Table of contents for October 2017 in Real Simple

Follow me on Twitter @lyazel and Instagram @leslieyazel DO YOU EVER have this experience? It goes like this: I’m in the supermarket or drugstore aisle and realize it doesn’t have my usual brand of bread/ketchup/mascara. My hand pauses in midair, and my shopping pace grinds to a halt. Now I’m checking labels for…what exactly? Fiber content? Will my daughter like this ketchup? The packaging on this mascara is pretty, but will it be clumpy? And, of course, how much does it cost? We all have our favorite go-to products, perhaps from childhood—I still reach for Clabber Girl baking powder just like Mom did—or becausewe tried brand after brand untilwe found the one that worked best. But that process can be frustrating and pricey (don’t get me started on the face…

For more book recommendations, visit realsimple.com/books. Relationship Insight As long as there has been monogamy, there has also been infidelity. Yet honest conversations about it remain taboo, writes renowned couples therapist Esther Perel in her new book, The State of Affairs. Perel tackles all sides of adultery—why we do it, how we react to it—and offers nuanced guidance for couples to transform their marriage for the better after infidelity. Transporting Historical Read Jennifer Egan, a Pulitzer Prize winner for A Visit from the Goon Squad, immerses readers in 20th-century Brooklyn in Manhattan Beach. With striking detail, Egan follows Anna Kerrigan as she grows up during the Depression, becomes the naval yard’s first female diver, and untangles her father’s disappearance. Ode to Friendship Fans of Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot, Jane Austen,…

Quick Ideas 1 SOFT PRETZEL BITES Cut 1 lb. roomtemperature pizza dough into 1 ½-in. pieces. Combine 10 cups water and ½ cup baking soda; bring to a boil. Add dough in batches; boil 20 seconds. Remove; brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with ¾ tsp. coarse sea salt. Bake at 450°F until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. 2 OVEN-BAKED BUFFALO WINGS Stir together 1 tsp. each salt, baking soda, and water; toss with 2 lb. chicken wings and place on a lightly greased rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. Chill, uncovered, 8 hours or overnight. Bake at 450°F, turning halfway, 35 minutes. Stir together ¼ cup each buffalo-style hot sauce and melted butter; toss with wings. 3 SOUTHERN SWEET ICED TEA Bring 8 cups water to a boil;…

For our guide to every type of tater, head to realsimple.com/potato. 3 Tips for Working With Store-Bought Pizza Dough 1 THE FIRST STEP of any pizza-making venture: Bring the (fresh or frozen) dough to room temperature. That makes it easier to work with and keeps it from shrinking back on itself as you stretch it. 2 PORTION the dough before shaping it. Opt for four to six ounces for individual pizzas, 10 to 12 ounces for a two-person pie, and one pound for family size. Any extra dough can be frozen for up to three months. 3 STRETCH the dough with your hands, not a rolling pin, which can crush air pockets and prevent the dough from rising and bubbling in the oven. Flour your hands and the dough as…

Polished Waves When you’ve got an extra 10 minutes, side-parted waves will have you looking pulled together for a meeting or night out. Hairstylist Carmel Bianco, who created these styles, suggests applying mousse to damp hair, then rough-drying (lift strands with your fingers and blast the blow-dryer a few inches away). Holding a one-inch curling iron vertically, wrap sections around the barrel toward your face, wait a few seconds, and release. Repeat, then gently brush waves before misting with hairspray, like Kenra Shaping Spray 21 ($19; ulta.com). Boho Braids Consider this easy tweak to upgrade your “running errands” look: Part hair down the middle. Then, one inch back from the hairline, grab a one-inch section on either side of the part. Braid each section and secure with a clear elastic.…

OFFERS EVENTS FINDS GIVEAWAYS NEW! BARILLA READY PASTA Delicious pasta in 60 seconds is here! Simply heat the pouch for 60 seconds, then add your own fresh ingredients. Barilla Ready Pasta is made with three simple ingredients: fully cooked, al dente pasta, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil. Find it in the dry pasta aisle today or learn more at barilla.com. REAL SIMPLE AT BED, BATH & BEYOND Organize in style this fall with simple solutions inspired by our editors. From duvets to under-bed storage, Real Simple at Bed, Bath & Beyond has everything you need to put your life in order. Get what you need today in store and online at bedbathandbeyond.com/realsimple. MINDFULNESS Discover why slowing down and staying present leads to a happier, less-stressed life in this…

1 Engage in Friendly Competition. Our modern, marketing-driven lifestyles have us carefully sectioned out. We get names like boomers, Xers, millennials, and Gen Y, and then the world offers us products and services geared to our specific demographic. But what is lost as we try to experience life and all its joys and sorrows with only the company of others in our age group? Connection. Perspective. And wisdom. These are the gifts of multigenerational relationships. There are ways to prevent this loss, though. One is to play games— anything that can become ritualistic, from chess to cards to charades. Every Wednesday in the summer, my family goes to a community track meet at the University of Richmond. There’s something about my preteen running alongside 70-year-olds that builds community and respect.…

SILENCE, PLEASE We have a boxer rescue who barks when he needs to go out, when he’s excited, or for seemingly no reason at all. We’ve tried a number of products and tricks, but nothing has worked. Can you help us find a little quiet? To get some peace, you need to invoke the silent treatment. Yelling or letting him outside when he barks doesn’t give him any instruction about what to do, says veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta. Instead of yelling, she says, ignore him, then heap on praise when he’s quiet. You’ll have to teach him a new way to communicate when he needs to go out, says Radosta, who suggests training him to use bells (try PoochieBells, $15; chewy.com). To be sure he’s not yapping out of boredom…

The flexibility of working remotely is blissful…that is, until your kid pops up during a video call and the laundry starts giving you the stare-down. Whether working from home is your norm or just a sometime thing, experts share their best strategies to eliminate distractions and be your most productive self.What commute? “Working from home doesn’t mean that you should be working on your home.” Stick to a Schedule One of the pitfalls of working from home: working too much. Create a set schedule of total working hours that match your typical workday. “When you have a structure, you become more efficient,” says Julie Morgenstern, an organizing expert and the author of Organizing from the Inside Out. Your start and stop times—and breaks—can be more fluid, but always finish at…

Everyweek, your Facebook feed touts a headline that lands something from day-to-day life on the list of possible human carcinogens: a charred burger, office life, basement mold. But you’re probably not about to quit your desk job or never eat a bite of food off the grill—so how do you live? “You can drive yourself crazy trying to avoid carcinogens,” says Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS). “But we’re exposed to them all day long, starting when we wake up each morning with radiation from the sun.” We all know a super-healthy person who still got cancer. That said, there is concrete evidence that a few key lifestyle choices can dramatically lower your odds. Other steps, however, are merely speculative or rooted in unfounded…

Easy Dinner 1 Crispy Salmon With Farro and Pecan Gremolata ACTIVE TIME 25 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 45 MINUTES SERVES 4 Healthy Pick Family Friendly ¼ cup olive oil, divided 1 medium fennel bulb, chopped, fronds reserved 2 cups vegetable broth 1 cup farro ½ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley ¼ cup pecans, toasted and chopped 1 tsp. lemon zest, plus 2 tsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon) 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided 4 6-oz. skin-on salmon fillets, about 1 ½ in. thick ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper Lemon wedges, for serving HEAT 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add chopped fennel; cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add broth and farro; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and…

ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 50 MINUTES SERVES 14 Gluten-Free Family Friendly 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking) 1 cup unsweetened coconut chips ½ cup raw cashews ½ cup pure maple syrup 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted ½ tsp. kosher salt 1 cup chopped dried mango ½ cup roasted and salted shelled pistachios PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Stir together oats, coconut chips, cashews, syrup, oil, and salt in a large bowl. Spread mixture evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Add dried mango and pistachios and toss to combine. Let cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes. PER SERVING: 237 CALORIES, 8G FAT (3G SAT.), 0MG CHOL., 4G FIBER, 5G PRO., 37G CARB., 121MG SOD., 18G SUGAR TIP Feel…

MEET KATIE HOLDEFEHR SENIOR EDITOR AT REALSIMPLE.COM Favorite DIY Project: I never get tired of marbleizing. So far I’ve done it with paper, leather, and even wood. Next is canvas! Most Memorable Halloween Costume: I went all out on an arctic fox costume. I spent an hour copying makeupcontouring videos to get an angular jawline. The Best Fall Dish to Make: Apple crumble, hands down. My secret: Always make a double batch of crumb topping. @GIRLKATT ON INSTAGRAM Artful Gourds Pumpkin carving can be messy. Grab a paintbrush instead and get creative. See more at realsimple.com/paintedpumpkins. BEST DRESSED Trick or treat! Our costume ideas for kids and adults have clever twists— think Social (Media) Butterfly and I Got Slimed! Visit realsimple.com/funnycostumes. Spooky Treats These truffles are incredibly easy to…

1 Feel Relaxed Fashion designer Rebecca Taylor partnered with lingerie brand Eberjey to create a capsule collection of vintage-inspired silk nighties adorned with lace detailing and floral prints. TO BUY: From $68; eberjey.com and rebeccataylor.com. 2 Feel Hopeful While undergoing cancer treatment, beauty editor Caitlin Kiernan used her connections to compile “easy and effective tips to help offset the side effects of treatment.” Honest and encouraging, Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide forWomen with Cancer will be an invaluable resource for many. TO BUY: $20; amazon.com. more to love 3 Get Motivated If you’re dropping off canned goods at your local food bank or homeless shelter, consider donating tampons and pads, too. In the United States, millions of women and girls lack access to these basic products, writes author and…

BACK-SAVING BROOM This first-of-its-kind sweeper has a retractable plastic scraper, which means no more bending over to clean gunk off the floor. Metal scraping attachment also available. TO BUY: Sweep Easy, $20, and metal scraper, $4; sweepeasy.com. DOSING PACIFIER Easily dispense medicine through this pacifier angled to send liquid to the side of the cheek, bypassing baby’s taste buds. TO BUY: FridaBaby Accu-Dose Pacifier, $13; target.com. LUXE LEATHER KEY RING Slip this four-inch-diameter hoop over your wrist or forearm when you’re on the move and need to be hands-free. Stain-resistant leather comes in more than 50 colors. TO BUY: Big O Key Ring, $55; shop.o-venture.com. SPOOKY STEAM RELEASER Stewing up a delicious potion (or soup)? This silicone witch will keep your spoon in place and allow moisture to escape. TO…

1 CENTER ISLAND VS. PENINSULA CHOOSE A CENTER ISLAND IF: You want your kitchen to become hangout central. “An island lets you cook and talk to people at the same time,” says Rebekah Zaveloff, a kitchen designer in Chicago. Generally, there should be at least 3½ feet between the island and opposing cabinetry to ensure all doors, drawers, and appliances can be opened completely. CHOOSE A PENINSULA IF: You have a smaller kitchen. An L- or U-shaped peninsula can serve the same role as an island, offering just enough extra prep room in a tighter space. To amp up its charm, treat a peninsula like you would an island—paint the base or add architectural details, like corbels. 2 WOOD VS. LACQUER CABINETS CHOOSE WOOD IF: You want a flexible option…

For more DIY Halloween decor, go to realsimple.com/halloweendiy. 1 PREP THE FRUIT Select a slightly underripe pineapple for carving. Look for a firm fruit with green skin and a perky top. Using a sharp knife with a thin and flexible blade, cut off the top 1 ½ inches of the pineapple, leaving the leaves attached. Set aside. 2 SCORE THE FLESH Use the knife to cut around the inside of the pineapple skin, leaving about a half inch of yellow flesh intact around the sides. Score the fruit through the core to make it easier to remove. 3 SCOOP IT OUT Use a large, thin spoon or an ice cream scoop to scrape out the insides and transfer to a bowl. Continue cutting around the edge to loosen the…

1 FRINGED SCARF Pops of magenta turn even a ho-hum coat into an instant outfit. TO BUY: Windowpane Square, $39; echonewyork.com. 2 STRIKING SHEATH An eye-catching but easy-to-wear mix of textures and patterns needs only simple accessories. TO BUY: Innovation dress, $595; carlisle collection.com. 3 PRETTY PUMPS Classic, ladylike appeal courtesy of glittering stones and a pointed toe. TO BUY: Embellished plaid pumps, $328; jcrew.com. 4 COZY SWEATER Pair this undone woolmohair knit with more pulled-together pieces, like dark skinny jeans. TO BUY: Eden sweater, $448; toryburch.com. 5 FLEECE-LINED GLOVES They’ve got touch-screen fingertips and slight stretch for a snug fit. TO BUY: $20; topitoff accessories.com. 6 TAILORED TROUSERS The slim cut makes these pants a polished pick. TO BUY: Navy Glen-Plaid pants, $98; banana republic.com. Mad for plaid? See…

SURELY AN E-VITE would have been easier. But I was transfixed by the array of card stock and the delicate sheets of shimmering, speckled, and floral-printed paper displayed in the stationery store. My son’s bar mitzvah was a few months away, and an idea had seized me: I needed to make 200 invitations by hand. The practical side of me stepped up first in protest: so much unnecessary work. Why do this? And then, not far behind, the critical side: You don’t know how to do this. Thesewere valid points. As a mother of three and a novelist, I had little time to spare. I didn’t think of myself as the artsy type, at least not the kind that used paper, glue, and paint.With my children, I could do projects…

1 Determine Whether the Project Is a Good Investment. Some renos start paying off right away: Outfitting your house with Energy Star appliances (washer, dryer, water heater) can cut your energy use by 35 percent—and slash your bills significantly. Other upgrades might not save you money in the near future but will help you fetch a higher price when you eventually sell. “Anything that gives your house more curb appeal can really boost its value—and help you enjoy your home more while you’re living there,” says Sarah Feezor, a real estate agent with Dream Town Realty in Chicago. Buyers searching online might scroll past a listing with peeling paint or a dilapidated porch before looking at interior photos. In fact, the latest Cost vs. Value Report by HanleyWood, a residential…

We all have moments when we realize our mind is spinning in place.You might have writer’s block, or you can’t find a solution to a problem, or you are spending time and effort on what should be an easy task. This is when you need to give your brain a break. Lift your head up out of your work. Look straight ahead. Take a few breaths in and out through your nose to clear your mind palate. Then, with gaze at eye level, very slowly turn your head to the right. See everything along the way— the wall, the furniture, the light from the window, the other people. Only move your head, not your eyes. This allows your brain to relax. When you get to the right, slowly scan the…

What to Put in Your Bin “We’re constantly surprised at how much curbside rules vary,” says Darby Hoover, a recycling expert with the Natural Resources Defense Council. So your first stop is the instructions on your city’s municipal website (see the Department of Sanitation or Public Works). If trash is handled privately, ask your waste disposal company. Almost every area will want you to recycle these materials. CARDBOARD Into the bin go shipping packages, cereal boxes, and the sleeves of disposable coffee cups. Flatten boxes and stack them together to save on space between pickups. GLASS Glass containers go in the bin, but not all lids should. For larger jam jars, you can often recycle the accompanying metal lids (though not all communities accept them, because they typically have a…

Rotisserie chicken is one of the true heroes of the weeknight dinner.Whether it’s carved and served in one sitting or repurposed throughout the week for salads, wraps, or stir-fries, few proteins are as satisfying and versatile. We came up with an easy (and almost entirely hands-off) homemade version that yields the same tender, pull-apart results as supermarket birds—no basting or special equipment necessary. Roast one on Sunday and you’ll be ready to tackle mealtime emergencies for days to come. TIP Kitchen twine can be used to tie the legs together, which makes for a nicer presentation. ACTIVE TIME 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 3 HOURS, 10 MINUTES SERVES 4 1 Tbsp. kosher salt 2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary 2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano or thyme 1 lemon, zested ½ tsp. freshly…

SMASHBOX COSMETICS BE LEGENDARY TRIPLE TONE LIPSTICK Each bullet houses three shade gradients so you get an ombré lip in one swipe. The darkest color acts as lip liner, the center is your main hue, and the lightest one makes lips look fuller. Trace top lip, then flip to apply on bottom. TO BUY: $24 each; smashbox.com. SALLY HANSEN CHROME KIT IN ROSE GOLD DIY metallic nails at home with this kit. Apply nail color, dip sponge in powder, and rub over dry polish. Seal with topcoat, dry, and apply final coat. TO BUY: $20; target.com. POUR MOI RÉPONSE DU CLIMAT DAY CREAM Rather than formulating creams based on skin type, Pour Moi created lotions to match certain climates (polar, desert, tropical, and temperate) so your skin looks great no…

Mow first, says Barbara Pleasant, author of The Complete Compost Gardening Guide. “Crunched leaves are less likely to fly away than whole ones, making the job easier,” she says. Then grab a lightweight 19-inch metal rake and pull leaves toward you, using small motions. This method reduces dust and can help prevent fatigue, says Pleasant. Rake leaves into a windrow—a pile shaped like a line—and then onto a tarp or old sheet for transport. Use the mulched leaves to insulate garden beds for winter. Find out why leaves change color at realsimple.com/foliage.…

