Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

From shabby chic vases to romantic wreaths, we've found easy crafts to help you gear up for spring.

-by Angela Kwan

More from Good Housekeeping:

• Haircuts That Take Off 10 Years
  
• 11 Scheduling Secrets of Busy Moms
  
• 5 Best Ways to Stretch Your Beauty Dollars
  
• 15 Slimming Superfoods To Try in 2013
  

GHRI tested 17 dutch ovens to find the top potsLightweight Champ
MichelleB by Fagor 5-Quart Soup Pot With Glass Lid ($70, amazon.com). If you find it daunting to wield a huge cast-iron pot, consider this six-pounder (that's less than half the heft of most traditional casseroles). Also practical are its stay-cool silicone handles. The only drawback here: the smallish surface area for browning. Comes in red and lemon-lime, too.

Best All-Around
Mario Batali by Dansk Classic Enameled Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven ($245, amazon.com). They'll think you're a master chef, thanks to how beautifully this round pot browns ingredients and reduces sauces. Be prepared to work for it, though - this one tips the scales at 15.5 pounds. Choose the chef's trademark persimmon, cobalt,or Chianti. Bonus: a booklet of Batali's recipes.

Best Toy Awards

Great Value
Wolfgang Puck Cast Iron 7-Quart Dutch Oven ($80). Have a family of meat eaters? You'll love this generously sized, reasonably priced enamel casserole. Its oval shape perfectly accommodates

If you thought these heartthrobs were attractive in their younger days, look again. These celebs are getting sexier by the year!

-by Katie Lockhart

More from Good Housekeeping:

• 15 Slimming Superfoods To Try in 2013
  
• How to Shop and Dress Slimmer
  
• Best Hairstyles on Celebs Over 40
  
• 10 Ways to Boost Your Sexual Confidence
  

Try these 5 DIY home repairsNot every household snafu requires a professional. In fact, with a little elbow grease and some know-how, you can fix common breakdowns before they turn into expensive disasters.

1. A Leaky Washing Machine
If you ignore it: You could end up with a flood in the laundry room.

Easy fix: Check the water hoses connected to the back of the machine - the leak is most likely coming from a small crack in the rubber. If so, you'll need to replace the faulty hose immediately, before a major break occurs. Turn off the water supply (so you won't come home to a flood) and buy a new hose at a hardware store. To install it, unscrew and remove the old hose, then screw the new one in and tighten it with a wrench.

Pro tip: Buy steel braided hoses - they're more expensive but also more durable, says Raymond P. VinZant, master plumber for Roto-Rooter.

Related: 25 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter

2. Mold Spots on the Walls
If you ignore them: You could develop allergies and other health

LipstickTackle the toughest date-night stain-makers with these GHRI removal tips.

1. Lipstick: Place the soiled fabric facedown on a paper towel. With a wet makeup-remover wipe, dab the back of the stain. Spritz the spot with prewash spray, then launder.

2. Grease: Odd, but it works: Sponge the stain with a product that removes tape residue (like Goo Gone), or use grease-cutting dish liquid; wash in warm water.

3. Chocolate: Use a spoon to scrape off as much as you can. When at home, apply liquid laundry detergent and massage in with your fingers; let set five minutes. Wash with chlorine or all-fabric bleach.

Related: The Most Unexpected New Cleaning Product Scents

Red Wine4. Red Wine: Grab some paper towels or absorbent cloths and blot up as much of the liquid as you can, or soak for about 30 minutes in a basin of cool water as soon as possible. Treat the stain with a prewash stain remover and launder. If it's safe for the fabric, add chlorine bleach to the wash.

5.

Boost your earnings with these tipsThink going back to school is the only way to "up" your earning potential? Think again! Hitting the books doesn't always lead to an increase in salary but it definitely leads to an increase in debt. Learn how to boost your pay, network effectively, and develop new skills - without stepping foot in the classroom.

Alexandra Levit, author of the Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can't Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success, and Alison Green, the blogger behind Ask A Manager, weigh in on how to maximize your money-making potential whether you're seeking a promotion or hoping to land a new gig.

1. Be Proactive
Instead of asking your boss what tasks you should add to your to-do list, come to the table with suggestions in mind.

2. Ask for a Raise
Before asking for a raise, make sure you deserve one. Don't approach your boss with this request until you pinpoint specific reasons why your performance warrants a pay increase. Schedule a follow-up meeting after

Simple steps to ensure your food is safeFirst, organic baby spinach was recalled (again!) in 39 states due to possible E coli. contamination. And then, Kellogg's recalled 36,000 boxes of Special K Red Berries cereal due to concerns over glass fragments. It seems no food (fresh or packaged) is safe. So what can you do? Once a recall hits, you can only dispose of the product and follow the guidelines. Fortunately, there are other ways you can minimize health risks. Here's a handy checklist to get you started.

In the Supermarket
1. Prioritize your shopping
Pick up canned and packaged foods first, then fresh items. Keep raw meat away from other edibles, since its packaging could be leaky.

2. Check that the produce cooler is cold
"Many food-borne bugs thrive in warmer temperatures," says Trevor Suslow, Ph.D., an extension research specialist at UC Davis.

3. Keep a cooler with ice packs in your trunk
In order to prevent pathogens from multiplying, food should not be at room temperature or above for more

Fight aging with the right beauty productsWith a slew of anti-aging ingredients claiming to be the Holy Grail of eternal youth, choosing skincare products is overwhelming! But you can shop smart, if you do your research. We've done the work for you and broken down the key players in this handy cheat sheet.

1. Retinol
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, making it a milder version of retinoids (a prescription-only wrinkle fighter). While it takes several weeks to see results, retinol is the most effective over-the-counter anti-aging ingredient when it comes to "smoothing wrinkles, unclogging pores, lightening superficial brown spots, and improving the texture of the skin," says Amy Wechsler, New York City dermatologist. Because of retinol's potency, skin irritation is common, especially in direct sunlight. Apply retinol-based products at night on dry skin to avoid sensitivity and be sure to apply a moisturizer with SPF every morning.

Related: 12 Anti-Aging Essentials

2. Niacinamide
If you have dark spots resulting from acne