RS - October 2018 by Lawrence Ambrocio

realsimple LIFE MADE EASIER

OUR BIGGEST HOME MAKEOVER EVER!

Welcome to Cozy 100+ Ideas for a Simplified Space Delicious Dinners Faster Easy Ways to Feel Calm

From

OOOF! aaah.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

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A DV E R T I S E M E N T

HAVE FRESH DREAMS There’s no replacement for a good night’s sleep and, according to the National Sleep Foundation, people sleep much better when their bedrooms are clean and comfortable. So get in your best zzz’s with these simple schedules to help keep your sleep sanctuary smelling fresh.

WHEN TO WASH BED LINENS Never let a musty smell keep you awake at night. Here’s a handy guide for scheduling bedroom laundry. SHEETS AND PILLOWCASES: Once a week

WHEN TO WASH YOUR BATH LINENS

PILLOWS: Every 6 months

Your bathroom is often right next to your bedroom, so keep it fresh by using this recommended washing schedule.

QUILTS AND COMFORTERS: Every 3-6 months

TOWELS, WASHCLOTHS, AND HAND TOWELS: Every 3-4 uses

Make sure to use ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Detergent in every load to eliminate tough odors and get a fresh, clean scent.

BATHMATS: Every 1-2 weeks (and make sure to hang them

up to dry after every shower or bath) CLOTH SHOWER CURTAINS: Every month PLASTIC SHOWER LINERS: Replace as needed

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Thoughts

“You’ve got to spread your light like blazes all across the sky.”

STO C K SY

— J O N I M I T C H E L L , “J u d g e m e n t o f t h e M o o n a n d S t a r s ( L u d w i g ’s T u n e ) ”

6 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

P h o t o g r a p h b y D i m i t r i j e Ta n a s k o v i c

E d i t o r ’s N o t e

completely bare home—empty rooms, blank walls— presents a world of possibilities. It’s also a little terrifying. I remember going on a walk-through of the first home my husband and I closed on together and thinking, “Where do we start? What furniture goes where, which paint colors, and how will we pull it together so it doesn’t look like a jumble?” I felt some of that while planning the firstever Real Simple Home—which you can tour on page 100. We wanted to bring to life all our tips for making a stylish, well-organized home. Once again I was walking through a blank space, trying to imagine what comes next. Yet the superteam here at Real Simple, particularly our ever-upbeat home editor, Stephanie Sisco, saw the beautiful potential in the emptiness. Stephanie divvied up the rooms of the home, actually a family-size penthouse in Brooklyn, New York, among nine designers and two organizers. Designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent swept into the living room and instantly knew exactly where they wanted each item. It was a wonder to behold. We challenged all the designers to make everything doable—no specialized craftsmen required, no overly complicated elements. The Real Simple Home is just a few blocks from my own home, and so I would drop in often to check on the progress, usually with my 8-year-old daughter in tow. (She keeps asking why we can’t just live there.) I’ve gotten so much inspiration from its rooms and outdoor space. I hope our home will spark useful ideas for your home too. OVING INTO A

Follow me on Twitter @lyazel and Instagram @leslieyazel

P h o t o g r a p h b y C h r i s t o p h e r Te s t a n i

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

Drive Up Drive up and we’ll bring your order right out.* target.com/driveup

Contents October 2018

O N T H E C OV E R

TO BUY: Masonite six-panel

unfinished fir front door slab, $189, Behr Premium Plus exterior paint in Calligraphy (on door) and Flowing Breeze (on house), and Home Decorators Collection outdoor sconce, $50; homedepot.com. Baldwin Reserve entry door handleset, $263; lowes.com. Golden wheat wreath, $98; shopterrain.com. Morbylanga bench, $199, and Sondrup doormat, $8; ikea.com. Smith & Hawken outdoor lantern, $35; target.com.

100 Our first-ever Real Simple Home

Welcome to Cozy: 100-plus ideas for a simplified space 36, 100, and throughout the issue Delicious dinners faster

122, 138

O N T H E C OV E R : F LO W E R S F R O M B LU E F I E L D FA R M

Easy ways to feel calm Our biggest home makeover ever

87 100

128

12 2

Meet one inspiring kid

Five-ingredient meals

Cover Photograph by Johnny Miller Prop St yling by Christina Lane; Floral St yling by Kris Burns of Festoon

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

There’s a big life inside every Ascent. ™

Presenting the all-new 3-row 2019 Subaru Ascent.

Families grow and so does the list of things you want to see together. That’s why we’ve built our biggest SUV ever. Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive + up to 27 mpg.* Room for up to 8 passengers, with a choice of second-row captain’s chairs or bench seating. You can even tow up to 5,000 pounds.† Love is now bigger than ever.

Ascent. Well-equipped at $31,995.** Subaru is a registered trademark. *EPA-estimated highway fuel economy for 2019 Subaru Ascent and Ascent Premium models with standard equipment. 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited shown is rated at 26 mpg highway. Actual mileage may vary. †Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed. See your retailer for details. **MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, and registration fees. Retailer sets actual price. Certain equipment may be required in specific states, which can modify your MSRP. See your retailer for details. 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited shown has an MSRP of $41,945. Vehicle shown with accessory equipment.

Small Moments, Big Love Go big every day: Take the ordinary moments and supersize them with love, connection and adventure. Inspired by the all new 3-row Subaru Ascent ™, we’re road-tripping through this issue to see how small changes can give our days big upgrades. Look for these tips in this issue.

21 21

“Book” Your Next Road Trip Add drama (or comedy!) to your next ride. 69

Get Connected Car rides can be fun for everyone with tech on board. 83

Party to Go Going somewhere? Bring your friends—and make it fun.

F I N D YO U R N E X T B I G O P P O R T U N I T Y AT S U B A R U.CO M /A S C E N T

Contents

Add some hygge at home

Bring your hair back to life

A show-off Halloween recipe

Thoughts

Editor’s Note

Real Simple 24 /7

Your Words

The Short List

what we love Curl Up and Get Cozy Pretty Smart Beauty buys to save your sanity The Staple Tomato paste

26 30

Little Helpers Clever items that make every day better 32

the realist How to Make a Spooky Punch

8 Tricks to Refresh Your Room Small decorating tweaks that have a big impact Now What?!? Solutions for life’s mini disasters Organize This Tidy your pots and pans How to Rehab Your Hair Get stronger and shinier locks Drugstore Insider Shop the aisles with celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan

Cooking School Repurpose leftover Halloween candy 36

relating How to Raise a Problem-Solver Set up your kids to be self-sufficient

Making It Work How do you stay connected with your aging parents? 90

Good Read Writer J. Courtney Sullivan on the friendly ghost in her home 70 5 Ways Your Celebrity Fascination Is Actually Good for You Reading that tabloid is more than a guilty pleasure 76 Modern Manners Catherine Newman offers advice

The Essential Style a cardigan

The Vets Will See You Now Pet issues, resolved

Real Simplifier A plan to improve your posture

The Five-Ingredient Dinner Simple recipes with big flavor 122

Make Any Job Feel Less Stressful Stop anxiety in its tracks

Road Test The most skin-friendly makeup removers 56 58

balance

8 Breakthroughs That Could Change Your Health Innovations that will keep you feeling your best 92 Ahhh Take a breather

features At Home with Real Simple A superteam of designers and organizers creates the first Real Simple Home 100

A Light in the Darkness How a community in El Dorado, Kansas, rallied around a boy with a rare disease 128

food 5 Easy Dinners

138

Make It Yourself Pork dumplings

146

Road Test Ice cream sundae bar

148

Big Batch Seeded crunch bars

150

The Struggle Is Real

152

REAL SIMPLE (ISSN 1528-1701) (OCTOBER 2018) (VOLUME 19/ISSUE 10) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TIME INC., A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF MEREDITH CORPORATION. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 225 LIBERTY ST., NEW YORK, NY 10281-1008. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, NY, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS (SEE DMM 507.1.5.2); NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE, PO BOX 37508, BOONE, IA 50037-0508. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40069223. BN# 13200211RT001. © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: FOR 24/7 SERVICE, PLEASE USE OUR WEBSITE: REALSIMPLE.COM/MYACCOUNT. YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-881-1172 OR WRITE REAL SIMPLE, PO BOX 37508, BOONE, IA 50037-0508. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. YOUR BANK MAY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE CARD INFORMATION WE HAVE ON FILE. YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS SERVICE AT ANY TIME.

14 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

food made from food

SCAN & SHOP • Open your Amazon app • Tap on the camera icon • Scan and shop!

Real Simple 24/7 FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR E XCLUSIVE IDE A S, TIP S, A N D W AY S T O M A K E L I F E E A S I E R — E V E RY D AY.

MEET

ELIZABETH SILE Fell in love with something in our pages? Find a link to buy it on our Shop the Issue site. This month, use the code REALSIMPLE to get 15 percent off the Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System, above (offer valid 9/19/18 through 10/19/18).

Favorite recipe: Real Simple’s Sausage, Lentil, and Kale Soup. I make it as soon as the weather gets cold. Favorite book: As a once-serious flutist, I really connected with Aja Gabel’s gorgeous The Ensemble. Favorite thing about fall: My annual visits home to New York’s Finger Lakes region. @ESILE1 ON INSTAGRAM

Head to realsimple.com/ shop-issue.

Ready for Halloween? It’s creeping up faster than you think. To figure out what to wear, peep our ideas for incredibly easy last-minute costumes. Go to realsimple.com/last-minute-costumes.

#R S ORGANIZING If you’re as obsessed with tidiness as we are, follow #RSOrganizing! We share our favorite get-ittogether tips and tricks, plus inspiration from our readers.

Real Simple Cooking School PINTEREST @REALSIMPLE

See Food Director Dawn Perry make the delish chicken dinners from our September issue and get her bonus tips. Watch the video at realsimple .com/chickencutlets.

16 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Open

and tap

for decorating tips.

TWITTER @REALSIMPLE

FAC E B O O K @REALSIMPLE

S N A P C H AT @REALSIMPLEMAG

I N S TA G R A M @ R E A L _S I M P L E

C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P L E F T : C O U R T E S Y O F C H R I S T O P H E R D U R AY ; D A N N Y K I M ; C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U F A C T U R E R ; T E S S A N E U S TA D T ; J E N C A U S E Y

SHOP THE ISSUE

SENIOR EDITOR, FE ATURES AT RE AL SIMPLE, ELIZABETH OVERSEES BO OK COVERAGE, ESSAYS, AND FE ATURE STORIES.

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Yo u r W o r d s

What good habit do you wish you’d started earlier?

Learning to accept and love myself for who I am. And not biting my nails! K AT I B O U RQ U E , N O RT H A N D OV E R , M A SS AC H U S E T T S

# R S L OV E “ S ’ M O R E S BY T H E F I R E W I T H F R I E N D S A N D LOTS O F L AU G H T E R . ” @ B LO N D E F I N D

Cleaning out my refrigerator weekly. It keeps the fridge more organized. And because it’s easier to find items I might not remember are there, I buy less.

Wearing sunscreen. It wasn’t until I reached my late 30s that I became militant about it. Now, in my 50s, I am seeing the results of my late start!

CANDYCE CASTALD O, MECHANIC SVILLE, VIRGINIA

K ATHERINE SNOW, D OVER, NE W HAMP SHIRE

Keeping a log in my car of mileage and any repairs and new parts. It saves a good deal of guesswork during visits to the shop and makes your life (and your mechanic’s life) easier. MARIA ISABEL BONILL A , BILLINGS, MONTANA

Tackling whatever is stressing me out the most in that moment. I used to spend hours procrastinating in various ways because I was too anxious to even think about certain tasks. L AURA HALLER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Looking people in the eye when we speak and focusing on listening to them instead of talking. PEGGY GAEGLER, COLUMBIA , MARYL AND

Telling people I care about them. ST E P H A N I E C OX , P O RT L A N D, O R EG O N

18 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

I wish I had started ignoring all the diet hype earlier and begun eating real food. JES SICA BARKER, NASHVILLE

Not obsessing about what people consider “good habits” and just being happy. AMY TONCRAY, ROYAL OAK , MICHIGAN

I call my mom every day during my lunch hour so we can talk about our days and whether anything is going on with her and my dad. I moved away more than two years ago, so we don’t get to see each other like we used to. Sometimes our conversations go long, but they are always wonderful. BRANDI WIL SON, WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON

Parking far from the entrance of retail and grocery stores. I used to circle around until I found a close parking space. Now I park far away to get that extra bit of exercise. It all adds up! MYSTA WARD, MIS SOUL A , MONTANA

Waiting to answer work emails that provoke an emotional response in me. Pausing for a few hours—or even minutes—before firing off a response can make all the difference when it comes to resolving an issue peacefully and keeping a work relationship collegial. MONICA GE TZ , YP SIL ANTI, MICHIGAN

The Instagrammers who shared the photos in this column will receive a copy of The Real Simple Method to Organizing Every Room: And How to Keep It That Way. Want to be considered for this column? Tag photos on Instagram with #RSLOVE.

Realizing that asking for help is OK and normal! I can’t do everything by myself. It takes a village to be happy. EMILY HEISE ROBINSON, PFLUGERVILLE, TE XAS

Mindfulness. I was always rushing from activity A to activity B, and I never took the time to enjoy any of it. I always said, “I can’t slow down; I have too much to do.” After two rounds of cancer, I reprioritized my life. Time is too precious to waste. SANDRA MARIE, ROBESONIA , PENNSYLVANIA

# R S L OV E I keep a notebook by my bed. The last couple of years, I have been doing a “brain dump” of what I need to do the following day. It’s like giving my body permission to sleep and my brain permission to relax.

“ S O M E T I M E S I T F E E L S G O O D TO T R A D E I N OUR COMFY SNEAKS FOR OUR MORE ADORABLE HEELS.” @ P R ACT I C A L LY P E R F ECT L A

NEXT QUESTION... What strategy do you use to motivate yourself to exercise? Send an email to yourwords@ realsimple.com and let us know your answer to this question. Your response could appear on these pages.

JODI FINN, AURORA , COLORAD O

Speaking up for what I believe in. L AURA RUDE, PEORIA , ILLINOIS

Saving for retirement. If there’s any advice I could give to today’s young generation, it would be to start early— retirement sneaks up before you know it! You’ll want to enjoy slowing down when the time comes. JANENE ACOSTA , HUNTINGTON BE ACH, CALIFORNIA

Making time once during the work week to have lunch with a friend. It is a much-needed sanity break from the fast pace of my job. S A M K I N G, C O LU M B U S, O H I O

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

FALL FOR

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Creepy mystery

The Short List F I V E B O O K S T H AT W O N ’ T D I S A P P O I N T By Nora Horvath

Ivy House is a place of refuge for the large Hennessy family. So after Toby is violently beaten, he returns there to heal and care for his dying uncle. When a skull is found on the property, the police begin to unearth the darker truth. Tana French’s The Witch Elm is a chilling mystery about the unreliability of memory.

Fiery history

PROP ST YLING BY CHLOE DALEY

On April 29, 1986, the Los Angeles Central Library— and some 400,000 books—burned to the ground. In The Library Book, journalist Susan Orlean explores that case and other library fires and shows readers what history loses when books, and the safe spaces that house them, are targets.

Mississippi blues

Great for book club Unsheltered, the new novel from Barbara Kingsolver, introduces us to Willa Knox, who is confronting life’s unpredictability. After losing her job, she is forced to move to an inherited home that’s falling apart. There she finds comfort from an unlikely source: the records of a man who lived in the house in the 1880s and faced similar problems.

For more book recommendations, visit realsimple.com/ newbooks.

As a child of unfit parents, Tena Clark was raised by her family’s black maid— an experience that shaped her views on race and life and put her at odds with her family. In her moving memoir, Southern Discomfort, Clark reflects on growing up and coming out in the 1950s.

Inheritance race In Kathy Wang’s Family Trust, patriarch Stanley Huang is dying— putting his clan on edge. Will the money in his estate go to his young wife or his adult children? Is the fortune smaller than they thought? Wang makes a strong debut with this fun drama.

Photograph by Addie Juell

SMALL MOMENTS, BIG LOVE

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E V E RY T H I N G O U R E D I T O R S A R E B U Z Z I N G A B O U T T H I S M O N T H

Curl Up and Get Cozy By Cat Dash

PROP ST YLING BY CHLOE DALEY

As crisp temperatures set in, you’ll inevitably spend more time inside. Embrace the transition with our favorite ways to up the cozy quotient. It all starts with a good throw. From plush mohair to lightweight waffle weave, these knits go perfectly with a book and cup of tea. TO BUY: (From top) Mohair Throw, $350; jaysonhome .com. Abstract Throw, $350; minna-goods.com. Waffle Weave Throw, $39; westelm .com. Emerson Throw, $299; morrowsoftgoods.com.

Photograph by Addie Juell

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

W H AT W E LO V E

5 1 4

1 GUIDING LIGHT The durable Americanstoneware base of this enchanting candleholder is wheel-thrown in Vermont. TO BUY: Silo Taper Hurricane, $125; farmhousepottery.com. 2 FA N C Y F O O T W O R K These super-comfy velvet slippers have a nonslip rubber sole, which means they can stay indoors or venture outside. TO BUY: The Heron Slippers, $120; birdiesslippers.com.

24 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

3 R E A DY T O RO C K Midcentury-inspired style meets a price tag that’s surprisingly easy on the wallet. TO BUY: Project 62 Esters Rocking Chair, $250; target.com. 4 B OHEMIAN PILLOW The graphic, multicolor pattern emphasizes the fluffy texture. TO BUY: Aztec Wool Shag Pillow, $174; dearkeaton.com.

5 T E AT I M E Elevate that 4 o’clock pick-me-up with a solid brass tea strainer that moonlights as an objet d’art. TO BUY: Brass Belgrano Tea Strainer, $36; shopsirmadam.com. 6 CO OL KINDLING This leather firewood tote is pretty and practical: It detaches from its stand to make hauling a breeze. TO BUY: Goop x CB2 Firewood Tote, $499; cb2.com.

7 T H E P L AY B O O K The 20 featured homes are designed to promote feelings of coziness. TO BUY: Hygge & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life by Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos, $35; chroniclebooks.com. 8 GET CR AFTY Beginner and intermediate weavers alike can create a masterpiece, thanks to the included instruction booklet. TO BUY: Frame Loom Weaving Kit, $80; wegathergoods.com.

