Borrowing cash from his mother was something Nick Richardson didn't want to do as a man in his 30s.He had been laid off from a law firm in 2008, and he faced student debt and no job prospects. So he decided to open his own law practice in Illinois. But instead of seeking a bank loan or using his credit cards, he turned to the "Bank of Mom.""There was a grace period to get my feet wet," he said. "There was no repayment schedule -- really just pay as you go."Since the economic downturn began, more parents who thought they were finished supporting their grown kids are discovering they are not done yet. Siblings and other relatives are also facing cash requests as "boomerang kids," unemployed adults and individuals juggling mounting debt are finding themselves in need of help. [Read the full article]

Every week CNN International's African Voices highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. This week we profile Ethiopian bridal and evening-wear designer Amsale Aberra, whose elegant dresses are a hit with celebrities.(CNN) -- For many brides to be, picking out the perfect wedding dress is the best part of planning their wedding, but for Amsale Aberra it was also a eureka moment.Unable to find a simple, understated gown for her wedding in 1985, Ethiopian-born Aberra decided to take things literally into her own hands and design her own dress.Working from her loft in New York she went on to launch her own bridal gown design business, called Amsale, expanding into couture evening wear that has been worn by the likes of Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek and Kim Basinger. [Read the full article]

It's 2011 and it's time to take control of your job search. This year, it's no longer up to companies to hire you, it's up to you to get hired. Forget about how the economy is doing. Reflect on last year if you must, but then forget about that, too.This year, your focus will be on finding the right job for you and doing everything you can to be the best candidate for that job. The competition may still be tough, but you're going to be better than the competition.1. Narrow your search. Stop applying to jobs that you're not qualified for or don't really want. It's a waste of time. Be honest with yourself when evaluating job postings.If you had to start the job tomorrow, do you have all the skills you'd need to succeed? Or are there areas of the job description that you don't have experience in? While it's always great to be willing to learn, most companies want to hire someone who can jump right in and get started without being trained from scratch. [Read the full article]

Jennifer Thomas was looking at life with renewed energy: She had just survived a serious operation, and she was at a crossroads in her career.After 20 years as a producer in the stressful business of TV news, the challenge wasn't there for her anymore. For eight weeks, as she recovered from the removal of a large noncancerous tumor from her uterus, Thomas thought about her next steps."I told myself I was going to work to do the things that I enjoy, things that are related to the news," she said. Thomas had recently conducted news production workshops for kids, so she already knew that she "loved people and talking to people about the news. [Read the full article]