We all know the stats about kids and musical instruments: Those who learn to play at a young age perform better in school, score higher in math and English tests, and may even be more successful in life than their non-musical peers. Those are some pretty powerful motivators to get your little one started on a violin or piano—pronto. … //READ MORE

Designers were definitely thinking pink for this season, presenting the most feminine of colors in its full range of hues. From the palest blush tones to the deepest raspberries, pink has made a smooth transition from runway to real life, adding a touch of spring to most ready-to-wear collections. Whether you’re a passionate woman who demands attention-grabbing fuchsia, a girly girl who looks divine in cotton candy or dahlia, or a more classic lady seeking just an accent piece or two in baby pink, there’s a rosy objet d’affection with your name on it. So what are you waiting for? Get back in the pink. … //READ MORE

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I moved from the D.C. area to Austin, Texas, at a time when Austin rents were still comparable to a mortgage on a small home (aaah, the ’90s!). So we purchased a two-bedroom house in Rosedale, a cozy neighborhood settled in the 1940s near the University of Texas where the mostly tiny houses lacked dishwashers, garages or sidewalks, but compensated with mature Live Oak trees and other natural charm. My grandparents from Dallas fell in love with our place on their first visit, because it reminded them so much of their “starter home.”

We were welcomed to the neighborhood by our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Gest. Frieda Gest was one of several seniors still living on 40th Street, which was a dirt road when her first husband built their home. At 91 and widowed twice, she would walk with her cane to the chain link fence that separated our yards to chat, sometimes offering us a cutting from her yard or something she had baked. Whenever I took her an extra serving of whatever we had made for dinner, she always returned the container with homemade vanilla wafers in it. (I later learned that she kept a freezer full of cookies so that she always had something to offer.) These exchanges were always occasion for conversation that would often end with her genial “Now don’t rush off” and my pangs of guilt, even after an hour-long visit. … //READ MORE

There they were, two of the most formidable women in America, sitting side by side on the stage of Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco: Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, and her friend Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook. The media mavens united for this much-anticipated Commonwealth Club INFORUM event March 27 to discuss Huffington’s new book, Thrive, a heartfelt, inspirational read that poses an important question: How can women redefine success, not only in order to lead healthier, more productive lives, but also to change the world for the better?

For Huffington, that topic literally hit her hard one day in 2007 when she collapsed in her office, struck her head on her desk and ended up with a slashed eye and broken cheekbone. She saw several doctors to find out why she had fainted, but none could find anything medically wrong. But the reality was, during the two years leading up to the incident she had been working 24/7 building her new business, the Huffington Post. Yes, she had achieved success as defined by the traditional measures—money and power—but there was something missing. “There was nothing wrong with me—just with the way I was living my life,” she said. “Believe me, if you are lying in a pool of blood in your office … //READ MORE

What do most of us think about, when we think about love? No, not a Raymond Carver short story, however intriguing were his musings on relationships. I think when most of us think about love, and all the entrapments of that fickle emotion, clichés pop into our heads. When we’re young, we envision passionate kisses, dizzying emotions, even the uneasiness of unrequited desire. With maturity comes wisdom, and our slightly-more-advanced selves can accept that even the most frenzied romantic love, if nourished with enough affection and shared purpose, has the capacity to ripen into a secure and long-lasting partnership.

If we’re lucky, we retain some of the passion that ignited our union in the first place. If we’re really lucky, the arrival of children teaches us that love requires equal parts patience, self-sacrifice and surrender. And if we’re really, really lucky … //READ MORE

It seems like everyone these days wants whiter teeth, including most of the patients who walk through the door of my dental practice. Teeth whitening is currently the most ubiquitous cosmetic dental procedure performed, and it’s no surprise considering the look is constantly emphasized by celebrities and their perfect white teeth.

I like to encourage most people to go for a natural look when seeking out lightening methods. There is such a thing as taking it too far, with some patients whitening like mad. However, it is nice to wipe away years’ worth of coffee, tea and food stains, and to remove discoloration that comes with age. A brighter smile can actually make you look years younger!

There are so many whitening methods available these days, from over-the-counter products and at-home remedies, to more potent in-office procedures. Most of these processes are safe and effective, as long as the steps are tailored specifically for you. How do you know which approach is best for you? Read on and find out … //READ MORE