RS - September 2019 by Lawrence Ambrocio

Drive Up.

drive up

Delivered to your car door so you can do more. Try Drive Up. It’s easy.

“Aprils have never meant much to me, autumns seem that season of beginning, spring.” — T RU M A N C A P O T E , B r e a k f a s t a t T i f f a ny ’s

4 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

C A C T U S C R E AT I V E S T U D I O/ S T O C K S Y

Thoughts

IT TICKLES

TINY

TASTE BUDS. THAT’S THE POWER OF REAL.

A love of 100% real, natural cheese is born with bite one. Sargento® Slices, in varieties like Provolone, Colby-Jack & Medium Cheddar, are guaranteed to make little mouths happy. © 2019 Sargento Foods Inc.

E d i t o r ’s N o t e

buying disposable plastic water bottles. I say “at some point” because the change was so smooth it didn’t register as a big deal at my house. In fact, it made life easier. We kept reusable metal water bottles in a basket by the door, so we ended up spending less money—and drinking more water. That’s almost always the upside to cutting back on waste: You save money, you save time, there’s less clutter, and you’re doing right by our planet. In “How to Waste Less Every Day” (page 114), Real Simple’s deputy editor, Anna Maltby, gives you an ambitious yet realistic guide for reducing the amount of stuff you throw away, from food to clothes to household items. When she first suggested the idea, I thought, “Oof, it sounds hard to change all my habits.” I think you’ll find what I did—that once you reframe your thinking, it becomes easier to resist purchasing items you just don’t need and dispose of things the most responsible way. Each of us can make a difference in ensuring the earth remains a beautiful, safe place to live. Here at Real Simple, our food editors have reduced waste in our test kitchens by storing food in ways that increase shelf life, labeling and freezing surplus food that won’t be used in 48 hours, and triple-checking for ingredients we already have before shopping. It’s proven so easy that many of our editors use these techniques at home. We hope our guide will help you live more richly with less.

At Real Simple, we believe women’s empowerment means financial empowerment. This month, we’re sharing wisdom on saving (page 15), collecting experts’ money-amassing hacks (page 97), and celebrating the best new financial tools, apps, and services with our Real Simple Smart Money Awards (page 87). Enjoy your earnings!

6 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Follow me on Twitter @lyazel and Instagram @leslieyazel

Photograph by Remi Pyrdol

W A R D R O B E S T Y L I N G B Y A LY S S A D I N E E N ; H A I R A N D M A K E U P B Y S U M M E R T R A N

T SOME POINT, WE STOPPED

ezH2O® Liv ™

refresh YOUR EVERYDAY

ELKAY ® ezH2O Liv BUILT-IN FILTERED WATER DISPENSER Now there’s a hands-free water source designed to seamlessly fit your space and your lifestyle. The first built-in water dispenser for the home brings fresh, filtered water to any room, for all the ways you live. Whether you’re getting ready for the big game or just another busy day, it’s a quick, convenient way to fill up fast and keep your day moving. Learn to Liv at elkay.com/ezh2o-liv

LBWD06WHK

Contents September 2019

O N T H E C OV E R

Vase (for similar), cups, and bowl; dlceramics.com. Hadley 5 ft. Cottage Distressed Cap-Shelf Mantel, $432; homedepot.com. Paint on wall: Cherubic S150-1; behr.com. Paint on mantel: Camping Tent N320-4; behr.com. FLORALS: Ranunculus, carnation, red brunia, weigela (foliage), leucothoe (foliage), pistachio (berry). TO BUY:

Simplify Your Days

114

Quick Dinners Right from the Pantry

128

Start Your Mornings with More Energy

104

Secrets of a Relaxing Home Best Ways to Save

128

Recipes for clean-out-thecupboard nights

15, 87, 97

114

136

All the top tools to save some green

Helping the planet is easier than it looks

Rediscover your zest for reading books

C o v e r P h o t o g r a p h b y C h r i s t o p h e r Te s t a n i Prop St yling by Sarah Smar t Floral St yling by Cat Dash

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

Contents

Take your tailgate to the next level

Fall staples to carry you through the season

Pick the best apples for baking

Thoughts

the realist

relating

balance

Editor’s Note

The Secret to the Best Apple Pie

How to Feel at Home in a New Neighborhood Settle in with ease

The Best New Financial Tools, Hands Down Money innovations that make life easier 87

Real Simple 24 /7

Your Words

The Short List

Mission: Dinner Kale-Cheddar flatbread kids can help make 40

what we love Upgrade Your Tailgate

Cooking School What you might not know about coffee

Think Like a Designer A sneak peek at the Real Simple Home 24 Pretty Smart Beauty buys to simplify your routine 27

Now What?!? Solutions for life’s mini disasters Organize This Sort out your “don’t look in there” closet

Little Helpers Clever items that make every day better 30

7 Elements That Make a Home Charming Design tweaks to transform your space 48

The Staple Frozen peas

Road Test Retinol

The Fall Edit Here’s your new autumn uniform

Room Rx How to style a breakfast nook

Modern Manners Catherine Newman offers advice

Saving Grace A survivor of the California wildfires on how his community helped him rebuild 77 5 Lessons We Can Learn from Kids Sometimes they’re wise beyond their years 81 Pet Tricks Training hacks that work (yes, even on cats) 84

22 Smart Ideas to Take Control of Your Money Expert tips to maximize investing, saving, insurance, and more 97 Make Over Your Monday Spice up your routine for a more energized start to the week 104 Ahhh Take a breather

113

features How to Waste Less Every Day Reduce your trash to save cash, declutter, and help the earth 114

The Pantry Challenge You’ve got miscellaneous ingredients on hand, we’ve got the recipes to match 128 Yes, You Can Find Time to Read Practical tips for a more literary life

136

food 5 Easy Dinners

142

Better for You Cauliflower Alfredo

148

Road Test Frozen breakfast

150

for fun Math Problems for Adults

154

The Essential A leather jacket styled three ways 65

REAL SIMPLE (ISSN 1528-1701) (SEPTEMBER 2019) (VOLUME 20/ISSUE 9) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TI GOTHAM INC. TI GOTHAM INC. IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF MEREDITH CORPORATION. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 225 LIBERTY ST., NEW YORK, NY 10281-1008. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, NY, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS (SEE DMM 507.1.5.2); NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE, PO BOX 37508, BOONE, IA 50037-0508. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40069223. BN# 13200211RT001. © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: FOR 24/7 SERVICE, PLEASE USE OUR WEBSITE: REALSIMPLE.COM/MYACCOUNT. YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-881-1172 OR WRITE REAL SIMPLE, PO BOX 37508, BOONE, IA 50037-0508. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. YOUR BANK MAY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE CARD INFORMATION WE HAVE ON FILE. YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS SERVICE AT ANY TIME. FOR SYNDICATION OR INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REQUESTS OR REPRINT AND REUSE PERMISSION, EMAIL SYNDICATION@MEREDITH.COM.

10 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Elevate Moisture. Enhance Skin.

EXPERIENCE OLAY

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash Lock-In-Moisture Technology works with your skin to make it stronger*, so skin holds more moisture. Visible results without a coated feel. TM

*strengthens skin’s moisture barrier

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

7 S N A C K S T O E AT F O R L O N G -T E R M H E A LT H

Add these tasty, anti-inflammatory ingredients to your grocery cart to improve your health and happiness.

Best books of 2019 (so far) Introducing our definitive list of the most noteworthy reads of the year, from historical fiction to page-turners you’ll have trouble putting down.

FLIPB OARD Follow us on Flipboard for decorating tips, recipes, and more. Visit flipboard .com/@realsimple.

See our list at realsimple.com/goodreads.

P I N T E R E ST @REALSIMPLE

Open

and tap

for back-to-school tips.

12 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

TWITTER @REALSIMPLE

FAC E B O O K @REALSIMPLE

S N A P C H AT @ R E A L S I M P L E M AG

I N STAG R A M @ R E A L _S I M P L E

C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P L E F T: T E D + C H E L S E A C AVA N A U G H ; I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y L A N T R U O N G ; C H R I S T O P H E R T E S TA N I

Read more at realsimple .com/healthfood.

60% OF WOMEN ARE WEARING THE WRONG SIZE PAD. ALL OF THEM CAN CHANGE THAT.

Discover Always My Fit™, a range of ﬁve different pad sizes. Try the next size up for up to 20% better coverage day or night.

Yo u r W o r d s

What’s the one thing you would’ve told your younger self about saving money?

Anytime I have a $5 bill, it goes into an envelope. Then I use that money for Christmas gifts. @JNEZELEK

“ LOV ES T H E B E AC H U N T I L PAWS TO U C H T H E W E T SA N D, T H E N RU N S AWAY ! ” @ SU M I I N T H EC I T Y

# R S L OV E

Always pay yourself first. Put money into your savings account just as you would pay another monthly bill. BETTY LATHRAM, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

Value every clothing or accessory purchase as a longterm purchase. Only buy what you will wear repeatedly and is easy to care for, good quality, and in a color and style you love. Save the impulse money for trips or experiences later in life. LAVONNE FLACH, CABLE, OHIO

Find a partner who shares the same values as you! @MEGANANNE90

Just because you can afford to buy something doesn’t mean you must buy it. I look back at all the things I bought just because I could. If I had saved the money instead of spending it, I would have a lot more money and a lot less clutter today. JUDI JACH, ROSELLE, ILLINOIS

You don’t “need” 47 pairs of black leggings.

Live beneath your means. Regardless of what you have to go without, pay off your credit cards at the end of each month. If you don’t get into this habit, the amount of interest you can end up paying is ridiculous, and is totally lost money. NANCY NESLINE, WORTHINGTON, OHIO

Take advantage of apps like Acorn, which automatically rounds up your purchases and saves the extra for you. The money can really add up. CAITLIN ZINSSER, OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

It’s just as important to be generous with others as it is to save. Both are valuable investments. JENNIE McGOWAN, CHEYENNE, WYOMING

@NINA_DAHAN_RD

Pay off the car and then drive it till the wheels fall off. @ J E N N C O L L I N S 31 1

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

Yo u r W o r d s

What’s the one thing you would’ve told your younger self about saving money?

Never sharing a credit card with a significant other empowers me to create my own positive credit history and lets me avoid someone else’s different perception of how my money is spent. NANCY KOCH, ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

Saving is important, but it’s also OK to do things you enjoy. Go ahead and splurge occasionally. RACHEL DELANOY, ENDICOTT, NEW YORK

Talk to the smart women around you about money. Share and learn!

Respect it. I noticed how a friend carefully placed her currency in her wallet like it was a treasure. I began to follow her practice, and it led me to respect my overall finances in a huge way.

@ANNETTE PATTERSON3671

MARTHA SWEAT, ATHENS, GEORGIA

Being mindful about spending and saving is empowering. Educate yourself and think beyond the initial excitement of a purchase. Compound interest is a beautiful thing.

Unsubscribe from retail emails. If you don’t know about the sale, you won’t be tempted to buy.

LYNETTE A. SANCHEZ, MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA

Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. I make sure that even if I’ve had a meal in the past hour or two, I have a snack in my purse to eat on the way in. Helps with splurge buys! @ROSEMARYAND GRACE

The Instagrammers who shared the photos on these pages will receive our Find Your Balance special edition. Want to be considered for this column? Tag photos on Instagram with #rslove.

By the time you save enough to pay for something with cash, you may have decided you don’t want or need it anymore. SUSAN CARTER, STEPHENS CITY, VIRGINIA

16 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

“A T H ES E-A R E-A- F EW- O F- M Y- FAVO R I T ET H I N G S SA L A D ! ” @ SA RA H LOV ESSA L A D

# R S L OV E

@JGRIEBNER

NEXT QUESTION...

Be sure to always keep money in an account for yourself. Every woman needs her own money set aside for whatever the future puts in her path.

How do you de-stress during the busy holiday season? Send an email to yourwords@ realsimple.com and let us know your answer to this question. Your response could appear on these pages.

DOTTIE CERNIK, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Once a week, why not take your lunch to work and save what you would have spent? ANNE SCHMIDT, BETHESDA, MARYLAND

Value yourself. Be confident about asking for compensation for your time. ERIC A SL AUGHTER, CHARLESTON, SOUTH C AROLINA

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

In her beautifully written Red at the Bone, Jacqueline Woodson traces the story of two black families who are linked when their teenage children have a baby. The novel opens as the pair’s daughter, Melody, is readying for her coming-of-age ceremony and moves back in time, switching characters, exploring how decisions ripple through generations. A slim novel with tremendous emotional power.

Family saga Ann Patchett examines sibling relationships in her latest novel, The Dutch House. After their father buys a lavish estate, Danny and Maeve find their lives upturned—and their bond solidified—when their mother, appalled by the purchase, runs off. Later, their new stepmother exiles them. Patchett’s rich story follows Danny’s and Maeve’s paths, showing how the past has a hold on their present.

Great for book club A century in the future, the earth has flooded. As some people settle colonies and others—including pirates—take to the sea, Myra and her daughter survive on their fishing boat. When Myra is tipped off to the location of her other daughter, they embark on a dangerous journey. Kassandra Montag’s After the Flood is an intense, gripping debut about motherhood and grief.

Hidden history Travel memoir Disillusioned by the culture of one-upmanship in the D.C. suburb where they’re raising their two daughters, Dan Kois and his wife set off to experience different ways of life and parenting in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and small-town Kansas. How to Be a Family is a hilarious and honest book about family and how wherever you (and your kids) go, there you (and their screens) are.

When Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s army invades Ethiopia in 1935, Emperor Haile Selassie and his men struggle to curtail their advance. Meanwhile, women like Hirut, an officer’s maid, want to do more than tend to wounded men. As the national fight seems lost, Hirut hatches a plan. Maaza Mengiste’s ambitious and illuminating novel, The Shadow King, is about the impact of war on women and the question of who gets to write history.

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

18 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

P h o t o g r a p h b y Te d + C h e l s e a C a v a n a u g h

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y H E AT H E R G R E E N E F O R H E L L O A R T I S T S

Poetic portrait

NOURISH HER HEALTH, ENRICH HER LIFE FEED HER SENSES, ENRICH HER HEALTH

Incorporating a nutritionally complete and balanced wet food into your cat’s regular feeding routine adds textures to satisfy her feeding instincts and supports her overall health including healthy hydration and weight management.

Learn more at royalcanin.com

Makes getting there half the fun. The SUV for all you love.

The all-new 2019 Subaru Forester is an ideal traveling companion for trips long and short. The spacious new interior lets everyone stretch out, and the wider cargo opening with available Power Rear Gate makes it easy to bring the fun. And the Forester puts safety first, with standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.* ®

Forester. Well-equipped at $24,295.† Subaru, Forester, and EyeSight are registered trademarks. *EyeSight is a driver-assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as vehicle maintenance, weather, and road conditions. See your owner’s manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. † MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, and registration fees. Retailer sets actual price. Certain equipment may be required in specific states, which can modify your MSRP. See your retailer for details. 2019 Subaru Forester Limited shown has an MSRP of $30,795. Vehicle shown with accessory equipment.

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y H E AT H E R G R E E N E F O R H E L L O A R T I S T S

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

C H E E R Y O U R T E A M T O V I C T O RY W I T H T H I S L I N E U P O F C L E V E R TA I L G AT I N G G O O D S . T H E Y ’ L L TA K E YO U R P R E G A M E FESTIVITIES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. By Cat Dash P h o t o g r a p h b y Te d + C h e l s e a C a v a n a u g h

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

W H AT W E LO V E

3 1

This compact grill weighs less than 16 pounds.

1 RO C K O N

3 GRILL ON THE GO

It may look like a standard-issue folding chair, but it’s actually a collapsible rocker, complete with a flip-out cup holder and a carry bag. TO BUY: Rok-it Chair, $60; kijaro.com.

This portable charcoal grill includes a food-grade storage tray and bamboo prep board that stack neatly and lock in for easy transport. TO BUY: Everdure The Cube Grill, $229; williams-sonoma.com.

5 IN THE CLEAR

This transparent bag helps you breeze through security, then keeps your hands free for cheering. TO BUY: Clear Belt Bag, $69; markandgraham.com.

22 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

2 SIP IN ST YLE

Wrapped in a protective silicone sleeve, this lidded 15-ounce glass is practically made for tailgating. TO BUY: Porter Glass, $25; wandpdesign.com. 6 C O M F O RT Z O N E

Upgrade your bleacher seat with a stylish and UV-resistant cushion. TO BUY: Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Stadium Cushion, $30; target.com.

4 DUR ABLE DISHES

Use these shatterproof BPA-free melamine plates for your burgers and dogs. TO BUY: Newport Plaid Outdoor Melamine Dinner Plates, $60 for 4; williams-sonoma.com.

7 S TAY C O Z Y

8 H AU L I T A L L

Woven in the U.S. with supersoft virgin wool, this blanket will keep you warm while you watch. TO BUY: Oslo Evening Throw, $219; pendleton-usa.com.

Transport up to 150 pounds of supplies in this wagon. Fold it up when you’re done. TO BUY: Whitsunday Collapsible Utility Wagon, from $72; amazon.com.

B E LT B A G A N D S E AT C U S H I O N : P E T E R A R D I T O ; P R O D U C T I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U FA C T U R E R S

W H AT W E LO V E

Sherry & John Petersik Founders of the site Young House Love

FIND A BAL A NCE

When planning a space that serves both kids and adults, aim for something inviting, uncluttered, and not too serious. We do this by incorporating a mix of concealed and open storage. Cabinetry and baskets keep items like games and craft supplies out of sight but within easy reach, while shelving displays art and decorative toys. Nothing should feel too precious. H AVE AN O PEN DIALO GUE

Talk with your family about what you want to do together in a playroom or other shared space. Offer a starting point to help narrow down the options and determine what will work best for everyone: “We’re thinking of an L-shaped sectional for movie nights and sleepovers. Would you like that, or do you want more room to run around?” GIVE KID S OWN ER SH IP

When children have agency over their space, they’re more likely to take care of it. Ask for input, but avoid anything too trendy or bold to ensure the room grows with them. Instead of painting all the walls bright pink, try the color on the door as an accent. Greenlight the superhero sheets, but pair them with a neutral duvet.

W E ’ R E B U S Y D E C O R AT I N G A N D O RG A N I Z I N G A N I N S P I R I N G H O U S E T H A T Y O U ’ L L G E T T O S E E T H I S FA L L . H E R E , T WO O F T H E M I N D S B E H I N D T H E P ROJ EC T S H A R E T H E I R T R I C K S F O R D E S I G N I N G FA M I LY- F R I E N D LY S PA C E S . By Stephanie Sisco

24 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Make an unexpected statement with large art displays. Blow up kids’ creations and feature them in inexpensive frames. We did this with a recipe our daughter created when she was 3, and it continues to delight visitors of all ages. Or set up a corkboard wall that kids can use to display sketches, awards, and other mementos. It provides an organic, unfussy way to personalize the space.

C O U R T E S Y O F YO U N G H O U S E L O V E . C O M

Think Like a Designer

EMP LOY OVER SIZ E ART

Delta® DelucaTM Single-Handlle Pull-Down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet in Stainless.

THE FRESHEST THING IN THIS KITCHEN? THE FAUCET. ®

The innovative spray wand on the new Delta Deluca pull-down faucet has three distinct, powerful settings. It’s attached to a 20-inch, ﬂ exible hose. It even comes with a convenient soap dispenser. See what happens when ideas ﬂow? Today is the day for doing.

W H AT W E LO V E

Pretty Smart A T R A V E L - F R I E N D LY B A R S H A M P O O PLUS SE VEN OTHER BE AUT Y B U YS TO S I M P L I F Y YO U R RO U T I N E

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y H E AT H E R G R E E N E F O R H E L L O A R T I S T S

By Heather Muir Maffei

L OV E B E AU T Y A N D PL ANET SHAMPO O BAR IN BLO OMING COLOR

It looks like it’s for your body, but it’s actually for your hair. Made with organic coconut oil and Amazonian murumuru butter, this vegan bar is color-safe and super moisturizing. Lather it up in your hands, then work the suds through hair and rinse. Great for vacation or the gym. TO BUY: $5 each; at Target.

P h o t o g r a p h b y Te d + C h e l s e a C a v a n a u g h

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

W H AT W E LO V E

Made for all skin tones (especially those not often represented), these vitamin-packed, multitasking crayons disguise dark circles and spots and also work as eye shadow, blush, and lip color. TO BUY: $24 each; livetinted.com. IT COSMETICS L A SH BLOWOUT

Inspired by the way a Drybar barrel brush creates a voluminous blowout, this wand catches all your hairs and coats them in biotin, collagen, and jojoba oil for shiny, plump, lifted lashes. TO BUY: $25; itcosmetics.com. B E AU T YC O U N T E R COUNTER SUN TINTED MINER AL SUNSCREEN MIST S P F 30

Get broad-spectrum protection without a white cast thanks to this water-resistant spray. In two shades. TO BUY: $39; beautycounter.com.

28 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

C E R AV E S K I N RENEWING V I TA M I N C S E RU M

Brightening dark spots doesn’t have to be expensive. Hyaluronic acid plumps, ceramides hydrate, and L-ascorbic acid protects against free radicals and helps even out skin tone. TO BUY: $20; target.com. S M I T H & C U LT I N S TA N T R E C A L L INVISIBLE POWDER S E T T I N G S P R AY

If you like to set your makeup but don’t like the mess of loose powder, try this sprayon version. Rice starch absorbs oil. TO BUY: $26; ulta.com. L AU R A M E RC I E R TINTED MOISTURIZER N AT U R A L S K I N PERFECTOR

With more skin-care benefits and shades, this SPF 30 cult favorite is better than ever. TO BUY: $47; sephora.com. PA I N T B OX POWER COUPLES

Never know which polishes to pair? These curated sets (shown in Like Desire and Like Dreams) do the work for you. Use to make nail art or paint fingers and toes. TO BUY: $40; paint-box.com.

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

LIVE TINTED THE HUESTICKS IN ORIGIN, RISE, AND PERK

vs. traditional polish

#SallyMade | @sally_hansen

U DIDN’T

O-ZONE YO

E PINK

-LIT SATEL

MIRACLE GEL

NO U.V. LAMP NEEDED

THE LONGER-LASTING MANICURE Two Easy Steps.

Available in 68 on-trend shades. NEBLUE-LA

SATURN IT UP!

OUT OF THIS PEARL

APOLLO YOU ANYWHERE

SATEL-LITE PINK

O-ZONE YOU DIDN’T

W H AT W E LO V E

BO OKWORM ESSENTIAL

This sleek e-reader is the first under-$100 version from Amazon to feature a front light, which makes reading indoors or outside more enjoyable. Holds thousands of books, and one battery charge lasts up to four weeks. TO BUY: All-New Kindle, $90; amazon.com.

These gel-ink pens have durable tips to keep handwriting crisp for to-do lists, planners, or bullet journals. TO BUY: Pilot Frixion Fineliner Erasable Marker Pens, $15 for 12; target.com.

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

T WO-IN-ONE B AT H M AT

Lay the mat in the tub to keep kids from slipping and sliding. When bathtime is over, fold it into a basket and hang it on the wall to dry toys. TO BUY: 2-in-1 Bath Mat & Storage Basket Turtle, $15; walmart.com.

S H I RT S L E E V E CUFFER

Place this handy tool over your forearm, roll up your sleeve, and tuck in the fabric to keep your sleeve cuffed and in place all day. Even works with delicate linen and silk. TO BUY: CuffedUp Cuff Roll, $20 for 2; cuffedup.com.

M U LT I TA S K I N G B A G

B R E AT H A B L E B R A

The soft mesh backing will help you stay cool on the steamiest of latesummer days. Even better, the bra provides up to an inch of lift. In four colors. TO BUY: True Body with Mesh Scoop Neck Lift Bra, $64; trueandco.com.

30 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

This machine-washable bag has two cup holders and three zippered pockets for all your essentials. Wear it as a fanny pack or crossbody, or attach it to your stroller’s handle with the included straps. In four colors. TO BUY: Colugo’s On the Go Organizer, $45; hicolugo.com.

M A R K E R P E N S : P E T E R A R D I T O ; N U D E B R A : B R I A N H E N N , S O F T S T Y L I N G B Y M A I T R A N ; P R O D U C T I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U FA C T U R E R S

ER ASABLE MARKER PENS

EASY TO

STAND

EASY TO

FILL

now with an

W H AT W E LO V E

Quick Ideas

The Staple Because they’re harvested and packaged during their peak season, when their flavor and texture are best, frozen sweet peas are one of our favorite year-round staples. Plus, tearing open a bag is much less work than shucking fresh peas. Bake eggs in a bath of cream, peas, and herbs and top with bacon for a deluxe brunch. Blitz a handful into a tangy dressing for dipping or drizzling. Or spread them on thin slices of tender white bread with cream cheese and radishes for a modern take on a pea, er, tea sandwich.

1 CREAMY PEAS WITH EG G S A N D B A C O N

Stir together 1/2 cup each heavy cream and thawed frozen peas, 2 Tbsp. each chopped fresh chives and chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper in a 10-in. ovenproof skillet. Crack 6 eggs into cream mixture. Bake at 425°F until whites are set and yolks are still runny, 10 to 12 minutes. Top with crumbled bacon. 2 GREEN PEA GODDESS DRESSING

Blend 1/2 cup each buttermilk, mayonnaise, thawed frozen peas, and packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1 Tbsp. each chopped fresh dill and fresh lemon juice, 1 medium clove garlic, 1 anchovy fillet (optional), 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper in a blender until smooth.

Stir together 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup thawed frozen peas, 3 finely chopped radishes, 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise, 2 tsp. each chopped fresh tarragon and fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp. each black pepper and lemon zest. Spread on thinly sliced white bread and sandwich with 1 cup pea shoots or arugula.

Put all your frozen vegetables to good use with the roasting guide at realsimple .com/frozenveggies. B y D a w n Pe r r y R e c i p e s b y Pa i g e Grandjean

32 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Photograph by Corey Olsen

P R O P ST Y L I N G BY M EG A N K I A N TO S

3 P E A -A N D - R A D I S H TE A SANDWICHES

Hillshire farm® turkey is slow roasted for hours. And devoured in seconds.

At Hillshire Farm , right after we carve our deliciously seasoned turkey, we double seal every slice for freshness. Which leads to the best Turkey, Arugula & Tomato sandwich you’ve ever tasted. Visit HillshireFarm.com for more sandwich inspiration.

W H AT W E LO V E

Room Rx N OT SU R E H OW TO WO R K A RO U N D T H O S E T R I C K Y S P OT S I N YO U R H O M E ? J U L I A M A RCU M, C O FO U N D E R O F T H E H O M E -A N D - D I Y S I T E C H R I S L OV E S J U L I A , O F F E R S H E R E X P E RT A DV I C E . By Stephanie Sisco

P R E S E RV E T H E V I E W

VA RY T H E S E AT I N G

M A K E A S TAT E M E N T

S K I P C U RTA I N S

Try a chunky wood table with a bench on the window side. Breakfast nooks should be casual, and the (kid-friendly) bench gives you that effect without blocking windows. TO BUY: Natural Stonewash Dining Bench, $280; pier1.com.

Place sleek Windsor chairs opposite the bench. Anchor the ends of the table with upholstered seats for personality and texture. TO BUY: Windsor Chair in Black Oak by BD Studio, $310; burkedecor.com.

A dramatic light fixture creates a fun focal point you’ll see from outside too. Underneath, place a large, eye-catching centerpiece— the space can handle it. TO BUY: Salem 24" Bare-Bulb Chandelier, $649; rejuvenation.com.

Use bottom-up shades; they provide privacy without hiding the cool accents at the top of the window. TO BUY: Real Simple Cordless Top-Down Bottom-Up Cellular Shades, from $50; bedbathandbeyond.com. Submit your own design dilemmas to room.rx@realsimple.com.

34 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Illustration by Babeth Lafon

S H A D E S : P E T E R A R D I T O ; P R O D U C T I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U FA C T U R E R S

I have a lovely breakfast nook with huge windows that let in tons of light. I’m so worried about blocking the view (and choosing seating that won’t work for my toddlers) that I’m using a plastic folding table. What would you recommend? —Jacqueline, homeowner in Pequannock, New Jersey

3 Ways to Transform Your Home for a Cozy Fall THE FIRST DAY OF FALL MEANS TRANSFORMING YOUR HOME TO WARMLY WELCOME COOL WEATHER. THIS SEASON, ADD THE FINAL TOUCH WITH THE COZY, LIMITED EDITION FRAGRANCES FROM GLADE® AT WALMART.

CREATE A PLAYFUL PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE

Spice up your holiday table setting with a playful pumpkin centerpiece. Start by arranging leaves, pumpkins and pinecones for visual interest, and then go for the glow with a Glade® Toasty Pumpkin Spice 3-Wick Candle. Notes of heirloom pumpkin, caramel and spice will ﬁll the room and ignite the feeling of fall.

SIP WARM CIDER AND WELCOME GUESTS

Fill your home and your senses with the warm, spiced scent of apple cider. Brew your own recipe to share with loved ones, and enhance the feeling that ﬁlls your home with a Glade® Cozy Cider Sipping® PlugIns® scented oil warmer. Notes of apple, cinnamon and nutmeg blend in a masterfully crafted fragrance to give you continuous scent for up to 50 days*. *per reﬁll, on low setting

SWAP THE PILLOWS THEN SNUGGLE UP

Spend a cozy night in with warm, ﬂannel blankets and seasonal throw pillows. Make the peaceful feeling last with the timereleased scent of fresh fern, sandalwood and cardamom with a Glade® Warm Flannel Embrace Automatic Spray. Be sure to press the boost button to create an extra burst of coziness.

SCAN THE CODE TO DISCOVER OTHER WONDERFUL WAYS TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME FOR FALL

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

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y H E AT H E R G R E E N E F O R H E L L O A R T I S T S

TH E S ECR ET TO TH E B E ST A PPLE PIE Want to bake up a blue-ribbon pie? Use at least two varieties of apples for balance in flavor and texture, says Amy Traverso, author of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook. Think 50 percent sweet, like Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious, and 50 percent tart, like Granny Smith or Cortland. If you have a local farmers’ market, you may be able to find specialty varieties, like the sweet Jonagold or Crispin or the tart GoldRush or Liberty. Before you buy, check for a fresh, fruity aroma, says Traverso. No smell? The apple could be mealy, which will leave your pie lacking in flavor. Plan on four pounds of apples for a deep-dish pie and three pounds for a standard nine-inch pie, says Dawn Perry, Real Simple’s food director. Contrary to what many recipes suggest, bake your pie for at least an hour, she adds. This will soften firm apples and help create the perfect golden crust on the top and bottom. By Sierra Guardiola

Get our crispy and flaky piecrust recipe at realsimple.com/pie.

P h o t o g r a p h b y Te d + C h e l s e a C a v a n a u g h

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

Cooking School U S E T H I S C O F F E E G L O S S A RY T O H E L P Y O U B U Y, B R E W, A N D S T O R E Y O U R J O E F O R A G R E A T - T A S T I N G C U P E V E RY T I M E . By Ananda Eidelstein

GRIND I N S TA N T

SINGLE ORIGIN These beans are traceable to a single country and sometimes a single farm. The unique characteristics of the soil, climate, and elevation shine through when the beans are brewed.

A powdered or crystallized coffee made by sprayor freeze-drying freshly brewed coffee. The category has expanded to include single-serve packets, some from specialty coffee roasters, that can be mixed with hot or cold water (iced coffee at the ready!).

COLD BREW A mild-tasting concentrate made by soaking ground coffee for 12 to 24 hours. Stir 12 ounces coarsely ground beans into 6 cups cold water. Let sit overnight, strain, and discard grounds. Mix equal parts concentrate and water; serve over ice. Reusable or single-use mesh bags make for easy cleanup.

The coarser the grind, the longer the brew time. Use coarsely ground beans for cold brew or pour-over coffee; use medium-grind beans for drip machines. You can store grounds in an opaque container for up to a month, but for a premium cup, brew just after grinding, before the coffee starts to lose aroma and complexity.

FA I R T R A D E Purchasing fair-trade coffee supports small producers and their communities. Brands that earn this certification guarantee coffee growers a minimum price for their beans, giving them economic stability in a volatile market.

38 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

ROA S T P O U R OV E R This trendy method yields a delicate yet complex cup, thanks to the slow pouring process that extracts more flavor from the grounds. Fill a pour-over filter with 3 tablespoons coarsely ground beans. Boil 11/2 cups water and let cool slightly. Add a little water to the filter to bloom the grounds; stir and let settle for 15 seconds. Slowly add remaining water in a circular motion.

Like toasting spices, applying heat to green coffee beans intensifies their natural flavor. A light roast preserves the most flavor and tends to be slightly acidic. Medium roasts have caramel notes, while dark roasts can taste smoky with hints of cocoa.

DRIP Standard countertop machines employ this common brewing method, in which hot water settles through a bed of ground coffee. Use 2 rounded tablespoons of coffee, ground medium-fine, for every 10 ounces of (preferably filtered) water.

M O R E F RO M O U R K I T C H E N Find videos, lessons, shortcuts, and strategies to help you get dinner (and breakfast, and lunch, and dessert) on the table with ease at realsimple.com/cookingschool.

Illustrations by Adam Cruft

THE REALIST

Mission: Dinner DINNER C AN BE DAUNTING, BUT MANY (LIT TLE) HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK. G E T K I D S I N V O L V E D W I T H A V E G G I E -T O P P E D P I Z Z A E V E R Y O N E C A N H E L P A S S E M B L E . By D awn Perr y

Kale and Cheddar flatbread ACTIVE TIME 35 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 50 MINUTES SERVES 4

3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided, plus more for baking sheet 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 4 cloves garlic, chopped ½ tsp. kosher salt ½ tsp. black pepper 1 bunch kale, leaves torn into bite-size pieces 1 lb. prepared pizza dough, at room temperature 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, divided 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained oven to 450°F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add as much kale as will fit and cook, tossing often and adding more kale when there is room, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; let cool. STRETCH dough into a large oval. Transfer to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Top with 1 cup cheese, then tomatoes, kale mixture, and remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake until golden, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through.

40 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

How the kids can help Kids can roll out the dough for a familystyle pie or practice their pizzaiolo skills with individual-size rounds.

Tearing kale, draining tomatoes, and grating cheese can all be done largely unsupervised (and even in advance).

Tired of kale? Let kids pick different greens to try: spinach, Swiss chard, and even broccoli rabe make great swaps and prevent pizza fatigue.

Photograph by Victor Protasio

FO O D ST Y L I N G BY C H E LS E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N

PREHEAT

THE REALIST

Now What?!? S M A RT F I X E S F O R L I F E ’ S L I T T L E D I S A ST E R S By Mar y Honkus

Lipstick melted in my purse.

School is back in session, and my kids’ bedtime is a nightmare!

My window is stuck. Changes in heat and humidity are the most common cause of stuck double-hung windows, says Hunter Macfarlane, Lowe’s project expert. Spray a silicone-based lubricant, like Blaster Silicone Lube ($4; lowes.com), where the sash—the movable panel that goes up and down in the frame—meets the tracks on the inside and outside of the window. (If the window is on an upper floor, you may need professional assistance.) After you spray, apply upward pressure in the center of the rail to open. The lubricant should also keep your window from sticking in the future. Leave specialty windows to the pros.

THE FIX:

42 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

It’s best to gradually adjust bedtimes and wake-up times, says Valerie Crabtree, PhD, chief of psychosocial services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. If your child’s sleep schedule has changed by only an hour or two during the summer, begin readjusting one week before school starts. Move bedtime and wake-up time by 15 minutes each day until the ideal sleep schedule is reached. If sleep schedules have changed drastically over the summer—which often happens with teenagers—begin this process at least two weeks before school starts. Keep in mind that children ages 6 to 12 should sleep for 9 to 12 hours per night, and teens should sleep for 8 to 10 hours per night. THE FIX:

G E T T Y I M AG ES

THE FIX: For stains on fabric lining, turn the bag inside out and remove the lipstick with the edge of a credit card. Gently dab the affected area with a clean cotton cloth dipped in micellar water, says Melissa Maker, founder of the website Clean My Space. Be sure to blot lightly—rubbing may make the stain spread. If you don’t have micellar water, baby wipes or rubbing alcohol can work in a pinch. For bags with a leather interior, mix a cup of water with half a teaspoon of dish soap. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and lightly wipe the stain, then blot dry. If the lipstick leaves an oil spot, cover the spot with cornstarch for an hour to help soak up excess oil, then brush off the cornstarch with an old toothbrush. If the stain persists, take your purse to a bagcleaning professional.

Are your sleep schedules still on summer break? It’s time for Natrol. Now for Adults and Kids.

Natrol is the #1 Melatonin brand, helping millions of Americans sleep each year.†ˆ And now, we have a gentle yet effective kids formula for your little ones. Melatonin is pediatrician recommended* and 100% drug-free, helping soothe kids (and parents!) to sleep.† So finally, you and your whole family can get the rest you need.†

natrol.com

#natrolnights

*Recommended by The Canadian Paediatric Society ˆNielsen xAOC, 52 weeks ending 6/15/19. †These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. ©2019 Natrol LLC.

Discover a whole new world in your same old closet. Up to 25% off Custom Closets A U G U S T 1 9 TH – O C T O B E R 1 3 TH

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C O N TA I N E R S T O R E . C O M

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Take Your Closet From Ordinary to Extraordinary It’s as simple as 1.2.3. 1. Which closet are you looking to make over?

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Master Bedroom

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Kid’s Room

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Pantry

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Avera’s innovative design delivers a built-in look for less than you thought possible. Features include full-extension Drawers, Back Panels, LED lighting.

Laren defines built-in luxury and is crafted to fit your exact space and style with a variety of finishes and options like glass-front doors and LED lighting.

For more closet solutions, visit containerstore.com/custom-closets

insiders

O P P O S I T E PA G E : C H A I R S F R O M C A R L H A N S E N ; A R T F R O M C R Y S TA L L I U ; C O F F E E TA B L E F R O M C H A R U K A N D F O R D ; S O FA F R O M A B C H O M E ; L I G H T F I X T U R E F R O M A P PA R AT U S ; R U G F R O M S TA R K . T H I S PA G E : B L A C K C H A I R F R O M C A R L H A N S E N ; H E A D B O A R D F R O M P E G W O O D W O R K I N G ; C H A I R F R O M T H E C I T I Z E N R Y; N I G H T S TA N D F R O M 5 7 T H S T R E E T D E S I G N

Greenery Plants are a must-have in all of Peña’s designs. “They can help fill space at a lower cost than furniture,” she says. They also create a sense of calm as well as continuity with your exterior surroundings. Her current go-to greenery is the Ficus Moclame (at right), which she says provides an organic and architectural focal point. When it comes to picking the right container, look around the room. If the space is minimalist, choose a pot with a basket weave or texture that adds some interest. It’s all about finding balance among the elements in each space.

