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Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer

Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer

Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer

Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer Ask America’s Ultimate Experts

‘‘I wake up tired in the morning!’’

Feel exhausted even after a good night’s sleep? You may not be dozing as well as you think!

Discover how to enjoy deeper, more restorative rest so you can celebrate the season with energy to spare:

1 Surprising

sleep thieves!

Sleep and health experts Michael Breus, Ph.D., Debbie Mandel, M.A., and Erin Palinski R.D., L.D.N., reveal how to overcome the sneaky little things that may be robbing you of rest:

Did you know?

Silence snores!

Snoring prevents millions of Americans from getting a full night’s rest, say our experts.

And for many, the nightly noise is due to poor muscle tone in the throat that allows sagging tissue to block the flow of air. Luckily, eating a banana before hitting the sack is all it takes to correct the problem! Australian researchers say that the fruit’s unique fatty acids help keep your airways open—and the effect lasts for up to six hours!

Boost your D levels!

A top cause of wintertime insomnia? A shortfall of vitamin D! Levels of this nutrient plummet during cold-weather months due to a lack of exposure to sunlight. And that’s bad for your sleep because D helps regulate the release of melatonin, a hormone that tells your body when it’s ready for bed.

For relief, consider taking 2,000 IU of the vitamin daily, such as Nature Made Vitamin D3, $8 for 100 tablets at drugstores.

Do this instead of sleeping in!

Have a late night? Sleep in for no more than one extra hour the next day. Any longer will make it harder to fall asleep the next night, says Dr. Breus.

Instead, opt for a 30-minute afternoon nap, which is proven to recharge your batteries without throwing your sleep schedule out of whack.

2 Easy snoozebetter tricks!

Discover the simple moves that can improve your shuteye and give you more energy each morning:

Join a book club!

Research shows that people with a wide social circle sleep more soundly than those with fewer friends, says Mandel. Credit goes to friendship’s stress-lowering effects. Plus, the more friends we have, the more active we tend to be—and the more exhausted at bedtime! Find a club at BookClub.Meetup.com or ReadersCircle.org.

Listen to soft music!

When folks who had trouble sleeping listened to soft music for 45 minutes before bed, they improved their sleep quality by at least 35%, one study found. In fact, study subjects enjoyed a 26% improvement in just the first week! While folk music produced the biggest benefit, your favorite slow-paced songs will work, too!

3 Your

Women are 200% more likely to have trouble sleeping than men, according to a National Sleep Foundation study.

Why? Our rest is uniquely affected by our menstrual cycle, stress level and work hours.

sleep-friendly menu!

Sure, you know having caffeine too close to bedtime is a bad idea—now discover which foods and beverages can actually improve your slumber:

Brew passionflower tea!

If you’re on stress overload, make your after-dinner beverage a cup of this brew!

Problem sleepers who drank 1 cup daily for a week dramatically improved their sleep quality, a recent study found. That’s because the herb contains compounds that increase your levels of the calming hormone dopamine! Try: Celebration Herbals Passion Flower Tea, $6 at HealthSuperstore.com.

Snooze better with parsley!

When prepping meals, add parsley to your dishes! This popular garnish contains myristicin, an organic compound that spurs your brain to produce the relaxing hormone serotonin, Texas A&M University researchers discovered. The result? Several hours after your evening meal, your body will be primed for sleep!

—Jennifer Leonard

Our expert panel Michael J. Breus, Ph.D. (TheSleepDoctor.com), is a renowned sleep expert and the author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep. He’s appeared on The View and The Doctors.

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Debbie Mandel, M.A. (TurnOn YourInnerLight.com), is a stressmanagement specialist and author of self-help books, including Addicted to Stress: A Woman’s 7-Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life.

Health and nutrition expert Erin Palinski, R.D., L.D.N. (ErinPalinski. com), is the owner of the Vernon Nutrition Center, LLC, in New Jersey. She’s appeared on The Early Show and been quoted in The Chicago Tribune.

Photos: Masterfile; iStockphoto (2); ShutterStock.

