RS - August 2017

realsimple LIFE MADE EASIER

Freshen Up Your Home CLEAN ANY ROOM IN LESS TIME

+

Easy Exercise That Works Spreading Kindness in a Rude World Healthy-Enough Summer Treats

AUGUST 2017

Shopping lists that connect your home to your phone.

It’s more than a fridge.

It’s the Family Hub .

TM

Live beautiful

© 2017 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Requires Family Hub app (free) and Internet connection. Screen images simulated.

6

Thoughts

“There comes a time in ever y life when the world gets quiet and the only thing lef t is your own hear t.”

TRUNK ARCHIVE

—SARAH DESSEN, Just Listen

AUGUST 2017

PHOTO GRAPH BY TES SA TRAEGER

Made to last.

© 2017 LEVOLOR® Inc.

8

Editor ’s Note

Follow me on Twitter @lyazel

and Instagram @leslieyazel

AUGUST 2017

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f e w ye a r s a g o , I w a s nine months pregnant, waiting to board an Amtrak train in a crowded station, when the man behind me snarled to his companion, “I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing. This is the line for people who need more time!” How rude, I thought, and spun around to give him a piece of my mind.

But when we saw each other, we both said, “Oh, sorry!” He clearly hadn’t realized I was pregnant (my husband apparently wasn’t fibbing when he said you couldn’t tell from the back).

And I didn’t know he and his wife were juggling three small babies in strollers and carriers. We were all hot and tired, but we ended up having a friendly conversation about the travails of family travel. Often those are the reasons for our random acts of rudeness: a misunderstanding, a lack of information, circumstances that are physically uncomfortable. And that’s why when I’m confronted with discourteous people, I generally take a few deep breaths and create a backstory for them. Maybe she’s going through a lousy divorce and feels mad at the world. Maybe he had to work with no lunch break because another sales associate didn’t show up. It’s my storyteller’s way of taking the high road, and it also helps me shrug off annoying but insignificant slights and move on.

But what about when someone is overtly rude— behavior that cannot be ignored or explained away? In “Spreading Kindness in a Rude World” (page 109), we explore the best ways to deal with rudeness in real life, whether from strangers, friends, or, yes, even your own kids. None of us are angels, but we can certainly all take small steps to try to get along in this world better and with more kindness.

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Contents August 2017

ON THE COVER Freshen up your home: Clean any room in less time 142 Easy exercise that works

127

Spreading kindness in a rude world 109 Healthy-enough summer treats

148

148 Homemade ice pops for grown-ups

136

65

27

Romantic late-summer manis

Instant kitchen uplift

Sunglasses that last

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 T E S TA N I

PROP STYLING BY KIRA CORBIN

AUGUST 2017

©2016 P&G

EYES THAT WON’T SHOW YOUR AGE Olay Eyes. A collection to fight the look of every eye concern: Brighten, Depuff, Li , Smooth, or Ultimately, all of it. #AGELESS

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14

Contents

38

165

75

156

Delicious weeknight meals

Unconventional denim

Community activism made easy

6 8 16 20 23

What We Love Clear Eyes Klutz-proof sunglasses and more cool stuff we spied this month 27 The Staple Rice vinegar

30

Little Helpers Clever items that make every day better 32 My Favorite Piece L.A. designer Justina Blakeney’s boho-chic chandelier 36 Pretty Smart Beauty buys to save your sanity 38

The Realist Bathe Your Dog Like a Pro Now What?!?

Solutions for life’s mini disasters

43

Trend to Try Urban safari

Things Cooks Know

52 54

Drugstore Insider Picks from glow pro Anna Stankiewicz

58

Organize This Tidy your fridge

61

65

5 Ways to Make Summer Last Forever 91 Modern Manners Catherine Newman offers advice

97

Good Read Janelle Brown on embracing escapist fantasies 101 What’s Selling at the Pet Store?

The owner of Ruff Life Pet Outfitters shares picks for active pups

Balance Write Emails That Get Answered Exactly what to write when networking ..... 117 How They Do It Five VIPs on beating the Sunday blahs 120

Relating 50

Your Kitchen Style Upgrade Finishing touches to rehab any cook space with ease

86

48

Real Simplifier Your two-month countdown to moving day

Road Test Bikini-area savers

New Blues Denim’s all about the details this season 75

7 Ways to Save on Health Care

135

Features Garden Party Pretty Soft, lovely nail shades and patterns to pair with floral prints 136

106

Spreading Kindness in a Rude World React with grace when you’re irked 109

Build a Better Hometown Simple ways to get involved and make meaningful change

156

122

The Pros of Taking It Slow The new think on exercise: Hard-core isn’t always better 127 Ahhh

Pop Culture From kiwi-cucumber to blackberry-wine, sophisticated spins on the ice pop 148

What’s Your Cleaning Personality?

Find the method that works for you 142

Food 5 Easy Dinners

165

Road Test Seltzer

174

Big Batch Oven-dried tomatoes

176

Make It Yourself Nut butter

178

The Struggle Is Real Rituals

182 186

REAL SIMPLE® (ISSN 1528-1701) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TIME INC. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 225 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10281. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, NY, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS (SEE DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE, P.O. BOX 62120, TAMPA, FL 33662-2120. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40110178. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADA ADDRESSES TO: POSTAL STN. A, P.O. BOX 4015, TORONTO, ON M5W 2T2. GST#888381621RT0001. SUBSCRIBERS: IF THE POSTAL SERVICE ALERTS US THAT YOUR MAGAZINE IS UNDELIVERABLE, WE HAVE NO FURTHER OBLIGATION UNLESS WE RECEIVE A CORRECTED ADDRESS WITHIN TWO YEARS. U.S. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $28.95 FOR ONE YEAR. YOUR BANK MAY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE CARD INFORMATION WE HAVE ON FILE. YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS SERVICE AT ANY TIME. MAILING LIST: WE MAKE A PORTION OF OUR MAILING LIST AVAILABLE TO REPUTABLE FIRMS. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: FOR 24/7 SERVICE, PLEASE USE OUR WEBSITE, REALSIMPLE.COM/CUSTOMERSERVICE. YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-881-1172 OR WRITE TO REAL SIMPLE AT P.O. BOX 62120, TAMPA, FL 336622120. © 2017 TIME INC. FOR INTERNATIONAL LICENSING AND SYNDICATION REQUESTS, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.TIMEINC.COM/SYNDICATION OR CALL 1-212-522-5868. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. REAL SIMPLE® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF TIME INC. VOLUME 18, ISSUE 8. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

AUGUST 2017

NAIL POLISH, BRIAN HENN

Thoughts Editor’s Note Real Simple 24/7 The Short List Your Words

T me f MeT me R n y

Run and Do e

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i

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Real Simple 24/ 7 Follow us online F O R E XC LU S I V E

I D E A S , T I P S , A N D WAY S T O M A K E L I F E E A S I E R E V E R Y D AY. BAC K TO S C H O O L

MEET

BRANDI BROXS O N ART I C L E S ED I TO R AT R E AL S I M P L E

Favorite new use for an old thing?

Over-the-door shoe rack turned vertical herb garden.

M A K E F LOW E R S L A ST Brandi, our resident New Uses for Old Things expert, shared three tips for arranging and extending the life of your flowers with everyday objects, such as a mesh bag. Go to realsimple .com/flowerhacks.

Guilty pleasure?

My granny’s banana pudding.

What you’re looking forward to this fall?

Rowing a boat in Central Park. @BRANDIBROXSON ON INSTAGRAM

#

#RSNEWUSES

A genius breakfast idea for a crowd Need to feed a group on a busy morning?

Try our sheet pan egg sandwiches. The trick is using a baking sheet to cook two dozen eggs all at once (yes, you read that right). Check out the recipe at realsimple.com/ eggsandwich.

Each week on our Instagram Stories, we test new ways to use things around the house, from rubber bands to nail polish. Follow us for the surprising results.

PINTEREST @REALSIMPLE

TWITTER @REALSIMPLE

FAC E B O O K @REALSIMPLE

AUGUST 2017

S N A P C H AT @REALSIMPLEMAG

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

C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P L E F T : D A N I A M A X W E L L ; C O U R T E S Y O F S A R A H YA N G ; I S T O C K P H O T O / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; C O U R T E S Y O F R E A L S I M P L E . C O M

Sharpen the pencils, move up the kids’ bedtime, and tap into the energy of a new season. For organizing tips to start the school year off right, visit real simple.com/b2s.

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20

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

The essays collected in Life in Code, from computer programmer and author Ellen Ullman, trace the past 20 years of digital progress. Her takes on tech’s gains (iPhones, endless information) and drawbacks (decision paralysis, loneliness) are often witty and always accessible.

AUGUST 2017

Great for book club Yejide, the protagonist of Ayobami Adebayo’s Stay with Me, eschews the polygamy her Nigerian family practices—until she finds that she can’t get pregnant. With lyrical prose, Adebayo explores how far a woman will go to save her marriage.

Healing memoir Reeling from deaths, crises, and trauma, journalist Anne Gisleson and a group of friends formed the Existential Crisis Reading Group.

In The Futilitarians, Gisleson movingly recounts how they found comfort in the words of Tolstoy, Kafka, and other greats.

Provocative POV In Tom Perrotta’s Mrs. Fletcher, we meet Eve, a recent empty nester with a developing porn addiction.

The button-pushing author of Little Children and The Leftovers here tackles political correctness, sex, and parenting in the digital age.

For foodies In Acid Trip, Michael Harlan Turkell deepdives into an underrated ingredient: vinegar. He tours the world sampling varieties, tossing in tips for making your own, surprising uses (pies, cocktails), and recipes from chefs like April Bloomfield and Daniel Boulud.

WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH SILE

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

PHOTO GRAPH BY AL ICE GAO

PROP ST YLING BY KIRA CORBIN

Tech dispatches

Elite shown. ©2017 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

A little separation goes a long way.

The all-new Odyssey with available Magic Slide™ seats.

When things between your kids get a little too prickly, easily separate them with available Magic Slide™ seats. Because sometimes, saying “break it up, you two” isn’t enough. It’s just one of the many ways to keep the peace in the all-new Honda Odyssey.

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23

Yo u r Wo r d s

What’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

An incredible woman a t t h e Wo m e n ’ s M a r c h told me I had lipstick on my teeth.

W e b o n d e d i n s t a n t l y. @ABBDEAN

My mother-in-law has dementia and is in a wheelchair.

It is rare that she agrees to leave her assisted living home anymore.

We took her to the park the other day, and a stranger came up and told her how pretty she looked. She immediately smiled and said, “Why, thank you.”

It truly brightened her day.

LISA JUNKINS, COLLIERVILLE, TENNESSEE

Our neighborhood really pushes recycling, so much so that our trash has to be thrown away in special bags. When we bought our house, before we even moved in, a neighbor (a few streets down!) and longtime resident dropped off multiple sizes of the trash bags, along with a card and a bottle of wine. We felt so welcomed to our new home!

ASHLEY NYLIN, DECATUR, GEORGIA

#WOMENIRL

@ STO RYP I EC E M A D E T H E S E D I Y S U C C U L E N T F AV O R S W I T H M I N I T E R R A - C O T TA P O T S , P A I N T, A N D W A S H I TA P E .

When I was first separated from my children’s father, my youngest was a senior in high school. After the information came out about senior portraits, I wrote to the company saying that although the proofs were lovely, I couldn’t afford to purchase any. Much to my surprise, an envelope containing the photos arrived in our mailbox a short while later, including an 8-by-10 for framing. I frantically called the company to say I couldn’t pay for them, and the office manager told me they were a gift from the company president, who couldn’t bear a family forgoing their child’s senior portrait.

NANCY LIPPINCOT T, GRAF TON, MASSACHUSET TS

Gave me up for adoption.

I have a wonder ful life.

By giving me up for adoption, she was truly thinking of what was best f o r m e a n d n o t o f h e r s e l f.

DANIELLE DEBOW O’DONNELL , L A N S D A L E , P E N N S Y LVA N I A

AUGUST 2017

24

Yo u r Wo r d s

What’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

I came home from work one day to find that my neighbor had mowed my lawn. I had hurt my back and been unable to do it myself for several weeks.

WENDY HAMMACK , L ANCASTER, CALIFORNIA

A couple at a restaurant stopped by our table to compliment my children’s behavior.

With four children 6 and under, I normally hear comments like “You have your hands full!” Hearing a kind word instead was a treasure I won’t soon forget.

ELIZABETH BUTLER, TAMPA , FLORIDA

One Saturday morning in college, I was standing in the flower section at a grocery store wanting to pick out roses for my sweet mom as I was heading home to visit.

I had no idea how to pick the freshest bouquet. A nice lady noticed my puzzlement and kindly proceeded to go through every type of flower in the store, showing me how to check for freshness and quality and how to care for each type. I am so grateful for her and still use her knowledge often.

KATRINA LEE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN

The women who shared the photos in this column will receive a piece from our new fashion accessory line.

Get your own at real simplestyle.com.

Tag Instagram posts with #WOMENIRL to be considered for future columns.

AUGUST 2017

While I was running to school through the streets of Boston in the pouring rain, a nice man give me his umbrella. @DJEATONME

Many years ago, a successful advertising executive came up to me after a meeting and told me I should be in advertising and invited me to her office to observe. Her insightful perception led to my reality. I’ve spent 40 years in magazine sales and am still going strong!

GAIL GILLMAN ELANSKY, AVON, CONNECTICUT

When I was racing to get the invitations in a large mailing stamped, a delightful postal employee helped place the final 60 stamps in time for the last pickup of the day!

# W O M E N I R L @ B R A N DY W I N E _ B UZ Z S AY S , “ M I G H T N E E D A L I T T L E M O R E W I N E B E F O R E I S TA R T T H I S S I N K F U L . ”

NEXT QUEST ION...

What is your most cherished family heirloom?

Go to realsimple .com/yourwords and let us know your answer to this question.

Your response could appear on these pages.

PAMELA LOVETT, HOUSTON

I am a heart transplant recipient who is thankful for the anonymous donor who s aved my life.

EL AINE PALIATSAS-HAUGHEY, BELLMAWR, NEW JERSEY

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what we love

27

Clear Eyes

PROP ST YLING BY KIRA CORBIN

If you’re the type who scratches your lenses on a regular basis, this brand of sunglasses is for you. Order replacement lenses (for just $5), pop out the old ones, and repair your sunnies in a cinch—no tools required. In 14 styles.

TO BUY:

From $48; sunski.com.

WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE SISCO

PHOTO GRAPH BY AL ICE GAO

AUGUST 2017

28

W H AT W E L O V E

T OTA L S O L A R E C L I P S E

ON AUGUST 21, CITIES ALONG A PATH FROM OREGON TO SOUTH CAROLINA WILL WITNESS A TOTAL ECLIPSE—THE FIRST ONE IN THE U.S. SINCE 1979. EVERYBODY ELSE CAN CATCH A PARTIAL ECLIPSE. VISIT ECLIPSE2017.NASA.GOV FOR INFO AND SAFETY TIPS.

VERA BRADLEY COLORING BOOKS This fall, the beloved luggage brand will launch a pair of coloring books featuring outlines of its iconic patterns. Bonus: The books include gift tags and color-in note cards to share.

TO BUY: $15 each; amazon.com.

M E D I TAT I O N MANICURES Try the latest trend in self-care: Sundays, a wellness-focused nail salon in New York City, is offering headphones to clients so they can listen to a guided meditation during their treatment. For a DIY version, download the Inscape app to relax at your local nail salon (or anywhere else you want to chill). TO BUY: $13 per month; itunes.com.

AN ODE TO THE CUKE

REAL SIMPLE’S FOOD DIRECTOR, DAWN PERRY, WORKED WITH SHORT STACK TO PUT TOGETHER CUCUMBERS, A COOKBOOK FEATURING 24 RECIPES, FROM PICKLES AND BEVERAGES TO SIDE DISHES AND SWEETS. FIND THIS AND OTHER SINGLE-SUBJECT RECIPE BOOKS FOR $14 EACH AT SHORTSTACKEDITIONS.COM.

YO O B I S C H O O L S U P P L I E S

UNDERWO OD RIESLING RADLER Is it wine? Is it beer? Is it a refreshing summertime shandy? Yes to all! A traditional radler is a 50-50 mix of beer and citrus soda—and the latest version from the winemaker adds Riesling for a surprising low-alcohol mash-up.

TO BUY: $24 for 4; unionwinecompany.com.

AUGUST 2017

C O U R T E S Y O F C O M PA N I E S

On average, teachers spend nearly $500 of their own money each year on essential supplies for their classrooms.

Through a buy one, give one program, Yoobi hopes to ease their burden. Check out all the quirky offerings at yoobi.com.

30

W H AT W E L O V E

Quick ideas 1 BRINED PORK T E N D E R LO I N

The Staple You’ve already got a crowded shelf of vinegars in your pantry—red wine, white wine, cider, balsamic.

Isn’t r i c e v i n e g a r just for Asian dishes? No. Does it really belong with your everyday ingredients?

Yes! Rice vinegar is less acidic than some other vinegars and adds a mellow, sweet flavor to marinades and salad dressings. Choose unseasoned (we like Marukan); the seasoned variety has added sugar and salt, so it’s trickier to cook with. Or forget cooking altogether and pour it into a summery, gingery peach cocktail. According to the Vinegar Institute, a bottle keeps almost indefinitely.

But we say bottoms up.

Whisk together 2 cups water and cup each rice vinegar, granulated sugar, and kosher salt.

Transfer to a large resealable plastic bag. Add 1 lb. pork tenderloin and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.

Discard brine and pat pork dry; rub with 1 Tbsp. each olive oil and chopped fresh thyme and 1 tsp. black pepper. Grill over medium-high, turning occasionally, until a thermometer registers 140°F, 20 to 22 minutes. Serves 4.

2 P E AC H - A N D GINGER SHRUB

Process 1 peeled and pitted peach, cup rice vinegar, cup gin, 1 Tbsp. sugar, and tsp. peeled and grated ginger in a blender until smooth. Stir in cup seltzer. Serve over ice with fresh peach slices. Serves 2.

Whisk together cup rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. kosher salt. Cook 1 cup sushi rice according to package directions. Spread in a large glass baking dish and drizzle with vinegar mixture.

Form into 16 3-by-1in. pieces; top with lb. sliced sushigrade salmon. Add wasabi paste to taste.

Serves 4.

