Table of contents for February 2018 in Real Simple

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A 3-YEAR-OLD scream and thrash on the floor like something from The Exorcist? I have. Nearly every night. For months. And it was my 3-yearold. There was an unpleasant stretch a few years ago when, almost every night, my husband and I would bolt out of bed to the sound of our daughter screaming in the throes of a night terror. We would try to comfort her, usually to no avail. During extra-violent ones, we would carry her to the thick living room rug so she wouldn’t hurt herself as she writhed in apparent psychic agony.We felt powerless and, of course, completely exhausted. It wasn’t as unnerving as it might have been—we knew my husband had gone through these episodes as a child. So I asked…

Timeless Tale Tom Hazard ages very slowly: While he looks 40, he’s actually more than 400 years old. To stay safe, he belongs to a secret society that forces members to move often—and to never fall in love. But Tom has. Despite his extraordinary life (he worked for Shakespeare), Tom wishes only to be ordinary and find his missing daughter. In the captivating How to Stop Time, Matt Haig asks: How would you live your life if you had more time? Romantic Gift We kiss to show our affection for all kinds of people in our lives, from children to husbands and wives. In the anthology The Kiss, Brian Turner collects stories and quotes from dozens of writers, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pico Iyer, and Toni Morrison, that capture the…

A warm pot of freshly cooked long-grain white rice is at once comforting and endlessly versatile. The grain pairs well with myriad flavors in all sorts of dishes—including some that might surprise. Make a creamy rice porridge for breakfast or form rice into spicy meat-and-cheese patties. Top salads and proteins with crispy puffed fried rice for tasty crunch. Uncooked white rice keeps best in a wellsealed airtight container; store in a cool, dark place for up to three years. Quick Ideas 1 BREAKFAST RICE PORRIDGE Combine 6 cups water, 1 cup rice,3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 3/4 tsp. salt in a saucepan over medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very thick, 40 minutes. Stir in 1 cup half-and-half. Top with chopped mango and toasted almonds. 2 CHORIZO-AND-CHEESE…

There’s a Lingering Odor in My Fridge. K.D., VIA EMAIL THE FIX: Take out all the food, drinks, shelves, and bins, says Mary Marlowe Leverette, a laundry and housekeeping expert at TheSpruce.com. Then mix one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach with one gallon of water and wipe down the removable parts and the fridge’s interior. Rinse well with a cloth dipped in hot water and let dry. Still smelly? It might be the drip pan. “Sometimes odors can permeate the evaporator coils, and spoiled food can drip into the evaporator catch pan,” says Leverette. Unplug your fridge and, using a flator Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the panels that cover the coils (they’re usually located at the bottom of the refrigerator). Pull out the drip pan and clean it and the coils with…

DERMATOLOGIST JOSHUA ZEICHNER Saving New York City residents one pimple at a time, Zeichner (@joshzeichnermd) is the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Follow #AskDrZ for insider skin-care advice. CERAVE PM FACIAL MOISTURIZING LOTION “Skin loses moisture at night. Apply this before anti-aging products to prevent irritation.” TO BUY: $14.50; cvs.com. AVEENO POSITIVELY RADIANT DAILY MOISTURIZER SPF 30 “SPF is crucial all year round. This one gets the job done while also hydrating.” TO BUY: $15; at drugstores. PROMISE ORGANIC BABY REPLENISHING COCONUT BUTTER 2-IN-1 BABY WASH “Winter weather can leave skin feeling sensitive. Switch out your face cleanser for a soap-free formula that’s pH-balanced. I often recommend cleansers formulated for babies, as I know they’ll be gentle enough.” TO BUY:…

START WITH THE TURTLENECK... TO BUY: 525 America ribbed turtleneck sweater, $92; 525america.com. ...ADD A STRIPED SHIRT AND JEANS A striped button-down under the turtleneck lends interest and dimension that make a simple top-and-jeans combo look more pulled together. TO BUY: Jones New York top, $70; jny.com. Aeropostale jeans, $28; aeropostale.com. Rosena Sammi cuff, $45; rosenasammi.com. A New Day satchel, $40; target.com. Universal Thread sneakers, $20; target.com. ...ADD A BROCADE PENCIL SKIRT A glimmering brocade skirt and an eye-catching statement necklace turn this staple into an outfit that’s anything but boring. (It’s nice and warm to boot.) TO BUY: Bishop Collective top, $260; bishopcollective.com. Banana Republic skirt, $88; bananarepublic.com. Lulu Frost necklace, $395; lulufrost.com. Zara stilettos, $100; zara.com. ...ADD A JACKET AND CROPPED TROUSERS Style the turtleneck with a tailored…

