Weekend: Should My Parents Pay for My Flight? 💸

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday and Happy Halloweekend to all who celebrate. I’m dressing up as a Y2K-era teen, so I’m planning to take advantage of all the ‘00s trends. Specifically, I’ll draw inspo from Amanda Seyfried’s chic take on the controversial dress-over-pants look, Jennifer Lawrence’s extra-long, boho-inspired cord necklace (featuring, obviously, a large stone pendant), and Suri Cruise’s shearling-lined denim jacket, which admittedly looks extremely cozy. Of course, my nostalgic costume wouldn’t be complete without a Von Dutch trucker hat, which is allegedly making a comeback (someone tell Paris Hilton). But there will be one exception: My footwear — since these chunky “ballet sneakers” are actually pretty cute. So cute, in fact, that I’ll be wearing them well past October.

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

Cherry on My Sundae’s Rigatoni with Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage

Creamy Rigatoni With Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage? Say Less

theSkimm

We probably don’t need to tell you that pumpkin is the Homecoming Queen of Fall Flavors. But if you, like us, need the occasional break from the season’s most popular gourd (we swear, it’s nothing personal), allow us to make the case for Cherry on My Sundae’s Rigatoni with Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage. Packed with perfectly al dente pasta, hearty Swiss chard, spicy sausage crumbles, nutty Parmesan cheese, and velvety butternut squash, this crave-worthy dish hits all the right notes: sweet, salty, savory, and outrageously comforting. Pumpkin, who?

The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes. But to save time — and energy — use precut squash from the store. (It’s literally the same thing.)

Key Tips: If you can’t take the heat of spicy sausage, Christine Ma (aka Cherry on My Sundae) suggests swapping in a mild Italian sausage or chicken-apple sausage. And keep in mind: Seasoned ground meat (for sausage haters) and soyrizo (for vegetarians) are also good substitutes. Plus, you can easily replace Swiss chard with spinach or kale.

Other Takes: Flavorful and versatile, butternut squash shines with pasta, which is why we also love this Brown-Butter Orzo with Butternut Squash (it gives risotto vibes, minus all the standing and stirring) and this pillowy Squash Gnocchi with Thanksgiving Chili Crunch — which you absolutely should not wait until Thanksgiving to make. But if pasta’s not your thing (we won’t judge), this Smoky Butternut Kale Salad combines crunchy pumpkin seeds, creamy goat cheese, and an irresistible apricot vinaigrette, while this Butternut Squash, Kale, and White Bean Soup comes together in 40 minutes (in one pot, we might add) and “will become an instant favorite.”

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Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim

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Even if you don’t know Glory Edim by name, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled across her wildly popular neighborhood book club turned online literary community, Well-Read Black Girl. Now, in her moving memoir, Gather Me, the lifelong booklover is telling her own story, recounting the powerful ways in which writers like Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde helped her through various life challenges (a chaotic upbringing, deep depression) and shaped her into the person she is today. A moving love letter to literature, Gather Me is part autobiography, part reading recs by your…well-read friend. We asked Edim a few questions. Here’s what she had to say.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?

Edim: Victoria Monét’s latest album, Jaguar II, is on repeat. From “Alright” to “On My Mama,” you can’t help but feel self-assured and sexy.

Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to friends?

Edim: I’m constantly sharing [the beautiful poems posted by] @poetryisnotaluxury. The last one was written by Chana Bloch, and the opening stanza reads: “The past tense is so severe, it makes everything smaller.”

Q: What’s something you recently read that you’re still thinking about?

Edim: Kennedy Ryan’s romance novel Reel. I’m obsessed with the main characters, Neevah and Canon — and their chemistry is palpable on the page.

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Your Next Adventure — No Flights Required

You don’t have to fly across the world to find adventure. There are plenty of exciting experiences waiting for you within driving distance. So today, we’re highlighting a few epic American road trips you should add to your bucket list — all of which are that much more magical in the new 2025 Ford Explorer ^® SUV. We call shotgun.

🏞️ Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park’s iconic 105-mile National Scenic Byway is all about enjoying the view. No matter what season you ride along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll either be in awe of the foliage, a wild flower-dotted landscape, or sweeping green vistas. You’ll climb to 3,680 feet above sea level with 75 scenic overlooks to take it in along the way. If you need a break from driving, there are countless activities to choose from including hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, and wine tasting.

🌊 If the ocean is calling your name, cruise along the rugged, 600-mile Pacific Coast Highway to enjoy the best the golden state has to offer. Begin your journey in San Francisco and travel down to San Diego — but don’t make the trip in one day. Stop to stretch your legs on the Devil’s Slide scenic walking path, visit with adorable elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and sip on delicious wine in the Santa Ynez Valley.

🏞️ Glacier National Park covers about one million acres of land, and the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road highlights a particularly picturesque slice. People come for the breathtaking views like the one at Jackson Glacier Overlook, but stay for potential sightings of mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bears. Pro tip: Time your trip so you can see the sun rise at Logan Pass, the highest point on this roadway.

Ready to get going? The new 2025 Ford Explorer ^® SUV has everything you need to enjoy each moment along the way. We’re talking an available V6 engine with 400 horsepower^†and available Ford BlueCruise driver-assist technology.^‡Plus spacious, comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. See for yourself.*

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: My sister doesn’t earn a lot, so my parents always pay for her flights home for the holidays. While I can afford my flight, is it wrong to ask my parents to cover the cost of my plane ticket too?

“My initial reaction would be to not ask your parents to pay for your flight. However, if this is a bigger issue about the way your parents support [your sister] and [how it feels] less fair to you … maybe it’s time to have a conversation with [them] … [Don’t] lead with talking about money, but your concern that the treatment feels unfair … I’d [also] avoid starting with ‘you, you, you’ and blaming your parents. [Instead], frame it as: ‘I want to talk about how I’m feeling,’ so you’re exploring your [perceptions], rather than brushing them under the rug and letting them manifest into something bigger.”

Featured Expert

Mariah Grumet

Etiquette trainer and founder of Old Soul Etiquette

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I recently returned from my bachelorette, where one of my friends announced she was pregnant. I’m excited for her, but I'm also annoyed she made the weekend about her big news. Should I bring it up or let it go?

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Weekend: Should My Parents Pay for My Flight? 💸

Together with

Creamy Rigatoni With Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage? Say Less

theSkimm

What’s new in food & home:

Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim

theSkimm

Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?

Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to friends?

Q: What’s something you recently read that you’re still thinking about?

Meanwhile, on the internet...

Your Next Adventure — No Flights Required

Q: My sister doesn’t earn a lot, so my parents always pay for her flights home for the holidays. While I can afford my flight, is it wrong to ask my parents to cover the cost of my plane ticket too?

Featured Expert

Mariah Grumet

Shop smarter with the Skimm Shopping newsletter—your guide to curated products, books, and more to solve your everyday needs.

Older messages

That falling dream is telling you something

Nicole Kidman, you’re making us blush

Knock, knock: It’s Andrew Garfield

Stanley Tucci has a hot take on sweatpants

Can “October theory” change your life?

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