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You don’t need a big budget to make big changes at home. Let their imaginations run wild while everything else stays organized. Explore the IKEA Marketplace and discover all UIFB PSEBCMFIPNFFTTFOUJBMTBOEE©DPS designed for a better everyday life. ,&"64"DPN.BSLFUQMBDF
140
BOUGIE ON A BUDGET
From an “antique” mirror to faux marble, these easy home upgrades only look expensive
Six entrée-worthy bowls packed with produce and tasty toppings
THE CLEANENOUGH HOUSE
Whip your home into shape before guests come with our room-by-room checklists
48, 82, 132, 136, 140
All About Money!
Let’s Get Your Finances in Order
172 Find More Hours in the Day
156 Have a “Clean Enough” House
70 Level Up Your Breakfast Game
120 First Lady Dr.Jill Biden on Managing Allll the Things
TO BUY: Riso Green & Pink Wall Clock $65; cloudnola.com. Sidnie Lamp, $399; schoolhouse.com. Wood Entryway Table $379; avocadogreenmattress.com. Forms Desk Organizer Set, $78; poketo.com. Scape Tray Set, $100; areaware.com. Strata Plant Vessel, $65; areaware.com. Mix Teklan Rug, from $160; us.heymat.com. Copper Boot Tray $270; williams-sonoma.com. Sequence Coat Hook, $39; misewell.com. Duck Bag in Moss Trippy Checker, $34; baggu.com. Hiking Plaid Boucle Scarf, $49; echonewyork.com. The ReNew Anorak $118; everlane.com for similar. Lomi Tote, $198; ableclothing.com. Sticky Lemon Small Envelope Deluxe Backpack, $57; shop-thewild.com. Filmore High-Top Sneaker, $50; dsw.com. The Boot, $348; margauxny com. The Heel, $278; margauxny.com. Mia Rattan Hook, $22; anthropologie.com. Gbyan Wall Grid, $31; amazon.com
IT’S GO TIME.
Interior design. Technology design. Product design. At Kirsch®, everything begins and ends with design. Our team of experts have created a top-quality collection of window coverings and smart shade options for you to explore—all from the comfort of your own home.
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48 2022 REAL SIMPLE
Smart Money Awards
The best new apps, accounts, and tools to help you manage your money
60 Travel Planning
Essential vacation advice, from what to pack to how to actually relax
66 Things Cooks Know Cook and bake with tea
70 Smooth Starts
Quick and satisfying make-ahead breakfasts
74 Food Road Test
Taco night must-haves
76 Healthy at Home Foods that improve how you think and feel
82 Pets
Save money on kibble, vet visits, and more
92 How to Wear It Belts that boost your look
96 Room Rx Design around a corner ireplace
98 House Call How to handle funny smells, sounds, and stains in your home
102 2022 REAL SIMPLE Home Preview
for the whole family
A peek at the plan for our Florida beach house
106 The Power of Less Cut down on piles of paper
110 Gear Road Test
Our favorite sideline gear for game day
115 5 Perspectives
What we can (and can’t) guess about the future
118 Modern Manners
Unstinting etiquette advice
120 The Sit-Down
First Lady Jill Biden reveals how she manages a worklife balance
124 The Helpful Mind Why eco-friendly choices can make you happier
128 One-and-Done Travel
Where to stay, eat, and explore in the Berkshires
132 We Did It
Three women overcame major debt and thrived
136 First Person Lizzie Damilola Blackburn discovers some drawbacks to frugality
food
191 In Season
Make the most of late-summer plums
192 Easy Dinners
Fresh, family-friendly meals
8 Editor’s Note 12 REAL SIMPLE Everywhere
14 Your Words 202 Who Knew?
READY TO RESET? At every turning of the seasons, we take stock, inventory our world and our home and our brain, and gird for the next quarter of a year. But early autumn is especially charged with change. School starts.Work picks up. Fall sports devour our time. The holidays loom. I’d argue that feeling organized, feeling ready, is more crucial now than at any other time of year.
In my house, with two working parents, two polymath kids, and averylow-maintenance dog (praise Jesus), every transition in and out of school is daunting. But even if you don’t have children at home, the impending arrival of autumn hits in that same place, the one that says, “It’s time to get back to business.” This issue is here to help you be, once again, the on-it, organized, type-A juggler/plate spinner/octopus/balancer you know you are.
One special guest in the issue doesn’t use any of those metaphors. Dr. Jill Biden, the first First Lady to keep her day job while taking FirstLadytokeepherdayjobwhiletaking on that public position, prefers to think of working parenthood as less haphazard and
more intentional. We are “managing,” in her words, choosing where to spend our time and attention based on our priorities. Since she’s so demonstrably busy, and does it all with such grace, I sat down with her to hear her ideas and advice about the work-family struggle. Read our interview on page 120.
We’ll also help you get your money house in order with a huge review of all the best new personal finance products (page 48), find more quality time in your day to enjoy yourself and not obsess over your to-do list (page 172), navigate the very wild world of fall denim options (page 164), and so, so much more.
So read up, then buckle up. Because fall is coming, y’all—ready or not!
REAL SIMPLE has teamed up with sister brands Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and InStyle to make sure your next vacation is the best one yet. Everyone’s sharing their particular expertise, and REAL SIMPLE ofers a step-by-step guide to planning a seamless trip—since you may be a bit rusty after the last few years. Turn to page 60 and plot your getaway with Capital One. Happy trails!
Lauren Iannotti EDITOR IN CHIEF
LET’S CONNECT! Follow me on Instagram at @laureniannotti.
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If you won the lottery, how would you spend your winnings?
Lauren Iannotti
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Emily Kehe
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Lavinel Savu
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EDITORIAL
FEATURES DIRECTOR Amy Maclin
“I’d open an Airstream taco truck in Hawaii.”
“I’d buy the in-ground pool my mom has always wanted and a new, bigger kitchen with the best appliances for my dad, the cook.”
ASSISTANT EDITORS Hannah Dorough, Teddy Willson
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SENIOR HOME EDITOR Leslie Corona
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FASHION EDITOR Flavia Nunez
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DESIGN DIRECTOR Deanna Lowe
DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR Lawrence J. Whritenour Jr
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EDITORIAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Filomena Guzzardi
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COPY & RESEARCH CHIEF Jenny Brown
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VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER Amanda Wolfe
SENIOR
“I just want a pile of corgi puppies.”
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mickey O’Connor
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HEALTH & WELLNESS EDITOR Maggie Seaver
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CONTENT, STRATEGY & INSIGHTS
VICE PRESIDENT Andy Borinstein
DIRECTORS Karen Bakos, Emily Fleishman
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PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION & FINANCE
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Beard
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DIRECTOR OF QUALITY Joseph Kohler
COLOR QUALITY ANALYST Heidi Parcel
ASSOCIATE CONSUMER MARKETING DIRECTOR
Lynn Bolinger
NEWSSTAND RETAIL Rose Cirrincione
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS DIRECTOR Janice Croat
ASSOCIATE BUSINESS DIRECTOR Bryce Rockers
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER Zena Norbont
BRAND LEADERSHIP
Alysia Borsa
PRESIDENT, LIFESTYLE
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SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER
Melissa Inman
“Get a time-share in Aruba and give to No Kid Hungry!”
“Travel, travel, travel!”
SUPERIOR STRENGTH.* ALLURING SCENT.
THE FRAGRANCE BY GLAD
Flavia Nunez
FASHION EDITOR @laviacnunez
Daily uniform:
An n oversize button-up, baggy secondhand jeans, and a pair of sneakers—so basically thhe look on page 169 in “The New Blues” is me all day, every day
Dream vacation: Seeing orcas in the wild in Alaska. I haven’t had the courage to do it yet, but hopefully soon!
Most sentimental item in your home: A framed picture of my irst dog (Muñeca) and my grandfather’s record player come with me wherever I go.
See Flavia’s top picks foor jeans this season on page 164.
Check out our fourth annual expert-selected Smart Money Awards on page 48. To keep the conversation going (and your net worth growing), take a peek at our editors’ tried-and-true tips at realsimple.com/savings.
REAL SIMPLE readers score 15 percent of the Kibou diaper bag on page 38. (Also cute for nondiaper use.)
Use the code SIMPLE at kiboubag.com. Ofer valid sitewide from 8/1/22 through 9/15/22
Transform your home with dozens of paint projects. Get detailed how-tos at realsimple.com/ paintingwithapurpose
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#RSLOVE
“Invest in yourself.”
“Would you pay for that with your time?” When I got my irst job, my mom told me to always know what my hourly take-home pay is after taxes. When I want to make a purchase, I think about how much of my time it would cost to aford it. My time is my most precious asset!
CAITLÍN ROSBERG CHICAGO@CLEVELANDPARKFARMERSMARKET
“Money is leeting.” I work in inance and have received a lot of advice. This is the best.
STEPHANIE OWENS, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDAMy Russian grandfather’s advice: “Never be either too happy or too sad about it.”
ALICIA FRICK, IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTSBefore I got married, my dad told my then iancé, “Don’t buy her lowers. Flowers die. Buy her a tank of gas. She’ll appreciate it more.”
That’s certainly true nowadays, with the price of gas!
ALECIA DAY, MUSTANG, OKLAHOMAFor sharing this photo with us, @clevelandparkfarmersmarket will receive our new special edition,The Power of Sleep. If you want your picture to be considered, tag photos on Instagram with #rslove.
The best advice from my father was “Live below your means.” This allows you to save and have a safety net for hard times.
BETTY MACLEOD, EAST LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTSWhenever I was in a store with my father, he’d ask, “See anything you like more than your money?” After hearing that, I usually wasn’t tempted to make a purchase. I liked my money more!
JENNIFER AMRHEIN, BELAIR, MARYLANDYears ago, one of my cousins bought what I thought was a very expensive birthday gift for my then 2-year-old daughter. She said, “Never tell someone else how to spend their money.” I never forgot it, and I live by it!
NANCY M. DAVIS, CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEYTo hire a financial adviser! Which I did, and it changed my life.
ELLE KORAL, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
“Watch your pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves,” my mom often said.
CATHERINE KENNEDY, SPRING LAKE, MICHIGAN
My dad always told me to keep $50 in “mad money” in my wallet. You never know when you’ll need it for a tank of gas or an emergency glass of wine with friends!
ELIZABETH MORGAN. SPRING BRANCH, TEXAS
My mom said, “Honey, don’t depend on a man for money. Always have your own. That way you can tell ’em to kiss your ass!” My husband and I have separate (but joint) bank accounts, and we get along ine!
Rachel Allen, 25
VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER BEAVER DAM, WISCONSIN
What’s the best money advice you’ve received?
“Don’t count other people’s money.” It’s a great reminder that you don’t know anyone else’s situation. The car they drive, where they vacation, or the house they live in isn’t a sign they’re doing any better than you. Focus on your goals.
JOLENE LANHAM, LUTZ, FLORIDA
When we would tell my dad we were saving money by buying things on sale, he would say, “Nobody got rich by spending money”
LORI BRENNAN DALLAS
MICHELLE HEFLEY, KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE
“Give some, save some, spend some.”
My dad would always tell me this, and I abide by it wholeheartedly. Balance is key.
LAUREN WAGNER WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND
My dad always said to invest up front to get what you want. There’s no sense in buying a cheap product that will wear out in a few years.
What’s your favorite tradition?
Throughout the year, I write down good things that happen to me and keep the slips of paper in a jar. At the end of the year, I read through them. It’s taught me that even the most diicult years have sweet and memorable moments.
Home is where…
I know where everything is and how the shower works
What’s always in your bag? A rotating cast of lip products, a pen, and an embarrassing number of gum wrappers.
The book you could read again and again: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Most recent bargain?
Thanks to several Target gift cards I’d accumulated, I replaced a set of sheets without spending a dime!
What’s one topic you always avoid at Thanksgiving dinner,and why? Send an email to yourwords@realsimple.com and let us know your answer to this question.Your response could appear on these pages
WE’RE LOVING
Who says a home gym has to be all function, no form? Get some cool design in there, and turn your workout into a fun out!
BY CAT DASH
Silicone doughnuts are the cuter way to add weight to your workout.
TO BUY: The Power Ring Set, $99 for 3; shopbala.com
Need accountability? This modular weight set, cheaper than a personal trainer, is housed in a sleek, incognito side table. Link it to Tempo, an online platform, for virtual workouts and interactive coaching TO BUY: Tempo Move, $495, and subscription, $59 per month; tempo.it
Reach for a cheerful and 100 percent recyclable strap to nail some of the tougher yoga poses TO BUY: Yoga Strap Mexicana, $18; yogadesignlab.com
This textured foam roller helps massage away soreness for a faster recovery Plus, at just three inches in diameter, it won’t take up space in your gym bag
TO BUY: All in Motion Foam Massage Ball, $6; target.com
The colors of these resistance bands correspond to strength level, so you can build slowly and safely
TO BUY: Resistance Bands 5 Set, $16; kikkerland.com
Sync this techy jump rope with its companion app to set goals and track progress.
TO BUY: SmartRope Rookie, $40; store.tangramfactory.com
Upgrade your vinyasa practice with candy-colored foam blocks that provide extra support for people with lexibility issues, such as arthritis. TO BUY:
Form + Function Foam Marble Yoga Block Set, $25; oak-reed.com
Support healthy living while paying less for quality supplements
feel good spending less
In these connected short stories, author Jonathan Escofery follows a Jamaican family from the 1970s, when they settle in Miami after leeing political upheaval in their home country, to the modern day Both outrageously funny and a piercing look at life in America, If I Survive You is the kind of book you’ll think about long after you inish it
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie r Cruz is about a woman who’s been tossed around by life but refuses to surrender. Cara Romero is in her mid-50s when she loses her job and has to ind work for the irst time in decades. Told through Cara’s sessions with a job counselor, this relatable story shows what true resilience looks like.
Sisters Ruth, Esther, and Chloe make up the Salvations, a 1950s girl group who are local stars in gentrifying San Francisco. When they get close to the big break their mother has pushed for, there’s a problem: Mom’s dream is no longer theirs. On the Rooftop Rf by Margaret bMWlkWilkerson Sexton is a powerful drama set during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Even if you haven’t read Lisa Jewell’s megahit The Family Upstairs, you’ll love her stand-alone sequel, The Family Remains A thrilling cast of characters’ lives collide in ways you won’t see coming Set in London, Chicago, and France, this intricate page-turner about secrets, family loyalty, and revenge is the perfect end-of-summer novel.
Zoey Hennessey arrives on Mallow Island, of the coast of South Carolina, to claim her deceased mom ’ s apartment. Her new home is in the Dellawisp, an old building named for magical birds, where the quirky tenants include estranged sisters, a girl on the run… and ghosts. Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is whimsical, wise, and delightfully mysterious.
In The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, Dorothy Moy is a Seattle poet with depression. When her 5-year-old shows familiar symptoms, Dorothy tries an experimental therapy: connecting, via memory, with past generations of women in her family. Her experiences raise a fascinating question: Do we inherit trauma from our ancestors?
In People Person, Candice Carty-Williams’s second adult novel after the bestselling Queenie, Dimple Pennington is a lonely, 30-year-old struggling inluencer A crisis forces inluencerAcrisisforces her to reconnect with her four half-siblings and their absentee dad, leading to a witty and tender portrayal of how our childhoods afect how we relate to our family as adults.
The Duong sisters have been cursed to live without love, happiness—or sons. The bad luck seems to extend to one sister’s adult daughters, so she consults her psychic for help What happens next might inally bring this over-the-top family together. The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh is hilarious and heartwarming
Maggie O’Farrell’s The Marriage Portrait brings to life Lucrezia de’ Medici, a free-spirited young duchess in 1550s Florence. She’s thrust into a marriage when the groom ’ s intended bride, her older sister, dies suddenly. Her survival depends on whether she produces an heir. This is a riveting tale about one woman ’ s ight for autonomy.
Our beauty director tries all the products to find six picks that make looking great easy.
BY HEATHER MUIR MAFFEIChoose from four color combos curated for diferent skin tones.
PALETTE PLEASER
I’ve used hundreds of palettes, but this one wins for practicality—it both elevates your look and lightens your bag. Three matte shadows deine your crease, beef up brows, and double as liner; highlighter lifts brow bones and brightens inner corners; and two shimmers enhance lids. TO BUY: Contour Eyeshadow Palette, $36 each; kevynaucoinbeauty.com.
BROWS
This pencil acts kinda like dry shampoo for your eyebrows. Unlike wax-based formulas, which can stick to the skin, it has ibers and powder particles that attach to the hairs for lufy fullness that doesn’t look fake. I lay the tip on its side to draw licks, then smooth with the built-in spoolie. TO BUY: Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Pencil, $25; beneitcosmetics.com.
Waste less by applying right to your hair instead of your hands.
SLICK STICK
From my kids’ dry skin to my chapped lips and tiny cuts, I have yet to ind a skin problem this salve doesn’t solve. And now that it comes in stick form, I can use it without getting my ingers gooey
TO BUY: Aquaphor
Healing Balm Stick, $9; amazon.com
SCALP SOOTHER
A pointed tip delivers the waterto-foam suds right where you want ’em. Plus, the formula leaves my day two (or three) hair feeling clean, not stripped. Choose straight, wavy, or curly (my type)—each has ingredients to nourish the corresponding texture. TO BUY: Love Beauty and Planet Hydrating Dream Waters Micellar Shampoo, $7 each; target.com.
The pretty pump turns handwashing from a chore into a mini spa treatment. Biodegradable microbeads soften hands and cuticles, and thanks to the rosemary-cedar scent, those 20 seconds serve as a mental escape. TO BUY: Exfoliating Hand Wash, $22; mypaume com.
With an 8-month-old who likes to party all night, I have a new appreciation for concealer. This brightens and smooths without creasing, but the kicker is its cooling ceramic-tipped applicator that feels like chilled spoons on my eyes. TO BUY: CoverGirl Simply Ageless Triple Action Concealer, $13; walmart.com.
It’s your favorite Italian dessert! Reimagined as a cold, creamy, grown-up treat.
BY NICOLE HOPPERACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 6 HOURS, 45 MINUTES (INCLUDES FREEZING)
SERVES 10
1 Tbsp. instant espresso granules
8 oz. mascarpone cheese
1⁄3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tbsp dark rum or
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 oz. 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate
WHISK 1⁄3 cup boiling water and espresso granules in a large bowl until granules dissolve. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
BEAT cheese and sugar with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add cream, beating until sugar dissolves and soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Transfer 11⁄2 cups of cheese mixture to espresso mixture in bowl; fold in rum using a rubber spatula. TRANSFER espresso-cheese mixture to a large zip-top plastic bag. Transfer plain cheese mixture to a separate large zip-top plastic bag Cut off tip from each bag using scissors.
PIPE espresso-cheese mixture into 10 (3-ounce) ice pop molds, filling each about 2⁄3 of the way up. Tap molds on counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Pipe plain cheese mixture evenly on top of espresso-cheese mixture. Tap molds on counter to remove any air bubbles. Insert an ice pop stick into center of each mold. Freeze until pops are completely firm and sticks are set, at least 6 hours and up to 48 hours. MELT chocolate on stove or in microwave; let cool. Remove ice pops from freezer and quickly run bottoms of molds under warm water. Gently remove ice pops from molds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a fork, drizzle with melted chocolate. Freeze until chocolate is hardened, about 10 minutes.
DUPIXENT is a breakthrough eczema treatment that targets a key source of inflammation that can contribute to uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis). Available for children 6 months of age and older.
*In a clinical trial at week 16, 59% of adults taking DUPIXENT + topical corticosteroids (TCS) had significantly less itch vs 20% on TCS only; at 2 weeks 18% vs 8% had less itch, respectively. At week 16, 39% of adults saw clear or almost clear skin vs 12% on TCS only. 22% saw clear or almost clear skin at 16 and 52 weeks vs 7%, respectively.
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 6 months of age and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema)thatisnotwellcontrolledwithprescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 6 months of age.
Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT®
Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: have eye problems; have a parasitic (helminth) infection; are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” right before and during treatment with DUPIXENT; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby. A pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy collects information about the health of you and your baby. To enroll or get more information call 1-877-311-8972 or go to https://mothertobaby. org/ongoing-study/dupixent/; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you are taking oral, topical or inhaled corticosteroid medicines or if you have atopic dermatitis and asthma and use an asthma medicine. Do not change or stop your corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine without talking to your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptomsthatwerecontrolledbythecorticosteroid medicineorotherasthmamedicinetocomeback.
DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including:
Allergic reactions. DUPIXENT can cause allergicreactionsthatcansometimesbesevere. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: breathing problems or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, fainting, dizziness,feelinglightheaded,fastpulse,fever,hives, joint pain, general ill feeling, itching, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, or cramps in your stomach-area.
Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision, such as blurred vision. Your healthcare provider may send you to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam if needed.
Joint aches and pain. Some people who use DUPIXENT have had trouble walking or moving due to their joint symptoms, and in some cases needed to be hospitalized. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or worsening joint symptoms. Your healthcare provider may stop DUPIXENT if you develop joint symptoms.
The most common side effects in patients with atopic dermatitis include injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It’s an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider will decide if you or your caregiver can inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to prepare and inject DUPIXENT until you or your caregiver have been trained by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it’s recommended DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children under 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.
Please see Brief Summary on next page.
© 2022 Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
DUP.22.03.0113
MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AS LITTLE AS A $0 COPAY.* CALL 1-844-DUPIXENT (1-844-387-4936)
THIS IS NOT INSURANCE. Not valid for prescriptions paid, in whole or in part, by Medicaid, Medicare, VA, DOD, TRICARE, or other federal or state programs, including any state pharmaceutical assistance programs. Program has an annual maximum of $13,000. Additional terms and conditions apply.
REAL PATIENT
After losing her husband, ERICA FINAMORE nice stopped saving her things for later and started celebrating the now.
WHEN I WAS growing up, there were lots of pretty things around our home that were only to be used on “special occasions.”
The fine china was brought out strictly for Thanksgiving, and the crystal vase—which my parents had received for their wedding in the ’80s—sat on our baker’s rack collecting dust. When I got engaged, I followed the same pattern: I registered for lovely wineglasses and gilded ceramic plates, then hid them away once they arrived. My fiancé, Jon, and I had been together for eight years, so we had some of our own things—like our mix-and-match (not on purpose) Ikea flatware, which we strangely kept using instead of the beautiful Oneida set we received. We would save it all for a “special occasion,” we said
Then, four months after our wedding, Jon was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. We spent the next two years in and out of hospital rooms and doctor’s oices, and though we were at home for plenty of time during those days, we weren’t throwing the lavish dinner parties we’d imagined. And we would never get to, because he passed away before our third wedding anniversary.
Six months later, when I moved out of our shared apartment and into a new one on my own, I looked at those untouched things and realized we’d been saving them for a day that never came. Why hadn’t we swapped out our hodgepodge flatware or toasted
glasses? Why with those delicate g he fancy cof- didn’t we drag out t us on all those fee machine to fuel ed, too late, tough days? I realize her was reason that just being toget ood stuf enough to use the g opped waiting Since then, I’ve sto sive special around for that elu our lovely occasion, and I use I eat leftovers things just because. na (sometimes), of our wedding chin ensive vase and the grossly exp ocery store now holds cheap gr why not? It flowers. Because… tomorrow sounds cheesy, but t any of us, so isn’t guaranteed for e is worth every day we’re here rthy of match- celebrating—and wo ing stemware too. ingstemwaretoo.
ERICA FINAMORE IS THE HOME DIRECTOR AT REAL SIMPLE
This kitchen gets cooking with a bold, tone-on-tone palette in a seriously on-trend shade.
BY LESLIE CORONAIt’s all about color in the kitchen right now, and this one in Abilene, Texas, is as saturated as they come. Catering to the homeowner’s funky, cool tastes, Rebecca went all in with a green palette built around emerald tiles. “I didn’t want the space to be overly bright. I wanted it to feel cozy and warm,” she says. She chose a soft sage for the cupboards, which coordinates with the tile’s grout, and wood loors and marble counters to balance out the green.
Install wooden ceiling beams to add warmth and natural texture Rebecca chose a super-pale shade of pink paint with brown undertones for the ceiling, as a surprising and softening touch.
An all-green room might be a bit much Mixing in neutral elements, like cream bar stools and wooden shelves, prevents color fatigue.
The backsplash above the stove, made of the same Carrara marble used for the countertops, breaks up the dark tiling, which otherwise could feel heavy
TO BUY: Aubrey Counter Stool, $411; roveconcepts .com. Evergreen Star & Cross Tiles, $42 per sq. ft.; ireclaytile.com. Staggered Glass Chandelier, $599; westelm.com.
Hummingbirds by Janet Hill, from $39; artfullywalls .com. Lupe Wall Sconce, $174; mitzi.com. Paint: Burma Jade; sherwin -williams.com for info Teak Bowl, $70; cb2.com
CLEVER
EXPERT EDITION!
Pros in everything from food to fashion share the products they lean on to make life easier. Pick some up and start knocking out your to-do list in double time!
BY LESLIE CORONA AND ERICA FINAMORE
This unassuming gadget is actually a chisel, scraper, paint can opener, bottle opener, nail puller, roller cleaner, nut driver, and more! TO BUY: Husky 15-in-1 Painter’s Tool, $7.50; homedepot.com
Danielle is a self-taught power tool pro. She and her husband bought a builder-grade house in 2019, and she’s been posting their projects ever since.
Danielle says this compact and easy-to-maneuver screwdriver makes assembling Ikea furniture a breeze.
TO BUY: Ryobi 4V Lithium Screwdriver, $20; homedepot.com
These protect Danielle’s ears from loud drilling noises and double as Bluetooth headphones. “I can listen to my favorite jams while I’m working,” she says. TO BUY: 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector, $49; amazon com.
Opening boxes—fun. Slicing your inger—not fun. “This tool is awesome,” Danielle says. “The ceramic blade prevents anything but the tape from getting cut.”
TO BUY: Slice Ceramic Box Cutter, $19; amazon.com.
This damage-free hanger doesn’t require any tools and hangs art like a champ. “It works like a nail, but you don’t have to make a hole in the wall,” she says.
TO BUY: Command Universal Picture Hanger, $5.50; thecontainerstore.com
“I’m never going back to traditional lighters again,” Danielle says. This electric one charges with a USB cable and is both wind- and splashproof. Use it to get the ireplace going or light candles on a birthday cake.
TO BUY: Suprus Lighter with USB, $10; amazon.com
For brilliant, trendy picks, we turned to Paula Knight, the head of brand marketing and creative at Intermix, a luxury clothing retailer.
SUNNIES HOLDER
Instead of digging through your stuf for your sunglasses, try a cute case. “I tie this to my belt or bag to always have mine nearby,” Paula says.
TO BUY: Alvie Sunglasses Case, $195; ullajohnson.com.
CLOTHING FRESHENER A ig-scented wax oval is way cooler than a lavender sachet. Hang it in a closet or stash it in a dresser to keep clothes smelling nice. TO BUY: Scented Oval, $55; diptyqueparis.com
JEWELRY CLEANER Really, who has time to sit down and clean their rings? “I’ll clean in a cab or on a shoot—wherever I can ind a moment,” Paula says TO BUY: Diamond Dazzle Jewelry Cleaner, $9; target.com
FABRIC BRUSH Paula calls this her “cashmere savior.” Swipe it over sweaters, scarves, and coats to minimize pilling TO BUY: Sweater Comb, $21; thelaundress.com
FASHION TAPE If you’re looking for a quick solve for dresses with tricky necklines, Paula swears by this tape to hold everything in place TO BUY: Boob Tape, $19; nuebootape.com.
PLANT SUBSCRIPTION
If you’re a nervous plant parent, a subscription set will give you the conidence boost you need. You’ll receive a plant in a sixinch pot, plus care instructions to help that baby thrive. TO BUY: Month-to-Month Subscription, $28; heyhorti.com.
PRETTY PROPAGATION
Who would have thought stem cuttings could achieve centerpiece status? Christopher helped design these vases to do just that.
TO BUY: Plant Kween Propagation Systems, $29 each; westelm.com.
SOIL PROBE
Overwatering is a common killer of houseplants. This handy tool checks the soil’s moisture near the roots, so you’ll know when to stop it already. TO BUY: Monitor Brass Soil Probe, from $35; greeneryunlimited.co
Repotting plants gets messy To avoid scattering soil, roll out this tiny vinyl mat, then shake of the dirt when you’re done.
TO BUY: Classic Plant Tarp, $32; jg welcometothejunglehome.com
Christopher is an expert on plant parenthood. Their Instagram and new book, You Grow, Gurl!, tout the mental health beneits of growing and help others kick-start the habit.
@JEANINELOBELL
Jeanine is a beauty legend. She started the cosmetics brand Stila in 1994 and recently launched a new line, Neen (her nickname), focused on sustainable makeup.
ANTI-AGING SUNSCREEN
An efective but light sunscreen is a game changer. “It doesn’t feel sticky or like my pores are getting clogged up, ” Jeanine says. TO BUY: Invisible Hero SPF 30 AntiAging Sunscreen, $75; clarksbotanicals.com
@PROBABLYTHIS
The couple cover all things entertaining, DIY, and decor on Instagram and in their new book, Housewarming.
FACE MASSAGER
This vibrating bar (plated in 24-karat gold!) can help soothe and irm your forehead and the area around your eyes. “My skin feels energized, and I get a nice little lift from it,” Jeanine says TO BUY: Gold Bar, $195; jp y jilliandempsey.com
CHEEK AND LIP TINT
“I’m totally a sucker for multiuse products, and I like this one for my lips and cheeks,” she says. When you run out of tint, keep the compact and order a reill to save packaging
TO BUY: Going Rouge, $25; weareneen com.
WINE COASTER “This keeps the bottle’s temperature just right and helps prevent condensation marks on your table,” Matt says. TO BUY: Marble Wine Bottle Coasters, $19.50 each; potterybarn.com
STACKABLE GLASSES These come in mixed colors so everyone can ID their own cup. TO BUY: Drinking Glasses, $50 for 4; fromourplace.com
CHEESE MARKERS “No need to memorize fancy cheese names!” Beau says. These will save you from repeating “Gorgonzola” to every guest. TO BUY: Chalkboard ,$; Cheese Markers, $15 for 6; crateandbarrel.com
This personal alarm hooks to your key chain and has a powerful siren and lashing light. TO BUY: Birdie, $30; shesbirdie com
This brush was designed to protect hair from breakage, but it’s also superlight, making it the ideal on-the-go styling tool.
TO BUY: Manta Healthy Hairbrush, $30; anthropologie.com.
“The last thing you need is to be stuck with a dead phone, especially if you want to take photos or videos,” Nastasia says. She never leaves home without this charger. TO BUY: Anker PowerCore II Portable Charger, $69; amazon.com
Born into a strict Middle Eastern Chaldean family, Nastasia broke barriers in 2014 when she created Dame Traveler, a community for female travelers. She’s been to more than 65 countries, photographing her adventures and sharing tips and recommendations along the way.
“I pack everything from airplane snacks to small toiletries in these instead of using plastic bags,” Nastasia says. TO BUY: Zip Top Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags, $71 for 8; amazon.com.
BEAUTIFUL BUDS
Block out the crying baby or the person snoring next to you with a pair of surprisingly cute earplugs that look nothing like those cut-rate foam ones.
TO BUY: Experience Earplugs, $30; us.loopearplugs.com.
@FOODIEINNEWYORK
Vallery won the third season of The Great American Baking Show. Her book, Life Is What You Bake It, is packed with sweet recipes, many inspired by her Louisiana roots.
BAKING SPICES on This Vietnamese cinnam is “naturally sweet and tastes like Red Hots!” Vallery says. TO BUY: alRoya ; Cinnamon, $9 for 1.8 oz. burlapandbarrel.com
RING DISH
y Vallery drops her jewelr in this ring holder s before getting her hands dirty kneading dough or washing dishes.
TO BUY: Gold Swiss Dot Scallop Ring Dish, $15; coton-colors.com
SEAT COVER
How many butts were in your chair before you?
“This seat cover leaves your clothes fresh and helps keep germs at bay,” Nastasia says. TO BUY: Fits Everywhere Nice Seat, $59; niceseats.com.
KING PIN
“This makes rolling out piecrust and cookie dough really easy,” Vallery says, “and takes the guesswork out of how thick a quarter or eighth of an inch is.”
TO BUY: Adjustable Rolling Pin, $25; us.josephjoseph.com.
SPICE GRINDER
“It has a small-enough t blade to grind the tinies peppercorns, ” she says ke You can also use it to mak your own nut lours.
TO BUY: & Cuisinart Spice Nut Grinder, $40; williams-sonoma.com
BABY BRUSH
“This triple-angle toothbrush has soft bristles that clean all sides of the teeth at once,” Grace says. It’s great for toddlers. TO BUY: FridaBaby Triple-Angle Toothhugger, $8; amazon.com
FIRST AID KIT
“Before you embark on your next trip, pack this compact kit and be prepared for any cuts or scrapes along the way,” Grace says. It comes with cute fabric bandages, ointments, and antiseptic wipes. TO BUY: Welly Expanded First Aid Kit, $29; target.com
@BROOKLYNWRITER
Grace is the editor in chief of Parents and cohost of That New Mom Life podcast.
TOASTY STUFFY
This cuddly buddy was made for sick days. It’s illed with specially engineered corn that holds cool or warm temperatures. TO BUY: Zoo Animal, $20; thermalaidproducts.com
Lacy does hair for an impressive roster of clients (Priyanka Chopra and Serena and Venus Williams, for starters). She’s focused on changing the narrative for women and people of color in the beauty industry.
FRESH FANNY PACK
Grace loves this gender-neutral diaper bag with a changing pad and a waterproof pocket for wipes. It keeps your hands free for, you know, the baby
TO BUY: Vegan Leather Bag, g $98; kibouba .com.
DEWY DUO Lacy uses the highlighter on her cheekbones and in the corners of her eyes. “It really brightens up the face and adds such a nice touch to your overall look,” she says. TO BUY: Skin Fetish: Highlighter + Balm Duo, $50; patmcgrath.com.
SILK PILLOWCASE Cotton cases can dry out your hair, causing breakage. Silk puts that issue to rest.
TO BUY: Slip Silk Pillowcase, $89; sephora.com.
FRIZZ FIXER “This helps me relax unwanted frizz and moisturize strands,” Lacy says. “Plus, it helps prevent hair swelling in humidity” TO BUY: Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum, $15; target.com
THEY LOOK FEROCIOUS, BUT INSIDE THEY’RE JUST CHICKEN RAISED WITH
Brandon is a third-generation cleaning pro whose instructional videos on how to clean pretty much anything have racked up 1.3 million followers on TikTok.
Brandon uses this brush to clean tile, grout, cement, and even the occasional carpet.
TO BUY: 18V One+ Power Scrubber, $79; ryobitools.com
This tool is oddly satisfying to use. “It’s great for removing hair pet or human—loosening up dirt before vacuuming, and giving that inishing touch after carpet cleaning,” he says.
TO BUY: Westpak 18-inch Carpet Rake, $29; encapstore.com
“This is the best at-home spot cleaner I’ve ever used,” he says. “For pet messes and kid spills and everything in between, it’s my go-to.”
TO BUY: CleanSlate Spot Cleaner, $130; hoover.com.
Use the rubber blade to pull fur from your car, couch, or bed “Pet hair comes with my job, and this is nice and compact,” Brandon says.
TO BUY: Mini Pet Hair Detailer, $15; lillybrush.com.
CARPET RAKE
SMILEY SPONGE
“This is my favorite of the Scrub Daddy sponges,” Brandon says. “The foam and lexible texture help you clean just about any surface.”
“Most people don’t need the amount of long hanging space they have in a closet,” Pia says. “This doubles the storage in your closet in a snap.” TO BUY: Arabella Double Closet Rod, $20; wayfair.com.
“This makes use of the vertical space often left untouched in a cabinet and allows you to grab what you need fast,” Pia says.
TO BUY: UpSpace Water Bottle and Travel Mug Organizer, $25; youcopia.com
The lawyer turned professional organizer launched her KonMari-based company, Sweet Digs, in 2020. She’s all about tidying up as self-care.
“We’ve all been a victim of a lost sock,” Pia says. With this hanger, you can wash, dry, and store your socks together, so you never have to search for a mate again. TO BUY: Sockdock Laundry Hanger, $25; amazon.com.
A foldable box with pockets can help corral junk in the trunk, then be discreetly tucked away when not in use.
TO BUY: Large Trunk Organizer, $30; honeycando.com
irons can be tricky to store. An over-the-door bin keeps them in line and helps wrangle cords. TO BUY: Over Cabinet Door Hair Styling Tool Storage, $22.50; mdesignhomedecor.com
Got a box full of batteries rolling around? Never quite sure when you need to restock those AAs? This sectioned keeper can store 93 batteries and test them too! TO BUY: The Battery Organizer and Tester, $20; amazon.com
Kirsten worked with the NFL for seven years before becoming a Peloton instructor and certiied cycling and run coach. In her free time, she likes to work out with her two daughters.
This discreet sleep and activity tracker wraps around your inger.
“It’s really comfortable to wear, and it’s given me some interesting insights into how I can improve my output by getting proper sleep,” Kirsten says.
TO BUY: Oura Ring Generation 3, from $299; ouraring.com
When it’s raining or the kids are of from school, Kirsten turns to the Fit p Family classes on this ap “My daughters love the music, and we do n something active and fun together as a family!”
TO BUY: Peloton App, $13 per month; onepeloton.com
“Whether I am out for a run, doing burpees, or dancing around my house while making a playlist for a class, these earbuds don’t move,” Kirsten says.
TO BUY: Beats Fit Pro, $200; beatsbydre.com.
“This mixer helps me stir my matcha but also gives me that foamy latte I love so much without having to run to a cofee shop,” she says.
TO BUY: Modern Matcha Starter Set, $25; jadeleafmatcha.com.
As a mom on the go, o Kirsten frequently turns t her air fryer for quick meals. “I typically throw , chicken tenders in there and I have dinner for my kids and lunch for the lunch box the next day”
TO BUY: us Instant Vortex Plu ClearCook + OdorErase (6qt) Air Fryer, $160; williamssonoma.com.
SIMPLE TWIST
Single-use? Not a chance!
Dip into our bag of tricks for using that “disposable” plastic stuff again and again.
BY TEDDY WILLSON
PLASTIC BAG → HOUSEHOLD HERO
The bottomless bag of bags under your kitchen sink? It’s time for a new home—in your closet! Scrunch up the bags and stuf them into boots and handbags to help hold their shape. Outside: Deter frost by tightly tying bags over your car’s side mirrors and windshield wipers (just remember to remove them before you hit the gas). And if you’re tackling a doozy of a paint project that’ll span a couple of days, you don’t have to clean your wet brush each day. Just stow it in a grocery or zip-top bag and keep it in the fridge to help prevent the paint from drying
You know the netted bags that hold onions, oranges, and other produce? Instead of ruining another dish sponge for your grimiest chores, give these bags a second life as a scrubber. Smooth them out and make a stack of about four, then fold them into a rectangle. Wrap another netted bag around the rectangle and thread a piece of yarn along the edges to hold the makeshift sponge together. If you only have one bag on hand, cut it into a rectangle, fold it to your desired size, and secure a zip tie to the middle, creating a bow-tie shape. Squirt on some cleaner and have at that soap-scummed bathtub!
If your two-day shipping habit has left you with a pile of bubble-lined envelopes, don’t hoard them for a move or, worse, doom them to the dump. Bring them along to your kid’s next sporting event as lightweight stadium seats. Perfect for rain-or-shine matches, the plastic envelopes can be wiped dry and tossed into the car for many more uses. Play ball!
Those netted produce bags can also be turned into a kind of lower frog, the tool lorists use to hold arrangements in place. Set the mesh over a vase and cut out a circle, leaving about half an inch of overhang. Secure it with a rubber band. Add stems to the netting, including cascading greens (like string of pearls or coral fountain) around the edges to hide the rubber band. Voilà— you have a nifty little grid to stick stems into, creating a bouquet that will impress even your most Pinteresty friends
Rather than buying outdoor-grade garbage bags for yard work, try reusing resealable food packaging, like your dog’s kibble bags. Rake leaves right into them before emptying at the dump. You can also use the thick zip-top bags to dispose of thorny weeds, which you may not want in your compost bin.
Saving you money an d precious space in the bathroom, these gentle but effective picks will have you wondering why you ever stopped shopping in the kids’ aisle.
BY LISA D E SANTIS
BEST FOR SUDSING UP Hey Humans Body Wash
With a recycled-aluminum bottle and six fun scents, it delivers a lush lather, rinses clean, and leaves skin feeling smooth for hours post-shower. TO BUY: $8 each; heyhumans.com
BEST LOTION
Honest Beauty Refresh Face + Body Lotion
Forrget fussing with a bunch of bottles: Streamline your routine and hydrate everyone from face to feet with this multitasking moisturizer. Nourishing jojoba, shea, and salower oils sink quickly into skin, so the whole team can be dressed and out the door right away Choose from three subtle scents, or opt for the fragrance-free version for sensitive skin.
TO BUY: $11; honest.com.
BEST MULTITASKER
Hello Bello
Everywhere Balm
This coconut-andchamomile balm soothes and softens irritated skin, from cradle cap to cracked heels. TO BUY: $11; hellobello.com
BEST SUNSCREEN
Baby Bum Mineral on SPF 50 Roll-On Lotio
F The roll-on makes SPF n application easy—eve on the squirmiest t little ones. You’ll love i for touch-ups. Y: TO BUY $14; sunbum.com
BEST SHAMPOO
Hairitage Outta My Hair
Daily Shampoo
Mild and moisturizing, it works on all types and textures—plus, the 21-ounce bottle really lasts TO BUY: $11.50; walmart.com
BEST MOISTURIZER g Evereden Nourishin
Baby Face Cream nd Created for infants—an s stolen by parents—thi t- soothing, plant-extrac es packed cream promise nd 72 hours of hydration a r a stronger skin barrier
TO BUY: $29; evereden com ever-edencom
BEST DETANGLER
Pipette Leave-In Detangler
One thing you never grow out of? Knots. But a few mists of this lightweight snarl smoother will keep everyone tear-free.
TO BUY: $8; pipettebaby.com.
You’re smart with money yay! If you’re ready to be brilliant with it, here are the best apps, accounts, and tools (chosen by an independent panel of inancial pros) to help you save, invest, get tax guidance, or just use your dang credit card points without tears.
BY ELIZABETH PASSARELLA, MAGDALENA PUNIEWSKA, AND LAVINEL SAVU
COST: $0
Throwing down a card for something you think you need ASAP—like a new guest room mattress before the in-laws visit—can seem like a good idea…until the bill comes. When you’re itching for a spendy item, Accrue holds you accountable. Choose your splurge from one of its partner brands (Casper, Smile Direct Club, fine jewelry companies, and more) and make a savings plan. Get cash rewards (like $120 of a mattress) as you hit your goals
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Accrue rewards you for being patient. “Linking the act of saving with its purpose—what you’re
saving for—is a powerful motivator for those who struggle with debt,” says judge Kiersten Saunders (see page 59 for more info on our experts). “I’m also impressed with Accrue’s wide roster of retail partners.”
$0
AmEx is known for its credit card perks, including cash back on essentials, like groceries, and hotel and travel points. This online checking account gives you similar rewards for a debit card. Plus, points get pooled with those from your credit card, and you can earn 0.5 percent interest on your balance. That’s better than what most national banks ofer.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: You can grow your money and get better benefits while also streamlining your banking. “This is a no-brainer for existing AmEx customers,” says judge Grant Sabatier. “And it’s also attractive to new users looking for a higher-than-average return.”
COST: $5 PER MONTH
You know those coin sorters that separate quarters, dimes, and pennies when you pour in a bag of change? Digit is like that for your paycheck. Every time money comes in, the app divides it into bills, savings, an investing account, and a spending account, keeping you from absentmindedly using cash you’ll need for, say, your student loan payment at the end of the month. And you can pay bills straight from your account.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Once you set up your monthly payments and savings goals (anything from retirement to a new laptop), Digit does the math. Automating saving “lets people who traditionally struggle with budgeting feel like they have everything under control, while still allowing them to freely use the spend category guilt-free,” says judge Erin Skye Kelly.
COST: $5 PER MONTH
Immigrants and refugees deserve safe banking, regardless of their citizenship status, and Majority ofers banking without requiring a Social Security Number. All you need is a government-issued ID (from any country) and proof of U.S. residence to set up an account virtually. The company provides financial advising in more than 10 languages. And along with a checking account and debit card, customers get no-fee money transfers and unlimited, discounted phone calls to more than 20 countries. “As an immigrant 20 years ago, I had trouble opening my first bank account. I remember how miserable I felt when the bank said they couldn’t help me. Good job, Majority,” says judge Tatiana Tsoir.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: By removing hurdles, Majority makes banking—and thus saving and the ability to build credit—accessible to a huge underserved population. “Majority fills a need that immigrants and refugees can immediately benefit from. I love this,” says judge Marsha Barnes
COST: $0
WellPaid saves you from hassling roommates, friends, or family to chip in for expenses. Link your bank accounts on the app, and when someone pays a bill, WellPaid triggers everyone else to send either a portion (a quarter of the electric bill, for example) or a fixed amount (like $40 for Wi-Fi)
WHY IT’S A WINNER: WellPaid is great for roommates or partners who don’t want to mingle bank accounts, and for exes who share childcare expenses.
“Sending money back and forth on Venmo becomes clutter. Linking accounts without needing a joint account makes splitting simpler,” Tsoir says.
REAL SIMPLE STAFFER SAYS: “I live with my boyfriend, and we’ve been playing a constant game of tag on Venmo. After we linked our accounts with WellPaid, life got a little easier. No more tracking receipts, pulling up bank statements, and doing the math. Now the only trouble is deciding who pays the extra penny on rent.”
—Teddy Willson, assistant editor
Card Curator (Premium)
COST: $6 PER MONTH
Rather than accumulating points and then trying to figure out when and where to use them, work backward with Card Curator. Set a goal—tickets to Fiji, a twoweek tour of Tuscany—and the app steers you to the credit card to use for each purchase to maximize the points you’ll need.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: For people who’d love to save on travel but don’t have the time or patience to research and optimize, Card Curator is a valuable adviser. “I love that it automatically updates with the latest rewards—one less thing to have to monitor,” says judge Dawn Dahlby.
Chase My Chase Plan
COST: FIXED MONTHLY FEE (AMOUNT VARIES PER USER)
Your car breaks down. Your roof leaks. Your water heater dies. We all have moments when we’re hit with a big, unavoidable expense. Existing Chase credit card holders can use My Chase Plan to break down any purchase over $100 into installments, without accruing the interest you normally would after not paying a bill in full. In the app, click on the purchase and choose a payment plan ranging from 3 to 18 months. The purchase appears as a smaller amount on your monthly bill until it’s paid of.
Set a goal, and Card Curator steers you to the credit card to use for each purchase to maximize the points you’ll need.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: While experts warn that this is not a tool for splurging on a $400 pair of sneakers, it’s ideal for handling a big emergency expense. “This is a great solution for people who are on a tight budget or are temporarily financially challenged,” says judge Cathy Curtis.
COST: $0
The idea is simple: Every month, Citi determines where you spent the most grocery stores, restaurants, live entertainment (hey, tickets to Harry Styles!)—and gives you five times the cash back in that category (up to $500). Next month, if your biggest expense category changes, the Citi card adjusts, so you reap the extra bang for those bucks without any efort.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: “Finally, a company that recognizes that monthly budgets aren’t carbon copies of each other,” says judge Julien Saunders. We like to think of it as getting a discount on something you were going to buy anyway.
FutureCard Visa Card
COST: $0
This climate-conscious card isn’t only for your monthly train pass; you’re likely already buying a lot of reward-eligible
items. Ever ride a rental bike instead of taking a car? Shop online for vintage clothes? Use a charging station for your electric car? Those and much more all qualify for 5 percent cash back. You can even earn cash back on your Thanksgiving Tofurky—plant-based meat is eligible!
WHY IT’S A WINNER: If you’re already an eco-conscious shopper, this card puts money in your (recycled denim) pocket. On top of that: It might encourage you to make better choices. “I love that it’s incentivizing habits that are good for the planet,” Sabatier says. And if you occasionally balk at the higher price of sustainable goods, “the cash back helps subsidize that,” says judge Stephanie McCullough
If you’re already an eco-conscious shopper, FutureCard Visa Card puts money in your (recycled denim) pocket.
Alinea
COST: $0
The best-performing funds usually include diverse stocks, but with a traditional mutual fund, you may be buying into some corporate values you don’t love. With Alinea, you can choose a group of stocks with a theme, like companies that are woman-owned or fight climate change, so you diversify your portfolio while investing in companies your beliefs align with
WHY IT’S A WINNER: You can make data-based decisions (the app graphs out a stock’s performance). You can also see what other people in your network are buying and share your picks too. “I’d love to invest in more companies aligned with my values, and this makes it easy,” says judge Vee Weir.
COST: $100 PER YEAR
For many of us, simply having an individual retirement account (IRA) and remembering to contribute to it is a win. But for people who want to do their own
research, take some risks, and put retirement funds into long-term assets other than stocks and bonds, Alto is a good choice. It allows you to invest your IRA, traditional or Roth, in alternative areas, like real estate and art, which can be riskier but may yield higher dividends. Alto’s partners include venture capital and private equity funds that specialize in these areas
WHY IT’S A WINNER: “Being able to self-direct your retirement funds has been pretty unavailable for many years, since very few institutions ofer the option. I love it,” Tsoir says. It’s not for newbies, though. “Take your time to research the partner organizations,” McCullough says.
Schwab Starter Kit COST: $0
This is the investing equivalent of bowling with gutter guards—a little extra help for those who are just getting the hang of things. Here’s how it works: Open a Schwab account with at least $50, and Schwab will automatically add $101 of the bank’s money and invest it in the top five stocks on the S&P 500 Schwab also ofers investment guides and how-to videos so you can learn how to DIY
WHY IT’S A WINNER: It’s fairly low-risk to invest in the top five stocks, and it’s a good learning opportunity. “Schwab is a reputable company to start investing with, and this is a great ofer with a realistic strategy for beginners,” Dahlby says.
COST: $0
Individual investors are usually shut out of pre-IPO investing; it’s the big banks that get to fund start-ups before they’re publicly traded. SoFi IPO helps regular folks buy in early. Customers must have an investing account with SoFi, an online bank, but there’s no minimum balance to participate. In the app, you see what IPOs are coming up and submit an “indication of interest,” like a reservation for shares
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Getting in at the beginning of a newly public company can be a big score. This app makes it easy to bust into this investment arena. But it can also be volatile. “This is not the place to start investing,” Skye Kelly says. “But if t you have a moderate level of experience, it’s a fun way to buy some assets.”
COST: $0
This is a full-fledged brokerage account opened by you and managed by your openedbyyouandmanagedbyyour 13-to-17-year-old, who can spend, save, invest in stocks, and of course, deposit birthday money. A no-fee ATM card comes with the account, and while parents can see the transactions, the teens are truly in charge. They can buy fractional shares of stocks, transfer money via Venmo or PayPal, and put cash aside in a cash-management account. The app includes a library of educational videos to help them learn about investing
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Giving teens agency over their account is a great way to spark interest in investing. We also love
that the account can transfer to an adult brokerage account when your child turns 18. “If you have investment experience and a teenager with a job, this is the product you’ll want,” Skye Kelly says.
$0
College is extremely expensive and may seem far of. Should you start socking away money as soon as you have a baby? Prioritize retirement and count on student loans? This tool can put things in perspective. Existing Personal Capital customers plug in data to the Education tab—like the age of your child and what you’re saving for (college, private school, etc.). If your kid is already accepted to college or has a goal school, input the
Giving teens agency over their account is a great way to spark interest in investing.
tuition amount. The Education calculator will take your other financial data into account, adjust for inflation, and show how much you need to be saving, plus how it will afect your retirement funds.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: You can add in unexpected financial changes (such as an inheritance or job loss) and see how those impact your timeline. And colorful graphics make scenarios easy to compare. “Knowing how college afects your other long-term financial goals is crucial This app goes a long way toward helping families understand the impact of this big expense,” Curtis says.
COST: $0
At some point in your parenting life, you will start to feel like a human ATM. Till, designed for kids, helps them earn, save, and spend using a debit card, which parents can freeze instantly in the app. Older kids with jobs can set up direct deposit, and there’s an option for parents to “match” their kid’s savings.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: If your child has a phone, this is a fun, streamlined app to help them see how much they have to spend. “Today’s kids will likely only ever experience direct deposits and electronic banking, so this app nails spending and saving education for kids,” Skye Kelly says.
