Blog Posts by Woman s Day

Photo by: Getty ImagesBy Natasha Burton

Hindsight's 20/20, so there's no one better than ex-wives to tell you what to do (and not to do) if you're going through-or just contemplating-a divorce. Here, real women share what they wish they'd known when they split from their husbands and divorce professionals weigh in on how to combat the most unexpected, yet most common, mistakes they've seen clients make. Rest assured, these 10 lessons can get you through the end of your marriage, both financially and emotionally. Photo by Getty Images.

1. It may take a long time to recover-and that's okay.
Julie, 50, from Denver, thought she'd be able to handle her divorce. "I'm a strong person, I own my own business and I'm a professional speaker," she says. But she admits she could barely function for a full year after the split. Her divorce recovery classes helped her realize everyone bounces back at their own pace. Psychotherapist Pandora MacLean-Hoover, who's divorced, also suggests finding a therapist

Sean Locke; iStockBy Karen Asp

With a new year comes a new pack of promises to make to yourself. How about making some for your beloved pet this time? Keep clicking for leading veterinary experts' top 10 promises they hope you'll make-and keep-for your furry friend's sake. Photo by Sean Locke; iStock.

1. Quit Smoking

Secondhand smoke isn't only bad for people; it's also harmful to animals. "It's been linked to increased respiratory disease and risk of cancer in animals," says Katherine Brammer, DVM, senior clinician of emergency service at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, FL. Plus, because pets groom themselves, they can ingest the toxins that get caught in their fur. Any exposure is bad so if you can't quit, at least keep them away from smoke.

2. Turn Your Pooch into a Therapy Pet
If your dog is outgoing, loves meeting people and does well in new environments, he may be a candidate for therapy work. Therapy dogs volunteer in numerous different capacities, including at

Photo by Rob Howard; hair and makeup by Shelley IllmenseeBy Stephanie Cook, as told to Christina Goyanes

Read about a woman who reunited with the sibling she never forgot. Photo by Rob Howard; hair and makeup by Shelley Illmense.

Motherly Memories

I was at work last January and did what I often do when I have a free moment: I Googled my little brother. I'd been searching for him for more than a decade, so when I typed in "Thomas adopted November 1990, Salt Lake City," I didn't expect to find anything.

I hadn't seen Thomas since he was 4 days old and I was 1 year, but I always felt he was a part of me. When she was pregnant, my mom, Bobbi Ann Campbell, arranged for an open adoption with a family who could give him more than she could-she was single, and times were really hard.

Related: Learn 10 things you should never say to your kids.

Our mother loved him so much! She saved his tiny baby booties and exchanged letters and photos with his family for the first years of his life. Everything was handled through the adoption

Photo by: ThinkstockBy Heather Larson

Everybody has habits that they don't like. But breaking them is tricky because you often do them without even realizing it. That's why the first step to banishing those behaviors is recognizing that you do something irritating in the first place. Then, replace that practice with something that serves a similar purpose. Eventually, that'll become a habit. Here are other expert strategies for stopping some popular practices. Photo by Thinkstock.

1. Biting Your Nails
If you hide your hands because you've gnawed your nails to nubs, it's time to change that. Identify what you do before you bite your nails, suggests James Claiborn, PhD, co-author of The Habit Change Workbook: How to Break Bad Habits and Form Good Ones. Do you search for uneven or jagged edges, and then bring your hand to your mouth? Instead of moving a finger toward your face, clench your fists. Continue clenching them for a couple of minutes until the urge to bite your nails disappears.

happy coupleBy Dawn Papandrea

Every married person knows to be faithful, stay truthful and be there for her partner through good times and bad--they're in the wedding vows, after all. But most seasoned couples would admit that some unspoken rules are vital for getting past rough patches and growing stronger as a couple. Here, experts share 10 of the less apparent (but just as important) marriage rules to live by. Photo by Getty Images.

1. Don't criticize your partner's parents or friends. You know how it is-your family can tick you off but no one else had dare speak ill of them. That's why you should tread carefully with your in-laws and your husband's dearest friends. "Even when he's venting to you, your contributions can put him on the defensive," explains LeslieBeth Wish, EdD, a Florida-based psychologist and licensed clinical social worker. "When you take position A, you prompt your partner to take position B." Instead, says Dr. Wish, put yourself in his position so that you can

Photo by: ThinkstockBy Margot Gilman

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be." Shakespeare's words have stood the test of time, unlike most other bits of money advice you've probably heard. And yet many of us continue to follow old money rules-some outdated, some never good ideas to begin with-that are more likely to cost us dough than save us any. Learn which ones to forget and which new tips really pay off. Photo by Thinkstock.

1. Old rule: Buy stock and let it sit and grow over time.
New rule: Rebalance your portfolio every year.
If you have a mixed investment portfolio, such as your 401(k) which contains bonds and stocks, buying and holding shifts the ratio of these investments over the years, since riskier vehicles usually grow faster. "You could be taking on more risk over time, which isn't necessarily what you want as you get older," says Eleanor Blayney, a consumer advocate for the CFP Board (the organization that credentials certified financial planners) and the author of

Get back in touch with your favorite friends.By Alina Dizik

When we get super-busy, some friendships fall by the wayside. But that doesn't mean you can't revive the relationship. "Even if a lot of time has elapsed, it's worth saving those nurturing friends who know you deep down and whom you can confide in and call in a crisis," says Vicki Field, a midlife coach in Chapel Hill, NC. Wanting to rekindle a friendship isn't enough, though. You have to find a way to reconnect, which can be difficult after months or years of sporadic-or zero-contact. Here are the best first moves to make to get your friend back in your life. Photo by iStock.

1. Write Her a Facebook Message
Getting in touch electronically is one of the easiest ways to catch up, says Field. But what do you say in that first note? Start with some information about how busy you've been and then add in details about what you've been doing. Sharing updates about your life can encourage your friend to reply with the same openness. Once you've reconnected, make

split wedding cake topperBy Marlisse Cepeda

Nobody wants to get divorced, but those statistics that get passed around make it seem like it's an almost inevitable consequence of getting married. Breathe easy, brides. Truth is less grim than fiction here. From that ominous 50% divorce rate to pre-wedding cohabitation's effect on marriage, read on as experts clarify the seven most popular misconceptions about splitting up.

Myth #1: One in two marriages ends in divorce.

Whether you and your partner have been dating since childhood or had a whirlwind romance, chances are you've been (or will be) warned about the dreaded 50% statistic. So are your chances for a happily ever after really that mediocre? Not exactly. In fact, the divorce rate has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s, according to the National Marriage Project. A more accurate divorce rate for American marriages ranges from 40% to 50%. And keep in mind: This factors in people who marry over and over again which drives up the rate.