Good Housekeeping articles from January 2003

Good Housekeeping archives from January 2003

On my mind. (editor's letter).
January 1, 2003... Good Housekeeping staffers have become TV regulars! Our editors and Good Housekeeping Institute experts (seen here in screen grabs, taken right from TV) often appear on ABC's Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, and our syndicated news service,...

Cher shares. (On your mind).
January 1, 2003... Bravo to Liz Smith for a wonderful interview with Cher ("What Cher Wants," November). I was thrilled to see that the story mentioned not only Cher's music, movies, and personal loves, but also her work with the Children's Craniofacial...

Praise for Patricia. (On your mind).
January 1, 2003... What a joy to read the piece from Patricia Heaton ("Motherhood and Hollywood," November). Her approach to life is so uplifting, and it's nice to know that someone with a lot of money and fame is so down-to-earth. I've always liked her on...

Crises and cures. (On your mind).
January 1, 2003... I wanted to respond to "A Famous Doctor Faces a Family Health Crisis," by Nancy Snyderman (November). I have been in her position. When my husband entered the hospital at age 24, the doctors told me that if he survived, he would be in a...

Grateful for thank-yous. (On your mind).
January 1, 2003... I was so pleased with "The Power of `Thank You'" (November). My mother taught me to write thank-you notes. I write notes thanking interviewers for their time, colleagues for their work, and friends for their kindness. It's a shame more people...

City slicker.(child who likes the rain)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Neither rain nor sleet nor snow can keep three-year-old John DeBatto, Jr., from going outdoors to play. John's mother, Patrice DeBatto, of Moriches, New York, says that despite her efforts, her bundled-up boy "always manages to get soaked. He...

Heads up! the looks, trends, and news you need this month.
January 1, 2003... Asian infusion: Everything Zen is in again Quilted silk mandarin jacket, $80, from Pearl River; 800-878-2446. Brown-and-gold jacquard pants, $140, from Mica. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Red brocade bag from Paint the Lily at Pure...

Real deals: bargains you'll love.
January 1, 2003... haute hamper This pretty cotton hamper can't do your laundry for you--but it will brighten up your wash day. Roomy enough to hold about two loads, it's available in assorted patterns and folds for easy storage. $19.99, at T.J. Maxx;...

Beware those neck lines. (Beauty: tips trends truth).
January 1, 2003... "One of the first places to show age is your neck," says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. "The earlier you start taking care of it, the better." Companies such as Estee Lauder and Burt's Bees are introducing products...

Gem dandies. (Beauty: tips trends truth).
January 1, 2003... Jewel-tone makeup--think turquoise eyeshadow or amber blush--is a bright spot of the winter season. And it's more flattering than you think. A touch of golden shimmer on your cheeks, for instance, will get you glowing for an evening out. Try:...

Beauty by the stars. (Beauty: tips trends truth).
January 1, 2003... Whether you're a sexy Scorpio or a loyal Leo, there's a scent that suits your sign: new Soular Therapy fragrances. Will it be your perfect match? We can't predict. But the exotic essences (chamomile eucalyptus for Aquarius, wintergreen...

Free fragrance. (Beauty: tips trends truth).
January 1, 2003... Spice up your scent life with the latest from Victoria's Secret, Very Sexy for Her. 100 winners will receive a one-ounce eau de parfum, a $35 value. See page 183 for details on how to enter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The one-step, whole-body wrinkle fighter: you protect your skin in the summer, but how about in the winter? You can still look great in five years-just give yourself 30 minutes right now. (Beauty: tips trends truth).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... Whether winter means you're up to your eyeballs in snow or enjoying 70-degree Miami days, your skin requires special care this season. Air that's less humid tends to rob skin of its natural moisture. And as skin becomes more parched, fine lines...

New ways to stop a thief. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(home security alarms)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Do-it-yourself remodeling is one thing--but DIY home security? Central monitoring systems, which alert the police to intrusions, are the gold standard, but installation and monthly fees make them pricey. Now more-affordable alarms are available...

Dieting: it's for the dogs. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(helping overweight pets to lose weight)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... If your pet's hips are spreading and her stomach is sagging (like 50 percent of pets in the U.S.), she's at risk for diabetes, respiratory problems, heart disease, and arthritis--just like overweight humans. Here's help: Go lean Ask your...

The great pretender. (toast test).(sparkling wine as substitute for champagne)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Suppose you ring in 2003 with sparkling wine instead of with Champagne--would your guests know the difference? Maybe not. When 32 tasters sipped Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Rare (1988 vintage, $42 to $60) and Paul Cheneau Blanc de Blancs Brut...

