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10 TED Talks for Parents

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:14:21 +0000

photo credit: Bindaas Madhavi

I have been very inspired by TED Talks lately. You can also check out my previous article on 10 TED Talks for Renewal. TED Talks are presentations from passionate, brilliant and innovative individuals in a variety of fields. You can read more about this non-profit organization and their mission to spread ideas by exhibiting powerful, engaging presentations. Each presentation is 18 minutes or less, and well worth the investment. Here is a compilation of my top 10 favorite TED Talks for parents. Some are funny, some are informative, and all are inspiring.

10. Nancy Frates: Meet the mom who started the bucket challenge

Meet the inspirational mom who started the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — and how this mission impacted her and her family.

9. Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high bar

Jennifer Senior discusses the significant changes in our roles as parents and the ways in which our expectations of happiness in our children is a difficult aspiration.

8. Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood

Colin Stokes, shares his thoughts on how cinema provides role models for both boys and girls and the ways in which we should consider male and female roles in movies and their effect on our children.

7. Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman: Let’s talk parenting taboos

Husband-and-wife team, and publishers of Babble.com, offer a forthright and humorous look at parenting taboos as well as parenting expectations.

6. Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter

Poet, Sarah Kay, through her unique style, shares what lessons she would share with her future daughter.

5. Julia Sweeney: It’s time for “The Talk”

A hilarious talk about the “birds and the bees” inspired by Julia Sweeney’s 8-year-old daughter. You won’t want to miss this one.

4. Kevin Breel: Confessions of a depressed comic

Comic, Kevin Breel, offers a serious glimpse into his life when he first realized he had depression as a high school student.

3. Adora Svitak: What adults learn from kids

Author and child prodigy, Adora Svitak encourages adults to be empowered by children – and to ask children some powerful questions. An advocate for “reciprocal learning”, she encourages us all to consider what children can teach adults.

2. Steven Addis: A father-daughter bond, one photo at a time

Photographer and writer, Steven Addis, shares his experience taking the same photo with his daughter throughout her childhood and the power of creating memories.

1. Bruce Feiler: The council of dads

In this moving talk, Bruce Feiler, an accomplished writer shares his vision of enlisting “A council of dads” after his diagnosis of cancer to impart their wisdom to his daughters as they grow up.

There are many ways to get TED Talks. Click here if you would like to browse the TED archives for other topics. It is also easy to follow TED Talks via apps and social media. My favorite way to view TED Talks is via the free app for iPhone, where I can bookmark or download my favorites. The app is interactive, so I can even specify how much time I can commit at the moment and request a certain topic to watch.

TED Talks videos, logos and visuals highlighted here are untouched and unedited. All video and images of TED Talks are copyrighted by TED and are used here under the Creative Commons license.

Did any of these TED Talks resonate with you as a parent? Which one is your favorite?

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Counting Sheep? 5 strategies to encourage a better night’s sleep

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:15:24 +0000

photo credit: Adrian Pimpam

Sleep is important for our overall health. Sleep affects mood, energy levels, productivity, and mental clarity. Recent studies also indicate the amount of sleep can impact weight gain/loss. So whether you are having difficulty catching those zzzzz’s, or just don’t feel rested, try a few of these strategies to see if your counting sheep days are over.

1. Create a bedroom oasis.

One of the most important things to consider is creating a bedroom oasis, where you can relax and rest. I don’t know about you, but too often laundry, papers, or other distractions try to worm their way into my bedroom. It’s best to leave these influences behind, since they are not part of creating a relaxing retreat. Decor should also be serene and uncluttered.

2. Establish a calming evening routine.

Once you have created your bedroom oasis, it is beneficial to establish an evening routine that you find relaxing. To learn more about how to create a calming evening routine, check out this article.

3. Develop and maintain technology boundaries.

As part of establishing the calming evening routine that is right for you, some experts recommend no television in the bedroom. My husband and I agreed when we were married that we would leave the television in the living room. For us, that has been an easy decision to maintain over the years, but the distractions such as the laundry listed in #1 have been more challenging for us to overcome as a family!

