Articles written by Mel Bergen - Page 3

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About me - Mel Bergen

I began writing for the web in January, 2007, although I have been writing for myself since I could hold a pencil. I've finally discovered the joys of not only getting my work read (and getting paid for my efforts) but receiving feedback from readers so that

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Style & Beauty > Tattoos & Piercings How to choose a tattoo design: 7 of 25
Getting a tattoo is an expensive, painful procedure, and a permanent one. You can cover them up or get them removed, but you can never have that blank, smooth skin back again. For these reasons, choosing a design for your ink requires a lot of thought and even more time. Start by thinking about where on your body you would l... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy What you wish you knew before you were pregnant: 6 of 21
I wish I understood that being a parent (especially a single parent, as I was for the first 8 months of my experience) is the hardest work you'll ever take joy in doing (with apologies to whichever branch of the military uses that sort of slogan). For all of the days and nights when your beautiful bundle screams his head off... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Teen Challenges Why do people assume teenagers won't make good parents?: 4 of 14
People assume that teens will not be good parents for many reasons. Unfortunately, one of those reasons is the assumption that the teens became parents by being "loose" or "easy" and by neglecting to take responsibility for birth control. This stereotype leads to a belief that teen parents are only having children because th... More..
Education > High School Humanities How Internet communication destroys writing standards among teens: 14 of 47
Instant messages and text messaging are encouraging lax writing skills all across age groups, but especially amongst teens and people in their 20's who tend to use it more as a major form of communication. In part, this is because the entire point of both of these forms of communication is to post what you have to say and qu... More..
Computers & Technology > Internet Trends Tips for improving your blog design: 3 of 10
When you first began your blog, you chose a design template that best fit your idea of how you wanted it to look. That was fine for a while, but now you want to build a brand for yourself and to express your personality. Using a stock template on your blog makes it difficult to stand out from the crowd. Try these suggestions... More..
Entertainment > Musicians & Bands Music reviews: Punk rock: 10 of 33
Punk at its inception was all about free love and mosh pits. They promoted sex, drugs, and screaming at each other. Lyrics were about bucking the system and beating people (often yourself) up. But it was all high-energy and very often done in satirical and funny ways, if you could get past the squealing guitars and eardrum-b... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Styles (Other) Parents share what makes them cry: 5 of 15
Being a parent affords ample opportunity for crying, much to the surprise of many a new one. Raising a child is fraught with strong emotion, both positive and negative. Mothers and fathers cry for a hundred different reasons, sometimes all in one day. Watching your little one play with a puppy or having him bring you a flowe... More..
Style & Beauty > Body Care Natural body wash recipes: 1 of 3
The easiest way to make your own body or hand wash is to start with a bottle of inexpensive, unscented shampoo. Cheap store brands work very well as a base. Although it's not required, one additive that will quickly become a favorite is Xanthan gum, a natural thickener that helps make your finished product easier to use and ... More..
Home & Garden > Furniture Children's furniture that grows with your child: 1 of 3
With a little elbow grease, the same furniture can be used from the time your baby moves into his first "big boy" or "big girl" bed until they move out on their own. The key is to buy quality pieces and then customize them. When your toddler is ready, go shopping for a bed that will meet his or her needs. You may wish to inc... More..
Entertainment > Celebrity Commentary Website reviews: Perezhilton.com: 6 of 17
You're looking for celebrity gossip and a search has brought you to the Perez Hilton site, perezhilton.com. Should you dig in or should you get out? The answer depends on what you're looking for. If you seek juicy or nasty gossip with a pronounced slant, then this is the place for you. If you enjoy childish name calling rath... More..