Blog Posts by Redbook

One writer fell hard for a world of pretty pictures and life-envy - until she realized it was time for a reality check. By Julie Tilsner, REDBOOK.

First glance

It begins as love affairs typically do. You're introduced innocently, through a friend. You're not even interested because you're not looking for more social media and besides, why pin pictures of things on the Internet?

One night when the kids are down, and the hubs is out with his boys, you pour a glass of wine and decide to check this Pinterest thing out. What's all the buzz about?

You create an account and are immediately accosted by a tidal wave of images. Suddenly, you spy the cutest pair of red pumps. And then a living room painted a color that makes you gasp out loud. And that bedroom, with those windows! And apricot rice pudding popsicles, really?

You invite your friends to "follow" you, and are delighted when they all quickly respond by "re-pinning" your first tentative pins. It's like girl's night out right here

By Aaaron Traister, REDBOOK.

Recently, a terrible disturbance in the Force has been felt across this great land; a disturbance caused by the malicious infiltration of breads and legumes into our diet. That loaf of sourdough sitting on your counter is going to get you tonight at dinner - it's going to get you good. Those innocuous-looking legumes want you fat and dead.

That's why it's important to fight breads and legumes by eating like a caveman (for the dudes) and going gluten-free (for the ladies). Ever since the Mesopotamians figured out how to irrigate the land along the Tigris and Euphrates and grow 35 varieties of long-grain rice, the world has been in a state of steady and constant decline. For all of Sumeria's fancy Ziggurats and metal working, they sure didn't have a very good understanding of what makes a killer summer bikini body, and now their ignorance has doomed us all to be heavy, out-of-shape lumps of suet.

Related: 31 Days of Snacks for Grown-Ups

But wait! We're not

Sitting down with a year's worth of paperwork is no fun, but your refund's arrival is enough to make you jump for joy. Lisa Greene-Lewis, Lead CPA of the American Tax and Financial Center at TurboTax helps make it even sweeter with these often-missed write-offs. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

Summer camp
If you're concerned about working after school lets out for summer, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Under the Child & Dependent Care Credit, day camp and daycare for children under 13 are tax deductible, presuming you're using the program so that you can work or look for work. Depending on your income, the deductible percentage ranges from 20 to 35 percent. For a family whose annual household income is $60,000, that amounts to $1,200 for two or more children, or $600 for one child. To qualify for a higher tax credit, your adjusted gross income must fall below $43,000.

Related: 25 Lazy Ways to Save Money

Freelance work
If you operate your business out of a home-office or telecommute, a

With colleagues that bring cupcakes, 4 o'clock trips to the vending machine, and the fact that you need a pre-gym fix, eating healthy at work is no easy feat. That's why we invited nutritionist Keri Gans to REDBOOK - and asked her to make over our snacks. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

Instead of chocolate-covered strawberries…
These babies are delicious, but despite being made of fruit, they're unlikely to satisfy you. You're better off with something that has "the full meaning of a healthy snack," says Gans. "A snack should be a mini-meal that helps hold you over until your next meal so you aren't starved. It's important that it consists of some protein, healthy fat, and fiber." If you're set on having some chocolate - and who isn't? - sip a glass of low fat chocolate milk with a side of strawberries. Unlike the chocolate coating, the dairy equivalent has nine essential nutrients such as calcium vitamin D, potassium, and protein.

Instead of peanut butter crackers…
Sure, bringing your snack

Don't start your day stressing! Experts dish on how they put themselves in a relaxed state of mind each morning. By Jane Bianchi, REDBOOK.

Ease into waking up
Does your alarm clock honking at a nearly eardrum-shattering volume really make you want to get out of bed? Chances are, it has you shoving your pillow over your head and hitting the snooze button. Newsflash: There's a less traumatic way to rise and shine. "I wake up to soothing music or nature sounds that gradually intensify," says Lev Natan, a life coach at The Medicine Tree Center in New York's Hudson Valley. "I make a playlist. The first song might be a gentle flute tune, the trickle of a stream, or the 'om' chant. The second song might be more energizing, such as rhythmic drumming." Banish the default iPhone alarm that greets you at 7 a.m., and scroll through other options - or consider shelling out the 99 cents for a more soothing tone.

Ask yourself one question
As soon as you wake up, assess how you feel about life in

In a relationship, it's not only women who like to hear that they look nice, or that they're wanted. Whether it's a simple compliment to kick off his day or something deeper, these affirmations will strengthen your bond. By Brie Schwartz, REDBOOK.

"You look handsome"
It may sound obvious, but men enjoy a good ego-stroking, especially when they're not trying to impress. "Whenever my fiancé groggily tells me I look nice in the morning, before I head out the door for work, it makes me feel unstoppable for the rest of the day," says New Yorker Charles C., 30. "It's one thing to hear it if we're going out to a nice place, but when she tells me I look dapper when I'm on my way to the office, it gives me a renewed confidence."

"Thank you"
It's easy to overlook the small gestures, like when he swaps out his toothbrush head for yours or straightens up the apartment even if you're not having friends over. Instead of issuing a passive aggressive, "it's about time!" thank him. "Catch him doing

By Lauren Le Vine, REDBOOK.

Congrats are in order for Halle Berry - she's expecting her first child with fiancé Olivier Martinez! The actress is roughly three months along, and the couple already knows it's a boy.

Related: 50 Ways to Stay Bonded with Your Kids

TMZ was the first to break the news - with some additional commentary. "It's definitely worth noting ... Halle is 46, and Olivier is 47." Okay, uh, noted? Women are having children in their forties these days, TMZ. Then, People reached out to Berry's rep for confirmation, who offered a generic, "I can confirm that Halle and Olivier are expecting a child." Then, of course, came the "sources close to the couple," who also must be interviewed in cases like this when a simple confirmation just won't satisfy the public's thirst for information.

Related: 20 Things Every Mom Should Know

"Halle is feeling great. It's a very exciting time," the source told People. We're glad to hear that she's feeling well and definitely agree that

Forget about spending big bucks on scary, doctor's office procedures. Celebrity dermatologist and Skin Rules author Deborah Jaliman, M.D. reveals how to erase the years at home and on the cheap. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

Use a retinol
Dark spots and uneven texture are dead giveaways to your true age. Keep fooling folks by applying an at-home retinol every night. "It's one of the few things that reverses sun damage," says Jaliman. "It will lighten brown spots, improve texture, and make skin smoother. You can see a difference in weeks." By stimulating collagen production, the inexpensive remedies cause dead skin to slough off faster, eliminating signs of ware and dullness. But be aware that retinols make skin particularly sensitive to sunlight, so after applying one at night, be extra-sure to wear at least SPF 30 the next morning. Jaliman likes Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer ($20.99).

Get your vitamin B
You likely get your necessary supply of B3, a vitamin