If you do choose to have a television in your bedroom, try to turn off the tube at least an hour before you go to bed. Same goes for computers, tablets, and smart phones. Read here if you want to learn more about blue light and how electronic devices may have a negative effect on sleep.

4. Try a few apps.

Yes, I know what I just said about technology in the bedroom, but these exceptions may be helpful to you. I have used all three of these apps and I have found them to be extremely beneficial, so see if one of them might be right for you.

iSleep Easy – Meditations for Restful Sleep
- Choice of 9 guided meditations, which can be combined with music or nature sounds.
- This app allows you to combine sounds with music.
- 3 music choices and 6 nature sounds
Simply Being – Guided Meditation for Relaxation and Presence
- Good basic music choices, with the added benefits of guided meditation.

Relax Melodies – Sleep & Yoga
- By far, the relaxation/sleep app with the most diverse playlist. Music and other sounds range from everything from Gregorian Chants to sounds of the seashore or a vacuum cleaner.
- This app allows you to combine sounds, with music, say, a lullaby with white noise and a heart beat for a baby’s ears or a mix of ocean waves, seagulls and sounds of foghorns for a beachy mix.
- Other nice features include favorites and timers.
- 52 nature sounds or melodies

5. Check out the new sleep guidelines.

The National Sleep Foundation has updated their guidelines on How Much Sleep We Need. Check out this Infographic to see the amount of sleep considered appropriate for you and your family.

Disclaimer: If you have concerns regarding sleep, please check with your doctor for information specific to you or your family’s needs.

photo credit: B. Fernari

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10 TED Talks for Renewal

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:50:37 +0000

photo credit: Kelly Teague

Recently, I have been reflecting on renewal and self-care and have particularly appreciated several TED Talks that inspire me. TED Talks are presentations from passionate, brilliant and innovative individuals in a variety of fields. You can read more about this non-profit organization and their mission to spread ideas by exhibiting powerful, engaging presentations. Each presentation is 18 minutes or less, and well worth the investment. Here is a compilation of my top 10 favorite TED Talks to foster renewal and self-care. Some are humorous, some are gripping, and others are truly fascinating.

10. Benjamin Zander: The transformative power of classical music

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, makes it seem as if he is in your home having an insightful and entertaining conversation with you about a vision for classical music for all. Whether you currently appreciate classical music – or not – this is a must see.

9. Neil Pasricha: The 3 A’s of awesome

Neil Pasricha, author, discusses how his blog grew to become an international sensation – and his growth as a person in the process of finding awesomeness in every day life.

8. Pico Iyer: The art of stillness

World renowned travel writer, Pico Iyer moves beyond his standard travel writing by proposing that one can release ourselves from distractions and focus on travel as it relates to stillness and mindfulness.

7. Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes

Former Buddhist Monk, Andy Puddicombe shares how being mindful for just 10 minutes per day can help your outlook.

6. Emily Balcetis: Why some people find exercise harder than others

Emily Balcetis shares information about different people’s vision of themselves, and how changing your mindset can help change your success of exercising.

5. Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep

Journalist Arianna Huffington shares her story on the power of sleep and sleep’s association with success.

4. David Griffin: How photography connects us

David Griffin, photo director for National Geographic, showcases the power of visual storytelling.

3. Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are

Social Psychologist, Amy Cuddy shares critical information on “power posing” and how this can encourage success, even if you aren’t feeling successful.

2. Mark Bezos: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter

Mark Bezos shares his experience making a difference in someone’s life in an unlikely way.

1. Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake

Phil Hansen learned a new way to create when he let go of his physical limitations. Seeking a renewed way of seeing and representing art, he visually documents working through the creative process and redefining barriers.

TED Talks videos, logos and visuals highlighted here are untouched and unedited. All video and images of TED Talks are copyrighted by TED and are used here under the Creative Commons license.

Did any of these TED talks encourage you to focus on yourself, wellness or renewal? Which ones resonated with you?

photo credit: Tom Hart

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Parenting in an Over-Sexualized World

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:36:20 +0000

Children are being bombarded with sexual and adult content long before their minds can comprehend what they’re seeing, and according to a report by the American Psychological Association, it is estimated that our children will see over 14,000 sexualized images each year, with odds indicating they will be exposed to pornography by the age of 11.