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W H AT W E LO V E

Pretty Smart A FA C E M A S K T H A T W O N ’ T G E T U N D E R YO U R F I N G E R N A I L S A N D S E V E N O T H E R B E AU T Y B U Y S T O S AV E YO U R S A N I T Y By Heather Muir Maffei

O L AY C L AY S T I C K M A S K S

PROP ST YLING BY CHLOE DALEY

These kaolin clay sticks are a less messy way to mask. Hydrating glycerin prevents the clay from cracking as it dries, so the mask doesn’t crumble when you wipe it off. In three formulas: Glow Boost sloughs off dead skin cells, Pore Detox degunks your nose, and Fresh Reset brightens skin. TO BUY: $10 each; olay.com.

26 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Photograph by Addie Juell

A NEW ERA OF STYLE Presenting PANDORA ReflexionsTM, a bracelet you can wear in limitless ways.

W H AT W E LO V E

F R E S H V I TA M I N N E C TA R V I TA M I N C GLOW P OWDER

A lipstick and lip liner in one, this felt pen delivers rich, matte color that lasts up to 12 hours. Trace the perimeter of your lips with the pointed tip, then turn the pen on its side to fill in. In 12 shades, from nude to burgundy. TO BUY: $32; dior.com. FAT B OY H A I R S P R AY P U T T Y

Get lived-in, piecey texture without dirtying your hands, thanks to the innovative spray form. Our short-haired tester loved that it dried soft, not sticky. TO BUY: $28; fatboy hair.com. BAREMINER ALS BLEMISH RESCUE SKIN-CLE ARING LO OSE P OWDER F O U N DAT I O N

This full-coverage powder contains zinc, sulfur, and 0.5 percent salicylic acid to help conceal and heal breakouts. In 20 shades. TO BUY: $29; bareminerals.com. Watch Beauty Editor Heather Muir Maffei review sanity-saving beauty buys at realsimple .com/prettysmart.

28 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

K I E H L’ S “ M A D E F O R A L L” G E N T L E B O DY WA S H

Feel good stocking the shower with this gentle wash that kids (ages 3 and up) can use too. The gel is 95 percent naturally derived, and the bottle is 100 percent biodegradable. TO BUY: $30; kiehls.com. U R B A N D E C AY LO-FI LIP MOUSSE

They look like eye shadows, but these little pots are velvetysoft, whipped lip colors that wear comfortably and house a pop-out applicator. TO BUY: $22 each; urbandecay.com. I S L E O F PA R A D I S E S E L F-TA N N I N G WAT E R S

The most mistakeproof self-tanners we’ve used, they color correct (peach brightens; green cuts redness; violet reduces sallowness) and leave a glow in four hours. TO BUY: $28 each; sephora.com.

S M E A R : B R I A N H E N N ; P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

D I O R RO U G E D I O R INK LIP LINER

On those mornings when your skin looks blah, open a packet, mix the powder with water, then massage into skin and rinse. Fruit acids soften and perk up your complexion. TO BUY: $40 for 12; fresh.com.

W H AT W E LO V E

Quick Ideas 1 CU R RY S O U P

The Staple Long reserved for lasagna and ragù, tomato paste is working its way into dishes from all over the world. Use it to make a fragrant homemade curry paste, then simmer the paste with broth for a spicy soup guaranteed to soothe seasonal sniles. Steam tender mussels and white beans in a mixture of tomato paste and wine for a light and comforting meal, or blend it with garlic and mayonnaise to make an addictive dip for oven fries. For bigger lavor (and easier storage), swap those tiny cans of yore for tidy tubes of double-concentrated paste.

Process 1 Fresno chile, 2 garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp. each tomato paste and canola oil, 1 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut, 2 tsp. grated fresh ginger, 1 tsp. curry powder, tsp. each salt and garam masala, and tsp. each ground coriander and cumin in a food processor until smooth. Whisk into 4 cups simmering chicken broth with tsp. salt. Stir in 2 cups shredded chicken. Serve with cilantro and lime wedges. 2 TO M ATO E Y M U S S E L S AND BEANS

Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large pot over mediumhigh. Add 1 chopped shallot, 1 chopped garlic clove, and tsp. paprika; cook until softened, 3 minutes. Stir in cup white wine and 2 Tbsp. tomato paste; cook until reduced by half. Add 2 lb. cleaned mussels and a 15-oz. can drained and rinsed cannellini beans; cover and cook until mussels open, 5 minutes. Stir in 1 Tbsp. butter; season with salt and pepper.

Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a small skillet over medium. Add 1 Tbsp. tomato paste and 1 finely chopped garlic clove; cook until fragrant. Remove from heat and mix with cup mayonnaise, cup finely chopped roasted bell pepper, tsp. white wine vinegar, and tsp. cayenne.

Get the recipe for the only tomato sauce you’ll ever need (really!) at realsimple.com/tomatosauce.

B y D a w n Pe r r y Recipes by Ivy Odom

30 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Photograph by Corey Olsen

PROP ST YLING BY CHLOE DALEY

3 TO M ATO A I O L I

Hillshire Farm® smoked sausage is seasoned perfectly. So it’s easy for you to create dinner deliciously.

Easy Smoked Sausage Skillet Serving Size: 4-6

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients :

Instructions :

1 pkg. Hillshire Farm® smoked sausage, diagonally sliced thin 2 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ cup olive oil 1 large red bell pepper, sliced thin 1 small yellow onion, sliced thin 1 pkg. frozen broccoli, thawed ½ cup chicken broth (or water) ½ cup tomato sauce 2 cups instant rice ½ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Heat olive oil and garlic in skillet, stir in smoked sausage slices and cook until browned. Add pepper, onion, broccoli, broth and tomato sauce and simmer for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is absorbed. In the meantime, prepare rice according to package instructions. Stir rice into the skillet, sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Visit HillshireFarm.com/recipes for delicious recipes perfect for any night of the week.

W H AT W E LO V E

O N -T H E - G O P I L L O W

Great for travel, this 10-by-15-inch mini version of Casper’s full-size pillow is made with cool percale cotton for optimum shut-eye. Comes with a pillowcase and drawstring travel bag. TO BUY: Casper Nap Pillow, $35; casper.com.

S N A C K C O N TA I N E R S

Keep crackers crisp with these adorable BPAfree vessels. They’re easy for small hands to open, and they double as playthings once snack time is over. Toprack dishwasher safe. TO BUY: On-the-Go Snack Containers, $9 for 3; smilobaby.com.

Little Helpers S I X S M A RT P RO D U C T S TO M A K E YO U R L I F E E A S I E R

LU G G A G E TA G C H A RG E R

By Brandi Broxson

Fasten this device to your carry-on and use it to juice up your phone while in transit. Includes a contact-info insert, a charging cord, and an adapter. TO BUY: Power Luggage Tag, $32; calpaktravel.com.

This handy striking platform grips a nail in place, preventing a thumb walloping. Works with various nail sizes. TO BUY: Fiskars Precision Nail Starter, $9; fiskars.com.

BLISTER SHIELD

COFFEE MAKER 2.0

Brew hot java, tea, and over-ice beverages, like cold brew coffee (no long wait time!), with this all-in-one machine. There’s even a built-in milk frother for specialty drinks. TO BUY: Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System, $180 (use code REALSIMPLE for 15 percent off; valid 9/19/18 through 10/19/18); ninjakitchen.com. 32 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

New or uncomfortable shoes? Try this fast-drying, fragrance-free balm. Beeswax, coconut oil, and almond oil stop friction and blisters. TO BUY: Blisters Bee Gone Blister Prevention Hydrating Balm, $16; baublerella.com.

P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

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U N C O M M O N S O L U T I O N S T O E V E RY D AY P R O B L E M S

FOOD ST YLING BY CHEL SE A ZIMMER; PROP ST YLING BY CL AIRE SPOLLEN

H OW TO MAKE A SPOOKY PU N CH

Find the recipe for the punch pictured here at realsimple.com/ halloweenpunch.

Photograph by Greg DuPree

Dry ice vapor gives this crowd favorite an eerie effect. Purchase about five pounds of dry ice pellets a few hours before you’ll need them and store them in an insulated cooler (never the fridge or freezer). Then, wearing protective gloves, use a plastic cup to fill a large plastic or metal bowl about a quarter of the way full with pellets. (Don’t use a glass bowl, which the extreme cold can shatter.) Nestle a medium bowl into the large one and add more pellets to the space between the two bowls until it’s about three-quarters full. Prepare your punch separately before adding it to the medium bowl. When you’re ready to activate the vapor, pour a cup of room-temperature water onto the dry ice. Serve in a well-ventilated area. Add more dry ice every two hours or as needed. By Brandi Broxson

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

8 Tricks to Refresh Your Room T H E S E S M A L L , W A L L E T - F R I E N D LY T W E A K S W I L L M A K E A S U R P R I S I N G LY L A R G E I M PA C T. T H E P R O S S H A R E T H E I R T I P S F O R G I V I N G E V E RY R O O M T H A T W O W FA C T O R . By Stephanie Sisco

1 FAKE A BIGGER SPACE

OFFSET

You may already be using a mirror to make a space seem larger than it is, but consider repositioning the mirror to maximize the benefits. Remember: The more light a room receives, the bigger it feels. “A mirror can act as another window,” says New York City interior designer Libby Langdon, “practically doubling the natural light.” Jana Bek, an interior designer and home decor maker in Ann Arbor, Michigan, suggests hanging one opposite a window, a piece of artwork, or wallpaper to increase the impact of these elements in your space.

36 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Photograph by Joe Schmelzer

EVERY

“WHY DIDN’T WE DO THIS BEFORE” HAS A STARTING POINT. You need to paint that room but you might not know how to begin. At Lowe’s, we can show you everything from taping to rolling, help you choose the color, and get you on your way with all the supplies. You’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

START WITH

THE REALIST

2 UPGR ADE THE DOORS “Doorknobs are an underrated home accessory,” says Los Angeles designer Justina Blakeney. If yours are bland, you’ll barely notice them, despite touching them 100 times a day. But because you interact with them so much, an upgrade will make them a decor element to appreciate over and over. Search for a knob with a unique shape or a finish that complements the room’s existing furnishings—say, one with the same patina as the main light fixture. Switching out the hardware on kitchen or bathroom cabinets can also create a dramatically new look. If you’re up for a slightly bigger project, a fresh coat of paint on cabinets and doors will give your space a boost.

4 AWAKEN YOUR WALLS

3 F R O M T O P : B J Ö R N WA L L A N D E R / O T T O ; H E LY N N O S P I N A / C AVA N I M A G E S

FRESHEN UP THE BATHROOM New grout will make your bathroom feel brand-new and is a relatively easy half-day project, says Tracy Morris, an interior designer in Washington, D.C. Stick with the same shade of grout as was originally there so you can spot-treat rather than regrout the entire space. Dark grout, says Morris, should be handled by a pro because making the seams appear smooth can be more difficult. While you’re in there, consider replacing your shower curtain rod with a curved bar—this offers more elbow room in a narrow shower stall.

If an area of your home feels a little blah, rethink your artwork. Introduce a new piece or simply rearrange your frames, suggests Langdon. “We often stop noticing things that have been in the same place for a long time,” she says, so you may not even realize that your artwork is looking a bit dated. Install a photo ledge, lean a few pieces against the wall, and swap them out each season so your room stays current. Have a long hallway or stairwell that could use some love? Elsie Larson, cofounder of the lifestyle blog A Beautiful Mess, suggests giving it purpose and personality with a gallery wall of sentimental photos. Place black-andwhite prints in inexpensive frames of the same size and color to keep things uniform, she says.

THE REALIST

5 FLUFF YOUR PILLOWS Throw pillows with low-quality stuffing or ones that have endured years of use can look limp. Give them new life by upgrading your inserts, says San Francisco interior designer Katie Raffetto. Her go-to option is an insert made of “25 percent down and 75 percent feather that is two inches larger in length and width than the pillow jacket.” This will make your pillows extra plump and inviting atop your sofa, side chair, or bed.

6 INCORPOR ATE VINTAGE PIECES

LIGHTEN THINGS UP “Lighting is the crown jewel of a room,” says Los Angeles designer Orlando Soria. Swap out basic overhead fixtures for ones with personality; try a multibulb pendant over a dining table or a decorative flush-mount fixture in the entryway. You can DIY it, but hiring a pro shouldn’t break the bank (and could prevent headaches if you don’t know your way around a drill and a breaker box). Laura Hur, a Homepolish interior designer in New York City, suggests installing dimmers too. “Different tasks require different amounts of light,” she says, “and there is nothing worse than an overly lit dinner party.” Give table and floor lamps a modern update by trading bell-shaped or pleated shades for crisp white drum shades.

40 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

8 MIX MATERIALS Find a comfortable combination of soft and hard materials to give the space a cozy, livedin vibe. Adding elements with varied texture, like woven baskets, knit pillows, and raw wood accents, is an effective way to bring visual interest to a room that could otherwise feel drab. Bek says that the more materials you have in the mix, “the more curated the space will look and feel.”

F R O M T O P : K R I S T I N E W E I L E R T / S T O C K S Y ; C O S TA S P I C A D A S / O F F S E T

Older pieces can make a room feel warm and interesting, says Amber Lewis, an interior designer in Los Angeles. “The best part,” she says, “is that the item is unique. No one else will have the exact same thing.” Use an old trunk as a coffee table, display tableware in an antique curio cabinet, or if you’re in the mood for a project, repurpose a credenza as a bathroom vanity.

Hang Loose. Eat Simple. Live Healthy.

BLUE Basics – A Simple Diet That Lets Your Dog Be His Best With BLUE Basics,® you always get simple ingredients you can understand, including: • A single animal protein source • NO chicken or beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, or eggs • Essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants BLUE Basics is ideal for dogs with food sensitivities. It’s everything your dog needs for a healthy lifestyle. And nothing he doesn’t.

Available for dogs and cats at your favorite pet specialty store.

Love them like family. Feed them like family.®

THE REALIST

Now What?!? S M A RT F I X E S F O R L I F E ’ S L I T T L E D I S A ST E R S By Nora Hor vath

I have a painful canker sore in my mouth! Avoid spicy and acidic food and drinks (think citrus fruits or sodas), which will irritate the sore, and stick to a bland, soft diet, says Erich Voigt, MD, an otolaryngologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. To lessen the pain, suck on ice chips or apply an over-thecounter numbing agent, like Anbesol ($10 for 0.41 oz.; cvs.com). A dab of milk of magnesia may protect the sore and help it heal faster. While canker sores can be pretty uncomfortable, they are typically harmless and will clear up on their own in about a week. If you’re in unbearable pain, the sore persists for more than two weeks, or you find yourself with recurring sores, see a doctor to rule out a more serious infection or other condition.

THE FIX:

I burned a bag of popcorn, and now the office reeks. I dropped a glass, and it shattered. Grab the largest shards with a gloved hand (any safety or garden glove will do) and set aside, says cleaning expert Melissa Maker, author of Clean My Space. Then use a broom to sweep up any pieces that were too tricky to grab. (Avoid the vacuum, as it’s easy to cut yourself when changing the filter or bag.) Maker prefers a short hand broom to a tall stick broom because you can better see the glass you’re sweeping. Gather the large and small shards, put them in a small cardboard box, and then wrap the box in a plastic bag before placing it in the garbage, says Jeff Martin, vice president of safety services at Waste Management. If there are any small bits of glass left, Maker recommends a lint roller or a piece of duct tape to grab onto remaining shards.

GET T Y IMAGES

THE FIX:

Turn on a fan, if there’s one nearby, and remove the popcorn from the office to an outside garbage can, says Becky Rapinchuk, creator of the blog Clean Mama and author of Simply Clean. Wipe down the inside of the microwave with warm water and dish soap to help remove the odor of the burned snack. Then leave a small dish of unused ground coffee near the microwave for 24 hours. “This will help absorb any lingering smells,” says Rapinchuk.

THE FIX:

42 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

I have cancer from HPV.

Michael, age 28

Age 23

Actor Portrayal

Who knew human papillomavirus (HPV) could cause certain precancers, cancers, and diseases later in life. Who knew HPV could affect both males and females. Who knew HPV was widespread, and while it clears up for most, that wasn’t the case for me. Who knew that many people who have HPV don’t even know it. Who knew my risk for HPV would increase as I got older. Who knew there was something to help protect me when I was 11 or 12 years old, way before I would even be exposed to it. Did you know, Mom? Dad? The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls ages 11–12.

Talk to your child’s doctor and go to HPV.com Age 16

Did you know, Mom? Dad? WHAT WILL

YOU SAY? Learn more at HPV.com Age 11

ClosetMaid® Selectives Wood Closet Kit

SOMETIMES ITɕS A BETTER CLOSET. NOT A BIGGER ONE. Are you making the most of your closet space? We offer a wide selection of closet storage solutions that can help you maximize the space you already own. Start building a better closet with products and tools from The Home Depot®, available online and in store. Visit homedepot.com/closets to learn more.

THE REALIST

1 S TO R E S T R AT EG I C A L LY

Designate a space for cookware as close to the stove as possible so you’re not running across the kitchen to retrieve supplies. Keep pots and pans in lower cabinets, saving upper areas for smaller items that will be easier to find at eye level.

2 PUT A LID ON IT

2 3

If your space allows, store pots and pans with their lids to avoid spending time tracking down the proper mate. Otherwise nest small pots inside larger ones (never more than three to a stack) and use a rack to arrange lids vertically by size. TO BUY: Bamboo wood plate rack, $9; organizeit.com. 3 P ROT EC T T H E F I N I S H

Preserve the nonstick coating on nested cookware by placing felt or silicone pads between each pan. TO BUY: Pan and dish protector, $24 for 3; kuhnrikonshop.com. 4 SLIDE OUT SUPPLIES

PROP ST YLING BY CHLOE DALEY

Organize This T O D AY ’ S G O A L : T U R N A J U M B L E O F P O T S A N D PA N S I N T O A N AC C E S S I B L E ST O C K P I L E . N E AT M E T H O D ’ S B RO O K E N I E M A N A N D L I S A R U F F S H O W U S H O W. By Stephanie Harris

Photograph by Br yan Gardner

Install pullout drawers in lower cabinets for quick access to heavy pots and pans toward the back. Stash measuring cups and mixing bowls nearby. TO BUY: Rev-AShelf pullout drawer (shown), $263, or wire basket, from $50; homedepot.com. 5 C R E AT E S TO R A G E

If cabinet space is scarce, consider using a pot rack, pegboard, or rolling kitchen cart to keep cookware at the ready. See the complete guide to buying these kitchen essentials at realsimple.com/ potsandpans.

