Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

By Anne-Marie O'Neill

Five professional animal lovers reveal actions and attitudes you can borrow from your furry and feathered friends.

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Pet-Themed New Uses for Old Things

Solutions to Common Pet Problems

At-Home Dog Grooming Tips

Real Simple Staffers Love Their Pets

By Lindsay Funston

Tackle the what-to-serve predicament with these all-star snacks.

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Host a Super Bowl Party

Partytime New Uses for Old Things

The Entertainer's Guide to Stain Removal

Comfort Food in a Bowl: 6 Warming Recipes

By Daphne Howland

Strike a healthy balance in your diet, alcohol consumption, even cell phone usage.

See the entire list here.

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Solving Health and Diet Dilemmas

New Year, New You

How to Make Positive Changes in Your Life

By Yolanda Wikiel

Invite a few close friends to ring in the new year with an easy, intimate party at home.

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The Best Inexpensive Party Glasses

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Festive Bubblies for $20 or Less

10 Recipe Ideas for Crostini

photo credit: Tina RuppSkip extreme resolutions in favor of small, smart health changes you can actually stick to.
by Stephanie Abramson and Lisa Whitmore

Resolutions are great, but let's face it: The more radical they are, the more likely you are to drop them. And then feel bad about doing so. Instead, try adapting a few smart new habits based on science-supported statistics. The changes you'll make to your routine are practically effortless (will you have a hard time, say, incorporating chocolate into your diet?), but they can have life-altering benefits.

Related: Quit Counting Calories

The stat: Eat chocolate five or more times a week and you may be 57 percent less likely to have coronary heart disease than people who don't.
The details: Studying more than 4,900 people, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, found that those who ate chocolate-dark, milk, whatever!-five or more times a week were less likely to have heart disease than chocolate teetotalers. While the study didn't

Surprising tricks for holiday-inspired items.

See the rest of the list here.

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Tips for Storing Holiday Decorations

25 Stocking Stuffer Ideas under $15

The Stress-Free Holiday Party Plan

How to read the subtext in your movements-and in those of others.By Sarah Smith, Photos by Peter Hapak Every Move You MakeEvery last gesture-whether it's a tilt of the head or plain fidgeting-tells a story. Do you look down when you speak? Play with your hair? Lean to one side? Learn what you're tel

By Karen AspFend off holiday weight gain with these easy eating tricks. And don't miss these holiday tips:Gingerbread Treats for the HolidaysDrink Pairings for a Holiday Meal35 Easy, Elegant Recipes for Christmas Dinner