Blog Posts by SheKnows.com

by Betsy Bailey for SheKnows.com

If you are a Harry Potter fan (or the parent of one) you are probably aware of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park that debuted this summer at Universal Studios Orlando. SheKnows co-founder and executive editor Betsy Bailey and her 13-year-old daughter, Hannah, jetted off to Orlando for a peek. Now we're sharing this experience with you!

The last time I was in Orlando was, I recently realized, nearly 20 years ago. I went to Walt Disney World as a college graduation gift from my then-in-laws. At that time, Universal Studios was in its infancy - barely a year old! We didn't make time for the park during that trip, but I always thought I would someday when I found myself back in Orlando, especially when I started hearing reports that they were building a Harry Potter-themed park.

How lucky I feel to have been one of six women in media who were invited by Universal Studios Orlando on an

Stink bugs are bringing their special brand of foul odor to homes and gardens in several east coast states. What do you need to know about these creepy crawlers to keep your home and family safe?

Stink bugHardly a day goes by without a news report of a bed bug breakout somewhere in the U.S. These creepy crawlers are enough to make our skin itch, but unfortunately they aren't the only ones we need to worry about.

That's right: Stink bugs are bringin' their brand of foul odor to a town near you. Ick.

Stink bugs, or Halyomorpha halys, emerged in East Asia in the early '90s, and hitched a ride to North America. Cases have popped up in homes in various parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey.

>> Sleep tight with these tips on banning bed bugs from your home

As you probably guessed, stink bugs get their name from their foul odor. The intense smell is sometimes compared to skunks or rotten vegetables. Stink bugs can be a little hard to identify, as they

katy-perryBy Sarah Monson for SheKnows' THE WIRE

The letter of the day is C over on Sesame Street. And it stands for cleavage.

Preacher's-daughter-turned-sexy-pop-star Katy Perry was slated to appear on the long-running PBS children's show singing a kid friendly version of her hit "Hot N Cold" with Elmo, but it got pulled after parents freaked out over Perry's cleavage-bearing dress.

Well, that pretty much proves that dads are NOT the ones watching Sesame Street with their children these days.

How did these pro-turtleneck parents even find out about this boobalicious episode anyway? Well, earlier this week, a clip leaked on YouTube, where nearly a million people have viewed it. Some didn't think it was such a big deal. But those that did were loud and clear.

"They're gonna have to rename it Cleavage Avenue," complained one peeved parent, probably secretly pleased they could be so clever.

Katy Perry taken off Sesame Street: A parent's view

Sesame Street, never one

There's a welcome coolness in the air and apple cider is popping up in every grocery store in town -- it can only mean one thing: the first days of fall are finally here! Here are a few fun ways to celebrate the beginning of the autumn season.

Whether you're celebrating the first day of fall because you live in a toasty climate where the cooler temperatures are a much needed break, or you're feeling a little down because cooler fall days mean that even colder winter days (and all that shovel-inducing snow) are just around the corner, never fear. SheKnows is here with a handy guide to the first days of fall and it's full of fun fall recipes , fall crafts , fall activities for kids, fall decorating ideas for the home and more!

One of our favorite things about fall is embracing all our favorite fall recipes full of seasonal vegetables, savory spices and delicious warmth!

• Farmers markets are in full swing so try one of these easy fall farmers market recipes

Amy PoehlerNew moms everywhere can relate to the desire to return to their pre-baby bodies ASAP, and celebs feel the same way. Some of them take it off in a flash, and some take their time taking it off.

Here are some of our favorite celebrity bodies after baby -- and the secrets to how they did it!

AMY POEHLER

Just three weeks after welcoming her second son, Abel James, Amy Poehler graced the Emmys' red carpet looking absolutely ethereal. The shapely mama has curves in all the right places. When her first son, Archie, arrived, the Parks and Recreation actress attributed her speedy weight loss to "not sleeping."

• What celebrity moms are doing to go organic
• Top 10 hot celebrity moms
• Top 10 celebrity mothers and daughters

Eyebrows are one of the most important keys to framing a face. In fact, perfectly shaped eyebrows can act as a mini-facelift. Here are some tips for creating beautiful brows.

Don't over-pluck.

The most beautiful brows are natural and full. Women often over-pluck and then end up with thin brows that don't grow. If your eyebrows are thin, try an eyebrow growth product, like Billion Dollar Brows Brow Boost or Latisse (FDA approved for eyelashes, but can be used on brows as well).

The 7 deadly sins of makeup

Get the right shape.

If you have never had your brows shaped, have a professional do them the first time, and then you can maintain them. Here's how to see where your brows should grow:

• Hold a ruler vertically on the outside of your nose. The inside of your brow should line up with the outermost part of your nose.
• Move the ruler toward your hairline, and find the point where the ruler is on its edge.
• Tweeze any hairs that fall outside of this zone.

Sandra Bullock does it. So does Katie Holmes. Even Niki Taylor's dabbled in it. So what exactly is the allure of SCUBA diving? The ability to burn tons of calories, tighten and tone your body, all while frolicking in the surf are a few big reasons. Here's why you should consider scuba diving, along with the must-have scuba diving gear to get you started.

SCUBA diving, which actually stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, is all about below-the-surface activity. You must breathe through a compressed air pump to receive oxygen (hence the phrase's meaning). The first successful commercial dive has been credited to Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a French naval officer and explorer who studied the sea and all forms of aquatic life, in the 1940s.

Diving recreationally is one of the best workouts you can do to whip yourself into shape. Not only does it torch calories (a 145-pound woman will burn about

by Sarah Caron for SheKnows.com

Want to take better photos? We asked mommy bloggers from around the Web to share their tips and tricks for taking great photos. These women take and share many fabulous photos every week, so they have plenty of expertise to share.

Taking great photos is a wonderful skill, and many mommy bloggers have mastered it, sharing their art with the world on blogs everywhere. From beautiful portraits of children at play to mouthwatering snapshots of fresh, fabulous food, a world of wonderful photography awaits exploration online.

Here's what the mommy bloggers had to say.

Taking photographs while standing up might seem natural, but the results can look anything but natural in the end. Who wants to see their kids from a bird's eye view? Instead, Kristen Doyle ofDine and Dish and Culinary Snapshot suggests getting down to your child's level while taking photos. "Capturing them at that level creates a great photograph and an