Table of contents for January/February 2022 in Real Simple

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, I want less. Less food, less spending, fewer commitments on the calendar, a break from cocktails—while breaking out the Crockpot. I crave quieter exercise (solitary walks in the snow, anyone?) and slower books, the kind of novels with such lovely writing I linger over sentences and pause to appreciate allusions. I’ve also started doing something called cocooning. I first learned about it at the Sensei wellness retreat in Hawaii (which I wrote about in our September 2021 issue). During biofeedback sessions at Sensei, I saw—right there on a little readout—what happened to me physically when I altered what I was doing mentally. So to make deep breathing, meditation, and self-compassion part of my routine, I began pulling my sedan into the gravel parking lot of a nature…

CLEVER KITCHEN TOOLS / BEAUTY GAME CHANGERS / THE BEST JEAN JACKET IN PRINT Kick your feet up on this pretty pouf (available in 65 patterns!)—or top it with a tray to make it a side table for your spot of tea. TO BUY: Minted for West Elm Drum Ottoman, $249; westelm.com. 1 ACCENT DECOR Go ahead and judge this intricately embroidered pillow by its cover. TO BUY: Read Embroidered Pillow, $80; riflepaperco.com. 2 BEAM YOU UP The flexible neck of this sleek floor lamp lets you aim light exactly where you need it (just like the detective in your mystery!). TO BUY: Lissom Floor Lamp, $149; article.com. 3 LOUNGE AWHILE The deep seat and cushioning on this sustainably made chair will entice you to curl up. TO BUY: The…

I’m a seasoned beauty editor, and the crowded skin-care shelves make even my head spin (what do all those labels mean again?). So when I found the easy-to-navigate line Facile, I had to share. Just pick your skin concern—acne, aging, pigmentation, or sensitivity—and rub in a few drops of the serum after cleansing and before moisturizing, morning and night. Cheers to fewer bells and whistles, and more getting the job done. 1 THINNING-HAIR HELP After I gave birth, my luscious hair turned almost see-through. This rich pressed powder filled in my patchy temples and boosted my confidence. Its sheen mimics the look of real strands, and it has ingredients that nourish wild baby hairs. TO BUY: Can’t Stop Me Now Ultimate Coverage Scalp Foundation, $60; mecosmetics.com. 2 PERFECTED PORE STRIP…

Meet the Owner BRITTANY WATSON JEPSEN When Brittany was decorating her work space, she knew she wanted it to reflect the clean, colorful aesthetic of her lifestyle blog, The House That Lars Built. She also knew she didn’t want to spend a fortune; her family had just moved into their new home in Provo, Utah, and other rooms were hitting her budget hard. Sure enough, the inspiration for the entire office was a $48 Poketo calendar, which she rounded out with other rainbow accents. Get the Look BE CREATIVE WITH ART A multicolor calendar that fills an entire wall can function as art, a Zoom background, or wallpaper (though much easier to hang). “I put sticky notes on it instead of writing on it, so I can reuse it year…

A ASPIRIN For more than 30 years, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended taking a daily low dose of aspirin, because it serves as a blood thinner and has been linked to lower rates of heart disease (long the number one killer of women). But recently, the panel walked back that advice, due to the risk of internal bleeding, which gets higher as you age. Whether you’re just considering an aspirin regimen or you’ve been popping a daily pill for a while, talk with your doctor. If you’re 60 or over, the perks may not be worth it. B BOOZE “Alcohol can weaken the heart muscle,” says Akil Taher, MD, an internal medicine physician in Cadsen, Alabama, and author of Open Heart. “But red wine has antioxidants and polyphenols,…

BEST DELI MEAT Plant Provisions Smokehouse Plant Based Deli Slices This sliced-pastrami doppelgänger is made from beets, but the dominant flavors are garlic, black pepper, and hickory smoke. As a bonus, each portion has seven grams of protein and is free of the top eight allergens, including soy. TO BUY: $8 for 6 oz.; at grocery stores. BEST BURGER Before the Butcher Uncut Burgers These have the beefy aroma and flavor you’d expect of a burger, with a juicy bite that makes them stand out above the rest. TO BUY: $7 for 2 patties; at grocery stores. BEST SAUSAGE Beyond Sausage Sweet Italian The lightly spiced links feature a meaty texture and the same notes of fennel and oregano as the original…minus the pork. TO BUY: $9 for 14 oz.;…

