Tabla de contenidos para December 2022 en Real Simple

ON THIS ISSUE’S MASTHEAD (page 8), REAL SIMPLE team members share what movie they wish their holidays were most like. For me, it’s less a movie and more…a Kate Spade ad? I host a party in my well-appointed uptown home (even though I live in the suburbs). Ella croons “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” as friends in sparkly dresses arrive midsnowstorm, laden with gifts. The door opens as if by magic, the buffet is set and hot (and will remain so indefinitely), and the dance floor (dance floor?) is lit. That’s the fantasy. The reality: In the days and minutes before I throw a party, I’m on edge. My inner critic murmurs to me, “Great! Now you’ve done it. You invited all these people, and you…

A Hardcover Book About How to Crochet Using Cat Hair. @FACEMATTERSSKINSTUDIO A carved giraffe knickknack with an extra-long neck for our first (“paper”) anniversary. Took me a while to realize it holds two rolls of toilet paper. @AUTUMNBCROCKFORD A can of creamed corn. Happy birthday to me. @ESULLIVAN92 For Christmas, when I was 15, my aunt sent me a T-shirt with my school picture on it. @ISABELLE9494 A vibrating hairbrush??? @JANICEWATKIN My husband received a luggage scale from my mom. For years we thought it was so odd, and it just sat in our closet. Eventually we came around and realized it’s the most useful gift ever. Everyone borrows it from us. Now that my mom is gone, we cherish it. @BETH_KNODLER A white chocolate artificial hip. @JANEARAY Many…

1 PICK YOUR HIGHLIGHTER Whatever highlighter you have in your bag will work just fine on your lids. But if you’re in the market for a new one, makeup artist Summer Tran (who created the look on the opposite page) recommends choosing a shimmery, not glittery, cream or liquid, since powders won’t offer the same pretty dewiness. When it comes to hue: A soft bronze is universally flattering, while pink perks up fair skin tones and rich bronze is stunning on deep complexions. 2 TAP, TAP, TAP By wearing highlighter on your lids, you put the focus on your eyes (they catch the light when you move) without fussing with a lot of products, Tran says. Using your finger, tap the highlighter onto your lids and inner corners. 3 FINISH STRONG If you…

Metallic Shoes These shimmery picks are like disco balls for your feet, but much easier to walk in. Statement Pearls Grandma’s favorite has a striking new look. See: these earrings, bracelets, cocktail rings, and necklaces. Bangles & Cuffs A low-risk, high-reward outfit enhancer: an eye-catching bracelet. Wear one of these with a sweater and jeans or LBD. Bold Bags These purses are big enough for the essentials and small enough to feel “evening.” Slide one on your arm or tuck it under, to keep your hands free for snacks.…

Bonus Gift Ideas Giving someone a honey sampler? Add a dipper! Lip balms work with, say, a makeup palette. A pen is a nice add-on for a pretty journal. Incense goes with any self-care gift. A tassel key chain works with a wallet. You get the picture! A Few Ground Rules We know, rules are important, so here we go: These little extras do not have to be fancy or expensive. They do, however, need to be able to be tied or clipped on. And if your bonus gifts match your wrapping paper, well, bonus points for you!…

’TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY. We’re constantly wishing (or maybe commanding) one another to have “happy holidays!” Our Instagram feeds are filled with beaming families in matching pajamas. And we’re reminded at every turn to spread glad tidings. If we stray from the merrymaking script—whether we’re anxious, sad, or just pissed off—we berate ourselves for being an emotional scrooge, which makes us feel even scroogier. Bah humbug, indeed! In a culture already obsessed with happiness, we’re never under more pressure to be of unflagging good cheer than we are during the most wonderful time of the year, with all those innocent, wide-eyed tots and feel-good movies about angels sent to whisk away our earthly problems. Negative emotions, like grief and disappointment, are obstacles to be knocked aside as…

MEET THE HOMEOWNER Kate Arends @witanddelight_ When Kate laid eyes on the living room in her soon-to-be home in St. Paul, Minnesota, it was love at first sight. Sort of. She could imagine her family stashing gifts under a Christmas tree. (This idea later became two trees, nestled by the bay window.) She couldn’t, however, imagine keeping the punchy peach walls. But once she realized how magical the color looked against the view, she ditched her plan to go all white. She embraced the room’s whimsical vibe and filled the space with a mix of vintage and contemporary decor. Get the Look PAINT EVERYTHING ONE COLOR The walls, trim, baseboards, molding, and door frames are all the same shade, making the room feel cozy and modern. THINK ABOUT HOW THE…

