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Modern Family Infographic: Marriage In 2011
One of the most popular New York Times articles over the weekend, “What ‘Modern Family’ Says About Modern Families,” contemplates why the hodgepodge families depicted on one of television’s most popular shows are so well-loved. The author suggests that fans connect to the show’s portrayal of our (sometimes dysfunctional) relationship with technology and media; that the characters’ confessional interviews with the camera reflect our own running monologues, updated regularly on Twitter and Facebook. But in conclusion, the article suggests that many of us love the Pritchett-Thacker family so much because under the surface of their oddball characters, technologically-advanced snafus, and unconventional relationships, they’re acting out the very traditional family values that even we modern viewers crave. … More »
Post from: BlissTree
Christmas Gift Guide Roundup: Presents for Everyone!
Just in time for all your holiday shopping expeditions this weekend (in stores or online): We present a gallery of ten of our best Christmas gift guides all in one convenient place. Now all you have to do is check your list twice.
Gift Guide Gallery: 6 Co-Worker Presents
Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Sex Toys and Advice From Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen
Gift Guide Gallery: 8 Christmas Presents for Men
Christmas Gift Guide Gallery: 8 Stocking Stuffers for Women … More »
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Holiday Tips for Single Women
Check out this post on being single during the holidays by Doree Lewak on Lemondrop.
There are roughly 55 million single women in the U.S. Many of them are with-it, smokin’ and smart — and many with their finger on the pulse of life. But when that certain finger is ringless, even the most self-assured single can dread the shame and rebuke of facing disappointed family during the holidays — especially when the really hostile ones who found the unlocked liquor cabinet constantly undermine you, demanding to know why you can’t scare up a date. It can be downright soul-crushing when you come home empty-handed –– literally! — no ring on that finger, watching family members’ faces crumble in disappointment that you’re back another year without any engagement bling.
Family gatherings during the holidays are always a crapshoot: They can either lift the dark cloud hanging over you because you’re sans date, or they can remind you of the reason that you come home only once a year: You don’t need your family pointing out how alone you are. … More »
Post from: BlissTree
Christmas Gift Guide Gallery: 8 Stocking Stuffers for Women
Christmas stockings are underrated. The best presents are inside them: Makeup, perfume, tights, scratch-off lottery tickets, jewelry, candy, underwear, and, of course, chocolate Santas. We love stockings because they’re way more fun to open than the presents under the tree. (Take that, sweaters.) Plus, Kris Kringle has room to fill our stockings with many lovely little things, and we can take our sweet time opening every single one of them over a hot cup of coffee. But because some people have trouble coming up with inventive stocking stuffer ideas, we created a gallery of eight stocking stuffers for women (and bourbon lovers). A few items are even eco-friendly, and all are lots of fun. Just make sure that sock is plenty big and long – and can bear some serious weight. … More »
Post from: BlissTree
Gift Guide Gallery: 8 Christmas Presents for Men
Whoever said men are simple to figure out didn’t have any on their Christmas list. What do you get the dude cousin you see once a year, a father who has everything, or the man who acts like a little boy? You may have felt pretty smug for not partaking in any Black Friday madness, but now with December 25 looming, you may be regretting that. But before you resort to gift cards, check out our gallery of hassle-free gifts for men. Best part? You can buy each of them online for under $100. … More »
Post from: BlissTree
Gift Guide Gallery: 6 Christmas Presents Under $30
Before you kick up your snow boots and bask in the satisfaction of finishing your Christmas shopping early, you may want to check your list twice. Inevitably, you will have forgotten someone. We’re not talking about the cousin-in-law thrice removed who recently found you on Facebook; we’re talking about the people who are part of your daily life. You may not be related, but they look after you, your loved ones, and your belongings, so don’t overlook them. Here’s our gallery of six Christmas presents under $30 for those people you really don’t want to forget this holiday season: … More »
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5 Complex Questions About Self-Improvement for Real Simple (A Women’s Magazine We Actually Like)
Unlike most women’s magazines out there, Real Simple is one we actually like. But unfortunately, while life is always real, it’s rarely ever simple. So we cornered an expert, Danielle Claro, Real Simple‘s Editor-at-Large, to ask her five tough questions about the realities and fantasies of trying to simplify one’s life — during the holidays and beyond. Here’s her simple, yet smart (and sassy), advice.
Blisstree: Like millions of other readers, we really like Real Simple (in print and online). But here’s what we wonder: Are there some things in life that can never be simple, no matter how hard we try to simplify them? We’re thinking of moving, death, and divorce, but what do you think is absolutely NOT real simple?
Danielle Claro: Well, everything can be simple and everything can be really complicated. It’s that “see the world in a grain of sand” thing. So yes, death and divorce are complex. But, when challenged, I can reduce even my most painful experiences to six words. And I could probably talk for an hour about the weird specific shapes on different people’s fingernails, you know? And so could we all. Moving, however, is never simple. Period. … More »
Post from: BlissTree
5 Complex Questions About Self-Improvement for Real Simple (A Women’s Magazine We Actually Like)
Long solitary walks, turkey trot races, iPods, iPads, pretending to have swine flu, baking for hours, saying you have to go upstairs to do some “work,” generous amounts of alcohol, pretending to watch football, anti-anxiety meds: All are perfectly valid ways to get through Thanksgiving weekend when you have a house full of challenging relatives and guests who overstay their welcome. (Or perhaps you’re being held hostage at Aunt Polly’s house for the weekend.) Either way, you can combine one or two of these excuses (I highly recommend alcohol) with my gallery of ten classic movies I watch over Thanksgiving to escape all the family melodrama — albeit temporarily.
Blisstree Editor-in-Chief Christine Egan on ten classic Hollywood flicks you really should check out this holiday weekend (even if you end up having to watch them with relatives), from her post: Gallery: 10 Classic Movies I Watch Over Thanksgiving to (Temporarily) Escape Family Melodrama
Post from: BlissTree
Long solitary walks, turkey trot … More »
Post from: BlissTree
But if you’re unluckly enough to have an annoying relative who plops down next to you on the couch to watch one of these films and constantly asks: “Who is that?”, “Wait…did he just kill someone?”, “I don’t get it…are they a couple?”, or “Is that Julie Andrews or Shirley Jones?”, I’m afraid you’re on your own. Which is why I highly recommend alcohol. (And headphones.)
– Blisstree Editor-in-Chief Christine Egan on surviving the holidays with a little help from Hollywood, from her post: Gallery: 10 Classic Movies I Watch Over Thanksgiving to (Temporarily) Escape Family Melodrama
Post from: BlissTree
But if you’re unluckly enough to have an annoying relative who plops down next to you on the … More »
Post from: BlissTree
5 Recurring Dreams of Women In Long-Term Relationships (And What They Mean)
Check out this post relationship dream analysis by Kelly Sullivan Walden on Lemondrop.
For most of us women, relationships take up the lion’s share of our lives, so it would stand to reason that our conscious, as well as our subconscious, minds are absorbed with relationship thoughts, strategies, tools to hook him, understand him — sometimes even make him over.
Most of our nocturnal sojourns are a constant stream of subtle (or blatant as a foghorn) clues to navigate the sea of love in the most opportune way. The following are the five most common dreams among committed women and how they might assist you in making your relationship more sea-worthy:
Driving in a Car Together
What it means: Time to make plans for the next leg of your journey … More »
Post from: BlissTree
5 Recurring Dreams of Women In Long-Term Relationships (And What They Mean)
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