Good Housekeeping November 2021

Dress up a plain grapevine wreath with an array of blooms and grasses in autumnal hues. Choose a fiery combination of strawflowers, marigolds, carnations and ranunculus, then balance it out with neutral-colored pampas grass and wheat stalks. Cover the entire wreath with bold flowers or go for an understated look by letting more of the natural wood shine through — either way, it will be striking on your front door. INSTRUCTIONS, PAGE 108…

CRESS SALAD In bowl, whisk together 2 Tbsp each olive oil and white wine vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp each honey and salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Stir in 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish and 1 shallot (finely chopped). Toss with 2 Persian cucumbers (thinly sliced) and 1 Granny Smith apple (very thinly sliced). Fold in 1 bunch upland cress. Serve with seared steak, pork or chicken. RUSTIC PIE On parchment, roll 1 refrigerated rolled pie crust to 11 in. and place on baking sheet. In bowl, toss ¾ lb each Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples (in ½-in. wedges) with 1½ Tbsp sugar, ½ Tbsp flour, ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch each of ground nutmeg and salt. Pile on crust, leaving 2-in. border. Fold border over…

COMING-OF-AGE STORY Win Me Something by Kyle Lucia Wu As a biracial kid, Willa feels isolated from both her white classmates and her Asian ones, and since her parents divorced and started new families, she has grown apart from them too. When she gets a job as a live-in nanny to a wealthy family, she forms a bond with their daughter, Bijou, that’s closer than any she’s ever had before. It’s a story about growing up and finding your place in the world—or creating one of your own. $17 DYSTOPIAN-FUTURE TALE Trashlands by Alison Stine In a near-future dystopia where plastic is currency, Coral and the other residents of Trashlands are just doing what they can to survive. Coral is making art to stave off despair while trying to scrounge…

Not long ago, I was listening to a podcast about the science of compassion. It detailed a study showing that being on the receiving end of small kindnesses actually has an effect on the brain, making a person more likely to be kind in return — psychologists call it “the norm of reciprocity.” When I shared these findings with the GH team, it got us thinking: If each of us committed to bringing more acts of kindness into our everyday lives, we could jump-start a cycle toward a kinder, gentler world. We dubbed this the Kind Cycle, inviting readers like you to help us kick off a kindness revolution. And together, we did! I loved hearing from readers about all the different kinds of kind deeds, like treating a Lyft…

Giving back helps your community and can also benefit your physical and mental health by lowering your blood pressure and increasing your happiness. Your generosity journey starts here… 1. Shop locally. To support small businesses near you, visit a community holiday fair, a neighborhood coffee shop or a fair-trade store to find gifts unique to your area. 2. Host a fundraiser. Pick a nonprofit or another organization that works on a topic you care about, then raise money by organizing a fun run, throwing a murder mystery dinner party or hosting a virtual concert or poetry reading. 3. Get physical. Pitch in by raking leaves or shoveling snow for a neighbor, helping clean up after a storm, maintaining a community garden, clearing local trails or coaching a youth sports team.…

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) What it does: AHAs are acids like glycolic, lactic and malic acid derived from natural sugars or fruits that exfoliate dull skin and stimulate collagen production to lessen wrinkles, even out skin tone and diminish hyperpigmentation. Best for: Anyone concerned about aging, lackluster skin or uneven tone. How to use it: Start with a lower concentration and work up to daily use as tolerated. FYI: AHAs increase skin’s sun sensitivity, so be sure to apply SPF daily. They also carry a risk of causing superficial chemical burns on darker skin. GH BEAUTY LAB PICK: BEAUTY LAB TEST WINNER PHILOSOPHY THE MICRODELIVERY TRIPLEACID BRIGHTENING PEEL PADS, $72, ULTA Peptides What it does: Made of amino acids, peptides act as messengers to prompt skin to make more collagen,…