This report, along with mounting research, makes a case that exposure to images in media and pop culture is creating a mental health crisis, as is evidenced by the steady increase in depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders in our children.

How can parents protect their kids in a hyper-sexualized culture? What’s the impact on children and their families? Are there best practices that parents can learn to open the lines of communication and talk to their kids about sexuality?

PARENTING IN AN OVER-SEXUALIZED WORLD is the next topic being presented at the RVA Parents Forum Series on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Richmond- Short Pump location.

Dr. Rosalie Corona, an Associate Professor of Psychology at VCU, Brantley Holmes, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with Henrico County Department of Health, and Michelle Johnston, Commonwealth Parenting Educator, will address how to talk to your kids about sex in a non-judgmental, realistic manner.

“The key is open communication with your kids. Research indicates that teens who report having good conversations with their parents about sex are more likely to delay sexual activity,”said Liz Pearce, Director of Parent Engagement at Commonwealth Parenting and the Children’s Museum of Richmond.

Parenting in an Over-Sexualized World
The Children’s Museum of Richmond-Short Pump,
2200 Old Brick Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

$30 per class/ per person. Cost includes dinner, class, parenting experts, and interactive Q&A session. Babysitting is available, online registration and reservations required.

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This is About to Save My Busy Weeknights

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 22:55:34 +0000

It’s not that I don’t like cooking; I do, actually. It’s just the frequency. Dinner happens every. Single. Night. And usually, I’m short on time. And ideas. There is an ideas issue too… and then of course the ingredients.

So basically, dinner takes more time, energy, and brain power than I have on a Thursday night when I get home from work at 6:30…my husband is already half way out the door and my 3rd grader is saying something about some paper I need to sign, and at least the kindergartner needs to be bathed and the 2 year old just wants me to hold him.

In short: I needed this moment I’m having right now.

It’s noon on a Friday morning and I have the next 3 busy weeknight meals ready to go. My kitchen is virtually untouched from when I cleaned it last night.

I have Lemon Chicken with Feta, Beach Street Shrimp Scampi with Pasta and Outlaw Chicken Marinara all waiting to be popped in the oven or heated on the stove top (by my husband before I even get home from work) right when I need it. Over all, my meals are 400 calories and under, made with fresh ingredients, no preservatives or additives and came out to under $5.50 a serving (that’s cheaper than McDonalds) – plus, there’s no mess in the kitchen and no wasted ingredients.

The secret to my spectacular display of domesticity?

Dream Dinners.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked in, but everyone was really friendly while showing me the ropes. It’s part cooking show, part assembly line, and it’s a surprising amount of fun.

Garlic I didn’t have to peel myself

A station is set up for each meal – fresh ingredients are completely laid out at each station and the directions are super simple to follow (they even color coded it). I zipped up to the first station and was done with my first dinner in just about 10 minutes; no washing, no chopping, no prep work -and my favorite: no clean up! Each station is kept super clean by the staff (which is great for me because I’m a notoriously messy cook). Moms, retirees, people going solo and groups of friends bustled around the store laughing and talking and assembling meals… but it didn’t seem over crowded at all; it was actually quite inviting, the employees seemed to know everyone by name (yep, kinda like Cheers).

Dream Dinners makes it easy to customize your meals, which allowed me to go easy on spices I knew my kids won’t eat, and add a little extra cheese or garlic. The portion sizes were reasonable too; in fact we might get more than three servings out of the Outlaw Chicken Marinara. On the top of the bag sits your heating instructions so you don’t have to remember anything (except what’s in your freezer, but don’t worry, you’ll get a sheet of paper and a fridge magnet for that too).

