Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

We often recommend that, when organizing a room, you create a very accessible space for something to be used regularly, and then make a "backstock" area for the spares of that item, stored somewhere less accessible. For example, you might have your daily toothpaste and floss in your top bathroom drawer; extra toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes can be kept in a cabinet in a bin labeled "Dental."

Related: Organizing Help You Can Really Use

A very workable rule-of-thumb for most situations is to keep one item in current use and one as a spare. When you open up the spare, put that item on your shopping list and buy another spare. Any more than that is probably too much for most situations, unless the item is hard to come by.

Related: Get Organized to Make Summer a Breeze!

Some people's idea of a backstock gets out of hand. Here are some considerations to help you think through your needs:

• How much do you use this item? Daily, weekly, monthly, or annually?
• Does one person use this,

cell phonesElectronics are big-ticket items, so it makes sense to do everything you can to make them last as long as possible. Here are my tips for extending the lifespan of cellphones:

• Don't charge your battery any longer than it takes to reach a full charge. Otherwise, you risk overheating and a reduction in power capacity.
• If you have a spare battery, alternate it regularly with the one that's in your phone. Leaving it unused will reduce its life.

Related: 9 Steps to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation

• If you have to replace the battery, buy one that's authorized by the manufacturer of your phone.
• Set your screen so that it turns off after a period of inactivity
• Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you don't need them.

Related: How Your Smartphone Can Compromise Your Privacy

• Avoid using your phone in poor reception areas.
• Turn your phone off overnight or when you won't be using it for a long period of time.
• If your mobile drops in the pool (or toilet!), take the

Summer is fun but it needs its own systems and routines to work best. Here are some suggestions from de-cluttering expert Lorie Marrero:

1. Figure out what activities are going to be occurring frequently and create systems.
Activities such as swimming or sports will need storage for the gear involved. Storage should be easy for kids to manage on their own. Don't forget to create homes for the details like goggles, pool toys, and gate keys or membership cards. Related: What's Your Organizing Style?

2. Make your kitchen kid-friendly for them and clean-up friendly for you.
Place cups, bowls and healthful snacks within their reach, as age-appropriate. You can also try color-coding your glasses so you know that "the blue glass belongs to Joey," and he can be responsible for it.

3. Give the kids some chores to provide a sense of contribution and routine. My own children have been putting their dirty dishes in the dishwasher basically since they were able to

Whether you're looking for a mystery or memoir, chick-lit or historical fiction, we have a book for you. Check out our picks for this summer's best reads.

For the Hammock: "Then Came You" by Jennifer Weiner
The queen of chick lit returns with a new novel about four women, bound by obligation and opportunity, who must struggle to become a family.

Related: What We're Reading This Month

To Curl Up With: "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain
The twenties are roaring, and a not-yet-famous Ernest Hemingway has just met the woman who will be his first (of four) wives; she narrates this engrossing novel about their love and its undoing.

To Haunt You: "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett
A researcher flies to Brazil in search of her former mentor, who in turn is hunting for a drug that can extend fertility past 60. Delusion? Think Heart of Darkness with formidable female leads.

For True Mom Confessions: "Planting Dandelions" by Kyran Pittman
Pittman's memoir wryly

When you were in your 20s and 30s, you probably ignored random aches or other minor physical annoyances, and they usually went away. But in your 40s and beyond those symptoms can come back - often with a different cause, and calling for more serious attention.

Symptom: Heart Palpitations
What it may have meant in your youth: You were in love
What it may signal now: Fluctuating hormones

You expect hot flashes and "senior moments" in the years leading up to menopause, but many women are surprised to find they also have palpitations - their hearts pound or beat irregularly. In one 2007 study of more than 1,000 women in four countries, for example, 12 percent said they'd had this sensation. Yet experts aren't sure why it happens. "It's amazing how little research there is," says menopause researcher Susan D. Reed, M.D., professor of ob-gyn and epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle. Shifting hormones - the estrogen-progesterone ratio changes at menopause - likely play

Taco night rules! I like to set up a taco bar and let my kids make their own dinner. It's messy, but fun and delicious. Here's how to do it:

Start with corn tortillas. Even if you think you don't like corn tortillas. Chances are, you haven't heated them properly in the past. Instead of using them straight from the fridge (they'll crack and break) or microwaving them (they can get tough), warm each tortilla in a hot cast iron skillet, grill, or directly over the flame of a gas burner, turning with tongs, until warm and pliable. Transfer to a large sheet of foil and wrap. Keep heating and wrapping tortillas, stacking them as you go. They'll stay steamy and warm in the foil packet.

If you live near stores that sell freshly made tortillas, try them. I'm lucky enough to live near Tortilleria Nixtamal, which you should definitely check out if you're in New York City.

The fillings can range from carne asada grilled steak to shredded chicken to, my personal favorite, pork. If you prefer

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner - and that means more backyard time! Outdoor lights are not only essential, but they can also transform your yard into a summer oasis where the whole family can kick back and relax. There are no rules when it comes to outdoor lighting; mix-and-match all the options below to create your own magical nighttime haven.

Candles are the easiest to set up and add instant charm. Just be careful of open flames. Also keep in mind that candles are only a temporary form of lighting - they can burn out and need replacing before the evening's over.

Colored Paper Lanterns are available in lots of different shapes and sizes, allowing you to use your own creative flair to personalize your outdoor area. Also consider glass lanterns, which although more expensive, can last through many summer seasons.

Related: Easy Organizing: Backyard Party Ideas

Lighted Table Centerpieces are perfect for any themed event and can be fashioned out of different textures,

1. Lose the Layers

Sweltering weather means sweatier, oilier skin, which breaks down makeup. And the more layers you put on, the likelier they are to slip and slide. Who wants to slather on extra products anyway? Instead, look for a light-feeling multitasker like Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup SPF 55 ($14, drugstores) - hydration, coverage, and SPF all in one.

Related: Makeup with Sun Protection

Opt for eye and lip pencils over liquid liner and lipstick. Their waxy formulas resist dissolution on damp skin; plus, lip pencil under gloss makes the shiny layer last longer by giving it something to adhere to, says Chantel Miller, senior makeup artist for the MAC Pro Team. For super budge-proof color, look for waterproof formulations. Try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye and Lip Pencils ($18 each, Sephora), and store them in your fridge. The cold solidifies the wax for easier sharpening and application.

Related: Best Waterproof Eyeliners