Featured in December 2009

Thoughts, p. 10

The Simple List, p. 12

Editor’s Note, p. 33

Your Words

• This Month’s Question, p. 35
  How do you stay on budget during the holidays?
• No-Obligation Book Club, p. 40
  What book makes a great gift?

Trends Worth Trying

• Destined to Be a Classic, p. 45
  Booties―the perfect pump/boot hybrid
• One Pick Fits All, p. 46
  Decorative bobby pins
• Two Women, One Look, p. 48
  Leather skirts
• Five-Minute Wow, p. 50
  Making poinsettias prettier
• Everyday Indulgence, p. 52
  Artful salt and pepper shakers
• 10 Seasonal Essentials, p. 54

50 Gifts Under $50

• Everyone, p. 59
  Universal crowd-pleasers
• Women, p. 71
  For mothers, sisters, and best friends
• Men, p. 80
  For fathers, brothers, and husbands
• Kids, p. 91
  For tots, teens, and everyone in between
• Stocking Stuffers, p. 98
  21 mini gifts for $15 and under

Life Lessons

• Good Read, p. 107
  Karen Joy Fowler on watching her daughter grieve―and feeling helpless
• Modern Manners, p. 113
  Julie Rottenberg on dinner-table texters. Plus, your holiday etiquette questions answered
• Expertise, p. 117
  Amy Bloom on 10 truths she wishes she had known sooner

The Guide

Beauty

• Instant Improvements, p. 123
  Skin-fixing gels, creams, and cover-ups that can give you great results in seconds
• Road Test, p. 132
  Bar soap
• Beauty With Brains, p. 135
  What exactly are free radicals?

Health

• The Decoder, p. 141
  Determining the multivitamin that’s right for you
• You, Improved, p. 144
  How to add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Plus, winter sunscreen tips and a permission slip to eat chocolate
• 15 Minutes and You’re Done, p. 149
  Toned shoulders in a flash

Fashion

• True Velvet, p. 155
  Four feel-good pieces you can dress up or down
• Fit Lab, p. 165
  Find the best tuxedo pants for your body type
• Real Steals, p. 171
  Party accessories: 17 dazzling finds for $90 or under
• The Guide to Ironing Ruffles..., p. 179
  Expert tips for taking care of delicately detailed garments

Home

• Happy Wrapping, p. 189
  21 inventive ideas to festoon your presents
• Road Test, p. 199
  Holiday lights
• Decorating With Brown, p. 205
  Use this earthy neutral to add warmth or provide a base for brights
• Make Over My..., p. 217
  Real Simple clears out and cleans up one reader’s jam-packed refrigerator

Money

• Moneywise, p. 223
  How to save on seasonal decorations and avoid a holiday–air-travel charge. Plus, the price tag to purchase every gift in “The 12 Days of Christmas”
• Need Cash?, p. 229
  Five kinds of loans and how they can help you come up with money―fast

Features

• What Makes My Life Real Simple, p. 235
• What Goes Around Comes Around, p. 236
  Take a style lesson from the past to find your look for tomorrow
• Homemade for the Holidays, p. 244
  Nine easy, handcrafted gifts to delight friends and family
• Stealth Strategies for Better Skin, p. 256
  How less-expected elements (air quality, what you eat) can affect your complexion―and what to do about it
• The Day After, p. 262
  Flat club soda, cheese rinds, and sore feet: dealing with what’s left after the holiday party

Food

• Recipes for a Good Time, p.  266
  Make-ahead hors d’oeuvres perfect for any party
• Secretly Simple, p. 279
  Quick hollandaise
• Quick Takes, p. 280
  One sugar cookie dough, 10 ways to use it
• Road Test, p. 282
  Pancake mix
• Five Easy Dinners, p. 285
• Nutritional Index, p. 296

Credits, p. 302
Where to buy the products featured in this issue

Discounts & Deals, p. 308
Exclusive discounts on entertaining pieces

Real Simple to Go, p. 310