WRITTEN BY H E AT H G O L D M A N RECIPES BY PA IG E G R A N D J E A N

AUGUST 2017

PHOTO GRAPH BY AL ICE GAO

PROP ST YLING BY KIRA CORBIN

3 SA L M O N N I G I R I

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32

W H AT W E L O V E

Little Helpers

4

6 SMART PRODUCTS TO M A K E YO U R L I F E E A S I E R

R E T RACTA B L E L I N T ROLLER

Who knew this garment essential could look so chic? Just twist the base like lipstick and the lint roller extends, revealing a sticky sheet.

When you’re out of paper, pop on a refill.

TO BUY: Flint, $8–$10, refill, $3; meetflint.com.

2 BEAT-THE-HEAT L INENS

Stay cool at night with these 2,000-thread-count sheets. The cotton-poly blend contains Nanotex, which wicks away moisture. Set includes flat sheet, fitted sheet, and four pillowcases.

TO BUY: Home Reflections sheets, $54–$84; qvc.com.

5 TAC O - N IG H T TO O L

This nylon utensil has a raised fin for breaking apart ground meat, a tapered edge for scraping, and perforations that make draining fat a cinch. BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

TO BUY: Tovolo ground meat tool, $7; surla table.com.

3

ODOR ABSORBER

Banish that sweaty-gymbag smell with this palmsize wonder. It’s made with activated charcoal to neutralize odors rather than mask them. Lasts one year and can even be recharged in the sun.

TO BUY: Remodeez, $10; remodeez.com.

AUGUST 2017

BAC K PAC K C O O L E R

The ease of a backpack meets the functionality of a hard cooler with this waterproof carryall.

Insulating foam keeps 12 cans (plus ice) cold for up to 24 hours.

TO BUY: IceMule Classic Cooler, $60 (medium); icemulecooler.com.

6 P O RTA B L E W I N EG L A S S

Like a grown-up sippy cup for picnics, this glass tumbler holds a generous pour and has a grippable silicone sleeve.

Twist the lid to keep liquid contained on the go.

TO BUY: Goverre, $24; goverre.com.

WRITTEN BY BRANDI BROXSON

C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

1

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

READY. SET. SHOP.

THAT’S THE SPIRIT In use or on display, cheeky barware lends an upbeat, whimsical vibe. Pair with artfully classic accessories like wood coasters and copper metallic straws.

ROSANNA PINK DECANTER SALE PRICE $49.90 REGULAR PRICE $75

MASTER THE 5-MINUTE ROOM MAKEOVER WITH SUPER-SALE PRICES ON THE SEASON’S NEWEST ARRIVALS! Get a head-start on your fall refresh. Inspired by the legendary Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (July 21-August 6), we’ve curated easy upgrades you can buy now and get creative with later. Two weeks: that’s how long this amazing selection is on sale before the fall season begins (and prices go up). So shop early and often—we know you want to.

TRAY CHIC Elevate an old ottoman or table by placing a luxe decorative tray in the center. Reflect your mood with interesting collections on top, like framed photos or seasonal accents.

KENDRA SCOTT TRAY SALE PRICE $330.90 REGULAR PRICE $495

MIRROR MAGIC

BOOK SMART

PILLOW TALK

Try layering a decorative mirror over a wall mirror to add depth and “wow” to a powder room or mantel.

Instead of the standard end-table placement, set a lustrous textured lamp atop a generous stack of books.

Statement pillows are always a good idea.

Think furry or leather for fall and winter, bright zigzags or nautical stripes for spring and summer.

CRYSTAL ART GALLERY MIRROR SALE PRICE $129.90 REGULAR PRICE $195

JALEXANDER LAGUNA LAMP SALE PRICE $86.90 REGULAR PRICE $129.99

EIGHTMOOD FUYU DIP DYED PILLOW SALE PRICE $64.90 REGULAR PRICE $97

SHOP THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE IN STORES AND AT NORDSTROM.COM

Ashley Graham model, designer, body activist, author

It’s our Anniversary Sale!

Shop brand-new arrivals at super-sale prices. Starts July 21 and ends August 6.

Prices go up August 7.

36

W H AT W E L O V E

My Favorite Piece LOS ANGELES DESIGNER Justina Blakeney R E V E A L S

THE ONE HOME ACCESSORY SHE’S

My cream-colored wedding cake chandelier was a gift from my sister Faith. She’s an interior designer and knows I’ve always been obsessed with tassels and other trim. So when she saw two of these fun, fanciful pieces at the Long Beach, California, flea market back in 2010, she bought one for herself and the other for me, for $50 each. It’s very boho and dramatic, but because it’s a neutral, it can also sit near crazy wallpaper without being overwhelming. I love the surprising aspect of it: Trim is usually just a small detail, but this heavily textured piece flips that on its head, turning trim into the focal point. When people come over, they’re really drawn to this thing. It just makes them smile. Any kind of highly textured piece that is (or looks) handmade—a tasseled throw, a basket with a pom-pom detail, a Turkish towel with a decorative trim—is going to bring love into a room. The most interesting pieces, like this chandelier, are somehow really bold and understated at the same time.

GET THE LOOK CHANDELIER T H R OW

PI L LOW Fringed Diendra floor pillow, $148; anthropologie.com.

AUGUST 2017

Gargas pom-pom blanket, $175; indigo andlavender.com.

BA S K E T Mini eyelash tassel basket, $70; shop.indegoafrica.org.

Fela tassel chandelier, $194; shop .thejungalow.com.

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

T O TA L LY H U N G U P O N .

Your eczema may be hiding something.

You may think you know eczema, but what you might not know is that it’s a term used to describe a variety of skin conditions. The most common form of eczema is actually a chronic disease called atopic dermatitis.

You can see the signs of atopic dermatitis on the surface, but a key underlying cause remains hidden. Inflammation beneath the skin can lead to the red, itchy rashes that you try to manage, but just keep coming back. This underlying inflammation is always active, meaning your next flare-up is just waiting to return.

Don’t just focus on the symptoms; learn more about what may be happening beneath the skin’s surface at EczemaExposed.com.

US.DUP.16.11.119

US-ILF-12140h

© 2017 Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

38

W H AT W E L O V E

SHISEIDO I N KST R O K E EYELINER

Pretty Smart E y e l i n e r W I T H W AY L E S S M E S S , A N D S E V E N O T H E R

B E A U T Y B U Y S T O S AV E Y O U R S A N I T Y.

AUGUST 2017

W R I T T E N B Y H E AT H E R M U I R M A F F E I

PHOTO GRAPH BY AL ICE GAO

PROP ST YLING BY KIRA CORBIN

Sold with a substantial brush, the pot has a V-shaped stake in the center to wipe off excess liner for a neater rim and application.

Lay the brush flat, then drag the gel across lids. Or create less-intimidating dashes and fill them in. Eight hours later, no smudges.

TO BUY: $30 each; shiseido.com.

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40

W H AT W E L O V E

PA L E R M O B O DY T RA N Q U I L I T Y A R O M AT H E RA PY O I L

S I M P L E WAT E R B O O ST H Y D RAT I N G B O O ST ER Recharge dehydrated skin with this nongreasy gel packed with minerals and plant extracts. Wear it solo, mix a few drops with your moisturizer, or dab onto dry spots.

TO BUY: $13; at drugstores.

R E V LO N YO U T H FX F I L L + B LU R P R I M E R F O R FAC E / N EC K Keep foundation from settling into fine lines by swiping the applicator over the spot, tapping in, and letting dry. The cream plumps and blurs so makeup goes on smoother.

TO BUY: $20; at drugstores.

N E ST F RAG RA N C E S LIQUIDLESS DIFFUSER I N BA M B O O Maintenance-free and spillproof, these biodegradable sticks release fragrance for 30 days. Use two in a small space, four in a large one.

TO BUY: $60; nest fragrances.com.

AUGUST 2017

E S S I E T R E AT, LOV E & C O LO R Nail color and care in one step, this polish has collagen and camellia extract to help prevent peeling and breakage. Shown in (from left) Sheers To You and Laven-Dearly.

TO BUY: $10 each; essie.com.

RIMMEL SHAKE IT F R E S H M A S CA RA No more clumpy mascara, thanks to a little ball in the ttube that lets you efresh the mascara ref i h three vertical with kes before use. shake TO BUY: UY: $6; target.com.

C O L LO S O L E AU D E L A I T Like i e micellar watter but even better for f sensitive skin, is cleansing milk this gently whisks away i and makeup dirt i hout requiring a with i to the sink. trip ur onto a cotton Pou d and sweep over pad f e and neck. face TO BUY: B $18; bigelow emists.com. che

P R O D U CTS , C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S ; R E V LO N S M E A R , G R EG M A R I N O ; R I M M E L S W I P E , B R I A N H E N N

Calm in a bottle: When rolled onto temples, the blend of lavender and cypress oils smells like a spa and may even ward off a mini meltdown.

TO BUY: $32; palermobody.com.

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

G A L L E RY STO C K

Bathe Your Dog Like a Pro

For easy tips on how to clean pet beds and bowls, go to realsimple.com/ petcleanup.

WRI T TEN BY BRANDI BROXSON

The tub is the best place to wash your pooch, says Ashley Beltz, quality and education manager for PetSmart’s grooming salons.

The enclosure puts pets at ease, and you can control the temp (unlike the cold garden hose).

Saturate the coat with lukewarm water, then lather from head to tail, top to bottom, with an oatmeal dog shampoo (human varieties can disrupt the skin’s pH balance). Use calm, coaxing phrases, says Beltz. Rinse, towel dry, and give Fido a treat.

48

THE REALIST

Now What?!?

S m a r t f ixe s F O R L I F E ’ S L I T T L E DI S A ST E R S

My air conditioner smells musty when I turn it on.

My child wiggles out of her car seat.

D.C., VIA EMAIL

If it has been a while since you used it, the smell might just be from dust on your central air conditioner’s coils, says Justin Stevens, quality assurance manager at George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating in Phoenix. If the smell doesn’t go away in an hour or so, change the filter. Do so once a month or every two weeks if you run it a lot or have pets. Still smelly?

Call a service provider to inspect for leaks or debris and to clean the ducts, coil, and blower of your unit.

THE FIX:

Y.T., VIA EMAIL

A U G U S T 2017

My beach umbrella won’t stay put.

S.B., VIA EMAIL

Have a crisis that needs solving?

Email your problem to askrealsimple @realsimple.com.

A quality umbrella is key, says Butch Arbin, captain of the Ocean City Beach Patrol in Ocean City, Maryland. It should be heavy, and the pole should be at least 1 to 1¹/₂ inches thick, with a pronounced spike at the end. To set it up properly, first open the umbrella, then grip the top with both hands, spike the pole into the sand, and forcefully rock the stake back and forth.

With each motion, the umbrella will descend farther into the sand. (Get the stake 18 to 24 inches deep for maximum staying power.) Then position the umbrella so the canopy is facing against the direction of the wind.

THE FIX:

W E S T E N D 6 1 / D I S S O LV E

First, make sure she’s buckled in snugly, says pediatrician Alisa Baer, MD, cofounder of The Car Seat Lady.

It’s trickier than it sounds, so watch the demos at thecarseatlady .com/houdini. If she’s wiggling out of the straps, try Baer’s shirt trick: Place a buttondown shirt over her clothes and button it securely over all the straps—most kids aren’t able to undo the small buttons until ages 3 to 5. “Play ‘car’ with the child’s stuffed animals or action figures,” says Baer.

“Have the child be the mom or dad who needs to teach how to sit safely in the seat.”

THE FIX:

WRITTEN BY BRANDI BROXSON

©2016 P&G

A safety message from

It only takes a second Keep laundry pacs away from children

50

THE REAL IST

Real Simplifier

How to Move Without Losing It Did you know that more moves take place during the summer than in any other season? Follow this countdown to streamline the stressful process.

60–30 days

30 days

2–3 weeks

R E S E RV E YO U R T R U C K , M OV E R S , A N D B OX E S

P U R G E B E F O R E PAC K I N G

H E A D TO T H E AT T I C

Casting out unused objects beforehand will make packing and unpacking much easier, says professional organizer Barbara Reich of Resourceful Consultants: “Start from small to big, going drawer by drawer, closet by closet, and room by room, deciding what to sell, donate, or toss.”

When you’re ready to pack, first tend to the attic or basement, where least-used items often lurk.

Holiday decor, pool floats, and leaf blowers won’t be missed if they spend a few weeks in a box, notes Kevin Kleckner, director of national consumer sales at Penske Truck Rental.

“Opt for the middle of the month to move,” says Adam Doron, CEO of Unpakt, a booking website for moving services. “With most leases starting on the first of the month, you can save up to 30 percent on trucks and movers if you avoid that peak time.”

→

→

2 weeks

1 week

P R E P A S U RV I VA L K I T

PAC K W I T H U N LOA D I N G I N M I N D

S E T U P T H E B E D F I R ST

Plan to travel from point A to point B with a small suitcase of essentials—cleaning supplies, first aid kit, box cutters, toilet paper—you’ll want on hand. Keep valuables like jewelry, laptops, and important paperwork here.

Relocating can be especially fraught for kids, so have them fill a kit with favorite books or toys.

Write the contents or room on the side of a box instead of the top so it can be easily identified. Use packing paper rather than pricey, bulky Bubble Wrap as padding. Load a pickup or moving truck in this order: furniture other than beds, boxes heaviest to lightest, kitchen items, mattresses, and bed rails.

You’ll want a comfy place to crash after a long day. Next, focus on the kitchen, which typically has the most to unpack, much of it essential to day-to-day living.

Then fan out to less frequented rooms, like the entryway, den, and dining room. Unpack one room at a time, suggests Doron.

It minimizes the chaos.

→

Move-in day

→

For the best places to buy moving supplies, go to realsimple.com/moving.

AUGUST 2017

WRITTEN BY CAROLINE MCKENZIE

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y C H A R L O T T E T R O U N C E

#SNACKINGCHOCOLATE

52

THE REAL IST

Things Cooks Know S T R AT E G I E S , T E C H N I Q U E S , A N D T I P S all about ice pops —FROM THE REAL SIMPLE

T E ST K I TC H EN TO YO U R S

Keep Them from Melting at a Party It starts with a strategically packed cooler.

1 The day before the party, bring your cooler inside (e.g., out of the garage) to let it cool down. Fill empty water bottles or milk cartons with water and freeze overnight to create slow-melting ice blocks.

Add Booze for Grown-Ups

3 Set the cooler in a shady spot, close the lid, and cover with a towel. Pops will stay frozen for about one hour.

2

Unmold Without Fear Keep calm and repeat after us: No broken pops.

STEP 1 Fill your sink or a deep container with cold water (warm water will cause the pops to melt too quickly).

STEP 2 Dip the mold for five seconds, then gently wiggle the sticks. Repeat until the pops begin to loosen from the sides.

Give a firm tug to pull out.

STEP 3 Immediately place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and return to the freezer.

2 White rum can be used for boozy piña colada or daiquiri pops.

H OT T I P

We like the Prepworks

by Progressive Freezer Pop Maker.

WRIT TEN BY GRACE ELKUS

1 Vibrant red Campari makes for a fun grapefruitnegroni pop when mixed with grapefruit juice, gin, and vermouth.

3

3 Because of its lower ABV (alcohol by volume), you can be more generous with wine in pops.

Try pairing red wine with ripe berries.

For more cool treats, go to realsimple.com/ popsicle.

PHOTO GRAPH BY JENNIFER CAUSE Y

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y C H E L S E A Z I M M E R ; P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y C L A I R E S P O L L E N ; I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J O E M C K E N D R Y. B O T T L E S , F R O M T O P : G E T T Y I M A G E S ( 2 ) ; VA N C H A P L I N

1

2 The day of, pack the cooler tightly, alternating the ice blocks, ice packs, and loose ice (the fewer open spaces, the colder the cooler will be). Nestle a sheet tray of unmolded pops in the center and pack ice around it. Or fill freezer bags with unmolded pops and stash between layers of ice.

AUGUST 2017

Ready for a math lesson? Pops won’t freeze if the alcohol content is too high. Most spirits clock in at about 40 percent, so a good rule of thumb is to keep the total amount of alcohol to no more than a fifth of the mixture.

Here are three delicious pairings to consider:

©2017 The Coca-Cola Company. GOLD PEAK and THE TASTE THAT BRINGS YOU HOME are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.

. g a te e ic d e t n r i b h l l ’ e W o n. ti v n o c a s r e g e t rin h u o b Y

54

THE REAL IST

waxing with this antibacterial spray containing lavender essential oil.

TO BUY: $32; ouishave.com.

4 B E ST S H AV I N G CREAM EOS Shave Cream in Tropical Fruit This soap-free cream evenly coats to prevent nicks and doubles as a moisturizer.

Plus, it can be used on wet or dry skin.

(Plastic bottle means no rust rings!)

TO BUY: $3.50; target.com.

realsimple

ROAD TE ST R o a d Te s t

5 B E ST I N G R OW N I N H I B I TO R

All Things Bikini

Completely Bare Not Feeling It Whether you wax yourself or see a pro, this lidocainebased spray, generously misted onto skin 15 minutes prior, takes the edge off.

TO BUY: $11; ulta.com.

M A K E Y O U R M O S T I R R I TAT I N G S U M M E R TA S K M O R E S O O T H I N G W I T H T H E S E AT - H O M E H E L P E R S .

No Mo-Bush Portable Bikini Waxing Kit

With a five-blade razor on one end and an adjustable trimmer on the other, this tool makes customized grooming easy.

TO BUY: $14; target.com.

4

2

5

AUGUST 2017

With self-warming wax strips (rub to heat; no microwave needed) and tweezers, this is the least messy, most precise DIY kit we tried.

TO BUY: $22; nomostache.com.

3 B E ST P O ST S H AV E P R O D U CT Oui Shave Himalayan Sea Salt & Lavender After Shave Toner

3

These pads, soaked in alpha hydroxy acid, speed cell turnover to clear dead skin that causes bumps.

TO BUY: $26.50; waxcenter.com.

6 B E ST WAX K I T

2 B E ST RA ZO R Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle

1

European Wax Center Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes

6

Calm inflammation after shaving or

For ways to get rid of bikini breakouts, go to realsimple.com/ bumps.

