Real Simpleの July/August 2024 の目次

FOR THIS ISSUE, we asked readers to tell us the most adventurous thing they’d ever done, and the answers were fabulous. (See page 10.) One person climbed the Grand Teton with friends; another explored caves in New Zealand with her husband. Shout-out to @lita_marissa, who said, “Coming out of the womb,” because, yes, universally that is probably humans’ greatest adventure (albeit a compulsory one we don’t remember). And someone moved to Zambia without knowing a soul. Damn. So gutsy. So self-determining. The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done was to drive solo through Maine in my 20s following a bad breakup. I wended up the coast just after Labor Day, stopping wherever I wanted. Highlights included stumbling upon a group of landscape painters in an isolated spot near Boothbay,…

IN THE BAG Zippered shoe bags make for ideal travel buddies (who wants the bottoms of their sneaks touching their clean clothes?). And they’re just as handy at home! Stash your favorite strappy sandals and out-of-season ankle boots inside these cute patterned pouches to keep them dust-free. Line them up on a shelf or under the bed. Compakt Shoe Bags, $38 for 2; calpaktravel.com SHOE-INS No closet? No problem! With three flip-down drawers, this wooden cabinet is less than 10 inches deep and holds up to 30 pairs. Entryway Shoe Cabinet, $239; giratree.com BOOT CAMP Slide four pairs of tall boots (upside down!) onto these 19-inch dowels to preserve their shape between wears. 4-Pair Boot Rack Natural, $40; containerstore.com NICE CUBES Kick funky odors to the curb! These boxes…

1 HEADY STUFF Eye candy on your vanity and sorcery in your hair, this new lineup has a solve for every sitch—fine, flat, dry, etc. The texturizer (my fave) gives oomph without any stiffness. And yes, this is the same Zara where you buy your jeans! Zara Hair Everyday Basics, $23 each; zara.com 2 SPECIAL TREATMENT I’ve been using this gloss, which has hyaluronic acid and rice water, in place of conditioner once a week to boost shine and smoothness. It’s so good, it gives me TV commercial hair! Hair Gloss, $34; theouai.com 3 MAGIC ERASER Confession: I’m lazy about cleaning my makeup brushes. This rinse-free antibacterial spray changed the game. Mist it onto the brush, wipe the bristles on a cloth, and move on to what matters. Spray Away…

LATE MARCH IN LONDON that year was windy, snowy, gray, and cold, but though I’d mapped out every detail of the trip, somehow I’d failed to bring warm-enough clothes for our child. This was especially terrible given that the trip was ostensibly for our child. As it turned out, wardrobe issues were just the tip of the iceberg. Hazel was 4 at the time, in preschool, with an abiding passion for the Titanic. An expert, really, the way kids are when they’re obsessed. From Hazel, we knew that the ship was built in Belfast, Ireland, but had set sail from Southampton, England. We knew not just that it had four smokestacks but that the fourth was mostly for show, added to make the ship look more powerful and impressive.…

RECIPES FOR REAL LIFE A world away from the kinds available year-round, these vintage varieties with evocative names (like Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, and Mortgage Lifter) are the stars of farmers markets starting around midsummer. SHOP Part of their charm can be a knobby look, so embrace those with imperfect shapes. Avoid any that are overly tender or mushy. STORE Keep them stem side down (to prevent moisture loss) at room temperature, where they’ll continue to ripen for up to a week. If they’re getting too soft, it’s OK to refrigerate tomatoes for a few days. Just put them on a top shelf, where it’s warmer, and bring them to room temp before eating.…

BEST TOOLS EcoTools Good Tan Collection The secret to a streak-free tan? The right tools. These three helpers are made of recycled materials and bamboo. Use the plush body mitt for a flawless head-to-toe finish (move in circular motions); the angled brush to blend product on your face, knees, and elbows; and the body brush to cover your back. Full-Body Tanning Mitt, $6, Body + Face Self-Tan Blending Brush, $10, and Self-Tan Back Applicator, $13; ecotools.com for info BEST FOR SUPER-SPEEDY RESULTS Isle of Paradise Express Self-Tanning Mousse No more self-tanning the night before! Massage the foam into your skin—the tint ensures you won’t miss a spot—and rinse after 30 minutes. $32; sephora.com BEST FOR THE FACE Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist Hold the bottle a…

