Table of contents for March 2021 in Real Simple

BANGS, A HIGH PONYTAIL, dark nails. I’m someone who finds a look she likes and sticks with it. Like, forever. I’ve done my own nails since my teens—the manicure gods blessed me with two equally steady hands. For a decade, I did French tips with white and Ballet Slippers pink Essie polishes. But when I moved to New York City, I wanted (as one does) to bring a little more edge to my look. A beauty editor handed me OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, and I immediately fell for the almost-black purpleness of it. That was 20 years ago, and I’ve never looked back. My father once asked me, well into my adulthood, why I didn’t get a hairstyle, since whenever he saw me, my hair was pulled back…

FINE LINES Bold pattern, unexpected colors, reversible—these vibrant, cotton-terry hand and bath towels are pure, clean fun. TO BUY: Set of Stripe Towels, $132; dusendusen.com. 1 TISSUES INCOGNITO Upgrade a standard tissue box with a colorful, leather-trimmed wool cover. TO BUY: Tissue Box Cover, $48; graf-lantz.com. 2 MIRÓ-LIKE MAT Your toes will love stepping out of the tub and onto this artsy bath mat. It’s 100 percent cotton with a fluffy pile. TO BUY: Cool Breeze Bathmat, $60; coldpicnic.com. 3 KEEP IT CONTAINED Store cotton swabs and pads in sleek, swirly canisters. TO BUY: Ceramic Marble Patterned Canisters, from $7; homegoods.com for stores. 4 ART OPENING This long-lasting canvas shower curtain is made from cotton that’s grown, milled, dyed, and sewn in the U.S. TO BUY: Pacifica Shower Curtain,…

1 BOTTLE SERVICE Grimy nooks, ridges, and grooves are no match for this drinkware cleaning set, with two brushes for straws, a curved one for lids, and a nib for the tiniest crevices. TO BUY: Little Sipper, $6; fullcirclehome.com. 2 BURN, BEGONE These silicone-trimmed mitts have a snap-on quilted panel to protect arms from a bubbling casserole. When it’s time to serve, detach the panel and use it as a trivet. TO BUY: Double Oven Mitt+, $24; kuhnrikonshop.com. 3 OPEN SESAME This device lets you control, secure, and monitor your garage door from your smartphone. You can share access with visitors and enable Key by Amazon for in-garage delivery. TO BUY: MyQ Smart Garage Control, $30; amazon.com. 4 SPEEDY TEMP TAKER In just two seconds, this thermometer glows green for…

Facial toner hydrates. It exfoliates. And when you boost its magic with an ice cube tray, it can also depuff. Amanda Bell, global director of artistry and education for Pixi, a beauty and skin-care brand, suggests freezing your favorite daily toner into cubes. Rub one all over your face after cleansing, starting at your forehead and working down. “As you massage the cube on your skin, the cold helps alleviate swelling, like undereye bags,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist at Shafer Clinic in New York City. (Just note that freezing could reduce the potency of toners with retinol, vitamin C, and salicylic and glycolic acids.) For a similar effect, toss your face masks into the fridge.…

How He Thinks Dogs can’t speak (unfortunately), but they do use various growls and barks to communicate, and they can learn language at approximately the same rate as a 3-year-old human. In fact, the average dog can learn 165 words. (When you’re teaching your pup a new phrase, go ahead and use baby talk, which dogs are significantly more attentive to, research shows.) One study suggested that dogs may have a sense of time: The longer they were left alone, the more excited they were when their owners returned. Another study found that when treats were hidden in two of four locations, dogs remembered those locations 10 minutes later. There’s also evidence that dogs understand object permanence—that is, even if you put away their beloved squeaky toy, they know…

1 Pen a letter to heal old wounds. Expressing what we wish we’d said to someone can be powerful. Letters unlock the wisdom inside us. You can write to anyone or anything, including family members, bullies, your painful back, or strangers who have helped you. These letters—whether angry, sad, loving, or grateful—don’t have to be sent. Their purpose is to help you understand and come to terms with past conflicts. GILLIE BOLTON, PHD, IS THE AUTHOR OF THE WRITER’S KEY: CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LIFE AND NINE OTHER BOOKS ON JOURNALING. 2 Write from your senses to boost positive thinking. Think in captured moments. Write just a paragraph or two about intense experiences of pleasure, achievement, or stamina. Tap into your senses and conjure vivid detail—these vignettes can help offset…

