Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Alexandra Gekas

Pet owners know how much their furry friend improves their quality of life. But it's not all about unconditional love-although that actually provides a wellness boost, too. On an emotional level, owning a pet can decrease depression, stress and anxiety; health-wise, it can lower your blood pressure, improve your immunity and even decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. But the positives don't stop there. Read on to discover all of the incredible health benefits that can come with owning a pet.

Decreases Stress

In a 2002 study at State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that when conducting a stressful task, people experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a spouse, family member or close friend was nearby. Promises Treatment Centers, which specializes in addiction, not only recommends its patients consider getting a pet, but even allows pets in its rehabilitation facilities, according to David Sack, MD,

Read More »from 10 Health Benefits of Owning a Pet

by Amanda Greene

One of the most exciting parts of Mardi Gras is the extravagant floats that flood the streets of The Big Easy from January 6 until Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent. Organized and paid for since 1872 by "krewes"-nonprofit organizations made up of locals who plan parades and balls throughout the Carnival season-most floats are the artistic mastery of one shop: Blaine Kern Studios. In business since 1947, the float-building company's complex includes Mardi Gras World, which houses many of the floats when they aren't in use. In honor of Mardi Gras, Blaine Kern Studios gave us a peek at some of their favorite (and most impressive) creations. Want to see more? Head down to New Orleans any time of the year for a tour of their enormous facility.

Bacchasaurus

Founded in 1968 by local business leaders who wanted to revitalize Mardi Gras, the Bacchus krewe, which now boasts over 1,350 members and 33 floats, is known for organizing one of the most spectacular

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By Arricca SanSone

Not everyone likes to clean, but everyone loves a clean house. "The key is maintenance so things don't get out of control," says Diana Henley, owner of Naturalcare Cleaning Service in Houston. "Tackling little messes right away prevents them from becoming big messes later on." Here are nine simple habits the pros recommend to help you keep your home cleaner, longer.

1. Take off your shoes. "Have your family members remove their shoes as soon as they come in the house," says Maria Skokan, co-owner of Nature's Essence Green Cleaning, LLC in Aurora, Illinois. "It's better to prevent dirt from getting in the house in the first place." At the very least, keep machine washable throw rugs at every entrance to your home-both inside and outside-to capture grit, salt and grass clippings.

2. Do mini-vacuum sessions. Vacuum high-traffic patterns in carpeted areas and shake out entryway rugs a couple of times a week to stop soil from being ground in. Zip around the

Read More »from 9 Habits for a Cleaner House

By Tori Rodriguez

You may not mind if your kid plays video games, but you are probably wondering if there's any harm in letting her log so much time with the game console. We consulted child psychologists and video game experts to get the facts on how you can help your child enjoy the benefits of video games while avoiding their potential pitfalls.

1. Games have ratings and consoles have parental controls.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) provides information about computer and video games, including a rating system with categories ranging from EC (Early Childhood) to AO (Adult Only). Cheryl K. Olson, ScD, faculty member of Harvard Medical School and author of Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do, recommends that parents bookmark the ESRB's "Resources" page, which links to instructions for the parental controls built in to all game systems and computers. The page also has "links to sites for your kids

Read More »from 8 Things Parents Should Know About Video Games

By Woman's Day Staff

Fresh Start

This season, trade in your dingy, old cleaning tools for brightly-hued ones. Not only are products decorated in oranges, reds and green energizing, but who doesn't love to play with new toys? Pick up one of these pretty finds and you'll be itching to try them out before you know it. Your mood and house will appreciate the upgrade!

Chirpy Hooks

Sparrow-shaped clips provide perches for damp towels and linens. $15 for 16; MOMAStore.org.

Striped Set

A pan and brush set that'll earn its stripes attacking tracked-in dirt. $26 each; AliceSupplyCo.com.

Lovely Loofah

A loofah helps you enjoy the fruits of your dishwashing labor. Loofah-art, $4.99; 800-720-2247.

Girly Gloves

The prettiest rubber gloves, hands down. Cupcakes and Cartwheels, $11; 800-896-7266 for stores.

Get the whole family to pitch in when it comes to spring cleaning.

Broom Queen

A true sweeping beauty. $14;

Read More »from Colorful Cleaning Supplies

By Woman's Day Staff

Hang On

The designated drop-off for coats, umbrellas and other everyday items, entryways certainly know how to attract mess. And the more clutter, the more of an eyesore the space can become. Enter this DIY hook-style rack, which you can make using your favorite wall-paper pattern (we used Antonina Vella Designs Edda in Green) and a few other craft store supplies (get full material list here ). Streamlined and stylish, it will both act as a home for the day's disregards and add a burst of personality to your décor. Click through to get how-to instructions for crafting your own.

Step 1

Separate the hooks and screws. Poke screws through the foam so they stand upright; spray-paint. Stand the hooks up on the spare plank of wood or a newspaper-covered surface; spray-paint. Let dry.

Step 2

Following package instructions, apply glue to the front of the pine piece and place it, centered, on the underside of the wallpaper. Set books along the

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By Emma Johnson

If your job-hunt effort is starting to feel like a lost cause, it might be time to consider a change in careers. The good news? There are plenty of professions where open posts are plentiful. Here are some of the fastest-growing occupations and their average salaries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (For the educational requirements for each job, click here and here.)

Growing Industries

Home Health Aide ($21,620)
Physical Therapist Aide ($48,590)
Dental Hygienist ($67,860)
Veterinary Technician ($30,580)
Accountant/Auditor ($67,430)
Registered Nurse ($66,530)
Customer Service Rep ($32,410)
Elementary School Teacher ($53,150)

Try one of these eight ways to make money online.

Does Age Matter?

Yes. While unemployment has affected all demographics, middle-aged women are especially hard-hit. The number of U.S. women ages 45 to 64 who have been out of work longer than six months has doubled to 900,000 in

Read More »from Where the Jobs Are

By Arianne Cohen

Pam, a mother of two teenage boys, ages 14 and 17, lives in a clean, organized house in Austin, Texas. And no, she's not going to tell you her last name, because her house used to be a mess.

"Have you ever seen Citizen Kane?" she jokes. While raising her sons, Pam found herself "just surrounded by things." She knew it was getting bad when visitors began commenting. "People would say, 'Wow, you have a lot of stuff.' I think I let it go for so long because the house was never dirty-just very full," she says. Full of outgrown toys, kitchen appliances, end tables from two houses ago-items that were potentially useful, but never used. "My biggest mistake? Not having a plan to get rid of things," she says.

Millions of us are just like Pam, and the consequences of holding on to everything are huge. Numerous studies show that people whose lives are oriented around material possessions-which is what happens when every surface is cluttered- are less happy. A 2006

Read More »from Confronting Your Clutter Conundrums