Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Today, a slight curling of her hands is the only trace of Molly Foley's severe illness Shortly after Molly Foley and her husband returned from a 2006 trip to Ireland, she noticed that her hands were stiff and tingly. Darn. Carpal tunnel, Foley thought, blaming the eight hours a day she spent at her computer as an economic development consultant in Rock Island, IL. Foley, then 33, made an appointment with her general practitioner, who agreed that Foley probably had a repetitive-stress injury and prescribed wrist splints. Foley wore them religiously, but her fingers quickly became so stiff, she couldn't straighten out her hands. Worse, the rigidity was spreading to other parts of her body - her shoulders, her back, even her face - and her skin was becoming hard and shiny. Foley returned to her doctor, who now suspected rheumatoid arthritis and referred her to a rheumatologist, a physician specializing in autoimmune disorders.

The rheumatologist took one look at Foley's skin and said he didn't think it was arthritis. He thought what she had was worse - much worse.

Emotional eating can be the reason for weight gain Did you buy six boxes of Girl Scout cookies this year because you couldn't say no to the world's cutest 7-year-old in a Brownie uniform? Did you take that extra helping of your sister-in-law's whole wheat carob cake because you didn't want to hurt her feelings? When your BFF is waffling over ordering dessert, do you agree to share it with her even though you don't want it - and then match her bite for bite?

If you could answer yes to any of these questions, you may suffer from sociotropy - the scientific term for having the need to please others. While that might make you the right candidate to broker peace in the Mideast, excessive niceness is a recipe for excessive girth. And it's only one of the character traits that can lead to unhappy mornings on the scale.

We all know the major triggers of emotional eating: anger, loneliness, rejection, guilt. Most of us, at one time or another, have taken out our fury on a bag of crunchy corn chips or tried to beat the blues with a

Can you retire at 65?Today, many of us are thinking, I'll never be able to stop working, and for good reason: In the 1970s, most Americans working full-time had access to pensions, which promised payments (after a certain number of working years) of up to 100% of your salary for nearly the rest of your life. That was on top of Social Security benefits. Today, only around 20% of Americans have access to a pension plan, and that percentage continues to decrease. But don't panic: What's required is a retirement rethink. By changing your expectations somewhat - and altering your saving and spending habits - you can have a secure and comfortable life after age 65.

Old Think: Retirement means I'll never have to work again

While for the lucky few with a large pension, this may hold true, those older than 65 are the fastest-growing group of workers - more than 7 million Americans over 65 are employed. This may be due to financial necessity in some cases, but also as we live longer, age 65 seems less

Laundry Room

Hidden dangers could be lurking in your your laundry room if you're not following your appliances' crucial safety reminders. Here are the most important laundry room dangers to be aware of:

1. Lint build-up It's no secret that lint collects in and around the dryer and these accumulations can ignite and engulf a dryer, or worse your home, in flames. Be vigilant about cleaning the lint screen after every load and regularly vacuuming the filter chamber to remove clumps of lint trapped there. To better access lint stuck deep inside the chamber, try the Lint Lizard. It's one of our favorite infomercial products. It's thin plastic tube attaches to your vacuum cleaner and is neater and easier to use than any brush we've tried. Only a technician can disassemble and clean a dryer's motor, but at least once per year move your dryer away from the wall, disconnect the vent duct and vacuum the back of the dryer and as far into each end (indoors and outdoors) of the duct as you can

Gretchen Rubin

In college, a friend told me about what he called the "Lost Wallet Syndrome." "No matter what's happening in your life," he explained, "if you lose your wallet, you think, How happy I would be if I could only find my wallet! I'd be happy forever! But when you find it, you're happy for about two minutes, and then you're right back where you started."

Far too often, it takes a catastrophe to make us appreciate what we had. For that reason, one of the central aims of my happiness project is to appreciate what I have, now, while I still have it. I've long been haunted by the words of the French writer Colette: "What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." That quote is why I've been working hard at finding happiness in the small, ordinary details in life and appreciating the adventure of everyday existence.

Related: 50 Simple Acts of Kindness

Multiple studies have shown that gratitude is key to a happy life: People who cultivate gratitude get a

It's a chic Parisian classic, but this nubby blazer needs a fitted, less boxy cut to be flattering. Choose refined colors and subtle details (no big gold buttons, s'il vous plaît).

Nautical Jacket and ChinosSmooth Sailing

Chinos and a sailor tee get instant sophistication with this natty topper.

Striped tee, $50, Nautica; nautica.com. Jacket, $35, Merona for Target; target.com. Chinos, $78, Nautica. Flats, $27, Christian Siriano for Payless; payless.com.

Related: Nude Hues That Flatter Everyone

Zip Front Jacket and Pencil SkirtOn the Job

The new way to suit up: a zip-front jacket that means business, plus a sleek skirt.

Shirt, $65, Coldwater Creek; coldwatercreek.com. Grace fit jacket, $189, Talbots; talbots.com. Skirt, $45, Worthington; jcp.com. Bag, $129, Simply Vera Vera Wang; kohls.com. Autumn paisley scarf, $38, Echo; echodesign.com. Pumps, $99, Circa Joan & David; zappos.com.

Related: Chic Winter Coats

Aqua Flecked Jacket and JeansLean Lines

Pair this slim aqua-flecked jacket with straight-leg jeans and high-heeled

Halloween costume safetyAccording to a recent National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, Americans are expected to spend $2.87 billion on Halloween costumes for adults, children, and pets this year. The NRF reported witches, vampires, pirates, Batman characters, and zombies will be the top Halloween costumes for adults, but I'm sure there will be no shortage of Presidential candidates, Olympians, and pop singers. Little trick or treaters are most likely to be dressed up as princesses, Batman, Spiderman, witches, and Disney princesses. Personally I'm a big fan of DIY costumes. Whether you're making a costume or buying one, keep the safety tips below in mind.

1. Read the label. Look for labels on the costume that say flame resistant. While this doesn't mean the costume won't catch on fire, it does mean that it won't ignite easily and if it does, it'll self-extinguish

Related: Popular Halloween Costumes for Kids

2. Check the material. Some fabrics are more flammable than others. Cotton, linen, jute,

iPads are great for enjoying your favorite television shows on the goWhen I recently set up my new iPhone, I indulged myself in the App Store - checking out what suggestions Apple was sending my way. As a TV and movie lover, the television apps jumped out at me. I spent a while going through Apple's recommendations, seeing what other iTunes users liked, and browsing the web. I was already familiar with most of the apps but picked up a few new fun and helpful ones along the way. While the iPhone is less than ideal for TV watching, the iPad offers a very pleasant experience. Below are some of my favorite mobile TV apps.

• Netflix Instant ($8/month, iOS, Android, Windows), HuluPlus (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet), and Amazon Instant Video (free for Prime members - $79/year, Kindle Fire HD) All of these apps allow you to stream content onto your mobile device and each has its own strengths. Netflix has a tremendous database of content and pushes original content as well. (It will be hosting the exclusive return of a new season of Arrested