Texture In a neutral room without much color, “texture adds warmth,” says Peña. Choose at least three varied materials (like linen, leather, macramé, and woodgrain) to make a room cozy and inviting. Texture is particularly impactful in a bedroom, where you don’t want too many distracting colors or patterns but still want the space to feel luxe and layered.

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

“Leaning your artwork is less of a commitment than nailing a hole in the wall” and allows for more flexibility (and mind changing), says Peña. Cluster an assortment of sizes and swap out the prints as the season or your mood changes. If your art is bold and varied, keep the frames sleek and similar, but if it’s cohesive in color and style, use a variety of frames.

FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TO THE LAST MAKE EVERY WASH COUNT

ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™ attacks stains and eliminates tough odors like body odor, musty towels, and sweat year in and year out.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

TA B L E F R O M S A W K I L L E C O .

Adjustable Art

D I N I N G R O O M : W A L L PA P E R F R O M E L L I E C A S H M A N ; D I N I N G C H A I R S F R O M C A R L H A N S E N ; L I G H T F I X T U R E F R O M AT E L I E R D E T R O U P E . B E D R O O M : B E D S I D E L I G H T S F R O M L O S T I N E ; L E AT H E R C H A I R F R O M M A S AYA & C O . ; R U G F R O M A R M A D I L L O & C O . B AT H R O O M : T I L E F R O M TA B A R K A T I L E ; FA U C E T F R O M W AT E R W O R K S

Wallpaper If your space has architectural detailing, like wainscoting or chair rail, a bit of pattern on the strip of wall above it can add “substantial drama without a huge investment,” says Peña. Plus, wallpaper can be helpful when molding or built-ins create a small or oddly shaped wall with no obvious place to hang art. Use it in a dining room or powder bath for a striking surprise.

Paint A consistent palette creates flow throughout the house. You don’t have to use the same color in every room, but choose similar shades, like warm gray in the living room with warm white in the kitchen. In more secluded areas, make bolder paint choices to add character, but stick with complementary shades. Above, a rich blue (Benjamin Moore Century in Delft) makes the light-filled space feel restful and cozy.

Curves If you walk into a room and something feels “off,” look around to see if there are too many angular elements. Adding rounded pieces, like mirrors, light fixtures, or curved-back chairs, will make the room instantly more soft and inviting.

REAL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

R o a d Te s t

Retinol R E T I N O L I S T H E G O L D - STA N DA R D

BEST OIL

A N T I - A G I N G I N G R E D I E N T, D E R M S A G R E E :

StriVectin S.T.A.R. Light Retinol Night Oil This oil packs the anti-aging powers of retinol in a nongreasy squalane base. Press two drops into skin before bed. TO BUY: $99; strivectin.com.

IT REVS CELL TURNOVER SO SKIN LO OK S SMO OTHER, PLUMPER, AND MORE EVEN. FIND THE BEST ONE FOR YO U F RO M O U R TO P P I C K S. By Lisa D eSantis

B E S T B A RGA I N

RoC Retinol Correxion Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 Wearing retinol by day is normally a no-no. This version contains a stabilized formula plus SPF, making it safe. TO BUY: $18; walmart.com.

realsimple ROAD TE ST

BEST NIGHT CRE AM

BEST FOR ACNE BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum The potential downfall of retinol: It can cause sensitivity. But these biodegradable capsules—which you twist open to dispense a single, fresh dose—are laced with ceramides to counteract irritation. You reap the line-smoothing benefits without peeling. They’re also great for travel. TO BUY: $84 for 60; elizabetharden.com.

52 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Acne Free Adapalene Gel Formulated with adapalene (part of the retinoid family) to help treat and prevent breakouts. Use all over skin. TO BUY: $12; walmart.com.

E A S I E S T TO U S E

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads Up to three times a week, swipe onto clean skin to help make pores, patches, and lines less noticeable. TO BUY: $95 for 30; skinbetter.com.

Read more about the ingredient at realsimple.com/retinol.

P R O D U C T I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U FA C T U R E R S

Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer The glow-boosting duo of vitamin C and retinol lessens the look of dark spots. TO BUY: $90; ulta.com.

Healthy, beautiful smiles for life.

THERE’S WHITENING, THEN THERE’S

IMENSIONAL WHITENING #1 WHITENING BRAND.*

*P&G calculation based on Nielsen U.S. reported sales for year ending w/o 6/08/2019 © Procter & Gamble, Inc. 2019.

Sea-to-Table: A South Carolina Tradition

Laid-back charm of coastal South Carolina. Enjoy a romantic getaway or relaxing weekend with friends to one of the scenic small towns along South Carolina’s coast. Here, you can enjoy charming architecture and serene coastal views along with a fresh, sea-to-table meal. Immerse yourself in a slower way of life and come to ﬁnd that sometimes, it’s the small moments that make the most lasting memories.

DiscoverSouthCarolina.com

THE REALIST

Stylewise

The Fall Edit THIS SEASON’S C H I C E ST WA R D RO B E ESSENTIAL S FEEL JUST RIGHT FOR C O O L E R W E AT H E R . PLUS, THE Y MIX AND M AT C H T O C R E AT E ENDLESS OUTFITS.

S O F T ST Y L I N G BY M A I T R A N

By Flavia Nunez

Photographs by Brian Henn

REAL SIMPLE

THE REALIST

The Key Pieces D OUBLEBRE ASTED PL AID BL AZER Brown Plaid Blazer, $199; banana republic.com. P L E AT E D M I D I S K I RT Kristen Skirt, $170; bodenusa.com. FRINGE BUCKET BAG Phoebe Bag, $178; thefrye company.com. A N K L E PA N T S So Slimming Sophia Ankle Pant, $90; chicos.com. S TAT E M E N TS L E E V E TO P Puff Sleeve Turtleneck, $130; amodenim.com. C O R D U ROY PA N T S Rachel 35" High Rise Flare Pants, $219; dl1961.com. M E TA L L I C F L AT S The Quadratini Flats, $228; mgemi.com. CASHMERE T U RT L E N EC K Whip Stitch Mock, $319; minnie rose.com. F LO R A L B O H O DRESS Shoshanna Tyler Dress, $429; halsbrook.com. SUEDE ANKLE B O OT S Joliee Boots, $129; ninewest.com.

56 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

THE REALIST

BLAZER + S W E AT E R + S K I RT A menswear-inspired blazer makes a pleated skirt more office-ready.

A N N TAY LO R N EC K L A C E Ribbon Necklace, $80; anntaylor.com.

T O P + C O R D U R O Y PA N T S Bell-bottoms are back: A rich, earthy hue makes the ’70s staple feel seasonal and grown-up.

58 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

“Now I can get a secure fit that no one notices. Even in a skirt like this.”

Depend® Silhouette

Always® Discreet Boutique™

Always Discreet Boutique. Secure protection. Better ﬁt.* *vs. Depend Silhouette Small/Medium. Depend Silhouette is a trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide.

THE REALIST

B L A Z E R + S W E AT E R + C O R D U R O Y PA N T S M U L B E R RY & GR AND EARRINGS Jonona Earrings, $26; mulberry -grand.com.

Layer a tailored topper over your coziest sweater on a chilly day.

S W E A T E R + PA N T S + F L A T S A monochromatic outfit automatically makes you look put together. Metallic flats and statement earrings help the ensemble pop.

60 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Delicious Shreds made with real meat or fish Explore over 60 different wet varieties at Friskies.com/Wet

Trademarks owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Shred Your Cat’s Expectations!

THE REALIST

D R E S S + S W E AT E R Top your summery boho dress with a cozy sweater to keep it in rotation during cooler months. Add tights when temperatures drop even more.

TO P + S K I RT + B O OT S Pairing colors from the same family creates a bright but sophisticated look. Pleats and puffed shoulders keep things interesting.

62 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

THE REALIST

The Essential T H AT STA P L E I N YO U R C L O S E T I S M O R E V E R S AT I L E T H A N YO U T H I N K . T H I S M O N T H : H O W T O ST Y L E A L E AT H E R JAC K E T F O R A N Y O C C A S I O N S TA RT W I T H T H E JA C K E T. . .

By Flavia Nunez

Zip Leather Jacket, $225; karl lagerfeldparis.com.

S O F T ST Y L I N G BY M A I T R A N

TO BUY:

...ADD A DRESS AND HEEL S

. . . A D D L E O PA R D - P R I N T PA N T S

. . . A D D A M I D I S K I RT A N D B O O T S

Transition your favorite floral dress from spring to fall with a camel suede belt, matching bag, and moto jacket. Metallic details add polish. TO BUY: Long Sleeve Paintbrush Dress, $595; rebeccataylor.com. Lizzie Fortunato Louise Belt, $250; thedreslyn.com. Mini Fiona Hoops, $75; mignonnegavigan.com. Kid Suede Clutch, $119; talbots.com. High Suzanne Heels, $210; sezane.com.

A white top and black leather jacket bring balance and sophistication to statement-making patterned jeans. TO BUY: Mock Neck Shell, $60; anntaylor .com. Leopard Print Skinny Jean, $99; vincecamuto.com. Animal Collar Necklace, $60; chicos.com. Dash Cuff Bracelet, $74; shopsoko.com. Beata Studded Bucket Bag, $178; usa.frenchconnection .com. Hara Bootie, $185; colehaan.com.

Mixing colors makes doubling up on leather feel modern. Wear the jacket with a menswear-inspired midi skirt and tall croc-embossed boots for a rich, textured look. TO BUY: Western Shirt, $175; 7forallmankind.com. Leyla Skirt, $598; lafayette148ny.com. Leather Triangular Earrings, $39; cosstores.com. Brooklyn Crossbody, $198; botkier.com. Goldy Tall Boots, $695; loefflerrandall.com.

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

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

A carafe for family brunch.

And a decaf for sis, who just announced she’s expecting. (Congrats!)

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MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A MODERN WORLD

How to Feel at Home in a New Neighborhood W H E T H E R YO U ’ R E N E W TO T H E A R E A O R YO U J U ST K I N D O F M I S S E D T H E PA R T W H E R E Y O U W E R E SU PP O S E D TO G E T TO K N OW A L L YO U R N E I G H B O R S, I T ’ S N E V E R T O O L AT E T O STA RT B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y.

STO C KSY

By Melissa Petro

Photograph by Mar ta Locklear

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

R E L AT I N G

a homebody, the type who celebrates when friends cancel plans. Socializing and small talk, even with people I know, can be draining. And meeting new people? Downright painful. I may be social on social media, but I am more likely to curl up in front of the TV than open my door and invite a neighbor in for tea. And yet, underneath my introverted exterior, I’ll admit: I’ve always wished to feel part of my community. This desire came into focus the day my husband, Arran, and I moved out of the city and the apartment I’d lived in for 10 years. When a neighbor I’d never seen before kindly helped Arran carry a heavy piece of furniture down the steps, I thanked the stranger and asked if he’d just moved in. “Actually,” he said, “my wife and I have lived here for the past six years.” It was then and there that I felt a tinge of regret that I’d missed an opportunity for friendship, and I promised myself I’d make a greater effort to acquaint myself with our new neighbors in the suburbs. But how? I G U E S S YO U ’ D C A L L M E

we all crave connection. We want to live with a sense of being known and knowing the people closest to us. We want to be part of a community,” says journalist Peter Lovenheim, author of In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time. Yes, in an effort to better understand his neighbors, Lovenheim asked to spend the night. While the idea of a sleepover in a stranger’s home may feel a bit too intimate for most of us, Lovenheim is not alone in his concern that we’ve lost a physically close community “ON SOME LEVEL,

68 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Knowing your neighbors affects everything from the crime rate to life expectancy. It starts with one gesture: Learn, remember, and use their names.

and that isolation can affect our emotional health. Psychologist Susan Pinker, PhD, author of The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier, describes study after study finding that socially disconnected people are at greater risk of dying early, while social integration—the feeling of being part of a group—builds resilience and even a stronger immune system. “Knowing your neighbors affects everything from the crime rate to life expectancy,” says Dave Runyon, coauthor of The Art of Neighboring and executive director of CityUnite, a nonprofit that helps government and business leaders work together. Runyon, a former pastor, says that because we don’t choose neighbors the same way we choose friends, “you are guaranteed to be in relationships with people who think about the world differently than you do. If polarization is dividing our culture, relationships with our neighbors are the antidote.” Loving your neighbors, says Runyon, starts with one gesture: Learn, remember, and use their names. “This can be super awkward,” he concedes, particularly if you’ve lived somewhere for years or they’ve introduced themselves to you multiple times. Runyon’s motto: “Lean in to awkward.” “Just say, ‘This is embarrassing, but I don’t remember your name. Can you tell me again?’ ” he suggests. Draw a map of the houses or apart-

ments closest to yours, he advises, and fill in your neighbors’ names as you learn them. Start by learning the names of those who live in the four surrounding homes. The simple step of learning and using your neighbors’ names, says Runyon, “sets you on a trajectory.” Soon enough, you’ll be getting to know them better, borrowing things from each other, and forming more meaningful relationships. Amy introduced herself to me through the overgrown hedge our yards shared. In many ways, we were similar: She worked in education; I’m a former teacher. Our husbands both commuted to the city; we both worked from home. She and her husband had moved from the city, too, just five years earlier. Of course, there were differences: I felt a bit self-conscious holding my fussy toddler as Amy told me she and Jordan were childless by choice. But Amy put me at ease by generously sharing details of their life and convivially fielding my every question about the community. Before Amy introduced herself, my husband and I had been thinking of hosting a housewarming. We had the usual reservations: Would we look weird and desperate, inviting people T H E DAY C A M E W H E N

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R E L AT I N G

70 R E A L S I M P L E S E P T E M B E R 2019

absolutely love our new home. But the feeling of home, I’m learning, extends so much beyond one’s house. It’s a network of moms that came to my rescue when I found myself in sudden need of a reliable nanny. It’s the neighbor who insisted I accept a lift home from the train station the night it was pouring rain. It’s knowing who lives behind the parted curtains across the street, and checking in on one another after a big storm. It’s baking cookies for Buddy and Darlene as a thanks for letting us use their leaf blower, and commiserating with the barista over our toddlers’ sleep struggles. Sometimes it’s having the courage to kindly ask the guy across the street to pick up his dog’s waste rather than silently fuming or calling the police. While it’s best if a problem isn’t your first reason to contact a neighbor, says Lovenheim, it’s never too late to establish and maintain positive neighborly relations. “Approach the situation open to the possibility that you’re incorrect or that there’s been an honest mistake,” he says. Regard your neighbor as you would a friend. “Not every conflict is going to be resolved in a way that feels satisfyM Y H U S BA N D A N D I

ing,” says Lovenheim. “Sometimes you have to let things go.” Conflicts with neighbors can get particularly sticky when it comes to money. How do you exterminate the poison ivy that has spread across at least four yards? Who pays to replace a dilapidated fence? Most communities around the country have a resolution center geared toward helping neighbors resolve minor disputes, says Lovenheim. So for ongoing troubles, get help. Being a good neighbor also means learning when to become involved— and when to butt out. For example, when Adrienne excitedly announced her plan to get chickens, Amy said, “Oh, you can’t have chickens. My dog will jump over the fence and kill them.” I kept my opinions to myself. “If someone is hurt or you see a change in patterns of behavior that makes you wonder if they’re OK— mail piling up or a car that hasn’t

Find more tips to establish adult friendships at realsimple.com/ makingfriends.

G E T T Y I M AG ES

we didn’t know? What if no one came? But after meeting our nextdoor neighbor, it was decided. We called it a “friendraiser.” We’d keep it simple, an easy potluck, so we could focus on getting to know people rather than sweating in the kitchen to impress everyone. “A party is an ideal way to introduce yourself to a new neighborhood,” says Jenny Mayfield, head of communications and policy for Nextdoor, a social-networking platform for neighborhoods. Of course, she says, you don’t need to be new to open up your home to neighbors. Through Nextdoor, says Mayfield, neighbors meet for a variety of reasons—to raise money for a local charity, to find a missing dog. Other ideas: Start a book club. Organize a multifamily yard sale. Host a wintercoat drive. The genius of our housewarming gathering, agrees Mayfield, was that we asked the handful of people we’d met to invite the people they knew. Amy and Jordan invited Nicki and Greg, another young couple down the block. Anthony—the stay-at-home dad I’d met at the children’s library— came with his family as well as a couple with a baby the same age as our son. A former coworker I hadn’t spoken to in years, the only neighbor we’d known before buying our house, came with his wife and daughters. Even though Jim and I had spent countless hours commiserating over work-related troubles, I knew very little about his private life. Since that party, I’ve counted him as a friend—as I do everyone I met for the first time that night. By dessert, our house was teeming with families: strangers to us, friends and acquaintances to one another. Neighbors, one and all.

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DUPIXENT can cause serious side eﬀects, including:

DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used to treat people 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) that is not well controlled with prescription 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 12 years of age.

• Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity), including a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: breathing problems, fever, general ill feeling, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the face, mouth and tongue, hives, itching, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure), joint pain, or skin rash.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision.

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 taking oral, topical, or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back. • are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” if you are treated with DUPIXENT. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby. • 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. If you are taking asthma medicines, do not change or stop your asthma medicine without talking to your healthcare provider.

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The most common side effects include injection site reaction, eye and eyelid infl ammation, including redness, swelling and itching, pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain) and cold sores in your mouth or on your lips. 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. DUPIXENT is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). If your healthcare provider decides that you or a caregiver can give DUPIXENT injections, you or your caregiver should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to inject DUPIXENT until you have been shown the right way by your healthcare provider. In adolescents 12 years of age and older, it is recommended that DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult.

Please see accompanying Brief Summary on next page.

Brief Summary of Important Patient Information about DUPIXENT® (dupilumab) (DU-pix’-ent) injection, for subcutaneous use What is DUPIXENT? • DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used: – to treat people aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. – with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderateto-severe asthma in people aged 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. • DUPIXENT works by blocking two proteins that contribute to a type of inflammation that plays a major role in atopic dermatitis and asthma. • DUPIXENT is not used to treat sudden breathing problems • It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 12 years of age. • It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 12 years of age. Who should not use DUPIXENT? Do not use DUPIXENT if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT. See the end of this summary of information for a complete list of ingredients in DUPIXENT. What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DUPIXENT? Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: • have eye problems (if you also have atopic dermatitis) • have a parasitic (helminth) infection • are taking oral, topical, or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back. • are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” if you are treated with DUPIXENT. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby. Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about your health and your baby’s health. You can talk to your healthcare provider or contact 1-877-311-8972 or go to https://mothertobaby.org/ongoing-study/ dupixent/ to enroll in this registry or get more information. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. If you have asthma and are taking asthma medicines, do not change or stop your asthma medicine without talking to your healthcare provider. How should I use DUPIXENT? • See the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with DUPIXENT for information on how to prepare and inject DUPIXENT and how to properly store and throw away (dispose of) used DUPIXENT pre-filled syringes. • Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. • DUPIXENT comes as a single-dose pre-filled syringe with needle shield. • DUPIXENT is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). • If your healthcare provider decides that you or a caregiver can give the injections of DUPIXENT, you or your caregiver should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to inject DUPIXENT until you have been shown the right way by your healthcare provider. In adolescents 12 years of age and older, it is recommended that DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. • If you miss a dose of DUPIXENT, give the injection within 7 days from the missed dose, then continue with the original schedule. If the missed dose is not given within 7 days, wait until the next scheduled dose to give your DUPIXENT injection. • If you inject more DUPIXENT than prescribed, call your healthcare provider right away.

Rx Only

• Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines to use with DUPIXENT. Use the other prescribed medicines exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: breathing problems, fever, general ill feeling, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the face, mouth and tongue, hives, itching, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure), joint pain, or skin rash. What are the possible side effects of DUPIXENT? DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including: • Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity), including a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: breathing problems, fever, general ill feeling, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the face, mouth and tongue, hives, itching, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure), joint pain, or skin rash. • Eye problems. If you have atopic dermatitis, tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision. • Inflammation in your blood vessels: Rarely, this can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. This may happen in people who also take a steroid medicine by mouth that is being stopped or the dose is being lowered. It is not known whether this is caused by DUPIXENT. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: rash, shortness of breath, persistent fever, chest pain, or a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs. The most common side effects of DUPIXENT include: injection site reactions, pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain) and cold sores in your mouth or on your lips. Eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling and itching have been seen in patients who have atopic dermatitis. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. General information about the safe and effective use of DUPIXENT. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use DUPIXENT for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give DUPIXENT to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. This is a summary of the most important information about DUPIXENT. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information about DUPIXENT that is written for healthcare professionals. For more information about DUPIXENT, go to www.DUPIXENT.com or call 1-844-DUPIXENT (1-844-387-4936) What are the ingredients in DUPIXENT? Active ingredient: dupilumab Inactive ingredients: L-arginine hydrochloride, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sodium acetate, sucrose, and water for injection Manufactured by: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591 U.S. License # 1760; Marketed by sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, (Bridgewater, NJ 08807) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Tarrytown, NY 10591) DUPIXENT is a registered trademark of Sanofi Biotechnology / ©2019 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. / sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. All rights reserved. Issue Date: March 2019

US-DAD-14946(1)

R E L AT I N G

been moved—then I encourage people to involve themselves,” says Lovenheim. “But if two neighbors are squabbling over a parking space, I wouldn’t impose myself unless I’m asked.” Practicing the art of neighboring is challenging but fun—and exploring the world beyond the walls of our home has been a trip. As we eagerly anticipated our closing, Arran and I made a list of places to go and things to do in our new town. Each weekend since we moved in, we’ve investigated an item on our list: the farmers’ market, the kitschy diner, the waterfront, the art museum. Often we invite one or more of our neighbors. When it comes to making

friends with your neighbors, the experts agree: You don’t need to become someone you’re not. Instead of forcing your two left feet to take up Latin dance, ask a fellow foodie to meet you for brunch. “Volunteer on a civic project,” suggests Pinker. “Anything that gets you out on a regular basis.” If you’re an introvert like me, Pinker suggests seeking out environments where you have some control. Think open houses versus dinner parties so you can come and go as you wish. While it may be less intimidating to log on and participate in your local Facebook community,

Pinker says communicating solely online is not enough: “Online networks are good for exchanging information and logistics to set up in-person meetings, but it’s no substitute for interacting face-to-face.” And the truth is, it’s never too late (aside from the day you’re moving out, perhaps) to foster new friendships or become better acquainted with all your town has to offer. Wherever you live, there are things to do and people nearby to do them with. Connection is possible everywhere, experts say, and for all of us— even homebodies.

R E L AT I N G

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

C. M . A S K S …

How do I properly and politically correctly address correspondence to a blended family? My granddaughter lives with her male partner and children from two relationships, all of whom have different last names. I’m never sure how to address cards, invitations, and announcements to them. I don’t want to offend anyone or leave anyone out, but I can’t figure this out. Please help.

74 R E A L S I M P L E S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9

I’m never sure of the “right” thing to say in the event of a tragedy, whether in a card or in person. Sometimes I worry so much about saying something insensitive that I don’t send the card at all. Could you recommend a few kind sentences to offer a grieving person?

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

Think of condolences this way: A grieving person experiences the breadth of their community, with everyone saying—in different ways—“I am here for you.” The content is less important than the act of adding your voice to the chorus of support. And it takes courage. It can be frightening to talk to a sad person, but push through. Keep it as simple as you like: “I’m so sorry for your loss, and I’m thinking about you.” “He was my favorite uncle, and I can’t imagine how much you’ll miss him.” Or add a favorite memory or poem. Just avoid silverlining platitudes or potentially unshared religious beliefs (“She’s in a better place” or “God needed another angel”). On the very off chance the recipient takes offense, know it’s because they needed a hook to hang their grief on—and you, bravely, offered one.

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

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

Make a genuine good-faith effort—which you will, or you wouldn’t be asking—and your family will give you the benefit of the doubt. (If they don’t? Then that, as the young people say, is on them.) My general approach is this: all the first names on the card, all the last names on the envelope. For the latter, arrange them in alphabetical order and separate them with slashes, since hyphens presume joined last names (if there are hyphenated names in the mix, simply include them): The Elkalai/Jackson/Park-Patel/Smith Family. This method happily errs on the side of thoroughness while simultaneously calling this motley-named household what it is: a family.

J.E. ASKS…

A.M. ASKS…

I am married with two children. We are able to take a couple of trips a year, precious time for our busy family. I have one sibling, a brother, who is single with no children and lives on the other side of the country. We enjoy spending time with him, but he seems to assume he is always welcome to join us. I know I should tell him, “You need to wait to be invited, and sometimes you won’t be,” but I can’t bring myself to. Our parents are gone, so my family is essentially his family, and I feel bad about excluding him. How do I talk with him about this? Weighing our happiness against others’ happiness may be the hardest thing humanity asks of us. It’s reasonable to crave family time and important to care about your brother’s feelings. Can you invite him to your home in lieu of looping him into every trip? Then you won’t spend time and money on an experience that’s not quite what you need. If he’ll be expecting an invitation, tell him the compassionate truth: “We love spending time with you, but the four of us need that week to reconnect. Can you come here for a long weekend in October? The kids are dying for you to watch their soccer games.” It may help shift his expectations.

S.L. ASKS…

With so many people using sites like GoFundMe to raise money, I’ve noticed a trend: Fundraisers, even those I know very well personally, may use the thank-you function on the site but rarely acknowledge my gift otherwise. I’d of course never expect a handwritten note from someone in crisis, but in less life-altering situations, like when people are raising money for a good cause, it feels so impersonal. How should I adjust my expectations in this age of digital fundraising? It’s a strange new world. Your generosity is acknowledged the way it’s offered: with a click. You haven’t selected a gift or written a card or even a check; you’ve surfed past a worthy request and, kindly, tapped in your contribution. GoFundMe has helped raise over $5 billion since 2010, and I imagine so many people use this type of crowdfunding platform precisely because they don’t need to thank each person individually—especially if they collect a few dollars each from hundreds of donors. (All this assumes you’re not simply funding someone’s vacation to Hawaii, which, I think, would require a more personal acknowledgment than a charitably autogenerated thanks.) Imagine what I imagine when I donate: The fundraiser scrolls down the list of names, sees yours, and swells with gratitude. It turns out to be enough.

H AV E A N E T I Q U E T T E Q U E S T I O N ? Submit your social conundrums to modernmanners@realsimple.com. Selected letters will be featured on these pages every month.

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

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R E L AT I N G

Good Read

Saving Grace A F T E R M I C H A E L W. H A R K I N S A N D H I S W I F E L O S T E V E RY T H I N G I N A W I L D F I R E , T H E G E N E RO S I T Y O F ST R A N G E R S A N D F R I E N D S H E L P E D T H E M CO M E BAC K.

NINETEEN YEARS

G E T T Y I M AG ES

we’d driven, jogged, and walked through our Santa Rosa, California, neighborhood, its people, houses, landscaping, and street signs as familiar as our reflections in a mirror. So as I looked at it on an October morning in 2017, my brain fought what I saw: This is not right, can’t be right. There is nothing to see here except scorched earth; where is everything? Stop screwing around and let’s go home… The unimaginable surrounded us. Blackened trees and chimneys, some collapsed, others like tall, brick tombstones, rose out of an ugly landscape. Metal garage doors draped

Photograph by Mathieu Rivrin

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

The author and his dogs in front of his house about two decades ago.

across incinerated cars. Contorted refrigerators and water heaters stood among wide plots of ash. We gathered with stunned neighbors filtering back into the neighborhood. All of us had evacuated safely. I had seen the house die before my eyes. Elizabeth, my wife, experienced the more brutal loss, having driven away from our house and then returned to…nothing. For the moment all we could do was stare and cry together. I’d taken off my wedding ring the day before to do some work, left it on the kitchen counter. We’d never find it, though neighbors whose homes across the street had survived spent hours helping to look for it. Elizabeth lost her birthday necklace, saddle, and the cherished wall hanging of a horse in full stride. Gone were my earliest, typewritten manuscripts, illustration portfolio, our books, bills, jewelry, external hard drives, favorite shoes, antique bedroom furniture, birth certificates, and passports. A mere eight hours before, the evening news had reported on a wildfire moving toward us, only a few miles away. Then the power went out. I checked outside—no fires around us yet, but a pervasive smell of smoke; warm, unrelenting wind; an eerie, glowing orange sky; and a slow, continuous procession of cars on our main thoroughfare. Between the heavy evacuation traffic and growing uncertainty, we felt it was time to go. I assured Elizabeth I’d leave when I knew that neighbors Maria and Dane were on the road. We kissed goodbye and she backed out of the driveway. A minute later she texted, “Fire at the edge of the neighborhood!” Amid a jet stream of embers, she had pulled over and waited for our friends Jennifer and Matt as they loaded up clothes, dogs, and pet chickens. Then they followed her to her office a few miles away.

78 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Dane and Maria got out OK. The neighborhood emptied, Elizabeth texted, wondering why I hadn’t left yet, and I responded, “Still safe.” I could see the fire’s spread a block or two away, but I felt if I could keep the increasing number of small fires around us from spreading, our street might be all right. I ran continuously, one end of the street to the other (stomp small fires), deck to fence (douse with paltry water pressure garden hose). Repeat. Quicker. At some point I couldn’t stop running long enough to text anymore. taking Tim’s, Tony’s, briefly skipping over ours to Maria’s. Embers burned through the back of my shirt as 40-foot flames rose on both sides of our house. The walls blistered, wispy smoke appeared, and moments later superheated air ignited everything. I captured a picture before I drove away, a deathbed portrait of our home and all it represented, then texted the saddest string of words to the most important person in my life: “I’m sorry, I couldn’t save the house.” It had been hours since Elizabeth had heard from me. My message reassured her and crushed her, and for a full minute she struggled to breathe, trembling uncontrollably, thoughts swinging wildly from relief that I wasn’t hurt, or dead, to the overwhelming reality that we’d lost our home. I pulled into her office parking lot. She was waiting outside. We held each other, and held, and held. We were the displaced survivors you see on the news, two among thousands, whose worldly possessions consisted of whatever was in the car as we fled what was, at the time, the worst wildfire in California history. THE FIRE CAME IN THE MORNING,

10 miles west, near our friends Priscilla and Tom, and where Priscilla boards Elizabeth’s retired horse, Greycie. Elizabeth reached out, asked Priscilla if everyone was safe. The report was erroneous, but Priscilla hadn’t yet heard about Santa Rosa. Elizabeth said, “Our house is gone.” NEWS REPORTED ON ANOTHER FIRE

C O U R T E S Y O F M I C H A E L W. H A R K I N S

I captured a picture, a deathbed portrait of our home and all it represented, then texted the saddest string of words to my wife: “I’m sorry, I couldn’t save the house.”

R E L AT I N G

Priscilla responded, “Come here.” We arrived to Priscilla’s open arms, emotionally wrecked but in an enviable position, with food, a bathroom, and a bed. We quickly had the basic comforts that thousands were without at this worst moment of their lives. Later, in “our” room, we agreed that recovering from this would be a long-distance run, not a sprint. When (not if) one of us reached the can’t-take-this precipice, the other had to be the pillar of “we’ll get through this.” We woke in the morning as if we had merely blinked and today was still yesterday. We thought of all the families striving for normalcy in packed emergency shelters, and of those like us, with friends but without the personal spaces that just yesterday contained everyone’s personal everything. We saw each other everywhere, we survivors, in cars packed with clothes, and in stores, where cashiers began to recognize “the look,” asking gently, “Did you lose your house in the fire?” When we said yes, they said, “I’m so sorry,” and meant it.

C O U R T E S Y O F M I C H A E L W. H A R K I N S

T H R E E DAYS A F T E R T H E F I R E , Priscilla called Mike and

Denise, her neighbors who had a furnished guesthouse. She asked if they’d be willing to discuss renting to us, and Denise said, “We’ve been thinking we have to do that for someone. Come over.” We got to know each other as best we could in this oddest of situations, at their table and looking out a window toward Santa Rosa, 10 miles beyond the rolling green hills, trees, and distant vineyards surrounding their house. We had things in common: spirituality, healthy lifestyles, music appreciation. We had broken hearts. They had big hearts. There were small connections. They “knew” Greycie, Elizabeth’s horse, because they had seen her for years in her pasture across the driveway. Elizabeth had visited Greycie on weekends, always noting the house with the cute guesthouse beside it. We came to easy agreement on rent, and even managed a joke about moving in with our two shopping bags of clothes, chosen from the dozens Priscilla offered us. Denise asked, “Just give us a day to do a few things, OK?” We were blessed with shelter provided by people who had known us less than 24 hours. We realized much later, based on the new pots and pans (the box still in the garage) and other appliances, that Denise used the extra day to bring in things everyone has and uses every day, unless your house has burned down. Our days were a brew of numbness, grief, and required tasks—buying clothes, contacting family, friends, and our insurance agent, going to the FEMA disaster assistance

center. We went to our house (we couldn’t not call it that) when we could and sifted through the ashes, sad miners seeking the smallest nuggets of our past lives. We returned each day to solitude and healing. But it began to feel…wrong. We were houseless but not homeless, safe, warm, and recovering under blue skies and atop beautiful hills. A therapist provided a gentle, correcting perspective: “Don’t diminish what happened to you.” from turning. My birthday came and went. Then Thanksgiving. Christmas. If not for family, old friends, new friends, the counsel of therapy, and the kindness of our city, we could not have left the fire behind. Fire-survivor funds were created virtually overnight. Gift cards came to us from close and distant relatives. Elizabeth’s family surprised us with a full shoebox of photos, collected to replace some of what we had lost. We struggled to balance the comfort of our peaceful but isolating healing place with the need to stay socially connected. Mike and Denise could feel this, gently pulled us into their social circle, and that circle embraced us. Priscilla and Tom became family—come for dinner; let’s watch the game and just hang out. “Come here,” they said. We slowly reconnected, inviting friends to see us. Several neighbors found temporary housing only a few minutes away, and we met for dinners, talked about rebuilding, and over the next few months came to know each other better than we had in the previous two decades. D I S A S T E R D I D N O T S T O P T H E WO R L D

In 2018, as the one-year remembrance of our disaster passed, ABOUT THE wildfires burned in Southern California, and AU T H O R another wiped out the entire Northern CaliMichael W. Harkins is the author of Move fornia town of Paradise. Even now, images to Fire, a true story from any disaster still evoke our own scorched about a boy tragimemories, at a depth only understood by those cally injured by a defective handgun. who are members of a club no one wants to He and Elizabeth are belong to. rebuilding their We now live with what someone called the home in Santa Rosa and will move in new abnormal. The why and how always matlater this year. ter in a disaster’s aftermath, but they are the abstract in our own recovery. Our emotional and physical scars will always connect us to that night, but, more importantly, they now represent the story of how we healed, and each chapter begins with the same two, powerful words: Come here. WE ARE ALL STILL HEALING.

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

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R E L AT I N G

L E A C S O N TO S/STO C KSY

5 Lessons We Can Learn from Kids S E E I N G T H E WO R L D T H RO U G H YO U N G E R E Y E S C A N S H I F T YO U R P E R S P E C T I V E . TA K E A L O O K . B y K i m b e r l y Tr u o n g

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

R E L AT I N G

How to relate to other people, even when they seem different

How to confront (and embrace) your fears My daughter has been obsessed with death for most of her life, and it can get pretty intense sometimes. She doesn’t know anyone who died; it’s just that, when she began to understand the concept, it was really scary to her. I was always like, “Well, let’s talk about death and get to the root of where your fear comes from.” But what actually helped her was dressing up in her glowin-the-dark skeleton pajamas, putting on all her glow-in-thedark monster fingers and vampire teeth, getting in the closet, lighting herself up, and then coming out into the dark room and pretending to be Death. Embodying it didn’t make her fear of death go away, but it made the intensity of it diminish. HILLARY FRANK IS THE CREATOR OF THE PODCAST THE LONGEST SHORTEST TIME AND THE AUTHOR OF WEIRD PARENTING WINS. SHE LIVES IN MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

My young readers remind me how similar we all are beneath the surface—we’re all human. Instead of seeing my book American Panda as an Asian story, young readers see it as the coming-of-age story that it is, and they see the protagonist, Mei, as the American teen she is. In some ways, Mei does have a different background from many, but everyone can relate to having conflict with loved ones, feeling like they don’t measure up, or struggling with where they fit in the world. Kids aren’t as quick to assign labels, and I hope we can follow their lead more. GLORIA CHAO IS THE AUTHOR OF AMERICAN PANDA AND OUR WAYWARD FATE, OUT NEXT MONTH. SHE LIVES IN CHICAGO.

4 3

How to find joy in the day-to-day I was once running errands with my daughter. I parked the car and then let her put the money in the meter. She sighed happily and said, “I just love putting money in the parking meter.” And she meant it! Everything is new to her. One of the pleasures of being around young kids is borrowing some of that wonder, and allowing more space to notice the joy in things that seem mundane—even a parking meter. EILEEN KENNEDY-MOORE, PHD, IS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND COAUTHOR OF GROWING FRIENDSHIPS: A KID’S GUIDE TO MAKING AND KEEPING FRIENDS. SHE LIVES IN PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

How not to hold back I’m always noticing the way kids don’t alter their emotions. The experience of, say, having a child nonchalantly tell you they love you, randomly throughout the day, the way a grown-up might say they enjoy coffee, can be overwhelming if you don’t have kids, when you’re not accustomed to trafficking in emotions so freely. I appreciate how children let themselves be so vulnerable and, unlike adults, don’t try to contain their feelings. It can be really freeing not to worry what anyone else thinks. GLYNNIS MacNICOL IS THE AUTHOR OF NO ONE TELLS YOU THIS: A MEMOIR. SHE LIVES IN NEW YORK CITY.

82 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

How to make time for bonding rituals My 2-year-old grandson remembers the little things we do together. One of our traditions is going to the playground, and he rides on my shoulders on our way there. After we spend a bit of time cracking acorns, swinging, or kicking around leaves, he’ll say he wants to go to the coffee shop and get a muffin. It’s our particular ritual, and we’ve been doing it for over a year. Each time he’s at my house for the day, he’ll bring this up. I’m struck by how deeply he knows me and how he’s developed a set of things he does with me that he remembers. If I’m willing to follow his lead, it demonstrates to him that I’m there for him, and that our relationship is something he can count on. It’s a way to build a secure attachment. MICHAEL REICHERT, PHD, IS AN APPLIED AND RESEARCH PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE AUTHOR OF HOW TO RAISE A BOY: THE POWER OF CONNECTION TO BUILD GOOD MEN. HE LIVES IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

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R E L AT I N G

The Tools

T R E AT TOT E

Keep treats accessible but out of sight with this pouch, which has waterproof lining, a one-handed magnetic closure, and an adjustable belt. TO BUY: Ruffwear Treat Trader Bag, $30; ruffwear.com.

Pet Tricks T R A I N I N G D O E S N ’ T H A V E T O B E T RY I N G . W E A S K E D E X P E R T S W H A T W O R K S ( A N D W H AT J U S T M A K E S U N WA N T E D B E H AV I O R W O R S E ) . By Juno DeMelo

P E R F ECT-T I M I N G TO O L

Most professionals believe that rewarding your pet when he behaves well, a.k.a. positive reinforcement, is the best way to train. Food is usually the most effective reward, though some pets prefer playtime, affection, praise, or access to a favorite toy or the outdoors. Kibble can work for very foodmotivated pets, but others may need higher-value treats. Just reduce portions a bit at mealtime to balance out your pet’s total food intake.

Structure Your Sessions

Ignore Undesired Behavior

Whatever behavior you’re trying to teach, start small and go slowly. To train your dog to come when called, practice with a short leash somewhere free from distractions (not in an off-leash dog park). To work up to trimming your cat’s nails, begin by rewarding her just for letting you touch her paw. Sessions can be as short as 30 seconds or as long as 20 minutes; most pets can’t pay attention longer than that. Wrap up before your pet gets frustrated or loses focus. If she does, switch to a trick she knows well to end on a positive note.

Scolding can backfire, so give the cold shoulder. If your dog jumps on you, don’t pet him until all paws are on the floor. Does your cat yowl to be fed at 4 a.m.? Ignoring her teaches her to wait for breakfast. (If a behavior seems sudden or out of character, see a vet.) Prevent unwanted behavior when possible: Don’t leave food within reach; use double-stick tape to deter sofa scratching. If that fails, interrupt your pet with a loud but nonscary sound, then redirect her toward a positive activity.

O U R E X P E RTS MIKKEL BECKER, LEAD ANIMAL TRAINER AT FEAR FREE PETS IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON MICHAEL SHIKASHIO, DOG BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT AND OWNER OF COMPLETE CANINES KRISTA SIROIS, DVM, RESIDENT IN CLINICAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE AT FLORIDA VETERINARY BEHAVIOR SERVICE IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

84 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

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TH E B E ST N E W FI N A N CI A L TO O L S, H A N D S D OW N Apps! Artificial intelligence! Real-time algorithms! Robo-advisers! We’re living in the golden age of financial innovations—but all the options can be difficult to sort through. Thanks to our panel of all-star experts, you don’t have to. They’ve helped us find the winners of the Real Simple Smart Money P R O P D E S I G N A N D S T Y L I N G B Y M I A K O K AT O H

Awards so you can make the most of your money. By Kate Rockwood

Photographs by Corey Olsen

REAL SIMPLE

BAL ANCE

RU N N E R- U P :

Stash

For making retirement saving a microdecision

INVE STING WINNER:

Ellevest

For putting a woman’s perspective on investing and money management

An investing platform created by and for women. It offers a goal-focused investing approach, portfolio mixes that take into account women’s lower lifetime-earnings curves and longer life spans, and starting last year, an easy way to direct funds toward companies that advance women, are environmentally friendly, and have a positive social impact. W H AT I T I S :

88 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

A woman earning $50,000 a year might step into retirement with $268,639 less in her portfolio than a male peer. A woman earning just over six figures could have $1.05 million less than a male peer. Closing the investment gap, of course, can’t happen without getting in the game. Ellevest kills the intimidation factor without losing an ounce of financial sophistication. “The holistic approach can really help women wrap their arms around their finances,” says Kristen Euretig, a certified financial planner and the founder of Brooklyn Plans. W H Y W E L OV E I T:

More than 86 percent of the 3.5 million-plus people who use this microinvesting and banking app identify as beginner investors. What makes Stash so appealing to newbies? Straightforward fees (one plan is $1 a month, with a $5 investment minimum), loads of educational material, the ability to buy fractional shares of specific companies, and different options for automatic investing—such as scheduling regular deposit dates, rounding up every purchase and investing the difference, or allowing Stash’s algorithm to study your finances and pull out cash you won’t notice is missing.

Breathe.

We know that doing it yourself sometimes means doing it again. But the hard work pays off. At U.S. Bank, we’re here to make sure you can make the most of your hard work with the tools and expertise to help you reach your goals, every step of the way. usbank.com/hardwork

EQUAL HOUSING

BAL ANCE

INSUR ANCE WINNER:

Ladder

For making getting life insurance (almost) as easy as ordering a pizza

A super-simple, get-a-decision-in-minutes way to buy term life insurance. It also lets you tweak your coverage as your life unfolds. (Another baby? Increase your coverage! Paid off your mortgage? Dial back your death benefit.) Last year, the company launched Ladder @ Work so employees can take their insurance policies with them as they job hop. (Smaller companies who might not want to shoulder the administrative costs of a group policy can use this as a nice employee perk.) W H AT I T I S :

“More people need life insurance than have it. Getting coverage through work is the cheapest way. And the fact that it isn’t typically portable is problematic,” says financial expert Jean Chatzky. “Ladder solves for all three of those things.” Plus, because the app simplifies the process so much (no physical required!), it leaves no excuse to put off getting a policy. W H Y W E L OV E I T:

RU N N E R- U P :

Root

For treating drivers like real people, not risk formulas

You could let your car insurance premiums be based on a series of complex algorithms that factor in everything from your marital status to your credit score to your zip code.

90 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Or you could download the Root app, let it ride shotgun during a two-to-four-week trial, and get a quote based primarily on your actual driving habits. Users have slashed their premiums by up to 52 percent, and the service (in 25 states at press time) plans to roll out nationally by the end of 2020.

RU N N E R- U P :

Lemonade

For making home and renters’ insurance more transparent

With typical home or renters’ insurance, every claim nibbles away at the company’s profit margin. But the founders of Lemonade didn’t want to be pitted against their policyholders, so they structured things differently. The company takes a flat fee out of premiums and uses the rest to pay claims. Money left over at the end of the year is donated to charities, such as the American Red Cross and Unicef, that customers help choose.

CREDIT WINNER:

Credit Karma

For making it dead simple to stay on top of your credit score

Credit Karma lets you check scores for free anytime (without getting dinged) and updates you about any credit-impacting activities on your accounts. In 2018, the site launched Home Buying Power, which helps members understand how debt impacts home buying and take steps to reduce it. W H AT I T I S :

If you’re like over 40 percent of Americans, you’re probably not keeping an eye on this part of your financial life. Don’t assume you need to pay attention only when applying for a loan: Your credit can affect unexpected pockets of your life, like insurance premiums and job applications, and monitoring it can help you spot identity theft. Credit Karma nabs a top score for “simplifying the financial lives of users,” says Brad Klontz, PsyD, a certified financial planner, a financial psychologist, and the author of Mind Over Money. Updates are delivered to your inbox, and the insights are easy and actionable. W H Y W E L OV E I T:

RU N N E R- U P :

Apple Card

For when you don’t want to wait for your cash-back rewards

Apple recently partnered with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard to launch the Apple Card, which works through Apple Pay on the iPhone and also comes as a physical card. Users score 1 percent cash back on any purchases made with the plastic, 2 percent when they use Apple Pay, and 3 percent when they purchase from Apple itself. Rewards are deposited daily.

BANKING WINNER:

Chime

For dialing back overdraft fees and penalties

Chime is a fully digital bank that’s fee-free: no account fees, no minimums, no ATM fees, and for those with direct deposit, no overdraft fees even if the account balance dips negative. The SpotMe feature, which debuted in July, lets you overdraw your account by up to $200 without penalty. W H AT I T I S :

RE TIREMENT Personal Capital’s Smart Withdrawal

RU N N E R- U P : Ally Bank’s The Clutch Guide to Investing

For retirees who want to know which funds to withdraw from when

For helping 18-to-30-year-olds dip their toes into investing

WINNER:

People have long flocked to Personal Capital’s free financial dashboards for an overview of their banking, investing, savings, and spending. Last year, the financialservices firm introduced Smart Withdrawal to its wealth-management clients. The tool uses tax forecasting to predict the best order in which to pull money from various retirement accounts. W H AT I T I S :

Should you drain your taxable investment account before touching your IRA? What year is optimal for withdrawing from a Roth? If you’re flummoxed, you’re hardly alone. “For years, financial-services providers have focused on accumulate, accumulate, accumulate. Now they’re realizing the withdrawal side of the equation is equally—if not more— complicated,” says Chatzky. “I haven’t seen any other tool like this.” W H Y W E L OV E I T:

After an Ally survey found that nearly 66 percent of millennials think investing can be downright scary, the bank launched an interactive guide earlier this year that makes building a $1 million nest egg seem slightly less intimidating.

RU N N E R- U P :

Fidelity’s Health Savings Accounts For stashing away pretax money for health care expenses

HSAs are a three-layer cake of tax advantages: Contributions are pretax (through an employer) or tax-deductible (if made by an individual); any spending on qualified medical expenses isn’t subject to federal taxes; and any investment gains are also federal-tax-free (when used for qualifying medical expenses). Yet while HSAs have surged in popularity by about 400 percent over the past decade, not all employers offer them. Fidelity now fills that gap, with a retail HSA available to anyone with a qualifying health plan.

Banks rake in about $11 billion each year in overdraft fees—one of the priciest fees that can hit your account. Chime isn’t trying to make its money from overdraft fees (it gets paid by Visa when members use Visa debit cards to make purchases), so it can spot members a few bucks if they hit a negative balance before payday. Klontz says, “If a bank could give you a hug, Chime would do it.” W H Y W E L OV E I T:

RU N N E R- U P :

Capital One Café For making a trip to the bank more welcoming

Could a latte, a comfy couch, and free Wi-Fi make going to the bank feel less like an errand? Capital One seems to hope so. In the last year, the company has expanded its hybrid coffee-shop banks to several new cities, like Fort Lauderdale, Florida; San Diego; Washington, D.C.; and Portland, Oregon. Pull out a laptop and work or approach a representative for a digitalbanking demonstration.

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

BAL ANCE

RU N N E R- U P : Bank of America’s Erica

For building a handy virtual helper

In June 2018, Bank of America enhanced personalization for its chatbot, Erica. Accessed by 7 million people and counting via the bank’s mobile app, Erica can remind users about an upcoming bill, watch balances, view spending history, monitor recurring charges, and more.

BUD GE TING WINNER:

Qapital

For turning savings into a game we actually want to play

This mobile app connects to your bank accounts to siphon off savings without your having to think about it. You can round up transactions, move money at set intervals, or create rules to trigger deposits with certain tasks. On average, Qapital users sock away $1,300 per year. In 2018, the app launched Payday Divvy, which lets you parcel out paychecks into different budget silos, and Spending Sweet Spot, a tool that helps you figure out and stick to weekly spending targets. W H AT I T I S :

For most of us, saving ranks right alongside going to the dentist—we know we should, but…ugh. This app makes saving less root canal and more Candy Crush game. And thanks to chief W H Y W E L OV E I T:

92 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the app is fueled by science that works: You don’t have a nebulous “save more” goal but a specific target amount—which, studies show, makes you more likely to follow through. You’re also asked to spell out how you want to use your savings (ski weekend in Tahoe? New-car fund? Kitchen reno?), and research has found that likewise helps with follow-through.

RU N N E R- U P :

Even

For giving busy people earlier access to their paychecks

The Even app links to your bank accounts, detects upcoming bills, and estimates what you’ll have left to spend at any given time. Through its newest feature, Instapay, Even partners with employers (like Walmart) to offer employees interestfree access to money they’ve earned ahead of payday.

RU N N E R- U P :

Alber t

For making getting answers to personal-finance questions as easy as sending a text

The Albert app connects to your bank accounts and analyzes your income, bills, and spending to come up with a personalized budget. Even better: The add-on service Genius lets you text financial questions—about anything from student-loan consolidation to investment basics—to a flesh-and-blood financial expert. The first month is free, and then you pay what you think the service is worth (minimum $4 a month).

RU N N E R- U P :

Bank of America’s Digital Mor tgage For dragging mortgages out of the Stone Age

MORTGAGE WINNER:

Quicken Loans

For helping mortgages align with modern homeownership

One of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders is embracing the gig economy. Quicken Loans now takes into account rental income from Airbnb and Vrbo when homeowners refinance. W H AT I T I S :

Refinancing can snag you a lower interest rate and reduce your monthly mortgage payments. But until recently, short-term rentals weren’t eligible to use in the underwriting process. In 2018, Quicken Loans and Airbnb began sharing real-time, confirmed income data, which allows rental income to be considered when calculating the debt-to-income ratio. Earlier this year, Quicken Loans struck a similar partnership with rental-listing giant Vrbo. “Getting ‘credit’ for your income stream is exactly what people who host shortterm rentals need. Genius,” says David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire. W H Y W E L OV E I T:

Mortgage start-ups have been jockeying to pull the paperbound industry into the digital age, but many lack the size to service loans long-term. Bank of America is one of the biggest brands to offer a digital endto-end mortgage experience, taking home buyers from prequalification to preapproval to loan application when a purchase contract is in place—all via the mobile app and website. “Buying a home can be overwhelming and tedious,” points out millennial money expert Tonya Rapley. “This is a step forward.”

SERVICE S Fabric’s document storage WINNER:

For getting important financial information all in one place

This online storage platform gives families easy, super-secure access to financial documents, like life insurance policies, investment portfolios, and banking and credit card information.

important documents. There are other cloud-based storage platforms around, but we’re fans of Fabric’s intuitive interface and the way it’s so easy to link info with a loved one. Plus, financial docs are more secure when stored separately from frequently shared photos and work materials.

RU N N E R- U P :

Policygenius

For cutting through the insurance confusion

“Dealing with insurance brokers often feels like a highpressure sales pitch followed by a flood of follow-up calls and emails pushing you to buy coverage,” says consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch. Not so with Policygenius, which lets you compare quotes from top brokers, including for lesser-known types of policies (like vision insurance and identity theft insurance). If you buy through the site, the commission-free advisers will help you handle straggler tasks, like canceling your old policies.

W H AT I T I S :

Fabric, an online insurance company and will provider (meetfabric .com), found that more than 40 percent of parents are likely to struggle to locate W H Y W E L OV E I T:

M E T H O D O LO GY TO CREATE THE SMART MONEY AWARDS, WE COMPILED A LIST OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES OFFERING PRODUCTS THAT DEBUTED (OR RELEASED NEW FEATURES) BETWEEN JANUARY 2018 AND JUNE 2019. A PANEL OF EIGHT JUDGES RATED THE LIST ON INNOVATIVENESS AND RELEVANCE TO REAL SIMPLE READERS TO REACH A LIST OF 20. THE TOP WINNERS SCORED HIGHEST AMONG THESE RATINGS. ALL DESCRIPTIONS AND SERVICES AS OF JULY 30, 2019. FOR THE FULL LIST, GO TO REALSIMPLE.COM/MONEYAWARDS.

JUD GES DAVID BACH, AUTHOR OF THE LATTE FACTOR JEAN CHATZKY, CEO OF HERMONEY AND AUTHOR OF WOMEN WITH MONEY BLAIR DuQUESNAY, CFA, CFP, RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT KRISTEN EURETIG, CFP, BROOKLYN PLANS BRAD KLONTZ, CFP, PSYD, FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL PSYCHOLOGY INSTITUTE AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE IN FINANCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AT CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY’S HEIDER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS TONYA RAPLEY, MILLENNIAL MONEY EXPERT AND CREATOR OF MYFABFINANCE.COM KELSEY SHEEHY, NERDWALLET EDITOR ANDREA WOROCH, CONSUMER FINANCE EXPERT

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

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INVEST A MONTH’S PAYC H E C K W I T H O U T FEELING IT

Many people are paid over 26 pay periods. That means, twice a year, you could receive three paychecks a month instead of the typical two. Mark these extra paychecks on your calendar and arrange to put them in an investment, retirement, or high-interest savings account. PATRICK B. MARTINEZ, FOUNDER AND CEO OF 3/AXIS WEALTH IN CHICAGO

FLIP WORK REIMBURSEMENTS

If you submit expenses that are later reimbursed, have the money sent to your savings account instead of your checking account. It feels like extra money. BOLA SOKUNBI, FOUNDER OF THE WEBSITE CLEVER GIRL FINANCE

AU T O M AT E T O A C C U M U L AT E

22 Smart Ideas to Take Control of Your Money L O O K I N G T O B U I L D M O R E S AV I N G S F O R THE FUTURE BUT FEELING LIKE THERE AREN’T ANY MORE CORNERS TO CUT? RE AD ON.

For a workplace retirement savings account, many companies offer an autoincrease feature that lets you increase your per-paycheck contribution by 1 percent or more at regular intervals. Set this to increase each quarter until you reach the recommended 15 percent contribution. You likely won’t even notice small increases, and you’ll be happy with the results. ELLEN O’CONNELL, CFP, FINANCIAL CONSULTANT AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS

By Maggie Puniewska

I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y S a m Ka l d a

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

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C A N C E L YO U R M O RT G A G E I N S U R A N C E

BUDGET WITH A GIFT CARD

If you have a splurge-type item in your budget (like eating lunch out) and find yourself overspending, buy a gift card at the beginning of the month for the allotted amount. Once the gift card is spent, you’re cut off from shelling out any more. ANNA NEWELL JONES, AUTHOR OF THE SPENDER’S GUIDE TO DEBT-FREE LIVING: HOW A SPENDING FAST HELPED ME GET FROM BROKE TO BADASS IN RECORD TIME

B U Y D RU G S AT M E M B E R S H I P WA R E H O U S E S T O R E S

If you have less than the recommended 20 percent equity on a home, the lender will charge you for private mortgage insurance (PMI). In most cases, when you reach 22 percent equity, this insurance should be automatically canceled. However, when you reach 20 percent, you can request the lender end it. PMI usually costs 0.5 to 1 percent of your loan each year and can go up to 5 percent. A 1 percent fee on a $200,000 loan will cost you $2,000 a year! If you saved the same money for 20 years (earning 5 percent a year), you would have more than $68,000. CAROL FABBRI, CFP, PRINCIPAL AT FAIR ADVISORS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT FAIR ADVISORS INSTITUTE IN DENVER

Warehouse stores typically have good prices on prescription drugs—and you don’t have to be a member to buy them. Stores such as Sam’s Club and Costco don’t require membership for customers to use their pharmacies.

If relatives or friends are inquiring about birthday or holiday gifts, ask for a membership to places like the zoo, aquarium, or children’s museum. A toy keeps your kids occupied one Saturday; a zoo pass can last for months.

Make your IRA or SEP (simplified employee pension) contributions during the year rather than waiting until you file your taxes in April. Historically, the fourth quarter is the best-performing quarter for equities, and the first quarter is the second best. If you make the contribution in September instead of the following April, you get an additional six months for your investments to grow, during the two best-performing quarters. Forecast what your total income will be for the year to make sure you qualify for contributions. ANDREW CASTEEL, CFP, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER AND FINANCIAL PLANNER AT ACORN FINANCIAL SERVICES

D I T C H AU T O I N S U R A N C E F E E S

Call your insurance agent and ask if you’re being charged a fee for paying your bill monthly. If so, you can save on insurance costs by opting to pay for six months or one year at a time (if you can afford to do so)—whatever is necessary to stop paying the monthly fee. AMANDA GROSSMAN, FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION PLATFORM FRUGAL CONFESSIONS

BILL KAMPINE, COFOUNDER OF HEALTHCARE BLUEBOOK

A S K F O R P R E S E N T S T H AT S AV E YO U M O N E Y

I N V E S T B E F O R E TA X T I M E

JOIN AARP

D O N ’ T A S S U M E YO U C A N ’ T BYO

There are lots of discounts available, and you can become a member at 18, contrary to popular belief. I joined at age 35, and I more than offset the $16 annual fee with a discount on a hotel.

