Tips on Choosing the Perfect Mattress Topper for Your Bed

August 2, 2015 MartinisZ

Good and long lasting heath will require consecutive sound and restful night sleep. Bedding accessories are in the list as external factors delivering more add-on value to sleeper’s health improvement and power.

The best mattress topper should be selected in the manner that it will satisfy the physical requirements of sleepers and others supplementary related factors. In accordance with these concerns, preference of sleep partners or budget can affect the process to select.

Therefore, any sleepers should be knowledgeable to select their own choice with range of mattress topper types available in different stores made by various manufacturers.

Things to pre-consider

Knowledge on different types of mattress topper is compulsory. Available alternatives of mattress topper can range from classic, modern-plus to highly technological applied pad. In this part, sleepers will face with some challenges related to:

+ Types of materials: The basic mattress topper can be made of cotton or wool which is offered at average price while more advanced substances are down and memory foam. Obviously, discrepancies in price will verify the level of firm and soft capacity of the topper. Memory foam tops the list in elasticity to move according to the shape and motion of the sleepers’ body. However, its drawback is heat retaining which can disturb the sleepers with hot feel.

+ Brand names: Popularity of similar products of different names is essentially anti-monopoly which will benefit the customers the most, still at the same time giving them headache on their choice. As a good customer, you are advised not to shop with bias that reputational brand name is overweighing than low ranking manufacturers. A thorough look at all on hand brand name will help to obtain comprehensively good comparison leading to best option. However, it can not be denied that there is convincing excuse for such a good reputation.

You can visit https://www.thebestmattresstopper.com to see the best rated mattress toppers in the market.

Understanding of physical requirements is extremely needed. You should take control of your own health status and sleeping habits such as:

+ You are identified as stomach, back or side posture sleeper. There are even in the market mattress toppers which will be tailor-designed for a specific posture. It is indeed useful for patient.

+ Frequency of your motion. If much, anti-motion mattress topper should be chosen especially in the terms that you will not obstacle your partner’s sleeping.

+ Body physical status will includes factors of sweet releasing level, pain with back or neck and so on.

Preparation of budget is required to make your budget balanced and efficiently spent. You may aware of the average price of the mattress topper you are going to purchase, then a respective amount of budget should be spare for, i.e. the amount which you are willing to pay should be identified clearly in advance.

How to test mattress topper?

It is recommended to have a look at several stores. To save time and effort, online reviews should be researched for time-saving and costly plan of visit. You are even free to pass by the store whose mattress topper is on your favorite list as going back is always the option.

Testing your to-be-purchased mattress topper is vital as discomfort feel in the showroom will result in similar feel at home. It is smart to test the highest quality and most expensive mattress topper for initial try as you can be able to compare the quality of the rest correctly in order to find the most suitable in quality and cost in your ultimate decision. It is noted that sleepers should be patient to spend some minutes to rest on the mattress topper rather than hand touching or pushing plainly otherwise lack of test will be signal of being disappointed at actual home use.

Purchase notes are checking of warranty conditions as well as some promotion or plus service such as free delivery, return service, disposal of old mattress topper, etc.

How do you feel at home?

It takes time for sleeper’s body to get familiar with the new mattress topper, therefore for some first few days sleepers are going to real test the product. Criteria will consist of physical and visible factors such as the too hard or too sunk surface of the mattress topper, the ache and hurt of some body parts, especially the back.

After some days of use, if all of these signals fail to come then you can enjoy your comfort with new “partner” for a long time ahead, however, if problems are. Sleepers should return the mattress topper back but the exact problem should be clearly verified for better purchase afterwards.

After all, choosing the most in either quality or cost towards a mattress topper is not really a challenge to any sleepers provided that sleepers are confident with their shopping skills and knowledge on the mattress topper product.

A Nice Sleep – 8 Things You Should Do to Get it

February 13, 2020 MartinisZ

How to end your restless nights? Here’s a comprehensive guide for better sleep at night.

# Build a sleep schedule.

What time do you usually feel tired? Choose it as your bedtime and try to stick to the routine every day. Once your body has got enough rest, you will wake up naturally.

We think weekends are for relaxation but it doesn’t mean we should sleep in. Two weekend days can mess the sleeping pattern you have maintained for a whole week.
Napping is necessary if you have had a sleepless night. However, a short nap will be enough to get you through the day. If your nap lasts longer than half an hour, falling asleep at night will be a challenge.
After dinner, you’re likely to feel drowsy with a full stomach. Let’s get off the comfy couch right away and keep yourself busy with some light activities. If you give in to the heavy eyelids, you can imagine yourself waking up in the middle of the night and having no way back to sleep.

