Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By Dr. Debra Jaliman for GalTime.com

Don't fall for these common skin myths..Your skin tells the story of your lifestyle choices and your skin care knowledge. If what you know about healthy skin care is limited or misinformed, you could be putting more than your appearance at risk -- you could be jeopardizing your health.

Let's dispel some commonly held skin care myths, so you can properly care for your skin.

Myth # 1 - Tanning protects the skin from the sun.
You may think your tan gives you a healthy glow, but it's not good for you. Whether you tan from the sun or indoor tanning beds, there are serious health risks. Tanning increases your exposure to UV radiation and can cause skin cancer, burns, premature aging and eye damage.

Years ago, I was on a TV show where I was debating the health risks of tanning with someone representing the tanning industry. But there really is no debate. Indoor tanning damages and destroys your skin. If you want to look years older than your true age, have deep wrinkles

By DIY Diva Malia Martine Karlinsky, GalTime.com

All Images Courtesy of Malia KarlinskyWe're all a little bit Irish when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick's Day! With wee bit o' time and a few extra touches, it's easy to incorporate some green and gold into your life.

Mint Oreo Brownies: Take brownie mix to a new level with a few simple ingredients-- vanilla frosting, green food coloring, a few drops of peppermint extract and a cup and a half of crumbled mint Oreos.

Simply mix 1 cup of the cookie crumbles into the brownie mix and bake as usual. Pump up the delish factor by frosting the brownies. Mix a tub of vanilla frosting with a few drops of green food coloring, a tsp of peppermint extract and the remaining 1/2 cup of cookie crumbles.

Leprechaun's Gold

Leprechaun's Gold: Make that magical leprechaun treasure yourself with some gold spray paint and large stones.

Simply spray paint the rocks gold, using a light mist and back and forth motion. After you've coated the front and back of the stones, you can use black

By Phoebe Lapine and Cara Eisenpress , Big Girls Small Kitchen for GalTime.com

Classic Southern casseroles are usually on the heavy side, if Paul Dean's renditions are any indication. Perhaps it's the fat that makes them so comforting, but we think that the amount of butter does not always dictate the level of deliciousness.

Since spring is on the way, and that means bikini season is just around the corner, we decided to challenge ourselves to create a comforting casserole that is as good for the soul as it is on our waistline. For this Tex-Mex cast-iron casserole, we strike a balance by using dark meat chicken to keep it low-fat and chorizo to give it flavor. Instead of 1 pound of butter, we use a mere 1/2 stick, and lighten things up even further with sour cream to thicken the sauce, and 3 cups of sharp cheddar cheese instead of processed Velveta to make the top oozy and gooey.

The result is a light, creamy 100 calorie casserole that's full of flavor, and not weighted down

By Tara Weng, GalTime.com

Stay safe this Spring Break!College students will soon be heading out for their annual Spring Break destinations. While breaking away from studies and cutting loose is probably on the top of their lists--safety is probably foremost on their parents' minds.

I have enough trouble worrying about how my kids stay safe at school, nevermind on a trek to another state or another country.

Thankfully there are steps you can help your kids take and understand before landing at their vacation hot spots. Marcia Peot, full time police officer and Chief Safety Officer at StreetSafe, offers the following safety reminders:

• Don't let your guard down. Being on vacation is not an excuse to throw caution to the wind and do something you wouldn't normally do or put yourself in an unsafe situation.

• Research the place you are visiting before you go, especially if it's a foreign country. Find out if there are dangerous areas you should avoid, familiarize yourself with local laws and

By Tara Weng, GalTime.com

Food used as medicine?!It has become a growing trend in the field of medicine to look at foods as a natural health source. Numerous studies have shown the potential benefits of certain foods for illnesses such as high cholesterol, and even heart disease. Taking from the kitchen cabinet to the medicine cabinet might be something to consider.

Holistic pharmacist and fitness instructor Sherry Torkos has been tackling this subject for years. She is the co-author of the book Saving Women's Hearts, and offers the following sampling of foods (and/or food by-products) that have been shown to have medicinal value.

• Grapes: Grapes and their liquid counterparts (grape juice and wine) have long been known to be good for the heart and part of the French Paradox. New research conducted at UC Davis has shed some light on the many ways that grapes and grape seed extract helps the heart...it can lower blood pressure and improve circulation and blood vessel flexibility. The

By Megan Sever, GalTime.com

Are you in need of a personal stylist?In an ideal world, we all want to look our best. But, in the real world, we have constraints. We have budgets. We have tons of errands to run and feet that hurt.

And often times, we have no idea how to wear the season's latest trends. Faux fur? Seriously? I look like a fat teddy bear! Leather wedges? Love them, but it's pouring outside! Whatever the completely understandable and logical excuse, we have it.

The good news? A personal stylist can help. The even better news? Hiring one doesn't have to be expensive. It can even save you money in the long run!

Paula O'Neil and Tracy Pendergast, co-founders of Portland based Est Ovest Style, explain how a style consultant can help transform you into your best self.

Talk It Out: Get ready to get personal! The first step is to talk with your stylist. You'll cover everything from your lifestyle to your personal style. You'll also talk about what pieces work best for your body type, how to highlight

By Ramshackle Glam's Jordan Reid for GalTime.com

It's possible to hide that ugly wall. I'm an avid reader of your blog, and wanted to ask for your creative input on an unfortunate home decor situation. My apartment has a large textured, stuccoed wall that I can't stand. It feels very Miami. Not in a good way. Because we rent, I can't do anything that will permanently alter or damage the wall. I also don't want to spend a fortune - no more than $50 - $75. Do you have any ideas as to how to improve? I will send you a photo of the wall for reference.

Thanks so much!

Mary

A. Well, I'm sort of a fan of the '70s look (I know, I know) so I'd probably try to give a little nod to the Miami-ish feel with my decor (art deco touches, etc). It doesn't sound like that's your thing, though (and it's probably not most people's) but no problem - there are tons of easy, inexpensive ways to hide an unattractive wall.

Photo Credit: Victor SchragerMy favorite look: buy a ton of differently-sized mirrors at a thrift shop, a craft store, or online, and

By Marianne Beach, GalTime.com

Are you dating your 'future ex-husband'?He's handsome, he's charming, he's making all the right moves. Could you finally have met the man of your dreams? The one you'll spend the rest of your life with?

Well, hold on-says relationship expert and author of "Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and Coupled Up," psychologist Harriet Lerner, PhD.

Before you start daydreaming of silver bells and harpists and invitations made of fine linen, you need put those wedding fantasies--and emotions--aside and ask yourself some tough questions.

Is this guy really good for the long haul? Or will you be hauling him to divorce court a few years down the road?

Harriet offers 10 Tips to Avoid Marrying Your Future Ex-Husband

1) Don't confuse intimacy with intensity. Intense feelings, no matter how compelling, are not a good predictor of true and enduring closeness in the future.

2) Evaluate him with your head, not just your heart. During the "Velcro" stage of relationships, we