Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Avoid expensive vet bills and keep Fido and Fluffy healthy with a little advance know-how and TLC.
By Brigitt Hauck

GK Hart/Vikki Hart/Getty Images
A little knowledge and a few proactive measures can help prevent-or at least minimize-some of the most common medical conditions in cats and dogs. Emmy Pointer, a veterinarian at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA, in New York City, and Ann E. Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center, in New York City, share simple steps pet owners can take to reduce the strain and pain these conditions cause our four-legged friends.

Also See: 5 Things You Can Learn From Your Pet


Dental Disease
Vstock LLC/Getty ImagesWhat it is:
As in humans, food particles and bacteria accumulate on and between an animal's teeth and gum line over time. The progressive buildup of food particles and bacteria form plaque and can lead to gingivitis and infections, causing discomfort and possible loss of teeth.

Whom it affects:
Cats and dogs.

Possible symptoms:
If your pet's breath is so bad it has

Real Simple staffers used their noodles to find the best dried pastas among 80 different varieties. Ciao down!

Best Semolina
When in Rome, go for handmade noodles. When at home, opt for this most common store-bought pasta variety, made with semolina flour (similar to coarse white flour). These winners boast a sandy exterior with tiny crevices that help sauce stick. Plus, they're sturdy enough to pair with Grandma's Bolognese.


Jens MortensenJens Mortensen













RS long pick: Barilla Thick Spaghetti, $1.70 for 16 ounces, at supermarkets.
RS short pick: De Cecco Penne Rigate, $2.30 for 16 ounces, at supermarkets.

Also See: How To: Cook Pasta


Best Whole-Grain
Made from whole wheat, rye, or a combination of grains, these noodles are more nutritious than their semolina cousins. Whole-grain varieties can have an earthy taste and a rubbery texture, but these winners are slightly sweet and toothsome. Their mild flavor pairs nicely with garlic and olive oil or roasted vegetables.



Jens MortensenJens Mortensen













RS long pick: Racconto 8 Whole Grain

Most people think they know the keys to career success: Keep your head down and nose to the grindstone. Avoid personal, emotional, or awkward subjects (in fact, any elephant in the room) at all costs. Well, guess again. Here, experts reveal five on-the-job maxims that are worth challenging.
By Patrick Doyle


Jetta Productions/Getty ImagesStay Away From Emotional Topics
In my opinion, you should always bring a problem out into the open, even if it's personal, difficult, or awkward. Say you and a colleague have different work styles or have clashed over a project, and as a result there is serious tension between the two of you. Tiptoeing around the issue may cause your productivity to suffer, so it's crucial that you confront your coworker. You can say, "You seem to dispute every point I make, and I don't understand. Did I do something to upset you?" If you talk about it, the situation won't spiral out of control or become a pattern.
Sean O'Neil is a management consultant based in Pelham, New York, and a coauthor of

Expert advice on 7 common situations, so you'll know when to meddle and when to stay mum.
By Katie McElveen

Annie Schlechter

1. Your child has an unreasonable amount of homework.

Should you butt in? Not until you've done some serious reconnaissance work. "Make sure your child is legitimately spending time working," not playing with the dog or daydreaming, says Jan Busey, an elementary-school teacher for nine years in Asheville, North Carolina. If that's not the case, make an appointment with the teacher.
How to handle it: Come prepared. Before the meeting, keep track of your child's progress. "Set goals for your child to complete an assignment, then assess at the end of that time," says Busey. "And write down specific challenges. The more you can show that you've tried to deal with the issue at home, the more receptive a teacher will be to your concerns."
When to reconsider: If your help in organizing tasks seems to speed things up and ease stress, the answer may be structure, not a teacher

Even the kids need a breather sometimes. These warning signs may indicate your little one is too busy.
This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.

All Tuckered Out
We've all heard about the signs to look out for if your kid is using drugs-the glassy eyes, spending less time with friends and family, apathy towards everything-but what if the culprit isn't pills but programming-and too much of it?


Guindon/Getty Images
The epidemic of overly scheduled kids has caught the attention of educators, doctors, and child psychologists over the past few decades. And not surprisingly, overscheduling kids leads to the same stress-related health and psychological problems that overscheduled adults experience. According to research, most kids who are overscheduled have parents from an educated, higher income bracket-and they tend to be girls.



There's a middle ground, though, between back-to-back dance classes, soccer games, band practice and church group, and the other extreme: undirected hours of

Top nutrition experts recommend healthy (and tasty) treats-just what your child's body needs to focus on homework, rev up for soccer practice, or unwind for bed.
By Amy Pature

Before Homework
Go for something rich in fiber and protein and low in fat and sugar. This will help your kid stay sated and keep her from crashing as she masters long division, says pediatric registered dietitian Tara Harwood. Hot chocolate might be helpful, too: The scant amount of caffeine can raise endorphin levels, which promotes focus.
Jose Picayo
-¾ cup vanilla yogurt with 1 sliced apple or pear for dipping

-1 cup hot chocolate

-½ cup wheat-squares cereal mixed with ¼ cup unsweetened dried fruit

-½ cup oatmeal topped with 2 teaspoons ground flaxseed and 1 teaspoon maple syrup

-2 slices whole-grain bread with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter


Also See: 8 Ingenious Homework Help Sites


Before Sports
Choose a low-fat, carbohydrate-rich snack with a moderate amount of fiber (a whole-grain pretzel, whole-wheat graham

Chances are, work-life balance is your most elusive goal. But it's not impossible.
By Michelle Slatalla

Last Thursday, as I walked into the house after a business meeting followed by a 30-mile round-trip car pool, I smelled something delicious wafting from the Crock-Pot. On my way to the kitchen, I looked in the mirror, gave a thumbs-up to my dependable black pants, and thought, There now, being a working mother isn't so hard. That day, like most, involved a lot of working and a lot of mothering, often at the same time. Ever since giving birth to my first daughter, 20 years ago, I have intentionally blurred the lines between work and home. That's just what the experts tell you not to do. But I credit the overlap with helping me stay reasonably calm. Here are my tried-and-true ways to keep domestic (and professional) chaos at bay.




Brooke Slezak 1. Do work at home; do home at work. You need to accomplish a certain number of things during a 24-hour period. Where you complete those tasks is beside

Simplifying strategies, tips, and techniques-from the Real Simple test kitchen to yours.
By Lygeia Grace and Dawn Perry


Removing Salmon Bones
Before salmon fillets make it into the supermarket seafood case, the fishmonger has taken out the backbone and the ribs. But he doesn't always catch the thin, soft pin bones that "float" in the flesh. Here's a quick way to remove them at home.

Step 1: Run your index finger along the center seam of the fillet, going against the grain. If there are any pin bones present, you'll feel them protruding at about half-inch intervals.

Step 2: With clean tweezers, grasp the tip of the bone and tug, pulling at a slight angle instead of up and out (pin bones grow slanted toward the fish's head). Repeat as necessary.


Also See: 37 Easy Salmon Recipes



Prettier Slaws (Chop-Chop)
Sure, your food processor is a whiz at grating vegetables…into short, stubby pieces. The next time you pull it out to make a slaw or a salad, try this trick for creating slender,