Start Here First things first: Remove personal belongings and shake out the floor mats. Next, use canned air to force out any crumbs and dust hiding along your dashboard, in the center console, around buttons, and between seats. After you’ve extricated as much as possible, pick up your vacuum and get to work on the floors, seats, and anywhere you can reach. Hit the trunk too! Carpet & Fabric Seats Go with a foaming enzyme cleaner (see right). The foaming part is key because it means the solution won’t saturate your carpets, which can lead to mold. The enzyme part helps break down organic stains (and their smells), like spilled milk and pet messes. Product directions vary, but typically you hold the bottle about 10 inches from the carpet, spray…

PIECES OF A comet exploding. That’s basically what you’ll be watching if you catch the famous Perseid meteor shower this August. Every summer, the earth passes through the “tail” of the Swift-Tuttle comet, a ball of rock and ice that sheds bits of itself in a long stream as it travels around the sun. When those bits, or meteoroids, slam into our atmosphere and burn up, they become the meteors we find so beautiful. STAR SIGNS As we cross paths with the debris, the meteors come at us in parallel lines up to 100 miles apart. In a trick of perspective, they appear to converge in the distance at a single spot, known as their radiant. Showers are named after this apparent point of origin: The Perseids seem to…

1 Roll Out a Statement Rug This one shines for its rainbow colors and cool wavy shape. It works because the rest of the room is mostly understated—light fixture not included. 2 Make an Accent Wall With Curtains Window treatments are an unexpected (and cozy!) focal point. Mount yours high and wide so they cover the length of the wall, even if your windows don’t. 3 Treat Pink As a Neutral When you bathe an entire room in this subtle color, it somehow becomes a blank slate. We love a deep peachy pink (left) and the options below. 4 Or Embrace Actual Neutrals Not at all boring, this very white room has main character energy. To get the same vibe in your home, go all in on creams, whites, and…

NO COOKING REQUIRED! #1 / Tofu & Cabbage Salad With Coconut Dressing ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Vegan ✓ Gluten-Free ✓ Make Ahead ⅔ cup well-stirred unsweetened coconut cream (from a 13.66-oz. can)3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 2 or 3 limes)2 tsp. fish sauce, soy sauce, or tamari1 Tbsp. sriracha1 16-oz. pkg. shredded coleslaw mix1 cup chopped fresh mixed tender herbs (such as cilantro, mint, and basil)½ cup thinly sliced scallions (from 2 medium scallions)¾ cup coarsely chopped salted dry-roasted peanuts, divided¾ cup crispy fried onions (such as French’s), divided1 7-oz. pkg. marinated and baked sesame ginger tofu (such as Nasoya), sliced into thin triangles WHISK coconut cream, lime juice, fish sauce, and sriracha in a large bowl until well…

I ran my first 5K at age 60 and came in second in my age group! CAROL RIOSSPRING, TEXAS I climbed the Grand Teton with a group of women. None of us had ever climbed before, but our guided trip included two days of “climbing school.” After that, we began our trek. It was incredible, sometimes terrifying, and absolutely the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. KIM SMART SALT LAKE CITY Skydiving! When I was 52, my then-27-year-old son asked me to join him. I figured I couldn’t say no, so I did it—but I admit I questioned my choice once I was on the plane. When I was out of the plane and in the air and not dead, it was really fun! JOAN CROTHERS WAKEFIELD, RHODE ISLAND Moving…

1 JUICE BOX Never sure what to do with spent batteries? This kit handles them for you. It comes with 20 AAs and 20 AAAs; when you’ve burned through them, mail the set back to be recycled, using the prepaid label. AA, AAA Combo Pack, $30; betterbattery.co 2 BABY BAG Introducing the smartest diaper bag we’ve ever seen. It’s a canvas belt bag (yay for fanny packs!) with a fold-out changing pad, a waterproof pocket for wet wipes, and a hook for keys or pacifiers. Canvas Bag, $89; kiboubag.com 3 SHELF HELP Art that organizes life! This funky-shaped 29-inch rack has pockets for keys, pens, and odds and ends—plus hooks for leashes, bags, scarves, and such. Swell Wall Catchall, $100; hellerfurniture.com 4 CASE STUDY This suction cup thingy lets you…

