Blog Posts by Woman s Day

Look your best by tapping into the health perks of your hormonesBy Leslie Pepper

Hormones have a bad reputation. Feeling bloated? Cranky? Craving carbs? Blame it on that time of the month. But hormones provide a host of health benefits and can help you lose weight, sleep better and stay sharp. Learn five ways they can help you be your best-and how to harness their positive power. Photo by Getty Images.

Soothe stress with endorphins

HOW THEY HELP: These "feel-good" hormones can ease pain and create an overall sense of well-being.

Kick up the heat. Spicy foods can activate the nerve endings on your tongue that prompt your body to produce endorphins. Add a dash of cayenne pepper to roasted potatoes or popcorn, try hot sauce in scrambled eggs or on grilled cheese, or add chopped pickled jalapeños to sandwiches or potato salad.

Mellow out with mint. Chewing peppermint gum or smelling potpourri that includes mint can help stimulate a nerve near your nose that signals your brain to make endorphins.

Focus and stay alert with dopamine

HOW IT HELPS:

Read More »from 5 Surprising Ways to Lose Weight and Feel Great

By Woman's Day StTurn an old frame and some burlap into a pretty, practical catchallaff

From WD's Pinterest boards

Use it to keep reminders, invitations and bits of inspiration in sight-and out of that stack on your desk.

The crafter Artist Emily Boan sells repurposed vintage pieces at local boutiques in Charlotte, NC, and through her Etsy shop. Photo by: Alison Gootee/Studio D; Craft & prop styling by Shana Faust.

TIME 3½ HR
COST $32

Materials

· Decorative frame

· Scissors

· Several yards of burlap

· 1 piece of mounting board, cut to fit frame

· Spray adhesive

· Craft knife

· 3 pieces of self-adhesive mounting board, each cut to fit the frame width and about ¼ its height

· Pencil or pen

· Heavy-duty adhesive

· Hot-glue gun and sticks

· Books or clamps

· Staple gun, staples

1. Remove glass or backing from frame.

Related: Discover 15 clever uses for common household items.

2. Cut a piece of burlap to cover the top ⅓ of the mounting board, leaving an extra 1" at the board edges. Spray this section of the board and the burlap piece with adhesive and press the Read More »from DIY Hanging Paper Organizer

By Arricca Prevent your dog or cat (and the rest of your family) from getting sickElin SanSone

No pet owner wants to see her furry family member scratching constantly, but fending off fleas and ticks isn't just about keeping the itchies at bay. "Every year, serious illnesses and deaths occur from diseases these parasites transmit," says Susan E. Little, DVM, researcher and professor of veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Plus, "when we protect our pets, we protect people too." Here's what to know to keep these bugs out of your and your pet's lives. Photo by Getty Images

Pet parasites threaten your family's health too.
Fleas are opportunists; while they prefer to feed on animals, they'll bite people if given the chance. The result: itchy, red welts, just like your pet gets. Fleas also transmit illnesses such as bartonellosis, also known as cat scratch disease, and tapeworm. And while everyone's heard of Lyme disease, other serious diseases ticks transmit include anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Read More »from 10 Weird Things You Never Knew About Fleas and Ticks

Learn how to deal with even the most difficult woman for your family's sake.By Rachel Rabkin Peachman

It's no secret that daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law have complicated relationships. "Both women can feel threatened," says Deanna Brann, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Reluctantly Related: Secrets to Getting Along with Your Mother-in-Law or Daughter-in-Law. Daughters-in-law want to establish their place in the family, while mothers-in-law want to ensure they're not excluded. Even when the women love each other, their roles can be hard to figure out. To avoid causing family stress, we asked real mothers-in-law (and some daughters-in-law too) about comments that have rubbed them the wrong way-and asked experts how you can address issues peacefully. Photo by Getty Images

1. "You're welcome to come over any time. We're always here for you."
An open-door policy is bound to backfire. For instance, Judy's* daughter-in-law told her she'd be there for her if she needed anything. "But when my husband developed Alzheimer's she went AWOL," leaving Judy hurt

