Table of contents for December 2020 in Real Simple

HEY, REAL SIMPLE TEAM! (Clinks glass.) Can I have your attention? (Stands on chair in corner of bar in order to see everyone.) Time for some toasts. I want to take a minute to appreciate you all as we put this delightful December issue to bed. It’s a holiday package with heart, and I’ve been honored to watch you pull it off. (Clears throat to tamp down shaky voice.) Because…what a year, huh? The kind of year none of us saw coming, and boy, did you rally. You showed up for our readers. And you showed up for one another. Most importantly, you took care of yourselves and stayed safe. I’m happy that you and your families are healthy and that the year even brought a couple of additions…

If you like your holiday cookies soft and chewy, head to the bread box. “A slice of white or potato bread helps prevent soft cookies from drying out,” says cookbook author Jessie Sheehan. Place the cookies in an airtight plastic container, separating layers with parchment paper, and then drop in a slice of bread. The cookies will draw moisture from the bread, which will help keep them from getting stale (and harder than a lump of coal). If you’re on Team Crispy Cookie, reach for a glass container—or better yet, reheat them in a 300°F oven for no more than five minutes. And remember that cookies play by bagel rules: Store flavors separately, or they’ll all taste like everything.…

Pair your sparkly accessories with our favorite glowy makeup products at realsimple.com/sparkle.…

Slack instant messaging is really helpful for publicly celebrating the small stuff in a fun way. In a group thread, I’ll thank someone for a great meeting or give them credit for an idea, and the rest of the team will add emoji or responses. It doesn’t have to be something that had a million-dollar impact on the company. It can just be setting up for an event, helping with a panel, or going out of their way to teach you something. We put out a box so employees can nominate coworkers they’ve seen doing a random act of kindness. Every month, I have someone draw a name, and the winner gets a goody bag. Then I type up all the nominations and send them out to the whole team.…

Rest your gaze on this photo, and let your eyes explore the deep green color, the light, and the shadow. Notice the shapes and patterns of the pine needles. Allow your breathing to be natural and relaxed as you imagine yourself standing in the middle of a pine forest. Look up and see the sunlight streaming through the tall trees. Listen closely. Hear all the sounds in this calm place. Breathe in deeply, and take in the beautiful smell of pine. Reach down and touch the carpet of pine needles on the forest floor. Feel the cool air on your skin. Notice if any emotions arise, like warmth or joy. Immerse yourself in the peaceful sensations of the forest, feeling completely at ease.…

STROKES OF GENIUS Put all those nail polishes you have lying around to good use: They’re the perfect way to add color to small wrapped gifts. Simply brush on opaque colors and mica-based glitter polishes (anything sheer won’t show up). Be sure to let drops dry thoroughly before wrapping. PAINT & DRAW EASY MARKS Gather every black marker in the house to create these graphic gifts. The charm lies in the variety of widths and the hand-drawn quality of the lines—made with or without a ruler. LABEL & STICK BOLD TYPE Large vinyl letters make the label the star of the wrapping. For maximum graphic impact, turn letters on their sides, or break words onto different lines. GOOGLE IT Stick a pair of googly eyes on a gift and it…

MANY NONPROFITS ARE NEW More than 1.3 million nonprofits exist in the United States today, and more than half have sprung up in the past 20 years. One survey found that 12.3 million Americans—that’s equal to the populations of New York City and Los Angeles combined—are employed full-time by nonprofits, while another 77 million donate their time. TIME ISN’T TAX-DEDUCTIBLE, BUT TRANSPORTATION IS One hour of volunteering is estimated to be worth $27.20. While you can’t be compensated for your time, your mileage to and from volunteering sites is tax-deductible, at 14 cents per mile. IT PAYS TO BE UNPAID Giving back can increase your odds of getting a job. In fact, people without high school diplomas are 51 percent more likely to find employment if they pitch in their…

FOR A CROWD, FIRE UP THE OVEN An 18-by-13-inch baking sheet will hold 8 to 10 slices. Line it with aluminum foil and then parchment paper for quick cleanup. Arrange slices ½ inch apart. Bake at 400°F for 14 to 15 minutes for chewy bacon or 16 to 18 minutes for crispy bacon. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels. FOR A SINGLE SLICE, ZAP IT When you just need a salad topper or breakfast side, a microwave lets you walk away while the slice cooks. Line a microwave-safe plate with 3 paper towels. Add 1 slice of bacon and top with 3 more paper towels. Invert another microwave-safe plate on top to create a spatter-catching lid. For chewier bacon, cook on med-ium power for 5 minutes. For…

Theme It THIS THING I LOVE Every adult chooses a low-cost item that makes them brim with enthusiasm and purchases one for each grown-up in attendance. The gift exchange becomes a low-key, homemade infomercial, where people sing the praises of one particular item (for example, a lid that turns a mason jar into a coffee cup, a lash-boosting mascara, a pen with a built-in stylus tip). BLAST FROM THE PAST Buy a gift that reflects the recipient’s childhood. Track down the gum your dad loved as a kid, or get your brother one of the ’80s games you played together (or fought over). For favorite nostalgic brands, try the Vermont Country Store and eBay. “My sister’s face when she unwrapped the set of Sweet Valley High books I found…

DECEMBER TWINKLES with festive lights everywhere. But it’s the sun’s rays, in vanishingly short supply this time of year, that really bring the joy. Researchers discovered years ago that not getting enough light during the day could cause a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) and that a light box—a very bright lamp minus the dangerous UV rays—was the antidote. Now a growing pile of evidence suggests we all need to be…well, better illuminated. Light is fundamental to our health and sense of well-being, says Shadab Rahman, PhD, an instructor at Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine. “We need a healthy light diet as much as we need nutritious food and exercise.” Proper light exposure is essential for restorative sleep, and it’s a promising…

Flourless Spiced Hot Chocolate Cake ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 3 HOURS (INCLUDES COOLING) SERVES 10 ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting1 tsp. ground cinnamon¼ tsp. ground cayenne¼ tsp. kosher salt8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips (1 ¼ cups)10 Tbsp. (1 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pan6 large eggs, separated½ cup packed dark brown sugar½ cup granulated sugarChocolate shavings and crème fraîche, for serving PREHEAT oven to 350°F with rack in middle position. Lightly coat bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform baking pan with butter; place on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Whisk cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt in a small bowl. PLACE chocolate chips and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted, about…

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 2 HOURS MAKES 2 CHICKENS 2 lemons⅓ cup olive oil1 Tbsp. ground coriander2 cloves garlic, gratedFreshly ground black pepper1 Tbsp. plus 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided2 3 ½-to-4-lb. whole chickens, giblets and necks removed1 small yellow onion, halved PREHEAT oven to 450°F. Grate lemon zest into a small bowl; cut 1 lemon in half. Reserve remaining lemon for serving or another use. Add oil, coriander, garlic, several grinds of pepper, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt to zest in bowl; whisk to combine. PLACE chickens, breast side up, on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Pat dry with paper towels. Using your fingertips, loosen skin from breasts, being careful not to tear. Season cavities evenly with several grinds of…

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Send Gifts With Flat-Rate Shipping SAVE: About $30 per gift (compared with regular priority shipping) The post office’s flat-rate boxes are a great deal—they come with two-day priority shipping, tracking, and up to $50 of insurance. Mail packages by December 19 to avoid express fees. BRIANNA FIRESTONE, FOUNDER OF THE SCHOOL OF BETTY, A FINANCIAL PLATFORM Give Money Each Night of Hanukkah SAVE: $80 per kid Instead of gifts, we give gelt, which means “money” in Yiddish. If you give your kid $5 per night at most, you’ll spend $40, whereas a toy might cost you $15 each night. We use this experience to teach our children about being charitable—at least 10 percent of their total haul goes to a cause they choose. YAEL TRUSCH, HOST OF THE PODCAST JEWISH…

FOR GROWN-UPS FOR KIDS FOR TWEENS & TEENS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY FOR PETS & THEIR PEOPLE FOR FOODIES STOCKING STUFFERS FOR ALL…

BIKER BOOTS + A COZY DRESS Scrunched socks soften the tough-girl look of biker boots. A sweaterdress and cozy printed scarf will keep you toasty despite those bare calves. WESTERN BOOTS + JEANS Dress up cowgirl “shooties” with skinny jeans and a feminine top. Cuff the hems—instead of tucking them into the boots—for some major ankle action. SNAKE-PRINT BOOTS + BLACK PANTS Patterned boots and chunky jewelry add a bit of edge to paper-bag-waist pants and a slouchy, off-the-shoulder pullover. KITTEN HEEL BOOTS + A MIDI Play with texture by mixing a jewel-tone velvet skirt with studded booties and a bucket bag. A chic high-low turtleneck streamlines the look.…

There’s no entertaining shortcut simpler than setting out fruit and crostini with a soft, silky cheese. And not just any cheese, but the cult favorite Rush Creek Reserve—so unique, it’s only available in the fall and winter. Handcrafted by Wisconsin cheesemongers, it’s aged for two months to reach rich, creamy perfection, and it comes wrapped in—o Tannenbaum!—fragrant spruce bark for a touch of piney sweetness. For maximum lusciousness, warm the wheel in a low oven before serving. TO BUY: $35 for 12 oz.; uplandscheese.com.…