Good Housekeeping July 2013

1,000+ That's how many snips testers took to determine which garden shears pruned best—and were easiest to use! Flip to page 27 to find out which pairs made the cut. DIRECTOR Miriam Arond TECHNICAL MANAGER & ENGINEERING DIRECTOR Rachel Rothman FOOD DIRECTOR Susan Westmoreland FOOD ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR Catherine Lo ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR Erin Phraner ASSISTANT FOOD EDITOR Sherry Rujikarn EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katie Holdefehr NUTRITION NUTRITION DIRECTOR Samantha B. Cassetty, M.S., R.D. HOME HOME APPLIANCES, CLEANING PRODUCTS & TEXTILES DIRECTOR Carolyn E. Forté SENIOR PRODUCT ANALYST, HOME CARE Christina Peterson PRODUCT ANALYST, TEXTILES Lexie Sachs KITCHEN APPLIANCES & TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORSharon Franke PRODUCT ANALYST Emily Weinberger CHEMISTRY HEALTH, BEAUTY &ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DIRECTOR Birnur K. Aral, Ph.D. SENIOR PRODUCT ANALYST Mary E. Clarke CHEMIST Sabina Burdzovic-Wizemann PRODUCT ANALYST Megan Inayoshi ENGINEERING CONSUMER…

When I think of summer, I think of color: the vivid blue sky, the dazzling yellow of the sun, endless stretches of green grass. It's as if a 3-year-old has filled in the world with colors from the Crayola six-pack. Those vibrant hues define summer and give it its bright, optimistic feel (well, along with going on vacation), so color is at the center of this issue of GH. From the gutsy choices singer Shawn Colvin made for her Austin home (page 106) to summer fashions that are infused with cheery color (and cost less than $40!—page 50) to recipes that are steeped in the jewel tones of the season's crop of berries (page 132), we're painting your world in the bright shades of summer this month. And because filling…

$40 …and Under Treats for You PUFF PIECES $20 each Toss these Moroccan-motif throw pillows (Pier 1 Imports) on the couch or patio lounger for a hit of color and comfort—they can be used indoors or outside PUNCH LINES $30 Even plain ice water tastes better when it's poured from this bold and beautiful hand-painted ceramic pitcher (Pier 1 Imports), which holds 88 ounces—enough to quench a crowd's thirst We're giving away up to 100 of each item with the "Enter to Win!" symbol. See page 166 for details. MADE IN THE SHADE $34 Enlighten a bedside table with Oriental Furniture's 17-inch Yoko lamp (wayfair.com). Its cheery crinkled-paper shade, on a sleek metal base, is like an instant ray of sunshine PONY EXPRESS $5 and $6 Pull back breeze-whipped hair…

My Smart Solution "I make these DIY coffee-scented candles by pouring beans (the cheaper, the better) into a small glass jar; just leave a quarter-inch of space on top, then nestle a vanilla tealight in snugly. It smells like a fresh pot of vanilla coffee—even after the candles are out." —LISA STEELE, 37, SUFFOLK, VA Your best tips for… Nixing the Munchies Take a Sip of Water "I like to keep a pitcher of water and a small bowl of fruit on my desk. When I feel the need to snack, I have a drink first. If that doesn't do it, I reach for the fruit." —KAREN DOYLE, 45, AMHERST, NH Freshen Up "I brush my teeth soon after I get home, and it makes me not want to eat…

Your friend is pregnant, and you're thrilled. But you can't say you feel the same about her upcoming shower. The truth is, many women secretly dread the idea of spending a Saturday oohing and aahing over embroidered burp cloths. "People have less time, so they'd rather catch up or share memories than spend an hour looking at stuff being opened," says Jennifer Gilbert, author of I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag. That's why these tips for keeping guests well fed and entertained are less about gift-opening and more about throwing a bash worthy of this (or another) milestone occasion. After all, it's the laugh-until-you-cry moments that make a party memorable. —Francesca Castagnoli 1. BEST-FRIEND BRUNCH Effortless and informal; guests will want to stay and schmooze long after the presents…

WORDS OF WISDOM PINTEREST Pinned by user Beth MMBBGC from wickedpaper, the Etsy shop of designers Jason and Cami ANIMAL ANTICS INSTAGRAM What a clever cat! Clearly, catnip is for amateurs. WITTY ONE-LINERS TWITTER KEVIN BACON "Chinese food with both my kids tonight. If I die in my sleep, I die a happy man." JENNA FISCHER "Let my toddler son walk around the drugstore and he picked up the following: a red car, Nilla Wafers, and an enema." A FUNNY CARTOON…