Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

By Eleni Gage
Images by Istvan Banyai

Simple strategies for filling the tank when you're running on empty.

Tackle a Dreary, Do-I-Have-to-Get-Out-of-Bed Day With a Burst of Color
The Morton Salt Girl got it right in her yellow raincoat. "There are days we need a shot of adrenaline before we even get out of bed, and colors can help with that," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of More Alive With Color ($20, amazon.com). "By surrounding yourself with bright colors-something as simple as an orange bathrobe or a yellow umbrella-you can give yourself that needed energy boost to face the day." In general, saturated, warm colors (the red, orange, and yellow of ROY G BIV) are considered most energizing, while cool tones (like green, blue, indigo, and violet) are calming.
Related: The Color of the Season: Red

Rise and Seek Sunshine
"You want to use light and stimulation to wake you up for the daytime, then use dark and quiet at night," says

By Eleni N. Gage

Images by Sang An

They're under 200 calories, healthy, satisfying, and pro-approved―what's not to love?

Keep reading: More nutritious (and tasty) snacks

Don't miss:

8 Great Gluten-Free Goodies

Busted! 10 Diet Myths

How Health Savvy Are You?

Try a delicious, wallet-wise, grown-up lunch recipe.


Jens Mortensen
Cool Asian Noodles With Tofu, Cashews, and Sesame Vinaigrette

Get the recipe.


Related: Gear Up for Lunch





Jens Mortensen
Sliced-Egg Sandwich With Herb Mayonnaise

Get the recipe.


Related: Sandwiches to Spice Up a Back-to-School Lunch





Charles Masters
Southwestern Chicken Salad

Get the recipe.


Related: Quick Chicken Recipes





Jens Mortensen
Cool Cucumber Soup

Get the recipe.


Related: 26 Hearty, Satisfying Lunches





Jens Mortensen
Tuna Salad With Celery and Radishes

Get the recipe.


Related: Healthy Snack Foods



Continue reading...more ways to upgrade a brown bag lunch

And don't miss:
Best Everyday Jeans
Busted! 10 Diet Myths

By Kelly Holechek
Pop the top on one of these thirst-quenchers-all free of high-fructose corn syrup.





Thomas Kemper Root Beer Handcrafted Soda

This smooth, buttery concoction has delectable notes of burnt caramel and honey. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dreamy root beer float.
Related: 10 Recipe Ideas for Vanilla Ice Cream

To buy: $1.60 for one 12-ounce bottle, at grocery stores.








Fizzy Lizzy Pineapple

This just-sweet-enough cooler is a refreshing combination of lush tropical fruit and bubbles.
Related: 40 Cool Drinks for a Hot Day

To buy: $1.75 for one 12-ounce bottle, at grocery stores.





Lorina Blood Orange Premium French Soda

Open this charming, vintage-inspired bottle and pour yourself a treat. The citrusy sunset-pink drink inside had us saying "Ooh-la-la."
Related: The Best Fruit Juices

To buy: $5 for one 25.4-ounce bottle, at grocery stores.






Boylan Sugar Cane Cola

Forget the heavy aftertaste of some brands: Pure cane sugar gives this winner a delicious freshness

by Kate Chynoweth

When you're the hostess, your perfectionism spikes like a fever, but meeting your own high expectations (and the lesser ones of your guests) is not impossible. And you can probably get away with a lot less work than you think―a little artfully arranged takeout here, a simple flower arrangement there, a bottle of red, a bottle of white, and you've got yourself a cocktail party. Here are the answers to your top questions.



Invitations

Should I mail invitations, or can I e-mail them?
"Mailed invitations signal that an occasion is a special event, whereas an e-mail or a phone call is more casual," says Stephanie Belger, event manager at Jane Hammond Events, in San Francisco. (Guests are more likely to R.S.V.P. to a written invitation, says Belger.) Whatever your method, it's a good idea to extend invitations three to four weeks prior to the event. Remember that electronic invitations are appropriate only if your guest list consists of people who check e-mail frequently

By Suzanne Rust
Images by Bob Hiemstra

Whether you favor light, medium, or dark roast, these winners are all buzz-worthy.

Light Roasts, Best Ground

Allegro Coffee Organic Breakfast Blend
Related: Cool Mugs for Hot Drinks

Grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, this fragrant mix has "delicious hints of blackberry," said a tester. "It wakes up your mouth," added Jonathan Rubinstein, owner of the Joe cafés, in New York City.

To buy: $11 for 12 ounces.





Light Roasts, Best Whole Bean

Newman's Own Organics Nell's Breakfast Blend
Related: Keeping Tabs on Your Caffeine Intake

This delicious concoction "is smooth, mild, bright, and refreshing," said Rubinstein. Said a fan: "Love the citrus tang."

To buy: $9 for 10 ounces.







Medium Roasts, Best Ground

The Organic Coffee Company Zen Blend
Related: Organic Foods That Are Worth the Money

"I adore the aroma," said a tester of the chocolate and nut notes. "And it's pleasant to drink from start to finish." Bonus: The

Know what to say in a social situation―and when and how to say it.
by Jennifer Tung

Anyone who's been caught at a wedding reception or a cocktail party discussing recent precipitation knows that making small talk isn't as easy as it sounds. On the contrary, conversing with strangers can be awkward, stilted, even painful. But there is an art to it, and it can be mastered. "A golden rule is that you don't have to be brilliant―just nice," says Bernardo J. Carducci, Ph.D., director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, in New Albany, Indiana. "If you start with simple, even obvious comments, that makes it easier for others." Here are 10 rules―gleaned from communication specialists and women whose jobs require extensive networking and party-going―for navigating sticky small-talk situations with style and grace.
Related: Easy Ways to Exit Awkward Situations

1. Do a Little Homework
If your conversational skills are more reminiscent of Oscar the Grouch than Oscar

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Serves 4 | Hands-On Time: 20m | Total Time: 20m

This recipe goes well with...
Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Gazpacho
Raspberry S'mores

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 cups fresh corn kernels (from 8 ears)
• 1 cup half-and-half
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 2 pieces
• 2 teaspoons blackening or Cajun seasoning
• 4 cups mixed greens
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the corn, half-and-half, ½