Woman’s World Magazine 11/18/11 3:52 PM

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Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer

Oop s!

! g n i s s a r r a b m e o s That was Noisy stomach? Stuck in a sneezing fit or can’t stop hiccupping? It’s bad enough when you’re at home, but worse when these things creep up on you in public.

Here’s a cheat sheet of study-proven remedies to fix your most embarrassing problems, fast!

✤Put an end to

✤Halt y our hiccups!

We don’t just yawn when we’re tired; we also yawn when someone else does it or when we just think about yawning! What can you do if you feel one coming on and you don’t want someone to assume you’re bored?

Down some sugar!

Can’t stop hiccupping— and you’ve got a job interview or meeting?

TRICK

If you sprinkle a sugar packet onto the back of your tongue, the granules will stimulate nerve endings in your throat to relax your diaphragm, stopping your hiccups, reveals research published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

TRICK

Stick out your tongue!

Stick it out as far as you can while taking deep breaths. This stimulates the openings between your vocal cords, calming hiccups!

✤Silence a noisy

stomach!

TRICK

Squeeze your hand!

Find the fleshy indentation on the back of your hand between the knucklebones of your pinkie and ring finger and squeeze!

This acupressure point triggers energyboosting hormones like adrenaline, revving your focus instantly!

TRICK

Drink some H2O!

As soon as you feel a yawn coming on, down a glass of cold water. Yawning is often a sign of dehydration—a big glass of water hydrates you and boosts circulation to the brain so you’re quickly more alert.

44

That rumbling in your tummy could signal hunger—or that you’re too full! How can you silence it fast?

TRICK

Press your ear!

If that growling is due to hunger and lunch is hours away, use your thumb and index finger to squeeze the flap of cartilage covering your ear canal for a full minute. Acupressurists call this the “hunger point” because it temporarily stops stomach muscles from contracting.

TRICK

Sip pineapple juice!

If those stomach noises are due to digesting a big lunch, this fruit juice can help! Pineapple is loaded with bromelain, a digestive enzyme that speeds the breakdown of food and reduces trapped air.

Result: a calmer, quieter tummy!

✤Stop a sneezing fit!

Sneezing is a good thing—after all, it rids the nose of irritants that could make you sick.

But if it happens at an awkward time?

TRICK

Take a deep breath!

Holding your breath as you count backward from 10 to one automatically slows down your sympathetic nervous system, calming that involuntary sneezing attack.

TRICK

Press under your nose!

Place your index and middle fingers above your upper lip and press firmly until the urge to sneeze goes away. You’ll be pressing on the bundle of nerves that trigger that tickle, short-circuiting the urge to sneeze!

Tip! Look at something dark!

Sometimes sneezing attacks are triggered by sudden exposure to bright light, a not-so-rare condition known as photic sneeze reflex!

Photos: Radius Images/Masterfile (2); Royalty Free (RF)/Masterfile (2); Bliss-Foto deEule/Agefotostock.com; Dreamstime.com.

that yawn!

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Woman’s World Magazine 1/4/12 2:47 PM

Gia Giacchi Designer Personality Insight

What does your favorite funny girl say about you?

Laughing melts stress and even helps you live longer! And identifying with a funny woman—from Lucille Ball to Tina Fey—can amp those benefits, while also revealing a lot about the traits you value in yourself, says Donna M. Jackson (DonnaMJackson.net), author of What’s So Funny? Find your favorite comedienne to learn more!

If your favorite funny girl is . . .

Tina Fey You charm everyone!

Joan Rivers You’re honest

Like working mom Tina (and multitasking Liz Lemon on 30 Rock) you’re always forging past obstacles without taking yourself too seriously.

“You can be self-deprecating one minute, confident the next,” notes Jackson. It’s a duality that never fails to charm!

and complex!