I KNOW HOW easy it is to buy a bottle of your favorite wine or order your go-to cocktail over and over and over again. How many times have I uttered the words “I’ll have a Negroni, please”? Rough estimate: a billion and a half. But there’s a whole world of options out there to explore! In the spirit of adventure, I asked bartenders, drinks writers, mixologists, and sommeliers to nudge us all out of our comfort zones—myself included. If You Like a Manhattan… Order a Vieux Carré “This cocktail takes the basic Manhattan equation of whiskey and sweet vermouth and adds a bit of Cognac and a splash of Bénédictine, an herbal French liqueur. You’ll recognize the flavors but also realize something extra is going on.” —J.M. Hirsch, author…

EVEN IF YOU’RE doing all the right things for your dental health—brushing and flossing daily, scheduling regular cleanings—you can still develop gum disease, an inflammatory infection of the tissue and bone that surround our teeth. “It starts with gingivitis, characterized by red, inflamed, and bleeding gums,” explains Nick Mavrostomos, DDS, a cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in New York City. And yes, it can be an issue regardless of your oral hygiene habits, he says, blaming genetics or mechanical issues with your bite. “Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease, which could lead to tooth loss.” It can also increase your risk of heart disease because that bacteria can travel elsewhere in the body, triggering inflammation in the blood vessels. More shocking: The condition affects 65 million Americans,…

If You’re Flying The movie Air Bud should have been about a dog on a plane. Just saying. Anyway! To come on board with you, dogs and cats need to be vaccinated, old enough, and able to travel in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you (check the airline’s website for exact age requirements and carrier dimensions). Most major U.S. airlines only allow a limited number of in-cabin pets per flight, so call yours pronto to make arrangements. (Expect to pay around $100, and be ready to consider your pet either your carry-on or personal item.) No matter the airline, says Robert Cabral, a dog trainer in Malibu, California, “your pet is required to stay in the carrier for the entire flight.” Ditto at most…

Standout Riffs on Coleslaw Broccoli Slaw With Creamy Ranch Dressing ACTIVE TIME 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 10 MINUTES SERVES 6 ½ cup mayonnaise¼ cup sour cream¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)2 tsp. kosher salt1½ tsp. garlic powder1 tsp. onion powder½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more for topping2 12-oz. pkg. broccoli slaw (about 8 packed cups)3 scallions, thinly sliced (½ cup)½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for topping⅓ cup roasted salted sunflower seeds, plus more for topping WHISK mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add broccoli slaw, scallions, parsley, and sunflower seeds; toss to combine. Top with more parsley, sunflower seeds, and pepper. Kale Slaw With Lemon-Tahini Dressing ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME…

ACTIVE TIME 25 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 4 1 ripe avocado, chopped1 clove garlic, chopped2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)2 Tbsp. mayonnaise2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing1½ tsp. kosher salt, divided1 tsp. Dijon mustard1 tsp. Worcestershire or soy sauce¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more for topping1 12-oz. loaf focaccia (about 8 by 8 in.)1 large head romaine lettuce, quartered lengthwise through core, leaving core intact2 tsp. capers, drained¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese PREHEAT grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). PROCESS avocado, garlic, ⅓ cup water, lemon juice, mayonnaise, oil, ¾ teaspoon salt, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper in a blender until smooth. (Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency.) LIGHTLY brush both sides of focaccia with…

Readers Say… Definitely Not! “I gas up my car on Sundays, no matter what. I like to start my week with a full tank.” @PRISCILLASCOFFEE “I used to wait until the light came on, but I let it go too long once and ran out of gas on the way to the station.” @KAREN.HENRIKSEN “If the level is too low, the car will get tired, give up on the road, and cry.” @CLSSCCAROLINE It’s Totally Fine! “I want to spend a minimal amount of time pumping gas. Twice a week works out to 17 hours a year. No, thank you!” @PAULATHEHELPFULREALTOR “I’m usually coasting into the gas station. I will drive on fumes.” @SAGELADNIER “I wait until the warning light indicates less than 15 miles. I like to live dangerously.”…