Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: Thinkstock

By Pam Houston

Joe No-Show

You meet in a city where neither of you lives, at a convention or a wedding. The calls and e-mails are making the phone lines sweat; two months later he's begging you to visit. You tell the woman next to you on the plane that after years of searching you think you've met The One, and the two of you giggle with anticipation all the way to baggage claim. Thirty minutes later, when the carousel stops going around, she looks at you with deep pity and asks if she can give you a ride somewhere. That's the moment to go straight back to the ticket counter.

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Mr. Jealousy

At first, he'll get a little short with a waiter who flirts with you. Then he'll be exasperated by how long you and the postmaster discuss the rising price of stamps. When he points out that you and your brother hug too long to be appropriate, or that your gynecologist is a lesbian and obviously has the hots for you, it's time to give

Photo: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani

Cookie Cutters

Plastic ones may seem more practical (and safer, if you're baking with children). But copper or tin shapes are sharper and more effective, especially if you're making a large quantity. Plastic cutters can also warp if stored improperly (e.g., in a cabinet above the stove, where they're susceptible to high heat). For very large cookies where even slightly distorted shapes will be obvious, splurge on copper; it's sturdy and won't bend.

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Photo: ThinkstockGraters

There are graters and then there are graters. For most jobs, the cheap version--think $1.99 at the hardware store--will work just fine. That includes grating the Monterey Jack you'd sprinkle over your scrambled eggs, or the harder Pecorino you'd use for a carbonara sauce. More complex jobs--like chocolate ribbons--are better served by this one from Microplane.

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Image: Courtesy of LG ElectronicsBy Corrie Pikul

When we first heard of the "diet-friendly fridge" that LG unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, we imagined an appliance that would scold us (or lock us out completely) whenever we tried to sneak a late-night snack. But this refrigerator is much more helpful than that. It allows you to program heath profiles of everyone in your house into an internal computer, and then recommends meal plans based on who needs to lower their sodium intake, who's counting calories, and who's watching their cholesterol.

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It also informs you when the milk is about to expire, recommends nutritious last-minute dishes you can make using ingredients you have on hand, and helps you keep track of what low-cal items are running low so you can either buy them online (using the LCD panel on the door) or send a grocery list to your phone.

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LG says the fridge will be available in

Photo: David TsayBy Meredith Bryan

Peter Walsh, de-clutterer extraordinaire shares the genius rules that will make your spring cleaning easier than ever.

1. Make Your Rooms Multitask

In a small house, each room can serve more than one purpose, says Walsh. Take his guest room/TV room/office. The couch-a pullout that's perfect for guests-faces a flat-screen TV that Walsh and Greenblatt watch alone on quieter evenings.

To create a cozy home office, Walsh removed the closet doors, installed a desk and shelving, and added venetian blinds from Ikea that he can pull down to hide the workspace when visitors arrive.

Even Walsh's furniture serves more than one function: This ottoman, a handy footrest and coffee table, moonlights as storage for Walsh and Greenblatt's DVD collection, leaving the room's media console clutter-free.

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Photo: David Tsay2. Focus Your Fridge

Walsh uses clear plastic trays (Fridge Binz; Organize.com) to separate cheese from

Photo: Marko Metzinger/ Studio DFor Redness

One Cucumber Aloe Facial Paper Mask (Target.com) gives you serious bang for your buck: It soothes red and irritated skin with chamomile and aloe vera, and moisturizes with hyaluronic acid and glycerin--all for only $2. Place the saturated mask over your face for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.

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Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio DFor Dry Spots

If all your skin needs is a healthy shot of hydration, pour a packet of Sephora Collection Instant Moisture Mask ($15 for four, Sephora.com) into the plastic container, add water, and shake until the liquid turns creamy. Apply the mask, and wait five to ten minutes before rinsing. A seed extract (from Cassia angustifolia, an Indian plant) softens skin and helps retain moisture.

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Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio DFor Fine Lines

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Age Erase Recovery Mask ($48 for six, dgskincare.com) works its magic in two steps. You start by

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By Corrie Pikul

Chicken Tikka Masala vs. Orange Chicken with Rice

The preparation for all these dishes will vary, but we asked Janis Jibrin, RD, the lead nutritionist for Best Life, to analyze the basic recipes and track down nutritional info for chain restaurants. She found that although tikka masala has fewer calories than orange chicken (662 versus 871 for a 1.5-cup portion of the chicken dish plus 1 cup of rice), it has almost triple the saturated fat (17 grams versus 6 grams). This is because it's made with cream and, usually, ghee (clarified butter). Jibrin says tikka masala is worse for your arteries and your heart, as well as your waistline.
Healthier Tikka Masala: If you order a creamy curry, Jibrin advises limiting your portion to just 1 cup. Another idea for healthier but still-speedy Indian food: frozen entrées. Jibrin likes Ethnic Gourmet's Tikka Masala, which has only 260 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat.
Healthier Orange Chicken: Jibrin suggests

Photo: Gabriela HasbunBy Dana Hudepohl

Susan Rotchy went from mourning the loss of her mobility to celebrating a newfound love of sports.

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In 1996 Susan Rotchy was driving to work when one of her tires blew, sending her into a ravine. The accident left her paralyzed from the waist down and plunged her into a deep depression. "I cried for two years," Rotchy says. Unable to continue her job as an optician, she went back to school at a Bay Area college, but discovered that few of its buildings were wheelchair accessible. After leading a campaign to bring the campus into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she cofounded a nonprofit, Research for Cure, to assist scientists seeking new treatments for spinal cord injuries, and helped pass state legislation to fund stem cell research.

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In 2007 Rotchy's dedication won her the title Ms. Wheelchair California at a pageant that names a

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

All Your Clean Socks Are in the Wash

If you're like many women, you've probably noticed that your hands and feet are colder than your husband's when you climb into bed. This is because the nerves that control blood flow to these areas are more sensitive in women, and you were probably colder to begin with. The good news is that when our core body temperatures fall, our extremities tend to feel warmer as blood vessels dilate and the body radiates heat. To speed the process, try going to bed in clean, fresh socks (the ones you've been wearing all day are probably damp) and, if you need them, mittens. Instead of using your husband as a foot warmer, try using an actual hot water bottle, which won't protest or squirm away.

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Your Favorite Position Makes Your Pelvis Crooked

Do you wake up with sore, achy knees? It could be due to the way you curl up at night. When we sleep on our side, both knees can rub