WRITTEN BY L ISA DESANT IS

B I K I N I , M I L L E S ST U D I O / STO C K SY; P R O D U CTS , C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

1 B E ST N U M B I N G P R O D U CT

T H E O R I G I N A L S O U T H E R N O U T F I T T E R TM

shop online at

S O U T H E R N M A R S H .C O M

58

THE REAL IST

Drugstore Insider THE BEST BE AUT Y PRODUCTS IN THE A ISLES, HANDPICKED BY A PRO

ESSIE GEL COUTURE O N T H E L I ST

ANNA STA N K I E W I CZ

C E TA P H I L M O I ST U R I Z I N G CREAM CLEAN & CLEAR OIL ABSORBING S H E E TS

“It’s gentle on skin, plus it’s a great barrier cream to put on hands, feet, knees, and elbows before applying self-tanner.”

TO BUY: $16; ulta.com.

“These are great for when you put too much self-tanner on your face.

They lightly remove it without causing streaks or spots.”

TO BUY: $4.50; target.com.

MR. CLEAN M AG I C E RA S E R “Be careful—these are abrasive. But they work to remove self-tanner stains from palms.”

TO BUY: $6 for 2; target.com.

AUGUST 2017

S U N BU M C O O L D OW N S P RAY P H YS I C I A N S F O R M U L A B R O N Z E B O O ST E R G LOW - B O O ST I N G P R E S S E D P OW D E R “Physicians Formula bronzers go on smooth, not streaky, and cover blemishes. And they come in so many shades that you can match your skin tone without looking like a wax figure.”

TO BUY: $15; ulta.com.

“It’s amazing after sun exposure because it’s super moisturizing, smells like cucumber, and makes skin glow.”

TO BUY: $12; ulta.com.

A N N A S TA N K I E W I C Z , C O U R T E S Y O F S TA N K I E W I C Z ; P R O D U C T S , C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U F A C T U R E R S ; B R O N Z E R S M E A R , B R I A N H E N N

“Corals bring out a tan.

This one lasts as long as gel but doesn’t damage nails and can be taken off with regular polish remover.”

TO BUY: $11.50; essie.com.

Fergie, Chrissy Teigen, and Jessica Simpson line up (and strip down) to get airbrushed faux glows from Stankiewicz, who spray tans at Louise O’Connor Salon in New York City.

He’s back from college because h i dy .

y o u h ave a f re e w a s h e r !

Introducing ARM & HAMMER™ PLUS OXICLEAN™ 3-in-1 Power Paks.

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THE CLEAN YOU NEED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.* Keep out of reach of children. | *Per load vs. the leading single use brand.

THE REAL IST

Organize This

61

1 LIKE WITH LIKE

A good rule of thumb: Group similar items together. Designate a shelf for beverages or a spot where all dairy products should live to make them easy to find.

TO BUY: Linus Fridge Binz soda can organizer with shelf, $20; containerstore.com.

CLE A SHE ARER AND JOANNA TEPL IN, COFOUNDERS OF T H E H O M E E D I T, S H A R E H O W T H E Y M A K E T H AT D A I LY D I V E I N T O T H E r e f r i g e r a t o r A T R E AT.

2 P R E P S PAC E

1

Once a week, cut up fresh produce to have on hand for snacks and mealtime. Stash it at eye level in stackable, clear, airtight containers, then grab and go.

TO BUY: Snapware airtight storage set, $60 for 40 pieces; macys.com.

3 I N STA N T O R D E R

2

Reduce shelf clutter (and avoid losing items in the back of the fridge) by employing acrylic bins to corral awkward-shaped packages, like yogurt pouches or deli meat.

TO BUY: Fridge Binz, from $8; containerstore.com.

4 FLEXIBLE LABELS 3

4

Make the contents easy to identify at a glance by labeling bins with chalk markers.

TO BUY: White fine-tip chalk markers, $10 for 2; containerstore.com.

COURTESY OF THE HOME EDIT

5 DOOR DESIGN

The storage space on the door should be used to stash condiments and sauces. That frees up shelf space, which stays cooler, for more perishable items.

Find step-by-step instructions for cleaning your refrigerator at realsimple.com/ cleanfridge.

AUGUST 2017

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Tips to

POWER

Through Cleaning Motherhood is one of life’s most rewarding jobs, and most demanding. With only so many hours in a day and so much space in your home, these “power tools” are the one-and-done ways to get through it all.

1 TO OT H B R U S H Buy a pack of bargain toothbrushes and designate each to a specific cleaning duty: grout, sneakers, etc.

2 C LOT H E S PI N S There’s nothing they can’t hold together, including your sanity! Use clothespins as chip clips, paper clips, or to hold tiny nails—no more hammering your fingers.

3 X L U T I LI T Y B U C KE T You’d be amazed by how many uses there are for a massive utility bucket. Wash the dog, pre-soak laundry, or store winter clothing.

4 LAU N DRY PA KS Keep laundry paks on hand. ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ 3-in-1 Power Paks help save time, save headaches, and because you can count on them to get your laundry clean, they help save you from “stain angst.”

KEEP LAUNDRY PAKS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

For more tips that make life easier, visit realsimple.com/armandhammer

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THE REAL IST

65

Your Kitchen Style Upgrade OT TO

T H E S E L I T T L E LUXU R I E S F O R YO U R C O O K S PA C E W I L L A D D A T O N O F C H A R A C T E R — N O R E N O VAT I O N S R E Q U I R E D .

WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE SISCO

PHOTO GRAPH BY L ISA ROMERE IN

AUGUST 2017

66

THE REAL IST

Bright & Dreamy

JUNIPER NAPKINS TO BUY: $32 for 4; serenaandlily.com.

A D D B O L D H U E S , PA ST E L T I N T S , A N D I R I D E S C E N T I T E M S T O A M O S T LY W H I T E S E T T I N G . YO U ’ L L G E T S P L A S H Y

B E TA F L AT WA R E TO BUY: $108 (12-piece set); cb2.com.

S M EG B L E N D E R TO BUY: $250; williams -sonoma.com.

RA I N B OW CORDIAL GLASSES TO BUY: $25 for 6; momastore.org.

J O E Y S OA P PUMP TO BUY: 13; umbra.com.

AUGUST 2017

Explore designer-approved kitchen paint colors at realsimple.com/kitchencolors.

M AX B A R STO O L TO BUY: $490; thefutureperfect.com.

K I TC H E N , L I S A R O M E R E I N / OT TO ; P R O D U CTS , C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

COLOR WI THOUT GOING OVERBOARD.

68

THE REAL IST

Clean & Classic E L E VAT E A T R A D I T I O N A L K I T C H E N W I T H U P D AT E D B A S I C S A N D ACCENTS IN CORK , FRINGE, AND PRETTY ROSE GOLD.

UPLIFT TEA KETTLE TO BUY: $80 (anniversary edition); oxo.com.

M U LT I DA S H TOW E L S TO BUY: $48 for 2; kaufmann -mercantile.com.

P E R I M E T E R T RAY ROSE & WHITE TO BUY: $250 (21 by 11 in.); ladiesandgentlemen studio.com.

AUGUST 2017

C R UX M O RTA R A N D P E ST L E TO BUY: $100; umbrashift.com.

ENAMEL PREP SET TO BUY: $100; blueribbon generalstore.com.

K I TC H E N , L I S A R O M E R E I N / OT TO ; P R O D U CTS , C O U RT E SY O F M A N U FACT U R E R S

R I V I E RA B AC K L E S S STO O L TO BUY: From $228; serena andlily.com.

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Elena Buenrostro

in the studio by that old pub on Euclid Ave. in Atlanta, this is your table.

Made from real Indonesian teak root, it’s a great value— and it might actually be more interesting than your coffee table books. Well, except for Real Stories of Rock Show Roadies. Nothing’s more interesting than that.

M AT E R I A L P E N DA N T L I G H TS TO BUY: From $175 (6 in. high); aplusrstore.com.

Modern Industrial THIS STYLE CAN GO DARK .

SOFTEN THINGS UP BY CHOOSING A VA R I E T Y O F T E X T U R E S A N D M I X E D - M AT E R I A L P I E C E S .

C O LT RA N E S M O K E G RAY CA N I ST E R S TO BUY:

$33 for 3; cb2.com.

Look Elena!

For a short time, it’s only 99*

$179

We know your small space.

ZRUOGPDUNHW FRP *Prices valid through 9/4/17. Selection may vary. While supplies last.

Some furniture requires assembly.

L E W I STO N A D J U STA B L E SW I V E L B A R STO O L TO BUY: $75; target.com.

Elena!

The coffee table from that last ad would look great with this chair!

L E AT H E R W RA P P E D VA S E S TO BUY: From $75; mgbw home.com.

L I N E N T E A TOW E L S TO BUY: $50 for 2; parachutehome.com.

Mixing mid-century and modern design, this affordable and perfect-for-small-spaces chair has a past and present style as unique as yours. Just like how you pull off that 1950’s brooch on your designer jacket, your living room can pull off this chair too.

K I T C H E N , T I M E I N C U K C O N T E N T. C O M ; P R O D U C T S , C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U F A C T U R E R S

B I ST R O HER APRON TO BUY: $132; waterworks.com.

C OW B OY COFFEE KETTLE TO BUY: $90; umbrashift.com.

Elena! This comfy chair.

For a limited time. Just 99*

$199

We know your small space.

F I N E X CA ST IRON SKILLET TO BUY:

$164 (10 in.); schoolhouse.com.

AUGUST 2017

ZRUOGPDUNHW FRP *Prices valid through 9/4/17. Selection may vary. While supplies last.

Some furniture requires assembly.

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THE REAL IST

75

New Blues This season’s freshest take on denim is anything but basic—from go-with-everything gray washes to elegantly embroidered styles.

Ready to find your new favorite jeans?

Contrasting Waistbands A strip in a different hue adds a subtle punch to an otherwise traditional pair.

SOF T ST YLING BY PETER TRAN

GUESS Tom Boy Fit, $128; shop.guess.com.

WRITTEN BY R E B E C C A D A LY PHOTO GRAPHS

BY NIGEL COX

AUGUST 2017

Funky Hems You’ll see cutoff finishes on both flared and skinny styles. Tailor the look to your personality, whether you like an on-trend highlow hem or feminine, velvet lacing.

From lef t: 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Cropped Boot with Angled Released Hem, $209; 7forall mankind.com.

O N E XO N E T E A S P O O N Vintage Indigo Deserados, $138; shopbop.com.

PA I G E Jacqueline Straight with Ankle Lace Up, $299; paige.com.

M AV I Distressed Hem, $118; mavi.com.

T h e s e ver t i c a l str iations lend a subtly e dg y app eal.

AUGUST 2017

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78

THE REAL IST

Floral det a ils add a swe et feminini t y to b oy f r ien d c u t s .

Fancy Stitching Easy-to-wear embroidered embellishment turns a simple jeans-and-atee look into an instant (and eyecatching) outfit.

From lef t: MOSSIMO High Rise Straight Crop, $30; target.com.

V I N TAG E A M E R I CA B LU E S Gratia Bestie, $90; macys.com.

KA R E N KA N E Floral Embroidered, $149; karenkane.com.

J O R DAC H E L EG ACY Emily Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle, $79; lordandtaylor.com.

Mono chro matic hue s of fer a quieter t a ke on t h e t re n d .

AUGUST 2017

FINALLY, A CAT FOOD LIKE NO OTHER.

Introducing Fancy Feast Creamy Delights.

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80

THE REAL IST

Shades of Gray These cool neutral hues pair easily with everything and have a modern feel.

From lef t: M KT ST U D I O PA R I S The Birkin Royal Girlfriend, $145; mktstudio.com/en/.

HUDSON Krista Super Skinny, $195; hudsonjeans.com.

LOV EC U LT U R E . C O M Sandblasted Low Rise, $40; loveculture.com.

NYDJ Ami Skinny Leggings, $114; nydj.com.

LEVI’S MADE & C RA F T E D LMC Slouchy Taper, $298; levi.com.

L.L.BEAN 1912, $59; llbean.com.

TAG S Skinny High Rise, $99; tags.com.

CITIZENS OF HUMANITY Avedon Cut Off Ankle, $198; citizens ofhumanity.com.

Darker grays fe el a b i t m o re p olishe d, while lighter ton e s rea d c a s ua l .

AUGUST 2017

THE REAL IST

83

Patc he d f rom b ehind, t h e s e r ip s a d d d i m e n s i o n w i t h o u t exp o s i ng s ki n .

Polished Patchwork These artfully cut and sewn pairs look like hard-tofind vintage store gems, minus all the hard work.

From top: TAG S Boyfriend with Rip, $139; tags.com.

T. J. M AXX Mixed Denim, $40; at T.J.Maxx (8002TJ-MAXX).

TRUE RELIGION Cameron Boyfriend Jacquard, $249; true religion.com.

NYDJ Boyfriend with Shadow Patches, $148; nydj.com.

S I LV E R J E A N S C O. Super Stretch, $99; silverjeans.com.

This skinny ver sio n s t retc h e s to f i t f lat ter ingly.

Learn how to add a personalized touch to your jeans at realsimple.com/distressdenim.

AUGUST 2017

84

THE REALIST

Keep Your Blues Looking Like New

$:$< 2'256 :,7+

12 +($9< 3(5)80(6 k 3 *

to wash or not to wash?

make a hole disappear

The rumor that you’re not supposed to launder denim isn’t true. “Bacteria and grime can deteriorate the fibers,” explains Genah Kim, bottoms designer for AG Jeans. “It is true, though, that you don’t need to wash them all that often. Every three to five wears should do the trick.”

Sure, a rip or tear adds character, but what if you have a hole you don’t want? “A denim specialist like Indigo Proof (indigo proof.com) can create a virtually invisible repair using a darning machine,” says Kim. Don’t believe it?

Check out the company’s before-and-after gallery.

keep dark rinses dark

handle blingy jeans with care

You already possess the secret to preserving that perfect inky blue. “Skip the heat,” says Kim. “The best way to keep dark washes looking like new is to wash them in cold water or, even better, soak them by hand in a cold bath. The less heat and agitation, the better.”

Styles with embroidery, studs, even pearls have increased in popularity but require more care. “Handwash your embellished styles with a gentle detergent,” advises Ryu. “It also helps maintain the shape of the jeans if you don’t scrunch or twist them too much while they’re wet.”

prevent bag gy knees

stop shrinkage

Form-fitting skinnies with sagging knees is not a good look. But it is avoidable. “The knees see the most impact from movement,” explains Catherine Ryu, women’s creative director of Citizens of Humanity. “Look for jeans with Lycra—it allows them to adjust to your body and maintain their shape.”

AUGUST 2017

The best way to keep your favorite pair from shrinking in the wash isn’t a nifty new trick; it’s age-old advice. “Wash them in cool water and hang them to dry,” says Jonathan Cheung, head of design at Levi’s. “Don’t put them in the dryer—heat, more than anything else, is what causes shrinkage.”

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y E L I A S S T E I N

These experts have the answers to your biggest denim-care questions, from how the heck to wash embellished styles to maintaining a flawless indigo.

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86

THE REAL IST

1

2

3

Trend to Tr y

Urban Safari U T I L I TA R I A N P I E C E S T H AT W O R K I N T H E W I L D ( A . K . A . Y O U R E V E R Y D AY L I F E ) A N D G O F R O M S U M M E R TO FA L L

4 P O L I S H E D PA N TS A satin waistband and flattering pleats bring dressy appeal to comfortable silk trousers.

TO BUY: $295; ramy brook.com.

2 N AT U RA L N EC K L AC E

5 CA R G O D R E S S

A horn necklace studded with gold really stands out from the pack.

TO BUY: $745; ashley pittman.com.

Pair this shift with flat leather sandals and gold jewelry now, then layer with a longsleeve top and tall boots come fall.

TO BUY: $230; hobbs .com/en.

3 CA M P S H I RT Swap in this militaryinspired top for added interest anywhere you’d wear a plain white button-down.

TO BUY: $46; lulus.com.

AUGUST 2017

4

5

6 C R O S S - B O DY B AG A luxe, snake-embossed leather exterior conceals three interior pockets that keep all your essentials (wallet, keys, Kindle) organized.

TO BUY: $493; closed .com.

6 For more safari-inspired pieces that work year-round, visit realsimple.com/safari.

W R I T T E N B Y R E B E C C A D A LY

T R E E , I STO C K P H OTO / G E T T Y I M AG E S ; C LOT H I N G A N D AC C E S S O R I E S , C O U RT E SY O F B R A N D S

1 L AC E - U P SA N DA L S With a chunky heel, these braided faux-suede sandals are the perfect combo of fierce and sturdy.

TO BUY: $41; lulus.com.

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91 ME ANINGF UL CONNECT IONS IN A MODERN WORLD

5 Ways to Make Summer Last Forever BRING SLEEPAWAY CAMP HOME

PA F F / S T O C K S Y

For our family, the magic of summer is all wrapped up in the magic of summer camp. Children are completely unplugged from the rest of the world. The grown-ups around them are all unplugged, too.

And in this day and age, that’s quite rare. So I find that it’s important to give kids the chance to see their parents unplugged throughout the year, whether it’s nights when you build a fire in the fire pit and sit around and tell stories and roast marshmallows or play charades on the porch together. Twinkling white lights are also pretty magical. We hang them everywhere at camp, and I put them up all over our house—on the deck, in my daughters’ reading nook—to remind us of summer.

CARTER BREAZEALE IS CODIRECTOR OF ALPINE CAMP FOR BOYS IN MENTONE, AL ABAMA . SHE LIVES IN LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE.

W R I T T E N BY PA IG E P O RT E R F I S C H E R

AUGUST 2017

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R E L AT I N G

GET OUT THE WATERCOLORS

On cold, rainy days, my girls and I sit at the dining table and paint beach scenes. There’s something about watercolor specifically that has a summery feel to it. I did the same thing for my fabric designs; every motif was first a watercolor.

Living and working in Florida, I design a lot of beach houses, and almost all our clients want their homes to look and feel like vacation year-round. Fabrics or accents in the colors of the Gulf of Mexico—that gorgeous emerald and jadeite green—and watercolor patterns do just that. Also, I’m not afraid to make a pineapple mojito in the dead of winter if I need to.

EAT A BIG BREAKFAST

JEFF MELNIK IS THE OWNER OF THE SUMMERL AND BE ACH CAFÉ IN SUMMERL AND, CALIFORNIA .

HE LIVES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA .

Get more summer-inspired activities (that don’t involve iPads) at realsimple.com/screenfree.

AUGUST 2017

ERIKA POWELL IS THE OWNER OF URBAN GRACE INTERIORS AND THE DESIGNER OF A NEW LINE, ERIKA M. POWELL TEXTILES, OUT THIS MONTH. SHE LIVES IN SANTA ROSA BE ACH, FLORIDA .

