Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D.By Adam Glassman

I know, I know, I was telling you to avoid this trend last season. Who needs all that extra fabric around the hips? But I've since had a change of heart because the right peplum can actually make you look thinner. Just follow these rules:

1. Choose a soft material in a silhouette that isn't too extreme, so the look is more modern, less Mad Men.

2. Whatever you wear below the pouf should be streamlined: a pencil skirt or tapered pants.

3. Accessories should contrast with the ladylike vibe-choose an edgy metallic clutch or a bright stiletto.

Dress, Dressbarn Collection, $56, dressbarn.com.

RELATED: 6 Rules for Smart Online Shopping


Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D.

A well-placed peplum can hide a thicker middle.

Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet, $264, aliceandolivia.com

RELATED: 6 Common Shopping Traps -- And How to Avoid Them
















Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D.

A peplum can also give the illusion of a smaller waist.

Warehouse, $50, warehouse.andotherbrands.com.

RELATED: Attention Shoppers! 3 Closet Clogging Habits to Break Now
















More

Read More »from 3 Ways to Wear Peplum (and Look Slimmer)

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

Sit Better on the Bike

The lower-body numbness you feel after a bike ride may dull the sensations in your pelvis during the other workout you plan to do with your partner and could cause long-term damage to arteries and nerves in the area. Women's health researchers at Yale University School of Medicine recently found that female cyclists who positioned their handlebars lower than their seats experienced more pressure on the soft tissue of the perineum and had decreased sensation in the pelvic floor. In an earlier study, the same researchers found that those expensive ergonomic saddles don't help in the way they claim to: the ridges around the cutout can actually increase pressure on arteries. Make sure that you're not leaning down low with your bottom in the air and that most of your weight in the saddle is back on your sit bones, not toward the front of your crotch.

RELATED: Dr. Oz's 20-Minute Workout

Photo: Courtesy of Magic BananaUse a Magic Banana

Read More »from Better-Sex Homework You'll Actually Enjoy

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio DFrom left

Lady Gaga
Fame Ultimate Masterpiece
A surprisingly sweet and feminine combination of belladonna, apricot nectar, tiger orchid, and jasmine. ($79 for 3.4 ounces; Macys.com)

RELATED: 16 Fall Essentials Under $100



Lancôme
La Vie Est Belle
Iris, sweet praline, jasmine, and orange blossom in a delicate, sophisticated floral scent. ($75 for 1.7 ounces; Lancome-USA.com)

Tom Ford
Jonquille de Nuit
Lush and slightly spicy: peppery angelica seeds, violet leaf, narcissus, and warm amber. ($205 for 50 milliliters; Saks.com)

RELATED: Six Rules for Smart Online Shopping

Givenchy
Eaudemoiselle Body Mist
A skin-softening mist (a mix of glycerin and rose extract) with floral notes of orange blossom and ylang-ylang. ($46 for 3.4 ounces; NeimanMarcus.com)

Donna Karan
Woman
The rich, woody, and warm scents of sandalwood, vetiver, and orange flower. ($115 for 3.4 ounces; Nordstrom.com)

RELATED: Drink It In: Wine-Colored Accessories

Halle Berry
Closer
A fresh and powdery floral

Read More »from Get a Whiff of Fall's New Fragrances

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

Sleep vs. Exercise

The dilemma: If one more person reminds us of the connection between inadequate sleep and weight gain, we're going to slug them with a pillow. Equally frustrating is the fact that fitness pros, including Bob Greene, advise getting our recommended 30 minutes of exercise out of the way first thing in the morning, at the same time that we think we should be making up for our sleep deficits. So if we have only one free hour in our day, where should we spend it--in bed, or in spin class?

The advice: Sam Sugar, MD, says this comes up all the time at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa, where he's the director of sleep services, and where twice-daily exercise is part of the program. Sugar points out that the scientific literature is extremely clear about the dangers of sleep loss. "Even one night of short-changed sleep can be bad for your health," he says, and excessive sleeplessness can result in increases in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood

Read More »from Sleep Vs. Exercise and 5 More Health Dilemmas-- Solved

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DBy Ted Allen

Roast Chicken

Serve it with chimichurri, the Argentine condiment that's made from herbs, garlic, oil, and vinegar. I add roasted jalapeños and red wine to mine for extra punch, and I use it on steak, too.

