TresSugar

4 Tips For Happiness That Could Actually Work

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:40:00 PST

The science of happiness can seem like a cruel joke. Most studies tell us who is happier - 54-year-olds, West Coasters, or people with sisters - rather than how to be happier. And tangible advice usually oversimplifies life and states the obvious. But psychotherapist Philippa Perry's advice in today's Guardian on how to rewire our brains sounds like it could actually work.

It's not easy, or even foolproof, but that's why I actually believe it. She acknowledges happiness levels are mainly set in the first two years of life, when our brains form neural connections that determine how we regulate emotions. Less-than-ideal parents can put you off the beaten path to contentment, and any later trauma can undo the good done early on.

Regardless of the cause, chronic unhappiness is no way to live, but the brain is quite pliable and it's not too late to rewire it. Find out how below.

Were You the Favored Child?

Colleen Barrett — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:00:28 PDT

Parents aren't supposed to have favorites, but they totally do. Sometimes it's as simple as birth order and personality, as complex as a personality connection, or as unfair as gender. So let's talk about unfairness. A survey, which spoke to 2,500 moms in the UK, determined sons really are mommas' boys.

Though one-half of moms (or should I say mums) acknowledge it's unfair to treat children differently, 90 percent confessed to doing so. They're twice as likely to be more critical of daughters, resorting to Britishisms like "stroppy" (touchy) to describe girls. Meanwhile boys are "funny," "playful," and, of course, "cheeky."

So whether you have brothers, sisters, or both, tell us if you felt like the favored child by either parent. Or not.

Source: Flickr User leeno

What Was Your Favorite Back-to-School Ritual?

TresSugar — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:39 PDT

I was as zealous of a back-to-schooler as kids came. I started dreaming of it in July - new clothes, new books, new people. Possibilities abound, and I never knew whom I'd sit next to. Except, I sort of did as alphabetical order was nearly always in effect.

Even the years when I wore a uniform, I loved lying the freshly pressed outfit out the night before and packing my bag with all-new supplies. And there were always new shoes! What was your favorite part of heading back to class?

Name That Dish!

partysugar — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:15:31 PDT

Learning that Bill Cosby has partnered with Jell-O got me thinking about foods from my childhood. I used to love eating the dessert pictured below at family holidays. Do you know what it's called?

Did You Cook as a Kid?

partysugar — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:50:58 PDT

Did you know I'm a cookbook author? Above is a photo of my cookbook, Kooking with K.T. I wrote it for a sixth-grade assignment and was the only student to "publish" a cookbook. Cooking has always been a passion, and one of my earliest memories is making brownies with my dad! Since everyone has a different relationship with the kitchen, I want to know, what's yours? When did you first get interested in cooking? Were you a kid foodie?

What Were You Like as a Kid?

TresSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:15:53 PST

I once posed this question to my parents, expecting a why-would-you-ask-that answer. But they surprised me, in unison, with an emphatic answer: pensive. "Really?" I was about to ask, but then my mom added, "and you loved it when we said 'pensive.'" Apparently I knew they were talking about me, so pensive was a word I loved before I could read. What have you heard about little you?

Source: Flickr User Stuck in Customs

What Do You Think of Returning to a Childhood Vacation Spot?

TresSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:00:00 PDT

A friend told me last night that every year of her childhood, her family went to Toronto for vacation. For some reason, Toronto as a vacation spot surprised me, but then she said it was a city where her parents spent a lot of time before they had kids. They loved it and wanted their children to love it, too. "Well do you love it?" I asked, waiting for a no. "I do! I love Toronto."

And with that my entire concept of family vacations changed. Every Summer, except for one crazy one in Niagara Falls, my family went to the same beach in the same town on the same street. And while I have fond memories of my parents letting me eat/drink/have whatever I wanted for that one week, I also remember being restless and bored, wanting to explore while my parents wanted to relax. While I wouldn't turn down a (free) trip back today, I am not nostalgic for those beached days. I'd rather go to a city, like Toronto.

What about you?

Source: Flickr User Madmonk

Do Tell: How Has Divorce Impacted Your Life?

TresSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:00:00 PDT

Last week when we discussed the assumption that a mother should get the children when a couple splits, a few of you mentioned your own experiences dealing with divorce.

I've known some people who were really troubled by their parents' breakup, and others who said it was the best thing that ever happened to their family. If your parents divorced, how did it affect you?

Would You Want to Be 17 Again?

DearSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Zac Efron is all over the place these days promoting his new movie 17 Again. The title alone has got me thinking about my teenage years, and while I have no complaints about my past, I don't think I'd want to relive high school. The carefree lifestyle would be nice, but I could go without the drama and the uncertainty of being a teenager. That's just my opinion though, so do tell, would you ever want to be 17 again?

Source

Let's Dish: What Was Your Favorite Cereal as a Child?

partysugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:50:06 PDT

In a special ad campaign that gears towards a consumers need for comfort, General Mills has brought back its old cereal box designs. Target shoppers may have noticed that Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, and Trix are sporting retro boxes taken directly from the company's archives.

The promotion has made me nostalgic and I can't help but think of the cereal I enjoyed as a child. While I consumed Cheerios on a regular basis, my absolute favorite was Lucky Charms. How about you reader? What cereal did you devour as a child? Do you still eat it today?