Beach Street Shrimp Scampi

Want fries with that? Dream Dinners has stocked the freezer full of great sides to go with your recipes – purchase your recipes as is or add a side dish or two. Need a fast breakfast? It’s in the freezer. Dessert? Got that too. You can even pick up a few meals from last month’s menu, freshly frozen and waiting for your dinner plate. If you’d like to sign up for next month, the menu is waiting for you and you can schedule your next visit and get an email reminder when it’s time to come – they even let your rate your meals online so if you loved something (or didn’t) it will tell you the next time it comes up on the menu.

So here I sit, already loving life, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it even more on Wednesday night when a fresh and healthy dinner is waiting for me when I get home.

Will I go back? You bet! I love that I can try different meals without being stuck with a ton of left over ingredients, and I get to avoid that deep depression I get when I find a bag of mush in the crisper that contained some sort of vegetable I bought… Besides, the February menu has Parmesan Pesto Salmon with Cheese Crisps on it… sign me up!

Live in the West End but don’t want to miss out on fresh dinners? Have meals made by Dream Dinners staff delivered to the Daily Grind, select a Thursday 3:00 pm session and use the password ‘short pump’ (case sensitive).

Dream Dinners just opened in their new location
12006 Southshore Pointe Rd.
Midlothian, VA 23112
804-739-6442

Visit Dream Dinners online to check out the menu and book your time.

Dream Dinners provided me with 3 meals so I could come out and give them a try. The opinions, and subsequent Dream Dinners addiction, are all my own.

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Turkey Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes and Instant Party Tray for Super Bowl Sunday

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 17:41:47 +0000

Fun fact I learned today: according to the United States Department of Agriculture, Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day of the year for food consumption in the U.S. after Thanksgiving.

That’s a lot of food.

It also makes Super Bowl Sunday one of my new favorite days of the year.

If you’re not in the mood to cook or could use a little help in the kitchen, the food-loving folks at MARTIN’S are totally prepared if you’re ~~eating~~ watching the game with friends year with a great selection of Great Entertaining party trays, including sandwiches, wings, fried chicken, desserts and more available to order.

Just in time for the big game, the new Instant Party Tray is available for order and comes complete with MARTIN’S brand Virginia ham, roast beef, perfectly roasted turkey, hard salami, domestic Swiss and American cheese, 24 MARTIN’S brand Kaiser rolls, pickle chips and sliced tomatoes. Visit MARTIN’S Great Entertaining website to start your order or order in-store at the deli, bakery, seafood or meat departments.

All MARTIN’S stores are also stocked with ready-made favorites at the wing bar or olive, hummus and salsa bar. Don’t forget to check out the produce section for pre-cut veggies and fruit as well as prepared guacamole and fresh salsa.

If you’re in the mood to whip up something delicious (and easy to make), try these Turkey Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes

Turkey Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 large baking potatoes

1 Tablespoon GIANT/MARTIN’S olive oil

½ lb. ground turkey breast

1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

½ cup GIANT/MARTIN’S shredded cheddar cheese

Toppings (optional): sour cream, sliced green onions

Steps

Preheat oven to 425°F. Place potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet; prick several times with a fork. Bake 1 hour or until fork-tender. Remove from oven.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add turkey; cook until no longer pink (165°F), stirring to break up turkey. Stir in seasoning mix and tomatoes; simmer 5 minutes or until heated through and slightly thickened. Remove from heat; keep covered.

Cut potatoes open lengthwise; squeeze gently to open. Fluff potato pulp with a fork. Spoon turkey mixture evenly over potatoes, top with cheese and desired toppings, and serve.

For more game day recipe ideas, visit the MARTIN’s Recipe Center.

Check out last year’s Game Day Party Food Ideas

Photo: MARTINSFoods.com

MARTIN’S is a sponsor of Richmondmom

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Easy, Healthy Chicken Tacos & Taco Salad That Keeps Everyone Happy.

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:44:33 +0000

I have to admit I get bored of salads quickly. It’s not that I don’t like them, I just never think to make them and when I do they are always the same.
But I’m pregnant again (surprise) and now that I’m not sick, I’m trying to be a little better about eating well and getting more greens and avoid empty calories, like refined flour, in my diet (just like the rest of the world in January).