# Exercise.

If you have a habit of working out, you will be less sleepy during the day and more susceptible to sleep at night. The harder you exercise, the better. But even simple activities are better than nothing. Exercising is a habit. You will see its benefits in the long run, so be patient!

Timing is important. Exercise in the morning or afternoon will compel the metabolism and stimulate your system, which is all positive effects. However, late exercises will make your body restless. In this case, yoga or soft stretching will suffice.

# Keep your bedroom in good condition.

Sleep cool. When the room is too hot or too cold, it’s impossible for you to sleep peacefully.
Manage the noise. Noises might come from multiple sources: traffic, household items, neighbors. If you can’t afford a soundproof system, earplugs and sound machines also help.
Ensure your bed is comfortable! It’s very important that you sleep on a mattress embracing your body and a pillow supporting your head. Nowadays, the products for bedding have quality materials, allergen resistance, temperature regulation, and so much more.

Tip: If your mattress is old (average mattress lifespan is around 7-10 years), you should buy a mattress topper to add more comfort to your mattress.

how-to-make-mattress-softer — A comfortable bed helps you sleep better

# Expose yourself to bright light.

Where does sleepiness come from? In the dark, your brain produces a hormone named melatonin which regulates the need for sleep in you and vice versa.

During the day:

Try to give your body some sunlight. For example, you can have breakfast outdoor and enjoy your coffee near a sunny window. The sooner you do it after waking up, the better.
If you can, spend more time outside. Taking a walk or exercising a little is good enough.
Roll the blinds up and open the curtains!

At night:

Watching TV at late hours isn’t healthy. The light suppressing your melatonin is one thing, the kind of programs you watch is also something to be careful about. Things that give you tension should be avoided.
Before bedtime 1 – 2 hours, you should start putting your smartphone, tablet or laptop away. However, if you need to finish something important, you can minimize the disruptive impact by installing a light-altering software or keeping the brightness low.
Equip your bedroom with thick curtains if needed. The room should be dark or at least dimly lit.

# Alcohol, cigarettes, and heavy meals must be gone!

No big meal allowed at night. Heavy, spicy or acidic food will churn your stomach up.
Limit alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. They have similar effects that will interfere with your sleep cycle.
Reduce sugary food and refined carbs.

# Wind down.

Try a breathing exercise: lay down, one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest, relax, inhale through your nose then exhale through your mouth. The hands will indicate whether you are doing it right or wrong.
Practice a body scan exercise: lay down with all fours stretched and relaxed, concentrate on your breathing, imagine the air is flowing to your foot and focus on it for a few seconds, shift the “scanning” to every part of your torso and pay more attention to the tensed spots.
The methods to relieve yourself from stress vary greatly. There are many more you can try: take a warm bath, listen to an audiobook, play some soft music.

# Distract yourself.

Free your mind from thoughts. It’s not easy, for sure. Let’s start by focusing on your body and thinking of the simplest things, maybe a syllable.
Do something peaceful. If you can’t fall asleep after a while, get up and try a non-stimulating activity. Reading is a good choice.
What if you have some concern, and it’s preventing you from sleeping? Write it down on a piece of paper so you won’t forget it the next day but you can get it off your mind for now.

# Seek medical treatments.

If you must, don’t hesitate to do it. Suffering sleeplessness for a long time means you are facing insomnia. It will leave a serious negative impact on your productivity, emotional control, your skin and weight, and energy. But even if you decide to see a doctor, these tips are still something you should consider following. They aim to create a healthy schedule that will benefit you long-term.

Mattress Pad, Protector, Cover, Encasement or Topper?

December 26, 2019 MartinisZ

Your mattress is probably the most costly investment in the bedroom, thus it deserves and needs to be protected. If you choose the right products, they may reinforce the properties offered by the manufacturer, improving your experience and extending the life of the mattress.

Pad, topper, protector, cover and encasement all share the same function of defending your mattress against the damage factors outside such as dust, dirt, allergens and bugs. Meanwhile, mattress topper is a thick layer added atop and mostly for comfort. Despite how they are referred to as alternatives of one another, the definition and use of each differ if we look deeply into the matters.

