Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

TomatoesGerry Odell, Chief Farming Officer of Lipman Produce, talks about tomatoes the way some people talk about wine. "There's a lot of aromatic compounds you can encounter in a tomato that will influence its final flavor," he said to me last week. We were talking about taste. Mr. Odell considers three components when biting into a fleshy wedge of tomato: acid, sugar, and aromatic compounds, the three combining to form flavor. Luckily for us, Mr. Odell shared his top three tomato myths that, now debunked, will no longer hinder our enjoyment of the tasty summer fruit.

Myth #1: "You should keep tomatoes in the refrigerator after purchase."
Reality: "One of the reasons tomatoes may have poor flavor is the way they're handled after purchase. If they're stored at a low temperature, whatever flavor the tomato may have will disappear pretty rapidly in the refrigerator."
Solution: Store tomatoes on the counter top. If you want a chillier fruit, put the tomato in the fridge just before

Get happy- By Gretchen Rubin

It's striking how important energy is to happiness. Unfortunately, when you're feeling blue, it can be hard to muster up the physical and mental energy needed to do the things that will make you happier. Planning a brunch party, weeding the garden, or pulling out a craft project seems like a lot of trouble, while plunking down in front of the TV or digging into a tub of ice cream entices you as an easy fix. But research shows (and you know it's true) that these aren't the routes to lifting your spirits.

Instead, I've found it helpful to look for patterns in the times of day when I begin to drag: Am I having trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Passing out at my desk in the mid-afternoon? Dragging around the apartment after dinner instead of having fun with my family? Sometimes, oddly, I'm too tired to go to bed: I can't face the effort of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and all the rest. Once I identified the energy dips in my daily routine, I

Why Dad Deserves a Day1. He's Your Hero
Serving as a larger-than-life role model, a boyfriend-screener, and an all-knowing confidant, Dad always has the best advice and a comforting shoulder to lean on.

2. Dad's Taking Out the Trash…Again

Dad gets stuck with chores no one else wants - he mows the lawn, takes out the garbage, walks the dog, and shovels the snow. If that's not enough, he's also the handyman and official spider-killer.

Related: Celeb Dads Dish on Parenting

Even when Mom refuses, Dad will join you on the scariest roller coaster, in the creepiest haunted house, or down the steepest ski slope - and love every minute of it.

Dad is always by your side, and never prouder than on your wedding day.

Nobody thinks you're smarter, more beautiful, or funnier than your dad. Well, maybe your mom, but it's a pretty close tie.

Dad let you eat ice cream for breakfast, stay up an extra

Distant Spouse?Are you dealing with an unavailable partner? While distance can be a relationship red flag, it doesn't have to mean that the state of your union is shaky. Here, Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., relationship expert and bestselling author of Marriage Rules: A Manual For the Married and Coupled Up, offers 10 simple steps to reconnection, guaranteed to bring you closer.

Don't Take It Personally
You may be married to a private guy who doesn't want to debrief after every dinner party or talk in detail about the symptoms of his stomach flu. If you can see your partner's need for privacy and space less personally, you'll be able to calmly invite more connection, rather than anxiously or angrily demanding it.

Related: 7 New Date Night Ideas

Call of the Pursuit
When we're upset by a partner's unavailability, we may go into "pursuit mode," which only makes the problem worse. If you chase a distancer, he will distance more. Consider it a law of physics. Under stress, don't press.

Lower Your Intensity

Internet safety tipsConcerns about online privacy have been flooding the pages of newspaper, magazines, and websites. Regulators like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are pushing for more regulation and enforcement when it comes to protecting online privacy. The problem is that most people are unaware of how and when their personal information is being tracked and used. It's important to understand that when you log on to web sites, the developers or even thirty-party networks may be tracking your online behaviors. This allows companies to customize advertising, content, and product offers based on your interests, and trade the information without informing you. Of course, you can read the very lengthy agreements you sign off on when you first register on sites, but very few people actually do this. To protect yourself online, follow these simple suggestions:

1. Change the privacy settings on your web browser and/or application. The default setting on your browser and most sites allows companies

Tech giftsCollege graduation is a major rite of passage. It marks the end of an insulated life and the beginning of entry into the "real world." The best gifts will give your special grad a boost to help him or her get started in his or her new life.

After he's received his diploma, it's a pretty good bet that the laptop that saw him through the past 4 years is in need of a serious reboot. The perfect upgrade: a MacBook Air (starting at $999.99). As it's slim and lightweight, he'll find it easy to tote around. In our tests its performance was top-notch.

Related: Top-Notch Laptops

Magellan ExploristLots of grads suffer from wanderlust - and who can blame them for wanting to travel and see the world after 4 years in an ivory tower? If your grad is going off to explore (or is just an avid hiker), treat him to a portable, hand-held GPS. Both Garmin and Magellan offer a large variety of personal navigators with unique features. The waterproof Garmin Montana ($550-$669) and Magellan Explorist Series

Robin RobertsA bout with cancer. A frail parent. Robin Roberts opens up about how she shifted her priorities and found a whole new kind of happy. Read an excerpt from our interview with Robin in the June issue of Good Housekeeping.

On her killer Oscar dress and going commando on the red carpet:
Her dress kept riding up; her stylists determined that the Spanx she had on were the culprit, so she had no choice but to remove them. Though none of the millions of viewers had any idea, she was bantering with A-listers with no underwear on. Because the Oscars commentators tend to leave no detail of celebrities' looks un - remarked upon, some insisted that Robin's great figure was courtesy of derriere-enhancing briefs. She pretends to be insulted that she didn't get credit: "I'm old school! I did squats at the gym for six weeks for that! I wasn't wearing anything!"

Related: 30 Best Beauty Buys For $10 Or Less!

On going public with her cancer diagnosis:
Robin flew to Atlanta on a brief assignment. She

Spice Up Your RelationshipThanks to the best-selling erotic novel "50 Shades of Grey," women around the country are doing more than just turning the book's pages - they're looking to turn the heat up in their bedrooms, as well. Whether you're taking inspiration from E.L. James's titillating trilogy or just feeling a little bit frisky, a lukewarm sex life can easily be a complaint of the past. With just a little bit of effort and an open, positive attitude, you can take your sex life to a whole new level.

1. Say Farewell to the Flat-Screen
It's time to take the television off the wall and out of your bedroom so you and your partner can be each other's primetime entertainment. Rather than zoning out to the latest reality show, de-stress with your spouse by offering him a massage or simply lighting a candle and trying to unwind in bed without outside distractions. You'll be surprised what of night focusing on each other can lead to.
2. Send a Not-So-Subtle Message Sending racy text messages (otherwise known as