Innehållsförteckning för August 2021 från Real Simple

THE YEAR WAS 2009, and I decided to walk the several blocks from Rockefeller Center, where I’d had the most lovely experience doing a Today show segment, to my office in Midtown. It was a warm August morning, and stores were just opening. I was weaving my way past Saks Fifth Avenue when I did something I had never done before, haven’t done since, and had no business doing then. I saw a handbag in the window. It was a “Liz bag” in form and function, in shape and texture, from vibe to versatility. Knowing that the price would knock me out but that this was a timeless style I’d love forever, I walked straight to the handbag department—thinking, “I am going to buy this bag, aren’t I?”—and bought…

YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE These patches have earned their Etsy maker a plethora of five-star reviews. Choose an iron-on or Velcro version. TO BUY: Custom Pet Patches, from $28; thepawfectpatch.etsy.com. SLEEPY SPOT The big, padded sides make this round bed extra cozy for dogs who like to curl up and rest their chin. TO BUY: Jax & Bones Dog Donut Bed, from $99; markandgraham.com. CHARMING ACCESSORY This brass tag has room for a name and cute icons on the front, and your phone number on the back. TO BUY: The Woodstock Pet ID Tag, $25; theblink.shop. PROFILE PICK Immortalize your BFF’s silhouette with a custom print, available in nine colors. TO BUY: Tone on Tone Silhouette, from $58; minted.com. MEANINGFUL PAWS Use this kit to create an imprint of…

MEGABABE BODY DUST AND DUST PUFF Stop sweat in sop-prone spots (pits, boobs, thighs) with a sprinkle of the talc-free powder. Cornstarch absorbs wetness, lavender nixes bacteria, and chamomile calms itchiness. Simply shake on the powder, or use the cloudlike fleece to feel pampered. TO BUY: $20 for Body Dust, $18 for Dust Puff; megababebeauty.com. 1 SMARTER SUDS PLUS BODY WASH IN WAVES In the shower, wet the foam sheet for a single dose of rich body wash. Then drop the packaging near the drain and watch it dissolve. A zero-waste cleanse! TO BUY: $16.50 for 16; cleanwith.plus. 2 BROW SETTER L’ORÉAL PARIS UNBELIEVA-BROW LONGWEAR BROW TOPCOAT Your penciled-in brows are a masterpiece, and you want them to stay in place. This gel provides 30 hours of shine.…

Quick Ideas TOMATO SALAD WITH PICKLE RELISH VINAIGRETTE Whisk ⅓ cup dill pickle relish, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. honey, ½ tsp. smoked paprika, and ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper. Arrange 1 ½ lb. sliced heirloom tomatoes and 1 cup thinly sliced English cucumbers on a platter; drizzle with vinaigrette. Sprinkle with ⅓ cup torn basil and dill. Season with flaky sea salt, if desired. PICKLE RELISH POPPERS Stir 1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese, 4 oz. softened cream cheese, 1 egg yolk, ¾ cup drained dill pickle relish, ⅓ cup diced cooked ham, and ½ tsp. kosher salt. Spoon filling into 24 large, seeded jalapeño halves. Place on a lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F until tender and…

TART SMARTS A tall glass of lemonade, pickles on a burger, subtly tangy sourdough bread: These all have one thing in common (aside from being tasty). They boast a hit of acid—to balance out sweetness, cut through fat, or liven up flavor. Acid usually doesn’t make foods taste sour, says Jeremy Rock Smith, executive chef at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “It brings brightness to a dish and makes the flavors stand out.” WITH VEGETABLES AND SALADS “When I season a dish, acid is almost always the ‘What’s missing?’ ingredient,” Smith says. “The sweetness of a roasted beet is intensified by a splash of vinegar, while lime cuts the flatness of a veggie curry.” Ingredients like olives, capers, and fresh cheese are also acidic and will…

BEST HAIR TIE Brooklinen Small Silk Scrunchies Daily curling and straightening sessions can damage hair. But did you know that elastics are a sneaky split-end culprit? Traditional ties can cause friction and breakage, but not these soft scrunchies. Made of mulberry silk, they’re strong enough to hold the thickest tresses yet don’t tug, crease, or snag. TO BUY: $32 for 5; brooklinen.com. BEST HEADBAND Scunci Collection Twisted Headband This cute band’s stretchy ends promise comfort. Our tender-headed tester wore hers all day without a single ache. TO BUY: $8; target.com. BEST BARRETTE Bellefixe Bellebasics Hair Clip Set Create a simple and chic half-up, half-down style, or just pull back bangs when applying makeup.TO BUY: $9 for 2; bellefixe.com. BEST BONNET Shhhowercap the Basilica This cap protects hair while you…

