Beef and shallot stew, answers to common questions about drinking water, organizing a child's playroom, and tips for organizing a handbag.

Kitchen cleanup is a snap with with Judie Byrd's one-pot meal: beef and shallot stew. Real Simple editor Lesley Alderman answers common questions about water, including "Is bottled best?" and "Do I really need eight glasses a day?" Lisa Zaslow shares the "three Cs" of organization and helps a mother from Palisades, New York, make over her children's playroom. Rosemary Curto created a beautiful garden at a women's shelter in Sacramento, California, offering the residents a quiet spot to call their own and a place to nurture their gardening skills. Last, learn how to wash your face and organize your handbag.