Lists

Iconic YA author Judy Blume turns 75 today. The writer who asked, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" will always be young at heart thanks to her understanding of what it's like for a girl to come of age. Today, young-adult titles like Twilight or The Hunger Games have captured the attention of teens and adults alike. But if want to get back in touch with a younger, and maybe more confused, version of yourself, pick up a "vintage" title that you may have read when you were growing up. To get you started here are 13 young-adult books to read again.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
You've done your best to forget the awkwardness of puberty, but see if you can recognize how far you've come in Judy Blume's classic coming-of-age story.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
In the first volume of Maya Angelou's autobiography, the poet describes a childhood of disappointment, violence, and eventual triumph.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Narrated by 9-year-old Kenny, a boy growing up in a middle-class black family during 1963, this book is an everyday tale of the civil rights era.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Revisit Anne Frank's iconic diary, which provides a heartbreaking picture of the brightest and darkest sides of human nature.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
You may know them from the movies. Best Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby are joined together by a pair of traveling pants, even when they are worlds apart and dealing with the challenges of love and family.

Get the rest when you keep reading!

As host of GeekBeat.tv and tech expert extraordinaire, Cali Lewis spends close to 75 percent of her time on the road. It's fitting that during a recent Macworld panel when asked to name five technology innovations she can't live without, she didn't give a coveted spot on the list to just any fad. Cali's list of life-changing tech is a combination of the practical for someone always on the go and the lifesavers that make mobile work life efficient. Check out her picks below!

5. Pandora and Spotify — Cali uses each music streaming service equally so she's never without tunes. Discovering new music is Pandora's niche, while she uses Spotify to have on demand music on any device.
4. Powerbag — Knowing the outlets at an airport or convention center are almost always already in use by someone else desperate for battery juice, Cali has "fallen in love" with the Powerbag solution and charges her gadgets wherever she goes.
3. The Cloud — The ability to access all your important music, documents, and media files from anywhere just by signing in to a cloud account is a pretty big deal. Never go without a file again! 
2. Tablets — Without the need to carry a heavy laptop around, tablets have reimagined the way people work on the road — and lightened the load.

Check out the one tech advancement Cali can't live without after the jump.

Christmas will be here before we know it. So it's time to seriously get into the holiday mood! Cooler temps mean more opportunities to cozy up with your honey, be it a new guy, boyfriend, or hubby. To take advantage of the snuggly weather and get prepared for feasts and singing carols, I've come up with five holiday date ideas. Try some of these out for valuable one-on-one time during the holiday season craziness.

1. Get into the giving mood by volunteering together at a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or other cause you both care about. It's easy to get swept up with vacations and holiday parties as the month progresses, but this way you get a head start remembering what these seasons are really about. And helping others will bring the two of you closer together.
2. Snuggle up by the fire with a warm beverage and watch some of your favorite holiday movies together. Nothing gets me in the mood for Christmas like Elf.
3. If you're hosting any holiday dinner parties, start planning your menu with your significant other and do a trial run together. With a warm oven and a glass of wine, the kitchen can be a cozy, romantic place to be for a date night in.
4. Take a lazy weekend stroll with a cup of cocoa or cider down a local city street and window shop together. Find an area that's dressed up for the holidays and give each other not-so-subtle hints on what's on your wish lists. Maybe end the date ice skating at a downtown rink?
5. If you're a couple on a budget and still want to make your abode festive for the coming months, turn on some holiday tunes and get to crafting with some DIY decorating projects.

Do you have any more date ideas to add?

When you are in a long-term, serious relationship, you train yourself to behave a certain way — you're always in couple mode. So when the relationship ends, you have to relearn how to be single again. Things like flirting and giving off that "I'm available" vibe are no longer instinctual. To help you out, here are some of the solo gal behaviors that are tricky to pull off when you're getting back into the dating game. Hey, it's National Singles Week after all, so now's the time to step up your single woman A-game.

• Turning that frown upside down: Do you walk around with a face that says, "I have a boyfriend, so don't even think about it"? I know that look well, and from experience, it takes daily reminders to keep smiling. I've also found that listening to upbeat tunes on my iPhone helps the cause. Bonus: it improves your mood from the outside in!
• Saying yes: When you have a significant other, you may be used to turning down happy hours and girls nights out in favor of cuddling with your honey at home or date nights. Retrain yourself to start accepting those invites! You're not going to meet a rebound guy in your living room.

See more single lady actions to aspire to.

Some children seem to be born with an innate love of the written word; others need a gentle push toward the library. Trying to force kids to read — or do anything they're heartily resisting — is a frustrating experience for everyone. As important as parents know reading is, associating it with a negative, tension-filled exchange will only further tots' feeling that sitting down with a good book is some sort of punishment. Like doing chores and eating vegetables, settling in for solo story time needs to be enjoyable before it becomes habitual.

Encourage kids to crack the books without cracking the whip with these 10 tips.

1. Schedule regular checkups with the eye doctor. Kids can't read what they can't see!
2. Create a comfortable, cozy reading sanctuary free from distractions like TV and video games.
3. Get involved with your local library. They often have book groups and reading lists that can add a fun group dynamic to the otherwise solo activity.
4. Tots learn by example. Make sure your kids see you reading instead of vegging out in front of the TV.
5. Set aside a regular time every day for reading — even if it's just 10 minutes. Kids thrive on routine and will learn to look forward to the special quiet time.

Keep reading for the rest of our tips for creating a lil bookworm!