Featured in May 2008

See what was in this issue of Real Simple.

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
Throw a “camping” cookout, p. 41

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

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

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

Credits, p. 331

Real Life
Meet reader Regina Stokes Offodile, p. 336

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