10 Tips

Life is hectic and everyone is busy. While that's an ongoing reality for many, it's also true that time with good friends can be therapeutic.  Planning a girls night out is a great way to schedule some dedicated ladies-only time to relax and nurture yourself and your friendships.

These 10 etiquette tips will keep the focus on recharging your batteries and reconnecting with your friends on your next girls night out.

1. How do I tell my parents that I want to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve with my in-laws?
The best thing to do is be direct and loving in explaining your choice: "Mom and Dad, I love you and I hope you will understand, but this year I am spending the holidays with Bob's family. We will be back on New Year's Day and would love to spend the day with you."

2. Can I discipline my older sister's devilish kid for playing too rough with my dog?

1. "Choose a pumpkin that has some character to it," says Tom Nardone, author of Extreme Pumpkins: Diabolical Do-It-Yourself Designs to Amuse Your Friends and Scare Your Neighbors. "Don’t just choose the round one. Choose an ugly one, they make for better carvings."

1. "Choose a pumpkin that has some character to it," says Tom Nardone, author of Extreme Pumpkins: Diabolical Do-It-Yourself Designs to Amuse Your Friends and Scare Your Neighbors. "Don’t just choose the round one. Choose an ugly one, they make for better carvings."

In my marriage counseling practice, I’ve seen a myriad of presenting issues and relationship styles. A common thread running through many of these couples is a sincere desire for change leading to a more secure, fulfilling and loving relationship. The problems include such things as poor communication, a build-up of resentment, trust violations due to infidelity, dissatisfaction with roles, changes in expectations, relationship imbalances and more.

As fall approaches, there are those who will spend much of their day preoccupied with what brand of charcoal burns best and how many packages of hot dogs they’ll need for the pre-game tailgate party. Yes, there’s nothing better than cheering on your favorite team with a cold drink in one hand and a messy link of sausage in the other. Tailgate parties brew up anticipation for the big game, while getting together with friends and neighbors you may seldom get to visit. Any seasoned tailgater however, can tell you that tailgating is a true art form in all its glorious stages; so here is some food for thought on how you can be a true tailgate MVP:

In my last article, I discussed how to graciously deliver an apology. This article will go over some tips on how to graciously accept an apology. As a reminder, an apology should contain some key components such as sincerity, remorse and the acceptance of responsibility, as well as an action plan for the future. Although there is no guarantee that the person apologizing may not offend you again, there is value and healing in forgiveness; and accepting an apology is a critical step in moving forward in your relationship.

1. It won’t happen overnight. Just because you receive an apology doesn’t mean you are automatically ready to forgive and forget.