The "Real Simple" Guide To Avoiding Holiday Fights:

If you and your family members tend to bicker this time of year, here's a list from "Real Simple" magazine on how to avoid holiday fighting.

--If you REALLY want to avoid a fight on Thanksgiving, the best thing to do is keep quiet and just try to get through the night. But if you CAN'T, here's what to do with seven types of difficult family members . . .


#1.) The Slacker. If there's someone who never helps out in the kitchen and won't even set the table, don't yell. Instead, give them a specific task with specific instructions.� If they STILL won't help . . . THEN you can start yelling.

#2.) The Person Who Loves the Holidays WAY Too Much. If there's someone who wants everybody to wear pilgrim and Indian hats at the table . . . and they're over the age of 10 . . . you don't have to take part.

--But don't talk about how stupid it is, or you'll look like a jerk.

#3.) The Emotional Wreck. There's bound to be at least one person who's going through tough times this year. So make sure you give them a chance to vent about it BEFORE you sit down for dinner.

#4.) The Person Who Dominates Every Conversation. If you're the host, seat them next to people who won't care . . . like kids. And try to steer the conversation toward topics that other people are experts in.

#5.) The Person Who Does Everything, Then Makes You Feel Guilty. If someone insists on doing all the cooking, then complains about it, they're probably doing it to feel superior . . . which is why it's annoying.

--But the only thing you can do is offer to help. And if they won't let you, then all that turkey is guilt-free.

#6.) The Bully. If someone starts causing trouble, try to keep things light. For example, if they say something like "You got the beauty and your brother got the brains," say something like "Yeah, and obviously you got the charm."

--If you insult them point blank, it'll start a fight. But if you do it in a light-hearted, funny way, they'll shut up.

#7.) The Alcoholic. Talk to them ahead of time and let them know that if they get drunk, they'll have to leave. Then if they DO get drunk, you just have to make sure they get home safe.

--Telling them to leave might actually CAUSE a fight, but getting them out of the situation will avoid a BIGGER fight.

Four Secrets About The First Year of Marriage

If you recently got married, or you're thinking about it, prepare: "Brides" magazine has a list of four secrets about the first year of marriage . . .

#1.) YOUR SPOUSE WILL GAIN WEIGHT. Most people lose a few pounds for their wedding, but start gaining them back as soon as the ring's on their finger.

--And that's okay. Just don't neglect your health COMPLETELY. Studies show that people who get married and stay married live longer . . . unless they gain 50 pounds and never leave the couch.


#2.) YOU WON'T SEE YOUR FRIENDS ANYMORE. You'll still see your BEST friends, but everyone else will slowly fade away. And "Brides" magazine says to concentrate on spending time with your best friends, or you'll lose them too.

--It also helps if you each do things WITHOUT each other. If you do everything as a couple, only other couples will want to hang out with you.


#3.) YOU'LL GO TO BED ANGRY, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID YOU NEVER WOULD. It doesn't make sense to stay up all night fighting if you have to work the next day. Just don't forget about it the next day or pretend it didn't happen.


#4.) YOU'LL HAVE TWO PAYCHECKS, BUT YOU'LL STILL BE BROKE. According to "Brides" magazine, you'll save on rent, but make up for it by spending money on setting up your new place. And if you have kids, you'll have to spend a lot more.

--But it's worth noting that the website Bundle.com did a study in New York and found that married couples spent less on just about everything, including groceries, clothing, and entertainment. And they spent almost HALF as much eating out.

Think that making home improvements will help you sell your house? Nope...

With the housing market still swirling around in the toilet, you might be thinking, "Well, maybe if I redo the kitchen that'll help me sell it for a decent price." The answer is . . . no, it won't.

--"Remodeling" magazine just released the results of their annual survey and found that home improvements are having LESS of an effect on selling price than EVER.