BEAUTY GOAL Curled, Defined Lashes Without Mascara TREATMENT Lift and tint WHAT IT ENTAILS: Unlike extensions, which are synthetic lashes glued strand by strand onto your own lashes, a lift is essentially a perm for your natural hairs. The aesthetician places a silicone rod on your lid, then curls your lashes over the rod and attaches them with an adhesive. A setting lotion helps hold the shape. This part takes about an hour. Now think of a tint like a root touch-up: Eye-safe dye is applied for about 15 minutes to darken lashes and add definition. HOW MUCH IT COSTS: A lift costs $75 to $200 and lasts four to six weeks. A tint costs $25 to $40 and lasts a month. HOW MUCH IT HURTS: You might feel slight…

FERNS IN A SUNNY SPOT IN THE DEN. A little snake plant on the bedside table. Basil on the windowsill. Plants have a special ability to turn a house into a home. And that’s not their only power: They can make us healthier and happier, research has found. “Houseplants can remove toxins from indoor air and, because of the innate connection between people and nature, also improve our mood,” says Mobee Weinstein, foreman of gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden and author of The Complete Book of Ferns. Plenty of research shows that when people go into a forest, their blood pressure can drop, inducing a sense of calm, she adds. Being a plant parent, however, is not without its worries. Chief among them: How do we keep these…

BEHIND THE SCENES Athena Valentine FOUNDER OF THE BLOG MONEY SMART LATINA @moneysmartlatina Daily uniform: Anything black (likely covered in fur from my cat, Harrison George). Personal motto: I love affirmations. My current one is “I’m doing the best I can, and that’s OK.” Favorite space in your home: A Stephen King–inspired reading nook. Get tips from Athena’s real-life money story on page 44. ON THE WEB So Many Great Valentine’s Day Presents On February 14, show your partner how much you appreciate them with one (or two, or three) of our editor-approved gifts under $50. Whether your honey covets a candle or a waffle iron, you’ll find something that hits the spot at realsimple.com/howsweet. IN YOUR WALLET PJ Money Saver REAL SIMPLE readers score 20 percent off the…

SEX. IN-LAW PROBLEMS. Parenting differences. These are all sources of conflict in relationships, but according to research, financial arguments are the ones that most strongly predict divorce. Here’s how to keep the topic from being so fraught. THE ISSUE You feel judged by each other about how you spend. REAL COUPLE EXAMPLE: Rachel Miller (name has been changed for privacy) loves to buy art and handmade housewares. Her husband wants the newest iPhone and what looks to Rachel like a monster truck. He downshifted his career to take a job with less stress, so they needed to reduce costs. That’s when the finger-pointing began. “When we look at who spends more or where to cut, it gets tense,” she says. “We value different things. I’m a more frequent buyer of…

BATHROOM ACCESSORIES Toothpaste drippings, soap residue, and—let’s be real—mold from moist surfaces can be gross to scrub by hand. The heat from the dishwasher will take care of toothbrush holders, soap dishes, plastic shower caddies, and drain stoppers without triggering your gag reflex. BASEBALL CAPS These are fine on the top rack, as long as the brim isn’t made of cardboard, which most aren’t nowadays. (Your kid’s new Cavaliers cap? Sure. Your Delta Sigma Theta classic? Nope.) FLIP-FLOPS If they’re grungy following an active summer, rinse off any sand or dried mud, then place them on the top rack. Loop the straps over a tine so they don’t flip-flop around. Most items should go on the top rack. Some large items can go on the lower level if the top…

THE QUICK FIXES Most garbage comes from the kitchen, so keep all your trash supplies there, ideally under the sink. Free up space by mounting a paper towel holder inside the cabinet door to hold a roll of trash bags (use short screws that won’t pierce the door). Also stock scissors, a box cutter for breaking down packages, and jute twine for bundling paper recyclables. To keep your trash can as ick-free as possible, stick two Command hooks upside down a few inches below the rim on the outside. When you put in a new bag, loop the drawstrings around the hooks to prevent slippage—and a big mess when you toss in something heavy. THE HABIT Separating food waste from the rest of your garbage will help stave off bad…

MASK ETIQUETTE / WHY NEAT FREAKS ARE HEALTHIER / THE JOY OF A NEW HOBBY 1 Live Intentionally, Not Accidentally. When I help my clients get organized, the first thing I ask is “What’s not working?” We talk about how they’d like their days to look, and we move toward that. Say they want to get everyone out of the house on weekdays by 7 a.m. It’s doable as long as the whole family establishes a routine, like putting backpacks by the door before bed. Made together, decisions can become nonnegotiable rituals that underscore each person’s importance. WENDY ELLIN IS THE AUTHOR OF WORKING FROM HOME…HOW’S THAT WORKING FOR YOU? 2 Respect the Power of Rituals. Rituals promote a sense of community and help us cope, celebrate, grieve, and commemorate.…

SPEEDY PIZZA / SHEET PAN SALMON / POLENTA CASSEROLE Celebrate peak citrus season with juicy, tangy grapefruit. SHOP for smooth-skinned fruit that feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. The Ruby Red variety packs the most sweetness. STORE in the fridge for up to three weeks. Eat at room temperature for optimal juiciness. SERVE fresh juice in a cocktail or shaken into salad dressing. Slice segments to brighten up green salads or grain bowls. For breakfast or a light dessert, try the oldie-but-goodie half grapefruit sprinkled with sugar and broiled until caramelized. EASY DINNER 1 Salami and Fennel Pizza ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Freezable ✓ One Pot ✓ Family Friendly 1 ½ Tbsp. olive oil1 lb. fresh prepared pizza dough, at room…

1 A WHISK THAT WASHES NICELY The beaded tips help this tool beat eggs, mix marinade, and blend batter in a flash. A built-in slider cleans the tines. TO BUY: Breakfast Cleanable Whisk, $30; williams-sonoma.com. 2 TOWER OF POWER So many coffee cups have handles that take up prime cabinet real estate. These chic stacking versions save space with raised grips. TO BUY: Confetti Cups, $22 each; areaware.com. 3 SINK SIDEKICK Fill the holder with dish soap, then press your sponge on it to dispense the sudsy stuff. After the dishes are done, rest the sponge on the vented ledge for quick drying. TO BUY: Soap Dispensing Sponge Holder, $21; oxo.com. 4 WORTH THE WEIGHT For evenly grilled fish or a fast sear on a steak, just plop this press…

DISHWASHER HACKS / FUN FAMILY TRIPS / SLEEP GEAR THAT WORKS…

THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC did a number on our sleep habits. Those months of confinement and anxiety had such a profound effect on our nightly rest that experts coined a new term: “coronasomnia.” According to one study, at least 40 percent of us reported sleep challenges since the beginning of the pandemic. Even our dreams became less sweet: Those who spent a lot of time alone had nightmares about isolation, while those who spent long days a little too close to loved ones were entangled in nightly scenarios of mild claustrophobia, one study found. Not so conducive to a good night! If you still find it challenging to get that peaceful, easy feeling when your head hits the pillow, our experts will send you back to the basics so you can…

“My Chronic Illness Is a Financial Burden” Maxcine Jones PEORIA, ILLINOIS FOR MILLIONS OF Americans, living with a chronic illness means balancing the demands of a disease with the realities of everyday existence. Maxcine Jones is well aware of the strength required to pull off that high-wire act. She’s never known life without sickle cell disease, an inherited form of anemia that causes the body to produce misshapen red blood cells. For years, Maxcine worked jobs—at a library and a bank—that weren’t strenuous, and her health remained relatively stable. But her finances suffered as she tried to raise her son and pay off medical bills. Enticed by an excellent benefits package, she took a higher-paying position at Caterpillar, the industrial-equipment manufacturer. The job was easier on her bank account, but…

1 FEED YOUR GUT It’s mind-blowing how critical gut health is to overall wellness. “Millions of good bacteria in your gut impact digestion, and about 70 percent of the immune system resides there,” says dietitian Maya Feller, RD, author of The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook. “It’s also where some of the body’s mood-supporting neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine, are produced.” One of the best ways to improve your gut health is to eat plenty of foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, miso, and refrigerated sauerkraut. Kombucha—essentially a fizzy, fermented tea—is another good source. Feller suggests looking for bottles with less than five grams of added sugar per serving. And keep in mind that kombucha contains a very small amount of alcohol, a byproduct of the fermentation…

IN THE MID-1800s, Esther Howland popularized valentines in the United States. Known as “New England’s first career woman,” she raked in $100,000 a year selling the elaborate, lacy, 3D cards she and a posse of female friends—possibly the world’s first example of galentines?—made in a third-floor room of her house in Worcester, Massachusetts. Thanks to her pioneering hustle, valentines are now a big business in the U.S. An estimated 145 million are sold every year, with Americans dropping about $1 billion on the cards alone. (If you want roses or chocolate, that’s gonna be extra.) That 145 million doesn’t even include the boxed cards made for the class-room valentines swap. Today’s Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig sets owe a great deal to the Peanuts gang, who in the 1960s became…