Articles written by Helen Richardson - Page 3

What is Helium

About me - Helen Richardson

Me:
Thirty something
midwestern (US)
Bachelor's degree in psychology
child abuse survivor
yoga enthusiast
share house with husband, toddler daughter, three cats and two dogs
I've worked a variety of jobs in a broad range of fields including health care, lending,

+ more bio information

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Relationships & Family > Domestic Violence & Abuse Surviving domestic violence: 38 of 88
What it means to be an abuse survivorWhen I first admitted to the world and myself that I had been sexually, emotionally, verbally and physically abused by my father, I was scared to call myself a "survivor". I kept asking myself, "How am I survivor?" I didn't feel like a survivor. I felt weak and vulnerable and upset and hel... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Wedding Budget How to save money on your wedding cake: 8 of 18
The best way to save money on your wedding cake is to find a friend who knows how to decorate cakes and ask them to volunteer their time to help you with it. I have heard that some couples try to make the cake themselves, but I personally feel after being involved in a number of weddings that there is just too much stress on ... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Wedding Traditions & Themes Wedding speech and wedding toast tips: 7 of 15
I've been to a lot of weddings, and I've seem really great toasts and some really bad toasts. To make a great impression when you're the one who's asked to toast the happy couple, make sure you follow some do's and don'ts.1. Do not drink too much before your toast. Be very aware of what your tolerance for alcohol is, and if y... More..
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends Reality TV: Why are we still watching?: 35 of 70
I think by now most people know that there is no such thing as "reality" TV. Producers influence cast members and prod them into saying things and acting in certain ways, and reality TV shows hire writers who carve story lines out of hours and hours of footage to create a dramatic arc.Many game shows are called reality TV, an... More..
Education > Financing College How to get college aid if you think you make too much money to qualify: 3 of 6
There are different kinds of financial aid. Some of it is need based, meaning it's given out based on your income, family size, and factors such as how many college students are in a family.If you fill out the FAFSA and aren't eligible for any need based aid, there are other types available. There are thousands of scholarship... More..
Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Book reviews: My Life as a Furry Red Monster, What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud by Kevin Clash: 1 of 1
My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud by Kevin ClashBefore I had my daughter, I found Elmo incredibly annoying. How any parent could tolerate hearing that voice and that laugh all the time was completely beyond me. And then it happened: one day I was happily watch... More..
Arts & Humanities > Schools of Thought Is there one right religion?: 58 of 115
There are people who don't believe in any kind of religion, and then there are people like Unitarians and B'hais who believe that all religions have something to offer and that they are all different paths to the same destination.I tend to agree with that line of thinking. I believe that most of the religions in the world hav... More..
Relationships & Family > Married Life Should parents need a license to have children?: 17 of 31
Recently an acquaintance of mine adopted a child, and I was simply amazed by what they had to go through to get their child. It seemed like every single aspect of their lives was investigated with a fine tooth comb. From the state of their vehicles to their income, background and the quality of their marriage, there was no pa... More..
Personal Finance > Mortgages & Home Loans Views on the 40-year mortgage: 4 of 7
As someone who used to work as a mortgage loan processor, I would advise people not to get a 40 year mortgage. The amount of interest you pay will probably not keep up with the increase in property value, which means that you might as well go back to renting. You aren't going to earn equity in the home fast enough, and you ar... More..
Local Guides > Chicago Things to do in spring in Chicago: 3 of 5
I've been to Chicago in the Spring a couple of times, and from personal experience, it's not that much different from Chicago during the Summer or Fall. It tends to be a bit windier (if that's possible), but the weather is so variable it's hard to know ahead of time if it will be too cold to do anything outside or not.If the ... More..