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

Closet Reset O U T W I T H S U M M E R , I N W I T H FA L L

GET THE HANG OF IT Fall wardrobes can expand when two are involved. If you’re sharing a closet, I\` KPќ LYLU[ ZOHKLZ VM [OL ZHTL [`WL of hanger and designate a color to each person. This color coding method serves as a visual cheat sheet, making it easier for each person to locate their items. HDX NATURAL FINISH WOODEN HANGERS $3.98 5-PACK

BIN THERE, DONE THAT Store rain and snow boots in a bigger plastic bin. This keeps messy, muddy footwear from damaging your Å VVY VY ZWPSSPUN V]LY onto other items in your closet. FLEX TRAY $2.45

GET CLARITY Clear boxes are both elegant and Lᄗ JPLU[·[OL` OH]L a minimal aesthetic, are easy to clean and show everything that’s inside. Stack a few in your closet to hold accessories like belts and scarves and you’ll have a storage solution that’s as pretty as it is practical. STERILITE MEDIUM CLIP BOX $4.98

Look inside for simple storage solutions

As you hit the reset button on your wardrobe, there’s no better place to start than the closet. From seamlessly organizing bulky sweaters, to swapping out sandals for stylish boots, we teamed up with Home Depot to give you a primer on how to refresh, revive and reimagine your closet space just in time for the new season.

CURVER WEAVE STYLE BASKET $5.97 HONEY-CAN-DO WOVEN STORAGE BOX $15.38

CHEAT A LITTLE The cold weather brings so many extra layers (jackets! scarves!), and lots of to-do’s so keeping the house organized can be tough. One easy way to unclutter is to hide away unruly knickknacks and other small items in stylish woven storage boxes \U[PS `V\ Ä UK H WLYTH nent home for them.

All products available at The Home Depot and homedepot.com

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THE REALIST

How to Rehab Your Hair D O N ’ T W O R RY — W E ’ R E N O T G O I N G T O M A K E Y O U B R E A K U P W I T H Y O U R B E L O V E D F L A T I R O N ( O R C U R L I N G I R O N , O R B L O W - D RY E R ) . K E E P Y O U R T O O L S A N D U S E T H E S E T W E A K S TO M A K E YO U R H A I R LO O K ST RO N G E R A N D S H I N I E R. By Heather Muir Maffei

48 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Photograph by Ray Brown

If you do this: Rely on rinse-out treatments to deine curls Try this: Upgrade to a leave-in

If you do this: Lather your hair from roots to ends Try this: Suds your scalp only

“A rinse-out treatment is similar to a face wash—you only give it a minute to do its job,” says Melbourne, Australia–based hairstylist Kevin Murphy, who suggests applying a leave-in cream to damp hair for 24-hour benefits. Our pick: Pantene Gold Series Leave-On Detangling Milk ($8; target.com).

It might be fun to soap your hair into a shampoocommercial-style turban, but sudsing the full length can dry out your hair, causing fuzzy ends and dullness. Instead, focus your efort right where you need it: your scalp. Wet your hair, apply shampoo, thoroughly massage your scalp, then rinse. You’ll reduce product buildup without stripping the rest of your hair.

R U I FA R I A / T H E L I C E N S I N G P R O J ECT ; P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

If you do this: Overdo the dry shampoo Try this: Clarify with ACV If, come Friday, 90 percent of your hair is dry shampoo, reach for apple cider vinegar (yes, straight from your kitchen). Pour three tablespoons’ worth over wet hair in the shower and massage it into your scalp. Wait a few minutes (wash your face, shave), then rinse—no need to shampoo. Follow with your regular conditioner and enjoy cleaner, shinier, softer hair. Beekman 1802 Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse ($35; shop.beekman1802.com) comes in a convenient spray bottle and packs other nourishing ingredients, such as goat’s milk. Sub in an ACV treatment for your regular shampoo once a week.

If you do this: Use a hair mask Try this: Top it with a warm towel If you’re putting in the efort to use a hair mask, you might as well help it do its job even better. “Finger-comb the mask through hair—don’t just slap it on the top layer—then wrap hair in a bun and cover with a warm towel for 10 minutes,” recommends Christophe Lambenne, a colorist at Frédéric Fekkai Soho in New York City. Yes, it’s more work,

but doing this will help the conditioning ingredients penetrate better, improving hair health—essential if you bleach. We like Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Extreme Repair Mask ($68; shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com), which contains moistureretaining rice extract.

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

It might feel strange, but washing after you condition will help prolong your style, especially if you have oily hair. “Conditioning before cleansing also helps add extra moisture without weighing down even fine hair,” says Los Angeles–based hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. “This will naturally reduce tangles so you don’t have to work as hard outside the shower, when strands are more prone to breakage.” This duo makes it easy: Tresemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner and Shampoo ($5 each; target.com).

If you do this: Skip trims Try this: Use products with veggie proteins Get a trim at least every three months. But if you skip one to gain length, “use products that contain vegetable proteins, which help repair the surface of the hair,” advises Murphy. Look for quinoa, rice, and soy proteins on the label. Kiehl’s, Aveda, Ouidad, and Murphy’s line all ofer products with them.

50 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

If you do this: Load on shine spray Try this: Consider a dry oil spray Most shine sprays are cosmetic, but formulas with nourishing ingredients penetrate hair, making it healthier. R+Co Neon Lights Dry Oil Spray ($29; randco.com) contains olive, evening primrose, and marula seed oils in a silicone-free dry oil mist that adds shine without weight. Mist your brush, then comb through.

C H R I STO P H K LU TS C H / B L AU B LU T - E D I T I O N ; P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

If you do this: Shampoo often Try this: Condition irst

Research is the reason D AV I N A , DIAGNOSED IN

2012

For years, I was an avid runner—inspiring my two daughters to persevere even when the road gets tough. And then a breast cancer diagnosis knocked me off my feet. Thankfully, researchers funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation have invested years of study into finding more options for patients like me. So when it came time for treatment, I chose the best path for me and my family. Soon, I was hitting the pavement once again—this time to fundraise for research. Research is the reason my kids can still cheer me on.

See more reasons for research and share yours at BCRF.org

Family Organizer THE REALIST

You’ll wonder how you managed family life before Cozi.

Drugstore Insider T H E B E ST B E AU T Y P RO D U C T S I N T H E A I S L E S, H A N D P I C K E D BY A P RO

With more than 250,000 followers on Instagram (@justinemarjan), Tresemmé’s global stylist, who divides her time between Los Angeles and New York City, is known for her blunt bob cuts and guides to recreating the looks of her celebrity clients, including Ashley Graham and Kerry Washington.

Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil “This is a natural way to deep-condition your hair. I love to apply it, braid hair, and leave it in overnight. Rinse it out the next day for shinier, healthier hair.” TO BUY: $13; amazon.com.

52 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Umberto Medium Round Brush “This is a great, affordable alternative to traditional smoothing round brushes. The boar bristles help defuzz hair and also add shine as you blow-dry.” TO BUY: $12; target.com.

Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner “Marula oil in this pair reduces frizz and leaves a silky finish. Use the shampoo on your scalp and the conditioner on your ends.” TO BUY: $5 each; target.com.

YourGoodSkin Moisturizing Make-Up Remover Wipes “These wipes easily remove even the most stubborn makeup while still being gentle on skin.” TO BUY: $7.50 for 30; walgreens.com.

C LO C K W I S E F R O M TO P L E F T : C O U RT E SY O F J U ST I N E M A R JA N ; B R I A N H E N N ; P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

Justine Marjan

Cozi is the

#1 family organizing app!

Track your family’s schedules in one place Send reminders to others in the family Share the grocery list, chores and meal plan Easy to use from any mobile device, tablet or computer

Get Cozi today – free in the app store.

Get Organized, Stay Organized

A NEW BOOK FROM THE EDITORS OF

REAL SIMPLE

The definitive guide to clearing clutter and creating a happier home —for good. AVA I L A B L E W H E R E V E R B O O K S A R E S O L D

THE REALIST

R o a d Te s t

Makeup Removers T H E S E S I X M AG I C E R A S E R S (C H O S E N F RO M M O R E T H A N 3 0 T E ST E D ) M A K E TA K I N G O FF YO U R M A K E U P F E E L L E SS L I K E A C H O R E A N D M O R E L I K E A T R E A T.

BEST WIPES

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Eye Makeup Remover Pads These handy wipes are drenched in an aloelaced formula that breaks down makeup without irritating skin. TO BUY: $9 for 100; garnierusa.com.

By Lisa D eSantis BEST EYE MAKEUP R E M OV E R

E.L.F. Makeup Remover Balm Stick Throw this nourishing green tea stick into your bag for easy, spillproof removal on the go. Run it over dry skin, massage in with damp fingertips, then rinse. TO BUY: $8; elfcosmetics.com.

B E S T TO O L

realsimple ROAD TE ST

BEST MICELL AR

Rodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water Stash this no-water-needed cleanser by your bed for nights when you don’t want to walk to the sink. It contains micelles— Pac-Man-like molecules that attract dirt and oil—plus “dragon’s blood” (a soothing botanical), leaving skin clean, not stripped. Hold a cotton round over the pump and press, then sweep over skin. TO BUY: $45; rodial.co.uk.

56 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

BEST CLEANSER

Bliss Makeup Melt Gentle Jelly Cleanser This milky jelly feels so cool, you’ll want to wash twice a day. Rose flower extract calms while apple acids gently cleanse, freshening and softening skin. TO BUY: $12; blissworld.com.

Face Halo Add water to this microfiber disk and wipe off makeup. Tiny fibers grab everything from foundation to mascara. You can use one disk up to 200 times, and it’s machine washable. TO BUY: $22; facehalo.com.

S M E A R : J E F F H A R R I S ; P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

M O S T P O RTA B L E

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Ophthalmologist-tested for sensitive eyes, this oil-free liquid cuts through heavy makeup yet isn’t the least bit greasy. TO BUY: $15; marykay.com.

THE REALIST

The Essential T H AT B A S I C I N YO U R C L O S E T I S M O R E V E R S AT I L E T H A N YO U T H I N K. T H I S M O N T H: H OW TO S TA RT WITH THE C ARDIGAN...

ST Y L E YO U R COZ Y C A R D I GA N FO R A N Y O CC A S I O N By Flavia Nunez

TO BUY: Abercrom-

bie & Fitch Open Front cardigan, $78; abercrombie.com.

... A D D A D R E S S A N D V E S T

If you’re tossing on casual basics— sneakers, a crossbody—for weekend errands, a cardi in place of your denim jacket makes the laid-back look a bit more refined. TO BUY: Athleta Futures turtleneck, $108; athleta.com. Ella Moss Cropped Wide Leg jeans, $100; belk.com. Machete Block earrings, $36; ofakind.com. Can’t Hurt to Bask sunglasses, $22; modcloth.com. Deux Lux Annabelle crossbody, $115; deuxlux.com. Gola Bullet Cheetah sneakers, $85; golausa.com.

Belt a sweater and faux-fur vest over a date-night dress to make a statement that’s still comfy in the cold. TO BUY: Vince Camuto Long Sleeve Floral Velvet Burnout dress, $189; vincecamuto.com. Donna Salyers’ Fabulous Furs EveryWear Faux Fur vest, $179; fabulousfurs .com. L.L.Bean Signature Leather " belt, $39; llbean.com. Wink of Pink Shop Elsie Twist Drop earrings, $24; winkof pinkshop.com. Sarah Chloe Curved Linnea cuff, $329; sarahchloe.com. Skechers Lasso boots, $70; skechers.com.

58 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

... A D D TA I L O R E D T RO U S E R S AN D PU MP S

Elevate your favorite cardigan with an office-appropriate textured blouse, a structured coat, and classic accessories. TO BUY: H&M Waves blouse, $50; hm.com. I Love Tyler Madison The Chrissy trousers, $125; ilovetyler madison.com. Zara Double Breasted coat, $129; zara.com. Baublebar Cindy Hoop earrings, $38; baublebar.com. Louise et Cie Kora satchel, $298; louiseetcie.com. Marc Fisher LTD Carter pumps, $160; marcfisherfootwear.com.

P h o t o g r a p h s b y Ke v i n S w e e n e y

S O F T S T Y L I N G B Y M I A K O K AT O H

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THE REALIST

Real Simplifier

How to Improve Your Posture C A N ’ T ST O P S L O U C H I N G ? E X P E RT S W E I G H I N O N H O W T O D E C R E A S E PA I N , F E E L M O R E A L E R T, A N D E V E N S L E E P B E T T E R . F O L L O W T H E S E S M A L L B U T I M PA C T F U L S T E P S . B y Ta m a r a K r a u s

G E T M OV I N G

PR ACTICE B R E AT H I N G

STRETCH IT OUT

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PILLOW

TA L K T O A D O C T O R

The human body wasn’t made to sit for hours on end, says William Smith, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and coauthor of Exercises for Perfect Posture. To combat the pain, set reminders to stretch or walk every half hour for several minutes. Moving around helps blood circulate, bringing oxygen and nutrients to muscles and helping wash away some of the substances that cause soreness. This can improve mobility and strength in parts of the body that help with posture. Check with your employer about a company ergonomist, who might be able to troubleshoot your desk setup or switch you to an adjustable desk. You can also head to osha.gov and search “ergonomics” for tips.

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Posture isn’t really about forcing your shoulders back, says Jill Miller, creator of the fitness method Yoga Tune Up and author of The Roll Model. It’s about helping your spine find its most efficient shape. Force shouldn’t be part of the equation. Your skull should rest over your rib cage, directly above your heart, creating a gentle wave in your spine. An easy way to fix your posture is to pay attention to your breathing: For you to take truly deep breaths, your spine must be in proper alignment, with your ribs moving together with your breathing muscles. As you breathe in, visualize sending the breath toward your stomach, then expanding it into your chest.

When the chest and neck muscles are too tight, they contribute to hunching, says Miller. Try this stretch: Interlace your fingers behind your head, resting them on the base of your skull. Broaden your chest as you arch your upper back, gently pulling your elbows backward and gazing at the ceiling. Or relieve neck tension with a small tennis or massage ball: Lean forward slightly and rest the ball between a solid surface (a doorjamb works well) and the spot above your collarbone and below your shoulder. Knead the ball into the muscle, then switch sides. As always, don’t forget to take deep breaths.

An unsupportive pillow can cause neck pain and possibly play a role in poor posture, says Rebecca Robbins, PhD, coauthor of Sleep for Success. Stomach sleepers might find they don’t need a pillow, since this position can help keep the body aligned. Back and side sleepers may want to use a pillow to fill the space between the shoulder and neck. (When you sleep on your side, your shoulder can be compressed by your body weight, straining your neck.) Since side sleepers have the largest gap to fill, they’ll typically need the thickest pillow. No matter your sleep position, some of the most posture-friendly pillows are high-loft down-feather ones that conform to the body.

If you have persistent pain and think it could be posture-related, see a physical therapist or physiatrist, who can perform a physical exam to assess your posture and alignment. She’ll give you techniques to help correct the issue and avoid further complications down the road, such as nerve-related pain or other musculoskeletal discomfort, says Edward R. Laskowski, MD, codirector of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. X-rays or CT or MRI scans can also determine if you have an underlying condition, like scoliosis, contributing to poor posture, or if there’s another medical issue that needs addressing.

Illustrations by Clare Owen

THE REALIST

Cooking School T I P S, T EC H N I Q U E S, A N D R EC I P E S ST R A I G H T F RO M T H E R E A L S I M P L E T E ST K I TC H E N. T H I S M O N T H : L E F TOV E R H A L LOW E E N C A N DY By Ananda Eidelstein

Keep the party going with these scarygood treats. Whether the Halloween haul was unusually bountiful or the doorbell didn’t ring as much as you prepped for, these clever desserts are a delicious way to make sure no candy is left unwrapped (as if!).

PEANUT BUT TER CUP FONDUE Melt 8 oz. (1 cups) chopped peanut butter cups with cup halfand-half over low heat, stirring constantly and pressing with a spatula to break up cups, until smooth, 5 minutes. Stir in tsp. salt and let cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with graham crackers, pretzels, apples, or bananas.

VO D K A G U M M I E S M O R E F RO M OUR KITCHEN Find videos, lessons, shortcuts, and strategies to help you get dinner (and breakfast, and lunch, and dessert) on the table with ease at realsimple.com/ cookingschool.

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Mix 1 cup fruit snacks or gummy bears (about 10 0.7- to 0.9-oz. packs) with 1 cup vodka in a medium bowl. Let stand for at least 1 hours and up to 3 hours. Drain vodka and reserve for fruity cocktails or vodka tonics. Use gummies to garnish martinis, or float them in glasses of sparkling wine. Don’t forget to store them in a clearly labeled (adults-only) container.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an oven-safe 10-in. skillet with cooking spray. Whisk 1 cups all-purpose flour and tsp. each baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 sticks melted unsalted butter with cup packed light brown sugar on mediumhigh until combined. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, and 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract; beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until just combined. Fold in 2 cups mixed leftover Halloween candy (such as M&M’s, peanut butter cups, and fun-size candy bars). Spread dough evenly into skillet. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Photograph by Greg DuPree

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MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A MODERN WORLD

How to Raise a ProblemSolver W E WA N T K I D S T O E N T E R THE REAL WORLD AS P R E PA R E D A N D S E L F SUFFICIENT A S POSSIBLE. T H E ROA D TO T H I S G OA L H A S O N E M A J O R RU L E : M A K E SU R E YO U L E T T H E M DRIVE SOMETIMES.

