Real Simple is a monthly magazine that's all about making life easier.  Its regular features include recipes, money management and budgeting info, and decorating ideas, as well as a cool section called "New Uses for Old Things" and a page that is comprised of perforated cards which highlight some of the great helpful ideas contained in that issue.I subscribe to seve...

With the cost of magazines rising daily, I often buy mine at the thrift store. Yes, they are a little out-dated at times, but unlike newspapers, with magazines old news can still be good news, if you're dealing with recipes, decorating, exercise or beauty tips, etc.Recently, I noticed a magazine that I had not read. It is called "Real Simple" (Life Made Easier).  Natural...

2-Pack Evenflo Simple Fit Pressure Gate is great for keeping those little ones out or end depending on what you are using them for.  These are the lower end safety gates but they work great for the purpose.  I used these for my son when he started crawling.  To install them is a little tricky since they are pressure sensitive.  But once you get the right setting they are rea...

Do you use an air freshener in your kitchen?  If you do then you will love this product as much as I do.  Dawn Simple Pleasures dishwashing liquid has an air freshener built into the bottom of the bottle.  It is very easy to use.  You simple remove the stickers from the bottom front and back.  You can see the little fragrance beads in the bottom of the bottle.  Mak...

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser is rather expensive, $20 for an 8 oz. tube (I believe there is also a larger, 16 oz. version that costs under $35); but its redeeming point is multi-tasking: this product is both makeup remover, facial cleanser, and toner in one, designed to dissolve makeup and dirt plus condition and soften the skin. The application is simple, I just splash some wa...

I received a free trial of Real Simple years ago when it first came out.  Due to the high quality and interesting features, I subscribed right away.  I am still a subscriber and I often give Real Simple subscriptions to those I love.  The subscriptions are not cheap.  The lowest I can find is $24 a year and it is a monthly publication.To begin with, Real Simple is simply bea...

Although I generally do not wash dishes by hand (unless I'm forced...heh!), I had a coupon for a free bottle of Dawn Simple Pleasures, so I decided to try it out.  In this incarnation of its tried and true product, Dawn now offers dishwashing liquid with separate air freshener compartments.  These waterproof "freshness beads" sit in their ventilated compartment...

I was introduced to the I Ching when I was about 22 years old in South Africa. I knew nothing about this oracle because my parents were extremely religious and were against anything that could be considered non-Christian. When I first say my friend throw the coins, it was so interesting that when she gave the coins to throw, I used to throw them for hours and hours. And no, I wasn't interes...

I seem to be on a continual quest to simplify my life, so I don't know how I missed this one.  In the mid-90's, Elaine St. James left behind her hectic life as a realtor and wrote several books about simplifying.  Although she has some good ideas to develop in my own simplification mission, I really don't see how she and her husband actually live the way she describes.&nbs...

I have been using Purity made simple for at least 3 years.  It Is described as a one-step facial cleanser that encompasses a makeup remover, deep cleanser and toner.  It has a mild natural slight herbal scent and is a fragrance free formula.  It contains natural oils like meadowfoam, rosewood, sandalwood, sage, and carrot oils as well as other natural ingredients.  It is a n...

I have been using this product for a little over five years.  It's one of the best cleansers I have ever used.  I think it would work for most ages and skin types.  It only takes about a minute to provide a thorough use. It is gentle enough for problem and sensitive skin like mine and is a good makeup remover even for eye makeup.  I also like to mix it with LUSH's An...

I don't have much faith in anything that claims to gently--purely, even!--remove my mascara and foundation.  Every product I've tried has either stripped a layer of skin along with my blush, or just didn't do what it promised.  Until very recently, I simply resorted to a fragrance-free cream to remove my mascara and hope for the best with my facial cleanser for the rest of...

While shopping at my local Big Lots I ran across Dawn Simple Pleasures dish detergent, in Apple Cinamon. It is a limited edition fragrance that smells really lovely.I love that this dish detergent has an air freshener attached to the bottom of the bottle in a matching fragrance that will outlast the dish detergent. This liquid dish soap is effective, it produces lots of bubbles and provides a s...

If you are getting started in the tropical fish keeping hobby, this would be a good book to have on hand.  The title is "The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums" by David E. Boruchowitz, and there is a lot of helpful advice within its 243 pages.The book goes into detail about setting up a basic system, how to cycle your tank, what kinds of fish to choose and how many, filtration...

How can I describe this book? It is too wonderful for words. It is not so much a story, but rather a journey. It is set up like a devotional book, with a passage a day, but it is not a religious book, though I would call it a spiritual one. It is based on what the author calls the six graces: Beauty, Simplicity, Joy, Gratitude, Harmony, and Order.As women, we are so busy trying to be every...

I read the review of another member of Shared Reviews regarding this magazine and liked it so much that I decided to buy a copy of the magazine myself.  It really is a great magazine.  It has everything to do with making your life more simple.  The articles are very informative, there are great recipes, and even the advertisements have to do with products that can make your life ...

Last Mother's Day I was introduced to *Real Simple* magazine.  I'd seen the magazine around the salon I work at, but never had time to pick it up and look through it.   To my surprise, I discovered this  magazine was my guilty escape from the 'heavier' articles we are bombarded with daily. When my first issue arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to f...

Do you have a new puppy or a cat who sometimes happens to tinkle outside the litterbox? I have the latter. Normally, I am around when it happens, so I clean up right away. However, accidents do happen when I am away; the spot dries up so I can no longer see it, and the odor remains. I had learned that I need what is called "black light" to find such old spots. I chose Simple Solution ...

I bought this cat grooming glove hoping to reduce my cat's shedding. The promise of loose hair being attracted to the glove sounded good, as well as the claim that I can also clean cat hair off of furniture, bedding, clothes, etc. with it. Well, the saying "You get what you pay for" proved to be true once again: this $3 product does not do much of what it claims to do. W...

I've always loved the traditional Dawn dish liquid for hand washing my dishes, especially it's ability to cut grease and it has such a wonderful scent. Recently though I've discovered Dawn's new dish liquids, Simple Pleasures and I figured I would give it a try. Not only do I love the scent of the liquid, I love the bonus that you get with the bottle as well, a air freshener! Yu...