Table of contents for May 2021 in Real Simple

MY TV GUILTY PLEASURE this year? It wasn’t Tiger King, though I did watch it with the rest of Western civilization. (Which will be over first, this diversion or the pandemic?) And it wasn’t The Bachelor, which I actually stopped watching for the first time in franchise history because I had enough anxiety in my real life; I didn’t need theirs. It turned out to be BBC’s The Repair Shop, which I stumbled upon during a solitary, quiet, seven-day visit to my mom’s house in Ohio this winter. The Repair Shop is to restoration what The Great British Baking Show is to Halloween Wars. Set in a barn on a bucolic field, the show features some of England’s top craftspeople, who each have a bench and the ability to…

1 A REAL KEEPER Pin frogs are the secret to securing unwieldy stems. Plant one in your vessel and your arrangement will stay put. TO BUY: Flower Frog Collection, $95 for 5; floretflowers.com. 2 FOREVER BUDS Array these solo as wilt-proof bouquets, or mix with live blossoms for textural variety. TO BUY: Dried Flowers and Grasses, from $13; afloral.com. 3 THAT’S A WRAP When you bring home flowers, this reusable denim tote is a clever and sustainable substitute for cellophane or paper. TO BUY: Jardin Bouquet Tote, $42; aplat.com. 4 LEAFY GREEN DIET Prolong your foliage by adding two or three pumps of this plant food each time you refresh the water. TO BUY: Fresh Cut Flower Food, $13; cutefarms.com. 5 HYDRATION HELPER The spout on this display-worthy watering can…

VENUS RADIANT SKIN Streamline your shaving with this sleek five-blade razor. An Olay moisturizer clicks into the grippy matte handle. Press the button to dispense the cream—it comes out underneath the blades, so you don’t have to worry about clogging. The freed-up space in your shower (bye, can!) is second only to how smooth your legs will feel, even if you skip after-shower lotion. TO BUY: $39; gillettevenus.com. 1 MANI NOURISHER Static Nails Polish Remover This acetone-free liquid has no scent, fully removes even the darkest hues, and conditions cuticles. Press it onto nails with a pad, hold for 20 seconds, then swipe off polish from base to tip. TO BUY: $18; staticnails.com. 2 CLOUDLIKE COLOR Nars Cosmetics Air Matte Blush Treat your cheeks to the Cadillac of blush with…

1 SLIP-ONS Slide and shine with these pointy-toe mules. TO BUY: Lorena Gold Metallic Slides, $27; lulus.com. 2 POUCH When you don’t want to lug your everyday tote, this small but mighty nickel-hued bag will fit makeup, receipts, and a few cards. TO BUY: Small Luna Pouch, $50; giginewyork.com. 3 SUNGLASSES Don’t let the sun go down on you…without a pair of timeless, scratchproof shades in your bag. TO BUY: The Jane Sunglasses, $40; priverevaux.com. 4 EARRINGS Mixed metals shouldn’t be intimidating. Geometric danglers bring a touch of intricacy to a simple outfit. TO BUY: Beckett Earrings, $36; baublebar.com. 5 SUN HAT Reminder: SPF works even better under a stylish wide-brim hat. TO BUY: Straw Floppy with Chain Hat, $39; guess.com. 6 NECKLACE On its own or layered with other necklaces, you’ll never want to take off this chunky chain. TO BUY: Paperclip Style Gold Necklace, $39; victoriaemerson.com. 7 SLIDES Like disco balls for your…

SUBSTITUTIONS Unless otherwise noted, these are one-to-one swaps. Fish sauce Soy sauce Tamari Sherry vinegar Red wine vinegar White wine vinegar Apple cider vinegar Maple syrup Honey Agave nectar Canned chickpeas Canned cannellini beans Panko Dry bread crumbs Farro Wheatberries Barley Brown rice Dried cherries Dried cranberries Raisins Frozen kale Frozen spinach Ground chicken Ground turkey Ground lamb Ground beef Pancetta Bacon Almond butter Peanut butter Sunflower seed butter Almonds Walnuts Pecans Broccoli Cauliflower 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs 1 teaspoon dried herbs Apples Firm pears Shallots Onions Chives Scallion greens 1 clove garlic ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder Shredded Gruyère Shredded Cheddar Shredded Monterey Jack Grated Grana Padano Grated Parmesan Greek yogurt Sour cream Crème fraîche Ricotta Drained cottage cheese Make Your Own All is not lost if you’re…

1 PREP AND PRIME A great place to start a no-heat style: in the shower, when your hair is dripping wet, says celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager. Wet hair is more easily manipulated, and clean hair holds waves longer. After you shampoo, apply conditioner, then smooth snarls with a wide-tooth comb, such as the Hair Edit Detangling Shower Comb ($5; ulta.com). To minimize breakage, comb the ends first, inching up your strands until you’re starting from the roots, Brager says. Grab a microfiber towel or an old cotton T-shirt—both are gentler than a terry cloth towel and will absorb more moisture. Scrunch hair instead of rubbing. Spritz on a heat protectant, like Herbal Essences Argan Oil & Aloe Mist ($6; at drugstores), then roughly blow-dry. If you have fine hair, boost…

