All posts by Christine DiMaria

Christine DiMaria exercises her passion for writing every day in her career and has been doing so for over 10 years now. Her expertise lies within the fields of health, wellness, relationships, dating and travel. The skill and drive she has for what she does earned her publications rights on well-respected sites such as LIVESTRONG, Colgate and Angie's List, just to name a few. In addition to her full-time writing career, Christine is a homeschooling mother with a love for music, travel and cooking.
BALANCE, LOVE

The Dos and Don’ts of Meeting Your Boyfriend’s Family

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If we had to rank meeting your significant other’s family in a list of nerve-wracking relationship moments, we would definitely put it at the top of the list, right along with the first time you  make a joke that just isn’t funny. Don’t let it make you nervous, but this moment is vital and sets the tone for the rest of your encounters with the family. A lot rides on this event, but you can nail it with a bit of help from the experts!

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Don’t Drink Too Much

While it’s perfectly fine to indulge in a glass of wine if offered, it’s not okay to get drunk at his family’s house. Although you may feel more comfortable, you’ll more than likely make a fool out of yourself and say something you didn’t mean to let slip. Keep in mind, post-drunken-comment anxiety will plague your life for many days after the encounter and will be remembered by the family for years to come. A little giggly tipsy is fine, but sloppy drunk is never okay. Just think about Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone. Drinking definitely didn’t enhance her conversational ability. Plus, if you partake in drinking too much, they might think you’re a lush.

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Don’t Let Them See You Sweat

Remember the film Meet the Parents? Gaylord’s fiance’s family noticed the nervousness and preyed on his weakness, making the situation even worse. Plus, his nervousness led to a series of accidents. Do you really want to be known as the woman who loses the family pet or floods the yard with sewage, or would you rather be known as the confident lady who made a lasting positive impression?

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Prospective in-laws have a sixth sense like a dog; they can smell fear. You need to walk in, smile, and swallow every bit of nervousness, so they won’t notice. Act like Dorothy on Golden Girls. She’s a confident woman who, despite her husband’s mother treating her poorly, acted with grace, dignity, and confidence.

Do Laugh

If you should happen to do something clumsy, make a joke and move on. Don’t let it get you down. Nothing is perfect, and you can’t expect something this significant to run 100-percent smoothly. It wouldn’t be a significant event if something didn’t go unexpectedly. And don’t just laugh at yourself, make jokes and show them you have personality, and you’re a down-to-earth person. You don’t want them all talking about the uptight “B” who their son brought home for the holidays.

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Do Have Manners

Always mind your manners by saying please and thank you. You don’t have to eat what you absolutely don’t like, but do accept generosity when it’s something you’d be willing to try. The family ideally wants to be hospitable and wants you to enjoy yourself.. Never take too much, though. You don’t want to be remembered as the heifer of the holidays.

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Don’t Assume the Worst

Most people dread meeting the family and having to spend holidays with their mate’s parents but don’t assume the worst and worry. Every family is different. You might be lucky enough to be welcomed by a sweet, open-minded family who’s looking forward to meeting who their child has chosen. If you lose at Russian In-law Roulette and you have a cold, emotionless shrew of a mother like the one Penny had to meet on the Big Bang Theory, you just have to swallow your pride and deal with the unpleasantry and hope it doesn’t last long.

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Do Observe and Research

It helps to observe and take cues from other family members–as well as your SO–and act accordingly. While it’s important to be yourself, you want to fit into the dynamic. Respect their wishes on nearly all matters. Go with the flow with as much as possible because it will make your time–we don’t want to go as far as to say enjoyable, but we will say–easier.

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Don’t Hesitate to Ask if You’re Unsure

Ask how they would like to be addressed. Don’t walk in calling them Joe and Amy or automatically assume they want to be called Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Wait for cues, and if none occur and you’re unsure of something, just ask. Asking shows you have respect and will lead to a better overall experience. It doesn’t hurt to ask your special someone questions about their family before meeting them, so you know what to expect and what’s expected of you..

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BALANCE, LIFE

5 Uncommon Warning Signs in a Woman’s Body

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Don’t let anybody fool you–being a woman isn’t easy. We contend with a monthly visitor just to let us know we’re not bearing a child, and we accumulate excess weight, especially as we age. However, some issues we endure are abnormal and are oftentimes a sign of a more complicated problem. Here are some uncommon warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.

 

Unclear Thoughts or Foggy Memory

While you may joke that your unclear thoughts are just a bad day or your foggy memory stems from early onset dementia, these actually can be signs of a hormonal imbalance.

confused woman

Women produce two main hormones – progesterone and estrogen – which control many of the actions that go on in their bodies. Additionally, a woman’s body produces testosterone. These hormones must be balanced in order for everything to work as intended. The issues with mental clarity might be attributed to an estrogen imbalance so it could be worth a talk with your doctor.

You’re Furry

Genetics isn’t always responsible for your hairy back. If you feel as though your arms and face are hairier than most, you might be suffering from a hormonal imbalance. This particular symptom could stem from the overproduction of testosterone or another androgen. 

Leg Cramps and Tingling

If you experience leg cramping, tingling, or numbness, you might be pregnant. Oftentimes, sciatica occurs during the first trimester as a result of your hormones changing. This symptom will usually subside by your second trimester, but you may notice it’ll appear again during your third trimester as a result of the baby pushing on your sciatic nerve.

Heavy Period

While you might have been told that everyone is different and each woman will experience her period differently, there are some commonalities you should expect. For instance, your period should last between three to seven days, and the flow will tend to change throughout your period until it stops completely.

black woman cramps

But, if you’re having periods that last longer than a week and most of the days are heavy, you should see your gynecologist to determine the cause of your menorrhagia. A longer, heavier period doesn’t mean your extra not-pregnant for the month; it can mean you have a hormonal imbalance, or it could be an indication of other problem such as endometrial hyperplasia, thyroid imbalance, infection, bleeding disorder, or even cancer.

Anger

It’s normal to have moods like anger and frustration when you have to, say,  wait in a long line or your car is rear-ended. However, you shouldn’t feel angry, cranky or agitated on the regular. Your anger may stem from anxiety or depression, so take note of how often you have these feelings and consider speaking to a professional if it’s becoming a common occurrence.

BEAUTY, STYLE

The Beauty Treatments You Should Never Do Yourself

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Sometimes, it’s hard to splurge on yourself ; you might try to cut corners on your beauty regimen to save some time and money. While it’s fine to do your own hair and makeup for certain occasions, some treatments really do require a professional hand. Here’s our short list of beauty treatments you just shouldn’t do yourself.

 

Hair cut

Don’t cut your hair yourself. There’s a reason why hairstylists receive the amount of training they do – “because cutting hair ain’t easy.” I learned this the hard way. For a few years, I cut my own hair and did my mother’s. I was becoming quite a pro, at least so I thought. However, confidence turned into cockiness because one fine day, I did the unimaginable to my hair. I decided to try something new with my tresses and read about how to do layers online. The end result: my layers were uneven, if you could even call them layers. I ended up trying to level everything off and call it a day, but it didn’t look right; I had destroyed my lovely lady locks.

hair cut

A distressed me hopped into the car and went down to the local salon in an effort to fix the ruination – it only made matters worse because they had to cut off a great deal of hair to fix the problem. I was crushed when I looked into the mirror and saw my long, luscious locks were gone, gone, gone. Learn from my mistake and see a pro next time you want to try a new cut.

 

Dark to light hair

I religiously went to the salon (as I should have) and shelled out lots of my hard-earned money to turn my hair from a natural black color to blonde. I would let it grow out a little too much and have black roots with near white-blonde hair. Looking back, it looked ridiculous. I finally went back to my natural hair color, which was easy to do and I matched my color perfectly myself. I couldn’t be satisfied with that, though.

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About a year later, I had an itch to give myself caramel highlights. I followed the directions precisely, but when I rinsed my hair, I noticed it was yellow and orange, and not caramel at all. My highlight-placement skills were a bit off as well. I had no time to fix it because I had to go to work in about an hour. Never again will I try to go blonde on my own, and neither should you.

 

Chemical peels

A rule of thumb for beauty treatments – if it has “chemical” in its name, it’s best to leave it to the experts. Chemical peels are effective at making the face look more youthful. It helps to reduce sun damage, age spots, and scarring. However, the abrasive chemicals used can burn your skin or cause a serious reaction if not done properly. After you mess up a chemical peel, you’ll be thankful for those age marks when you finally get the irritation to subside, so be safe and get it done by a professional from the start.

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Acrylic Nail Removal

After getting acrylic nails done, I decided that instead of getting them filled or having them professionally removed, I would do it myself. ”I am a beauty DIY expert,” I thought to myself. I grabbed a butter knife and popped each one of my nails off, not surprisingly leaving huge holes in my real nails. Afterwards, my nails didn’t grow out at all, so I had short, stubby, holey nails that I waited for quite some time to let grow in naturally.

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Take it from me: spend the money and get your nails removed professionally! Once you do the damage from pulling the nails off, you’ll be stuck with an unfixable disaster for weeks to come that isn’t worth the time or money you saved.

 

WANDER, WEEKEND TRAVEL

Camp in Long Key State Park, Florida

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With so many posh hotels and touristy areas scattered throughout “The Sunshine State,” those looking for a vacay geared solely toward nature without all of the commotion of highly saute-after commercial destinations may struggle to find a location for them. Long Key State Park, located in the Keys, is a hot spot for those looking for tropical savanna temperatures with two main seasons – hot, humid and wet for part of the year and cooler and dry for the rest of the year – and a pristine beach. If you’re not interested in busy Florida beaches and are looking for a place to truly indulge in the splendor of the natural environment, Long Key State park is for you.

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Once you book your trip and travel down the U.S. 1 Overseas Highway to get to Long Key State Park, you’ll be greeted with a large campsite close to the beach. In total, Long Key State Park offers 60 campsites fully equipped with water and electric hookups. Visitors may choose to tent or RV camp at any site and are able to situate up to two tents on each site. (It’s vital for visitors to inquire about limitations regarding the size of RVs allowed, especially on the site of their choosing since RV size regulations vary from site to site.) Every site has a grill and a picnic table.

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Besides everything each site has to offer, the entire park has a great deal of amenities to provide travelers. First and foremost, the camp welcomes all domestic animals, so there’s no need for campers to find a kennel for their furry family members. The park has hot showers, restrooms and dump stations.

Despite the campgrounds offering primitive camping for those looking for an escape from all the technology and bustle of today’s modern world, the park is located within 10 miles of a post office, convenience store, church, restaurant, and public marina.

long key state park canoe

There’s something for everyone at this state park. You can enjoy boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, biking, hiking, nature trails, soaking, wading, and snorkeling. Tourists can bird watch, witness breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, and enjoy a boardwalk.

Because of the climate in the Keys, this particular state park is open to visitors year-round. Peak season is from December through January. Booking may be done up to 11 months in advance online or via phone, so you can start planning your undisturbed stay near Florida’s beautifulblue waters right now.