Blog Posts by Redbook

Still making the kids' lunches every day because you think you "have to?" You may not realize it, but that behavior could be springing from an outdated belief that it's somehow "your job." Although rigid roles can make things more streamlined, they can also be limiting. So give up that - and these other 10 things - for a happier and less stressful union. By Jane Bianchi, REDBOOK.

1. Once you're married, you can't have a life of your own
"A wife used to be encouraged to tend to her husband's and children's needs first. But if you do that, you'll become resentful," says Dan Beaver, a marriage and family therapist in Walnut Creek, CA. Then your frustration may manifest itself in different ways, like getting depressed, snapping at people, or smoking or drinking too much. So forget about that old-school rule, and do something every day that makes you feel happy, relaxed and/or fulfilled, whether that's seeing an author speak at your local bookstore, taking a few minutes to practice a

Whether they're texting us pictures of their thermometers when they're sick, or buying us flowers "just because," the men in our lives need to be noticed. Here, our panel of husbands confess the peculiar things they do to entice their wives. By Brie Schwartz, REDBOOK.

1. He acts like a clown
Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men: Eight Ways to Win Your Wife's Heart Forever, believes that in order to get attention from their wives, men need to do something slightly wacky. "Getting into bed with a tuxedo on, or roller skating through the house serving her dinner can generate a good laugh and reduce tensions," he says. "People have set ideas of how things happen from day to day, and whenever a routine changes, you end up on high-alert for danger. When you partner realizes there's no danger at all, the flush of adrenaline gets channeled toward gleefulness about you relationship."

Related: 50 Old-Fashioned Cheap Thrills

2. He wears your "favorites"

Evolutionary psychologists tell us that women (and I'm talking cavewomen here) were originally monogamous out of necessity. Females have a limited number of eggs, so their time and resources had to be devoted any children they managed to have in order to, you know, continue the human race. Therefore, they needed to be choosy about procreation partners. Men, on the other hand, have an unlimited supply of sperm, so they want to spread their seed as much as possible to pass their genes on to many members of the next generation.

Related: Your One-Month Plan to a Closer, More Loving Relationship

But what if this long-believed gender dichotomy isn't true? In his new book, What Do Women Want? Adventures in the Science of Female Desire, Daniel Bergne topples society's ingrained notions that women crave intimacy, monogamy, and emotional connections and are passive in their pursuit of sex. In fact, several studies "are beginning to hint that female eros isn't in the least programmed for

We're all about eating between meals, which every nutritionist and study assures us is a good thing. The key is come 4 p.m., choosing something that's both healthy and satisfying. These fresh ideas will do just that on the hottest days. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

Chocolate fudge popsChocolate fudge pops
If you're craving something sweet, cocoa-filled, and a bit better for you than a chocolate éclair, try Relish author and The Chew co-host Daphne Oz's chocolate fudge pops. To make six, blend 13 ounces of lite coconut milk, five tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, two tablespoons of raw honey, one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and one-quarter teaspoon of salt, then pour into ice-pop molds and freeze for at least two hours.

Mango and avocado yogurt
At Chobani's New York store, members of the 4 o'clock rush are wild for this seasonal, salsa-esque concoction, which you can easily recreate at home. Top a half-cup of 0% Plain Chobani Greek Yogurt with two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, one

Everyone in your crew making the move from vodka cranberries to whiskey punch? You're not alone. Before you go hitting up your local liquor store for more Jack Daniels, read this primer on what to know about the real stuff. By Meghann Foye, REDBOOK.

"What would you like to know?" asks Sean Muldoon, the North Belfast native and founder of the much acclaimed high-end cocktail tavern The Dead Rabbit, ready to show off his prize collection of whiskeys and punches. We've just met at his bar, which opened six month's ago in New York City's financial district. Muldoon's made it his mission to collect more than 60 different kinds of Irish whiskey, which to his estimation, is more than any other bar in New York City. I ask him to tell me everything he knows about the spirit, only to realize that could take years. Instead, I settle on the basics:

1. Just drink it. I ask Muldoon what you should look for when tossing the stuff back. The pete-y aromas? Smokiness? Any other words I'd written down from

Can you really lose weight when food's your passion - and your profession? Get inspired by these pro chefs who overcame their own daunting diet challenges. By Amy Ahlberg, REDBOOK.

Andres MerazStay on schedule
Never let yourself go too long between meals, or you'll be tempted to overdo it with between-meal bites," says Andres Meraz, chef de cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach's DiLido Beach Club. "Being a chef can be very challenging when it comes to slimming down. I taste everything and I am exposed to so much food, so it can get tempting to eat everything in sight." His solution? Sticking to a strict schedule: breakfast at 8, lunch at 11:30, a light snack at 3, and dinner at 7. "Spacing out my meals and being consistent has helped me reach my target weight." In one year, Meraz lost about 50 pounds, and has successfully maintained his new weight. "I am motivated by the way my body feels and the energy I have since the weight loss," he adds.

Related: 25 Lazy Ways to Burn Extra Calories

After committing herself to Weight Watchers, the chef and restauranteur Sarabeth Levine devised this treat recipe that costs a mere three points. REDBOOK.

Sarabeth Levine's Morning CookiesMakes 48 (3-inch-diameter) cookies.

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup coarse whole-wheat flour
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg, freshly grated
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
4 biscuits (3.3 oz) Barbara's Shredded Wheat Cereal, crushed into small pieces
2 1/2 oz coconut, unsweetened, desiccated
12 oz unsalted butter (3 sticks), at room temperature, cut into small pieces
1 cup superfine sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Zest of 1/2 lemon
3 eggs, at room temperature, beaten

Related: 31 Days of Artisan Ice Cream

1. Position racks in the center and top third of the oven and preheat to 350ºF. Line four half-sheet pans with parchment paper.2. Sift the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Add the whole-wheat

From must-try hairstyles to making green juice work for your complexion, get warm weather-ready with 15 of-the-moment ideas. By Holly Corbett, REDBOOK.

Go for a top knot style
"With inspiration from celebrities like Jessica Alba and Kourtney Kardashian, this hairdo is a go-to this season, perfect for day or night," says Adrianne Johnston, a stylist at Chicago's Maxine Salon. "Pulling up long hair is a must for women during the warmer months, and the top knot is a confident, sexy style." Johnston says the key to achieving the perfect top knot is to not pull it too tightly - if you do, it will look severe and painful rather than fun and effortless. Keeping the knot looser will also add dimension and show off your color. Then, spread it out a bit with your fingers. "Sunlight will hit the knot and look spectacular," says Johnston.

Paint your digits in pastels
"Pastels are the hot trend for spring and summer in fashion and beauty. We're seeing lots of manicure and pedicure looks