Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Model of a House Our personal-finance pro answers your money questions:

Q: I know I can earn a bit more interest with an online bank, but I'm worried about security. What do you think?

A. I've read the same scary hacking news stories you have. But think of it this way: The biggest business threat to any online bank is losing the security of your information and holdings, so protecting that is its number one job. "Banks offer software that can prevent malware from infecting end users' machines in the first place and from stealing their information when they bank online and use other websites," says Yishay Yovel, VP of marketing for Trusteer, a security firm that works with more than 200 banks and credit unions.

Also know that banks confirm your identity with a username/password system and may ask security questions if they don't recognize your device's unique IP address. Tip: As I've been telling folks for years, the best way to protect

Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut ButterI'll never forget the first time I tasted Nutella: It was smeared all over a warm crepe and topped with sliced banana. And it was one of the most delicious things I had ever tasted. I decided then and there that that first trip to Paris wouldn't be my last. Because I had to go back for more Nutella. Nowadays, Nutella's sold everywhere in the US and, in fact, has trademarked itself as "the original hazelnut spread." But we knew hazelnut spread really hit the mainstream when we received a package from Jif the other week with their new version of chocolate-hazelnut spread. Here's more on that new item and two other hazelnut spread options:

Jif Chocolate Hazelnut Spread 1. Jif's Chocolate Flavored Hazelnut Spread: Sweet, sweet, sweet. When we tasted this item in the test kitchen, we were all overwhelmed by how sugary this smooth, glossy spread is. It doesn't deliver much hazelnut flavor, but its consistency would make it spreadable enough for frosting cake or filling cookies.

Related: Delicious Chocolate

TextingIn 2011, 2.3 trillion text messages were sent nation-wide, according to the Wireless Association (CTIA). While this number is astounding, it is expected to nearly quadruple by the end of 2012. Due to advancements in technology, texting has become one of the preeminent forms of communication all over the world. From letting our friends know we can meet for lunch to telling our children that we'll pick them up from the train station, we've forgone phone calls for text messages. And though text messaging is an efficient way to deliver information, it can get costly quickly. To eliminate this problem, dozens of apps have been created that offer free text messaging services!

One of my favorites is WhatsApp Messenger ($0.99, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Nokia). It's a cross-platform smartphone messenger that allows you to text all over the world. Some of its standout features:

• Free, Unlimited, and Global: WhatsApp uses WiFi or your existing data plan (3G) to let you send and

Readers came to our Facebook page with their toughest what-to-wear questions. Try these solutions for all your hot-weather getting-dressed dilemmas.

Eshakti sleeveless dress

Slip on this slimming sleeveless sundress. Adaptable to any occasion, with ruching that visually whittles your middle, it's customizable for free - you can change the neckline or hemline to suit your exact shape.

Dress, $60, Eshakti; eshakti.com. Julie tote, $69, Apt. 9; kohls.com. Wrap bracelets, $64 each, Raven + Lily; ravenandlily.com.

Related: The Best Dress for Your Body

Tribal pull-on trouser"I can never find pants that really fit! Do they exist?"

Yes - and these yoga-pant-easy pull-on navy trousers are proof. Stretchy and sleek, with a flattering boot-cut leg, they're sophisticated enough to hit the town with a seersucker blazer.

Blazer, $130, Tommy Hilfiger; macys.com. Top, $25; available at T.J. Maxx. Pants, $54, Tribal; 888-584-4225. Mary Jane

Soy-Glazed ChickenFor our June story, Delicious $3 Dinners, we developed dinner recipes that cost just a few bucks per serving. When we first started brainstorming ideas for this story, there were some obvious budget-minded ingredients that we turned to, but there were also some surprisingly inexpensive ingredients we grew to rely on as well.

Here are some of our favorite wallet-friendly ingredients:

Cabbage and Celery: For cool crunch and freshness cabbage and celery were our go-to ingredients. The cabbage was the perfect base for fuss-free salads and slaws, while easy-to-prep celery was a great way to lighten any dish with its refreshing, mild flavor.

Related: 5-Ingredient Meals Ready in 15 Minutes

Zucchini: While it didn't surprise us too much that cabbage and celery were inexpensive, the low price of zucchini was a pleasant discovery, a great example of how at-its-peak produce is often the cheapest option at the store.

Chicken Legs: The continuously high demand for chicken

Gretchen RubinWas it Jerry Seinfeld who said, "There's no such thing as fun for the whole family"? I disagree - but family vacations can definitely be a challenge. I've found these 10 strategies help keep that time fun.

1. Make time for your own kind of fun.

I've learned that I need to make time for the activities that I find fun on vacation - which in my case means reading. If I spend my entire day chasing my children with a bottle of sunscreen, or going to a movie about chipmunks, I'm not going to be having a good time. I need some time for my own kind of fun. Along the same lines, sometimes I think, Why am I just lying here, reading, on such a beautiful day? I should be going for a run/playing in the ocean/learning to play tennis. I love to read, and now I let myself read as much as I can get away with, given the realities of a family vacation. Everyone will have more fun when everyone has fun, so it's not selfish to prioritize some time for yourself.

Related: 11 Fun Outdoor

Summer beauty productsSummer, at last! You've been anticipating the fresh lemonade, family beach days, and backyard grill parties. There are a few things, though, that likely didn't make your can't-wait-to list: wrangling with a blow-dryer on sticky mornings, shaving daily, and protecting all that extra exposed skin, for starters. We can relate. So you can get to those summer pleasures that much sooner, we've fast-tracked your beauty routine with innovative products and speedy tips. Plus, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute reports on which lip stains really stay put.

1. Speedy Skin Smoothers

Sure, four weeks' daily use of a firming body lotion can help you tone up, but that's of little comfort when you're headed to the beach today. Instead of despairing, look for mica, says Los Angeles makeup artist Brett Freedman. "When light hits these mineral particles, it bounces back and scatters, making skin look smoother than it is." Commonly used in makeup, mica is now turning up in sunscreen, too-a

Picnic tableSummer grilling season is here and I've got a newly cleaned-up backyard, a big birthday to celebrate, and more than 50 people coming over. What I don't have is a big fancy grill or much experience with outdoor entertaining on a large scale.

Here are some recipe ideas and tips that I plan to follow which will help me cope - if you're hosting a party of your own, perhaps they can help you too.

Prep as much in advance as possible. I'll do my peeling and chopping at least the night before. I'll make my marinade and place in a resealable plastic bag big enough to fit the meat I'll be marinating.

Grill vegetables that can be served cold or at room temperature, such as squash, eggplant, plum tomatoes, onions, and fennel. These I'll cook either the night before or that morning. This grilling guide is a big help for making sure they're cooked to perfection.

Panzanella saladMake some hearty salads that don't rely on greens that can wilt (or, use greens