COST: $395 PER YEAR
Love free flights? Then hold on to your (business-class) seat. The Venture X card ofers users five times the usual miles on flights and 10 times the usual miles on hotels and rental cars (when booked through Capital One Travel), plus double miles on all other purchases. It’s meant to reward people who travel a ton (so the high annual fee is ofset by the savings). If you use the card’s travel service, you may be able to freeze the price of a flight (for a fee) for a period. If the cost goes up, the company covers the diference (up to a limit); if it goes down, you pay the lower price.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: For anyone with a lot of travel expenses, whether it’s for work, to fly a college student home, or as part of a fun-filled retirement, Venture X will help rack up points faster than Steph Curry in a playof game. “The ability to freeze the price of a travel ticket is magic,” Tsoir says
Elude
COST: $0
Maybe you stumble on a supercheap flight to London, but when you Google “hotel London under $200 not skeezy,” you get no hits. Or a friend tells you about an afordable eco-resort in Costa Rica, but the flights are crazy expensive. With
Elude, you set your budget first, then the app suggests destinations you can aford Plug in your $5,000 total budget, select your departure city and dates, and swipe through trip options, with a breakdown of flights and hotels for both domestic (Big Sur, California) and international (Copenhagen! Cape Town! Tokyo!) adventures.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: We love that the app might open your eyes to a location you hadn’t thought of (or heard of!). Plus, you save hours of time not having to play travel agent. “This removes the drudgery of research and feels more like fun exploration,” McCullough says.
Readers share the best investing and retirement advice they’ve ever received.
“My father told me, ‘Marry your stock.’ That advice kept me from making impulsive decisions when the market luctuated.”
RACHEL R. BAUM SARATOGA SPRINGS NEW YORKREAL SIMPLE STAFFER SAYS: “It’s easy to figure out and fun for browsing deals and getting a feel for how much a trip would cost. If you want to just get away for a weekend without any planning or stress, it seems like the app would be perfect for that.” —
The Points Guy App
COST: $0
Hannah Dorough, assistant editorCOST: $0
Tell NerdWallet what you have—such as Delta SkyMiles or Citi ThankYou Points— and where you want to go (Europe? The Caribbean?). The tool walks you through several of the best ways to use or transfer your points for travel and provides tips on getting the lowest deal.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Options! Who knew you could transfer credit card miles to a frequent flier program or use them to book flights on another airline? This tool knows the secrets and holds your hand through the process so you actually use the points you’ve earned. “I got great results in 10 seconds,” McCullough says.
This brand’s rep for hacking the travel points system is well deserved. Add your credit cards and all other loyalty programs (like hotels and flights), and the app will keep track of their value, which pops up at the top of your screen, and alert you if any are about to expire. Then search for a trip, and the app tells you how to use your points to get there, laying out the steps to transfer or combine points to turn a reach (first class to Cabo?) into a reality.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: The app is more than just a points tracker; you can browse the Deals section to see sale alerts. “I was blown away,” Sabatier says. “This app is a true innovator, with an exceptional number of tools, features, and automations to help you maximize your rewards.”
REAL SIMPLE STAFFER SAYS: “I find points programs so hard to keep track of Each credit card resets at a diferent date, and each month is a diferent category, so it’s hard to remember which card I should use at the grocery store or to buy plane tickets. Points Guy keeps track of my earned points and my missed points, so I can start to use my card to its full potential.”
—Erica Finamore, home director“When you get a pay increase, When get a pay increa invest it. Don’t upgrade your standard of living!”
MAUREEN L. DALTON FARMINGDALE, NEW JERSEY“My mom told me to take out a y mom told me to take ou small personal loan when I was all loan when I w still young, even though I didn’t even I did need one. I kept the money eed one. I money in savings, paid the payments paymen on time, and established a on and established a great credit rating.”
JEANNE NOWAK, CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS
“My grandfather always told me, ‘Pay yourself irst,’ old me, ‘Pay irst meaning save. I applied that lesson, and now I’m on hat and now I’m o track to retire at 60.”
KELLEY ATKINSON, ELDERSBURG, MARYLAND“One of my very irst bosses One irst bosse told me to invest the maximum d maxim amount in my 401(k). He said, mount my 401(k). He sa ‘You won’t miss the small ‘You won’t paycheck deduction, but it aycheck deduction, but i will add up in the end.’ His advice helped me retire His helped me retir recently. I’m forever grateful.” ently. gratefu
JOAN TRABUCCO, PACIFICA, CALIFORNIAWho knew you could transfer credit card miles to a frequent flier program or use them to book flights on another airline?
COST: $0
The best part of being self-employed is working on your own terms. The worst part? Having to be your own HR department. Catch is a stand-in for those employer-centric services. Once you input your sources of income, the app can divvy up your paychecks, no matter how irregular, to take care of quarterly taxes and retirement savings. You can even set it to save for paid time of.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: In addition to other functions, Catch ofers freelancer health and dental insurance options. “I love that this treats freelance income like that of a salaried person, so there is no ‘gotcha’ at tax time for not putting enough away,” Skye Kelly says.
COST: $269 PER MONTH
You have a vision for your business, and most likely, it does not include hours of crossing t’s and dotting i’s in bookkeeping. Enter Collective, which manages taxes, accounting, and payroll, freeing you up to focus on your company’s mission. If you’re accepted—Collective only takes on self-employed partners who will truly save money through its process—a rep walks you through converting to an S corporation (which can lower your tax burden and protect you from liability).
Then you get access to a team of advisers, including an accountant and tax expert. They handle the back end of your business for you.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Business taxes are complicated. Having a dedicated person on call to answer questions and save you from mistakes could be well worth the price. “It’s a very useful tool for smallbusiness owners who may be in over their heads with the finances, but the price might be steep for some just starting out,” Dahlby says. McCullough knows several people who use Collective and love it.
Lili Pro
COST: $5 PER MONTH
When you work for yourself, looking for invoices at tax time can feel like an archaeological dig. Snap a photo of them as they come in, and Lili saves them. It also helps you set aside money for taxes, just like an employer would, and ofers software that generates and organizes invoices to make sure no payments fall through the cracks
WHY IT’S A WINNER: “Many freelancers I know are creatives and wish they didn’t have to worry about administrative tasks,” McCullough says. The tax help is key, Skye Kelly says: “Nothing derails an entrepreneur’s confidence like a surprise tax bill. This allows you to make great financial decisions as you go.”
You have a vision for your business, and mostlikel most likely, it does not include hours of crossing t’s’ and dotting i’s in ’ bookkeeping.
Bilt Mastercard
COST: $0
Credit card companies typically ofer points on purchases like gas and groceries, but the biggest expense for those who rent an apartment or home—the monthly rent payment—has historically been exempt. Bilt allows you to earn points on yours, up to $50,000 a year, which you can use toward flights, hotels, even SoulCycle classes. If you live in a city with high housing costs, those points can add up fast. (And you can redeem them for a plane ticket away from your overpriced studio.) Landlord won’t accept a credit card? Bilt can generate a check for you.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: The housing market is tough right now, with many people renting instead of buying, and rents are increasing. “This card came out at the perfect time to give money you’re already spending a second life,” Dahlby says.
COST: 4.9 PERCENT FEE PLUS 30 CENTS PER RESERVATION FOR HOSTS; VARYING SERVICE FEE FOR RENTERS
Neighbor is a middleman app that helps people with too much stuf pay a small fee to other people who have unused space in spots like their basements, attics, or garages. Search by your location to see photos of spaces available near you, along with square footage and other details. Neighbor provides hosts with liability insurance, and renters can opt for a protection plan.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: One neighbor gets afordable storage; the other makes some cash. Everyone wins! And excuse us for being sentimental, but we love the potential for getting to know someone in your community. “It’s like Airbnb for your stuf,” Skye Kelly says.
Opendoor Complete
COST: 5 PERCENT PER SALE
Moving is a slog for several reasons—and a big one is how stressful the process of home buying can be. Opendoor gives you an estimated value of your house and ofers to buy it on the spot (if it qualifies), enabling you to browse other houses (also on the app) while knowing your exact budget. When you want to make an ofer, Oppgp endoor again steps in as a financial backer, making your bid a more competitive, all-cash version, as long as you’re preapproved by your bank. (If there’s a problem after your ofer is accepted, Opendoor will buy the home and sell it back to you at the same price when you’re ready.) The goal is a seamless transition, with close dates that work for you.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Opendoor, only available in 16 cities so far, is truly innovative in a business that can be slow and confusing. “When you’re buying a home, all the money moving around is anxietyinducing and overwhelming. This lessens that and makes it an easier process,” Weir says. Adds Tsoir: “It’s so helpful to have a support system when you’re buying and selling. This app may mean not having to live with your in-laws for weeks!”
Pacaso
COST: $0
Consider this an upgraded version of your grandparents’ time-share. Pacaso ofers co-ownership of second homes in swoon-worthy locations, like Nantucket,
Maui, and Aspen. You buy a share of a property along with other buyers as part of an LLC, and Pacaso manages it and sets parameters for high season and holidays, so you never have to duke it out with your co-owners over who stays when. After a year, if you aren’t happy, you can sell your share
WHY IT’S A WINNER: Pacaso is like owning a lake house with 17 of your cousins, if you never had to fight with them. “This is a game-changing idea that’s already starting to revolutionize the vacation home market,” Sabatier says. “Fractional home ownership is the future.”
Piñata
COST: $0
Would you occasionally like a gold star for adulting? Pay your rent on time every month, and you get points to spend with Piñata’s partners, including Amazon, Task Rabbit, Starbucks, and the Container Store. How does Piñata know if you hit the mark? You set the due date in the app and link your bank account to verify that the payment was made. What’s more: You can choose to have your payments reported to a credit bureau to boost your credit score. And as if that weren’t enough: Piñata donates a meal to someone in need for every rent payment made.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: “If you have trouble remembering to pay your rent on time or are a first-time renter getting the hang of it, this is a very cool idea. It’s a win-win for renters and landlords,” Dahlby says.
Avibra COST: $0
Many gig workers go without insurance, and Avibra fills the gap. Earn up to $15,000 in life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage by engaging with Avibra’s content—read an article about personal finance or do a guided meditation, and you earn coverage. There’s also a Dollar Benefits Store, where you can buy extras, like telemedicine and dental coverage, for $1 a week.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: This won’t cut it for a large family with lots of medical needs. But it is a “better-than-nothing solution that could prevent a financial tragedy alongside a health one,” Skye Kelly says.
Breeze
COST: FROM $3 PER MONTH
Disability insurance is designed to help cover your living expenses if you are sick, injured, or just had a baby and can’t work. Employers often provide it, but if you work for yourself, there’s no such thing as paid sick leave. Breeze ofers plans for this must-have coverage. Input your age, location, and profession and answer a few health questions to get a quote.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: We all know we should have savings to cover several months if something happens and we can’t work, but few of us do. “Disability is a crucial and under-insured risk,” McCullough says. “So many families’ financial futures are upended by illness or injury. This won’t replace 100 percent of your income, but it can mean you keep your home during a health crisis.”
Haven Life
COST: FROM ABOUT $30 PER MONTH
Term life insurance is one of the most no-brainer financial products out there none of us wants to strand our family in a financial crisis if we die suddenly. The old way to qualify for life insurance involved medical tests and lots of invasive questions. This company is legit (backed by MassMutual) but ofers Haven Simple, a policy that can give you up to $500,000 in term life insurance and requires just a few clicks, with no strangers taking your blood pressure. (Haven Life does ofer up to $3 million, though, if you go the traditional route.)
WHY IT’S A WINNER: We’re fans of anything that makes something daunting, like contemplating your mortality, a little easier. And Haven Life allows you to check of a grown-up task in the amount of time it takes to make cofee. “It’s a very convenient option that’s needed in the marketplace,” Dahlby says.
PayZen COST: $0
Medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. PayZen steps in with a solution that left us wondering, “Why hadn’t anyone thought of this before?” PayZen pays your health provider, then sets up a payment plan based on your financial picture for you to repay the amount–without any interest or fees. A scary, overwhelming debt is reduced to bite-size installments.
WHY IT’S A WINNER: With PayZen, patients aren’t charged more than the initial medical bill. Skye Kelly’s endorsement is absolute: “I tear up thinking about all the people currently struggling who will be able to maintain financial dignity thanks to this product.”
WE COMPILED A LIST OF PRODUCTS ACROSS EIGHT CATEGORIES THAT DEBUTED OR WERE UPDATED BETWEEN JANUARY 2021 AND JUNE 2022. A DIVERSE PANEL OF FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS RATED THEM AND SELECTED 32 WINNERS BASED ON INNOVATION AND RELEVANCE TO REAL SIMPLE READERS. ALL DETAILS WERE CORRECT AS OF PRESS TIME
JUDGES
MARSHA BARNES, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL SOCIAL WORKER, EDUCATOR, AND FOUNDER OF THE FINANCE BAR, WHICH PROVIDES PERSONAL FINANCE TOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
CATHY CURTIS, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND FOUNDER OF CURTIS FINANCIAL PLANNING IN OAKLAND
CALIFORNIA WHO FOCUSES ON ADVISING WOMEN
DAWN DAHLBY, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND BEHAVIORAL FINANCIAL ADVISER WHO OFFERS ONLINE FINANCIAL COACHING COURSES FOR CLIENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
STEPHANIE MCCULLOUGH, FINANCIAL PLANNER AND CEO OF SOFIA FINANCIAL IN BERWYN PENNSYLVANIA
GRANT SABATIER, AUTHOR OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND CREATOR OF THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM COURSE, WHICH HELPS PARTICIPANTS BUILD WEALTH AND RETIRE EARLY
JULIEN AND KIERSTEN SAUNDERS, AUTHORS OF CASHING OUT ABOUT PAYING OFF $200,000 IN DEBT, WHO SHARE ADVICE FOR BUILDING WEALTH AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK MEN AND WOMEN
ERIN SKYE KELLY, LICENSED
MORTGAGE BROKER WHO PAID OFF $2 MILLION IN DEBT AND AUTHOR OF GET THE HELL OUT OF DEBT, ABOUT HER THREE-STEP PROCESS FOR ELIMINATING DEBT AND BUILDING WEALTH
TATIANA TSOIR, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND AUTHOR OF DREAM BOLD START SMART A GUIDE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
VEE WEIR, PERSONAL FINANCE EDUCATOR IN BOULDER, COLORADO, WHO PAID OFF MORE THAN $70 000 IN DEBT AND SHARES TIPS ON INSTAGRAM AT @VEEFRUGALFOX
Medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. PayZen left us wondering, “Why hadn’t anyone thought of this before?”
After sticking close to home for a while, your travelagent skills may be a bit rusty. If you’ve forgotten how to get going on getting going, our pros are here to make sure your long-awaited vacation goes swimmingly.
BY KATIE JAMES WATKINSON
AFTER A FEW YEARS spent, initially, taking in the exotic vistas of your own backyard, and then taking whatever road trip you could muster, you may be gearing up for a longoverdue getaway—and you have company: According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, global travel and tourism are projected to exceed prepandemic levels this year, contributing nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy. Whether you’re finally planning a couple’s trip, rescheduling Disney, or organizing that beach vacation with your friends, here’s how to plan it right so you can focus on the serious business of R&R.
The more flexible your dates and destination, the better the deals you can score. To stay updated on the latest bargains, sign up for alerts on the website Scott’s Cheap Flights, which sources domestic and international routes from your nearest airport, claiming an average savings of 60 percent. (For access to even more deals, upgrade to the $49 annual premium membership.)
When that nonstop flight to Paris lands in your inbox for just $300 run, don’t walk. Flexible about where you go, as long as you can travel in December? Plug in specific dates or browse an entire month on Kayak’s Explore page, which cost-compares destinations around the globe.
In a time when flying can be unpredictable, train travel could put you on the right track. “Trains are often overlooked, but they can be one of the most beautiful ways to travel,” says travel writer Stacey Leasca.
“You get to see the world unfold and make the journey part of your travel experience.” Amtrak reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance, and booking early almost always guarantees savings. Tickets purchased 7 to 21 days in advance qualify for Saver fares, up to 25 percent of the lowest available price
Availability and pricing can fluctuate wildly for hotels, so book your reservation as far in advance as possible. For longer stays in vacation rentals, inquire about weekly rates; it may cost less to reserve that lakeside cabin on Airbnb for a full week than for the five nights you intend to stay.
If you’re traveling in a group, create a shareable Google Doc that lists restaurants and other hot spots so the rest of your party can add their ideas and see the latest updates in real time.
Overcrowding your trip with backto-back tours will likely leave you more irritated than invigorated—but at the same time, nobody wants to wander through a crowded city
looking for a dinner spot while everyone grows increasingly hangry. To strike a happy medium, schedule one key experience each day (say, a museum or biking tour), then leave time to explore. It does pay to line up dinner plans—especially with a big group—but keep after-dinner drinks open so you’ll have a chance to look around. “Try to give in to travel fate,” Leasca says. “You never know where a place can take you.”
Pull out your suitcase a week before you depart, then lay it open on the bedroom floor “The reminder sets an expectation of how much space you actually have,” explains Hitha Palepu, author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip.
Put small essentials in a toiletries bag, a tech organizer, and a medicine kit. “I like to have a lot of our travel gear prepacked,” says Vanessa Jeswani, cofounder of the luggage brand Nomad Lane. “Everyone in our family has a toiletries bag with mini versions of everything they need.”
If you plan on working remotely, install a privacy screen on your laptop, and pack a portable charger (ideally with built-in cables for your most-used devices) “so you’re not jockeying for a plug at the airport,” Palepu says
For a balanced itinerary, schedule one key experience each day (say, a museum or biking tour), then leave time to explore.
We’ve all been there: It’s 11:30 the night before you leave and you’re wildly stuing a pair of stilettos into your overflowing suitcase, thinking, “What if I want to dress up for dinner?” “When we pack for a vacation, we have this fantasy of being a different person,” Palepu says. “I’m all for that, but the bulk of what I pack is items that make me look and feel my best.”
Palepu recommends an 80/20 split between “power pieces” (the essentials) and “fantasy pieces” (that dress you’ll wear once for a fancy event) Focus on simple separates and monochrome outfits, which are the easiest way to look stylish but also feel comfortable. Choose clothes you can wear a few times before laundering.
Traveling with kids is enough of a challenge, so don’t be a hero. Just surrender—to checking a bag, to bringing the tablet, to stocking snacks galore.
“Now is not the time to try out a new sippy cup or forget the whitenoise machine your kid needs,” Palepu says. “Pack those essentials first. If all else fails, you can pick up diapers or have a grocery order delivered to your destination.”
If you’re headed somewhere family-friendly, ask if the hotel ofers babysitting or has a kids’ club “My wife and I try to schedule a caretaker after bedtime so we can sneak away for dinner as a couple,” says Kish Vasnani, cofounder of Nomad Lane. “Those four or five hours, just the two of us, are gold ”
Upload flight confirmations, hotel reservations, and copies of your passport, health insurance card, and vaccine information to Google Drive, Dropbox, or an iCloud folder. “I feel more confident traveling when I’ve stored important documents in a secure location that can be accessed via mobile or desktop,” Leasca says.
Make sure your devices are loaded with e-books or audiobooks, and download episodes of your favorite podcast onto your phone so you can still listen if Wi-Fi or cell service becomes unavailable. The night before, charge all electronics and double-check the location of essentials, like passports. Designate a “last-minute pouch” for personal items you intend to use right up until the morning of departure your toothbrush, phone charger, etc.—and toss the pouch into your carry-on or handbag before you go
You’ve planned a balanced itinerary and packed like Marie Kondo. Now make an efort to unplug—delete Slack from your phone and enable your out-of-oice email message. Whenever job anxieties creep in, remind yourself that not only will the work still be there when you return, but “you’ll come back a better employee or boss if you’re actually refreshed from the trip you’ve worked so hard to earn,” Leasca says. We couldn’t agree more.
Streamline the planning process with these essential apps.
TRIPIT (Free; iOS and Android) Simply forward conirmation emails (lights, hotel, car rental, dinner reservations) and a comprehensive itinerary lands in your inbox. Upgrade to the premium version ($49 a year) for real-time updates that alert you to light delays or cancellations.
ROADTRIPPERS (Free; iOS and Android) This maps out the ideal driving route, with suggestions for hotels, activities, landmarks, and roadside attractions along the way.
GASBUDDY (Free; iOS and Android) Pinpoint where to stop for the cheapest gas on an upcoming journey (or whenever you lose a game of chicken with your gas tank), with the option to ilter by brand and gasoline grade.
TRICOUNT (Free; iOS and Android) Split bills and calculate shared costs among your travel companions to eliminate the dreaded post-trip email chain over who owes what.
HEADOUT (Free; iOS and Android) Book the top attractions, shows, and tours in cities from Las Vegas to Dubai.
GOOGLE MAPS (Free; iOS and Android) Along with seamless navigation, you can save points of interest to a custom map, cross-check museum hours, and more.
is picturesque mountain town offers a wide variety of outdoor activities that both kids and adults can enjoy, like skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. For the least outdoorsy among you—it’s also home to a bustling shopping scene.
Take advantage of the powdery snow by skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. After a day spent on the slopes, enjoy an apres-ski cocktail, and visit the quaint downtown to experience the city’s worldclass dining scene. If it’s warm, check out the mountain biking and hiking opportunities, go whitewater rafting or kayaking, and try your hand at fly fishing.
Layering is key for winter sports. Pack tops and pants made from wool or synthetic fabrics, a vest or sweater, a water-resistant coat, ski pants, and a beanie. During warm-weather months, bring a swimsuit for water activities, a pullover for chilly mornings, and hiking boots if you’re going to hit the trails. Don’t forget binoculars for viewing wildlife!
ey call it the city that never sleeps for a reason, after all. New York City has something for every personality in the friend group, from amazing shopping and world-renowned museums to delicious bottomless brunch spots and exciting nightlife.
During the day, you and your pals can pop into eclectic thrift stores, explore different neighborhoods, and grab a delicious slice of New York-style pizza. At night, marvel at the skyline from a rooftop bar with a drink in hand before heading to dinner. Hop on the ferry once the sun goes down for the best view of the twinkling city.
Opt for stylish sneakers instead of sandals or heels in New York City. Jeans paired with a blouse and windbreaker is perfect for sightseeing, but you might want a dressier option if you’re seeing a show or getting cocktails. Pack a picnic blanket if you’re going to spend time in the park, and a portable phone charger so you can get around with ease.
Located on the southeastern coast of e Sunshine State, Boca Raton boasts pristine beaches, fantastic golf courses, nature trails, fine dining, and an abundance of museums—making it ideal for a couple’s getaway.
Besides lounging on the beach with a great read, consider signing up for an airboat tour of the Everglades or a relaxing couples massage. Sporty couples can get moving with a round of golf or a tennis match. Be sure to plan at least one romantic waterfront dinner while you’re in town, too.
Bring sunscreen and a straw hat to help protect your skin from harsh UV rays. You’ll want to have casual, lightweight clothes for daytime activities, a swimsuit for the beach or pool, and a nice pair of pants or a sundress for dinner and drinks. A denim jacket or cozy cardigan might come in handy if the temperature drops at night.
MAXIMIZE YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
RACK UP REWARDS
Your favorite hot beverage isn’t just for sipping. Whip it into delicious dishes and baked treats.
BY LIZZY BRISKINBLACK TEA comes from the same plant as green tea, but its longer drying time means a stronger and smokier taste
BEYOND THE CUP: That deep lavor enhances meat and mushroom dishes. “Soak dried fruit, such as prunes or apricots, in brewed tea until soft. Then add some of the liquid and fruit to a meaty stew, like Moroccan tagine,” says Mariëlla Erkens, an Amsterdam-based tea sommelier. The tea also shines alongside dark fruits in baked goods. Add a sprinkle of dry leaves to a blueberry pie or blackberry crisp for complexity. To make a special topper for toast or ice cream, simmer fresh or frozen stone fruit with sugar and a scoop of black tea until jammy
PTSD service dogs save lives. That’s why in its fifth year, the Dog Chow Service Dog Salute program is celebrating $1 million in donations to help support the lives and training of more PTSD service dogs for America’s veterans.
GREEN TEA, processed soon after harvest, is bright, verdant, and full of antioxidants. It can add grassy, bittersweet, and buttery notes to sweet and savory dishes.
BEYOND THE CUP: Matcha, a powder made from high-quality green tea leaves, dissolves beautifully into cake batters. Add a teaspoon or two to vanilla sheet cake or a classic pound cake for surprising color and sophisticated lavor. Or make a pretty compound butter: “Sift a teaspoon of matcha and a pinch of salt into a stick of soft butter and beat until it’s a uniform shade of green, then chill until irm,” Erkens says. Put a pat on grilled asparagus or ish. To get a nudge of cafeine, add a spoonful of matcha to morning smoothies, oats, or chia pudding
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EARL GREY is black tea lavored with bergamot, a bright citrus fruit.
BEYOND THE CUP: When you ’ re making panna cotta, infuse each cup of cream with a tablespoon of loose-leaf Earl Grey. Or brew the tea, sweeten it with honey, and freeze it in molds to make ice pops. Simmer maple syrup over low heat with a few tea bags for 10 minutes, then drizzle the sweet and sticky glaze on everything—pancakes, yogurt, even cooked salmon or chicken.
CHAMOMILE, an herbal, cafeinefree brew with a subtle loral lavor, isn’t technically tea, because it doesn’t come from the tea plant, though we treat it like one.
BEYOND THE CUP: “Simmer loose chamomile in maple syrup or agave for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain, and sweeten icing and cocktails with the syrup, ” Roszkowski says. Use chamomile tea as a base for gazpacho or salad dressing, or to steam tender vegetables, like broccoli and snap peas. It adds a lightly sweet and honeyed note that will keep people guessing (and going back for seconds)
CHAI is a warming mixture of black tea and spices, such as anise, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and pepper.
BEYOND THE CUP: For a bold side dish, “cook rice or quinoa in brewed chai,” says Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Add a spoonful of dry chai to rice pudding or buttercream frosting Baking queen Dorie Greenspan stirs a tablespoon of loose tea into almond-lour dough for Chocolate-Covered Chai-Tea Bars in her cookbook Everyday Dorie.
$1 Million
donated directly to the care & training of more PTSD service dogs for veterans by the end of 2022
50,000+ lbs
5+ years of supporting vets with PTSD, funding research & championing critical legislation of dog food donated to military vets & veteran service dog organizations
IF YOUR MORNINGS are mayhem, and “breakfast” is often a hurriedly grabbed granola bar as you and your family rush out the door, steal a classic dinner strategy and do some meal prep. Just a few minutes on the weekend will give you a huge head start for healthy, satisfying breakfasts all week
“Breakfasts are often all carbs and no fat or protein,” says Marisa Moore, RDN, author of the cookbook The Plant Love Kitchen, out next year. “While I love a good carby meal, without a balance of nutrients, you might be hungry before you get through your first meeting.”
Each of these options takes less than five minutes of prep in the morning and ofers sustained energy to carry you and your crew to lunchtime, no sugar crash in sight.
Try one of these easy, tasty breakfasts for a nourishing meal that’s speedy when it counts (i.e., 7:09 a.m. on a Wednesday).
BY JENNA HELWIG
While a smoothie may seem fast, you lose precious time riling through the freezer for fruit, the pantry for healthy seeds, and the fridge for your liquid. Instead, put everything except the liquid in a freezer-safe bag or jar and freeze it. When you’re ready to eat, dump the ingredients into the blender, add liquid, and blend
As for what goes in that bag or jar, think about how to make the smoothie satiating. Your protein can come from nuts, seeds, yogurt, or the liquid you use, such as dairy milk or soy milk. Healthy fats, from nut butters or avocado, will help keep you full longer. Throw in leafy greens, whose taste is easily camouflaged by fruit. Moore’s favorites include mango and pineapple for flavor and vitamin C, as well as dates, “a mineral- and fiber-rich way to add sweetness and a slight caramel flavor to smoothies,” she says
For each smoothie pack, use 1 to 11⁄2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit and/or vegetables, plus one or two ingredients rich in fat and protein. “If you’re going with fresh fruit, opt for bags that allow you to freeze the pack flat,” Moore says. “Or freeze chopped fruit in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet before combining it with the other ingredients. This will help you avoid a lump of frozen fruit in your smoothie pack that won’t easily blend.”
When it’s breakfast time, toss the ingredients into the blender with an equal amount of liquid, but be prepared to add more. “You often need more liquid than you might expect,” Moore says.
For a savory start, a stash of frozen breakfast tacos or burritos is money in the bank. Marcia Smart, a culinary instructor and the creator of the website Smart in the Kitchen, makes them both on the regular. Her favorite filling is an egg scramble with sautéed onion and chorizo (either soy or pork)
To assemble the tacos or burritos, let the filling cool before placing it on a tortilla, then top with some shredded cheese. “Flour tortillas work best since they’re the most pliable. I use 10-to-12inch ones for burritos and 5-inch ones for tacos,” Smart says.
For tacos, place the filling on one half of the tortilla and fold the other half over it. For burritos, place the filling in a rectangular shape on the lower third of a tortilla. Fold in the sides, then roll up from the bottom. “Be careful not to overfill,” Smart says, “or they’ll be hard to wrap and the filling may break through.”
To freeze, wrap the prepared tacos or burritos in foil and stack them in a storage container. Smart tapes reheating instructions to the lid to make them an easy heat-and-eat option for others.
For the speediest meal, transfer tacos or burritos to the fridge the night before, then unwrap and microwave for about 90 seconds. If you forget, no worries—just remove the foil and wrap in a damp paper towel. Microwave at half power until hot, about three to four minutes, turning it over once.
SAMMYPlus or minus 30 seconds, the storage and reheating instructions for tacos and burritos work for just about any breakfast sandwich, whether it’s eggs rolled in a tortilla, piled on bread, or tucked into an English mu n.
“Egg ‘muins’ are a blank canvas and an open invitation to include vegetables at breakfast,” Moore says. “Plus, they can be easily customized for diferent family members.”
Spray the wells of a muin tin with cooking spray. Fill each well halfway with chopped cooked vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, or asparagus, and/or chopped cooked meat, like ham, bacon, or sausage. In a large liquid measuring cup or bowl with a spout, whisk a dozen eggs with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the muin wells; you should have just enough to fill each about threequarters of the way up. Top with y some cheese if ou’d like and bake until set, about 25 minutes.
Let cool, then store in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer, in a freezer bag or other airtight container, for up to three months. Unwrap and microwave directly from frozen until hot, 60 to 90 seconds. Shake on some hot sauce for extra flavor, and you’re good to go
Overnight oats can be creamy, satisfying, and delicious…or gloppy, bland, and sad. The trick is adding texture and an extra splash of liquid yppyg Start your prep by combining half a cup of rolled oats with a cup of milk, a teaspoon or two of honey or maple syrup, and a pinch of kosher salt.
e morning, Refrigerate overnight. In the ng oats: Stir jazz up those underwhelmin ashed rasp- in grated apple or pear, sm ed fruit. berries, or other fresh or drie hemp seeds, Chopped nuts, cacao nibs, nola can give sesame seeds, or a little gran adding a them a boost too. Finish by er, half-and- splash of milk or, even bett it of luxury half—or heavy cream, for a b jam, put the If cold oatmeal isn’t your d heat in overnight oats in a bowl an ur crunchy the microwave, then add yo traditional bits. Or make a big batch of eekend and or steel-cut oats over the w al servings, refrigerate. Reheat individu you have on and add whatever toppings y ed pecans, hand—blueberries and toast nsweetened diced mango and toasted un gs, olive oil, coconut, or chopped dried fi eet version. and sea salt for a savory-swe
ed eggs in Having a bowl of hard-boil than half- the fridge can get you more “I make big way to a healthy breakfast. “ Smart says. batches in the Instant Pot,” S gular toast “We slice them on top of re cut them in or avocado toast, or we just rything half and top them with eve alt, za’atar, bagel seasoning, flaky sea sa or furikake.”
ressure If you “boil” eggs in the pr frigerating, cooker, peel them before ref est to since the shells will be easi d eggs will remove at that point. Peeled days. Or try keep in the fridge for three d ng method: our favorite stovetop cookin er to a boil, Bring a medium pot of wate h a slotted gently lower in the eggs wit simmer, spoon, reduce the heat to a ansfer the and cook for 11 minutes. Tra r to cool, eggs to a bowl of cold wate m with the then drain. Refrigerate them pp peels on for up to a week.
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We sampled over 60 taco night must-haves to help you assemble the best bite.
BY LIZZY BRISKIN
BEST SAUCE
Saucy Lips Tacos Al Pastor
Give Taco Tuesday an upgrade by skipping the spice packet and seasoning your meat with a simmer sauce instead. A hint of pineapple in this bright option adds a tropical twist to your tacos without being cloying. You’ll also get mild heat from chipotle peppers and chili powder, plus plenty of herby freshness from cilantro and oregano. This sauce is a bit thinner than others we tried, but it thickens as it cooks to coat your protein beautifully Try brushing it on grilled or sautéed pork, beef, or chicken. TrybrushingitongrilledorsautéedporkbeeforchickenItIts ’ s also delicate and fruity enough to pair with ish, shrimp, or beans.
TO BUY: $3.70 for 8 oz.; at grocery stores.
BEST GUAC
Herdez Traditional
Guacamole
Big, meaty chunks of fresh avocado and lecks of sweet tomato make it taste homemade
TO BUY: $7.50 for 15 oz.; at grocery stores
BEST CHEESE se Organic Valley 3 Chee
Mexican Blend
BEST SALSA
Somos Cuatro Chiles
Taquería Salsa
Yes, this baby has some burn. But it’s balanced by tangy, smoky notes that make it irresistible with chips or on a taco.
TO BUY: $4 for 12 oz.; at grocery stores
Thin shreds of sharp Cheddar, Colby, and Monterey Jack melt quickly over any warm illing. TO BUY: $6 for 6 oz.; at grocery stores
BEST TORTILLAS
La Tortilla Factory
Yellow Corn & Wheat
It’s the best of both worlds! Corn and wheat yield lexible wraps with a savory-sweet lavor.
TO BUY: $4.50 for 8; at grocery stores
BEST BEANS
A Dozen Cousins
Refried Black Beans
Heat up these hearty or beans for a simple side o h taco illing. Add a splas of water or broth to d make them smooth an spoonable. TO BUY: $4 for 10 oz.; at grocery stores
For better mental health, get out of your head and go with your gut.
BY JESSICA MIGALA
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! We’ve heard it all our lives, a pithy reminder that a good diet is crucial to physical health. But emerging evidence shows just how intertwined food is with mental health as well. So a more accurate line might be: You feel what you eat.
“There’s no question that the gut and brain share a special connection,” says Jay Pasricha, MD, professor of medicine and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of the university’s Center for Neurogastroenterology. Your noggin responds strongly to what you put in your belly, Pasricha says, in part because your brain needs energy to function, and your gut helps turn food into energy. But the connection goes beyond that, because like the brain, the human gut (a.k.a. the gastrointestinal system, comprising the esophagus, stomach, and intestines) contains an entire nervous system of its own, with nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters. The two systems are linked by hormones and nerves, especially the vagus nerve, a kind of communication superhighway, Pasricha says. So they’re on a constant feedback loop, sharing info and triggering chemicals that can influence emotions. Your gut health can afect how anxious or depressed you are, how you handle stress, even how mentally sharp you feel in the afternoon.
A key player in the gut? The microbiome—billions of bacteria that reside there. These bacteria produce neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which may impact brain and body function. What you eat feeds them, and your diet can determine which type of bacteria
thrive, found a review in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. Healthy foods tend to support “good” bacteria, while unhealthy foods may fuel “bad” bacteria. (Genetic and immunological factors affect the makeup of your microbiome too.) Research suggests that a gut that’s populated with more “bad” than “good” bacteria, or that’s less diverse in bacterial species, can create inflammation, which may influence how you think and behave and could be linked to stress levels and mood conditions
“There’s compelling work in the field of nutritional psychiatry showing that changing the diet is very efective in decreasing depression and anxiety symptoms,” says Christopher Lowry, PhD, associate professor in integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Even if your mood issues lean more toward brain fog at 4 p.m. or irritability after lunch, changing your diet can make a diference. In fact, your microbiome can start to adjust within one day, helping to put you on a path to better mental health
“Small and steady habit changes will move your gut health in the right direction,” says Uma Naidoo, MD, a nutritional psychiatrist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Food. Here’s how to support your emotional wellbeing through your belly.
Start with this simple step: Eat more plants. “The goal is to follow a more traditional diet based on whole, real foods, and to avoid processed ones,” says Drew Ramsey, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and author of Eat to Beat Anxiety and Depression.
Mediterranean diets—rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, low-fat dairy, and olive oil, and lower in meat, sugar, and fast and processed foods—appear to have strong mood-boosting benefits. One study included people who had depression and ate a not-so-healthy diet (high in sweets, processed meats, and salty snacks; low in fiber, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables). After following a Mediterranean diet for 12 weeks, 32 percent of them experienced some relief from their depression symptoms, compared with 8 percent in the control group.
For those who aren’t clinically depressed, a Mediterranean-type diet may still boost mood by improving the microbiome and reducing inflammation. Plus, cooking can be associated with positive feelings. (And in our unscientific opinion, so can not eating in your car.)
Your gut contains an entire nervous system of its own that’s on a constant feedback loop with your brain.
“Diversity makes it harder for pathogens to gain a foothold, proliferate, and cause disease,” Lowry says. Eating more vegetables, as well as fish and fruit, may help promote microbiome diversity. Unfortunately, trying all 31 flavors at your local scoop shop won’t cut it: Ice cream and sugary drinks are associated with less microbiome diversity, according to recent research in the journal Nature Communications.
Eating a variety of foods also helps your brain get the nutrients it needs to function optimally.
Running low on B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals like iron and zinc can create cognitive sluggishness, Ramsey says—and these are often the nutrients we’re missing. Unless directed by a doctor, you should aim to get these nutrients through food rather than supplements. According to Ramsey, supplements have not been shown to prevent illness or improve health outcomes.
Clams, fortified nutritional yeast, and salmon are all excellent sources of B12. Baked beans, nuts, and whole grains deliver zinc. Iron is in meat, white beans, dark chocolate, and fortified breakfast cereal. And omega-3s can be found in salmon and mackerel, as well as flax and chia seeds
You can pop a probiotic pill to boost “good” gut bacteria, but even better, eat more fermented foods, where these bacteria occur naturally.
Eating a variety of foods helps your brain get the nutrients it needs.
“I see people spend $50 to $100 on supplements when they have a concentrated, sophisticated, and superior source of probiotics in fermented foods,” Ramsey says. (A jar of delicious kimchi? Under $7.)
Research indicates that people who eat more fermented foods may be less likely to have symptoms of social anxiety, apparently because the probiotics are changing their gut environment, which can in turn influence social anxiety. And as a bonus, certain probiotics have been shown to promote heart health too.
There are easy ways to add more probiotics to your day: Drink kombucha (fermented tea) as a mocktail or a swap-in for soda. Use kefir in your smoothie or as a base for a creamy salad dressing. Spread miso paste on fish or toss it with vegetables as a seasoning. Top salads and grain bowls with tangy sauerkraut, pickles, or kimchi.
And don’t forget your prebiotics, food for your gut’s “good” bacteria. Feeding them right will help boost their numbers, Naidoo says. Eat more leeks, onions, lentils, and chickpeas. Roasted, salted chickpeas are a smart swap for processed carbs, like chips and crackers.
It’s not just about what you eat—it’s also about who you eat with. University of Oxford research reveals that people with larger social networks are more likely to have a diverse gut microbiome, suggesting that social interactions may change your microbiome for the better.
ionship with “Having a joyful relat connect with food, and using food to diet can support others, is another way y says. Social mental health,” Ramsey nked to sadness, disconnection can be lin epression (as low self-esteem, and de ing lockdown). many of us learned duri indoors or So plan a get-together, i n with family outside, and chow down and friends.
Talk
of time in If you’re spending a lot n after you eat, the bathroom or in pain ng on than a there may be more goin salad can fix.
table bowel People who have irri ry bowel syndrome, inflammator ive colitis or disease (such as ulcerat onic indiges- Crohn’s disease), or chr nal dyspepsia) tion (also called functio rience anxiety are more likely to exper c pain and and depression. Chroni a role in how inflammation can play asricha says, you feel emotionally, Pa have gastroin- and many people who op mood prob- testinal disorders devel with irritable lems. But when people ated with medi- bowel disease were tre cation, their digestion and a depression ccording to symptoms improved, a e can benefit research. So helping one doctor about the other. Talk to your the proper treatment.
Give your heart a little love.
*Three grams of soluble fiber daily from whole grain oat foods, like Honey Nut Cheerios™ cereal, in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease Honey Nut Cheerios cereal provides 75 grams per serving
The average annual cost of owning a cat is $1,149, while a dog can run you $1,391. And that’s not including all the gear you need (plus the toys and treats you spoil them with). Here’s how to shrink some of your biggest expenditures.
BY JUNO D E MELO
When it comes to kibble, price doesn’t necessarily correspond to quality. Ask your vet which food they recommend for your fur baby and how much to feed them— getting it right could save money and prevent obesity (a major possible cause of hefty vet bills). You can also go to petnutritionalliance.org to determine exactly how many calories your little fella needs. Another smart saving idea: Ask your pet store about frequent-buyer programs some give incentives, such as the 10th bag free. Or buy online and enable auto shipping, which can save you around 5 percent
You can cut costs by buying from an online pharmacy instead of your vet, but you’ll need to do your homework. First, type in the URL at safe.pharmacy (no “.com”) to make sure the site is verified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. When your medication arrives, check that it’s not expired or fake. Signs of counterfeit can include packaging that’s missing directions, a non-child-resistant container, and medicine intended for a tiny dog that has a picture of, say, a Great Dane on the box. If you do choose to get your meds directly from your vet, ask about rebates or coupons and generic drugs rather than name brands.
If your pet is ill or injured after hours, call your local emergency animal hospital before driving there. They can help you determine if it’s OK to hold off until your vet’s oice opens, because, as with humans, an ER visit will cost far more than a regular, oice-hours visit. If your pet eats something they shouldn’t—like a grape, chocolate, or toxic plant—call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. For a onetime $75 fee that includes follow-ups, veterinary toxicologists at the helpline can help you decide whether to take a watchand-wait approach.
In many states, a v n person in order examine your pet in or recommend to prescribe meds phone. Transla- treatment over the s a vet and gets tion: If your pet ha hat existing annual checkups, t llow for a (free) relationship may a han a (pricey) phone call rather t on top of visits oice visit. Staying risk of health can also lower the d cost big bucks problems that could n’t have a vet, or down the line. Don you have? Hit up don’t love the one ors for recom- friends and neighbo an also call a few mendations. You c nd ask about their nearby practices a mmon procedures. prices for some com ly found that Researchers recent 235 to $1,400 to fees ranged from $ m $300 to $1,080 spay a dog, and fro g—and that many for a teeth cleanin es got very high low-priced practic customer ratings.
OUR EXPERTS
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KEVIN BRASLER, CKBOOK EXECUTIVE EDITOR AT CONSUMERS’
MURPHY, DVM, PHD, ST AND VETERINARY NUTRITIONI CIENCES AT CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SMALL ANIMAL CLINICAL SC EDICINE THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY ME
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MICHELLE MEYER, DVM, OCIATION PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ASSO GAN OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS AND SOUTHEASTERN MICHIG VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
MARYANNE
Prevention is the best (and most costeffective) medicine. To save money later, keep up with things like brushing your pet’s teeth and helping them maintain a healthy weight.
hat started as a simple promise to feed an Airedale named B
The right one does more than give shape to all those unstructured basics in your closet. It pulls everything together.
BY FLAVIA NUNEZ
Give the season’s ubiquitous button-up a zhuzh with a modern leather
2
We (still) love a curvecelebrating peplum top. Add instant polish—and hide the seam—with a wide belt.
4
For classic subtlety, wear a belt that’s the same color as your favorite pants or cords.
6
Belt off a boxy, broad-shouldered blazer (straight outta the ’80s!) and it’s “Oh, hello, waist!”
TO BUY: 1 Athens Dress, $310; mirthcaftans.com. Always Linked Black and Gold Chain Belt, $24; lulus.com. Phoebe Crossbody Bag, $228; dkny.com. Violet Boots, $149; andreassous.com. 2 Scalloped Rule Wrap Top, $84.50; anntaylor.com. Faux Suede Waist Belt, $45; nordstrom.com. 3 Women’s Vintage Modern Union-Alls, $148; lee.com. Free Assembly Women’s Ribbed Turtleneck Top, $14; walmart.com. Woven Vegan Leather Belt, $38; shopburu.com. Vicky Sunglasses, $125; feroceeyewear.com. Loraine Bit Loafer $150; samedelman.com. 4 Mock Neck Sweater, $59; stories.com. Hepburn Wide Leg High Rise Vintage, $199; dl1961.com. Brown Suede Prong Belt, $48; express.com. Rider Shoulder Bag, $125; dagnedover.com. Women’s L-Spin Deluxe Textile Sneakers, $125; lacoste com/us/ 5 Floriane Shirt, $98; guess.com. Gold-Toned Triangle Buckle Leather Belt, $54; mostwantedusa.com. 6 The 80’s Blazer, $185; everlane.com. Maeve Mini Leather Belt, $165; b-lowthebelt.com.
3 Break up a denim jumpsuit with a cool pop of color.
5
sash.
1
Grab a chain belt for an edgy way to cinch a loose dress or shift.
TO BUY: (From top) Louise Belt, $275; lizziefortunato.com. Suede Textured Buckle Belt, $54; loft.com. Candy Heart Station Belt, $225; lelesadoughi.com.
Linen & Vegan Leather Knot Obi Belt, $89; whitehouseblackmarket.com. Rocai
Suede Square Buckle Basic Belt, $15; marshalls.com. The Beebe Belt, $125; mmlaleur.com. 2" Silky Suede Belt, $99; talbots.com. Lilywynd Belt, $20; aldoshoes.com. Leather Rope Belt, $49.50; chicos.com. Valentina Double Ring Buckle Leather Belt, $15; tjmaxx.com. Harriet Isles Maddie Woven Belt, $58; evereve.com
Interior designer JARRET YOSHIDA shares a few tips to make an awkward corner hearth look warm, welcoming, and stylish.
BY TEDDY WILLSONQ:We just bought a house, and the living room is a struggle to design because there’s a corner ireplace that cuts into the room. How do I make this work?
—Trish from Westbury, New York
1
DON’T HIDE IT; AMPLIFY IT!
Wallpaper or paint the angled wall so the ireplace stands out against it. A faux-stone design or dark hue will create a dramatic backdrop. TO BUY: Gray Paint; benjaminmoore .com for info
2
ADJUST THE FLOOR PLAN
Instead of having your seating face the hearth, as is typical, position furniture toward the other walls. Use a rug to outline a gathering zone, with at least the front legs of your sofa and chairs resting on it. TO BUY: Bonner Sand Dhurrie Area Rug, from $103; allmodern.com.
3
FIND MOVABLE FURNITURE
Choose pieces with adjustable bases, like swivel chairs, so guests can turn toward the ire when it’s lit or the center of the room when it isn’t. TO BUY: Velvet Stella Upholstered Swivel Chair, $450; worldmarket.com
4
BEFORE
SET THE SCENE
Dress up your ireplace and give it year-round appeal by hanging a large mirror or piece of art above it.
TO BUY: French Port, from $29; juniperprintshop.com.
Submit
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Bad smells, mystery stains, and loud noises are just a few of the joys of homeownership. While some may be a nothingburger, others can threaten your home’s integrity. If you’re wondering about the source of whatever it is that’s haunting your house, read on.
BY ERICA FINAMORE
Have you ever walked by your dishwasher and been stopped in your tracks by the smell? You may think the culprit is stuck-on food from last night’s dinner, but it’s more likely food from way longer ago than that (ew). The dishwasher has a filter that helps prevent food from clogging up the drain, and eventually that food can build up and smell like, well, garbage. Fix it by removing the filter and washing it with warm water and dish soap. Replace the filter, then run the dishwasher with nothing but a bowl filled with white vinegar in the top rack. If it still reeks, run it a second time with just a cup of baking soda poured into the bottom of the machine (under the spray arm).
HELP PREVENT IT: Once a month, clean your dishwasher’s filter and door gaskets using a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water, then wipe them down with a damp towel.
This isn’t the same as a natural gas smell—if you notice that, get outside and call your utility company or 911 immediately. This odor is more pungent and, when it’s coming from your water heater, pretty worrisome. The good news is that the source is fairly obvious: a corroded magnesium anode rod. The rod helps protect the interior lining of your water heater, and it may need to be replaced every three years or so. (When’s the last time you checked yours? Exactly.) The rod can be tricky to access, so you’ll want to call in a plumber for help.
You can probably guess where this smell is coming from, and you can thank a busted sewer pipe, broken toilet wax ring, or leaking P trap—the U-shaped pipe under your toilet or sink containing water that acts as a seal against that lovely smell. Have a plumber evaluate what’s going on.
HELP PREVENT IT: Regularly run water through your pipes to keep the P trap’s water seal from drying up. Remember to do this in less-used rooms, like a guest bath
Brown Splotches on the Ceiling
You’re lying in bed at night, staring up at the ceiling, and spot some dark, syrupy-looking patches ruining the paint job. This is the stuf nightmares are made of, right? It could be that tub and shower drains on the floor above you have lost their seal, but the HVAC might also be responsible (more specifically, a clogged condensate line, or condensation on the duct work) Either way, a pro will need to help you fix this, so get dialing.
HELP PREVENT IT: Change the filter on your HVAC unit every three months.
Ever blame a bad hair day on hard water? You can credit that same mineral buildup with the cloudy white spots on your stainless-steel faucet. Spray vinegar directly onto the fixtures and let it sit for 10 minutes to help break down the minerals. Once you wipe it of with a microfiber cloth, you should be set. (Your hair, on the other hand, is another story.)
Fridges hum, but when that humming gets loud, it could mean you have dirty condenser coils or a failing compressor. To figure out which it is, start by cleaning your fridge coils (those wavy things on the back or underside of your fridge). Unplug your fridge and vacuum the dust of the coils using the brush attachment. Then gently remove any gunk with a toothbrush. If this doesn’t fix it, the issue may be the compressor, and you’ll need a pro.
HELP PREVENT IT: Vacuum your fridge coils twice a year.
Radiators can be noisy—sometimes you hear ticking, and sometimes they produce a weird hissing noise. Ticking is just the radiator expanding and contracting with heat (phew), but hissing indicates you may have a problem with the valve that drives out air and condensation. When this valve wears out, air and condensation can get stuck inside, causing the radiator to make noise. Located on the side of your radiator, about midway up, the valve is pretty easy to replace. Just turn of your heat, let the radiator cool, unscrew the old valve, and screw in the new one. Then turn your heat back on to make sure there’s no leaking
In our next issue, we’ll give you all the deets on this year’s coastal-cool REAL SIMPLE Home in Rosemary Beach, Florida. In the meantime, take a sneak peek at what the talented designers (ahem, some of them our own editors) plan to create.
BY LESLIE CORONA AND ERICA FINAMOREMOVING PARTS
To create a more casual and spontaneous space, Kelly prefers a group of swivel chairs to a sofa.
THINK PINK
JOY STREET INTERIORS @joystreetdesignKelly had a previous life as a lawyer until she stepped away in 2011 to start her interior design irm in Oakland, California. She loves functional family spaces, bold colors, and giving back—she founded the nonproit Joy Street Initiative to do pro bono design work, like creating bedrooms in a shelter for teens.
This big expanse of space on the third loor will become a lively room for groups of people to enjoy together. Flexible furniture, like adjustable chairs and ottomans, will allow guests to chat, play games, and just hang.
Kelly likes to add unexpected pops of color, such as a blush side table
COLORFUL CANVASES
Kelly will bring shades of blue, orange, yellow, and green into the room through multiple pieces of vivid abstract art.
IN OR OUT
Aluminum dining chairs with a gold inish were designed for outdoor use, so they’ll stand up to wear and tear (pets! toddlers! teens!) indoors.
NEUTRAL TERRITORY
Since the loft will include lots of color, Kelly will use neutral items, like a wood console with a simple brass inlay, to keep the palette from getting overwhelming
TO BUY: Morpho Swivel Chair, $350; target.com. Silicus Side Table, $149; article.com. Outlook by Jen Florentine, from $24; minted.com. Oro Gold Outdoor Dining Chair, $329; cb2.com. Spiced Auburn Wood and Brass Inlay Storage Cabinet, $600; worldmarket.com. Cat’s Paw Micro Hooked Wool Rug, $848 (5 by 8 ft.); annieselke.com
The New York City–based editor has loved home decor since childhood and has been styling professionally since 2011. Erica unabashedly goes for bright colors and bold patterns, and she tries to infuse a pop of pink into every space.
For curb appeal, the front of the house should pack a unique punch without clashing with the beach town’s organic style. Erica will start with big, neutral pieces, like a resin-andaluminum swing and teak sofa, then add color with pillows, plants, and rugs.
A porch swing is always charm ing, no? This one is made of ors resin, so it can be used outdo all year long
m-
To squeeze in some extra seat ing, Erica plans to feature a e couple of plush, weather-safe loor cushions
t-
gh The porch doesn’t have enoug ut room for a full dining setup, b ed a cofee table with hand-carv details adds elegance and a convenient place to snack
me A sofa with a sturdy teak fram a and water-repellent Sunbrella cushions can withstand a stormy season.
TO BUY: Springwood Hanging Daybed, $3,498; serenaandlily com. All Weather Wicker Outdoor Planters, from $60; worldmarket.com. Bolé Road n, Variegated Stripe Floor Cushio $125; westelm.com. Ceylon Teak Cofee Table, $600; ballarddesigns.com. Bolé Road Stripe and Step Pillow, $47.50; westelm.com. Santa Cruz Teak Sofa, $2,956; williams-sonoma.com.
Mixing teak with natural textures, like rattan and jute, makes a porch feel indoors-level cozy.
When not in use, the cushions can be tucked under the table!Katie Holdefehr ASSOCIATE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AT REALSIMPLE.COM @katieholdefehr
Katie has spent more than a decade writing about all things home, covering everything from paint trends to laundry mistakes. She gravitates toward farmhouse charm and has yet to meet a beach house she doesn’t like.
SHED SOME LIGHT
To illuminate both the open shelves and the counter (you want to be able to see when you’re spot-treating stains), Katie likes a sconce with an articulating arm.
BLUE ROOM
Katie will coat the entire room (trim included) in a soft blue with gray undertones to accentuate the subtle brass and wicker accessories
WALLED OFF
In this small room, loor space is limited, but the high ceiling means plenty of vertical space. Open shelving on the back wall will store clothespins and dryer balls; an adjustable wall hook will hold cleaning essentials
TO BUY: Task Sconce, $348; serenaandlily.com. Valspar
Paint in Rising Tide 4008-3A, from $26 per gallon; lowes.com. Water Hyacinth Laundry Cart, $120; containerstore.com. Stowe Eco Glass Canisters, from $45; jennikayne.com.
Laundry can be a tedious task, so Katie wants this room to feel beachy and calm. A serene shade of blue paired with woven elements—like baskets and a water-hyacinth hamper—will make laundry day a time to unwind.
Landing areas tend to be afterthoughts, but Leslie will make the most of this one at the top of the dining room staircase. She’ll take cues from the ocean and paint the walls a seafoam green, then create three distinct zones, using a desk, a lounge chair, and a bar cabinet.
Leslie has been creating home content for nearly 10 years and likes to strike a balance between minimalism and maximalism (yes, you can be in the middle!)
The Brooklyn, New York, native loves bright colors and midcentury modern design with touches of glam.
Leslie’s Plan
BUBBLE UP
This area is not just a passthrough! Leslie chose dramatic lighting—a chandelier with 25 glass bubbles—so people will pause and look up.
PATTERN PLAY
Leslie will deine the small wall area under an adjoining staircase by covering it in peel-and-stick wallpaper. That unexpected element will brighten up the dark nook
VINTAGE ADVANTAGE
The landing is a strange shape, so standard rug sizes won’t work. Vintage rugs often come in unique dimensions, and this Moroccan one is a it.
HIDDEN AGENDA
A rattan ottoman will serve as both a place for people to rest their feet and a storage bin to hold books, magazines, and stray paperwork
TO BUY: The 25 Bubble Chandelier, from $950; thelightfactory.net. Lush Palms Wallpaper, $4.50 per sq. ft.; lovevsdesign.com. Tylor Rug, revivalrugs.com for similar.
Leslie Corona SENIOR HOME EDITOR AT REAL SIMPLE @leslie_corona_
A new home comes with a list of new projects. Start them easier with free color chips delivered directly to your door. Find out how at Valspar.com
BY NAOMI BARR
MAIL , BILLS , RECEIPTS it’s easy for the small drifts of paper that arrive daily to turn into a tsunami. Managing them is a matter of staying on top of the wave. “We often feel so fried that we don’t take the extra few seconds to ask ourselves, ‘Do I need this? If so, where should it go?’ That delayed decision-making can quickly lead to clutter,” says organizing expert Shira Gill, author of Minimalista. Creating a system to sort through mail and other papers as soon as they come in can save you mountains of mess and stress in the long run. Start with these strategies.
IF YOU SAID YES, WE SAY
AFTER YOUR DAILY MAIL DELIVERY
Unbox and break down packages as they arrive (unless you anticipate a return), and put cardboard in your paper recycling bin. Any junk mail that’s recyclable (read on to learn which types are) should be immediately placed with other paper waste. Put mail that requires a response in a basket, box, or hanging organizer for later review. “Most mail can be dealt with just one day a week,” says Pia Thompson, founder of Sweet Digs, a home-organizing service in New York City. Gill agrees: “In my house, we do a quick meeting every Sunday night where we respond to mail—invitations, bills—and divide and conquer it as a family”
Use a corkboard or magnetic board to post permission slips and other timesensitive documents. Designate a container for paperwork that needs to go under review, along with mail you have to answer or address weekly. Place the container someplace easily accessible, like on top of your entryway credenza. Find one that blends in with your decor and is deep enough to disguise your pile (such as the Threshold Round Natural Basket, $30; target.com)
TOSS, SAVE, SHRED, SCAN
Throw advertising mailers, political flyyers, unwanted coupons, and envelopes (even those with address windows) into o your recycling right away. Credit card ofers, bills, ATM receipts, sales receipts, account statements—basically, anything that contains info beyond your address that could be candy to identity thieves should be shredded first. (Don’t want to o buy a home shredder? The UPS Store annd FedEx offer bulk shredding services for a fee. Alternatively, you can tear them by hand and mix them into your compoost. And if you have a fireplace or outdoor firepit, old bank statements and bills can make great tinder!) If there are any papers you want to hang on to, consider scanning and saving them as clutter-free digital files on your phone or in your email. The TurboScan app ($5 for Android, $6 for iOOS) scans and sorts documents in seconds.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING Haven’t signed up for paperless billing and automatic payments? Do it! Then go to catalogchoice.org, to get yourself of catalog and junk mail lists, and to optoutprescreen.com, to help free yourself from unsolicited credit card and insurance ofers. These actions can cut down on clutter, and they’re good for the environment: According to the Harvard University Oice for Sustainability, the production and disposal of direct mail consumes more energy than 3 million cars annually.
Credit card offers, bills, ATM receipts, account statements— basically, anything that contains info that could be candy to identity thieves should be shredded.
Whether you’re full-on tailgating or just catching a game from the bleachers, make the most of your spectating with these coolers, blankets, chairs, and helpful extras.
BY FLAVIA NUNEZ
BEST COOLER BAG Business & Pleasure The Premium Cooler Bag
Available in 16 colors and prints, it helps about 20 cans stay frosty from morning till night—and just looks so darn cute!
TO BUY: $79; businessandpleasureco.com
BEST OLD-SCHOOL JUG Igloo Retro Barrel of Fun 2 Gallon Jug You might get déjà vu when illing this 1990s-style cooler with a spiked punch like old times. The diference: better colors and eco-friendly insulation. TO BUY: $45; igloocoolers.com
BEST FOR A SIX-PACK Hydro Flask 12 L Carry Out Soft Cooler Lightweight, durable, and keeps drinks cold even if you leave it in your car all day? In. TO BUY: $70; hydrolask.com.
Need another seat? The solid lid is meant to be sat on.
Finally, a packing pouch you won’t misplace. It’s attached!
BEST WATER-RESISTANT BLANKET
ChappyWrap Casco Bay Striped Water Resistant Blanket
When the weather is not in your favor, you ‘ll feel dry and cozy under this really soft blanket. y TO BUY: $84; chappywrap.com
BEST MULTITASKING BLANKET
Grand Trunk
Parasheet Blanket
Take this featherweight pick to the park, beach, ield—basically any outdoor place you want. Just ill the corner pockets with sand or rocks to hold it down while you’re mingling with friends.
TO BUY: $30; grandtrunk.com
BEST PORTABLE CHAIR Cliq Portable Camping Chair
This chair is a game changer: small, sturdy, and so easy to open, you can do it with one hand.
TO BUY: $140; cliqproducts.com
BEST SEAT CUSHION Cushion Lab Pressure
Relief Seat Cushion
Stadium seats and bleachers are no fun for your back. This cushion improves your posture and supports your hips so you feel on cloud nine all the way through overtime.
TO BUY: $85; thecushionlab.com
BEST CHAIR BLANKET
Helinox Toasty
Wrap yourself up in this leeceand-down blanket. Arm openings mean you can sip your hot toddy while fully covered.
TO BUY: $150; helinox.com.
BEST WATER BOTTLE
Takeya 24oz Actives Insulated Water Bottle with Spout Lid
This BPA-free, dishwasher-safe bottle its in most cup holders and has a grippy, leakproof lid for easy opening TO BUY: $35; takeyausa.com.
BEST COFFEE MUG
RTIC Co ee Mug
Who needs a microwave when you have a mug that keeps your cofee hot for hours? TO BUY: $15; rticoutdoors.com
BEST PACKABLE BOTTLE
HydraPak Stow 500 mL
Surprisingly durable and versatile, it’s a water bottle and an ice pack TO BUY: $16; hydrapak.com.
Remove
Bonus: The chair folds to the size of a water bottle!
the recycled polyester cover and toss it into the wash.
Roll up the bottle and slip it into your pocket for easy refills.
Pro
Katya Suh, wife of NFL defensive lineman
Ndamukong Suh, crafts her own cocktail recipes for her devoted social media followers and loves attending games even when she was eight months pregnant with her twin boys (now almost 11⁄2 years old)! She breaks down her top tips for watching from the sidelines.
START EARLY
Game day can get hectic, so always plan everything the night before. Lay out your clothes, shoes, a hair tie, and if you’re a mama, your diaper bag and snacks
BRING THE ESSENTIALS
If I’m going with my boys, I’ll pack something for them to cheer along with—team lags, pom-poms, rally towels. They love being part of the fun. If I’m going without my kids, I always make sure to have a great drink with me, like my beloved Superbird Paloma or a lask of my favorite tequila!
KEEP THEM POSTED
BEST WATERPROOF POUCH Max Pouch, $48; aloha-collection.com.
BEST REUSABLE HAND WARMER 12-Hour Hand Warmer, $25; zippo.com
BEST SMALL BACKPACK Rover Pack Mini, $69; topodesigns.com
BEST HAT WITH UPF Adventure Sun Hat UPF 50+ Legionnaire Style, $50; solbari.com
BEST CARRYALL CART Outdoor Collapsible Utility Wagon, $119; woodscanada.com.
BEST CLEAR UMBRELLA g,Signature Manual Clear Bubble Umbrella, $; totes.com
My phone is a must! I use it to take pictures of my boys at the game, stay connected to loved ones who couldn’t make it, post to Instagram showing what we’re wearing in support of Daddy and the team, and share reels of what the night looked like after we had an amazing game and a win!
—Hannah Dorough
BY CHRIS CANDER
My psychic predicted major betrayals.
Growing up, I had a friend whose mother was a psychic, so I was comfortable with—but not necessarily interested in—esoterica. Years later, when I encountered an astrologer, he looked at me and said, “I’m getting hair. What’s going on with your hair?” It wasn’t obvious then, but I’d recently recovered from a traumatic hair disaster—an extensions mishap I still don’t want to discuss. I was shocked. How did he know?
He went on to tell me a number of upsetting things: My business partner would betray me, my romantic partner was cheating on me, and I was going to lose a lot of money. Did I want to believe him? Absolutely not. Did it all happen?
To my dismay, yes.
Maybe you’ll think I’m nuts, but now I ask for his advice about everything from work to relationships, sometimes as often as once a week. If I had to make a decision without him, I could, of course— but I’d much rather have his input. He’s never been wrong, and I get a sense of peace by having external validation from a trustworthy person. It’s like I’m talking to a life coach or therapist.
He recently told me I’d be going on vacation. I didn’t have anything planned when he said that, but now I think I’d better pack my bags.
MARY DOHERTY, CEO OF A CENTER FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIESHoroscopes are for suckers.
Astrological constellations and signs were first examined by ancient societies in Greece, India, and other places. Because of the earth’s natural wobble, its geospatial relationship to cosmic bodies has shifted over time, meaning the constellations that once corresponded to signs of the zodiac are now of by about a month—so modern astrology is likewise of.
Because life is unpredictable, people often want to feel like they’re in control—studies have supported this. Astrology can provide that illusion of control. I think of the quote “There’s a sucker born every minute,” widely attributed to circus magnate P.T. Barnum. Horoscopes are written so generally that any sucker could say, “I had a rough day, but that’s because Mercury’s in retrograde.”
That said, I’m an evolutionary scholar with a deep appreciation for the natural world. The stars are magnificent and can tell us a lot about the universe from an astronomical—not astrological—perspective. Every morning, I watch the sun rise, and even as a secular scientist, I’m moved by the light glistening on the water and the colors in the sky. I don’t need an astrological summary of the sun’s position to admire the world’s beauty.
GLENN GEHER, PHD, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AND FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF EVOLUTIONARY STUDIES AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT NEW PALTZI was born with a birth defect that left me bedridden and isolated for years. With some convincing, my mother, an astrology scholar, agreed to teach me how to read birth charts so I could envision a future for myself.
She said the arrangement of celestial bodies at our birth reveals insights into our personalities, but astrology’s greatest value is how it helps us time events for optimal results. Still, there’s no consequence to disregarding astrological advice. It’s like a weather report. You don’t have to carry the umbrella, but it’s useful to know ahead of time that you might want one.
Some people think astrology contradicts religion. I believe the cornerstone of all religions is taking responsibility for our actions. Many people unfamiliar with astrology assume my forecasts are about predestined events, but that’s not true. Nothing in astrology is predestined.
SUSAN
MILLER, FOUNDER OF ASTROLOGY ZONE“Because life is unpredictable, people often want to feel like they’re in control. Astrology can provide that illusion.”
—P SYC H O LOG I ST G LENN G EHER
While teaching yoga, I kept bumping into people’s trauma and not knowing how to help. I wanted to learn how to support people’s eforts to overcome psychological wounds, so I went to graduate school for marriage and family therapy. But I wanted to do it diferently, so I also took classes in astrology. Now a licensed psychotherapist, I integrate astrology into roughly half my clients’ treatments. In my experience, exploring someone’s astrological chart can be a shortcut to healing.
Using this approach means setting aside rational thinking at first, but I’ve seen it work again and again. For example, if someone has a strong Gemini moon, they might be great at communicating, but not great at dealing with their emotions. That person could spend months or years in traditional therapy trying to unpack that, but with astrological data, we can move quickly into treatment.
When it comes to addressing problems and solutions, astrology is the “what” and therapy is the “how.” For thousands of years, humans have looked to the sky to understand earthly systems. Sailors can navigate by the stars and maneuver around the moon’s tidal pull. There’s a universe of information we can use to improve our lives here on earth
LAUREN DONELSON, PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND ASTROLOGER IN SEATTLEFor the first 36 years of my life, I didn’t believe in anything related to the occult. But when I started attending Al-Anon meetings to cope with my relationship to an alcoholic, I had a spiritual awakening. I went to a tarot card reader, but I was skeptical, so I told him, “If you want me to believe you can predict the future, then tell me what’s happened to me in the past.” He did. I decided right then to learn how myself.
I’ve studied tarot, astrology, and other forms of divination, like dowsing and numerology. Every day, I read TheNew American Ephemeris, an astronomical almanac showing the daily positions of the planets. Learning this data allows me to look at someone’s unique astrological chart and understand how and why the current planetary configuration will afect them. This language of the stars can give us insight into our relationships and career paths, wounds and weaknesses, strengths and gifts.
To me, the most useful aspect of astrology is determining the ideal timing to get the best outcomes. Many of my clients come to me specifically to find out what day they should put their house on the market, sign a contract, or even consummate a romantic relationship to make sure the passion will last.
ROBERT E. BROWN, ASTROLOGER AND COLUMNIST AT WRITINGSINTHESKY.COM
“Exploring someone’s astrological chart can be a shortcut to healing.”
P SYC H OTHERAPI ST LAUREN D O NEL SO N
V.S. ASKS…
My husband and I display several framed photos in our home of our three adult sons with their wives and children. Recently, one of these couples separated. Is it wrong to keep displaying photos of the soon-to-be-divorced couple? What about group photos that include all three families?
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Hover your phone’s camera here to submit your question, or send an email to modernmanners@realsimple.com.
I know from experience that you’re not the only person wrestling with this issue. And as with many things, the real question is: How do you cause the minimum amount of pain? I think it comes down to your grandchildren, who are the people with the least agency and the greatest investment. Your son’s ex-wife is still their mother. If you remove all the family photos, you risk erasing their past. So sure, if there are photos of your son and his ex that could especially pain him (e.g., from their wedding), replace them. Otherwise, honor your grandchildren by leaving up this evidence drenbyleavingupthisevidence of the family that made them
R.H. ASKS…
We’re cohosting a joi rty school graduation pa es for with two other famili ir kids. our daughter and the as twins. One of the families ha plit per Should the costs be s ying a family (with each pay third) or per kid?
nt high
here, and Lead with generosity h mong split the cost evenly am likely the three families. It’s will the twins’ guest lists w share mostly overlap—they many family and, probably, nd of the same friends—a ly be the costs will ultimate mber proportional to the nu mber of guests, not the num , if it of honorees. However, t the becomes apparent tha ng a sig- twins’ family is creatin nse, nificantly bigger expe group and if anybody in the erns, it’s has real financial conc on of fine to raise the questi ently splitting the tab difere
We never invite our friends’ dogs to our parties, because we have two outdoor cats in our fenced backyard—but our guests still bring them along. At our last get-together, one dog pushed inside our house and ran through it until the owner chased him down. How can I let our friends know to leave their dogs at home?
It’s fair that you don’t want to wrangle your friends’ pups. But it might be confusing to folks who are used to bringing the doggos to outdoor events.
“We ask that you please leave your dogs at home,” you can add to your next invitation.
“It turns out our cats are really stressed with dogs around.”
The “it turns out” phrasing absolves your friends of past mistakes (“Who could have known?” is the vibe) while clarifying your expectations. Just note that many people think of their pets as kids, and some might not come if they can’t bring their fur babies.
We recently moved to a new house and gave birth to our first child, a boy. Our sweet neighbor, bless his heart, thought we had a girl and dropped off pink sparkly onesies. I didn’t open the gift in front of him, but eventually he will realize we had a boy and may feel embarrassed. Should I say something?
Of course I need to point out that there’s no law that a boy can’t wear a pink sparkly onesie. In fact, the more we expand our ideas of what’s possible, the better of our kids are. But in terms of you and your neighbor and your lovely mutual kindness, I wouldn’t say anything. Pointing out the error would risk creating the very embarrassment you’re assuming he would feel, where currently none exists. If the gender issue comes up later, just tell him how touched you were to get a present from him. “We passed it along to another baby,” you can say, or “He looks so sweet in pink.”
I’m disappointed by the lack of thanks our son and daughter-in-law express for most of the gifts we give them. (Interestingly, our teenage grandkids are much better at it.) We tried to bring this up with them as tactfully as possible, but the response was a weirdly detailed cataloging of every gift given that year. It’s not that thank-yous are never forthcoming, but they’re definitely the exception. Should we discuss it again or let it go?
As you’re already acutely aware, the only behavior you can change is your own. This can be diicult to accept when it comes to our grown children, because our job was once to teach and train them. But adult children are, well, adults. You can model the behavior you seek (send them thank-you notes), praise the behavior you admire (“We love getting notes from your kids!”), and choose what to do next (perhaps stop giving them gifts), but you can’t make them conform to your expectations. Instead of a note, gratitude may appear in the form of a text, a call, or a simple “Thank you” as a gift is unwrapped. Be grateful for that and, yes, let the rest go
ABOUT CATHERINE
The author of What Can I Say?
A Kid’s Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself, Catherine Newman gets advice from her husband and two opinionated, largely grown children in Amherst, Massachusetts
The more we expand our ideas of what’s possible, the better off our kids are.
BY LAUREN IANNOTTI
LAUREN IANNOTTI: During your first 18 months as First Lady, you traveled to roughly 40 states, 75 cities, and 10 countries. You’ve crisscrossed the U.S., rallying support for the administration’s priorities, and visited an active war zone. As the first First Lady to keep a job outside the East Wing, you maintained a full teaching schedule and “showed up,” as you put it, for your family. So I guess my question is: Do you sleep?
DR.JILL BIDEN: I do! There are things that keep me up at night, like every woman. There are a thousand things going through your mind when you have a lot in your life. But most nights I get my 71⁄2 hours. I’ve also mastered the art of the catnap. If I’m teaching and we have an event that night, I can sleep for 20 minutes and wake up fresh.
LI: One journalist called your insistence on keeping your day job “productive stubbornness.” Did you meet with resistance when you decided to continue teaching?
DR.B: I think people were a little skeptical. Could I truly do it, since I was the first one to try it? But I knew I wanted to teach. And so I said, “This is what I want to do. We have to figure it out.” I knew I could do both I’d done it as Second Lady, and at that time my staf said, “There’s no way you can do this,” and then they saw that I could I saw it work then, and I knew we could figure out how to do it now
LI: Do you ever feel that guilt most of us experience, when you’re so focused on one part that you neglect another?
DR B: Of course! Especially when you have kids, right? You’re always thinking, “Did I spend enough time at his game?” Or, “Should I have said that?” You’re always questioning yourself because you want to be the best mother you can be, the best teacher you can be. You’re thinking, “Did I give that student enough attention?” I think it’s just part of human nature. You want to make sure you do a good job at anything you do.
LI: Do you delegate? I’ve heard a story about Post-it notes.
DR.B: It started because the Bidens are a big family, and we have a lot of gatherings. And they would all say, “What can I do to help?” And by the time you’ve explained, “You get the salad bowl out, it’s in this cupboard, here are the utensils, etc.” I thought, “There’s got to be an easier way.” I know my meal and what I’m going to serve, so I do Post-it notes, like “Fill the glasses with ice,” “Light the candles,” and I put them on the cabinet above my kitchen counter. Then I put out the salad bowl with the tomatoes or the lemons or whatever needs to be cut, and everything is set up so when somebody comes in, they do what they want to do.
LI: Do they physically take the Post-it?
DR.B: Yes! They can pick whatever one they want, and they really like that
because they’re helping, but they’re doing what they chose to do. And nobody’s asking, ‘‘What shape do you want the lemons?” Everybody knows their role. If we get together, it’s at least 13 or 14 and can go up to 30. So I do that for almost every big family dinner now. I do the main. Everything else is up for grabs.
LI: Do you use the Post-it notes at work too?
DR.B: I do, but then they’re for me! They’re telling me what to do. And if I want to get a message to Joe, I put one on his mirror. It may be a nice “I missed you” or ‘‘I hope you get whatever it is you’re working on.”
LI: I’ve heard that you don’t call it “juggling” or “balancing” but “managing.” Can you explain what you mean?
DR.B: You can’t do anything in a haphazard way. You have to have purpose while you’re doing it, and it has to be organized. That’s the key to it
LI: I think of it as plate spinning, which is not organized. Managing, that’s a goal to shoot for.
DR B: I’ve been at this much longer than you
LI: I think once my 6-year-old gets older, it’ll get easier.
DR B: Oh no, it never changes
As the first First Lady to keep her day job, Dr. Jill Biden, EdD, knows how to multitask. She shares her thoughts on managing her job, her other job, her family, and all the rest. Hint: It isn’t about juggling.
LI: Oh, great!
DR.B: You’re always a mother. If I can tell you anything as a mother, it’s this: It never gets easier. I used to think, “This is going to get easier.” It doesn’t. Life gets so much more complicated.
LI: My mom says that too. I love a story about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. When she was at Harvard Law, she’d stop studying at 4 o’clock to spend afternoons with her young daughter. And instead of thinking of that as lost studying time, she loved the break, and she’d come back to her work fresh at night. What strategies did you use when you had small children and were working and had all these things going on?
DR B: First of all, you have to remember that it isn’t just a break; it’s a break filled with love, right? You’re spending time with people you love, you’re laughing, you’re talking about your day. I was a big baker when my kids were little. They called it the “baked good of the week.” I made a lot of cookies, cakes,
and pies. The boys and their friends would come over after school and dig in. I think of that time as a gift. Then Joe would come home at about 7:40, and I’d have eaten dinner with the kids. I’d give Joe his dinner, and the kids would have dessert with him. And he always wanted to put them to bed and talk to them about their day—that was his special time with them, which gave me a bit of a break so I could grade papers or read. Getting a master’s in English and then my doctorate, I was always reading. You have to find a way to manage it all, and each family works it out diferently
LI: As I mentioned, you use the phrase “showing up” quite a bit. Can you explain what you mean?
DR.B: I found that as a mother, as a friend, and especially as First Lady, no matter what happens in this country, it’s important to show up. It was almost a
year since the Surfside building collapse, and I went to Florida and spoke to all those folks who had lost family members. A few weeks ago, Joe and I were in Uvalde, meeting with the families for almost four hours. When I went to Waukesha, Wisconsin, a Republican area, I wasn’t sure how I would be received. And I think they didn’t know either: “Is she coming for political reasons? Is she grandstanding?” But once I went in—and I didn’t have the press with me or the photographers; I just went in by myself and talked to the families—they saw I was sincere. In your own life, it means so much to people when you show up in the tough times as well as the happy times. And I think it’s important to do the unexpected thing. The little kindness. When I’m at school and somebody’s husband is sick, I might leave cookies on their desk, or a note, to acknowledge what they’re going through.
LI: We put a lot on working parents, especially women—who, a boatload of research shows, do more of the child-rearing, housework, and “emotional labor.” What can we do as a society to support families better?
