Dating a single parent can bring a whole new meaning to this commonly-used sentiment. When children are involved, they understandably have many feelings about their parents dating and bringing a new significant other into their lives. These feelings should be treated with respect and sensitivity, while still moving the family unit forward into a wise and beneficial expanded family unit one day. If you do not have children yourself and are open to dating people who already have children, you will feel prepared and reassured after reading these tips below....

Perhaps if you grab a meal at your neighborhood diner you’ll be better off? Not so much. A JAMA Internal Medicine study found that the average meal at independent and small restaurants has 1,327 calories. These numbers don’t include drinks and appetizers either, which could add another 500–1000 calories. Eating deceptively unhealthy foods at restaurants is one of the biggest reasons people struggle with their weight. But it doesn’t have to be....

(Hey, it’s my way of embracing winter.) Fortunately for me, the rest of the year is really not so bad. I don’t have to venture too far since I work out of home and have to fill up my car only about once or twice per month. But. of course, I recognize that many people out there still need to do daily commutes in their cars. Today I’ll briefly outline what I do to try and keep my gas costs as low as possible....

Menopause brought with it changes I didn’t understand, every day of the week there was something: mood swings, lack of energy, can’t-cope syndrome, grumpy, a generally unhappy person. A personality change had occurred and I really didn’t like myself anymore. Sleep: I couldn’t sleep peacefully anymore, I was tearing my hair out. I discovered the cause of my symptoms – hormonal havoc! The cure was restorative medicine which balanced my hormones and gave me my mojo back!...

A vital component in a successful relationship is being independent. That may seem like a contradiction because it implies a certain distance and detachment. In reality, it will help you thrive. Here are ten ways you can make sure this happens. 1. You keep your identity It is wonderful to have shared interests which will bond you in a marvellous way. However, you do not need to do this 100% of the time....

Want a leg up? Here are 10 ways to job hunt during the holidays: 1. Send holiday greetings. The holidays are a natural time to reconnect with acquaintances, old co-workers and friends. Use this annual tradition to reconnect with contacts, updating them on your situation and letting them know you’re looking for a new challenge. 2. Attend holiday gatherings. This time of year is flush with gatherings and there are plenty of opportunities to network (but please don’t hand out your business card to everyone you see at an ugly-Christmas-sweater party)....

This means that you will have to put more effort than the average Joe into keeping your skin healthy and soft, but since there is no satisfying alternative, all that work won’t seem too difficult. It’s important to mention that even if your skin is not naturally dry, it can still become dry, ashy or even crack due to things like exposure to extreme weather conditions, so these tips can apply to a fairly wide variety of people....

Here are 10 ways to help your kids develop a fearless mindset and overcome the fears that are holding them back. 1. Acknowledge the fear, don’t just dismiss it Simply telling your child to not be afraid, or to stop being silly, isn’t an effective way to help them deal with it. You need to acknowledge it properly. Whatever you might think about the fear, it’s very real to them and they need to know that you get that....

1. How to spot a faker Think you can tell right away if someone is faking it just to get what they want? These eight signs can help you to discover if the person you are dealing with is truly genuine or they are tricking you into believing so. 2. Friend or foe It’s interesting how most of us, even though we think we have figured everything out, still could use some help, like this reminder, in order to make a clear cut with toxic people we considered our friends....

The problem? Most realize how difficult such a drastic change can be and bail on their goal. It’s better to take baby steps on your quest to build a healthier, stronger version of yourself. Pick one or two of the changes below and focus on those. Once you’re comfortable with the changes you made, pick up a few more. Cut out soda. Cut out juices. Drink more water (8 8-oz cups per day)....

1. Starting a Diet Dieting can be a great start to a healthier body, but there are also repercussions with diets that many are unaware of. The one problem you can face with dieting is the aftereffect it brings with binge eating. The problem with dieting is that you restrict yourself of vital nutrients, micro-nutrients, and healthy fats – this void then creates an imbalance in your body’s chemical processes and hormonal balance, which in turn will lead to post-dieting binge eating....

Consuming too much sugar can have major health risks. Recent studies show that excess sugar intake raises the risk of death from heart disease by 20% or more. It’s also been shown to have effects on obesity, metabolism, brain function, diabetes and possibly even cancer. Here are 12 easy ways to consume less sugar and have a positive impact on your overall health. 1. Don’t trust your will power One of the best ways to ensure you won’t consume too much sugar is to make sure it’s not there when your craving strikes....

Here are 11 things to remember if our loved ones suffer from anxiety: 1) They are not an anxious person When anxiety is present in our mind, this doesn’t mean we are an anxious person. We become an anxious person when we start to identify with this state of mind. It’s often difficult to separate our self from the emotions within our mind. However, with a little mental clarity we can differentiate between the anxiety in our mind and our self....

This is not just about my own experience though. Rates of mental illness continue to rise. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that one in four of the population will suffer from a mental disorder in their lifetime. The key to the effective treatment of any illness is understanding it, and this begins at home. Whether it is a friend, partner, colleague or family member, having someone who understands depression can make a big difference....

The behaviors listed below tend to poison relationships. Are you doing any of these? 1. No eye contact. Eye contact is basic. If you don’t make eye contact with the person speaking, you aren’t giving them 100% of your attention. Be sure to hold their gaze as they speak. 2. Frowning. Look in the mirror: are the corners of your mouth turned down? For many people, what they believe is a neutral expression is actually a frown....

Nobody Can Survive in the Workplace Without Soft Skills Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. These are qualities such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, critical observation, and conflict resolution. While you may already possess the foundations for these skills, there are a number of self-help books out there to help you hone your skills and acquire new ones. More often than not, you will be working with others which can at times be daunting....

2. I get excited but also nervous before travel What we usually see on social media about travel are beautiful photos, with epic scenery and wide smile. But to be frank, every time before travel, we more or less feel nervous, wondering how things will go on and whether we’ve missed anything very important. 3. I like to spend my money on experiences, not things. Travel is a choice, one that we prioritize over a million others....

Oils I’m not sure if this is classified as a food so much as a food ingredient, but nonetheless, putting oils into the fridge tends to turn them into a stodgy, almost butter-spread-like consistency. This is more common with olive and coconut oils, which tend to solidify at cooler temperatures and take a long time to become liquid again. (Hint: If you do make this mistake, put the oil into the microwave for a quick burst to get the consistency back)....

1. You Will Become Empowered When you realize just how resourceful you can be when you have nobody else with you, it’s empowering. As you discover tricks to successfully navigate through unfamiliar territory and learn how to have a great time without the company of others, your confidence soars. Learning how self-sufficient you are can give you the boost of inspiration and motivation needed to do amazing things in other areas of your life....

The next time the “no-work bug” strikes, try these 12 ways of getting things done. 1. Rewrite or edit your to-do list. When was the last time you took a long and hard look at your to-do list? It might be time for some much needed weeding! There might be items on your list that have already been completed and/or you don’t need to finish, and as such can be removed....