Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Nike Free Run SneakerWhen it comes to minimalist shoes, just as the name suggests, less is more. As an alternative to the barefoot running craze, companies have come out with shoes that mimic barefoot running but also protect your feet. Yes, the category includes those wacky shoes with toes but it also encompasses others as well. Almost every major athletic shoe brand has at least one version of a "minimalist" shoe but the shoes differ greatly from company to company. Some offer a lighter version of traditional running shoes while others have designed shoes that are more like gloves for your feet, giving your feet only basic protection from the ground. Ready to jump on this trend? Here's what you need to know.

What You'll Find One key component of minimalist shoes is that they're lighter. Companies have reduced the amount of material in the upper part of the shoe, substituting mesh (or another lightweight material) for leather, and reducing the thickness of the sole by decreasing cushioning

Great Hair Handbook

It's like a bad dream. You know how you want to look - but as soon as you sit in the hairdresser's chair, you somehow can't find the right words. You're talking, but he doesn't seem to be getting the message - and once you see the finished product, you know he didn't.

Now you'll never have to live that nightmare again. Whether you're trying to telegraph "straight but not flat but not frizzy" or "curly but nicer than my natural curls," you can get what you really want. The secret: Learn to speak stylist. We consulted top pros to find out the right words to say and, even better, we got them to spill the steps for re-creating the looks at home. Bonus: All these styles work on a range of hair lengths and textures.

Dove Styling Foam and Goody Round Brush

You want: Hair that's smooth but not stick straight -you like a little volume
Ask Your Hairstylist for: "Bend"
The cut to ask for: Shoulder-length or longer works best
The styling to ask for: "A blowout with bend"
DIY directions: While hair is wet, apply mousse

Glutes, derriere - whatever name we use, we often forget the butt is actually a group of muscles that can be shaped and toned. "You already use these muscles every day," explains Lakey Evans, a personal trainer at New York City's Reebok Sports Club who developed this routine. "So it doesn't take much to firm them up."

Before starting the program, warm up for five minutes by jogging in place. Start with 15 repetitions of each exercise two times per week, then increase to three. Stay with it, and you'll see results in just a month.

Sideways Step Move ASideways Step, Starting Position

1. Starting position: Stand with feet slightly apart. Bend your knees and lean forward into a crouching position. Click arrow to see the next step.

Sideways Step, The Move (a)

2a. The move: Staying in the crouch position, take a fast step to the side with your left foot. Click arrow to see the next step

Sideways Step Move B

Sideways Step, The Move (b)

2b. Quickly bring your right foot over to meet

Father's day is fast approaching. This year, don't make dad settle for another grilling apron. Here are the five best kitchen gifts for Father's Day- sure to delight even the fussiest dads.

1. A Great Grill If you're really in the mood to splurge on dad this year, consider getting him a brand new grill. Our favorites include the Weber Genesis ($849) or Kenmore 4-Burner #16135 ($389). If your father loves cooking with charcoal, take a look at the MasterForge with JetLight ($159 at Lowes).

Weber Grill for Dad

2. Cookbooks on his Favorite Subjects Weber's Smoke by Jamie Purviance does a beautiful job of illustrating the art of cooking with smoke, whether he uses a smoker or a traditional gas or charcoal grill. To help dad butcher like a pro, give him The Art of Beef Cutting by Kari Underly, an excellent resource for cutting meat.

Beef Cutting

Related: Grilling Tool Guide

3. Beautiful Cutting Board Once your pop's finished cooking all that

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