Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Cheryl ZibiskyNeed a kid's costume, pronto? Desperate to find a replacement babysitter hours before your dinner reservation? Help is on the way.

You Need: A Halloween Costume

The bad news first: A white sheet and a kid do not a ghost maketh. To cobble together a costume, read on.

The Quick Fix:

For Girls: Her closet probably has the makings of a fairy princess -- a leotard, a wand, a tutu. Just add glitter gel to her face and hands. "Whether the costume is accurate to a character doesn't matter. Kids will go for it," says Laurel Burke, co-owner of the Spook Shop costume store, in Bellingham, Washington, and a film production designer. For a crown, cut points into a sparkly or colored translucent school folder and glue the ends together, says Burke.
For Boys: Got a big cardboard box? Cut off the flaps and cut holes for arms and a head. Spray-paint it silver or decorate it with markers and you have a robot. To make feet, cut a hole into the bottoms of two shoe boxes for him to put

Burcu AvsarIf you've purchased a new oven in the past 20 years, chances are you have a convection setting -- and chances are you've never used it. After all, convection is rarely mentioned in recipes, although it can cook many dishes more evenly and 10 to 20 percent faster than a regular oven while using lower temperatures.

The convection setting uses a fan in the oven to circulate the hot air around the food, which makes it good for cooking meats, fish, vegetables, and other relatively firm dishes. It's not a great option, however, for things that can easily shift or splatter, like quick breads and other bakery items. The air from the convection fan can blow around a moist batter, leaving a messy oven and a lopsided loaf. Use the regular setting for these goodies.

If your recipe doesn't give instructions for convection baking, the general rule is to drop the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit and to start checking the dish when three-quarters of the normal cooking time has passed.

Try it a

Maira KalmanHere, one man challenges himself to go one week without spending a cent and finds the sacrifices (no morning coffee?!) are more than he bargained for

I like to think of my attitude toward money as enlightened. Last summer, for instance, I received a letter informing me that I had won a small grant from the state of Massachusetts The next day I was informed that I was being audited -- by the state of Massachusetts. Ah well, I thought. The state giveth and the state taketh away.

My friends and family see my attitude toward money in slightly different terms. "You're a total miser" is how my darling wife, Erin, puts it.

In fact, it's a bit worse than that. I'm one of those irritating guys who try to convert self-deprivation into a virtue. I buy my pants secondhand. I hoard hotel soap and used aluminum foil. I eat the not-too-badly-chewed leftovers off my daughter's plate. And I constantly rail against consumerism.

Which is why I recently subjected myself to a little

A handy, who-knew guide to 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods Keate

Certain items in your house practically scream "toss me" when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery. Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes.

But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets: stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish? How do you know when their primes have passed?

With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple has compiled a guide to expiration dates. These dates are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of most products depend upon how you treat them. Edibles, unless otherwise indicated, should be stored in a cool, dry place. (With any food, of course, use common sense.) Household cleaners also do best in a

Amy WilsonQ. What is the best way to store cold cuts?

A. Use an airtight container.
Deli meats lose their freshness quickly once sliced, so it's best to keep them for only a few days; packaged meats also last that long after they'e been opened. To prevent spoilage, store both in resealable plastic bags or airtight plastic containers and keep them in the refrigerator's meat drawer or toward the back, where it's usually coldest.
If you're saving food in plastic bags, be sure to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration guidelines for safe storage. Frozen foods can be stored indefinitely, but the flavor can change when cold cuts are stored past the time limits below.
Refrigerator: 3 to 5 days
Freezer: 1 to 2 months

More Cold Cut Solutions
Print Out Sandwich Recipes
Discover 19 quick lunchtime meals that take only minutes to prepare.
Check out Lunch-Box Favorites
Pack these food-saver products in your brown bag.

Hector SanchezThe only way to get my family out the door in the morning is to organize everything the night before. Backpacks, lunches, outfits, after-school-activity items, my pocketbook, coats, hats, gloves, etc., are placed right by the front door on our catchall ottoman. In the morning we get ourselves ready, then just grab our things and go.
June Karpowich
River Edge, New Jersey

I toss my keys on the same table every time I come into my house. Even if they end up under something, I know they're there.
Naomi Sandell
Petoskey, Michigan

A few months back, my family decided we wanted to actually eat at our kitchen table rather than using it as a central drop spot. I conquered this awful dilemma by sorting through the pile, putting bills with bills, shredding junk mail, and so on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pile diminished. But that was not the hard part -- the hard part is maintaining. Every day I immediately go through the mail and sort paperwork as it comes in. Whatever

You know to turn the lights off when not in use and switch your regular bulbs for those squiggly ones.Quentin Vijoux But about how much can you save? And are there still tricks you don't know about?

Save a Little

• Use your curtains. During cold months, leave them open during the day to allow sunlight in; in the summer, keep curtains shut in rooms where the sunlight hits. Monthly Savings*: 95 cents to $3.30.
• Install motion detectors on lights in kids' rooms. The lights will never be left on by accident. Monthly Savings: 36 cents per lightbulb.

Save a Little More

• Insulate your hot-water heater. If it's more than seven years old, wrap it in a precut jacket or blanket (available at hardware stores). Monthly Savings: $1.50.
• Use a programmable thermostat. Set it to raise or lower the temperature setting automatically when you're not home. Monthly Savings: $4.50.
• Use electronics wisely. Unplug them when not in use; they draw power even if they're off. And use

Francesco Lagnese14-ounce bags of caramels
2 tablespoons water
Apples for dipping

Melt the caramels with the water, stirring until smooth. Serve in individual bowls with apples cut into wedges for dipping.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

More Halloween Party Recipes:
Pumpkin-Leek Soup Recipe
Spiced Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
Warm Mulled Cider Recipe