--Up until last year, the average home improvement project boosted a home's price by 86.7% of the cost of the project. In other words, if you spend $10,000 to improve your house, it adds $8,670 to the sale price.

--But in the 2009-2010 survey, home improvements only added 63.8% of their value to the home's selling price.

--The average project cost a homeowner $50,908 and only added $32,497 of value at sale time.

--The survey found that the best projects you can do to add value are exterior enhancements that might not cost that much . . . like door and window replacements. Adding an attic bedroom also helped add value to the house.

--Adding home offices, sunrooms, backup power generators, bathrooms, and garages recouped the least amount of their costs.

Just in time for Black Friday- 5 Things Outlet Malls Won't Tell You...

#1.) There are good reasons why you have to drive forever to get to them. One, the land is cheaper. And two, they know that if you drive that far, there's a better chance you'll feel like you HAVE to spend money to justify the trip.

#2.) A lot of the stuff isn't leftover from the main store. Outlet malls aren't the home of damaged merchandise or the main store's extra inventory anymore. They're mostly filled with slightly lower-quality items made specifically for the outlet.

#3.) Some of the outlets aren't really outlets. There's no legal definition for an outlet mall. Usually it just means more than half the stores are outlets. So plenty of the stores sell stuff at full price.

#4.) You're going to have to deal with WAY more tourists than at a regular mall. Outlet malls aggressively market to tour groups and tour busses . . . and they're FILLED with the kind of awful tourists you might not find at the real mall.

#5.) The coupon books probably aren't a good value. A lot of outlet malls sell coupon books to use at their stores. But most of the coupons aren't that great . . . just a lot of "buy something, get a crappy free gift" kind of deals.

Five Bogus Cold and Flu Myths Your Mom Believed

It's November, which means we're all about to start getting sick. And the magazine "Prevention" has a list of the five most common myths about how to prevent and recover from a cold.

--They're all things your mom probably said were true . . . but she was wrong.

MYTH #1.) YOU'LL GET SICK IF YOU GO OUT IN THE COLD WITH WET HAIR. Researchers gave two groups of people the same cold virus, then exposed one group to cold, wet conditions while the other group stayed dry.

--You'd think it would make a difference, but it didn't. The people who stayed dry were just as likely to get sick.


MYTH #2.) FEED A COLD, STARVE A FEVER. Actually, you should drink plenty of water and keep eating either way. It doesn't matter what your symptoms are.

--When you have a head cold, your immune system needs the nutrients. And when you have a fever, your metabolism speeds up and needs more calories to keep fighting off infections.


MYTH #3.) IF YOU HAVE A COLD, YOU SHOULD AVOID DAIRY PRODUCTS. It might seem like dairy products make your body produce more mucus. But research shows that's probably just an example of the placebo effect.

--In other words, in one study, people who knew they were drinking milk reported more nasal symptoms than people who drank soy milk. But when they didn't know which kind of milk they were drinking, they only reported minimal effects for both.

MYTH #4.) YOU LOSE MOST OF YOUR BODY HEAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD. Wearing a hat DOES help you retain body heat, but not because that's where you lose most of your body heat.

--You only lose about 10% of your body heat through your head, neck, and face. Which makes sense, because your head, neck, and face account for about 10% of your body's surface area.

--It just FEELS like wearing a hat is really effective because your face is five times more sensitive to temperature changes than other parts of your body.


MYTH #5.) YOU SHOULDN'T EXERCISE WHEN YOU'RE SICK. The only way to get rid of a cold is to rest. But a little exercise can actually make you feel better.

--In a study from Ball State University, volunteers with bad colds were divided into two groups. The first group only rested, and the second group rested but also exercised for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.


--In both groups, symptoms lasted for just over eight days on average. But the people who exercised felt better during the afternoons and evenings.


--Just don't overdo it. Intense workouts that last more than 90 minutes can weaken your immune system.

