Blog Posts by Redbook

By Ellen Welty, REDBOOK

We hear apologies every day, whether they come from ourselves or others. How many of these apologies are actually sincere, and how can we tell?

Ever receive an apology from someone yet feel that they weren't sorry? You were probably right, says Jodi R.R. Smith, author of From Clueless to Class Act: Manners for the Modern Woman. "People will make obligatory apologies in which they don't take responsibility for their actions," she explains. "But if you say, 'It doesn't sound like you're sorry at all,' your relationship will be strained - it may even end," Smith says. "Is calling them on their lousy apology worth that?" Instead, if you receive one of the following apology impostors, reply, "Thank you for saying something" or "I forgive you."

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1. "I'm sorry if I upset you."
Translation: I'm not really sorry for what I did. In fact, I don't see any reason I shouldn't do it again. I'm just apologizing

By Devin Toth, REDBOOK

It's very important for a hairdresser and his or her client to have clear communication. In a consultation, it's easy for misunderstandings to develop during the dialogue. That's probably the number one reason people go home while unhappy with their hair! One way to ensure you and your stylist are on the same page is to use a celebrity picture as a reference. Here are the most in-demand cuts right now.

Jennifer Aniston's fresh, mid-length haircut. It's a lob, also known as a long bob, that's slightly longer in the front and has almost no layers. This would normally be a very heavy, blunt style, but her haircut has jagged edges that leave the style softened and balanced.

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Someone shows me a picture of Kim Kardashian's beautiful long locks during a consult at least once a day! She has long, well-defined layers that are always set in a clean wave made by using a large curling iron. Also, her

By Nicole Yorio, REDBOOK

Are you looking for ways to spend more time with your kids before summer ends? Here are some fun, easy ideas to promote family bonding before everyone goes back to school.

Related: Weird Signs That He Loves You

1. Be like the Backyardigans.
Instead of standing at the kitchen counter returning emails and opening bills, move your activities outside to your deck or patio. While you tackle busy-work, the kids can run around on the lawn. This will help you be more productive as well: studies show that 20 minutes in the summer breeze is enough to boost energy levels.

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2. Guarantee sweet dreams.

Want to motivate your children to play as a family? Teach your kids blackjack or poker using Skittles or M&Ms instead of money. If they're too young to be card sharks, why not bust out the ice cream? You can set up an outdoor make-your-own sundae station, complete with crazy toppings,

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK

Ah, reading: one of the seminal achievements of early childhood. The time when your little bean suddenly-and I mean suddenly-goes from singing the alphabet song ("A, B, C, D, elmoopee… Z!") to reading all the naughty bumper stickers on cars at the red lights. True story: My son recently asked me, out of the blue, "Mom, what does 'Girls are just boobs with legs' mean?" If my beleaguered minivan had more energy, I'd have rear-ended the stupid truck with that bumper sticker.

Related: Weird Signs That He Loves You

Reading also happens to be the crowning achievement in the Great "Mompetition" Wars. "My little Atticus was reading by two! We tried to hold him back so he'd fit in with the other kids, but genius just can't be contained, I suppose!"

Related: Your Husband: Featured in Redbook Magazine?

Like most developmental milestones, when and how a child learns to read can be greatly variable, and there's a wide range of normal

By Barbara Corcoran, REDBOOK

Q:"My supervisor and I have become really close friends - so much so that it hurts when she gives me criticism on the job. How do I separate my work life from my social life?"

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A: My friend Susan quit six months after I hired her because of this exact same problem. She was great at her job, and I thought I was a super supervisor. But I found out the hard way that you can't be both a friend and a boss. Why? Friendships are based on equality, while a boss is always your superior. But there are some ways to strike a balance between these two relationships.

Related: Want Your Husband in Redbook Magazine?

First of all, you should have a heart-to-heart talk with your boss. Tell her how important both the friendship and a good working relationship are to you, and what aspects of your relationship make you feel uncomfortable and less productive. Chances are, she feels awkward too and will

By Rory Evans, REDBOOK

We used to dream of time spent alone on a beach somewhere. Alone in the tranquil oasis of a fancy spa. As time goes on (and reality sets in), the dream evolves: Alone, pushing a shopping cart through the local big-box store. Alone, luxuriating in mascara choices in the drugstore makeup aisle. For women with full houses and fuller schedules, shopping offers a precious opportunity for purposeful aimlessness, a place to be solitary for a delicious hour or more. The only drawback: You walk out lugging a ton of purchases you didn't intend to make while "browsing."

Sound familiar? Here's how to get the retail therapy you need without the sticker shock.

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1. SHE'S THE Q.V.C. MVP

Her Habitat: The comfort of her own home, possibly even the comfort of her memory-foam pillow-top mattress (bought in three easy payments).

You Know Her By: Her Rachel Zoe faux-fur vest, her ultrasonic electric

By Britt Reints, REDBOOK

As we've traveled up the East Coast this summer, we've spent a lot of time visiting historical sites and museums, places that could be considered boring to a 6-year-old. While my daughter Emma has fared pretty well, a full day of walking around looking at various monuments in Washington, D.C. almost did her in-and then we decided to give her a camera and a photo challenge.

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Bunny is Emma's lifelong companion. She's not normally allowed to bring him outside the house anymore, but that day she'd managed to sneak him out of the house and onto a Metro train without anyone noticing. We made the best of the situation by encouraging her to photograph Bunny at all of the sights we visited. She immediately became less disgruntled about the long walks and boring buildings! Added bonus: We now have some very interesting photos of Bunny and Thomas Jefferson to add to our scrapbook.

Britt Reints is a freelance

By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK

DEAR WHYS GUY:

Is it really possible for a guy to be best friends with a girl? I've been dating a guy for several months now and we live together with 3 other roommates in a big house. One of those roommates happens to be his best friend, a girl he's lived with before. They both claim that they've never been anything more than friends, have never even kissed I have nothing against her; we get along fine. But the way they act around each other is unlike any guy-girl friendship I've ever seen.

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He calls her "baby" and other pet names, and comments on how "cute" and "amazing" she looks in her bikini. I've been honest with both of them about how I feel about their friendship. I'm just wondering if I'm the idiot here for being blind to something that's actually there, or if I'm really just getting worked up over nothing. Help!

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DEAR REDBOOK READER:

Uhhh...