Blog Posts by Redbook

By Karen Karbo, REDBOOK

Q: My boyfriend of three years no longer gives me compliments, sends quick texts, or even flashes me winks. When I remind him of how much this stuff would mean to me, he says, "I don't need compliments," implying that I shouldn't either. Is it so wrong to crave a little praise from the one person I thought adored me? - J.D., 39, IOWA

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A: Of course not! And by the way, you look lovely today. Here's the deal: Most men are gung ho to make their women happy. It's why they'll spend hours moving furniture when we decide to redecorate the living room (for the eighth time).

What I want to know, then, is why your guy is being stingy with the compliments. He showered you with them in the early days, so we know he has it in him. I consulted my own Man of the House about your dilemma, and he said that perhaps you need to connect the dots for your boyfriend, and remind him that there's something in it for him, too.

By Alice Elliott Dark, REDBOOK

You exchanged vows-but did you swap your last name for his? Many women take their husband's name, others stick with the one they were born with, but these couples took a more novel approach.

1. "I'm on my second marriage, so I took my new husband's name and hyphenated it with my first husband's last name. It's a mouthful, but I have children from my first marriage and wanted to respect the part of my life that gave me two amazing sons." -Susie Martinez-Dominguez

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2. "My husband took my last name when we got married. My first name sounded silly with his, so he took mine instead." -Chanda Tipton

3. "We didn't like our last names, so we combined parts of our mother's maiden names when we tied the knot. So Pena and Glenn turned into Penn. We'd watched a lot of Sean Penn movies when we first dated, so I took that as a good sign!" -Aryn Penn

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4. "We

By Lauren Le Vine, REDBOOK

Abby, 26, and Ted, 32, have been dating for two years and engaged for one. They met online, and Abby has no problem telling people this. However, Ted likes to share that they slept together the first time they met in person, which Abby doesn't think anyone else needs to know. Who's right?

Related: 17 5-Minute Marriage Makeovers

She says: "A lot of people meet online these days; I have no problem with anyone asking how Ted and I met knowing that. We messaged each other for months before exchanging phone numbers, and then we would talk for hours like teenagers in high school with a crush on each other. When we finally met in person for the first time, I felt like I'd known Ted for years. We didn't have to go through any of the usual first date stuff-you know, stock questions, nervousness etc.-and we ended up going home together. We've been together ever since and are getting married in October, but when we tell people the story of 'how we met,' I

By Aarti Sanan, REDBOOK

My recent trip to India made me realize how hard it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling. I did try to stick to my healthy eating plan and avoid carbs, but more often than not the non-carb dishes were more unhealthy than the ones with carbohydrates. I needed to create some sort of survival travel pack that would fend off the lure of fried food and stale airport croissants. I turned to super nutritionist Stephanie Middleberg for some tips.

1. Snack Mixes: These mixes travel well, but be warned: They can have a surprisingly high caloric value. Unless you're planning to scale energy, consider an option from The Good Bean or Sheffa Foods. Both use chickpeas as a key ingredient, which means nonperishable proteins without all the carbs.

Related: 50 Under $50 Frugal Finds for Spring

2. Protein Bars: I lived on these in India, which is why I probably ran out in two days. Maybe you shouldn't follow my lead and eat five protein bars a day,

By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK

DEAR WHYS GUY:

"Does my guy notice if I've gained five or ten pounds?"

Related: What Your Man Really Thinks in Bed

DEAR REDBOOK READER:

You ladies are much more focused on your weight than your guys are. I hear stories every now and then about a dude who gives gives his wife static when she gains weight, but those guys are what normal guys call "jerks," and they are in the minority. The truth is, I don't notice when Karel gains weight (she wears it very well) nor do I notice when she drops weight, which occasionally lands me in hot water.

Related: 25 Snacks Under 150 Calories

Bottom line: Looking healthy (vitally important) is hot, so if your average weight is healthy, and you feel good about yourself, five or ten pounds doesn't make a bit of difference.

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By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK

DEAR WHYS GUY:

"Why can't my husband dress my kids in cute outfits? When he's in charge in the morning, our little girls always end up looking like they dressed themselves-in the dark, in a wind storm."

Related: What Your Man Really Thinks in Bed

DEAR REDBOOK READER:

Karel gives me static about this as well. She gets especially irritated when I dress Josie in her brother's hand-me-downs. I'll tell you why we can't dress kids in cute outfits. There are two major reasons:

It's totally impractical. I'm not taking Josie for a date at the Russian Tea Room or an audience with the Queen, we're going to look at toads. There is a good chance she is going to fall into the pond, end even if she manages to avoid getting soaked from head to toe, she will be covered in mud, and if the mud dries by the time we leave the pond then she'll be covered in a fresh layer of dirt after she plays trucks with her friends at the park. Josie is

By Amy Shearn, REDBOOK

When I found out I was going to have my first child, I did what any responsible, expecting mother does: I started to compile a reading list. After all, what is procreating but an excuse to revisit favorite childhood books? Since my daughter is only two, we haven't exactly made it through all my favorites yet (Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, and Remembrance of Things Past, to name a few); however, there are a few beloved picture books I've managed to sneak in.

1. Oh What A Busy Day by Gyo Fujikawa

I didn't even remember that this was a childhood favorite of mine until I randomly came across it at our local library. Just seeing the colorful illustrations made my mind zing with reptile-brain-level recognition. There is a particular way that pictures look to you when you poured over them with the focused attention only a very young child with lots of time to spend staring can muster. I can remember which of the adorable-and incidentally,

By Hannah Hickok, REDBOOK

getty

Here's how to get the most mileage out of items you may already own while transitioning between seasons.

Related: Easy Ways to Burn 100 Calories

1. Booties

Cowboy-style, heeled or chunky: booties (ankle or calf-high) are some of the most versatile shoes out there. Keep your toes warm in winter by wearing them with jeans and tights, but come spring bare your legs and pair boots with shorts and dresses for a fun tomboy look.

Rachel Bilson is a master of the bare-legged bootie. Just add tights and a scarf, and this ensemble's winterized.

2. Cropped Pants

Dressy cropped trousers are ideal for funky in-between weather. Wear them to work with heels and a sweater to fend off chill, then switch to sandals and a lightweight blouse when temps hit 70°.

Related: 25 Snacks Under 150 Calories

3. Bright Blazer

Another year-round staple, blazers help bridge the seasonal gap by being an easy add-on to any outfit. While black and