Real Simple December 2022

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 have to…

Melissa Matthews FEATURES EDITOR Melissa had the idea to look into buy now, pay later plans. See what she learned on page 59. What’s your worst fear? It sounds wild, but demon possession! Ghost-movie trailers are beyond terrifying. Ideal weekend plans: A sweaty workout class, a trip to the spa for a facial or massage, and getting out in the city. I love seeing live music, sipping a cocktail, trying a new restaurant, or chilling at a friend’s apartment. Childhood celebrity crush: The Backstreet Boys. Yes, all of them! Favorite podcast: U Up? The hosts keep me hopeful about dating in New York City. Shandi Alexander STYLIST Those bold lewks in our fashion story on page 142? Shandi pulled them all together. What’s your personal motto? Just keep going. Currently reading: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. The language represents millennials—it’s…

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 15 percent off the Minted dopp kit on page 122. Go to…

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 years ago, I received a large brown garbage can from my husband for our anniversary.…

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Relatable Poetry Kate Baer’s thousands of Instagram followers know exactly why her poems go viral: She writes about daily life in a way that’s both familiar and profound. Her third collection, And Yet, proves her superpower for finding just the right words to convey the intricacies of motherhood, marriage, body image, and so much more. An ideal gift for your sibling, best friend, or yourself, this volume reads like a balm for modern times. Cathartic Read Already a bestseller in South Korea, Baek Sehee’s I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki is a candid memoir constructed from the author’s recorded therapy sessions. Featuring dialogue between Sehee and her psychiatrist as well as insightful essays about self-esteem and self-doubt, this book will comfort anyone who’s ever been depressed, anxious, or just…