Time Out Chicago- A Somewhat humorous look at holiday survival…
Funny article I contributed to about dealing with common holiday dilemmas.   Click here to read…

Grocery shopping for Thanksgiving- are you ready for temptation?
Going shopping for Thanksgiving?  Can you handle the temptations?

Turkey, stuffing and pie..oh my- how will you do on Thanksgiving?
It happens every year. The Halloween candy is just the teaser, but the Thanksgiving meal seems to be the time when the diet and exercise programs and for that matter most of our healthy habits are lost. What can we do? Let’s start by being realistic. Thanksgiving is the time when most people are going to really blow it on their diets. O.K. – but that doesn’t mean you need to let this one holiday get the best of your health habits. It’s probably not realistic to think you are going to stick with a strict diet over the Thanksgiving holiday. That’s fine- so what can you do to offset that overindulgence? Two things: 1. Burn extra calories befo

Drugs, Sex, Violence— Will Your Children Talk to You?
We’d like to believe it.  We’d like to think our kids will come to us when they are in over their heads. But very often they don’t.  Why should we really care? A recent case of a 12 year old boy in Alabama who comitted suicide because he was being bullied.  His parents would have given anything for their son to come talk to them…. Over done?  Their your children… Think about it….  Talkingwithkids.orgis a fantastic webpage that give very practical advice on how to have important conversations with your children.  Here is an excerpt from the page.  For more details please vis

Caregiving… Can you survive?
DID YOU KNOW THAT 21 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT’S JUST OVER 44 MILLION PEOPLE PROVIDE CARE FOR SOMEONE OVER THE AGE OF 18. CAREGIVERS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, FROM THE WOMAN CARING FOR HER AGING FATHER TO THE MAN REGULARLY HELPING OUT A NEIGHBOR.  FROM COOKING MEALS TO RUNNING ERRANDS TO BATHING DRESSING AND FEEDING LOVED ONES, CAREGIVERS CAN HAVE EXTREMELY TAXING RESPONSIBILITIES. LITTLE SURPRISE THAT CARE GIVING CAN TAKE A TOLL ON A PERSON’S BODY AND MIND. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BETWEEN 40 AND 50 PERCENT OF CAREGIVERS MAY EXPERIENCE CLINICAL DEPRESSION. CAREGIVERS ARE ALSO AT RISK MARTIAL PROBLEMS, ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND E