On the Cover

Your ultimate skin-care guide: essential buys from $6, p. 256

How to save money on your grocery bill, p. 213

11 fast weeknight dinner ideas, p. 286, 299, 313

Surprising advice your doctor is not giving you, p. 171

The 10 most common pet-owner mistakes, p. 201

Cabinets and countertops: a pullout renovation guide, p. 141

In This Issue

Thoughts, p. 10

The Simple List, p. 14

Editor's Note, p. 31

Contributors, p. 36

Everyday Celebrations, p. 41
Throw a “camping” cookout

Your Words, p. 49
What was your biggest beauty disaster?

Solutions

New Uses for Old Things, p. 59

The Primer: Chewing gum, p. 62

Products of the Month, p. 64

Tech Decoder: Viruses and spyware, p. 68

Garden Guide: Growing tomatoes, p. 70

Ask Real Simple: Unclog drains, p. 72

Life Lessons, p. 75
Turns out Mom was right. Eight writers reflect on the rules they, too, now live by

The Motivator, p. 247
Go ahead — ask for what you really want. Life coach Gail Blanke shows you how in four easy steps

Credits, p. 331

Real Life, p. 336
Meet reader Regina Stokes Offodile

Real Simple To Go, p. 338

The Guide

Beauty

Easy at-home pedicures to keep you on your (sandal-ready) toes, p. 97

Does Mom’s hallowed beauty advice hold up? Experts weigh in, p. 105

Flat irons, hair dryers, curling irons: choosing them and using them, p. 117

Home

From fuss-free to fancy, table-setting strategies for any occasion, p. 129

The renovation handbook: everything you need to know about cabinets and countertops, p. 141

Style

Build a modern wardrobe based on principles from four fashion icons, p. 151

One reader’s favorite A-line dress, plus options to fit your style, p. 163

Body

Cut back on lemons — and 29 other surprising tips for staying healthy that doctors want you to know, p. 171

How to make smart snack choices in the least healthy of places, like airports and mall food courts, p. 181

Life

Five steps to resolving conflicts — without losing your cool, p. 191

Avoid 10 common owner mistakes and get your pet to behave, p. 201

Moneywise

Real Simple’s new monthly guide to money savvy: how to save on your grocery bill, avoid credit-card charges, and more. Also, one woman’s spending diary, p. 213

Road Tests

Swimsuits, p. 223

Hummus, p. 231

Self-tanners, p. 235

Makeup mirrors, p. 243

Features

The best cleansers and creams for almost any skin type — $40 or less, p. 256

Use what you’ve got: clever, low-cost ways to redecorate any room by just mixing it up, p. 268

Summer fashion steals to heat up your wardrobe (without burning a hole in your pocketbook), p. 278

Simple, market-fresh recipes, straight from the farmers, p. 286

Cooking

Five Easy Dinners, p. 299

Make-Ahead Meal, p. 313

Fake It, Don't Make It: Easy Chocolate Croissants, p. 315

Fix common cooking mistakes, p. 319

Shopping List/Recipe Index, p. 327