Two years ago I could go for days without setting foot in my kitchen. Work had taken over my life, and I didn't even make coffee for myself. I had lots of nice things—four sizes of pots, skillets, a stock pot, a wok, baking sheets, pie plates, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a bread maker, a KitchenAid mixer—but they were just crowding my kitchen.

While fantasizing about a balanced life, I read the book Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan. To get the most out of your living space, it advises cooking at least one meal a week at home. So … Read More

Okay all you lovers out there, so what do you know about dating, living and loving in the recession? Budgets for lavish dates and gifts have shrunk; long-term plans for established relationships have been somewhat downsized; and we're all perhaps a little more deliberate in our dating than we were in the boom times.

Things have changed—not least in the way you appreciate your mate. Below, some of the new realities that have emerged in these tough times:

You don't need to spend a lot to get a lot. In a guest post, "Funky Brown Chick" … Read More

Landing Mr. Right isn't easy… even for an intelligent and successful woman. Weeding through the players, the losers and the psychos can be hopelessly frustrating, and when you finally find a man with potential, you'll usually find fifty other hopeful bachelorettes competing for his attention.

If you want to win at the game of love, you'll need to quickly stand out from the rest of the pack and captivate your quarry from the start. To make sure this happens, I've put together a list of five proven strategies to help you make a smoldering impression and blow away the competition.

Strategy … Read More

Let's face it: The economy may be improving, but blast that lagging economic indicator—unemployment is around to stay, at least for a little bit. And while you may have plenty of time on your hands, the reality is that, more likely than not, your pockets will be a little bit emptier than desired.

Tired of the same old dinner-and-a-movie dating dance? If you're more of an outdoorsy type by nature why wait until later in the dating cycle to see if the person you're pairing up with shares the same passion for nature? Start off instead with an adventure date—hiking on the trails, kayaking down the river or sailing away into the sunset. Do so and you could be ginormous steps ahead in the compatibility game.

You probably thing this economic downturn is a real mother-father, eh? Well, once (ish) per week Tomfoolery is your spot for getting some ideas on how to get your relationship-on, on the cheap. This time, daters, make it a volunteer date.

Date night — whether it's the hundredth or the first — has a penchant for getting stuck in the dinner-and-a-movie rut.

Does anyone truly like to date? I mean, really get excited about sifting through potential candidates, sussing out neuroses, reading between the lines? I’m not talking about the thrill and anticipation you might feel the day you’re going out with someone new. I’m talking about the nitty-gritty research involved in finding someone who intrigues you. I suppose there are some people who enjoy the hunt. And others who are so confident (or delusional) that they don’t feel as if they’re opening themselves up to humiliation, pain, and suffering—along with sexual tension and the possibility of intense joy. But, by and … Read More