MY CAT WILL NOT SHUT UP?

i have a mixed breed calico cat..and she NEVER shuts up! she meows day and night, when she wants food or to go in or out, when shes with her kittens, when someone pets her, and when she wants me to go to bed. i kinda understand most of it but even when nothings happening to her she meows non-stop, it drives me crazy! why in the world does she do this?? what will make her shut her little mouth for a good 5 seconds??? -_-