Blog Posts by Woman s Day

glass jars of change and bills

By Kate Ashford

As much as you'd like to, it's too late to rewrite history on your 2011 taxes-what's spent is spent (although you do have until April 17th to stash more cash in a traditional IRA to save on taxes, if you meet income requirements). The good news is that you've still got loads of time in 2012 to make smart tax decisions, from stowing money in tax-deferred accounts to tracking expenses to selling things at the right time. Here's what the experts recommend. Photo by: Getty Images

Adjust your withholding.

Did you get a huge check back from last year's taxes? That's not as great a thing as you'd think-you're essentially making an interest-free loan to the government. "Many people get large refunds because too much is subtracted from their salaries," says Julian Block, a tax attorney in Larchmont, NY. "Some people do this to force them to save money, but most people do it because they don't know any better." Use the IRS's Withholding Calculator to determine whether

honey, salt, parsley, chamomile teaBy Abigail Cuffey

Sometimes the best feel-better formula is right under your nose-or in your own kitchen or pantry. Check out these expert suggestions for easy (and affordable!) health fixes that don't require a trip to the pharmacy.

If You Have Chapped Lips

TRY: honey and petroleum jelly

WHY: "Honey has been shown to have both antibacterial and wound-healing properties," says Adam Friedman, MD, dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "When you combine it with the moisturizing effect of petroleum jelly, you're relieving and curing chapped lips."

HOW: Wet lips with lukewarm water, then apply a thin layer of honey to your lips and let it dry for a few seconds. Next, put a layer of petroleum jelly over it and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the moisturizing combo with a cotton swab dipped in warm water. Repeat once daily for a few days.

woman's clean faceBy WomansDay.com Staff

Undereye Circles Begone!

A good night's sleep alone won't do the trick. Read on for four ways to beat dark circles under your eyes-and send your bags packing while you're at it. Photo by Getty Images

The Home Remedy

Save the cukes for your salad and reach for green tea bags instead. "Dark circles are pooled blood in the vessels under your eyes," explains Karyn Grossman, MD, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist. Tea's caffeine shrinks the vessels so they're less noticeable; the antioxidants reduce inflammation and puffiness (a.k.a. bags). Steep two green tea bags for five minutes, let cool, then place over eyes for 15 minutes. Repeat once a week.
Try these 6 all-natural beauty fixes.

The Medical Solution

The go-to procedure most dermatologists use to correct dark circles is IPL, or intense pulsed light, says Dr. Grossman. During the procedure, short pulses of light are administered to the undereye area to vaporize visible blood vessels.

coffee, beer, stressedBy Jessica Girdwain

Look at the Bright Side

When it comes to your health, some missteps are OK to make from time to time. In fact, many of these so-called mistakes, such as downing coffee and forgetting to take your vitamins, can actually help you improve your health, feel better faster and boost your mood. Learn the nine "bad" habits you should keep and how to make them work for you.










You drink a huge cup of coffee in the morning... and pour yourself a refill (or two)

WHY IT'S NOT SO BAD

A couple of cups of joe may perk you up in more ways than you think. Coffee gets a bad rap because of the caffeine, but it may actually help regulate your mood. A recent study published in Archives of Internal Medicine showed that women who drank two to three cups of coffee daily had a 15% lower risk of depression. Photo by iStock

"Caffeine helps activate the brain chemicals involved in mood, like dopamine and serotonin," says study author Alberto Ascherio, MD, a

men hanging out at a barBy Denise Schipani

Ever wonder what your husband's friends really think of you-and your marriage? You may be surprised to learn that your joking eye rolls at your spouse's corny jokes make his friends feel bad for him-or heartened to find out that his closest pals want to see you more. "People outside your marriage can often see blind spots we can't see," says Julie Hanks, LCSW, BCD, director of Wasatch Family Therapy , which has multiple locations in Utah. We asked men to share their thoughts on their buds' wives. Read on to see if you recognize yourself in any of the below, and discover how you can benefit from these guys' feedback. Photo by: Thinkstock

"We think you're judging us."

Scott* is convinced that his oldest friend's wife is a snob. "Whenever we tell stories from years ago, she rolls her eyes as if to say we're pathetic for living in the past." Even if you never say a thing about your husband's and his pals' antics, your eye-rolling can send the message that

before and after shots of bedroomBy Ayn-Monique Klahre

For five years, Jennifer Rathbone's world has revolved around her daughter's life-threatening illness. Woman's Day thought she could use a refuge at the end of the day, so we sent designer Annie Selke to turn her bedroom into one. Photo Credit: Annie Schlechter

Jennifer Rathbone had redone her three children's rooms once or twice as they grew, but the bedroom she and her husband, John, share--a slightly claustrophobic attic space full of odd angles--remained untouched. Thing is, she'd been a little busy, especially since the summer of 2006, when the Schenectady, NY, couple's 1-year-old, Ila, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma. Since then, through remission and relapse, Jennifer has spent her days shuttling Ila from one doctor or hospital to another. "I've basically been Ila's nurse," she says, and that inspired her to go to nursing school "so I could help other sick kids." Though the Rathbones continue to

By Woman's Day Kitchen
When friends and family fly their coops and head to yours for Easter dinner, treat them to this mouth-watering spread of festive dishes - from Cheddar and Chive Buttermilk Biscuits and Red Currant-Glazed Ham.

Butter Lettuce Salad
Red Currant-Glazed Ham
Scalloped Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus
Cheddar and Chive Buttermilk Biscuits

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.

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By Arianne Cohen

The biggest hazard of spring cleaning? Getting distracted and, say, color-coding your billing or redesigning the bedroom furniture layout. This is not the time. This is also not the time for perfection-no one will ever see the inside of your oven, and the furniture waxing doesn't have to be flawless. Read on to learn the best way to… Photo by: Alex Wilson/Getty Images

Disinfect a Garbage Can in 3 Minutes:

1. Take the can outside, lay it on its side and spray it with a hose. The spray will do a lot of the work for you.

2. In the bottom, make a mixture of around 5 inches of water and either bleach or Lysol, following the instructions on the bottle.

3. Dip in a toilet brush and scrub the inside of the can.

4. Dump the dirty water down a household drain (not into the street sewer or yard-chemicals!).

5. Leave the can upright outside to air-dry.

6. Sprinkle in a bit of baking soda, or for cans that tend to get smelly, a layer of activated charcoal.