1 ONE AND DONE You can’t go wrong sticking with a single color—it lets you combine patterns to your heart’s content. Cheryl Luckett, a designer in Charlotte, North Carolina, shares her tips. Choose a color from a nearby room in your home. For example, if you have hints of blue in the den, carry that hue into the dining room. Let upholstery, pillows, and wallpaper be the jumping-off point. Then incorporate patterned tiles or rugs. Go with one large-scale pattern. Add a few medium and small patterns; play with tones of the color within those. 2 A FAILPROOF FOUNDATION In this Los Angeles living room, designer Emily Henderson used a white sofa as the blank canvas for pillows—perfect elements to experiment with if you’re pattern shy. Here’s how to pull off a…

EASY DINNER 1 “French Onion Soup” Pizza ACTIVE TIME 25 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Family Friendly ✓ Freezable 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided, plus more for baking sheet6 large shallots, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)½ tsp. kosher salt2 tsp. balsamic vinegar1 lb. store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature4 oz. Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)½ cup whole-milk ricotta cheese1 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves PREHEAT oven to 500°F with a rack in lowest position. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add shallots and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time (up to ¼ cup) as needed if shallots start to burn.…

ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 20 1 ½ cups unsweetened flaked coconut6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, divided1 ½ cups dried mango (7 oz.), chopped1 cup roasted unsalted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)⅓ cup chia seeds4 tsp. light brown sugar½ tsp. kosher saltDairy or nondairy milk, for serving (optional) PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Spread coconut evenly on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. MEANWHILE, process 2 cups oats in a food processor until finely ground, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in coconut, mango, pepitas, chia seeds, sugar, salt, and remaining 4 cups oats. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months. TO SERVE: Scoop ½ cup mix into a large cereal bowl…

Looking closely at these vibrant petals, explore the colors, light, and shadows. Let your eyes wander; notice the shapes and patterns. Picture yourself standing in a peaceful garden full of colorful flowers. Choose one thing you enjoy looking at, and spend a moment admiring it. Get specific, identifying what you see: “The color of that flower is so vivid.” Allow yourself to be filled with joyful appreciation, and imagine you’re sharing that feeling with someone you know.…

Meet the Owner DANIELLE NAGEL Bold colors don’t intimidate Danielle, who founded the clothing line Dazey LA and the interior design firm Dazey Den. While some creatives prefer to work in a white box for its lack of visual noise, Danielle has painted her entire Los Angeles apartment—including her home office—in cheery hues. All that color fills her space with energy, she says, and she feeds off it as she sits at her easel. She also gets inspiration from meaningful art, including her grandmother’s pastels and some vintage finds. To set up your own little happy place for working or making, try Danielle’s best tips. Get the Look HANG ECLECTIC ART For an interesting gallery wall, include different media, like framed prints, macramé, and canvases. Select an anchor piece,…

Quick Ideas PINK HUMMUS Pulse a 15.5-oz. can chickpeas (drained and rinsed) and 1 small cooked beet in a food processor until finely chopped. Add 1 chopped clove garlic, 2 Tbsp. tahini, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, ¾ tsp. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. lemon zest; process until smooth. With processor running, drizzle in ¼ cup olive oil. Refrigerate for up to 1 week. CHICKPEA-TUNA SALAD Stir a 15.5-oz. can chickpeas (drained and rinsed), 2 Tbsp. each red wine vinegar and olive oil, and ½ tsp. kosher salt in a bowl. Let stand, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Stir in a 5-oz. can oil-packed tuna (drained), 1 cup chopped radicchio, ¼ cup chopped kalamata olives, 2 Tbsp. capers, and 1 ½ Tbsp. chopped red onion. Serve over arugula or cooked farro.…

