Blog Posts by Redbook

By Nicole Yorio, REDBOOK

What makes these little gems so good? No therapy, no Big Talks, no vow renewal ceremony. Just fun things you can sprinkle into the mix to improve your relationship instantaneously.

1. The Best Two Things to Keep in Your Bedside Table: "Every couple needs a toy they can share-it practically guarantees orgasm," says REDBOOK columnist Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., an ob/gyn and a professor at Columbia University. She recommends a finger vibrator like the Ipo Finger Vibe from Picobong ($44, babeland.com) because it feels much more natural than a bulky vibrator. Hutcherson is also a big fan of lube: "Slippery sex is good sex!" she says. Proof: Women who used water or silicone-based personal lubricant reported higher ratings of sexual pleasure and satisfaction than those who didn't, according to a study from Indiana University of nearly 2,500 women.

Related: Our Best Sex Tips Ever

2. The Best Time of Day for O-mazing Sex: Everyone knows that men's libidos rise with the

By Kayleigh Donahue, REDBOOK

Does your hair suffer from seasonal affective disorder? This pro intervention will bring lifeless strands back to a healthy, happy state.

1. Trim ends, add bounce. If your haircut suddenly looks blah, ask your hairstylist for a graduated cut--that's pro-speak for soft, angled layers along the bottom of the hair (check out Jessica Alba's style). "They can be worked into just about any style that's chin-length or longer to give it more shape and swing," Tosler says.

Related: 75 Most Iconic Hairstyles of All Time

2. Do a deep treatment. Combat dryness and flyaways by using a deep conditioner or hair mask once a week (or every other week if you have fine hair). They're like regular conditioners on steroids, loaded with moisturizers and strengthening nutrients. Look for one with panthenol, which helps repair damage and boosts shine, or glycerin, a mega-nourisher that's ideal for curly or coarse hair. If you're fine-haired, pick a mask without silicone or

By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK

I recently took the day and traveled to New York City for a taping of a segment for The Thread on Yahoo's Shine Web-broadcast thing.

I'm from Philadelphia, and normally the only time Philadelphians are asked to be on TV (or internet TV) is when it turns out one of our neighbors is a serial killer, or you're stuck at the airport thanks to a major snow storm, or you get Tased at a baseball game. So, needless to say, this experience was completely alien to me. It turned out not to be nearly as intimidating as you might think and I learned some valuable lessons that I thought I'd share with you so that the next time you get Tased at your favorite sporting event, you're prepared to meet the press.

Related: The 5 Outfits Guys Secretly Hope You'll Wear

1. Don't wear sweatshirts. They are not flattering. The camera adds 10 lbs., and a sweatshirt adds another 150. My favorite comfy sweater betrayed me in front of the cameras and gave me moobs and a spare

By Melanie Abrahams, REDBOOK

No offense, repair guys, but we don't always trust your fuzzy math. So we asked three Ms. Fix-Its how a sister can avoid getting suckered.

THE #1 CAR-REPAIR RIP-OFF: engine work. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says that auto shops - one of the 10 most complained-about industries last year - routinely charge customers for replacing engine parts they never even touched! BEAT THE SWINDLE: Tell your mechanic that you want to see any parts they remove and replace. "That way, they have to come clean about exactly what they did under your hood," says Bogi Lateiner, owner of 180 Degrees Automotive in Phoenix. And visit repairpal.com, where you can find the reasonable price range for many common fixes at shops in your city.

Related: Learning to Live With Kid Clutter...and Imperfections

THE #1 PLUMBING RIP-OFF: leaky pipes or faucets. Many plumbers will stick you with a higher bill claiming that the original estimate was for "labor only" and didn't include travel

By Blake Miller, REDBOOK

The recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day for kids still applies in winter. Here's how to get them up off the couch, without yelling, "Get up off the couch!"

1. TOYS! The more choices, the merrier. When researchers at the University at Buffalo gave kids the option of playing with one, three, or five toys that promote movement-think jump ropes, basketballs, and sleds-active time nearly doubled among those with the most choices, compared with kids who had only one. "When you increase food variety, people eat more," says lead researcher Denise Feda, Ph.D. "Same goes for physical activity and toys."

Related: 4 Sneaky Reasons Your Back Hurts

2. HANG WITH FIT FAMILIES. Children with friends who are active tend to have more physical activity in their lives than those with slacker buds, says a recent study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Read: Skip playdates with the neighbor whose Nintendo DS is glued to his wrist.

By Krista Bennett Demaio, REDBOOK

With all due respect to wrinkle cream, the right foundation or lipcolor can shave off years-instantly. See for yourself with these super-fast solutions.

1. Try a pink pucker. "Everyone looks younger with cherubic rosy lips," says makeup artist Christian McCulloch, who works with Demi Moore and Naomi Watts. If you're fair, slick on a mauve-y rose shade such as Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum, $7.49; for deeper skin tones, go with a bolder color like Berry Smoothie.

Related: Love Can Make You Skinny

2. Illuminate your skin with foundation. If your skin seems dull, try a foundation with light-reflecting particles (they're tiny, so you won't look like a showgirl). "They hide flaws and make skin look radiant," says makeup artist Sonia Kashuk. Any formula labeled illuminating, brightening, or luminous will do the trick. Try Sonia Kashuk Perfecting Luminous Foundation, $10.49.

3. Smooth lids with shimmer. A neutral-colored shimmery shadow is like

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK

musical chairs

"Oh, sit!" is a new show coming out on the CW that is being described as "musical chairs for adults." At first I was dubious. How entertaining would it be to watch grown-ups walk in a circle to "Here we go 'round the mulberry bush"? But then I remembered recently watching a kindergartner hurl a chair across the room after he was butt-scooched out by another kid and realized the genius of turning a classic kid's game into a reality show.

Related: 8 Mommy Apps I'd Actually Pay For

I don't want to brag or anything but considering I just chaired the games committee (committee of one, ahem) for my kindergartner's holiday party, I'm kind of an expert on musical chairs. There are only two things involved in this game-the music and the chairs-and both have the potential for high entertainment value. In addition to chair chucking, you can also expect chair stealing, chair toppling and my personal favorite, the appearance of imaginary

By Charlotte Hilton Anderson, REDBOOK

mom with toddler

"What is the #1 thing you wish you could tell non-parents about your kids?" This was the question I posted on Facebook and within minutes my inbox started filling up with replies. But many did not go the way I had anticipated. The first problem was that all my non-parent friends felt judged by the question and immediately went on the defensive. And of course my parent friends spend a significant portion of their lives feeling judged and got defensive too. Lastly, several people pointed out that sometimes our harshest critics are other parents. And that's not including the people who don't have kids but wish they could. Everyone to their corners! My point in asking the question was not to judge anyone regardless of their spawning proclivities but rather to help bridge that gap that so often occurs in public places when our child is doing some awful and we know everyone is staring. In that moment, to help explain and remedy the situation, what do