Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Arricca Elin SanSone

Admit it: You're (secretly) glad they're back in school. But crazy mornings with forgotten textbooks, missing permission slips and frustrated kids aren't anyone's idea of a good time. And once they hit the door at 3 p.m, it's a whirlwind of papers, lunchboxes and gym clothes all over again. Here's how to wrangle the inevitable back-to-school madness so both you and your kids have a less stressed, more enjoyable school year. Photo by Vstock/Getty Images.

Challenge: Getting everything together in the morning.
"Establish a drop zone," says Noelle Micek, a professional organizer and owner of An Organized Nest in San Francisco. "This is a designated area where backpacks get unloaded immediately when the kids come home." Ideally, it's near their study spaces, but some parents prefer a central area near the door. Make sure everything gets taken out: Textbooks go on their desks, loose papers get sorted, trash gets tossed, and so on. Before bed, repack for

By Woman's Day Staff

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yolanda silveri before and after weight lossBy Abigail Cuffey

Before 271 lbs

After 131 lbs!

Yolanda Silveri, a 31-year-old single mom and teacher from Douglasville, GA, broke her unhealthy eating habits one small step at a time.

"I had been overweight for as long as I could remember, but high school was particularly tough because I was the "big girl" on the cheerleading squad. When our team visited other schools I could hear kids saying "boom" when I jumped and landed, which was mortifying. My family and friends told me I was "big-boned" and that was my lot in life. I tried many diet and exercise programs throughout the years, but my weight loss was always temporary. I turned to food for comfort when I was sad and as a reward when I was happy."
Related: Check out 8 natural appetite suppressants.

The Shocking Photo

"In November 2009, I attended my 10-year high school reunion and had a great time catching up with old friends. But when I looked at pictures from that night, I was surprised and embarrassed

woman driving red car

By Brooke Showell

1. Do regular checkups. "If you're religious about preventive maintenance, it will save you thousands down the road in repairs," says Bogi Lateiner, owner of 180 Degrees Automotive in Phoenix and cohost of All Girls Garage on the Velocity Channel. Spend 5 minutes at the start of each month to check tire pressure, fluid levels, and for signs of cracking or rotting belts or hoses. Ask for a brake inspection when your car's in the shop for any repair. Schedule professional maintenance at suggested intervals. "Not doing a simple $30 oil change every 3,000 miles or so can cost you fuel efficiency, horsepower and, in the worst case, your engine," she says. Photo by: Getty

2. Come in on a midweek morning for speediest service. On Fridays, customers are racing to prepare their cars for weekend jaunts, says John Grimmett, owner of Al Grimmett & Sons Automobile Shop in Los Angeles. "Mondays are usually bad since shops are handling weekend breakdowns." For a shot

By Nancy Rones

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By Alyssa Shaffer


woman drinking juice The claim is that it clears your body of toxins and can help you lose weight. But is a cleanse really necessary, and more important, is it safe? Photo credit: iStock

The alternative medicine expert says...On occasion, a cleanse can be useful.

Your body generally does a good job of flushing out toxins it absorbs from the environment, but sometimes it doesn't work as efficiently as it could. When this happens, you may feel tired or irritable, and an occasional juice cleanse can help your body get back on track. A cleanse involves eliminating solid foods and drinking your nutrients in the form of fruit and vegetable juices. A good cleanse lasts about three days, during which you drink anywhere from 48 to 72 ounces of a variety of freshly squeezed produce, such as spinach, kale, beets, carrots, apples and pineapple, and ideally nut juices (like cashew or almond milk) for protein and healthy fat.
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By Cheryl Solimini

back-to-school health tips Send your kids back to class healthy by making sure to schedule these important checkups. Photo credit: Getty Images

Head-to-Toe Physical Examination

Why: To track healthy development and pinpoint problems. Essential if your child will be involved in school sports.
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When: Every year on his or her birthday (if before September) or in summer
Who to See: Pediatrician or primary-care physician say ahhh! Send your kids back to class healthy by making sure to schedule these important checkups

Flu Vaccine
(kids under 10 getting it for the first time need 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart)

Why: Kids are at a higher risk of hospitalization from flu complications. when Every year in October through January
Who to See: Pediatrician or primary-care physician
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Review of Prior Vaccinations
Plus: booster for tetanus and diphtheria (Tdap) if 5 years