Indholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2022 i Real Simple

SPEED ROUND: What do you think of when you think of summer fun? Lazy pool days? Beach trips? State fairs and csarnivals, rented cabins and road trips? For me, it’s all about the food. I’m from a big Italian American family, and my folks still live in the house I grew up in, on the New England coast. In the summer, my husband and I take the kids there every chance we get. It’s not for the beaches, though we love the water. It’s for the family…and the food. In the heat of summer, grumpy New Englanders (not you, Mom!) are loath to turn the kitchen into the fifth circle of hell, so we cook outside (thus: clambakes and lobster boils and everything on the grill). The peak local produce…

1 TOTES ADORABLE We collabed with State Bags to create your new go-to beach tote. Thanks to its water resistance, beach essentials will stay bone-dry. TO BUY: STATE x REAL SIMPLE Wellington Cabana Tote, $155; statebags.com. 2 A COOL DRINK Elevate beach picnics with sturdy but stylish acrylic tumblers that could pass for Murano glass. TO BUY: Animal Print Stemless Wine Glasses, $59 for 4; markandgraham.com. 3 MADE IN THE SHADE This umbrella’s checkered fabric has a UPF (like SPF for textiles) rating of 50for extra sun protection. TO BUY: Beach Umbrella, $259; sundaysupply.co. 4 SEA SMARTS Quiz your fam about seaside trivia (think: fun marine life stats) as they bask in the sun. TO BUY: Games Room Beach Trivia, $12; chroniclebooks.com. 5 GOOD SHAPES A packable, puffy throw…

1 HIT REFRESH This long-lasting deodorant for your shirt will help you avoid stinky situations. The spray keeps smells at bay through at least five wears and washes! TO BUY: Swiff, $30; swiffspray.com. 2 TAKE A STAND Today your office is the sofa. Tomorrow, the kitchen island. A collapsible organizer with 12 pockets will transport your supplies from place to place. TO BUY: Portable Desk Organizer, $65; store.moma.org. 3 SOUND EFFECTS Never again will you board a plane only to realize your wireless headphones don’t work with the jack. This adapter pairs Bluetooth buds with the screen. TO BUY: AirFly, from $50; twelvesouth.com. 4 SWIM PICKINGS The company uses a face-scanning app to customize the fit of these goggles just for you. Say bye to watery eyes. TO BUY:…

For a cuter, neater, and less wasteful way to enjoy watermelon, carve out sticks instead of slices, says REAL SIMPLE food director Jenna Helwig. Cut a baby watermelon in half, then into inch-thick half-moons, and finally crosswise into inch-wide sticks. Leave the sticks plain or dress them with lime juice, lime zest, flaky sea salt, and/or chili powder. Set them out for an easy-to-grab—and easier-to-devour—barbecue starter or dessert. Score one for sustainability: no more half-nibbled slabs in the trash!…

1 Go Looking for It. “For 100 days, I put myself in situations where I’d be turned down. I asked a cop if I could drive his car, I tried to make my own sandwich at Subway, I invited a stranger to dinner, and more. Those rejections became less painful over time, and I discovered I could turn a negative into a positive simply by asking, ‘Why not?’ I used to assume a rejection was a reflection on me, but I know it’s usually for other reasons—the timing isn’t right, or there’s no room in the budget. By asking for more information, I feel better than I would if I just walked away.” JIA JIANG, AUTHOR OF REJECTION PROOF: HOW I BEAT FEAR AND BECAME INVINCIBLE THROUGH 100 DAYS…

THE SUN CLOCK OK, we all know we can track the day by the sun’s journey from east to west. But there’s a cool trick to get a rough estimate for sunset. Hold out your palm with your pinkie running along the western horizon. Stack your hands until you hit the bottom of the sun; each finger (skip the thumb) represents 15 minutes of remaining daylight. So if you stack your hands three times, you’ve got about three hours of light left—if it’s only three fingers, you have 45 minutes. THE CRICKET THERMOMETER When evening comes, listen for the rhythmic sound of crickets. The warmer it is, the faster their muscles move, and the more they chirp. Count those chirps for 14 seconds, then add 40 to get a…

