Sommaire pour October 2023 de Real Simple

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART is one of my favorite places in New York City. It’s a minimalist paradise, with a clean and spare interior that lets the world-class artwork shine. But when I go, I don’t spend a lot of time with the actual minimalists—instead, you’ll usually find me among the abstract expressionists. I’m in thrall to those de Koonings, Joan Mitchells, and Jackson Pollocks with their bold bursts of paint—brushed, splattered, and smeared in gorgeous, busy, balletic splendor. I’m drawn to the contrast between the spartan rooms and the joyful chaos of the works hung there, their wildness hemmed in by the firm, final borders of the frames. It all combines for a sense of balance that makes me happy and calm. Our sixth annual REAL SIMPLE…

Bees! Just the sight of them makes me cry. I can’t control it. @JUST_4_JES Balloons. The sounds, the smells, the textures (flat or blown up). Horrendous, all of it! @TOMMIE_GRANT The ocean. It makes up about 71% of the earth, yet more than 80% is still unexplored. I don’t like those odds. I’m content vibing with the land part of the earth. The! Ocean! Is! Terrifying! EMILY BAKER ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Outer space. It just doesn’t end? It goes on and on forever? I will never get there in my lifetime, thank goodness. EMILY SCHROEDER BUFFALO, MINNESOTA Down escalators. I can go up. I just can’t go down! @MEGGOOTZA Getting lost in an underwater cave while scuba diving. Have I ever been in an underwater cave? Nope. Do I scuba…

CHEERY FILE CABINET Say buh-bye to bulky, boring file cabinets and hellooo to this two-toned stunner. The upper drawers feature adjustable dividers, and the bottom file holder fits letter- and legal-size hanging folders. All three sections can be locked in one fell swoop to secure your top-secret stuff—and that bag of candy you’re trying to stretch out until Friday. Poppin 3-Drawer Stow Locking Filing Cabinet, $349; containerstore.com INBOX UPGRADE Stash your deal-with-it-later papers in this chic, sturdy lacquered bin. Just make sure you get to them eventually! Clara Resin Inlay Decorative Box, $80; crateandbarrel.com DOUBLE-DUTY LAMP This zero-glare LED task light brings more to the table than most: It’s got a built-in charging pad for your phone and earbuds. Talia Desk Lamp, $198; store.moma.org DISPLAY PIECE Sit tall with this…

IDEAS, DIYS & REALLY GOOD TIPS WHILE THERE’S A long list of grocery store shortcuts that just make sense (salad kits, rotisserie chicken, simmer sauces), spice blends aren’t usually on it, mostly because they’re needlessly expensive. You can mix up your own taco seasoning for pennies on the dollar compared with the cost of a packet. Plus, by going the DIY route, you’re able to make more on demand. And you’re in control—you can add more heat or salt as you wish and start with better raw ingredients. That’s key: You want to use fresh, high-quality herbs and spices (though not literally fresh—you’re going with dried here), says Lior Lev Sercarz, chef and founder of the global spice brand La Boîte and author of A Middle Eastern Pantry. “Dried herbs…

Tub & Shower Floor Fun fact: The best time to clean your tub or shower is right after you’re done using it, because (a) the steam from your bathing session loosens grime and mildew, and (b) the soap scum won’t have had time to settle. Get out, towel off, and spritz surfaces with Clorox Tilex Daily Shower Cleaner ($4 for 32 oz.; walmart.com). For a deeper clean every couple of weeks, reach for Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer ($5 for 32 oz.; amazon.com) or fill a bucket with two gallons of warm water, then add half a cup of powdered dishwasher detergent (it’s formulated to cut through grease, after all!). With either solution, use a soft sponge, as anything too abrasive can damage the finish. Tile & Grout That detergent…

LET’S START WITH A QUIZ. True or false: “Coinsurance” refers to the fee you pay for medical appointments. The answer is false. Got it wrong? Lots of folks did: Of 2,000 people surveyed by Forbes Advisor last year, 77 percent missed it. (Coinsurance is the portion of the medical bill you’re responsible for after you meet your deductible; your insurer pays the rest. It’s not to be confused with a copay, which is what you fork over on the spot for a service.) The survey confirmed that most of us are confused about health insurance. “With a topic as complicated as this, the only thing you can do is take it step by step,” says Caitlin Donovan, a senior director with the National Patient Advocate Foundation, a group that lobbies…

