Blog Posts by Woman s Day

.By Daisy Chan

With the real estate market so uncertain these days, many people are choosing to renovate their current home instead of buying a new one. "People are thinking about how they can get the most value out of their living arrangement," says Stephen Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). What will give your family the most value depends first and foremost on your needs, but if you want to earn back your renovation costs when it comes time to sell, read on.

Bathroom

COST RANGE* $13,793 - $21,563

AMOUNT RECOUPED 62%

For bigger projects, save with what Casey Noble, host of HGTV's Design on a Dime, calls the "mix and match" method: Spend more on features thatmatter most, less on other areas. "For instance, cover the walls with ceramic subway tiles that cost $3 per square foot, but do the vanity in marble," says Noble. An NAHB survey shows that buyers want a linen closet and a marble or granite double vanity in any

woman holding credit card

By Kate Ashford

By now, you probably know that brick-and-mortar stores manipulate you-from the displays to the music to the giant "SALE" signs. But online shopping feels more straightforward. After all, you're in control of the experience, right? Think again. "Marketers are constantly trying to influence us and get us to click on things," says Deborah Mitchell, a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "The environment is absolutely about persuasion." Here, experts share ten website ploys meant to lighten your wallet. Photo by Getty Images

1. There's a high-priced item in the mix of products.

If you're idly browsing, a product with a higher price can make a mid-priced option seem more appealing. You may not even notice the pricier piece because, if a site is smart, the cost difference will seem like a reasonable step up. So how does this tactic get you to spend more? "People don't want to buy the most expensive thing, but they don't want to buy

By WomansDay.com Staff

Long hair weighing you down? Three readers snip off their locks to show how shorter styles bring out the best in their faces-and can in yours, too. Photo Credit: Michael Williams/ Woman's Day

Amanda Obermeyer, 27

A new mom, Amanda had one request: a style that can be put up in a ponytail. "It's just so much easier during those 3 A.M. feedings," she says.
Get the perfect ponytail.

CUT: First Matt Fugate-one of the crack team of stylists at New York City's Sally Hershberger salon who created our readers' new cuts-took 11 inches off Amanda's hair. Then he sliced away at her ends with a razor to give them a "natural, not too perfect" edge. Photo credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

STYLE: Before blow-drying Amanda's wispy locks, Fugate added volume by spritzing them with a root-lifting spray. Since he cut no layers into Amanda's hair (it was far too fine), he added texture by using a

By Woman's Day Staff

This spring, welcome back the sun with makeup that's just as bright. Play up your favorite feature-eyes, lips or cheeks-in these hot hues. Photos by Michael Williams

Blue Eyes

If the smoky eye is your go-to look for a night out, try this new twist. "Instead of gray shadow, use blue," advises Christopher Del Castillo, MAC Cosmetics senior artist. Start by lining your top lids with black eyeliner, then sweep on shadow (whether matte or sparkly is up to you) from your lashline to just above the crease. Add a touch of light brown shadow at the crease so the blue blends in seamlessly. Del Castillo's rule of thumb: "When you're playing up any one feature, keep the rest of your look simple."

ON MODEL: MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Electric Eel, a bright blue with a hint of shimmer, $15; MACCosmetics.com
Find out which eyeshadows are best for your eye color.

Your Blue Color Palette

LIGHT SKIN Bright royal blues are best if you have a rosy complexion.

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By Woman's Day Staff
Grocery bags brimming with fresh produce from the market? Avoid the temptation to put everything together in one basket when you get home. By storing fruits, vegetables and herbs properly, your finds will stay as flavorful as possible. Click through for basic storage tips and tricks that'll keep everything in tip-top shape-and ensure nothing (including your cash) goes to waste. Photo credit: Getty

Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature for up to three days. (They get mushy and lose flavor in the fridge.) Photo credit: Shutterstock
Find out how to get the tastiest tomatoes, every time.

Both can be stored in paper, cloth or mesh in a cool, dark place for a month, but separately: Onions absorb moisture from the potatoes and emit ethylene gas, which speeds potatoes' sprouting and decay. Photo credit:Michael Rosenfeld/Getty

They'll remain crisp for up to six weeks if refrigerated in a loosely sealed

woman interviewing for jobBy Amanda Greene Kelly

Landing an interview is, of course, a step in the right direction toward getting a new job. But what you say and do during that interview can be the difference between getting an offer and getting rejected. Sure, you know the obvious things to avoid-like showing up late or dressing too casually-but the following nine lines can just as easily derail your chances of scoring the gig. Read on to learn which talking points to steer clear of during your next job interview. Photo by:Thinkstock

"I'm leaving my current job because my boss is terrible to work for."

Even if a boss is pure evil, resist the urge to badmouth her, your old company and your coworkers. "It's a smaller world than you might think," says Lisa Quast, a certified executive coach, author of Your Career, Your Way! and founder of Career Woman Inc. "The interviewer may have previously worked for the same company or be your boss's best friend." Besides, a negative attitude won't endear you

By Amanda Greene Kelly

A trip to the salon is great-until you factor in the hefty price tag and hassle of booking a convenient appointment. At-home pampering is all the more appealing now that there are plenty of do-it-yourself versions of salon-style services that really work. From DIY Keratin treatments to easy gel manicure kits, read on to learn how to get salon-quality looks without ever leaving the house.

Highlights

While achieving good-looking single-process color from a box is relatively simple, at-home highlights have always been trickier to get right. L'oreal Touch-On Highlights makes painting on dimensional highlights easy, not intimidating. The kit comes with an applicator that fits right on your fingertip, so you can dye specific strands with control. (For subtle results, they recommend adding between eight and 10 thin highlights spaced evenly around your head.) The moisturizing after-color conditioner will help ensure glossy locks. L'oreal Touch-On

By Woman's Day Staff

Tonya Diehl, 31, wanted an outlet to share her decorating ideas, so she started a blog. But finding a spot to work was a challenge. Space was tight in her house, especially with two little boys, ages 4 and 15 months. The solution? Turn a closet into a home office. "The coat closet in our living room was the first space to come to mind," says Tonya, a part-time registered nurse in Murphysboro, IL. "All the bedroom closets were jam-packed with necessities, but that one held more junk than coats. So I cleared it out and created an area all my own-no boys or husband allowed." And she did it all for under $100!

Prepping the closet was simple: Coats were moved to the bedrooms and leftover junk was tossed. Then she looked around for inspiration. "I was in a craft store," says Tonya, "when I stumbled upon some beautiful scrapbook paper patterned with plum, sage green, blue and cream." A lightbulb went off-she'd found her color scheme. Photos by Bjorn Wallander