Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Jim FrancoREAL SIMPLE. REAL LIFE. makeover recipient Rachel Vize has set a goal for herself to give back more. For your consideration, here are a couple of her favorite causes -- plus a few other well-run organizations that are making a big difference.

Rachel's Picks:

California State University, Long Beach
Contributing to your college alma mater (this one is Rachel's) is an effective way of paying forward your success by helping students in need afford their own education.

One
It's no wonder that this campaign has become the pet cause of high-profile do-gooders like Brad Pitt and Bono: It lobbies governments to distribute money across the globe in an effort to end global poverty, from providing clean drinking water to enrolling impoverished children in elementary schools. You can lend support to One by making a standard donation or purchasing any of the merchandise on its website (think cool wristbands and tees).

Learn How to Save Money When Shopping at Real Simple.

How to transform your good intentions into real support

Anna WilliamsHelping a Friend Through Divorce
"Divorce is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences a person can go through," says Robert Emery, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, and the author of The Truth About Children and Divorce. "Just because it's common doesn't mean it's easy."

What Not to Do: When friends told Lucy Barnes, a New York City-based clothing designer with three children, that she was better off without her husband, they made things worse. "I'd wind up defending the man who had broken my heart because a part of me still loved him," she says. "It's not helpful to say 'What a jerk,'" Emery says. "You're also saying 'How could you spend so much time with such a jerk?'" Also unhelpful to Barnes were the friends who said "You'll meet someone else" right after the separation. "Losing your partner after so many years is like losing a part of yourself," she says. "Finding

Brian HennHow to Choose: Look for apples that are firm, brightly colored, and free of bruises. The skin should be clean and shiny. A dull finish indicates the fruit may be past its prime. (If you think the apple is shiny because it has been waxed, flick the skin close to the stalk. A dull sound means the apple is ripe; a hollow sound means it's overripe.)

How to Store: Apples do best in the fruit drawer of the refrigerator. At room temperature, they ripen too quickly and become mealy.

Shelf Life: Two weeks in the refrigerator; two days at room temperature.

Best Uses: Apples are delicious eaten out of hand, of course. They are also good baked in pies, roasted, and sautéed. To make fresh applesauce, core and roughly chop the fruit (leave the skins on). Simmer, covered, with 1⁄4 cup water, until very soft. Stir in cinnamon to taste.

Learn How to Select, Store and Cook Fall's Best Produce at Real Simple.

Manfred KohHow to Choose: Ripe grapefruit and oranges are plump, firm, and heavy for

Ericka McConnellREAL SIMPLE. REAL LIFE. fashion expert Sam Saboura and beauty pro Ashlee Barnes share these dos and don'ts for how to take a decade off your age -- no Botox required.

DON'T skip sunscreen. Experts sound like a broken record on this issue for a reason: Rain or shine, you need sunscreen to prevent skin damage and, potentially, cancer. (P.S.: It's never too late to start.)

DO drink 64 oz. of water a day. H20 is the best skin-care product out there, and probably the cheapest. Guzzling plenty of the stuff keeps your skin radiant and energy levels up.

DON'T sleep in your makeup. It will clog your pores, promote blackheads, and dehydrate your skin, all of which enhance the signs of aging. Cleansing and moisturizing every night before bed is a must.

DO use waterproof or long-lasting eyeliner and mascara, which won't run into creases around the eyes.

Check out Fall Makeup That Flatters Everyone at Real Simple.

DON'T use any cosmetics that have glitter in them -- the

Gorgeous gifts for the women you love

Lucas AllenPols Potten Bloom Candleholder, $36
At eight inches in diameter, this single painted porcelain blossom is gorgeous on a mantel or a coffee table. Spring for two and you have an instant centerpiece. conranusa.com

Shown clockwise from top:

Once Again to Zelda, $17
Jacqueline Susann dedicated Valley of the Dolls to her poodle. Stephen King wrote Carrie for his wife. The stories behind the people (and pets) mentioned in the dedications of 50 great novels are fun to know and tell.
amazon.com

K Studio Family Series Tote Bag, $49
A proud mother can show off her brood anywhere with this customized canvas tote. Choose from 10 mom, dad, and kid likenesses and four pet sketches to create the embroidered family portrait.
kstudiohome.com

Perch Dish by Chris Hardy, $50
A little bird told us she'd love this dainty mouth-blown glass bowl for candy, nuts, and spare holiday ornaments.
momastore.org

Sonoma

Craig CutlerIf you feel silly (or unskilled) when it comes to evening makeup, then listen in. These three looks are equal parts chic and easy and take mere minutes to achieve

One-Minute Eye Shimmer
Party-ready eye makeup doesn't have to mean dark colors, says New York City makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo.

Step 1: For fresh, illuminated eyes, just smooth a shimmery taupe cream shadow over lids with your fingers.

Step 2: Dab a sheer silver or pearly white shadow on the inner corners. Finish with two coats of mascara.

RS Picks: Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Seashell, $15, clinique.com; and Nars Single Eyeshadow in Night Life, $21, narscosmetics.com.

See 5 Updated Evening Makeup Looks at Real Simple.

Three-Minute Defined Eyes
Liner alone instantly makes eyes look more dramatic, and when you use a gel or liquid formula, it stays put -- no smudging -- all night. And you don't need the steady hands of a surgeon to apply liner. The key: Rest a pinkie on your cheek to

James Merrell Hints to protect your body from seasonal posture pitfalls

Avoid Bad Posture When You're Wrapping Gifts

Your Tendency: To plop down on the floor with boxes, paper, ribbons, scissors, and tape spread all around and become a one-woman wrapping machine. This can cause you to hunch over or suddenly stretch for an out-of-reach ribbon, leading to tension and strain in the neck and the shoulders and eventual stiffness or soreness.

The Better Way: To sit in a chair at a table, with your abdomen pulled in, your stomach muscles engaged, and your shoulders back and down. Keep all materials within easy reach to avoid awkward stretches. If only the floor will do, sit on a firm pillow or a folded blanket to raise your hips higher than your knees, relieving pressure on the lower back.

See Real Simple's Creative Wrapping Ideas.

Avoid Bad Posture When You're Cooking

Your Tendency: To start your cooking marathon by clearing off the counter and quickly starting to chop. But be aware

Tara DonneHost a lively holiday dinner with these simple rules for placing different personality types around your table

With its mishmash of friends, family, and tagalongs, Thanksgiving dinner brings a host of seating challenges -- like whom to put next to Uncle Harvey's new, much younger girlfriend or where to place the person who wants to talk about only one thing: herself. Experts explain how to create a no-fail seating plan in two easy steps, as well as address all your other dinner-party dilemmas. (Do you make a kids' table? What if conversation stalls?) With a little guidance -- and grace -- you'll make every guest feel as if he has the best seat in the house.

Step 1: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Even your dearest family and friends have their idiosyncrasies. Start by noting each guest's personality traits (eight are described on the following pages, beginning with the host).

Step 2: Put Them in Their Place
So, you've worked out who will click and who will clash. But