PL AY FOR 10 MINUTES

GARDEN STRATEGICALLY

In summer, there’s this implicit permission to take a break. That’s partly because we remember childhood summers and time off from school. But it’s incredibly important to make that leisure time part of life throughout the year. I tell my clients—almost exclusively professional women—to find a happy photograph of themselves from childhood. Put it by your computer, and when you’re drowning in work and responsibilities or feeling depleted and uninspired, look at that photograph and let it remind you to be a kid again. If you’re honest with yourself, you can always spare 10 minutes a day.

Walk to a nearby park and take off your shoes and be barefoot in the grass. Hop on a swing and see how high you can push yourself. A little play goes a long way toward being more productive at work and at home.

First, I make sure to plant flowers in waves so there’s always something blooming—there’s never a pause, even when summer is over. I always have fairy candles in my garden because they can bloom into late October; even the first frost won’t kill them. Basil makes a good filler— it lasts until the first frost, too— and then my family uses it in pesto and tomato sauce that we freeze or can. So when I’m writing about summer on dark winter days in my chilly attic office, wearing my Charles Dickens gloves (the ones with the fingers cut out), I can conjure up those lovely, long days of summer.

NISHA MOODLEY IS A LE ADERSHIP COACH IN SAN FRANCISCO.

KRISTAN HIGGINS IS THE AUTHOR OF 17 BOOKS, MOST OF WHICH ARE SET IN THE SUMMER. HER L ATEST NOVEL IS ON SECOND THOUGHT. SHE LIVES IN DURHAM, CONNECTICUT.

M E L A N I E D E FA Z I O / STO C K SY

The luxury of a leisurely sit-down breakfast is something people associate with summertime. That’s why we serve breakfast all day. Half the people who come in order it no matter the hour. To sit on a patio in the sunshine and fresh air and enjoy hardwood-smoked, sugarcured center-cut bacon is like a little vacation in and of itself.

It feels special. Most of the time, we grab something in the morning to stay afloat, but in the summer, you slow down. So when summer’s over, I recommend a big breakfast in the late morning or even the middle of the day, hopefully outside. It’s an easy way to get that relaxed feeling back.

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R E L AT I N G

97

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, Catherine Newman, OFFERS HER BEST ADV ICE

O N YO U R S O CI A L Q UA N DA R I E S .

A . K . A S KS . . .

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y U L I K N Ö R Z E R ; C A K E T O P P E R , N ATA L I E J E F F C O T T / S T O C K S Y

We recently had new floors installed in our home. The installer was polite to my husband and me but treated his coworker horribly. Would it have been appropriate to ask him to treat his coworker with respect in our house?

I’m a butter-inner: My first instinct is always to say or do something.

In this case, however, you risk stirring up a toxic cocktail of pride and shame that may do more harm than good. Things might appear smoothed over in the moment, only to become worse later, when the embarrassed bully vents his anger over being called out. Assuming that there’s not another power differential here—parent/child; male/female; white person/person of color—and that these people really are coworkers, it’s possible this is just an ugly dynamic without significant emotional consequences.

But I have a feeling this is a boss and his employee, in which case the most helpful thing you can do is defuse the tension with warmth: Praise the work, praise the workers, and make a doughnut run. You might also write a letter when the work is done: “We’re so happy with our floors, but I wanted to let you know we won’t be repeat customers.

Your treatment of your coworker is unacceptable to us, and we don’t want to support it with our business.” Perhaps that will make the boss reevaluate his behavior.

D. J. A S KS . . .

My son’s wedding shower is quite a distance from where most of our family lives. Should they be invited even though it would be an inconvenience to attend?

I feel it’s saying, “I know you can’t come, but send a gift anyway.”

ABOUT CAT H E R I N E The author of One Mixed-Up Night (out in September), 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.

A wedding should always be more expansive festivity than mystifying etiquette puzzle. I think you should invite away—inclusivity is my jam!—and simply put it all out there. Add a note to your remote guests: “We want you to know that we’re thinking of you and wish you lived close by! You’re probably saving up to travel to the wedding itself, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you there. Please don’t feel obligated to come to this, too, or to send a shower gift.”

My own beloved cousin is getting married in England at the end of this month, and while we can’t make the trip, we’re so happy to have her invitation on our fridge as a reminder to think of this young couple and wish them luck on their joyful adventure. Of course, maybe they just wanted us to send a gift!

(Which we are doing—I promise.)

But I don’t think so.

A U G U S T 2017

98

R E L AT I N G

S . R . A S KS . . .

B . P. A S KS . . .

Our of fice has open seating.

A wo m a n a c r o s s f r o m m e e a t s with her mouth open. Is there a t ac t f ul way to tell her to chew quietly with her mouth closed?

T h e r e’ s ( r e a l l y, r e a l l y ) n o t ! G e t a p a i r of noise-canceling headphones a n d l o o k a way. O r a s k H R t o fa c i l i t a t e a n a n o ny m o u s s u b m i s s i o n o f c o n c e r n s f o l l o we d by a b ra i n s t o r m i n g s e s s i o n about how best to address them.

P. S . Yo u m i g h t f i n d o u t a b o u t a h a b i t o f yo u r o w n — p e n c l i c k i n g , t h r o a t c l e a r i n g — t h a t ’ s d r i v i n g o t h e r s c ra z y.

If they bring value to your life, then try to take your friends as they are and enjoy whatever it is they have to offer. It can be easy to get into what we call, at my house, an all-arrows-point-in-the-samedirection situation—one in which you obsess about a single bad quality, and everything the person says or does seems to highlight it.

Try to emphasize their positive traits instead. And don’t assume you know your friends’ financial situation; their budget might involve constraints you’d find compelling if you knew about them (aging parents, old debt). Unless they’re refusing to contribute the mac and cheese while simultaneously showing off a new leather living room set, I’d assume the financial reality is, well, real. And I definitely wouldn’t confront them. You’d potentially disrupt the stability of your entire friend group, and it’s not clear to what end.

H AV E A N E T IQ U E T T E Q U E ST IO N ?

Submit your social conundrums to Catherine at realsimple.com/ modernmanners. Selected letters will be featured on these pages every month.

A U G U S T 2017

M A RT I S A N S / STO C K SY

We have a close group of friends with children the same ages whom we see regularly. We take turns hosting events, all contributing in some way. But in the past year, one of the families has rarely offered to help. They have also begun sitting out events that involve spending money. While we all make varied amounts of money and budget differently, it feels like they are taking advantage of the rest of us. I am not sure how to bring it up without making it awkward in the future—or possibly even ending the friendship. Another of our group said, “That’s just the way they are,” but to me that doesn’t make it OK.

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Good Read

The Escape Plan E V ER C LO S E YO U R E Y E S A N D I M AG I N E A N OT H ER L I F E , F R E E O F C O M M I T M E N T S , A G G R AVAT I O N S . . . A N D M AY B E Y O U R O W N F A M I LY ?

J a n e l l e B r o w n U N P A C K S T H E E S C A P I S T F A N TA S I E S

W E D E V O U R I N B O O K S B U T R A R E LY TA L K A B O U T O U T L O U D .

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y VA N E S S A J A C K M A N

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not come back.’ Now I find myself thinking the exact same thing,” confessed a friend who works at a nonprofit.

• “I’ve imagined faking my own death,” a writer friend said.

(She’s married to a rock star.)

I T H I N K O F T H E S E secret confessions when I’m uploading the latest snapshots of my smiling family to social media: my children with smeary ice cream faces, my husband peering over a Sazerac, my #blessed life. It seems blasphemous to confess that I ever imagine fleeing this life. What if people think I’m unappreciative, or callous, or unloving?

What if they peg me as a Bad Mom who is actually contemplating walking out on her kids?

Abandoning your children is among the worst conceivable maternal sins. Yet almost every mother I know—and not one among us wouldn’t throw herself in front of a speeding train for her kids—occasionally harbors a vision of life without them. Motherhood may be a joy, but it’s also a form of self-abnegation.

I look back at my earlier life and wonder at the things I just did: the solo backpacking trip across Thailand, the impromptu meals out, the hours for reading, museums, shopping. The possibility of provocative interactions with interesting strangers. The ability to write without interruption. I A B O U T T H E AU T H O R once believed my whole life would Janelle Brown is the author of three novels, be like this, that “a family” would including the new release somehow slot right in.

Watch Me Disappear.

Instead, life seems to come with She lives in Los Angeles.

BROWN, MICHAEL SMIY

Y DAU G H T E R H A S B E E N sent home with lice, again. My workday cut short, I am laboriously combing nits from her hair when I hear the distinct sound of our geriatric Lab vomiting on the (white, of course) rug upstairs. My 4-year-old is upset because he wants me to play Chutes and Ladders with him, but I can’t (see: lice), which is probably why he’s screaming “I’m mad at you, Mommy!” at the top of his lungs. I’m looking down the barrel at hours of laundry and vacuuming of mattresses and the administration of chicken nuggets, culminating in the bedtime reading of Curious George Rides a Bike for the 132nd time this week.

My husband has a work dinner, won’t be home until late.

Which is patently unfair.

It’s at this moment that I look at the front door and fantasize about walking out of it and never coming back. Just… disappearing. I imagine the peace and solitude of an airplane seat, the expansion I will feel as the autonomous individual I once knew as Janelle Brown finally has room to stretch out and assert herself again. As I sit there, my hands sticky with lice spray, I can pinpoint the exact location of the stone cottage in which I will live (Lucca, Tuscany), the shade of the sundress I will wear (cobalt blue), the number of books I will magically find the time to read each week (four).

Untethered from all commitments, I will finally be the free spirit I always believed I had the potential to be but have somehow fallen terribly short of actually being.

Yeah, you can probably tell I’ve had this fantasy before.

Do I feel guilty about thoughts like these? Of course I do.

I don’t actually want to abandon my husband and children.

It seems a betrayal to believe—even momentarily—that in order to maximize me, I need to negate them. And yet this fantasy creeps in anyway. My disappearing dreams are a kind of release valve, an emotional escape hatch that transports me into possibility, even if I don’t plan to act on it.

I would feel even guiltier if I felt alone in my fantasies.

But a recent, completely nonscientific survey of women I know—single and married, mothers and childless—resulted in an inbox jammed with elaborate escape scenarios.

• “I have decorated my fantasy cottage by the sea,” one journalist and mom confided. “It is on a breezy hill with a path down to the ocean, and it has only me in it.”

• “I think about just spontaneously walking out the door someday,” said a stay-at-home mom of two. “What would I need to have in my pockets to start over?”

• “I just want to get one of those Hitlist app tix to Paris and rent an apartment on top of Montmartre, drink a ton of champagne, sleep with a random guy who doesn’t speak English, and get away from my life,” another friend told me.

• “When I was growing up, my mother used to say, without irony, ‘One of these days I’m going to go out for bread and

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an ever-growing set of restrictions. The trappings of adulthood that you aspire to—a career, a home, a partner, kids, pets—also happen to cut back on your freedom. “All the things we strive for can make us feel shackled: There’s no way out,” explains my friend Kate Hewitt, a therapist.

“The only place for it is fantasy. It’s a very important and vital emotional outlet.”

I T O R E T H R O U G H Gone Girl (twice) and experienced a strange pang of titillated longing—not the “woman frames her husband for a fake murder” part but the “woman deftly sheds her life” part. Dark thoughts, yes. But normal, if you judge by how many other women devoured that book...and Wild; Eat Pray Love; Leave Me; Where’d You Go, Bernadette; and TV’s The Leftovers and Crazy ExGirlfriend, all stories of women who went rogue.

These urges shouldn’t be a thought crime. Nor should they be interpreted as an ominous signal that you need to leave your marriage. My friend Courtney calls her dreams “a space for creative problem-solving”: When she finds herself imagining fleeing to a hidden pied-à-terre in New York City, she takes it as a sign that she’s in need of time alone and plans a solo vacation. Another friend, Sara, turns her occasional desire to flee into a kind of KonMari purging exercise. As she puts it, “Realizing what you wouldn’t regret leaving behind makes you ask yourself, ‘Why aren’t you getting rid of those things now?’ ” I use my own runaway thoughts as an opportunity for creative expression. My latest novel, Watch Me Disappear, was intended as a story about a nice girl who dreams that her dead mother is still alive.

GOOD R E A D What it ended up being, without my quite ES SAY intending it, was a suspense about a C O N T E ST maybe-not-so-nice mother who hikes off into the sunset. My cottage in Lucca may always be a pipe dream, but as a writer, I can go there—experience what it feels like What was the happiest moment of your life? Enter Real Simple’s to be another person—and come back, 10th annual Good Read Essay consequence-free, to my own life.

Contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple Because where I want to be, once the and receive a prize of $3,000. lice is combed out and the vomit wiped S U B M I T YO U R T YP E D, D O U B L E - S PAC E D up, is exactly where I am: children scrubbed S U B M I S S I O N ( 1 , 5 0 0 WO R D S M AX I M U M I N and pink in my lap, the dog snoring at our A M I C R O S O F T WO R D D O C U M E N T ) AT R E A L S I M P L E . C O M / G O O D R E A D C O N T E ST. feet, my husband flying through the door T H I S C O N T E ST B EG I N S AT 1 2 : 01 A . M .

EASTERN TIME (ET) ON MAY 22, 2017, AND with news from his day. Curious George ENDS AT 11:59 P.M. ET ON SEPTEMBER 18, becomes not quite so tedious when two 2017. ALL SUBMITTED ES SAYS MUST BE NONFICTION. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF small, warm bodies are snuggled into mine.

THE UNITED STATES AGE 19 OR OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY I may be shackled to this life, with all of LAW. (ENTRIES WILL NOT BE RETURNED.) its dizzying highs and lows, and yet I could not possibly live without my captors. Q Go to realsimple.com/goodread contest for complete contest rules and to read the winning essay from last year’s contest.

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MEET THE OWNER Gary Albert works in northern Michigan with his store dogs, Rosco (left), a papillon; Cosmo (right), a Boston bulldog; and Bode (not pictured), a Labrador retriever– rottweiler mix.

S P I N D R I F T D O G D I S KS

“Made out of the same dry sack material used in river rafting, these fabric disks can withstand even the toughest teeth and will still float and fly.”

From $13.

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P O L KA D O G B A K E RY A L A S KA N C O D C H I P S

“These puffed, wafer-like treats are filled with protein and omega-3s, which are great for a dog’s skin and coat.” Also available in salmon. $12.

AUGUST 2017

After 20 years in the Chicago theater industry, Gary Albert chose to open a business in Petoskey, Michigan, where his dogs could play a part. “Retail is theater,” says Albert. So he set the stage by incorporating industrial elements (like cage lighting and steel accents) and creating a general store–style counter stocked with treats. Many of the Lake Michigan–area residents are avid bikers, hikers, and mushroom hunters, so Ruff Life Pet Outfitters lines its shelves with products that let them bring their dogs anywhere.

These are a few of Albert’s favorite finds.

All products shown are available at rufflifepet.com.

H I G H WAV E AU TO DOG MUG

“When you squeeze the bottle, the bowl fills up so your dog can hydrate on the go. When you release it, the remaining liquid drains back in. Best of all, it fits in a standard cup holder.” $15.

RUFFWEAR FRONT RA N G E H A R N E S S

“Attaching a leash to a harness, as opposed to the collar, allows a dog’s body to absorb tension and takes the pressure off his neck. It provides a more comfortable walking experience for both owner and dog.” $40.

WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE SISCO

A L B E R T A N D D O G S , S T E V E N M . V O R PA G E L ; S P I N D R I F T D I S K S , C O U R T E S Y O F S P I N D R I F T ; A U T O D O G M U G , C O U R T E S Y O F H I G H WAV E I N C . ; A L L O T H E R P R O D U C T S , C O U R T E S Y O F R U F F L I F E O U T F I T T E R S

“This flexible bungee leash gives the dog a little extra room to roam and absorbs some of the shock should he decide to pull. For hands-free running, it can be adjusted to go around your waist.” $35.

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Spreading Kindness in a Rude World P TA M E E T I N G S A R E N O T P E A C E F U L . P O L I T I C I A N S A R E N O T P O L I T E .

A N D Y I K E S , T H E FAC E B O O K C O M M E N T S ECT IO N . I F W E T RY A L I T T L E H A R D E R T O M E E T A L L T H I S R U D E N E S S W I T H G R A C E , W R I T E S J e n n i f e r K i n g L i n d l e y, W E J U S T M I G H T S AV E S O C I E T Y. O R AT L E A S T K E E P O U R B L O O D P R E S S U R E D O W N .

TRUNK ARCHIVE

A L O T O F P E O P L E these days— and no, they aren’t all your grandmother—are bemoaning the death of civility. We witness shoving in a crowded elevator, snarky comments online, or yelling in traffic, and it does seem like the world is going to h-e-double hockey sticks in a handbasket (how’s that for manners?). But whether or not the perception is true—after all, nitwits in your grandparents’ generation cut in line, too; it just wasn’t broadcast via Instagram Stories—we are feeling the strain. A January 2017 poll by the communications firm Weber Shandwick found that 69 percent of respondents said they thought the U.S. had a major civility problem. “We are in an age of rudeness,” says Lisa Mirza Grotts, an etiquette expert in San Francisco. “And it seems to be getting worse.” You can blame technology, of course. We sometimes focus more on our phones than on the faces and feelings of actual people.

Then there are the Twitter wars and politicians shouting at one another on the news. You can also

PHOTO GRAPH BY LE V I BROWN

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R E L AT I N G

blame long work hours. “Sixty percent of employees say they act uncivilly because they are overworked and stressed and don’t have time to be nice,” says Christine Porath, PhD, professor of management at Georgetown University and author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace.

What you might not realize is that all this rudeness takes a toxic toll. A 2017 study in Journal of Organizational Behavior found that employees suffered from stomach problems, sleeplessness, and headaches days after being dissed on the job. Other research has shown that experiencing, or even witnessing, rudeness can hurt our creativity and our working memory. “Often rudeness is ambiguous, so we use up a lot of cognitive resources trying to figure it out,” says Trevor Foulk, PhD, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the University of Maryland in College Park. (Did my roommate leave those dirty dishes in the sink because she’s inconsiderate or because she had to rush off?) Says Porath, “We look to others as mirrors of our own value. So when people act rudely toward us, it can make us feel we’re not deserving of respect.”

What can we do about it, since smartphones, television, the Internet, and, well, human beings are here to stay? Be nice. Let things go as much as you can. And follow this expert advice on handling rudeness in your everyday life.