GH to the rescue. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(tips on getting a refund for a recalled product)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... "Burned! Once with a defective toaster, twice by a no-show refund." A year ago, Applica notified me that my Black & Decker VersaToast Toaster posed a fire hazard and was being recalled. To get my $12 refund, I needed to phone for the...

The dish on discounts. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ninety-nine-cent frames! Ten-dollar toasters! Low, low prices are tempting, but if the quality is off, are you really getting a deal? To find the true bargains, we hit more than a dozen discount stores. At one chain, Dollar Tree, we were...

The newest number: body fat. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Will your body be less fatty next year than it is right now? If you'd actually like to answer that question, check out the new scales that measure not only your weight but the percentage of fat in your body composition. We tested seven scales...

Tummy busters: the fastest way to lose inches. (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(control panties)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Can underwear help you lose an inch without feeling the pinch? Yes, say GH staffers, who recently wiggled into the latest control panties, which are now made of lightweight nylon and tummy-trimming Lycra. Testers sizes 4 to 22 tried five...

That's snow business. (price check).(snow removal costs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Shovel, shovel, toil and trouble! When your driveway is covered with the white stuff, hiring a helper can save you time and energy. How much should you pay a teen for shoveling your drive and walkways? To find out, GH surveyed readers around...

My Big Fat Greek Windex? (extra! extra! Breaking news from the Good Housekeeping Institute).(off-label use of Windex)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In the hit movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Windex plays a starring role: The father always keeps a bottle handy for treating everything from burns to pimples. Is it really a cure-all? Though the manufacturer, SC Johnson, insists Windex is...

Recalls.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Recalls: For more information, contact the U.S. Recalls Consumer Product Safety Commission at 800-638-2772, or visit www.cpsc.gov. PRODUCT CONTACT PROBLEM Black DCT2000 digital Motorola...

8th annual good buy awards: and the winners are ... 7 smart inventions that solve your everyday problems. (extra! extra! The better way to shop: the GHI buyer's guide).
January 1, 2003... it cooks, it cools! Polara Refrigerated Range, from Whirlpool, $1,799 to $1,899* "When's dinner going to be ready?" With this electric oven-fridge combo, you no longer have to dread that classic kid question. Pop in a meat loaf and potatoes...

Household helpline: Heloise to the rescue.(cleaning leather recliners, using dehumidifier water; controlling moths, other advice)
January 1, 2003... Q: I'm wondering how to clean my leather recliner and maintain its softness and texture. --Brenda Wells, South Burlington, Vermont Heloise: There are different kinds of leather--finished and unfinished--so first read the label attached...

Talk to me: Joy Behar solves your trickiest problems.
January 1, 2003... Q: My son is engaged to marry a girl from a very wealthy family. Now this girl is talking about all the expensive things she wants my son to provide so she can keep on living "in the manner to which she's accustomed." I'm scared she's going to...

Do the right thing: Peggy Post on everyday etiquette.
January 1, 2003... Q: My office has a "coffee club" where coworkers contribute funds and supplies to keep the caffeine flowing. Lately I've realized that some coworkers don't chip in at all, but still help themselves to a couple of cups each day. Am I right to...

"Don't be afraid to talk about my husband": this is a tough time of year for those who are mourning a loss. What to say when you really want to help. (personal matters).
January 1, 2003... The dawn of a new year can be a joyful time, filled with the excitement of new beginnings. But for those who are grieving, breaking out the new calendar is yet another reminder that a loved one is gone forever. The pain of losing my husband,...

9 money-saving reasons to get organized: if your idea of financial files is a shoebox stuffed with bills, please read this. Tidying up could earn you a bundle. (your money).
January 1, 2003... When I feel the primal urge to get organized, I know it must be January. Like everyone else, I have a to-do pile that's flowing out of its basket. But after the New Year, I start clearing away the mess--first the pine needles on the floor, then...

Put the squeeze on high blood pressure. (your health).
January 1, 2003... I'm extremely lucky: On any given day, my blood pressure hovers around 90 over 70--a reading doctors consider optimal Normal pressure is actually 129 over 84 or below. Unfortunately, right now about 50 million Americans have high blood...

