Blog Posts by Reader s Digest Magazine

Why is it so tough to get new pals, and how can we be happy with the ones we have?

Rachel Bertsche Rachel Bertsche, 29, asked just that when she moved to a new city. She chronicles her year of weekly "friend dates" in her new book, MWF Seeking BFF. The experiment didn't uncover a new soul mate, she writes, "but I might have something better: a bouquet of friends." We asked:

Why is it so hard to make friends as adults?
As kids, we're thrown together in friendship breeding grounds like school and sports. As adults, approaching potential friends feels awkward. I was terrified that people would think I was a weirdo. But time and again, I found they were receptive.

Do we have unrealistic expectations about best pals?
I still have this image in my head that my new best friend will be the same as my best friend in grade school. We'll talk every night and hang out every weekend. That's not reality for adults who have other commitments. Seeing someone once a month is pretty good - once

Ready to fool the eye? Here's how - no facelift required!

Psychiatrists tell us that all behavior occurs on a spectrum. For instance, some of us are nagged by occasional worries, while others suffer crippling anxiety attacks. But you may be surprised to learn that certain disorders - as well as milder so-called subclinical symptoms - are often linked to qualities we value as a society. So if you exhibit signs of:

ANXIETY

You're more likely to be: compassionate.

Highly anxious people are known for their sensitivity and attentiveness to others. They also tend to be hypervigilant, so they make good surgeons, doctors, dentists, and bankers.

PLUS: 50 Secrets Your Nurse Won't Tell You

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

You're more likely to be: hardworking and diligent.

People with OCD tend to excel at jobs with strict rules or guidelines that require a high level of conscientiousness. "I have a lot of OCD patients who do well in accounting and business management," says Soroya Bacchus, a psychiatrist in Los Angeles.

Professional waiters, florists, jewelers, money savers, and more weigh in on what you should and shouldn't do on the most romantic of days.

DONT...

Don't order a mood killer
Garlic bread: Unless, of course, your date is eating it as well.

Wings and ribs: Any menu item that comes with a Wet Nap should be avoided at all costs.

Don't drink too much
We all know that's a sure way to ruin a date.

Don't propose
It's so cliché, say waiters. But if you do, warn them first. They'll put you in the corner. Nothing's worse than a crying woman in the center of the restaurant. What else are waiters thinking on February 14th.

Don't buy flowers from the side of the road
They'll only last a day or two, because roadside vendors don't get the best product. "Those flowers are what we in the industry call seconds" says Christine Boldt, executive vice president of the Association of Floral Importers (AFIF. Read more tips for saving on Valentine's Day.

Don't be afraid to ask for replacements
If you buy

We asked our Facebook fans to share the first line of the best love letter they've ever received. Here are our favorites.

1. Seeing you takes my breath away. - Sue Coleman

2. You know I know I love you. Don't tell anybody. - Giovanna Hinojosa Lopez

3. There's something new and different in the way I feel with you. - Melissa Buck

PLUS: 6 Rose Colors and Their Meanings

4. A cup of tea with you is worth a thousand dinners! - Abida Jabeen

5. I love you without knowing how or when, or from where. I love you because I know no other way. - Tins Matienzo Antonio

6. I never knew I needed love until I thought you didn't love me anymore. - Sharmila Sivalingam

7. Your eyes are so beautiful, and your heart is even more heavenly. - Gretchen Eldridge

PLUS: 13 Things Your Florist Won't Tell You

8. You're cuter than fuzz on a caterpillar's belly! - Sheila Burt

9. If I ever wished a wish, dreamed a dream, or sought my fortune - all paths would lead to you.

The dirty secret of companies that offer refunds is that many if not most of the people who buy an item with a refund offer don't actually bother to claim it - or they make some mistake that disqualifies their claim. Claiming a refund takes time and patience, but if you're buying something that you would buy anyway, applying for a refund puts money back in your pocket - and in the case of big-ticket items, it can be significant amount. To make the most of refunds, keep these points keep in mind:

1. Apply for the refund as soon as you get home. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to do it. The expiration dates can be very short.

2. Remove the product code or other part of the package designated as the proof of purchase. Fill out the refund form, photocopy it, and mail it. Be sure to include the proof of purchase, a copy of the receipt, and anything else that is required. Send exactly what is specified or you'll be disqualified.

3. Keep a log of refunds that you

1. Heat food in your toaster oven - it uses up to 50 percent less energy than a full-size oven.

2. Store refrigerated food and beverages in closed containers; if left uncovered, they release moisture and overburden the appliance's compressor.

3. Choose an Energy Star-compliant computer, which uses 70 percent less electricity than a nondesignated model.

4. Place lamps and TVs far away from thermostats so the heat given off doesn't cause air-conditioning systems to run longer than they need to.

5. Don't believe the screen-saver myth. Computer screen savers don't cut energy use! Enable the auto sleep mode or turn off the monitor for eco-friendly operation.

6. Opt for white window shades during warmer weather and keep them closed during the day to reflect the sun's heat away from your house.

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If you're gaining weight for no reason or having trouble losing it, check the contents of your medicine cabinet. Experts don't fully know why some drugs pack on pounds, says Louis Aronne, MD, a weight-loss expert at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, but your doctor may be able to switch you to a different class or lower dose of a drug. Here, some common weight-gain-causing meds and their smart swaps.

Drugs for: Depression
Could Cause Weight Gain: SSRIs such as paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), citalopram (Celexa)
Skinny Alternative: Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin)
Our Expert Says: Some researchers believe SSRI-style drugs increase appetite. Antidepressants that affect dopamine, such as bupropion, may actually reduce hunger.

Plus: 13 Things Your Pediatrician Won't Tell you

Drugs for: Allergies
Could Cause Weight Gain: The antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Alka-Seltzer Plus Allergy)
Skinny Alternative: Antihistamines loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zytrec)
Our