Real Simple July/August 2022

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 helps too:…

BEHIND THE SCENES Katie James Watkinson TRAVEL WRITER @katiejameswatkinson Bucket List Trip: India has been at the top of my travel list for years. I dream of a two-week journey from Delhi to Jaipur. Happy Place: Anywhere with white sand and palm trees. Dream Day: It starts with an early morning tee time with my husband, followed by an afternoon at the beach with a glass of rosé in hand. Read Katie’s roundup of the best beaches in the U.S. on page 96. 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 KITCHEN Frosé, If We May Still looking for your go-to summer sip? Get out the blender and frosé the day away! You’ll find the seminal recipe at realsimple.com/frose. Whip some up and kick back for summer bliss. IN YOUR WALLET A Blanket for…

#RSLOVE “A solo 4½-mile stand-up paddleboard trip on Lake Mead to Hoover Dam. Since then I’ve logged several solo paddles on big bodies of water, including a recent 6.7-mile loop.” @NEESYD2003 For sharing this photo with us, @neesyd2003 will receive our special edition, The Power of Sleep. If you want your picture to be considered, tag photos on Instagram with #rslove. “I went to Iceland by myself and hitchhiked across the country on my 25th birthday. I didn’t tell anyone at home till I got back!” @AMELIA.AFOLAYAN “New sports! Every decade, I go all in and learn a new sport. At age 30, it was running (I’m still at it); at age 40, golf (humbling!); at age 50, sculling (challenging!). With each sport, I’ve met new people and had tons of adventures. I still have time…

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 is a must for staying warm around the bonfire. TO…

Book Club Winner In Eleanor Brown’s Any Other Family, four biological siblings are adopted by three sets of parents—two couples and one single mother—who are committed to keeping the kids in each other’s lives. But this well-intentioned agreement proves difficult in practice, especially when the children’s biological mother announces she’s pregnant again. A tearjerker that nails the issues of fertility, adoption, and raising kids, this is a conversation starter about parenthood you don’t want to miss. Clever Page-Turner Imagine: You’re at a reunion dinner with former coworkers when you excuse yourself to buy a pack of cigarettes. As you walk back to the restaurant, you run into a former boyfriend, and then another, and then another. That’s what happens to Lola in Sloane Crosley’s Cult Classic. Clearly something is up, and it’s not…

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. Add vanilla, beating until just…