ANTS, MOTHS, AND FLEAS may be unwelcome houseguests, but if you’re facing an invasion, there’s no need to panic (or grab a hazmat suit). With nontoxic solutions, you can show insects the door without putting kids and pets at risk. The First Line of Defense: Seals, Sanitation, and Scents Think of your home as a fortress. “Pest control begins with exclusion,” says Gil Bloom, owner of Standard Pest Management in Queens, New York. “You want to stop the bugs from getting inside in the first place.” Put a sweep on your garage door—any type will do, as long as it’s flush against the ground to make it harder for pests to penetrate. Don’t lean garbage cans against the house, and keep surrounding trees well trimmed, because ants will use…

THE PRINCE I MET IN INDIA Backpacking in India in 2014, my boyfriend and I splurged on a quiet hotel made up of bamboo bungalows, tucked away on a tranquil beach in Goa. Our second night, the hotel filled unexpectedly with guests. Workers in uniform began setting up tables and cooking stations in the sand. They built cabanas and strung up lights. The prince of a small nearby town was getting married that week, and his sangeet—the celebration before the wedding—was taking place that night. When the sun set and the sangeet began, with Hindi music and spice-laced smoke filling the air, my boyfriend and I slipped onto the beach. We were immediately greeted by the young prince and his exuberant wedding party, who offered us food and drink and…

FLUTTERY FRINGE A little mascara is truly all it takes to look polished. For clump-free upper and lower lashes, gently wiggle the wand from root to tip in a zigzag motion. This deposits mascara at your lash line and gives the illusion you’re wearing liner. Clean up any stray dots with a cotton swab. SIMPLY SKIN To even out your complexion, you just need a few swipes of strategically placed—then smudged—concealer. Layer it over moisturizer and a glycolic acid toner (which helps cover-up melt in) to get downright dewy. Makeup artist Jenny Patinkin suggests using your fingers to blend concealer under your eyes, between your brows, around your nose, and on your chin. LINED LIPS REDUX For a modern twist on ’90s lined lips, use a pinky brown pencil…

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 6 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided3 cups fresh yellow corn (from about 4 ears) or unthawed frozen corn1 ½ tsp. smoked paprika1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided1 zucchini, chopped (2 ¼ cups)1 12-oz. bag tortilla chips6 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (1 ½ cups)2 avocados, cut into chunks½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt4 tsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving(from 2 limes)Shredded red cabbage, sliced scallions, and chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for serving PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add corn, paprika, and ½ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring often, until corn is tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. ADD remaining 1 tablespoon…

Get the Look MAKE IT COMFORTABLE When the kids need to study, the low, plush cushions are far more inviting than desk chairs. A vinyl mat provides the same softness underfoot as a rug, but it’s easier to keep clean—especially when the doors are open. A coat of white paint freshened up the entire space. USE EVERY SURFACE To allow room for the car (or a yoga mat), Karri added hooks for storing sports gear, monkey bars for climbing to the loft bed, and clips for hanging interchangeable equipment, like a swing or punching bag. LEAVE ROOM TO GROW By making the space easy to adjust, Karri ensured it would meet the family’s needs now and in the future. She’s also helping her youngest practice independence at a safe…

WHEN MY HUSBAND and I first moved to the Florida Keys, we intended to spend only the winter months there. The rest of the year, we would travel in Europe and go to shows in New York City. Or so we thought. One day, as we were renovating our house, a little black-and-white cat showed up. Stray cats are everywhere in Key West, ever since Ernest Hemingway was gifted a six-toed cat in the 1930s, as the story goes. Its descendants have roamed the island freely, cared for by kindly cat lovers. But the one who showed up at our door didn’t seem to have anyone to care for her. She was skinny but affectionate. Soon my husband was calling her Gem (because she was such a little jewel).…

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? You scrape your knee and limp to the medicine cabinet, only to find a desiccated tube of antibiotic cream, its expiration date written in the hieroglyphics of a long-ago civilization. Regularly refreshing the contents of your medicine cabinet can keep you and your family prepared for life’s small emergencies. And as your circumstances change, so should your stash. (If your baby is now a freshman, it’s time to toss that booger bulb.) Doctors share the essentials everyone should have, plus items for three kinds of families—the on-the-go sporty crew, households with young children, and empty nesters—so you’ll always be well supplied. Start Here Every Home Should Have These Basics. ACETAMINOPHEN A good first choice for treating headaches, pain, and fever because it’s gentler on the stomach…