Meet the Owners ZOOEY DESCHANEL & JONATHAN SCOTT Zooey and Jonathan renovated their Los Angeles Georgian Revival home by maintaining historic details and using pattern play in nearly every room. (To see the full tour, pick up the summer issue of the Scott brothers’ magazine, Drew + Jonathan Reveal, at your local newsstand.) Here, Zooey created an oasis of an office for taking meetings, writing music, and crafting. The standout feature is the DreamBox closet that opens to reveal a pullout worktable and universe of materials. “I’m not crafting all the time, so I wanted to be able to put everything away when I’m not using it, and have a beautiful room to work in!” she says. Get the Look DREAMY STORAGE At three feet wide, less than three…

BEST CROSSBACK Adidas FastImpact Luxe Run High-Support Bra If you like a crossback but feel like Houdini trying to take it off post-workout, this is worth the splurge. The adjustable straps and lateral hooks on the chest band provide comfy, custom support that’s easy to escape. TO BUY: $80; adidas.com. BEST BRA TOP Old Navy Light Support PowerChill Longline Sports Bra Tank More for running errands than laps, this modern cut hits at the waist and, with removable pads, is great on its own or under a shirt. TO BUY: $27; oldnavy.com. BEST RACERBACK Fair Harbor the Corliss Sports Bra A snug band keeps this bra in place, letting you jump, bend, and twist. And we loved the no-chafe, low-cut armholes. TO BUY: $58; fairharborclothing.com. BEST UNDERWIRE Wacoal Simone…

DURING THE EARLY days of quarantine, when most of us were fretting and stress baking, my friend Jessica Cerretani coped by escaping to another world. She spent weekends restoring her childhood dollhouse to suit her adult fancies—covering its walls in ornate floral papers, etching titles on the tiny spines of folded-cardboard books, even fashioning mini loaves of sourdough from clay. I raptly followed her progress on social media, wishing I could curl up on the living room’s wee faux-zebra-fur chaise myself. “It was a time-out from work deadlines and the anxiety of the pandemic,” she told me. “Hours would pass. I’d look up and think, ‘I should cook dinner. But first let me design one more thing.’ As I worked, I’d imagine the people who lived there, a couple…

The Moment I Dared to Travel Alone When I was growing up, we didn’t do many family vacations. Because of this, my suppressed wanderlust was ready to pass Go and collect passport stamps as soon as I could travel on my own. I loved taking trips and was lucky to have a group of friends who did too. But as we got older, our schedules started to fill up, and priorities shifted to work and significant others. Last spring, I found round-trip tickets to Nashville for $85. Rather than try to rally a group, I simply let my gals know my travel plans—if anyone could swing it, great, but if not, I was going. And go (solo) I did! That trip was a turning point for me. I no longer…

Whether sweet, Thai, or purple, basil is a versatile summer staple. Here’s how to make the most of it. SHOP for full bunches with firm stems. Bonus if the root is attached; the basil will last extra long! STORE at room temp in a glass of water, loosely covered with a plastic bag, for up to a week. Refresh the water every couple of days. MAKE pesto in a food processor or blender to dress pasta, pizza, and sandwiches. Muddle leaves with lime and gin for a cocktail. Or roll several together and slice into ribbons to top any dish that needs an herby pop—even desserts, like tarts and crisps. —Lizzy Briskin 5 Easy Dinners #1 / Herby Peanut Noodles ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4…

ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 4 HOURS, 45 MINUTES (INCLUDES 2 HOURS COOLING) SERVES 16 8 large egg whites, at room temperature¼ tsp. cream of tartar2 cups plus 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided1 tsp. pure vanilla extract1 lb. mixed fresh berries (3 to 4 cups)2 medium mangoes, peeled and chopped (2 cups)2 cups heavy cream½ cup sour cream¼ cup confectioners’ sugarTorn fresh mint leaves, for serving PREHEAT oven to 250°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. BEAT egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. With mixer on high speed, add 2 cups granulated sugar in a slow, steady stream. Beat until egg whites are stiff and sugar is dissolved, about 8 minutes.…

