Table of contents for August 2019 in Real Simple

DOES IT HAVE A POOL?” “No, but it’s on the beach.” “Like too on the beach, like loud on the beach?” “No, it’s set back, and near the museum.” “But walkable to the museum?” “Here, you look,” my husband sighs, handing me the iPad. Taking a vacation is wonderful. Planning a vacation is…often something else. But it’s worth the effort. Let me repeat: It is worth the effort, even though packing is also a pain and it can be hard to get away from work and who’s going to take care of the cat? Because vacation is when we encounter new ideas, when we hit reset, when we connect with our family or friends. It often produces our most cherished memories: I’ll never forget my daughter joyfully bounding through…

Portrait of Friendship Elizabeth Ames’s impressive debut, The Other’s Gold, follows the lives of Alice, Ji Sun, Lainey, and Margaret, who are assigned as roommates at a Harvard-esque college and forge an immediate, intense friendship. As they navigate college and then parenthood, their seemingly unbreakable bond is tested by a mistake each woman makes. Ames’s well-drawn characters and startling prose will linger with you. Helpful Guide Many of us probably want to buy a little more ethically and sustainably when it comes to our clothes. But it can be hard to move away from fast-fashion habits, purge closets, and distinguish between authentic and deceptive marketing. Let Elizabeth L. Cline be your guide to shopping better—whether you’re a minimalist or a fashionista—in her reassuring, resource-filled book, The Conscious Closet. Unique…

Quick Ideas 1 FRENCH TOAST STICKS Whisk 3 eggs, 1 ½ cups milk, 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar, and ½ tsp. cinnamon in a shallow dish. Working in 3 batches, soak 6 split hot dog buns in egg mixture, turning once, for 30 seconds. Cook each batch of buns in 1 Tbsp. butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high until golden brown, 2 minutes per side. Serve with maple syrup. 2 GARLIC BREAD SOUP Cook 1 thinly sliced large onion, 1 ½ cups peeled cloves garlic, ½ tsp. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper in 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large pot over medium until golden brown, 10 minutes. Add 4 cups chicken stock; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 20 minutes. Add 2…

BEEFSTEAK Large and meaty, this smooth red fruit is an excellent all-purpose tomato. Layer with mozzarella for a classic caprese, or slice and sandwich with bacon and lettuce for a quintessential BLT. GREEN ZEBRA Stroll through a farmers’ market for this flashy fruit. Named for its green-on-green striped exterior, it’s slightly more acidic than other varieties, making it a nice sidekick to salty cheeses. CHEROKEE PURPLE This heirloom tomato is prized for its rich color and concentrated sweetness. The medium fruit is a deep reddish pink with green “shoulders” (the area around the stem). Slice, drizzle with olive oil, and top with flaky salt. CHERRY While all tomatoes are best in summer, cherry tomatoes can be flavorful year-round. Come August, look for supersweet varieties, like Sungold and Sweet 100,…

1 Brush dry hair to create a smooth base. Make a deep side part, and then sweep hair into a ponytail, smoothing out bumps with a brush or your fingers. Ace the placement by imagining a diagonal line from your cheekbone to the top of your pony. Secure with an elastic that blends in with your hair color. Goody Ouchless Forever Hair Ties ($4 for 10; target.com) won’t stretch or snap. 2 With your fingers, twist your ponytail into a coil. Hold the end with one hand and use the other to gently tug at the sides of the coil to loosen it and create a bulkier shape—the key to taking your bun from wimpy to wow. Mist on a texturizer, like Together Beauty Sugar Wave ($27; sephora.com), for…

For History Buffs CONSIDER: SANTA FE TO LEARN ABOUT our country’s founding, cities in the 13 colonies no doubt come to mind. But Santa Fe, New Mexico, should too: Spanish explorers established the city in 1610, a decade before the Mayflower reached Plymouth Rock. Santa Fe has some of our nation’s oldest buildings, as well as opportunities to explore traditionally overlooked Native American history. The Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously operating government building in the United States. San Miguel Mission, the country’s oldest church, is an adobe structure where visitors can see flecks of straw in the original mud plaster on the exterior walls. Cross the street to the city’s longest-standing house, dating back to 1646. To dive deeper into New Mexico’s history and native people,…

Here is a way to take an inner vacation when you can’t actually go somewhere. Think of a beautiful place where you’ve been or would like to be, a calming spot where you can just let go and relax. Imagine all the details that feel good to you. Close your eyes. What images, sensations, thoughts, and feelings arise? As you sink into this experience, begin to let your breath flow easily. Soften your belly, allow your exhale to lengthen and fall freely, and inhale slowly as your breath carries this feeling throughout your whole body. Stay with this for at least a minute. When our breath relaxes, our body and mind relax. In the same way, when our mind relaxes, our breath relaxes. You’ve just given yourself a little…

Easy Dinner 1 Grilled Pork Chops and Zucchini With Mango Salsa ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Gluten-Free 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided, plus more for grill grates4 8-oz., 1-in.-thick bone-in pork chops2 zucchini, sliced lengthwise into ¼-in.-thick planks1 small white onion, sliced into ½-in.-thick rounds1 Tbsp. ground cumin1 tsp. kosher salt, divided¾ tsp. black pepper, divided1 mango, peeled and chopped½ cup chopped fresh cilantro2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)1 tsp. honey PREHEAT grill to high (450°F to 500°F) and lightly oil grates. Brush pork, zucchini, and onion with 1 tablespoon oil; season all over with cumin and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Grill pork, covered, flipping once, until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 140°F, about…

ACTIVE TIME 3 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES MAKES ABOUT 1½ CUPS ½ cup sliced almonds½ cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)½ cup raw sunflower seeds1 Tbsp. olive oil½ tsp. garlic powder½ tsp. onion powder½ tsp. kosher saltFreshly ground black pepper¼ tsp. cayenne (optional) PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. STIR together almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, several grinds of pepper, and cayenne (if using) in a large bowl. Spread in an even layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden and fragrant, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet, about 10 minutes. SPRINKLE over salads or grain bowls. PER SERVING (2 TBSP.): 97 CALORIES, 9G FAT (1G SAT.), 0MG CHOL., 1G FIBER, 4G PRO.,…

MEET LISA DESANTIS BEAUTY EDITOR AT REAL SIMPLE Most frequently used item in my makeup bag: Charlotte Tilbury’s Sexy Lips lipstick. Currently reading: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Most recent purchase: A bunch of summer dresses from ASOS. Best gift I’ve ever received: An engraved Cartier bracelet from my dad. @LISA_DESANTIS_ON INSTAGRAM Easy Treat Our three-ingredient pineapple soft serve is delightfully dairy-free (and delicious). Get the recipe at realsimple.com/softserve. 6 Decluttering Essentials Tidy up your home in a hurry with these clever tools that will help organize your messiest piles and rooms—once and for all. Read more at realsimple.com/decluttering. Open and tap for our favorite reads. PLANTS THAT PURIFY Houseplants are more than a decorating staple. Breathe easier at home with these six pretty plants that…

An upgraded version of the standard-issue brown-paper lunch sack, this reusable cotton-canvas bag is treated with water-resistant beeswax and comes in 19 colors. TO BUY: Waxed Canvas Lunch Bag, $24; waamindustries.com. 1 GOOD TO GO This trio of dishwasher- and microwave-safe utensils nestle together for easy transport. TO BUY: Reusable Travel Flatware, $14; anthropologie.com. 2 DRINK UP This well-insulated water bottle has a straw built right into the spout. Every purchase helps support water projects in developing countries. TO BUY: Ashbury Bottle, $35; avana.com. 3 THAT’S A WRAP Coated in beeswax, this canvas wrapper can be used in lieu of disposable plastic wrap or sandwich baggies. TO BUY: Sandwich Wrap, $11; beeswrap.com. 4 SHAPE-SHIFTER When you’re not using this 16-ounce cup—which works for hot or cold beverages—it collapses into…

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY ACCOMPLICE INSTANT BLURRING BEAUTY POWDER Use it to set makeup or to touch up. Pearl pigments add a soft glow and nix shine. Wow factor: The sleek magnetic brush lives inside the top of the compact, so it stays neat. Push the knob to open the compact, then pull the silver handle to release the brush. In four shades. TO BUY: $49; sephora.com. LIVING PROOF PERFECT HAIR DAY HEAT STYLING SPRAY If you blow-dry, curl, or flat-iron, this will prevent your hair from frying. Mist onto wet or dry hair for 48-hour heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s silicone-free, so it doesn’t leave a film. TO BUY: $28; livingproof.com. TELETIES Created by a former soccer player, these hair ties double as stackable bracelets and…

There’s a bit of physics involved in the art of cannonballing, says Nicole Sharp, PhD, an aerospace engineer in Denver. First and foremost, get as much height as possible. “If you want a bigger splash, you want a higher speed,” she explains. “That means jumping off the diving board rather than the side of the pool to give gravity more time to accelerate you.” Next, hug your legs to your chest with your knees apart and elbows out, shaping your body into a loose ball. Finally, stick the landing: “You want to tear a giant hole in the water—that’s what will make the splash,” says Sharp. To do so, land on your bottom. You’ll likely soak every fellow pool-goer…

M.S. ASKS… My sister-in-law loves to send gifts to our son for almost every major holiday. We are so thankful for her thoughtfulness and generosity, but because of financial stress we’re unable to do the same for my nieces and nephews. We save our money to purchase gifts only for birthdays and Christmas (even for our own son) and don’t have much wiggle room. I am plagued with guilt when we receive these “surprises” because we can’t reciprocate. Thank-you notes don’t seem like enough. What can we do? You don’t need to clutter up your gratitude with guilt. I know the feeling—that reciprocity is required—but I don’t actually think it’s right. People have different gift-giving styles in addition to varying resources, and that’s fine. You could say something, if you…

AMERICA’S COLLECTIVE college debt is now almost $1.5 trillion. Yes, trillion. (If you stacked that many dollar bills on top of one another, they would reach more than 99,000 miles into the atmosphere, which is about 40 percent of the way to the moon!) Astronomical numbers aside, there are plenty of smart ways to plan for the expense, says certified financial planner Joe Messinger, cofounder and director of college planning at Capstone Wealth Partners in Dublin, Ohio. Here’s how to help your family emerge from those college years in solid financial shape. Save What You Can. Most families pay for college through a combination of savings, monthly cash flow, and financial aid, says college-financing expert Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Savingforcollege.com. If you can start saving 10 or so years…

REAL SIMPLE ROAD TEST BEST PLAIN, TRADITIONAL Stonyfield Organic Low Fat Smooth & Creamy Plain Yogurt So smooth and luscious, tasters double-checked that it was actually low-fat. The subtle flavor and stirrable consistency make it versatile enough for sweet or savory preparations. TO BUY: $4.50 for 32 oz.; at grocery stores. BEST FLAVORED, GREEK Chobani Greek Yogurt With Mango on the Bottom Chunks of tropical fruit sweeten this velvety low-fat option. It’s silky and rich without being too thick. TO BUY: $1.25 for 5.3 oz.; at grocery stores. BEST PLAIN, GREEK 365 Everyday Value Organic Greek Whole Milk Yogurt This creamy strained yogurt is just sour enough. Swirl it into soups or blend it with herbs for an easy dip. TO BUY: $5.50 for 32 oz.; at Whole Foods.…

Mandi Gubler Pro DIY-er and founder of the lifestyle site Vintage Revivals START WITH COMMUNAL AREAS If you want to update your space, begin wherever your household spends the most time. You’ll maximize enjoyment and get motivated to keep going. A kitchen renovation can be a big undertaking, so the living room might be a great place to start. INCORPORATE COLOR STRATEGICALLY Color is like a budget: If you blow it all on a lime green wall, you have to be stingy about using color elsewhere in the room. Instead, I like to go with a neutral shade on the walls and bring in color through the accent pieces, like ceramics, artwork, and rugs. USE PLANTS TO REFRESH A SPACE Plants provide a relatively inexpensive way to make a…

Patricia Wexler, MD With 15,000 patients in her New York City practice and a skin-care line, the dermatologist juggles skin cancer checks and injections. Follow @wexlerdermatology on Instagram for skin-care secrets. Bioré Baking Soda Cleansing Micellar Water “Combination skin? No problem. This gentle micellar removes all makeup, dirt, and oil without drying skin.” TO BUY: $7; walmart.com. Vaseline Clinical Care Cracked Heel Rescue Foot Cream “Packed with glycerin and fatty acids, this cream penetrates the roughest of skin.” TO BUY: $4; target.com. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Daily Hydration Crème “It delivers the benefits of retinol with less irritation and without added cost.” TO BUY: $21; target.com. Bausch + Lomb Lumify Redness Reliever Eye Drops “After a long day, I rely on these drops to alleviate redness within a…

