Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Woman's Day Staff

Holiday shopping is stressful enough, and then you get to those people on your list whom you can never seem to find the perfect gift for. We feel your pain, so we enlisted the help of Robyn Freedman Spizman, author of The Giftionary, for advice on what to get for the five most difficult people to shop for.

The Friend Who Has Everything:
"People love gifts that offer them a better way of doing something," says Spizman. Ask yourself: What does she do daily, weekly or monthly? Does she stop for coffee every morning at the same place? Does she regularly cut flowers with scissors? Perhaps a spill-proof travel mug or rose clippers would be a good gift.

The Friend with Expensive Tastes:
"Think small, but deliver big," says Spizman. If she likes cashmere, get cashmere socks or a scarf. If she likes designer duds, get a designer wallet, key chain or quirky accessory.

The Friend Who's Struggling:
Parents appreciate nothing more than knowing that

Read More »from Gift ideas for hard-to-shop-for people

By Arianne Cohen

Picture-Perfect Hanging

If you have framed artwork or family photos that need hanging, you may feel overwhelmed by the options available at the hardware store. The hook aisle is overflowing with products that perform seemingly magical feats. If you want to get your frame on the wall the right way, check out our breakdown of common hanging methods and how they work.

For Frames Under 25 Lbs

When you don't feel like hammering and you have a lighter frame, drywall push-'n'-hang hooks allow you to push the long hook arm into the wall-and you're done. OOK Push and Hang It, $4.97; OOKs.com.

For Heavy Drywall Hanging

Heavy-hold drywall hanger hooks are ideal for flimsy partition walls that may not have many studs. OOK Heavy Hold 200 Drywall Hanger, $4.97; OOKs.com.

For Boisterous Kids

If you're afraid your children may knock into your frames, use two-holed metal mending plates. One screw goes intoRead More »from Hang framed pictures the right way

By Sarah Jio

Ever wondered what sex therapists do (or don't do), what issues they can help solve, what happens inside their office-and whether it involves, um, Love Potion No. 9? We weren't shy about asking the experts for the inside scoop on sex therapy. Here's what we found out.

1. It Can Make You More Confident in (and out of) the Bedroom

"What people don't expect from sex therapy is how strong, confident and assertive they become in every area of their lives," says Marne Wine, a licensed professional counselor and AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) certified sex therapist in Westminster, Colorado. "Sex therapy is just life playing itself out in the bedroom. Are you willing to be OK with yourself because you don't know everything or have all the answers? Are you willing to put yourself out there and risk ridicule and failure? Once you learn to do that in the bedroom-naked-you can do it anywhere."

2. You Won't Be Asked to

Read More »from 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Sex Therapy

By Barbara Brody

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that 4,000 Americans have already died from the H1N1 flu, it's understandable if you feel the urge to hold your breath whenever someone next to you sneezes. Unfortunately, some people have become so fearful that they're working themselves into a frenzy and acting irrationally. Case in point: A woman recently punched another woman on a New York City subway because she was coughing and refused to cover her mouth.

How can you prevent flu-related anxiety from spiraling out of control? Step one is to get the facts, says Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, a psychologist with the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine. That means arming yourself with info from reputable sources, including CDC.gov/H1N1. (You'll also continue to find the latest flu updates at WomansDay.com/flu.) Then check your fears against reality. Below are some common concerns and information to help you cope with them.

Fear #1: I'm Going

Read More »from Facing Your Flu Fears

By Barbara Brody

If you can't get the H1N1 vaccine-or would prefer to skip it-it may seem like there isn't a lot you can do to prevent the flu besides wash your hands religiously and hope for some good luck. But it turns out that there are some alternative remedies that just may boost your immunity enough to keep this nasty virus at bay. We asked Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, a family practice physician and integrative medicine expert, for his top picks.

Editor's note: Please consult your personal physician before trying any or all of the following supplements.

For Flu Prevention: Mushroom Extract
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries in Asia, and Dr. Pescatore is a big fan of a particular blend called ImmPower AHCC. This supplement is used in hospitals all over Japan, says Dr. Pescatore, and U.S. researchers at Harvard, Yale and other esteemed institutions are currently studying it. It's rich in an immunity-boosting substance called active hexose correlated

Read More »from Flu-Fighting Natural Remedies

By Melody Warnick

The most wonderful time of the year, huh? So why do the holidays sometimes feel like a month-long panic attack? "During the holidays, people have such high expectations for things to be perfect," says Jon Abramowitz, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In other words, we take on too much, then feel anxious and stressed out when reality doesn't measure up to the flawless fantasy in our heads.

The best way to dodge holiday stress: Take a time-out. A break from the hubbub re-energizes and refocuses you, making you able to avoid holiday stress (or at least handle it better). Plus, it doesn't take much time. Whether you have 15 minutes or just one, here's how to catch a break that will restore your sanity and your ability to savor the season.

15 Minutes

Be a uni-tasker. Even if you're a veteran multitasker, taking on too much at once can make you feel frenzied

Read More »from 12 ways to destress amidst holiday madness

By Jennifer Tzeses

When the neighborhood coffee shop starts featuring its annual peppermint latte and your favorite radio station switches its playlist to include yuletide ditties, you know the holiday season is here. But why is it that every year, instead of rejoicing about upcoming family festivities, you break out in a cold sweat? Maybe it's because these annual gatherings bring relatives out of the woodwork who assault you with a barrage of cringe-worthy questions.

"Family members are so comfortable with one another these days, they're no longer considerate," says Anna Post, etiquette expert for the Emily Post Institute. "And when we let our guard down, sometimes boundaries get swept away with formalities," she says. "When you go to family gatherings, have some small talk prepared in advance," says Jodi R. R. Smith, owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting in Massachusetts and author of From Clueless to Class Act. "This way, when your cousin asks how you are, you won't give

Read More »from Gracefully Deal with Uncomfortable Questions

By Amanda Berne

If there were ever a time for Murphy's Law, Thanksgiving is it. With multiple pots and pans on the stove, a bird in the oven and relatives underfoot, it's almost impossible to have a fiasco-free holiday. Burnt turkey? Been there. Glue-like mashed potatoes? Done that. Mistakes happen-it's almost inevitable. Here are a few last-minute tips so your sanity doesn't burn up with the stuffing.

Disaster 1: Burnt Turkey
Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott remembers the first-and last-time he burned a turkey. "At the time I thought that higher heat was better," he says. "But I got caught up in the football game. The bird was burned on the outside, but uncooked." Once he peeled off the burnt skin, he was concerned about the meat drying out. He smeared butter, chopped parsley, garlic and shallots on the turkey, and reduced the temperature. While Scott missed the "ta-da" moment of carving the turkey tableside, he does admit to the ease of slicing in the kitchen.

Disaster 2:

Read More »from Solutions for 11 Thanksgiving food disasters