Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Abigail L. Cuffey

That cute and cuddly teddy bear your child loves? It could be harboring millions of dust mites and exacerbating your family's allergies, says Todd Rambasek, MD, an allergist in Cleveland. Fortunately, you don't have to toss out Teddy. Just put him in the freezer for 24 hours every two weeks, or run him through the washing machine in 140°F water. (Freezing or washing in hot water will kill the dust mites.) Below, discover more allergy triggers and how to tackle them.

1. Houseplants. The soil can be a breeding ground for mold.

The fix: Consistent dampness in the soil is what leads to mold, so avoid overwatering and consider using a dehumidifer in your home, says Rebecca Piltch, MD, an allergist in San Francisco.

2. Nonslip bathtub mats and shower curtains. They're also mold hot spots.

The fix: Clean them regularly (once every two weeks) with a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach, 9 parts water). Of course, if you see mold (make sure you

Read More »from Hidden Home Allergens

By Rita Rubin

Millions of Americans suffer, but finding relief can often seem impossible. Here, we piece together what you need to know.

Cindy Steinberg's life changed forever when she opened a file cabinet drawer one day in 1995. She didn't realize that workmen who were dismantling cubicles in her office had stacked partitions behind the tall cabinet. When she pulled the drawer open, everything toppled onto her.

"I didn't have any cuts, but once the initial shock subsided, I felt a stabbing pain in my back," says Cindy, who at the time was in her late 30s and the mother of an almost-2-year-old daughter.

It turned out that she had torn ligaments and damaged nerves in her back. "I went through two months of physical therapy and took medication, which helped ease my discomfort in the beginning, but I haven't had a day without pain in 16 years," says Cindy. At first, the pain was so bad that she couldn't even pick up her daughter.

As horrific as it sounds, Cindy's

Read More »from Living with Chronic Pain

By Brynn Mannino

Spring is all about nature's beauty-and nothing captures the splendor of the season like flowing hair, a radiant complexion and soft lips. If dry winter weather has left your features feeling anything but fresh, products can help, so we asked people in the know which ones they can't live without. Try these recommended picks to help bring your beauty into full bloom.

Fight Frizz

For curly hair, warm weather means ditching the blow dryer and letting it dry naturally. To get healthy ringlets, Miko Branch, who cofounded Miss Jessie's Salon and curly hair product line with her sister, Titi, swears by styling creams. "They're lightweight with great consistency, and moisturize without making your hair feel greasy," says Branch. Before she introduced her own line of products-which includes the popular Curly Pudding ($7 for 2 oz; MissJessies.com)-her go-to was Aveda's Brilliant Universal Styling Crème ($17 for 5-oz tube; Aveda.com).

Reduce Puffiness

Brooke

Read More »from Spring Beauty Products Experts Love

By Olivia Putnal

Slowly but surely, spring is creeping in and that means it's finally time to head outside for some fun. But while parks, hiking trails and beaches are common outdoor destinations, there are other fresh-air spots to visit as well-like, sculpture gardens! Not only can visitors take in the scenery and enjoy being outdoors, they can also view incredible works of art. Get excited for spring by checking out these nine impressive sculpture gardens from around the world.

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center-Dowell, Maryland

At the Annmarie Sculpture Garden in Dowell, Maryland, visitors can ride bikes or walk (even with their dogs) through 30 acres alongside St. John's Creek while enjoying magnificent works of art. The attractions include tree art, permanent sculptures, temporary spotlight pieces-over 30 currently on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and National Gallery of Art-and even the "Women's Walk," featuring bronze statues celebrating the female

Read More »from 9 Spectacular Sculpture Gardens

By Woman's Day Staff

Growth Spurt

Whether your plant's roots are growing out of the drainage holes, or they're overwhelming the soil, those are clear indications that it's time to move it to a bigger pot. But if you're not careful, you could damage those stems. From using the right soil, to (carefully) replanting, here's how to safely move your plant from one home to another.






Step 1

One to two days before repotting, water the plant well-the roots can break off if you remove the plant when the soil is dry. Ask a salesperson at the garden center which potting soil is best for your plant, since it may require a special blend. (An orchid, for example, needs a soil made with tree bark, while a cactus requires a soil/ sand mixture.) Choose a new terra cotta or plastic pot that is 2 inches larger in diameter than the current one.

Step 2

If your pot does not have drainage holes, carefully drill two or three 1/4- to 1/2-inch holes into the bottom using a power drill. (If using a

Read More »from How to Repot a Plant

By Ayn-Monique Klahre

You don't have to gut and revamp your entire space to make it look new again. Try a few expert-recommended decorating tricks, like replacing knobs or swapping in punchy lighting for old fixtures, to breathe new life into your home on the cheap.

Start with one pattern. A bright indoor-outdoor fabric inspired this room's palette. (The Jane Churchill Belmont fabric shown on the window treatments is only available through designers; browse JoAnn.com for similar fabrics.)

Freshen up what you have. Transform a wood desk with a coat of glossy paint and whimsical new knobs.

Learn how to transform used or inexpensive furniture from cheap to chic.

Hang art that has personality. We love these two examples: These Dandelion Iron Spheres ($261; ArteriorsHome.com for stores) and a painting by Presley.

Bring in modern materials. Lucite, lacquer and stainless steel accents make a space feel more youthful.

Read More »from Easy Ways to Add Life to Any Room

By Kimberly Dawn Neumann

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes happily ever after. End of story, right? Not quite… While it's true that couples relax a bit after they think they've nabbed the matrimonial Holy Grail, the reality is that they may also find themselves dumbfounded if their fairytale starts slipping away. "Many people think that marriage is about marrying the right person, so when things go wrong, they automatically go to the 'Crap, I accidentally married the wrong person' place," says Alisa Bowman, author of Project: Happily Ever After. "Although you do want to marry someone you are basically compatible with, marriage has a lot less to do with marrying the right person than it has to do with doing the right things with the person you married." In other words, relationships are a constant work in progress. To keep the happy connection that made you say "I do" in the first place-or maybe even create a newer-and-improved version-try out these 10 tips to rehab Read More »from 10 Ways to Get Your Marriage Back on Track

By Denise Schipani

Linda Thornton, JD, author of 20 Things to Know About Divorce, describes her marriage this way: "We were together for 30 years, not including that break when we were divorced." She's not trying to be cute or facetious: Once she and her husband got back together (infidelity broke them up), "we were so solid and inseparable; it was as though that time apart didn't matter." Sadly, Thornton's husband passed away in 2009, but she's not the only woman who has walked down the aisle with her ex-husband. Below, meet four other once-divorced, now-remarried couples and discover what they learned about making a marriage work-and what you can learn, too.

Suzann and Clinton Sines, Gaines, Michigan

In 1995, Suzann and Clinton Sines were 20- and 19-year-old newlyweds against the world. Well, against their families' approval, anyway. "We were very immature, and part of the decision to get married was because my mother was against it," explains Suzann. In eight years of

Read More »from Second-Time-Around Marriages