1 Read to a loved one. Sitting down with a book and another person—a child, a spouse, or an elderly relative—can produce a neurochemical shift that creates feelings of calm, closeness, and well-being. Besides offering the pleasure of a shared story, reading aloud promotes happier family relationships, enhances children’s social and emotional development, and stimulates cognitive activity in older adults while mitigating loneliness. And it’s fun! MEGHAN COX GURDON IS THE AUTHOR OF THE ENCHANTED HOUR: THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF READING ALOUD IN THE AGE OF DISTRACTION. 2 Be a good neighbor. Early in the pandemic, a neighbor asked if I needed anything from the store. I didn’t, but the moment still made me feel like there was someone I could count on, and that felt nice. Not only…

IF I COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME and talk to my prerenovation self, here’s a sample of things I’d say: (1) Assume nothing. You may think it’s obvious that refinishing the floors would include that little strip on the opposite side of the stair railing, but your flooring installer may disagree. (2) Do not crowdsource design decisions in your Instagram stories unless you are prepared to triple-guess everything. (3) Most projects will cost more than you expect. As my friend pointed out after redoing her kitchen, even Lisa Vanderpump had to think about her remodeling budget—and she was on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. If you’re planning (or just dreaming about) a closet, room, or whole-house renovation, heed this word-to-the-wise advice from homeowners who’ve already been through it,…

Easy to spot, thanks to their pretty, often purple bulbs, spring onions are sweeter and less pungent than regular onions but have more of a bite (and booty) than scallions. SHOP for these while you can; they’re generally available only in spring and early summer. STORE in a produce bag in the crisper drawer for up to five days or until starting to wilt. TO SERVE, sauté halved or quartered bulbs and stalks until golden and tender, to bring out their sweetness. Slather with olive oil and grill or roast whole until charred in spots. Or thinly slice the dark green tops and add to hot pastas, stir-fries, and more. —Ananda Eidelstein EASY DINNER 1 Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 4 HOURS, 15 MINUTES…

A vinegar bath turns radishes pink and gives them a tangy pop that balances out the rich sauce. ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4 ½ cup very thinly sliced radishes¼ cup apple cider vinegar1 ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided1 English cucumber, chopped (about 1 ¾ cups)1 8-oz. pkg. soba noodles⅓ cup creamy almond butter2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil2 cups watercress or other greens STIR radishes, vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a small bowl, pressing down to submerge radishes as much as possible. Set aside, stirring occasionally, until radishes turn slightly pink, about 15 minutes. MEANWHILE, bring a pot of water to a boil over high. Toss cucumber and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cook noodles in boiling water according to package directions; drain…

1 LIGHTENED LOAD This workhorse is made from sturdy aluminum yet weighs only two pounds—so you can get the gardening done with less back pain. TO BUY: Ultra-Lightweight Garden Shovel, $60; thegrommet.com. 2 GO GO GADGET This tool securely attaches to your phone and features a three-card wallet, a kickstand for easier video watching, and a loop for better grip. TO BUY: WalleyGrip, $15; amazon.com. 3 FORGET-ME-NOT SPOT Hang this organizer near the front door and dangle clean masks from the hooks. Stow filters, sanitizer, and keys on the upper shelf. TO BUY: Modern Metal Face Mask Rack, $50; uncommongoods.com. 4 WIRE HIDER Stick this heat-resistant orb to your toaster, slow cooker, or stand mixer and use it to reel in that pesky appliance cord when not in use. TO BUY: The Cord Wrapper,…

Meet the Owner ELSIE LARSON In her suburban Nashville breakfast nook, A Beautiful Mess blogger Elsie Larson opted for crisp white walls to brighten up the space and provide a neutral backdrop for her ever-growing collection of colorful glassware. After seeing a similar arrangement at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California, Elsie chose to organize her assortment in an ombré pattern. Patience is key: “I’ve collected these slowly over time,” she says. “I’m not ready for the hunt to be over!” Get the Look CREATE YOUR CANVAS Elsie painted her entire 1970s home (interior and exterior) in Sherwin-Williams Marshmallow. “Going with all white is the easiest and most budget-friendly option for modernizing a space,” she says. An eggshell finish is simple to wipe clean and durable enough for…

Do This… Address spills as they happen to make the twice-yearly deep-cleaning sessions much easier. Scrape off small spatters with a nylon spatula when the oven is cool. Coat big spills with salt while the mess is still hot, then scoop up the salt pile (and the soaked-up spill) the next morning. DAY ONE Start by placing the oven racks in the bathtub (line the tub with an old bath towel to prevent scratching). Fill with hot water, drop in four to six dryer sheets, and add two or three squirts of dish soap. Let the racks soak for a few hours or, ideally, overnight. Meanwhile, open the door to the cool oven; spread a towel on the floor to catch spills as you clean. Remove food bits from the…