When it’s a stranger WHAT YOU WANT TO D O:

Give that subway shover or loudphone-talker-in-the-library a piece of your mind—though you’ll probably never see her again. Why? “Even a small act can tap into a well of deep feelings. It may bring up all the other times you felt disrespected in some way” and may make your blood boil, says Joyce Marter, a therapist and the founder of Urban Balance, a counseling practice in Chicago.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Speaking up may only increase tension. Instead, take a deep breath and resist the urge to engage.

Most important, remember that the offensive behavior has nothing to do with you. The person could just be having a bad day; she’s not intentionally trying to irritate you. Second, “it’s not your job to teach the world manners,” says Grotts.

“And if the person is truly unpleasant, he won’t learn from anything you say anyway.” When you fume because the last treadmill user left sweat all over the handles, you experience a cascade of stress hormones that can, in time, wreak havoc on your health. It can help to calm this automatic response through practicing a mantra, says Jennifer Riggs, a neuroscience coach in Boston who works with professional women.

AUGUST 2017

Try, “It’s not about me,” and repeat it silently until you cool down. The goal is to create space and shift your perspective away from that stressful moment, adds Riggs. Think about a happy place, like the beach, or something that makes you feel good. The aim is to eventually create new habits or thinking patterns in response to these kinds of slights.

T H E E XC E PT I O N : It is appropriate to confront the person when remaining silent would cause you lengthy, ongoing distress. Example: The plane passenger next to you has her music turned waaaaaay up, and you can hear it even though she’s wearing headphones. “There are tiny acts of social thuggery,” says Amy Alkon, a science-based manners expert and author of Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*CK. “Something is being taken from you—your time, your peace, your space.” You will likely be flustered in the moment, so Alkon advises thinking out how you will react to these aggravations in advance. Address the person with the respect and empathy you wish she were showing you. “It’s called emotional matching. We naturally mirror the other person’s tone,” says Ryan Martin, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. “Instead of getting into a screaming match, the person is more likely to respond to your concern in a reasonable way.”

So open by giving the offender the benefit of the doubt: “You may not realize that your music is loud enough for the rest of us to hear. It doesn’t help that we’re sitting in such tight quarters! Would you mind lowering the volume a bit?” If the person is simply clueless, she will probably apologize, says Alkon. If she’s a jerk, your saintly reaction should at least cause her some satisfying chagrin.

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When it’s a coworker WHAT YOU WANT TO D O : Vent to other coworkers, vent to your friends, vent to your roommates…or maybe you just mutter under your breath about the guy in marketing who always leaves the coffeepot empty. Either way, it’s dangerous to let your irritation fester and grow. You may spend as much time with coworkers as you do with your family. “And rudeness is contagious. If you do nothing to protect yourself at work, you may go home and start fighting with your spouse or kids,” says Riggs.

W H AT YO U S H O U L D D O : Avoid the meanies! Take another route to the conference room if you have to pass someone who always has a sarcastic, biting comment. “We remem-

ber negative encounters much more intensely than we do positive ones,” says Catherine Mattice Zundel, founder of the consulting group Civility Partners. “Even the slightest uncivil encounter can keep you distracted and stay with you for a long time.” To help change the office vibe, initiate a charm offensive instead of a gossipfest. If rudeness is contagious, so is courtesy, says Porath. Research from the Gottman Institute discovered that couples who stay together and have happier marriages make five positive comments for every negative one. That can apply to work relationships, too. Some organizations have instituted a 10-5 rule to help create a more cordial vibe: If you are within 10 feet of someone, make eye contact and smile. If you are within five feet, greet them with a hello. (Sound hokey? Research found that worker satisfaction jumped measurably.) “You can also create a happier atmosphere by showing those around you that you are interested in them and present,” says Porath. Then people will be more considerate to you.

When the rude person is someone you can’t avoid (your boss, your partner on a longterm project) and it’s a pattern of disrespect, not an occasional gaffe you can ignore, you may need to speak up. Zundel recommends this three-part conversation: (1) State the problem. “Jamie, when you were talking to me yesterday about the mistakes I’d made on that report, you were yelling at me.” (2) State the consequences of the person’s actions. “When you do that, it makes it hard for me to learn how to fix the mistakes so I can avoid them next time.”

(3) Offer a solution. “I am really interested in learning how to improve, so in the future it would be helpful if you could talk with me about my mistakes and coach me through them instead of raising your voice.” This respectful, constructive tone works with bosses, too, she says. And if you’re the boss and an employee is the offender? Focus on what you do want, not on the behavior that’s driving you nuts, says Zundel: “When you want someone to stop being late, you want the employee to be on time. Say that in your conversation rather than the negative.”

When it’s online (or via text) WHAT YOU WANT TO DO: Assume the worst and fight back. Communicating electronically leaves us without the cues of facial expressions and tone of voice to provide context. So we overreact and stew or fire off an angry email/text/comment in return. What’s worse: The detachment of the Internet makes bad

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THOMAS JACKSON/GET T Y IMAGES

THE EXCEPTION:

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behavior seem consequence-free. Friends say more hurtful things on Facebook than in person; you’re more likely to rant about shoddy customer service in a post than say something to a salesperson’s face.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Maybe, just maybe, don’t check your phone first thing in the morning. Reading Twitter skirmishes and comment brawls before work will make you extra alert to rudeness around you all day, a phenomenon known as priming. “Our brains have evolved so that if we see one bad thing, we know the likelihood of other bad things is high.

If you see one wolf, you must be in wolf territory,” says Foulk. When you get to the office, your rudeness radar will be on high alert. So when someone says something open to your interpretation (“Nice shoes”), you’ll bristle. And, again, try to give people the benefit of the doubt and let things go. “Venting online feels good in the moment but is more likely to make you feel worse afterward,” says Martin.

In one of his studies, published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, college students who had been

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asked to write such tirades reported being in worse moods after doing so. If you get into the habit of dealing with anger in this unhealthy way, ranting can become your go-to method in real life, says Martin. Remind yourself that it’s easy to take emails and texts the wrong way when you lack tone of voice. (Emojis don’t make up for it. Sorry.) “You may be interpreting ambiguous messages as rude when they aren’t meant that way,” says Martin. So stop and think before you fire back a response, and try to respond as if the sender’s underlying motive was the most gentle, benign one possible, which it absolutely may have been.

If you simply can’t manage to reply without your own sarcasm or without digging a deeper hole, then write back and ask for clarification in a restrained, polite way: “It seems like you might be upset that I already made a reservation. Are you? I just want to see everyone and have fun. Happy for you to pick the place.” If possible, have a face-to-face conversation. Stroll over to the sender’s cubicle for a check-in or—gasp—call a friend and actually talk.

THE EXCEPTION:

R E L AT I N G

RAISING RUDE-PROOF KIDS Ha, good luck.

It’s a decades-long task, and despite your best efforts, you’ll often wonder, “How did I end up with those troglodytes?”

Let these winning tips arm you for the long haul.

Little kids

School-age kids

Teenagers

C L A S S I C M OV E : Calling his playgroup buddy a toilethead.

C L A S S I C M OV E : Dumping lacrosse gear at the door, waiting for his valet (you) to put it away.

C L A S S I C M OV E : Slamming bedroom doors in your face, grunting when you asked how school was.

U G H , W H Y ? Even well-intentioned parents let their family lives revolve around their kids’ needs. “Parents think they have to provide constant attention and enrichment for kids to be competitive, and they feel guilty asking them to do anything,” says Darlene Sweetland, PhD, coauthor of Teaching Kids to Think.

U G H , W H Y ? “It’s not easy to be a teenager. They are changing cognitively, emotionally, and physically, and they are self-conscious,” says Barbara Greenberg, PhD, a clinical psychologist and the author of Teenage as a Second Language. “They want space but don’t know how to ask for it.”

T H E F I X : It’s simple—kids need to pitch in around the house, says Sweetland. “Don’t present it as a favor or a chore; it is what families do for each other,” she says. Otherwise, kids lose out on learning how to anticipate others’ needs—which is more important to their future than another round of fencing lessons.

T H E F I X : Don’t chase or yell.

Instead, validate her emotions: “It seems like you’re upset. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be around.”

Later (post–cool-off), explain a less rude way to communicate: “Mom, I need a few minutes. It’s been a rough day.” Says Greenberg, “Teens will appreciate that. They don’t like feeling out of control either.”

U G H , W H Y ? “Two to four is the teenagerhood of childhood.

They are starting to separate from parents and explore their power,” says Joyce Marter, a therapist in Chicago. Rude language can be particularly enticing at this age, too, says parent coach Nicole Schwarz, founder of Imperfect families.com. It’s not malicious; it’s just exciting to get a reaction.

T H E F I X : This is a great opportunity to teach empathy. “Ask, ‘What did your friend’s face look like after you said that? What could you say to help him feel better?’

The goal is to start teaching how other people are affected by what he does and says—for good and bad,” says Schwarz.

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

How to Write Emails That Get Answered

OFFSET

Email: It’s the thing we love to hate... or at least complain about. But it’s also the key to new opportunities.

“Emails matter because they’re how doors open and close all day long,” says Danny Rubin, author of Wait, How Do I Write This Email? Whether you’re looking for a new job or reconnecting with an old boss, networking experts share exactly what to write (and not to write) to get the response you’re hoping for.

W R I T T E N B Y K AT H L E E N M U R R AY H A R R I S

PHOTO GRAPH BY JENNA HILL

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BALANCE

3. Ask a Question They Want to Answer

4. Remember You’re Talking to a Person Don’t make immediate demands on someone’s time, connections, or brainpower, says J. Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network.

Instead of suggesting coffee right away, express your appreciation for the other person’s time and let them take the lead for next steps.

5. Be Honest with an Old Acquaintance 1. Personalize Your Message Reference a commonality in your opening line: how you met, a mutual interest, or a shared connection.

Same goes for your subject line, says Blair Decembrele, LinkedIn career expert.

Avoid vague language such as “Seeking advice” or “Looking to connect.”

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Hoey suggests acknowledging that it’s been some time since you’ve spoken, saying that you’ve been keeping up with her career and providing a quick update on what’s happening in your life, both at home and at work. Write, “Because you helped me so much with my career, I just wanted you to know that this happened.”

2. Get to the Point

6. Make It Mobile Friendly

The shorter the message, the higher the response rate, says Decembrele. Be clear and conversational and say exactly why you’re writing.

Tease attached information (like a cover letter) if you have more to say.

“Consider the time of day and the device on which someone is reading your email,” says Hoey. A nightly train commuter (or anyone, really) may zone out on a multiparagraph email. Bullet points and short sentences work best.

7. Stay Top of Mind If you met someone at an event, send a connection request or email within 24 hours, while your meeting is still fresh in the person’s mind. You don’t have to make a specific ask. Simply writing “It was nice to meet you” is valuable and will help you capitalize on a future networking opportunity, says Hoey.

8. Sign Off Smartly After studying more than 350,000 email threads, Brendan Greenley, a data scientist at the email productivity company Boomerang, found that showing appreciation in an email closing inspired more people to reply. “Thanks in advance,” “Thanks,” and “Thank you” all delivered higher response rates than the ubiquitous “Best” or “Regards.”

9. Be Patient Yes, we live in an always-on world, but you have to let business take its natural course.

In most cases, give the person 48 hours before sending a follow-up. Still no answer?

Try reaching out by phone just in case the messages ended up in their spam folder, says Rubin. If they don’t answer after that, it’s time to move on. There are plenty of other connections in the sea.

C AVA N I M A G E S / O F F S E T

Grab someone’s attention by asking a question they haven’t heard a million times. If you’re interviewing for a job at the person’s company, write, “I know you work at x company; what was the hardest interview question they asked you?”

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CHELSEA HIRSCHHORN, 33, C EO O F F R I DA BA BY, A M O M A N D BA BY P R O D U CT R E TA I L E R

1

How They Do It What’s your secret to beating the Sunday blues?

2

AUGUST 2017

It’s important to me to take a large chunk of the weekend for uninterrupted family time. We let the day unfold naturally. My Mondays through Saturdays are very scheduled, so we deliberately carve out time not to be that way. When you don’t feel you have to be somewhere at a certain time, it’s an immediate stress reliever.

2 C H E L S E A L AU R E N , 3 3 , H O L LY WO O D R E D - CA R P E T P H OTO G RA P H E R

My schedule is all over the place, and Mondays are usually my days off.

It’s interesting having a schedule that’s backwards from everyone else’s—my weeks kind of blend into one another. But I’m trying to carve out more personal time. If I know I have a really crazy week coming up, I try to sleep as much as possible, and I fit in yoga to help me zen out.

Sleep and exercise are the things that help me feel centered.

I set my calendar on Thursday or Friday to make sure the next week is wired tight. Then, on Friday night, I commit to not worrying. I wake up early and spend time with my 5-year-old son; we’ll head to the beach and go fishing. Later on, we’ll have a rooftop barbecue and invite people over. The trick is to think of Sunday as Saturday.

4 A N G E L A B E N TO N , 36 , F O U N D E R A N D C EO O F T H E AC C E L E RATO R P R O G RA M N E W M E

All last year I was fighting cancer, and I am now cancerfree. This life event gave me a lot of perspective, so I don’t let things like the Sunday blues get to me anymore.

To me, having the Sunday blues signifies that a life change needs to happen. Try to pinpoint what’s stressing you out on Sunday and make the choice to change it.

Why you feel sad on Sunday (and how to fix it): realsimple .com/sundayblues

5 JOSH BELKIN, 34, VICE PRESIDENT A N D G E N E RA L M A N AG E R O F H OT E L S . C O M , N O RT H A M E R I CA

My Sunday starts when my 3-year-old wakes up and decides it starts.

We go to the zoo or the park. Sunday night often means packing my suitcase and getting on a plane. Travel is a big part of my family’s life. It’s hard being away from home when you have a young family (Facetime makes it more bearable), so I do everything I can to protect weekends. I do things during the week, too. I manage my company’s softball team on Monday nights, and I often take my son swimming after work.

I try to have things on weekdays that I can look forward to so it’s not all about the weekend.

4

5

WRITTEN BY JANE PORTER

C H E L S E A H I R S C H H O R N , TA M I J I L L P H O T O G R A P H Y ; C H E L S E A L A U R E N , R O B L AT O U R ; D AV I D M C I N E R N E Y, C O U R T E S Y O F F R E S H D I R E C T ; A N G E L A B E N T O N , I S H M A E L M AY H E W ; J O S H B E L K I N , C O U R T E S Y O F J O S H B E L K I N

1

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7 Ways to Save on Health Care A new season brings new insurance decisions, new sports teams—and newly sprained ankles. Keep costs under control with these tips from experts.

SEEK O UT A S CREENING If your child’s school requires a sports physical (this may start around seventh grade), you might be able to bypass a trip to the pediatrician. Some schools offer physicals in the gym that are performed by medical professionals.

TAP URGENT CARE “This is a great alternative to expensive emergency room visits, and you’ll often save time,” says Carena Lowenthal, a registered dietitian and

AUGUST 2017

wellness coach in Rye Brook, New York. Urgent care visits are typically much less expensive than ER visits if insurance doesn’t cover the cost.

A visit for allergies runs about $200 at an urgent care center and about $700 at the ER, according to Medica Choice Network. Hit the hospital for life-threatening symptoms, like severe chest pain, or a head injury.

But for rashes, sprains, flu, and even broken fingers and toes, urgent care is clutch.

SE ARCH FOR PERKS “Many insurance companies offer members sessions with a wellness coach, financial adviser, therapist, and other experts,” says Lowenthal.

If you’re strapped for time, consider telenutrition consults, which allow you to chat via phone or the Internet. Check your plan to see if massage is covered, too.

leges offer student health insurance plans, in which financial aid can help pay for basic coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, students who don’t live in the same state as their parents can fill out an individual insurance application, and the cost of both their plan and their parents’ may benefit from a premium tax credit.

MIND YO UR MED S Shop around. “Costs can vary greatly from mom-and-pop pharmacies to stores like Costco or Target,” says Lowenthal. Try the GoodRx app (free; iOS and Android), which shows the cheapest price for medications in your area and provides coupons from manufacturers (no need to print).

See if it’s possible to buy prescription medication in a three-month supply.

Research shows you can save, on average, 29 percent in out-of-pocket costs.

A great way to stretch your dollars? Shared medical appointments. At some clinics and family practices, you may have the option to share an appointment and could pay a fraction of the cost, says Marianne Sumego, MD, director of Shared Medical Appointments at the Cleveland Clinic. Group visits allow you to get hands-on care from doctors and share experiences with people who have similar chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, or general wellness concerns, like weight loss. Some shared appointments offer private, individual exams, while other exams may be done with the group, says Sumego. Appointment sharing can also make treatments not covered by your insurance more affordable.

N I X E XC E S S I V E E XA M S Request copies of your medical records when you see the doctor, then snap photos and store them on a flash drive. Or use a secure app like My Medical ($5; iOS and Android) so they’re at the ready. This way, you’ll avoid taking repeat (pricey) tests, and the information may help other doctors treat you without having to order additional tests.

C OV E R C O L L EG E K I D S If going on a parent’s plan isn’t possible, or if a student is over 26, many col-

SHARE APP OINTMENTS

State health care plans may change; for the latest information, visit the nonprofit advocacy group Families USA at familiesusa.org.

For advice on how to make the most of your health savings account, go to realsimple.com/hsa.

WRITTEN BY NICOLE SFORZA

I S T O C K P H O T O / G E T T Y I M A G E S . S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O K R I S T I N K I R K PAT R I C K , M A N A G E R O F W E L L N E S S N U T R I T I O N S E R V I C E S AT T H E C L E V E L A N D C L I N I C A N D A U T H O R O F S K I N N Y L I V E R ; E D WA R D S H A H A D Y, M D , C L I N I C A L P R O F E S S O R O F F A M I LY M E D I C I N E AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F F L O R I D A I N J A C K S O N V I L L E ; A N D S T E P H A N I E A . W I L K E N , P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S S T R AT E G I S T AT T H E A M E R I C A N A C A D E M Y O F F A M I LY P H Y S I C I A N S I N L E AW O O D , K A N S A S

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S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O C E D R I C X . B R YA N T, C H I E F S C I E N C E O F F I C E R , A M E R I C A N C O U N C I L O N E X E R C I S E

I

The Pros of Taking It Slow T H I N K Y O U N E E D H A R D - C O R E E X E R C I S E T O S TAY F I T A N D H E A LT H Y ? N O T S O F A S T.