Snacks and drinks are so expensive at events like sporting games and concerts. Do a little research and see if you can bring your own. Our family recently saved about $30 at the baseball stadium this way.

ROGER MA, CFP, FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM LIFELAIDOUT IN NEW YORK CITY

LAURA VANDERKAM, AUTHOR OF JULIET’S SCHOOL OF POSSIBILITIES AND ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD

BROOKE NAPIWOCKI, CFP, FINANCIAL PLANNER AT CRESCENDO WEALTH MANAGEMENT IN GRAFTON, WISCONSIN

KEEP A PERMANENT MARKER I N YO U R B AT H RO O M

PAY C A S H F O R C E RTA I N M E D I C A L S E RV I C E S

Depending on your insurance, it may be cheaper to pay for MRIs, ultrasounds, lab work, and CT scans in cash and out of pocket. I know of a patient quoted $550 for an MRI through her insurance, but when she went self-pay, it was $300. Also, consider getting blood tests directly at the lab rather than your doctor’s. You may slash your bill by 50 percent. BILL KAMPINE

98 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

When you buy a toiletry item (especially makeup and skin-care products), write the date and price on it. Once you’re ready to purchase it again, you can see the price and quickly search for the best deal. You’ll also determine how quickly you go through it and can decide if it’s worth buying again. BRIANNA FIRESTONE, MONEY COACH IN DENVER AND FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL AND LIFESTYLE PLATFORM THE SCHOOL OF BETTY

Accept job across country. Buy condo. Travel back home. Often. Buy condo next door. For Mom.

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G E T A TA X C R E D I T O N S O M E H O M E I M P ROV E M E N T S D E C L A R E N O - S P E N D DAY S

Whether for a month, a week, or just a few days, it’s beneficial to reset and find a way to recommit to your savings goals. Our clients save up to $50 a day. Some have saved more than $3,000 a month with this trick.

Researching state and federal tax credits or rebates when you’re remodeling (or buying items like solar panels) can be really valuable. Check out dsireusa.org for a list of possible savings. CAROL FABBRI

SHANNON McLAY, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL GYM IN NEW YORK CITY

SNEAK MORE MONEY I N T O A RO T H A C C O U N T

After you hit the maximum $19,000 yearly pretax contribution to your traditional 401(k), you may still be able to contribute up to $37,000 more on an aftertax basis. Some plans let you move your after-tax contributions into a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA. With these accounts, you can withdraw money tax-free at retirement. Check your plan for allowable contributions and limits.

M A S T E R YO U R C A R

I’ve learned how to change a tire, add air to my tires, and replace my windshield wipers and air filters—all take less than an hour and save me hundreds every year. I also only get my oil changed once a year; I called my car company and was told that’s fine for the type of engine I have and the amount I drive.

ROGER MA

KARA PEREZ, FOUNDER OF THE FINANCIAL PLATFORM BRAVELY GO

TIME PRICEY BUYS G O T O YO U R GY M F O R C H I L D C A R E

There are plenty of gyms that offer super-affordable childcare while you’re on the premises. For us, it’s only $30 a month. We’d spend hundreds on babysitting for those hours. This trick has saved our family thousands of dollars, gotten me fit, and best of all given me the energy I need with two kids in tow. LINA KRISTJANSEN, BLOGGER AT FIVE YEAR FIRE ESCAPE

U S E C O M P L E T E D D E BT PAY M E N T T O S AV E M O R E

If you finish paying off a car, home, or student loan, keep making those payments toward another goal. For example, put them in a high-interest savings account to build an emergency fund, or transition student loan payments into your kids’ 529 plans. BROOKE NAPIWOCKI

M ATC H B U Y I N G A N D S AV I N G 1 :1

Say you want a $100 pair of jeans. Make it a rule that, if you buy the jeans, you’ll put $100 into savings. This could help curb your spending. Even if you give in to the impulse, you’re still doing something good for your finances. KRISTIN WONG, AUTHOR OF GET MONEY: LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT, NOT JUST THE LIFE YOU CAN AFFORD

BRIANNA FIRESTONE

S C H E D U L E B I W E E K LY M O RT G A G E PAY M E N T S

If you set up biweekly payments instead of monthly ones, you’ll make the equivalent of 13 payments a year instead of 12. Less interest will add up, and you’ll pay off more of your principal balance. Ask your loan servicer if they can process your payments this way. CAROL FABBRI

100 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Big-ticket items have designated (often multiple) sale periods throughout the year. In September, you can often find deals on kitchen appliances, lawn mowers, mattresses, grills, and bicycles. Keep a list on your phone of the big purchases that might be coming up and include the brand you like and the price. Then, if you can, wait for sale periods.

Ditch career one. Reclaim your passion. Make it your job. Retire like a boss.

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The back-to-school season makes room for a fresh start—and opportunities for going greener. Here’s how Real Simple Contributing Stylist Alyssa Dineen does it all with the help of her daughter, Hayden.

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“I’m really committed to recycling,” says Alyssa, who has incorporated small but signiﬁcant eco-friendly habits into her daily life. She prioritizes sustainability and waste reduction, and chooses products with natural ingredients for herself and Hayden, 13.

CHOOSE T I M E - S AV I N G PRODUCTS “We love products that do more than one thing, like Micellar Water, which removes makeup, cleanses, and hydrates. It saves time.” For Hayden, it’s a simple routine she can stick to on busy school days.

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E C O - F R I E N D LY LUNCH Alyssa stays eco-minded even when packing Hayden’s school lunch. “We always use reusable containers, like glass and metal bowls, to cut down on lunchroom waste,” she says.

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R E C YC L I N G I N T H E B AT H R O O M Recycling is second-nature for Alyssa, who keeps a recycling bin in her bathroom. “I make sure to recycle beauty product containers— I have been doing it for years.”

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Make Over Your Monday M O N D AY S A R E I N E V I T A B L E . T H E M O N D AY B L U E S ? T U R N S O U T, T H E Y D O N ’ T H A V E T O B E . A S Y O U G E A R U P F O R T H E B U S Y FA L L S E A S O N , T RY T H E S E T I P S T O S T A R T O F F Y O U R W E E K I N A H E A LT H I E R W AY. STO C KSY

By Karen Asp

104 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

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Follow the one-hour rule.

With a clear to-do list waiting for you on Monday, you may be more productive and have an easier time focusing.

106 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Make a Monday to-do list—on Friday. The end of the week may be cause to celebrate, but don’t make it official until you’ve written a to-do list for Monday. Everything you need to accomplish next week will be top of mind, so it makes sense to capture it at this time. But there’s another reason. “If you start the week without this list, you’ll have to brainstorm on Monday morning about the lingering projects from last week, which could be tough when you’re sluggish. You’ll already be starting off a step behind,” says Samantha Ettus, a Los Angeles–based entrepreneur and the author of The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction. With this list waiting on Monday, you may be more productive and have an easier time focusing. Check off a few easy tasks to start, and then dig into your most challenging task as quickly as possible. “If it’s hanging over you,” says Ettus, “the day will be that much more of a drag.”

No more trying to catch up on lost sleep on Sunday mornings. “Initially, it was thought that weekend recovery sleep was sufficient to pay back sleep debt,” says Annise Wilson, MD, assistant professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “But more recent research suggests that weekend recovery sleep may not reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation, and that an irregular sleep schedule can make it harder to fall and stay asleep.” Staying up late isn’t a great weekend habit either: It can lead to feeling even more tired on Monday. So sticking with a consistent sleep schedule all week long is best. At the very least, says Wilson, try not to go to bed or wake up more than an hour past your normal times, and if you need to nap, a brief snooze (under 30 minutes) in the early afternoon should help you avoid grogginess and disrupted nighttime sleep.

G E T T Y I M AG ES ( 2 )

got two things very right: First, lasagna is delicious. Second, Mondays can be a real drag. It’s not merely the transition from playtime to the work and school week. Many of us stay up later on weekend nights and sleep in during the day, messing up our circadian rhythms and making us grumpy and irritable when the alarm goes off on Monday morning. The stress of starting the week may even affect our health. A 2004 study found that blood pressure tends to be highest on Monday mornings, while another concluded that Monday is the most common day of the week for heart attacks. All of this may make you want to hit snooze and spend Mondays under the covers. Yet fortunately, you can reverse the trend and set yourself up to have a positive, healthy start to the week. Here, experts weigh in on eight ways to make this a reality. (P.S. If you don’t work a traditional Monday-to-Friday schedule, this advice is adaptable to whenever you switch from off- to on-duty.) G A R F I E L D T H E C AT

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Rethink breakfast. “Eating a satisfying and balanced breakfast will allow you to hear appropriate hunger and fullness signals throughout the day,” says nutrition therapist Elyse Resch, RDN, coauthor of Intuitive Eating and author of The Intuitive Eating Workbook for Teens. But don’t think you have to eat immediately upon rising, which is the biggest misconception people have about breakfast. If you get up at 6 a.m., you may not feel hungry then, and that’s OK. Wait until you do, and then eat breakfast, says Resch. You’ll get the energy you need and enable your body to eat more healthfully the rest of the day because you won’t be starving. You’ll also get a mood boost, according to a review in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. When you eat, aim to get about 15 to 25 percent of your total calories (between 300 and 500 calories for women) from that meal, says review author Charles Spence, PhD, professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford. Try oatmeal

108 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Wear a feel-good outfit. You know you feel better in clothes you like—and science backs that up. “You can use clothing to improve negative emotions,” says Dawnn Karen, founder of the Fashion Psychology Institute in New York City. To better your mood, choose bright colors, your favorite fabrics or prints, or a sustainable brand you feel great about. Better yet, pick out your outfit the night before so you avoid a wardrobe crisis Monday morning, says Ettus.

Seek natural light. Perking up your morning might be as simple as getting a dose of natural light. Try opening the shades, eating breakfast outside, watering your vegetable garden, or taking a walk. “Light is like a cup of coffee. It has an acute alerting effect,” says Mariana Figueiro, PhD, professor and director at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Plus, being out in nature, even for five minutes, can give you a happiness high, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology. Can’t get outside in the morning? Change the light in your indoor space to brighten things up, move your computer closer to a window, or paint your walls a more vivid color.

F R O M L E F T: G E T T Y I M A G E S ; K E V I N S W E E N E Y, S O F T S T Y L I N G B Y A L E X S I LVA ; S H U T T E R S T O C K

with blueberries and walnuts, or whole-wheat sourdough toast and avocado, with fruit and yogurt on the side. Resist dashing to the coffeepot when you first get up. Caffeine is more effective if you wait to sip your first cup until you’ve been up for an hour or two, when stress hormone levels naturally decrease. Not into caffeine or fresh out of beans? Sipping decaf, smelling coffee, or even just thinking about coffee can be enough to give you a boost, notes Spence.

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Plan for fun.

Create a morning ritual. “Our brains love routine, and the less work your brain has to do, the happier it will be,” says Colleen D. Cira, PsyD, founder and executive director of the Cira Center for Behavioral Health in Chicago. “Routines are also a great way to conserve energy for more complicated parts of the day and may give you some alone time.” Even better? You have more control over your attitude for the day, she adds. Tap into that extra-skip-in-yourstep feeling by adopting a morning ritual—an activity or habit (preferably a healthy one) that puts you in a good mood and that you look forward to. For instance, you might brew a really good cup of tea, go to your favorite exercise class, green your commute by biking to work, or meditate. With something pleasant built into your morning schedule, you’ll likely feel a little less dread and a little more positivity when the Monday alarm buzzes.

110 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Build something pleasant into your morning schedule and you’ll likely feel a little more positivity when the Monday alarm buzzes.

Do a random act of kindness. Put positive energy into the world and you’ll get it back, research confirms: Performing acts of kindness for seven days boosted happiness and well-being, found a 2018 study in the Journal of Social Psychology. But doing even one kind thing can make you feel great. “Acts of altruism and prosocial behavior are linked to rewardprocessing areas of the brain,” says study coauthor Lee Rowland, PhD, a chartered psychologist and research affiliate at the University of Oxford. As you start your day, look for ways to perform a random act of kindness, whether for a coworker, your neighbor, or a stranger. Bring coffee to a colleague, wheel your neighbor’s recycling bin back in from the curb, text a friend you haven’t talked to in a while to let her know you miss her, or make a small donation to an animal shelter or environmental cause. It’s a pretty nice day, eh? G E T T Y I M AG ES ( 3 )

An easy way to turn Mondays around is to make them the day you commit to fun plans for later in the week. Schedule a night out with friends, a farmers’ market meet-up, or even a binge-watch of your favorite show. Regardless of the activity, just thinking about the good times in store for you later in the week will be an instant pick-me-up, says Ettus. “Half the enjoyment of any activity is anticipating it, which is why it’s important to have things on your calendar you can look forward to,” she says.

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Ahhh... We often equate a deep breath with a deep inhale, but there is a lot of value in a deep exhale. This simple exercise not only calms the mind but also helps you step into autumn with renewed determination. Sitting up tall but relaxed, take a comfortable inhale through your nose. Breathe out through your nose, going all the way to the end of your exhale, and pause. Then just wait—your body will tell you when it’s time to breathe in again. Let the breath in, feeling the space your body finds for the inhale. Give yourself another long, patient exhale, allowing yourself to feel empty for a moment. Then breathe in when your body says it’s time. Repeat two or three times and move forward with your day.

STO C KSY

— E D WA R D J O N E S , n o w y o g a n y. c o m

Photograph by Alicia Bock

SEPTEMBER 2019 REAL SIMPLE

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HOW TO

WA ST E LESS E V E RY D AY BY A N N A M A LT BY PHOTO GR APHS BY MITCHELL FEINBERG

Less trash makes for a happier planet, yes. But it could also mean a happier you: Less time spent dragging the can to the curb and cleaning furry leftovers out of the fridge. Fewer dollars spent on extra clothes, food, and other items you could easily live without. And less stuff you don’t really like cluttering up your mental and physical space. Ahead, realistic advice to make it happen.

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here’s a lot of garbage out there. The United States sent 137.7 million tons of trash to landfills in 2015, according to the Environmental Protection Agency—and a recent report found we’re on track to run out of space in landfills within the next two decades. China is importing fewer of the recyclable plastics we’ve been sending there. And far too many items don’t make it to landfills or recycling plants in the first place: Think of all the litter along our roads and the sad stories about sea turtles with straws in their nostrils and whales with bags in their bellies.

“The best thing we can do, environmentally speaking, is not produce waste in the first place,” says Jenna Jambeck, PhD, professor of environmental engineering at the University of Georgia and a National Geographic fellow specializing in solid waste. “I’ve been totally convinced by my research that, taken collectively, small choices make a difference. These choices, even if we aren’t perfect, add up to significant positive impacts over time.” You’ll see the impact in your life too: less clutter, money saved, new peace of mind. You don’t have to take every step experts suggest here—do what works for you. You just might find life is better with less garbage in it.

116 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

HOW LOW CAN YO U G O? These zero-wasters have ditched the trash can almost entirely. Pick and choose from their tips to shrink your own waste (as well as any eco-guilt). BY C AT H E R I N E RYA N G R E G O RY

Use what you already have. “I don’t encourage anyone to go out and buy things, like a pretty stainless-steel water bottle or organic-cotton shopping bag, in order to go zero-waste,” says Tippi Thole, founder of the zero-waste website Tiny Trash Can. “We should be buying less, not more! If I have a plastic item in good working condition, I use it as long as I can.” Manufacturing reusable tote bags and water bottles tends to use a lot more resources and energy than manufacturing the disposable versions, so don’t churn through them.

Refuse first. People are constantly trying to give you single-use stuff: a flyer on the street, a sample in the store, a bag of stickers and knickknacks at a birthday party. “No matter how much you reduce, reuse, and recycle, you’re still the target of many items,” says Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home, who says her family of four creates only a pint of garbage per year. “Say no on the spot to stop it from becoming your trash problem down the line.”

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y G I A C O M O B A G N A R A

In some ways, this problem is bigger than any one person. To make a real dent, we’d need our legislators to support more plastic bans, regulate wasteful industries—and be more aggressive about protecting the planet beyond the waste problem. Still, our actions do make a difference. The more consumers and voters start caring about waste reduction in their day-to-day lives, experts say, the more businesses and governments will make it a priority.

Rearrange the trash.

Green your period.

Moving the kitchen trash can somewhere inconvenient, like the garage, forces everyone in the house to consider whether items could be composted or recycled instead. “Just by rearranging the bins and shocking everyone out of the habit of tossing something into the can, we halved the amount of garbage we produced,” says Larkin Gayl, who shares zero-waste tips on Instagram at @unfetteredhome.

If you’re up for it, Schade endorses switching to a reusable menstrual cup. Made out of silicone, it typically lasts a year, replacing the 240 or so tampons you might use during that time. (It also keeps packaging, applicators, and sometimes agrochemical-intensive cotton out of the trash.) Or consider period underwear like the ones from Thinx or Dear Kate—they may not eliminate your need for tampons entirely, but you’ll cut back in a big way.

Pack reusable necessities. Think about the single-use items you pick up most in the outside world (coffee cups? utensils? to-go boxes? straws?) and stash a reusable version in your bag or car so you always have it with you. “We even carry a growler in our car for beer emergencies!” says zerowaster Sarah Schade, an art and design student in Traverse City, Michigan. When you come home, remember to wash your reusables and put them back so they’re ready to go the next day.

Borrow before buying. You borrow books—why not borrow a weed whacker, stand mixer, or circle saw too? Borrowing things like tools and kitchen gadgets saves you from shelling out for something you’ll only use a few times a year. Plus, Lepeltier adds, “connecting with neighbors when you borrow something makes in-life connections and creates community.” Search myturn.com and buynothing project.org/find-a-group, or write a post on Nextdoor. You can also rent tools from many hardware stores and Home Depot locations.

Do a trash audit. It might sound icky, but poke through your garbage can to find your household’s worst waste offenders. (Or just make a note— and ask those you live with to do the same—of what you toss in a typical week.) “Pick the thing that shows up most in the garbage and find a swap for it,” says Gayl. For example, she noticed a ton of granola bar wrappers in her trash and started making batches of grab-and-go snacks instead.

Raise tiny tree huggers.

Don’t feel like you have to make everything yourself. “I’ve experimented with sourdough and making kombucha, but I’m not running a Whole Foods at my home,” says Chloé Lepeltier, who blogs about her low-impact lifestyle on the site Conscious By Chloé. The idea is to find habits you can sustain, so only DIY if you enjoy it.

“Kids are often the best place to start in your waste-reduction journey because they tend to be more sensitive to the problem and don’t have the bad habits we adults do,” says Thole. Ask children to help cook (and therefore eat less food packaged in plastic); fill up at the bulk bins together; and talk about the materials that go into making a plastic toy—and the landfill the toy will end up in. But be warned: Soon enough, they may call out your eco-blunders.

Invest in a TerraCycle bin. The company TerraCycle accepts many items that can’t always be recycled locally, like coffee capsules, toothpaste tubes, and potato chip bags. It partners with brands—including Arm & Hammer, Brita, Garnier, Honest Kids, even Solo cups—to offer free recycling of their products. Or you can buy a bin or pouch for a specific need. It’s pricey (pouches cost $42 and up), but that’s a deterrent to creating trash, says Gayl: “The cost to recycle motivates me to think before I purchase.”

