Real Simple August 2021

THE YEAR WAS 2009, and I decided to walk the several blocks from Rockefeller Center, where I’d had the most lovely experience doing a Today show segment, to my office in Midtown. It was a warm August morning, and stores were just opening. I was weaving my way past Saks Fifth Avenue when I did something I had never done before, haven’t done since, and had no business doing then. I saw a handbag in the window. It was a “Liz bag” in form and function, in shape and texture, from vibe to versatility. Knowing that the price would knock me out but that this was a timeless style I’d love forever, I walked straight to the handbag department—thinking, “I am going to buy this bag, aren’t I?”—and bought her. I…

ON THE WEB 30-Plus Memorable Host Gifts A bottle of white is nice, but what about a present they’ll truly love that will last? Offer one of these games, cheese boards, or drink chillers and you’re guaranteed an invite to the next dinner party. Find something special at realsimple.com/hostgifts. IN YOUR HOME A Destination for DIYers Transform your home with dozens of paint projects. Get detailed how-tos at realsimple.com/diyclub. IN YOUR WALLET We Found It& You Save Score a discount on the umbrella featured on page 28. Get 15 percent off sitewide at bluntumbrellas.com by using the code REALSIMPLE15 at checkout. Offer valid 7/13/21 to 8/13/21. IN THE KITCHEN 25 Fast, Healthy Breakfast Ideas Streamline your morning routine with simple breakfast recipes that call for minimal prep and deliver maximum flavor. For a gallery of energy-boosting dishes, go to realsimple.com/morning-meals. BEHIND THE…

Friday martinis in my new she shed. JAMELYN GILLIAM, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA #RSLOVE Our long daily walks—rain or shine. We’ve never had more appreciation for quality time together and for the beauty of nature. We hope to never take them for granted. @STEPHANIESHAUL Curbside pickup! Everything from makeup to drugstore items to groceries. It allows me to shop less and spend more time at home. Bonus: It totally eliminates impulse purchases. CAROL TYSON, BOOTHWYN, PENNSYLVANIA When the quarantine began, I started playing piano and singing my favorite old hymns for about 15 minutes just before bedtime. My husband and I found it very calming, and we have continued the practice. MILDRED BENSON, OAK PARK, ILLINOIS My teenage daughter comes into my home office at random times and turns my chair so she can sit on my lap for a…

YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE These patches have earned their Etsy maker a plethora of five-star reviews. Choose an iron-on or Velcro version. TO BUY: Custom Pet Patches, from $28; thepawfectpatch.etsy.com. SLEEPY SPOT The big, padded sides make this round bed extra cozy for dogs who like to curl up and rest their chin. TO BUY: Jax & Bones Dog Donut Bed, from $99; markandgraham.com. CHARMING ACCESSORY This brass tag has room for a name and cute icons on the front, and your phone number on the back. TO BUY: The Woodstock Pet ID Tag, $25; theblink.shop. PROFILE PICK Immortalize your BFF’s silhouette with a custom print, available in nine colors. TO BUY: Tone on Tone Silhouette, from $58; minted.com. MEANINGFUL PAWS Use this kit to create an imprint of Fido’s paw in air-drying clay. Then display it next…

Book Club Winner It’s 2016, and Samantha Raymond, a 52-year-old married suburban mom, can no longer ignore the pull she feels to change her life. So when she sees a gorgeous but nearly condemned old house in a tougher neighborhood, she buys it, blindsiding her family. Then she begins to do what she hasn’t done in so many years: live completely on her own terms. Dana Spiotta’s Wayward is a funny, clever, and thought-provoking portrayal of the complexity of midlife in today’s America. Family Portrait Author Julie Klam grew up captivated by the stories she heard about her grandmother’s cousins, the Morris sisters. They never married or had kids, and they lived wildly independent lives in New York City and amassed a fortune. But when Klam researched their history, she found that the…

YOU CAN FIX IT! Repair a frayed wire, seal a leaky faucet, even hang a lightweight frame with this waterproof silicone glue. Just stick it on, shape it, and let it set. Dishwasher safe. TO BUY: Mouldable Glue by Tesa, $17 for 8; sugru.com. BETTER THAN BAREFOOT It’s a sock! It’s a slipper! It’s never coming off your sore feet! These peds hug your arches and mold to your feet thanks to grippy rubber soles. TO BUY: Parasole 3D Recovery Socks, from $49; flykytin.com. NO JEWELRY JUMBLE Tuck one end of a necklace into the felt slit, wrap the chain around the center, and secure the other end. Great for travel or just tossing into a gym bag. TO BUY: Tavvi Necklace Wrangler, $12 for 3; necklacewrangler.com. DOG RUN TO GO At the campground or park, let…