It’s February 1st! Let the Valentine’s Day madness begin. I’m not big into celebrating Valentine’s Day, but I do enjoy cake, so I loved this idea for a heart-shaped cake that you can make by using a round cake pan and a square cake pan—no extra heart-shaped supplies required. There are several tutorials around, but I liked this one from […]
more about: holidays
How Do You Really Feel About Mother’s Day?
May seems like eons away, but we want to know: How does your family celebrate Mother’s Day? What would you love to give this year—or get? Do any moms out there secretly hate carnations? We’d love to hear how you feel about the holiday, so please take our survey! We’ll run the results in an upcoming issue. (And we may […]
How to Take Down Your Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree—which happens to be just a block from Real Simple’s office—is coming down in just a few days. We can’t even begin to imagine how to safely (not to mention neatly) dispose of an 80-foot Norway spruce, but we do have some tips for getting rid of the Douglas Fir in your living room. When you’re ready […]
Should You Sell a Gift Card?
Didn’t know what to get your kid’s teacher? Your coworker? Your Secret Santa? Chances are, you bought someone a gift card. And while you probably thought you couldn’t go wrong with such an easy, crowd-pleasing gift, according to Yahoo! data, searches for “sell gift cards” are off the charts this week. So, does it make financial sense to sell unused gift […]
3 Tips for Avoiding a New Year’s Day Hangover
Want to enjoy a glass of champagne (or two or three) on New Year’s Eve? Go right ahead. But first, take these 3 steps to prevent an unwelcome hangover on January 1. 1. Eat fatty foods. All foods, especially fatty ones, delay the body’s absorption of alcohol. 2. Eat high-fiber foods. High-fiber foods can break down alcohol and absorb it, keeping it from reaching […]
Beware of Return Fees
If you’re heading to the mall today to return some of the gifts you received that weren’t quite right, keep in mind that you might get slapped with a couple of fees if you opened your gift completely. Some stores will charge up to 25 percent of the refund price as a restocking fee or a fe for opened merchandise. […]
Last-Minute Gift Wrapping Ideas
Are you still looking for something to make your presents look special under the tree? Why not use some of the tree itself? Here’s a great wrapping idea from Odessa May Society: There’s a full tutorial on Odessa May Society. And if you need gift tags, we have several you can print out for free!
How to Handle Santa Skeptics
There comes a time in every kid’s life when they begin to ask the tough questions about Santa Claus. Here’s a way as a parent you can help put their doubts to rest, especially if they have younger siblings around. Read the advice from Michelle Slatalla, one of our etiquette experts.