Whether she’s skewering the latest celebrity faux pas on E!’s Fashion Police, or making fun of her many plastic surgeries, Joan Rivers is never afraid to say what’s on her mind. You’re as bold and self-assured as your comedy idol—and as sensitive. Just as Joan is able to share truly tearjerking anecdotes in her memoir Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, so are you able to lower your guard and be vulnerable with the ones you love.

solving smarty!

Ellen’s humor is subtle and insightful—and so are you. Observant and a bit on the quiet side, you take inspiration from everything (and everyone) around you. No wonder you can be counted on to solve snafus creatively as they arise. Curious and clever, boredom is never a problem for you!

Lucille Ball Melissa McCarthy

You shoot for the stars!

If you love Lucy, it’s likely because “her endearing charm, lively antics and reluctance to give up on her dreams resonate with you,” says Jackson. Like the character she played on her iconic sitcom, you shoot for the stars. And if you miss the mark?

You brush yourself off (make a joke to lighten the mood!) and aim just as high tomorrow.

You break the mold!

McCarthy’s buzzed-about turn in Bridesmaids, as well as her highlyrated hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, herald a sparkling return to physical, unself-conscious comedy.

You’re as full of life as the Emmy winner and go after your goals with the same no-holds-barred gusto.

Photos: Courtesy of The Everett Collection; Ali Goldstein/NBC Universal; Andrew Southam; Suzanne Hanover/Universal Studios (2); Warner Brothers/courtesy of The Everett Collection.

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Ellen DeGeneres You’re a problem-

Kristen Wiig

You’re empathic and tenacious!

What made Bridesmaids a keeper? Its honesty about everything from single-girl stress to wedding-belle blues. Empathetic and genuine, what makes you laugh isn’t gags, it’s the absurdities of life. And like Wiig’s character, Annie, you’re a fighter who’s own happy ending is in production.

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Woman’s World Magazine 1/4/12 2:25 PM

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Gia Giacchi Designer Have Fun with Kids!

Wear a lıttle love! ♥

♥

Little girls will love making—and wearing—our sweet heart jewelry!

What you’ll need

For necklace ❏ Sticko Epoxy ❏ 41 Pink Aluminum Patterned Hearts 10 mm jump rings Stickers 52-20296, ❏ 14 Dark Pink 2 packages 7.25 mm ❏ Large, thick jump rings sewing needle or ❏ Silver barrel 1/8" hole punch clasp

1

Your child sticks 2 same-size heart stickers together, back to back, making 6 hearts: 1 large, 2 medium and 3 small.

To make heart jewelry into a Valentine party project, prepare the heart stickers through the hole-punch step before the guests arrive.

2

For earrings ❏ Fishhook earring backs ❏ Pink jump rings ❏ Small dark pink jump rings ❏ 4 tiny heart stickers

Help your child push the needle, or hole punch, through both sides of stickers near the tops of all hearts except one small one. Make an additional hole near the bottom point of the large heart and one at small heart’s top center. Your child opens dark pink jump rings by pushing one tip forward, the other back, inserts one in each hole then closes them.

3

Tip!

Spread Valentine’s Day love with a matching necklace for her best friend!

The dangling heart makes this necklace trendy!

Your child joins hearts together using large pink jump rings. She assembles necklace, referring to photo.

She finishes necklace by adding 18 large jump rings on each side. She uses dark pink jump rings to add clasp.

Design: Linda Valentino. Photos: Stacey Brecher/HBB. Sticko Stickers: EK Success www.EKSucessBrands.com or 800-794-5866.

Circle of Kindness Have you done something kind for someone . . . or been on the receiving end of a thoughtful gesture? Share your heartwarming story here!

“She treated me to Woman’s World!”

‘‘

“I treated a soldier to first class!”

“Is that all you’re purchasing?” the woman asked as she turned to me. “Yes,” I replied, thinking she’d let me go ahead of her in line. But to my amazement, she said, “I’d like to pay for your magazine, if that’s all right.” I was stunned by her kindness! My daughter and I both love reading Woman’s World, so what a treat it was to have a stranger pick up the tab for us!

