Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By GALTime.com Parenting Expert Maureen O'Brien, Ph.D.

No parent wants to be a pushover, but when your child is acting up (especially in public), it's easy to give in. The problem is, once your child knows you can be manipulated, you are no longer in charge of discipline. The secret to a well-disciplined child, then, lies in the 3 C's: calmness, consistency and consequences.

CALMNESS: Why should you be calm? Young children focus on facial expressions, the tone of your voice and your body language. If they her anger or anxiety, they barely hear your words. They stop listening and feel scared or angry instead. So you need to state calmly and firmly what they are doing wrong. Yelling backfires because it distracts your child from the actual misbehavior.

CONSISTENCY: Rules are NOT made to be broken. If one day, it's OK to eat a snack in front of the TV and the next day it's forbidden, what child wouldn't be confused? Click here for more on why it's critical to set

By GALTime.com Contributors Kerri Winick and Andrea Krivelow

Now that spring has sprung, it's time to think about storing those sweaters…and breaking out your sunny-day best! Think flowy tops, maxi dresses and other warm weather must-haves.

Not sure what to do with your heavy winter threads? Don't sweat it! John Mahdessian of high-end couture cleaner Madame Paulette has a closet full of tips to ensure your wardrobe is ready-to-wear next Fall. (Minus the moth balls!)

Carrie Bradshaw's Couture Closet

Spring Clean with Madame Paulette

1.) Now is the time to evaluate your wardrobe for items that you no longer wear, look at each piece and think about the last time you wore it. If it no longer fits on you or in your wardrobe - donate it! There are several organizations out there that would welcome your pieces, like Housing Works and the Salvation Army.

2.) Make sure that each piece is clean thoroughly before packing. Particles left on items can stain and set into

By GALTime.com Nutritionist, Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN

We all know that protein is vital for good health, but a recent national survey showed that adolescent females and some older women are not meeting their daily protein needs. Protein helps repair and build muscle tissue. It helps create hormones and enzymes in your body. It also helps fill you up at meal time. Did you know that if you cut calories to lose weight and you're not getting enough protein, you're going to lose more muscle tissue than you would otherwise? And it's that muscle tissue that keeps your metabolism revved up.

So what do you do? Just make sure to include protein rich foods every time you eat. Load up on plant foods like beans, nuts and seeds. Keep portions of these protein-rich foods small, but have them frequently throughout the week. Make sure when you choose dairy foods and meats that you select the leanest, lowest fat options possible.

That way you'll have your

By GALTime.com Relationship Expert Jane Greer, Ph.D.

Do you ever ask yourself, "Am I dealing with a jealous partner?" Is his (or her) jealousy reasonable? Is it rational or is it irrational? Is he (or she) being so jealous, that it's not right and it's not fair?

Here are 5 signs to watch out for...

#1. Is he calling you all the time and checking up on you? Does he always ask who are you talking to and where are you going?

#2. Is he making issues about you taking time to spend on your own? Does he get upset or angry when you want to go out by yourself or with your friends?

#3. Does he get upset or complain if you talk to other guys? Does he accuse you of being interested in someone other than him? Does he refuse to see that you are just being social and playful, having a good time with other people and that you just want to share that good time with him?

#4. Does he always want to know what time you're coming home and then get angry if you come home later

By GALTime.com Parenting Pro Michele Borba, Ed. D.

I recently addressed a group of parents on how to raise caring kids and boost moral intelligence. I always conclude my talk with a song entitled, "I Wish" written for me by an incredibly talented Canadian musician named Ron Hiller (better known as RONNO.) As his words come over the speaker system, I show a series of parenting quotes accompanied by heartwarming photos of children with parents. I've had so many parents ask for copies of those quotes. So here they are…my favorite parenting quotes: Enjoy!

"One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters."

- George Herbert

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."

- Anthony Brandt

"A child born into a home of ideals has inherited the finest and best which life can give him."

- Harry H. Epstein

"My father didn't tell me how to live, he lived, and let me watch him do it."

- Clarence Kelland

"What the mother sings to the

by GALTime.com Staff

As Mother's Day approaches, it got us to thinking about all the great movies out there that pay homage to 'mom.' We couldn't pick ourselves, so we turned to emmy-award winning entertainment reporter Sara Edwards for her all time favorite pics for Best "Mom" Movies:

Let's start with number 10 and build up to my all time favorite.

10. "Step-Mom"
This 1998 tear jerker stars Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts. Roberts is married to Susan's ex husband in this, and must undertake the responsibilities of being a step-mom.. Sarandon fights her every step of the way, until they both discover how precious life is and form a bond that will have you weeping at the end.

Stepmom_1998

9. "Mrs. Doubtfire"
OK, so he's not the mom here, but in order to see his kids, this divorced dad disguises himself as a Scottish nanny and learns along the way what being a truly good parent is all about. The vaccuming scene to the song "Dude Looks Like a Lady" still makes me

By Mary Schwager, GALTime Consumer Watchdog

Do you have children living in your home? Or are you currently pregnant? If so and you're thinking about any kind of home remodeling project, or even painting, listen up! There's a new background check you need to run on your contractor. If you don't do it, your family could be in danger.

Starting April 22, new regulations require any contractor who removes, scrapes, sands or even 'alters' lead pain in a home where someone is pregnant or there are kids under the age of six, to be safety certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

This means the contractor is specifically trained to remove lead paint without exposing dangerous dust particles. If an area is only being painted over, the new rules don't apply.

How do you know if your home has lead paint? Click here for important information!

Why is the EPA cracking down? Lead paint poisoning is devastating, affecting more than 1 million children

By GALTime.com Finance Contributor Jodi Grundig

Creating a personal family budget is essential for every family, regardless of your financial position. It's the only way to make sure that what you are spending aligns with your values and goals. It's easy to create a family budget, once you follow a few steps.

Step One: Tracking Your Spending

If you are really going to be committed to creating the best family budget possible, you need to know the situation you are dealing with. The best way to do this is to keep track of your spending. Any time you use cash or your debit card, keep track of what you are buying and spending. Carry around a little notebook if necessary. I'd recommend either setting up an Excel sheet or just a notebook paper, but either way, you should track everything. In addition, when you receive your credit card statement or pay bills, keep track of those expenses also. Within a month, you should know how much you spend by category. Click here for the