Blog Posts by Woman s Day

Expand your kid's mind and help her succeed with these real IQ boostersBy Margot Gilman

As a parent, you want to give your child every advantage in life, so it's a no-brainer that you'd want to try boosting her intellect. While parking a tot in front of a Baby Einstein video didn't turn out to be such a smart idea (a University of Washington study found that such video viewing delays small children's language skill building), the following approaches actually up IQ scores. Photo by Thinkstock

1. Nurse your newborn.
Breastfeeding bestows many benefits, including immunity defense and disease protection. But until recently, we didn't know whether breastfeeding influences intelligence, or if breastfed kids tested better because of other factors. A study from McGill University in Montreal has shown a clear causal connection. Looking at 14,000 children, those whose moms participated in a program that encouraged exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding scored 7.5 points higher on verbal IQ tests at age six-and-a-half than those whose mothers didn't take part.

Steer clear of these bites and beverages if you're hoping for bedroom blissBy Marlisse Cepeda

Hoping dinner paves the way for a naughty tryst? While nibbles like nuts and dark chocolate turn up the heat, other eats pull the plug on passion. While their side effects don't kick in immediately, spare yourself from so-so sex and avoid these lesser-known anti-aphrodisiacs pre-lovemaking. Photo by Getty Images

Hot Dogs
Although this festival favorite is certainly a suggestive treat, noshing on wieners isn't a good-time guarantee. The summer staple's high saturated fat content clogs the penile and vaginal arteries, creating not-so-prime circumstances for sexy time, says Jacqueline Richard, PsyD, a certified sex therapist in Santa Barbara, CA. For a healthier handheld treat, Dr. Richard recommends fish tacos. The omega-3 fatty acids aid the cardiovascular system, a boon for sexual arousal.

Peppermint
Bad breath may be a turn-off, but freshening it up might not help your situation in the sack. The menthol in peppermint has been shown to reduce testosterone levels,

ByKeep your yard looking great for less.Woman's Day Staff

Curb Appeal
A manicured front lawn makes a good first impression on guests and can keep you in your neighbors' good graces. And thanks to these savvy tips, keeping your grounds green doesn't have to cost much green. Keep reading to discover how to start saving now. Photo by GettyImages.

Make Compost

Keep a lidded container on a kitchen counter to collect food scraps (fruit cores, veggie trimmings, coffee grounds, rinsed eggshells; anything but meat). Toss them into an out-of-sight pile or a compost bin (recommended in areas with foraging wildlife) on your property along with leafy prunings, excluding weeds. Turn the pile every couple of weeks to encourage decomposition, and within a season or two, you'll have a continual supply of nutrient-rich fertilizer.

COST Free; $100 and up for an enclosed composter
SAVINGS $15 per bag of fertilizer

Lose the Grass (By Choice)
Give over part of your lawn to ground cover, such as vinca, carex or ferns. These

By Danielle Page

Even though the buzzed-about Scope Bacon Mouthwash turned out to be an April Fool's Day prank, the 10 bacon-flavored items that follow are all too real. From snacks to syrup, there's hardly an edible that can't curb a hankering for ham. Click through to discover the most unusual foods and drinks to come in bacon flavor and the stories behind their creation and improvement.

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By Woman's Day Staff

Tone up

You don't have to splurge on a gym membership to get ready for swimsuit season. Three simple moves can flatten your tummy while toning the muscles that support your back makes it easier to sit up straight. Click through for three good-for-you workouts (demonstrated by health editor Abby Cuffey), and do them daily for best results.

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Ask yourself these 10 questions to decide which path is best for youBy Natasha Burton

Ending a marriage is one of the most difficult decisions you can make. But sometimes, taking the in-between step of separation before a full-on split could be the right move for you and your family. Here, real women and divorce experts share which questions to ask yourself before you call it quits for good. Photo by Getty Images

1. Do you and your spouse both want out?
When one person wants a divorce, and the other wants to work on things, a separation could be a good option, says Jacqueline Newman, a partner at a law firm in New York City specializing in divorce. It gives the reluctant party time to adjust to no longer being married, which may smooth the in-court process. It goes more quickly and amicably when both parties are ready to divorce.

2. Do you know why you want out?
If you aren't completely sure, consider separation, advises Cari Andreani from Jacksonville, FL. She separated from her husband after three years of marriage and is grateful she

Learn how pawning works and whether it's a good option for youBy Sarah Grossbart

So you need cash fast and are considering visiting a pawnshop with your great-aunt's watch. Here's how pawning works: A pawnbroker loans you money-up to three-quarters of the item's resale value-and you'll usually have up to 90 days to pay it back at a high interest rate. If you can't, you're off the hook for the loan, but the shop keeps your things. Because of this risk and the high interest, pawning is often a last resort. But if you decide to do it, here's how. Photo by Shutterstock

Have a plan to pay back your loan-ASAP
To avoid hemorrhaging money, pay back the loan fast-ideally within 30 days. Brick-and-mortar pawnshops tend to charge anywhere from 3% to 25% interest per month, and online pawnbrokers cap out around 10% (by comparison, the current average credit card interest rate is about 15% a year). At the high end, that means a $400 loan could cost you $100 monthly-or $300 if you pay off your loan in three months. Because of potentially super-high

Learn how to get rid of skin imperfections with easy, inexpensive treatment optionsBy Woman's Day Staff

Banish Blemishes
What is that?! Yep, it's never fun to find unwelcome blemishes setting up camp on your skin. Thankfully, there are easy ways to say sayonara to those pesky spots. Read on to learn the best fixes and product picks as recommended by dermatologists. Photo by Getty Images

Related: Try 6 all-natural beauty fixes.

Oh no, I found a... Raised red dot
What is it? Called a cherry angioma, it's a small cluster of pooled blood vessels. The harmless red specks commonly show up on your stomach, chest or back but can also appear on your face, explains Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, dermatologist and co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, DC.

The fix: Laser treatments help break apart the blood vessels. But if you don't have the time (or money) to visit a cosmetic dermatologist, your best bet is to use a green-tinted concealer to help minimize the redness.

Try: Almay Smart Shade Perfect & Correct Primer (also has a