Table of contents for December 2021 in Real Simple

YEAR’S END BEING a period of reflection, I thought I’d share some ideas, time-savers, and new uses for old things I picked up from 2021 issues of REAL SIMPLE. Thanks, team, for bringing ease and brightness into my life. • Sprinkle a handful of flour into a freshly cleaned, dry sink and buff to make it truly shine. (February) • Breathe through your nose while wearing a mask to prevent dry mouth. (March) • Make a significant dent in your carbon footprint by replacing gas-powered appliances (and cars!) with electric ones. (April) • Spend 10-minute chunks—like when you’re waiting in line or on hold—editing your phone’s camera roll. (May) • It’s possible to order peel-and-stick paint swatches—better to hang and test colors in different rooms and lighting scenarios. (June) •…

1 SIP IN STYLE Make a toast with these sculptural handblown glasses that feel like art.TO BUY: Ramona Coupe Glasses, $56 for 4; anthropologie.com. 2 YES, QUEEN Nothing says “life of the party” like a tiered, glittery hair accessory. TO BUY: Sparkling Stars Headband, $10; papersource.com. 3 GLOW UP These giant balloons are filled with confetti, so you can enjoy a colorful spectacle—and not spend the next week vacuuming. TO BUY: Confetti Balloon Kit, $22; merimeri.com. 4 MIX MASTERS The handles are long enough for a highball, and the bowls are perfect for all your olive-scooping needs. TO BUY: Laurel Cocktail Stirring Spoons, $14 for 4; teaandlinen.com. 5 SET THE SCENE Celebrate the holidays with poppy hues (teal and neon green) and any-season motifs, like…

1 UNCLOGGING CUTIE You’ll be proud to leave this plunger in plain view thanks to the translucent neon handle (fun!) and drip-tray base that keeps the floor clean (functional!). TO BUY: The Plunger by Staff, $34; comingsoonnewyork.com. 2 READY SPAGHETTI This handy gadget has a salt measurer, a spaghetti portioner, a clawlike scoop for serving, and a mini cheese grater for the perfect flurry of Parmesan. TO BUY: 4-in-1 Pasta Tool, $13; cuisinart.com. 3 BETTER BUTTER The base of this butter dish has curved ends, making it easy to scoop up the good stuff. A magnet holds the knife in place so it’s always at the ready. TO BUY: Butter Hub, $17; butterhub.com. 4 PLUGGING AWAY Connect a pool pump, garden fountain, or inflatable lawn Santa to this weatherproof outlet…

CAN OPENER The save-your-sanity tool for all that unopenable clamshell packaging is the same gadget that slices through a can of cranberry sauce. Just clamp the opener onto the package edge, twist the handle, and—voilà!—cut a slit to bust out whatever goody is inside. Your Gift-Unwrapping Tool Kit BATTERIES They’re not always included, and you know the plea for AAs (no, make that AAAs) is coming! Stock up on batteries (look for rechargeable options), and don’t forget Cs and Ds, which you might need for larger toys. We love the Battery Organizer and Tester ($18; containerstore.com). It neatly holds different types of batteries and lets you know when you have a dud on your hands. Grab a USB power adapter too, since they’re often required for rechargeable toys. SCREWDRIVER SET…

YOU ALREADY KNOW that cheese boards are a low-lift yet crowd-pleasing way to kick off a dinner party. Now take that same idea and extend it to after the meal. “Guests love a dessert board because they can sample several different treats, and it’s easy on the host because the boards can be quickly assembled ahead of time,” says Maegan Brown, author of Spectacular Spreads. Read on for tips that will help you build a board with style. 1 Choose a Theme. An organizing principle helps you decide what to shop for. This can be as simple as going with a dominant color, says Erin Emmett, founder and pastry chef of Pistachio Culinary Studio & Experiences, a dessert-catering company in Brooklyn, New York. “I’m always inspired by whites and greens…