1 GLOW GETTER Contouring is a snap with this super-convenient compact. Swipe the matte bronzer under cheekbones for definition, then blend the creamy highlighter on cheeks and brow bones for a sexy sheen. TO BUY: Bounce Magic Fit Creamy Bronzer & Highlighter Duo, $32; beautyblender.com. 2 CURL QUENCHER Want a little spring back in your spirals? Coat clean, damp hair in this mask made for curl types 3A to 4C, then multitask (wash, shave, sing!) during the five minutes it takes for the castor, jojoba, and avocado oils to do their mane magic. Rinse for softer, stronger, and shinier hair. TO BUY: Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Nourishing Mask, $14; ulta.com. 3 SWEAT STOPPER This mist feels weightless but stands up to sweat during both intense workouts and tense work meetings.…

AS THE GREAT MARY POPPINS once said, “For every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Finding the fun when it comes to finances can be a challenge, but if you’re looking for a spoonful of sugar to help your net worth go up, we’ve got a few ideas. 1 / Start a Money Diary So spreadsheet-style budgeting hasn’t worked for you? Consider journaling about your money habits. It’s a way to contextualize them and stay focused on your goals. Nicole Lapin, host of the podcast Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, likens the task to keeping a gratitude journal and recommends using similar prompts—such as “What are the financial things I’m grateful for today?” and “What did I accomplish this week financially?” Explore the “why”…

BEST MULTITASKER Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Sunscreen Serum SPF 50 If the extra step of applying sunscreen stresses you out, consider this souped-up serum worth the splurge. It checks so many boxes (dark spot brightener, antioxidant, moisturizer, sunscreen), it’s literally the only thing you need to apply on busy mornings. No time for makeup? Its golden tint imparts a healthy glow. TO BUY: $65; bloomeffects.com. BEST DEWY FINISH Cay Skin Isle Glow Face Lotion SPF 45 This radiance-boosting, blurring lotion packs hydrating nectar and is like a drink for dry skin. Plus, it doesn’t pill under makeup. TO BUY: $32; sephora.com. BEST EVERYDAY Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Yes, it’s loaded with ray-blocking zinc oxide, but the vitamin E–laced formula sinks in so nicely, you’ll call it a staple, stat.…

Best Fruit Pops Dreyer’s Outshine Tangerine Fruit Bars These bright and punchy pops are like a burst of sunshine straight from the freezer. We love that you can bite into them immediately—no iciness here. And the citrusy tartness of tangerine adds a grown-up twist to an otherwise classic refresher. TO BUY: $5.50 for 6; at grocery stores. Best Ice Cream Bar Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Soft Dipped A supple chocolate shell makes these bars easy to eat (no flying broken bits). And the ice cream is delightfully silky and rich. TO BUY: $5.50 for 3; at grocery stores. Best Sandwich Klondike X Mrs. Fields Sandwiches The soft, chip-packed cookies taste freshly baked and are the perfect vehicle for velvety vanilla ice cream. TO BUY: $3 each; at grocery stores. Best Mini…

THANKS TO THAT COMPACT little supercomputer you carry in your pocket at all times, capturing videos of your family has never been easier. The hard part? Recording anything anyone will want to watch again. (Why were you compelled to record five blurry, bandwidth-chomping minutes of your kid feeding the ducks?) If your clips are riddled with shaky camerawork, shadowy faces, and cranky subjects—or if they’re just plain boring—try these tricks to turn home movies into tiny works of art. BEFORE YOU HIT RECORD Follow the Feelings For video that plays like a visual scrapbook, you want footage that shows feeling. Think about exactly what you want to preserve in that moment. Is it the sound of your kids giggling in a pillow fort? Move within one or two feet…

Nantucket This tiny isle packs major Massachusetts charm. Cobblestone streets, cedar-shingle cottages, steep Atlantic swells—prepare to swoon over this 3½-mile-wide island’s camera-ready New England beauty. Stay at the Wauwinet (from $205 a night), a hotel for adults and kids 12 and up that neighbors the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, or at Life House Nantucket (from $445 a night), a stylish bed-and-breakfast near town. Take your pick of beaches: Cisco for a lively surfing scene, Jetties for calm, sandy play. Eat at the Galley Beach restaurant for sorbet sunsets. Drive 20 minutes east of town to the secluded community of Siasconset for a quiet day on the sand. Grab lunch at Claudette’s Sandwiches, then stroll Sconset Bluff Walk, a path that winds through rose-covered cottages. (Do they make an SPF that protects…