The Four Most-Unhealthy Halloween Candies

The average American eats 24 pounds of candy every year. And I'm not sure if you've heard, but . . . candy is bad for you. Just to put it in perspective:

--A pack of Skittles has more sugar than two scoops of Haagen-Dazs ice cream. And there are the same number of calories in nine Twizzlers as there are in a Wendy's Double Stack Burger.

--So if you want to avoid the worst-of-the-worst this Halloween, here's a list from "Men's Health" of the four worst Halloween candies, and what you should eat instead . . .

THE WORST "FUN SIZE" CANDY BAR: BUTTERFINGER. There's no faster way to swallow 100 calories and 4 grams of fat. Go with a 3 Musketeers instead. The fun size bars have 63 calories and half the fat.

THE WORST FRUITY CANDY: AIRHEADS. They're basically sugar, artificial flavors, and partially hydrogenated oil . . . which means they have trans fat. Give out Dum Dum lollipops instead. Kind of lame compared to Airheads, but they have half the calories.

THE WORST CHEWY CANDY: CARAMELS. Each one has about 40 calories and more than one gram of fat. And you never just eat one. Instead, have a "Now And Later." They have less than half the calories and almost no fat.

THE WORST NOVELTY CANDY: REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKINS. They're like regular Peanut Butter Cups, but bigger . . . which is why they're so amazing. But they also have almost two-thirds more calories.

--So stick with Reese's BITE SIZE Peanut Butter Cups. You can eat four, and it's still better for you than eating one Peanut Butter Pumpkin.

Six Ways To Stop Wasting Food

If you want to stop wasting food, obviously step one is eating what you put on your plate. But if you REALLY want to get serious, here are six tricks from "Country Living" on how you can make the most out of your groceries . . .

#1.) STORE COTTAGE CHEESE OR SOUR CREAM UPSIDE DOWN. It creates a vacuum that keeps bacteria from growing. Just make sure the lid's definitely on tight before you try it.

#2.) USE PAPER TOWELS TO LINE THE BOTTOM OF THE VEGETABLE DRAWER IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR. They'll absorb the extra moisture, which is what makes vegetables rot.

#3.) BEFORE YOU PUT A BLOCK OF CHEESE AWAY, SPREAD BUTTER ON THE END YOU CUT FROM. It helps seal in the moisture so you won't have to cut off a dry chunk next time.
--The only problem is, you save slices of cheese by wasting butter. And spreading butter on a block of cheese definitely won't make it any healthier.

#4.) MAKE VEGETABLES CRUNCHIER WITH A BOWL OF ICE WATER. You can make carrots, celery, or radishes crunchy again by putting them in a bowl of ice water along with a slice from a raw potato.

#5.) NEVER THROW AWAY HONEY. It doesn't go bad. So if it looks cloudy, it just means it's crystallizing. But you can turn it back into honey by running the bottle under hot water.

#6.) DON'T SEPARATE BANANAS UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO EAT THEM. They last longer if you keep them in a bunch.

Does It Embarrass Your Dog If You Put Him In A Halloween Costume?

We're less than a week away from Halloween. And with it comes the annual dilemma: Do you want to put an adorable but humiliating costume on your dog?

--The question is, of course, if dogs can feel embarrassment. Different experts have different opinions on the matter. Here's what some of them have to say.

--"The Pet Psychic" Sonya Fitzpatrick: "They feel everything. And they know when people laugh at them. I talk to thousands of animals . . . it really hurts their feelings."

--Another pet psychic, Patrice Ryan: "Pets know they're loved by their owner, and then the owner is allowing people to look at them and have a good laugh. It sends conflicting messages to the pet. So the pet is not really happy with that."

--Val Heart, animal communicator: Val isn't sure if dogs can be embarrassed or not, but, quote, "a lot has to do with the proper training to wear clothes that they've received and the responses or rewards they get when they're wearing it."

--Tamar Geller, animal behaviorist: "Dogs don't like to stand out because of their wild heritage: Wolves singled out from the pack were more susceptible to attack. They've never been taught to associate being dressed up with pleasure."

