Good Housekeeping articles from December 2006

Good Housekeeping archives from December 2006

Cashed out.(On your mind: LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I think the couple who spent too much money trying to impress their neighbors lacked a sense of responsibility ("Money Envy," October). It is not fair to declare bankruptcy and not pay back the money you owe people. I have spent too much trying...

Show of support.(On your mind: LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I was so glad you ran the story about Cammie McGovern's experience raising her autistic son (Blessings, September). Until recently, I wouldn't tell people that my four-year-old son had Down syndrome because I didn't want them to feel sorry for...

The right recipe.(On your mind: LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Because we are trying to lower our cholesterol, my husband and I were glad to see that several of the recipes you featured in "Five-Ingredient Dinners" (September) were vegetarian. I'm looking forward to trying them all--starting with the...

DHEA dispute.(On your mind: LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... In October 2006, GHK wrote that Olympian Labs was shorting consumers in its DHEA product. GHK failed to disclose that when an FDA-approved lab tests a product, there is a 10 percent acceptable variance. Similarly, acetaminophen and other...

Contest winners.(On your mind: LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... In our 2005 Baby's First Holiday competition, Teresa Murphy's daughter, Charlotte Rose, top, scored as a sweet Santa. The gingerbread prize went to Aleta Schnitzer for her perfect miniature shops. See the runners-up on goodhousekeeping.com....

E-mail our expert.(On your side: HELP FROM THE GH RESEARCH INSTITUTE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A great solution is probably sitting right in your pantry: white vinegar. Set out a few bowls, each containing 1/2 cup, and leave them overnight (where the kids and pets can't reach them). As the vinegar evaporates, the smells will vanish....

Ouch!(GH TO THE RESCUE)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I sent a $500 check to American Express--but the company processed my payment as $5,000. Per its usual protocol, my bank transferred the cash electronically, before seeing the actual check. I didn't notice the missing money right away and, as a...

Good news.(GH TO THE RESCUE)
December 1, 2006... American Express has sent you a refund, and a company spokesperson apologizes for the delay. She explains that AmEx and your bank had to research the issue and adjust their bookkeeping records according to strict regulations (a long process)....

Finding Christmas: our tree was Mom's masterpiece, each ornament a token of her love for us.(Blessings)(Column)
December 1, 2006... After my mother died two years ago, all I wanted was her collection of Christmas ornaments--not her jewelry or her sterling silver. My two sisters and I searched through every closet in the house, under every bed, in the far reaches of the...

December: idea of the month.(GIFT TAGS YOU CAN MAKE IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Personalize presents the easy way, using basic office and art supplies. A metal-rimmed tag makes a simple statement. Labeling tags look festive when stamped with holiday motifs or greetings. For a photo card, paste a pic of the gift recipient...

Good advice: Heloise to the rescue.
December 1, 2006... Q I have a ring on my finger that is too tight. Got any suggestions for removing the ring-short of cutting the band off?. --Cathy Corbett, Island Park, New York Sure do. If you've tried the old standbys--baby oil and hand lotion--and...

Holiday goofs: a survival guide: 'tis the season for unintentional rudeness. Here, the seven mistakes most of us are likely to make, with save-the-day solutions.(Good advice: PEGGY POST ON MODERN MANNERS)
December 1, 2006... You receive a really thoughtful gift from a new friend--but have nothing to give her in return. Don't panic. Since she bought you a present because she wanted to, not because you "owed" each other, you can thank her warmly and leave it at...

Putting pushy people in their place: this time of year, it's easy to feel bombarded by the demands of others. Here's how to deal--politely--with the bossy types in your life.(Good advice)
December 1, 2006... My friend is hosting another one of those parties where you're supposed to buy a bunch of kitchen gadgets you neither want nor need. She cajoled me into attending, and now that I am here, she is pushing me to buy. "C'mon, there's got to be...

It's a wrap: to wow your family with picture-perfect presents, try these simple tricks from the pros.(Good advice)
December 1, 2006... MIX AND MATCH PAPERS Don't limit yourself to just one pattern per present. For large gifts, consider layering two or more papers of different colors, patterns, and textures, suggests Christine Fritsch, author of Gifted Wrapping. To achieve...

The worst gifts ever ... and what to do with them.(Good advice)(Column)
December 1, 2006... I have a relative who wraps the bonus girls that come with catalog orders and gives them out as if they were the crown jewels. You know what I mean--a ceramic vase in the shape of a lady's boot. Along those lines, a friend of mine once got...

Natural wonders: from treetops to tabletops, simple pinecones add a touch of winter whimsy to your home.(Good house)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Pinecones are nature's own ornaments--and bringing them indoors for the holidays can give rooms a rustic, homespun flavor. To make these crafts, gather cones from your yard or pick some up at a craft store. No two are alike--so whether you dust...