‘‘

—Helen Smith, Langley, BC

One day recently, when I arrived at the airport, I noticed a soldier in uniform waiting to depart.

Because I’m a frequent flier, my airline’s loyalty program allows me to upgrade to first class. Seeing this young man, a feeling came over me and I wanted to do something to thank him for his service. Quietly, I went to the service desk and asked if they could switch my first class seat with the soldier’s coach seat. “We’ve never had a

request like this before,” the agent said. “But we’d be happy to do it.” When the soldier found out what I’d done, he came over to me and, with a smile, thanked me for thinking of him. “I wanted to thank you,” I said, “for all that you do!” That one simple act of kindness put a huge smile on my face!

—Jo-Ann Murray, Gig Harbor, WA

‘‘

‘‘

“She made our day—times two!”

My twin sister and I decided to celebrate our 70th birthday by going out to eat for lunch. We were talking and enjoying our food when a nearby couple got up to leave. On their way out, they stopped by our table. “Excuse me, but are you two twins?” the

woman asked. I told her we were indeed, thinking she’d tell us how much alike we look. But instead, she simply said, “You’re both absolutely beautiful!”

We were stunned! To get such a sweet compliment like that from a complete stranger—on our birthday, no less—made both our days!

—Charlene Smith, Findlay, OH

‘‘

Photos: Georgina Palmer/Stockfood; iStockphoto.

‘‘

I was standing in the checkout line at Walmart when I noticed the woman in front of me had a particularly large order. All I had in my hands was my weekly treat, the latest issue of Woman’s World.

Do you have an act of kindness to share? E-mail it with your name and address to: CircleofKindness@WomansWorldMag.com. Or mail it to: Circle of Kindness, Woman’s World, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. We’ll pay you $25 if we publish your story; submissions may be edited for style.

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Woman’s World Magazine 1/11/12 1:59 PM

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Woman’s World Magazine

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Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer Personality Insight

What does your favorite soup say about you?

Is there anything more comforting on a cold day than a bowl of hot soup?

Neurologist Alan Hirsch, M.D. (SmellAndTaste.org), doesn’t think so. “Soup brings us back to the cozy snow days of childhood,” he smiles. “That nostalgia factor—plus the fact that taste and personality develop in the same brain region—means soup can reflect aspects of who you are.” Find out what your favorite soup says about you!

If you prefer . . .

Vegetable or minestrone:

Tomato

French onion: You’re a risktaker!

Vegetable soup, with its earthy flavor, complements your down-to-earth nature.

“Thoughtful and introverted, you prefer long walks to, say, team sports,” says Dr. Hirsch.

Calm and collected, you epitomize grace under pressure and exude a sophisticated cool that puts others at ease.

“Risktakers tend to be drawn to the strong flavor of onions,” declares Dr. Hirsch. Indeed, you love to challenge yourself and know that even if you fail now and then, it’s the attempt that always makes you a winner. For you, obstacles are opportunities and challenges are incentives to push yourself harder and to grab everything you deserve from career success to creative fulfillment.

: You’re a carefree kid at heart!

Split pea:

Clam chowder:

Chicken soup:

“People who like split pea tend to be confident leaders,” notes Dr. Hirsch. Split pea is a relatively unusual choice, he explains, hinting at your own out-of-the box thinking. Rather than be intimidated by the spotlight, you relish it and think well on your feet. It’s a rare talent that makes you perfect for leadership roles.

Dr. Hirsch’s research reveals a strong link between idealism and a craving for clam chowder! That may be because clams are a summery food often enjoyed in happy groups (read: clam bake!) and, thus, speak to your sociable spirit. You’re fun-loving and can lift the mood of those around you with just a smile.

“You’re generous and very receptive to the emotions of those around you,” says Dr. Hirsch. Translation? You’re hugely empathetic and feel compelled to help others. Just as chicken soup is associated with comfort and healing, so are you linked with nurturing and sensitivity.

You’re a serene thinker!

