Real Simple March 2023

I LOVE THIS MAGAZINE. Since it launched, almost 23 years ago, it has stood out from the pack for its intense practicality and unabashed smartness—no pandering, no dumbing down, just genius ideas and advice to improve your life, packaged in a pretty, clean, calming design. Someone else who’s been a fan from the get-go? Our first-ever cover star, Kristen Bell, who started subscribing in college and never looked back. She’s also, to me, quintessentially REAL SIMPLE—smart, funny, down to earth, and exceedingly capable. From her earliest days in the spotlight, she’s been intentional and open, sharing her mental health struggles and trials as a parent (while fiercely protecting her children’s privacy) and publicly supporting her husband through addiction recovery. She embodies the brand’s ethos and the theme of this issue: game…

Kristin Wong WRITER Put down your 401(k) statement and turn to page 70 to find Kristin’s story on how to handle your finances during a recession. Favorite recipe: Alison Roman’s spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric. It’s so good. What was the most surprising thing you learned during your reporting? An expert I interviewed argued that sometimes the best thing you can do for your finances is not to think about money all the time. What a concept! What inspires you? Feeling in awe of something. Research claims it makes us feel happier and more connected to humanity. I agree! Chrisean Rose PHOTOGRAPHER We asked the in-demand visionary, based in Atlanta and Los Angeles, to shoot our first-ever cover star. What’s your favorite tradition? A celebration called Junkanoo. It’s a vibrant Bahamian street parade the day after Christmas (Boxing Day) and on…

ON THE WEB 4 Workouts for a Healthy Heart What’s one of the best ways to protect your ticker? Exercise! What kind of exercise, you ask? Any kind! According to experts, the ideal workout is one you love, whether that’s yoga, weight lifting, HIIT, or brisk walks. If you’re not sure where to start, go to realsimple.com/hearthealth for some inspo. IN YOUR HOME 9 Things to Purge With No Regrets Let it go. Head over to realsimple.com/declutter to see our list of low-stakes items you can get rid of right now. IN YOUR CART The Best Robot Vacuums Some robot vacs suck more than others. (Heh.) We scattered hair, cereal, and sand—then got to work testing 31 models. Our winners include a budget find, a super-quiet one, and more. Check them out at realsimple.com/robotvacs. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COREY OLSEN;…

My HappyLight therapy lamp, which I sit in front of for 20 minutes every morning October through March. It chases away the winter blues. (Exercise also helps!) @CALAMITYCHRISSY Rice cooker, rice cooker, rice cooker! My medium-size one can make large quantities and small portions, and it even makes porridge. The best feature? It switches itself off—so I don’t burn down the house—but still keeps the rice warm. @GGAILYNCH80 I have a few to nominate: A Roku player for each TV in the house. The NordicTrack treadmill we bought during the pandemic. And a steam shower is on the wish list. @SHAWNBURGER Blackout curtains in the bedroom and a few other rooms—for sleep reasons, but also to keep the temperature down in the summer. @_JENNIFERGREENE_ My Kindle Paperwhite. I love to read at night before going to sleep. I…

FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES FOOD GREENS CLEANER This roomy salad spinner is so much fun to use (pull a cord to make it go!), you might start eating a lot more veggies. Plus, the bowl is respectable enough to bring to the table. Easy Spin Salad Spinner, $35; zyliss.com SMART SCISSORS Like other kitchen shears, these can chop herbs, break down chicken, and trim meat. What makes them stand out: the blades, which pull apart for easy cleaning, and the built-in jar opener. Kitchen Shears, $25; wusthof.com GREAT GRATER There’s a reason the name Microplane has become synonymous with grater. The stainless-steel teeth glide through citrus peels, hard cheeses, and even sticks of cinnamon. Zester, $17.50; microplane.com MAGNETIC TRIVET If you’ve ever carried a hot Dutch oven and realized you had no place to…

Coming-of-Age Tearjerker Shelley Read’s debut novel centers on Victoria Nash, a tough-as-nails teenager who runs the household on her family’s peach farm in 1940s Colorado. She instantly connects with a young Native man passing through town, but when their relationship is brutally cut short, she’s forced to escape to a small shack in the mountains. With gorgeous descriptions of the great outdoors, an illicit love story, and an unforgettable protagonist, Go as a River offers something for everyone. Courageous Memoir In the early 2000s, Laura Cathcart Robbins was a budding author, had two young kids, and was married to one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. She was also severely addicted to pills. When she decided to get sober, she couldn’t find any “quit lit” books that reflected her experience as a…