--Bonnie Beaver, a professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M: "If they're unhappy, [they're] probably reacting to the costumes themselves or the limited mobility they have when dressed up."

--The verdict? Four experts are against dressing up your dog . . . although only the psychics think the costumes embarrass the animal. One expert says that if you dress them up, you'd better give them a lot of treats. Now you know.

"Me" Time

Me time can be restorative as sleep. Savoring even a few minutes of it adds fuel to your being, enhancing your energy for the rest of the day," says Carol Kauffman, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Indulging can even increase your performance at work." To savor stolen moments, remember this:

Start small. Close your eyes while listening to soothing tunes. Any activity can give you pep "if it calms and connects you to your core self," she says.

Relaxing daily is as essential as going on an annual vacation. "View each 24 hour period as a microcosm of your year, and take a break," Kauffman says.

You're worth it. "You invest time in people you love, so you should be one of them," she advises.

What you need to know about fruit

I got this email from a listener and knew I had to share it with you. All of this info comes from Dr. Oz.

We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit.

What's the correct way to eat fruit?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so.

In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat!

There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins.

Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!

Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which slows digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they're asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Be careful, and be aware. The more we know, the better our chance to survive.

I've got no words for how awesome I think this is....

Celebrate Being Single!

If you've recently gone through a breakup, you might be working through some pain and not have a lot to celebrate ... until now. It's National Singles Week! Time to celebrate the fact that you're not stuck in a bad relationship and that you can do whatever you want and date whoever you want! According to YourTango.com, here are some reasons why being single rocks:

• More Free Time -- This is the no-brainer. Relationships are a major time-suck. You now have time for hobbies, laundry, working out and just goofing off all day with nowhere to be.

• Opportunities for Love -- Even if you don't have anyone in your sights right now, don't worry. When you find someone, you'll get to fall in love again. It'll be fun and exciting.

• Your Time Is Yours -- When you're part of a couple, it's considerate and pretty normal to check in with your significant other to see what they're doing and if they want to join you in what you're planning on doing. When you're single, you're free to do what you want, when you want and how you want -- without any need to run your plans by anyone else.

• Free to Be Weird -- We all have little weird behaviors that make us happy that we try to hide around other people. No more need to keep your guard up. Just relax and be yourself.

What Women REALLY Want in a Guy

When it comes to finding the perfect husband, attractive women really are pickier. They want a handsome, good-looking man to someone who will be loyal and devoted to them. David Buss from The University of Texas at Austin and Todd Shackelford from Florida Atlantic University have answered that age-old question: What do women want? These are the four qualities attractive women want in a man:

Good genes, reflected in desirable physical traits
Economic resources
The desire to have children and good parenting skills
Loyalty and devotion

Five Secrets You Should Never Keep

Everyone has a little something to hide --but some things are so serious they absolutely must be shared with your significant other. The love gurus over at redbook magazine discovered a handful of secrets that you should never keep to yourself!

1. You've Got Money Issues. Remember the golden rule of communication --often couples don't realize the other is getting in deeply in debt because they simply don't talk.

2. There's a Chance Your Relationship Is In Trouble. JENNINE ESTES --a marriage and family therapist --suggests bringing up "scary feelings" like boredom or resentment before any real damage is done. Speak up quickly --even if it hurts.

3. You're Unhappy in Bed. "Faking it" may be an easy way out, but it's just not fair. Chances are the man in your life will be supportive --and will do almost anything to please you.

4. Something's Up With Your Health. Your well-being affects your entire family --open up and you could be surprised how the team will rally around you.

5. You've Had a Traumatic Past. People hold onto their secrets due to our good friend fear. Too bad hiding information can create distance in your relationship --open up, expose the scars and you'll probably see some major benefits.

6 things your body does that science can't explain...

