musings and misadventures: Too simple?

1.17.2008

Too simple?

My own mother was recently contemplating Martha Stewart over on her blog - simplehappyhome - and as a dutiful daughter and fan, I had to weigh in.

Basically, I appreciate the natural hostessing abilities that Martha exudes and admire her extensive knowledge of cornish hens, but I don't think I'd want to join her on vacation. And I think most of the stuff I like best from her magazine - easy, practical, cheap craft ideas - are generated by her staff and not her stodgy ol' self. (No offense, Marty, I'm sure you're totally cool with your peers, who also summer in the Hamptons and adore linen pants.)

But it got me thinking about her mag, which I enjoy but don't always treasure. Which got me thinking about another mag that I always think I love but then find myself tossing aside after a quick 15-minute run through. Any guesses? It's Real Simple. I've never seen a magazine, much less one that prides itself on simplicity, waste so much page space on nothing. I mean, it makes a great reference guide, but unless I happen to be shopping for bedding, I don't want a 10-page spread on the best pillow out there. Isn't brevity a form of simplicity?

I do like their recipes, and I'm all about the reader tips. But you're talking to someone who typically has to begin a magazine by reading every letter to the editor and cannot come up for air until each article has been read in order from front to back. I blame my father for the compulsive behavior, but nonetheless it makes for very thorough and enjoyable reading. A People magazine takes a good hour of my time.

But the other day I got a complimentary issue of Real Simple and was done in less than 10 minutes with rarely more than a glance at the pictures.

What gives? Is it just me or is the magazine lacking in substance?

And are there any great home magazines out there? Because what I really want are cheap, easy design ideas and non-crafty craft projects.

Any suggestions?

18 comments:

NG said...: This is my new favorite magazine:

http://familyfun.go.com/

Not a home mag, but very cool for when your kids get old enough to do some of the crafts and activities. (Hate the pop up ads on the website though.); 7:48 AM
Anonymous said...: I love Domino it makes me feel like I can be cool and chic and I am a city girl from NYC with a fab industrial loft and a country home full of awesome art and weird antiques( it can actually make you feel like you own realestate in another time zone?) I also adore Home Companion (Mary Engelbreits) not because Im a fan of a "Queen for a Day " throw pillows but I dig the artists and creative spaces they have. It makes me want to dig into my artsy side and make stuff and go thriftin' - Who knew that a home mag had such supernatural powers?; 10:52 AM
ginny said...: (Apologies if this publishes twice, I'm having computer problems)

DOMINO DOMINO DOMINO! Oh, how I love that magazine, if only because it represents the home I'd like to have if I had the time and money to do it. Some of the furniture featured is quite pricey, but it still is great inspiration. Domino definitely has a certain style, though, and I could see how one who didn't like that style wouldn't like the mag.

I totally agree with your Real Simple assessment. I find you can get the same empty organizational high by flipping through a Container Store catalog. Martha's newish mag Blueprint has the same concept as Real Simple, but I think it's executed a little better.; 11:00 AM
Leslie said...: i hope natalie doesn't read this post, mrs dub. she RS's number one fan! :)

i think it's fun to browse through, but i've never actually purchased one, mostly because i'm hopelessly unorganized and it just makes me feel worse.

