Table of contents for November 2021 in Real Simple

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED the hacks in REAL SIMPLE, all two-plus decades’ worth of them. As the editor, I especially love having a front-row seat to the early planning and testing stages. Does our cool punch-bowl ice ring need cooking spray to unmold, or a quick dip in hot water? See page 39! To store mini lights, is it better to wrap them around a suit hanger or a coffee can? Results TBD! And sneak preview: We have a hack in an upcoming winter issue that just may revolutionize the way you think about red bras. As I read article pitches and outlines, some of my most frequent comments are: “OMG, genius!” and “What took them so long to invent this?” and “I’ll never do fill-in-the-blank the same way again.”…

SOOTHING EYE MASK / ORANGE CLOVE CHEESECAKE / FLOWER WALLPAPER SHOWSTOPPING TOPPING Meet your new decorating shortcut—just shake powdered sugar or cocoa over these food-safe stencils. TO BUY: Pie Stencil Pack, $30 for 3; aheirloom.com. 1 EXCELLENT EXTRACTS Level up your bakes with orange blossom water, bourbon vanilla, and rose water. TO BUY: Nielsen-Massey Floral Flavors Product Bundle, $28; amazon.com. 2 SPACE-SAVING SET These sustainable bowls come in seven sizes, for all the ingredients. TO BUY: Bamboozle Bamboo 7-Piece Nesting Bowl Set, $80; food52.com. 3 MAKE YOUR MARK There’s a cookie with your name on it—if you use this silicone-and-wood stamp. Swap the letters for endless customization. TO BUY: Suck UK Message Cookie Cutter, $15; letterfolk.com. 4 LOVELY LOAVES Breads and cakes will slide right out of this nonstick pan…

1 PUTTING ON THE GLITZ Polish your jewelry with a plant-based towelette before that holiday party. It safely removes dirt and oil with no rinsing required. TO BUY: Radiance Towelettes, $22 for 10; shinery.com. 2 BETTER BASTING Use this pan now for turkey and in the spring for ham. Its curved base lets juices pool on the sides so you can baste without hassle. TO BUY: GoodCook Quick Roaster Pan & Locking Rack, $30; amazon.com. 3 DOGGY DENTAL CARE Brushing your dog’s teeth? Woof. Squeeze this toothpaste made with real chicken onto a treat. As Fido chews, the enzymatic paste breaks down tartar. TO BUY: Dental Kit, $35 for 1-month supply; barkbright.com. 4 A CINCH TO STORE This drawstring linen pouch is great for preserving a boule of bread on…

Do This… Give up on the idea that the firebox will ever be entirely soot-free—it’s an impossible task. Every few uses, scoop the fully cooled ashes into a metal bucket. A bit of leftover ash is OK and can even help kindle your next flame. Embers can stay hot for days, so use a bucket with a tight-fitting lid to snuff out the cinders, and place the bucket on a noncombustible surface, like a stone hearth. MONTHLY During prime season for your fireplace—typically now through February—clean off the surrounding areas at least once a month. (Soot is the devil’s glitter; it spreads.) Collect stray soot using your vacuum’s brush attachment, then wipe down the hearth with a dry soot sponge. Tackle stubborn debris on brick, stone, or tile with this…

MONEY STRESSES US OUT. A full 73 percent of Americans say it’s a source of angst in their lives, according to a Capital One survey. That’s more than politics (59 percent) or even work (49 percent). Calm your anxious brain by enlisting this trio of experts to build your portfolio, navigate your taxes, lower your debt—and create a healthy financial future. Financial Adviser: Your Get-to-Your-Goals Coach HOW THEY CAN HELP: A financial adviser is your big-picture pro, who keeps your money working hard, prepares you for emergencies and retirement, and can help plan your will, explains Krista Aliga, CFP, senior financial adviser at Personal Capital. After going over your financial situation and your goals (saving for a house, paying for education, retiring), they create a detailed plan and recommend products…

ASSERT YOUR NEEDS / QUIET YOUR MIND / NEW NEIGHBORS PITCH IN 1 Choose Your Method. Saying “thank you” isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people still love to sit down with a box of fancy stationery, but if you’re not one of them, figure out a method that suits you. Do you take photos? Then snap a picture of the board game you received and text it with some quick words. Think about what the recipient would appreciate; that’s part of being grateful. GRETCHEN RUBIN IS THE AUTHOR OF BETTER THAN BEFORE AND THE HAPPINESS PROJECT AND THE HOST OF THE PODCAST HAPPIER WITH GRETCHEN RUBIN. 2 Remove the Obligation. I wrote 365 thank-you notes in a year, and I learned how joyful the act could make me. My favorite notes reached…

IF OVERTHINKING is akin to mental gymnastics, then call me Sunisa Lee. I could win gold for my daily rumination routine, with its high-flying anxieties and twisting unease. My individual all-around includes a stream of fretful thoughts (“Is she mad I said that?”) and perfectionistic obsessions (“OK, this story is finally polished after 400 passes!”). The only issue: I’m often unable to dismount from my deliberations, which becomes mentally and physically taxing. Of course, this is not a problem unique to me. Thinking too much is common among adults: 52 percent of 45- to 55-year-olds are overthinkers, one study found, with women more prone to excessive ruminating. Add the events of the past year and a half, and our minds have been spinning nonstop. “Overthinking is at an all-time…

A CLOSE-KNIT SISTERHOOD A reliable Wi-Fi connection and a skein of yarn helped TZO AI ANG bond with her crafty siblings from afar. HYPOTHETICALLY, IF YOU took a strand of yarn and connected me with my two sisters—one in London, the other in Hong Kong—it would be more than 17,000 miles long and span 14 time zones. In a way, we’ve been pulling off this feat since March 2020, when we began knitting together over Zoom. We’ve always been close, but during the Before Times, we were lucky if we saw each other in person twice a year. We relied on WhatsApp then. Once the world went into lockdown, we all felt unmoored. What better way to use that free time than hang out while learning a new skill? Our…

ON THE TABLE A No-Bake Pumpkin Pie That Pleases An oven-free pumpkin pie may sound controversial, but trust us on this—your people will love it. You just need cream cheese, warm spices, white chocolate, and (of course) whipped cream. To make one for your next fall gathering, go to realsimple.com/pumpkin. IN YOUR LIFE Get More Out of Your Daily Walks Walking reaps a host of health rewards. Learn how to transform routine strolls into more meaningful moments at realsimple.com/betterwalks. BEHIND THE SCENES Xochitl Gonzalez @xochitltheg Favorite space in your home: My bedroom gets the most amazing light. There’s barely anything in it but a bed, a mirror, and a wall hanging, but it’s the most Zen space. Go-to recipe: I make a good Instant Pot arroz con pollo, which…

BEST FOR ARMCHAIR TRAVEL Colombiana By Mariana Velásquez When Velásquez, a U.S.-based food stylist and chef, embarks on a culinary road trip around her home country of Colombia, it’s like we’re riding along on a vacation overflowing with culture, color, and tropical fruit. The book’s menus serve as guides for crowd-pleasing dinner parties, and Velásquez’s tips on how to set the scene with just the right flowers, linens, and playlists will inspire you. You’ll finish the book itching to plan both a dinner party and a real getaway. ($32.50; Harper Wave) Whether you want to eat more plants, find new cheeses, or bake a mean muffin, these books will keep you well fed and well read. BEST FOR BAKING, WITH A SIDE OF STORIES Life Is What You Bake It…