RELATED: Foods You Should Always Buy Organic

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DBurgers

Add diced portobello or cremini mushrooms. They bring a great flavor to the meat, and the moisture they add is especially helpful if you're making turkey burgers, which tend to be dry.

RELATED: 4 Ways to Get Nutrients from Your Food (Instead of a Pill)

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DMac and Cheese

Try using gruyére--it's a wonderful melting cheese with a nutty flavor. I also mix in a few spoonfuls of dijon mustard and top with bread crumbs and fresh Parmesan before baking. That's the best part.

RELATED: Diet Cheat Sheet: Healthy "Junk" Foods

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DMeatloaf

"Instead of glazing the meat with the traditional ketchup before

Read More »from One-Ingredient Weeknight Dinner Upgrades

Photo: Getty ImagesCornell McClellan, personal trainer for the First Family, shares his tricks for getting perfectly toned arms.

Twice a week, spend 15 minutes strengthening and toning your arms. Start with the routine below, changing the number of reps, the size of your weights, or the order in which you perform the exercises at every workout.

RELATED: Dr. Oz's Excuse Busting Workout

Triceps Superset

Skullcrusher: Lie flat on the floor, a bench, or an exercise ball; tighten your core, hips, and glutes. Hold a 5- to 15-pound dumbbell in each hand. Start with hands at ears, elbows pointed toward the ceiling. Extend weights toward ceiling by straightening elbows. Do 12 to 15 reps.

Overhead triceps extension: Without resting, stand and hold the dumbbells, elbows pointed toward ceiling. Extend arms straight into the air, then drop them behind your head. Do 12 to 15 reps.

RELATED: Dr. Oz's Secrets of "Waist Loss"

Biceps Triset

Palms-up biceps curl: With elbows bent at your sides, hold a 5- to Read More »from How to Get Michelle Obama Arms

Illustration: Kagan McLeod

Alexa Von Tobel, Founder of the Personal Finance Web Site LearnVest.com

Do This Now: Electronic bills are great--unless they're lost in a crowded in-box. Set up a separate e-mail account (e.g., alexabills@gmail.com) to keep your e-bills orderly.

Do This Soon: Step back and look at the big picture. Fifty percent of your take-home pay should be allocated for essentials, 20 percent should go toward savings and debt, and 30 percent can cover everything else.

RELATED: The Best Time of Year to Buy Anything

Illustration: Kagan McLeodMichelle Singletary, "The Color of Money" Columnist for The Washington Post

Do This Now: Challenge yourself with a 21-day financial fast, during which you eliminate all spending except for the bare essentials. Halting unnecessary purchases forces you to reflect on how much you consume.

Do This Soon: Keep a spending journal for 30 days. A month's worth of data makes it easier to see where you can cut back.

RELATED: Quiz: Are You on

Read More »from 8 (Totally Easy) Ways to Make Over Your Finances

Photo: Courtesy of WeberBy Lynn Andriani

The No-Brainer Marinade

Fruit juice is an ideal ingredient for marinades, since its acidity tenderizes food. Weber's new Just Add Juice packets come in Original BBQ, Caribbean Jerk, Citrus Herb, Garlic & Herb, Lemon Pepper and Teriyaki flavors. All you do is mix the contents with half a cup of apple, lemon, lime, orange, pineapple or tomato juice; pour into a bag with chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, ribs or steak; refrigerate for anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours; and grill.

Just Add Juice, see WeberSeasonings.com for where to buy

RELATED: Dr. Oz's Biggest Supermarket Time and Money Savers

Photo: Courtesy of ProgressiveThe Thought-of-Everything Colander

These baskets are the go-to tool for when you have to wash fruits and vegetables or drain pasta, grains or canned beans, but there are a ton of other uses for them, from storing fragile produce (berries, grapes, mushrooms) in the fridge to straining yogurt or soft cheese. This incredibly useful version collapses to

Read More »from 5 Cheap Secret Weapons that Will Transform Dinner