blueprint is totally awesome, but unfortunately, has stopped printing. family fun has a new mag called Wondertime that i'm curious about. Adorn is supposed to be a fun, modern craft mag, like brooke said, Mary Engelbreit's magazine IS suprisingly good, and yes again to Domino.; 11:04 AM
Natalie said...: I really like Better Homes and Gardens. The magazine has really upped its style recently, featuring homes that are pleasing to the eye and budget. Their crafts aren't too crafty, either. Also, I heart Cottage Living. Not because I'm really into the shabby chic thing, more because the rooms all look very liveable and affordable. And of course, I can't live without Domino. I use the images for inspiration when I'm shopping at un-Domino-esque places, such as Target and Tj Maxx.; 11:15 AM
Kelley Bochman Smith said...: I agree! I always pick up the RS and maybe find one cool thing, but it's not enough to buy it. LOVE Home Companion (same reasons as brooke gfunk)and ditto natalie's thoughts. I'm going to check out that familyfun site. This is EXACTLY why I love blogs, I learn about something new all the time! So thanks for sharing people!; 11:40 AM
Heather said...: I love Domino and Blueprint.; 12:30 PM
Michele said...: I totally agree with you about Real Simple- I made the mistake of getting it once as an airplane read and was finished after 15min. I have never found any of their articles helpful. My own personal favorite- Pottery Barn catalog. Although there are no articles (a minus for someone of your journalistic background) I have decorated my own home by practically copying Pottery Barn.
P.S- I also religiously read magazines from front to back- I hate when I am interrupted in the middle of one.; 12:50 PM
Jen said...: I like BH & G, too. And if you don't want to subscribe, they have emails about most of their departments. I like the home improvements one and the basic one-good recipes. And then you don't have to fill the landfills.; 12:51 PM
Jen said...: Though, as with books, there is something to be said for holding those pages in your hand. Reading on screen just isn't the same.; 12:52 PM
Anonymous said...: I, for one, happen to adore Real Simple. Just thumbing through it, seeing it on my nightstand even, infuses me with the urge to simplify and de-clutter -- a strange form of osmosis, perhaps? I like their real life pieces, about love, raising children, fighting cancer, religion -- I think they're all relate-able and interesting. I think it is both real and simple and I like it. I do think there's a lot of tedious advertising, but isn't that just the nature of the beast with magazines?
As far as suggestions for other home magazines, I like to check mags out at the public library -- that way you can get a good idea of the content/tone before committing to a subscription.; 1:40 PM
Carina said...: Domino and Dwell!; 3:30 PM
hilari said...: Domino. I dream of a house cool enough to be featured. Please little dream, would you be so kind as to turn into a reality?; 4:56 PM
P Daddy said...: Yes, front to back, every article, every picture, every ad, every word, every issue, every periodical, be it newspaper or magazine. Unfortunately you did not inherit your 2000 wpm reading speed from me, so what takes you an hour or two can take me a fortnight. You might never have been born because your mother almost left me over Sports Illustrated--and not even for the Swimsuit Issue, but for weekly Thursday night widowhood. I guess these days it's more likely ESPN or BDSSP than SI.

Of course, Real Simple is an oxymoron because one of the first tenets of all simple living creeds is get rid of your magazines and subscriptions.; 8:40 PM
Salt H2O said...: My favorite- the pottery barn catalog- 1. It's free 2. It has simple decorating ideas, that you can create yourself 3. You can find things that look just like the PB at Target helping you to 4. Create a Pottery Barn home on a Target Budget; 9:59 PM
Sarah S said...: Hopefully I'm not too late in posting this (but you can benefit from it Mrs. Dub!) - but my favorite place online to get a magazine subscription is called Magazine Price Search. You put in the magazine you're interested in, and it searches 24 online stores to find the best deal if you want a year subscription, two-year, etc. http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/ I have had great success with it! And I subscribe to a lot of magazines for less than $10/year as a result.

These don't answer your question, but I can almost always get $3 subscriptions to Women's Day and Family Circle - I don't love their articles, but I do enjoy the recipes and some of the organization tips so I feel like I get my money's worth.

I also subscribe to M.S. Living and Real Simple, but get discouraged when they do take so much time talking about one item or something so obscure that it doesn't apply to me.

After reading these posts, I'm going to check out Domino! Mag. Price Search has a year's subscription for $10 for 10 issues or $18 for 20 issues. Not bad!

I also checked the Family Fun prices on there - you can get a 10 issues for $3.48.; 10:03 PM
Salt H2O said...: I almost forgot about my favorite crafty, stylish yet increadibly normal blog
How About Orange; 10:03 PM
Miriam Herm said...: I am also bored by Real Simple. And Martha's magazine doesn't do much for me, either, really. Even though I love all of the pictures because everything is so aesthetically pleasing and my house will never look like that, and even if it did, i probably wouldn't notice. . .
i have no suggestions for you. really, all i meant to write was: i feel you.; 2:02 PM