Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Melissa Matthews Brown

plants and flowers

Super Naturals

These days, the beauty aisle at your local drugstore is stocked with bottles labeled all-natural and organic. In fact, sales of these cosmetics reached $11 billion last year. And despite the abundance of options, adopting a greener routine doesn't mean pickling yourself in hemp seed oil or patchouli. "A good place to start is with your moisturizer and anything applied near your eyes and lips," says dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules. "The ingredients in these products are more likely to be absorbed into your body or ingested." For more natural know-how and some standout products to try, read below. Photo credit: Getty Images

Learn the Lingo

The Label Says: Natural

These products contain a higher percentage of plants and minerals, but may not be completely free of synthetics. To make sure what you're buying is truly natural, check the ingredients. The first five should be naturally derived (think essential oils

Read More »from When to Buy Natural Beauty Products

By Abigail Cuffey

woman stretching in fitness clothes

Easy Fixes

Flip through for a simple (but effective) shape-up shortcut, the best kind of toothbrush, energy-enhancing snack suggestions and why your joints creak. Photo credit: Thinkstock

Beginner's Burpee

This exercise-called a burpee-goes from a push-up to a standing jump, so it's a great multitasker, working your arms, shoulders, chest, back, core and lower body, says Leigh Crews, spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise, and a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor in Cedar Bluff, AL. If that sounds a little too intense, you can make the move easier and still reap the benefits. Photo credit: Shannon Greer/Woman's Day

DO 2 SETS OF 10:

A. Stand in front of a table or counter up to 3 feet high. Bend over and place your hands on the top of the ledge, then step your feet back one at a time so your torso forms a straight line. Do a push-up.

B. Walk your feet back in, stand up and raise your arms over your head.

BUMP UP

Read More »from Boost Your Health Now

By Lisa Armstrong

With these four activities, you won't hear the words "Mom, I'm Bored!" all summer. Photo credit: Shuttershock

1. Play Water Limbo
How low can you go? Put on your swimsuits and turn on the garden hose. Have one player hold the nozzle while the others limbo under the stream. The last dry player wins!
Get the perfect swimsuit for your shape.

2. Blow Bubbles
But not just any bubbles. Trish Kuffner, author of The Arts & Crafts Busy Book, offers a new twist on this old favorite: Poke a pencil hole in the side of a paper cup, then stick a drinking straw through the hole until it's halfway inside the cup. Fill the cup with enough dishwashing detergent to cover the straw, then add a little water and a drop or two of food color. Voilà!-a bubble pipe. Now blow gently through the straw to create beautiful colored bubbles. See who can make the biggest one.

3. Put on a Play
Kids can create masks out of paper grocery bags, cutting holes for the eyes and mouth. Then

Read More »from Summer Activities Kids Will Love

By Grace Gavilanes

Go-Go Gadget

Looking to cut your cooking time in half? Or, better yet, transform boring recipe prep into something fun? From a handy strawberry huller to a sleek pineapple slicer, click through to see inventive gizmos that will make tackling kitchen tasks faster, easier and more enjoyable.

No Fruit Left Behind

Demystify mango cutting with this sleek one-step tool. Simply press down on the side grips and watch as the steel blades isolate the mango's core with precision-carving as close to the seed as possible. OXO Mango Splitter, $12.95; SurLaTable.com
Find the right foods for your body.

Not the Pits

All you need is a strong grip to operate this chrome-plated cherry pitter. Bonus: It features a guard that helps eliminate splatter. Crate & Barrel Cherry-Olive Pitter, $7.95; CrateAndBarrel.com

Double Duty

Taco night just got easier at your house with this multitasking utensil that can be used to remove an avocado's pit and create tortilla-ready

Read More »from 8 Ingenious Cooking Gadgets

By Woman's Day Staff

Wall Decals

DIY Decor

These fun super-size stickers can stand in for pricey artwork, tricky-to-use wallpaper and even bulky furniture! Decals aren't just for walls-any smooth, dry surface (the fridge, windows, tile) is fair game. Read on to get inspired. Photo credit: Mina Javid, WhatIsBlik.com, Jonathan Adler

1. Dress up a small area

When every inch counts, decals add another visual layer to a room without cluttering it up. Use them as space-saving alternatives to headboards, chair rails, window moldings and large potted plants. Or apply mirrored decals, which reflect light, to make tight quarters appear spacious. Sophie Headboard, Mina Javid, from $40; WhatIsBlik.com. Photo credit: Mina Javid
Reinvent your look in 10 easy ways.

2. Cover a big wall

When arranged in a continuous pattern, smaller decals can cover a lot of space for less money than fancy artwork and less aggravation than wallpaper. Their manageable size makes them easier to apply and, if

Read More »from New Ways to Use Wall Decals

By Olivia Putnal

As soon as the kids start their summer break, many families pack up and go on vacation. But while road trips can be a lot less taxing (and more affordable) than flying, you'll need plenty of distractions to avoid hearing "Are we there yet?" every five minutes. Nowadays, with smartphones and iPod Touches, it's easy to let technology take over in the back seat. So before you hit the road, check out WD's favorite kid-friendly apps, the perfect distractions for long hours spent in the car. Photos: courtesy of iTunes

123 Color: Talking Coloring Book

If your toddler's car stash has deteriorated to melted crayons and filled-up coloring books, try this educational "coloring book" instead. The 123 Color: Talking Coloring Book app teaches number, letter and color recognition using art, music, animation, sound effects and voices. There's even a finger painting program called "Perfect Paint" that won't allow kids to color outside the lines. 99¢; available

Read More »from 10 Road Trip–Ready Kids' Apps

By Lexi Petronis

woman eating watermelon

Summertime's Top Foods
You know summer's the perfect time to switch to flip-flops, but did you know it's also the right time to change your diet? Being outdoors more often-and sweating-ups your risk for health problems such as dehydration, skin sensitivities and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The simple (and delicious) solution? "Eat local, in-season fruits. Their nutrients are at their peak in the summer," says Julie Kaye, MPH, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian in New York City. "But they're not the only foods that will help your body look and feel its best during the hottest time of year." Read through to see what else you should definitely eat (and drink!) this season. Photo credit: Thinkstock







Watermelon
As its name implies, this fruit is a hydration hero, and fluids are exactly what you need when the heat is on. "Watermelon's high water content keeps you cool and hydrated," says Boston-based registered dietitian Janel Funk, MS, RD, LDN, who runs the websiteRead More »from The Top 7 Foods to Eat in the Summer

By Woman's Day Staff

Nicholas Sparks headshot

My Top 5 Reads

Like any other great novelist, Nicholas Sparks, derived his love for writing from reading. Check out the literature that has propelled him along his journey to becoming one of the foremost romance-fiction novelists of his time. Photo credit: Nina Subin/Woman's Day

The Passage by Justin Cronin

"Cronin combines two classic and overused literary elements-vampires and the end of the world-and spins them into something entirely fresh and new. To me, it's an amazing accomplishment."

Revamp your style with 10 quick tricks.















Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"As Lisey Landon reminisces about her husband after his death, she begins to confront some strange-and beautiful-truths about who he really was."

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

"In a series of letters, Shriver's protagonist Eva Khatchadourian comes to terms with the crimes of her high school-age son. Riveting."
Discover 9 fights you should have with your husband.

Read More »from Nicholas Sparks’s All-Time Favorite Reads