The Cure For Holiday Gift Anxiety: Explosions [What do you give people to show your love?]

The other day a little friend of one of my sons showed up at our front door bearing a gigantic plate of cookies, breads, candies and other treats. “Oh how generous of your mom!” I said as I took the tray from him. “Thank you!” “No thank YOU,” he replied politely. “My mom says she …

A Baby Named Hope: How a Child I Never Had Helped Me Love the Ones I Did [Operation Give a Little: Give a listening ear and Give a public accolade]

“I almost lost my son, once,” she tossed it out, as if she were saying something as casual as how’s the weather out there or socks are buy-one-get-one-free today. But the way she looked at me, darting glances away from her cash register, made me realize that it was meaningful to her. And how could it not be? As …

One Woman’s Answer to Fit Mom: Treat Your Body Like a Truck, Not a Trophy [Where do you draw the line between “worth it” and “too much”?]

‘”Having the perfect body isn’t all it’s cracked up to be” is one mom’s answer to the now infamous Maria Kang, a.k.a. Fit Mom, a.k.a. the What’s Your Excuse lady. As I’m sure you recall, Maria made news for posting a pic of her bangin’ bod next to her cutie-pie kidlets, one of whom was …

This Season Give a Little Gift to an Animal: Operation Give a Little Day 6! [What’s your favorite pet story?]

My kids are obsessed with this commercial! They think it’s hilarious. (Click through to see video) “Luna! Luuuunnna! Here, pretty kitty!” I crooned, shaking a bag of cat treats as I circled the tiny hotel room for the 50th time. “Are you sure she was, ah, here?” The hotel manager asked as his assistant lifted …

Reader Dilemma: What do you do when you have to poot in public? [Can holding in gas hurt you?]

During a fitness class a couple of weeks ago, a noxious odor seeped through the room, eventually hanging over all of us like a smog inversion, thanks to the poor air circulation of the studio. It was bad but even though my eyes were a watering I couldn’t find it in me to be upset. …

Operation Give a Little Day 5: Write a Handwritten Note to Someone. And Send it. [To the girls who saved my life]

Some things are easier written than said. “I’m sorry.” “I love you.” “I know what you did last summer.” You know, all that little deep-seated emotional stuff with far-reaching ramifications. Oh, and “goodbye.” I have a problem. See, when I left Minnesota, I never said goodbye. First, there was simply no time. With three weeks …

New Research Says There Is No Such Thing as “Healthy Obese”? [Women are supposed to have fat! Busting the flat abs myth.]

If we’re sincere in our desire to “just be healthy” that may mean embracing more fat – both in our diets and on our bodies. Psst, Adele – LOVE you. Lose the cigs!! Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus! Or at least there was until he died from having a belly like a bowl …

New Research Reopens the Cardio vs Weights Debate [Help a Reader Out – Which do you find more effective?]

Just when you thought it was safe to retrieve the forks and knives you hid during the “Are white potatoes a nutritious natural food or glycemic index hell tuber?” debate, scientists have given us another research study that brings up more questions than it answers. This time it’s about whether cardio or weight lifting produces …

Why Your Birth Control Pill May Not Be Working (And What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You)

 Ah the good ol’ days! I’m surprised they didn’t include a stork net in there too! “Did you know about this??” I emailed one of my editors. “Um, NO! I was just going to e-mail you about it!” She replied almost immediately. “I’ve never heard this either!” my other editor chimed in. “It’s crazy!” “WHY …

That Time I Tried To Help Someone And Ended Up Totally Insulting Them [Operation Give a Little Days 3 and 4: Give a helping hand, give up your parking spot or place in line!]

This little guy in the middle would be me: Trying hard but getting it all mixed up – but still throwing some stellar JAZZ HANDS! Jazz hands make everything better.  “Aiieeee!” There was a shout and loud clatter as a woman nearby us in the parking lot of the hardware store watched all of her …