THE ISSUE “My cat meows very loudly—at 4 in the morning. How do I keep her quiet so I can sleep?” THE PRO Rachel S. Geller, EdD, is a cat behaviorist and the author of Saving the World, One Cat at a Time. THE EXPLANATION This feline alarm clock issue is very common. Cats’ sleep cycles are much shorter than humans’, so they wake up earlier than we do. On top of that, their schedule is the opposite of ours: While we’re active during the day, they sleep. When we want to sink into the couch, remote in hand, they’re revving up. THE FIX Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained. To get your rhythms more in sync, enact the following two-part plan. (But first check with your vet…

1 Go Beyond Bestseller Lists. For a long time, I was reading what everyone else was—and often not enjoying it. So I took a more active role in choosing the books I’d spend my time with. Curating my own TBR (to be read) list takes a little more effort, but now I’m reading across a broader range of genres and discovering authors I might not have otherwise, such as international writers and those of historically marginalized genders. If you want to start reading outside your comfort zone, check out the staff recommendations at your local bookstore, follow book influencers on social media, or search online for reading challenges with specific prompts. JACLYN MASTERS IS A COHOST OF THE PODCAST READING WOMEN. 2 Send a Supportive Letter. Long ago, I sent…

SLEEPING BAGS, rain pants, permethrin-infused T-shirts, at least 16 pairs of hiking socks. Cha-ching! Cha-ching! “This is all totally worth it,” I told myself as I punched my credit card number into the REI website for the second time in a week. Would my soft, indoor children even enjoy all that hiking and pooping in holes? Who cared! They were going to be off their screens. It was last spring, and my husband and I were sending our two teenagers to summer wilderness programs—and not merely to give them the opportunity to build friendships and self-confidence in the great outdoors. Sealing the deal was the sweet promise of their forced separation from TikTok and YouTube. The fact that I wasn’t getting a vacation myself didn’t even bother me; detoxing the…

Back to Nature 1 FLUTTER FEEDER Bring on the butterflies. Made of biodegradable material, this perforated, nectar-filled feeder is a gift for the planet too. TO BUY: Hanging Butterfly Oasis, $57; uncommongoods.com. 2 PETALS ON THE PAGE Art lovers with green thumbs can visit the Louvre without booking a flight to Paris. This book explains the symbolism of 70 flowers featured in some of the museum’s masterpieces. TO BUY: The Secret Language of Flowers, $35; jaysonhome.com. 3 TAKE A KNEE Avid gardeners can tend to their plants in comfort and style with a cushy kneeling pad. TO BUY: Denim Kneeling Pad, $30; shopnwf.org. 4 WINDOWSILL WINNERS They’ll actually want to repot their herbs if they can show them off in these cute clay planters. TO BUY: Scalloped Edge Terracotta Pots, from…

beauty task: TAKE A SHOWER OR BATH make it meaningful: A bath can be a great respite when things feel overwhelming. To enhance your soak, Alexandra Janelli, founder of Modrn Sanctuary, a wellness spa in New York City, recommends using pink Himalayan salt for its muscle-soothing benefits. Take it up a notch with some crystals too. She likes rose quartz because it’s the stone that can represent peace and self-love. Try the Healing Crystal Bath Immersion Kit ($40; arianaost.com). If you don’t have a tub, place a scented shower lozenge on the floor. It will dissolve when the water hits it, releasing a spalike scent. beauty task: PAINT YOUR NAILS make it meaningful: Putting pep in your step can be as easy as choosing the right shade of polish. Walaa,…