Tomato soup, the perfect partner for Mom’s grilled cheese sandwich, is closely associated with childhood. No wonder you retain the best attitude of youth—a relaxed spontaneity! But that carefree demeanor doesn’t mean you don’t work hard when it counts. “You’re diligent, yet stop just short of stressful perfectionism,” notes Dr. Hirsch. In other words, you have a healthy, balanced approach to life.

You’re in the driver’s seat! You’re a natural optimist! You’re there for loved ones!

Photos: Kristiane Vey/Jumpfoto; Tom Henderson/Agefotostock.com; Steven Needham/EnvisionStock (2); Food and Drink Photos/Agefotostock.com; Rita Maas/EnvisionStock.

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—Kristina Mastrocola

Woman’s World Magazine 1/24/12 5:29 PM

Gia Giacchi Designer Instant Creativity

Smart ways to use

Treat your child to a

Drinking straws!

Kid-sized “log” cabin!

This rustic playhouse—crafted from a cardboard box—will keep little buckaroos entertained all day long!

No tools required!

1 Keep food fresh!

When freezing leftovers in plastic bags, use a straw to suck the air out of the bag before sealing. Voilà—you’ll have an airtight seal that protects your food from freezer burn and keeps it fresh longer!

2 Drink mixes to go!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

❑ 42"x24"x28" corrugated cardboard container from a moving supply store, one end with flaps that extend across opening when assembled ❑ DecoArt® acrylic paint in Milk Chocolate (4 oz.), Bluegrass Green (4 oz.), True Red (4 oz.), White, Black, Cadmium Yellow, Sour Apple, Neutral Gray ❑ Elmer’s® Wood Glue ❑ Duck Brand duct tape, Tranquil Teal ❑ Scrap cardboard, 6"x24"

S

tep 1: Lay box

with long flaps up. On front, cut 13"x20" door 7" from right edge. Trim 1/4" off one side and one end of door.

Step 2: Mark 6"x8" window 9" from left edge, 11" from bottom. Draw 1/2"-wide mullions and “curtains.”

Cut out around mullions and curtains. Cut windows on sides.

Step 3: Cut top flaps 17" high, side flaps in triangles 12" high at center.

Step 4: Starting at walls’ tops, draw horizontal lines (logs) every 3". At ends, draw 3" semicircles.

1 1/2" from corners, draw 3" circles centered between logs.

Step 5: Draw 1" window frames.

Add 2"x6" flower boxes. Draw a 1" log triangle above door. Paint

NEXT WEEK: Wedding centerpiece!

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alternate logs and window mullions brown, outside corners black. Paint circles (log ends) brown and white mixed. Paint remaining details in colors shown. Paint both sides of door. Paint 1"x2 1/2" black door hinges. Cut 1" hole 1" from door’s opening edge, 11 1/2" from bottom. Paint “latch” below it.

Hang door with Duck tape on inside.

Step 6: Assemble house; glue bottom flaps closed. Glue one roof flap to side gables. When dry, glue second flap.

Step 7: Chimney: Use scrap cardboard, corrugations vertical (short distance). Score vertically every 6".

On alternate squares, cut 3" V notches. Fold to square; glue. Cut top in “stone” shapes, paint; glue on.

Design: Jann Johnson, JannJohnson.com. Craft photo: Stacey Brecher/HBB. Smart Ways photo: Media Bakery. DecoArt: DecoArt.com or 800-367-3047.

Duck Tape® brand duct tape: DuckBrand.com or 800-321-0253. Elmer’s Products, Inc: Elmers.com or 888-435-6377. X-Acto knife: XActo.com or 800-879-4868.

Instead of buying individual packets of your favorite water mix-ins, make ’em! Tape one end of a straw shut and, using a funnel, fill with drink powder, then tape the other end closed.

3 Arrange

a bouquet!

Add straws to the ends of short flowers and trim any excess to make the blooms the perfect height for a beautiful bouquet.

4 Core strawberries!

Hull a bunch of berries in a hurry: Just pluck the green leaves from the fruit, then push the straw from the top of the berry through to the bottom to remove the core.