Cookbook Roundup…

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Salty Coffee Toffee Bars ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 2 HOURS MAKES 16 BARS ¾ cup chopped raw pecans½ cup chopped raw walnuts30 rectangular buttery crackers (such as Club)1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-in. pieces1 cup granulated sugar¼ tsp. kosher salt2 Tbsp. instant espresso granules½ tsp. pure vanilla extract1½ cups bittersweet chocolate chips1½ cups butterscotch chipsCooking sprayFlaky sea salt, for garnish PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Spread pecans and walnuts on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. SPREAD crackers in a single layer in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper. Break crackers as needed to cover entire baking dish. Sprinkle nuts over crackers. PLACE butter, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is…

ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 45 MINUTES MAKES 12 LATKES 1 10-oz. russet potato, peeled and grated (about 1 ¼ cups)1 large parsnip, peeled and grated (about 1 cup)1 leek (white and light green parts only), cut into ¼-inch half-moons (about 1 cup)2 tsp. kosher salt, divided1 Gala or Honeycrisp apple, unpeeled, cut into thin matchsticks3 large eggs, lightly beaten1 cup matzo meal or panko½ cup finely chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnishNeutral oil (such as canola), for fryingFlaky sea saltSour cream, applesauce, and honey, for serving (optional) PREHEAT oven to 200°F. Line a colander with a clean dish towel and place in a large bowl. Place potato, parsnip, and leek on towel. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and toss. Wrap towel around vegetables. Place a large…

1 HAVE S’MORE FUN Roast marshmallows indoors without crowding around the microwave. This seven-inch concrete stove burns clean gel fuel to provide crackling flames for three hours, sans smoke. Terraflame S’mores Roaster, $60; bespokepost.com 2 BREW BETTER Make a piping-hot cuppa from anywhere. This teapot’s electric base brings nearly 14 ounces of water to 130°F—and keeps it there. Ohom Leiph Teapot Set, $99; williams-sonoma.com 3 TAKE HEAT Freezing-cold offices are not the vibe. This small but mighty space heater can warm up your nook in just a few seconds, and its minimalist design beats bulky competitors. Nordic Hygge Värme, $99; amazon.com 4 WRAP WITHOUT WASTE A win for your kitchen and the earth: The cling wrap is compostable, and the dispenser is made of recycled plastic. Plus, the whole thing…

ACTIVE TIME 35 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 3 HOURS, 15 MINUTES SERVES 8 Dough 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface¼ cup granulated sugar1¼-oz. envelope instant or quick-rising yeast (2¼ tsp.)1½ tsp. kosher salt½ tsp. ground cardamom¼ tsp. ground cloves2 large eggs, at room temperature½ cup whole milk, at room temperature¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted1 Tbsp. orange zest (from 2 oranges)Cooking spray Filling ⅓ cup granulated sugar1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa1 tsp. ground cardamom½ tsp. ground cloves¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, very soft3 oz. dark chocolate, finely chopped (about ¾ cup) Icing 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar2 Tbsp. whole milk MAKE DOUGH: Beat flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cardamom, and cloves with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low speed until combined, about 15 seconds.…

LIGHT FIXTURES can be so easy to ignore, but now that it’s dark earlier and they’re on longer, it’s officially time to tackle the layers of dust on them. While you may not want to spend a Saturday morning on the task, the more the muck and gunk build up, the harder they’ll be to clean. Our first piece of advice? Do a regular maintenance sweep with a long-arm duster every few weeks. Twice a year, go in for a deeper clean. Give yourself an hour or two to check all the bulbs and follow the steps below, then bask in the glow of your sparkling lights. REMOVABLE GLASS FIXTURES, like globes and shades, can go in a bucket or slop sink filled with one gallon of hot water and…

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR LINEN CLOSET, don’t be so quick to throw in the towel. If you’ve got a mound (many mounds?) of mismatched sheets and impossibly old washcloths, take action. Even if your shelves are neatly stacked, there are probably still some items in there you could live without. Here’s how to pare down your bed and bath stuff. COMMIT TO AN ANNUAL CLEAN-OUT Once a year, remove everything and inspect it, says Tamar Bazin, owner of the New York City–based organizing company Tidee Living. (Yes, every single thing. “Because how else do you know what you have?” she asks.) Recycle towels that are seriously frayed or have a funky odor that detergent can’t eliminate, says Julie Bestry, a certified professional organizer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Replace sheet…

