Sommaire pour June 2022 de Real Simple

WHO’S AFRAID OF a little color? Plenty of people, myself included. Whenever I try to use some—in my wardrobe, my decor, my makeup—it’s a trial-and-error exercise that results in a lot of errors. When it comes to clothing especially, my flailing reflects my introvert-extrovert personality: I swing wildly between wanting others’ attention (hello, loud-print jumpsuit!) and hiding in terror from it (back to the cream sweater and black pants—whew). One theory on why: I spent some of my most formative years in the ’80s. For anyone who survived that neons-versus-neutrals decade, color can seem an all-or-nothing proposition, and a lot of us go with nothing. (Meaning: black, gray, beige, variations on white—and dark brown when we’re feeling really daring.) It’s kind of a bummer that, considering color comes in…

WHEN MY HUSBAND took a new job in a new city, we had no choice but to sell our house—a place I absolutely loved—in Naples, Florida. It had only been five years since we’d approved blueprints and selected our piece of land and our countertops and the clay tiles that would adorn our roof. It hadn’t been that long since we’d unloaded our dishes into our brand-new cabinets and hung pictures on our pristine walls. Within a few months of living there, we’d put in a pool, designed to our exact specifications. We had palm trees in our yard. Palm trees! I cried when we signed the contract to sell, and again when the movers packed up our things. I cried when I cleaned the house one last time…

BEST PATCHES Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask Eye patches are the ultimate for giving active ingredients a chance to sink in—but the single-use stickies get a bad rap because they’re not sustainable. Enter these reusable babies. Apply your favorite serum or cream under your eyes, then press these strips on top. When your me time is over, rinse the patches with soap and warm water, then return them to their travel-friendly tin. TO BUY: $25; dieuxskin.com. BEST FOR LASHES Twenty/Twenty Clean Sweep Mascara If you have sensitive eyes, go with this mascara: An ophthalmologistdeveloped it to nourish and define lashes sans irritation. TO BUY: $28; trytwentytwenty.com. BEST MULTITASKER Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream This one lifts, firms, and smooths crepiness. It’s even gentle enough to slather on your lids.…

Pluot Crumble ACTIVE TIME 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 10 MINUTES SERVES 4 Cooking spray3 lb. pluots (about 10), thinly sliced¼ cup cornstarch1 tsp. lemon zest plus 2 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon)2 tsp. pure vanilla extract1 ¼ cups packed light brown sugar, divided¾ cup all-purpose flour½ cup finely chopped raw pistachios½ tsp. kosher salt½ tsp. ground cinnamon6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into ½-in. piecesVanilla ice cream, for serving (optional) PREHEAT oven to 350°F with rack in bottom. Spray a 2 ½-to-3-quart baking dish with cooking spray. STIR together pluots, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, vanilla, and ¾ cup sugar in a large bowl. STIR together flour, pistachios, salt, cinnamon, and remaining ½ cup sugar in a medium bowl until combined. Add butter; using your…

Meet the Designers BERKELEY MINKHORST (left) AND KELLEY LENTINI @houseofnomaddesign When the best friends behind House of Nomad, a design firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, were tapped to transform a blank-slate room, they went all in on a single color—a moody blue. They installed floor-to-ceiling shelves to act as a backdrop for some favorite vessels, and hung a geometric wallpaper to frame out a luxe and intimate workstation. Get the Look COMMIT TO COLOR Painting the walls, shelving, ladder, and ceiling the same color made the snug space feel bigger. Berkeley and Kelley used a custom graphic wallpaper by Jill Seale to complement the blue and draw attention to the desk niche. KEEP A SIMPLE SETUP The pair left the desk area sparse for a focused work space. The…

A ONE-MINUTE WORKOUT / HOW TO TRAVEL WITH PETS / DRESSING IN COLOR You grow fruits and veggies to feed yourself, not a flock of ravenous birds. But you can bamboozle the little buggers—and save your tomatoes from ruin—by hanging a red ornament on your plant just as it begins to flower. Certain birds are drawn to tomatoes because they essentially see them as water fountains in the summer heat. The ornament mimics the juicy fruit, so they try to peck it for a drink, says Christina Reid, a gardening expert at Texas A&M University. “After making several visits without quenching their thirst, the birds will likely avoid your tomatoes,” Reid says. (Don’t worry—they’ll find another water source.) So long, suckers!…

HOW TO BUILD A BUG-OUT BAG / GIFTS FOR SUMMER CELEBRATIONS 1 Fill Your Heart—and Better Your Health. “I met one of my closest friends, Linda, at work 20 years ago. Deep friendships can help cushion difficulties and remind us we aren’t alone in our problems. Research suggests that friends are essential to our health, just like exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep. The benefits include reduced heart rate and lower risks of diabetes and depression. It’s a great comfort knowing that Linda is always there and keeping me healthy too.” IRENE S. LEVINE, PHD, PSYCHOLOGIST AND CREATOR OF THE FRIENDSHIP BLOG 2 Consider How Friends Fit Into Your Life Story. “When a friend asked me to write the obituary for his father, George, his family told me, ‘You…

JESSICA MILBURN does not shy away from color. In fact, the cofounder of the design firm North and Madison in Bellwood, Illinois, believes every room needs it. When she and her family moved into their early 19th-century Chicago-area home in June 2020, she (and her design partner, Robin Flaherty) aimed to find a balance between her love of bold hues and the house’s character. “I wanted to capture the home’s old soul but put a spin on it,” Jessica says. She kept the architectural details, antique windows, and period fireplaces but gave the rooms vivid color treatments. “Don’t be afraid of embracing color in an old home,” she says. “It will make it come to life.” Kitchen The coffered ceiling made the kitchen (previous page) feel fussy, so Jessica…

