Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Kitchen tools that will make your Cinco de Mayo fiesta a hit.Cinco de Mayo is around the corner and no fiesta's complete without three beloved Mexican staples: tortillas, guacamole, and frozen margaritas! Here at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, we tested out kitchen gadgets to help make your Cinco de Mayo muy delicioso.

1. You can give your guacamole some extra zest by grinding it by hand with a mortar and pestle. The IMUSA Lava Rock Molcajete ($60) is as authentic as it gets if you want to go the extra mile with your guacamole. And when you're not making guac, you can use it to grind spices and herbs as well as prepare salsa. With the Molcajete you get instructions on how to season the lava rock so that everything that's made in it has a unique taste. I'm not sure if it's what gave our guacamole delicious flavor but the rough surface of the rock made it easy to mash the ingredients and created a distinctive texture.

2. We used a recipe from a new cookbook, Muy Bueno, ($15) written by Evangelina Soza and her daughters Yvette

De-Stress at HomeWhen there's no time to escape to the spa, create your own oasis. Here, 9 ways to help you decompress in the comfort of your bedroom.

1. Mantra Meditation
To Western ears, "mantra" is synonymous with "catchphrase" or "mission statement." But mantra is a tool that's been used for thousands of years to help cultivate peace of mind - something we could all use a little more of. Choose a word or phrase that is meaningful and melodious - such "love," "peace," or "amen" (or whatever resonates with you) - and repeat it silently or audibly whenever you need a gentle reminder to savor the moment.

2. Comfort Yourself
Know how a cranky child magically transforms into a little angel after a nap? Treat yourself to five minutes of rest. Gather two firm pillows, then sit with your heels on the floor. Keeping your toes together, open the knees wide and stack the pillows between your knees. Rest your torso on the pillows, head turned to one side. Breathe here, releasing tension with each exhale. After

Check out these cleaning products that have stood the test of time.1. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
First developed in 1846 by two brothers-in-law living in Massachusetts, this "bicarbonate of soda" was first sold in paper bags packed by hand. (Did you know that it's actually mined from the ground? The largest natron deposit - the source of baking soda - in the U.S. is found in Wyoming.) Due to its growing popularity (and not just as a leavening agent for baking), Church & Dwight Company was consolidated and the baking soda was trademarked under the brand name "Arm & Hammer." Nowadays, of course, we use it for everything from deodorizing fridges to getting stains out of fabrics to cleaning teeth.

2. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser
Made from the leftover feldspar from scouring soap production, this gentler cleaner was first introduced in New England in 1890. Bon Ami is still making powder cleanser with the cute chick on the label, along with a line of natural dish soaps, all-purpose cleaners, and liquid cleansers.

Related: Cool Kitchen Gear for 2013

3. Brillo

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, try these tasty salsa recipes.Adding a little spice to your dinner can be as easy as whipping up one of these fun salsas, all developed and triple-tested by the Test Kitchen!

1. For a milder flavor, try our Green Tomato Salsa recipe. This slightly sweet sauce combines the tartness of the verdant fruit with fresh corn and ripe red tomatoes. Be sure to let it chill for at least an hour to let the flavors mix.

2. Salsa takes on a tropical taste with our Pineapple Tomato Salsa. The sauce combines sweet pineapple with tarragon and works great over grilled chicken or pork tenderloin.

Related: 4 Gadgets for a Cinco de Mayo Party

3. Our Sicilian Citrus Salsa combines sweet, sour, salty, and savory and incorporates some unexpected ingredients, including green olives, fennel, and oranges. This bold sauce is tasty on everything from toasted bread to grilled salmon.

4. Speaking of unorthodox salsas, our Sweet 'n' Tangy recipe throws cooked red beets into the mix. That sweetness is offset by the kick of jalapeno in this

Seasonal AllergiesMore than 40 million Americans will be sneezing and wheezing this spring from seasonal allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. But few people really understand why. Here, the fact and fiction about seasonal allergies.

1. Pollen is a male organism.
Plants don't reproduce the same way humans do. "[Plant] sperm can only swim so far and disperse so far," says Joseph Armstrong, professor of botany at Illinois State University. This explains why seed plants distribute the whole male organism - through the air. That male organism, housed inside a tiny reproductive body called a spore, makes sperm when it lands in the right environment. Don't worry, it's not doing it inside your nose. But the foreign protein is what irritates your nasal membranes, says Armstrong.

Related: A Longer Allergy Season Is Nothing to Sneeze At

2. Don't blame the roses.
"People always think of flowers as causing allergies. That's not the case," says David osenstreich, MD,

Tortilla RecipesHave tortillas on hand? We've got 8 ways to use them. Whether you're looking to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner, one of these quick flavor-filled recipes is sure to charm your taste buds.

Arugula & Pesto Pizzas
You only need 15 minutes to throw together this quick and easy dinner. Topped with arugula, pesto, and ricotta cheese, your family will love our individual-sized, thin-crust pizzas. Get the recipe: Arugula & Pesto Pizzas.

Peking Pork Wraps
Garnished with thinly sliced cucumbers, these Peking pork wraps are packed with protein! Hoisin sauce and toasted sesame oil create strong Asian flavors in this simple, 20-minute dish. Get the recipe: Peking Pork Wraps.

Related: Easy Pancake Recipes

Spicy Chicken Casserole
This spicy chicken tortilla stack oozes cheese and bold, Mexican flavors without feeling heavy. At only 350 calories per serving, you won't feel guilty going back for a little bit more. Get the recipe: Spicy Chicken Casserole.

Turkey and Cucumber Salad Wraps
Pass on

Anti-AgingWith a little care, you can defy early signs of aging. Experts share their clock-stopping secrets to staying beautiful in your 30s, 40s, and even 50s.

In Your 30s: Prevent fine lines from transforming into deep-set wrinkles.

Defense strategy:
Step 1: Cleanse with an alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid face wash to remove dead cells and keep skin radiant. Then, smooth on an antioxidant-packed lotion to protect against damaging free radicals. Look for formulas that have several antioxidants, such as vitamin C, green tea extract, and collagen-boosting peptides, says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross.

Step 2: Before bed, apply retinol to promote production of collagen and elastin (structural fibers that keep skin firm).

Step 3: Always wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. It's the number one defense against premature wrinkling. Beginning to see crow's feet? Keep those pesky lines from intensifying! Pat on a hydrating treatment like Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream ($95,

We tested 185 bottles of nail polish and found our favorites.Overall Winner

Essie Nail Color ($8, over 200 shades; drugstores, amazon.com)

This standout pulled top points for shine and also did well in five other categories. "It was easy to apply and looked shiny and bright throughout the time I wore it," said a volunteer. Our manicurist gave it perfect scores for how evenly it went on, while many women loved that it came off easily without staining their nails.

Maybelline New York Color Show ($4, 30 shades; amazon.com)

Volunteers reported that this bargain pick stayed put for an impressive six and a half days on average. "I'm very hard on my hands - gardening, playing sports, scrubbing pots - but the polish stayed perfectly on my nails as if it were the first day," raved one.

OPI Nail Lacquer ($9, over 200 shades; amazon.com)

This speed demon was way ahead of the competition when it came to drying time, besting the runner-up by