If Your Pet Is Super Timid… Got a scaredy-cat on your hands? “Set up a room just for your cat with a litter box, food, water, and toys,” says Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat-behavior consultant in Redwood City, California. If there’s a chance your feline might be interested in what’s going on, set up a tunnel, paper bag, or box in a corner of the party room to make scoping out the scene feel safer. For guests who want to nuzzle, tell them to hold out a finger and let your cat do the rest, Krieger advises. “When cats want to be petted, they’ll touch your finger with their mouth and turn their head.” Scaredy-dogs also need well-stocked sanctuaries located as far as possible from the action, preferably with…

THE ONLY THING BETTER than my auntie’s sweet potato pie during the holidays is the piping-hot family tea that comes with it. Every Christmas, we gather around the kitchen table to exchange tidbits about our loved ones. I get all the gossip: I find out if my cousin down south finished college after becoming a mom, if my uncle finally tied the knot with his “lady friend” of 20 years, if my aunt really did convert to Buddhism (she says she didn’t, but the speculation remains high among my Christian relatives), and so much more. Chatting about your loved ones is as inevitable as wrapping presents at the last minute. If you think you’re above gossip, the data says you’re not. The average person gossips for roughly 52 minutes…

A FEW SUMMERS AGO, my daughter asked me two difficult questions. We were sitting in the warm dirt in our county’s community garden with my mother, picking produce that would go to food banks in the area. “Why do some people not have enough?” she asked as we sorted tomatoes. “Why do we have so much?” I thought about how to answer. I mean, how do I explain our many broken systems to an 8-year-old? Do I start with a lesson in politics? Agriculture? Economics?! I took a beat and said, “There’s enough food in the world. It’s just not distributed fairly. Some people don’t share, so we try to do our part.” She accepted the answer, and we went on with our counting and bagging. For many families,…

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Festive Feathers Miniskirts are back in a big way. Get one with feathers, beads, or any sort of embellishment and pair it with a top that grazes the waistband. Leather Top Wear a button-up with a turtleneck and jeans for a look that’s glam yet comfy. Mixed Patterns To pull off this look, start with an anchor print and make sure everything has at least one of its colors. Disco Dress For peak disco, opt for metallics. A turtleneck underneath shows you’re trend-forward (and ready for the weather). Tulle Details Look for the frilly fabric on tanks, tees, dresses, and accessories. Oversize Sweater Think big. No, bigger! Cuff the sleeves or roll them above your elbows to show a little skin. Statement Blazer Get a bright, roomy blazer and…

Real All the Way! “Always real. Accept no substitutes.” ANNA LEIGH, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY “There is just something about going out to the farm and walking the fields to pick the perfect tree. Plus, it supports local businesses!” CHARITY, WATERVILLE, MAINE “I don’t have the storage space for an artificial one.” EMILY, CINCINNATI We asked on Instagram, and 55 percent of commenters prefer real trees. Faux for Sure! “Fake—due to allergies. I do miss that real-tree aroma, but I also love the ease of the fake tree.” CAROL, OCEAN VIEW, DELAWARE “We got real trees in the past…until a spider nest hatched literally hundreds of baby spiders. They were everywhere. This year we have a beautiful artificial tree. No watering, no spiders.” @LIBRAGIRL1009 “I love the convenience of having the lights…

ON YOUR MIND How to Beat Seasonal Depression Cold temps got you down? Or maybe it’s the long hours of darkness? The mountains of snow? Don’t fret—researchers have figured out how to cure your blues. (Thanks, researchers!) See what they suggest at realsimple.com/seasonaldepression. IN YOUR HOME 62 Chic (yet Easy!) Festive Decor Ideas Deck the halls—and the shelves, and the floors, and everything else! We’ve packaged up dozens of decor ideas you can pull off in no time. Unwrap them at realsimple.com/holidaydecor. ON THE WEB 5 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Party Have a ball without dropping the ball! Head over to realsimple.com/holidayparty, and we’ll help you throw a bash that’s fun for everyone (including you!). IN YOUR WALLET A Little Something for You REAL SIMPLE readers can score…

