Blog Posts by Marie Claire

Katie Miller: A Beautiful MindKatie Miller is among the small group of women diagnosed with autism. She's also a gorgeous artist who's never been on a date and has difficulty meeting new people. But to her, being autistic isn't the disadvantage it might seem. By Alissa Quart

For several years, Katie Miller, a 27-year-old artist based in Parkton, Maryland, 30 miles north of Baltimore, found inspiration in newborns. She nudged her friends, family, and neighbors to allow her to photograph their tiny babies so she could paint painstakingly detailed portraits of them. That work would take hours, so Miller tacked handwritten notes to the walls reminding her to eat and take breaks. "I am so extremely focused that I don't realize I'm hungry or have to go to the bathroom," she explains. "I only later realize my muscles hurt from sitting in one position for so long."

That unwavering intensity isn't just the mark of a die-hard artist. Eight years ago, Miller was diagnosed with autism, the neurological and

Gina Keatley: From Homeless to Pro ChefOne woman took the kindness she experienced in soup kitchens as a child and opened her own. By María Eugenia Miranda

At the age of 4, Gina Keatley - along with her 12-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother - left her parents. She didn't understand what was going on at the time, but she knew that she had to say goodbye because her father had gotten into legal troubles and her mother had health problems that prevented her from caring for them. In order not to get swept into the foster care system, Keatley and her siblings did everything they could to stay together.

"I think that's where I really learned that you have to decide your own future," says Keatley, 30, who is now a chef living in New York City.

Keatley and her siblings spent their childhoods moving from state to state, often living in their car or wherever her brother found work - at funeral homes and with mentally ill patients.

50 Cheap Date Ideas

"We had no place to live, so I'd literally live in the

4 Must-Try Sex PositionsYou on top? Him on top? On the floor? Outside? We asked women to give us the down and dirty about what gets them going every time. Here, four positively orgasmic sex positions to steal.

MAYA, 26, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
FAVORITE POSITION: We're standing. I face my boyfriend and wrap my legs around his torso. He puts his hands beneath my butt and lifts me up and down while thrusting into me. I call it "The Claw."

WHAT MAKES IT SO HOT: I'm a very independent woman, but I occasionally love being dominated. My partner is in total control here-I don't have to do a thing! It may be a physically demanding position for him, but it makes me feel virtually weightless- and totally orgasmic.

FUN PROP: The Claw is even more fun when you're greased up, so slick yourselves down with Johnson's Baby Oil Gel beforehand. But practice it dry a few times first so you don't get hurt!

9 Signs That He's Cheating

MAJESTA, 28, NURSE'S ASSISTANT/ NANNY
FAVORITE POSITION: I lie on my back with my legs over my

5 Healthy Foods You Should Eat Every DayThe new trend among the weight conscious? Eating more. Don't focus on consuming less of the "bad" foods - aim to incorporate more of the good foods into your diet. Not only will you feel less deprived, but you'll also end up being too full to crave the junk. Try these five nutritional superstars for a result that's even greater than the sum of its wholesome parts. By Hannah Geller

1. Spinach
For $1.50, the price of a large bag of spinach at most grocery stores, you can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis, lower your cholesterol, and raise your I.Q. Spinach is an excellent bone-builder, containing vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium. It's also high in flavonoids, plant molecules that act as antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent breast, stomach, skin, and ovarian cancer. Spinach is a great source of vitamin A and vitamin C, which not only keep you from getting sick in the winter, but also de-clog your arteries and reduce heart disease.

Spinach contains

MC's resident dermatologist and psychiatrist on the beauty of getting booty.

MC's resident dermatologist and psychiatrist on the beauty of getting booty. By Dr. Amy Wechsler

Put more sex in your life: It slows aging. A Scottish study found that thrice-weekly action stripped at least four years off participants' faces, and getting busy even boosts immunity and reduces heart disease. There are beauty bonuses, too - sex perks up your appearance instantaneously. Just remember to do it safely.

1. Write off wrinkles. Stress hormones and antistress hormones are like a seesaw in your body, and sex - specifically orgasm - gives that seesaw a giant push in the right direction thanks to a trifecta of hormones: beta-endorphin, an opiate and painkiller; prolactin, a relaxation inducer; and oxytocin, which makes you want to cuddle. Endorphins and growth hormones flood the body after orgasm, healing damage from the sun, smoking, and cortisol, which destroy collagen and create wrinkles. In a fun few minutes, sex wipes out the inflammatory molecules that age skin.

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Are women relying on psychics as a last resort?Could modern-day fortune tellers be the saviors of single women - of just purveyors of false hope? By Sarah Ivens

After a year of radio silence, my friend Beth had got back in touch with some good news: There was a man. My friends and I finally understood her distance over the previous months: As many of us had embarked on the road to marriage and motherhood, Beth had been stagnant. But after a long period filled with heartbreak, divorce, and living alone, there was now a promising guy in her life. She could finally put her jealousy to rest and resume girls' nights out.

"His name is Richard, and he's a lawyer," she said excitedly. "He's been married before but doesn't have children. He's handsome, successful, and clever, and he's going to adore me."

Going to?

9 Signs That He's Cheating

"I'm due to meet him next summer," she said. "We'll get married shortly after, have two healthy children immediately, and then move to a beautiful home in the country." As we

8 Types of Guys That Won't CommitTrying to get men to commit is an age-old riddle in the female mind. Here are a few "types" that will be tough to get into the commitment fold. Hopefully, you can spot one of these early on in the relationship. By Rich Santos

1. The Narcissist

Beware of the guy who talks about himself too much, looks too perfect and works on building his image superficially. He won't commit to you because he's too committed to himself.

2. The Middle School Boy

Let's get this out in the open (as if you didn't already know): Guys never truly grow up. We act mature, which takes energy and discipline. But some guys can't hide their childishness. It takes a certain amount of maturity to get to the point of commitment, so don't hold your breath if you're dating a guy afflicted with chronic immaturity.

5 Secrets of the Highest-Paid Women

3. The Scatter Brain

This guy just can't get his, um, stuff together. As a result, he's constantly trying to make ends meet, and always feeling

Try out these expert tips to get perfect hair, makeup, and skin.

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