Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Amazon.comSure, movies are meant to help you unwind from work. But REAL SIMPLE. REAL LIFE. motivation expert Nicole Williams finds career inspiration in these (highly entertaining) big-screen flicks.

Watch highlights from the show at RealSimpleRealLife.com.

Legally Blonde (2001)

Starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods and Selma Blair

Why Nicole suggests it: "When you begin to doubt your abilities, Elle is a reminder that no one can do you quite like you can. If you're trying to be like someone else, or pursuing a career that's really not for you, you'll never reach your full potential."


Working Girl (1988)

Starring Melanie Griffith as Tess McGill, Harrison Ford, and Sigourney Weaver

Why Nicole suggests it: "Tess's unique approach to climbing the corporate ladder speaks to everyone who's felt underutilized and overlooked. In some cases, it doesn't pay to play by the rules!"

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, and

Here are five exercises that will help you get in shape in a mere five minutes.

What You Need
Resistance band, yoga mat, stability ball, light dumbbells (two to five pounds)

Follow These Five Easy Steps

Need a demo? Watch the Video at Real Simple.

Time Inc. Studios1. Perform squats with bicep curls for one minute

Hold one end of a resistance band in each hand. (If you have a band with handles, hold the handles.) With your arms straight down at your sides, stand with your feet on the band, a little more than hip-width apart. Bend your knees so that you're positioned as if you were almost sitting down in a chair. Keeping your back straight and your abdominal muscles tight, bend at the elbows, pulling the resistance band up toward your shoulders. Release slowly and repeat. Continue this exercise in a slow, controlled motion for one minute. Have more time? Try a 15-Minute Workout.

Time Inc. Studios2. Do lunges with shoulder raises for one minute

Hold one end of the resistance band in

Mom Emily struggles with overspending, hoarding, and -- in her words -- dressing "schlumpy."

Marc RoyceEmily Mencken was featured on the first episode of Real Simple's new lifestyle makeover series on TLC, "Real Simple, Real Life." Learn more about the show at RealSimpleRealLife.com and check your local listings for the show schedule.

Watch Emily Get a Home Makeover

Age: 35

Home: Pasadena , California

Job: Stay-at-home mom

Family: Married to Scott, 41, with three children, daughter Katie, 3, and twins Josh and Nate, 1

My life is…
Happily chaotic; busy to slightly overwhelming with moments of sheer bliss.

I believe…
I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I love my life. I just wish I could get ahead of the mess.

I exercise…
Does changing a diaper on a squirming baby count? If not, then never. Can't fit it in, but, boy, do I need to!

I describe my style as…
Washable?

Dinnertime at our house is…
Hectic, spread out,

James BaigrieIt helps to know just what you're getting into when you pound that plastic. Here, experts tell you how to use your credit wisely.

Q. I'm tempted to open a lot of store cards around the holidays to take advantage of discounts. Will that affect my credit score?

A. Yes. Every new application results in a credit-report inquiry. Each inquiry typically causes your score to drop by up to five points. And the lower your score, the less attractive you become to lenders when you apply for credit, a loan, or a mortgage. (Your score will rebound if your bill-paying record is good and you don't apply for more cards.) Be choosy about opening new cards. Consider how much the holiday discount will save and whether you'll be able to pay the bill in full. Store cards typically charge higher interest rates (sometimes more than 20 percent), so carrying a balance can eat up any initial savings. Get Tips for Saving Money All Year Long from Real Simple.

Q. How many credit cards are too many? And is there

Francesco LagneseCarve some fun into fall with a day of pumpkin picking, jack-o'-lanterns, and treats to get everyone in high spirits

Legends of the Fall
Grown on every continent but Antarctica, the pumpkin was once thought to be a cure-all for freckles and snakebites. But what this vine-grown fruit does best is symbolize everything magical and spooky about the season. If you don't believe that, just ask Ichabod Crane. (See How to Choose a Pumpkin)

How to Carve a Jack-o'-Lantern

1. With a serrated knife held at an angle, carefully cut an opening around the stem, making a small notch in the back (to guide you when replacing the lid).

2. Use a large spoon to remove the pulp and scrape the sides clean of stringy bits.

3. Draw on a face (washable markers allow kids to draw, rinse, and repeat).

4. Carve, then add a tealight.

Pumpkin-Carving Tip
Don't carve your jack-o'-lantern too early or it won't survive until Halloween night. Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.

When it comes to health and nutrition, doing exactly the right thing may seem nearly impossible. Here are three easy ways to come pretty close Greg Clarke

The Ideal: Do 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity most days of the week.
The surgeon general advises this near daily dose to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and improve cardio health, reducing the risk for diabetes and heart disease. Try one of Real Simple's 15 Minute Workouts.

The Next Best Thing: Take three 10-minute walks each day. Short bursts have real health benefits, says Cris Slentz, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, North Carolina. Assuming the intensity is identical to that of a 30-minute workout, you'll burn the same number of calories and get the heart-health benefits. A few ideas:

Devote 10 minutes of your lunch hour to a brisk walk. Climb a few flights of stairs several times a day instead of using the elevator. Offer to take a friend's (energetic)

Cleansers, wipes, sponges, and more for $7 or less

Frances Janisch

Dishwashing Cubes, $5 for 18 Problem: A guilty conscience. You keep reading about how some ingredients in cleaning products can harm you or the environment. Solution: Method Dish Cubes are bleach- and phosphate-free -- all you have to worry about is unloading the dishwasher. To Buy: www.methodhome.com. See Kitchen Cleanup Conundrums, Solved.

Monica Buck

Detergent, $7 Problem: Laundry day seems to last a week. Solution: Cut out two steps -- measuring and pouring. Leave the OxiClean Toss-n-Go detergent ball in the machine for 25 effortless loads. Oxygen-based cleansers, not soapy suds, wash without leaving a residue behind. To Buy: At grocery stores.

James Baigrie

Method Wipes, $5 Problem: You love the convenience of cleaning with wipes, but you worry about their effect on the environment. Solution:

Time Inc. StudiosStoring off-season garments is a great way to keep your closet uncluttered and your clothing protected. These guidelines make it hassle-free.

What You Need
Clothing, canvas or muslin storage boxes, cloth garment bag, wooden hangers, cedar moth repellant

Step 1. Start with clean clothes
Empty the pockets of all the clothes you'll be putting away, then launder or dry-clean everything -- even if you've only worn it once. Invisible stains from perspiration, perfume, and clear beverages can set in if you store clothes without cleaning them first, and the resulting stains can become permanent. They can also be a food source for carpet beetles and moths, which will eat through the fabric to get to the food.

2. Group clothes by fabric
Create two piles. In the first, put clothing made from protein fibers -- silks, wool, fur, suede, and leather. In the other, store those made from plant fibers such as cotton, linen, and rayon.

3. Choose the right storage solution
Place wool and protein-based