1 FLOWER-POWERED POUT This worth-it splurge is so weightless, I forget I’m wearing lipstick. The matte color lasts through cocktails and kisses yet feels comfy, thanks to hydrating peony extract. Rouge Dior Forever Transfer-Proof Lipstick (shown in #760), $42; dior.com 2 BETTER HAIR DAES Most conditioners leave my fine, curly, postpartum hair (waah!) sad and flat. This desert-botanical blend gives me softer, shinier strands with lots of life while turning my shower into a little oasis. Dae Monsoon Moisture Conditioner, $26; sephora.com 3 FACE FIRMER If you want tighter skin (um, I do!), you’ll want this peptide-packed cream, which delivers results rivaling pricey in-office treatments (for real). It smooths, lifts, and layers beautifully under makeup. Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer, $43; peachandlily.com 4 FEEL-GOOD GLOW These palettes feature blushes, bronzers, and…

BEST FOR THE ACNE-PRONE The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser Meet your new favorite all-in-one makeup remover and face wash. The refreshing jelly draws out dirt and oil from deep in your pores. Seven amino acids and fruit antioxidants (lemon, orange, and avocado) brighten, while chamomile calms. Massage a dime-size drop into damp skin and rinse for a comfy clean. Ahhh. When you run out, buy a refill and reduce waste. $32; theoutset.com BEST FOR WATERPROOF MAKEUP Charlotte Tilbury Take It All Off Oil and water break down heavy makeup without leaving a residue. From $16; charlottetilbury.com BEST FOR SENSITIVE EYES Éminence Herbal Eye Make-Up Remover Press a cotton pad on the pump for the ideal dose (you’ll see) of cucumber and calendula. $34; eminenceorganics.com BEST FOR MATURE SKIN Rose…

YOU CAN’T SHOP ONLINE these days without noticing the not-so-fine print under nearly every virtual price tag. The offer: Break the cost into smaller, interest-free installments. So a $168 item can be yours for $42…four times. It’s called buy now, pay later (BNPL), and it’s essentially a point-of-sale loan through a third-party service. There are a bunch of these companies (Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay are popular ones), and they’ve been popping up on all your favorite retailers’ websites. When you’re spending a small fortune for the holidays—presents! parties! flights! hotels!—spreading out the total can feel financially savvy. “People think buy now, pay later is more responsible because there’s often no interest or late fees,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. But you know there’s no such thing…

Q SHIRA ASKS… I’m having a destination wedding, and we want to keep it super small. What’s a classy and nice way of saying on our e-invite, “We are getting married, but really, no pressure to come!” We genuinely don’t want too many people there. Wow! Congratulations on getting married. Finding a life partner is pretty special. If you’d really love to have a very intimate wedding, I’d suggest mailing handwritten invites to the guests you definitely want there. Maybe even mention an inside joke or story so they know it’s personal and meant for them. Saying, “No pressure to come!” sends a mixed message. Like, do you want me there or not? It’s as if you were getting married and your husband-to-be were like, “If you don’t feel like…

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At the Moth, we believe everyone has a story, even though it may never be told onstage. Maybe you’re hoping to share a fun anecdote at your next high school reunion, or get people excited about a new idea at work. Maybe you want to tell a story more formally in a toast, or find the words to motivate others to advocate for a cause. A wise mattress salesperson once quipped, “You spend a third of your life in bed. Sleep in the best bed you can find!” Nobody can say what fraction of your life you spend telling stories, but for as long as humans have had language, it’s been an important part of expressing ourselves, so it’s worth cultivating your skills. Here are a few of the…

RECIPES FOR REAL LIFE This cruciferous vegetable (also called rapini) is mustardy and a tad bitter—in the best possible way. Its earthy flavor cuts through rich meaty, cheesy dishes. CHOOSE sturdy, dark green stems with intact leaves and buds. STORE in a loose plastic bag in the crisper drawer for up to five days. Trim the tough ends before cooking. BOIL until tender, then sauté with olive oil and garlic; use as a pizza topping or toss with pasta and sausage. Fold cooked rabe into a frittata, quiche, or bread pudding before baking, or layer it between slices of sourdough with provolone, prosciutto, and honey. —Lizzy Briskin 7 Easy Dinners #1 / Instant Pot Beef Ragù ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Family…