OFFSET

By Joanna Nesbit

P h o t o g r a p h b y B r e a n n a Pe t e r s o n

O CTOBER 2018 RE AL SIMPLE

R E L AT I N G

Make room for play. LAST SPRING, WHEN MY HIGH SCHOOLER DROVE

to a friend’s house for a study session, I didn’t learn until later that the house was 25 miles away in an area he wasn’t familiar with. He’d never pumped gas, and the tank was empty. Had I known any of these details beforehand, I would have ofered lots of advice—but my not knowing turned out to be better for both of us. Somehow he navigated a busy gas station, prepaid with his debit card, pumped gas, and headed north on the freeway to hunt down the student’s house. He was capable of figuring it out on his own, and he did just that. It was a gratifying moment. We all like to imagine a world where our kids make smart choices when we aren’t around. By the time they leave the nest to go to college, travel, or start a job, we want to feel confident they’ll thrive. Unfortunately, many hiring managers today don’t see as much problem-solving ability in their young employees as they’d like. “Young people’s ability to get things done on their own and take initiative is one of the biggest employer concerns,” says Ray Bixler, CEO of SkillSurvey, a cloud-based reference-checking service. “The word ‘confidence’ is one we see often in areas of development.” Of course, no one intentionally prevents their children from learning to solve problems. But today’s parenting culture of leaning in to help kids get ahead can undercut their ability to develop the skills they need, says Julie Lythcott-Haims, former dean of freshmen at Stanford University and author of Real American and How to Raise an Adult. How can you give your kids space to figure out their stuf? For starters, don’t view “giving space” as yet another task you do for your kids. It’s about establishing a new mindset, not making life more complicated. A few ideas from the experts.

Children learn critical skills through open-ended play. In their 2016 book, Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, university professors Roberta Michnick Golinkof, PhD, and Kathy HirshPasek, PhD, contend that today’s culture elevates “content” over play—in other words, we want kids to soak up knowledge at all times. But free play teaches important skills, such as problem-solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, innovation, and confidence. “Play is really the crucible for developing these skills because in play kids don’t have to stick with the program,” says Golinkof, professor of education at the University of Delaware in Newark. “They can violate the norms.” Structured activities are important, but kids also acquire essential skills from made-up games in the backyard.

Eve n i f i t m a ke s yo u n e r vo u s , a l l ow k i d s to d o calculated risk-taking during play, with some su p e r vision in th e b e gin n in g. Tak in g re ason ab le risks is now re c o gn ize d as an im p or tant component of learning to problem- solve.

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The best part about free play is that it’s, well, free. It only requires downtime— and all you have to do is get out of the way. For example, when your child is playing with a friend, don’t hover nearby to mediate disputes or correct their ideas—let them figure everything out, unless they really need you. And even if it makes you nervous, allow them to do some calculated risk-taking: Let them climb and use tools, with some supervision in the beginning. Taking reasonable risks (evaluating a challenge and deciding how to handle it) is now recognized as an important component of learning to problem-solve. You can also create more opportunities for invention. Keep a box full of random loose parts and junk, like paper towel rolls and cardboard boxes, which make excellent fort-building materials.

Support purpose. Little kids, as self-centered as they may sometimes seem, actually want to be part of activities that benefit other people. They are motivated to help when they know the work they’re doing matters and the tasks are real (they can usually tell the diference between real-life and pretend scenarios), says Andrew Coppens, PhD, assistant professor of education in

Ask questions.

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O ne re a s on we j u m p i nto a c t i o n s o instinc tively: We of te n u n d e re st i m a te kids’ capabilities b e ca u s e kid s develop so quickly, e s p e c i a l l y i n th e e a r l y ye a rs .

learn to do things for themselves,” says Lythcott-Haims. One reason we jump into action so instinctively: We often underestimate kids’ capabilities because kids develop so quickly, especially in the early years. If you think your child is too young to try something, ask yourself why, suggests Jennifer L.W. Fink, a mom of four sons and the founder of Building Boys, a blog focused on boys’ well-being. “Is it a cultural thing you’re carrying over? Is it because nobody else’s kid is doing it? Are you afraid other parents will judge you?” Consider the ways your child has already surprised you and how proud her progress has made you. Then remind yourself that stepping back is a form of helping too.

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learning sciences at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. How we respond to their initial eagerness is crucial, he says: If you wait until your child can do a task independently, you may miss the sweet spot when she doesn’t see household tasks as drudgery and truly wants to participate. When Coppens and his colleagues researched Mexican-American families with indigenous Mexican heritage, they found that most of the kids voluntarily participated in household chores. Parents in these families look out for situations kids want to get involved in and give them ageappropriate tasks. So if your little one is watching Dad fold laundry, Dad can give him a pile of socks to sort. If your kid loves hanging out in the kitchen while you make dinner, ask him to stir a bowl of ingredients or measure out a cup of beans. At first it’s going to be messy, and it’ll probably make the job take longer, but think big picture: “Getting kids involved in work that’s needed and matters gives them a sense of purpose and teaches them to be truly helpful in regularly getting those things done,” says Coppens.

Swooping in to fix a mistake—or handling a task from the beginning—is so easy. And you’ll do it better. But asking your child questions (in a neutral voice) when she’s facing a problem helps you pause long enough to avoid the swoop and gives her practice in decision-making. “If your fourth grader has left her backpack at school, you can say, ‘That must be frustrating,’ and then you can ask, ‘What do you think you’re going to do about it?’ ” says Lythcott-Haims. “First ofer empathy, then ask the question that tells your kid it’s not the parent’s problem to solve. You’re implying that you know your kid is capable of handling it.” Your child might ﬂounder and say she doesn’t know. Keep asking questions (see “Questions That Keep You in the Passenger’s Seat,” opposite page). “But don’t take over, and don’t drop everything and go to the school to get the backpack,” says Lythcott-Haims. Occasionally, when a situation is high stakes, it’s appropriate to come to the rescue—say, if your kid uncharacteristically forgot a memory stick containing a PowerPoint presentation for a final grade. But a pattern of forgotten assignments or sports equipment doesn’t qualify. “We seem to treat everything as high stakes, which has the double consequence of raising anxiety in kids and depriving them of the chance to

R E L AT I N G

Q U E S T I O N S T H AT K E E P YO U I N T H E PA S S E N G E R ’ S S E AT

Let go of perfect.

CHRISSY SANDIFER/OFFSET

In other words, prepare for bumps. When you introduce your kids to life skills—prepping food, doing laundry, heading to the dentist solo—expect a learning curve, says Lythcott-Haims. But your kids will become capable. Karen Schwartzkopf, a mom of three in Richmond, Virginia, asked her kids to handle one family dinner a week. “They could get help from each other but not from me,” she says. “One child’s first efort was a glob of sticky soba noodles that looked like a brain in a bowl.” But since then, all three have become excellent cooks. The other trick is helping kids let go of perfect too, which can be difficult in high-achieving schools or communities. Suniya Luthar, PhD, a psychology professor at Arizona State University in Tempe who researches high-achieving schools around the country, says the teens she studies feel an intense pressure to excel. “These kids need to know they’re loved by

the adults around them for who they are, not for what they do,” she says. But even if you’re not prone to anxiety about GPAs and colleges, counterbalancing the inﬂuence from school isn’t easy. Try to limit “transactional” conversations about grades and tests, says LythcottHaims. Practice this speech: “There are lots of great colleges. No point stressing about getting into the small handful that deny almost everyone. Life is about so much more than that.” The irony, of course, is that today’s climate of more activities, more academics, and more supervision means there’s less room for learning independent problemsolving, stick-to-itiveness, and teamwork, the very things that help kids do well at college and beyond. Rest assured that letting kids play, help out at home, and handle their own issues helps them build the confidence they need for life. And if they just can’t figure out how to open the cap on the gas tank, you’re still only a phone call away.

When kids come to you for help, resist the urge to take over. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, a psychologist in Princeton, New Jersey, and coauthor of Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends, suggests asking questions like these to guide them toward a solution. Keep your tone kind, calm, and curious. • WHAT D O YOU THINK YOU/ WE COULD D O TO SOLVE THIS? (IF YOUR CHILD OFFERS AN UNRE A SONABLE SUGGESTION, A SK, “WHAT EL SE COULD YOU/ WE D O?”) • WHAT COULD YOU D O TO HELP THEM FEEL BET TER? • WHAT’S YOUR PL AN FOR GET TING THIS D ONE? • HOW IS THAT STR ATEGY WORKING? • WHAT HA S HAPPENED WHEN YOU’VE TRIED D OING THAT IN THE PA ST? • WHAT MIGHT GET IN THE WAY OF THIS PL AN? • WHAT D O YOU WANT TO D O DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME?

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R E L AT I N G

Good Read

Kindred Spirit A F T E R A L O N G J O U R N E Y T O G I V E B I RT H T O H E R S O N , J . C O U RT N E Y S U L L I VA N E M B R A C E S A N E W L I T T L E B O Y I N H E R H O U S E : T H E G H O S T.

refused to get excited when the cradle started moving on its own. As advertised, our son’s motorized rocker swayed back and forth. But it also inched across the living room sideways, so after an hour it was five feet to the right of its starting place. Often the plug popped out of the socket or the whole thing banged against the sofa, alarming the dog, though never waking the baby within. It wasn’t just the cradle. In the six months since our son was born, lights have ﬂickered overhead. A toy piano once lit up and played music, untouched.

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AMANDA BARRICK/OFFSET

MY HIGHLY RATIONAL HUSBAND

R E L AT I N G

Why should the presence of a boy from the past be so

My friend Siobhan, who knows about these things, said it was clear that we had a ghost and that the ghost was a little boy. At any other time, this might have kept me up at night. But we live in the bubble of babyhood. If I, a lifelong insomniac, have the chance to sleep these days, I can get there in an instant. Still, I went online for answers. Google is such a comfort to me now. Every maternal quandary feels massive and personal until the internet reveals, via all those who have asked the question before, that very few women know innately how to make a newborn’s tiny bird mouth latch onto a breast, that all babies go bonkers and refuse to sleep at exactly four months of age, that no child actually enjoys tummy time. My search about the phantom rocker did not turn up the usual hordes of women in the same boat. I found only one query on the subject, from a mom in Australia. Respondents fell into two camps—what she had witnessed, they said, was clearly the result of either a ghost or slanted ﬂoors. Of course, the two tend to go hand in hand. I grew up in New England, in a house built in 1922. My family blamed the ghost of the former owner, Bob Mitchell, whenever something went missing or didn’t work right.

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Four years ago, my husband and I rented our current apartment, on the top floor of a 19th-century Brooklyn townhouse. I fell in love the first time I saw it. The dust and the drafty windows and the three flights of stairs didn’t register. I noticed only the tin ceiling in the living room, the antique fireplaces, the sealed doorways that must have served some other purpose when this was a single-family home. A friend once told me she refused to live in a house that anyone had lived in before. To me, previous owners are a draw, their unknown heartaches and small victories worn into the floorboards. And yet I rarely thought about our house’s former inhabitants until we brought our baby home and one of them started making himself known. Even as I type this, I only halfway believe what I’m saying. But lately it feels like anything is possible. Why should the presence of a boy from the past be so unlikely, when I knew for certain that my son would exist here before he was flesh and blood, that delicious heft in my arms? We were told three years ago that it would be hard, if not impossible, for us to have a child. The discovery came on fast and unexpected, the ripping away of something we had only just realized we wanted. The night we found out, I couldn’t sleep. The dog stayed up with me. At 4 a.m., we stood side by side in front of the kitchen window, looking up at the sky. The moon was full, enormous. I had a vision of a baby boy. Leo by the light of the moon. Those were the words running through my head. Strange that my mind should conjure a boy, since at that time I still could only imagine creating a child who was a smaller version of myself—a mercurial girl with dark brown hair, who loved all the girly things I once did. I know how arrogant it sounds to claim kinship with the moon. But in the fruitless year that followed, the full moon was a talisman, reminding me whenever I saw it to keep faith. When the doctor said I was having a boy, I cried in surprise. I Googled “Can you take a boy to The Nutcracker?” “Do boys read Laura Ingalls Wilder?” I worried that, despite my list of 40 fantastic girls’ names, I had never once thought about what I might call a boy. But on some level, I knew the black-and-white speck on the sonogram screen was my Leo, and that was the name we gave him the night he was born.

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unlikely, when I knew for certain that my son would exist here?

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on the bed, and Leo kept looking at something—laughing, talking, making his flirty face. Outside, the moon was full and bright. “He sees the ghost,” I whispered. My husband shook his head. As we walked out of the room soon after, the chandelier went dark. “Whoa,” my husband said. I said, “If you are a ghost, flicker the lights.” One bulb in the chandelier flickered and burned out. My husband repeated the same words, and it happened again. Then he said, “If you’re a ghost, make the lamp flicker.” We held our breath. The lamp did not flicker. “You can’t make so many demands,” I said. “It takes energy to flicker the lights. He’s probably exhausted.” “I’m sorry,” my husband said to the lamp. Twenty minutes later, I found him looking at DiedIn House.com, a site with the rather superfluous tagline “The best way to find out if anyone has ever died in your house.” In a similar frame of mind, I had been searching the New York Times archive for mentions of our address. I found two stories about former residents, both of them young boys. In 1867, at 5 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, Valentine Wilmot fell from a second-story window, sustaining serious injuries. In 1925, 9-year-old Willie Rabinowitz and his dog, Prince of Wales, had a brush with fame when Prince followed Willie to the Long Island College Hospital and insisted on being by his bedside as his tonsils were removed. Two days later, he sat in Willie’s lap on the ambulance ride home. As far as I can tell, both Valentine and Willie survived these adventures. I asked my friend Mira, who is writing a book about mediums, whether a ghost always presents itself as the age that person was when he died. She said perhaps the presence is not a ghost but a spirit, since spirits are free to take any form they want. My friend Siobhan, the ghost expert, says in either case, it’s important to tell him to go elsewhere. “Where will he go?” I texted her one night. “You know how high the rents are around here.” The truth is, I don’t want him to leave. I love the idea of boys filling the rooms of the house again—if not the actual boys, then their stories, which must be at least as much a part of a person as toes or teeth or eyelashes. Everyone who has ever lived began as a story one woman told herself. L A S T N I G H T, W E W E R E A L L S I T T I N G

ABOUT T H E AU T H O R J. Courtney Sullivan is the author of the novels Commencement, Maine, The Engagements, and Saints for All Occasions. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son, and dog.

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5 Ways Your Celebrity Fascination Is Actually Good for You D O N ’ T F E E L G U I LT Y F O R R E A D I N G E V E RY T H I N G A B O U T Y O U R FA V E — I T C A N B E A S U R P R I S I N G LY H E A LT H Y H A B I T. By Betsy Rubiner

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H U LT O N D E U T S C H / G E T T Y I M A G E S

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It’s a breather from the real world. No matter what sort of life you lead, you need a distraction now and then. Whether you’re dealing with worrisome issues in the news or in your own life, it’s not healthy to be immersed in heavy stuf all the time. It’s a good diversion to read about Reese Witherspoon or the royal family in a magazine at the doctor’s office, or to catch up with celebrities’ lives on Twitter when you need a break from work. It’s like eating M&M’s—quick, sweet, and fun. The ﬂip side is being obsessed with somebody famous, which is not healthy. As with M&M’s, you want some but not too much. JULIE KL AM IS THE AUTHOR OF THE STARS IN OUR EYES : THE FAMOUS, THE INFAMOUS, AND WHY WE CARE WAY TO O MUCH ABOUT THEM. SHE LIVES IN NE W YORK CIT Y.

It emboldens you to live your dream. 2

It can encourage you to help others. When people feel a strong affinity with celebrities, they can be inspired by what those celebrities stand for. A study I did found that a public service announcement starring Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl was more efective than the same ad starring an unknown actor. The closer viewers felt to Crawford, the more they wanted to donate their jeans to homeless teens, as the ad urged. Celebrities can also be role models. When Angelina Jolie publicized her decision to have a preventive mastectomy after test results showed she carried a breast cancer gene, some of her fans became interested in getting tested. Not all celebrities are such positive role models, though, so choose the object of your fascination wisely. RIVA TUKACHINSKY, PHD, IS AN AS SISTANT PROFES SOR OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSIT Y IN ORANGE, CALIFORNIA .

I’ve been a huge David Bowie fan since I was about 10. To me, he seemed like a really big dork, but he decided to become cool and be an artist. I found that reassuring. Later in his music and acting career, I admired him for continuing to try to do interesting work, for being current, for not being cowed by people who thought he should hang it up. A celebrity can give you the confidence to pursue your own goals. An aspect of the celebrity’s work, attitude, or life can be a north star, guiding you and giving you a focus or something you can adopt or ﬂat-out mimic. It’s human nature to look for idealized versions of the lives we’d like to lead.

It can make you feel connected. During a rocky period with my boyfriend, I discovered that watching Friends made me feel less rejected and alone. Seeing how the Friends stars supported one another made me feel supported too. Inspired to study this, I found I wasn’t alone. Following a favorite character or celebrity can help people— especially those with low selfesteem—feel more socially connected and, as a result, better about themselves. Of course, those who believe their fantasy friendship is real or who use it to avoid developing actual relationships should consider seeking help from a mental health professional. But in general, using a celebrity to feel connected is not inherently wrong. JAYE DERRICK, PHD, IS A PROFES SOR OF SO CIAL P SYCHOLO GY AT THE UNIVERSIT Y OF HOUSTON.

CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN IS A COMEDIAN, WRITER, AND RETIRED POP CULTURE COMMENTATOR. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK CITY.

It can help you pick up great style tips. Seeing what celebrities like Gabrielle Union and Jamie Chung wear helps me figure out what styles will look good on me. I’m inspired to duplicate their look, search online for a budget-friendly, ethically produced version, or rent a similar dress or accessory from Rent the Runway. If you admire a star’s style, follow her in magazines and on Instagram and Pinterest to learn where she gets her inspiration. Create a vision board—online or on poster board—of the looks you love. Lea Michele wore a necklace on Glee that I had to have. I found out where she got it from a Pinterest photo. Four years later, I still wear mine all the time! BETHANY EVERET T WRITES TWENTY SOMETHING PLUS, A STYLE BLOG. SHE LIVES IN THE BOSTON AREA.

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Modern Manners R E A L S I M P L E ’ S E T I Q U E T T E E X P E R T, C AT H E R I N E N E W M A N , O F F E R S HER BEST ADVICE ON YO U R S O C I A L Q UA N DA R I E S.

