Q: From a birthday party to a friendly get together, parties are a great way to gather your friends and expand your network. Ask all of your close friends to come and encourage them to bring guests. Speak with everyone at the party and get phone numbers and contact information from those you do not know and that you share common interests with. Attend weddings, funerals and parties that you are invited to. Showing that you care about the people in your network, even if you just pop in and say hi, will cause those that are in your 'network' to return the same courtesy. And, you could meet other people there too. If you have to say no to an invitation, send an event-appropriate gift or card. Consider volunteering and joining a cause that you believe in. You might agitate for a change in election procedures, march against corruption, fundraise for the homeless in your neighborhood, or join an anti-deportation league. You will meet people who share your interests and do some good at the same time. Being active also shows that you care about something greater than yourself, which may help you meet new people. Meet new people by joining groups of strangers that gather for socializing. Sites like Meetup.com offer local volunteer-led hiking groups, poker parties, and other fun things. Since everyone is participating in the initial difficulty of meeting with strangers, the awkwardness is diminished. Go to large meetups that involve the topics you are interested in. Whether they are about technology, skiing or scrapbooking, you will meet new people that share similar interests. Introduce yourself to people in line, ask questions at panels, and add other attendees on social media. Try going to the same gatherings every year. That way, you'll make friends with other regulars. Create business cards that you can hand out to new contacts to stay in touch. If you want to participate in a community, you have to give back! That means hosting parties and connecting people, promoting the interests of others within your network, and otherwise being a mensch to those around you. Consider starting your own activist, social, or artistic group. This can be a bit of a daunting task, but if you start your own group, whether an internet bulletin board group or an actual meet and greet group, people will be coming to you instead of you looking for them. This is a great way to meet new contacts and friends. Once you have established yourself in a community, and are known to give back to it, ask for favors. Should you be seeking a job, don't hesitate to tell everyone in your network about it. Send out resumes to those you are closest to or those that share business interest.
A: Throw a party. Say yes to invitations. Get active. Find in-person activities online. Attend summits, festivals, conferences, expositions, and fairs. Give back by hosting. Work your network.

Q: Although the idea of making homemade hot chocolate sounds great, it's a bit easier to buy something from the store. Make sure to read the packaging to ensure you're picking a healthier choice. Many hot chocolate companies do sell either low-calorie, "diet" or no-sugar added mixes. Look for this wording on the packaging. This labeling generally means these mixes are lower in calories and lower in sugar. Note that they may also contain artificial sweeteners. If you do not want to consume these, make sure you double check the ingredient list to see what type of sweetener is used. In addition to looking at the front of the package or box, you should also flip the box over to take a look at the nutrition fact panel and ingredient list. First look at the serving size. Many hot chocolates come in a powdered form contained in a packet. Most of the time it's one packet per serving, but always double check. Review the calories, fat and sugar in your hot chocolate. Make sure it fits into your current diet or eating plan. Also review the ingredient list. This will show you the type of chocolate used and the types of sweeteners used as well. If you're using a powdered hot chocolate mix from the grocery store, you'll need to mix it with liquid to make your hot chocolate. Stick to lower calorie, natural liquids for the healthiest hot chocolate. Try: Water Skim or 1% milk Almond milk Soy milk You may notice that some of the grocery store brands of hot chocolate aren't as flavorful or as tasty as others. If you truly enjoy the regular or higher calorie versions, incorporate some tricks to lower your overall calories. Split the package in half. There's generally a large amount of hot chocolate powder per serving. If it's the regular type, not diet, try splitting the serving size in half. Many of the regular hot chocolates will also tell you to mix the powder with whole milk or cream for the best flavor and texture. However, stick with water or skim milk to lessen the overall calories. You can also indulge in the regular, higher calorie hot chocolate every once in awhile. Stick to your low-calorie homemade version or the "diet" hot chocolate the majority of the time.
A: Look for reduced calorie hot chocolate mixes. Read the labels. Use low-calorie liquids for mixing. Halve the serving size.

Q: The shock of discovering an affair brings with it a range of emotions, from anger and jealousy to shame and embarrassment. When emotions are rampant, it's difficult to think clearly. Look for outside helpsomeone to talk to who can help you to begin to heal. Feelings that are overwhelming begin to diminish if you're able to speak about them to someone who cares and who knows how to listen. A therapist can offer an objective perspective and a calming environment for talking out your problems. A therapist has education and experience to help them guide you through the first days that follow the discovery of an affair. Speak to family or friends, too. Choose listeners who will remain calm and listen and not feed the flames of emotion you're already struggling to handle. While it's generally accepted that affairs are symptomatic of problems in a relationship, there may be multiple reasons why your partner had an affair. One of the major reasons for infidelity is opportunity. Sometimes an affair isn't planned. People sometimes "stumble" into affairs, rather than plan them. Many people engage in affairs because they want to see if they're desirable outside of the relationship. Affairs could also be a symptom of another problem, like alcohol abuse or sex addiction. It might be tempting, because laying the blame on yourself makes the problem easier to control; theoretically, you could change your behavior and you prevent another affair. However, the problem, at the very least, is the responsibility of both partners. Blaming yourself might offer temporary hope, but it won't resolve the problem. Don't absolve your partner of accountability for the affair by thinking that you should love your partner unconditionally, or put their happiness before your own. Resist diminishing the affair as a "little mistake."Don't chide yourself for overreacting. It's true that the affair was probably a symptom of problems in your relationship. And it might be true that you contributed to the problems that led to the affair. But it's also true that your partner had other optionsother ways to express dissatisfaction or disappointments. Your partner chose to have an affair. You didn't make that choice for your partner. Most couples want to stay together after an affair. About 70 percent of couples try to rebuild their relationships. Assess your relationship. The likelihood of being able to forgive and move forward increases if you both feel the relationship is worth saving. Identify the qualities in your partner that led to the affair so that you can understand how likely it is that another affair is on the horizon. Personality traits such as self-centeredness, dishonesty and a feeling of entitlement suggest that, for some people, it's not possible to remain faithful.If you're hoping to fix a relationship that will constantly need fixing it might be time to move on. Assess your partner's willingness to be accountable for their actions. Are they sorry about the actions? Or are they sorry about getting caught? Does your partner shows signs, such as guilt, that signal they're aware their actions were wrong? Think about the positives, too. What were the strengths of your relationship? What initially brought you together? It's difficult to focus on the positives after your partner has cheated, but try to be objective.
A:
Talk about it. Understand the factors that contributed to the affair. Resist blaming yourself. Decide if there's hope for your relationship.