K.A. ASKS... I’m an elementary school teacher. I teach my students to cough and sneeze into their elbows instead of their hands because of germs. But some adults in my life sneeze into their hands all the time, which makes me want to avoid contact. Can I ask them to contain their coughs in a less germy way without sounding like I’m talking to a student? I’m laughing, picturing you summoning the other teachers for a read-aloud of Curious George Coughs into His Sleeve. Alas, while your students are with you to learn—including whatever you’re teaching them about courteous habits— your fellow adults, as childlike and runny-nosed as they may be, are not. There’s no polite way to teach them proper cough and sneeze containment. That said, if you’re talking…

1 What Can I Do to Help Us Grow Closer? The beauty of having siblings is that they teach us to deal with conflict.We’ve been vying for our parents’ attention since we were born! There can be tensions or disappointments that create distance, and sometimes someone must take the first step in renewing and enriching an old bond. “What can I do to help us grow closer?” is a profound question, but it doesn’t have to carry the weight of an international summit. There are so many possible answers, from “I think we’re close enough” to “You might help more with Mom” to “You should apologize for hitting me when I was a kid.” If you feel resistance, then just shut up for a while and try again later. It’s…

PAINT “Since the bedroom is a place to relax, stay away from intense wall colors and select soothing shades of paint,” says Schnell. “White can be jarring because it reflects a lot of light.” The designer’s top choices for bedroom walls: soft gray or light blues and greens that say “spa.” These shades pair easily with a wide range of furnishing styles. TO BUY: Mountain Air by Sherwin Williams in Emerald Interior, from $69 per gallon; sherwin-williams.com for info. Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore in Aura Interior, $70 per gallon; benjaminmoore.com for info. PILLOW TALK “There isn’t one pillow that fits us all,” says Rebecca Robbins, PhD, a sleep researcher at NYU School of Medicine. When you’re lying on the mattress in your dominant position, your head and neck…

I was 25 when I first saw snow. A daughter of Cuban immigrants, I’d been born and raised in Hialeah, a working-class city in greater Miami. But at 25, my husband and I took off for an academic life, chasing degrees and jobs. Behind me were my loud Cuban family, tropical beaches, the pastels of Miami Beach, and Spanish punctuating every sentence. Ahead of me were trains that rattled down long tracks and took you from one big city to another, new terms like “brownstones” and “fireplace dampers,” knowing what it meant to be a Latina minority for the first time in my life. I gave birth to my first daughter in New Haven, Connecticut, and when she was still a baby, my husband and I moved again. This time,…

I miss the year-round warm weather of Las Vegas. But to win big, I had to come to Iowa. The night I met my future husband at a conference, he suggested I marry him and move to Grinnell, Iowa. I laughed so hard! Not at the immediately-marrying-a-stranger part—I’m from Las Vegas, where it’s weird if you don’t have a drive-through wedding with someone you just met. But Iowa? “I’ll never go there,” I told him. I mean, I’d seen the movie Children of the Corn. I actually find cornfields very puzzling even when they aren’t teeming with homicidal youngsters. Why grow fields and fields of a plant you can’t even smoke? But he kept sending me various lumberjack-themed Midwestern photos of himself outfitted in Carhartt hats and insulated bib overalls.…

Easy Dinner 1 Edamame Pasta Salad ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Make Ahead ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Family Friendly 12 oz. gemelli or other short pasta1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for cooking pasta1 12-oz. bag frozen shelled edamame (about 2 ½ cups)1 lemon, cut into wedges, seeds removed6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper5 oz. baby arugula4 oz. crumbled feta (about 1 cup)¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts COOK pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions, adding edamame during the last 4 minutes of cooking. MEANWHILE, heat a small skillet over medium-high. Add lemon wedges, cut side down, and cook until well blistered, about 1 minute per side. Transfer…

ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 50 MINUTES SERVES 8 TO 10 2¼ lb. red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed1½ cups warm whole milk4 Tbsp. unsalted butter3 tsp. kosher salt, dividedFreshly ground black pepper3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided1½ lb. ground beef (90% lean)1 lb. cremini mushrooms, quartered (about 4 cups)1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves1 medium onion, finely chopped2 ribs celery, finely chopped2 cloves garlic, finely chopped3 Tbsp. tomato paste1 cup low-sodium chicken stock2 medium carrots, chopped2¾ cups frozen peas (from a 10-oz. bag)1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Cover potatoes with cold water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer until tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Add milk, butter, 1½ teaspoons salt, and several grinds of…