Last night we made chicken tacos and figured it was a great opportunity to toss a salad together. It was way more delicious than I expected it to be as well as being really filling making it a perfect dinner salad. As an added bonus, my family was happy with tacos and I got a healthy meal.

Ingredients (feeds about 4):

– 3 chicken breasts
– 1 bottle of chile lime marinade
– Romaine lettuce
– 2 avocados cut onto halves and sliced
– 1 lime
– Canned or fresh corn
– Salsa
– Sour cream
– Cilantro (to taste)
– Cheese
-Taco sized flour tortillas for those who want to go traditional.
(Would also be good with black beans and fresh tomatoes)

Directions:

In the morning, toss your chicken breasts and your bottle of marinade in the crock pot on low for about 6 hours thawed 8 frozen.
(I started mine at 2pm on high with thawed chicken and it was done by 5). When you’re chicken is done, use two forks to shred the meat (I do this right in the crockpot) and let it sit and keep warm while you get your bowls or tacos ready.

For tacos, warm your tortilla on on ungreased pan for about 10-15 seconds on each side. Fill with Chicken at the bottom, cheese and top with your favorite toppings.

For salad, chop up your lettuce and a handful of cilantro, mix them both together in the bottom of the bowl with a little bit of lime juice. Add the rest of the ingredients (half 1 avocado) on top adding warm chicken last. Squirt with a little bit more lime juice and enjoy!!

The juices from the chicken, the lime and the salsa are enough that you don’t need any dressing at all and to be honest, I probably could have left the cheese out entirely, the warm marinated chicken added so much flavor to the salad.

I calculated my salad to be just under 400 calories with My Fitness Pal recipe calculator, but since it’s a loose recipe that can be adjusted to taste you can calculate the calories for your salad here.

Enjoy!

Like this recipe? Pin it and share it with your friends.

If you liked this one, you might like these recipes too:

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10 “Old Fashioned” Trends To Bring Back In 2015

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:35:09 +0000

Wikimedia Commons

Our family has rediscovered The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched and Leave It To Beaver. Opie and the Beaver remind us of our own little guy. While the past wasn’t perfect, these shows make us reminisce about childhood and talk about what we’d like to see change.

Here are some ‘old time’ trends that should perhaps make a comeback! (Thanks to my hubby for helping me refine the list!)

Sending the kids #OutsideToPlay. It’s kind of magic how June Cleaver tells the Beave to go outside, and he actually does it for hours, discovering his neighborhood and learning lessons on his own. Gauging from the number of kids I see at the bus stop that I never see any time else, I’m sure there are other families who’d like to kick the kids out of the house more.
Having #TeaWithLadies. I treasure my time with other women and moms. Female friends are such an important source of comfort and support. I want more time with them! Tea anybody? I’ll even wear an A-line dress and high heels!
Eating #Sandwiches at home for lunch. Eating sandwiches, i.e., not wraps or Dorito tacos or Big Macs or $5 fast food heart attack bags. At home, i.e., not on the go, not in your car. For lunch. It sounds simple and fresh and cheaper; let’s do this more!
Reading #TheNewspaper. When June and Ward sit together (without the TV on) and read the newspaper together, it makes a lovely, calming scene. Newspapers today could use the business, and it would do us all good to be more informed about current events. Let’s get our read on!
#CallingEachOther on the telephone. Remember doing this? Like, all the time? More and more it seems we actually call each other as a last resort. Maybe it should be the first! (And texting the back-up.)
Having #FamilyNight. My family rocks! I’m sure yours does too! We only have 18 years living under one roof together. One night a week to focus on each other should trend for all 18 years.
Having simple #BirthdayPartiesAtHome. You invite friends to your house for your birthday party. They dress up and come over. You play a few games and you have cake and ice cream.
#OpeningPresents at the birthday party. A child who gives another child a gift should share in the joy of their friend opening the present they gave. I’ve been to too many parties for young children where this doesn’t happen “because there’s not time.” Let’s bring this back, please.
#LimitingGifts. Besides birthdays and gift-giving holidays like Christmas, no gifts. Any other things that kids want, they have to earn the money and buy it themselves. This trend would also mean that grandparents don’t “spoil” the children, and that there are no toys given with meals. Also, no ‘treat bags’ for every holiday. (#StopTheMadness)
#KeepItDecent and #NoCussing. I’m not even sure how to qualify this, except more 7-year-olds have likely heard cuss words and seen violence or sexy stuff than Beaver had at that age. Also, technology seems to fuel fires of negativity and isolation. Let’s treat each other with respect, consideration, and common decency.

