Woman's Day April 2021

I hope you know how good it feels to give and get flowers. Why not give them to yourself? Harvard researcher Nancy Etcoff found that people who had fresh-cut flowers at home not only felt less negative, worried, and anxious overall, but also reported feeling happier and had more energy and enthusiasm at work. Researchers at Rutgers (my alma mater!) found similar results: Getting flowers made people happy in the moment and led to their reporting later that they felt less depressed and had higher levels of life enjoyment and satisfaction. I buy a grocery store bouquet every Monday to counter my post-happiness hangover after a fun weekend. Maybe for you, it makes sense to buy flowers on Friday to celebrate the end of the week and get to enjoy…

It’s easy being green APRIL 22 Don’t believe us? This Earth Day, pick up The (Almost) Zero Waste Guideby Melanie Mannarino, which is full of doable tips on how to lessen the trash you produce without completely overhauling your life. As Mannarino says in the book, “every little thing we do makes a difference.” DIY LIE DETECTOR APRIL 30 You’ll know if anyone tries to mislead you on National Honesty Day once you’re aware of these telltale signs of deception, courtesy of Traci Brown, body language expert and author of How to Detect Fraud, Lies and Identity Theft. A SUSPECT SMILE “When someone grins during a potentially incriminating situation, it could be a sign of Duper’s Delight. It’s because deep down, they’re having fun and think they’re getting away with their lies.” WRONG BODY LANGUAGE “Watch out for when…

When it comes to her job as an eating disorder counselor, Shira’s main goal is to “help people feel worthy of love and respect,” she says. “To me, having a healthy body image is recognizing that you are so much more than a number on the scale.” Her own experience with an eating disorder (and ongoing recovery) fuels her desire to support others. “The work that I do—empowering people and helping them live life fully—is what makes me feel really good and confident.” “Do things that bring you joy and pleasure. There is so much more to health than what you eat.” Life lessons Life lessons I’ve realized how important community and connection are to me. When I get busy with work or life, I tend to withdraw. The pandemic forced me to…

“Every day is a fresh start.” Who doesn’t love new?! I love the smell of a brand-new car, the softness of a just-bought makeup brush, and most of all, a morning sunrise. Big or small, newness brings energy. A new car turns errand drudgery into adventure. A fresh makeup brush transforms your makeup routine into a creative experience. And the sunrise! You know that amazing feeling you get when the golden sun peeks over the horizon and suddenly bursts into hot orange. The new brings a can-do kind of confidence to everything. This month, Easter is the day we celebrate new: the resurrection of Jesus, a victory over death and an invitation to new life…eternal life. But this victory and new life are not only about heaven—they’re also about the here and…

Coming home after a great trip can feel like a disappointment, and Vern wants to change that. “My goal is to get you to walk through your front door and feel relaxed and replenished, just like how you feel on vacation,” he says. First, assess your things and keep only what you need or love: “Surround yourself with items that bring you joy and evoke positive memories. You can pick up anything in my house and I can tell you why it’s meaningful.” Also, consider more than what you see—with the help of a fragrance diffuser and a wireless speaker, fill your space with scents and sounds that remind you of vacation. “Remember, you’re designing your home for your most important guests, and those VIPs are you and your family,”…

Knock, knock! We’ve got a joke for you… Q: How do you cheer up a sad plant? A: Tell it “Everyone’s rooting for you!” boost your porch appeal SEED WREATH how-to Want more door decor? Go to womansday.com/wreaths. DOOR: BRIAN WOODCOCK. GARLAND: DANIELLE DALY, CRAFT STYLING AND HOW-TO PHOTOS BY ALEX MATA.…