5

Support a growing plant!

Provide support to a weak stem by pushing an old straw in the soil, then attaching it to the stalk with a twist tie.

Great idea!

Make a straw dispenser!

Store your straws in an empty, cleaned-out potatochip canister. Cut an inchwide hole in the plastic lid to easily dispense them!

2/27/12 WOMAN’S WORLD

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Woman’s World Magazine 1/31/12 6:08 PM

Gia Giacchi Designer

Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer Your Horoscope! for the week of Saturday, April 7th, through Friday, April 13th

Happy Birthday!

The grass isn’t the only thing greener this spring: Expect your finances to improve throughout the season! A healthier bank account lets you pursue your dreams.

Russell Crowe April 7, 1964

ARIES March 21 to April 19

Your attention to detail pays off on the 11th and 12th, when a VIP rewards your good work.

With Mars moving direct in Virgo on the 13th, expect a burst of energy that revitalizes your love life!

by Gerald James Jackson

Year-ahead forecast for those born this week

Whether you take a class to enhance your résumé or book a trip you’ve always wanted to take, Jupiter in Gemini starting on June 11th ensures every move you make

LEO July 23 to Aug 22

Play the lottery or enter a contest on the 9th and 10th, when the Moon is in your good-luck zone.

With Mars direct in your cash sector on the 13th, you’ll uncover new ways to buoy your bottom line!

will bring you closer to fulfilling life-long goals. With Pluto in your career zone, big change is ahead on the job front—and the stars promise, you’re ready for it!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 to Dec 21 Don’t be afraid to take some me-time on the 7th and 8th. Reenergized and raring to go on the 9th and 10th, you’ll take over an important project and impress VIPs with the results.

TAURUS

April 20 to May 20

Finances improve on the 10th, when your savvy negotiating skills net you a huge bargain. Changes at work on the 13th help you move up the job ladder; be bold and go after what you want!

VIRGO Aug 23 to Sept 22

Magical Lunar forces cast a spell over your love life on the 11th and 12th. Mars direct in your sign on the 13th inspires you to pursue long-term goals. The result? Major progress on the job!

CAPRICORN Dec 22 to Jan 19

GEMINI

May 21 to June 21

LIBRA

AQUARIUS Jan 20 to Feb 18

Sept 23 to Oct 22

On the 9th and 10th, the Moon in your R&R zone ups your intuition; your dreams hold a surprising clue to future success. Mars direct in Virgo on the 13th urges you to plan a vacation.

The Moon in your marriage zone on the 9th and 10th encourages you to lean on your partner for support. Refusing to answer too-personal queries puts a busybody in her place on the 11th.

Pluto retrograde in your home zone on the 10th sees you rethinking recent real-estate plans. The Moon in your romance zone on the 13th encourages you to embrace new possibilities.

Your admirable tact lets you sail past the mini-dramas of a family get-together on the 7th and 8th. Single? Get thee to a party on the 13th, when your charisma is heightened!

CANCER June 22 to July 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 to Nov 21

PISCES Feb 19 to March 20

Got a big decision to make? Prudent planets suggest weighing all your options before proceeding. An exciting girls’ night out on the 13th is the perfect antidote to recent stress.

Thanks to the Moon in your sign, you’ll be in a nostalgic mood this Easter, enjoying quality time with loved ones. A financial challenge on the 10th is no match for your prudence and intelligence.

Time spent with family on the 8th has you feeling a renewed connection to your roots. Speak up for yourself on the 13th: Your candor and assertiveness will be rewarded.

What’s in the stars for The Stars?

■ JESSE WILLIAMS

The Leo Grey’s Anatomy star has done very well for himself despite two years of so-so celestial aspects.

And now that planets are shifting in his favor, look out! Expect his new horror flick, Cabin in the Woods, to be a huge hit!

■ KATIE COURIC

Signs say Capricorn Katie—who broke up with her businessman beau last year—will likely remain single until spring the of 2013. Not to worry, though: She’s destined to have lots of fun meeting new people!