WRIT TEN BY SHAUN DRE ISBACH

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y N E I K O N G

f you find the mere idea of a killer CrossFit class or cardio boot camp sweatathon exhausting, we hear you. At some point, people started thinking they had to train like Navy SEALs for their workouts to be worthwhile.

But sometimes what we really need to do is catch our breath and slow down already.

“There’s a perception that if your workout doesn’t make you feel like you’re going to die, it’s somehow lame—or ‘beginner.’ That’s not the case,” says Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and personal trainer in San Diego. “Lessintense cardio and strength workouts can actually be more effective in some ways than very difficult ones.”

Consider this your first class in slow fitness—a way to get lighter and leaner without pushing your body further than it wants to go.

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Slow Your Cardio Imagine two women working out on treadmills: One is redfaced, doing sprint intervals, and the other is simply walking on a slight incline. Which one is burning more calories?

The sprinter, of course.

But there’s more to it. “Highintensity cardio causes you to work anaerobically, which means that most of the calories you burn will be in the form of carbohydrates. Your body needs fuel—fast—and carbs are its go-to energy source,” explains McCall.

With less-intense workouts, in which you keep your heart rate in a lower, more comfortable zone, you may be burning fewer carbohydrates, but the duration of workouts tends to be longer. This means more total calories will be burned— which is key to losing weight.

And the health benefits extend beyond weight loss.

A 2014 study led by researchers at Iowa State University found that just 5 to 10 minutes of slow jogging a day was enough to significantly reduce the odds of dying from any cause, including cardiovascular disease—even if the participants had risk factors like smoking or being overweight.

Of course, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other major health organizations recommend a tad more exercise than that.

AUGUST 2017

“ T h e r e’ s a p e r c e p t i o n t h a t i f yo u r wo r ko u t d o e s n’ t m a ke yo u f e e l l i ke yo u ’ r e g o i n g t o d i e , i t ’ s s o m e h o w l a m e — o r ‘ b e g i n n e r. ’ T h a t ’ s n o t t h e c a s e . ”

But the researchers found that even an hour a week—total— was enough to get the benefits. Working out longer than that didn’t make a notable difference. In other words, more intense—or more, period—isn’t necessarily better.

In fact, a 2015 study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that slow may even be healthier than hardcore. The researchers followed people who did similar amounts of slow, moderate, and strenuous running over the course of 12 years and found that the light exercisers had a much lower mortality risk than the intense group.

The moderate exercisers fell somewhere in between.

Experts aren’t sure why slow may be superior, but some believe the stress that superhard workouts place on your system may be a factor.

“Intense exercise causes a cascade of hormones that create a lot of free radicals and inflammation in the body— which, over time, can damage your immune system and lead to chronic health issues,” says McCall. “I’m not saying you should never do another spinning class, but what we now know is that slow and steady is often better than hard and fast.”

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McCall recommends low-intensity interval workouts that alternate between a fairly easy pace and one that’s slightly more challenging—a training style that burns more calories than working at one steady pace for the same amount of time. In fact, research shows that interval walking can expend up to 20 percent more energy than walking at a single, moderate pace—because your body expends extra energy to speed itself up and slow itself down.

And you can do it with any type of cardio. Here’s the how-to: Start out at a diffi-

TRY IT

AUGUST 2017

culty level of 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the hardest you could possibly manage) and stick with that pace for a certain amount of time— it could be two minutes, the length of one block…you decide what works. Then pick up the pace to an effort of 6 for the same amount of time.

“Use the talk test to make sure your heart rate doesn’t get too high,” says McCall.

“You want to walk fast enough that it feels challenging but you can still chat comfortably. If you’re too out of breath to have a conversation, slow it down—you’re working too hard.” Repeat these intervals for the duration of your workout, aiming for 20 to 30 minutes.

“ I ’ m n o t s ay i n g yo u s h o u l d n eve r d o another spinning class, but what we n o w kn o w i s t h a t slow and steady is of ten bet ter than h a r d a n d fa s t . ”

Slow Your Strength Training Yes, there is also such a thing as slow strength training, and it’s not some newfangled concept. It’s been around—and researched—for more than three decades. But it’s been gaining buzz, thanks in part to the legions of ex–boot campers and CrossFitters looking for a gentler-on-the-body alternative. (Fact: Nearly three out of four people who do a popular form of high-intensity strength training have injured themselves, according to research in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.)

The benefits of super-slow toning are pretty remarkable, too. A 2001 study in Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, for example, compared a group of people who lifted weights at a regular speed with another that went slo-mo. The two groups did the same exercises for 10 weeks. At the end of the trial, the super-slow lifters had improvements in strength that were 50 percent greater than the improvements the traditional lifters had. “The initial results were so incredible that I did a second study to retest

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them—because I didn’t believe it!” says lead study author Wayne Westcott, PhD, professor of exercise science at Quincy College in Quincy, Massachusetts.

What makes this training style work so well? “Most people do one second up and one down when they lift weights,” explains Westcott.

“By slowing that process, you increase the amount of time there is tension on the muscle, and you don’t use any momentum to help you lift and lower, both of which make the exercise more effective.”

In Westcott’s studies, participants lifted for 10 seconds and lowered for four— which can feel like a toning eternity. But, he says, you can get similar results by using an easier-to-remember method, 5-5-5: Go up for five seconds and down for five seconds using a weight with which you can do only five reps. You can do several sets of the same move (with other moves interspersed), or you can mix it up and do just five reps of lots of moves. A 30-minute session twice a week should do the trick. “Research shows it takes your body three days to recover between strength sessions,” says Westcott. It’s during that time that your

TRY IT

muscles get stronger and more defined, so adding more workouts will only break you down, not tone you up.

Slow Your Roll Foam rolling can increase flexibility and reduce muscle soreness. But many of us aren’t getting the full benefits.

“People get on and roll out as fast as they can, especially the areas that are tight or sore.

I see it all the time,” says Justin Norris, cofounder of LIT Method, a fitness studio in Los Angeles that offers Roll & Recovery classes.

“You need to go at a nice, slow tempo to allow the muscle to really relax into the roller and release.”

LIFE WITH A LIFT

#EATLIFEUP

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TRY IT Norris recommends taking 10 full seconds to roll up and down whatever muscle you’re working on—and pausing for three counts on any spots that feel uncomfortable (the kind of uncomfortable that makes you wince a little; we’re not talking searing pain here). “That’s actually the area you need to target most,” says Norris. “Taking those few extra seconds will really get into the muscle. You’ll feel so much better afterward.” In other words, it’s worth the wince. Q Find eight simple weighttraining moves you can do slowly at realsimple.com/strength.

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E VA P L E V I E R / S T O C K S Y

B Y M A R G A R E T T O W N S E N D , T H E L I V I N G B R E AT H . C O M

A D I AG O N A L D E S I G N I S A N E A SY WAY TO edge up

girly florals.

G E T T H E H OW - TO O N PAG E 141 .

Dress by Kelsey Randall

garden party pretty NAIL YOUR NEXT AT-HOME MANICURE WITH THESE OH-SO-ROMANTIC SHADES AND CHIC, SIMPLE DESIGNS. W R I T T E N BY

Heather Muir Maffei P H OTO G R A P H S BY

Victoria Pearson

T H I S clear half-moon mani WO N ’ T S H OW REG R OW T H AT T H E B A S E , S O YO U CA N G O LO N G ER B E T W EEN P O L I S H JOBS—HIGH FIVE! Romper by Celine for Barneys New York

W H EN W E A RI N G A B O L D PAT T ERN ,

try a single swipe in an accent color F O R A M A N I T H AT C O M P L EM EN TS , N OT C O M P E T E S .

Dress by Dolce & Gabbana for Barneys New York

A V ERT I CA L L I N E D OW N T H E C EN T ER creates

the illusion of longer nails, WHILE CORAL ( YO U R N E W N EU T R A L ) WA RM S THE SKIN. Top and skirt by THII and bag by Fendi for Barneys New York

Update the French mani

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Dress by Marni for Barneys New York

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minimal manis that go hand in hand with floral prints

half and half

moonshine

full coverage

a fine line

curtain call

When incorporating negative space (where slivers of your naked nail bed peek through), skip the base coat, since you’ll be using topcoat later. For this diagonal design, stick a small piece of Scotch tape across your nail where you want the negative space (this ensures a precise line). Swipe a purple polish from the edge of the tape to the tip of the nail, then quickly remove the tape. Once nails are dry, apply topcoat.

Pro secret: When using tape for any mani, do one nail at a time, removing the tape immediately after painting to avoid seeping polish.

HOW-TO:

Instead of doing these halfmoons freehand, get round paper hole reinforcement stickers at an office supply store and place them halfway over the cuticle to act as a barrier. Swipe a kelly-green polish over the entire nail.

Peel off the stickers to reveal a crisp half-moon at the nail base. Let dry, then add topcoat.

Pro secret: Run the brush along the top of the nail to seal the raw edge and help prevent chipping.

HOW-TO:

If negative space isn’t your thing, swap your regular solid neutral for soft yet surprising lavender. Apply a base coat like JINsoon Power Coat ($18; jinsoon.com), which dries matte so polish adheres better. Once nails are dry, layer on two coats of color.

Finish with topcoat.

Pro secret: It’s always a good idea to swipe a cotton pad dipped in alcohol or nonacetone polish remover (white vinegar works, too) over your nail bed to remove residue and keep nail polish from peeling.

HOW-TO:

This intricate design isn’t tricky at all, thanks to that handy tape.

Trim strips to your desired width and place one lengthwise at the center of each nail. Paint a peach polish over the nail, then carefully remove the strip using your fingers or tweezers.

Continue on to the next nail. Let dry, then finish with topcoat.

Pro secret: Reapply topcoat every three days for an instant refresh.

HOW-TO:

M A N I C U R E S B Y M I C H E L L E S A U N D E R S AT F O R WA R D A R T I S T S F O R E S S I E ; H A I R A N D M A K E U P B Y A S H L E Y H U M P H R E Y S F O R C E L E S T I N E AG E N CY; FA S H I O N ST Y L I N G B Y S U E C H O I ; P R O P ST Y L I N G B Y S C OT T H O R N E F O R B I G L EO

HOW-TO:

TO BUY: Essie Nail Color in Pret-a-Surfer, $9; essie.com.

TO BUY: Julep Nail Color in Payton, $14; julep.com.

TO BUY: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Grape Gatsby, $8; walmart.com.

TO BUY: China Glaze Nail Lacquer in More To Explore, $7; sallybeauty.com.

Don’t worry— this graphic look is an easy freehand job. Use a white opaque polish to paint the right half of the nail diagonally from cuticle to tip.

Let dry for one minute, then swipe a diagonal line across the left side of the nail to create a negative space triangle.

Once nails are dry, seal with topcoat.

Pro secret: Speed up your dry time by using your blowdryer on its (this is key) cool setting.

Hot air actually slows the drying process, which is why manicurists don’t recommend blowing on your nails.

TO BUY: Deborah Lippmann Amazing Grace, $18; deborah lippmann.com.

For five ways to revive a chipped manicure, go to realsimple.com/chipped.

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Are you a piler? A hate-cleaner?

Do you do chores to avoid another dreaded task? Under s t anding the psyc holog y b ehind your hous eke eping can help you discover ways to do it better and faster.

Step into our office...

WRIT TEN BY ERIN ZAMMET T RUDDY PHOTOGRAPHS BY JENNY VAN SOMMERS

The Bitsy Cleaner AN ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK CLEANING SESH WOULD BE NICE IF YOU HAD THE TIME. UNTIL THEN, YOU OPT FOR THE PIECEMEAL APPROACH, SNEAKING IN 10-MINUTE SPURTS OF SCRUBBING HERE, A LITTLE DUSTING THERE.

UNDERSTAND IT “You are the nonprocrastinator,” says Timothy Pychyl, PhD. “You don’t have to be motivated by total chaos or work yourself up to a major clean. You just do it.” Yet be sure you’re multitasking for the right reasons, warns Susan Bartell, PsyD: “Some people are afraid they’ll be judged if they relax, so they try to prove they’re not wasting any time by always squeezing in some kind of cleaning.”

PLAY INTO IT “The more often you clean, the easier it is,” says cleaning expert Donna Smallin Kuper.

Stay on top of the problem areas before they become problems, which will allow you to go longer between cleaning sessions.

“Rinse toothpaste from the sink before it hardens, vacuum carpets every few days, and squeegee the shower door after every use,” she says. Keep a checklist of weekly tasks so you don’t miss anything, which is a pitfall of this type of personality, says cleaning pro Linda Cobb: “When you find a window of time, consult your checklist first so you’re making progress toward the larger goal. And try to fit in a longer, once-a-week session so you’re able to enjoy that ‘It’s all done’ feeling.”

What’s Your Cleaning Personality?

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The Straightener YOU’VE NEVER MET A PAPER YOU COULDN’T PILE OR SHIRTS YOU COULDN’T STACK ON THAT BENCH IN YOUR BEDROOM INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, HANGING THEM UP.

UNDERSTAND IT Let’s just say it: You’re not a fan of cleaning. “This is about avoidance,” says Pychyl. “Sure, all that shuffling gives the appearance of cleaning, but you’re never actually doing the real work that needs to be done.”

There could be separation and commitment issues at play, too, says Bartell: “You may have a tough time tossing clothes you never wear or old trinkets because you’re afraid of the loss—or nervous to fully commit to a decision you can’t unmake.”

PLAY INTO IT A tidy house is not a clean house, so you’re going to have to go the extra mile at some point. “Look for ways to hate cleaning less by buying products in scents you love, along with tools in bright, fun colors,” says Kuper. Then get those supplies out before you start straightening. “Seeing them at the ready makes it more likely you’ll actually use them,” she says.

And when you do straighten and stack, be more efficient by having a basket system for the important stuff (one for bills, another for school papers) and a recycling bin, adds Maker. “Clutter builds up quickly, so make sure you’re not just organizing chaos,” she says. “Can you make a pile of 25 things look great?

Yes. Do you need all 25? Doubtful.”

The Angry Cleaner FRUSTRATING PHONE CALL WITH YOUR MOM? HUSBAND IGNORING THAT STACK OF PLATES TEETERING IN THE KITCHEN? BREAK OUT THE BRILLO. AND P.S., WHERE THE %*@# IS THE VACUUM?!

UNDERSTAND IT

PLAY INTO IT

“Cleaning can actually be a really healthy way to channel anger,” says Amy Johnson, PhD. “It’s much better than smashing things!

It’s also better than sitting around stewing, because cleaning is physical and will help harness some of the adrenaline you’ve built up.”

But no matter how calm those gleaming countertops make you feel, you probably also need to address what rankled you in the first place.

Channel your anger into a chore you’ve been putting off, says Kuper. Or tackle a task that requires elbow grease, like vacuuming or mopping. Make sure to clean when you’re happy sometimes, too, adds cleaning pro Melissa Maker. “You don’t want to always associate cleaning with negative feelings,” she says. Oh, and if your huffing and puffing is to get the attention of a slacking spouse, consider revisiting the who-does-whatchores-when conversation.

The Neat (and Clean and Organized) Freak YOU COULD LITERALLY EAT OFF ANY SURFACE IN YOUR HOUSE— BUT IT WOULD NEVER COME TO THAT. BECAUSE IF SO MUCH AS A CORNFLAKE FALLS, YOU’RE RIGHT THERE TO SWEEP IT UP. #NEVERNOTCLEANING

UNDERSTAND IT

PLAY INTO IT

The personality trait at play here is conscientiousness, which sounds like a good thing until you take it too far… like, say, to the kitchen to scrub pots while your family members are still twirling their spaghetti. “Someone very high on the conscientious scale can’t relax and often becomes a workaholic,” says Pychyl. “If you can’t stop yourself from cleaning, it becomes compulsive.” You’re probably highly critical of yourself, too—and concerned about what others think of you, like the FedEx guy who might spy that heap of shoes by the front door. So you’re constantly pushing for perfection.

Stash “mobile cleaning units,” or MCUs, throughout your house, suggests housekeeping expert Tom McNulty. “Get a box, a tote, or a grocery bag and pack it with your essentials: rags, window cleaner, allpurpose spray, and rubber gloves,” he says. Place an MCU near areas where the cleaning bug hits you most often, like in the front entryway closet, under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and in the bedroom closet. “It may seem like overkill,” says McNulty, “but always being armed and ready means you won’t waste time collecting your tools.”

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Find expert-approved products to save time on cleaning at realsimple.com/ speedclean.

OUR EXPERTS SUSAN BARTELL , PSYD, A LONG ISL AND, NEW YORK , PSYCHOLOGIST WHO FOCUSES ON LIFE BAL ANCE AND STRESS ● LINDA COBB, A CLE ANING E XPERT IN PHOENIX AND THE AUTHOR OF TALKING DIRT Y WI TH THE QUEEN OF CLE AN ● AMY JOHNSON, PHD, A PSYCHOLOGIST IN CANTON, MICHIGAN, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE L I T TLE BOOK OF BIG CHANGE: THE NO-WILLPOWER APPROACH TO BRE AKING ANY HABI T ● MELISSA MAKER, A CLE ANING E XPERT AND THE HOST OF THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLE AN MY SPACE ● TOM M C NULTY, A MEN’S HOUSEKEEPING E XPERT IN MINNE APOLIS AND THE AUTHOR OF CLE AN L IKE A MAN ● TIMOTHY PYCHYL , PHD, A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AT CARLETON UNIVERSITY IN OT TAWA AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROCRASTINATION RESE ARCH GROUP ● DONNA SMALLIN KUPER, A CERTIFIED HOUSECLE ANING TECHNICIAN AND THE AUTHOR OF CLE AR THE CLUT TER, F IND HAPPINESS

The Avoidance Cleaner SURE, YOU’VE GOT A WORK DEADLINE AND THE KIDS WANT TO GO TO THE PLAYGROUND. BUT THERE ARE ALSO BEDS TO BE MADE AND FLOORS TO BE MOPPED. AND THAT SPICE CABINET AIN’T GONNA ORGANIZE ITSELF.

UNDERSTAND IT “Procrastination is about giving in to what feels good in the moment,” says Pychyl. And while cleaning may not seem like the best feel-good activity around, it does offer immediate results.

“We have control when we’re cleaning. Unlike with many other tasks, we know how it’s going to turn out, and that’s appealing,” he says. Still, why not just go for a walk or catch up on Catastrophe when you want to avoid doing something? Because cleaning is considered a valid use of time.

