Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Denise Schipani

We've all felt the pain of romantic breakups. And while it's wrenching to be the breaker-upper, we do what we gotta do. Yet curiously, many of us drag our feet about ending unrewarding nonamorous allegiances, such as with a hairdresser who's not "cutting it" or a friend who's morphed from enjoyable to toxic. Why is it so hard? "Movies have been written about breakups with boyfriends, lovers and husbands," says Gina Barreca, relationship expert and author of It's Not That I'm Bitter. "But there are fewer patterns to follow when it comes to these other relationships." Instead of feeling obliged to maintain a relationship when the connection has long soured, read on to learn how to gracefully make a break for a sweeter-and maybe even saner-life.

Old Friend

Perhaps you don't need to break up formally; often, letting a friendship that no longer feels close drift naturally into an outer orbit in your life works on its own, says Irene Levine, PhD, author of

By Amanda Greene

Photo: © iStockphoto

Remember when you first got together with your husband or boyfriend and couldn't pull yourselves out of bed? No? Well then it's been too long! Just because life-paying the bills, taking care of the kids and keeping the house in order-has gotten in the way doesn't mean you have to shelve the idea of a hot sex life. We talked to the experts and learned there are plenty of ways to rev up your engines again.

1. Do your household chores. It may seem counterintuitive, but crossing tasks off your to-do list will put you in a much better mental space for sex. "Research has shown that, unlike men, in order for women to relax into arousal and experience orgasm, the parts of their brain that associate with outside stressors must deactivate during sex," says Ian Kerner, PhD, sex therapist and founder of GoodInBed.com. So while your husband may have no problem getting busy while your house is crumbling around you, you need to feel like there's a

By Abigail L. Cuffey

Poison Ivy 101

Photo: © Gabriela Medina/Getty

Feeling itchy after that hike? It could be allergic contact dermatitis, a.k.a. poison ivy. Three plants-poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac-contain an oily substance called urushiol that causes a red, bumpy rash in many people (a lucky 25 percent don't react to it!).

If you think you've come in contact with these plants, wash the area with soap and water ASAP. If you do it within 15 to 20 minutes, you may stop a reaction, says Joseph Fowler, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Louisville. "After that, the urushiol has usually penetrated the skin and washing won't prevent a rash, but it can reduce the severity." Also wash any clothing, boots or tools that you wore or used; if the oil remains, it can cause a reaction weeks or months later.

Of course, the key to preventing a rash in the first place is knowing what the three

By Danielle Braff

Chicken soup may be good for the soul, but some people swear that it's also good for the body. Many Americans reach for a steaming bowl of chicken soup whenever they've got a cold, while the equivalent remedy in Japan is ginger tea. But are these home cures, passed down from generation to generation, really therapeutic? We consulted experts about folk remedies from around the world to see if they've got any merit.

American Moms: Chicken Soup for Cold Symptoms

Dosage: Sip on as much soup as you can manage, and repeat as necessary.
Verdict: Chicken soup inhibits white blood cell movement by a whopping 75 percent, which can reduce the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, according to a study by University of Nebraska researchers.
Photo by Shutterstock.

Native American Moms: Garlic Rub for Bee Stings

Dosage: Crush garlic bulbs and wrap them in a cloth. Rub the poultice onto the sting.
Verdict: Do it. Bee venom is acidic, and the

By Abigail Cuffey

"Does this outfit make me look…thin?" It's the ultimate question on every woman's mind as she gets dressed in the morning-and one that sent Woman's Day staffers on a body-conscious quest for slimming clothing. We decided to test a variety of apparel-not undergarment shapewear, but clothes with form and function-that made claims for a sleeker silhouette. From shapely tunic tops to snug-fitting jeans, get the skinny on what's worth the hype and what deserves a pass.

1. ShapeFX Slim & Smooth Colorblock Tunic Top
$29; ShapeFX.com
Tester: Ellen Breslau, Executive Editor
What she thought: "The minute I put this shirt on, my friend and my husband told me how good it looked. The stretchy bottom really slims your waist and hip area. I loved wearing it. It was comfy, and because it's slimming, it made me feel better about my body and upped my confidence. There were two minor drawbacks: It was a little tough to take off since it has to be pulled over your head,

By Joy Bauer, RD

The Scoop on Low-Fat Frozen Treats

Browse the frozen foods section of your local supermarket for a treat that tastes good but won't pack on the pounds and you could very well get brain freeze: Ice cream alone comes in premium, light, reduced-fat, fat-free and sugar-free versions, and then there's frozen yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, ices…you get the picture. Choosing can be daunting-but never fear, I'm about to help you find the best-tasting, healthiest ones around.

The Frozen Facts

We tend to refer to most frozen dairy concoctions as "ice cream," but the FDA actually has strict labeling criteria for this type of dessert:

• Ice cream is a mix of dairy products, and contains at least 10 percent milk fat (but many versions have much more).

• "Reduced fat" ice cream contains at least 25 percent less total fat than the "original product"-which is either an average of leading brands' products, or the company's own.

• "Light" ice cream has at least 50 percent less total fat, or 33 percent

By Amanda Greene

Every child has heard the healthy-eating mantra "You are what you eat." But there may be a closer resemblance between good-for-you grub and your body than you thought. We found 10 foods that mirror the body parts they provide nutrients for-for example, brain-boosting walnuts actually look like a brain. Coincidence? Maybe. Though these healthy foods are beneficial to the whole body, the list below is a fun reminder of what to eat to target specific areas.

1. Carrot: Eye

Slice a carrot in half crosswise and it's easy to see that the veggie resembles an eye-look closely and you'll even notice a pattern of radiating lines that mimic the pupil and iris. And the old wives' tale is true: Munching on carrots will actually promote healthy eyes. "Carrots are filled with vitamins and antioxidants, like beta-carotene, that decrease the chance of macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older people," says Sasson Moulavi, MD, medical director of Smart

By Anita Badejo

10 Dos and Don'ts of Online Shopping

Online shopping is convenient and easy, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if done carelessly. We spoke with Michelle Madhok, online shopping expert and founder and CEO of SHEfinds.com and MOMfinds.com, and Michael Gregg, cyber-security expert and founder and COO of Superior Solutions, Inc., to find out the most important dos and don'ts when it comes to safely navigating your way through the World Wide Web of online shopping.

1. Do Know Where You Are
Hackers try to spoof legitimate sites and use names similar to those of established retailers to get your financial information. "Always check the name of the site and Web address to make sure it looks correct," Gregg says. Also, look out for domain extensions like .ru, .cc or .cn (instead of .com), because they're not often used by legitimate retailers.

2. Don't Shop on Public Computers
Entering personal information on a public computer, like one at a coffee shop or bookstore, puts you at risk