Mattress Encasement

To start it off, encasement resembles a full-on shield with 6 sides to embrace your mattress completely, the other are 5-sided and hug the mattress like a fitted sheet. Yet, how does it benefit you?

Bed bugs: A worldwide concern. Bed bugs feed off human’s blood, as well as other warm-blooded animals, and you wouldn’t want to give them a chance to approach and reproduce anywhere near you and your family.

Allergens: Dust mites also enjoy making the inside of your mattress a hideout and feast upon the flakes of dead skin and pet dander. An encasement will block them as well as other allergens such as pollen and mold from getting into the mattress.

Waterproof: No matter how careful you are, accidents happen. Moisture seeping into the mattress will trigger mold and mildew. Sweat, oil, food stain cause unpleasant odors. Not only are they not good on the eyes, many mattress warranties are to be voided if you spill something over it.

Mattress Protector, Cover and Pad

Mattress protector

The name speaks it all. The focus of this product is protection in regards with spill, stain, bugs and allergens.

By protecting the mattress, you’re able to slow down the deterioration of the inner materials. Most protectors are installed as a sheet fitting over the top and four sides and act as a protective layer against spill and stain, with the comfort not being its main purpose.

While bed bugs and allergens aren’t a featured function, premium protectors are made from special fabrics and capable of absorbing moisture and sealing out causes of allergy.

Protectors deliver necessary protection for expensive bedding, enhance the performance and, more often than not, prolong the mattress lifespan.

Mattress cover

Even though with the same benefits of protection against bed bugs, water damage and longevity, many would recommend mattress covers because of several plus points.

Covers are thin, so they breathe well and don’t alter the comfort of the mattress, but the zippered coverings keep them protected. Moreover, mattress covers have no filler, hence they are friendly to people who suffer allergies or asthma, without leaving spaces for dust mites and allergens to hide.

Mattress pad

Light padding and quilted top visually identify a mattress pad. It’s placed between the mattress and the sheet. In addition to the primary purpose of padding, a typical pad will manage heat and moisture with its special materials and keep you cozy.

Most mattress pads also offer protection against stain to some extent, from inserting several layers between you and the mattress to offering properties of resisting stain and spill.

Thus, protection is a bonus feature of mattress pad, but comfort is its primary function.

Mattress Topper

Unlike the products enunciated above, mattress toppers are simply spread over your mattress and serve the ultimate purpose of enhancing the support and comfort. Through high-tech materials, a topper will conform to your body and distribute support evenly.

Toppers, too, have a secondary benefit promoted by special fabrics. With additional layers being installed, it might wick moisture away and manipulate heat, hinder stain and spill perhaps. However, a topper isn’t designed to provide real protection.

Do I need all of those?

Of course, too much is too little. With the amazing products on sale that offer multiple duties, you only need to consider carefully and decide on one or two amongst those.

You should start from determining your priorities. If you are simply looking for another layer of comfort for your mattress surface, consider a mattress topper. You want some safety methods without sacrificing the comfort? A mattress pad is for you.To protect your mattress from possible accidents or prevent the risk of suffering serious allergens? A mattress protector is the way to go.

The products can also be used in synchronization. A fine encasement paired with a quality mattress cover will bring the ultimate protection to your mattress.

Protection is necessary

Cleaning agents and tips are in abundance on the internet, but some stains might be a challenge to remove completely. Protecting your mattress from the start is a wise and easy choice, as these products are pretty much affordable and washable. Mattress protection is highly recommended to sleepers with sensitive skin or chronic allergies.

The integrity and the surface of the mattress ensures you only long-term benefits.

How to Make A Water Blob That Your Children Will Never Play With

June 24, 2015 MartinisZ

Step 1. Spend 1 hour on Pinterest researching ways to make a large plastic blob of water. Be excited by the joy on the faces of the children in all of the photos.

Step 2. Drag your own children to two different hardware stores to find 4 mm painters plastic, parchment paper and duct tape. Make sure to bring 7 different snacks because said children will ask for one every 15 minutes.

Step 3. Return home to where your children will “help” you by asking every 3 seconds if the blob is done. Note: The blob will not be done for another 2 hours.

Step 4. Use parchment paper to seal the two pieces of plastic together with an iron. Make sure you burn yourself and proceed to curse loudly in front of Christian neighbors at least 4 times to reach full pissed-off capacity.

Step 5. Leave slight hole in the plastic to put hose inside. However, be sure not to be a dumb-ass and turn the hose on before putting into hole. (cough cough)

Step 6. Be horrified at the ridiculous amount of water you are wasting to fill this thing for the next hour. But not horrified enough to stop.

