Blog Posts by Woman s Day

Add flair to a bureau or side table with these easy DIY medallion knobsBy Woman's Day Staff

Materials
• Wooden knobs
• Paintbrush
• Primer
• White paint
• Printer and copier
• 8½" x 11" paper
• Omni Gel Transfer Medium ($11; Joann.com)
• Mod Podge Gloss
Photo by Alison Gootee/Studio D;
craft & prop styling by Shana Faust

Related: Discover 15 clever uses for common household items.

TIME 30 MIN, PLUS DRYING TIME
COST $17 FOR 4 KNOBS

1 Paint your knobs with 2 coats of primer; let dry after each coat.

2 Paint with a coat of white paint; let dry overnight.

3 Download the design and print it out. Make a color photocopy of the printout (inkjet printers will not work), enlarging or reducing the design to fit your knobs.

4 Following the manufacturer's directions, brush several coats of the transfer medium onto the front of your photocopy; let dry between each coat.

5 Cut out each design to fit your knob. Soak the cutouts in a bowl of water for 10 to 20 minutes.

6 While the paper is still wet, use your fingers to rub the paper backing in a circular

Try these five easy ways to support your local branch.By Catherine Strawn

Public libraries are an invaluable resource, but with shrinking budgets and closures they need you more than ever. Photo by GettyImages.

1. Ask for a card-and then use it.

A large number of active cardholders helps a library prove its worth to the community and justify its funding. Encourage your kids, friends and neighbors to get cards too.

2. Donate your change.

The coins you drop into the collection jars at the desk add up (to the tune of thousands per year at some locations)! So dig out your loose change before going inside and leave a few dimes when you check out a book.

Related: Check out 15 clever uses for household items.

3. Supply a subscription.

Share a periodical you love with your whole town by offering to pay for a subscription ($10 to $30 a year). If you can't decide on a title, ask your librarian or check the library's website for a subscription wish list.

4. Support sales.
Many libraries organize sales of used donated books, DVDs and board

Gather your friends to do a fun DIY projectThe goal: Everyone creates a stylish block-printed garment or home accessory to keep-while you all snack and catch up. Protect your work surface with craft paper and put tools in the center for easy sharing (see "What you'll need," slide 3). As friends finish designs, hang pieces on a clothesline to dry. Download templates for these projects from slide 4. Photo by Christopher Coppola/Studio D

Related: Check out 15 clever uses for household items.

Invitations
If your friends aren't familiar with block printing, include an inspirational image or two in the invite. Ask guests to bring at least one fabric or paper item to decorate (a T-shirt, tea towel or notebook-anything smooth and flat). Also caution attendees not to wear their nicest clothes and note that "aprons are suggested" (just in case).

What's You'll Need

Foam trays or takeout containers

X-Acto knife

Templates

Masking tap

Wood skewer

Ink roller (from 99¢; Joann.com)

Speedball Fabric Block Printing Inks ($5.39 each;

Discover how discord in your relationship can actually bring you closerBy Jenna Birch

While "tension" sounds negative, it's really a sign your relationship is changing-possibly for the better. Even when all is status quo, infusing certain kinds of tension into your marriage can shake things up in a good way. Here, experts share how to use different types of tumult to get closer with your husband. Photo by Getty Images

1. Sexual Tension
When you're longing for your hubby, and vice versa, that natural, physical tension signals a need to be met. "We tend to think of sexuality as romantic, but sexual release is a human necessity," says clinical psychologist Andra Brosh, PhD. So occasionally, be a tease; holding out can turn up the heat between the sheets. "This could position you in a healthy place of power over him." Just don't withhold sex to get your way or because you're upset with him. Driving him crazy is only fun when it's playful, not punishment.

Related: Discover 8 secrets of sexually satisfied couples.

2. Conflict Tension
If you finally argue

Get a flawless glow with this advice on using self-tannersBy Woman's Day Staff

A Better Bronze
The darker your skin tone, the less you'll notice lumps and bumps. Try this step-by-step guide to fake an even glow. Photo by Thinkstock.

1. Exfoliate.
Use a scrub to slough off dead skin cells so tanner won't adhere to dry patches.

2. Moisturize.
Put on your body lotion and let dry. To skip this step, opt for a moisturizer that gradually tans skin, like Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer. $8.99; Amazon.com

Related: Check out 75 timeless beauty tips.


3. Swipe on.
Apply the tanner as you would a moisturizer.

4. Skip knees and ankles.
Products travel up to an inch due to your skin's natural oils, so avoid these areas, which absorb and darken quickly.

Related: Discover 6 all-natural beauty fixes.

5. Wash hands.

A bronzed palm will give you away!

SOURCES: Sheri Feldman, MD, Beverly Hills dermatologist. Kate McCarthy, glominerals national makeup artist. Ariel Ostad, MD, New York City dermatologist. Joshua Zeichner, MD, New York

Get back in the sack with these solutions for reigniting your man's libidoBy Dawn Papandrea

Has your husband been saying "not tonight, dear" a little too often? It's hard not to feel rejected, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's lost that lovin' feelin' for you. Learn about the most common reasons he may not be in the mood and what you can do about it.
Photo by Getty Images.

1. He wants to relax after a long day.
If he's retreating to his man cave each night, that could create a pattern of disconnection, says Debra Castaldo, PhD, a relationship expert and director of the Center for Couples and Family Solutions in Midland Park, NJ. He may not realize you're missing him, though, so tell him. Try: "It seems like we're spending most of our evening time apart. I know you want to chill out, but I miss being with you. Maybe we can do something relaxing together," suggests Dr. Castaldo. Find something soothing you both enjoy, whether it's drinking wine, reading side by side in bed or finding a new favorite TV show. Once there's togetherness,

Learn which popular nutrition claims aren't as healthy as they soundBy Jessica Girdwain

What Does It Really Mean?
Pick up an innocent box of granola bars or a bottle of iced tea and you're hit with health claims-from less fat to made with real sugar. In fact, a USDA study showed that 43% of products introduced in 2010 splashed nutrition ads on their packaging. But despite their promises, you could be eating more fat, calories, salt and sugar than you think. Get the facts on the most deceptive claims so they never mislead you again. Photo by Getty Images.

1. "Cholesterol Free"

What you think it means: Heart-healthy!

What it really means: Cholesterol's only in animal products, but the cholesterol-free stamp is frequently used on plant-based foods that would never contain it. Plus, plenty of junk food is naturally cholesterol-free (think Red Vines and Fritos), which doesn't make it heart-healthy. "Besides, research shows that dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood cholesterol levels the way we thought it did decades ago," says Darya Pino Rose,

red cross psychologist in queensBy Tula Karras

On a blistering morning last June, Danelle Stoppel, a mental-health volunteer with the American Red Cross, spotted a man standing in front of a smoldering structure in Waldo Canyon, CO. It was his home, one of hundreds lost to the wildfires that scorched 18,000 acres. He was holding a burned gas cap in his hand. Something about the way he looked at it, turning it over and over, drew Danelle to him. "I asked him about it," she says. "He told me the cap was the only thing left from an old Datsun he and his 10-year-old son were rehabbing together. He was planning on giving the car to his son when he was old enough to drive," says Danelle.

Talking it Through
Danelle offered him what she says all disaster victims need: a chance to tell his story. "It's the first step in healing," she says. "They need you to hear it. It makes it real for them. And they need you to bear witness to all that they've lost," she says. The man explained that the fire had hit on his son's