DR B: We should be passing childcare laws and universal pre-K. I’m a big believer in early childhood education, and Joe is too. Don’t forget he was a single parent. His first wife died in a car accident with his daughter, and he was a single parent to two boys for five years. He knows how hard it is. He was a senator, and he had his mother helping him out, but there were the parent-teacher conferences, the games, his job. So I think that helped him understand what working parents, not just working moms, need. He keeps pushing it, but Congress has got to step up. The House passed the subsidized childcare and his universal pre-K bills, but the Senate did not. I don’t understand why it wasn’t instantly voted in. Joe’s not going to give up.
LI: Pocketbook issues are bearing down on middle- and working-class families—inflation, gas prices, health care debt, the baby formula shortage. What do you say to a parent who’s worried about all that, on top of gun violence in schools and the war in Ukraine?
DR.B: It’s a tough time in history. And Joe and I see that. I think that’s the reason he was elected. He’s steady, he’s strong, he has wisdom, he knows politics, and he knows where he wants to take the country. Sometimes it feels like we’re pushing this boulder up the hill, but progress is being made. Joe’s been in oice for, what, 18 months now? And everybody has access to vaccines. We got the schools reopened— thank God we all got of Zoom—we got health care, we got money for broadband so underserved kids can have internet. I don’t want to sound like a
political ad, but we have done so much. Gas prices are a huge issue, and Joe is, every single day, on the phone talking to leaders about gas and oil. These problems are coming so fast and furious, and certainly a lot of it is dark, like you said. But I wish people could see more of what Joe has accomplished and how hard he’s working.
LI: You just celebrated your 45th wedding anniversary. Congratulations! What would you say to any newlyweds hoping to make it to 45?
DR.B: You have to work in any relationship, but especially in marriage. It’s not always 50/50. Sometimes you lean on him, sometimes he leans on you. Sometimes he’s super busy and I have to pick up a lot of it, or vice versa. The
goal is that we’re not in the same place at the same time, so we can count on one another when we need to.
LI: What would you do for a day if you were just Jill?
DR.B: I feel like I am Jill! Every day! But if I had a day just for me, I would go to the beach, probably with my sisters because they make me laugh harder than anyone, and I’d read a good book
LI: That sounds like a wonderful day. Can I do a quick speed round? These are some REAL SIMPLE low-stakes controversies I’d love you to weigh in on. Top sheet or no top sheet?
DR.B: Oh, top sheet. Definitely. I never ,p having a top sheet. even thought of not lege who don’t make That’s like kids in coll pull the thing over! their bed. They just
LI: ? Faux tree or real?
DR B: s so hard because Oh gosh, that’ e have a real tree I love a real tree. W he benefits. I feel here, but I can see t wn a whole tree. bad when we cut do
LI: ys text ahead of Should you alwa you cold-call? a phone call, or can
DR.B: at do you mean, I just call. Wh ing to call you”? text and say, “I’m go
LI: the kids these Well, you know, . days don’t cold-call
DR.B: her! Or grand- I’m their moth nd they’d better mother! I just call. An pick up!
LI: a or nay? Skinny jeans—yea st high-stakes one. This may be the mos
DR B: I say all Whatever you jeans like. Whatever want, whatever you er feels good! looks good! Whatev
LI: c answer! A very diplomati
DR.B: , Oh, I know!
“You have to find a way to manage it all, and each family works it out differently.”
THE HELPFUL MIND GREEN IS GOOD
Eco-friendly living doesn’t have to mean deprivation. It can create a happier planet and a happier you.
BY MARTA ZARASKA
A FEW YEARS AGO, I seriously committed to reducing my carbon footprint. I started composting, swore of plastic, bought my clothes secondhand. But while these changes might have been good for the environment, I sometimes wondered whether they were all that great for my happiness. I loved my small house, but…wouldn’t it be easier to have more space?
Weren’t there better ways to spend time than hanging damp towels on a clothesline? I felt good about my new carbon-lean lifestyle, but I was curious about the relationship between sustainability and satisfaction, so I dove into research on the subject. What I discovered was a welcome surprise.
Study after study reveals that most actions that lower our environmental impact make us more happy, not less. When scientists examined the habits of about 2,200 North Americans, they found that out of 39 earth-friendly behaviors, all but two could increase life satisfaction. (The duds? Using public transit and running the washer only when it’s totally full.) Some of the most happiness-inducing actions are shopping locally, buying energyeicient appliances, and talking to kids about environmental issues.
I was wrong to assume that more square footage equals more contentment. In fact, a larger living space can even negatively affect well-being, found one study in the journal Social Indicators Research. People who move to a bigger home may experience a long-term increase in housing satisfaction, but no increase in life satisfaction And some of the hidden costs (like losing touch with local friends and neighbors) could undermine the perks of a more spacious house.
The growing research on green living and happiness led Stephanie Johnson Zawadzki, an environmental psychologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and her colleagues to examine 78 studies from countries all over the world covering areas like electricity conservation, recycling, and eating sustainably produced foods. In 2020, they published their results, which indeed confirmed there can be a strong connection between sustainable behaviors and mental well-being
But does being green make people happy, or are happy people more likely to be green? Zawadzki believes that both may be true: “Acting proenvironmentally can make you happy, and when you’re happier, you act more pro-environmentally. It can become a self-reinforcing cycle.”
Your mind may be reeling—and your eyes rolling—from these findings. (“Keeping a pile of decomposing produce next to my sink can make me what now?”) It helps to consider the diference between hedonic and eudaimonic happiness—in other words, between pleasure and purpose. Compare the indulgent bliss of lazing away by the pool (hedonic) with the satisfaction of volunteering at a food pantry (eudaimonic). According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, eudaimonic happiness is about flourishing and fulfillment—feeling connected, engaged, and purposeful.
“Both hedonic and eudaimonic happiness are important for wellbeing,” Lyubomirsky says, which is why greener living can feel good, even though it may at times be inconvenient, expensive, or uncomfortable.
“Having the sense that we’re tuned in to and actively contributing to something bigger than ourselves can be very psychologically powerful,” Zawadzki says. “We suspect acting pro-environmentally helps give our lives a deeper sense of personal meaning.” Plus, she adds, it’s possible we’re more likely to form happinessenhancing social connections when we give people rides or share with our neighbors
And the “green glow” we feel after doing an eco-friendly deed is like a mood-boosting pat on the back. “When a person engages in some pro-environmental behavior, they may end up feeling, ‘Oh, I’m such a good person because I recycle or I bought an electric car,’” says Tim Kasser, PhD, emeritus psychology professor at Knox College. “That warm glow can make people feel good about themselves and may enhance their self-esteem.” When a selfless act makes you proud of yourself, that’s really a win-win.
Having the sense that we’re contributing to something bigger than ourselves can be very psychologically powerful.
For me, curbing air travel seemed like the toughest sacrifice—but also the most important. Flying is one of the worst things we can do for the climate. (There’s even a Swedish word for the guilt it induces: flygskam, or “flight shame.”) One flight from New York City to Los Angeles can spew an estimated 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide enough to wipe out any carbon gains a meat eater would obtain from adopt-
ing a vegan diet. I love traveling, so I hoped I’d find a bunch of research denying the mental health benefits of switching from planes to trains, or surrendering to flygskam and becoming a homebody. Unfortunately, it seems scientists haven’t gotten around to studying this yet.
But we can have happy holidays without jetting around the globe, says Jessica de Bloom, PhD, an occupational health psychologist at Tampere
University in Finland. Studies suggest that nature-oriented tourists (like hikers and campers) tend to experience increased well-being and happiness. What makes a vacation satisfying, research shows, isn’t necessarily an exotic location but novelty and new challenges. “Dissimilarity in the environment—for instance, culture, nature, and mode of travel—matters more than the actual distance,” de Bloom says. If you live in a city, she suggests checking out nearby
national parks, while country bumpkins like myself might want a city sojourn. And if you tend to go by train, plane, or automobile, consider trying a more active vacation that focuses on biking or hiking to ofset the fossil fuel consumption that got you there. If that’s not practical for you or y your family, maybe walk instead of using a car to explore your new surroundings I knew I didn’t have to get on a plane to find novelty and new challenges. So in early 2019, I made a pledgge to reduce flying (little did I know this was a dress rehearsal for the panndemic lockdown). I canceled intercontinental vacations and went hiking in local mountains. When I did travel over long distances, I took trains, including an 18-hour trip from France, where I live now, to my native Poland The slow trips helped me discover places I’d never have otherwise visited d While switching trains, I had time to sip hot wine at a German Christmas market. I saw stunning nature in n remote corners of my own counntry, I met new people, and as the research predicted, I felt good. Experiencing travel more slowly and mindfullly was not only the climate-friendly option, it did indeed make me happier.
Lately I’ve been looking at my other green choices in a new way y too. My smallish house saves me from high-mortgage stress and brings s me (literally and figuratively) closer to other members of my family, enncouraging us to relax and play together. Our slightly slimy compost has worked miracles in our garden. Honestlyy, I still haven’t learned to love hanging my laundry—but I’m working on it.
Marta Zaraska is the author of Growing Y Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100
Experiencing travel more mindfully was not only climate-friendly but made me happier.
This cozy county in Western Massachusetts rejuvenates and restores with its stunning nature, farm-to-table cuisine, and laid-back vibe.
BY ALANA CHERNILA STAY
Take a cue from Schitt’s Creek and check out updated roadside lodging like Tourists, a hotel in North Adams. It’s tucked along the road to Williamstown (a quintessential New England college town), has a light-illed central common space, a network of trails through the woods, and a radio in each room set to a playlist that captures the area’s chill atmosphere. The Briarclif Motel, close to Monument Mountain in Great Barrington, is a supercute budget option with tons of character and a big irepit.
If you prefer posher digs, there’s Hotel on North, a boutique spot with an urban feel on the bustling main street of Pittsield.
Fall days in the Berkshires are postcard-gorgeous, with blue skies, brisk air, and walls of trees lit up in red and orange. Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington is the best stop for apple picking; a wander up the hill takes you through gnarled trees of many varieties. Spas like Miraval Berkshires in Lenox (day packages from $349) are the place to power down your phone and recharge your batteries. Speaking of relaxing: The region is a hub for recreational cannabis, and the women-owned dispensaries Rebelle and Calyx, both in Great Barrington, ofer a wide (legal!) variety of pot edibles and lowers, the new version of wine tasting. For the brave, there’s Ramblewild in Lanesborough, a comprehensive forest ropes course where you can ly through the trees.
LENGTH 3 to 5 days
ESTIMATED BUDGET From $300 per day per family
HOW TO GET THERE Fly into Albany or Hartford, or take an Amtrak train to Hudson, New York, or the MetroNorth Railroad to Wassaic, New York. You’ll need a rental car, as taxis and car services can be hard to come by.
l The Berkshires are full of smal growers, so farm-to-table is the (fabulous) norm at many ar price points. Mezze Bistro + Ba t in Williamstown is a local haun with everything from a fancy prix ixe (from $54) to family takeout. In Great Barrington, s dinner-only Prairie Whale ofers great entrées (from $18) and d cocktails, a bustling energy, an e dining under the stars when the weather cooperates. As the air cools down, the treat of choice shifts from ice cream at High an Lawn Farm in Lee, where you c eat your cone next to the cows who made the milk, to cider d doughnuts. Get these warm an ost rolled in cinnamon sugar at m orchards and farm markets.
t Everyone has their favorite, bu d Bartlett’s Orchard in Richmond never disappoints.
The region draws visitors nearly year-round—just bring boots in March and April, when winter melts into mud season. Fall in the Berkshires ofers some of the most Instagram-worthy foliage in New England; winter’s snowy slopes attract skiers, while the woods beg for snowshoeing; and summer is ideal for outdoor picnics and concerts
You could walk the art-packed MASS MoCA in North Adams for days—the Sol LeWitt and James Turrell exhibits alone will ill a bright and happy stretch of hours The museum is also one of the region’s best music venues. In the fall it hosts FreshGrass, a weekend of bluegrass on the grounds (this year the festival is scheduled for September 23 to 25). On a much smaller scale, the magical TurnPark Art Space, a former quarry, overlooks a pond in downtown West Stockbridge. For incredible views, don’t miss Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, accessible by car and foot. There’s even a lodge at the top where you can sleep above the clouds.
At this hip hotel, with minimalist decor, blond wood, and window seats, the clientele skews younger. There’s a cute bar and restaurant called the Airport Rooms. From $259 a night; touristswelcome.com
THE BRIARCLIFF MOTEL, GREAT BARRINGTON
Family- and (very!) dogfriendly, this quirky motel has a central location and free continental breakfast. It’s across the street from Monument Mountain, home to one of the best hikes in the region. From $135 a night; thebriarcli motel.com
General Electric used to be the main draw for Pittsield. Now that the company is gone, this upscale boutique hotel has been part of the city’s renaissance. The rooms are unique and classy. From $199 a night;hotelonnorth.com
Fall in the Berkshires offers some of the most Instagram-worthy foliage in New England.
WE DID IT
Overwhelmed with credit card debt, student loans, and personal bankruptcy, these three women mastered their money woes and walked away feeling nancially healthy, wealthy, and wise.
BY JENNY COMITA
LISSETTE WAS IN deep denial about the state of her finances for much of her 20s. “I wasn’t buying luxury items, but I was traveling, eating out, and spending money on fast fashion, thinking, ‘This shirt is on sale, so it’s fine,’” she says. Earning less than $45,000 a year in an entry-level public relations job in Miami, Lissette was living way beyond her means—she just wasn’t conscious of it, she says.
The gulf between her income and spending was so easy to ignore because, even though she owed about $40,000 in student loans, her credit cards each carried a balance of a couple thousand dollars.
“I never saw a single credit card bill with a giant number on it, so I didn’t stop to think about how all those amounts added up,” she says. It wasn’t until she landed a job in New York City that the magnitude
of her debt hit her. “My sister asked me, ‘How are you going to aford this move?’ That’s when I realized the grand total on my credit cards was $10,000.”
Determined to pursue her Big Apple dreams, Lissette got serious about her spending. She found an apartment for well below market value on Craigslist and cut her travel down to only work trips. Rather than shopping, she did the opposite: “I sold my clothes on Poshmark and then started dog sitting, using all the money I brought in to pay of my cards.”
Soon she landed on a more lucrative source of additional income: monetizing her Instagram account (@lissettecalv) with sponsored content. Her approach was simple: She reached out to brands she liked and secured partnerships that helped her earn money, eventually growing her following from 10,000 to more than 80,000.
Over the course of 18 months, she paid of her credit cards, and with her sponsored-post gig growing, she made her final school loan payment about a year after that.
Looking back, Lissette says that the most important step in defeating her debt was looking it in the eye. “I got into a bad place because I didn’t see the big picture financially,” she says. Once she became conscious of her spending, she started tracking it using apps like Mint, which detailed where her money was going. Wanting to holistically assess her entire net worth, she made a spreadsheet to log money in, money out, and recurring payments. “Every other week on payday, I’d sit down with my spreadsheet and almost gamify how I was eliminating debt,” she says. Six years later, she still uses the same document—and has shared the template with friends.
When it comes to money, Lissette believes that what you don’t know can, in fact, hurt you. “You have to set aside time to focus on your finances,” she says.
TAKE IT FROM ME “Side hustles are great, but it’s important to be proactive with your salary,” Lissette says. “I went to my boss with a list of accomplishments and was able to negotiate a raise within six months of starting my job. If you don’t ask for what you deserve, you won’t get it.”
If you don’t ask for what you deserve, you won’t get it.
“I sold my clothes on Poshmark and then started dog sitting as a side hustle, using all the money I brought in to pay of my cards.”
Lissette Calveiro DENVER
AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE law judge and assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, Tifany was living the good (albeit busy) life. “I had my home in the burbs, I was driving a new Lexus— I was doing it,” she says. “Never in a million years did I think I’d have to rely on social services.” But after being laid of twice due to budget cuts, Tifany found herself “walking through the grocery store with a food-assistance card in my pocket, pulling items out of my shopping cart as I determined what I wanted to eat versus what I needed to eat.”
After her second layof, in 2015, Tifany applied for job after job, only to be told she was overqualified. “Once you’ve been a judge, no one wants to hire you as a lawyer,” she says. “My experience worked against me.” Unable to find employment, she lost her home, her car, and eventually had to declare personal bankruptcy. Through all of that, Tifany kept her troubles mostly to herself. “I’m not one to ask for help, so I sufered in silence,” she says of shielding her family from her financial struggles.
Ultimately, though, it was her family who helped her turn things around—not with a loan but with some inspiration. Tifany’s brother,
Art, runs a nonprofit called Global Empowerment, which teaches business development skills to underserved communities in Detroit. One day, while listening to Art speak on a radio show, she heard him encouraging listeners to become entrepreneurs.
“He said, ‘Those inventions you’ve been sitting on, those concoctions you’ve been mixing in your kitchen, that’s a business,’” Tifany recalls. Her mind immediately went to the DIY skin-care products she’d come up with decades before, when her now adult daughter, Taylor, was born with eczema. Wary of treating her baby with steroids and harsh chemicals, she’d blended her own remedies from natural oils and plant butters, and her homemade salves worked
With guidance from Art, she formed an LLC and focused on production, certification, and packaging—a process that took three long years. “I applied for every small-business grant I could find until I was awarded some money to get things up and run-
ning,” she says. She also took on hourly work reviewing legal documents to make ends meet. Finally, in 2018, she pitched G.L.A.M., her line of body scrubs, at a Walmart open call—and, she says, they loved it. Today, Tifany’s products are also sold at Target, Stop & Shop, and other stores.
Despite her business success, Tifany says her finances are still a work in progress. “It takes time to rebuild,” she says. But she’s steadily making money moves. In fact, after returning to the bench fulltime in 2020, she was able to resign from that job last March. “My G.L.A.M. business has grown to the point where it needs full-time attention and then some,” she says. “This time around, I was the one to walk away and pursue my dream.”
TAKE IT FROM ME “No matter how much you love your job, you should consider what you would do if it were taken away from you,” Tifany says. “Everyone needs a plan B, which is why I’m such a strong believer in entrepreneurship. So many people have great ideas or passions that are taking up space on their mental back burner. You owe it to yourself to go for it.”
“I’m not one to ask for help, so I sufered in silence.”
Tiffany Cartwright DETROIT
No matter how much you love your job, consider what you would do if it were taken away.
WHEN CINDY GRADUATED from law school in 2015, the New York City native was saddled with massive student loan debt—“In the back of my mind, I was aware of my loans totaling $150,000”—but thrilled to have landed a great position with a top firm. Making six figures, she wasn’t focused on her mounting debt. “My minimum payment was $2,000 a month, and initially I was OK with paying that,” she says
A year into her job, Cindy received a tax form detailing what she’d paid in interest for the previous year. She hadn’t realized that,
due to the structure of her loans, “the interest on my debt had been accruingevenwhileIwasstill accruing even while I was still sitting in a classroom.” This left her with a new balance at graduation that totaled nearly $180,000.
“That form showed me that of the $24,000 I’d paid, $20,000 went to the interest and only $4,000 went to the principal,” she says After grappling with feelings of “disgust and defeat,” Cindy was determined to do away with her debt as quickly as possible.
“I literally googled, ‘How do I get out of debt?’ because I’m a millennial, and that’s what we do,” she says, laughing.
A year after chipping further away at her loans, her first step was refinancing everything she owed, which, factoring in some undergrad loans, came to around $160,000. Refinancing cut her interest rate in about half.
Next, she zeroed in on her budget, reducing her spending to the bare minimum. “I was making a nice salary as a corporate lawyer that’s an advantage I’m transparent about—but I lived a more lawstudent lifestyle,” she says. “I got a studio apartment in Harlem, my only transportation expense was my subway card, and I brought lunch to work.” She also put her tax refunds, bonuses, and annual raises toward additional payments on the principal
In 2019, four years afte bt-free tion, Cindy was finally de king about but she wasn’t done think educated personal finance. “I had e ubject myself so much on the s at infor- that I wanted to share tha says. She mation with others,” she s arned a points out that she had ea er learned doctorate degree yet nev cy fund how to build an emergen d she sus- or manage her credit, an relatives pected that many of her r and friends hadn’t either. bout “I became passionate a for financial literacy, not just commu- myself but for my Latino Zero- nity,” she says of starting and finan- Based Budget, a website a ast year, cial coaching platform. L self to she left law to devote her ness full- the rapidly growing busi debt was, time. As daunting as her nd a book it led her to a purpose—an deal. Cindy’s g Debt, Overcomin dom: Achieving Financial Free 8 Pillars to Build Wealth comes out in November.
r gradua-
TAKE IT FROM ME free “I love ors, like debt-repayment calculat ” Cindy the one on Credit Karma, up what, says. “They let you look nt can say, an extra $100 payme mpressive. achieve—and it’s really i with When I do this exercise w , they clients, family, or friends an make realize how much they ca y’re just a dent in their debt if the gygslightly more strategic.”
”I literally googled, ‘How do I get out of debt?’ because I’m a millennial, and that’s what we do.”
Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez BRONX NEW YORK
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn saw her frugality as an asset— until it started taking a toll on her marriage.
IBLEW MY NOSE AGAIN, my eyes watering as I tried to plaster on a smile. “Honestly, I’m fine,” I told my friends, my voice competing with the loud background chatter in the London restaurant where we’d met up for lunch. Truthfully, I wasn’t fine. I was battling hay fever without the aid of the antihistamine I routinely took in the morning. My friends tried to persuade me to buy a new bottle from the drugstore across the road, but my conscience wouldn’t allow me
“Why would I spend extra cash on something I have at home?” was my rebuttal, as I reached for my table napkin and dabbed my itchy eye. My friends sighed and simply said, “Oh, Lizzie.”
As a self-proclaimed frugal person, I like to be economical with money. I never want to let anything go to waste and am always on the lookout for deals. I believe I got this trait from my parents, who were working-class Nigerian immigrants living in a public-housing apartment in South London with six mouths to feed between them and the four of us kids. As a child, I picked up on how resourceful they were when they handled money, and sometimes, how restrained they could be
“Guess how much this cost?” my dad would say after he returned home from shopping. And he would dig his hand into a large plastic bag and reveal his latest bargain, such as a giant crate of canned chopped tomatoes or what looked like a lifetime supply of toilet paper. Without giving me any time to answer, he would yell, “One pound!” and flail his arms, cackling happily. He would then explain how and where he got the purchase, and how much he would have spent if he had bought it elsewhere, while I helped him unpack the rest of the discount groceries
This was a regular Saturday for me growing up. If I wasn’t hearing tales from my dad about his thrifty ways, I was out accompanying him food shopping, witnessing them firsthand, as we ricocheted from low-budget stores to bustling street markets to hunt for the best deal. Even when it came to my school uniform, my parents bought my blazer two sizes too big so I could eventually grow into it. My old black shoes became worn to the point where the soles
detached from the uppers, but my plan to get new shoes went out the window when I showed them to my mum.
“We will take them to the cobbler tomorrow,” she said.
You would think I might have gone in the opposite direction as an adult—you know, spending lavishly as an act of rebellion. Funnily enough, I didn’t. Whenever I enter a clothing store, I beeline to the clearance rack; if I ever do a bit of online retail therapy, usually for a special event, I only click “check out” after scouring the internet for coupons, or after reluctantly signing up for the website’s endless newsletters in return for a mere 10 percent discount.
Adopting a thrifty lifestyle has had its benefits. Thanks to habits like bringing my lunch to work nearly every day for over four years, my husband, Martin, and I were able to buy a beautiful flat outside of London in a good school district. Plus, thrifty doesn’t have to mean unfashionable. My home boasts a range of stylish decor that no one would guess came from a thrift shop. The glazed brown ceramic urn that sits in the hallway, for example, garners a lot of compliments whenever we have guests over. It cost 10 pounds, the same as two drinks at a cofee shop. A guest’s shocked expression when I say how much I paid for it? That’s priceless.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As with most things, there are some downsides to my money habits. Sometimes I can be too frugal, going without things I actually need and being more concerned with price than quality. My previous laptop had a defunct letter p, took half an hour to boot up, and took even longer to load my book manuscript—not an ideal situation when you’re on deadline. Despite having the funds to purchase a new one, I refused to upgrade, because in my head, my laptop was technically still working.
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a British Nigerian writer and the author of Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?
If I wasn’t hearing tales fd d from my dad about his thrifty ways, I was ricocheting from stores to markets to hunt for the best deal.
But when my frugal tendencies began to afect things besides just me—namely, Martin and our marriage—I knew it was time for some self-reflection. What was supposed to be a fun newlywed activity—picking out electrical appliances for our home—ended up being an exhausting, tense outing
“But this one is cheaper!” was my go-to refrain, whenever he reached for a brand-name toaster, microwave, kettle, or anything else
“But will it last?” was his response. “This brand is a wellknown manufacturer!” Eventually, andwith a huf, he tapped away on his phone and handed it to me. “See!” he said, as I scrolled down a long trail of four- and five-star reviews
Still, it didn’t feel worth it to me to spend more. We left py the store empty-handed.
Later that evening, after the tension cooled, Martin asked me an interesting question about spending money. “What are you scared of, Lizzie?”
evening with my counterargument at Having spent the e—“But are we not standing in the very the tip of my tongue le in part by my penny-pinching?!”—I home made possibl loss for words. was genuinely at a as fearful of not having money readily The truth is, I wa eeded it. There have been times in my available when I ne to be frugal not because I wanted to, life when I’ve had y. I’ve gone through periods where I but out of necessit th restaurant meals while my friends drank tap water wi cocktails. I’ve sewed the tears in my ordered expensive t when I couldn’t aford a new one. On tattered winter coat g this way has crippled me with fear, the one hand, living w hard life can be, and how it feels to because I know how you don’t have enough money. But on go without, when y ing frugally has also given me a sense the other hand, livi en though I’m more financially stable of reassurance. Ev f that somehow suddenly changed, I now, I know that i y. could always get b ow from Martin and my friends, it’s all As I’m learning no nce. It’s OK to have a disciplined and about finding balan money…and it’s also OK to treat your- careful approach to me. self from time to tim n care, aren’t you?” Martin wondered “You’re into skin why not occasionally invest in that?” aloud one day. “So w stion, and I’m loving my monthly spa I took that sugges e wrong: It’s been an ongoing journey facials. Don’t get m relationship to money. After all, it’s to reckon with my habit you were raised with to such an diicult to break a h like an inheritance. I’m working hard extent that it feels te out of fear when making decisions to no longer opera d that’s felt liberating. about spending, an hopping with Martin easier. The next It’s also made s king for a toaster, we actually bought time we went loo oe.tupce! one. At full price!
tension cooled, After the and asked me, my husb at are you “Wha d of, Lizzie?” scare
PRICEY PAPER IS AVOIDABLE WITH SOME BRUSHSTROKES AND A STEADY HAND
When it comes to accent walls, Carmeon understands the assignment. Forgoing wallpaper, she handpainted a patterned mural using an artist brush. The entire thing took about an hour and cost less than $75, and the imperfect lines give it an artisan look.