BEST FAUX-FUR LINING Lauren Ralph Lauren Leather Glove This classic style instantly gives you wear-forever feelings. The faux-fur lining keeps fingers toasty yet doesn’t add bulk to the slim fit. TO BUY: $88; ralphlauren.com. BEST SPLURGE Canada Goose Workman Glove These heavy-duty babies come from the men’s department, but everyone will want to wear them thanks to the sturdy stitching, snug knit cuffs, and silky-smooth leather. TO BUY: $175; canadagoose.com. BEST LIGHTWEIGHT State Cashmere the Cable Knit Unisex Gloves Pure cashmere not only feels luxe but has excellent insulation. Your fingers will be protected on even the coldest days. TO BUY: $35; statecashmere.com. BEST WEATHERPROOF The North Face Shelbe Raschel Etip Glove These have a cozy (and recycled) fleece lining and a stretchy, water-repellent shell that allows maximum mobility. TO…

BEST FOR DISCOLORATION Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Vitamin C is having a moment, and for good reason: The antioxidant protects skin against aging free radicals (morning application is a must), reduces hyper-pigmentation (see ya, spots), and boosts collagen for a brighter, more even complexion. The icing on your skin-care cake? Olay combined this hero with key peptides to boost efficacy. TO BUY: $39; target.com. BEST MULTITASKER Rose Inc. Radiant Reveal Brightening If you can’t pinpoint one problem, try this all-purpose serum that brightens, soothes, and hydrates. TO BUY: $72; roseinc.com. BEST FOR DRYNESS IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid tag-teams with vitamin B₅ to plump and hydrate pruney skin. TO BUY: $29; itcosmetics.com. BEST FOR ACNE Selfless by Hyram Salicylic…

LESS TAKEOUT WASTE / MONEY PROS TO HIRE / SUPERPOWERED SERUMS To keep the drink frosty all party long, make an ice ring by freezing water in a Bundt pan (yep, the same one you use for Nana’s pound cake). Lightly coat the inside with an unflavored nonstick cooking spray, then fill to about an inch from the top with water. For a festive touch, add cranberries, lemon slices, or fresh herbs, like rosemary or thyme. Freeze until solid (about five hours). Let the pan sit on the counter for 10 minutes before sliding the ice out, then gently place the ice in the punch bowl—and start ladling out that holiday cheer.…

BY NOW WE’RE all-too familiar with the drill: Wash your hands, stay away from sick people, and keep your shots up to date. But how much do you know about supporting the immune system, which forms our line of defense against insidious viral invaders? Test your knowledge here. The Best Way to Boost Your Immune System Is To… A. Exercise B. Eat nutritious food C. Sleep D. All of the above E. None of the above ANSWER: D and E. All right, this was a bit of a trick question. The idea of an immunity “boost” is misguided. The immune system is a complex enterprise, and when it’s overactive, that can be just as harmful as when it’s underactive. (Think of autoimmune diseases, in which the body attacks itself.) So…

THE QUICK FIX Empty the drawer and vacuum up the crumbs. Group items by function (measuring, cutting, stirring). Discard anything damaged and set aside duplicates to donate. Add dividers and arrange your utensils, stashing like with like. THE HABIT Keep the five or six items you use most in a crock on the counter. Drop them in handle first so you can immediately see what to grab. (Knives should live in a drawer, nestled in a holder that protects their blades.) Before buying a new utensil, consider if anything you already own can accomplish the task. THE TOOL A single drawer insert may not accommodate everything. Instead, divide the space into columns with expandable drawer dividers. They can go in diagonally to fit long-handled tools in shallow drawers. Measure the…

FOR A FULL BRONZE GLOW The Uoma Beauty quad of warm browns and metallics is designed for cheeks, but the powders are so buttery smooth, they work just as well on eyelids. Apply the dark gold on the center of lids, the pale gold on the inner corners, and the dark brown on creases. Use the light brown on cheekbones. Finish with mascara and nude gloss. SEE PALETTE ON PAGE 113 (LOOK 1) FOR A BERRY SHEEN These six rich colors—ranging from pale pink to deep plum—are loaded with nourishing grapeseed oil and shea butter, so they feel refreshing and moisturizing on lids, cheeks, and lips. SEE PALETTE ON PAGE 113 (LOOK 2) FOR WARM ORANGE SHADES Replicate the ombré of the most Insta-worthy sunset by blending thin stripes of…