Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Denise Schipani

One thing you learn when you spend time online is that it's a big, big world-with a little of everything and everyone in it. But you also learn that it's a small world-a place where you can find your group, support system, best friend, passion and so much more. A place where making connections can change your life…forever. Here, four women whose lives were altered by an online connection.

The Unlikely Best Friend
Ruth Atherly, a 51-year-old business owner in Gibsons, British Columbia, went online about four years ago to find support in her efforts to lose weight. Inspired by the TV show The Biggest Loser, she signed on to their site, through which she joined a support group with about 15 others. It wasn't long before one member's contributions stood out. "Tammie got my jokes," says Ruth of her new online pal. Before long, their online connection deepened, and they took their relationship off The Biggest Loser forum. Ruth says, "I'm not sure when the

By Katie Kretschmer

Whether you already have plans to host your own spooky soiree or are still looking for a way to celebrate the haunted holiday, there are plenty of fun family events across the country to help you get in the spirit. Before you get your trick-or-treat on, groove to live music and watch-or participate in-a costumed parade. Or see what 29,762 carved pumpkins lit up all at once look like. To find out which festivities are happening in your area, check out this list of spooktacular family-friendly events!

Costume Party on Ice at Rockefeller Center, New York City
October 31
Get your thrills-and maybe some chills-skating with other costumed ghouls and goblins at Rockefeller Center's Costume Party on Ice. The rink will be decked out with a ghostly look and creepy music will play throughout the sessions. If you get too spooked, take a break for some comforting hot chocolate. Wear your best costume and you could win dinner for two at the Rock Center Café. There

By Sally Stich

It used to be that when you wanted to talk to your friend, you walked (or drove) over to her house, sat down and had a long chat, or maybe you gave her a call. Now, you're probably more likely to email her, go on Facebook or send a text. According to a 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center, 74 percent of women use email and 61 percent use the Internet on a typical day. Over 12 million women between the ages of 35 and 44 use Facebook- and the number of U.S. women users age 55 and older has grown a staggering 482.4 percent from February 2009 to January 2010, according to Inside Network's Inside Facebook Gold. Women, the gatekeepers of relationships, are now the mistresses of social media, but that raises the question: Are these digital connections with kids, parents, friends and colleagues as meaningful as the old-fashioned face-to-face kind?

Connecting 101

Deep human connections, say experts, aren't something that merely enhance our lives; they're a biological

By Brynn Mannino

This month, Burger King is set to release its shareable hamburger pizza, a round sandwich served in six slices. Normally, we'd be dumbfounded by such a high-fat, low-nutrition meal, but it's far from novel considering KFC's Double Down and Denny's Fried Cheese Melt, both released this summer. While these fatty feasts are the newest in extreme eating, they are far from the only ones. Below, check out the nine we consider the most sinful.

Get the low-down on the best and worst fast-food salads.

White Castle Chicken Ring w/ Cheese

At first glance, this mini-sandwich, released in April 2005, seems relatively harmless. It boasts 380 calories, 30 grams of fat and 460 milligrams of sodium, which is fewer than any other item on this list. But don't forget, White Castle sandwiches are meant to be eaten in batches, so you have to double-or even triple-those numbers for an entire meal. Photo: courtesy of White Castle.

Burger King Meat'normous Omelet

By Olivia Putnal

No Gym Clothes Needed

Have you ever thought about all the ways you can burn calories without "exercising"? Your daily activities can be just as diet-friendly as working out, so on those days you can't make it to the gym, basic chores and favorite hobbies are great alternatives. We've rounded up 20 of the most unlikely ways to work off around 100 calories (based on a 150-lb woman), so pick your favorites for a burn you won't even feel.

Photo: © Thinkstock

Squeeze in more workouts while multitasking with tips from our Work Out Anywhere video series.

Hit the Dance Floor

Get into the groove by dancing for 20 minutes at a moderate pace. For an added kick, choose up-tempo music-you'll get your heart racing without even realizing it.

Photo: © Thinkstock

Neat and Tidy

Vacuum for a total of 25 minutes and you'll not only have a clean house, you'll also work your upper body, toning your shoulders and biceps as you push and pull the machine along

By Sarah Jio

According to the latest data, as many as 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches. They're a pain, quite literally, and finding the right treatment can be tricky. Here, we've tapped the experts to get the latest on the most common types of headaches and their remedies.

Oral-Induced Headaches

The epicenter of one of the most common types of headaches isn't your head, but rather your mouth or jaw, and while these headaches can be felt all day, sufferers say they're most intense in the morning after a night of teeth-grinding, or during stressful periods during the day when most are unaware that they're clenching their teeth. How to get help? "Most patients do not realize that they can see a dentist with special occlusion training to treat headaches," says Colleen Olitsky, DDS, a cosmetic dentist practicing in New York and Florida. "A person's bite, or occlusion-the way the teeth come together-can cause head and neck aches." Treatment may include wearing

By Amanda Greene

Now that school's back in session, so is something else: Head lice. The bugs, which are spread from direct head-to-head contact, thrive this time of year when kids are being kids, playing, having sleepovers and hanging out close to one another. But are the bothersome bugs something to panic over? We talked to the experts to learn the facts and expose the fiction about head lice, once and for all.

Get trusted medical answers to all your questions about head lice and more.

1. Head lice spread from head-to-head contact only.

Contrary to popular belief, head lice can't be spread by sharing hats, scarves, coats, etc. "Growing up I learned that sharing helmets and headphones was a good way to catch head lice," says public health entomologist Richard Pollack, PhD. "But in my testing I've found head-to-head contact is the only way to contract them." The insects are attracted to the specific temperature and humidity of the human scalp, so if you place them elsewhere

By Sarah Jio

Ever wonder if what you experience between the sheets is "normal"? You're not alone. We've asked the experts for their take on some common sex concerns we've heard from women. Here's what they had to say.

"Sometimes, when I'm having sex with my husband, I start off aroused and then lose interest. I want him to feel good and to 'finish,' but I feel awkward and would rather stop. Why does this happen? Is it normal?"

Don't worry-you don't have some undiagnosed sexual dysfunction just because you lose interest, occasionally, during sex, says Amy Levine, a New York City-based sex coach and certified sexuality educator. "The key for you is to figure out what is working the other times," says Levine. "Perhaps your husband makes certain moves when you don't lose interest that you find pleasurable. Knowing your body and communicating your wants, needs and desires are paramount when it comes to connected and satisfying sex." But what to do in the moment when you lose