Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Women wait more than six years, on average, before they speak up about urinary symptoms - a shame, since there are simple ways to find relief
By Sari Harrar

Urinary symptomsAnna Albrecht was a fit 31-year-old mother of two when the Big Leak happened one day. "I was jumping rope at the gym when - splash! - I completely wet my pants," she recalls. "I was so embarrassed." So did Albrecht go to the doctor? "Not for seven years," she admits. "I just didn't jump rope."

The leaks have stopped, thanks to a class aimed at strengthening her pelvic floor - the hammock of muscles that supports the internal organs, including the bladder, bowels, and uterus. "It made a huge difference - I can jump rope or go out dancing and stay dry," says Albrecht, 47, of La Grange, IL.

Leaks, urinary pain, wild sprints to the ladies' room, and a purse packed with pads are a reality for millions of American women. Yet two out of three of us never tell our doctors, and those who do speak up have waited, on average, 6.5 years.

Looking for some exciting adventure ideas for you and your family? These scenic outdoor vacations are ideal for unforgettable family vacations.
By Lynn O'Rourke Hayes

More from Good Housekeeping:

• 12 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Old
• 8 Steps To A Successful Marriage
  
• Best Anti-Aging Beauty Products
  
• 30 Best Drugstore Beauty Buys Under $25
• 5 Best Haircuts of All Time

Traveling with the kids (and maybe even your parents) needn't be a compromise or a chore. Here, getaways for all generations.
By Stacy Lu

Family vacationChoosing the right destination goes a long way toward guaranteeing that your gang-of-all-ages will stay happy, excited, and entertained. Here, affordable, irresistible ideas for multi-generation vacations that will delight all your loved ones, young and old.

Family-First Resorts
For most families, the secret of togetherness is spending several daytime hours apart - and family camps and resorts are set up to let that happen, with a smorgasbord of organized programs, day and night, generally all included in the price of your stay. That means that as you plan, you should consider not only what each of you likes to do, but what potential new areas you want to explore - because if you've never tried snorkeling or waterskiing, this is your big chance. Typically, you can also choose among a number of lodging and dining options, giving your family even

money saving tipsThink you spend too much money maintaining your looks? Here are a few ways to cut down on beauty expenses.

1. Use Multi-Tasking Products: One very straightforward way to minimize your beauty expenditures is to use fewer products. Fortunately, more and more products are multi-purpose, so they slim our cosmetics cases while they fattens our wallets. Instead of using SPF + moisturizer + anti-aging product + foundation, try a "Beauty Balm" cream or "BB Cream", which is a combination of all four. Our April issue of Good Housekeeping has more information on the different offerings that are out there, or check out my previous article on BB creams where I recommend Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF45 Matte and Boscia BB Cream.

Related: Stars Who Look Younger with Age

2. Try Store Brands: A little while back we tested generic brands to see how they compare to name brands. We found that when it comes to body lotions, consumers like generics just as much as big-name brands.

By Paul Hope

Perfect pizzaSure, toaster ovens are great for making toast or reheating pizza, but many new models function as a miniature oven. When we tested 35 for our most recent roundup, even we were impressed by the results!

1. Beautiful Cakes: Most of the models we tested easily handled baking potatoes -- and many, including our winning models from Breville, Black & Decker and Avanti, also turned out cakes that were fluffy and beautifully browned. While they won't replace a full-sized oven for baking large batches of goodies, they're perfect for a single cake or half-dozen cookies. Companies like NordicWare even offer full lines of toaster oven bakeware, including cake pans, cookie sheets and muffin tins.

Related: Pasta Plus 5 Ingredients

2. Golden Brown Chicken: Almost all toaster ovens can broil pieces of chicken, but the majority can roast a whole bird, too. We got great results from most toaster ovens we tested, although we didn't necessarily find it to be any faster. Still, it's a great

By Genevieve Ko

Apple-cinnamon oatmealI gave up refined sugar for Lent. And it's really hard. (Full disclosure: Of course, I'm still going to taste our triple-tested dishes in the Test Kitchen. Thankfully, we're not yet working on the holidays!) I'm in withdrawal and sadly realizing that refined sugar is in everything from bread to condiments to savory snacks. I am not, however, giving up fresh fruit. To satisfy sweet cravings, I've come up with some combinations that are comforting and filling. Just over the past few days, I've realized that some of these options taste even better than their sugary counterparts! Here are 5 favorites:

1. Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal: Forget the sugar-pumped packets! Stir half a diced Golden Delicious apple, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt into 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats and 1 cup water. Microwave for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once. I top with 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts for protein and crunch.

Related: What To Eat Now

2. Peanut Butter Banana Toast: The tricky

Lilacs, pansies, tulips, and other purple-hued posies inspire a parade of charming Easter crafts

More from Good Housekeeping:

• 12 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Old
• 8 Steps To A Successful Marriage
  
• Best Anti-Aging Beauty Products
  
• 30 Best Drugstore Beauty Buys Under $25
• 5 Best Haircuts of All Time

By Carolyn Forte

Cleaning houseCleaning house, while necessary for all, is a very personal issue. Don't worry about other people's standards. Decide what "clean" means to you and keep house accordingly. Above all, use your time effectively. Here's how:

Establish Priorities
Identify which tasks absolutely have to be done, which ones should be done and which ones would be nice to get done. Work on them in that order and forget about all others.

Related: Insider Tips from Cleaning Pros

Set Time Limits
You can accomplish quite a bit in several 10- or 20-minute periods. Keep your cleaning schedule flexible so you can change it if something unexpected comes up. Do what you can when you can.

Delegate
Teach your kids how to fold laundry, vacuum, dust, unload the dishwasher, make their beds and prepare their breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Enlist teens to help with big jobs like washing windows and floors and cleaning cabinets and woodwork.

Related: Nate Berkus' Room Organizing Tips

Cleaning Shortcuts: