Shelley Bridgeman: "There's no blood, no one's died, maybe I can handle this on my own?"

Shelley Bridgeman discusses the trials and tribulations of hiring a babysitter.

Shelley Bridgeman: "Women are women. Men are men. Everyone should be treated equally."

Shelley Bridgeman: "What can I say? I do not dig the digging."

Things are not all rosy in the world of Instagram. Here are five traps for young players.

Teenagers and children are thrown to the cyber-sharks every day, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Shelley Bridgeman examines the trials and tribulations of Mother's Day.

Being a faux vegetarian has its own set of dilemmas, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Shelley Bridgeman imparts her Zen-like wisdom after a holiday in Vietnam

Five examples of people who need to be reminded it's not all about them.

OPINION: Shelley Bridgeman explains why she would rather chew tinfoil than go on a cruise.

Shelley Bridgeman shares her 'local knowledge' on Auckland's traffic woes

"Rape culture" is a strong term but it's difficult to argue it's an inaccurate one.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman dissects the debate over school rules around hair lengths.

If you call yourself a minimalist you'd better have thick skin, warns Shelley Bridgeman.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman dissects the fall out of the hilarious BBC viral video.

Shelley Bridgeman takes up people watching at Auckland Airport - and finds a veritable zoo of characters.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman is sick of the "disempowering messages" spread by the reality series, calling on viewers and advertisers to reject The Bachelor.

COMMENT: Self-service checkouts give us speed, nimbleness and self-sufficiency. But, warns Shelley Bridgeman, they present traps for the unwary too.

COMMENT: From a misguided ad man to an exaggerating chancellor, Shelley Bridgeman highlights five recent incidents that prove sexism is alive and well in NZ.

COMMENT: We left our thirteen-year-old home alone one evening last week, and it's opened up a whole new world, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

After deciding photos sent via text was archaic, Shelley Bridgeman opened an Instagram account. But it hasn't exactly been smooth posting. Here are her biggest dilemmas with the app.

These days there are options galore when it comes to bestowing a surname on your child. To help new parents navigate this minefield, here are six possible approaches.

For almost seven days Shelley Bridgeman lost her voice. Unable to speak, here are the insights that emerged during her week of silence.

Shelley Bridgeman reviews the controversy that erupted over a row between the "Mad Butcher" Sir Peter Leitch and a young woman offended by his alleged remarks.

Can't wait to have a baby? Shelley Bridgeman explains why you may want to rethink your plans for starting a family.

You may think Aucklanders are shallow people obsessed with house prices, school zones and the latest food fad. Here's why Shelley Bridgeman disagrees.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've pretty much given up hope that the holy grail that is the male equivalent of the game-changing pill for women will materialise, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Shelley Bridgeman shares the top five noises that have been compromising her inner (and outer) peace lately. Do you agree?

Shelley Bridgeman reviews some of our favourite fairy tales and discusses whether or not they promote a misogynistic world view.

From toilet paper to sausages, Shelley Bridgeman details the everyday products ruined by "improvements". Do you agree with her?

I'm not interested enough to want to spend the time understanding how loyalty schemes work.

This interchange defies more than a few well-established principles of driving. Shelley Bridgeman has devised a series of manoeuvres to help you through.

Shelley Bridgeman shares five traps for unwary pool owners.

Shelley Bridgeman shares the good and the bad about her first visit to the new Zara store.

Have you ever been incensed by a badly parked car? Shelley Bridgeman lists her top five parking gripes.

They're two simple words, so why do some people have such trouble using them? asks Shelley Bridgeman.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman shares five reasons why men should never tell women to smile or "cheer up".

Shelley Bridgeman shares five reasons why alcohol can't be claimed as a factor in the racial controversy that erupted on the Real Housewives of Auckland.

COMMENT: Here are six complications that could trip up unwary travellers.

COMMENT: I'm not attracted to the idea of renewing your wedding vows, but here are six reasons that might be fuelling this trend.

Thanks to social media, other people's parenting styles have never been more visible, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Shelley Bridgeman believed "Ms" would spell the end for "Miss" and "Mrs". But that hasn't exactly happened. And now there's another title to grapple with: Meet Mx.

Shelley Bridgeman shares her latest restaurant gripes.

Taking children out of school has been described as "parent-condoned truancy". But parents aren't the only ones taking kids out of the classroom, argues Shelley Bridgeman.

In the introductory pages of this year's NBR Rich List, Shelly Bridgeman reads that it's about "sharing important lessons". Here's what she's learnt.

Shelley Bridgeman has had enough of people taking liberties with other people's things. Here are her top five gripes.

Shelley Bridgeman outlines how to be "a good wife" in the ongoing battle for equality.

OPINION: The sexualisation of women and girls is entrenched in our culture and we need to take a stand, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

OPINION: Parents have been brainwashed into thinking children should have smartphones, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

OPINION: There is the "fat acceptance", and even "fat celebration". But, Shelley Bridgeman asks, is it in our interest to be waving the flag for fat bodies?

COMMENT: This intriguing, headline-grabbing tale has mysteries within mysteries, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

OPINION: Shelley Bridgeman explains the pros and cons of tracking her teenager's whereabouts, and her husband's.

OPINION: It's often used as a casual icebreaker, an easy conversation starter, but there's one question Shelley Bridgeman believes you should never ask.

OPINION: Shelley Bridgeman has been singing the praises of unisex toilets. But today she reviews her one-for-all loo fervor to consider what could go wrong with the concept.

We're all a bit jaded by cold callers and online scams, so con-artists are back to using old-fashioned methods again, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

OPINION: With segregated toilets continuing to cause dilemmas, the argument for ditching toilets designated for specific genders has never been more compelling, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

OPINION: Shelley Bridgeman shares her biggest pet peeves when dining out. Do you agree?

OPINION: After 13 years at home, Shelley's daughter has headed off to boarding school. It feels like the end if an era.

OPINION: Shelley Bridgeman outlines the dos and don'ts of dining out with children.

OPINION: When you're not a seasoned traveller, airports can be daunting. Shelley Bridgeman shares the joys and annoyances she discovered recently.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman shares five reasons driveways may be more trouble than they're worth.

COMMENT: Before you purchase another piece of homeware, note these eight interiors Shelley Bridgeman says you should steer clear of.

Despite the announcement of a female Governer-General and celebrations around International Women's Day this month, Shelley Bridgeman still finds sexism is alive and well.

Shelley Bridgeman shares five concerns about fellow road users.

Different bachelor. Same old sexist messages being broadcast to young minds across the nation, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman is not impressed by Wicked Campers homophobic, fat-shaming campaign.

Shelley Bridgeman shares her six top gripes about noisy neighbours.

SHELLEY BRIDGEMAN: I've turned into one of those women I really did not want to become.

COMMENT: Shelley Bridgeman knows who's really to blame for children's irritating habits.

Shelley Bridgeman discovers five new gripes on her summer holiday.

Can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Secrets from a recently converted minimalist.

Here are six potential difficulties associated with sharing meals when dining out.

Here are six interior fashions that should be approached with caution.

In case you missed it: This was one of Life & Style's biggest stories from 2015.

If Nurofen released a tablet specifically aimed at relieving 5pm-post-Christmas-lunch symptoms I'd have been an enthusiastic buyer, writes Shelley Bridgeman.

Shelley Bridgeman explains why babies are not presents and wrapping yourself up should only be done under certain circumstances.