Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Cross a few simple tasks off your to-do list while watching your favorite TV shows.



PhotoAlto/Ale Ventura/Getty ImagesMultitask
This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.

By the end of the week, the last thing we want to do is to tackle our to-dos. As important as it is to give full attention to big financial decisions and anything that requires real math, we'll confess that we often try to knock off our more menial tasks in front of the television. Nothing like killing lots of birds with one televised stone.

Here are 13 to-dos to do while you pay a visit to TV Land:



Newton Daly/Getty ImagesMake Plans for the Weekend

Finish hammering out your weekend schedule. Email any last friends you need to so that your plans are all settled.

Also See: How Do Women Spend Their Time?





Aaron Graubart/Getty ImagesSort the Junk

Sort the paper on your desk into two piles: (1) Junk to recycle and (2) important things to deal with later.

Also See: 14 Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks





JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty ImagesClean Out Your Inbox

We all have emails that have been sitting in

Follow these simple tips to make your commute both pleasant and productive.
This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.


George Doyle/Getty Images
Make the Most of It
At the end of the day-quite literally-commuting is a necessary evil. After all, work allows you to bring home the paycheck that will help you reach your financial goals, and you need to get there. Follow these eight tips to make your back and forth (no matter how long), better.

Also See: 4 Hazards for Commuters








Jim Cooper
Catch Up on Your (Audio) Reading
Getting engrossed in a good story is a great way to fight off feelings of being disconnected or unhappy. Non-drivers can use an actual book or e-reader, but drivers will want to download an audio book. Many libraries let you borrow audio books for free, and some public library systems actually let you download MP3 and WMA files directly, without showing up to the library.

Here's a trick: Only allow yourself to listen to your book when commuting. That way, a little part of you will actually look

Looking for your next great read? Look no further. Real Simple's Facebook fans have you covered for the best books to read this summer.


harpercollins.com
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected- A Memoir
by Kelle Hampton

To buy: $25, amazon.com

Recommended by Christine H.


Also See: Best Ways to Enjoy Summer





barnesandnoble.com
The Fifty Shades Trilogy
by E.L. James

To buy: $16, barnesandnoble.com.

Recommended by more readers than we could count.


Also See: Summer Party Planner






Penguin Group
Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir)
by Jenny Lawson

To buy: $26, amazon.com

Recommended by T.K.


Also See: 50 Fun Summer Activities Checklist





Penguin Group
My Name is Memory
by Ann Brashares

To buy: $15, barnesandnoble.com.

Recommended by Carrie W.


Also See: Favorite Summer Recipes






barnesandnoble.com
The Dry Grass of August
by Anna Jean Mayhew

To buy: $15, barnesandnoble.com.

Recommended by Estela D.


Also See: Summery Pastel Clothing






Macmillan
Big Girl Small: A Novel
by Rachel DeWorskin

To buy: $25, amazon.com.

Some of the ways our readers celebrate the season

Andrew McCaulBy the Sea
I love to walk along the shore at low tide with friends or family and look for beach glass. Ocean-polished hues of Coke-bottle green, iridescent clear, lapis blue, and dark green all look beautiful in a shallow dish or a clear vase at home. Trash becomes treasure. I began this hobby with my grandmother in the 1960s, and it continues to provide wonderful memories of time spent with those I love in my favorite part of God's creation.
Karen Maurer
San Clemente, California

It wouldn't be summer where I live without going scalloping. We head to the Gulf Coast and spend the day on a boat out in the peaceful waters, snorkeling and diving for scallops. It's both relaxing and adventurous: I've seen huge stingrays, giant flounder, and amazing starfish. At night, when we're hungry and pleasantly tired, the reward is a fabulous dinner of sautéed scallops that couldn't be any fresher.
Cynthia McFarland
Williston, Florida

Also See:

No wonder dogs-not to mention cats, birds, and bunnies-are man's best friend: These loyal, lovable creatures are also surprisingly wise. This month, readers share lessons from the animals who rule their roosts.

Christopher Silas Neal

My fat, cantankerous cat, Pasadena, often rolls off the couch accidentally while she's sleeping. Every time it happens, she gets back up and struts her stuff, as if to say, "Yeah, I fell down, but I'm still awesome." She reminds me not to take myself too seriously.
Adriana Macias
Albany, California

Also See: How Much Do Pets Really Cost?


When Jacques, my 12-pound silver poodle, got into a tussle with a mule deer, he lost an eye. For days afterward, I was devastated. But Jacques had a different reaction. His first morning home from the vet, he got up with his tail wagging, excited to greet a new day. By moving on so quickly, he showed me that you shouldn't hold on to sorrow when you can be happy. I've given him a new nickname-Jacques Sparrow-because he's the bravest little

The main reasons why people can't seem to let go of their stuff and the smartest tricks for outwitting that hoarding instinct. Nato Welton

Reason #1:

"If I get rid of this wedding vase, I'll feel guilty."

Solution: People feel a responsibility to be good stewards of things, says Randy Frost, a professor of psychology at Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts, and a coauthor of Buried in Treasures. Especially items they've been given by or inherited from a loved one. Getting rid of a present feels like disrespecting the giver. But remember the true meaning of gifts.

"When you receive a present," says Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, an interior designer in New York City and the founder of ApartmentTherapy.com, "your duty is to receive it and thank the giver―not to keep the gift forever." That goes for items you inherit. "Ask yourself, 'How many things do I really need to honor this person's memory?'" says Frost. Select a few objects with strong associations to your late grandmother, say, and keep

Fifteen-minute projects that won't put a dent in your weekend.
By Adam Bluestein


France Ruffenach
Squeaky Door Hinges

Spray a little WD-40 onto the hinges, moving the door back and forth to work in the lubricant. Or try rubbing the hinges with petroleum jelly. If these tricks don't work, lift the hinge pins about halfway and lubricate them with three-in-one oil, using a rag to catch drips.

Also See: Decorating With Door Accessories






Mark Lund
Squeaky Floor

For a temporary fix, sprinkle talcum powder over the noisy area and sweep it into the cracks. Be sure to remove any traces of powder if you're ever going to refinish the floor.

Also See: The Best Floor Cleaners










Hallie Burton
Peeling Wallpaper

With a knife, smear wallpaper paste onto a piece of writing paper. Rub the paper against the underside of the peeling section. Press the wallpaper against the wall. Slide the writing paper out and smooth away bubbles with a clean cloth.

Also See: New Uses for Leftover Wallpaper








Hallie Burton
Worn Caning

A little sagging over time is natural