I had a tightly knit group of female friends in elementary school - we called ourselves the Sensational Six.
Women compete, compare, undermine, and undercut one another - at least, that is the prevailing notion of how we interact.
When we each focus on being the dominant force in our own universe rather than invading other universes, we all win.
Stays at the in-laws' aren't inherently sexy.
Holiday food is rich and indulgent. Going-home-to-see-family food is richer and even more indulgent.
Parents go to sleep early. This is universal.
Far from 'rotting my brain,' as I was often told would happen, TV helped me feel less alone at a time when I spent so much time alone.
I have a pretty intense work ethic. If something's not done, I cannot let go until I get it done.
No matter how you handle alcohol at your wedding, you will most likely be upsetting someone.
Get married wherever you like, make accommodations for the people you love so they can attend, and forget about the people who can't.
Things can be tough even when surrounded by nice Pottery Barn stuff.
Marriage will not change your spouse. It will not make him or her more mature, more loyal to you, or better at housework.
Balanced, passionate, grounded people are the ones whose careers are ultimately the most successful.
Sometimes new spouses don't fully process the commitment they've made until after the deal is done, and then they panic.
In some cases, newlyweds want so badly for things to be perfect that they ignore warning signs, both in themselves and each other.
A lot of new stepparents fall into the trap of letting children disobey household expectations in order to gain favor with them.
Never marry because it seems like what you should do.
Awkward conversations are painful, but they're way easier than divorce, resentment, and heartbreak.
Marriage isn't just about two people who fit together well. It's about two people who figure out how to fit together well.
Experiences don't make us damaged goods; it's what we do with those experiences that matters.
Your life story is a gift, and it should be treated as such.
Marriage, or any committed partnership, has become sacred to me, powerful and fragile all at the same time.
In Hollywood, it seems that the people least successful at being married are the ones most eager to tie the knot over and over again.
Post-divorce, the world can feel harsh and full of jagged edges.
Betrayal can be extremely painful, but it's up to you how much that pain damages you permanently.
Without knowing your own history, you are doomed to repeat it.
Burlesque dancing didn't solve all my post-divorce problems, but what it did do was force me to court myself for a little while.
Nothing makes a girl feel as unsexy as divorce.
Unequivocally, individual human beings who live together will always have different standards of what a 'clean house' looks like.
Cheating is very rarely about the actual act of being with another person.
