EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Saturday. You know things are bleak when 40-degree weather is cause for celebration. So I’m shopping the spring jacket trends that’ll soon be everywhere (the first is screaming my name). A few other things that recently caught my eye:
My favorite fountain soda (if you know, you know) teamed up with one of the buzziest sunscreen brands to release a grown-up version of the product that lived in my Limited Too purse — and I need four.
If you spent the entire team figure skating competition wondering how Alysa Liu gets her signature halo hair, her stylist shared the full routine. Spoiler: It’s even more intense than I imagined.
Speaking of the Olympics, the tiniest curler at the Games has totally stolen my heart (“the baby has a broom” will never not be funny).
Look at this sweet magazine spread confirming what I already knew: People who own at least one of these are the happiest.
Apparently, this deeply unexpected eyeliner shade is the secret to looking less exhausted, which is quite a lofty claim. But also, who am I kidding? I’m willing to try anything once.
— Jamie Feldman / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY
Who Needs Chocolates When No-Bake Cinnamon Toast Crunch Marshmallow Treats Exist?
theSkimm
In our experience, Valentine’s Day brings out two types of people: those who book dinner reservations weeks in advance and those who roll their eyes at the day entirely. Either way, something sweet is required — and it should be My Messy Kitchen’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch Marshmallow Treats. This twist on the classic Rice Krispies Treat combines the Best Cereal of All Time™ with brown butter, vanilla, and marshmallows, all topped with a cinnamon white-chocolate drizzle. The result? According to creator Emily Griffin, it’s “JUST like when you’re eating the cereal and the milk starts to taste like cinnamon.” Consider us in love.
The Time Commitment: Just 15 minutes. You’re welcome, Valentine’s Day procrastinators.
Key Tips: Chances are, your instinct will be to press the mixture down into the pan. But Griffin says to gently stretch it to fit the pan, then lightly pat it level with a spatula or your hands. Also, wet your hands first — unless you want to turn into Edward Rice Krispiehands.
Other Takes: Let’s be real: This holiday is just an excuse to eat treats. So try…
Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies. If you also spent your childhood begging your mom to buy those melt-in-your-mouth Lofthouse cookies, these are bigger — and, dare we say, better.
Fluffernutter Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet. Any dessert you can eat with a spoon, straight from the skillet, is a good idea. And this one has marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, brown butter, and actual Nutter Butters.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies. Chocolate covered strawberries? In this economy? These outrageously fudgy, chocolate-dipped cookies deliver the same energy — without the $40 price tag.
Little One by Olivia Muenter
theSkimm
Calling all fans of The Incendiaries and Educated — your next literary obsession is here. In Olivia Muenter’s Little One, Catharine West seems to have it all: a successful career and a picture-perfect NYC life. What no one knows is she grew up in a wellness-based Florida cult led by her father. But when a journalist starts digging into her past, what begins as intrusive becomes unavoidable. Because he might know the answer to the question she’s never stopped asking: What really happened to her sister? Part psychological suspense, part coming-of-age reckoning, Muenter’s novel is the inaugural pick for Off the Page, our book club with everything but the monthly reading assignment. We asked Muenter a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?
Muenter: Vantage Point by Sara Sligar.
Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?
Muenter: McDonald’s drive-through Diet Coke.
Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?
Muenter: Hatteras Island, North Carolina.
Off the Page reads four books a year — all by female authors who join for virtual events and discussions, like the one with Muenter on March 26. RSVP for our first event here.
The Hamptons Are Great — But the “Hamptons of South America” Are Better
theSkimm
Desperate for a warm-weather escape? While everyone’s headed to Miami and the Bahamas, we’d like to direct your attention further south: Punta del Este, Uruguay. Often called part of the “Hamptons of South America,” the coastal city has stunning beaches and luxe accommodations — without the pretension or mortgage-level prices. Plus, there’s a buzzing wine scene, renowned art museums, vibrant nightlife (spend a few hours at this institution, and you’ll never think of a “club” the same way), stylish shops (case in point: Espacio Magma Calle 20), and, just up the coast, a creation known as the dulce de leche volcán. Your winter just got brighter.
🌊 First things first: the endless beaches. Thrill seekers will find massive waves — and the somehow even more massive La Mano sculpture (exactly what it sounds like) at Playa Brava. Or, if that sounds exhausting, head to Playa Mansa for calm waters, long beach walks, and plenty of sunbathing space.
🖼️ Need a break from the sun and sand? Punta del Este’s art scene has you covered. Museo Ralli showcases Hispanic masters, like Fernando Botero and Salvador Dalí. And just out of town, there’s cliffside Casapueblo, artist Carlos Páez Vilaró’s former home turned hotel and museum that’s best described as a Santorini-meets-Gaudí fever dream. (Go before sunset for the “Sun Ceremony.”)
🍷 Move over, Mendoza — Punta del Este is “South America’s Most Exciting Wine Destination.” Whether you join a guided tour or explore on your own, visit no-expense-spared Bodega Garzón, where the award-winning wines (don’t miss the tannats and albariños) and Francis Mallmann-helmed restaurant are worth the hour-plus drive from downtown. Prefer something closer? Alto de la Ballena is a husband-and-wife-run operation serving excellent merlot and cabernet franc with a side of panoramic vineyard views.
🥩 You’re in South America, so by law, you must make time for parrillas (steakhouses). Specifically 481 Gourmet, known for its exceptional skirt steak and impressive wine list.
🎣 Punta del Este is surrounded by many boho-chic beach towns, all within driving distance. Take a day trip to the once-sleepy fishing village of La Barra to go antique shopping (the Trading Post is a must), marvel at Museo del Mar’s quirky collection of marine skeletons, and try the “best” version of Uruguay’s national dish, the chivito — a steak sandwich with ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a fried egg.
It’s our duty to mention that you don’t need to pay full price for a place to stay on vacation. We’ve been using Whimstay to find vacation rentals that are cheaper (and easier to book) than the big-name sites, and they can accommodate last-minute bookings. Time to take that girl’s trip you’ve been talking about for years.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: For years, my partner has said he wants to start exercising, but he never follows through — so it’s become kind of exhausting whenever he brings it up. How do I tell him that without hurting his feelings?
“Instead of letting the frustration take over, understand that blocks like this actually reveal something important. What looks like avoidance is usually the nervous system trying to prevent something [scarier] — like rejection, failure, shame, or loss of control. So rather than having the same old conversation, try asking: ‘Is there anything about starting to exercise that feels hard for you? Like, does working out take you away from your job, and you’re worried you’ll drop the ball there? Does it mean less time with the kids? Does not starting protect you from feeling like you failed if you can’t follow through? Does working out mean changing your relationship to your body in a way that feels [scary]?’ Sometimes, people need to feel safe enough to take the steps toward what they say they want.”
Curly-haired friends: Wash day doesn’t need to feel like a full-body workout. Especially when the VersaCurl™ Detangling Shower Tool by Delta Faucet exists. It’s designed to make curly hair care easier and more customizable. With three interchangeable silicone brush inserts, two spray settings, and a pause feature, you can soak, detangle, lather, and rinse all in one streamlined process. Gentler on curls from loose waves to tight coils, and simple to install, VersaCurl™ turns your shower into a routine that actually works with your curls, not against them. Easier wash days, unlocked.*
Skimm’d by: Jamie Feldman and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.
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