MEET RINA STONE EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT REAL SIMPLE What inspires me: I get inspiration from everything—a color palette on a package, a type treatment in a catalog, a lighting style in a photograph. My go-to dish: Carnitas served with a creamy polenta. It’s so easy, yet guests rave. Favorite thing in my house: My midcentury daybed. It provides extra seating during a party and also doubles as a bed for guests. @RINAJSTONE ON INSTAGRAM Muffins, Reimagined We came up with new dishes to make with Englishmuffins, like this s’mores panini. Check out realsimple.com/englishmuffins. Snow-day Crafts and Treats When it’s too cold for the playground and the kids are getting antsy, some fun and easy DIYs will save the day. Go to realsimple.com/snowdaycrafts. Open and tap for gift…

1 Put Pen to Paper. When a text just isn’t enough: Send a love message, condolences, or a story on a card from Nicely Noted, a monthly letterpress-stationery subscription service. Each curated snail-mail set includes three cards, envelopes, and stamps. Order it for yourself or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one. TO BUY: From $20 per month; nicelynoted.com. more to love 2 Finally Preserve Your Family Photos. Bring your Polaroids and home videos into the digital age with the Memory Makeover Kit from Legacy Republic. Send your VHS tapes, photos, and rolls of film, and the company will digitize and archive your memories in an online account. TO BUY: $100 for up to 4 projects (e.g., a videotape, film reel, or 50 photo prints); legacyrepublic.com. 3 Roll With…

1 EMPLOY CANISTERS Decant baking supplies and cereal into see-through, airtight containers so you can view what (and how much) you have at a glance. When an ingredient looks low, add it to the grocery list. TO BUY: Clear round acrylic canisters, from $10; containerstore.com. 2 CREATE ZONES Compartmentalize the space using baskets and arrange the contents by category (“sweet treats,” “salty snacks,” “baking,” “rice and grains”). Stash the stuff you reach for most often at eye level. 3 LABEL EVERYTHING Identify what goes inside each container with labels or hangtags—this will make it easy for everyone in the house to maintain order. For extra organizational points, give the interior walls a coat of chalkboard paint to denote where the baking bin or soup cans should live. 4 GET VERTICAL…

MAGAZINE MEDIA Better. Believe It. With half-baked blogs and food fails galore, more Americans than ever are trusting mealtime to magazine brands. In print, online, on mobile and video, they serve up triple-tested recipes and verified diet tips. No other media is more inspired, trusted or engaging. With an audience of 1.8 billion, magazine media delivers the authority and safe environment everyone hungers for. #BelieveMagMedia | BelieveMagMedia.com…

WORK, MONEY, AND HEALTH ADVICE FOR BUSY PEOPLE Shop at More Than One Store. Ticking every box at a single location is tempting—but it’ll cost you. “Never pay full price at the grocery store for things like laundry detergent, paper products, cleaning supplies, and personal-care items,” says Stephanie Nelson, author of The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half. That merchandise is typically cheaper online, at bulk membership clubs, or at discount retailers, like Target and Walmart. Nelson suggests jotting down essentials, then consulting store circulars and websites for sales. Always make a list; nearly one-third of female shoppers surveyed don’t. Then separate the items on your list by store so you can get in and out quickly and avoid overbuying. Don’t Dawdle. Time really is money,…

Often it’s the very situations in which we most want to be calm and relaxed that incite nervousness. This breathing method can work as an antidote by promoting feelings of tranquility and repose. Begin by sitting down or lying on your back with your eyes closed. Turn your palms up so they face the ceiling. Let out a long, slow breath, like a big sigh. Then begin breathing in slowly. Count to four on the inhale. As you inhale, draw your fingers into your palms to form soft fists. Do the opposite on the exhale: Breathe out to a count of four as you slowly unfold your fingers. Repeat this several times. Moving your fingers gives you something to do to refocus your anxious energy, and breathing evenly, in and…

Run an Air Purifier. “Clean air is critical for deep sleep, and an air purifier is a fantastic way to remove impurities,” says Robbins. It can also provide a soothing whirr of white noise at night. Our pick: Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link, $620; dyson.com. Invest in Encasements. Use soft, allergy-proof encasements to fully envelop your mattress, box spring, comforter, and pillows. Protect- A-Bed’s AllerZip encasements (from $25; protectabed.com) provide superhero security against mites, mold, pollen, pet dander, mildew, and other mattress contaminants. Plus, the thin, soft material stays silent when you turn over. Keep Bedding Clean. Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets weekly in hot water, recommends the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Your duvet cover should be cleaned every other week.…