The Viagra dialogues: this drug can put the bloom back in sex--but it can also cause relationship problems. Hear what real-life couples have to say about "vitamin V." (your health).
January 1, 2003... It's 16 years later, but Gary Haub and his wife, Carolyn Acton, still remember how devastating it was when he couldn't make love to her. "I didn't feel like touching her," Gary, now 53, recalls. "I felt like less than a man." Gary and...

Socket solution. (your family).(No Tug Plug Safety Plate System)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Plastic outlet covers for open electrical sockets are a childproofing must-have. But what about lamps and other objects plugged into the wall? After yanking a cord out, toddlers can stick their fingers--or something else--into the exposed...

Smart parenting: rejections. (your family).(helping a child cope with rejection)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Q My 14-year-old daughter asked a boy to the school dance, but he said no, and she cried all weekend. Isn't she too young to be suffering like this? I feel so helpless. What can I do? a "First rejections are hard for mothers to watch," says...

Pajama game. (your family).
January 1, 2003... Does your child misplace her pajamas, stuffing them in the wrong drawer or under the covers? A cute remedy: pillows with special pouches so kids can easily find their pj's at bedtime. We recommend Remmy's Good Night Kid's Pillow with Secret...

The clipping news. (your family).(General Mills' Box Tops for Education program)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... You cheer at the touchdown line. You volunteer for the PTA. You sell T-shirts and candy, But do you have the box tops covered? Hundreds of products off grocery-store shelves--from Cheerios to Yoplait yogurt to Green Giant frozen peas--carry...

Five signs you're being too lenient: think you're a decent disciplinarian? Don't be so sure! How to tell if you're a pushover parent--and what to do. (your family).
January 1, 2003... Not too long ago, I was in the checkout line of a trendy boutique with my 13-year-old daughter. I wasn't happy with the overpriced clothing she had bullied me into buying, any more than I was with the slow, snooty service. But then came the...

A girl's best friend is ...: this famously fractious relationship has gotten a whole lot better. Women who make it work share their secrets for getting along (most of the time).(mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships)
January 1, 2003... My mother's feelings about her mother-in-law could be summed up in one word: murderous. When I was a child, it was hard for me to square the image I had of Grandma Esther--an endlessly generous woman who always had an open wallet and an open...

You can get over disappointment: when the world lets you down, how to pump yourself back up. Plus, are you the life of the pity party? (disappointment).
January 1, 2003... I've had little experience with disappointment. It's not just that my life has been blessed, though it has (my parents are still alive, I have work I love, and my husband annoys me only 50 percent of the time). No, the real reason I'm rarely...

A new generation finds sweet success: after years of fighting the stereotypes pinned on African-American women, author Veronica Chambers celebrates her sisters' new freedoms and achievements. (real lives).
January 1, 2003... Growing up in a rough area of Brooklyn, Veronica Chambers had heard of only two careers: lawyer and doctor. "Clair Huxtable was my idol," she says of the supermom attorney married to Dr. Clifton The Cosby Show. But Clair's exciting job was...

Goldie's girl: Kate Hudson, daughter of Goldie Hawn, opens up about her surprising marriage, her famous family, and what really makes her mad. (real lives).(Interview)
January 1, 2003... Young Kate Hudson--Oscar nominee, fashion plate, daughter of a movie legend, and wife of a rock star--glides into the posh Manhattan restaurant Le Cirque 2000, a study in contradictions. Dressed in a hippie-style fringed top and blue jeans, she...

Tom Brokaw: my indomitable mother: in an exclusive excerpt from his new book, A Long Way from Home, the NBC anchor talks about the woman who taught him to iron his own shirts, shop for bargains, and keep his ego "on a short leash". (real lives).(Excerpt)
January 1, 2003... America in the fifties was a man's world. In Yankton, South Dakota, where I attended high school, no women owned businesses other than beauty shops, and those with jobs outside the home were almost always cast in supporting roles. In our...

Meryl's moment of truth: the legendary star opens up about her real life: losing her mom, raising four kids (she's made mistakes!), and her dirty little beauty secret. (cover story).(Interview)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2003... One of the greatest actresses of all time (just don't ever ask her to admit it) rushes into a little cafe in downtown Manhattan with soaking wet hair. "I'm so sorry," Meryl Streep says as she gives me a hug. "My hair is a mess because I just...

What's my line? By day, these women wear uniforms. But after five, it's all about style. Can you guess what each one does for a living?
January 1, 2003... CLUE She's a master of disguise, but her personal style is always sexy and chic. Silk blouse form Iris Singer Collection. Velvet paisley pants by Donna Degnan. Shoes from Lamberston Truex. Necklace by Liza Bayze. CLUE Though she has a...