MAKE IT MINIMALIST THE SUBTLE STITCHING ON THE PONCHO AND SNEAKERS IS AN UNDERSTATED—YET BEYOND CHIC—TOUCH. MAKE IT TEXTURED THIS A-LINE COAT LOOKS EXTRA RICH WITH A WOOL BERET, NUBBY SOCKS, AND FUZZY MULES. MAKE IT BOHO BUNDLE UP IN THIS SHEARLING VEST, THEN BOOST THE PLUSH FACTOR WITH A TOASTY BUCKET HAT AND NECK GAITER. MAKE IT SPORTY A PUFFY PULLOVER AND GO-ANYWHERE BOOTS ARE PERFECT FOR THE SLOPES AS WELL AS CITY SNOW DAYS. MAKE IT EDGY FAUX LEATHER + FAKE FUR = A TRULY COOL OVERALL EFFECT MAKE IT PREPPY MODERN TAKES ON A PUFFER AND DUCK BOOTS UPDATE THE OLD-SCHOOL COMBO. MAKE IT ARTSY ALL THE COLORS, ALL THE TIME. A JEWEL-TONED JACKET AND BEDAZZLED GLOVES BRIGHTEN WINTER DAYS. MAKE IT CLASSIC TOP A COZY…

Inside the pretty, blush-red pomegranate are some real gems—the sweet-tart, juicy-crunchy seeds (a.k.a. arils). SHOP for fruit that has firm skin and feels heavy for its size. Pomegranates are picked when ripe, so they’re ready to eat as soon as you buy them. REMOVE the arils by cutting the fruit in half and repeatedly whacking the smooth side with a heavy wooden spoon over a large bowl. Pick out any stray white clumps. SERVE the seeds on yogurt or oatmeal, in salads, or over roasted meats for a burst of fresh flavor. EASY DINNER 1 Cheesy Chive Waffles With Fried Eggs ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Family Friendly ¼ cup mayonnaise1 tsp. lemon zest plus 2 tsp. fresh juice…

THESE 10 ITEMS MAKE… 1 FRANK AND OAK JEANS Stevie High Waisted Jean, $99.50; frankandoak.com. 2 LILYSILK TOP Rhinestone Trimmed Silk Blouse, $105; lilysilk.com. 3 UNIQLO X INES DE LA FRESSANGE PANTS Wool-Linen Blend Wide Pants, $70; uniqlo.com. 4 PIXIE MOOD BAG Nyla Small Backpack, $110; pixiemood.com. 5 EASY SPIRIT X MARTHA STEWART BOOTS Lakely Boots, $139; easyspirit.com. 6 ANN TAYLOR SKIRT Zebra Print Midi Skirt, $109; anntaylor.com. 7 GARNET HILL DRESS Batwing Wrap-Detail Knit Dress, $99; garnethill.com. 8 KUT FROM THE KLOTH SWEATER Hailee Turtleneck, $89; kutfromthekloth.com. 9 NOIZE COAT Jolene Long-Length Faux Fur, $280; noize.com. 10 SAM EDELMAN FLATS Michaela Mary Jane Flat, $130; samedelman.com. …THESE 6 GREAT OUTFITS* LELE SADOUGHI HEADBAND Velvet Knotted Headband, $49; lelesadoughi.com. PANDORA BRACELET Polished Wishbone Bangle, $75; us.pandora.net. *and that’s just a…

WE MAY MONITOR our vegetable intake, our cardio routine, and our sleep habits, yet we rarely consider one simple act that fuels everything we do: breathing. We chug along, taking 17,000 to 20,000 breaths a day, blissfully unaware of most of them. But proponents of breathwork, the therapeutic use of breathing techniques, say the practice can chase away anxiety, increase energy, and help manage pain. Though the discipline has been around for generations, lately it’s having a moment, with breathwork artists and medical professionals alike encouraging people to show their lungs some love. “You would be astounded by how many pulmonologists, cardiologists, and other experts are exploring breathing, both for themselves and for their patients,” says James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, who interviewed…

Do This… ENFORCE A NO-SHOES POLICY Our experts agree that this will dramatically reduce the amount of dirt and debris on your floors. PUT MATS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE DOOR Depending on where you live, your floors may need extra protection during the winter from the ice-melting salt used on paths and sidewalks. The outdoor mat will help knock away clumps; the indoor one will soak up slush. Place a boot tray right next to the mat to limit transfer even more. DRY MOP OR VACUUM EVERY FEW DAYS Use a microfiber pad or a vacuum that’s safe for wood floors, and put your vacuum on the bare-floor setting. If you have pets or a lot of foot traffic, you might want to dry mop or vacuum daily. GIVE FLOORS…

“SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?” I asked. My mother tossed the brochure onto the kitchen table. “This is fake news.” “What do you mean?” I asked. She pointed to a photograph of a silver-haired couple holding hands. “This place wants you to believe you’ll live in a community of elegant people in the prime of life, when really it’ll be a bunch of drooling old ladies.” “Let’s keep an open mind,” I said, then laughed. Nobody can make me laugh like my mother can. Nobody can make me cry like she can either. She’d probably say the same about me. For the last few years, my mom had been living in a government-subsidized housing complex for seniors and people with disabilities. The apartments were equipped with accessible bathrooms, and a…

Meet the Designer MALKA HELFT Malka enjoys working on older homes in New York’s Westchester County. Rather than renovate out the unique character of century-old houses, the Think Chic Interiors designer leans into the original details—and function, which explains the parlor in this otherwise very 2021 home. Malka’s small, cosmetic adjustments liven up the space without detracting from its old-style charm. Get the Look WARM UP Dark wood has built-in coziness. The walnut cabinets and paneling are complemented by other deep hues and sophisticated textures, like the mauve leather armchairs. FIND THE BRIGHT SIDE To keep the dark wood and leather from taking over, a light rug is key. “Blue works with most color schemes. It’s like denim, which can be worn with practically anything,” Malka says. Bonus: The rug’s…

Prep Before You Shop SORT PROMO EMAILS LIKE A PRO Email subscribers often score exclusive deals, but no one wants to trawl through a flooded inbox. So create an email account that’s solely for these promos, then add filters for specific gifts. If you want a deal on a new PlayStation, say, create a filter for the words “PlayStation 5” and “PS5” so emails with those terms get automatically forwarded to your regular inbox. —Anna Barker, personal finance expert and founder of LogicalDollar TRACK YOUR SPENDING EASILY Use the Santa’s Bag app (free; iOS) to store shopping lists in one place. Once you add everyone on your list (via your contacts or manually), you can save links to the gifts they want. Plus, it keeps a running tab of what…

REAL SIMPLE ROAD TEST BEST TROPICAL VIBES Jo Malone London Starlit Mandarin & Honey Cologne Juicy mandarin is grounded in warm honey and sweet balsam notes, giving this a cool yet classic feel. The fresh scent is light enough to wear to work but still plenty romantic. TO BUY: $150 for 3.4 oz.; jomalone.com. BEST WOODSY VIBES By Rosie Jane Dylan Eau De Parfum Come for smoky cedar and spicy frankincense, stay for sustainably sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging (made using wind power to boot). TO BUY: $65 for 1.7 oz.; sephora.com. BEST MOUNTAIN VIBES Ellis Brooklyn Après Eau De Parfum Juniper berries evoke the feeling of the season’s first snowfall, while bourbon and suede evoke images of a crackling fire. TO BUY: $105 for 1.7 oz.; sephora.com. BEST BEACHY…

THE QUICK FIX Only store bulky and shared items, like off-season comforters, guest pillows, and towels, in the linen closet. Put sheets in the bedrooms where they’re used, containing folded sheet sets in a pillowcase. (And limit yourself to two sets of sheets per bed.) THE HABIT Place towels with the rounded, folded edge facing out, and don’t stack them too high—no more than five hand towels or three bath towels per stack. If you see any frayed edges or holes when you’re doing laundry, discard or donate the item. Many animal shelters need old towels and bedding. THE TOOLS If your shelves are adjustable, position them to accommodate the stacks, or use shelf risers to divide the space. Try the Stacking Shelf Organizer (from $15; mdesignhomedecor.com). Put smaller goods,…