Weekly star report The Moon in Scorpio on the 7th and 8th sends scintillating sparks to the love lives of Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. On the 9th and 10th, the Moon in Sagittarius sees Aries, Leo and Sagittarius winning big in contests and lotteries. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn make wise job decisions on the 11th and 12th, thanks to the Moon in Capricorn, while Gemini, Libra and Aquarius can look forward to a sizzling social life on the 13th, owing to the Moon in Aquarius.

■ TAYLOR SWIFT

Venus is about to wallop all Sagittarians with a serious case of wanderlust. For Taylor, that’ll likely lead her to frequently take off on a whim, head for totally unexpected locales—and leave the paparazzi struggling to keep up!

Gerald James Jackson is an internationally known author, lecturer and astrologer.

Photos: iStockphoto.com; Picture Perfect/Rex USA; Matt Baron/BEImages/Rex (2); Dreamstime.com; Charles Sykes/Rex USA; Media Bakery.

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Woman’s World Magazine 3/13/12 6:43 PM

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Woman’s World Magazine

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Woman’s World Magazine

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Woman’s World Magazine

Gia Giacchi Designer Instant Creativity

Smart ways to use

Emery boards!

Get together with friends and turn baby essentials into beautiful “flowers” for the most fabulous group gift ever!

WhaT you’ll NEEd q 6" clay flowerpot q Acrylic paints in white and two related pastels. We used Martha Stewart Crafts paint in Wedding Cake (white), Pink Carnation and Peppermint Bark q Sparkle Mod Podge® q Glue gun and hot glue q Styrofoam™: 5" block and 5" ball q 15" length of 1/2" dowel q 1 yd 1/2" ribbon q 55-65 cotton swabs q 55-65 small baby items such as socks, bibs, shirts and washcloths. q 55-65 rubber bands q 2 yds. 2" wired ribbon q 4-6 small baby toys

Gift and centerpiece in one!

1

Letting paint dry between coats, paint pot white, then darker pastel. Add lighter pastel stripes to rim; coat with Sparkle Mod Podge.

Cut Styrofoam block to fit inside pot; glue in place. Glue dowel into Styrofoam ball. Glue dowel’s other end into foam in pot, keeping it straight from all sides. Wrap ribbon around dowel to cover; glue.

Working a small area at a time, insert and glue a few swabs about halfway into the ball about 2" apart. One at a time, fold a gift item to about 2" wide. Roll tightly then wrap a rubber band around one end. Fit this end over the swab. Start by centering a roll over a swab, but adjust its position as necessary to cover the ball with “flowers,” making the finished topiary evenly round.

Tie wired ribbon into a double bow; glue to front of pot. Place a washcloth, opened, in the pot to cover foam; fill pot with toys.

2 3

4

NEXT WEEK: Fun gift—a “cupcake” bouquet with a candy surprise!

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Tip!

a pair of socks usually makes one flower, but if they’re very thin, you may want to use two pairs.

Design: Brent Pallas. Photos: Stacey Brecher/HBB; Media Bakery. Martha Stewart Crafts™ paints manufactured by Plaid Enterprises, Inc. PlaidOnline.com/MarthaStewartCrafts or 800-842-4197. Mod Podge by Plaid Enterprises: PlaidOnline.com or 800-842-4197. Styrofoam™ Brand products are available in craft stores or from Styrofoam-Chenille: Styrofoam-Chenille.com or 800-253-0409, Ext. 1259 for John Pomeroy.

Baby shower topiary!

1 Glue, be gone!

If you find there’s some glue visible after you’ve finished a craft, use an emery board to gently sand away the excess!

2 Squeeze out more battery power!

Dead batteries in the remote?

Gently scrape the ends with an emery board until there’s a light scratch mark in the metal.

This exposes the connector, giving an extra jolt of life!

3 Slip-proof shoes!

If slick soles on a brand-new pair of shoes have you worried about falling, stay safe by scuffing ’em up with an emery board to provide better traction.

