Blog Posts by Woman s Day

woman textingBy Marlisse Cepeda

Speed plus convenience makes texting the go-to option for on-the-go conversation. In fact, over five billion messages are sent per day! While a text message may be more casual than a phone call or an email, texting whatever, whenever, to whomever has consequences. These seven do's and don'ts are definitely worth keeping in mind. Photo by Thinkstock

DO keep it brief. A text message should be two to three sentences tops, says etiquette consultant Jodi R. R. Smith, president and owner of Mannersmith. Had a great date last night and want to divulge the details to your gal pal? Consider your friend's phone screen size before you text her a novel. The text fitting in one message on your phone doesn't necessarily translate to a single, neat note for a friend who uses a different carrier. Lengthy texts sent from a Verizon phone to a Sprint one, for example, can get divided and sent as back-to-back messages. How long is too long? Most phones have a small

couple lying in bedBy Denise Schipani

Forty may be the new 30, but considering the misconceptions about women's sexuality and desirability after a "certain age," you'd think 40 was the new 80! Whether you blame advertising portrayals of what's "sexy" (Victoria's Secret models, anyone?), or the fact that leading TV and movie roles turn more to the matronly than the hot as actresses age, myths about a more mature women's sexuality abound. "We silently believe that only young people have sex," says Maureen McGrath, RN, a sex-health educator and radio host. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Here, eight myths we're happy to dispel for you.

Myth 1: You don't need sex as you get older.

Truth: It's hard to redefine what the need for sex is after you're done baby-making. And sure, you won't die without sex; it's not food or water. But that doesn't mean you need it any less than other things that bring joy, satisfaction and better emotional and physical health. "Sex gets blood flowing,

woman with cat and hospiceBy Nina Malkin

When local strays began showing up on cat lover Lynn Stitt's property in Harrisburg, PA, 33 years ago, she couldn't help but take them in, despite already having two cats. Soon, there were 10. "It reached the point where they were destroying our home!" Lynn, 61, recalls. So when her then-husband, Bob, offered to build a large heated dome (in the photo on the left) for the cats in their backyard, Lynn was all for it. That was the start of The Best Little Cat House in PA (BLCH), a nonprofit hospice for terminally ill felines, like Garfield (in the photo on the right), who's so friendly, Lynn calls him her "Walmart Greeter." Photo courtesy of Mike Dale.

Getting Started
Lynn, a nurse who works part-time at a nearby hospital, initially cared for 25 of the oldest and sickest cats. But as word spread to local veterinarians and rescuers, it was clear there was a desperate need for the kind of care Lynn was providing. "Older or ailing cats aren't considered

party guestsBy Kimberly Fusaro

At the end of the night, of course well-mannered party guests will thank you for hosting a lovely evening, but have you ever wondered what they're really thinking when they walk down your driveway? We did the detective work for you. Below, you'll find insights from frequent party guests who were willing to dish about their hostesses-plus, party-planning tips from an entertaining pro. Photo by Getty Images

1. Mix up your guest list. What's the fun in inviting just your neighbors or only your co-workers? It's less enjoyable for everyone if your entire party is made up of people who see each other on a regular basis. Instead, choose guests who share common interests, whether it's fitness or fashion, include a few friends who are expert icebreakers and invite an acquaintance or two who you've been hoping to get to know better-the hilarious guy from church or the woman you always see at spin class. Also consider matchmaking opportunities: "It'd be great if the

autistic boy with familyBy Marjorie Ingall

Pam Byrne's 20-year-old son, Alex, isn't living the life she planned for him. But parenting an autistic adult has taught this proud mom the value of strength, devotion-and a sense of humor. Photo courtesy of Pam and Ed Byrne.

When Alex was born, Pam and Ed Byrne were over the moon. It quickly became clear that their son was not a typical kid: Alex was reading the encyclopedia by age 3, and had an incredible facility with numbers.

But it was plain to Pam, a middle school teacher in Valparaiso, IN, that Alex's speech and other developmental milestones lagged far behind his amazing brainpower. Pam suspected autism. Sure enough, Alex was diagnosed at age 4.

"It was scary. It wasn't the life I envisioned for him," she says. Pam's own future was of course greatly affected by this news, but she soon learned to take things day by day. "A therapist told me, 'Always focus on Alex's strengths, not his weaknesses, because his strengths are what will take him

dinner party

By Lauren Matthews

Hosting a holiday fete? With any luck, it'll be the fabulous time you had in mind. But even in the company of family and friends, you could face a minefield of sticky scenarios that threaten your and your guests' enjoyment. We rounded up party guests' most common spirit-dampening stumbles and asked entertaining experts to share their best strategies for getting the gathering back on track. Photo by Thinkstock

1. Someone brings up politics or religion. You may know better than to broach contentious issues at a party, but if your guests' conversation gets out of hand, it's on you to lighten the mood. "Rather than try to transition smoothly to another topic, make a joke out of obviously changing the subject," suggests Cheryl Najafi, author of You're So Invited! Panic Less, Play More and Get Your Party On . "If a political discussion gets heated, I'll lightheartedly ask 'Who wants pie?' or 'How about those Suns?'" Too shy to speak up? "Simply switch the

slow cooker with dinner insideBy Mandy Major

Slow cooking is the savior of a hectic home kitchen: It's almost entirely hands-free, requires zero technique and can be amazingly economical. And contrary to what you may think, it's fit for more than just wintertime fare. Use it year-round to create meaty main dishes, soups, stews, grain side dishes and even cakes. That said, some ingredients hold up better to slow cooking than others, and while slow cooking is simple, a few pointers can make for more memorable meals. To help us navigate the basics, we turned to Linda Eckhardt, a James-Beard-Award-winning cookbook author and editor of EverybodyEatsNews.com, for a rundown of everything low-and-slow. Read on for essential do's, don'ts and cooking tips that'll help you make the most of the ingredients you have on hand.
Photo by Rita Maas/Getty

Slow Cooking Meat

In this case, it pays to be thrifty! Skip pricier prime and choice cuts and go for tougher, thicker cuts. They respond well to slow cooking, which breaks down

winter homeBy Laurie Lee

There are so many reasons to love a winter wonderland. But the season can be brr-utal on your trees and pipes, among many other parts of your home. The best way to avoid seasonal damage is to prep long before the temperature plummets. Even if you enjoy warm weather year-round, unexpected patterns can bring freezing temperatures to the unlikeliest of places (hey, in January 2011, Florida was the only state with no snow!). So it's still a good investment to insulate plumbing, clean gutters and downspouts, and have an annual furnace checkup. If the forecast calls for temperatures below 35°F, avoid frozen pipes and more with these tips. Photo by Thinkstock.

• Drain the outdoor water supply lines that lead to swimming pools and sprinkler pipes. If you have a pool that isn't winterized, add a pool cover to retain heat.

• Shut exterior doors to uninsulated areas (garage, sunroom) to keep cold air out.

• Let a faucet drip on very cold nights. If you think you