Step 7. Seal hole with duct tape. Make sure you use your teeth to rip the tape so you can spend your child’s future college fund on dental work.

Step 8. Spray water on the blob to make it slippery in hopes that you can laugh at your children when they fall.

Step 9. Call excitedly to your children to come immediately outside and play for hours on this amazingly beautiful blob of water while you check email, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram while in air-conditioning.

Step 10. Curse profusely at Pinterest when after 3 minutes your daughter yells to you, “So what are we supposed to do on it besides lay down?”

Step 11. Dream about letting all the water out of the blob, filling it with wine, poking a hole in it and using it as an adult-size Capri Sun. (Idea from my awesome friend Molly of Crazed in the Kitchen)

Step 12. Throw out water blob and just go to a pool.

Mommy A to Z – My interview with Meredith Peters Hale

July 14, 2014 MartinisZ

I love when authors reach out to me. It’s such a cool community to be part of and I’m thrilled when I get to see a really great writer publish something that is unique, fun and definitely worth reading. So when Meredith Peters Hale told me about her new book, Mommy A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the Joys, Wonders and Absurdities of Motherhood, I asked if I could interview her so you can get a kick out of her as much as I do. And she even shared what made her self-publish, which was a bold decision seeing that she was formally an editor at a publishing house.

Plus, I love interviews – it makes me feel like a younger but not-as-hot Barbara Walters.

1. If you had to pick three words to describe the book, what would they be?

Well, I may be biased, but the first word that comes to my mind is “relatable.” Mommy A to Z focuses on the small moments we moms face each day, from battling leaky sippy cups to surviving awkward playdates to admitting to your second grader that you have no idea where Mount Everest is (it’s in the Himalayas, in case you’re wondering—and if, like me, you’re still wondering, that’s South Asia). Mommy A to Z is an honest, no-holds-barred look at day-to-day life as a mom.

The second word that I’d use to describe Mommy A to Z is “funny.” As I say in the intro, “sometimes laughter is the only barrier between motherhood and madness.” I think to survive motherhood, you have to find the humor in it all. Whether you’re pretending your kid’s imaginary friend isn’t creepy, or smiling through your third princess party of the weekend, sometimes you just have to laugh.

The final word I’d use to describe the book is “loving.” When I wrote the book, it was important to me not to come across as mean-spirited or complaining. I love being a mom, no matter how hectic or overwhelming it can be. And so I included entries like “J is for Joy,” to remind myself how truly blessed I am to be a mother.

2. What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

I think all moms who write struggle with time management. It’s difficult to explain to your five-year-old that you can’t play Barbies because you’re writing about the joys of conception (or what you remember of it). Or to tell your husband that you can’t watch House of Cards because you’re struggling to explain the complexities of sippy cups. I often found balancing work, family, and writing to be a challenging task. Frequently I managed by writing into the wee hours, after everyone else had gone to bed. It was exhausting—but absolutely worth it in the end.

3. Tell us about the publishing process. Did you have an agent or go the self-publishing route? What advice would you give to other writers from your experience?

I chose to self-publish my book as an eBook, even though (in my life before kids) I was an acquisitions editor at a publishing house and still believe in the printed book. Personally, I was excited about the prospect of controlling every aspect of the process—from the cover design to the content to the distribution. One thing I learned as an editor is how much compromise an author has to make—whether it’s accepting a cover you’re not wild about or changing the book’s title to suit the marketing department. That said, I have to warn authors considering the self-publishing route that this control is a double-edged sword. Self-publishing means navigating the labyrinth that is the iTunes store. On your own. With a toddler sitting on your laptop. It means finding and hiring the right professionals to work with you. This can be hard for a new author, and requires perseverance.

For authors considering working with an agent, I have one word for you: platform. Book publishers want to know that an author (especially a nonfiction author) already has an audience in place. Before contacting an agent, try to build up your blog, or newsletter, or whatever you use to reach readers. This will help agents interest editors in your proposal, and help editors pitch your book to the sales, marketing, and other departments at acquisitions meetings.

4. What’s the best thing about being a parent?

This isn’t a terribly original answer, but I have to say love. What surprises me most, as an only child, is the joy I take from seeing my son and daughter interact with each other. The way they love each other—even when they’re arguing over a piece of lint on the floor—inspires me every day. I never understood the whole sibling thing before my son was born, but now I totally get it.