4

Smudge-free eraser!

Eraser leaving dark marks on your paper? Clean the dirt off the top with a gentle rub of an emery board—its fine grains will remove any gunk and expose a fresh pink area!

5 Remove a

stain from suede!

Gently rub the area with an emery board until the mark disappears. Finish by moving the emery board lightly in the opposite direction to fluff the suede back up!

Great idea!

Sharpen tweezers!

The sharper they are, the easier it is to grasp hairs.

To keep yours on point, use an emery board to file the inside of each side on an angle!

4/16/12 WOMAN’S WORLD

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Woman’s World Magazine 3/21/12 10:11 AM

Gia Giacchi Designer

It’s a great week to. . .

3

Have a family movie night at a home!

Based on a true story, We Bought a Zoo— now out on DVD—features Matt Damon as recently widowed Benjamin Mee, who buys a home with a zoo attached, and Scarlett Johansson ((right, with Maggie Jones). Ben hopes that caring for the animals will bring joy and purpose to the lives of his two kids, but his plans are temporarily put on hold when financial troubles and a storm threaten the future of the zoo. Will they band together in time to save the zoo—and themselves?

5

Read a new page-turner!

James Patterson & Maxine Paetro’s 11th Hour

In the eleventh book of Patterson’s bestselling Women’s Murder Club series, Detective Lindsay Boxer announces she’s pregnant.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean her work can slow down, especially not after a local millionaire is gunned down with a weapon that was supposed to be secured in her evidence locker!

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1

Treat your mom—for free!

Want to spoil your mom this Mother’s Day—or claim your own status as a mom in need of a treat? Head to one of these places on Sunday, May 13th, where you can indulge all you want because moms don’t have to pay a dime! Just be sure to call ahead to make sure your local store is participating. ● Going out early? Head over to Ikea, where moms get a free breakfast of eggs, hash browns, bacon and coffee before 11 a.m. (some locations also throw in a free massage!) or stop by Panera for a scone on the house. ● Looking for something sweet? Moms can enjoy a free frozen yogurt at TCBY or a free scoop at Cold Stone Creamery. And if ice cream isn’t your mom’s thing, TGI Fridays is giving away a free dessert!

2 Say farewell to House!

For the past eight years, Dr. House has been making audiences laugh out loud with his sarcastic quips and comebacks—and also shocking them with his brilliant diagnoses. On May 21st, his shift will finally come to an end when House, M.D. has its series finale. Tune in to Fox to find out if he and Dr. Chase will ever truly make amends, or if Dr. Foreman will ever get the upper hand when it comes to controlling House’s inevitable antics!

Get your vampire fix at the movies!

Based on the popular TV series, Dark Shadows is set in 1752 and stars Johnny Depp as the infamous playboy Barnabas Collins. Barnabas makes a grave mistake when he breaks the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), who turns out to be a witch. She transforms him into a vampire, then buries him alive for what she believes to be eternity. But when Barnabas is unexpectedly freed in 1972, he returns to a completely changed world and sets out to find the remnants of his family line—and the relatives of the Bouchards to finally get his revenge.

Fern Michaels’ Deadline

No sooner have Toots Loudenberry and her three BFFs returned from providing psychic advice to the First Lady of California, when another situation demands their attention: Troubled Hollywood starlet Laura Leigh is missing—and the women have to navigate Hollywood’s glittering inner circle and seedy underbelly to track her down.

6 Eat goat cheese!

May is the best month to enjoy fresh goat cheese! In the spring, goats feast on grasses and flowers instead of the hay and oats of winter, which makes the cheese they produce sweeter and richer—and you can find it in supermarkets right now! Look for ones labeled “fresh” or “chevre.”

Photos: Media Bakery (2); Montana Photography LLC/Stockfood; courtesy of vendors (3); courtesy of FOX; courtesy of/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; courtesy of/Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

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—Lindsay Hadsall

Woman’s World Magazine 4/10/12 3:56 PM

Gia Giacchi Designer

Woman’s World Magazine