From Cracked.com, here they are:

Yawning - it doesn't actually seem to serve any purpose. And it's strangely contagious.

Adolescence - Some believe teenagers were awkward balls of nerves and nose grease as early as the Homo erectus era over a million years ago, while others think it's a much more recent development.

Placebo Effect - A guy says he's feeling nauseous, you give him a sugar pill and tell him it'll cure it. He stops worrying about his stomach, thus the stomach calms down.

Dreaming - We really know very little about what causes them or what purpose they serve (Even though human beings are obsessed with dissecting and interpreting dreams).

Blushing - Some scientists, noting that women blush more than guys, have suggested that blushing developed specifically so they could prove they were honest and submissive towards men.

Pubic Hair - You're on your own on this one!

AI Auditions Online!

"American Idol" is now holding auditions online. Fox is celebrating the show's 10th anniversary by accepting videos from budding young pop stars at MySpace. The entries can't be longer than 40 seconds, and you have to choose from a list of approved songs.

Those include "Ain't No Sunshine" by BILL WITHERS, BARRY MANILOW's "Copacabana" and KEITH URBAN's "Kiss A Girl." Fox says some of the best entries will get an-in personal tryout in Los Angeles.

You have until October 6th to get their video audition uploaded, and you must be between the ages of 15 and 28.

Learn more a MySpace.com/americanidol.

What chefs never tell you:

C'mon, admit it; you've always wanted to know what the chef's know about dining out. Who better to ask? The people at the Food Network did and here are some highlights:

--Chefs are picky eaters; most in the survey said they hate liver, sea urchin, tofu, eggplant, and oysters.

--When eating out in other restaurants, chefs say they avoid pasta and chicken. They're often the most overpriced (and least interesting) on the menu.

--Appropriate tip: 20 percent, which is what chef's say they leave when they eat out (but 90 percent said it's fair to penalize bad waiters with a smaller tip).

--Menu "specials" are often experimental dishes. Only five percent said it's a way of using up old ingredients. Most use specials to try out new ideas or serve seasonal ingredients.

--Favorite restaurant: The French Laundry in California's Napa Valley. Dinner for ONE: $240. Before wine.

--Favorite fast food joint: Wendy's.

--Critics are more likely to get special treatment before movie stars do, by a 71-to-63 percent margin

--Roaches are more common than you think. Three-quarters admit they've seen roaches in the kitchen, but 85 percent give their kitchens an eight out of 10 for cleanliness.

--Only 13 percent have seen a cook do unsavory things to a customer's food.

--Chefs cook when they’re sick. Half admitted they did. It's not uncommon to get cut on the job, get stitches and come back to work.

--The five-second rule actually applies. One quarter said they'd pick up food that dropped on the floor and cook it.

--Waiters try to influence the order, according to 95 percent of the chefs.

--Restaurants mark up wine by a lot more than you think --up to 2½ times what it would cost in a wine store.

Seven Secrets of Low-Stress Families:

Life should be easy when you have a mommy, daddy, the pitter-patter of little feet and the family dog all under one roof, right? Unfortunately, that's not always the case! Redbook magazine reports researchers from UCLA went on a mission to find how families with two working parents, at least two kids and a mortgage manage to keep it all together --peacefully!

1. Low-Stress Couples Don't Divvy Up the Chores. The key word here is "we" --no keeping score, no keeping track --happy households are focused on their common goals and partners pitch in without being asked.

2. Low-Stress Families Find Small Moments of Togetherness. While "bonding" may be nice to look at on the front of a Hallmark card, the true connections don't have to made on family vacations at Disneyland. Taking time to help out with homework, brushing your little girls' hair or making everyday tasks like laundry fun can go a long way.

3. Low-Stress Parents are Role Models --Not Pals. When mom and dad are patient and supportive of one another the kids can feel it and will be more inclined to act the same. Furthermore, parents who delegated chores to children as opposed to asking which ones they'd prefer suffered through fewer tantrums.

