possess the uncanny ability to get what we want.

Related: 5 things ALL women want to hear

So yeah, I expect secrets from women and

VacationTwo years ago, we had set aside $1000 for a simple, budget beach vacation. Then, I found out we didn't get the condo we wanted, and everything else was $200-300 out of our range. We were left trying to figure out how to quickly add to our vacation budget.

Then, I remembered the money was already there.



Related: 7 steps to a better budget this year

With the whole family gone for an entire week, there was plenty of money in our everyday budget to use for our vacation needs. We just had to plan ahead a little, rethink the budget, and reconsider a few earmarked categories.

Gas: We were spending about $75 per week on gas at that time. It was enough for at least one tank of gas to get us started on our road trip. If you aren't driving, you can spend the week's regular fuel budget on cab fare, airport parking or other transportation needs.

Groceries: For our week at the beach, we chose a place with a kitchen, cooking evening meals and packing simple lunches for the ocean. I spent our

5 Push-Up Cake PopsDo you remember those sherbet push-up pops from back in the day? Now you can relive the fun, except with cupcakes! All it takes is filling the same contraption, which you can find at craft stores of order on Amazon, with mini cakes and some type of decadent filling or cream. Add a little garnish with sprinkles or fruit, and you have a modern treat that everyone will love. Here are 5 pops that take the cake.






Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops1. Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops
It's easy to make summer's favorite dessert in push-up pop form. The push-up containers make them even more portable for picnics.


Ingredients:
1 - 16.25 ounce box of white cake mix (plus other cake ingredients)
1 - 8 ounce container of Cool Whip whipped topping
1 pound of fresh sliced strawberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix according to package directions. Spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Fill each well approximately 1/2 way full of batter. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until cake

5 Chic Pendant LampsIt's amazing how a light can change the whole look and feel of a room. And pendant lights are a great option, because they free up space and can be incorporated into decor. These 5 stylish pendant lamps give any room a clean and modern update.












Unfold Pendant Lamp1. Unfold Pendant Lamp
This black beauty is a modern spin on a classic by Form Us With Love for the Finnish design group Muuto. I love its segmented look.
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Neon Orange Cord Hanging Pendant Lamp2. Neon Orange Cord Hanging Pendant Lamp
This fun lamp isn't very big, but it's got a lot of style. The neon cord and chrome bottom are playful, but polished.
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Related: 16 pendant lights made of household items


Large Ball Light3. Large Ball Light
I'd wear this as jewelry, but apparently it's a pendant lamp. Chic!
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Coco Pendant Lamp 4. Coco Pendant Lamp Smooth-turned Victorian ash beautifully complements the powdery aluminum shade of this lamp, creating a warm glow from within.
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Related: 12 ways to decorate with home office supplies


Diamond Light5. Diamond Light Let there be light!

Dress up your spring wardrobe with these lovely, chic blouses. Made from silk, cotton and linen, these tops will take you from the office to an evening party. The tanks can be layered with lightweight sweaters now and worn alone in the summer. All are made of luxurious fabrics and include pretty, romantic details like lace insets, silk under-slips, and pretty ties. Check out our top 7 picks:

Vintage-Inspired Lace Blouse1. Vintage-Inspired Lace Blouse, $229
Inspired by vintage lace blouses, this cotton, hand-crocheted top is cropped for a modern, understated look. Leave it untucked with a high-waisted skirt or, if you're not headed to work, wear it with a pair of low-rise jeans for a sexy evening look.
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Related: 18 warm-weather dresses for the office









Silk Floral Blouse2. Silk Floral Blouse, $266
This floral blouse is made from 100% silk and features a beautiful, delicately embellished neckline with yellow piping. We love the loose fit and inverted pleat and would love to see this top paired with skinny pants and

I don't know about you, but I find window treatments the most difficult to decide upon when it comes to home decor. I guess that's why the majority of the windows in our home don't have anything yet (thanks to the big trees around us we can get away with that). But still we do need to cover a few windows and in my hunt I've come across a ton of clever DIY shade and curtain projects/ideas. Here are my 7 favorite creative window treatments:

Tea Towel Window1. Tea Towel Window
Using two kitschy tea towels clip drapery hooks to the top edge of a dishtowel and hang from a cafe curtain rod. I love this one because it would be easy to switch up with a new festive design every season.
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Related: 25 home projects you can get done over the weekend









Floral Stencil2. Floral Stencil
A zinnia stencil and fabric paint is used to create this pretty motif on a plain white Ikea curtain. Such an attractive and affordable option!
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Bold Stripes3. Bold Stripes
These thick stripes on a pair of panel curtains are a

7 Skirts with PocketsThere's just something about a skirt with pockets that makes me feel super happy. It gives me a warm, safe place for my hands, a note, or a few dollars. Though I've seen plenty of miniskirts with pockets floating around, I personally prefer a skirt with a bit more substance. Here are 7 great options for warm weather months.











Emerson Fry Green Pocket Skirt 1. Emerson Fry Green Pocket Skirt
This kelly green number is to die for. What a great color for spring!
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ASOS Lady Skirt 2. ASOS Lady Skirt
I love the length of this skirt. The pockets and the fact that it's made of cotton make it absolutely perfect for warm weather.
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J.Crew Jardin Skirt 3. J.Crew Jardin Skirt
We've seen these skirts all over, but not with pockets! They keep this breezy skirt from feeling too dressy.
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Related: 18 spring dresses for grown-ups


Banana Republic Sunny Day Skirt 4. Banana Republic Sunny Day Skirt
This may be the first slim pleated skirt I've seen with pockets. Everything's more fun in yellow, too!
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Denim Wrap Skirt from Madewell 5. Denim Wrap Skirt from Madewell
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