Blog Posts by GALTime.com

By Dr. Jane Greer for GalTime.com

PR Photos

Superstar Taylor Swift and boyfriend Conor Kennedy hadn't been dating long when he took her to a family wedding in August, despite reported requests that she not go because some worried Taylor's presence would take away from the bride's attention.

That's a problem most of us don't have to worry about, but it does raise the question: When is it a good time to meet your new flame's family? And is it a good idea to attend a big family event early in a relationship?

A patient of mine was in this situation recently. She had been dating someone for a few weeks, and was over the moon about him, when he asked her to his best friend's wedding.

She was thrilled, to say the least, and read his desire to take her as a sign that he was really into her and wanted her to meet his inner circle. Not only was she flattered, but she attached great meaning and expectation to their blossoming relationship because of the invitation.

By Kerri Winick, GalTime.com

Gwen Stefani rocks shorts and tights...you can, too! (PR Photos)The thought of filling my closet with cozy fall clothes sends a shiver up my spine. (And probably my husband's, but only out of fear that I'll max out the credit card!)

Here's the thing: I'm not ready to pack away my summer clothes just yet.

The good news? With a few style tricks up your (long) sleeve, Fashion Stylist Colin T. McDonald says warm weather favorites can easily pull double duty.

Shorts: Classic patterns and neutral or darker color work best. Slip your favorite pair over opaque tights, patterned tights, or leggings for a crisp, fall look. Layer a silky blouse and blazer for added style and warmth.

Related: 6 Stylish Ways to Rock a Leather Jacket

Brightly Colored Pants: Colorblocking is still front and center, so think about pairing your summer brights with neutrals like black, tan, or navy. Turn up the volume with a forest green or trendy oxblood sweater and a fur vest.

Maxi Skirts/Dresses: Flowy favorites flow right into

By Frugalista Elizabeth McGuirk for GalTime.com

Here's the 411 on thrift store shopping..how to shop at secondhand stores

I don't know about you, but I love digging for bargains at local consignment and thrift stores. Not only can it be fun to shop at secondhand stores, they can be great places to score name brand clothing for students, deeply discounted housewares, and popular toys. Before you embark on your treasure hunt, it helps to have a strategy. First off, know the vocabulary:

Consignment shops are stores to which people bring items they wish to sell, and the store sells them for a cut of the purchase prices. At a true consignment store, the seller (and store) don't get paid unless the item sells. However, some stores simplify the process by just buying the item from the seller outright and then selling it for a profit. Consignment stores tend to have fairly high-quality merchandise, since they often have strict standards about what they will accept.

Thrift stores, on the other hand, accept donated

By Taste of Home for GalTime.com

Photo: Taste of Home/Light & TastyINGREDIENTS

• 1 beef rump roast or bottom round roast (3 pounds)
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons dried basil
• 4-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water

Related: Spicy Turkey Legs Recipe

• In a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray, brown roast on all sides; drain. Combine the water, garlic and seasonings; pour over roast. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-3/4 to 3-1/4 hours or until meat is tender.
• Discard bay leaves. Remove roast to a serving platter; let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, for gravy, pour pan drippings and loosened browned bits into a measuring cup; skim and discard fat. Transfer to a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and cold

By Danielle Miller, GalTime.com

Could he be gay?could he be keeping his sexuality secret?

It's a sneaking suspicion you may have had for a while, triggered by the way your guy acts, how he dresses, maybe even the TV he watches. Who knows exactly where this question came from, but it is stubbornly stuck in the spin cycle of your mind and really putting a wedge between you and domestic bliss: Could your boyfriend or husband be gay?

There are those small details that could mean something or could mean nothing. Or maybe you are imagining these hints or being influenced by the opinions of your friends. It's difficult to know which habits can be indicators that the man in your life may be gay.

Rick Clemons, life coach and host of the radio show The Coming Out Lounge, suggests some possible red flags when it comes to deciphering if the man in your life may be gay. Most of these indicators have to do with the opinions and lifestyle choices your guy makes. Does anything seem different than when

By Sasha BeautyBlogger for GalTime.com

Camilla Belle (Janet Mayer/PRPhotos)We're simply giddy about this fall's makeup report! The trend is all about incorporating bold and dark with soft and light (think neutral, dewy skin paired with bold, vampy lips.)

The goal is to have larger-than-life, attention-drawing lips, with rich hues of red, chocolate, burgundy and rustic spice. Matte or satin…the choice is yours!

Here are four must-try colors that will undoubtedly have you craving chunky sweaters, riding boots, and pumpkin lattes:

Bold burgundy: Dark, wine-stained lips with purple undertones are slated to be this fall's #1 lip trend! (One to try: Too Faced La Crème in Divine Wine ($21)

Related: 3 Makeup Trends To Try NOW

Too Faced















Ruby red: Think classic red with a dramatic twist. Bold red shades with deep, ruby notes are a sure-fire color for all skin tones. (One to try: L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in Refined Ruby($10)

L'Oreal

Spiced coral: Coral remains a steadfast color, but gets a pinch of warmth for

By Life Love Shopping's Rachel K for GalTime.com

Check out this checklist for your child's checkup.Most children and even some adults don't enjoy their annual doctor visit.
Preventative care is a great way to keep your child healthy to ensure they grow up big and strong.

Finding time to schedule this can be just as challenging as convincing your son or daughter to see the doctor.

Once you finally get into that waiting room you'll want to make the most of your time and the doctor's. Dr. Hannah Chow, Loyola University Health System pediatrician, shares some tips to make the most of your appointments.

• Cut to the chase. "We know you are busy so if you skip the small talk we don't mind. Share your concern right away and ask your most important questions first. It might even be good to make a list of the questions you want to ask to make sure we cover your concerns in the visit, but keep it short."

• Stick to your 3 most important concerns. "A typical visit lasts 15 minutes, including the examination, so by limiting

By Life Love Shopping's Rachel K for GalTime.com

Are you committing any of these hair sins?Doing your hair is just part of your morning routine. Wash, dry, and style. I decided to take a look at my hair by the numbers, especially since I spend countless time and countless dollars on products, curling irons, highlights, etc.

My fancy calculations break down like this, I spend nearly 45 minutes on my hair a day. That includes wash, dry, style.

• 15,120 minutes/year

• 252 hours / year

• 10.5 days

If I spend 252 hours a year trying to make my hair look perfect, I don't want to make it any harder by doing harmful things to it. That's why I went to the hair doctors, a.k.a hair stylists, to see what problems they see and how to fix them.

Related: How to Achieve This Fall's Hottest Hairstyles

REGULAR TRIMS

We all know that we need to get trims, but here's why. "If you don't get rid of the split ends your hair starts to break and won't be long and