Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By Erika Page, GalTime.com


When it comes to birthdays, wouldn't it be great to be able to go ALL OUT for your spouse, your mom or your kids? On the flip side, wouldn't it be great if your hubby or boyfriend surprised you with that nice steak dinner or, even better, that killer handbag you've been eying for YOUR special day?

The problem is, who can afford lavish luxuries these days…especially for birthdays. No worries! If one good thing has come out of this seemingly never-ending recession, it is the availability of better deals, particularly birthday coupons or better yet, FREEBIES!!!

Julie Northrop, is the creator of freebirthdaytreats.com, a website touting birthday freebies and discounts on everything from travel excursions to apparel to high end restaurant meals. She says many of us have it all wrong. "Some misconceptions are that birthday freebies are just for kids and that they are only good on your birthday." Northrop says everyone deserves special treatment on their

By Kerri Winick, GalTime Beauty & Style Editor

Most of us would love to have a closet full of couture, but let's face it, designer duds cost serious dough! Thankfully, plenty of big name retailers have booked up with even bigger name designers, producing affordable fashion that won't leave you in the red! Since 2005, renowned designer Nicole Miller has teamed up with JCPenney to produce everything from runway-inspired dresses and tunics to haute handbags. Now, the fashionista fills GalTime in on her latest creations, her top Spring must-haves…and more!

1.) What was the inspiration for your Spring 2011 collection?

My February collection for JCPenney is called Flying Aces and was inspired by Amelia Earhart for a new twist on the military trend. Styles consist of faux leather jackets, drawstring shirts, A-line tanks with tiers and mesh trim, a cardigan layering piece and skinny pants with Jodhpur seaming details. Prints are a lift off leopard print and a safari jet print.

My

By Fabulous & Frugal for GalTime.com

Fly High but Not Quite as Free as a Bird

Whether you realize it or not, you may have been racking up frequent flyer miles and accumulating credit card points that could help you save some significant cash on your next vacation! Airlines introduced traveler incentive programs in the 80's to help foster customer loyalty by offering award points that could be redeemed and applied to airline tickets, hotel discounts, dining and ground transportation. And although it is not quite the hassle free and fee free experience it once was, you should NOT let your hard earned perks go to waste!

Related: Airline Fees: Top 10 List Every Traveler Should Know

CHECK YOUR ACCOUNTS, CONSOLIDATE & DOUBLE YOUR MILES

People who travel a ton for their job know how to work the system. They fly almost exclusively with one company and their sister airlines in order to receive priority when boarding, upgrading, and getting into the lounge. However, if you're

By Danielle Miller, GalTime.com
Of course, women tend to associate sex with a variety of positive feelings: fun, happiness, and love. Unfortunately, for some women, sex can also be associated with discomfort or even pain. Some women may even try to hide or mask the pain because they fear it can be interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm, excitement, or affection for their partner. In fact, pain during or after sex is a common issue for many women and can be caused by multiple factors.

Dr. Lissa Rankin, gynecologist and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, explains that pain associated with sex "doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong, but it's clearly not as right as it should be."

Related: Are You Sexually Compatible?

So how do we improve things under the covers? We can start by understanding why this discomfort may be occurring.

"If you're trying to have intercourse when you're not aroused, lack of

By GalTime Parenting Pro, Michele Borba, Ed.D.

A recent study found that 85% of teens say they are stressed. The number one cause: stress at home!

Take a home climate check. Are there opportunities for your family to relax? Make sure your home is a place where your kids can de-stress. Is there time for laughs and fun? Are there opportunities for the kids and you to enjoy one another? Are there regular family meals?

Build in times where you and your kids can relax together. Turn the garage into a gym. Set up a basketball hoop. Buy bikes at a garage sale or a yoga tape to pop into the DVD player and do together with your daughter.

Check the schedule: Is there time for your child to decompress or is the day jam-packed with activities? Is there one thing on that calendar that can be cut to free up time?

Watch for stress builders. Sleep deprivation, poor nutrition and lack of exercise can exacerbate stress. Try to keep your child to a regular sleep

By Shira Scott, GalTime.com

I still remember the heartache I felt returning to work just 8 weeks after the birth of my first child. And I was one of the lucky ones. I could piece together vacation days, unused sick days and disability insurance to get about two months at home with at least some pay.

Related: Top 10 Pediatric Myths

It looks like more than two decades later things aren't much better for new moms in the United States. The group Human Rights Watch just released a report ranking the parental leave policies of 190 countries. Only three countries offer no legal guarantee of paid maternity leave and the United States is one of them. The other two, Papua New Guinea and Switzerland. More than 50 countries also have paid paternity leave (again, not the U.S.)

The report also says the U.S. is decades behind not only when it comes to parental leave, but also in making accomodations for breastfeeding mothers.

Related: Why Do Babies Spit Up?

About half of

By Carissa Wright, GalTime.com
The feeling of accomplishment you get after completing a good workout is great. Your heart is dancing to the healthy beat in your chest and you feel invigorated. It's hard to think of exercise as a bad thing since it so often comes with life-enhancing benefits.

Behind the idealized culture of fitness, cute workout gear, and lean bodies lies another world of extremes-- the world of an over-exerciser. Exercise can become a negative.

We all want to be healthy, but it's important to make sure that we are exercising in the right way. Here are some important factors to consider when thinking about the way you workout.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

Determine what it is that inspires you to get out of the house and into the gym. Fitness expert Jenny Skoog, a New York City personal trainer and founder of SkoogFit , suggests that examining motivating behaviors is key to determining the difference between positive and negative exercise.

"A 'positive

By Makeup Artist Andrea Ducharme for GalTime.com


Vibrant colors are back in a big way this spring! The season will be packed with ripe and juicy shades for eyes, cheeks and lips. (Think pinks, blues and purples, just to name a few!) Metallic gold will also have a starring role.

I loved the Spring 2011 looks from Marc Jacobs, Zuhair Murad and Christian Dior (to the left.) Bright colors on either the eyes or lips were very prominent, and the skin was highlighted beautifully. There was also a modern Barbie look, with smudgier, slightly undone eyes and fun hair accessories.

On the runway, a heavy amount of really bright color was applied all over the eyelids, everything from shades of bright pink to purples and blues. For reality, try applying just a touch of color close to the upper lash line, then add mascara. You will look fresh and trendy, not overdone.

NARS Single Eyeshadow in Daphne, $23

Related: 5 Minutes to a Fabulous Face

Bright blush on the cheeks can