Articles written by Helen Richardson - Page 4

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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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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 th... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Economic Values Commentary: Gender and equal pay in the workplace: 14 of 23
There are so many more problems with gender discrimination in the workplace than equal pay. Technically an employer can't ask someone whether they plan on having children. In the United States, it's illegal to ask that in an interview. And yet employers have ways of screening out women who might be taking maternity leave som... More..
Relationships & Family > Married Life When you met your spouse: Stories of how married couples met: 88 of 143
My husband lived next door to the house where my exboyfriend and a friend of mine lived. I tried to stay friends with my ex because we lived in a small town and had a lot of the same friends, and it was just easier. The problem was, anytime I met a guy who I thought was cute and interesting when I was with the ex, he would f... More..
Education > Financing College What you need to know about the Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): 5 of 8
The FAFSA is the starting point of almost every kind of student financial aid in the United States. To get the most aid possible and to minimize mistakes, it's important to do the following. 1. Fill it out as soon as you can. The FAFSA for the next school year usually comes out in January. So if you're applying for school in... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Gifts for Kids & Teens Educational gifts for toddlers: 9 of 14
So you want to give your favorite toddler a gift that not only entertains but educates as well but you don't know where to start? One thing to keep in mind is that educational gifts need not be limited to physical objects. The better you know the family you are buying gifts for, the easier it is to tailor your gift to the in... More..
Education > Standardized Tests What is the College Level Examination Program (CLEP): 4 of 6
The College Level Examination Program is one of many ways to earn college credit for classes that you don't actually take. But if you think it's just college freshman who take the CLEP, consider that many older professionals earn college credit for classes in their field based on what they've learned on the job. The CLEP cos... More..
Personal Finance > Loan Basics Lending tips to get you the best loan: 13 of 18
How do you get the best mortgage loan possible? Usually if you start with a Realtor before you look into loans, the Realtor will suggest a lender. Lenders and Realtors often develop relationships between themselves where they agree to refer their customers to each other. The first company that your Realtor suggests is not ne... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Wedding Budget How to save money on wedding flowers: 21 of 28
When I got married, we had a very low budget and had to either rely on talented friends or make things ourselves. I looked into several options for the flowers and decided that buying silk flowers from a craft store and having an artistic friend arrange them into bouquets was the best way to get what I wanted without having ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Babies (Other) Running errands with baby: New parent's guide: 3 of 4
When you're pregnant for the first time, it seems like everyone in your life wants to give you advice on how you should do things. You read books and go on-line and talk to your prenatal care provider so you can be prepared for everything. Then the baby comes, and suddenly you realize: I don't know how I'm going to go grocer... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) Book reviews: Everyday Blessings - The Art of Mindful Parenting, by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn: 3 of 4
Like the authors write in this book, there are so many books on parenting out there that tell you what do with your children and how to do it, but there are very few books that tell you what to do with your mind while you're parenting. I love this book for addressing just that. I found this when my daughter was about six mon... More..