J.M. ASKS…

I have an expensive collection of whiskey, and I only drink from it on special occasions with friends and family who truly appreciate it. Anyone who knows me knows this collection is “sacred.” But recently a guest, after having plenty of wine, asked if he could have some of my Scotch. I wanted to say no, but being a polite host, I gave him a small pour from a less expensive bottle. In the future, is it possible to gracefully turn down a guest?

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It seems waiters these days tend to younger folks at the table first and take the matriarch’s order last. Maybe I’m living by a bygone standard, but it bugs me every time. Is it outdated to expect the matriarch to order first?

ABOUT C AT H E R I N E The author of One Mixed-Up Night, Catastrophic Happiness, and Waiting for Birdy, Catherine Newman has shared her wisdom on matters ranging from family and friends to happiness and pickling in numerous publications. She gets advice from her husband and two opinionated children in Amherst, Massachusetts.

So many etiquette traditions were about putting women on a pedestal—and not in a good way, because if you’re like a treasured sculpture, then you’re more of an object than an agent. Hence the old traditions of women getting menus without prices and men ordering and paying for women, who were assumed not to earn or have money. In other words, there’s a fine line between chivalry and chauvinism. That doesn’t mean you can’t grieve the loss of a tradition. (As a person who clutches at the dying art of the thank-you note, I’m sympathetic.) But the expectation for the oldest woman to order first might be outdated. In fact, it might be most respectful not to make assumptions about anyone’s age, status, or even gender.

I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y Yo c o N a g a m i y a

C AT H E R I N E N E W M A N I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y U L I K N Ö R Z E R

A visiting teen once ate an entire box of our expensive chocolates from France, so I hear you. And if you were the guest, I would recommend you stick with whatever is explicitly on ofer. But you’re the host, and here’s the funny thing about hosting: You have less control than you think. Of course you can say no to whatever you like, but being a gracious host means accommodating your guests. Which means, should the matter come up, sharing some of the good stuf. Maybe the way you solved the problem is a good strategy for the future: Keep a couple of decoy bottles on hand for guests you don’t feel like treating well. But honestly? If you pride yourself on your politeness and someone shares your passion for the peatiest, the oakiest, the single-maltiest, then pour them a tiny taste of the best you’ve got. Life is short, and you can’t take it with you.

P. L . A S K S …

S.J. ASKS…

After college, my best friend since fourth grade moved to a larger city (we grew up in a smaller urban area). Whenever she visits, I get the “big fish in a small pond” vibe. The comments she makes are so subtle that it’s hard for me to call her out on them, but by the end of her visit I feel exhausted and offended, as if she’s outgrown her hometown and can no longer see it for the lovely city it is. How do I keep the conversation light but also convey that her attitude really bothers me? J .C . A S K S …

It sounds like your friend is needy and craves validation for her choices. Maybe she wants praise for having the courage to move to a big city or for the success she feels she’s achieved there. After all, if there weren’t a hole in her confidence about the wonderfulness of it all, she probably wouldn’t need to boast and bash. If you’re game, try shoveling into that hole: “Were you scared when you first got there? I still can’t believe you live somewhere so glamorous!” But that doesn’t mean you have to sit by while she dumps on your beloved home. Say something direct if you can, like “I know you’ve moved on, but I still live here, and it hurts when you knock this town.” Or try brightly matching her negative comments with positive ones: “Yeah, there are definitely fewer bars here—but I love knowing all the bartenders!” Even if your friend doesn’t take the hint, you’ll shore up your own appreciation of the place you choose to live.

Help! For the 30-plus years of my life, I have always been Jennifer. Not Jen or Jenny. Never. My mom threatened anyone who tried to “rename” me as a baby, and it was never an issue growing up. I recently moved across the country and started a new job, and it seems everyone in my new town tries to shorten my name. Is there a polite way to correct this? I find it rude, and I’d like to let people know I prefer to be called Jennifer.

HAVE AN E TIQUE T TE QUE STION? Submit your social conundrums to modernmanners@realsimple.com. Selected letters will be featured on these pages every month.

I get it. I’m a Catherine who has never been Cathy or Cate—and whose parents were similarly strict on this point. I’m sure people’s intentions are good, if misguided. Your full name might feel too formal, and the nickname is meant to signal familiarity and friendliness. If you presume good faith, your swift, gentle correction will sound perfectly fine: “Oh, just so you know, I actually go by Jennifer.” The sooner the better, of course—but if needed, add, “I’m sorry. I should have corrected you the first time you said it.” Thirty years ago, when I asked my now husband, after two passionate months of dating, whether he’d always been Mike (a mutual friend had introduced us), he said, “Oh God, no. I’ve only ever been Michael. I don’t know where Mike even came from.” I would’ve really loved to know sooner.

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My cat has red bumps under her chin. Is this something I should worry about?

I want to keep my 9-year-old hound active mentally and physically. What can I do to help him stay sharp?

My rabbit’s eyes are always runny. What can I do to treat this?

These bumps might be acne, a fairly common condition that isn’t harmful but could be painful if left untreated, says veterinarian Robyn Ott. Cats who have environmental allergies or poor grooming habits, or who eat from plastic or porous bowls (which can harbor bacteria), can develop chin acne, she says. Soothe your cat’s skin with a thin layer of topical honey daily (like ResQ Organics with Manuka Honey Skin Treatment, $30; amazon.com) or give her treats made with fish oil (like Greenies Feline Smartbites Healthy Skin & Fur Salmon Flavor Cat Treats, $3; petco.com), which supports healthy skin. If you’ve made adjustments and see no change after one week, check with your veterinarian about allergies or health issues.

A well-balanced diet and daily exercise are keys to a dog’s longevity, says veterinarian Nancy Kay. Senior dogs (between the ages of 5 and 10, depending on size) are prone to arthritis and gum disease. Daily walks, gentle stretches, and swimming can keep your dog limber. Help control his weight with fiber-rich, filling snacks, like blueberries, and prevent bacteria-related health issues by offering plaque-fighting treats (try VirBac C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews, from $23 for 30; petco .com). For mental prowess, dog trainer Mikkel Becker suggests problem-solving games and toys (like the Kong Quest Critters Frog Dog Toy, $6; chewy.com). Training classes, visits to the dog park, and hikes will also engage his brain and keep him feeling more like a young pup.

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Many bunnies suffer from an overflow of tears because their tear ducts can be congenitally small, says veterinarian Andy Roark. Smaller ducts mean blockages are more likely, but prescription eye drops can help clear them. Your rabbit could also have a dust allergy, so try dust-free bedding (like Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding, $13; amazon .com). Clean the fur around his eyes daily with a damp washcloth or pet wipes (like Earthbath Eye Wipes, $10 for 25; chewy .com) to keep additional dirt and dust away from his eyes. The other common culprit: obesity. Feed your bunny a balanced diet high in fiber to help keep his weight in a healthy range. Offer high-quality leafy greens and pellets (one cup greens and a quarter cup pellets per day per five pounds of body weight) and an unlimited amount of fiberrich hay (try Oxbow Western Timothy Hay, $25; petsmart.com).

O U R E X P E RT S MIKKEL BECKER, LE AD ANIMAL TRAINER, FE AR FREE HAPPY HOMES, L AKE STEVENS, WASHINGTON JANE BRUNT, DVM, OWNER, CAT HOSPITAL AT TOWSON, BALTIMORE NANCY KAY, DVM, AUTHOR OF SPE AK ING FOR SP OT PATRICK MAHANEY, VMD, CALIFORNIA PE T ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNES S INC., LOS ANGELES ROBYN OTT, DVM, M C KINLEYVILLE ANIMAL CARE CENTER, M C KINLEYVILLE, CALIFORNIA ANDY ROARK, DVM, CLEVEL AND PARK ANIMAL HOSPITAL , GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

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W O R K , M O N E Y, A N D H E A L T H ADVICE FOR BUSY PEOPLE

M A KE A NY J O B FE E L LE S S STR E S S FU L Two-thirds of Americans point to their job as a main source of anxiety, but getting all worked up at work shouldn’t be your norm. Try these six science-backed strategies to feel cool, calm, and happy now.

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See stress as a good thing. Anxiety is a form of energy you can harness to work for you, says Ian Robertson, PhD, clinical psychologist, cognitive neuroscientist, and author of The Stress Test: How Pressure Can Make You Stronger and Sharper. Reframe a stressful situation as a challenge instead of a threat, and use those intense feelings to energize rather than hinder you. In other words, go into that big meeting determined to impress your boss, not worried she’ll fire you. Stress causes the brain to release the chemical noradrenaline, says Robertson, and if you think bad things might happen, you’ll get too much of the chemical, which could make you more likely to clam up or say the wrong thing. If you’re excited to perform, you’ll reap the benefits of the arousal and be in a better position to do well.

Let email pile up.

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Reframe a stre ssful situation as a challenge inste ad of a thre at, and use those intense fe elings to e n e rgize ra th er tha n hind er yo u . G o into that big me et ing dete rmine d to impre ss your b oss, n ot wo r r i e d s h e’ l l f i re yo u .

Eliminate other interruptions too. Open ﬂoor plans are designed to encourage collaboration, but they may also amplify the hubbub around you. “Screening out irrelevant commotion while trying to concentrate consumes a lot of mental energy,” says Robertson. Listen to white noise over headphones, or duck into a conference room for an hour or two of quiet during particularly chatty times of day (like lunch or Friday afternoons). Another common distraction: Sitting with your back to a door or a hallway may cause you to instinctively turn around whenever someone passes. “It’s an uncomfortable feeling not to know what’s behind you,” says Jeanette Bronée, a health coach and author in New York City. “Position a mirror in your work space so you can see at a glance what’s going on.”

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Resist the temptation to respond to each and every ping. In a University of British Columbia study, people who constantly checked email felt significantly more stressed than those who only looked at their inboxes three times a day. If possible, batchprocess messages in 30-minute sessions in the morning, afternoon, and evening, then turn of pesky alerts to free up the rest of the day, says Peter Bregman, CEO of Bregman Partners, a national consulting group, and author of Leading with Emotional Courage. While you’re at it, disable that anxiety-inducing badge on your mail app that shows how many unread emails you have.

“ We ex p er i e n c e st re ss wh en th ere are asp e c ts of a

situation that se em 4

o u t of o u r c o nt ro l . S o th e more you can

Fidget productively. Find yourself wringing your hands or tapping your fingers when the pressure is on? Give yourself a mood and confidence boost by swapping those habits for one that’s actually helpful, says Robertson, who uses this technique before nerve-racking presentations: Gently squeeze your right hand for 45 seconds, release for 15 seconds, and repeat a few times. “You’ll activate the left frontal lobe of the brain, which helps you prepare for challenges,” he says.

c ontrol, th e le ss an xiet y you’ ll fe e l .”

Tidy your desk. Studies show that messy spaces can majorly cramp our vibe. A disorganized office or cubicle can limit our ability to focus, and even looking at clutter can spark the body’s production of stress hormones. “We experience stress when there are aspects of a situation that seem out of our control,” says Sharon Melnick, PhD, author of Success Under Stress. “So the more you can control, the less anxiety you’ll feel.” (And hey, sometimes a straightened-up desk is victory enough.) For good measure, add a succulent or two. Research from Washington State University in Pullman found that indoor plants reduce blood pressure and increase productivity.

Make break time sacred. The adrenaline rush of busyness can compel you to power through lunch, but even if you’re literally putting out fires, you deserve a timeout. “We are designed to function on survival mode for short spurts, but when this fight-or-ﬂight reaction is a constant way of living, stress becomes chronic,” says Bronée. The ideal break schedule, says Melnick, is 90 minutes of concentration followed by a brief period of recovery: “Pausing to take a few meditative breaths or a lap around the ﬂoor aids in optimal performance and helps clear away stress hormones built up from intense focus.” Even a little Candy Crush can make you more chill. A recent study from the University of Central Florida in Orlando discovered that a few minutes of playing video games can be enough to lower workplace stress. For five ways to make your work space more inviting, go to realsimple.com/happydesk.

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M a k i n g I t Wo r k

How do you stay connected with your aging parents? By Jane Por ter

DON GOUGH, 72, EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT IN NE W CASTLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

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My mom and I have reconnected thanks to crafting. When I was growing up, she worked as a nurse and raised me on her own. Now I live in Miami and she lives in the Bay Area, and she retired recently. She’s always been a crafty person, but she never did crafting as a full-on hobby. We’ve bonded over this shared interest, and I think she’s using it as a tool to cope with this new stage of her life. The next time I visit her, we’re going to transform a little closet into a craft room.

My children and I like to do baking projects with my parents over Skype. It’s a creative way to bridge the gap between where we live in Australia and where they live in New Hampshire. We also pass books back and forth and give one another suggestions on what to read next. It’s refreshing to have conversations about literature with your adult parents. In some ways, those conversations reveal more about who we are than chats about the day-to-day stuff.

AMBER KEMP-GERSTEL , 38, CRAF TING BLO GGER IN MIAMI

CHRISTEN KADKHODAI, 33, FREEL ANCE WRITER IN CANBERRA , AUSTRALIA

SHIRLEY FAN, 41, REGISTERED DIE TITIAN AND AUTHOR IN BRO OKLYN, NE W YORK

One way I connect with my 70-year-old mother is over Ghanaian food. (I was born in Ghana and came to the U.S. when I was a baby.) I go to her house twice a month, and she prepares a feast for me and my kids. We spend the entire day with her. She knows we can’t go to the store for this type of food; it’s got to be Grandma’s house! I run my own business, and sometimes it can be hard to find the time, but food is always a great incentive for us to get together.

NIKKI O SEI-BARRET T, 34, PUBLICIST IN L AUREL , MARYL AND

Illustration by Andrea Mongia

P H OTO G R A P H S C O U RT E SY O F S U B J ECTS

I get together with my 100-year-old father for dinner every Thursday night. He lives about 20 minutes away from me, and we’ve stuck to this tradition since my mom passed away eight years ago. My dad is a pastor and prepares a sermon every week, so sometimes we’ll talk about that, or we’ll discuss what life was like for him growing up. It’s important to both of us that we stay connected, and I’m trying to help make his final years happy.

My relationship with my parents has grown stronger since we moved into the same apartment building (they’re on the bottom floor and we’re on the top). I went to boarding school at 14 and didn’t relate much to my parents back then, because they were immigrants from Taiwan and grew up in a very different culture. Now we all have meals together each day, and they help take care of my 2- and 6-year-old sons. Because I see them more often, I’ve realized that their help and perspectives are so valuable.

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technology can be downright scary these days—are you sure your phone isn’t surreptitiously recording your deepest secrets and selling them to Russia?— but there’s really good news out there too. Innovations in areas such as genetics, telemedicine, and pharmacology are changing our health for the better every single day. Here are eight trends and developments that just might change your life.

You can monitor your heart with your smartphone.

8 Breakthroughs That Could Change Your Health T I R E D O F B A D N E W S ? J U ST TA K E A L O O K AT A F E W A D VA N C E S F RO M T H E S C I E N C E A N D T E C H W O R L D S . Y O U ’ L L F E E L B E T T E R — I N M O R E W AY S T H A N O N E . By Marisa Cohen

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You may already use your phone or Fitbit to track your steps, your sleep, or your cycle. But the next leap in digital health allows those at risk for heart disease to take a medical-grade electrocardiogram anywhere, anytime—which is possibly lifesaving, especially for the 92 million Americans living with certain forms of heart disease or the afterefects of a stroke. Purchase the FDA-cleared KardiaMobile device ($99; alivecor.com) and download the Kardia app (free; iOS and Android). The app will guide you through a 30second reading using the device, and the results will tell you whether your heart rhythm is normal or irregular. If it’s irregular, you may be experiencing atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia and a frequent cause of stroke—and you’ll know to contact your doctor immediately.

Illustrations by James Steinberg

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You can talk to a doctor online or IRL 24/7. If you’ve ever had a child come down with strep on Thanksgiving Day, you’ll be singing hallelujah for the rise of 24-hour medicine. In the last decade, visits to urgent care centers have increased by more than 1,000 percent. For times when you’re too sick to leave the house but not quite sick enough for the ER, telemedicine apps, such as Doctor On Demand and MDLive (free; iOS and Android), give you face time with a physician any hour of the day or night; you pay about $50 to $75 for a 15-minute appointment. And the digital clinic Maven specializes in women’s health at afordable prices. You can talk to a lactation consultant, doula, midwife, therapist, or physician, with prices for some practitioners starting at $18 for a 10-minute appointment. “Those options are great as long as there’s good coordination with your regular physician, who can keep track of patterns over the long run,” says Michael Munger, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. This trend has also pushed traditional practices to increase their hours: “We understand that you don’t get sick just from 9 to 5 on weekdays, so about 80 percent of family physicians now have same-day appointments, and half have extended office hours,” says Munger.

An “artiicial pancreas” will one day make life easier for people with diabetes. Millions of people with type 1 diabetes have to deal with syringes and insulin pumps every day, in a constant efort to keep their blood glucose levels steady. What if they didn’t have to think about the process at all? Scientists are racing to achieve the ultimate goal of an “artificial pancreas,” a system in which a glucose monitor sends information directly to a pump, which then releases the exact amount of insulin needed—no human efort required. While we’re not quite there yet, the FDA recently approved a hybrid closed-loop system, in which a glucose monitor and an insulin pump, both inserted under the skin, communicate with each other: a step in the right direction. “With this system, the patient is still responsible for taking insulin with food,” explains Irl B. Hirsch, MD, an endocrinologist at UW Medicine in Seattle and a spokesperson for the Ameri-

can Diabetes Association. “But between meals, the electronic sensor talks to the pump and gives enough insulin to keep blood sugars at a steady level.” The biggest benefit is that the system keeps blood sugar levels steady between meals, says Hirsch. “The system really does minimize hypoglycemia, especially while people are asleep, and for many people that is revolutionary,” he says. So far, the system has only been tested on patients with type 1 diabetes, but in the future, the 4.5 million Americans with type 2 diabetes who take insulin may benefit from this breakthrough as well.