1 SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB AND SMOOTH The best time to give yourself a pedicure is immediately after a shower, when your feet are clean. If you need to remove polish, do so before hopping in, then let the water rinse away that acetone smell. Exfoliate in the tub too, to save both time and cleanup. Julie Kandalec, founder of Julie K Nail Artelier in New York City, prefers a sugar scrub to a salt scrub, “because the granules aren’t as sharp.” She likes the Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Pumice Foot Scrub ($14; thebodyshop.com). If you need a little extra help in the callus department, try Pedi ProTool Foot File ($29; tricoci.com). EASY TIP: You can use the file dry or wet, but we advise filing right after your shower—while you’re still standing in…

1 Embrace a new hobby. A hobby can help you carve out time for solitude while working from home. To find one, think about something challenging you enjoy that will give you room to grow. I’m a big fan of reading, so I often listen to an audiobook as I paint. To do this, I step away from all distractions (like my computer). Two caveats: Don’t create so many hobbies that they become a form of work. And try not to imagine that your new project can be a side hustle! Alone time is most replenishing when you just have fun. KATE HAMMER IS A LIFESTYLE DESIGN EXPERT AND BUSINESS COACH IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. 2 Sit with a tree. It’s lovely to spend time with yourself in nature.…

Design is in the details. It can be hard to describe, but you know it when you see it: that inviting sofa with the perfect throw blanket, the bar cart displaying a collector’s passion for cool glassware, the bookcase that’s packed with as much personality as paperbacks. Essentially, style can be the difference between a nice-enough arrangement of furniture and the place you love to go home to. The best way to bring out your personal vibe is to follow your heart—and a few basic styling guidelines. In the Living Room STYLE YOUR SOFA Throw pillows can completely change the look of a space. The key to pillows is mixing and matching colors, textures, and patterns. Start by arranging your largest pillows at the back of the sofa or at…

Sorting through family relics can present powerful dilemmas. What to do with that ratty teddy bear? (But he’s so precious!) The Wedgwood china your grandmother collected as a hopeful young bride? (The fact is, you usually eat on the couch.) Your great aunt’s 428-piece Christmas village? (You’ll proudly display it once you’ve built an extra wing on your house.) Fear not! We asked declutterers to share how they grappled with the emotionally loaded stuff—whether they chose to treasure it or let it go. I Learned to Lighten Up BY AMY MACLIN I USED TO BELIEVE that every time I threw away a greeting card, an angel lost its wings. But over the years, I came to embrace the decluttering gospel: Stuff is just stuff. That birthday card from my…

YOU CAN FIX IT! Repair a frayed wire, seal a leaky faucet, even hang a lightweight frame with this waterproof silicone glue. Just stick it on, shape it, and let it set. Dishwasher safe. TO BUY: Mouldable Glue by Tesa, $17 for 8; sugru.com. BETTER THAN BAREFOOT It’s a sock! It’s a slipper! It’s never coming off your sore feet! These peds hug your arches and mold to your feet thanks to grippy rubber soles. TO BUY: Parasole 3D Recovery Socks, from $49; flykytin.com. NO JEWELRY JUMBLE Tuck one end of a necklace into the felt slit, wrap the chain around the center, and secure the other end. Great for travel or just tossing into a gym bag. TO BUY: Tavvi Necklace Wrangler, $12 for 3; necklacewrangler.com. DOG RUN TO…

When I think back on a decade spent commuting to work, I shudder to recall all the flimsy umbrellas I’ve bought, used a handful of times, and left in crumpled, broken heaps in Manhattan trash cans. So it felt like the skies parted when I came upon Blunt’s Metro umbrella, which keeps me bone-dry in rain, sleet, and snow without hogging too much sidewalk space. The eye-catching shades, like poppy and mint, mean you’ll likely never walk out of a party with someone else’s boring black brolly—and you can march cheerfully past those trash can graveyards for years to come.…

To help your suit keep its color and shape all summer long, give it some TLC after a day at the pool, says Ajoy K. Sarkar, professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Fill your sink with cool water, mix in two to three tablespoons of white vinegar, and place your (rinsed and dried) suit in the solution for 45 minutes to an hour. Then rinse and let air-dry. Swimwear fabric dye is acidic, so adding a bit more acid (in the form of vinegar) creates an extra layer of protection against chlorine, UV rays, and sunscreen. When you’re in the market for a new swimsuit, look for one made with Lycra Xtra Life, which Sarkar says is 5 to 10 times more resistant…

