By Lise Funderburg
Now that I'm a little older (and, debatably, wiser), I've discovered a new set of friends: women from different generations. "Bridging the generation gap not only increases the friend pool, but it also expands and supports mental well-being," says Anna Kudak, Ph.D., coauthor of What Happy Women Do. "Friendships with older and younger people help broaden your perspective, which in turn allows you to have compassion
Read More »from The Two Friends Every Woman NeedsAge may be just a number, but it's undeniable that changes in your skin and hair occur with each passing birthday. Make these moves in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s to look your best, no matter the number of candles on the cake
SKIN Daily sunscreen is a must to ward off discoloration, such as melasma, often caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy and then exacerabated by the sun, says NYC dermatologist Eric Schweiger, M.D. Try L'Oréal Paris Sublime Sun Liquid Silk Sunshield for Face SPF 50+ ($11, lorealparis.com now, in drugstores next month) for broad-spectrum protection.
HAIR "Preventing heat-induced damage in your 30s will ensure that hair looks and feels healthier - and younger - in your 40s and beyond," says Redken haircolor consultant David Stanko. Avoid daily use and lower the heat on tools to half the maximum temperature while using a heat-protecting product, like Matrix Design Pulse Iron In Thermal Styling Mist ($14, salons).
Related: Test Your Stay-Young Smarts
SKIN
Nowadays home tech is just as advanced as the latest laptops and smartphones. New technologies debuting this year promise to keep your home spotless, energy efficient, and secure.
- by Rachel Rothman and Erik Eibert
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More than one-third of us nod off unintentionally during the day, says the CDC. The most obvious - and common - reason: We're not getting enough sleep. But our energy levels depend on factors beyond seven to eight hours of sweet dreams every night. We can be laid low by emotional fatigue, too - by being bored, by having too much or too little to do (or too many stupor-inducing chores to get through). Or we (you?) may be surrounded by vampires - and not of the sexy Twilight variety. "Fatigue often has more to do with the emotional than the physical," says Sherrie Bourg Carter, Psy.D., codirector of the Institute for Behavioral Sciences and the Law in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and author of High Octane Women.
Think about it. Even a bad night's sleep wouldn't keep you from meeting up with your BFFs for drinks after work or going to the banquet to accept your Volunteer of the Year award. Somehow, we always find the time - and the energy - to do the things that bring us
My daughter Lucy's friend - let's call her Maleficent - gleefully told her this story: She and some other kids spent an afternoon hurling snowballs at passing cars. One driver was so surprised by the attack that his car jumped the curb and hit a tree. After the accident, instead of checking to make sure the driver was OK, Maleficent (then 10) and her pack ran away. "It was so funny!" she told Lucy.
Now, Maleficent might have been lying. She'd been known to exaggerate to get attention. But I felt horror at the possibility that her story was even a little bit true. Lucy, for her part, didn't quite know how to respond. Was the snowball ambush cool - or criminal? I imagined a scenario in which Maleficent seduced Lucy into joining in. "Come on," she'd say, handing Lucy a snowball. "It's fun!" Shudder.
Related: Parenting Teenagers
My initial inclination was to cut off Lucy's contact with Maleficent, as in: "That kid is a future psycho, and you're forbidden to see her
The year 2012 may as well be dubbed the "Smart" year. Every new device we're seeing has promised to be more connected than ever - smart TVs, smart cameras, smart washers and dryers, and more. Each smart product encompasses new way of thinking about the appliances and products we use every day, and many of these developments really left us excited about what the coming year has to offer in tech. Here are some great features to look out for to make sure you get the most out of your next TV, camera, laptop, and more.
Find that you frequently have dozens (if not hundreds) of family photos languishing on your digital camera? Sure, it's not hard to upload them, but the latest crop offer even easier solutions. Cameras saw recently at CES have integrated wireless capabilities, so you can transfer photos and video from your camera with the press of a button via your home network. Samsung has five devices in its arsenal now that offer smart sharing and
To compile this list of my predictions for 2012, I took into consideration what other bloggers, reporters, and trendologists have to say but relied most heavily on my own knowledge and gut instincts. I tried to include items that are not so far afield that they won't be affecting how you eat at home or even in restaurants until 2013 or later, or not so obscure that if you don't catch them right now, they'll be gone by Spring. On the other hand, I have tried to make sure that they do contain an element of surprise, delight, or anticipation. Let me know what you think about my forecasts and won't it be fun to revisit them come next December?
Pickles1. Pickles Who knew that being a brine master would become a hip-profession? I'm not knocking Vlasic but you'll be seeing pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, radishes, the list goes on and on, with a pedigree even in supermarkets. One to look for or mail order: Divine Brine.
2. Bánh Mì Here in the Big Apple there are already shops
Read More »from Top 10 Biggest Food Trends for 2012How to trim a decade - with nothing but scissors! Haircuts that work wonders. Watch our video to get more great tips for taking 10 years off your hair.
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Send your guy and your kids to see the latest blockbuster at the multiplex. Wait another day to return that holiday gift that doesn't fit. You're going to put a couple of hours to good use: It's money-makeover time! Now, this makeover may not sound as exciting as one that involves a spa facial, but it has its own kind of charm: It's profitable. These New Year's to-do's can save you more than $30 a month in fees alone, while putting you on track to save much more.
40 minutes; annual savings: up to $400
The bank that wooed you with gift cards, enhanced interest rates, and other perks may not be your best option anymore; in fact, it may be costing you - big-time - to keep your cash there. Find out by reviewing your previous three to six months' worth of bank statements. If you haven't saved them, as I always do (what can I say? I'm a financial columnist), you should be able to find them online. Check how much you have been paying in fees. You may see
Read More »from Make Over Your Finances in Two HoursAre you feeling as frantic as I am? I haven't finished my Christmas shopping and it's December 23rd. My solution: cookbooks! Here are 10 of my favorites from this past year.
1. First, some shameless self-promotion: You've got to get our Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen ring-binder cookbook. It's an amazing resource with all the recipes you could want. The best part is that we really do triple-test our recipes to ensure that they'll always work at home. Ever try a recipe from online searching only to have it not come out well? That won't happen with our book or any of our triple-tested recipes.
Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen Cookbook
2. Just a little more self-promotion: I spent years working with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten to put together Home Cooking with Jean-Georges. Everyone always asks me if a regular home cook can actually make the recipes in here and the answer is a resounding yes! They're not necessarily quick, but they're totally doable and really, really delicious.
Cooking at Home with Jean Georges
3. Eleven Madison Park: The
Read More »from 10 Best Cookbooks for Great Last-Minute Gifts