1 PERSONAL SPACE Assign each family member a hook or basket for their belongings. When their spot is filled up, that’s their cue it’s time to clear out some things. 2 A PLACE FOR ESSENTIALS Since this is the first point of contact with the home, designate a spot, such as a shelf, for keys and mail to land. Keep a bin nearby with grab-and-go items like umbrellas for rainy days or flashlights for nighttime dog walks. 3 DROP ZONES Short on space in your entryway? Under the wall hooks for coats and bags, place a sturdy bench, hamper, or cubby shelf to corral shoes (and eliminate the tripping hazard). TO BUY: Seagrass Basket, from $88; serenaandlily.com. ClosetMaid 15 cube organizer, $37; closetmaid.com 4 MAILBOX Stash a recycling bin or…

TEENAGE DREAM Homemade oven-fried chicken tenders. I get frequent requests from my teens to make them, and I can only hope a couple of tenders are left for my dinner! CRYSTAL OWENSBY, LUMBERTON, NEW JERSEY RETRO FEAST I serve creamed chipped beef over toast and a vegetable as a quick and “real simple” dinner. It’s always tasty and filling. Last month we turned it into a party for 40 neighbors and friends. Many had never eaten this old standby. The party was “the first annual” and a big hit. Already looking forward to the second annual and may even have to rent a place to hold everyone! PEGGY NEDWICK SPRINGER, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS AN UPDATED CLASSIC My mother-in-law called it United Way Spaghetti. My kids renamed it Grandma’s Spaghetti. A one-pot…

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE sensitive skin, you’re in good company. But dermatologists say the term is a big, unwieldy umbrella—one that can prevent us from addressing the true reasons we’re red. “There’s a good chance you’re undertreating your skin when you put yourself in this broad category,” says Kavita Mariwalla, a dermatologist inWest Islip, New York. She estimates that only about 10 percent of people have sensitive skin. Here’s how to ID what’s really going on. SKIN SYMPTOM: Your moisturizer suddenly makes your face feel like it’s on fire. LIKELY SUSPECT: An exfoliation OD. If your skin suddenly freaks out in response to a product you’ve used without issue in the past, the problem is likely something else on your vanity. “We’re so obsessed with anti-aging, but it can…

OFFERS EVENTS FINDS GIVEAWAYS GO TO GREAT LENGTHS Tanya Foster is a mom, a wife, an empty nester, and the influencer behind the lifestyle blog tanyafoster.com. She believes your fifties are the new thirties, and we couldn’t agree more. “To me, Style My Way means taking a piece and styling it however I want. I love longer tops and layers I can leave untucked, like this timeless animal print vest.” Tanya feels fabulous in the Animal Faux Fur Vest from Chico’s. MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE Lee Woodruff is an author, an advocate for injured veterans, a public speaker, a wife, and a mother of four. Her favorite thing about her fifties is being completely comfortable in her own skin. “I’ve learned that I need to take control of my own style,…

“I have a gettingready- for-sleep ritual. I like to come home, put my pajamas on, take my makeup off, and put on a meditative CD. (I also have meditation apps on my phone, but I try to keep my devices, laptop, and television out of the bedroom.) This routine prepares my mind and body for a good night’s sleep and stops me from getting home and continuing to work into the night.” CHRISTINE DUFFY, 55, PRESIDENT OF CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE “Before I had kids, I would sleep in, but I often felt unproductive. Now that I’m a workat- home dad, I have a set eight-hour sleep schedule. I go to bed at 9 or 9:30 p.m. and wake up at 5 or 5:30 a.m. seven days a week. I…

OCTOBER There’s no shame in pumpkin spice. But this is also a great time to experiment with versatile fall produce. Fennel (dressing up salmon on page 167), beets (in a cozy soup on page 171), and cabbage (in the Japanese pancake on page 174) all mellow and sweeten as they cook. Fill your home with the scent of lemon and herbs as you slow-roast a chicken (page 176). Then make a coconut-mango granola (page 180)—the most sophisticated treat you’ll have this month. COOK WITH COZI Get Real Simple’s easy weeknight-dinner recipes in Cozi, a free meal-planning and organizing app from Time Inc. (available for iOS and Android).…