Read More »from 10 Things Never to Say to Your Mother-in-Law

Kickstart your motivation to get healthy for life.By Woman's Day Staff

When it comes to weight loss, Dr. Oz has seen it all. Since launching The Dr. Oz Show in 2009, he's met and featured hundreds of people who have lost more than 100 pounds just by changing their habits. The secret he's learned from those who have succeeded long-term is to set yourself up to stay motivated. "Once people start to lose weight, they feel good and they're excited to keep going. But that fades. To combat this, build in some easy lifestyle changes that will keep you focused on your health. Eventually, those changes become permanent," he says. In other words, automate your lifestyle. Here, Dr. Oz helps you tackle the most common weight loss hurdles that squelch motivation so you can drop-and keep off-5, 10, 25 pounds or more! Photo by Brian Doben; hair by Anne Sampogna; makeup by Linda Melo; prop styling by Joe Maer; T-shirt by Hanes Cool Dri Tagless Available at Hanes.com

No ideas for breakfast?

DR. OZ SAYS: Eat the same foods every A.M.

A recent

Read More »from Dr. Oz’s Top 6 Weight Loss Secrets

Find out why the hitmaker's next number-one just may be a cookbookBy Anna Dysinger

Pat Benatar knows how to rock. Her feisty tunes have earned her four Grammys and three American Music Awards, and she was the first female artist to be featured on MTV. But the 60-year-old mom of two (Haley, 28, and Hana, 19) isn't stopping yet. She and her husband, Neil Giraldo, are just finishing a small spring concert series before beginning their main tour across the US and Canada on June 7, 2013, all while recording Neil's Christmas album. While the singer's no stranger to the stage, she's just as likely to be in her kitchen. Between shows, Pat chatted with WomansDay.com about her family recipes, her garden in Maui, HI, and her cookbook that's coming out this winter. Photo by Beth Herzaft.

Related: Check out the most wanted celebrity hairstyles this season.

Where did your love of cooking come from?

It came from my husband's love of eating! I didn't cook all that much when I first met him, but he loves food-he's half Sicilian. I decided that I better start

Read More »from Pat Benatar's Next Hit: A Different Kind of Cookbook

Keep your stems looking silky smooth with these savvy skin solutionsBy Woman's Day Staff

Break out the skirts and shorts! These simple, no-surgery strategies will minimize cellulite, veins and more. Photo by Corbis

If you have…

VARICOSE VEINS
Raised blue, red or flesh-colored lines

The cause A valve in the vein weakens and blood pools. You can thank aging and genetics.

The fix Put your feet up-whether you're sitting on the couch or at your desk. It will lessen the pressure on these veins and alleviate the often painful throbbing sensation that accompanies it. Also try eating a low-salt diet to lessen swelling, and avoid wearing high heels, which can prevent your calf muscles from pumping blood properly.

Related: Discover 6 all-natural beauty fixes.

CELLULITE
Lumpy textured skin on buttocks, hips or thighs

The cause Clumps of superficial fat push out against skin, regardless of your shape or size.

The fix Though there's no cure-all, creams formulated to tone skin or that contain the metabolism-boosting ingredient carnitine can

Read More »from Solutions for the 3 Biggest Reasons Your Legs Embarrass You

Enjoy a getaway without packing on poundsBy Karen Asp

Hello, vacation! You're ready to kick back and relax, maybe sip a few margaritas by the pool. Heaven, right? Until you step on a scale and realize you've toted home more than just kitschy souvenirs. About two-thirds of frequent travelers say that exercising and eating healthy while on the road is stressful, according to a TripIt survey. So what's a weight-conscious jetsetter to do? Follow these 10 simple strategies when you're planning your next getaway. Photo by Thinkstock

1. Book accommodations with a kitchen.
Rent a condo or hotel room with a kitchen, mini-kitchen or at least a mini-fridge (which may cost a small fee), so you can stock healthy foods. "Then, you can eat some of your meals in, which can be healthier since restaurant meals tend to be larger and higher in calories," says Molly Morgan, a sports specialist dietitian in Vestal, NY, and author of The Skinny Rules. Since dining out's part of the fun, Morgan suggests eating breakfasts and lunches in your room

Read More »from 10 Easy Tricks to Avoid Vacation Weight Gain