issue 320: catching rays and mochi cake 🍰

Issue #320 - June 02, 2023

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A weekly dose of comfort for your inbox with musings on and recommendations for downtime.

Taking the plunge. Image source: @ad_magazine

First, A Note From Alisha:

Hi everyone!

I’ve got some BIG news to share with you next week about changes that are coming to this newsletter. These changes are based on both your reader feedback over the years, plus some personal reflection on where I’d like to take this very special spot on the internet (and in your inbox). I know this is a bit vague, but I hope you’ll be just as excited as I am when you see all the details next week.

It’s been an incredible six years of the Girls’ Night In newsletter, and I’m just bursting to share what’s next with you soon.

Thank you for reading, whether you’re new here or have been a subscriber since the start. Keep an eye out for the announcement next Tuesday!— Alisha Ramos, creator of the Girls’ Night In newsletter

Editor's Note

I spend all year waiting for summer. Now that my favorite time of the year is officially here, I’m busy writing up a bucket list of all my must-do activities to make the most of the season. Think: Weeknight dinner picnics, hiking to some body of water I can swim in, and eating as many cherries as possible. I’d love to know what’s on your summer bucket list too, and this week’s newsletter is full of ideas to get you started. xoxo—Aliza Abarbanel, executive editor

Grab a slice. Image source: Sonia Wong

This Week's Picks

Curated this week by Aliza Abarbanel

BAKE: I can’t stop thinking about this sweet corn mochi cake from Sonia Wong ever since a baking video crept across my IG feed. The coconut milk-based batter quickly comes together in a blender, and the squishy, not-too-sweet results look perfect for a picnic.

READ: K-beauty has taken over the world—but what are the financial, physically, and emotional costs? This is the premise of Flawless, a deeply reported and thought-provoking book by Elise Hu, NPR’s former Seoul bureau chief. As someone with snail mucin in my bathroom cabinet, a must-read.

PROTECT: I’ve been searching for the perfect sunscreen since Daylight Savings and this lightweight, glowy serum from Onekind has earned a permanent spot in my bag. Solardrops SPF 55 is 100% mineral, layers well with makeup, and gives all skin a soft radiant finish. Get 30% off your entire order with code "GNI30". *Sponsor

LISTEN: I’m a sucker for a good cover song, which is why I’ve been looping this playlist combining some of my favorite originals and vibey reworks (with an emphasis on earlier soul and R&B). It’s perfect for biking, cooking, and walking around my neighborhood. LMK what else I should add!

MAKE: Too much fruit in the fridge? Turn it into a juicy tart shrub to mix with seltzer for an easy non-alcoholic spritz (that’s also great spiked with your favorite booze). My favorite combination of the moment? Rhubarb + mint + rice vinegar. I wrote more about this back in 2021 but the basic formula is simple: combine 1½ cups fruit + 1 cup sugar + 1⁄4 teaspoon salt until juicy, then add 1 cup of your favorite vinegar and let it sit for a few days in the fridge.

WATCH: If you like wholesome shenanigans and dry British humor, you’ll love Taskmaster. The TV show pits popular UK comedians against each other to compete in a variety of tasks that range from the creative (meet a stranger and compose a song about them in 30 minutes) to the bizarre (eat as much of a whole, unsliced watermelon as you can in a minute). Most of the show is available for free on Youtube, and my abs truly hurt from laughing.

SUBSCRIBE: My favorite thing in my inbox right now is Love and Other Rugs, a newsletter combining musings on dating and interior design by my friend Lily Sullivan. Think: The similarities between keeping a storage unit and revisiting ex-boyfriends, or buying vintage sofas and dating with a significant age gap. Genius.

KNIT: If you’re the kind of knitter who refuses to give up on your cozy habit in the summer, may I suggest this airy “scribble top” pattern? It looks perfect for layering on top of a sundress or beneath a blazer when the sun sets—my next project, without a doubt.

This week's Sponsor:

Your Summer Reading List Has Arrived

Our summer essentials are simple: Good sunblock, a cold drink, and a tote packed full of can’t-put-downable books. We have only love for romance novels, but this year, we’re adding new titles with a focus on self-care to the beach read (and park, and porch) rotation. These are the books at the top of our tote bags:

How It Feels to Find Yourself by Meera Lee Patel, an illustrated deep dive into the all-important relationship we have with ourselves. It’s a blend of meditative artwork and thought-provoking prose guiding us through life’s biggest transitions with purpose and clarity.

Love & Lemons Simple Feel Good Food by Jeanine Donofrio is the plant-based cookbook we’re craving all summer long. It’s packed with seasonal, just-happens-to-be-vegetarian sides and mains perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or make-ahead picnic.

Burn After Writing by Sharon Jones isn’t just a viral TikTok sensation. It’s an interactive guide to less scrolling and more self-reflecting with inquisitive questions designed to write, burn, and repeat.

Easy breezy. Image source: @louisa_s via @slowroads

This Week's Reads

How the Parm Espresso Martini Happened: A Timeline (PUNCH). In just six months, the unhinged drink went from TikTok stunt to Starbucks menu item.

Summer Books: 47 Literary Escapes for the Season (NYT). Heart-racing thrillers, immersive historical novels, light beach reads, and everything in between. I’m eyeing Adriana Herrera’s An Island Princess Starts a Scandal, a sapphic romance set in Belle Époque Paris that feels like the perfect beach read.

A Guide to Meditation for People Who Think They Can’t Meditate (Vox). You don’t need to fight a wandering mind.

Drowning In Dupes (The Cut). As influencers have racked up followings giving dupe recs from makeup to electronics, value and clout have gone haywire.

The Aspects of Manifestation We Shouldn’t Discount (The Atlantic). Naming our desires can come with real benefits.

Please note: Some of these reads may be under paywalls depending on your reading habits! We believe quality journalism is worth paying for, and strive to offer gifted links when available.

This newsletter may contain affiliate links, which means when you buy through the link, we might get a cut. We only recommend products we believe in or are thinking about a lot. Sponsored content is clearly marked as "Sponsor." Thank you so much for your support!

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