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Health stigmas are melting away. Thanks to the confessional nature of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, we have become a society that seems to share everything all the time. While this can sometimes cross over into TMI, it also means the walls of shame are crumbling around many previously taboo topics, such as mental health, sexual violence, and infertility. The result? Those who can relate feel less alone and may

Your mammogram just got a little less squishy. In one of the greatest developments for boob comfort since the invention of the sports bra, you can now have your mammogram performed by a machine that cradles your breast on a curved surface instead of squishing it between two ﬂat panels. Hologic’s new SmartCurve system is used with its regular 3-D mammogram machines (3-D mammos are especially recommended for the 50 percent of women with dense breasts). It makes the process a whole lot more comfortable. “The pressure is felt evenly across the breast, so you don’t get those pinch points,” says Tracy Accardi, global vice president of research and development for Hologic, who points out that many women avoid their recommended screenings because they associate mammograms with pain. More good news: The curved system doesn’t cost patients any more than the ﬂat kind and should be covered by most insurance plans. To find a facility, go to genius3d nearme.com.

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learn about resources they otherwise wouldn’t have been aware of. Consider this: When Prince Harry spoke out about his battles with depression after his mother’s death, phone calls to mental health clinics jumped. When celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and Adele talk about their postpartum depression, new moms who are up crying in the middle of the night can feel less hopeless. “We see people who are larger than life and seem to have it all together, and you go, ‘Dang!’ ” says Katrina Gay, a spokesperson for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “When they share their stories and experiences, it helps eliminate the stigma and the shame.” Gay adds that whenever a celebrity posts about mental health struggles, she sees an increase in calls to the NAMI HelpLine. “It’s so relatable. It gives people permission to say, ‘I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to put on a facade.’ It encourages them to seek help.” If you’re in crisis, take NAMI’s lead and call 800-273-8255.

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There’s inally a treatment just for migraines. It’s hard to believe, but until this year, there was no medication specifically for preventing migraines, the debilitating headaches that afect 38 million Americans, most of them women. The development of triptans in the 1990s was a huge achievement, but triptans are taken after a headache hits. To try to prevent migraines, doctors had to choose from an imperfect selection of blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and antiseizure meds. “These all have side efects, and we were treating otherwise healthy young women with medications they possibly couldn’t tolerate,” says Merle Diamond, MD, president of Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. The last big breakthrough was in

2010, when Botox injections were approved for chronic migraine. Though it has been very successful, Diamond says the treatment—typically 31 small injections in the forehead and neck every three months—is only approved for patients with headaches on 15 or more days per month. Then, this past spring, a gamechanging new drug entered the market: Aimovig, which migraineurs inject once a month. The drug blocks a neuropeptide called CGRP and has been shown to reduce the number of migraines by one or two a month. The only known side efect is injectionsite soreness. Three similar drugs may be released by the end of this year. “We are super excited about this,” says Diamond. “Not every patient will respond, but it is a beacon of light for many.”

Less-invasive tests are on the horizon. Rather than undergoing a biopsy, you may soon be able to get screened for cancer via a simple blood test. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore are developing a new test, called CancerSEEK, that screens for eight common types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colorectal. What’s most amazing is that, for five of the cancers it screens for, there is no other screening test available yet. A surgery-free test for endometriosis is even closer. A noninvasive test involving saliva called DotEndo, which its developers say will be available by the end of this year, could help the estimated 1 in 10 women sufering from endometriosis get diagnosed— and start treatment—less painfully.

Genome sequencing is helping keep our food supply safe. Over the past few years, the CDC and the FDA have been using cutting-edge technology, called whole genome sequencing, to identify the specific strains of bacteria causing outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. This allows them to track down the source of the outbreak, whether it’s lettuce, frozen corn, or a batch of soy nut butter. “Before we had this technology, it took much longer to piece together the information about outbreaks, and they could make thousands of people sick,” says Peter Cassell, a spokesperson for the FDA. “Now we can figure it out faster and contain the outbreaks to a much smaller group of people.” Go to fda.gov/safety/ recalls to sign up for news alerts about recalls and outbreaks as they happen.

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Ahhh... The force that causes you to inhale subconsciously is called prana in yoga terms. Instead of trying to control that force, just inhale and exhale and let the breath come to you all by itself. Continue breathing with awareness and ease and feel how each inhale is the way you literally receive life support and energy. Let your exhale fall freely each time. With every inhale, consciously receive what life is giving you. Let yourself take in as much as you want. We always say we “take” a breath. You don’t have to “make” a breath. It’s already here. Continue through your day, taking time to remember to receive and appreciate this life force that is supporting you. — M A R G A R E T T O W N S E N D,

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AT H O M E WITH REAL SIMPLE We gathered a superteam of designers and organizers to create a beautifully efficient space, filled floor to ceiling with adaptable ideas. Come in and take a tour of the first-ever REAL SIMPLE HOME. T O B U Y: Nate + Jeremiah for Living

Spaces Liv sofas, $995 each, Mohave footstool, $350, Soane three-piece sectional, $2,795, and pillows, from $39; livingspaces.com. Arabescus white marble dining table, $3,500, and Stellar Works Utility U dining chairs, $957 each; chairish.com for similar. Inaction (left) and Vested artwork by Kali Sanders; generalpublic.art. O’Connor chandelier, $2,099; circalighting.com. Italian Neoclassic “Pompei”-style 1930s center table and Force abstract sculpture by Tristan Govignon (behind sectional); newel.com for similar.

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LIVING & DINING ROOM “When working with neutrals,” says Berkus, “incorporate a mix of materials and textures” to give the space a lived-in feel. Shearling sofas, antique wood armoires, and brass accent pieces make the room elegant and comfortable at the same time.

ou know when you walk into someone’s thoughtfully designed house and think, “Wow, this is beautiful! I want to know where that ottoman is from. I want to learn how they pulled of that wallpaper,” but you’re not comfortable actually asking for details? With that feeling in mind, we took over a four-bedroom penthouse in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and put our heads together with some of our favorite design pros. Each designer was given a room and an assist from the expert organizers at Neat Method. The result is a space full of designer secrets and organizer solutions— one we think is pretty swoon-worthy. Come on in and find answers to all your burning questions (including where that ottoman is from and how exactly to make that wallpaper work).

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Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent Design duo Berkus (right) and Brent have partnered on their first product collaboration: a furniture collection for Living Spaces. The pair used some of those pieces to divide the large, open floor plan into more intimate zones and even employed a sectional as banquette seating for their dining table.

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y B E T H F L AT L E Y ; F L O R A L S T Y L I N G B Y L I V I A C E T T I AT T H E G R E E N VA S E ; N AT E B E R K U S A N D J E R E M I A H B R E N T C O U R T E S Y O F L I V I N G S PA C E S

Use an armoire or strategically placed baskets to stash magazines, cords, and spare blankets out of sight.

T O B U Y: (This page) Nate + Jeremiah for Living Spaces Emile lounge chairs, $795 each; livingspaces.com. Custom tailored pleat drapes in Korinthos, Cashew; theshadestore.com for info. Beata artwork by Kali Sanders; generalpublic.art for info. Parchment console table by Billy Cotton; ferrer .co. Mid-Century Italian Murano glass table lamp by Vistosi; newel.com for similar. Breccia Marble Base; robinmillerantiques.com for similar. (Opposite page) Paint: Heron Plume SW6070; sherwin-williams.com for stores. French 1950s bronze coffee table and Painted Bibliotheque cabinet; newel .com for similar. Herringbone woven cotton rug in stone, $598 (9 by 12 ft.); annie selke.com. Structures 14 artwork by Paul Van Rij; generalpublic.art for info.

ST YLE SECRET Fresh flowers are a nice touch, but Brent suggests adding in durable greenery, like olive branches, as well. They’ll last for up to two weeks and keep eyes looking upward in a space where all the furniture is about the same height.

KITCHEN NE AT TIP

Add personality with a bit of unexpected pattern, like this removable striped wallpaper. Consider the design of nearby rooms when picking your motif to ensure it won’t interfere.

Keep only the small appliances you use most often out on the counter. The rest should go in a cupboard to provide a clutter-free work surface.

Donna Garlough The style director for Joss & Main used tips from her book, Your Home, Your Style, throughout the cooking space. Even a functional room like this should be given decorative flourishes, she says, such as framed art leaned against the backsplash.

OFFSET FINISHES T O B U Y: Archie 1-light

pendants, $298 each, Watercolor Stripes peeland-stick wallpaper, $94 per roll, City Life bar cart, $104, Prism 24-inch swivel barstools, $380 for 2, Sidell acacia wood cutting board, $55, and Artisan 5 Qt. stand mixer in Imperial Black, $394; jossandmain.com.

Soften the hard edges of kitchen surfaces with round-back, upholstered barstools. “These swivel,” says Garlough, “so people at the island can be part of the conversation in the kitchen or adjacent living room.”

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Corralling like items in labeled baskets prevents rogue boxes and cans from getting lost in the back of the cabinet.

STOR AGE S PA C E S Treat these areas as extensions of your living space and you’ll be more likely to keep them orderly.

Neat Method Along with their team of pro organizers, cofounders Molly Graves (right) and Ashley Murphy gave the most challenging spots the tidy touch. Durable containers and adaptable systems offer flexibility for a family’s ever-changing needs.

T O B U Y: (This page) Canisters, baskets, and dividers available through Neat Method. Food courtesy of boxed.com. (Opposite page) Custom closet design by California Closets; california closets.com for info. Jackets, bags, and shoes courtesy of garnethill.com. Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute vacuum, $699; dyson.com. Italian leather dog leash, $79, and wool initial ball caps, $49 each; markand graham.com. Electra helmets in Holographic (left) and Bronx, $70 each; store.electrabike.com.

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STREAMLINE THE J U N K D R AW E R Don’t let this space become a catchall for those things you’re not sure what to do with. Instead, fill it with items you use in or near the area where that drawer lives, categorizing them within divided containers.

P R E V I O U S PA G E : D O N N A G A R L O U G H C O U R T E S Y O F J O Y E L L E W E S T. T H I S PA G E : M O L LY G R AV E S A N D A S H L E Y M U R P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F M I C H E L L E D R E W E S

NE AT TIP

MAP OUT THE CLOSET

A modular system maximizes the storage space of a reach-in closet. Adjust the bar height seasonally to accommodate longer or shorter outerwear, and relabel storage bins for your most often used accessories.

NE AT TIP Nightstands can become landing spots for items that don’t have a home. Store only nighttime necessities within the drawers (notebook, pen, earplugs).

MASTER SUITE Touchable elements, like linen-coated nightstands, feathery fronds, and a geometric bathroom stool, keep the simple space from feeling boring. The minimal design focuses on contrast between navy and white to create a balanced bedroom oasis.

CONSIDER SCALE

Interested in a four-poster bed? It’s best in a space with nine-foot ceilings or higher, says McGee. Otherwise the room could feel cramped.

S H E A M C G E E C O U R T E S Y O F K AT E O S B O R N E P H O T O G R A P H Y

Shea McGee Feel free to mix metals in a space like this, says the Salt Lake City, Utah–based designer. In fact, the variety prevents the room from feeling one-note. The key, she explains, is to “separate metals by height.” Here, the lamps at eye level are nickel, while the nightstand knobs are brass.

T O B U Y: (This page) Paint: Inkwell SW6992; sherwin-williams.com for stores. Custom flat roman shades in Luxe Linen Oatmeal; theshadestore.com for info. Addison side table, $328, Uptown stripe hand towel, $35, Wood & Metal ladder, $176, and vintage rug; mcgeeandco.com. (Opposite page, top) Paint: White Flour SW7102; sherwin-williams .com for stores. Williston upholstered canopy bed, $505 (king); jossandmain.com. Jarin double nightstand in Dark Navy Faux Belgian Linen; madegoods.com for info. RL ’67 Boom Arm desk lamp in polished nickel, $879; circalighting.com. Pacific North Fog framed print, $254 (24 by 18 in.); minted.com. Ansonia flat sheet in charcoal, $275 (king), pillowcases, $144 for 2 (king), duvet cover, $549 (king), and Pezzo throw, $75; matouk.com. Dorian navy pillows, $174 each, and Palomino leather pillow, $238; mcgeeandco.com. Riverine lumbar pillow, $150; fetehome.com. Custom tailored pleat drapes in Linen Midnight; theshadestore.com for info. (Opposite page, bottom) Casa Bella C5H-205 dresser; centuryfurniture.com for info. Sinead mirror in Young Pen Shell; madegoods .com for info. Polished brass boxes, from $52, and Turquoise glaze pot, from $46; mcgeeandco.com.

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E N T R Y W AY This space should set the stage for the rest of the home while offering practical functionality. Add a tray to catch keys and a mirror to check yourself coming and going.

T RY I T Y O U R S E L F

Robin Henr y Studio

T O B U Y: Ceiling paint: Rhythmic Blue SW6806; sherwin-williams.com for stores. Concave Copper Clad Octagonal Mirror; rtfacts.com for similar. Alia lamps in dark green; bungalow5.com for info. McLain Wiesand “Louise” console; johnrosselli.com for info. Late 19th-century French painted window bench upholstered in handmade silk velvet ikat; berminghamfabrics.com for info. One-inch nailheads; diyupholsterysupply.com. Abdiel sisal rug in linen; starkcarpet.com for info.

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The New York City–based designer gave the ceiling a high-gloss paint job in a subtle blue shade “to draw the eye up and through the space,” she says. The glossy finish will highlight any irregularities in the surface, she says, so it’s best to hire a pro.

R O B I N H E N R Y C O U R T E S Y O F P E G G Y G A R B U S ; S A B R I N A S O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T E S S A N E U S TA D T

Bring in a burst of color with a piece of fabric or accent paint framed with an oversize nailhead trim. The quick DIY project can be completed in a day.

NE AT TIP Store items you need for each load of laundr y within arm’s reach. Clearly label bins to separate housecleaning products from garment-care supplies.

S abrina S oto The designer and TV personality wanted this windowless room to feel lively and personal while still supplying smart storage. An inexpensive countertop above the appliances optimizes the usable surface area for folding.

M I X PA T T E R N S LIKE A PRO

As long as you work within a cohesive color scheme and balance the print sizes, pattern-on-pattern is OK. Here, the large linear striped print doesn’t compete with the busier lemon wallpaper, giving your eyes a place to land.

T O B U Y: Lemons wallpaper in blue,

L AUNDRY RO OM “Treat this work space like any other room in your home,” says Soto. “It should be fun and bright—a place that might actually make you want to do laundry.”

$136 per roll; wallshoppe.com. Original canvas painting by Gina Julian; ginajulian.com for info. Sektion wall cabinets with Grimslov off-white doors, from $196, Bagganas handles in brass, $11 for 2, and Lilltrask countertop, $59; ikea.com/us. Robinson large pendant, $1,049; circalighting.com. Ellie rolling hamper, $100; worldmarket.com. Bleeker bar drink dispenser, $149; potterybarn .com. Real Simple woven seagrass folding storage baskets in natural, $15 each; bedbathandbeyond.com.

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P I C K T H E R I G H T PA I N T

Identify an accent color in one of your room’s main elements to inspire your paint choice. The slate blue found in this vintage rug offers a serene backdrop for the patterned bed.

GUEST BEDROOM Though no one lives in this room year-round, the guest space shouldn’t feel sterile. A plaid bed frame brings a bit of whimsy and a masculine touch to a space that tends to skew a little feminine.

JES SICA MCCARTHY COURTESY OF DECORIST

Jessica McCar thy The interior designer and creative director at Decorist aimed to create a space that would appeal to any visitor. Blue is a particularly soothing shade for a bedroom, but if you’re wary of color, McCarthy suggests keeping “the bones of the space neutral and incorporating color through accessories.”

NE AT TIP Leave drawer space and at least a portion of the closet empty so guests can unpack and feel at home during their stay.

T O B U Y: (This page) Zickafoose framed print, $466 (30 by 40 in.); minted.com. Tailored pleat drapery in Linen White; theshadestore.com for info. (Opposite page) Paint: Let it Rain SW9152; sherwin-williams.com for info. Bistro Medium Round chandelier, $1,679; circalighting.com. Kira large mirror; arteriorshome.com for info. Adara bed in Prep School Plaid, $1,073 (queen), and Thea pillows in mocha, $58 each (28 in. square); luluandgeorgia.com. Antique Turkish area rug, $497; turkisharearug.etsy.com for similar. Safavieh Couture Nour shagreen end tables in beige, $882 each, Gazette table lamps in antique brass, $291 each, Safavieh Bandelier armchairs, $448 each, Villa Home linen heirloom throw pillows in black, $70 each, and Levtex Home washed linen duvet cover, $180 (queen); bedbathandbeyond.com. Icelandic sheepskin long wool chair pads, $50 each; nysheepskin.etsy.com. Pinstriped Indigo pillow, $190, and Atlas blanket with braided tassels, $250; thevintagerugshop.com. Coming of Age framed print, $232 (24 in. square), Soho framed print, $89 (11 by 14 in.), and Brooklyn framed print, $199 (20 by 16 in.); minted.com.

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OFFICE There’s something calming about having open floor space—especially in a spot where you want to concentrate—so don’t stress about filling the entire area.

NE AT TIP Feature your favorite books as a design element on open shelving, focusing on those that fit your color scheme. Incorporate a few decorative items to add visual variety.

Ariel Okin The premier designer for Homepolish opted for elegant finishes with a practical execution. The sisal rug, for example, has a subtle pattern and is super durable and easy to clean.

G I V E T H E WA L L S W O W FA C T O R

Grass-cloth wallpaper is a designer favorite, but it often comes at a price. This faux version offers texture without hurting your wallet, and the calming blue shade encourages focus.

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zontal grass-cloth wallpaper in Faded Denim Blue, $63 per roll; homedepot.com. Suzanne Kasler French bookcase, $999, and Suzanne Kasler French bisque lamp slips, from $59; ballarddesigns.com. Books courtesy of boothandwilliams .com. (Opposite page) D’Oro vanity desk; globalviews.com for info. Rinaldi armchair, $402; jossandmain.com. Carthage Mini Lamp by Ralph Lauren in Polished Nickel, $599; circalighting.com. Jackson bench, from $849, Ling garden stool, $199, Suzanne Kasler triple gourd lamp in green, $249, Olive tree, $349, and Burke faux-leather planter, $139; ballard designs.com for similar. Rickey bar cart, $150; jossandmain.com. Chinoiserie Collage: Robin Egg Blue by Dawn Michelle Wolfe, $600; dawnmichellewolfe.com. Ripple fold drapes in Wool Sateen, Winter; theshadestore.com for info. Custom Anais-Crema rug; starkcarpet.com for info.