Great gifts under $50! Fabulous finds that won't blow your budget.(Gift guide)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2006... Soft and stylish These pullovers ($36 each at Sears) are friendly to your figure--and wallet. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Great graphics A crimson-and-white bowl ($40 at Pier One) looks chic all year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Great hair for the holidays: meet nine top celebrity stylists and the products they've created to help you get an A-list look this season.(Good looks)
December 1, 2006... Frederic Fekkai Who's behind the bottle: Frederic Fekkai began his career in Paris and later opened his own salons in the United States. His products reflect his commonsense approach to beauty: matching the right product to your hair type...

Faux fir.(Good health)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... You might love live Christmas trees, but your allergies may not. Mold spores, which cause reactions in about 7 percent of people, can come into the house with the tree, says Jane Lee, M.D., of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Pollen...

Doctor on vacation?(Good health)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Major chains including Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, and Kroger now have walk-in medical clinics. Staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, these centers deliver routine care and prescriptions, usually with little wait time. Many even...

Heartburn bulletin.(Good health)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Foods and drinks once labeled Trouble--chocolate, wine, coffee, even spicy items--are off the hook, say researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine. They reviewed nearly 30 years of studies and found that for most people, avoiding the...

Don't poison the guests!(Good health)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Don't poison the guests! The numbers you need to know when you're the hostess 140 The temperature at which hot food needs to be held until degrees it is served. Set the oven high enough so that the ...

Party drink alert! Enjoying a cocktail may boost your spirits--but expand your waistline. Here's what to watch out for.(Good health)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... You can enjoy a festive drink this season without committing diet sabotage, but take care--if you're not precise when you pour your drink, it may pack far more calories than you'd planned. Many people consider one cocktail to be a glassful,...

Second chance: this year, Dan Smith can celebrate the holidays with the family he adores because of a gift he received last Christmas.(Good health)
December 1, 2006... On their first date, Dan Smith and Kathy Hurrey went to a family-style restaurant in Philadelphia, one of those places with cartoon-patterned paper placemats for children to color. As always, Dan asked for crayons for himself. She might as well...

Energy-efficient lights: are they really a bright idea?(the Best of Everything: TESTING FROM THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING RESEARCH INSTITUTE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... To find out if these new holiday bulbs cut costs, we tested five brands against a traditional set. Turns out the energy-efficient strands, or LED lights, used 85 to 90 percent less power than the standard ones. In bill-slashing terms: If you...

One-woman tree stand.(the Best of Everything >> TESTIN FROM THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING RESEARCH INSTITUTE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... If you've ever crawled under a 45-pound fir to tighten a stand's bulky screws, you'll appreciate the Krinner Christmas Tree Genie L. At $50, it's pricey--but the payoff is a tree that goes up much faster and more easily. Here's how it works:...

Open plastic packages--fast.(the Best of Everything >> TESTIN FROM THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
December 1, 2006... The Problem: You have to wrestle with CD and DVD wrappers to open them. The solution: (1) EZ-CD/DVD Combo Opener ($2.25). It has two channels--one fits a standard CD jewel box, the other an average DVD case. Slide the appropriate channel along...

Not your mother's mixer: check out these modern models--all lighter, more efficient, and easier to store.(the best: BUYER'S GUIDE)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... One tough cookie In our test of eight models, the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-3 ($55) was the best at preparing cookie dough. It beat through thick, raisin-studded oatmeal batter with ease. What's more, its electronic sensor automatically...

Santa's hot list: our teen and tween testers loved these gifts--which also aced GH Research Institute tests for safety, performance, and ease of use.(Family time)
December 1, 2006... Bring on the bling Bling Ring decorative crystal stickers ($10 to $30) jazz up any cell phone or MP3 player. They take patience to apply, but the crystals adhere well once they're on. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keep out! With...

The kindness of strangers: in this season of giving thanks, five women share stories of people who lent a helping hand when it was least expected.(Real lives)
December 1, 2006... Roadside rescue I was driving home after visiting my parents with my newborn, Addison. He started wailing, so I stopped on a country road and breast-fed him in the passenger seat, locking the doors to be safe. Then I picked him up, and we...

Peace on earth: you can help make it happen. Here, six charities that are working hard to build a safer, more merciful world.(Real lives)
December 1, 2006... Speedwell Trust WHAT IT IS An organization in Northern Ireland that brings together Protestant and Catholic children, ages three to 11, who live in the same community but never meet because of religious segregation in schools. WHAT IT...

All she wanted for Christmas ... we started our gift giving a little early this year, transforming a cluttered classroom into a teacher's paradise.(Real lives)
December 1, 2006... This isn't just about a messy room. And it isn't just about getting organized--or about Southern hospitality (though we received that in spades). It is the story of a teacher from a small town in Texas who lives for her students. When...

Festive (foolproof) cookies: sumptuous, triple-tested treats from the recipe files of the GH staff. Plus a batch that's full of flavor--not calories or fat. Sweet!(Recipe)
December 1, 2006... Christmas cookies are almost impossible to resist, and this year we're raising the bar: Not only have we raided our family recipe boxes for the best classic linzers, walnut balls, ginger thins, and more, but we've also whipped up healthy...