1 VACATION IN A BOTTLE Self-tanners can be drying and feel sticky, but not this one. The weightless formula is packed with nourishing hydrators (glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid) that help prolong your faux glow for up to seven days. So in addition to a vacay-worthy bronze, you get healthy, hydrated skin. TO BUY: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Oil Mist, $32; sephora.com. 2 BREAKOUT BUSTER Zit creams and makeup don’t always play well together, but skipping either isn’t an option when you have a flare-up. This derm-formulated salicylic acid treatment and primer does both jobs: It creates the ideal canvas while reducing and preventing blemishes. TO BUY: Acne & Oil Control Primer, $70; joriskincare.com. 3 JUST ADD WATER Looking for travel-friendly cleansers? These lightweight powders deliver a satisfying head-to-toe wash…

Water Works That thing that blasts out water like a canon? It’s a pressure washer, and it delivers some of the most satisfying grungy-to-gleaming results. This machine can be as small as a canister vacuum or as large as a lawn mower, and it attaches to your garden hose. Water gets pressurized in the drum and shoots out of your chosen attachment—a brush, disk, or nozzle—with enough force to remove stains, dirt, mildew, moss, and [choose your own scourge of homeownership]. BLAST FROM THE PSI Pressure washers are classified by strength—the pounds per square inch, or PSI, of water pressure. Light-duty models run from 1,200 to 1,900 PSI and are best for projects like washing your car. (By comparison, the average garden hose hooked up to a nozzle will probably…

WEAR THIS COLORFUL WRAP DRESS… …ON A DATE So what if it’s a bright print? This comfortable wrap can be as dressy as an LBD. Pair it with classic neutral accessories, like pearl earrings and black heels. TO BUY: Lauren Ralph Lauren Floral Georgette Dress, $145; ralphlauren.com. Double Drop Earrings, $75; mahrukhakulyjewelry.com. The Magnolia Bucket Bag, $148; victoriadunndesign.com. Tonika Heeled Sandal, $33; shoedazzle.com. …TO A COOKOUT A jean jacket and sandals are your best friends when you want a more casual look. TO BUY: Cinch Waist Denim Crop Jacket, $55; maurices.com. Big Mood Ring, $60; studiocult.co. Izzy Medium Shoulder Bag, $94; meliebianco.com. The Medio Woven Sandal, $198; mgemi.com. …FOR A GRADUATION The creamy cardi, earrings, and sandals play off the dress’s white flowers, and the teal bag adds an eye-catching…

YOU’D HAVE TO BE asleep at the wheel not to be thrown by news about all the catastrophes in the world, in our country, maybe in your state. And while disaster won’t affect everyone, superstorms, wildfires, and unrest hitting your news alerts on the regular is enough to ensure you don’t sleep at all. Being prepared can ease your worried mind, even if there’s the slimmest chance the worst will happen. Nearly half of us don’t have a stash of supplies—food, water, first aid kits—according to the CDC. So consider packing an emergency, or “bug-out,” bag to help keep you and your family safe and comfortable if you ever need to stay with friends or family or at a relief center. Start With These Essentials THE ACTUAL BAG OR…

People Always Compliment My Unibrow For years, Shari Siadat over-tweezed her brows to fit in. “As a child of Iranian immigrants, I was bullied for not looking like the other kids,” Shari recalls. But in 2017, inspired by her young daughters, she decided to let her brows grow in full and natural. Now she adorns her arches with glitter to make them more striking. To help people “embrace, not erase, their truest selves,” she founded TooD, a beauty brand that creates colorful makeup, including the glitter she paints on her brows. People Always Compliment My Smile Náosha Gregg was 15 years old when she first smiled with her teeth. Growing up, she “was always embarrassed and felt ugly” because of a gap in the front, says the now 23-year-old. But…

LEMONY LINGUINE / GRILLED FLATBREADS / CRISPY PRETZEL CHICKEN Fresh, juicy strawberries are a sure sign of summer—and your cue to start whipping up the shortcakes and cream. SHOP for bright red, shiny fruit with stems intact. Don’t be fooled by those clementine-size monsters: Smaller berries are often sweeter. STORE unwashed in an open container in the crisper drawer for a few days. Or chill in a single layer in a towel-lined bin for up to a week. Rinse just before eating. SERVE sprinkled with sugar for dessert. Bake into muffins, cakes, and crisps. Toss onto salads, or simmer with sugar and lemon to make a compote for yogurt or grilled cheese. —Lizzy Briskin 5 Easy Dinners #1 / Lemony Linguine With Olives and Feta ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL…

SUMMER IS PRIME stargazing season, when the Milky Way is visible high in the night sky. It’s the perfect time to gaze upward and ponder the big questions, such as “What does space smell like?” Luckily, science has answers. Rum and raspberries. Astronomers have found ethyl formate in two dust clouds—one deep in the center of the Milky Way and one in the Orion constellation. That chemical, also abundant on earth, has the sharp, sweet aroma of rum and taste of raspberries. Seared steak and burning metal. Humans can’t actually smell anything (or breathe, for that matter) in the vacuum of space, but astronauts have noted a strange odor clinging to their spacesuits. Their descriptions sound like a barbecue gone seriously awry. One theory: It’s the smell of dying…