Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By Marianne Beach, GalTime.com

It's a new year but you are still stuck on your old guy...It's a new year but you're still stuck on that old guy. And now the most romantic holiday of the year is fast approaching. Wouldn't Valentine's Day be the perfect time to exorcise that ex and move on for good?

Kelly McGonigal, psychologist at Stanford University and author of the new book The Willpower Instinct: How Self Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It, thinks so. "Valentine's Day is all about declaring who you care about most," she declares. "And if you've thrown away enough time on a go-nowhere relationship, the person at the top of your V-Day list should be you."

Sounds good, right? But maybe easier said then done. After all, an "ex" habit can be hard to break.

"Anything that reminds you for your ex can bring back a flood of feelings," says McGonigal. "You may look back with 'euphoric recall,' remembering only the highs and none of the lows. Even if the relationship was a disaster, you may not want

By GalTime's Consumer Watchdog Mary Schwager

Which type of consumer service company was the MOST COMPLAINED about in 2011? Make a note of this so you don't find yourself griping in 2012: Home warranty companies. That's according to consumer review organization Angie's List.

Rounding up the rest of the list are: Internet service providers, phone companies, bridal shops and wedding planners-- but these have been the usual suspects over the 7 years Angie's List has been making a "list".

Some new, but not so surprising offenders: Banks and credit unions. Consumers ccomplained about unauthorized fees, unsatisfactory communication from banks on their policies and poor customer service.

"Consumers are demanding better service more now than ever before and they're not shy about voicing their displeasure after getting bad service," said Angie's List founder Angie Hicks. "We've already seen some banks respond to consumer feedback; hopefully we'll see more companies take this

By Danielle Miller, GalTime.com

What you thought were healthy snacks, aren't so healthy...Eating healthy isn't always easy. And, let's be honest, it's downright hard to be on a diet. Filling your cabinets with foods that are healthy options and diet-friendly takes both time and money (and not just a little). Dieting is an investment in your health and the health and happiness of the people you love. It's an investment in your future.

But you know what is even harder than being on a diet? Being on an unsuccessful diet and not knowing why it hasn't been working. I can imagine few things more irritating and genuinely stressful.

Living a healthy lifestyle has become a huge trend in America and there has been no shortage of marketing ploys to take full financial advantage of that trend. It's almost impossible to walk down an aisle at a grocery store and not come across at least a dozen food products that claim to be 'lean,' 'healthy,' or 'slimming.' And most of those products are just the opposite: unhealthy (some are very

By Master of Gastronomy Amy Reiley for GalTime.com

A romantic dinner for two. Valentine's Day is known as the restaurant business' busiest night of the year. So why spend your special evening ear to elbow with a dining room full of strangers?

Making a romantic dinner at home can actually be less stressful and sexier (not to mention lighter on the wallet).





Bubbly ChampagneThe key to preparing a romantic dinner for two is planning. Selecting a menu that incorporates aphrodisiac ingredients can make the evening more successful. Consider starting the evening with a bottle of sparkling wine. Champagne not only brings on a giddy sensation, but the scent of the Blanc de Blancs style sparkling wines offers an aroma similar to a female pheromone.


Red Hot Chile PeppersOther ingredients you might want to incorporate include chile peppers and ginger, which can raise body temperature, cause a release of endorphins and bring a sexy blush to the cheeks.

ChocolateTruffles replicate the scent of male pheromones.

Chocolate, although more cliche than

By Kerri Winick, GalTime.com
Demi Moore

The sad sounds of the 911 call made from Demi Moore's home were just released. Now, some disturbing headlines are popping up, including this one that caught my eye: Demi Moore: What Drug Did She Smoke Before 911 Call?

Reports are flowing in that it wasn't marijuana, but a "mysterious substance" that experts believe may have caused her to have a seizure.

Some describe it as incense, or potpourri, but experts have dubbed it "fake marijuana."

It's an alarming trend that I reported on a few years back, although government officials and toxicologists are still extremely concerned today.

Related: Demi Moore Treated for Anorexia, Substance Abuse

Fake marijuana is a mixture of dried herbs that chemists say is sprayed with one or more chemicals, and teens and young adults across the country are smoking it. It's often sold under names like K2, Serenity Now, Spice, Yucatan Fire, and Zohai. These herbal concoctions are widely available and can

By SMF Marcus Osborne for GalTime.com

What is it about human beings that makes us crave answers?There's something about human beings that makes us crave answers. I suppose it goes without saying that this curiosity, this desire to know "why," has been one of the driving forces behind our progressive civilization. It's also the one-word question that we as parents spend endless hours answering for our children from the time they're toddlers, "Why is the sky blue?" To the time they grow up, "Why can't I date him? He's up for parole in 3 to 5 years!"

The word "why" has proven its worth over the past two thousand years (I don't really know if it's that old) and that won't change. But there is one area where I've learned that seeking answers to our why's has borne out to be of little value.

Relationships.

I hear the questions with alarming regularity at the start of new relationships. "Why does he like me?" is the one I hear most. But most of the "Why's" come tumbling out at the end of relationships, under the guise of seeking

By Signe Whitson for GalTime.com

Media pressures can be tough. Especially on your teens...How many times have you heard your daughter singing along to a popular song on the radio and innocently belting out the kind of lyrics that would otherwise get her sent to her room? In the moment, you believe (desperately want to believe!) that she is unaware of the innuendo and unaffected by its explicit content.

But messages embedded in song lyrics, along with video imagery, and advertising influence do have an impact on the ways girls think about themselves and their relationships with others. Without having to resort to a full-on pop music ban or complete shunning of media, you can help your daughters-and other young girls-become aware of media messages that violate values and degrade girls:

Music Lyrics

The next time your daughter is singing along to a catchy tune with questionable lyrics, use the opportunity to ask her questions like:
• What do you like about his song?
• How do you feel when you listen to it?
• What is it

By Tara Weng, GalTime.com

We knew texting and driving was bad, but now we have to worry about texting and WALKING?!Talking on a cell phone or texting while walking may seem like a no-brainer, but new research suggests that it could actually be dangerous and result in walking (gait and posture) problems and even interfere with memory recall. Scientists from Stony Brook University studied over thirty men and women in their 20s, all of whom reported owning and using a cell phone and were familiar with texting.

To assess their walking abilities, participants completed a baseline test. Each participant was shown a target on the floor. Then, by obstructing vision of the target and floor, they were instructed to walk at a reasonable pace to the target and stop. They repeated this task three times. After each walk, the amount of time it took and the position where each participant stopped was measured by the researchers.

Study participants then returned one week later. With their vision obstructed (again), except for the ability to see a cell phone, one-third completed