Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Too much stuff and not enough space? Just follow these 10 tricks to find hidden storage in your closet, cabinets, and shelves.

Closet with baskets1. Stack the Odds in Your Favor
For large, gaping spaces without any shelving (such as a closet with a gap between the top shelf and the ceiling, or an armoire without shelves), modular components may be the best solution, particularly if you need a fast or temporary fix. Transform dead space into useable storage with shelves that can house everyday essentials and baskets. Stackable units are available in a multitude of shapes and sizes, typically cost less than $20, and require only a screwdriver and hammer for easy assembly. Measure before you buy.

2. Build a Better Basket
If you store small items on a shelf, try corralling them into a bin or basket, which you can treat as a drawer. For instance, stash your collection of tea boxes, DVDs, or slippers in a basket and access it as needed. The basket lets you see all the contents at the same

From photo-sharing programs to great games, these Good Housekeeping staff-favorite apps definitely deserve a spot on your smartphone.

Waze1. Waze

Waze is a mobile navigation app that offers live maps, real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn directions.

"One of my favorite apps is Waze (for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry), a free social traffic and navigation app for drivers that uses real-time traffic updates from a network of drivers nearby who are also using the app. Drivers report traffic jams, accidents, and more - it's better than GPS because it updates traffic patterns and routes at every turn. I'll even use it in a cab to guarantee that the driver is taking the fastest possible route. One more cool feature: Waze has it's own audio technology (very similar to Siri) so that you don't have to type to report an accident/traffic jam. A driver can just wave their hand in front of the phone, and then speak the travel information they want to report." -Rachel Bowie,

DIY manicureI love doing my own nails, and rarely get a salon manicure. Not only does it help me save money but it gives me something to do while I'm watching TV and makes it easy to touch up any chips since I own the polish. Some of my friends have asked me how I'm able to be my own manicurist and I thought you'd like to know some of personal tips for doing a professional job and making it last.

Related: Fix Nail Problems

• Apply thin layers, and spread them out. I apply a base coat, and then a thin first coat of the polish. I make sure this initial coat is COMPLETELY dry before doing the second one - if I don't, the second coat takes forever to dry and almost always smudged. Sometimes, if I know that first coat is dry, I'll even get up and do something else and come back and do o the second coat later. I REALLY make sure to spread these coats out! For the same reason, I take a big break between the second coat of polish and the top coat.
• Make sure you use a polish that's still

Bacon is a great addition to any dish It's no secret: bacon is hot right now. It's so hot right now, in fact, that people think nothing of having it in their cocktails, as an ice cream topping or in other non-traditional ways.

The beauty of bacon (much like that other trendy comfort food, the burger) is that its popularity is neither surprising nor will it ever wane. People have always loved bacon and no matter how fancy or un-fancy it gets, people will continue to love it. And as the weather gets colder, I find myself reaching for it more and more to use in satisfying soups and hearty pastas.

But the world of bacon comprises more than just the skinny pork bookmarks you're used to. Here are 6 non-traditional bacon alternatives to try:

1. Duck Bacon: Made from smoked duck breasts thinly sliced lengthwise, this elegant cousin of bacon is not super smoky, but it is salty, full-flavored, and delectably fatty. Be careful not to overcook it or else it'll get tough. Since it doesn't cook up that crispy anyway,

Apple pieIt's a fall ritual...stocking up on crisp, juicy new apples at an orchard, the farmer's market, or even the supermarket. In addition to classic varieties like McIntosh and Delicious, this is the time of year when you can find unusual ones like Northern Spy, Smokehouse, Late Strawberry, and Winter Banana. And while there's nothing better, at least in my humble opinion, than biting into an in-season sweet and tart variety, inevitably the novelty wears off and you're left with a bushel, or at least a basket, that needs to be used up. That's when your thoughts turn to pie. And I'm here to help.

1. Choose types of apples that while juicy and delicious, hold their shape. Out of season I usually recommend Golden Delicious and Granny Smith that are available all year round. But this month, why not try Cortland, Jonagold, Pippin, or Winesap?

Related: Simply Delicious Apple Recipes

2. For your crust, use mostly butter for flakiness and a small proportion of Crisco for tenderness.

Save money on cleaning products using these tips We're always looking for creative ways to cut costs and making cleaning products last longer is one way to help reduce your grocery bill. Here are my five favorite tips for getting the most bang from your cleaning product buck:

1. Don't automatically fill both dispensers in your dishwasher even though the detergent box recommends it. It's always best to adjust the amount of detergent to the soil level of the load and the hardness of your water. Start by filling each cup halfway, adding a bit more for extra dirty dishes and hard water. Also, using too much detergent can leave a filmy residue on your glasses and flatware.

Related: 25 Double-Duty Tips for Household Items

2. Always measure laundry detergent before adding it to the machine. I know the numbered lines inside detergent caps are impossible to see, but with today's 2x and 3x concentrated detergents, a full cap is too large a dose for most loads. Adding more detergent won't get clothes any cleaner. Instead,

The Secret Lives of WivesWant to know the secret to a long, successful and fulfilling marriage? Good Housekeeping has the answers - all eight of them to be exact, thanks to best-selling author Iris Krasnow and her book, The Secret Lives of Wives (Gotham Books, $26, amazon.com). Krasnow, a journalism professor at American University, spent two years interviewing over 200 married women - from ladies rounding their 15th year of marriage to veteran wives who have watched their grandchildren walk down the aisle decades after they exchanged their own vows - to learn how keep the marital partnership strong, permanent, and yes, fun-filled. The result of Krasnow's research: eight top tips to going the distance long after you promised each other "happily-ever-after."

1. Have Secrets
One of the chief tenants of Krasnow's book is that every marriage is entitled to a healthy amount of secrecy. This does not apply to harmful activities - bank robbery or adultery, for instance, but rather to the "secrets of your

Healthy Snacks for Kids Now that school is underway, I'm sure you're familiar with this scenario: It's 3 p.m. and your kids hurl open the front door. Just as backpacks are being shed, you hear "What do we have to eat?" As a nutritionist and the mom of a 9 year-old boy, I'm well aware that snacking is an opportunity to curb between-meal hunger and fuel children with some healthy nutrients. But I'm also aware that over-snacking can wipe out an appetite for dinner. Even worse, inappropriate snacking (think cookies, candy, chips and other high-cal, low-nutrient goodies) doesn't do a good job of filling people up and can ultimately lead to unwanted weight gain.

Related: How to Feed Your Kids at School

Instead of turning to unfilling snack fare, try these suggestions. They're designed to satisfy hungry tummies with healthy food-and won't wipe out your kids' appetites for a family dinner.

StrawberriesAt home:

• 1 slice whole wheat toast spread with 2 teaspoons peanut butter and topped with ½ sliced banana. Dust