Bonus: Let’s all trend #love, #peace, #hope and #kindness.

Those should never go out of style.

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Crockpot and One Pot Dinners Kids Can Make (With Minimal Parent Help)

Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:10:47 +0000

I know a lot of adults who say they can’t cook. I realized, that even though I’m no master chef, I didn’t want my kids growing up not being able to make a meal for themselves… that’s when my 8 year old son has started cooking dinner for our family.

Aside from just learning a useful skill, read all about what kids can learn from cooking, here.

When I started looking up recipes for kids, I mostly found things like pita pizzas and ants on a log… yummy, sure, and kid friendly, but we were looking for something that required a little more effort. I found that crock pot and one pot recipes were an easy place to start.

Here are a few recipes for beginners and interested chefs. Most of these are ideal for kids who have learned a few kitchen basics and can handle some chopping (we use some slightly dulled knives)

Of course, adult supervision is required although the kids can do most of the work.
There is no age recommendation because these skills are more about maturity and development, not age.

Crock Pot Recipes

Crock pot recipes are great for kids who aren’t ready to handle hot stoves or ovens. They are also perfect for early-risers and if evenings are a bit hectic and busy.

2-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Gimme Some Oven
Easy

It’s as simple as dumping it all into the crockpot.

Crock Pot Vegetable Ziti
Weelicous
Easy

Lots of shredding in this one, watch out for little fingers. This one will also be done in 3 hours so you can make it in the afternoon.

Crock Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
Raining Hot Coupons
Easy (parent needed for cutting chicken)

Not exactly healthy, and if you’re avoiding processed foods you might want to skip right along… but kids (and adults) can’t usually resist creamy alfredo sauce I had to add it in there.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Jo Cooks
Easy – just dump it.

Easy peasy and a bit healthier than alfredo sauce, no?

Garden Minestrone
Good Thymes and Good Food
Easy/Moderate -chopping involved.

This one is for kids who are ready to start chopping food, for kids who aren’t ready use frozen precut carrots. Also, the recipe goes from microwave to crockpot so there is no need for the stovetop. Since it’s a minestrone, you can omit the vegetables that will make your kids turn their nose up at the whole meal.

One Pot Pastas
Once again, this fairly easy for kids because you just dump it all in one pot. There is usually chopping involved and the moderate comes when recipes call for sautéed onions -this is definitely parent-supervised. There is the question of the stove top so it’s slightly more advanced than crock pot recipes where you can put it all into a cold pot.

Spinach Artichoke Wonderpot
Budget Bytes
Easy

My 8 year old son makes this one and it’s a family favorite. I’m also obsessed with Budget Bytes. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Tortellini and Sausage in Cream Sauce
Yellow Road Bliss
Easy/Difficult (see below)

Sautéing is challenging. Skip the sautéed onions if your child isn’t ready (we do this frequently in our house as there are a few members of our family who won’t touch onions)

One Pot Chicken Rigatoni
Top Ate on Your Plate
Easy with parent help

The chicken in this recipe borderlines on difficult. Keeping things sanitary comes into play as well as the difficulty of cutting raw meat -this is a parent involved process. The rest is an easy recipe for kids to do.

Looking for more meal-time inspiration? Follow us on Pinterest

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Worth the Read: Top Stories from 2014

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:06:59 +0000

We’ve had a really fantastic year! We got ourselves a makeover, we had some great giveaways, fun contests and of course, lots of great stories to read this year.

If you’ve missed these articles, they’re worth the read. We’ve rounded up our top stories from our most widely read categories so you can have another look at 2014 as we head into the new year.