My hubby and I have a running list of all the FUN things we’d like to do together and all the things we NEED to get done around the house! To ensure we have an equal balance of work and play, I decided to create a fun, Girl Scout inspired date that accomplishes BOTH! To get started, print out the adorable printables by Tasha at Whimsicle Design and hang the His/Her Sashes where they can been seen!...

Mushrooms are delicate yet hearty, exotic yet earthy, and have a texture all their own. They’re often treated and thought of as a vegetable, or used to substitute meat, yet they belong to another biological kingdom altogether (the fungus kingdom). From their flavor to their texture, aroma, and appearance, mushrooms are truly distinct. I love them on their own, sautéd with a little garlic, some parsley, and a splash of wine, then cooked in cream....

In addition, Dove is becoming a leading voice as a proud co-founder of the CROWN Coalition. This effort is driving actionable change to make hair discrimination illegal. Attendees of the ESSENCE Festival will be invited to partake in doing work to pass this legislation. All Things Hair will also be making an appearance, so read on for more info. 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival On the beauty front, attendees will visit a Dove station for a 10-minute foot massage....

We’re back with another SUPER FUN idea for our Family Date Night Series. Have you heard of the INCREDIBLE blog Somewhat Simple? If you haven’t, you are TOTALLY missing out. Around these parts we absolutely ADORE Stephanie and her Somewhat Simple team. Stephanie was kind enough to hop on our blog today and share a CUTE idea that will turn any old family dinner into a rockin’ good time! Take it away, Steph!...

CONGRATULATIONS, Katee Woffinden – we loved your idea! Fantasy Suite By: Katee Woffinden Katee explains that the inspiration for her winning idea came from a game she created for her sister’s bachelorette party. She presented the bride-to-be with a “fun menu” from which she could open up a coordinating gift. Katee decided to translate this cute idea into a romantic game for her husband, “since newlyweds don’t get to have all the fun!...

From Scientific American: The research shows that the recent climate-protecting gains in forests are being nearly canceled out by efforts to satisfy the world’s growing appetite—particularly its appetite for meat. Greenhouse gases released by farming, such as methane from livestock and rice paddies, and nitrous oxides from fertilizers and other soil treatments rose 13 percent after 1990, the study concluded. Agricultural climate pollution is mostly caused by livestock. Cows and buffalo are the worst offenders—their ruminating guts and decomposing waste produce a lot of methane....

Thirty-nine participants were recruited for the experiment. Twenty participants took part in an eight-week meditation course, and the other 19 told they had been placed on a waiting list for a future course. Desteno describes the scenario both groups were put through, to test their response to suffering: When a participant entered the waiting area for our lab, he (or she) found three chairs, two of which were already occupied....

Fresh Air’s Terry Gross was interviewing Duhigg about his new book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. The book explores the science behind why habits exist and how they can be changed. (For more about the book, click here.) But what caught our attention was that, in the last four minutes of the interview, Gross asked Duhigg, “What habits are on your list to be broken?...

To read the seven reasons why mindfulness made noise in 2013, click here.

For a truly formal look, you’ll want to make sure that your hair is as sleek, polished and perfectly coiffed as possible! Read on to check out some pre-holiday hair inspiration that’ll have your hair ready in time for all of the fun festivities. Formal Updo Hairstyles to Try this Holiday Season 1. Vintage Accessories Add an instant vintage appeal to your formal updo with finger waves and old school barrettes....

We’ve just made Father’s Day a little easier, so grab his FAVORITE candy bar, our candy bar wrappers, and get ready to wrap him in love! Simply pick up a Mr. Goodbar, Hershey Bar, or whatever your dad’s favorite candy bar is, next time you’re at the store and print these darling candy bar wrappers! Wrap the Mr. Goodbar in our “mr.Gooddad” wrapper and combine it with other candy bars using our additional wrappers, Father’s Day Cards or gifts!...

This will be the subject of a free teleconference on Wednesday, November 13, with award-winning science writer and meditation practitioner Katy Butler. Sponsored by the Metta Institute, the teleconference promises “an honest examination of the medical profession’s handling of end-of-life care,” inspired by Butler’s deeply personal new memoir about her own parents’ passage, Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death. While the teleconference with Katy Butler is free, participants must register ahead of time and may do so here....

These nativity masks will be a hit for the whole family! We have made these free printable masks two different ways. We have a pack already colored and ready for you to print out, cut out, and act out! OR if you would really like to make this a family activity, we have included a black and white pack of these free printable masks for kids to color! Just print, grab all your coloring supplies, and have a blast with your whole family coloring, chatting, and making new Christmas traditions....

Festive Halloween Food Ideas for Breakfast Fun Halloween Food Ideas for Lunch Fun Halloween Themed Snack Ideas Halloween Appetizers and Party Food Ideas Fun Halloween Themed Food for Dinner Halloween Food Ideas for Dessert Fun Halloween Drink Ideas A little bit of something for everyone! Ready to get started? First up… Halloween Food Ideas for Breakfast Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprise your family with one of these spooky Halloween breakfast ideas....

Rob was a sexy British vagabond, and my time with him was short and educational in the way my flaming teenage libido longed for. But it turned out the charms of an eager amateur had limited appeal next to the hot-blooded worldliness of an older, beautiful sister. They met when Rob dropped me off at home just before I got on a plane and left town for Christmas break. When I returned, Rob and my sister picked me up at the airport…together....

The app includes two audio tracks, five daily activities and a stress assessment, among other things. Take a Chill is being offered at an introductory price of 99 cents. The price is expected to increase in March. For more information, click here.

Kate Bermingham: What possessions do you still own? Fumio Sasaki: I have about 20 pieces of clothing, including underwear. My electronic devices like MacBook Air and Kindle are incredibly useful. My new home came preinstalled with most of the furniture and electronics I need, so I was able to let go of most of my own items in that category. On the other hand, there are some things I now have more of....

Facts About Afro Hair Afro hair variations are made of patterns, density, strand diameter, and texture. All human hair has the same elemental chemical composition regarding keratin protein content. Black hair differs in the distribution of lipids throughout the hair shaft. Afro-textured hair is not as densely concentrated on the scalp as other follicle types. The average density of afro hair is approximately 190 hairs per square centimeter. This is lower than straight hair, which has 227 hairs per square centimeter....

Hairstyle Spotlight: Sexy Curled Lob Prep with Heat Protectant Start this style out with none of the most important styling products: heat protectant. We are constantly pushing this amazing product because it is so important to protect your strands from extreme heat to avoid damage and breakage. Spritz your with some Dove Style+Care Smooth and Shine Heat Protection Spray before beginning to curl you hair. Not only are you protecting your hair, you’re also giving it a healthy, natural shine, too....

Keep scrolling to check out the variety of shades you can achieve within a hazel hair color. Hey, hazel eye colors are made up of a combination of hues, so why wouldn’t the hair color variation be the same? Blonde Hazel Hair Colors Starting with strands anywhere from bleached blonde to a medium shade blonde will leave you with a dark hazelnut blonde color to light brown shade. 1. Dark Blonde Starting with light blonde hair?...