Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

You change throughout your 20s, 30s, and 40s, so it should be no surprise that your cycles do, too. But are off-schedule, heavy, or otherwise weird periods normal? Here's how to know-and how to handle it if they're not.

By Dana Hudepohl

Originally appeared on RealSimple.com
Mark Allen Miller

Four hundred fifty: That's about how many periods you can expect in your lifetime. This monthly event, in which the uterine lining is expelled if an egg is unfertilized, is a complicated business, involving numerous hormonal players that can affect your weight, your temper, and your sex drive.

More from RealSimple.com: Which Health Shortcuts are OK?

What Is a Period, Anyway? Your brain tells the pituitary gland to release two chemical messengers, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), about two weeks after your period starts. The hormones contact the ovaries, triggering a follicle, one of their microscopic egg-containing pouches, to develop and release the egg (a.k.a. ovulation). In the

By Stacey Colino

Does your hair take more time than it should? If you're reading this, the answer is probably yes. The experts are here to help, with seven styling shortcuts that will streamline your routine.

More on RealSimple.com: The Best Hair Dryers

Plamen PetkovCut Your Hair Time
Some women are slaves to fashion. Even more are held hostage by their hair. They're constantly rushing to the colorist to beat back grays, fussing with rebellious bangs, waging war against their natural texture-and losing precious hours of their lives. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some common time-wasting traps into which you may have unwittingly fallen, along with hair care tips that will set you free.

Time Drain:
You Start Blow-Drying Too Soon In the morning rush, do you attack your hair with a brush and a dryer immediately after stepping out of the shower? "There's no upside to this," says Kristina Barricelli, a celebrity hairstylist and a co-owner of the Gemini 14 Salon, in New York City. "It

Mikey Burton
How to Read Food Labels
What do terms like "extra lean," "reduced fat," and "low sugar" really mean? Here's some healthy perspective on what you're actually putting in your grocery cart.

By Stacey Colino

More from RealSimple.com:
19 Healthy Snack Ideas

When it comes to food labels, any dietitian worth her salt will tell you to pay attention to them. But not all the words on those labels are created equal. Certain terms are backed up by law; others sound official but could mean anything-or nothing. Use this guide to translate the shelf talk and shop healthier with less hassle.

"Extra Lean"
Meat, poultry, or seafood labeled "extra lean" must meet strict requirements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Every 100-gram serving (about 3.5 ounces) must have fewer than 5 grams of total fat, fewer than 2 grams of saturated fat, and fewer than 95 milligrams of cholesterol. That amounts to a pretty small dent in your total daily fat allowance, which is about 55 grams if you eat

Real Simple staffers share the can't-miss advice we've learned from our own moms.

Originally appeared on RealSimple.com.

Melanie AcevedoMarty Munson: When my sister was picking out her wedding china, my mom encouraged me to select mine, too, even though I wasn't even dating anyone at the time. When she bought me a number of settings, she said, "You don't have to be married to have nice things." (BTW, I still love my china and use it all the time.)

More on RealSimple.com: 8 Tips for Finding Work and Life Balance

Joele Cuyler: Every time I called my mother to boohoo about something, she would remind me that things could be much worse and point out some real-life tragedies for perspective. It always made me reflect and feel grateful for what I had.

Jenny Brown: Whatever dire situation I think I'm in, my mom finds a way to make me laugh about it. She teaches me to approach life with a light heart.

Amy Maclin: Always be curious. Curiosity cures almost anything-boredom, sadness, awkward silences.

Casey Tierney:

Want to really pamper Mom this Mother's Day? These four easy steps will guarantee a perfect start to her day.
By Julia Edelstein and Ashley Niedringhaus


Make It Ahead
Pick a dish you can whip up in advance and pop into the oven in the morning. (You don't want to wake Mom with your a.m. clattering.)
Jose PicayoBaked Eggs With Asparagus, Ham, and Gruyère
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 20m |
Total Time: 1hr 40m

Ingredients
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
-1 shallot, chopped
-6 large eggs
-1 1/2 cups half-and-half
-kosher salt and black pepper
-4 cups torn baguette
-1 cup Gruyère, grated (4 ounces) -
4 ounces ham, roughly chopped

Directions
-Heat oven to 350° F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and shallot and cook until tender, 4 to 6 minutes; let cool.
-In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Fold in the baguette, Gruyère, ham, and the asparagus mixture.
-Transfer the egg mixture to four

Make one of these for the woman who has everything and insists she wants nothing.


For the Sentimental Mom
Container
A stylish file box to keep everything organized on her desk. RS pick: Semikolon Folder Box, $32, seejanework.com.
Grant Cornett
Contents
Elegant stamp holder. Since she still sends a hand-written note, she'll need to keep her roll of stamps easily accessible.
RS pick: Pewter Stamp Holder, $35, seejanework.com.

Personalized rubber stamp. Upgrade her correspondence with a custom return address stamp. RS pick: Pearl Border Custom Stamp, $30, paper-source.com.

Address book. To keep all her contacts organized and up to date. RS pick: Robin's Egg Blue Saffian Address Book, $31, paper-source.com.

Interview journal. Have her fill in this thought-provoking journal and see your mother in a whole new light. RS pick: My Mom: Her Stories, Her Words, $10, paper-source.com.

Monogrammed stationery. Whether for thank you notes, sympathy cards, or just-because, you can't go wrong with a personalized set. RS

By Stacey Colino

Learn how to remove static, boost volume, smooth frizz, and defeat more beauty nightmares with these quick hair-care tips.

Mary RozziHow to: Fix Limp Hair

To revive limp hair during the day, flip your head over, spray hair spray on the roots, then flip it back. You'll get instant volume that you can shape with your fingers.

See more time-saving tips for healthy hair.

How to: Banish Staticky Hair

To stop static, smooth a dryer sheet down your strands from roots to ends (this really works) or lightly spritz hair spray onto your brush and run it through your hair. Sprinkling water on your hands and passing them over your hair can help stop static in a pinch, too, because static is a result of moisture loss.

How to: Color-Correct Your Dye Job

If you've colored your hair too dark, you can try to restore it to less of a shoe-polish hue by immediately shampooing with dish soap, such as Palmolive.

More on RealSimple.com: Quick Tips for

By Lindsay Hunt Thankfully wheat-free doesn't mean flavor-free. Any of these new items are sure to please the gluten-averse.