Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Surprise: It's not okay to wait a year to send a wedding gift. From Peggy Post, a refresher course on this and other tricky rules.

woman shaking hands Mistake #1

Skipping an introduction. You don't introduce your friend Jen to acquaintance Ann because you've forgotten Ann's name.

Why it's wrong: You're being rude to both parties by not acquainting them with each other.

What to do instead: Don't be ashamed to admit your memory lapse (we've all been there). It's better to fess up than to pretend that these people don't need to be introduced. Say to Ann, "I remember meeting you, but unfortunately, I just can't recall your name. I'm so sorry!" If anything sticks in your mind about your first conversation with the person, bring it up: "We had such a great talk about your days in the Peace Corps.... It's just your name that's escaping me. Please help me out!" If you're afraid you'll insult the person whose name you've forgotten, you can always ask the woman you're speaking with to act as a

Read More »from 10 Etiquette Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

Summer cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables can be immensely satisfying - if done right. That's where these new cookbooks come in. Most are as valuable as reference guides as they are recipe sources, which is ideal in summer. You want to play and experiment with whatever fresh local, seasonal produce you've got on hand. Here are 5 new favorites:

1. Grow Cook Eat: A Food Lover's Guide to Vegetable Gardening by Willi Galloway: If you want to try starting a kitchen garden, it's not too late. Galloway provides straightforward planting and harvesting instructions along with basic recipes.

Ripe by Nigel Slater

2. Ripe: A Cook in the Orchard by Nigel Slater: Growing fruit is not quite as simple, but Slater offers both gardening advice and mouthwatering recipes. His Rhubarb Custard Fool is amazing and I can't wait to try his Apricot and Pistachio Crumble.

Related: Easy Summer Fruit Recipes

Vegetables, Revised by James Peterson

3. Vegetables, Revised by James Peterson: If you're interested in

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Patio tableWith two of the three big summer holidays already under your belt, your deck or patio has probably already seen a lot of entertaining. But enjoying your backyard shouldn't be limited to just Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Keeping your outdoor area clean and ready for everything from unexpected guests to a quiet al fresco dinner for two is easier than you think. Here are a few simple tips to follow all summer long.

1. Close your umbrella when it's not in use. When you leave it open dirt has a place to settle and droppings from trees (and birds) are more likely to stain it. If you have a cover for it, use it. The extra effort and time you put into closing and covering the umbrella now will prevent a cleaning headache at the end of the season. Trust me. It will be time well spent!

Related: Fast Fixes for a Dirty Deck

2. Store chair cushions in your garage, shed, or a freestanding container and pull them out only when you need them. This is a hard and fast rule

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Spectacular superfoods with powerful anti-aging properties to keep you young and healthy.

Blueberries & YogurtDiet for a Pretty Smile

Dried licorice root may fight tooth decay, new research has found. But if you're not a fan, these foods can also help keep teeth, gums, and breath healthy, says Mark Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., of NYU College of Dentistry:

Yogurt. The lactic acid may ward off periodontal disease, but skip the sugary varieties.

Sugar-free gum and hard candies. These promote saliva flow and also help fight cavities. Xylitol-sweetened ones work best.

Raw or firm vegetables. Chewing celery and other crunchy veggies helps "scrub" your teeth. Ones with vitamin C-broccoli; red, green, and yellow peppers-may also protect against gum disease.

Green Tea

Sweet Sip of Youth

Compounds in green tea may help guard against the sun's damaging rays, while berries provide a hit of wrinkle-reducing nutrients. To make:

1. Place 3 to 4 raspberries or blueberries in each section

Read More »from 7 Superfoods to Keep You Young

Homemade cookies, brownies, and blondies are ideal for ice cream sandwiches...unless it's too hot to turn on the oven! In that case, we like using store-bought sweets for quick, effortless ice cream sandwiches. The best cookies don't get rock hard in the freezer and play well with fun ice cream flavors. Here are eight favorites:

Chocolate wafer ice cream sandwich1. Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers: These classic thins are just sweet enough and soften to classic ice cream sandwich texture in sandwiches. Everything from vanilla to mint chip to the salted caramel shown here taste great with these cocoa wafers. These are also our go-to cookies for ice cream cakes.

Waffle cookie ice cream sandwich2. Jules Destrooper Butter Crisp: For a buttery classic, go for these elegant ovals. They taste like fancy waffle cones, which makes them perfect for any flavor. Here, we've spread Three Twins' Lemon Cookie in the center.

Related: Best Ice Cream Makers

Chipless cookie ice cream sandwich3. Tate's Bake Shop Chipless Wonder: For a twist on chocolate chip

Read More »from 8 Great Cookies for Ice Cream Sandwiches

Vacuum cleaner repairsIs your vacuum cleaner not quite performing up to par? Put down the phone! You don't necessarily mean you need a replacement depending on your model's issue. You can save time and money by fixing some common vacuum problems yourself. Here are my suggestions for some simple vacuum cleaner repairs you can do yourself along with some key maintenance tips to keep your vacuum in good working condition.

Problem: Poor suction

Repair: Start by putting in a fresh bag or emptying and cleaning out the dust collection chamber. If either of these chambers is too full, air can't pass through the machine and suction is reduced. If this fix still doesn't fully restore pickup, check for a clogged hose. Disconnect the hose from the vacuum cleaner, stretch it out and drop a quarter down into it. If the quarter doesn't come out the other end, you've got a clog. Use a broom or mop handle to dislodge and push out the clog. If you can't disconnect the hose on both ends, disconnect one end, stretch

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Get Flat AbsThe foods, the moves and a quick trick to help you lose the muffin-top now that it's beach season.

FUEL UP
Foods rich in protein help you build muscle, while soluble fiber - found in oats, beans, fruits, and veggies - shrinks belly fat. A study from Wake Forest found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber people ate daily (about two small apples, a serving of oatmeal, a half cup of pinto beans, and a half cup of peas), their belly fat decreased by almost 4% over five years.

FIGHT WITH FIBER
Adding ground flaxseed to your diet - mix a teaspoon or two into cereal or yogurt - helps prevent constipation. (It's hard to have flat abs if your pipes are backed up.) To avoid stomachaches, increase fiber slowly and up your water intake, advises Jessica Crandall, R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Related: 15 Foods That Fight Fat

GO FOR A FAT BLAST
In a Duke University study of 196 sedentary, overweight adults, aerobic training significantly

Read More »from How to Get Flat Abs Fast

Watermelon Slushie

Cool off with these refreshing fruit drinks and summer cocktails.

Watermelon Slushie

We combined antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice with fresh watermelon and ice to create this ruby-red summer slushie.

Sparkling Lemonade

Sparkling Lemonade
Cool and refreshing on a hot day, this sweet-tart beverage takes only minutes to prepare.

Red Strawberry Tea
Red Strawberry Tea
Serve thirsty guests strawberry tea garnished with frozen tea cubes and skewered blueberries.










Mint Tea
Minty Iced Tea
Flavored with fresh mint and lime juice, this refreshing iced tea is well-suited to accompany almost any type of food.

Related Link: Summer Grilling Cookbook






Watermelon Lemonade
Watermelon Lemonade
Juicy melon perks up a kids' favorite.











Sangria
Simple Sangria
This ruby-red concoction is truly the essence of any proper fiesta. Stud your pitcher with whatever fruits look good at the market, making sure to load up on sangria's signature citrus.







Berry Lemonade
Berry Lemonade
We added sweet raspberries and blackberries to traditional lemonade to create Read More »from 9 Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes