Real Simple September 2021
Real Simple magazine provides smart, practical, beautiful solutions to make life easier—every single day. Each inspiring issue is packed with fast and delicious recipes, organizing and decorating ideas, great fashion and beauty finds, money-saving tips, and more. For annual or monthly subscriptions (on all platforms except iOS), your subscription will automatically renew and be charged to your provided payment method at the end of the term unless you choose to cancel. You may cancel at any time during your subscription in your account settings. If your provided payment method cannot be charged, we may terminate your subscription.
in this issue
3 things i spend too much money on
CARS. IN ALL MY YEARS of buying automobiles, I’ve never once gotten the salesperson to come down on the price. I’ve read articles about negotiating; I’ve watched YouTube videos in which former salespeople divulge their upselling tactics. All to little effect. In fact, I find the whole dealership thing so distasteful that I buy the most dependable cars I can find, then drive ’em for a decade or more. The first time I negotiated a car purchase—as a fresh-faced college graduate—I somehow managed to walk out having paid more than sticker price. My father laughed, then made sure to note it in his annual Christmas letter. Count me psyched about the trend toward dealerless car buying. I’m looking at you, Carvana and Cars.com. You get me. Ferrets. My kid is the…
real simple everywhere
ON THE WEB A Whole-House Decluttering Guide Ridding your home of junk calls for commitment, elbow grease—and our genius room-by-room organizing tips. Find all the motivation you need to wage a war on unwanted items at realsimple.com/clutterfree. IN THE KITCHEN Healthy Choices 24/7 Keep hunger—and hanger—at bay when you stock your pantry with the satisfying and nutritious options at realsimple.com/bettersnacks. BEHIND THE SCENES Luvvie Ajayi Jones @luvvie Daily uniform: A fedora, a graphic tee, and some joggers. Personal motto: Always underpromise and overdeliver. Describe your perfect day: One that involves nothing more than talking and laughing with my loved ones—preferably by a beach and under the sun. Read Luvvie’s essay about her name on page 28. FROM TOP: JOHNNY MILLER; COURTESY OF KESHA LAMBERT; GRACE ELKUS…
a splurge you’ve never regretted
My therapist. Hands down best expense of the month. @EYANTORNI #RSLOVE A good vacation! We work hard, so taking time to rest, reset, and soak in some great experiences, sunshine, and food never disappoints. @KERRIEKELLY Time. Time cuddling and reading to our children when they were young, getting on the floor and playing with them instead of being beholden to housework. Time admiring their art and listening to the stories they had to tell. I wish I had splurged even more. Now they’re all grown up with young families of their own, and I have too much time on my hands. LYNN HUYCK, TRINITY, FLORIDA Really nice sheets and pillows. Because you spend a third of your life in that bed, right? JULIE LIVINGSTON, PIKE ROAD, ALABAMA Skin care. I’m 56, and everyone thinks I’m in my late…
happy meals
CUTE CARRYALL This bag keeps food cool in transit—and the pattern is easy to spot in a crowded office fridge. TO BUY: Lunch Satchel, $36; us.thesomewhereco.com. RINSE AND REPEAT Wash produce at the office sink using this mini colander that slips into a storage container. TO BUY: Mepal Ellipse Fruit & Veggie Pot, $22; didriks.com. 1 CLEAR WINNERS Ditch disposable straws for these bicolor glass beauties. The set comes with a brush for easy cleaning. TO BUY: Glass Straws, $25 for 6; store.moma.org. 2 FLAT PACK This slim, insulated bag easily fits inside most totes for a less cumbersome commute. TO BUY: Lunch Case, $34; us.thesomewhereco.com. 3 SPLIT DECISION Banish soggy salads with this leakproof jar, which has a separate container for dressing or crunchy toppings. TO BUY: Jar to Go, from $16; lekueusa.com. 4 STASH AND CARRY Store essentials like…
the books list
Relatable Read Like so many of us, the Alvarado family has been tested by challenges: infidelity, aging parents, infertility, and now divorce. When the matriarch declares she’s over her 40-year marriage to her Weather Channel–obsessed husband, their three adult daughters must deal with the fallout, which includes taking a hard look at their own relationships. L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón is a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud-funny novel about the highs and lows of family life. Suspense Story Best-selling author Alice Feeney lives up to her reputation as “the queen of the twist” in her new thriller, Rock Paper Scissors. Adam and Amelia make a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage with a trip to the Scottish countryside. But from the moment they arrive, it’s clear one of them doesn’t have the best intentions. The…
clever items
1 CHILL DOGGY If you’re heading out for a long walk, dunk this UPF 50 shirt in water and put it on your pup. As the water evaporates, it cools down your hot dog. TO BUY: Top Paw Cooling Sun Protection Tee, $13; petsmart.com. 2 SEAT MATE This grippy silicone tray clips to the passenger seat, creating a level surface that will keep a phone, bag, laptop, and even pizza box in place. TO BUY: Stupid Car Tray Elite, $45; stupidcartray.com. 3 BUZZ OFF, BUGS Take this rechargeable lantern to the park or your patio. It attracts flies and mosquitoes with UV light before zapping them with an electrical current, not chemicals. TO BUY: Personal Zapper, $30; skeeter-hawk.com. 4 SCHOOL TOOL Send your little one back to class with this pouch for pens, pencils, and other small…
