It happens so fast. One moment they’re wobbly headed toddlers with an insatiable need to touch every object in a room, and the next they’re heading for Middle School. A few years ago, when our children were tiny, my husband and I tried to avoid amusement parks as much as possible. They were too crowded, we’d argue. The lines to all the rides were too long, and the food was crappy and overpriced. But soon enough, there we were, visiting Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, with my sister and her family. My kids, then 1 and 4, were in the Mini Monster Playhouse with their cousins, attempting to climb a steep, cone-shapped slide. My son, who had just started walking a few months prior, tried his best to make it to the top, but each time he got halfway up he slid right back down. At one point my daughter offered him a hand, but the weight of him only caused the two of them to slip and fall. As they struggled, they began laughing, and before you know it Steve and I were cracking up too. The kids both looked so cute in their bathing suits, sliding down a blue vinyl mountain, limbs spread out like one of those Garfield stuffies people used to suction onto their car windows, that we couldn’t take their eyes off them. When they finally made it to the top, all four of us were cheering. And we decided that maybe amusement parks weren’t so bad after all.

I’ve visited Japan twice, and both times I was mesmerized by the seemingly effortless beauty Japanese women radiate. Their bodies are slim and fit, and their clothes fit so well they appear custom-made just for them. The great majority of ladies—even the women over 60—have flawless porcelain skin that appears lit from within. And their hair—don’t me started on their hair—is always smooth and frizz-free, even in the hottest, most humid weather.

Walking around Tokyo last summer in 99-degree weather, I had to wrestle my wavy hair into a ponytail or bun, or wear it under a hat to prevent that Don King look. And by midday, the little makeup I had on was melting into my face. But there they were, those Japanese girls, walking around the sweltering city in long pants, with their smooth, shiny hair hanging down their backs, not a lock or lash out of place. So one night at dinner, I asked my husband’s gorgeous cousin, who lives in Tokyo and works for a Japanese cosmetics company, what beauty secrets she and other Japanese women were hiding from us Americans. … //READ MORE

Yes, many of us were back watching Mad Men again this spring. We watched despite the fact that the producers split the seventh and final season into two parts, which means we must wait until spring 2015 to see how it all ends. Despite the fact that it’s been a long time since we last saw these characters and may have had a wandering eye during the hiatus. (Sorry, Don, but there are so many distractions these days.) Despite the fact that we were sick of a few characters by now (Megan, anyone?) that we had a slightly take-it-or-leave it attitude about tuning in.

But we tuned in. Maybe we just needed to know if Don would move to L.A. and start wearing madras pants (not likely), if Roger and Mona would get back together (more likely), or if Sally would catch her dad banging another MILF (most likely). But the real reason we watched was to learn a thing or two from the mistakes of these highly flawed, utterly irresistible-despite-themselves characters. Here are 10 nuggets we gleaned from the last few episodes starring our favorite Madison Avenue mod squad. … //READ MORE

Designers are throwing the book at the latest fashion accessories.

People will be hanging on your every word when they notice you bouncing around town or showing up to your next book club gathering wearing one of these literature-inspired fashions. Try a sassy purse like one that might have swayed from Daisy Buchanan’s wrist, a wise-ass tote that would make Holden Caulfield smirk, or writing gloves worthy of a Jane Austen heroine. Whether you love the classics, swoon over epic romances, or find sci-fi out of this world, there’s a novel accessory for you this season. … //READ MORE

Everyone finds themselves confused, at least once or twice in their lives, about matters of the heart. Over the course of the past few months, I’ve had around a dozen conversations with friends and acquaintances—whether they’re married or single, gay or straight, old or young—who suspect they are dating the wrong person, married to the wrong person, or coveting the wrong person. Or sometimes the problem is that they’re with a person at all, when they just want to be alone, or snuggling up to their pet chihuahua watching The Real Housewives.

Of course, the reason the person is “wrong” for them varies. They could have the wrong career, the wrong personality, or the wrong attitude about commitment. They could have incompatible personalities, incompatible work schedules, or incompatible levels of passion. Sometimes wrong just translates to crazy, or not crazy enough. There are many reasons these objects of affection are possibly not the right choice. … //READ MORE

Forget the Little Black Dress. Move that Little Red Number to the back of your wardrobe. The Little White Dress is this spring’s go-to fashion piece, and with good reason. It’s warm-weather appropriate. It brightens up most skin tones. It goes with just about everything. And most of all, it’s a breath of fresh air. So if you invest in one great little dress (or any wardrobe essential) right now, make it a white one. Walk into a room in a white dress and you’re bound to turn heads. In a good way. (Unless you’re walking into a wedding reception—but you already know that’s a fashion no-no.)

But it’s not all about the dress. White is finding its way onto all kinds of separates, as well as shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories. Skirt and dress lengths run the gamut. While Micro-minis are probable here to stay, at least for a while, they’re counterbalanced by billowy maxis, demure pencil skirts and tea-length cocktail dresses. Silhouettes, too, are suited for every taste. Body-con looks are ubiquitous, but so are relaxed hippie-chic shapes and ladylike A-lines and sheaths. If you prefer pants, white versions of everything from super-skinnies to palazzo styles are now bathed in white. As is the currently popular romper, with loose or strapless tops flowing into tapered legs that pair great with pumps or cage shoes. The white trouser is back in a big way, and looks especially chic styled with high wedge sandals for a 1970s retro look. … //READ MORE