5. What’s the worst thing about being a parent?

The laundry. The relentless, unremitting piles of laundry that mock me on a daily basis from my kids’ laundry baskets. Before I even take the clean clothes out of the dryer, the piles have resurrected like something out of The Walking Dead, determined to crush my spirit with wet towels and soiled bathing suits. Oh, and the flu isn’t much fun either.

6. What’s your favorite letter of the alphabet and why?

I really enjoyed writing “M is for Movies”. We’re a family of movie geeks, and my husband and I couldn’t wait to start taking my daughter to the theater. Until, that is, we discovered that whoever writes for Disney has a serious dark side. As I frequently joke, everything my daughter learned about death, she learned from Disney. That said, movies have helped us broach a lot of serious issues in our family. Recently, my daughter lost her grandmother, and she explained it to us as “Nana is in the stars with Mufasa.” Which, when you think about it, is a beautiful way of looking at things.

Also, I strangely enjoyed writing “U is for Ultrasounds,” because, for the first time, I was able to admit that I never saw anything in those damn pictures. I think there’s something therapeutic in moms sharing that we’re not perfect. And there’s lots of imperfection in Mommy A to Z!

7. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

I wish I had more time to see friends. As we all know, being a mom – as well as a writer or a blogger – can be isolating. Nowadays, most of my real-world interaction is from behind a computer screen. I miss sitting across from girlfriends over sushi and catching up on our lives. Oh, and I’m a terrible parallel parker. I would gladly change that.

8. How can someone get your book?

Mommy A to Z is available as an eBook at Amazon. You can learn more about the book when visit MommyAtoZ.com

Manic Mondays Begin! Our First Guest: Hairpin Turns Ahead

February 3, 2014 MartinisZ

I truly believe the key to blogging is to be part of a community. Last year I took that idea and created Inside the Blogger’s Studio which featured humorous interview sessions with different bloggers each month. I loved doing the series because it was such a great opportunity to get to know fellow bloggers in a whole new way. You can check those out by typing “Inside The Blogger’s Studio” in the search for posts bar over there on the right side of the blog.

Now, it’s a new year and time to try something new.

With that in mind, I created “Manic Mondays” – it’s a simple concept. Bloggers share their funniest parenting stories. We’re not looking for serious, warm your heart kind of moments. We are talking moments that will make us snort liquid out of our nose from laughing so hard.

So it was perfect when Liesl Testwuide, from Hairpin Turns Ahead, submitted her story. After reading it, you’ll want to follow her on Facebook and Twitter – she’s that funny. Her post will definitely make me reconsider sending my son to sleep-away camp…

LETTERS FROM CAMP – by Liesl Testwuide

Like kids all over America this summer, my youngest son is spending a week away at camp. It’s the first time he has been away without his brothers. It’s been terribly quiet around here. I’ve been thinking about him constantly and crossed my fingers that he’d send me at least one letter. I missed him so much, I began to imagine what he might write to me. I fantasized that I might receive something like this:

Dear Mom,

Thank you so much for letting me go to camp. I have learned so many cool things, like how to take a fish off the hook, tie sailing knots, and even how to groom a horse. Thanks for packing the sun screen. I’ve been out on the lake a lot, so it has really come in handy. You sure think of everything! Since it’s been so hot, I’ve been drinking tons of water! See? I really listen to all your good advice.

The other boys here are really smart and nice. I’m making some lifelong friends I will cherish forever. We’ve had fun learning camp songs, playing cards, and catching frogs in our free time. During quiet time, I read the book you sent along. What a great selection! And just because you’re my mom, I made a special gift for you in arts and crafts!

I’m trying a lot of new foods, just like you suggested. You were right, the oatmeal at breakfast really isn’t bad when I add raisins. And don’t worry, Mom, I’ve been using all the manners you’ve taught me over the years.

We are camping under the stars tonight. I am hoping to see some fireflies.

I love you,

xxoo

P.S. Tell my brothers I miss them!

Yesterday I received a letter from him! It’s just slightly different from what I imagined:

Playing a game with the girls from Science of Parenthood

January 16, 2014 MartinisZ

One of my favorite things about BlogHer this year was the really awesome folks I had a chance to meet. Two especially are near and dear to my heart – Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and Jessica Ziegler, the duo behind the illustrated humor blog Science of Parenthood.