STROLLER HANDLE Attach this handle to the side of your stroller or shopping cart for little ones to hold when walking on their own. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Dishwasher safe. TO BUY: The Tagalong Stroller Handle, $13; amazon.com. FOUR-IN-ONE TRAVEL BAG Wear this water-resistant wonder as a shoulder bag, backpack, crossbody, or tote. Includes a luggage loop and plenty of pockets and sleeves. Also in black. TO BUY: Samsonite Encompass Women’s Convertible Brief Backpack, $168 with promo code REALSIMPLE; samsonite.com. CAFFEINE AT THE READY Add water and coffee bags (included) to the reusable pouch—in 12 hours you’ll have cold brew for up to two weeks. Take the pouch to the beach or leave it in the fridge for guests; there’s a spigot for easy serving. TO BUY:…

1 LABEL CABLES Quickly identify wires by labeling each with the name of the item it connects to. Snap a photo that shows how everything is connected for reference when you rearrange furniture. TO BUY: Tendril Cord Labels, $10 for 5; containerstore.com. 2 CONCEAL CORDS A big part of looking organized is what you don’t see. Bundle and secure a collection of cables out of sight to keep them from creating visual chaos. TO BUY: Command Cord Bundler Kit, $4.50 for 2; homedepot.com. 3 DITCH DVDS Free up space by recycling DVDs you no longer watch or upgrading to a streaming service. Corral small items (exercise equipment, video game controls, the DVDs you just can’t part with) in matching baskets. TO BUY: Whitewashed Rattan Storage Bins with Handles, from…

How to Buy FIND YOUR FIT. Select jeans that fit your waist and bottom. Don’t stress if they’re too long—a tailor can adjust the length. TRY A TREND. High-waist, straight-leg jeans look polished and surprisingly suit many body types. CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC. If you love stretch, look for “comfort stretch”—it molds to your body but maintains structure. Premium denim, which is higher quality and uses a thicker weave, generally lasts longer than cheaper denim, making the price worth it over time. How to Care PREVENT COLOR TRANSFER. Before wearing your jeans for the first time, wash them alone in cold water. For extra protection, add a half cup of white vinegar to help seal color. Lay flat to dry. WAIT TO WASH. Don’t wash jeans after every wear; do…

DOING THE “RIGHT” THING isn’t always easy—and nowhere is this more apparent than in the wellness world. Every day, we’re bombarded by headlines warning us about the latest thing that’s slowly killing us. We’re grateful, of course, for new science. But the mixed messages can be overwhelming. The best advice? Put energy toward big-picture goals, like following a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and taking care of your mental well-being. When it comes to the following seven habits, drop the guilt and focus on what matters. Diet Drinks Juices, sodas, and teas made with zero-calorie sweeteners were once touted as healthy, magically calorie-free alternatives to sugary beverages. Then came the backlash: Scary studies linked artificial sweeteners to cancer, heart disease, and unhealthy gut bacteria. Some studies suggested they also…

If I had to pick one essential item, it would be my journal. I always carry it in my purse. I’m gone for three-week stretches for work. When I’m flying, I don’t have to worry about needing Wi-Fi, because I have the journal. It’s like home for me. I don’t think I’ve gone without it in all my 27 years of traveling for work. Every lesson plan, every workshop, every poem I write is generated from that journal. My journal is the place where I can dream and create space for myself. I make sure to bring my skin-care products. Working in horticulture, I’m often outside or in a dry convention center, so taking care of my skin is important. I follow a plan my aesthetician put in place…

AUGUST Here’s our plan to take advantage of summer’s lazy end. Start by making a pitcher of honey-sweetened peach iced tea (page 142). Sip on a frosty glass of that while you throw together a no-cook barbecue chicken salad (page 135), easy sweet chili salmon (page 137), or black bean tostadas (page 138). Pick up one of our favorite yogurts (page 140) for dolloping over peaches and blueberries or dipping farm-stand veggies into. Add a big batch of spicy nuts and seeds (page 144) to the arsenal for snacking on or sprinkling over simple summer salads. All this you can do while barely leaving your beach chair.…

ACTIVE TIME 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES SERVES 6 ⅓ cup honey8 oz. dried peaches (1 ⅓ cups)6 bags English breakfast teaFresh peach slices, lemon slices, and/or mint sprigs, for serving BRING honey and 1 cup water to a boil in a small pot over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until honey dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add dried peaches and tea bags; remove from heat and steep, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and remove tea bags, gently squeezing to release tea; discard bags. Cover and continue to steep dried peaches for 20 to 25 minutes. REMOVE and discard dried peaches. Transfer tea mixture to a pitcher and stir in 4 cups water. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve over ice with fresh peach slices, lemon…