We are half way through the year; 2014 is whizzing past at breakneck speed. Often by now our New Year's resolutions, set in the glow and intention of summer sunshine, are all but forgotten.

Seeking advice about this is a good idea. Even though the blended or 'rearranged' family is a very common scenario throughout the western world, the fact that it is commonplace doesn't mean that it is a simple matter.

Hospital food was dissected and debated in the wake of an article that revealed cutbacks were proposed for this institutional nourishment.

Blogger Lee Suckling is nearly 30, and his mum and dad are still helping him out with his finances. But he's not the only one.

I really like old American cars - I like how they look and how they sound but please don't ask me anything about their inner workings.

In a world where the telephone, fax machine, and face-to-face conversation commonly take a backseat to digital communication, social media has grown in power and holds a place close to everyone’s heart.

The other day I tackled a task I had been putting off for, oh, just about forever. I cleared out the garage, prompted by the inorganic rubbish collection notice in the letterbox.

The problem with many crisps/crackers which are low in fat is that they taste terrible unless they are dipped in strongly flavoured powders, writes Wendyl Nissen.

I know you get a lot of letters about break ups. My girlfriend and I were together for seven years. We have made big joint decisions about careers, just had a world trip and I was arranging a beautiful ring for her.

There are three approved organizations in NZ that can act on animal welfare complaints: the police, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Royal NZ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RNZSPCA).

Life coaching is about building better relationships - primarily with ourselves, our work, our loved ones, our body.

There is no doubt that pressure and views from others about how we live our lives will impact our feelings and perceptions about ourselves.

Kleenex Cottonelle's new television commercial certainly caught my attention.

Memes carry the cultural ideas of the day. They are short-lived, thus timeliness is of the essence, writes Lee Suckling.

I see many clients who come to me as their last ditch attempt to stop dieting forever and to create habits of health that last a lifetime, rather than the latest fad.

Where the hell did kale come from? Seriously, how did the cauliflower’s ugly cousin go from this thing no one outside a few food/health freaks had ever heard of to suddenly being the single most important vegetable none of us can possibly live without?

Here are some of the tricks personal trainer Sam Bluemel calls on to strike the right kind of balance for your lifestyle.

I get lots of lovely emails from readers when these columns or my weekly blog resonate with an issue they are facing in their life.

Because of the nature of depression, it is likely to target the very resources in your relationship which can normally get you both through the difficult times.

Having a laugh at the expense of certain suburbs is a well-worn Auckland tradition, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

The twenty-something adults of 2014 are different to any generation that has come before us. Lee Suckling gives us five reasons why.

Eating responsibly from the sea means to be informed of the issues surrounding the fishing industry and using our collective consumer power to make a difference.

Sports nutrition has fast-tracked through many eras of change and it's not slowing down. New evidence emerges nearly every day suggesting how to enhance what top athletes eat.

We have all been caught up in flaming rows with our nearest and dearest - or else our colleagues or bosses, tradesmen or the neighbours with whom we share our physical space.

Here are a few examples of how to make small and positive changes to your current workplace habits. See which ones apply to you and tackle each one week by week.

"While I've yet to experience parenting a teenager, I can report that my approach to children and alcohol was cautious from the outset."