We spent many hours talking and sharing what we have learned not just about blogging, but about parenthood, life and all the crap that makes liquid snort out of my nose when I laugh. I truly appreciated having them at the conference and feel like I met kindred spirits when we first talked.

Now, they are celebrating this blog’s 1 year anniversary! They are having an awesome giveaway too of some top blogger books and some pretty fun swag – so head over there and check that out.

However, I couldn’t just sing happy birthday off key to them to celebrate. I asked them if they wanted to play a little game with me. So I came up with 10 words and they had to take turns saying the first thing that came to their head about that word.

Here we go!

Dessert: Mmmm …. I love free-association word games like this. Reminds me of therapy. Okay, so you say dessert and I say … chocolate. I L-O-V-E chocolate. If there’s chocolate anything on the menu, that’s what I’m ordering. Unless there’s bread pudding. Then I’m having that. If I had chocolate bread pudding, I’d think I’d died and gone to heaven. Which I don’t really believe in, but I do believe in chocolate. Especially Godiva. — Norine

Parenthood: “Parenthood” sounds so serious. I don’t feel that what I am participating in warrants such a heavy title. Floopy-Flailings? Wingin’it-hood? Those sound a little more like it.— Jessica

Alcohol: Martinis. Jessica’s husband, Greg, makes a superb martini. Unfortunately, I loved martinis a little too much … to the point where I was drinking three a night … and now I’m in 12-step recovery program. I’m doing well, thank you. Sober for two-and-a-half years. I don’t actually miss the booze. But every once in a while, I think, Yeah, it’d be nice to have one of Greg’s martinis. — Norine

Spouse: Long-term. My husband and I will have been married for twenty years this coming September. I know. It’s ridiculous. I suppose I should have said something like “soul mate” or “partner”, instead I’ve used a word typicalyl paired with “investment” or “prison sentence”. Let’s not examine that one too closely, m’kay? — Jessica

Birth: Well … I gave birth. I have a son, who’s nearly 8. But while most moms have these great, dramatic And then my water broke in the cab … stories, I have the lamest birth story, ever. My OB wanted to induce me, so I went into the hospital at 8 pm; they shot me full of pitocin and … nada. I didn’t feel one contraction. In the morning they said, Well, this isn’t working, let’s do a C-section. Forty-five minutes later, I had my baby. Barely felt a thing. I feel kind of cheated, actually. — Norine

Minivan: Being sixteen. When I was sixteen and first had my driver’s licence one of our family cars was a big ‘ol minivan. As you can imagine, it was every Cure-listening, Daria-watching girl’s dream car. I haven’t driven one since. Not that there’s anything wrong with minivans, but I only have one kiddo. Seriously, if you have two or more kids and they have any friends at all, you need a third row! — Jessica

Boobs: I’m gonna risk pissing off a lot of women, moms, and confess that I … like my boobs. I do. Please don’t slap me. I would swap thighs with Kate Moss any day. But my boobs, they’re okay. I’m typically a B-cup, but when I was pregnant, I ballooned up to a D. That was fun for a while. But now I know I’m quite content with what nature endowed. — Norine

Youth: Fleeting. I had big plans to be super cool about getting older; now that it’s actually starting to happen, I’m not loving it. There are many, many things I appreciate about getting older: knowing more, being more confident, yada yada … I know they only come with age and experience. But the stiff neck and wayward chin hairs? Those I could do without. — Jessica

Embarrassment: Here’s the lovely thing about getting older — I’ll be 48 next birthday — I no longer embarrass easily. Stuff that would have made me want to disappear into the floor a decade ago — like the time my mom chose the sushi bar where we were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with other diners to ask me, loudly, if I was “really into sex toys” — that stuff just rolls off me now. I’ve discovered that 99 percent of the time, people aren’t looking at you, they’re worrying about their own shit. Unless you’ve got toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Then people probably are looking at you. Hopefully some kind soul will tell you. — Norine

Mistake: I was all ready to say, “There are no mistakes. Life is a journey, my little snowflakes!” But then I remembered this one haircut I got in 8th grade. Oh my god, it was such a mistake. This was back when everyone wanted feathered hair. My hair was stick straight and thin. There was not enough Aquanet in the world to get this mop to feather. Sooo, I figured I’d just have them cut-in the layers. I didn’t learn the term “mullet” for another fifteen years, but that is exactly what I’d requested. – Jessica

Happy 1 Year Anniversary girls! I’m toasting my martini glass to you!

Check out Science of Parenthood at http://scienceofparenthood.com