Featured in October 2011

Thoughts, p. 8

The Simple List, p. 10

Editor’s Note, p. 28

Your Words

• This Month’s Question, p. 31
  How do you make dinnertime easier in your house?
• No-Obligation Book Club, p. 37
  What book makes you laugh out loud?

Trends Worth Trying

• Objects of Desire, p. 39
  Edgy veggies
• Singular Sensations, p. 40
  Jewelry on the fringe
• Five-Minute Wow, p. 42
  Fishtail braid
• The Most Wearable Trend Right Now, p. 44
  Native Americana
• Style Revival, p. 46
  Shearling reboot
• New and Improved, p. 48
  Clever packaging
• 10 Finds for $50 or Less, p. 50

Solutions

• New Uses for Sandpaper, p. 53
• Problem-Solvers of the Month, p. 54
• Fresh Pick, p. 58
  Cauliflower
• Start With, p. 60
  A frozen cheese pizza
• Ask Real Simple, p. 62
  I can eat prewashed lettuce straight from the bag, right?
• Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas, p. 65

Life Lessons

• Good Read, p. 69
  Judith Newman on her aversion to being a houseguest
• Modern Manners, p. 75
  Michelle Slatalla on how to get through Halloween if you’re not wild about it
• Expertise, p. 81
  Five quick rituals that will improve your day

The Guide

Fashion

• 7 Pieces, 7 Outfits, p. 89
  Smart fall staples that you can endlessly mix and match
• Real Steals, p. 105
  Crisp plaid pieces for under $100
• Fit Lab, p. 117
  Puffy coats

Beauty

• Beauty With Brains, p. 127
  Is a juice cleanse good for me?
• Anti-aging Made Easy, p. 135
  A straightforward guide to the right regimen for you
• Road Test, p. 145
  Lip glosses

Home

• Down-to-Earth Bulbs, p. 151
  Just in time for planting season, a primer on the most foolproof and beautiful varieties
• Decorating With Orange, p. 163
  Bright ideas to make any space pop
• Road Test, p. 173
  Step stools
• Personal Shopper, p. 179
  Dozens of room-improving throw pillows, from the graphic to the whimsical
• Aroma Therapy, p. 195
  Sweeten the air with one of these standout home scents

Health

• 15 Minutes and You’re Done, p. 201
  Take a break from weights with a resistance-band workout
• The Right Birth Control for You, p. 205
  The best options for your age and life stage
• The Decoder, p. 215
  Essential oils

Money

• Easy Relief From Everyday Money Worries, p. 221
  Quick fixes to help ease your financial stress
• Moneywise, p. 229
  How to save on dry-cleaning; ways to spot a penny-auction scam; steps for getting a credit card more easily

Features

• What Makes My Life Real Simple, p. 237
• A Month of Easy Dinners, p. 238
  Your stress-free four-week meal plan
• The Best and the Brightest, p. 250
  Colorful, affordable fall accessories that will recharge your existing wardrobe
• My Year With Breast Cancer, p. 258
  An intimate diary by writer (and patient) Rebecca Webber
• Micro-organizing, p. 266
  Big solutions for corralling your smallest stuff
• Stay a Little Longer, p. 274
  How to make your looks last

Food

• Revolutionizing Dinner (One Table at a Time), p. 283
  Meet the winners of our Take Back Dinnertime contest—and learn how to conquer your own mealtime struggles
• Squash Champions, p. 301
  Everything you need to know about preparing this fall all-star
• Road Test, p. 311
  Single-serve coffeemakers
• Quick Takes, p. 312
  10 ideas for tortillas
• Secretly Simple, p. 314
  Caramel Corn
• Nutritional Index, p. 317

Credits, p. 325
Where to buy the products featured in this issue

Discounts & Deals, p. 332
Exclusive savings on lively wall decorations

Clip and Save: Real Simple to Go, p. 334