Blog Posts by GALTime.com

by GALTime.com Staff

When you think about the issues that send married couples into therapy, you probably think money, children, sex, infidelity, in-laws. Well, here's a new one that may shock you...the environment! That's right... going green has some partners seeing red.

"Like anything that goes on between two people, when one person wants to take new actions and promote health and the other person starts to experience it as unwelcome change rather than something they're on board with, its inevitably going to create conflict," says renowned marriage and family therapist Jane Greer, Ph.D.

Tania Reuben charged head first into the green movement after her children were born. She now writes a blog as the Pure Natural Diva. "We recycle. We're now composting. I use power strips and reusable bags. I send my daughter to school with waste free lunches," says Reuben.

Sounds simple, but for husband Michael it was quite an adjustment. "She was, I think, voted or put in some book

Read More »from Is Going 'Green' Causing Fights In Your House?

By Janine Bolon, of SmartsCentsInc for GALTime

Money! Sometimes just speaking the word is enough to set your teeth on edge. Most people find that cash flow is the primary reason for stress in their lives. Whether it is due to a lost job, inadequate pay, unexpected bills, or the recession's impact on your business, we are all experiencing the pinch of inadequate cash flow these days. How do you deal with the stress? What are some positive behaviors to keep you from curling into the fetal position as you look at the stack of bills on your desk, with no money to pay for them? Listed below are the three best habits you can start today to regain control over your money, rather than having an empty checkbook control you. One (or more) of these ideas may assist your particular situation.

Why don't I have more money?

This is a fair and honest question many people have. You work hard (when you have a job), and you can't seem to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck existence. You

Read More »from 3 Best Money Habits To Start TODAY

By: Kerri Winick GALTime Beauty Reporter

We've only been waiting forever! Sex And The City 2 finally hits the silver screen tomorrow! And let's be serious…fashion and beauty play just as big a role as the leading ladies themselves.

GALTime has a sneak peek at some of the beauty products that makeup artists kept on the set to make the ladies (and Big) look fabulous while filming. Whether you're a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda (or a bit of each), it's easy to re-create their lovely looks with these simple staples.

Get Carrie's perfect pout with Stila Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss

Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss promises to put an instant smile on your face with stunningly lacquered, boldly beautiful, richly conditioned, luxurious lips. The formula contains rhodiola rosea, a botanical extract known to improve mood. Shades include: Joy, Happiness, Giggle, Nirvana, Euphoria, and Ecstasy.

Price: $22 on Sephora.com

Dare to bare in skimpy outfits like Samantha with ReVive

Read More »from Snag the Beauty Booty of SATC's Fab Four

By: Kerri Winick GALTime Staff

A growing number of teens and adults are getting high by lighting up a dangerous, but easily accessible substance that looks just like marijuana. And right now, it's 100% legal in every state, but one.

Take a look at the pictures below. These products are packed with greenery that is sold as incense or potpourri, under names like K2, Serenity Now and Zohai.

But to experts across the country, the stuff is simply known as Fake Marijuana.

It's a mixture of dried herbs that chemists say is sprayed with one or more chemicals. These chemicals are similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. And that has the Drug Enforcement Administration on alert.

"Most of these chemicals are not controlled chemicals right now. They're not under DEA's regulatory authority," said Supervisory Special Agent Gary Boggs.

But they are listed as chemicals of growing concern.

(More on where the concoctions can be found.)

Supervisory

Read More »from Parents Beware: Fake Marijuana!

By: Mary Schwager GALTime.com Consumer Watchdog

Have you ever read the fine print on your car rental agreement? I'm guilty of saying NO! I mean come on, you know the scene: You have to find the car rental place at the airport. Then you wait in a long line and some clerk hands you a form written in font size 6! If you stopped to read the entire thing, everyone behind you would start complaining! But, are you missing anything by just signing on the dotted line?

If you rely on your own personal auto insurance or credit card to cover you for car rental insurance --- be sure to check to see if they pay for these little terms you many find buried in the fine print on rental agreements:

LOSS OF USE: If you get in an accident, most contracts say the rental company will charge you for the TIME it can't rent the car while it's being fixed. So, your own insurance or credit card will pay for the actual repairs, but don't always pay for the "LOSS OF USE"! Some customers have

Read More »from What Policies You Actually DO Need When Renting A Car

By: Kristen Hagopian, Author of Brilliant Frugal Living for GALTime j0442387

Recently, I decided to end my personal speculation over how much electricity my ultra-efficient dishwasher & ultra-efficient clothes dryer were costing me a month. Sure, the steam coming off the dishwasher's "Energy Saver" dry cycle gave me a daily facial (*Nice!*). And okay, sure, the top of the dryer felt like it could cook an egg by the time the towels were done. And alrighty, yes, I HAVE seen firsthand a number of times the electric meter spinning like a Russian skater on steroids. But HEY, these are energy-efficient appliances we're talkin' about here.

So, for one full month, I decided to go cold turkey. No dishwasher, no clothes dryer. Only caveat - if the weather was rainy & crummy, I gave myself permission to use the clothes dryer. Hit the basement

Read More »from A Frugal Experiment Gone Horribly Wrong (HYSTERICAL!)

For GALTime. com by Anne Banas of SmarterTravel

girlsonbeach

Booking travel online might seem like a simple task, but it can be more complicated than you think, especially when you consider the hidden fees and endless lines of fine print. Here are five tips to help you avoid the worst booking mistakes you can possibly make.

#1 Booking Too Late

If you think you have all the time in the world to book your airfare or hotel, think again. Reservations can fill up fast for peak travel times like during the holidays and summer vacations... leaving you with a big, fat NO VACANCY sign. I always say, if you want to be somewhere specific on a specific date book well in advance. Sure, a lower rate might come along, but it's better to have a reservation at a reasonable price than no reservation at all.

#2 Booking Too Soon

Contrary to what I just said, booking early can be a fatal error when it comes to finding a great, bargain basement deal. If you're not locked into specific

Read More »from What NOT To Do When Booking Your Summer Trip

By GALTime.com Parenting Pro Dr. Michele Borba

Children with poor self-beliefs often have bombarded themselves for so long with a steady stream of derogatory messages. Their potential for success is greatly limited because they don't believe in their capabilities. Self-talk is a critical part of how children acquire beliefs about themselves. One of the most powerful ways to help your youngster develop a firm belief in himself is to teach him to practice positive self-talk. If he learns the skill now, he'll use it forever. But what if you have a child who is a pessimistic thinker or has gotten into the habit of saying negative self-statements?

Here is an example of how I helped a mom and dad turn their child's negative thinking around and develop more positive inner dialogues.

FROM MY FILES: Meet Jose, His Parents, & How We Turned Negative Thinking Around

Six months after Jose appeared to adjust to his new school, the eight-year-old suddenly began protesting that he

Read More »from Is Your Child Negative?6 Ways To Turn CAN'T Into CAN