All suited up: these outfits may not be chic, but they definitely get the job done.
January 1, 2003... Sharon Corlette Detective, NYPD "When I'm working undercover, my outfits change every day. To fit in at a nightclub, I'll go for high-heeled boots and a short skirt. On my own time, I like funky fabrics and form-fitting dresses." ...

A haven for Molly: she was born on a rock in New York's Central Park, unnamed and unloved. Then a couple with a dream got the phone call they'd been longing for.
January 1, 2003... A HOMELESS, PREGNANT TEENAGER WALKS TO A PAY PHONE. READING the business card in her hand, she dials. Her voice is barely audible to the hotline volunteer at the baby safe-haven program, but her gasp of pain speaks all too loudly. "I won't...

48 hours to a new kitchen: ever wonder what it's like to be on the top-rated TV show Trading Spaces? Our decorating editor went on the air to get the scoop--and got herself a terrific kitchen makeover besides.
January 1, 2003... Last summer, Good Housekeeping's decorating editor, Susan Leaderman, and her husband, Robert, spent nearly two days down on their hands and knees--remodeling the 1970s kitchen next door. At the same time, their own place was undergoing a...

In search of an angel: I was 29 and a blissful newlywed. Then suddenly I was plunged into a life-and-death battle that only a stranger could help me win.
January 1, 2003... As long as I can remember, I've liked to take risks. I love sports--I'm a biker, skier, swimmer, and runner--and I've gone skydiving twice. But until recently, the only challenges I faced in life were ones I chose. In 1997, I agreed to go...

Your year to get slim! 9 resolutions that will put you on the trim track--and keep you there for good. From Flip the Switch, the new book by diet guru. (fitness diet).
January 1, 2003... "Though no one can go back in time and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending."--Anonymous I've always liked this quote. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I stop and realize that although there is nothing I...

Ever green. (Frontburner: what's new, what's hot, what's cooking).(grown-hydroponically Live Gourmet Hydromaine lettuce)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Imagine a head of lettuce that stays fresh and crunch for days and days in the refrigerator. Live Gourmet Hydromaine is grown hydroponically-using water instead of soil to deliver nutrition to the plant. Then each pesticide-free bunch is...

Fire-roasted is hot. (Frontburner: what's new, what's hot, what's cooking).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Slight charring adds an interesting smoky flavor to vegetables. And it seems that the entire food world has discovered this at once. At supermarkets you'll find Melissa's Fire Roasted Garlic in the produce section and Muir Glen's canned...

Say cheese! and cake! (Frontburner: what's new, what's hot, what's cooking).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The latest accompaniments to cheese are fruit-and-nut cakes. These dense, flavorful wheels, logs, and bars offer a sweet counterpoint to Cheddar, soft creamy cheeses, or chunks of Parmesan. Try dried dates with walnuts, figs with almonds, or...

Just our cup of tea. (Frontburner: what's new, what's hot, what's cooking).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... We know it only boils water, but we're in love: Copco's 2 1/2-quart Fusion Tea Kettle ($39.99) has a whistling lid (no removing the cap from a hot spout) and pours without dribbling. With its two-tone finish, the kettle looks good on the stove...

Rush hour! Dinner for your family in under 30 minutes--no kidding!
January 1, 2003... one dish Cod Livornese 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 medium onion, cut in half and thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed with press 1/3 cup dry white wine 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives 1/4...

Vive la comfort food.
January 1, 2003... Frisee Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette PREP 20 minutes TOAST 10 minutes MAKES 6 first-course servings 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 ounces country-style white bread or French bread, cut into 1/2-inch...

Watching from the wings: after her big sister leaves home, a young girl learns that life's only constant is change. (short story).(Short Story)
January 1, 2003... MY MARRIED SISTER, LACEY, SEEMS ALL RIGHT WHEN SHE GETS OFF the plane. She seems all right when we pick up her luggage and even when we start off in Mama's car, which Lacey notices I drive very smoothly for someone who's had her license for...

The host has spoken: Jeff Probst of CBS's Survivor on killer sharks and romantic dives. (my favorite things).(Brief Article)(Interview)
January 1, 2003... TRAVEL DESTINATION "Without a doubt, Africa, where we taped the third series of Survivor. I woke up every morning to a beautiful sunrise, and I'd stick my head out of my tent to see gazelles and giraffes a few feet away." MOVIE...