Woman's World

fill your week with smiles!

MONDAY, JULY 29 RAIN DAY Tune in to the rain! Listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops can make you more productive, say researchers reporting in the journal PLOS ONE. When study subjects took a math test while listening to the sounds of a rainstorm, they finished faster and scored better than when they worked in silence. The investigators speculate that the fast tempo of rain falling wakes up the brain to improve alertness and problem-solving. To experience the perks on sunny days, download a free app like Rain Rain Sleep Sounds (on iPhone and Android). SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY Wow with fruit! When we asked the pros in the Woman’s World test kitchen for a new way to enjoy this summer staple, they offered up this fun watermelon fruit pizza—it’s sure to win…

relax and have fun this week

TV: STARZ Get swept away in a historical drama with Howard’s End! You’re sure to fall in love with this fresh take on a beloved classic! This four-part series based on E.M. Forster’s Howards End, focuses on the lives of three families in London in the early 20th century: the wealthy, capitalist Wilcoxes, the financially secure and progressive Schlegels and the lower-middle class Basts. At the center of the story are two sisters, Margaret and Helen Schlegel, who look for love and meaning in a fast-changing world. Their story includes love, loss, class issues, financial ruin and more. See it now on demand. TOUR Sing live with Sarah McLachlan! Three-time Grammy Award winner Sarah McLachlan is kicking off a tour like no other she’s done before! In these intimate performances, the musician is backed by…

it happened this week!

• MTV, the first 24-hour video music channel, launched in 1981. The channel’s original video jockeys remain good friends to this day! • Alice in Wonderland was released in 1951. It was the first Disney theatrical film to be shown on television. • Martha Stewart was born in 1941. In 1999, she became America’s first self-made female billionaire. • Runaway Bride, with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, premiered in 1999. In real life, Roberts canceled her own wedding to Kiefer Sutherland only days prior. • The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour debuted in 1971. Originally slated for just six episodes, the hit show ran for four seasons.…

this week’s best new books

Fiction MAGICAL REALISM Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber Full of romance, enchantment and small-town charm, this delicious tale whisks readers to the tiny town of Wicklow, Alabama, where Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café. It was meant to be a quick trip, but Anna Kate finds herself drawn to the town and the mysterious blackbird pie everyone keeps talking about. A sweet story of mending hearts… and broken wings. FAMILY SAGA The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets by Molly Fader It’s been 17 years since the McAvoy sisters’ relationship fell apart. Lindy, the wild child, left home, and reliable Delia stayed behind to run the family shop in their Ohio hometown. But when the sisters get word of their mom’s failing health, they’re forced…

“just a few words of hope and love can transform lives!”

Amy Wolff’s eyes widened in shock as she asked her friend to repeat the statistic she’d just shared with their group. “That’s right,” her friend, a local teacher, nodded. “In Newberg alone, we’ve lost two current students and four former students to suicide just this year.” Amy’s head spun. So many people in pain, she thought, tears welling in her eyes. Amy was fortunate to have a loving husband, two daughters and a caring group of friends, but she couldn’t bear to think so many others were suffering. And there’s nothing I can do, the Oregon native thought sadly. After all, she was a public speaking coach, not a therapist…what could she do to help? But as days passed, Amy couldn’t shake the feeling that she had to do something. Years before, she’d toyed…

tap into the power of your words!

1 Shift your self-talk to rev confidence! Simply replacing phrases like “I can’t” or “I have to,” with “I will” or “I want to” significantly increases self-confidence, slashes the risk of heart disease by 42% and boosts production of the happy hormone, serotonin, in the brain. 2 Give a compliment to strengthen bonds! According to Nick Haslam, a professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne, giving compliments fortifies relationships and improves your well-being. To reap the most benefits, researchers suggest giving three compliments a day to strengthen bonds…and spark smiles! 3 Journal this way to boost joy! Clinical therapist, Dr. Charlynn Ruan, says “action” journaling can help you get the most out of your words. Simply write a normal journal entry, wait 10 minutes, then read it back, asking: What do I notice? Then,…