AT MY LAST CHECKUP, my primary care physician declared me to be in peak health. Yes, I could be more diligent about my vitamin D, but overall, this 58-year-old tennis addict’s lab results were pretty stellar—no problems with sugar, cholesterol, or blood pressure. But if I’m so hale and hearty, why is the baggie of meds I bring to my doctor getting bigger each year? I feel like I’m swallowing a daily fistful of drugs and supplements, and it’s making me uncomfortable. There’s levothyroxine for my sluggish thyroid, prescription eye drops to ward off glaucoma, allergy meds for my itchy eyes and sniffling, and a two-pronged hormone replacement therapy protocol (progesterone pills and estrogen-testosterone cream). On the over-the-counter front, I gobble melatonin, Tylenol PM, and Olly Sleep gummies to…

LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS WITH LEMON-ROSE GLAZE Baking spray with flour keeps these tender muffins from sticking to the tray. ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 20 MINUTES (INCLUDES COOLING) MAKES 12 MUFFINS Baking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy or Pam Baking¾ cup granulated sugar1 tsp. lemon zest plus 2 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon)1 large egg1 large egg yolk½ cup canola oil½ cup whole buttermilk1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour¼ tsp. kosher salt¼ tsp. baking powder¼ tsp. baking soda2 tsp. poppy seedsLemon-Rose Glaze (page 95), optional PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Coat cups of a 12-cup muffin tray with baking spray. (Alternatively, line cups with paper baking cups or parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.) Place sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl. Using…

1 Nourish Your Hair BRUSH BETTER Brush after conditioning wet hair. Fewer tangles equals less breakage. Curly girls already know this—dry brushing is a no-no. If you do need to run a brush through dry curls, Frédéric Fekkai, CEO and founder of the hair-care brand Fekkai, recommends spritzing both your hair and the brush with product to encourage springiness in coils. We like DevaCurl Mist-er Right Curl Refresher Spray ($20; devacurl.com). DEEP CONDITION To combat damage from heat styling and dyes, apply a rich mask before showering. Supercharge it by mixing in a few drops of hair oil, Fekkai says. SNIP, SNIP While exact timing depends on your style and texture, aim to get a trim every three to four months. 2 GET ADULT ACNE UNDER CONTROL Despite what we wished for…

Hearing the blender sputter, stall, and grind to a halt is no way to start your day—let alone make a smoothie. For the best mixture, pour in liquids first to give the blades freedom to spin, says Jenna Helwig, food director at REAL SIMPLE and author of Smoothie-licious. Next, layer in greens like kale or spinach, which “helps them break down so your smoothie doesn’t eat like a salad,” she says. Top the greens with nut butters and fresh fruits and vegetables, then finish with anything frozen. “You want to add icy stuff last so the less dense ingredients can blend first,” she says. “That will help keep your blender running more smoothly and provide a tastier drink.”…

BEST MOISTURIZER Saie Sunvisor Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Moisturizer Get ready for more real estate in your medicine cabinet. This tube takes the place of a serum, oil, moisturizer, and physical SPF—and it will make all your dewy-skin dreams come true. Two pumps of the cream perfects (yet doesn’t hide) skin. You’ll actually want to reapply. TO BUY: $34; saiehello.com. BEST LIP BALM EOS The Guardian 100% Natural Sunscreen Lip Balm Packed with cushiony shea butter, this zinc oxide balm will take your pout from pitiful to plush. TO BUY: $3; at Target. BEST FOR DISCOLORATION SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30 This sheer formula brightens skin instantly and helps fade existing marks and ward off new ones. TO BUY: $54; skinceuticals.com. BEST FOR DARK SKIN Melé No…

Banish Junk Mail Everywhere IN YOUR (SNAIL) MAILBOX Call 888-5-OPT-OUT or go to optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving credit card and insurance offers. If you keep getting junk mail or catalogs, visit dmachoice.org. For $2, you can opt out of entire categories of mail for 10 years. Also, try the app PaperKarma ($4 per month, $25 per year; iOS and Android), which helps you unsubscribe from unwanted mail after you take a photo of it. IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX Beyond clicking Unsubscribe, you can “train” your inbox to handle unwanted types of email. In Gmail, click Report Spam. In Outlook, send the message to your junk folder. Subsequent emails from the sender will go to spam automatically, so you can batch delete them. The app Unroll.Me (free; iOS and Android)…

THINK FAST: How many photos are on your phone’s camera roll at this very moment? For me, the answer is a staggering 11,941—my small contribution to the estimated 1.4 trillion (yes, trillion) photos captured worldwide in 2020. The technological advances of digital photography and the convenience of my ever-present iPhone have made it quite literally a snap to record the minutiae of daily life. The only issue: Despite constant documentation and a library of nearly 12,000 pictures, I have only a single framed photo in my apartment. Uploading the best of the best to Instagram takes seconds, but I often want a more permanent, less public way to commemorate moments. Of course I’m going to post that latest loaf of banana bread, but do I really want a photo…