This is a mini edition of the Friday post.

Hi! For those of us in the States, it's a long Memorial Day weekend, so I’m leaving you with an easy, breezy, short edition of the newsletter. I’ll be back next week with the usual newsletter and a special giveaway for you.

I hope you're headed to a lake, the beach, or the pool. ⛱ (No fun travel for me; I’ll be on the couch or our patio). Sending you warm wishes for a sunny weekend! x Alisha

P.S. Paid subs, please see our chat for an invite to something I’m soft-launching and need your feedback on. :)

Should this inspire you, my ideal Memorial Day Weekend—there are no time constraints in this fantasy of mine—includes reading Carley Fortune’s new romance book and sipping on a watermelon margarita by the pool. Of course, we must have something delicious on the grill…maybe this honey butter corn with another easy veggie and grilled chicken dish? We’re blasting head-empty teen bops only, along the lines of Espresso or really anything by Olivia Rodrigo. (Here’s a playlist I made. 🎵) Maybe I’ll get really crazy and pick up a sport, something not too strenuous. Are we still playing pickleball? Maybe golf?* In the evening, I’d enjoy a languorous bath by candlelight while watching the final episodes of the new Bridgerton (I’ve been sharing my stream-of-consciousness thoughts in this thread). Above all, I’ll be off my phone. Ahhh. *record scratch* My weekend will likely look nothing like this (see: infant), but one can dream and set the right vibes to get close to it.

What’s your fantasy long weekend look like?

(*Calling all my golfers: Please let me know what we’re all wearing on the course. Shorts? Polos? Sport dresses? Serious inquiry for a potential new hobby. ⛳️)

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A few quick (mostly silly and fun) things that caught my eye this week…

• Looks fun: this pasta game (what it sounds like)

• Wholesome and funny content alert.

• I bought this denim skirt (shown above) that’s now on sale; it's a solid closet staple. A few people had asked about it! Also, noting this linen dress and lemon-yellow dress.

• All the cool girls on my feed are wearing this claw clip brand. 👀

• A delicious candle that smells exactly like a matcha latte — spiked with rainbow cereal milk.¹

• “So many of us play essential roles in the lives of children who aren't ours, and so many of us were shaped by women who were not our mothers.” Some great articles here in Romper on people who choose not to have kids. I especially loved this piece by Erica Cerulo about how she loves to be “the lady down the street.”

@neighbourbecciCold water tips.

Recipes!

If you’ve got kiddos in your life (or are a beginner cook)—this may interest you. The Downtime Dishes column continues this week with two recipes from Priya Krishna’s FUN new cookbook, ‘Priya’s Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook For Kids.’

You can read my Q&A with Priya about the inspiration behind the book and see the full recipes for her tiramisu and “life-changing udon” in the post below.

Priya Krishna Wrote A Fun New Cookbook for Kids

May 23

These recipes were first featured in Downtime’s Weekend Recs #49. You can purchase Priya’s Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook for Kids on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local bookstore. Q&A with the Author: Priya Krishna What inspired this book?

Read full story

Looking for more recs? There are 48 other issues to flip through in the archives. You can also give and receive recommendations in our subscriber chat. 💬

A Quick Sun Protection Edit

Once I turned 30, I stopped using two-in-one foundations that have sunscreen formulated into them. I have absolutely no scientific basis for this, but I just felt it in my bones that this simply would no longer do for my skin. Now, I religiously apply sunscreen to my face and neck every day. Now that I’m typing this, I should also probably apply it to my hands…

Below, I share the sunscreen I use—and the two my husband uses. (Because we all know that men need to wear more sunscreen!) If you have recs for more luxe and/or heavy-duty sunscreen, I’d love to hear. I’ve heard good things about Beauty of Joseon and Korean sunscreens…

Affordable Sunscreen

• Alisha’s pick: EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen SPF 45 - my tried and true, blends in nicely, doesn’t leave a white cast

• Corey’s picks: Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 and Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Sunscreen SPF 40

Hats

• Raffia hats: J.Crew wide-brim ($) on sale; Jenni Kayne raffia ($$) - on sale; Janessa Leone raffia bucket($$$) I have this one.

• Sporty and active: Tory Burch performance visor ($$); Solbari UPF50+ hat ($$) - I use this for gardening! There’s an opening in the back for a ponytail. Dorky but good.

• Baseball caps: Madewell ($); Clare V. ($$)

• Baby hats: Amazon ($); Etsy ($$); Oso & Me ($$)

Question for the group:

What are your favorite sunscreens and other sun protection must-haves?

Lastly, as a long weekend treat for paid subs, Corey has agreed to let me share this audio clip of him explaining his sunscreen recommendations to me. Please feel free to forward to any man on the premises. 😂

Audio content below the paywall :)

Listen now · 1:47

Thanks for reading and see you next week. x Alisha