“But at the end of the day,” says Pychyl, “you’re likely going to feel pained and perhaps shamed by the fact that you didn’t do what you were supposed to.”

PLAY INTO IT “You’ve got to put some parameters on procrastination cleaning,” says Cobb. Set a timer for, say, 20 minutes, and when it goes off, return to what you should be doing. “If you work from home, limit cleaning and tidying to 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening and keep strict ‘office hours,’ ” she says.

“You can also pick one room to focus on, and when that’s done, so is your procrastinating.” And instead of hiding behind the broom when you don’t want to, for example, go to the playground with your kids, just say you don’t want to go. “Parenting is harder than anything, so for some people, cleaning is easier than being with the kids—and that’s OK to admit,” says Bartell. “Send them with your spouse or a sitter!”

The All-or-Nothing Cleaner YOU’RE A CONSTANT CLEANER—UNTIL YOU’RE NOT. ONCE YOUR IMMACULATE SPACE LOSES ORDER, YOU THROW IN THE DISH TOWEL AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT BIG BINGE CLEAN.

UNDERSTAND IT

PLAY INTO IT

This is the classic diet mentality: One slipup (e.g., eating one of those Thin Mints from the back of your freezer) and you give up and eat the whole sleeve. “This person is a very rigid, black-or-white thinker,” says Johnson. “And definitely a perfectionist. Everything has to be just so, and if it’s not, you go into screw-it mode.” Problem is, when you’re not OK with the gray areas of life (and your home), you’ll always feel like you’re failing, and that’s no fun. “Try to accept a clean-enough house and see that nothing bad will happen,” says Johnson. “Your mind will throw a fit about it in the beginning, but it will get more and more comfortable over time.”

“Doing a quick tidy in the morning will satisfy your need to have a clean environment,” says Cobb. “And keep an empty laundry basket handy for evening clutter pickup.” Then the items will be hidden until you have time to put them away in their proper places.

To ensure everything stays in order, coordinate a weekly cleaning session with help from your family. “On the weekend, assign each family member a task, set a timer for 30 minutes, and make sure everyone works until the timer rings,” says Cobb. “People are more willing to help when they know there is an end in sight.”

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Pop Culture There’s no better way to beat the heat— or impress dinner guests—than with these grown-up treats.

Pa p aya Raspb er r yL im e Pops THICK, PUREED FRUIT MAKES PRETTY STRIPED LAYERS; TROPICAL FRUITS AND BERRIES WORK BEST.

AUGUST 2017

H o n ey, Yogu r t & Ap r ic ot Pops USE A WOODEN SKEWER OR CAKE TESTER TO MAKE THESE QUICK MARBLED SWIRLS.

RECIPES BY

D AW N P E R R Y PHOTOGRAPHS BY

JENNIFER CAUSEY

C h o c o late Dipp e d C o c onu t Pops THE CRISPY CHOCOLATE SHELL SETS UP FAST, SO BE READY WITH NUTS OR SPRINKLES.

AUGUST 2017

Vanilla Tapio c a Pudding Pops

151

LOOK FOR QUICKCOOKING TAPIOCA IN THE BAKING SECTION OF YOUR SUPERMARKET.

B la c kb er r y Win e Pops CHOOSE A LIGHT, FRUITY RED OR ROSÉ FOR THESE TART, SOPHISTICATED POPS.

KiwiC ucumb er Pops THINK OF THESE AS A LIGHTLY SWEETENED FROZEN GREEN JUICE (I.E., ACCEPTABLE FOR BREAKFAST).

153

H O N E Y, Y O G U R T & APRICOT POPS M A K E S 10

1

P A P AYA RASPBERRYLIME POPS M A K E S 10

large papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped cup lime juice Pinch kosher salt 4 12

Tbsp. sugar, divided oz. raspberries

COMBINE

papaya, lime juice,

cups plain Greek yogurt 3

Tbsp. honey

1

cup apricot jam (from a 12-oz. jar)

C H O C O L AT E - D I P P E D COCONUT POPS

Pinch kosher salt

WHISK

yogurt, honey,

and salt in a medium bowl.

Combine jam and

cup

M A K E S 10

2 12

pints coconut sorbet, melted oz. semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

water in a microwave-safe

cup coconut oil

bowl and microwave for 30

cup chopped salted peanuts

seconds. Whisk until smooth.

Alternate pouring the 2

salt, and 2 tablespoons

mixtures into 10 3-ounce

DIVIDE

sugar in a blender and puree

ice pop molds, making 3 or

3-ounce ice pop molds.

until smooth. Transfer to

4 layers in each. Swirl with

a pitcher or liquid measuring

a skewer or thin-blade knife

INSERT

cup. Place raspberries and

in an up-and-down motion.

until firm, at least 4 hours and

remaining 2 tablespoons

sorbet among 10

sticks and freeze

up to 1 week. Dip molds in cold

sugar in blender and puree

INSERT

until smooth. Divide about

firm, at least 4 hours and up

and remove pops. Transfer to

half of the papaya mixture

to 1 week. To unmold, dip molds

a parchment-lined baking sheet

among 10 3-ounce ice

in cold water to soften very

and refreeze until firm, about

pop molds. Top evenly with

slightly and remove pops.

30 minutes.

raspberry mixture, then

Transfer to a parchment-lined

remaining papaya mixture.

baking sheet and keep in the

MEANWHILE,

freezer until just before serving.

late and oil in a medium bowl

INSERT

sticks and freeze

sticks and freeze until

water to soften very slightly

combine choco-

and set over a medium pot

until firm, at least 4 hours and

filled with an inch of simmering

up to 1 week. To unmold, dip

water. Stir until chocolate

molds in cold water to soften

and oil are melted and smooth,

very slightly and remove pops.

about 4 minutes. Remove bowl

Transfer to a parchment-lined

from pot and set aside to

baking sheet and keep in the

let cool to room temperature,

freezer until just before serving.

about 20 minutes.

TRANSFER

chocolate mixture

to a widemouthed juice glass or small liquid measuring cup.

Quickly dip a pop into cooled chocolate and sprinkle with peanuts. Return to parchment and repeat with remaining pops. Place in the freezer as soon as possible. Keep frozen until ready to serve.

AUGUST 2017

G ra p e f r ui t Negroni Pops SANDWICHING STICKS BETWEEN 2 THIN SLICES OF GRAPEFRUIT KEEPS POPS STURDY.

155

V A N I L L A TA P I O C A PUDDING POPS

GRAPEFRUIT NEGRONI POPS

M A K E S 10

M A K E S 10

2

cups whole milk 1 1

3

cup sugar

large egg

and cook, stirring, until sugar

cup sugar

dissolves, about 5 minutes.

vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

Use a slotted spoon to fish

cups fresh grapefruit juice, plus 10 thin slices grapefruit, halved

blackberries out of wine; divide

cup Campari

Tbsp. instant tapioca

berries among 10 3-ounce

cup gin

cup heavy cream

ice pop molds and pour wine

cup sweet vermouth

1

mixture over top.

WHISK

milk, egg, and sugar

COMBINE

sugar and 1 cup

in a medium saucepan.

INSERT

Add vanilla bean and seeds

until firm, at least 4 hours and

Bring to a boil, stirring,

and whisk in tapioca. Set

up to 1 week. To unmold, dip

until sugar dissolves, about

saucepan over high heat and

molds in cold water to soften

4 minutes. Remove from heat.

bring to a boil, whisking con-

very slightly and remove pops.

Add grapefruit juice, Campari,

stantly, until mixture holds a

Transfer to a parchment-lined

gin, and sweet vermouth and

boil when stirred. Remove from

baking sheet and keep in the

stir to combine.

heat, let cool for 20 minutes,

freezer until just before serving.

sticks and freeze

and then remove vanilla bean.

water in a small saucepan.

P L AC E

2 half-slices of grape-

fruit in each of 10 3-ounce MEANWHILE,

beat cream with

an electric mixer on medium-

KIWI-CUCUMBER POPS

ice pop molds and top with

M A K E S 10

INSERT

grapefruit juice mixture.

high until soft peaks form. Fold into cooled tapioca mixture.

Divide mixture among 10

2

3-ounce ice pop molds.

up to 1 week. To unmold, dip molds in cold water to soften

cup sugar

very slightly and remove pops.

firm, at least 4 hours and up

cup lemon juice

Transfer to a parchment-lined

to 1 week. To unmold, dip molds

Pinch kosher salt

baking sheet and keep in the

kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced

freezer until just before serving.

INSERT

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

medium English cucumbers, peeled and chopped

sticks and freeze

until firm, at least 4 hours and

sticks and freeze until

in cold water to soften very slightly and remove pops.

2

Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and keep in the

COMBINE

freezer until just before serving.

lemon juice, and salt in a

cucumbers, sugar,

blender and puree until smooth.

Divide mixture among 10

BLACKBERRY WINE POPS M A K E S 10

12 1

kiwi slices among molds.

INSERT

oz. blackberries cup red wine cup sugar

COMBINE

3-ounce ice pop molds. Divide

blackberries, wine,

cup water, and sugar in a medium pot. Bring to a simmer

sticks and freeze

until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 1 week. To unmold, dip molds in cold water to soften very slightly and remove pops.

Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and keep in the freezer until just before serving.

For a step-by-step video, go to realsimple.com/negronipop.

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157

build a better hometown Have a weekend?

An afternoon?

An hour? Improving where you live can start with the smallest step.

Local leaders and accidental activists share 15 strategies that made a difference in the real world.

WRITTEN BY

Melanie Mannarino I L LU S T R AT I O N S BY

Roberto Cigna

YO U ’ V E T H O U G H T I T B E F O R E , haven’t you? If you were in charge of your block, your neighborhood, your town, you’d make some serious changes. Here’s the secret: You don’t need to be in a position of power—or have untold amounts of free time—to make a difference. All it takes is the right idea and follow-through.

“The popular myth is that those who make change reach some big, massive tipping point,” says Nilofer Merchant, author of The Power of Onlyness. “But it’s a myth. Real change makers simply say, ‘I see something that I think matters.’”

Once you’ve zeroed in on what matters to you locally, Merchant promises that doing something to improve it isn’t a huge leap. “We have to grant ourselves permission to take the first step,” she says. When you think, “What difference could I possibly make?” you’re trying to imagine 38 steps ahead. Instead, Merchant suggests asking, “What is the first thing I could do?”

Think of it as micro-activism. “Doing things on a smaller level feels good,” says Ashley Ford, a New York City essayist whose own micro-activist moment—a tweet encouraging others to pay off kids’ delinquent school lunch accounts— blossomed into a nationwide movement that raised more than $150,000. “It makes you feel connected to your home and the people who live around you.”

Use this list of ideas as inspiration, as motivation—or even as a checklist to work down. And don’t be shy about amplifying your efforts through social media: Tap your network for help, post photos of your accomplishments, and give a shoutout to others who get involved. The more you use your voice, the more your neighbors will want to join in.

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1 Try a New Store Dissatisfied with your city’s downtown? The best way to improve it, says David Downey, CEO of the International Downtown Association in Washington, D.C., is to shop and spend time there. “Engage business owners in a conversation to learn their story and additional ways you can support the economy,” he says. Buy your cupcakes from the neighborhood bakery instead of the supermarket, go to city events, and frequent the farmers market in town rather than the bigger one in the next county.

3 AUGUST 2017

2

Look Out for a Neighbor Illness, fire, divorce, job loss…when someone in your community is in crisis, rally your network to pitch in. As soon as Adriana Silva of Springfield, New Jersey, heard of a single mom of four in need of winter clothes for herself and her kids, she knew where to turn: the Springfield Moms group on Facebook. “I felt the urge to help,” says Silva. “And other moms responded within minutes.” After a few days, the group collected seven bags of clothes for the family. “It’s not easy to donate every time someone is in need, but if everyone helps a little, it makes a huge impact,” says Silva.

Turn Off Your Engine According to the Environmental Protection Agency, elevated levels of air pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde have been detected during the afternoon school-pickup rush. Talk to your principal or PTA about reducing idling in your area. Spreading the word is as simple as writing a letter to fellow parents with a doable request: All drivers should turn off their engines when they expect to be parked for more than 10 seconds. If idling is necessary for temperature control, suggest restricting it to five minutes. (That may also be the law—search the web for your state’s idling rules.)

4 Reinvent the Carpool We should all be walking more and driving less— for our health and the environment—but on busy mornings, going on foot takes time you don’t have.

One creative solution, from Nancy Thompson, a certified urban planner and founder of the advice website Useful Community Development: “Organize a human school bus project.” Take turns with other neighborhood parents to walk kids to school. With enough families in the rotation, everyone will reap the physical benefits, with minimal schedule disruption.

159

5 Sit by the Street People may move to an area for the school district or the commute, but they stay for the neighbors. “Meeting neighbors can be a challenge in certain communities,” says Mike Lydon, founding principal at Street Plans, an urban-planning organization in New York City. Meet yours by setting up patio chairs on your front lawn or stoop— and give a wave to all who pass by. Another idea of his: “We call it ‘streeting.’ If you live on a low-trafficked residential street, get a permit and organize a potluck in the road.”

6

Pay for the Basics In 2014, Tiffani Ashley Bell was appalled to read that the city of Detroit had cut water supplies to households with unpaid bills.

So Bell, who lives in Oakland, California, dug around and discovered a public list of past-due account numbers, was inspired to find people who were behind on their bills, and went on to cofound The Human Utility, which raises money to pay water bills in Detroit and now Baltimore. To help people going without basic utilities near you, Bell says to follow your local news—then get the word out. “Once you identify an issue you’re passionate about, there’s a good chance other people are, too,” she says.

“You’re never alone in wanting to right a wrong.”

“Once you identify an issue you’re passionate about, there’s a good chance other people are, too.”

7 Share Your Skills Are you a whiz at mahjongg? An incredible cook?

The tech-savviest of your friends? Reach out to your local senior or community center to volunteer.

“If you have a skill, we can build a class around it,” says Kimberley TrustyDoughty, general manager for volunteer services at the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services in Florida. Centers are always looking for help, says Trusty-Doughty— even if you can give only a few hours on one day.

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160

10

8

Chip In for Animals Level the Local Playing Field When you hear about kids going without—without lunch, without books, without money—step in with your wallet and voice.

After David Quinn, a high school teacher in Edmonds, Washington, learned that some of his students would have to sit out the pricey International Baccalaureate exams because a federal grant had ended, he contacted the media. The result: His state’s lieutenant governor filled in the gaps. “This was going to destroy the dreams of my students,” says Quinn. “I had to do something.”

9 Brighten Up a Dreary Spot “That long gray stretch of industrial concrete is so uplifting,” said no one ever.

With an investment of less than $20, a few hours of your time—and the green light from local officials—you can transform neglected underpasses and walls with sidewalk chalk. “Chalk art is lightweight and reversible—it doesn’t impact that structure,” says Lydon, recalling a project in New Haven, Connecticut, in which community members pasted blown-up photo portraits of citizens under a stretch of Interstate 91.

“Everyone got to look at the smiling faces of this diverse neighborhood. It made the area feel a lot less scary.”

AUGUST 2017

Animal shelters and rescue groups don’t just need monetary gifts, says Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. They need supplies. Some collect blankets and towels for bedding. Others turn socks into catnip toys. Many accept unopened food, toys, cat litter, and cleaning products.

Donations help shelters spend more on lifesaving care, says Buchwald.

161

11

12 Make a Litter Sweep

Join a Giving Club

Frustrated by the ever-overflowing trash can at your local ballpark? Next time you go, Lydon recommends bringing a spare garbage bag and a roll of packing tape to attach the bag to the outside of the can. It’s a quick fix—what Lydon calls “tactical urbanism”—and a sign to whoever services the space that it should be maintained more frequently. “You could also make local government aware of the problem—and ask them to add more trash cans—with just a call or an email,” he says.

Take a cue from 100 Women Who Care, an international group with more than 500 chapters whose members learn about pressing needs in their area, pool their money, and then vote on a cause to support. Since the organization’s founding 11 years ago, groups have donated a collective $17 million. To join or start a chapter in your area, visit 100whocarealliance.org.

Or raise funds with your own social circles, from work to book club.

13 Care for Your Elders There are so many ways to look out for the elderly in your neighborhood, from onetime assists like shoveling snow to regular gigs like walking someone’s dog. You could also formalize your aid: “Assign” able-bodied neighbors an elderly neighbor to check in on during emergency situations. “It’s about finding ways to protect the most vulnerable members of your community,” says Ford.

14

Easy-entry opportunities to help—at your library, at your community center—often already exist.

You just have to ask.

Talk to a Librarian Next time you’re checking out books, ask your librarian, “How could I help here?” “Sometimes a simple conversation reveals a talent or skill that might be a good match for us,” says Dale Spindel, director of the Springfield Free Public Library in Springfield, New Jersey. Easy-entry opportunities to help often already exist. While you’re at it, join your local Friends of the Library program, too.

15

Get Your Hands Dirty That patch of grass at the end of the block? It needs some love. “A planting project is a great onetime event,” says Thompson.

If you’re eyeing public space, you may need permission from local officials to make changes. Designate a date and time and ask volunteers to bring their garden tools and a plant or flower.

AUGUST 2017

NEW!

READY IN S D N O C E S 60 ROTINI

Ready Pa sta 1 pouch Barilla n er break 1 delicious din to go 3 more emails YS PERFECT ENTE, ALWA D L A S Y A ALW

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MADE WITH 3 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: PASTA, SEA SALT & EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

FIND IT IN THE DRY PASTA AISLE

THE CHOICE OF ITALY

163

August You say tomato, we say tons and tons of tomatoes—especially now, when they’re piled up at the markets and at their best. Buy as many as you can possibly carry for stacking on sandwiches or preparing a quick side salad for your grilled chicken (see page 166). Make a batch of olive oil–packed, oven-dried tomatoes (page 176) and enjoy this latesummer flavor well into fall.

PA M E L A J O E M C F A R L A N E / G E T T Y I M A G E S

Go to realsimple.com/ dailyrecipe to have new favorite recipes delivered to your inbox every day.

C O O K W I T H C OZ I Get Real Simple’s easy weeknight-dinner recipes in Cozi, a free meal-planning and organizing app from Time Inc. (available on iTunes and Google Play).

AUGUST 2017

FOOD

165

Easy Dinner 1

White bean and farro salad ACT I V E T I M E 2 0 M I N U T E S

Healthy Pick

TOTA L T I M E 4 5 M I N U T E S

Make Ahead

Vegetarian

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

1

cups farro 1 15-oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 small shallot, thinly sliced cup olive oil cup sherry vinegar 1 tsp. kosher salt tsp. black pepper 5 oz. baby arugula 4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup) 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill

farro according to package directions.