ARIEL OKIN COURTESY OF ALL AIRE BARTEL

T O B U Y: (This page) Nautical Living hori-

ADD SOME DRAMA

Floor-to-ceiling drapery completes the sophisticated look of this room. Choose curtains that are double the width of the opening. Cut them to skim the floor for an ultra-tailored effect, or leave them a few inches long for a more formal finish.

KID’S BEDROOM “Pillows, bedding, shelf accessories, and even removable wallpaper are easy to switch out as children grow and tastes evolve,” says Komenda.

The interior designer and founder of Juniper Studio was inspired by her own 10-year-old daughter when planning out this kid’s space. “The trick to designing for a growing child,” she says, “is to invest in furniture you can see them using as adults. The accessories and soft goods are what make the space feel youthful.”

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COURTESY OF JENNY KOMENDA

Jenny Komenda

T O B U Y: (This page) Display birch plywood

pegboard, $193; littledeerinteriors.etsy .com. Moroccan inlay console table, $1,699; arhaus.com. Roar + Rabbit ripple ceramic table lamp, $179 (large); westelm.com. Marte bistro chair, $279; urbanoutfitters .com. Mongolian sheepskin pink fur pillow, $90; cb2.com. (Opposite page) Paint: Jubilee SW6248; sherwin-williams.com for stores. Leaf Branches removable wallpaper, from $32 per roll; musewallstudio.etsy.com. Arne bed with leather cushions, $1,399 (queen), Modernist wood and lacquer nightstands in Winter Wood, $399 each; westelm.com. Solana sheet set in Sky, $258 (full), Sutter linen quilt in white, from $298 (full/queen), Henley wool throw in ivory, $598, and quilted shams, $78 each; serenaandlily.com. Lumbar pillow, $110; juniperhome.com. Liberty sconces, $249 each; lucentlightshop.com. Counting Sheep digital print, $20; jennysprintshop.com. Printing and framing courtesy of Framebridge. Custom flat roman shades in Cottage Stripe, Denim; theshadestore.com for info. Madeline indoor/outdoor rug in ivory, $342 (7 ft., 10 in. by 10 ft., 3 in.); luluandgeorgia.com.

NE AT TIP To maintain a clear countertop, place a step stool near the sink so little ones can access the medicine cabinet and put toiletries away.

HIDE THE CHAOS

Tucking a desk into a slightly awkward nook maximizes square footage and helps arts-and-crafts debris stay out of sight from the home’s common areas.

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TERRACE Don’t overthink the design of your outdoor space. Opt for styles similar to what you would choose for indoors to make the look feel authentic.

NE AT TIP Identif y a weatherproof spot, like a shed or enclosed cabinet, to house grilling tools and gardening supplies nearby.

MAKE IT W E AT H E R - R E S I S TA N T

Coat outdoor upholstery with a water-repellent spray to ensure longevity against the elements.

Stephanie Sisco Real Simple’s home editor made this sprawling outdoor space more manageable by dividing it into smaller sections (one for lounging, one for entertaining). Potted greenery creates barriers between zones and adds extra privacy. Move the plants around to switch up your arrangement as needed.

COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SISCO

DESIGN TO L AST Treat outdoor furniture with a material-appropriate sealant at least once a year to protect it from sun or moisture damage. If you live in a fourseason city, store it indoors or top it with furniture covers during the winter months to minimize exposure and slow down deterioration.

T O B U Y: (This page) Earnest dining table, $1,470; allmodern.com. Ellery side chairs in distressed copper,

$340 for 4; jossandmain.com. Hobnail blue indoor/outdoor rug, $1,200 (9 by 12 ft.); annieselke.com. Weber Spirit II E-310 gas grill, $599; weber.com for info. Copper Geo terrariums, $20 each; worldmarket.com. Pantano lounge chair with cushions, $300; jossandmain.com. (Opposite page) Portside outdoor three-piece sectional in Weathered Gray, $2,797, and Portside outdoor low coffee table in Weathered Gray, $399; west elm.com. Samson navy indoor/outdoor rug, $1,684 (10 by 14 ft.), and Trimaran Stripe indoor/outdoor pouf in navy, $208 (medium); annieselke.com. Hobnail Herringbone indoor/outdoor decorative pillow, $120 (22 in.) and $160 (26 in.), Chatham Tattersall indoor/outdoor decorative pillow in navy/brown, $86, and Glendale Stripe indoor/outdoor decorative pillow in navy/brown, $86; annieselke.com. Gray planter with brass stand, $35 (medium) and $45 (large); worldmarket.com. Faceted glass hurricane, from $78; serenaandlily.com. Woven Mountains cotton throw, $98; shopterrain.com. Robellini palms; costafarms.com for info.

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P OLENTA PIZ Z A WITH S AUS AGE, SWIS S CHARD, AND RICOT TA

BROILED ARCTIC CHAR WITH SE S AME-

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y A N N A H A M P T O N ; P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y A U D R E Y D AV I S

GINGER MUSTARD

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P OLENTA PIZ Z A WITH S AUS AGE, SWIS S CHARD, AND RICOT TA ACT I V E T I M E 4 5 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 3 H O U R S , 3 0 M I N U T E S SERVES 4

SHEE T PAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH S AL S A VERDE

tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 cup instant polenta 5 Tbsp. olive oil, divided tsp. black pepper, divided 3 hot Italian sausages, casings removed 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems chopped and leaves torn into bite-size pieces 1 14-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, drained cup ricotta cheese

4 cups water and 1 teaspoons salt to a boil in a medium pot over high. Slowly whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, whisking often, until no lumps remain and polenta begins to pull away from sides of pot, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon oil and teaspoon pepper.

BRING

a large rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil. Pour polenta onto baking sheet and spread to a -inch-thick oval. Let cool slightly, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and chill until firm.

BROILED ARCTIC CHAR WITH SE S AMEGINGER MUSTARD ACT I V E T I M E 1 5 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 2 5 M I N U T E S SERVES 4

2 bunches scallions, trimmed 1 Tbsp. olive oil tsp. kosher salt, divided tsp. black pepper, divided 4 6-oz. skinless arctic char, steelhead trout, or salmon fillets 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger Steamed rice, for serving (optional)

BRUSH

oven to 400°F with rack in lowest position. Brush top of polenta with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until edges are golden brown and crisp, 45 to 50 minutes. PREHEAT

MEANWHILE, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage; cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add chard stems and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add chard leaves and remaining teaspoon each salt and pepper. Toss until wilted, about 2 minutes.

polenta with tomatoes, breaking them up as you go, sausage, and chard. Dollop cheese over top. Bake until cheese and greens begin to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately. TOP

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broiler with rack 6 inches from heat. Toss scallions with olive oil and teaspoon each salt and pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. PREHEAT

season fish with teaspoon each salt and pepper. Whisk mustard, sesame oil, ginger, and remaining teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl; spread over tops and sides of fish. MEANWHILE,

NESTLE fish among scallions and broil until fish is just cooked through and scallions are charred in spots, 6 to 10 minutes. Serve with steamed rice, if desired.

ACT I V E T I M E 1 5 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 3 0 M I N U T E S SERVES 4

1 large red onion, sliced into 8 wedges 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided tsp. kosher salt, divided tsp. black pepper, divided 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1 lb.) cup salsa verde cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems 2 oz. queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled (about cup) Warm corn tortillas and lime wedges, for serving (optional) oven to 425°F. Toss onion with 1 tablespoon oil and teaspoon each salt and pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until onion begins to soften, about 10 minutes. PREHEAT

heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with remaining teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Transfer chicken to baking sheet with onion and roast until chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.

MEANWHILE,

chicken and onion to a platter. Spoon salsa verde over top and top with cilantro and cheese. Serve with tortillas and lime wedges, if desired.

TRANSFER

SHEE T PAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH S AL S A VERDE

CHEE SY MUSHRO OM, CORN, AND LEEK FRIT TATA

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STE AK S AL AD WITH CRISPY P OTATOE S AND LEMON-PARME S AN DRE S SING ACT I V E T I M E 4 0 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 1 H O U R SERVES 4

1 lb. baby Yukon Gold potatoes 1 Tbsp. plus 1 divided

CHEE SY MUSHRO OM, CORN, AND LEEK FRIT TATA ACT I V E T I M E 4 0 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 4 0 M I N U T E S SERVES 4

10 large eggs 1 14.75-oz. can cream-style corn 8 oz. part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated (about 2 cups), divided 1

tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. black pepper, divided 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced 1 leek, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced into rings

tsp. kosher salt,

cup plus 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 1

tsp. black pepper, divided 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about cup), divided 1 lb. sirloin steak (1 in. thick) 2 tsp. lemon zest plus cup fresh juice (from 4 lemons) 8 cups bitter greens, such as escarole, endive, radicchio, and/or mustard greens

when pierced with a sharp knife, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and return them to pot. 1 tablespoon oil on a rimmed baking sheet and scatter potatoes over it. Using a glass or flat-bottomed measuring cup, gently flatten each potato. Turn potatoes to coat in oil and season with teaspoon each salt and pepper. Scatter cup cheese over potatoes. Bake until golden and crispy, 18 to 20 minutes. POUR

heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Season steak with 1 teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper. Add steak to skillet and cook, turning once, until deeply browned, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

MEANWHILE,

together lemon zest and juice and remaining cup oil, cup cheese, and teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Place greens in a large bowl; drizzle with half of the dressing and toss to coat. Transfer to a platter, top with warm potatoes and steak, and drizzle with remaining dressing. WHISK

oven to 450°F. Combine potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt in a medium pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender PREHEAT

oven to 350°F with racks in the middle and upper positions. Whisk eggs, corn, cup cheese, teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. PREHEAT

HEAT oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium. Add mushrooms, leek, and remaining teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring often, until leek begins to brown and liquid has evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer half of the vegetables to a medium bowl.

egg mixture to skillet, tilting to distribute evenly. Cook, without stirring, until frittata begins to set around the edges, about 2 minutes. Transfer skillet to the middle rack of oven and bake until just set in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven. ADD

oven temperature to broil. Scatter remaining 1 cups cheese and reserved vegetables over frittata, all the way to edges of skillet. Broil until cheese is melted and browned in spots, 2 to 4 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. INCREASE

STE AK S AL AD WITH CRISPY P OTATOE S AND LEMON-PARME S AN DRE S SING

A Light in the Darkness About one in a million people are hypersensitive to the sun. Peyton Madden of El Dorado, Kansas, is one of them. But thanks to a loving family and community, living with a rare disease doesn’t feel so lonely. BY JEANNETTE COOPERMAN PHO T O G R A PH S BY SA R A NAOM I L E W KOW IC Z

was that the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) was making a documentary. They had come to El Dorado with a film crew the day before and asked him questions about xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and how he couldn’t let sunlight touch his skin. Eleven years old and new to media, he thoughtfully answered every question, then pulled his mom aside during a break and whispered in surprise, “They’re really interested in me!” That Friday evening, though, Peyton thought they were just filming him on a bike ride with friends. Even when the American Legion guys pulled up as a sort of motorcycle escort, he figured it was “just a weird motorcycle thing”—and the crowd was for someone else’s pool party. He’d only been to the municipal pool once, wearing protective gear because he can’t risk damage from ALL PEYTON MADDEN KNEW

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ultraviolet light. Most bodies can repair mild damage in a few hours; for Peyton, that damage is permanent and cumulative, making nonmelanoma skin cancer 10,000 times as likely and sharply increasing his risk of vision impairment and neurological problems. Peyton pedaled a little farther with his friends, who were near bursting with the secret. And then the crowd surrounded him, and cheers erupted, and he saw the giant “Good Morning, Peyton!” sign, and it all sank in. El Dorado had turned night into day just for him. Overwhelmed, he did a couple more laps on his bike, a wide grin denting his freckled cheeks. “Victory laps,” thought former teacher and pool manager Steve Oltman. The mayor read a proclamation, decreeing that on August 4, 2017, “nighttime will be daytime.” When Peyton’s sister, Rylee, then 14, sang to him, Kansas State Representative Mary Martha Good had tears in her eyes—but Peyton was thinking, “Hurry up so I can shoot baskets.” The court stayed lit well into the night. The pool stayed open too, a blue froth of splashes in the park lights. Soon Peyton was starving, and Kathy Xenos (ﬂipping name: Short Stack), a local caterer, tossed one of her famous Chris Cakes onto his plate from several feet away. “For this one night, he doesn’t have to worry,” Xenos kept thinking. Peyton literally couldn’t stop smiling—he had to force his mouth straight just to give it a rest. The event was more than fun; it was proof that hundreds of people recognized what he has to go through every minute of his life. That night, the burden of always being diferent, always having to plan, got a little lighter. “It brought out the best in everybody,” says Good. “We all share his struggle.”

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clothes, cereal, sunscreen, and 4,000 IU of vitamin D. As soon as Peyton puts on his transparent visor and hat—Sarah Madden refuses to call her son’s protective gear a “hood,” because that sounds like he’s hiding from life, and she’s determined he won’t have to—he takes out the trash. At school, we stop in the office, where he announces with a grin, “I have a camera crew with me today.” Media savvy came fast. While he’s waiting in homeroom, his leg jitters a little, energy he can’t burn outside. I ask what’s next. “We’re just going to stay here forever till it gets to be 8:15. Then we do our morning routine.” He likes math and science and social studies, not writing and reading. Except Harry Potter. He and his friend Dylan Hunter start trying to figure out how they could play Quidditch in gym class and what—or who—would be the Snitch. Peyton sticks his tongue in the corner of his mouth, mischievous. His innocence shows even in gestures, like the way he slaps his forehead over something he forgot. In art class, he tests the Elmer’s glue on his sleeve, then starts to draw, sucking in his cheeks as he concentrates. Every time he reaches for a new color, he sharpens the pencil before using it. The kid can draw; his work is precise and beautiful, the freehand lines as straight as rulers. He wants to be an engineer. When he and his friends work on a poster for the Renaissance Fair, I ask what superpower they’d want, thinking maybe Peyton will say he wants to be invincible, safe from the sun’s rays. Nope. “Anything I saw in a poster or on TV or my phone, I’d just be able to reach in and pull it out,” he says. Also, he wants a pet dragon. A SCHOOL MORNING:

Sarah refuses to call her son’s protective gear a “hood,” because that sounds like he’s hiding from life. Lunch comes early: mac and cheese and Lit’l Smokies. “You need more sunscreen?” his friend Tyler asks. Peyton reapplies three times a day, SPF 50. Teachers feel the top of his ears and say, “Nope, not enough.” If a door is open, his friends walk ahead, says Tyler, “like a human shield.” Out on the playground, Peyton tugs down his visor and tosses a football. The wind is high; we’re in tornado country. He and his buds move to the basketball court, where a group of kids have stretched out like they’re lying by a pool. Peyton shoots baskets instead. After a while, a teacher comes over. “You hot?” Cheeks ﬂushed, he gives a diffident shrug. “Yeah, kinda.” She motions him inside, and his friends troop after him. Finally, the bell rings, and through the jubilant blur, I glance over and see Peyton in the corner, standing in front of a closet, smearing on more sunscreen. The Maddens’ year is divided by the light: Summers just about kill Sarah and Kyle because they all stay up late playing, and then the grown-ups have to go to work the next morning. Fall is heaven, because dark comes sooner. “The sun sets in four minutes,” Rylee announces. “It sets at 8:26,” her dad says. “Yeah. It’s 8:22 now.” They use their UV meter, testing for the magical 30 minutes when the sunset’s afterglow keeps the world visible but the danger is gone. W E ’ R E WA I T I N G F O R DA R K .

