I know, I know… tsk tsk. We’re almost to July and I have yet to post my Real Simple Roundup for this month. Oh, the shame! I know you’ve all been thinking what a terrible blogger I am and how much I’ve neglected my prompt RS posts, but alas, the day you’ve all been waiting for is here (wait, I’m the only one eagerly awaiting this post?). Enter, this months rocking issue of Real Simple. Wahoo!
1. Either…Or? Car washes. Scott and I have quite the debate going on, and I am proud to say that I am once again RIGHT and I even have RS on my side. Ahh, can you smell the sweet scent of victory? Scott is a do-it-yourself-er in just about every aspect, so he has a hard time paying to have his car washed. I’m all for his go get ‘em attitude, but I enjoy putting a couple of bucks into a car wash machine and letting someone else do the work. You may call it laziness (which it is) but I call it saving the environment. Turns out that washing your car at home can use up to 30 gallons of water in just four minutes – the equivalent that an automated car wash will use during it’s entire cycle. Plus, that water runoff you see flowing into your storm drains (and into streams, lakes, etc) is full of gasoline and antifreeze, which can coat the gills of fish and suffocate them. While I’m on my soap box, I’ll also mention that automated car washes are subject to waste water laws so their water goes to sewage treatment plants that filter the water and make it fresh and clean for proper reuse. Feels good to gloat, doesn’t it?
2. The Classic: T-shirt. Seriously, who doesn’t love a great t-shirt? I love dressing up as much as the next girl, but sometimes a t-shirt is where its at. And why not throw on a t-shirt that blows the plain white t’s out of the water? This article lists some great alternatives to the wife beater, in a varying scale of prices (most of which are budget friendly). As much as I love this t-shirt the hubs bought for me, I think I might need to class it up a bit and purchase some of these lovely little tees.
3. Moneywise: The Recession’s Silver Lining. If Real Simple is anything, they’re eternal optimists. And I love that about them. They’re the friend I can turn to when I’m thinking life is crummy and they’ll show me how, actually, life is pretty fantastic. This short bit points out some good things about our current economic situation that the pessimist in me hadn’t taken the time to realize yet. Scott and I have been eating in more, thanks to trying to watch our eating-out budget, and our healthy hearts and slim tummies are thanking us. We spend more time thinking about what we purchase, so we’re actually buying better products for less money. We’ve definitely beefed up our already hefty monthly contributions to savings, which makes us rest a little easier at night knowing our nest egg is perfectly plump. RS also points out that getting laid off may be the perfect time to rethink a career path – turns out Harry S. Truman jumped into politics after the clothing store he ran went bankrupt. Now isn’t that a silver lining?
Of course we managed to cook up a rocking meal to commemorate this Memorial Day. Why? Because that’s what we do. EAT. And eat well. This holiday we cooked up Scott’s special ribs (special because they’re marinated in honey), corn salad with walnuts and feta, and mac and cheese with breadcrumbs. Is your mouth salivating yet? Mine is, and I just finished eating it.
Our delicious sides hailed from none other than Real Simple Magazine (oh my gosh, Audrey is talking about Real Simple again? Shoot me now!). The 
1. 10 Goofproof Plants. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it a thousand times – Real Simple reads my mind. Literally. They sit in my brain and publish stories about things that are brewing in my noggin. Case in point – 10 goofproof plants. I know I’ve mentioned my black thumb (a lot), and in the spirit of my spring planting spree, this article couldn’t have come at a better time. I was glad to see that my beloved geraniums made the list – go me for choosing a plant I’ll have a difficult time to kill! The article points out the amount of sun light needed and watering conditions, helping my sad little self (and other sad folk like me) navigate the world of plants.
2. The Quiz. RS always has fun little features to make you laugh or think, like their “the quiz” feature. This one speaks to me, the lyrical master, on a personal level. Well, I’m not really a lyrical master, but I like to think I know more song lyrics than the average bear. Remember on friends when Phoebe sings the classic Elton John hit “Hold me closer Tony Danza”? Well, this piece shares some similar “mondegreens” (aka the official term for misheard lyrics) that got me giggling. My personal favorite? “I took my love and I milked a cow” – Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. I think the hubs may have contributed to a few of these. Ooo, burn.
3. Bargain Bottles. And what better way to end this post than with booze. I have a difficult time finding that awesome wine or yummy beer while browsing the store aisles, so it’s nice when somebody does the leg work for me. I found a delicious sounding Malbec (2008 Trapiche Malbec) for 9 buckaroos, and a refreshing Hefeweizen (Widmer Brothers) for the same kickin’ price. Who doesn’t love affordable booze? Count me in.
1. Road Test – Fruit Juice. Real Simple has a monthly feature called Road Tests where real people try real products in real situations (their words, not mine). It’s a great way to see a comparison of all kinds of products and read the reactions/results of normal people. This month a road test was done on 100% juices. I’m a bit of a juice connoisseur, so I was super excited to get some new ideas for some all natural juices to wet my whistle (like Whole Foods 365 is the best Pomegranate juice…yum). They also explain that most cranberry juices are actually cranberry juice cocktail, which contains sweeteners and a very little amount of real juice since cranberries are so tart. RS recommends Ocean Spray 100% juice cranberry, which is sweetened with pure grape juice so it’s a nice alternative to the too-sweet cranberry cocktails out there. Brilliant!
2. Period Pieces. I’m particularly drawn to the design oriented stories in RS and this one was calling my name. This one has you decide which life stage you’re in (Starting Out, Growing a Family or Ready to Invest) and gears you toward the furniture that’s fitting for your stage. Since I’m in the starting out phase, I checked out the sofas, dining tables and area rugs in those sections and found some awesome, budget conscious options that would look lovely in my abode. RS also gives you some accent options for each piece of furniture, as well as shopping tips on how you should select your newest furniture investment. It’s basically spoon feeding you the information you need to find the perfect piece of furniture for your home – who doesn’t love that?
1. Decoration with Color: Green. Finally! A homage to my ultimate favorite color/obsession, greeeeen. If you know me at all, you know that my house has a bit too much green for the normal person. It’s such a great color that I have a hard time understanding why all of my commercial clients are opposed to using it. As Real Simple put it, green is “less expected than blue but just as versatile”. Well put, RS. In fact, two of their recommended green shades are almost identical to what I have in my kitchen and den. I think I’ll pat myself on the back for that one. This article is full of great green (as in color, not necessarily environmentally friendly) products and fun decorating tips.
2. Back to Basics Cleaning. This article embodies one of the things RS is so great at – coming up with things you never knew existed. This piece takes simple household products (ie. a lemon, borax, vinegar, etc.) and details all of the endless cleaning possibilities they are capable of. Did you know that ketchup can remove the tarnish from copper and brass cookware? Yeah, me neither. Their magazine is full of articles like this that make me go “huh” on a regular basis.
3. The Ultimate Bathroom Organizer. I feel like this article was written specifically for me. I have been struggling with how to keep my bathroom essentials looking tidy and organized, but lo and behold, RS swoops in to save the day. They show you how to display the things you use everyday (q-tips) while stashing the non-everyday items in a drawer (guest soaps). Really simply stuff, but sometimes its nice for someone to point out the obvious. I have also been debating about buying a 
