Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Mervyn Kaufman


Unclutter Your Bathroom

A bathroom is a magnet for stuff- toiletries, towels, grooming gear and cleaning supplies. Often, especially in older homes, it's an odd space, carved out of a closet or tucked into an eave, which means there's not a lot of room for cabinetry. Reining in the clutter can help even the smallest bathroom look new. The first step is to clean out and edit: Making a tiny bath with limited storage work efficiently takes discipline as well as planning. Pare down supplies to only what you use regularly, store back-up elsewhere and toss anything you don't need. Then examine your space, and steal some of these ideas, to make the most of every inch.


Tucked In

Take advantage of unused wall space wherever you find it. Here, cubbies built under the eaves eke out a little more storage for supplies and a decorative item or two.








Right Angles

Two shelves mounted in the corner of the stall shower provide just enough room for soap, sponges, shampoo and

Kimberly Fusaro

Blame it on being overtired, but there's no denying the draw of late-night infomercials. Add to that the urgent cries to "Order now!" and suddenly wearing a Snuggie seems like a great idea. But before you pick up the phone, check out our reviews to see which of the most popular products live up to the hype-and which ones are just let downs.

ShamWow! Towels

We wanted to believe the jumping, jittery guy hawking the ShamWow! towels; we were almost certain his demos weren't exaggerated for TV. But sadly, our tests proved otherwise. While the ShamWow! is reasonably absorbent, it's no better than a synthetic chamois or a plush dishtowel. (Although it does clean glass without leaving streaks behind.) At more than two bucks each, the ShamWow!'s price isn't even that exciting. $19.95 for 8; BuyShamWow.com

Grill Daddy Pro Grill Brush

Nothing ruins a summer barbecue faster than a grill grate coated with baked-on food. If you've opened your grill to find last

Make Your Space Yours


Design really is in the details, and those details don't have to cost you hundreds of dollars. With these low-cost ideas that utilize the items you already own and love-along with a few others picked up at garage sales and thrift stores-you can create a home that really lets your personality come through!






Let the Sunshine In


Turn a mirror into a light source. Place a large mirror where it can reflect natural sunlight into a room to give it a warm daytime glow. And with a heavy piece, there's no need to hang it-simply propping it against a wall is just as effective and less stuffy.






Mix 'n' Match


Add personality to a solid-colored sofa with lots of throw pillows (make your own with remnant fabric from design shops) and drape a lovely blanket on the bottom couch cushions for added effect. Go wild and mix patterns, as long as the colors coordinate.






Flower Power


You don't need a big bouquet in a crystal vase to create an interesting floral display. Using a few

Friday just has to be my favorite day of the week. From the minute I get up in the morning, I have a delicious sense of anticipation-free time to spend with my husband and friends is just hours away! But these days money is so tight that plans can come to a screeching halt. What if I told you there are lots of fun things you can do next weekend that won't cost a penny? Would that get your attention? Great-because here are a few of my favorites.

Find online videos or library books that teach you to knit, quilt, cook, give a massage, or navigate a computer program like Photoshop or Excel. I learned to knit by watching videos on YouTube.com and KnittingHelp.com. My current project? A coat! Learn some massage moves by going to ExpertVillage.com and typing "massage techniques" into the search bar. Or learn new stuff the old-fashioned way: Ask a talented friend to teach you.

2. Treat Yourself to a Pantry Spa
Invite a friend over and raid your pantry to

Written by Bunny Wong

Buying organic sounds oh-so-marvelous-that is, if you can afford it. But what if you're on a tight grocery budget? Some argue that health and a happy planet justify the expense, while others find this thinking very unrealistic during a recession. Fortunately, there's a third option. WD spoke with three nutritionists and an organic-food expert about what grocery items are worth the splurge as well as some still-good-for-you alternatives. Turns out a grocery list can be green and inexpensive.

Choose Fruits with Care

Spend: Go ahead and splurge on organic peaches, strawberries, cherries, nectarines and bananas. Ysanne Spevack, founder of the online magazine Organic Foodee,explains that delicate-skinned fruits absorb pesticides and that washing is no help. Heavy spraying-since bugs love sweet fruits too-compounds the problem, as well as affects how the plants work, she adds. Take bananas. They're thick-skinned, but they drink lots of pesticide-laden water through