Coconut oil has been a dietary, medicinal and beauty staple for ages. It’s a high-quality fat with a large concentration of lauric acid, a substance with antibacterial properties. It’s easy on your digestive system, provides a great energy boost and may improve the absorption of fat-solutable vitamins. Its natural sweetness and nutty vanilla flavor, plus its ability to withstand high temperatures and keep for as long as a year at room temperature, make it perfect for cooking.

These are just some of the benefits of virgin coconut oil, which has become amazingly popular over the past couple of years. These days you’ll find it not only at every health food store, but at most ordinary grocery stores too. And for good reason. Derived from the kernel of a mature coconut fruit (coconuts are fruits, not tree nuts), this healthy, versatile oil has got it going on. Whether used medicinally, cosmetically or as a household product, it deserves a place in your pantry or medicine cabinet. Here, 10 great uses … //READ MORE

It had been one of those days that left me physically and emotionally drained. Bone-tired and preparing dinner, I looked over at my girls, 3 and 5, who were parked in front of the TV. It was a welcome respite after they’d spent the previous hour hounding me for more snacks and arguing with each other. My husband, Chris, was stuck in traffic and running late, so I started on the kids’ dinner first.

After the girls ate, I noticed something brown on my shirtsleeve. Had I given either one of them chocolate today? My 3-year-old had needed help wiping when she went earlier. Hmmm…Push that thought aside. When Chris finally walked through the door, he looked exhausted. He’d just spent the past three days working a trade show, where he’d been standing for hours at a time, talking endlessly to customers and taking clients out for late dinners, only to face emails and paperwork when he returned to his hotel room.

For the rest of the evening, we went through the motions of eating, clearing plates, bathing the girls, getting them into their pajamas and helping them brush their teeth. By the time we read them bedtime stories and put out the lights, sleep sounded like a divine idea to both of us too. It’s hard to remember that only a few short years ago, at that time of night we’d probably be hitting the sheets for more interesting reasons than the need for shut-eye. … //READ MORE

Sitting on the concrete basement floor packing away my youngest daughter’s outgrown toddler clothes, I spied the rose-and-ivory chenille sweater someone had knit for her, and heard the whisper. “There’s no one else to save this for.” I surveyed the hill of blankets, onesies and elastic-waist pants I was so neatly folding and packing in plastic bins, and began to consider why I was bothering with the effort. We had said two, now we had two.

Yet I continued my careful sorting and folding.

I let that whisper float in my heart for months, not daring to make my doubt real by voicing it to my husband. It just kind of lingered, while I waited to see whether it would intensify or fade.

We were good, the four of us, two adults, two kids. Why mess with that? Parenthood is the ultimate leap of faith. Nothing is guaranteed—not your health, not the child’s, and you don’t know who you’re going to get. So I should have been content with my lucky lot. But I just couldn’t shake the baby feeling. When I broached the subject of a third, my husband considered it for a few weeks before agreeing to “see what happens.” … //READ MORE

I first became aware of Lena Dunham about four years ago when I watched and became smitten with Tiny Furniture, an indie film she wrote, directed and starred in. The CliffsNotes version: Recent college grad Aura returns home to cushy Tribeca loft with no job, no direction, no boyfriend; experimental sex, evolving relationships, and (gradual) emotional growth ensue. In other words, it’s basically a prequel to Ms. Dunham’s HBO creation Girls, which revolves around the lives of a quirky quartet of friends as they traverse the bumpy terrain of their mid-twenties.

Watching the premiere of Girls, I was happy to see Aura again. Even though she’s several years older and has changed her name to Hannah Horvath, there’s no mistaking her. Now an aspiring writer drinking lots of hipster coffee and living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, she’s still angst-y, smart, self-involved and plenty entitled. And, of course, played by Dunham, who has made no secret of the fact that she shares similarities with both characters. … //READ MORE

I clearly remember the night I went into labor with my first child. It was around 6 p.m. on July 6, 1991—my 5th wedding anniversary. The pains started slowly at first, leaving time to celebrate with Thai food (that did not stay with me long) and for my husband to vacuum the house (last minute nesting?). Hours later I found out my doctor was on vacation and hours after that a nurse told me the umbilical cord might be wrapped around my baby’s neck hence the long labor. It was not an ideal birth.

Then at 11:18 a.m., after a suction marathon by a fill-in doc with very strong Popeye-like arms, I heard the infant cry and that fateful announcement, “It’s a girl!” … //READ MORE

Until you become a mother, you might not realize how much work and dedication are involved. From creating memorable holidays and birthdays, to caring for everyone (including herself) when they’re sick, moms are truly on it year round. So this May 11, don’t forget to honor all those incredible women in your life who happen to be moms—your mother, your mother-in-law, even your close friends who have kids. And if you’re a mother too, hopefully someone will go out of their way to show you how special you are.

Here are some cool Mother’s Day gifts to consider. We’ve selected thoughtful presents for different personality types so you can customize your gesture. Be sure to share this list with your kids and your partner—because even the most well-intentioned people could use a little hint now and then. Better yet, treat yourself to one of these goodies. … //READ MORE