A very Kelly Christmas: one year, she baked 680 cookies. another time, she put a Christmas tree on her roof. Kelly Ripa shares her secrets for making holiday magic.(Cover story)
December 1, 2006... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Kelly Ripa's house--but that's nothing new. "My kids basically begin watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas sometime around June, she reports. "By September, we re staging carols. So by now, we re...

All is calm, all is bright: get Swedish country--Christmas style with light colors, simple homemade trimmings, and traditional holiday touches.
December 1, 2006... Want to pare down the glitz of Christmas without losing the cheer? Look north: Swedes know a thing or two about brightening the dark days of winter. Their sunny design centers on a clean color scheme--blue and white hues that evoke perfect...

Snow place like home: for a cool Yule, bring snowmen in from the cold with frosty decorations and melt-in-your-mouth sweets.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Christmas is all about the kids. To capture that so-excited-they-can't-sleep spirit in your home this season, look no further than Frosty. A snowman theme is pure fun for children-and it warms adults' hearts too. So we rounded up a flurry of...

Playing dress up: for all the shining moments, party-perfect styles that celebrate you and your kids, whether toddler or tween.(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2006... Annie Lombardo, 37 MEDICAL SECRETARY, WITH ASHLEY, 2 Sweater, $129, Boston Proper. Skirt, $119, City Unltd. Pumps, $110, Nina. Earrings, Napier. Bracelet, Carolee. Ashley's dress, $70, and blouse, $35, Little Follies. Hair clip, Faigie....

Ring in the season: dress up your front door, fence, or mantel with these elegant, easy-to-make wreaths.
December 1, 2006... Put a new spin on a holiday classic with rounds made of sugared fruits, berries, peppermints, or paper stars. These unexpected but beautiful trimmings aren't just door decor--they can grace windows, cabinets, and porch railings as well. For...

Christmas dinner simplified: no thawing. no basting. no kidding. an easy roast, make-ahead sides, and a no-bake dessert get you out of the kitchen fast.(Recipe)
December 1, 2006... It's a time-honored holiday tradition: Friends and family are cozily gathered around a dining table laden with a yuletide feast worthy of Dickens--while you're racing around the kitchen half crazed. Not this year. With pared-down dishes (the...

Holiday brunch: toast the New Year with a New Orleans--style brunch that's as sophisticated and ladi-back as the city itself.(Recipe)
December 1, 2006... This season, impress guests with a classic brunch inspired by reveillon, the centuries-old Creole custom of feasting after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu, from Crescent City chefs Mary and Greg Sonnier (who, pre-Katrina, owned the...

The secret Santa: Maggie knows she's breaking her family's strict Christmas rules. And she can only hope her sisters will understand why.(Short story)(Short story)
December 1, 2006... December 24, P.M. I'm in the mall. So is most of the county, from the look of things. Frantic mothers are making a beeline for Mega-Toys. Puzzled-looking men are pacing at jewelry counters, pointing at bracelets, then earrings or pins....

Gifts from the oven.(home cooking: IN SUSAN'S KITCHEN)(Recipe)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I'm a big fan of edible holiday gifts. This year, I'm taking a break from sweets and have been playing with spiced nuts. I buy three-pound bags of nuts from a dub store so I always have a stash. SAVORY SMOKED ALMONDS Preheat oven to...

Standout cake plates.(home cooking: IN SUSAN'S KITCHEN)
December 1, 2006... Decadent desserts deserve to be the center of attention. These serving pieces ensure that your sweet creations will be a treat to the mouth and the eyes. TIP To transfer a moist cake to a stand without it crumbling, follow these steps: Spritz...

Eight days of cookies!(home cooking: IN SUSAN'S KITCHEN)
December 1, 2006... Celebrate Hanukkah with treats shaped like dreidels, menorahs, and more. The four-piece cookie cutter set is $10 at thekoshercook.com. For free shipping, use coupon code GH1206 through February 15, 2007. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Build your dream house.(home cooking: reader recipe)(Recipe)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... You don't have to be a master baker to create a gingerbread house. We tried several kits to find the best choices for making a homemade masterpiece. These are our favorites: BEST FOR KIDS In 45 minutes, you can have an adorable mini-cottage...

A quick chocolate fix.(home cooking: reader recipe)(Recipe)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Want a fast recipe for fudge? Try this rocky road version from Byrtle Swinehart of Eugene, Oregon. A batch will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks. rocky road fudge Prep 7 minutes * Cook about 2 minutes Makes 3 dozen pieces ...

Mini latkes.(home cooking: favorites)(Recipe)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The South Beach Diet's Dr. Arthur Agatston has a twist on this Hanukkah classic that yields a delightfully crispy and slightly sweet pancake. Prepare the batter right before cooking to prevent excess liquid and soggy cakes; pour off any extra...

Recall alerts.(consumer news)
December 1, 2006... Recall alerts Are there unsafe products in your home? Check the following list. These items were recalled by manufacturers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. For more information, contact the companies at...

35 things to be grateful for all year long.(The Good list)
December 1, 2006... 1. Mistletoe (and the right person under it) 2. The holiday dress that still fits 3. Friends who are like family 4. Men who still open doors 5. Online shopping 6. Finding the perfect gift for a picky relative 7....