“I always opt for custom touches to truly relect me and set my home apart,” Carmeon says.
AN OVERSIZE
VINTAGE-INSPIRED MIRROR FEELS JUST GRAND.
BONAVISTA, CANADA
@georgestownonmymind
How do you take a basic mirror and turn it into a statement piece worthy of the mantel?
Ask Krista, who upcycled a builder-grade vanity mirror by applying selfadhesive faux lead lines (Gallery Glass Instant Lead Lines, $18; amazon .com) in a symmetrical pattern near the frame.
“Mirrors can be costly, so I made my version of an antique to it the style of our 19th-century home,” she says.
NO NEED TO RIP UP YOUR KITCHEN OR BATHROOM—MAKE IT OVER FROM THE GROUND UP WITH VINYL FLOOR DECALS
Elizabeth Rees
MILWAUKEE
@chasingpaper
Elizabeth is all for peel-and-stick tiles, like this kitchen’s black-andwhite combo from her company, Chasing Paper Its the perfect whitecombofromhercompanyChasingPaper “It’stheperfect solution for rentals when you need to cover up some ugly looring,” she says. TO BUY: (From left) Marble Flooring, $50 for 8 tiles; chasingpaper.com. Marrakesh Peel and Stick Floor Tiles, $21 for 10; wallpops.com. Porto Flooring, $50 for 8 tiles; chasingpaper.com
THOSE WITH A LITTLE DIY CONFIDENCE CAN FAKE A NATURAL STONE SURFACE USING A FEW SWIRLS OF PAINT.
Luxury countertops make a kitchen look high-end, and Camille proves you can have them without paying a fortune for high-maintenance marble. Inspired by an engineered-quartz slab, she used the Giani Belgotta Black Marble Countertop Paint Kit ($200; gianigranite.com) to cover existing granite. She spread out the project over a few days—irst rolling on black primer, then spraying on the veining, then pouring on epoxy resin for the ultra-shiny topcoat. With only a few hiccups (don’t go nuts with the spray!), her e orts paid o in a very cool counterfeit.
Stephen and David St. Russell
BOSTON
@renovationhusbands
STEPHEN AND DAVID SPLURGED ON THIS GLAM FIXTURE FOR A TRADITIONAL SITTING ROOM TO WOW GUESTS. WE LOVED THEIRS SO MUCH, WE FOUND SIMILAR OPTIONS AT BARGAIN PRICES.
GIVE ROOMS A VICTORIAN VIBE WITH MOLDING
Alisa Bovino NEW JERSEY @aglassofbovino
If you daydream about living on the set of Bridgerton but your place is pretty modern, now’s your chance to do you. Copy Alisa’s tactic for faking architectural details, like wall panels, by adding wood molding and baseboards—all of which she picked up for cheap from her local home improvement store. She used a miter saw to cut the pieces to it, but the store can do that for you. Cover with the paint color of your choice, using a glossier version for the trim so it catches the light.
Cynthia Moreno LOS ANGELES @hotpinkpineapples
YOU’D NEVER GUESS IT’S BASIC PLYWOOD, THANKS TO ITS SWANKY VENEER.
Burl wood furniture is all the rage in the design world right now, but the real deal can cost an arm and a leg. If you can’t swing it, take a cue from Cynthia, who applied a burl veneer ($38 for 4 8-by-18-in. pieces; woodcraft.com) to cuts of plywood to construct a simple side table. Not a builder? Use this technique on a premade piece. It works just as well!
FLOOR-TO-CEILING DRAPES INSTANTLY BOOST A ROOM’S RITZ FACTOR
Candace Griffin CHICAGO @candacemaryinteriors
Luxuriously full window coverings look posh, but you don’t have to break the bank to get them. For a “moody parlor” aesthetic, Candace found curtains on halfpricedrapes.com that matched her living room’s dark bluish-gray paint. She hung the panels almost at the top of the 11-foot walls to add more va-va-voom. “Bringing the curtains up to the ceiling creates the illusion of a much taller room,” she says. Rods in timeless brass o er quiet sophistication.
Durable and hard to snag, velvet panels are a sturdy (and elegant) choice.
Especially these! With rainbows of veggies, unexpected toppings, and great dressings, they’re produce-packed dinners you’ll downright crave.
BY JENNA HELWIG
PHOTOGRAPHS BY VICTOR PROTASIO FOOD STYLING BY EMILY NABORS HALL PROP STYLING BY CLAIRE SPOLLEN
Get this salad on the table even faster by using rotisserie chicken.
Sweet and spicy salmon, creamy avocado, and fresh sugar snap peas combine for a companyworthy meal that’s almost impossible to stop eating.
This has a lot going on (shrimp! tomatoes! pickles! crispy fried onions!) in the best possible way. Serve it to anyone who thinks salads are boring.
It’s everything you love about the sandwich in salad form, served with a luscious blue cheese dressing.
Prosciutto and melon, that classic Italian combo, get the maincourse treatment in this molto simple salad—no cooking or homemade dressing required
ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 15 MINUTES
SERVES 4
21⁄4 cups cantaloupe cubes (from 1 cantaloupe)
11⁄2 cups sliced English cucumber (from 1 cucumber)
2 heads Little Gem lettuce, trimmed and leaves separated
2 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for serving
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 oz. sliced prosciutto
1⁄2 cup roughly chopped Castelvetrano olives
1⁄4 cup salted pistachios, roughly chopped
2 4-oz. balls burrata cheese, drained
Balsamic vinegar and flaky sea salt, for serving
PLACE cantaloupe, cucumber, and lettuce in a large bowl. Add oil, lemon juice, kosher salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to a platter.
TOP salad with prosciutto. Sprinkle with olives and pistachios. Cut or tear cheese into a few pieces and nestle in salad Drizzle generously with vinegar and oil. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and more pepper
ACTIVE TIME 35 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES
SERVES 4
1 lb. skin-on salmon fillet
5 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce (such as A Taste of Thai), divided
1⁄4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. canola oil, divided
1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1⁄2 cup thinly sliced shallot (from 1 large shallot)
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 2 limes), divided
6 oz. fresh sugar snap peas (2 cups), strings removed
1 5-oz. container baby arugula
2 avocados, thinly sliced
3 radishes, sliced
1 cup loosely packed chopped fresh mint and/or cilantro
1⁄4 cup roasted, salted sunflower seeds
Freshly ground black pepper, for serving
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Place salmon skin side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Stir together 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce and 1 tablespoon oil; spread over salmon. Sprinkle with 1⁄4 teaspoon salt. Bake until salmon is cooked to medium doneness, 16 to 18 minutes.
MEANWHILE, place shallot in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1⁄8 teaspoon salt, stirring to combine. BRING a small pot of water to a boil over high. Cook peas for 1 minute. Drain, rinse with cold water, and pat dry Slice in half lengthwise.
WHISK 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 1⁄4 cup oil, and 1 tablespoon lime juice in a small bowl.
PLACE arugula in a large bowl; add half of sweet chili sauce dressing and remaining 1⁄8 teaspoon salt, tossing to combine. Transfer to a platter or plates. Break cooled salmon into large pieces and place on arugula with peas, avocados, radishes, and shallot (without liquid). Top with herbs, sunflower seeds, and pepper. Serve with remaining dressing
ACTIVE TIME 35 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4
Canola oil, for grill grates
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 thighs)
2 Tbsp. fajita or taco seasoning
11⁄4 tsp kosher salt, divided
6 cups shredded napa cabbage (from 1 head cabbage) or a 14-oz. pkg. coleslaw mix
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
1⁄4 cup salsa
2 Tbsp. sour cream
2 cups crushed corn tortilla chips
1 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
2 oz. queso fresco or feta cheese, crumbled (about 1⁄2 cup)
1⁄4 cup roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
OIL grill grates and preheat to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). Rub chicken thighs with fajita seasoning and sprinkle with 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. PLACE chicken on oiled grates; grill, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through and a thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 165°F, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and let cool for 15 minutes.
PLACE cabbage and bell pepper in a large bowl; toss to combine. Whisk mayonnaise, salsa, sour cream, and remaining 3⁄4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add to cabbage mixture and toss to coat.
THINLY slice chicken and add to cabbage mixture. Add tortilla chips; toss to combine. Transfer to a bowl or plates. Top with cheese and pepitas; garnish with more cilantro
ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 10 MINUTES
SERVES 4
3⁄4 cup pearled farro, rinsed
8 oz. fresh green beans, trimmed
1 lb peeled and deveined medium shrimp
3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. white miso
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1⁄3 cup olive oil
12 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved
11⁄2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 3 ears)
1⁄2 cup chopped cornichons
1⁄2 tsp. crushed red pepper, plus more for serving (optional)
1⁄2 tsp kosher salt, plus more for boiling
4 oz. watercress, coarsely chopped (4 cups)
1 cup torn fresh basil
1⁄2 cup crispy fried onions (such as French’s)
BRING 4 cups lightly salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add farro and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until farro is just tender, 25 to 30 minutes; drain. Spread farro on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
BRING a medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook until tender, about 4 minutes.
Transfer beans to a colander using tongs or a slotted spoon, reserving water in pot. Rinse beans with cold water and pat dry Cut each in half.
RETURN water in pot to a boil. Add shrimp; reduce heat to medium and simmer until shrimp are just pink, about 2 minutes. Drain and let stand until slightly cool, 15 to 20 minutes
WHISK vinegar, miso, and mustard in a medium bowl Whisk in oil.
PLACE tomatoes, corn, cornichons, farro, beans, and shrimp in a large bowl. Add crushed red pepper, salt, and miso mixture; toss to combine. Gently stir in watercress and basil. Transfer to a platter or plates. Top with fried onions; serve with more crushed red pepper, if desired.
ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES SERVES 4
8 thick-cut slices bacon
3 cups torn artisanal or sourdough h bread (from 4 oz. bread)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1⁄2 tsp kosher salt, divided
4 large eggs
3 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (about 3⁄4 cup)
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
1⁄4 cup buttermilk
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives, plus more for serving
1 5-oz. pkg baby spinach
2 large tomatoes (about 1 lb. total), coarsely chopped Flaky sea salt, for serving
PREHEAT oven to 400°F with racks in top and lower third positions. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place bacon on baking sheet in a single layer. Place bread cubes on a separate large rimmed baking sheet; add oil and
1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt, tossing with bread to combine. Place bacon on top rack and bread cubes on lower rack of oven. Bake croutons until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Continue to bake bacon until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer bacon to a towel-lined plate MEANWHILE, bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Carefully lower eggs into water. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 9 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.
PROCESS cheese, mayonnaise, buttermilk, 1 tablespoon water, pepper, and remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt in a food processor or blender until smooth, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and stir in chives.
PEEL eggs and halve lengthwise. Chop bacon into bite-size pieces. Arrange spinach on a platter. Top with tomatoes, eggs, bacon, and croutons. Top tomatoes and eggs with flaky sea salt, pepper, and chives. Serve with blue cheese dressing.
ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES
SERVES 4
14 oz. frozen dumplings
1⁄4 cup toasted sesame oil
3 Tbsp. soy sauce or tamari
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
2 tsp. granulated sugar, divided
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
3 scallions
1 5-oz. pkg. mixed salad greens
2 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks (1 cup)
1 cup shelled frozen edamame, thawed
1⁄2 cup chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts
Toasted sesame seeds, for serving (optional)
COOK dumplings according to package directions, preferably pan-frying Transfer to a plate.
WHISK oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Pour half (about 1⁄3 cup) into a separate small bowl. Add peanut butter, 2 tablespoons cold water, and remaining 1 teaspoon sugar to first bowl of oil mixture, stirring to combine.
CHOP scallions, reserving about 1⁄4 cup of green parts for serving Place salad greens, carrots, edamame, and remaining scallions in a large bowl. Add oil mixture (without peanut butter) and toss to combine; transfer to a platter or plates.
TOP salad with dumplings, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds (if using); garnish with reserved scallions. Serve with peanut butter mixture for drizzling.
If you’re trying to find healthyish ways to work more dumplings into your diet (and why wouldn’t you be?), this crunchy, colorful salad is just the ticket.
Get your home ready for guests with these easy-to-follow checklists—whether you’ve got plenty of time to prep or their ETA is minutes away!
BY LESLIE CORONA ILLUSTRATIONS
BY ASIA PIETRZYK
Housekeeping is about meeting standards, but sometimes when guests are coming and you’re in a hurry, those standards go out the window. If you’ve got all the time in the world—and we’re not jealous at all—we have the prescription for a thorough tidying-up. Need to hustle? Got you covered there too, with the bare-minimum must-dos. Follow our room-by-room plan to make the place look good and feel good to you, your family, and whoever is stopping by.
Always work from the top of the room to the bottom so you’re not dealing with dirt and debris landing on your freshly cleaned surfaces.
Put away rogue shoes and extra coats.
Wipe down the baseboards with a microiber cloth. (Baseboards are more noticeable in an entryway because there’s less furniture for them to hide behind!) If they’re extra gunky, try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheets.
Sort through the mail and recycle any junk.
Shake out the doormat outdoors.
Sweep and mop the area.
Sanitize the doorknobs and light switches with disinfecting wipes or spray. Wipe mirrors with glass cleaner and a lat-weave microiber cloth. Dust all surfaces and clean the light ixtures using a duster with an extendable handle.
Because dirt quickly accumulates in the entryway, place a boot brush outside your door to cut back on crud getting tracked in. And don’t be sheepish about your no-shoe rule. It’s standard, and safer.
Shoe Cleaning Hedgehog, $80; ShCliHdh$80ltdfklotsamandfork.com. Biom Sanitizing Wipes, $55 for starter set; getbiom.co. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Sheets, $3; target.com.
If it always looks like a cyclone of toys and pet gear whipped through here, consider investing in furniture that doubles as storage, like a coffee table or ottoman with built-in compartments.
Pass tech wipes over your electronics. (These are generally drier than regular wipes.)
Clean under the sofa cushions. A hand vacuum is, well, handy here. Use the long crevice attachment, then the brush attachment, to help pull up embedded crumbs.
Run a lint roller over the sofa and luf the pillows. A fabric shaver can rid your couch of fuzz balls from throw blankets.
Wipe pet hair of surfaces with damp rubber gloves. They’re seriously like magnets.
Clear of the cofee table. All abandoned water glasses must go!
Light a candle or spray air freshener to mask any odors.
Help keep pet hair from clinging to your drapes and couch by spritzing them with antistatic spray.
Wipe down the wooden frames of your furniture with a microiber cloth, especially if they have carvings with crannies that trap dust.
This might seem extra, but cleaning the leaves of broad-leaf plants, like monsteras, can keep them healthier. Quickly rinse them in the sink or shower, or gently wipe each leaf with a damp rag if the plant is too heavy to move.
Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum, $49; amazon.com. Windex Electronics Wipes, $6.50 for 25; staples.com. Steamery Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver, $60; ssense.com
Put away clean dishes from the dishwasher and drying rack, and transfer any dirty dishes from the sink to the dishwasher.
Clean counters with all-purpose spray, and wipe cabinet fronts with a microiber cloth and warm water.
Suction up crumbs from the stove with a handheld vacuum, then wipe the surface with a microiber cloth. (For dried-on gunk, rest a damp microiber cloth on top for a few minutes to soften it.)
Take out the trash. If the can smells funky, line it with newspaper, then generously sprinkle baking soda over the paper. Discard once the odor is gone.
Toss old food from the fridge and wash the shelves and drawers with glass cleaner and a microiber cloth.
Clean appliance exteriors. Wipe stainless steel in the direction of the grain to prevent dullness.
Give the inside of the microwave a good clean (it likely really needs it). Microwave a cup of white vinegar for three to ive minutes to loosen caked-on messes. Then follow up with a clean sponge. If the vinegar tends to boil over, a product like the Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner will create steam without the watery mess.
Toss citrus peels into the garbage disposal to defunk it, and scrub down the sink with Bar Keepers Friend. Throw your sink stopper onto the dishwasher’s top rack to get the gunk out, and hand-wash the dish rack.
When the dishwasher is empty, run a cycle with just a cup of vinegar on the top rack to deodorize it.
Staying on top of smaller messes— wiping up coffee spills as they happen and sweeping errant cereal daily—helps keep the mess under control.
Wipe down the chairs, including the legs, with a lightly damp microiber cloth. (This works for both wood and upholstery.)
Vacuum the rug (we see you, hair nests!), and use your vacuum’s brush attachment on upholstered chairs. Apply wood polish (follow the manufacturer’s instructions) to your dining table and sideboard if appropriate.
Clean and dust the light xtures using an extendable dusting wand with a microiber head.
Clean the table with a formula appropriate for its material (like wood or glass).
Replace any table linens, if you use them.
Straighten up the hutch or sideboard, and put away anything you won’t be using that day.
Add a vase of fresh lowers as a centerpiece for bonus points!
Hot tip (literally): Don’t toss your tablecloth into the dryer if you still see stains after washing. The heat could set the splotch! Try gently scrubbing the stain again with detergent or pretreatment while it’s still wet, then rewash.
Dust your blinds— you wouldn’t believe how much grime gathers there. To quickly tackle them, stick your hand into an old sock dipped in cleaning solution, then pass over the slats.
Extendable Microiber Duster, $18; oxo.com
Method Wood Polish and Shine Spray, $6; target.com.
Method Wood Polish and Shine Spray, $6; target.com Clean Sweep Broom, $35; fullcirclehome.com.
Spraying your shower every evening with a cleaner inhibits scum and mildew growth, so you don’t have to try to scrub off weeks of buildup.
Squeeze toilet cleaner into the toilet bowl. Wipe the lush handle and then the seat with a disinfecting wipe. Finally, scrub the toilet’s interior with a brush.
Pass a fresh wipe over the sink, then use it in the basin and other icky exterior parts. Spray glass cleaner onto a lat-weave microiber cloth and wipe mirrors. If you have hardened schmutz, like toothpaste, get rid of that irst. Press a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol on it to soften for easier removal.
Use your hand vac to suck up clumps of hair and dust bunnies.
Replace bath and hand towels.
Throw the bath mat into the wash and air-dry. Clean grout with a hydrogen peroxide spray and scrub with a toothbrush. Remove buildup from the showerhead by pouring white vinegar into a gallon-size zip-top bag. Fully submerge the nozzle, and secure it tightly with a rubber band for an overnight soak. (If the ixture is nickel, brass, or gold, soak it for only 30 minutes.)
Squeegee the shower door or clean the curtains and liner. You can usually toss these into the wash— no dryer. Otherwise, spray with mildew stain remover (or replace the liner if necessary). To avoid straining your back and knees, use a broom to scrub your preferred cleaning solution into the walls and tub bottom.
Clean your toothbrushes by dunking them in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes.
Run the toothbrush holder through the top rack of the dishwasher.
Windex with Vinegar Glass Cleaner, $4; homedepot.com. Soap Dispensing Dish Brush, $12; oxo.com. Method Daily Shower Spray, $4; target.com
They may be reminiscent of Woodstock, but today’s lares have a high waist and clean, modern silhouette that lengthens the legs. Pair them with a cropped sweater or blazer for everyday style, or lean into their rock-androll vibe with a denimon-denim-on-denim combo. Either way, keep accessories simple and let your jeans do the talking.
TO BUY: Tamara Dark Distressed True Blue Shirt, $118; mavi.com. Rachel Flare Ultra High Rise Instasculpt Jeans, $199; dl1961.com. Loran Deep Hemp Jacket, $128; mavi.com. Ininite Necklace, $195; maisonmiru.com.
Chuck Taylor All Star Classic Sneakers, $65; converse.com. Rings, models own.
If we had to pick a phrase to describe the season’s denim trends, it would be: All over the place! With so many cuts and rises, shapes and washes, what’s a jeans lover to do? Follow your heart—and our guide to making them work for you.
photographs by DAYMION MARDEL styling by FLAVIA NUNEZ AND LIZZY ROSENBERG written by FARAN KRENTCIL
The beauty of jeans that “come up to here” is that they’re essentially two pairs in one. Go casual with a fronttucked sweater and ballet lats, or add a great pair of heels and a button-up for what’s basically the informal look of the season. (Red lipstick optional, but very much encouraged.)
TO BUY: Mainstay Cotton Catalina Pop Over, $115; buckmason.com. Sheri Slim Jeans, $119; nydj.com. Nouveaux Puf Earrings, $118; jenny-bird.com. Christian Dior vintage silk scarf, stylist’s own. Emaline Heeled Sandals, $140; vionicshoes.com.
Why choose one wash when you can have three? Paneling and patchwork turn basic jeans into “wow” moments—which means you can throw on the same jacket and T-shirt you always wear, and look like a totally new you.
TO BUY: J.Crew vintage leather moto jacket, stylist’s own. Fine Line Jeans, $59; revicedenim.com. Arlo Ring, $80; jenny-bird.com. Kam Leather Sneakers, $99; kennethcole.com.
Cropped, straight-leg jeans are a favorite of Hollywood stylists because they go with pretty much anything. Try a statement heel, or tuck them into high boots (a stylish look that will keep you warm and dry in inclement weather). Get a pair with a bit of stretch, and they’ll be your go-to bottoms for early mornings, late nights, and everything in between.
TO BUY: Soft Focus Ruched Turtleneck, $50; onestopplus.com. High Rise Vintage Slim Jeans with Washwell, $70; gap.com. Havoc vintage 1980s acid-wash fringe jacket, stylist’s own. Analeah CrocodileEmbossed Leather Boots, $238; schutz-shoes.com.
OK, hear us out. If you have a short torso, a lower rise is your secret BFF— and yes, you can wear it without looking like Britney in the ‘90s (or now). Choose a wide leg for balance, and pair the jeans with a polished piece of knitwear that grazes the waist, so only a hint of skin shows. Prefer to go more modest? Add a blazer, and reach things on a shelf without your midsection making an appearance.
TO BUY: Sequin Boxy Shaker Vest, $176; autumncashmere .com for similar. In Awe Stonewash Frayed Jeans, $89; mistressrocks.com. Levi’s SecondHand Ex-Boyfriend Trucker Jacket, $59; secondhand .levi.com. French Twist Ring, $78; katespade.com. Arlo Ring, $80; jenny-bird.com. Suede Classic XXI Women’s Sneakers, $70; us.puma.com.
MAKEUP BY PACO BLANCAS AT L’ATELIER NYC USING NARS; HAIR BY BOKHEE AT ART DEPARTMENT
Surprise! The baggy jeans you rocked during your TLC-listening days are back, and this time, you don’t have to steal them from your big brother. Grab a pair cut for your body (we like the Abercrombie & Fitch ones here),or try your local vintage store. Add a itted tee or tank for an adult upgrade (but, you know, a cool adult).
You may have heard about the skinny jeans debate that raged online last year. Women of a certain age (read: college sophomores) took to TikTok to swear the style was “dead” (i.e., something only their moms would wear). National media outlets glommed on to the intergenerational controversy, as they tend to. Gen Z eventually declared victory, as it tends to. So where does that leave us? Still standing, deiantly, in our skinnies, which are neat, slimming, and comfortable.
“Why would you stop wearing something you love?” says designer Stacey Bendet, founder of the clothing company Alice + Olivia. “Jeans are a sophisticated staple, and if the slim cut works for you, keep it up.”
InStyle senior fashion editor Samantha Sutton says her skinnies have become “more of a dressed-up bottom than something super casual,” great with a beautifully tailored jacket and a fab pair of shoes, or with an oversize oxford for a fresh, preppy rif. “Plus, as a petite person, I use them to create an unbroken line that elongates my legs.”
Even Snapchat’s global head of fashion and beauty, street-style savant Rajni Jacques, makes no apologies for her skinnies. “I like to wear them with a big sweatshirt to ofset the tightness,” she says.
Other ways to make them feel current? A trench coat and rubber boots with high-waisted skinnies is your chic, pulled-together armor on a rainy day. (Imagine dragging a wet, wide-legged hem down the street as you run errands. Pass.) Or you can DIY a distressed crop: Measure one to three inches up from the hem and slice the jeans with your sharpest pair of scissors. Fray out the bottoms with your ingers or a piece of sandpaper. The result is a rock-and-roll look that goes well with black pumps and a polished blouse, a motorcycle jacket, or even a band tee from your Lilith Fair era. Because it is now cool to have had a Lilith Fair era! Take that, sophomores.
When it comes to washing your jeans, maybe just don’t? Many fashion designers and fabric experts recommend laundering your denim only once for every 10 wears, because every time you do, the bers relax a little more, loosening the t and losing some color. If you’re worried about hygiene, science says you don’t have to be. When a student at the University of Alberta wore jeans for 15 months without washing them, then tested his pants, the bacteria count was unexpectedly tiny. (As was our level of surprise that a college student didn’t visit the laundromat for over a year.) Keeping your favorite lares out of the wash has an eco-friendly bene t too: Besides using less water, you’ll help prevent the microplastics found in some materials from leaking into reservoirs. You save your pants, money, water, and wildlife!
You spend good money on your jeans— and a good bit of your life in them. When they rip, it can feel like losing an old friend. But there are plenty of ways to mend them, and most take less than 15 minutes (or a $20 trip to the tailor).
If you’ve got a conident whipstitch—or 10 minutes to watch a YouTube tutorial—you can fold the bottoms up a few millimeters and simply rehem your pants. Not handy with a needle? A tailor can rehem jeans for a clean inish, and if they’re a little shorter, well, cropped is all the rage right now!
A loose or broken belt loop is a quick ix. First tack it back in place with a safety pin, then ind some strong polyester thread in the same shade as the denim. Do a simple cross-stitch until it feels secure again, and double-knot your thread on the inside of the jean. You’ll feel like you could star in a Little House on the Prairie reboot.
If you want a shredded knee to look as close to new as possible, you’ll probably need a professional. But if you’re cool with a slightly more bohemian look, consider taking a few squares of your favorite fabric and patching the jeans with a needle and thread. The result doesn’t need to be perfect, just personal. And chances are you’ll love them even more when you’re done.
Fold? Hang? Roll? Crumple on the loor outside of your Zoom frame? Here’s the good news: It doesn’t really matter. Unlike heavy crochet knits (which can get long and stretched-out when hung) or silk and satin tops (which crease the second you put them in a drawer), denim is one of the most resilient fabrics on the planet, and you can stash it wherever best ts your storage space. Easy!
