When I first heard the news of this week's earthquake in Virginia, my thoughts immediately transported me back to my own earthquake experience. My family and I are survivors of the January 1994 Northridge earthquake that jolted Los Angeles awake at 4:30 one morning, causing massive damage and even collapsed freeway overpasses. Fortunately, time and technology certainly have changed the way that our infrastructure can react and cope with such natural disasters, but understanding some of the basics of a situation can help us digest what we see and hear in the media. In 1994, I was a mom of 4-…

Valentines Day can be so much more than a day to celebrate sweethearts if you also make it a day to celebrate the people in your life that warm your heart. Having the last name Lipps makes it an extra special day for my family. We are a fun loving bunch and embrace the lighthearted celebration and purposely make it a day of humor and warmth. Some of my fondest memories over the years stem from Valentine’s Day and the silly things that we have done to celebrate and communicate joy.I remember one year my daughter delivered lips shaped whistles to her 4th grade class. She is now in college, but …

Think back to the old fashion photo booth that was endless fun at the local theatre or mall. We made funny faces, laughed, sandwiched multiple people into the small space and threw caution to the wind. Some of the most beloved candid photos have been captured in photo booths.Now take that perspective and fun loving feeling and put that into play as you think about taking photos with your own family. What makes the photo booth pictures so great is not their quality, but the mood that they capture. Think about a way to promote the fun loving interaction in your life. You can hang up a solid …

The rejuvenating power of laughter in our daily lives is enormous. It can heal a sour mood or disposition instantly. A good laugh provides instant positive perspective.A great example that always comes to mind is the scene from "The Money Pit" when Tom Hanks suddenly starts laughing hysterically out of control. He is at a point where so many things have gone wrong that he literally reaches a breaking point. He is in a state of disbelief at the obstacles he is faced with and starts crying/laughing at the same time. When our life plates are overflowing, our schedules are packed and demands on …

With the beauty and splendor of fall comes the urge to have the perfect family photo. Just the thought can instill fear in children and parents alike. Contrary to prior experiences, taking a family photo does not have to be a painful experience. With a little thought ahead of time you can capture your family in a picture and still be able to love them afterwards. Start by thinking about the things that you enjoy doing together as a family outside. Do you have favorite places that you like to go that can be used as your backdrop? If you like to take bike rides, consider a forest preserve bike …

Simplify. There is a "back to basics" trend in society, but the reality can be a different scenario all together. It seems that so many of us find ourselves overscheduled, or at the very least, wishing for more rest time in our day. Parents especially--myself included--often feel like a circus juggler trying to balance work, home, children, self and all the while making it look easy. A recent family outing reminded me that our fondest memories and family togetherness are borne from truly simple things. One of my absolute favorite things to do is to go pumpkin picking. Now, I am not talking …