4. Low-Stress Moms Make Dinner From Scratch. Researcher MARGARET BECK discovered that almost every family spends an hour getting supper on the table, whether or not they're using "convenience" foods. Have a picky eater in the house? Put the little ones to work --Ms. Beck found that kids who assisted in food preparation always ate what was served and the mood in the house was lighter with a little team effort.

5. Low-Stress Moms Take Five Minutes of Me Time. The working woman is under a lot of pressure, but unwinding for just a few minutes is a key to keeping mom healthy.

6. Low-Stress Families Watch TV Together. If the gang wants to kick back with some tube time, don't sweat it! Believe it or not --laughing together over a sitcom or checking out your favorite sports teams can be a great way to bond.

7. Low-stress Families Embrace Daily Rituals. Routine and continuity helps families thrive. Reading bedtime stories every night, saying what you're thankful at dinner or any "little moment" repeated daily makes life comforting.

Seven Ways You Can Increase Your Child's Success in School

School is back in session for lots of kidlings around the country, so how are you gonna help your child tackle another year of new experiences? The parenting gurus over at Shine!.com put together this list:

1. Make Sure Your Kids Get Enough Sleep. Lack of z's can seriously impact a child's ability to learn and perform. Set a bedtime routine, stick to it every night and shut off the cell phone, TV and computer at least thirty minutes before bed.

2. Applaud Their Efforts the Right Way. Studies from Colombia University show how you praise your kids can enhance --or impede--their achievement. Rather than emphasize getting straight A's, ask how hard they're working. This will encourage their persistence and they'll be less likely to blame bad grades on lack of ability.

3. Respect Their Learning Style. There are eight kinds of intelligence or, simply put --ways people learn. Pay attention to which type your child gravitates to, even if it's not the way YOU would do it.

4. Pay Attention to Their Peers. Peer pressure exists --but it's not always bad. Keep tabs on their friends' grades and talk, talk, talk about the future and all the possibilities. One Ohio State University study found that kids are more likely to have buddies who plan to attend college if they have a warm, positive relationship with their parents.

5. Make Family Meals a Must. Get everyone together at the dinner table and you'll be poising your precious bundles of joy to make good choices. Colombia University researchers discovered kids who eat with mom and dad are less likely to use drugs, alcohol, develop eating disorders and achieve higher grades. What you have really doesn't matter --but turn off the phone and TV so you can enjoy one another's company. Are you schedules headed in every different direction? If time doesn't allow a group supper, shoot for a late-evening snack or dessert.

6. Cut the Stress. Conflict within the home impedes a child's ability to learn. "De-stress" your babies with long walks, group stretches or movie night. Do you have a sticky wicket in the house? Teach them its okay to walk away from an argument, refuse to engage with a "screamer" and watch for warning signs that someone's about to come unglued.

7. Tailor Expectations to Your Child's Abilities. It's natural to imagine your mini-me is the next Rhodes Scholar --but every child is different. Approach school like a rubber band --gently stretch but don't snap! While a neighbor may brag about test scores, grades or their offspring's gift of intelligence, the apple of your eye will still go on to do amazing things. Remember this mantra: "Tailor thy parenting only to thy child."

Domestic Habits That Annoy Women

Men. They drive us crazy, but we woman can't live with them and we can't live without them can we? Whatever the reason, men have a unique and sometimes gleeful way of irritating the ones they love most. Here are the 10 most annoying things men do when living with women. If you can think of more, feel free to comment below!

1. Men leave a wake of empty containers
2. They splash the mirror when they brush their teeth
3. Leave hair in the sink after shaving
4. Use 10 drinking glasses a day instead of one
5. Pee on the toilet seat
6. Litter the ground with laundry
7. Don't do house work
8. Burp and fart indiscriminately
9. Develop a martyr complex when sick
10. They channel surf rapidly (and seemingly aimlessly)