START WITH THE HOODIE… TO BUY: Adult Long Hooded Pullover Sweatshirt, $31; landsend.com. …ADD A TWEED JACKET AND JEANS For polish, toss a colorful textured jacket over the sweatshirt. Floral earrings and ballet flats feel even more feminine. TO BUY: Structured Notched-Collar Cardigan, $139; chicos.com. Joy Light Denim, $118; us.mavi.com. Glistening Petals Flower Statement Studs, $78; katespade.com. Loiuse et Cie Ariell Square-Toe Ballet Flats, $110; vincecamuto.com. …ADD A BOHO SKIRT AND SANDALS The sporty sandals and bright mask chain make the look tomboy; the midi skirt and hobo bag make it chic. TO BUY: Printed A-Line Knit Maxi Skirt, $89; jjill.com. Casual Acrylic Huggies, $54; stelladot.com. Women’s Activate Face Mask 2 Pack, $20; athleta.com. Dylan Face Mask Chain Strap, $22; shop.prettyconnected.com. Zola Bag, $95; juleskae.com. Hurricane XLT2 Sandals, $70; teva.com.…

“I’m Feeling Mom Guilt but Trying to Retain Normalcy for My Kids”Kelly Griffin MOM OF AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY AND 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL, NEW ORLEANS IF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL showcased feats of mental flexibility alongside physical contortions, Kelly Griffin would steal the show. On several occasions since the pandemic began, the first-grade teacher and single mother of two elementary-school-age kids has had to re-create her schedule from top to bottom. A return to the classroom last fall required new lesson plans, this time to engage both remote and in-person learners. And she was dealing with the stress of sending her own kids to school during a pandemic. “I didn’t have a choice,” she says. “As a teacher, I had to go back, so they had to go back.” Thankfully, her kids’ school…

THE PANDEMIC HAS affected nearly every aspect of our lives—and our oral health is no exception. In a September 2020 survey by the American Dental Association, more than half of dentists reported higher cases of bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), chipped and cracked teeth, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) symptoms, like jaw pain; more than a quarter reported a rise in cavities and gum disease. “In general, humans clench and grind as a response to stress,” says Tammy Chen, DDS, a prosthodontist in New York City. “During stressful times, people tend to turn to unhealthy habits—more sugar indulgence, less sleep, more smoking and drinking,” adds Jared Cox, DDS, a dentist in Searcy, Arkansas. The effects of those habits on our oral health are damaging—and can take months, even years,…

In Your Purse LIPSTICK Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick Until everyone is vaccinated, face masks will probably be our number-one accessory. But that doesn’t mean lipstick has to take a backseat. Before your next important Zoom meeting or socially distanced gathering, treat your lips to this stay-put formula that’s so good, it brought longtime gloss wearers over to Team Lipstick. Created by British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, its square tip mimics the shape of a lip brush, so you can apply with precision even if you don’t have a steady hand. It comes in more than 30 stunning shades (our favorites are the berry rose, cherry red, pink coral, and taupe) and delivers lasting color without drying, flaking, or feathering. The chef’s kiss: Luminous pigments give the illusion of a…

N.A. ASKS… My friends and I often text when we’re out shopping, to see if anyone needs anything. I used to offer to pay for the stuff I asked for, but the buyer never accepted. So now I don’t offer. How many items would be considered an imposition? I don’t want to seem like I’m taking advantage, especially with close friends. Bless your generous community! Particularly during the pandemic, it’s wise not to make extra trips. But yes, the no-reimbursement approach, while expansive in spirit, has its constraints. You might be loath to request a pricier item—olive oil, maxi pads—even if it’s what would be most helpful. I’d address the payment problem with total transparency: “I love the way we do this, but I’m wondering if we can put a…

Leafy green lacinato is more tender and mild than other varieties, like curly kale and red Russian kale. SHOP for bunches with fresh, dark green leaves and no signs of wilting or yellowing. STORE in a produce bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator. TO PREP, slice out tough stems with a knife. Or just use your fingers to pinch around the leaf at the base and strip off the greens. TO SERVE, wilt chopped leaves in warm pastas, stews, and soups. Cook low and slow for braised greens, or quickly sauté in a hot skillet with olive oil and garlic. To enjoy raw, thinly slice leaves and toss with a creamy dressing.…