PAIR LIGHT-WASH FRAYED JEANS WITH SLIDE HEELS Style comes from unexpected juxtapositions, like casual frayed hems with dressy metallic heels and a blazer. TO BUY: Butter Short Sleeve Crewneck Bodysuit, $88; wearcommando.com. Collarless Wrap Blazer, $216; snidel.us. Kathleen Organic Blue Jeans, $118; mavi.com. Mallorca Heels, $119; saltandumber.com. PAIR WHITE FRAYED JEANS WITH SNEAKERS Minimalist sneakers always go well with jeans. Monochrome pink kicks add color to the black-and-white outfit. TO BUY: Carol Short Sleeve Sweatshirt, $125; perfectdd.com. The Mikey Jeans, $158; boyish.com. Sanders Sneakers, $100; sofftshoe.com. PAIR DARK-WASH FRAYED JEANS WITH CHELSEA BOOTS Jeans that are fitted at the hem look modern-punk when they brush against ankle-hugging boots. TO BUY: Longtail T Tank Top, $19.50; duluthtrading.com. Legendary Chore Jacket, $79; lee.com. Wedgie Fit Jeans, $98; levi.com. Macey Boots, $198; andreassous.com. PAIR BLACK FLARED JEANS WITH STRAPPY…

The Cash-Envelope Budget Angela Harmon ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND BLOGGER AT DEBTKICKINMOM.COM GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN ANGELA and her husband started having trouble paying their bills—the car payments, credit card debt, and grad school loans totaled $77,000—they knew they had to drastically change their habits. The parents of four tried a spending freeze, cut down on monthly indulgences like Netflix, and sold their old baby stuff. Angela admits that none of this added up to much. The budgeting trick that stuck: a single monthly trip to the bank, where they’d withdraw four weeks’ worth of spending money in cash (about $1,600). At home, they’d store the money in a file organizer—one tab for gas, one for groceries, another for dining out, and so on. “A lot of people hear ‘cash…

BLANKET STATEMENT This lightweight, water-resistant blanket seats two to four people and folds into a roughly four-by-two-inch rectangle. To secure it for a picnic, use the built-in stakes or fill the corner pockets with sand. TO BUY: Matador Pocket Blanket, $30; matadorup.com. FAN APPRECIATION This four-inch battery-powered fan has five speeds, meaning the competition never has to see you sweat. TO BUY: Rechargeable Mini Fan with Stand, $20; brookstone.com. CHILL, BABY This sweatproof, BPA-free tumbler with a grippy silicone base keeps drinks cold or hot for hours, so you’ll stay refreshed through overtime and beyond. TO BUY: Cold1 Tumbler 24 Oz., $17; reduceeveryday.com. DRY RUN Because bleachers and umbrellas don’t mix, take cover in this waterproof poncho with a drawstring hood. It weighs a little over a pound and…

Honeydew Mojitos ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 4 3 cups chopped honeydew melon (from 1 melon), plus thin melon wedges for garnish¾ cup (6 oz.) white rum¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish2 cups crushed ice, plus more for filling glasses½ cup fresh lime juice (from 5 limes)1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. light agave nectar PROCESS chopped honeydew in a blender until smooth, about 20 seconds. PLACE rum and mint leaves in a large cocktail shaker. Muddle with the bottom of a wooden spoon or a muddler until mint starts to break down, about 1 minute. Add honeydew puree, crushed ice, lime juice, and agave. Shake until chilled, about 15 seconds. FILL 4 glasses with more crushed ice; strain honeydew mixture evenly into…

Tender, mellow pattypan squash is one of those veggies you may admire at the market but ultimately pass on, since you don’t quite know how to use it. Well, just think of it as a more adorable version of yellow squash or zucchini. SHOP for firm squash on the petite side, which has fewer seeds. The skin is edible, so make sure it’s blemish-free. STORE in a bag in the refrigerator for about three days. COOK quartered or halved on the stove or in the oven. If they’re tiny, try grilling or steaming them whole.—Ananda Eidelstein EASY DINNER 1 Roasted Salmon With Beet Salad ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Gluten-Free 4 7-oz. skin-on salmon fillets, patted dry2 Tbsp. olive oil,…

Think of your breath cycle as the surf lapping the shore. Let your belly rise and fall with every wave to release tightness, keeping the transitions between breaths soft. If you have tension in your body, imagine how it might be soothed if you were caressed by the sunlight or immersed in the ocean. Think of other sensations you might experience on this beach. How does the air smell? Is there a breeze? Welcome any feelings that surface and release them with every exhale, as simple as the tides. —From MyLife, a personalized mindfulness app…