Readers Say… Uh, Yeah! “You don’t realize what kinds of germs you’re carrying around after sitting on public surfaces. It’s like wearing your dirty shoes around your house!” @TRIXIEE_2015 “Why would you put dirty clothes on?” @CINDY_KENNEDY2 “Yes. I just can’t bring myself to wear them again without washing them.” @R.HART Nah! “Wash only when stained, soiled, or smelly.” @GGGMD “If the jeans are for riding on a Harley motorcycle, you are to never wash them! So says my husband!” @NORAANNCRAIG “I’m an every-two-or-three-wears kind of gal, barring any mishaps.” @MARYTMCCOY The Experts Say… Unless you got unusually filthy today, you can keep them out of the laundry. “Jeans generally don’t rub directly against the body parts that tend to have the most bacteria,” says Kathleen Stanton, a scientist at…

FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING Area Rugs Los Angeles–based interior designer Jaqui Seerman rolls out suggestions for fixing common slipups and getting a space that’ll floor you. You’re Not Spending Enough “Invest in a rug. It will perform better over time and save you money in the long run,” Seerman says. (You’ll also avoid wasting afternoons vacuuming up tumbleweeds.) Cheaper rugs often mean cheaper quality. Look for one that’s tightly woven—the more knots per square inch, the more durable the rug tends to be. You’re Going Too Small Your space will seem off if your rug doesn’t fill it properly. In most cases, at least the front legs of all your furniture (chairs, sofas, side tables, everything!) should be…

1 A MINI MASTERPIECE Curated and compact, this palette houses a champagne highlighter and four blendable neutrals you can mix and match for endless easy eye looks. I love wearing the green as liner. Lancôme x Louvre Richelieu Wing Palette, $89; ulta.com 2 PORE PURGER I’ve been reaching for this clay mask in the morning whenever I’ve conked out with makeup still on (oopsie!). I wash my bod and shave while the mask draws out gunk, calms redness, and smells like a spa. Mmm, eucalyptus. Squalane + 10% Azelaic Acid Shower Mask, $42; biossance.com 3 MAGIC WAND This well-designed mascara brush features 220 wavy bristles that separate lashes for a fanned-out, fluttery effect. Of course, the mascara is nice too: Nourishing rice wax and vitamin B5 keep lashes from feeling…

TAKE ME TO A BAR, and I’ll order the most mezcal- or tequila-forward cocktail on the menu. Offer me a drink at your place, and I’ll ask for Campari or gin. What I have historically never, ever gone for is brown spirits. Especially bourbon—it always seemed too harsh, too strong, too not for me. Elizabeth McCall, master distiller at the major bourbon brand Woodford Reserve, says she’s heard my story before. “The biggest hurdle for many women has been the stereotype of the typical bourbon drinker: an older man with a drink in a library with a cigar.” But she says that’s changing. “Women are now driving the bourbon category.” And it’s definitely going places. Bourbon production has grown by 360 percent in the last two decades, according to the…

USE Spaghetti TO Light a Hard-to-Reach Pillar Pasta can do so many things! It can feed a hungry crowd, become a kindergartner’s craft necklace…and handily light a wick that’s sitting deep inside a tall hurricane vase or lantern. That’s right. Instead of awkwardly trying to wriggle a lighter or match in there (and risking burning yourself!), take an uncooked piece of spaghetti (a.k.a. a spaghetto) and kindle one end with a lighter. Then use your noodle to get the candle going. USE Rubber Bands TO Straighten Wobbly Tapers Tilted tapers are a no-no for two reasons. First: They can make your lovely table setup look wonky. Second, and worse: They’re a serious fire hazard! To straighten them out, wrap a rubber band around the base of the candle, the way…

WE’VE ALL MADE that joke about how we need a vacation after our vacation. It’s funny because it’s true! On some trips, you work so hard at maximizing each moment, you run yourself ragged. On others, you feel like you didn’t get to do half of what you’d hoped. The solution is balance, says Jerry Justin Alexidor, founder and CEO of Black Zama, a Tulum, Mexico–focused travel company. “Doing activities and exploring the culture of a place are important, but you should also give yourself time to actually relax,” he says. Here are tricks for nailing that vacation vibe every single day you’re away. Departure Day You’ve wrapped up as much work as you possibly could, set your out-of-office message, and put pinch hitters in place. (We know this…