Five minutes after sunset, it’s safe, and Peyton’s hat comes of. “Feels good,” he says as he tears outside with a laser tag gun and some glow sticks. “Light-up Frisbee, a light-up soccer ball,” says Sarah. “If it glows, we pretty much have it.” With her son out of earshot, she talks about their weird relationship to this most basic thing, the sun: “There are days when you feel the sunshine on your face, and it’s the best thing ever. And there are other days when you walk outside and think, ‘My child can’t feel the sun on his face.’ ” The first, unheeded clue was a smattering of adorable freckles around age 2. The serious clue came at age 3, when Peyton woke up with what looked like a sty on his lower eyelid. By the time the Maddens were able to get it removed, it was the size of a marble and reached down to the bone. Peyton’s doctor wondered. He’d treated someone with XP 30 years earlier, which was a lucky coincidence given that in the U.S. and Europe, XP afects only about one in a million people. When the growth was removed and a biopsy confirmed it was cancerous, that clinched the diagnosis. Then real panic set in: How were they supposed to get him home from the hospital? They covered the car windows with towels and blankets, and Sarah sat in back, shielding his face while he slept. They contacted the XP Family Support Group and learned how to put film over their house’s windows and make Peyton a tiny

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There will always be challenges: The sun, of course. Secondhand smoke. Parents edging their kids away. hat and buy a camera that took good nighttime pictures. Sarah looked at her favorite snapshot, sun glowing on her little boy’s face, and realized she’d never see that again. Soon after, the Maddens moved to a new house (windows permanently tinted), and Sarah glared at their neighbors, half jealous, half worried for them: “People were outside all the time, and I’m thinking, ‘You need to go inside!’ We were new to it and overprotective.” They’d barely had time to grieve all Peyton was losing. “One night Kyle and I just sat together on the laundry room ﬂoor and cried,” she says. Since then, though, they’ve thrown so much love at the problem, it’s become manageable. Sarah was always a planner; now spontaneous Kyle has mastered the art too. As a result, Peyton has done more than they dreamed possible in those early days. “He’s climbed to the top of Mayan ruins,” Kyle says proudly. “We’ve been on three cruises.” (Portholes have thick, protective glass, and Peyton stared out of them.) They’ve even hiked at Yellowstone. The XP Family Support Group helped at every step. So did doctors, teachers, and anybody in El Dorado who learned their story. Which, by now, is everyone in town. Still, the research moves at a turtle’s pace. More Americans (about half of them children) live with a rare disease than with HIV, heart disease, or stroke. There are about 7,000 rare diseases, most with no FDA-approved treatment or therapy and little federal funding to discover

132 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

any. NORD gives research grants (funded by patients, families, and patient organizations), and in many cases, those grants are funding the only research being done on a particular disease. teacher, Jef Jones, tapes the curtains shut and, after their formal greeting, whips a pool noodle toward Peyton. Peyton ducks fast, jumping as the noodle comes back low. Six months ago, he had to do pushups on his knees; now he’s strong enough to chop a board and spin into a series of side kicks. “Throw doubles,” Jones orders. Sucking his cheeks in concentration, Peyton kicks five times. “Doubles!” his teacher reminds him, laughing. “There is no challenge he will not try,” Jones tells Sarah. After class, Sarah asks Peyton where he wants to eat. “McDonald’s!” Her face falls. “I’m not sure it’s safe, buddy. What about Subway at Walmart?” “Sure!” he says, like it’s an even better idea. Sometimes the Maddens go to Pizza Hut, where a waiter will see them coming and rush to shut all the blinds. At First Christian Church, all the windows have been coated, says the pastor, Stan Seymour, “so he can go anywhere without fear of the sun. Before we did that, he’d avoid any window he walked past.” Seymour helped build the crowd for the “Good Morning, Peyton!” event and has always had a soft spot for the P E Y T O N ’ S TA E K WO N D O

boy. “He’s bright, not spoiled. I said to him, ‘There are kids all around the world who have problems, and you give them hope.’” El Dorado’s close community gives others hope too. When the Maddens learned about a new windshield film that was entirely transparent, they installed it on their SUV so Peyton could sit in front. Good, the state representative the Maddens had come to know since the “Good Morning, Peyton!” event, winced when she heard they’d already installed it; filming the front windshield is illegal in most states. The Maddens wanted her help to change the law. A week later, Good persuaded the El Dorado police chief and the county sherif to meet with the family. “And don’t you dare write them a ticket,” she added. An hour after the meeting, the sherif called and said, “I’m still choked up about Peyton. We’ve got to do this.” “I’ll draft the bill,” Good replied. Peyton plans to testify before the Kansas legislators, pushing for a law that could not only let him drive a car someday but also make a diference for many others, including truck drivers at risk for melanoma. There will always be challenges: The sun, of course. Charcoal-grilled carcinogens and secondhand smoke, which, for Peyton, are like inhaling sunshine. (Because his body can’t repair the damage caused by these carcinogens, he’s at risk for other types of cancer too.) Blacklight nights at the bowling alley. People saying he looks “like a little beekeeper.” Parents edging their kids away. “You want to know the odds of getting this?” Sarah wants to yell after them. “I can’t even win the lottery!” XP is a genetic disorder, most commonly inherited from each parent. There’s no cure. But the Maddens have high hopes for the research, because if scientists figure out a genetic repair, it could also lead to a cure for skin cancer, not to mention a slew of anti-aging remedies. When I ask Peyton how XP has changed him, he says, “I feel like I have a lot more responsibility and, well, basically I think I’m a little bit, just a tiny bit more mature.” If he were talking to a kid who’d just been diagnosed, what would he say? He hesitates. “That’s hard. I’d probably just tell them something that would make them not sad.” Such as? “I don’t know.” He thinks again. “This isn’t from my words. It’s from a movie called Wonder. It’s about this kid who has a face deformation, and basically he’s stared at a lot, like me. His sister says, ‘Let them stare. You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.’”

S I X WAY S T O E X T E N D A H A N D Sarah Madden’s advice for connecting with families with special needs • Say hi and be friendly. People living with a rare disease can feel very isolated. Being a friend goes a long way. • Encourage your child

to befriend a child who is different. It will be a great growing experience for your kid and help the other kid feel like part of the community. • Don’t worry if you

don’t feel prepared. A child’s parents will help ensure he stays safe if you invite him over for parties or playdates.

• Don’t stare. But there’s no need to avoid eye contact either. Treat the child as you’d treat anyone else. • Know that it’s OK

to ask questions. Most families would love to share information about their child’s condition. The more people know about a disease, the better the chance for a cure. • Word your questions

thoughtfully. Don’t ask, “What’s wrong with your child?” Try, “Can you tell me more about her condition? I’m really interested in learning.”

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DILLARDS.COM/SOUTHERNLIVING

O CTO B E R

F O O D ST Y L I N G BY TO R I E C OX ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N A N D T H O M D R I V E R

The leaves are turning, the wind is kicking up, and we’re ready to head inside for cozier fare. Creamy broccoli pasta (page 144) is weeknight-fast and satisfying. Whipping up pork dumplings (page 146) is a surprisingly simple weekend activity—eat some now, freeze the rest for later. When it’s time to don costumes, make a batch of chocolaty crunch bars (page 150) and serve them alongside our picks for an outstanding sundae bar (page 148). Be sure to save some to enjoy yourself; they’ll disappear faster than you can say, “Trick or treat!”

Photograph by Greg DuPree

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FOOD

tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided 2 medium sweet potatoes

lb. Brussels sprouts, halved 4 Tbsp. canola oil, divided

Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar tsp. honey

Easy Dinner 1

Hanger steak with Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR SERVES 4

Gluten-Free Family Friendly

138 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter oven to 400°F. Season steak with teaspoon each salt and pepper; set aside. Place sweet potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. PREHEAT

Brussels sprouts with 2 tablespoons oil, teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Add to baking sheet

TOS S

with sweet potatoes and continue to roast, shaking sheet halfway through, until potatoes are tender and Brussels sprouts are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes more. MEANWHILE ,

heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high. Cook steak, turning once, until deeply browned, 5 minutes per side for medium. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. mustard, vinegar, and honey in a large bowl. Add parsley and Brussels sprouts and toss to coat. Halve potatoes lengthwise and top each half with butter. Season with remaining teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper. WHISK

steak with Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

SERVE

P E R S E RV I N G : 580 CALORIES, 28G FAT (8G SAT.), 54MG CHOL., 12G FIBER, 33G PRO., 51G CARB., 1,054MG SOD., 12G SUGAR

Photographs by Caitlin Bensel

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y A N N A H A M P T O N ; P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y A U D R E Y D AV I S

1 1-lb. hanger steak

FOOD

Easy Dinner 2

Chicken-pesto flatbread sandwiches ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

1 cup fresh basil leaves 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 cloves garlic tsp. black pepper 6 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 2 cups baby arugula 1 lb. prepared pizza dough, at room temperature All-purpose flour, for work surface 6 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced a baking sheet in oven and preheat to 400°F. PL ACE

basil, parsley, garlic, pepper, 5 tablespoons oil, and teaspoon salt in a food processor; process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, add chicken and arugula, and toss to coat. COMBINE

dough into 4 equal portions. Roll each into a 4-by6-inch oval on a floured surface. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and season with remaining teaspoon salt. Place dough on preheated baking sheet and bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer sheet to a rack and cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel until dough is pliable, about 3 minutes. DIVIDE

dough with chicken mixture and cheese and fold in half. TOP

P E R S E RV I N G : 685 CALORIES, 38G FAT (10G SAT.), 70MG CHOL., 3G FIBER, 34G PRO., 52G CARB., 983MG SOD., 2G SUGAR

140 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

IT'S NOT JUST A MUSHROOM, IT'S A

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IT'S NOT JUST A MEAL, IT'S

Collezione

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FOOD

Easy Dinner 3

Seared trout and black-eyed pea salad ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4

Quick Cooking Gluten-Free

1 15-oz. can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed 1 bunch lacinato kale, stems removed and leaves chopped 1 shallot, chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided 4 6-oz. skin-on trout fillets

together black-eyed peas, kale, shallot, garlic, vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil, and teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes. STIR

fillets with remaining teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over mediumhigh. Add 2 fillets, skin side down, and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until fish is just cooked through, about 2 minutes more; transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 2 fillets. Serve fish with blackeyed pea salad. SEASON

P E R S E RV I N G : 471 CALORIES, 25G FAT (4G SAT.), 100MG CHOL., 5G FIBER, 40G PRO., 21G CARB., 935MG SOD., 1G SUGAR

CO OK WITH COZI Get Real Simple’s easy weeknight-dinner recipes in Cozi, a free meal-planning and organizing app from Meredith Corporation (available on iTunes and Google Play).

142 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

Easy Dinner 4

Vegetarian shepherd’s pie ACTIVE TIME 35 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES

SERVES 4

Make Ahead Vegetarian Gluten-Free Family Friendly

3 Tbsp. olive oil 1 medium eggplant, peeled and chopped 2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed 2 carrots, chopped 2 cups vegetable broth 2 Tbsp. tomato paste 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more for cooking potatoes 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped 2 oz. pecorino cheese, grated (about cup) cup whole milk oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook eggplant, onions, and carrots, stirring, until tender and starting to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in broth, tomato paste, parsley, pepper, and teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Cover and keep warm. HEAT

broiler with rack 5 inches from heat. Place potatoes in a medium pot and cover with salted water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to pot; mash with cheese, milk, and remaining teaspoon salt. PREHEAT

SPREAD potatoes evenly over eggplant mixture. Broil until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Top with parsley. P E R S E RV I N G : 362 CALORIES, 15G FAT (5G SAT.), 18MG CHOL., 8G FIBER, 11G PRO., 47G CARB., 1,070MG SOD., 13G SUGAR

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FOOD

Easy Dinner 5

Creamy broccoli pasta with ricotta ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES

SERVES 4

Quick Cooking Vegetarian Family Friendly

12 oz. broccoli, stems peeled and florets chopped (about 5 cups) 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for cooking broccoli 1 lb. short pasta, such as gemelli or campanelle 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about cup) 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 cloves garlic, smashed tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 cup ricotta cheese Crushed red pepper, for serving (optional)

broccoli in a large pot of salted water until very tender, about 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl, shaking off excess water. Set aside. COOK

water in pot to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water in a small bowl. Return drained pasta to pot. RETURN

reserved 1 cup cooking water, broccoli, Parmesan, oil, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. BLEND

broccoli mixture to pasta in pot and toss to coat. Serve pasta topped with ricotta and crushed red pepper, if using.

ADD

P E R S E RV I N G : 667 CALORIES, 21G FAT (9G SAT.), 44MG CHOL., 6G FIBER, 29G PRO., 93G CARB., 1,297MG SOD., 6G SUGAR

THE REALIST

Make It Yourself A D E L I C I O U S E SS E N T I A L T H AT’ S B E T T E R H O M E M A D E T H A N S T O R E - B O U G H T. W E ’ L L P RO V E I T. THIS MONTH: EASY PORK DUMPLINGS By D awn Perr y

DUMPLINGS 4 hot or sweet Italian sausages, casings removed 4 scallions, finely chopped 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 1 large egg, beaten 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (from a 2-in. piece) 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil 48 round wonton wrappers (from a 14-oz. pkg.) Vegetable oil, for cooking

D I P P I N G S AU C E 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a fork, stir together sausage, scallions, cilantro, egg, soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil in a large bowl. Fill a small bowl with water. Lay 3 wonton wrappers on a work surface. Place 1 rounded teaspoon of sausage mixture in the center of each wrapper. Dip a finger in water and rub around the edge of each wrapper. Fold 1 side of MAKE THE DUMPLINGS:

wrapper over filling. Make 3 pleats along seam and pinch to seal. Transfer assembled dumplings to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining sausage mixture and wrappers. water to a medium nonstick skillet until bottom is just covered; bring to a simmer over medium-high. Add as many dumplings, flat side down, as will comfortably fit. Cover and steam until wrappers are translucent, about 3 minutes.

ADD

off any water remaining in skillet. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (if dumplings are sticking, shake skillet gently or loosen dumplings with a rubber spatula). Cook, undisturbed, until bottoms are golden and crispy, about 1 minute. Transfer dumplings to a paper towel– lined plate. Wipe skillet clean and repeat with water, remaining dumplings, and vegetable oil. POUR

MAKE THE DIPPING SAUCE: Stir together all ingredients plus 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Serve with dumplings.

Transfer uncooked dumplings on baking sheet to freezer. Freeze, uncovered, until firm, about 2 hours. Remove frozen dumplings from baking sheet and transfer to a resealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Cook as directed (do not thaw), adding 2 to 3 minutes to steam time. TO FREEZE:

Photograph by Greg DuPree

F O O D ST Y L I N G BY TO R I E C OX ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N A N D T H O M D R I V E R

ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES MAKES 48 DUMPLINGS

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FOOD

R o a d Te s t

Ice Cream Sundae Bar W E S C O O P E D, S P R I N K L E D, A N D D R I Z Z L E D O U R W AY T H R O U G H

B E S T VA N I L L A I C E C R E A M

Maxine’s Vanilla Ice Cream This ultra-rich and creamy pick is good enough to eat alone—but go ahead and add the works. The larger size makes it more shareable than a pint. TO BUY: $8 for 48 oz.; at grocery stores.

4 8 FA V O R I T E F I X I N G S T O B U I L D T H E SU N DA E B A R O F YO U R D R E A M S. By S ari Kamp

BEST WHIPPED CREAM

Cabot Creamery Whipped Cream If we hadn’t held the can in our hands, we would have sworn this light and fluffy topping was homemade. TO BUY: $2.60 for 7 oz.; at grocery stores.

BEST R AINBOW SPRINKLES

B E S T H OT F U D G E

Williams Sonoma Hot Fudge Sauce Ooey and gooey, this dark chocolate pick becomes perfectly pourable when heated and decadently fudgy once it hits cold ice cream. TO BUY: $17 for 17 oz.; at Williams Sonoma.

BEST CHERRIES

Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino Cherries Thanks to fruit and vegetable concentrates, these cherries are magically vibrant without artificial colors or flavors. TO BUY: $8 for 13.5 oz.; at grocery stores.

Upgrade your sundae with a homemade scoop. Find our favorite flavors at realsimple.com/homemadeicecream.

148 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

B E S T C A R A M E L S AU C E

Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce This luscious sauce lends just the right saltysweet note. Drizzle it warm or spoon it straight from the jar. TO BUY: $3.50 for 10 oz.; at Trader Joe’s.

Photograph by Brian Henn

C A R A M E L S AU C E : B R I A N H E N N ; OT H E R P R O D U CT I M AG E S C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

realsimple ROAD TE ST

Vanilla Funfetti Hardcore Sprinkles These sprinkles stood out with their cute, irregular shapes and pretty colors. Plus, they taste like real vanilla, not just sugar. TO BUY: $10 for 1 oz.; hardcoresprinkles.com.

WE’VE CREATED A

MONSTER.

THIS HALLOWEEN, PICK A SIDE.

FOOD

Big Batch

Seeded crunch bars ACTIVE TIME 10 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 50 MINUTES

MAKES 24 BARS

cup chia seeds cup hemp seeds 12 oz. milk chocolate chips (2 cups) 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) 1

cups puffed rice cereal 1 tsp. flaky sea salt

an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Mix chia and hemp seeds in a small bowl. Set aside 2 tablespoons seed mixture for topping. LINE

MICROWAVE chocolate chips on high until melted, about 90 seconds, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Let cool slightly. Gradually add seed mixture and cereal to melted chocolate, stirring until combined.

mixture into prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Tap bottom of dish firmly on a surface a few times to release any air bubbles. TOP with salt and reserved 2 tablespoons seed mixture. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing into 24 bars (about 2 by 1 inch each). Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Bring to room temperature before serving. P E R S E RV I N G ( 1 B A R ) : 168 CALORIES, 10G FAT (5G SAT.), 3MG CHOL., 2G FIBER, 3G PRO., 20G CARB., 110MG SOD., 15G SUGAR

Recipe by Ananda Eidelstein 150 RE AL SIMPLE

Photograph by Greg DuPree

F O O D ST Y L I N G BY TO R I E C OX ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N A N D T H O M D R I V E R

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The Struggle Is Real

Amazing Discoveries in Browser Window Archeology T H E R U I N S O F P O M P E I I . T H E T O M B O F T U T A N K H A M U N . A N D N O W, R E V E A L E D E X C L U S I V E LY, T H E M Y S T E R I E S O F A C O M P U T E R D E S K T O P C I R C A 2 0 1 8 . B y M e g Fa v re a u

LY R I C S T O “T WO PRINCES”

V I S UA L R E F E R E N C E S FOR SKIN CANCER

Tab had been left open since the subject argued with her husband about whether the Spin Doctors say, “Got some big seal upon his jacket” or “Got some boy seal up in his jackal.” Subject left tab open for fear that if she looked at it to close it, she would get “Two Princes” stuck in her head again.

Subject loaded article about identifying skin cancer in 2012 and didn’t close it, even after licking her hand and realizing the spot in question was actually barbecue sauce.

6 E A S Y WAY S T O S O O T H E A COLICKY NEWBORN

Subject opened tab after arriving home with her firstborn. Child is now 14 (and somehow even fussier). “ C O G L I K E T H E A N I M A L”

Subject half remembered a cat-dog hybrid called a “cog.” She kept the search results open as a reminder to do more research, even though no initial research suggested “cog” was real. HOW TO GET A SONG O U T O F YO U R H E A D

Subject opened this tab about two years after opening the “Two Princes” lyrics page. Subject left the tab open because she was afraid that if she tried to get “Two Princes” out of her head, she would only think of it more.

152 RE AL SIMPLE O CTOBER 2018

“A L L I S O N T E C H N O L O GY S C R I M S H AW ”

Subject woke up from a dream at 4 a.m. and performed a search for “Allison Technology Scrimshaw,” a woman she went to grad school with. She reached page seven of the results before waking up enough to realize that not only was “Allison Technology Scrimshaw” not the real name of anyone who had ever lived, but the subject never went to grad school. HOW I LE ARNED TO L OV E “ T W O P R I N C E S ” BY T H E S P I N D O C T O R S

Subject published her first essay—and kept the tab open as a reminder of her achievement. H O W M A N Y TA B S I S T O O M A N Y TA B S ?

Tragically, this tab was buried at a deeply unstable level in the browser. Opening it caused the browser to crash. Subject lost all her tabs, including this one, which would have confirmed she had way, way, way too many tabs open.

Illustration by Joel Holland

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