Sure, you have the same number of hours in the day as, say, Beyoncé. But as Catherine Hong discovers, happiness doesn’t always come from a nished to-do list.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster a dozen times, always lingering on Jules Feifer’s illustration of the Terrible Trivium, an elegantly dressed demon with a terrifyingly featureless face. When I recently revisited the book, the character once again stopped me in my tracks. A “demon of petty tasks and worthless jobs, ogre of wasted efort, and monster of habit,” he persuades the protagonists to do endless, pointless activities, such as moving individual grains of sand with tweezers. (After working for hours, one of them calculates the tasks would take another 837 years to finish.) “If you only do the easy and useless jobs, you’ll never have to worry about the important ones which are so diicult,” coos the villain. “You just won’t have the time. For there’s always something to do to keep you from what you really should be doing.”
Reading these words now, as a 50-something grown-up, I’ve never found them so chilling. My desk is full of my own petty tasks: a dozen notes reminding me to call the dentist, find a driver’s ed class for my daughter, track down disability paperwork for my husband’s upcoming surgery, get our dog groomed, have the car inspected, deal with the perpetually regenerating mound of laundry, and meet all my work deadlines. Lots of us are champs at getting ourselves and our families through the tasks of the next day or week. But don’t we all have a Terrible Trivium whispering over our shoulder that we need to accomplish all this
before we can get to the good stuf—lunches with friends, trips to the botanical garden with Mom, actually using the backyard hammock, or starting that elusive creative project?
It would seem the solution is to get more hours in the day so we have room for all our must-dos and want-to-dos. Yet “happiness is not really about the amount of free time we have. It depends on how you spend whatever time you have,” says Cassie Holmes, PhD, author of the new book Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most. A marketing and behavioral decision-making professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where she created the popular class Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design, she teaches business graduate students to think of time not money—as the most precious resource.
Recently, my life drove home my own priorities. My husband’s surgery was a serious one, involving a week’s stay in the hospital. Not long afterward, my father fell ill, and I spent another couple of days in yet another intensive care unit, supporting my mother. These events demanded all of me, and for the first time in my life I cast aside both major projects and trivial ones. I turned down assignments, begged of deadlines, canceled appointments, and told the kids I couldn’t give them a ride. I let everything on my to-do list go.
I’m happy to report that my husband and father made it through–and that whatever tasks I failed to accomplish during those days made not an ounce of diference. It was liberating, in a way, to focus on one thing and one thing only: being there for my most beloved people when they really needed me. It was also a good reminder that while our to-do lists will never end, our brief lives on this earth will—which is a pretty powerful reason to spend our time here doing what we value most (and not feeling bad about ignoring the dishes).
Here’s how to tame your Terrible Trivium and start treating your time as a chance to recharge and focus on what really matters to you.
Examine the root of your devotion to productivity. When you were growing up, did your relationship with your parents feel transactional, with their love, attention, or rewards doled out based on your performance rather than your inherent worth? Deep down, do you ever feel like breaks are for wimps, whiners, and entitled people who aren’t as tough or hardworking as you? Do you ever feel like you haven’t earned the right to take a break yet? Our life experiences, families, and culture can instill the desire to overachieve. Understanding where your toxic productivity comes from—and creating a new story for yourself, in which you deserve love and rest—can help you carve out time for yourself, unapologetically
“Never,” Holmes says. We may feel good about ourselves when we get that gold star, but “checking of a series of small, routine stuf is rarely the path to life satisfaction,” she says. Stop trying to do everything on your list before you can have any time for what you truly want to do. (Nope, “optimizing” your workday with productivity strategies to “earn” more leisure time isn’t the answer.) Block out some time for to-dos and some time for leisure.
Craft your time. While the word “craft” may bring to mind ceramists sculpting overpriced bowls, Holmes uses it to convey the idea of active participation: Make more time for what you really want. One way to do that (again, it’s not by zipping through more work faster!) is to identify the insidious “sand traps” in your day, those chunks of time when you’re not productive and you’re doing something that doesn’t bring you any joy…like mindlessly scrolling social media or bingeing a show you don’t even like. Replace that time with small, joyful experiences—a one-on-one date at a cofee shop with your tween, 15 minutes alone with a book after dinner—and savor them. Turn them into rituals, and protect them in your schedule
Say no more often. “Will you serve on this committee?” “Can I pick your brain over a cup of cofee?”
“Can all my friends come over for dinner after soccer?” So often, we say yes and then regret it when it’s time to make good. (Who among us has not said, “Yes, I’ll join your book club,” and then prayed for a sudden
bout of food poisoning when the time came to meet about the novel we didn’t read?) According to research, people, especially women, are reluctant to decline requests, Holmes says. We tend to agree to future events because we consistently believe we’ll have much more time available next month than we have today. News flash: You won’t! So try flexing your “no” muscle. “Only say yes to requests that you would be happy to spend the time on today,” Holmes says
Clear
distractions. Physically rearranging your work space can help you avoid the temptation of smaller tasks, the ones that, bundled, leave no room for the bigger projects that would fulfill you. Visual distractions could be as seemingly harmless as plants on your desk, if you’re the type who tends to prune dead leaves. Working from home can
be especially challenging in this regard, as there’s always a dish to be washed or other menial household task calling your name. When you can’t resist the pull, try relocating to a library or cofee shop.
Break your focus time into larger blocks. To achieve what’s known as a “flow state”—when you’re so engaged, you lose track of the hours—you need uninterrupted time. Three hours in a row is not the same as three hours broken up by phone calls and school pickups, because constantly checking the time and coming in and out will make a flow state impossible. “Research shows that transitioning between tasks is costly because it keeps you from getting into g,, y the groove,” Holmes writes in her book. Of course, you can’t make every block of work time uninterrupted, but when possible, try to build long focus periods into your week.
Schedule around your worst impulses. Holmes ous ways is a big fan of “commitment devices”—vari goal. to lock yourself into following through on a edule If you’re a workaholic who struggles to sche ndable personal time, you could pay for a nonrefu ou vacation or sign up for a cooking class so yo have of com- to step away from work. For me, if I dream hday, pleting a book proposal before my next birth on my I could block of two hours every Thursday er to make calendar. That way I don’t have to rememb ad when time for it, and I won’t punt it down the ro things get too busy
Eat the marshmallow today! c psycho- In a classi he marsh- logical experiment from the 1970s, called t at a child’s mallow test, Stanford researchers found th he marsh- ability to delay gratification (i.e., to not eat t mallow in front of them in order to get two marshvement mallows later) correlated with higher achie n now to later in life. Good to power through the pai es says. see it pay of later, right? Not always, Holm ed flip side: Research has since shown the less-explor always “the tendency to be excessively farsighted, mes writes choosing the future over the present,” Holm ool system in her book. “In our highly competitive sch eat com- and professional environments, there’s a gre gs done pulsion to work rather than play, to get thin rather than relax.”
ay for some Persistently sacrificing your pleasure tod urn down unknown future (in which you’ll probably t balance or the marshmallow again) is not a recipe for b whatever joy. Some days, just eat the marshmallow, w ppg that is—with happiness and without guilt.
Fragrance has the power to boost your mood, so why only wear it on your wrists? Here’s how to bring wonderful aromas to yourself and your surroundings.
by
The new generation of florals is lighter, airier, and cooler. Sue Phillips, fragrance expert and founder of Scenterprises, says to find formulas with fruit notes (for everyday) or woodsy ones (for something sexier)
Himalayan Salt and Rosewater Reed Diffuser
Can’t get to a fancy salt cave? Bring one to you with this soothing combo of Himalayan salt and rose water, meant to cultivate calmness. TO BUY: $58; nestnewyork.com.
Dolce & Gabbana Dolce
Lily Eau de Toilette
Pink lily and rose notes join passion fruit and musk to create a modern bouquet that isn’t fussy TO BUY: $108 for 2.5 oz.; ulta.com
Shower Gel Fragrance
Ambiance de Plage
A good fragrance experience starts in the shower and lingers after you rinse. This oil-infused body wash hydrates skin and leaves a subtle scent of gardenia and coconut. TO BUY: $20; moroccanoil com
Balmain Hair Couture
Hair Perfume
A smart place to spritz is your strands—hair can hold fragrance longer than skin. With this mist, you’ll get a scent trail of gardenia, ylang-ylang, and sandalwood as your hair moves throughout the day.
TO BUY: $140 for 3.4 oz.; saksifthavenue.com
Lisa DeSantis photographs by Jonathon Kambouris styling by Elizabeth Press
Imagine taking a whiff while walking through a sun-drenched fruit orchard. That’s how to carry summer into any season. Phillips recommends lighter scents that include notes of melons, nectarines, tea, and berries.
CK One Summer Daze
This zesty spray, with kumquat and mint tea plus warm musk and vetiver, captures a fun, laid-back feeling TO BUY: $65 for 3 3 oz.; macys.com.
Sun Fruit Eau de Parfum
Fig, bergamot, vanilla, and jasmine are sweet but not cloying TO BUY: $105 for 1 7 oz.; ellisbrooklyn.com
Find Your Happy Place
Palm Trees & Piña
Coladas Body Lotion
Moisturized skin holds on to fragrance, so apply lotion before perfume. Benedicte
Bron, vice president of product and fragrance development at Bath & Body Works, says to layer a single scent for intensity, multiple for a custom fragrance all your own. A cool combo: fruit and lowers. TO BUY: $7; walmart.com
Belvedere Candle
Mango and goji berry form a delectable yet casual aroma TO BUY: From $32; lordeseraphine.com
If you love a masculine scent, “switch to fresh and clean fragrances,” says Mary Testa-Gough, associate vice president of product and fragrance development at Bath & Body Works. She recommends green (like grass) and watery (like rain) notes
Do Son Hand Cream
Spiked with spicy tuberose and salty notes reminiscent of a sea breeze, the rich cream leaves hands baby-smooth TO BUY: $45; diptyqueparis.com
Pit-Pourri Eucalyptus Sea Salt
To keep sweaty pits and other bits smelling fresh, look no further than this deodorant scented with eucalyptus and sea salt.
TO BUY: $13; pourri.com
Maison Margiela Fragrances Replica When the Rain Stops Eau de Toilette
If you’ve ever wished you could bottle the smell of dewy grass after the rain, you’ll love this earthy pick TO BUY: $144 for 3.4 oz.; sephora.com
Spa Candle
For on-demand peace, burn a candle scented with eucalyptus, water mint, and sage. TO BUY: $56; hotellobbycandle.com
This category is all about feeling comfortable in your own skin, says Mindy Yang, fragrance expert and founder of Perfumarie. “They’re great for layering, and they make for a good confidence boost.”
Inspired by the smell of a lover’s skin, the heady muskand-loral aroma evokes a feeling of familiarity. TO BUY: $96 for 1.7 oz.; phlur.com.
Laundry Day Candle
It smells like a warm load straight from the dryer (minus the chore of it all) TO BUY: $24; anecdotecandles.com
Feel like fragrance disappears on you? This concentrated amber-and-musk oil has stellar staying power. TO BUY: $50 for 8 ml; riddleoil.com
Midnight
This tube houses a spicy loral you can mist on the move. TO BUY: $36 for 0.5 oz.; lakeandskye.com.
Spray hello to sophisticated products that transform your home. Gone are the days of one-note fragrances, says Royce Russell, chief marketing and creative officer of the Laundress, a laundry and home cleaning brand. “You can now find special scents with depth and complexity.” Rich, pretty, sexy formulas are being incorporated into everything from matches to cleaners
1 AROMATIC SHOWER STEAMER SET
This new take on shower steamers ofers a mess-free experience. The hand-carved marble holder keeps the bar—illed with essential oils and dried botanicals—in place as the steam difuses eucalyptus lavender or calendula palo santo.
TO BUY: $65; ESKERBEAUTY.COM
2 PERFUMED MATCHES IN PHOENIX
A must-have for the guest bathroom, these scented sticks release the aroma of pink pepper and violet.
TO BUY: $25 FOR 40; BOHEMEFRAGRANCES COM
3 CECE SURFACE CLEANER
The brainchild of actor Courteney Cox and a team of perfume experts, these home products almost make cleaning fun. This smoky blend of cedarwood, cardamom, and cinnamon is Cox’s fave. TO BUY: $20 FOR 16 OZ.; HOMECOURT.CO.
4 THE LAUNDRESS x JENNI KAYNE DETERGENT IN LAVENDER MUSK
Is there anything yummier than sinking into freshly laundered sheets? Yes, actually, if the detergent has a hint of lavender that makes for even sweeter dreams. TO BUY: $25 FOR 16 OZ.; JENNIKAYNE.COM
5 PURA SMART DEVICE
This compact plug-in lets you control your home fragrance (and its intensity) from your phone. It even alerts you when it’s running low. Choose scents from a number of brands, like Floral Street, Lafco, Anthropologie, and Capri Blue.
TO BUY: $44 FOR DEVICE, FROM $12 FOR SCENTS; TRYPURA.COM
6 SANTAL ROOM MIST
“Home scents should ofer comfort,” Yang says, and that’s exactly what you get from this warm, cozy spray. Spritz into the air or directly onto fabrics. Spray into your closet and drawers to prevent clothes from smelling stufy. TO BUY: $30 FOR 3.4 OZ.; BROOKLYNCANDLESTUDIO COM
The divider, conceived by homeowner Alli Devlin and inspired by midcentury modern architecture, separates the room from the entry while still letting light in. Alli had wanted the curved white sectional from Room & Board for ive years, so when she and her husband moved in, it was one of the irst things they bought.
TO BUY: Reese Three-Piece Curved Sectional, from $5,000, and Callan Chair, $1,799; roomandboard.com. Alloy Handmade Geometric Rug, from $145; burkedecor.com. New Curvilinear Mid-Century Sconce, from $199; westelm.com. Dash I Print by Lauren Packard, from $29; juniperprintshop.com.
A SEATTLE-AREA COUPLE TRANSFORMED THEIR RETRO (IN THE BAD WAY) HOME INTO A ONE-OF-A-KIND RETREAT.
By ERICA FINAMORE
Photographs by BLE CHRISTOPHER DIB
ALLI DEVLIN omestead weren’t sure they of @the.hoss.h task of renovating—or whether were up to the t ed a house—when they came they even want roperty near Seattle filled with across a 1978 pr and linoleum. A friend who shag carpeting a had spotted the reasonably lived in the are r sale and told the couple priced house fo see it. So Alli and Jeramey they needed to the woods, and had very trekked out to ons. di erent reacti iately like, ‘No, this is way too “I was immed d my husband was like, ‘Yes, much work,’ an er than I ever imagined. This this is way cool roject we can take on,’” Alli is definitely a p he house is surrounded by pro- says. Because t y couldn’t expand its footprint, tected land, the d down walls and created an so they knocke to make it feel airy. open floor plan o years, they’ve infused the In the past tw el tones, midcentury modern space with jewe of DIY design touches. “It vibes, and tons time, but we created a haven developed over in this home,” Alli says. in this home,” A
AND JERAMEY CRAWFORD
Alli and Jeramey decided to expand the small kitchen into the roomier dining area. They placed a custom wood bench against the wall, banquette-style, and added a narrow oval white oak table, also custom, to maximize the space. The abstract painting by Patricia Vargas picks up the pinks and yellows in the adjacent living room (page 184)
TO BUY: Ontonio Print by Parima Studio (similar to shown), from $24; minted.com. Regina Andrew Happy Pendant, $412.50; lumens.com. Casement Black Tall Cabinet, $1,149; crateandbarrel.com. Pike Chairs, $199 each; roomandboard.com. Lemieux et Cie Handwoven Dalao Rug, from $379; anthropologie.com.
The couple chose a navy bookcase wall unit to display some favorite decor and a walnut desk with plenty of storage to keep clutter at bay. To combat the look of loose plugs under the desk, Alli cut a rug. Seriously, she cut a hole in the rug to hide the cords under it (this can pose a ire hazard, so copy this trick with care).
A black kitchen might seem peculiar, but not to Alli. “It wasn’t even a decision. I’ve always loved dark kitchens,” she says. She wanted a supersaturated color, so she skipped painted wood and went with black laminate for one wall of cabinets and the island. The rest of the cabinets, as well as the lighting and stools, are light wood for a cool, bright, two-tone look. Wide walkways around the island create a lot of visual space.
TO BUY: Brooke Stools, $475 each; shoponlygoodthings.com. Linear Suspension LED Pendant Light, from $700; litmoderndesigns.etsy.com. Akdy 36" Convertible Range Hood, $199; homedepot.com.
Brizo Litze Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Knurled Handle, $719; build.com
Alli’s criterion for outdoor furniture: It has to stand up to a lot of rain. (This is the Paciic Northwest, after all.) She picked durable acacia chairs and skipped cushions, which can get grimy fast. The steel-cable railing leaves an unobstructed view of the river.
TO BUY: Brommö Chaises, $70 each; ikea.com.
When the couple irst moved in, they painted a dark accent wall behind their bed for some contrast. But as they started to buy furniture, they realized they wanted to lip that to the ceiling. A couple of coats of Benjamin Moore’s Black Satin “instantly elevated the space,” Alli says. Four white walls keep the room bright, while blush bedding and brass pendants above the nightstands add softness.
TO BUY: Spindle King Bed, $1,797; kardiel.com. Archer Pendants, $209 each; cedarandmoss.com. Large Full-Length Dip Dye Wall Hanging, $235; bohoartbykels.etsy.com. Loloi Rivka Rug, from $52; luluandgeorgia.com.
Alli’s cousin Sarah Merriman, who owns SarMerr Design in Seattle, took on the primary bath and packed it with texture: two types of tile, gray plaster walls, and ample brass accents.
TO BUY: Eastman Ofset Vanity, $1,495; northcoastmodern.com. Rounded Rectangle Yaquina Mirrors, $271 each; rejuvenation.com. Flush Mount Sconces, $215 each; ninosheadesign.etsy.com.
2" x 6" Ceramic Tile in Blue Velvet, $12 per sq. ft.; ireclaytile.com.
Gleaming plums steal the show in late summer. You know the classic round varieties, sweet and juicy at their peak, but look out for oblong Italian (or prune) plums, with yellow lesh and a tarter taste we love.
SHOP for shiny fruit that’s irm, smooth, and heavy with juice
STORE on the counter until ripe, then stash in your fridge’s crisper drawer for up to ive days.
SERVE in nearly any baked dessert, from cobblers and crisps to tortes and tarts. Combine with a salty hard cheese and bitter greens in a salad, or stir slices into oats for a brilliant purple breakfast. For dinner, grill or sear halved plums, then chop and serve over pork or chicken.
Lizzy Briskin#
ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 6 HOURS, 30 MINUTES SERVES 6
Make Ahead Big Batch
Slow Cooker Gluten-Free Family Friendly
1 13⁄4-lb. boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 11⁄2-in. pieces
11⁄2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
2 Tbsp. canola oil, divided
2 Tbsp. chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (from a 7-oz. can)
5 cloves garlic, chopped (11⁄2 Tbsp.)
1 red onion, chopped (2 cups), divided
1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with jalapeños and cilantro
2 cups long-grain white rice
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
3 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, finely shredded (about 3⁄4 cup), divided Cilantro leaves, diced avocado, and lime wedges, for serving
SEASON roast all over with 3⁄4 teaspoon salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high. Add roast; cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker.
ADD remaining 1 tablespoon oil, chiles, garlic, and 11⁄2 cups onion to skillet (refrigerate remaining onion until ready to use). Cook, stirring often, until onion begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and 11⁄2 cups water; stir, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet. Pour mixture over roast in slow cooker. Cover and cook until roast is very tender, about 6 hours on low
BEFORE serving, combine rice, 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, and 21⁄2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high. Cover and reduce heat to low; cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
TRANSFER roast to a large bowl and shred using 2 forks; reserve liquid in slow cooker. Add vinegar and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt to liquid. Divide rice between 6 bowls; drizzle a few spoonfuls of liquid over rice in each bowl Top with meat, cheese, and reserved 1⁄2 cup onion. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, and lime wedges; serve with remaining liquid
PER SERVING: 512 Calories, 15g Fat (6g Saturated), 97mg Cholesterol, 2g Fiber, 38g Protein, 55g Carbs, 841mg Sodium, 2g Sugar
Recipes by Marianne Williams
Photographs by Antonis Achilleos
With a little help from Alexia, finding harmony between sweet and savory has never been more effortless. Just twenty minutes and a hint of sea salt are all these sweet potatoes need to bring a fresh, distinctive variation of flavor to the classic French fry. All without any GMOs or superfluous additives.
AlexiaFoods.com
1 15-oz. pkg frozen sweet potato fries (such as Alexia)
1⁄4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1⁄4 cup finely chopped fresh oregano
2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar
1⁄4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1⁄4 cup olive oil, divided
3⁄4 tsp. kosher salt, divided
11⁄2 lb ground chicken
4 3⁄4-oz slices
Cheddar cheese
4 burger buns, toasted
BAKE sweet potato fries according to package directions, and keep warm.
MEANWHILE, stir together parsley, oregano, vinegar, crushed red pepper, 3 tablespoons oil, and 1⁄4 teaspoon salt in a bowl to make chimichurri.
COMBINE chicken, 1 tablespoon chimichurri, and remaining
1⁄2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Shape into 4 patties, about 4 inches wide and 1⁄2 inch thick
HEAT remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh. Add patties; cook until browned and a thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 155°F, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
Top each patty with a cheese slice. Cover skillet; cook until cheese is melted and a thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 165°F, about 30 seconds
SERVE burgers on toasted buns topped with chimichurri, alongside sweet potato fries
PER SERVING: 675 Calories, 40g Fat (16g Saturated), 132mg Cholesterol, 2g Fiber, 38g Protein, 43g Carbs, 850mg
Sodium, 8g Sugar
ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4
Quick Cooking Freezable Make Ahead One Pot Vegetarian Gluten-Free
1⁄4 cup (1⁄2 stick) unsalted butter, divided
10 oz. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 11⁄2 cups)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 11⁄2 cups)
1 tsp kosher salt, divided
5 cups fresh sweet corn kernels (from 6 ears)
3 5-oz. cans hot diced green chiles (such as Hatch), undrained
4 cups unsalted vegetable stock
1 cup half-and-half
2 oz. cotija cheese, crumbled (about 1⁄2 cup)
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh chives
MELT 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium. Add potatoes, onion, and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add corn and chiles; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add stock; bring to a boil over high Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes and corn are tender, about 8 minutes.
REMOVE pot from heat. Blend with an immersion blender until partially pureed, 8 to 10 pulses. (Alternatively, transfer 3 cups to a blender; blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Return to pot.)
Stir in half-and-half and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. Divide chowder between 4 bowls and top with cheese and chives.
PER SERVING: 510 Calories, 25g Fat (15g Saturated), 67mg Cholesterol, 8g
Fiber, 16g Protein, 65g Carbs, 981mg
Sodium, 19g Sugar
ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4
Quick Cooking Family Friendly
1 lb. spaghetti
6 slices uncooked bacon, chopped into ½-in. pieces
1 12-oz. pkg. frozen butternut squash puree, thawed
4 large egg yolks
11⁄2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp. honey
1⁄2 tsp kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving
4 oz. pecorino Romano cheese, grated on a Microplane (about 21⁄2 cups), divided
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
BRING a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add pasta; cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving
1 cup water.
MEANWHILE, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium, stirring often, until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet
MICROWAVE defrosted squash puree on high for 1 minute to warm. WHISK egg yolks in a large bowl; drizzle in reserved hot bacon drippings, whisking constantly to combine. Whisk in squash puree, thyme, honey, salt, pepper, and 2 cups cheese until combined. Gradually drizzle reserved pasta water into egg mixture, whisking constantly, taking care to avoid curdling yolks. Add pasta; toss well to coat.
SERVE pasta topped with bacon, parsley, and remaining 1⁄2 cup cheese. Garnish with a few grinds of pepper.
PER SERVING: 675 Calories, 18g Fat (8g Saturated), 224mg Cholesterol, 6g Fiber, 31g Protein, 95g Carbs, 915mg Sodium, 7g Sugar (1g Added)
2 Tbsp. lower-sodium soy sauce or tamari
11⁄2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime), plus wedges for serving
1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 lb ground pork
1 medium (1 oz.) shallot, thinly sliced (about 1⁄4 cup)
1⁄2 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped, divided
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint, divided
8 large Bibb lettuce leaves (from 1 head)
WHISK soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar in a bowl until sugar dissolves.
HEAT oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high. Add pork and break into large pieces; cook, undisturbed, until starting to brown, about 2 minutes. Add shallot; cook, stirring to crumble pork, until pork is browned and almost cooked through and shallot is starting to soften, about 2 minutes.
ADD soy sauce mixture; cook, stirring, until liquid is absorbed and almost evaporated and pork is cooked through, about 1 minute Stir in 1⁄4 cup peanuts and 1 tablespoon mint.
SERVE pork in lettuce leaves, topped with remaining 1⁄4 cup peanuts and 1 tablespoon mint.
PER SERVING: 497 Calories, 40g Fat (11g Saturated), 82mg Cholesterol, 2g Fiber, 25g Protein, 11g Carbs, 886mg Sodium, 5g Sugar (3g Added)
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WHO KNEW?
IF YOU DUSTED OFF your old board games (or found yourself in the market for new ones) at some point in the past 21⁄2 years, you’re not alone. In March 2020, Google searches about board games increased 85 percent worldwide
While board games are clearly having a moment right now, they are also part of ancient history. One of the first is thousands of years old, from Egypt. Called Senet, the game was associated with the journey to the afterlife and enjoyed by royalty.
You’ll only find original Senet boards in museums, but other historic games have made it into modern-day living rooms. Snakes and Ladders, renamed the friendlier Chutes and Ladders, originated in ancient India, while dominoes could date back as far as 10th-century China
Arguably the biggest board game success story? Monopoly—and it almost didn’t happen. Charles Darrow, the maker, ofered to sell the game to executives at Parker Brothers in 1934, and they refused—only to change their minds a year later. Elizabeth Magie Phillips’s patent for the Landlord’s Game is believed to have inspired Darrow’s Monopoly; she was later paid a reported $500 by Parker Brothers. Today Monopoly has hundreds of variations (with themes like Star Wars, Disney, and Go Green), and over 1 billion people in 114 countries own a version!
—Teddy Willson
MADE
