Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Brynn Mannino

Imagine it: Your sister-in-law gives you a Christmas gift you don't like, but fails to include the gift receipt-so you ask for it, making for an awkward exchange. Who's in the wrong, you or her? Perhaps surprisingly, most etiquette experts agree that the blame can be placed on her. The truth is, holiday gift giving can be tricky, and not just because there's money involved. Just as most of us would prefer not to spend our hard-earned cash on gifts that go unloved, we'd also be loathe to offend loved ones by being inadvertently thoughtless in the act of giving. That said, if handled with courtesy and a little etiquette expertise, your kind gesture will be accepted as just that. Here, 10 guidelines to keep in mind so you can avoid sticky situations and reap all the right benefits from exchanging gifts.

Learn about three websites that let you buy, trade or sell gift cards.

1. Review your gift list every year.
The premise shouldn't be "you give, therefore

By Ayn-Monique Klahre

Card Smarts

Last year, in the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the United States Postal Service processed more than 14.9 billion letters and cards-which amounted to nearly 90 percent of its total haul during that period. (Packages made up a measly 10 percent.) With that many cards landing in mailboxes, you'll want yours to be unique. Consider these customizable cards this holiday season.

Photo: © Len Lagrua/Best Ideas for Christmas

If You Want to Give Back

This card, drawn by a child with cancer, benefits Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Paint Box Project Reindeer card, $12.95 for 8; GreatArrow.com

Other stationers to try: ChildrensArt.org, GoodPaper.com, PeruPaper.com, UnicefUSA.org

Photo: © Len Lagrua/Best Ideas for Christmas

If You're a Procrastinator

A January 1 message won't get lost in the Christmas card shuffle. Raise a glass to that. Vintage Dots

By Alexandra Gekas

One of the great joys of the holidays is receiving greeting cards with photos of your friends and extended family. But taking your family photo is another story. From selecting what to wear to getting the children to cooperate, the process can be filled with anxiety and pressure. Whether you're taking the snapshot yourself or headed to a professional studio, follow these 10 tips to reduce stress and get a frame-worthy photo.

1. Coordinate outfits but don't match.

You've seen it a million times: The entire family-from Grandma to the family dog-is wearing the exact same outfit. It's coordinated, but not necessarily sophisticated. Which is why New York City-based photographer Meg Miller of Meg Miller Photography recommends using a more general color scheme. "I tell clients to approach the family's wardrobe as if they were decorating a room. First pick a color scheme, then add different shades, textures and patterns," she says. And remember: "Neutrals, which

By Amanda Greene

The holidays are here, and chances are you have your fair share of parties to attend. You know the rules: Bring a bottle of wine and follow up with a thank-you note. But what if you're the one throwing the bash? We talked to partygoers from around the country and found out what they have to say about hosting dos and don'ts. If you're planning to open up your home this season, read on to learn everything your guests are too polite to tell you.

1. Put some thought into the food you serve-and how you serve it.
Any holiday party guest will appreciate being served a full meal, but if there's nowhere to sit and eat, it can be more trouble than it's worth. If you're planning to serve a buffet meal, your party guests need enough surfaces to eat on. "How can you cut meat without putting down your plate?!" asks Doug from Atlanta. Maghan from Gainesville, Florida, seconds that: "Not planning the wineglass-plate-fork scenario makes it awkward for everyone. Either have

By Allison Lind

Selling a home is never a simple task, but there's one way to up your chances of getting those closing papers signed: Stage your home. Home staging is credited with selling 95 percent of homes within 35 days or less- in comparison, non-staged homes take an average of 172 days to sell-according to the National Association of Realtors. Not only that, but investing 1 to 3 percent of your home's asking price in staging can generate a return of 8 to 10 percent on the final selling price. We asked Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV's Get It Sold, and Starr Osborne, author of Home Staging That Works: Sell Your Home in Less Time for More Money (Amacom, March 2010), for their tips to get your home ready for market.

1. Know your audience. The average buyer nationally is 32, while the average seller is 57. "That's a huge aesthetic generation gap," Osborne says. Edit out dated items and add trend-forward pieces to attract a younger buyer.

2. Make a good first impression.

By Arricca SanSone

Closets and cabinets may help keep your house clutter free, but when you can't stash another thing in either, it's definitely time to purge. First step: A little mental housecleaning. "Ask yourself what purpose each storage area should be meeting for you," says Star Hansen, a professional lifestyle organizer. "Then keep only items there that serve those needs." To help you get you started, we've got some pare-down pointers and product recommendations for common household spaces. Read on to learn how to put an end to storage spillover for good.

Linen Closet
Purpose: House linens and extra toiletries

• Keep just two to three full sets of towels (bath, hand and washcloth) per family member and a few extra sets for guests. Use shelf dividers so stacks don't topple over.
• Recycle raggedy towels with stains or holes in them. "Store these with your cleaning supplies, or donate them to your local animal shelter," says Charlotte Steill, a certified

By Arianne Cohen

The guests are on the way, the house is a wreck and you're not sure you have gifts for everyone. here's your 6-step stay-sane plan.

Step 1: Prepare Overnight Kits

Sue Maxwell, the innkeeper at Mead House Bed & Breakfast in Nelsonville, Ohio, suggests filling a few baskets with necessities at the beginning of the season. Repurpose or buy good-looking containers, then stock up. The message here-that guests will be well cared for-is just as important as the contents. And you'll save yourself an inevitable trip to the drugstore for forgotten toiletries.

Step 2: Organize Linens

Though it may seem counterintuitive, white linens are the easiest to keep clean for guests, because you can bleach the heck out of 'em, and easily replace one piece. Make sure you have sheets, towels, washcloths and pillowcases.

Step 3: Personalize

"We do our homework to find out what guests want and need," says Sylvia Muller at the Mill House Inn in East Hampton, New

By Sarah Jio

Sure, your vagina has been with you your entire life, but how much do you actually know about it? Whether you've been too shy to ask or don't know where to look for information, chances are there are plenty of things that you've wondered about the area "down there." From what to expect after childbirth to normal sexual functions, read on to find out surprising facts you may not know about your lady parts.

1. It cleans itself.
Step away from the soap and harsh cleansers, gals. Your vagina keeps itself clean. "It's lined by a variety of glands that produce the fluids needed to both lubricate and cleanse the vaginal area," says Lisa Stern, APRN, a nurse practitioner who works with Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles. "The vast majority of vaginal infections I see in my office are self-induced-generally by women who think they're doing a good thing by washing their vagina with soap and water, or worse, with douche." Bath products, particularly those with chemical