1 WET & WILD This adorable towel has a different design on each side. More importantly, it’s made of recycled plastic bottles (five!) and can absorb up to seven times its weight. The Double Sided Kitchen Towel, $18; buzzeewraps.com 2 SUPER BOWL A double-walled stainless-steel serving bowl that keeps food cold—or hot—for hours on end? Get outta here! The large one ($80) holds 2½ quarts. Vacuum-Insulated Serving Bowl, from $50; shopserved.com 3 SOAP STAR Make washing dishes butter! Er, better. This refillable ceramic container hides a semisolid soap that you dab at with a wet brush or sponge. One block can replace two or three bottles of the liquid stuff. Dish Butter, $25; nelliesclean.com 4 MAIN SQUEEZE For everyone who’s struggled to open a drawer because of their citrus squeezer:…

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES SERVES 10 12 glazed yeast doughnuts (about 26 oz. total)2 large eggs1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk½ cup heavy cream2 tsp. pure vanilla extract1 tsp. kosher salt½ tsp. ground nutmeg3 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus more for baking dish2 large Honeycrisp apples, chopped (about 3¼ cups)¼ cup packed light brown sugarVanilla ice cream, for serving PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart or 9-inch square baking dish with butter. Cut doughnuts into eighths. Scatter in baking dish. WHISK eggs, condensed milk, cream, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour mixture over doughnuts; toss gently to combine. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature for 10 minutes, stirring twice.…

IT IS A TRUTH universally acknowledged (by most spine specialists, anyway) that if you’re an adult, you either have had back trouble, will have back trouble, or are having back trouble right this minute. According to a study in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, an estimated 80 percent of people in the United States will experience lower back pain at least once—but Brett A. Freedman, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, believes the figure is actually closer to 100 percent. “Part of understanding back pain is understanding that it’s part of being human,” Freedman says. In fact, a Mayo Clinic study found that it’s one of the top three reasons people go to the doctor (after skin issues and joint pain). Why…

Q GRACE ASKS… How can I leave a party without calling attention to myself, while still being polite and thanking the host? Grace, I heart this question so much! When I’m at a party, I personally love to go straight to the host, wait till they’re done with their conversation, and not only thank them for an amazing time but also let them know who I met at the party, how much fun their friends are, and which snack was my favorite. Party hosts really appreciate those little details. Let me tell you, Grace, I also love to host parties, and I’m always grateful when someone comes to me (when I’m not in the middle of three things) to tell me how much fun they had before they say goodbye.…

Grilled Honeynut & Cabbage Salad With Miso-Mustard Dressing ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar3 Tbsp. white miso2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard1 clove garlic, finely grated⅓ cup olive oil, plus more for cabbage1½ lb. honeynut or red kuri squash (about 2 honeynut or 1 red kuri), trimmed, halved, seeded, and sliced lengthwise into ½-in. wedges½ napa cabbage, trimmed and halved through center into 2 large wedgesKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper1 5-oz. head radicchio, trimmed, leaves torn into bite-size piecesRoasted salted pepitas and fresh mint leaves, for topping (optional) WHISK vinegar, miso, syrup, mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. PREHEAT grill or a grill pan to medium…

ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES SERVES 6 1 small Persian cucumber¾ cup plain Greek-style yogurt1 tsp. lemon zest plus 2 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon)3½ Tbsp. olive oil, divided, plus moreif needed½ cup chopped fresh dill, divided¼ cup chopped fresh mint, plus more for topping1¼ tsp. kosher salt, divided2 cloves garlic1 15-oz. can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves⅓ cup chopped yellow onion1 tsp. seeded and chopped serrano chile5 Tbsp. all-purpose or chickpea flour2 Tbsp. tahini¾ tsp. ground cumin½ tsp. baking powder GRATE cucumber on largest holes of a box grater. Squeeze to remove excess liquid. Stir together yogurt, cucumber, lemon zest and juice, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon dill, 1 tablespoon mint, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.…