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W H AT ’S I N T H E P L A ST I C B E V E R AG E BOT TLES: 2 0 9, 8 03 Switching to a reusable water bottle makes a huge difference. If you must have a bottled drink, recycle.

CIGARET TE BUT TS: 8 0 9, 53 8 A no-brainer: Quit, for your health and the earth. Until you do, don’t litter. Dispose of butts (and vape cartridges) in the garbage.

B E V E R AG E CANS: 113,719 Aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable—hang on to yours until you find the nearest bin.

GL A SS B E V E R AG E BOT TLES: 88,283 Save pretty glass bottles for vases (soak off the label in soapy water). Recycle the others.

These numbers come from Ocean Conservancy’s 2018 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Every year, volunteers from more than 100 countries pick up garbage along beaches and waterways and record what they find so researchers can get a better sense of the waste problem, track trends, and work toward solutions. To learn how you can help with the efforts, visit oceanconservancy.org.

O T H E R P L A ST I C A N D F OA M PAC K AG I N G : 74, 8 5 8 The online store Loop delivers products from popular brands (Häagen-Dazs, Clorox) to your door in reusable packaging.

WAT E R

This is the trash most commonly found along American beaches and waterways in 2018. ILLUSTR ATIONS BY GIACOMO BAGNAR A

ST R AW S A N D ST I R R E R S : 1 2 2 , 3 87 Carry a reusable straw in a small case. Try Five Two Silicone Straws ($25 for 10 straws and 4 cases; food52.com).

P L A ST I C B O T T L E C A P S : 26 8 , 2 4 4 Check your local recycling program for how to dispose of plastic caps— rules vary from place to place. .

FO OD WR APPERS: 3 03 , 5 8 6 Keep a reusable container in your bag for to-go orders.

P L A ST I C G RO C E RY B AG S : 8 9, 82 0 Use totes at the grocery store and anywhere else you shop. The cloth drawstring bags that shoes and purses sometimes come in are a great size for produce.

M E TA L BOT TLE C AP S: 7 3 , 0 81 Check your recycling program for how to dispose of them.

O T H E R P L A ST I C B AG S : 7 1 , 7 9 5 Almost any plastic bag, wrap, or film can be recycled: Just drop it off at your grocery store or at Target or Walmart. Check your local store to confirm what’s accepted.

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S AV E T H E F O O D ! Of all the things we waste, food may be the number one area where you can make a serious impact. Here’s how.

B E F O R E YO U S H O P…

Up to 40 percent of food in the United States goes to waste, and about 40 percent of that waste happens at home, per the Natural Resources Defense Council. “When food goes to waste, so do all the resources it takes to get that food on our plates, including land, energy, water, fertilizer, and labor,” says Elizabeth Balkan, NRDC’s food waste director. Buy only the amount of food you need to make the meals you’re planning. If you can’t predict on Sunday what you’ll want on Thursday, that’s OK: Decide on menus for the first half of the week, then give yourself flexibility to do a leftovers night, get takeout, or go on a second round of (intentional) grocery shopping. Try NRDC’s planning tool, Meal Prep Mate. And don’t forget to check your cabinets for items on your list you may already have.

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y G I A C O M O B A G N A R A

AT T H E S T O R E …

“I tell my clients to shop naked,” says Abby K. Cannon, a registered dietitian and sustainability expert (and lawyer!) who runs a private nutrition practice and writes the blog Abby’s Food Court. That is, buy as few items that come “dressed” in plastic packaging as possible. Buy lettuce in a bunch instead of cut and chopped in a bag; buy a head of broccoli instead of the plastic container of chopped florets. Use bulk bins; you could even bring your own containers and ask the store to tare them for you before filling.

U S E - I T- U P R E C I P E S W H I L E U N PA C K I N G G RO C E R I E S …

“Chop up peppers and carrots, put them in a glass container, and then put them in the fridge,” suggests Cannon. This makes cooking so much faster and easier, and makes you more jazzed about eating healthy. Remember to clean your reusable totes and put them back in the car or by the door for next time.

Frittata 6 eggs + ¼ cup dairy + Leftover grains and/or cooked veggies + Shredded cheese and/or fresh herbs Bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes.

W H E N YO U C O O K …

Front-load the week with recipes that use the quicker-to-spoil items in your fridge, like fish or delicate greens. “The cabbage and cauliflower can wait a few more days,” says Balkan. If you have picky eaters on your hands, consider dining family-style instead of giving people portions they may not finish. “Try putting a plate of vegetables in the middle of the table,” says Balkan. “The kids who like the veggie will grab it, and maybe they’ll influence the pickier eaters, but you won’t end up with food that’s been tainted and can’t be saved as leftovers.” D U R I N G C L E A N U P…

Compost anything you can’t save. It’s the best outcome for unusable food scraps, says Balkan. (Food put in the garbage disposal gets mixed with municipal wastewater and must be treated in an energyintensive way.) If your town doesn’t have curbside compost collection, research drop-off programs at farms, community gardens, or farmers’ markets. Or consider composting in your backyard—done properly, it won’t generate odors or attract pests, and your garden will love the nutrient-rich results (visit epa.gov/ compost to get started).

Stir-Fry 1 Tbsp. each chopped fresh ginger and garlic + 4 chopped scallions + Leftover rice or grains + Cooked chopped meat and/or veggies Cook in 2 Tbsp. vegetable or canola oil until heated through and sizzling. Drizzle with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil.

Chopped Salad Chopped hard cheeses + Deli meats or salami + Olives or capers + Chopped crunchy lettuce + Herbs + Lemon juice + Olive oil, salt, and pepper Toss to combine. —Dawn Perry

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Thanks to fast fashion, we’re buying more clothes than ever and keeping them for less time. A better, money-saving approach: Extend the life of your clothes and build a wardrobe that lasts.

Do a mindful clean-out. “Textiles are one of the fastest-growing categories of waste in U.S. landfills,” says Elizabeth Cline, author of The Conscious Closet. Tired of having a closet stuffed with disposable clothes you don’t love? Go through your items one by one and decide what to keep and what to part with. But then take a careful look at the “toss” pile. “Ask yourself, ‘What did I buy that never got worn or that wore out really quickly? What materials were uncomfortable? What brands did I buy and not wear?’” suggests Cline. Notice, too, what you kept— what brands, colors, and materials do you truly love? “Reflect on how you’ve been buying clothes and figure out ways to shop smarter moving forward.”

Pass it along. The resale market can extend the life of your clothes once you’re done with them, and you could make a little money out of it. Sites like ThredUp and, for luxury items, The RealReal will send you a bag or label to mail in your clothes and then give you cash or credit for accepted items (they recycle the rest). If you’re getting rid of something out of style or in poor condition, consider textile recycling—some farmers’ markets have drop-off sites, and retailers like H&M accept old items. These clothes typically get sold into the secondhand industry: Companies generally export wearable items overseas, and worn-out goods are shredded for insulation or rags, says Cline. It’s considered downcycling because the value is diminished, but it’s preferable to sending textiles to landfills.

Rent or borrow. “I always ask whether my need has to be solved by buying something,” says sustainable-fashion expert Jessica Marati Radparvar, founder of the social-impact consulting firm Reconsidered. “You can shop a friend’s closet for a wedding, or have a stylish friend help you style pieces in your wardrobe in different and creative ways.” Services like Rent the Runway keep clothes in use as long as possible, “allowing clothes to be given a second, third, fourth life,” she says.

122 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

Clean and repair. “Remove stains, sew that loose button back on—do your part to keep clothes in good condition and pass them on in good condition,” says Cline. When you ensure an item will be worn longer, you minimize its impact on the environment.

HOW TO HOST A C L O T H I N G S WA P Invite a fun crew, put on a playlist, offer snacks, and get ready to revamp your closet. Cline offers tips.

Keep standards high: Tell people to bring items they’d be confident giving as gifts—no ripped or stained sweatpants, please. Organize it: Sort by category—dresses, tops, pants, shoes—and by size, if you have enough items. Display everything: Set items on folding tables or racks so the haul is easy to sift through. The floor or sofa will also do. Plan for try-ons: Set aside a bathroom or bedroom as a changing room, and place at least one full-length mirror somewhere easy to access. Have a post-swap plan: Give friends the option to take unclaimed items back. For the rest, arrange a pickup or dropoff with an organization that accepts donations.

Shop with quality in mind. Look beyond the surface level of color, print, and design, says Cline. “Hold the garment in your hands. Does the fabric feel sturdy, dense, soft, and pleasing to the touch? Then check the sewing. Turn it inside out and make sure the stitching is neat and straight, there’s no unclipped threads, no broken stitches. Then check for construction details: pockets, functional buttonholes on the cuff of a blazer, a quality zipper on a coat.” And consider secondhand: Buying from consignment stores, thrift shops, and resale sites is an excellent way to reduce demand for brand-new clothes. (If you’re a little weirded out by used stuff, remember the amazing vintage coat you inherited from your aunt: not gross at all!)

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y G I A C O M O B A G N A R A . O P P O S I T E PA G E : P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y T I M C O S TA

NOW LET’S C L E A N O U T YO U R CLOSET

WA ST E N O T: A N A-T O - Z G U I D E

What to do about almost everything else you toss out ILLUSTR ATIONS BY GIACOMO BAGNAR A

D E N TA L F L O S S

ANTIPERSPIR ANT New brands, like Myro, offer customizable deodorant in refillable containers (from $10; mymyro.com). Or try Tom’s of Maine, which has a free TerraCycle recycling program.

Most brands are made from nylon and come in a plastic package. Try using biodegradable silk floss in a glass package, such as Dental Lace (from $12; dentallace.com)— the packaging is refillable.

C O N TA C T S Choose two-week or one-month disposable contacts instead of dailies, and recycle the packaging. (Dispose of lenses in the garbage, never the sink or toilet.) Check out Bausch + Lomb’s TerraCycle program. Wearing glasses more often is an option too, or ask your ophthalmologist if laser surgery is right for you.

BALLO ONS

Never release helium balloons into the air, and if you have a water balloon fight, pick up and dispose of all the pieces. Broken balloons are among the most dangerous types of debris for seabirds and other animals. Better yet, opt for paper lanterns or another more earth-friendly decor.

124 RE AL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

E N E RGY

This is by far one of the most important resources not to waste. Ensure your home is well insulated, and practice smart energy habits: Turn off lights when you leave the room; use the least amount of heating and cooling you need; take shorter and cooler showers. The Nest Learning Thermostat ($249; store.google.com) helps you avoid overuse and lets you switch off your system from your phone if you forget.

I F OA M E G G C A RT O N S Buy eggs in cardboard cartons if possible— they’re recyclable and compostable. Foam cartons must go into the garbage, but ask the egg vendor at your farmers’ market if they take foam cartons to reuse (or if they’ll refill yours with fresh eggs).

IPHONE (AND OTHER PHONE) C A SES It’s hard to reuse phone cases, since the shape seems to change with every new model. Consider a compostable case, like those from Pela (from $40; pela.earth), if you’re in the market for a new one.

JUNK MAIL

Recycle the junk mail you get, but limit what comes in the first place with the PaperKarma app ($2 per month; iOS and Android). Take a photo of the mail, enter your address, and tap Unsubscribe.

G H

GIFT WR AP Unwrap gifts carefully so you can reuse the paper. You can also use pretty pages from newspapers or magazines as gift wrap. Or, if you’ve got an overflow of tote bags, package presents in an extra tote—the eco-friendly gift that keeps on giving.

H O M E - R E N OVAT I O N S U P P L I E S

Refinish and repair what you already have when possible. If you truly need to replace something, offer your old good- or salvageable-condition cabinetry, sinks, and the like on a local classifieds site, or donate to a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Then check those resources for salvaged replacement items that will work for your reno vision.

L AU N D RY D E T E RG E N T

Try plastic-free pods, like the ones from Dropps (from $16; dropps .com), which are delivered to your home in a recyclable cardboard box. If you’d rather stick with traditional detergent, opt for a regular plastic jug (not a soft-sided, nonrecyclable pouch). Give it a good rinse when you’re done and recycle.

R E C YC L E R I G H T

KEYS Metal keys can’t be recycled through most curbside programs, but they can be taken to scrapmetal bins at most local recycling centers. Keys that contain plastic or a chip may need to be thrown away, but first see if your local hardware store will take them.

Just tossing random stuff into the bin and hoping for the best? To make sure your recycling pays off, see the tips at realsimple .com/recyclingguide.

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R A ZOR S

MAKEUP

Many makeup containers can’t be recycled curbside, but check TerraCycle’s free programs and ask your retailer or the cosmetics company if it takes empty containers. Kiehl’s, MAC, and Lush give you a reward for bringing back empties; Bond No. 9 accepts any empty fragrance container.

N E W S PA P E R S A N D M A G A Z I N E S

Use newspaper for streak-free window cleaning, and place a sheet in the bottom of your compost bin for easier cleanup (soiled newspaper is compostable). Save pretty spreads for gift wrap and craft supplies, and recycle the rest.

PA P E R T O W E L S

Save stained and damaged clothes to cut up and use as washable rags. Switch to cloth napkins, and hang on to all those extra paper napkins that come with your takeout order for when you really need a disposable towel. If you do use a paper towel, toss it into the compost bin when you’re done, unless you sprayed a chemical product on it.

Q -T I P S O R O T H E R C O T T O N S WA B S

OAT M E A L C A N I S T E R S

Remove any plastic parts and recycle. Or save for crafting and fort-building materials.

126 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

You should never insert a Q-tip in your ear—break that habit to reduce your usage and protect your ear health. If you rely on cotton swabs for makeup touch-ups, try a clean pinkie finger instead, or use reusable cotton rounds, like the ones from Wegreeco ($11 for 16; amazon.com).

Most razors you find in the drugstore are plastic-heavy and made with a combo of materials that render them unrecyclable curbside. Alternatives are on the pricey side, but the investment comes up front. Laser hair removal can cost as much as $500 per leg, but results are nearly permanent; a safety razor (like the gorgeous rose-gold version from Oui, $75; ouishave.com) uses replacement blades that are both inexpensive (about $1 each) and recyclable.

SPONGES

Try plastic-free sponges you can compost ($6 for 3; sqwishful.com). Or switch to dishcloths, which you can toss into the laundry and use over and over again.

V T

VA R I O U S PA C K A G I N G SUPPLIES Recycle cardboard boxes, and save bubble wrapping for future shipping needs. Air cushions can be deflated and recycled at drop-offs for plastic bags and wrap. Consider if you really need to order something online or if it could be bought and picked up from a locally owned store near you.

Most paper cups can’t be recycled, because of the waxy lining (though you can recycle cardboard coffee sleeves and most plastic lids). So anything you can do to reduce usage is a win. Keep a reusable coffee cup in your bag and a ceramic mug at the office.

UTENSILS

Carry a reusable set in your purse (Travel Utensil Set, $15; bambuhome.com). If you end up with unwanted takeout utensils, save them for picnics and on-the-go dining.

EXPIRED SUNSCREEN

It isn’t ideal to send leftover sunscreen down the drain or toilet. Check with your local household hazardous waste facility to find out if it accepts cosmetics. If not, designate a large sealable bottle to decant all your expired liquids and gels into, and throw it away when full. Clean and recycle the other containers when possible.

TO-GO CUPS

YO G U RT C U P S

Yogurt isn’t hard to make (find our recipe at realsimple.com/ yogurt), but if you’d rather stick with store-bought, buy the biggest tub you can and portion it out into individual servings in reusable cups, rather than purchasing lots of single-serve containers.

WAT E R

Whether or not you live in a drought-prone area, conserving water is smart for your bills and the environment. A few ideas: Take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and sudsing your hands, and use the dishwasher instead of handwashing when possible (just make sure it’s full). If you have a garden or indoor plants, consider unexpected sources of water—you can dump half-drunk glasses of water into the garden or even pour pasta water into a pot (instead of down the drain) to let cool and use on your plants.

ZIPPER BAGS Reuse baggies and drop off clean old ones at your grocer. Or buy a set of reusable, freezer- and dishwasher-safe food storage bags (from $8; stasherbag.com).

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The

Pantry Challenge Honey Nut Popcorn

T h i n k t h e r e ’s n o t h i n g t o e a t i n t h e h o u s e ? T h e s e s i x f a s t and easy recipes—cooked up with common kitchen staples only— p r o v e t h e r e ’s p l e n t y t o m a k e w i t h w h a t y o u a l r e a d y h a v e .

b y D AW N P E R RY

photographs by V I C T O R P RO TA S I O

Spinach and Parmesan Dutch Baby

Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes

Honey Nut Popcorn

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4

Cooking spray 1/2 cup popcorn kernels or 1 3-oz. bag microwave popcorn 1 cup peanuts, almonds, pecans, or pistachios 2/3 cup honey

Spinach and Parmesan Dutch Baby

2 Tbsp. olive oil

ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4

2 cloves garlic, chopped

3 large eggs

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2/3 cup whole milk

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

oven to 350°F. Coat your largest bowl with cooking spray. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. PREHEAT

popcorn according to package directions; transfer to bowl and add nuts. POP

honey, butter, and salt in a medium skillet over medium. Cook, stirring often, until slightly darkened, about 4 minutes. Pour honey mixture over popcorn and nuts and, using a rubber spatula, toss to coat. Spread in an even layer on prepared baking sheet. COMBINE

until darkened and bubbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir to incorporate honey syrup, then let cool completely. BAKE

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup), divided 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional) 2 15.5-oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into bite-size pieces

3 oz. fresh spinach (about half a bunch) oven to 450°F. Once oven is fully preheated, place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in oven for 10 minutes. PREHEAT

place eggs, milk, flour, pepper, half the cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender. (Do not blend yet.) MEANWHILE,

skillet from oven. Add butter to hot skillet, swirling until melted. Add spinach and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Return skillet to oven and bake until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. REMOVE

start the blender. Blend egg mixture until very frothy, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. MEANWHILE,

skillet from oven. Using tongs, transfer spinach to a plate. Pour off any liquid in skillet. Pour batter into hot skillet and top with spinach and remaining cheese. Return to oven and bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve immediately. REMOVE

130 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

Crusty bread or toast, for serving oven to broil with oven rack 6 to 8 inches from heat. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper, if using. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in beans. PREHEAT

tomatoes, crushing them lightly with your hands, and their juices. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. ADD

mixture with cheese and transfer skillet to oven. Broil until cheese is melted, bubbly, and browned in spots, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or toast. TOP

FO O D ST Y L I N G BY C H E LS E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N

ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 50 MINUTES MAKES 8 CUPS

Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes

Spiced Lentil Soup with Walnuts and Cilantro

O P P O S I T E PA G E : G R E AT J O N E S C A S T- I R O N D U T C H O V E N , $ 1 4 5 ; G R E ATJ O N E S G O O D S . C O M

Bacon and Onion Croque Monsieur

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SesameScallion Noodles

Spiced Lentil Soup with Walnuts and Cilantro ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR SERVES 6

Sesame-Scallion Noodles Bacon and Onion Croque Monsieur

2 large yellow onions, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 5 cloves garlic, chopped, divided 1/2 cup olive oil, divided 1 Tbsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. ground coriander 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 cup red, brown, or green lentils, rinsed and picked over 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice plus 1 tsp. zest (from 1 lemon) 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems onions, carrot, and 3 cloves garlic in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. COMBINE

1/4 cup oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add onion mixture and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add spices and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add lentils and stir to coat. Add broth, pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, 20 to 40 minutes, depending on type of lentils (red will cook fastest; brown and green could take 10 to 20 minutes more). Stir in lemon juice. HEAT

combine walnuts with remaining 2 cloves garlic and 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over medium-low. Cook, stirring, until walnuts are toasted and garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro and lemon zest. Serve soup topped with walnut mixture. MEANWHILE,

ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4

12 oz. bacon (about 10 slices) 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 6

1 lb. spaghetti or other long noodles 1/2 cup tahini, peanut butter, or almond butter 3 Tbsp. soy sauce or tamari 2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon or lime juice (from 1 lemon or lime)

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. granulated sugar

4 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup), divided 8 slices sturdy bread, lightly toasted 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into rings oven to 400°F. Arrange bacon in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until crisp, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. PREHEAT

melt butter in a medium pot over medium. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly darkened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard, salt, pepper, and half the cheese. MEANWHILE,

4 slices bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread with half the cheese sauce. Top with bacon and remaining bread. Spread remaining cheese sauce over sandwiches. Top with a few onion rings and dust with remaining cheese. ARRANGE

3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 bunch scallions (about 6), thinly sliced 2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds or chopped toasted nuts spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. COOK

spaghetti cooks, combine tahini, 1/2 cup water, soy sauce, ginger, lemon juice, sesame oil, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Process until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. WHILE

spaghetti and rinse under cold water. Toss with tahini sauce. DRAIN

vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add scallions and vegetable oil to spaghetti and toss to combine. Top with sesame seeds. HEAT

until bubbly, 10 to 12 minutes. Increase oven to broil. Broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. BAKE

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ye s , yo u c a n find time to read Enjoying b o oks do esn’t have to happ en only when you’re on vacation. Use these tips to fit a few p ages into your busy day. by elizabeth sile illustrations by anne bentley

“I wish I had more time to read.” I hear this almost anytime I mention my job as Real Simple’s books editor. To decide what titles we recommend in the magazine and online, I finish between one and three books in an average week. That’s not counting the 50 pages I might read of a book before I realize it’s not for our readers. Or the purely personal reading I do for my monthly book club and to satisfy niche interests. Even before I made a living reading, I always loved books— the escape they gave me, the perspective even fiction offered on my own life. But a few years ago, I felt I wasn’t finishing as many as I used to (having cable for the first time in a decade may have had something to do with it). So I formally set a goal to read more and track my progress. Since then, I’ve doubled the number of books I read each year (from 40 to 80) by fitting in reading whenever and wherever I have a free minute. You can make time for more books too. Try the strategies here to get to that satisfying, turned-the-last-page feeling.

drop misconceptions Many of us buy into not-actually-real rules that make reading feel daunting—like that we have to finish what we start or that we should only read Serious Literature, says Daniel T. Willingham, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of Raising Kids Who Read. You officially have permission on the following: You do not have to finish a book—and if you dread picking a certain one up, that’s probably a sign to move on. You can peek at the ending or even skip around. Reading isn’t a race, and there’s nothing wrong with going slow. There’s also no rule that says you need to read a big book. Glory Edim, founder and creative director of Well-Read Black Girl, a website, online community, and festival celebrating women and black literature, says most of the books she reads are between 250 and 300 pages long, allowing her to average about one a week. She also includes short-story collections and literary journals as part of her reading time. “The beauty of reading is that you can create your own habits and look for innovative new things to discover,” she says.

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t weak your habits

break things up Another misconception is that you need to sit down and focus for long stretches. Ask any insatiable reader for their top tip, and they’ll say they read in short bursts, as well as for uninterrupted hours when they’re available. If I’m waiting—for coffee, for the subway, or to get through airport security—I am probably reading a book. Emily May, a top reviewer on Goodreads, the social network for tracking, discovering, and reviewing books, says this method makes even long books feel less intimidating. “When you break a book down into 10-minute sessions, it’s much more doable,” she says. Thanks in part to squeezing in a few paragraphs anytime she can, May reads about 200 books a year.

eliminate distractions For some of us (like me, an admitted Instagram obsessive), phones and devices are just too tempting to be around when you want to crack open a book. Pamela Paul, editor of the New York Times Book Review and coauthor, with Maria Russo, of How to Raise a Reader, doesn’t keep any devices in her bedroom. “Even a phone lying beside me, facedown, notifications off, is a distraction,” she says. “Because then you just wonder, ‘What’s happening in there?’ ” Edim simply turns her devices off. “When I am reading, I’m reading,” she says. “Like when you walk into the theater for two hours to watch a play, you turn off your phone, and you’re not interacting. I try to apply that same principle and give the book author my full attention.” You might also consider an app that tracks and curbs screen time, such as Moment or Flipd (free; iOS and Android).

or use tech to your advantage All that said, it’s also true that technology has made it easier than ever to always have a book on your person. Those books I mentioned reading while waiting in line? Most likely, they’re e-books I downloaded from my local library using OverDrive’s Libby app (free; iOS and Android), which I keep on my phone next to Instagram—a subtle nudge to reconsider boredom scrolling. The free Kindle app from Amazon syncs with your Kindle, so you can pick up where you left off on any device. Then, of course, there are audiobooks, which I recommend to friends who tell me they don’t have time to read but have several podcasts on rotation. Audiobooks turn time spent cleaning, driving, walking the dog, exercising— basically, whenever you can pop in headphones or turn up the volume—into reading time. So yes, they count!

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In his book The Power of Habit, journalist Charles Duhigg took a deep dive into the research around habits: how they form and change and how they shape our lives. What he found was that every habit has a cue (something that triggers the activity, like the time of day or an emotion) and a reward (a treat to eat, a new emotion, a change of scenery) attached to it. Rewards especially signal to our brain that this is an activity to turn into a habit. You can try this system when starting a reading habit. You might leave a book on your bedside table as your cue and, after 20 minutes of reading, do a favorite yoga pose or watch a TV episode or funny video as a reward. The act of buying a book can be both cue and reward (I finish this book and I get to buy another one). For some, celebrating an accomplishment—thinking about how good you feel after reading—is reward enough. “Say to yourself, ‘I just read 10 pages, and that’s not a small thing,’ ” says Duhigg. “Our brain pays attention to stuff like that.”

organize and track your progress Every year, millions of readers pledge to complete a reading challenge on Goodreads. Setting my own yearly challenge (currently 80 books), I get a motivation boost as I approach the goal, or when I realize I’m two books behind schedule. May goes a step further and uses Goodreads to organize lists (what the website calls bookshelves) to meet her challenge. She has a short to-read list and a longer to-read list for books she hopes to get to in the future. “I’m much more likely to stick to my goals when I set myself a short list of, say, 10 high-priority books than I am when I just have one seemingly never-ending list,” she says. Craving a less numbers-driven challenge? Check out the Read Harder Challenge from the website Book Riot. It encourages trying new genres and reading more diverse books, among other things. If you’re in a reading rut because you don’t know what to read next, ask a bookseller or librarian for recommendations. Follow a few “bookstagrammers” on Instagram who read your favorite genre. Download sample chapters whenever you hear or read about an interesting-sounding book so they’re waiting when you’re ready. Sign up for BookBub to get ideas from authors you love. Keep a list too: Paul has a diary of every book she’s read since she was 17 (she published a memoir about this, My Life with Bob, in 2017). “Over the years, this diary has come to tell the story of my own life and has even enhanced the experience of reading itself,” she says. “I love thinking of my life as a trajectory of other people’s stories—their influences, their thoughts, their words enriching my own.”

make it interactive A book club is great if you’re the kind of person who likes a deadline; plus, of course, it’s enjoyable to get together and discuss a book. Edim is in one and also has a more informal group text with friends to discuss what they’re reading. Paul, a mom of three, does what she calls “parallel reading” with her children. She reads side by side with each of her children before bed to wind down. “I love that our evenings end with this quiet, shared together time. I would get a lot less reading in if we didn’t do this,” she says.

remember to have fun Tracking books, setting goals, and using new reading tools aside: Don’t let your desire to read “enough” take the enjoyment out of it, says Willingham. Even regular readers fret about this. Many books editors and friends of mine finish way more books than I do. Some weeks I cannot stop scrolling Instagram, or I get home and just want to watch whatever prestige TV show I keep reading about on Twitter, all the while beating myself up about how I should be reading. Sometimes my attention span wanes to the point that it’s hard to focus on any book. (In these cases, I’ll pick up an absorbing thriller or a book with short paragraphs to feel motivated again.) But what’s actually “enough” is this: If for five minutes or 50, you get lost in a story—whether it’s a 10-line poem or a multigenerational family drama the size of a brick— you’re doing it right.

W H AT ’ S YO U R B E S T READ-MORE TIP? If we’re starting a family road trip, my husband and I will both pop in an earbud and listen to my latest Audible pick while the kids are playing and reading on their tablets. —Chelsea Humphrey, Goodreads top reviewer We went several years without a TV. I reclaimed my evenings in bed purely as reading time, and it’s a habit that has stuck. Last year we broke down and got a TV again. But now, even when I want to watch a TV show or movie, I usually want to read my book more, so the TV has not taken over, not at all. —Maria Russo, New York Times Book Review children’s books editor and coauthor of How to Raise a Reader

Inspired to stop by your indie bookstore? Find 23 suggestions for your next read at realsimple.com/greatbooks.

I make little stacks of books in places where I will see them to remind myself I have a list I’m working through. —Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation I read in the bathtub before bed every night! —Jasmine Guillory, author of The Wedding Party and The Wedding Date, among other books I borrow e-books from my local library so I always have a book on my phone and a deadline to finish it by. —Reera Yoo, cohost of the podcast Books & Boba

It’s back to school, back to work, back to all of it. Stay sane with these easy meals up your sleeve. When you can’t eat together, keep a dish of green chile enchiladas (page 142) in the oven for comers and goers. Wake up the pasta program with brown butter and broccoli rabe (page 143) or a silky cauliflower Alfredo sauce (page 148). And don’t forget about breakfast. Stock one—or all—of our favorite frozen options (page 150) to help weekday mornings run smoothly. Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

Photograph by Caitlin Bensel

FO O D ST Y L I N G BY C H E LS E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N

S E P TE M B E R

Easy Dinner 1

Green chile enchiladas ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR SERVES 4

✓ Freezable ✓ Make Ahead ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Gluten-Free ✓ Family Friendly

2 tsp. ground cumin 1 yellow onion, seeded and chopped 1 poblano chile, chopped 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (from 2 ears) 1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 6 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups), divided 1 1/3 cups tomatillo salsa or salsa verde 1 4.5-oz. can chopped green chiles, drained 3/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for serving 1/2 cup sour cream, divided 8 6-in. corn tortillas

oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add cumin and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion, poblano, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add corn and cook, stirring, until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in beans and 1 cup cheese. Set aside. PREHEAT

tomatillo salsa, green chiles, cilantro, 1/4 cup sour cream, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. PROCESS

SPREAD 3/4 cup sauce in the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Place about 1/2 cup bean mixture in each tortilla, roll up, and lay seam side down in dish. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake until bubbling and beginning to brown, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Top with remaining sour cream and cilantro. PER SERVING: 565 CALORIES, 28G FAT (12G SAT.), 58MG CHOL., 10G FIBER, 21G PRO., 60G CARB., 1,843MG SOD., 7G SUGAR

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Photographs by Caitlin Bensen

FO O D ST Y L I N G BY C H E LS E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N

2 Tbsp. canola oil

FOOD

Easy Dinner 2

Brown butter pasta with broccoli rabe ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 4

✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Family Friendly

12 oz. rigatoni or other short pasta 1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 2-in. pieces 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/3 cup golden raisins 3 Tbsp. sherry vinegar 2 Tbsp. drained capers 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper 1/2 oz. ricotta salata cheese, shaved (about 1/4 cup) Lemon zest, for serving a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli rabe during the last 2 minutes. Drain; reserve 1 cup pasta water. BRING

butter in a large skillet over medium. Cook, stirring often, until foam subsides and butter turns golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add raisins, vinegar, capers, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring, until raisins plump, 1 to 2 minutes. MELT

pasta, broccoli rabe, and reserved pasta water to skillet. Simmer, stirring, until liquid reduces and coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Top with cheese and lemon zest. ADD

PER SERVING: 483 CALORIES, 14G FAT (8G SAT.), 34MG CHOL., 5G FIBER, 14G PRO., 75G CARB., 661MG SOD., 10G SUGAR

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FOOD

Easy Dinner 3

Orange-glazed chicken and coconut rice ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4

✓ Gluten-Free ✓ Family Friendly

1/3 cup orange marmalade 1 Tbsp. tamari or soy sauce 1 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar 1 Tbsp. Asian chili-garlic sauce 8 heads baby bok choy (about 8 oz.), halved lengthwise 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts 1 orange, thinly sliced 1 13.66-oz. can light unsweetened coconut milk, well shaken and stirred 1 cup jasmine rice Sliced scallions, for serving

PREHEAT broiler to high. Whisk marmalade, tamari, vinegar, and chili-garlic sauce in a small bowl. Toss together bok choy, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl.

TRANSFER

SEASON chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook, without disturbing, until skin is golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip chicken skin side up; arrange orange slices and bok choy in skillet, sliding orange slices under chicken. Drizzle marmalade sauce over chicken and bok choy.

MEANWHILE,

skillet to oven and broil until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 165°F and bok choy is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes. bring coconut milk, 1/3 cup water, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over mediumhigh. Stir in rice and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Serve chicken over rice with bok choy and orange slices. Drizzle with pan sauce and top with scallions. PER SERVING: 604 CALORIES, 21G FAT (7G SAT.), 111MG CHOL., 1G FIBER, 44G PRO., 58G CARB., 1,055MG SOD., 20G SUGAR (9G ADDED SUGAR)

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FOOD

1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Easy Dinner 4

Thai beef salad ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4

✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Gluten-Free

4 tsp. light brown sugar, divided 1 lb. skirt steak, cut crosswise into 3 pieces 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 2 limes) 1 Tbsp. fish sauce 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper 1 large shallot, thinly sliced 1 Tbsp. canola oil 2 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped (about 4 cups) 1 cup halved multicolored cherry tomatoes 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro or basil leaves, divided 1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves

146 REAL SIMPLE

together salt, black pepper, and 2 teaspoons sugar in a small bowl; rub mixture on steak. Let stand for 10 minutes. Whisk lime juice, fish sauce, crushed red pepper, shallot, and remaining 2 teaspoons sugar in a large bowl. STIR

HEAT oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Cook steak, in batches if necessary, flipping once, until charred and medium-rare, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

romaine, tomatoes, and 1/4 cup cilantro to bowl with lime dressing and toss to coat. Serve steak over salad, topped with mint and remaining cilantro. ADD

PER SERVING: 267 CALORIES, 13G FAT (4G SAT.), 74MG CHOL., 2G FIBER, 26G PRO., 12G CARB., 919MG SOD., 8G SUGAR (4G ADDED SUGAR)

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

Easy Dinner 5

Pan-seared scallops with melted leeks ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4

✓ Quick Cooking ✓ One Pot ✓ Gluten-Free

3/4 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, torn 1 red Fresno chile, finely chopped 1/2 tsp. lemon zest plus 2 tsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon) 6 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided 6 large leeks, thinly sliced (about 6 cups) 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 1/2 lb. large sea scallops, patted dry Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for serving

together olives, chile, lemon zest and juice, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. STIR

4 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium. Add leeks, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 12 to 16 minutes. Divide mixture among plates. Wipe skillet clean. HEAT

remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over high. Season scallops with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add scallops to skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden brown and mostly opaque, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve scallops over leeks with olive mixture and parsley. HEAT

PER SERVING: 423 CALORIES, 25G FAT (4G SAT.), 41MG CHOL., 4G FIBER, 23G PRO., 28G CARB., 1,731MG SOD., 5G SUGAR

FOOD

Better for You FA S T, H E A LT H Y, A N D F U L L O F F L AV O R . THIS MONTH: VEGAN C AULIFLOWER ALFRED O SAUCE By Ananda Eidelstein

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4

4 cups cauliflower florets (from a 1-lb. head) 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk 2 cloves garlic, smashed 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 lb. fettuccine, cooked according to package directions Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving cauliflower, cashew milk, and garlic in a saucepan. Cover and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender and most of the cashew milk is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. mixture to a blender. Add nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and 1/4 cup water. Process until very smooth, scraping down sides as needed. TRANSFER

pasta with sauce until evenly coated. Top with parsley and several grinds of pepper. (Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.) TOSS

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Photograph by Victor Protasio

FO O D ST Y L I N G BY C H E LS E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P ST Y L I N G BY C L A I R E S P O L L E N

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Birch Benders Buttermilk Toaster Waffles Surprise ingredients, like oatmeal and yogurt, add flavor and texture to these golden waffles. They’re so good, we didn’t need syrup. TO BUY: $5; at grocery stores.

Jimmy Dean Egg & Cheese Biscuit Roll-Ups Buttery, flaky biscuits are wrapped around cheesy eggs for a savory breakfast treat. Eat them on the go or serve as part of a brunch spread. TO BUY: $6; at grocery stores.

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Kodiak Cakes Maple & Brown Sugar Power Flapjacks Loaded with protein, these subtly sweet pancakes will keep you feeling satisfied all morning long. TO BUY: $5; at grocery stores.

Sweet Earth Baja Breakfast Burrito While the competition fell apart, this tortilla held its shape without getting mushy. The meat-free favorite also packs a chipotle kick. TO BUY: $3; at grocery stores.

BEST BOWL

Daily Harvest Apple + Cinnamon Oat Bowl Packed with apples, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds, this superfood oat bowl tastes like apple pie in a cup. The best part? It’s delivered right to your door. TO BUY: From $7 per cup; daily-harvest.com.

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Thrive Energy Readyto-Blend Smoothie Blend the cup of berries, banana, mango, orange, and cherries with a milk of your choice for a feel-good start that won’t weigh you down. TO BUY: $4; at Target.

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WHO CARES WHICH TR AIN GETS TO POUGHKEE P SIE FIRST? B RU S H I N G U P O N M AT H S K I L L S W O U L D B E E A S IER I F T H E Q U E ST I O N S W E R E A L I T T L E M O R E R E L AT ABLE. By Janine Annett

You’re working from home and on an important conference call when your child says, “Alexa, play ‘7 Rings.’” Calculate how quickly you can hit mute on your phone, factoring in how soon the song will start and how loud the volume will be.

You recently decided to take a job that pays 20 percent less than your previous job but allows you to work from home 30 percent more. Your property taxes increase by 50 percent. Have you made a good decision or a bad one? Show your work.

You are home alone with some miniature peanut butter cups your child got from her teacher for Valentine’s Day. How long can you resist eating some, and how many can you take before your child notices? Bonus question: Can you calculate your co-pay for a cavity filling?

You have 15,723 unread emails and are weighing the pros and cons of deleting all of them. What is the probability that one of them is crucially important?

Your mom calls and says she wants to drop by. It’s dinnertime, and she’ll expect a meal. She won’t eat pizza (she’s “off dairy”) and doesn’t like Chinese food. You have three eggs and two questionable lettuce leaves in the refrigerator. She arrives in seven minutes. Solve for dinner.

Soccer practice starts in 17 minutes, two miles away. Your child needs to find a clean soccer uniform, cleats, shin guards, socks, a ball, and a water bottle. How late will you be to practice? Remember: You cannot drive more than 10 miles above the speed limit because you put that bumper sticker on your car proclaiming you are setting an example as a safe driver.

Your child’s friend is at your house when you find out he has pinkeye. Determine the fastest method of getting him out, and calculate how many loads of laundry you can do in two hours.

154 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019

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