Drain and rinse under cool running water.

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

COOK

together farro, beans, shallot, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

Let stand 15 minutes.

TOSS

ADD arugula and feta and toss to combine.

Garnish with dill.

P E R S E RV I N G : 510 CALORIES, 20G FAT (0G SAT.), 25MG CHOL., 10G FIBER, 21G PRO., 65G CARB., 1,066MG SOD., 4G SUGAR

R E C I P E S B Y E M I LY N A B O R S H A L L

PHOTO GRAPHS BY JENNIFER CAUSE Y

AUGUST 2017

166

FOOD

Easy Dinner 2

Grilled chicken with tomato-cucumber salad ACT I V E T I M E 2 5 M I N U T E S

Healthy Pick

TOTA L T I M E 1 H O U R , 2 0 M I N U T E S

Gluten-Free

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

1 Tbsp. light brown sugar 1 tsp. smoked paprika 2 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. black pepper, divided 4 12-oz. chicken leg quarters 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 2 lb. heirloom tomatoes, cut into -in.-thick wedges 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) cup fresh basil leaves a grill for indirect mediumhigh heat. Combine brown sugar, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper. Brush chicken with 1 tablespoon oil; season with brown sugar mixture.

PREPARE

PLACE chicken, skin side down, over direct heat. Grill until lightly charred, 5 to 10 minutes. Flip and transfer to indirect heat. Cover and cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 165°F, 35 to 40 minutes.

toss tomatoes with cucumber, lemon juice, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper. Top with basil and serve with chicken.

MEANWHILE,

P E R S E RV I N G : 519 CALORIES, 40G FAT (8G SAT.), 253MG CHOL., 5G FIBER, 45G PRO., 16G CARB., 1,147MG SOD., 11G SUGAR

AUGUST 2017

©2017 Lactalis American Group, Inc., Buffalo, NY 14220. Galbani is a ® of Egidio Galbani S.r.l.

ADD A LITTLE AMORE TO THEIR LUNCHBOXES. Inspired by Italian appetites.

Loved by American kids.

• Natural cheese • 80 calories • 7 grams of protein

T H E T I M E L E S S TA S T E O F I TA LY

168

FOOD

Easy Dinner 3

Squash steaks with miso dressing ACT I V E T I M E 3 0 M I N U T E S

Quick Cooking

6 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (from 1 small head) cup fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes) tsp. kosher salt cup white miso cup mayonnaise tsp. black pepper 3 medium yellow squash, sliced lengthwise into -in.-thick planks 3 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into -in.-thick planks cup chopped, roasted salted peanuts 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves Lime wedges, for serving together cabbage, lime juice, and salt in a large bowl.

Set aside.

TOSS

a grill pan over mediumhigh. Whisk miso, mayonnaise, pepper, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Brush both sides of squash and zucchini with cup of the miso mixture; reserve remaining mixture. Working in batches, grill squash and zucchini, turning once, until tender and lightly charred, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and cover to keep warm.

HEAT

WHISK 1 tablespoon water into reserved miso mixture. Top squash and zucchini with cabbage, peanuts, and cilantro. Drizzle with miso dressing and serve with lime wedges.

P E R S E RV I N G : 324 CALORIES, 20G FAT (3G SAT.), 8MG CHOL., 7G FIBER, 10G PRO., 32G CARB., 1,188MG SOD., 17G SUGAR

AUGUST 2017

TOTA L T I M E 3 0 M I N U T E S

Healthy Pick

Vegetarian

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

GRILL IT

TO

BELIEVE IT

Find us in the freezer aisle.

170

FOOD

Easy Dinner 4

Smash burgers with cumin carrots ACT I V E T I M E 3 0 M I N U T E S

TOTA L T I M E 3 0 M I N U T E S

Quick Cooking

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

12 oz. ground chuck small onion, grated 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. black pepper, divided 3 Tbsp. canola oil 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 Tbsp. honey 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 lb. small carrots, halved lengthwise 2 Tbsp. fresh flat-leaf parsley 4 hamburger buns, toasted Mayonnaise, lettuce, and sliced tomatoes, for serving beef, onion, and teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl and fold gently to combine. Shape into 4 -inch-thick patties.

PLACE

HEAT oil in a large skillet over high.

Add patties and, working quickly, flatten to -inch thickness with a wide spatula. Cook, flipping once, until well charred, about 1 minute per side.

Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm. Reduce heat to medium-high.

butter, honey, cumin, and remaining teaspoon each salt and pepper to skillet; cook, stirring, until butter melts. Add carrots and cook in a single layer, undisturbed, until they begin to brown, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until carrots are tender, about 5 minutes; transfer to a serving bowl, pour pan drippings over, and top with parsley.

ADD

BUILD burgers on toasted buns with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato slices.

Serve with carrots.

P E R S E RV I N G : 541 CALORIES, 33G FAT (10G SAT.), 69MG CHOL., 4G FIBER, 16G PRO., 41G CARB., 803MG SOD., 13G SUGAR

AUGUST 2017

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BREAKFAST

FOOD

173

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Easy Dinner 5

Open-faced tuna Niçoise pitas TOTA L T I M E 1 5 M I N U T E S

ACT I V E T I M E 1 5 M I N U T E S

Quick Cooking

Healthy Pick

1 small red onion, thinly sliced cup red wine vinegar 2 6-oz. cans tuna packed in oil, drained cup Niçoise olives 2 Tbsp. olive oil tsp. black pepper tsp. kosher salt 4 6-in. pocketless pitas 4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered 4 cups loosely packed mixed greens

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Potato chips and cornichons, for serving

SERVES 4

Family Friendly

broiler with rack 5 inches from heat. Combine onion and vinegar in a medium bowl; let stand 5 minutes.

PREHEAT

tuna, olives, oil, pepper, and salt to bowl and stir to combine, breaking tuna into smaller pieces.

ADD

pitas in a single layer on a baking sheet and broil, flipping once, until warmed and lightly toasted, about 30 seconds per side.

PLACE

toasted pitas with eggs, greens, and tuna mixture. Serve with chips and cornichons.

TOP

P E R S E RV I N G : 502 CALORIES, 21G FAT (4G SAT.), 201MG CHOL., 3G FIBER, 36G PRO., 40G CARB., 912MG SOD., 3G SUGAR

AUGUST 2017

1 74

FOOD

realsimple

ROAD TE ST 1

2

4 B E ST B E R RY Schweppes Raspberry Lime

1 B E ST S PA R K L I N G M I N E RA L WAT E R 4

Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water Its tiny bubbles cascade just like champagne. Thanks to naturally occurring magnesium and calcium, it has a subtle mineral flavor that cleanses the palate and pairs well with food.

TO BUY: $7 for 6 16.9-oz. bottles; at grocery stores.

5

6

2 B E ST L I M E Polar Lime Seltzer Seltzer should be refreshing, not sweet. While some brands packed on the flavor, this one stayed fresh with just a hint of lime and tons of bubbles.

TO BUY: $4 for 12 12-oz. cans; at grocery stores.

R o a d Te s t 3 B E ST L E M O N Boylan Lemon Seltzer

Seltzer Everyone has a favorite. Is it the taste?

The pretty can? We tried 40 seltzers, sparkling waters (which, FYI, are the same thing), and sparkling mineral waters to get the truth.

AUGUST 2017

We loved this bright and fizzy pick because it didn’t have a chemical aftertaste. Plus, it comes in cute vintage glass bottles.

TO BUY: $9 for 6 12-oz. bottles; at grocery stores.

W R I T T E N B Y H E AT H G O L D M A N

This seltzer stayed bubbly long after the bottle was opened.

Its fresh raspberrylime flavor was the perfect balance of sweet and tart.

TO BUY: $1.20 for a 20-oz. bottle; at grocery stores.

5 B E ST O R I G I N A L The Mountain Valley Sparkling Spring Water If you’re thirsty, this one is easy to down quickly (no stinging). It has just the right quantity of medium-size bubbles. And the glass bottle preserves the crisp flavor of water that’s sourced in the Ouachita Mountain valley.

TO BUY: $2 for a 1-liter bottle; at grocery stores.

6 B E ST O RA N G E La Croix Tangerine Others were stale or flavorless. By contrast, this pick reminded us of freshly squeezed orange juice—a bit like a mimosa sans champagne.

TO BUY: $4.70 for 12 12-oz. cans; at grocery stores.

Visit realsimple .com/seltzer for three surprising ways to cook with seltzer.

PHOTO GRAPH BY RALPH SMI TH

P R O P S T Y L I N G B Y J U L I E F LY N N F O R H A L L E Y R E S O U R C E S I N C .

3

176

FOOD

Big Batch

Oven-dried tomatoes ACT I V E T I M E 10 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 4 H O U R S , 3 0 M I N U T E S MAKES 2 CUPS

6 lb. plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise cup fresh oregano, rosemary, or thyme leaves (stripped from stems), or a combination 1 Tbsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1

–2

cups olive oil

PREHEAT oven to 300°F, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Set wire racks in 2 rimmed baking sheets.

tomatoes on racks, cut side up, and season with herbs, salt, and pepper. Bake until shrunken by about half and dry to the touch, 3 to 4 hours.

LET COOL completely and transfer to 3 16-oz. glass jars.

Add to cup oil to each jar to cover tomatoes, pressing down if necessary to keep them submerged.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

P E R S E RV I N G : 148 CALORIES, 14G FAT (2G SAT.), 0MG CHOL., 2G FIBER, 1G PRO., 6G CARB., 368MG SOD., 4G SUGAR

U S E T H EM Toss into pasta, fold into soft scrambled eggs, slip into a BLT, or combine with hummus in a food processor.

AUGUST 2017

R E C I P E B Y H E AT H G O L D M A N

PHOTO GRAPH BY JENNIFER CAUSE Y

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

ARRANGE

FOOD

Make It Yourself A D E L I C I O U S E S S E N T I A L T H AT ’ S B E T T E R H O M E M A D E T H A N S T O R E - B O U G H T. W E ’ L L P R O V E I T. THIS MONTH: nut butter

Whizzing up a batch of peanut, almond, or (nut-free) sunflower butter at home takes all of four ingredients, a food processor, and five minutes. And you skip the excess sugar and salt, added fats, and high price tag that can come with even the natural supermarket versions.

AUGUST 2017

Our recipe has a touch of agave nectar for balance and coconut oil to keep it spreadable. You can even add a splash of vanilla if that’s your jam. Got deep convictions on chunky versus creamy?

Pulse sparingly or keep the machine running for silky smooth.

W R I T T E N BY DAW N P E R RY

PHOTO GRAPHS BY JENNIFER CAUSE Y

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

178

© McNeil Nutritionals, LLC 2017

Actually, your ice cream shouldn’t make you

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That’s why there’s lactose-free LACTAID®.

It’s real milk, just without that annoying lactose.

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180

FOOD

ACT I V E T I M E 5 M I N U T E S TOTA L T I M E 5 M I N U T E S MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP

2 cups lightly toasted unsalted nuts or sunflower seeds 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, at room temperature 1 tsp. light agave nectar tsp. kosher salt nuts, coconut oil, agave, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and process, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until very smooth (this might take up to 3 minutes, so be patient).

Transfer to a resealable container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

COMBINE

Use it: Go to realsimple.com/pbcups for a DIY peanut butter cup recipe.

AUGUST 2017

TONIGHT YOU’RE MAKING

HAIRCUT APPOINTMENTS, WEEKEND PLANS AND

CHICKEN

FAJ ITAS

Make favorite recipes even faster with al fresco all natural. Fully cooked when you buy it, so it’s ready when you need it.

IT’S CHICKEN, ONLY BETTER.

182

The Struggle Is Real

Insomnia: A Timeline

2:57 a.m.

Alejandro, Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro, Alejandro, Alejandro…

2:23 a.m.

Realize you have to pee. Regret not doing more Kegels.

2:18 a.m.

Up again.

2:19 a.m.

Lie perfectly motionless. Pretend you’re a different person— ideally someone with a less stressful job who guzzles chamomile tea and hasn’t watched the news since 1997.

AUGUST 2017

2:36 a.m.

Back in bed. Left side? Too itchy. Dust mites! Turn onto stomach. Flip your head over on the pillow a few times. Definitely maybe a herniated disk in your cervical spine. Should’ve gotten that buckwheat pillow.

2:40 a.m.

Grab lavender eye mask and smash it against face to release the calming scent. Nothing.

Sprawl out like a crime-scene chalk drawing and stare at the ceiling.

2:51 a.m.

Try to neutralize growing sense of panic with positive self-talk. This is not your fault. It could be worse. At least you don’t have that song stuck in your head again!

3:05 a.m.

Meditate. Breathe in compassion.

Breathe out anxiety.

Breathe in tranquility. Breathe out despair. Breathe in a random series of questions that can’t be answered right now and definitely don’t need to be. What should I cook for book club next month?

Did I charge my Fitbit? What’s the earliest age for a colonoscopy again? Am I being completely honest with myself about liking culottes? Is this about memory loss? Why didn’t I eat more superfoods while I still had the chance?!

WRITTEN BY ERIN CLUNE

3:21 a.m.

Sob quietly into the pillow.

3:23 a.m.

Head to the kitchen.

Take out the last piece of carrot cake.

Sit on the couch in the dark and turn on that Netflix series you never have time to watch at a reasonable hour. This is nice.

Promptly fall asleep.

PHOTO GRAPH BY KE V IN SWEENE Y

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Head of world-renowned clinic supports vaccinations, but wonders if there is another, better way. . .

THE HEAD OF A WORLD RENOWNED U.S. clinic in Ohio said recently he supports vaccinations but suggests that there has to be a better way to defeat disease. Suffice it to say, he is in some hot water now! Today we are injected with foreign disease substances that we normally would want to avoid simply to elicit a lifesaving IMMUNE RESPONSE.* Here’s a possible answer (I am a graduate engineer not a doctor). In my 88th year—a family effort— I am not new to controversy!) In 1957 I had the best discus throw in the World (T&F News, Vol. 10, No. 12) but gave it up because I knew Anabolic Steroids would cause users heart damage!

At the time, all the top athletes were being pushed to use them. They’d been told they were safe by doctors. Anabolic steroid inventor John Ziegler, M.D. said before he died at 63: “I wish I had listened to [John Ellis]. I damaged my own heart!”

I WAS RIGHT THEN AND I’M RIGHT NOW A great friend, Al Oerter (won the Olympic discus four times), needed a heart transplant and died shortly after he and his wife visited my daughter in Atlanta. I have a long list of Olympic friends who are dead because they were “FDA approved” (now banned).

I was right then about anabolic steroids and I am right now about viruses and disease!! As viruses mutate, vaccines have to become stronger until reaching a toxic overload tipping point. (During a physical, I received an inadvertent Lyme Disease Shot, later recalled!)

THE ANSWER: Since blood is 94% water, change the properties of water (our E5 water machine does that) and flush disease markers and toxic elements out of the blood stream (typical Zurich results shown under “Violating Faraday’s Law,” below). This has been confirmed by a UCLA M.D. doing independent Blood Flow Research to prevent strokes and heart attacks. (See more at JohnEllis.com.)

After treating a well (soak in the water!), a Jan. 27, 1992, Washington Post Investigation article described how it works (13 International Patents): “10,000 people/day said this water will cure anything even cancer and diabetes!” Washington Times (after the top scientist at Los Alamos Nuclear Lab with 4 PHD’s bought our E5 Machine): “I am embarrassed to tell you he DID change the properties of water. We wish we owned his patents!”

The video shows that by changing water properties, small amounts of this water can treat vast quantities of ordinary water (even an aquifer or lake) so

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YOU CAN BE A PART OF OUR HUMANITARIAN EFFORT!

After a three-hospital chain in India said: “You are known all over the world!” (Cancer & Ebola results in Africa), we decided to DONATE this property in perpetuity!

A portion of every sale of our water machines goes to maintaining the property, which is currently used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth groups free of charge.

Gilbert Daunant (Prince Rainier’s cousin): “I just walked 40 blocks and I am 95! Send another ES to Monaco!”

municipalities can supply this healing water right at the tap!! Go to JohnEllis. com/NIH with a link to the National Institutes of Health. (Deuterium is found in every bottle or glass of water you drink!)

However, DDW (Deuterium Depleted Water) is only part of the battle for better health as noted by Nobel Prize Winner Albert Szentgyorgy: “Hydrogen is the Fuel of Life” because, unlike ordinary DDW, by also changing Water Properties and increasing the Hydrogen Bond Angle between atoms (so it has more room to hold viruses and environmental contaminants in suspension) they can be eliminated from the bloodstream with almost immediate results!

MAKING DDW YOURSELF Using our E5 Water Machine, you can make two types of DDW for PENNIES per GALLON… not $300 for a small bottle! This is done by heating and cooling water hundreds of times per gallon (not just once!) to change the properties of that water. We have 13 International Patents and 332 FDA Tests. You can judge the blatant dishonesty in the water industry using simple electrolysis. A child in science class could do that!

HELP YOURSELF & OUR FOUNDATION: BUY A MACHINE & TAKE A TAX DEDUCTION! With our 501(c)(3) non-profit Foundation, you can buy a machine and take a Tax Deduction! There are thousands of families around the U.S. who need our water machines—kids in Flint, families in poverty, etc. When you buy a machine, a portion of the proceeds go to this important humanitarian aid project.

Contact us at PO Box 553, Westbrookville, NY 12785 or call us today at 845-754-8696.

Small amounts of this water can treat millions of gallons of ordinary water. GO TO: www.JohnEllis.com/NIH

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HOW TO:

186

Rituals

My husband, 16-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter, and I head to the bay beaches of the North Fork of Long Island in the summer to search for colorful little jewels by the shore. First thing in the morning, after high tide, and after a storm are the best times to find lots of the worn, almost opaque bits of glass.

We have three complete bottles and many hurricane candleholders full of turquoise, brown, and green pieces. I would love to find some red glass, but it is very rare.

Walking the stretch of sand early in the day, before others arrive, is so peaceful.

It gives our family an opportunity to connect with no distractions. Looking back, I realize some of our best conversations have taken place on those walks.

—Jennifer O’Grady, Massapequa, New York

AUGUST 2017

I STO C K P H OTO / G E T T Y I M AG E S

A Morning Sea Glass Hunt

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