S.OIL SERUM + OIL IN ASPEN If you spend more quality time with your flatiron or colorist than with your friends, your hair needs this superlight yet potent healing treatment. Dab it onto your ends post-styling, leave it on dry hair overnight, or apply to damp hair before you blow-dry to transform straw-like strands into silk. TO BUY: $68; soilhair.com. LIZ JONES DAYTIME FACE KIT This palette takes the guesswork out of getting ready, thanks to universally flattering cream blush, concealer, two shadows, brown liner, mascara, lip gloss, and a giant mirror— all in one place. TO BUY: $85; lizjones cosmetics.com. OLAY WHIPS LUMINOUS This cream-to-liquid moisturizer feels as airy as a cloud while it infuses skin with serious hydrators and brighteners. Bonus: It leaves skin matte (no greasy T-zone…

Young Huh Interior designer in New York City WHAT: Hammered metal nesting tables WHY: “The taller table provides a purposeful space to store and showcase items, while the lower one is at the ready when I need an additional surface,” says Huh. Place them next to a sofa as a set of side tables, in the entryway as a compact console, or along a bare wall to display flowers or artwork. Bonus: When you’re entertaining, they’ll provide extra surfaces for refreshments. SLEEK The clean-lined Parsons shape makes this trio of tables easy to incorporate in any room. TO BUY: Astair nesting tables, $200; zgallerie.com. POLISHED These half-moon tables nestle neatly against the side of a sofa. TO BUY: Marla nesting side table, $289; potterybarn.com. TRANSPARENT Versatile pieces that practically disappear…

How to Load a Dishwasher TOP RACK Best for drinking glasses, mugs, and bowls, plus anything glass or plastic, which could break or warp on the bottom rack (where heat is higher). DON’T REST ITEMS OVER THE TINES. Use them as dividers to save space and prevent breakage. Place small bowls between tines, tilted downward toward the water spray. LARGE UTENSILS, such as whisks and ladles, can be laid in the top rack. BOTTOM RACK Best for larger items, such as dinner plates, casserole dishes, cookie sheets, serving platters, and pots and pans. COOKIE SHEETS AND PLATTERS should be placed toward the back or along the sides of the dishwasher so they don’t block the water spray. DINNER PLATES should face inward toward the spray. Load plates together by size.…

THE PRODUCT Micellar Water It looks and feels like ordinary H2O but contains tiny oil molecules, called micelles, that capture dirt and makeup when the product is swiped onto skin with a cotton ball. WHO NEEDS IT Micellar water is great if you have sensitive or dry skin, and especially if you use retinoids or other exfoliants, because it removes dirt and oil from the face without stripping. “It’s a good on-the-go product because it doesn’t need to be washed off,” says Arielle Kauvar, MD, director of New York Laser & Skin Care in New York City. A few dabs can boost skin hydration during the day. One pick: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 Mattifying ($9; garnierusa.com). WHO DOESN’T If you have very oily skin, live in a highly…

THE STRUGGLE One Universal “Nude” That pale-pink hue is not actually everyone’s skin tone. FOR A BETTER MATCH... Aerie’s Real Me line makes bras (and undies, too) in nine different neutral shades. TO BUY: Real Me Full Coverage Lightly Lined Bra, $40; ae.com. THE STRUGGLE Hard-to-Fit Sizes Good news: There are plenty of options out there—even if you’re not a 34B. FOR IN-BETWEENERS... With standard as well as half-cup sizes(like C 1/2), ThirdLove provides a near-custom fit. TO BUY: 24/7 Lace T-Shirt Bra, $72; thirdlove.com. FOR BIGGER CHESTS... A supportive underpinning without an uncomfortable underwire. In sizes all the way up to 44DD. TO BUY: Olga Cloud 9 Wire-Free Bra, $42; macys.com. FOR THE SMALL-BUSTED... Starting at 28A and designed on a petite scale, the Little Bra Company’s offerings still…

MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A MODERN WORLD Toddlers (Ages 2 to 4) THE BATTLE: They’re stalling. Preschoolers are infamous for delaying bedtime by begging for one more kiss or one more story. It’s one of the many ways they test their parents’ limits. “They know exactly which buttons to push and how much to push them to get their parents’ attention,” says Iqbal Rashid, MD, assistant professor of sleep medicine at UCLA. But stalling reduces lightsout time, meaning less total sleep (which can make your toddler even crankier in the morning) and less time for your child’s brain to convert what he learned that day into a long-term memory. “Your 3-year-old is going to function better at preschool the next day if he’s able to make those neural connections at night,”…

“When I’m in a Rut, I Try to Do Something That Makes Me Feel Really Uncomfortable. Most recently, I took an improv class and did a comedy set at a fundraiser for my kids’ school in front of an audience of about 1,000 people. That experience gave me a year’s worth of energy. Doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable forces you to use a new skill set. I realized that the reason I felt so nervous backstage was that I cared so much. Sometimes when we get into a rut, we forget that we care.” RANDI ZUCKERBERG, 36, AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF ZUCKERBERG MEDIA “Sometimes There Is a Big, Looming Task You Need to Check Off so You Can Become More Productive and Creative. You’ve got to take…

YOU KNOW THE TRIED-AND-TRUE ADVICE for getting better sleep: Limit before-bed screen time, skip afternoon caffeine, stick to a schedule. It’s all effective, but only to a point—because your bedroom environment may actually be sabotaging your shut-eye. “The bedroom is becoming less of a sanctuary for sleep and more of a second living room, office, and kitchen,” says James Wyatt, PhD, director of the Section of Sleep Disorders and Sleep-Wake Research at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. And try as you might, it’s really hard to get decent sleep in Grand Central Terminal. So we tapped experts for advice on setting up a bedroom that promotes deep, restorative sleep and looks gorgeous, too. You’ll see those ideas in action in these three inspiring rooms. Nighty night. CLASSIC TYPE OF…

I’m still afraid of snakes and spiders. But I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier. About two years ago, I came to Todd, North Carolina, like a character from a Gothic novel,with the intention of getting lost in a dark wood. After decades of living in the hubbub of New York and Chicago, where I wrote about restaurants and food, I arrived in the Blue Ridge Mountains with two suitcases and a box of cookbooks, haunted by a series of devastating losses that I should have made peace with years earlier but had not: the death of a sibling by suicide, followed by the disappearance of practically every aspect of my previous life—my home, my proud career, my last shreds of self-respect. My life was broken, but I was afraid…

On stir-crazy days, February can seem like a terrible one-act play: The best you can say is that it ends early. Better are the days when you cozy up and embrace being stuck indoors. Nourish your crew with an edamame-dotted pasta salad (page 115) or a hearty shepherd’s pie (page 124). Top store-bought pizza dough with mushrooms and creamy ricotta for a fun weeknight meal (page 117). Gather ’round a football game or jigsaw puzzle with our picks for best chips (page 125).Watch the weather outside your window and feel grateful to be right where you are.…

Gone are the days when ramen meant instant noodles and a sodium-laden seasoning packet. Not only is homemade ramen easy and healthy, but it’s ready in just a half hour. The base of our vegetarian version is a rich miso broth, flavored with ginger and garlic. Earthy mushrooms and a creamy soft-boiled egg make it a substantial main. If you can’t find fresh ramen noodles, use dried—just ditch that salty flavor packet. ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 4 tsp. vegetable oil, divided⅓ lb. shiitake mushrooms, stems removed4 scallions, sliced, white and green parts separated1 ¾-in. piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped3 cloves garlic, chopped6 cups vegetable broth2 Tbsp. white miso1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. tamari or soy sauce2 tsp. toasted sesame oil4 large eggs12…

REALSIMPLE ROAD TEST BEST VEGGIE Trader Joe’s Ridge Cut Sweet Potato Chips These dip-gripping chips are naturally sweet, with just the right amount of salt. TO BUY: $2 for 7 oz.; at Trader Joe’s. BEST POTATO Kettle Brand Sea Salt Chips Thinly sliced and extra crisp, these three-ingredient chips (just potatoes, oil, and salt) make the case for simplicity. TO BUY: $3.80 for 8.5 oz.; at grocery stores. BEST TORTILLA Simply Balanced Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips Sturdy enough for guac, these whole-grain chips have solid crunch and a subtle corn flavor. TO BUY: $2.80 for 12 oz.; at Target. BEST PITA Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips Eat by the handful, scoop into hummus, or crumble onto salads as an alternative to croutons. TO BUY: $3.50 for 7.3 oz.;…