Blog Posts by Redbook

When the sex begins to dwindle (it will) and the obligations start to pile up (they do), rather than settle, sweetly shock your husband. By Anne Roderique-Jones, REDBOOK.

Give him a date, not an obligation
Between driving the kids to school, meetings, and housework - and that's before noon - keeping things fresh often gets put on the back burner. Make it a priority by tricking him into a sweet surprise. Jessie Dillon of Dallas, TX, and her husband are always trying to get each other to run errands. "It seems that if I'm not asking him to pick up the dry cleaning, I'm having him meet my family for lunch," she says. "Recently, I decided to surprise him by having him 'meet me to have his suit tailored.' He begrudgingly agreed, and when he showed up, I handed him two tickets to a baseball game so that we could enjoy his idea of a great afternoon."

Celebrate him for no reason
Men like to feel like king of the castle, but often consider themselves neglected between the carpooling, cleaning

Probiotics may be the new vitamins, but do you really need them? Here are six things to know about these important health boosters. By Holly Corbett, REDBOOK.

What are probiotics anyway?
The microbes or healthy bacteria, which are found in certain foods, live in your gut and help with digestion, regulate metabolism, and boost your immune system. "It's like you have your own Amazon rainforest in your belly," says Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D, C.N.N., author of Digestive Wellness. "Your gut has three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half pounds of these little bugs, which is about equivalent to the size of your liver." Maintaining a healthy balance of the trillions of these good bacteria in your gut is key for your overall health and wellness.

Why are probiotics so important?
Probiotics play the vital role of helping your body to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, says says Steven Lamm, MD, "house doctor" on The View and author of No Guts, No Glory. If your balance of healthy bacteria gets out

Everybody comes into a relationship dragging along issues from their past, but - if handled well - those lingering issues can actually bring you closer together. Here's how to make those skeletons work for you. By Holly Corbett, REDBOOK.

The conflict: His jealous streak is making you shut down
He once confided that his father was a womanizer, and he thinks he may have cheated on his mother. It seems like he's moved past it, but some recent behavior is making you feel otherwise. "Lingering insecurity can show up in seemingly unconnected ways," explains Dr. Tammy Nelson, a couples psychotherapist and author of The New Monogamy: Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity. "He may put you in situations that feel like a test. For example, he asks you to meet him out after work, but then shows up later than expected to see if you get lured in to talking to another man while you're waiting." To keep the peace, you may find yourself shutting down or rearranging your schedule to spend more

Face masks are the fast pass to a clearer, more radiant complexion. Here, the pros share their secret DIY recipes -- using ingredients you've already got in your kitchen. By Cristina Mueller, REDBOOK.

Prep your face
A mask is one of the fastest ways to get a healthy glow because it delivers a potent dose of ingredients into your skin," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. You can apply a mask as often as once a week, but whether you whip up your own at home or buy one at the store, make sure to cleanse and gently exfoliate your skin first, which makes it easier for the ingredients to sink in. (The old advice about steaming your face? Experts say it's just not necessary.)

Related: Date-Night Dresses Under $100

For moisture...
Slather on a hydrating mask--it'll make you look dewy, and it plumps up lines so they're harder to see. Create your own in minutes with this recipe from famed Los Angeles

Yes, what he sees has changed, but that doesn't mean how he feels about you has. By Holly Corbett, REDBOOK.

"After being married for half a decade and having two kids, I still look at my wife each and every day and am amazed at how hot she is. I always think, 'Thank goodness I am an overachiever!'" - Mike B., 42

"How did I get so lucky? Of all the men in the world she picked me. Woot Woot!" - Ben Y., 36

"When I see my bride of 16 years naked, I think of poetry in motion! I invested in a high-end photographer for her 40th birthday. He took some stunning nude photos-one is on our wall in the bedroom. We both believe in living happily ever after and - in spite of two young children and a thriving business - we both do our best to stay lean and fit for ourselves and each other." - Evan Money, 42, who is remarrying his wife in different state or country every year and documenting it on EvanLovesSusan.com

Related: Date-Night Dresses Under $100

"When I look at my four-months pregnant wife,

Yes, it's freezing out, but if you find yourself refusing to go anywhere without the throw blanket wrapped around you, it might not just be your husband's sneaky habit of turning the thermostat down - one of these ailments could be throwing your internal temperature for a loop. By Holly Corbett, REDBOOK.

Your thyroid is stuck on slow mode
The thyroid gland controls metabolism, and if it's underactive, you may be chilly more often than not. "Standard blood tests miss low thyroid in about half of people," says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! If the test comes back normal, but you're still having trouble, you may want to ask a holistic doctor for a second opinion. He or she may try prescribing thyroid medication anyway to see if it works. Find a board-certified doctor here.

You're not getting enough iron
Iron is needed to deliver oxygen to your cells for energy, and low levels could explain why you're feeling cold. "If you're not making enough

The President has been sworn in. The choirs have sung; the people have cheered. There was magic in the air, and hope abounded across the nation. But after the celebratory hugs and kisses and the inauguration ball, the moms have spoken. And, no matter what party we're affiliated with or for whom we voted in the election, here's what my Facebook friends are looking for during President Obama's second term in The White House:

On gun control laws:
"Creating laws that protect the innocent against gun-happy maniacs is something that this country desperately needs. At the moment, anyone can get a gun, even the mentally unstable. We need to find a way to keep assault weapons out of the hands of civilians, and anyone who owns a gun needs to be thoroughly screened, and then held accountable for that weapon." - Anonymous from Atlanta, Georgia

On healthcare reform:
"Healthcare is an extremely important issue [to me]. Half of my paycheck each week goes to family health

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