Morning Brew - ☕ Unspiked

Giphy

We all hoped we could breeze through Dry January without any hiccups, but like our goal to travel more in 2020...things got in the way. Last week may have left you feeling dazed, confused, and in need of a drink. But if you’re trying to abstain from alcohol this month, here are a few tips to stay strong: 

• A helpful guide to nix the Pinot cravings, even in a pandemic. 
• Non-boozy beverage brands are making the sober life grand. Here are the best ones.
• Oh, you’d rather DIY? 31 mocktail recipes that aren’t a Shirley Temple. 
• Every personality has a matching drinking glass. The green-tinted Our Place cups are calling my name. 

Read

• Tokyo is at the top of my bucket list for the orgasmic food scene, Yayoi Kusama museum, and a lil gourmet establishment called 7-Eleven.
• InStyle’s February issue about badass women features cover star Regina King, and this interview about her directorial debut (One Night in Miami) confirms she is one. 
• Gerald Stratford’s positive attitude and his GIANT Cotswolds vegetable garden will get you through the rest of your Monday. 
• Seems there’s a museum for everything these days, including Jell-O and mustard. Add to your travel list, stat. 

Listen

• If Tavi Gevinson’s Rookie mag was your guide to acing your first kiss, overcoming friendship issues, and discovering emo playlists, you might be excited to hear that the site’s popular column “Life Skills” is launching as a podcast. 
• So, are we all crying to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single “Drivers License”? It’s #1 on Spotify’s U.S. Top 200.  
• Bookmark Every Little Thing Minis: two-minute podcast episodes tackling your burning questions, like What’s it really like to hibernate? and Do dogs have belly buttons?

Watch 

• If My Favorite Murder is your favorite podcast and Unsolved Mysteries made your Netflix Top Picks, these are the six best true crime docs of 2021 (so far). 
• Meet Lubalin—the Canadian singer who blew up on TikTok for turning random internet drama into anthems. Don’t even get me started on Caroline stealing Helen’s broccoli casserole! 
• Impatiently awaiting Thursday’s release of Locked Down, the new HBO quarantine heist movie starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor. 
• How could I forget yesterday’s BIG news? A revival of Sex and the City...without Samantha. 

I’ve been thinking about hosting a Zoom pizza party. When it comes to the best pizza dough, it’s Nancy Silverton’s recipe, hands down. It’ll take an afternoon to prep, but the light, chewy texture is totally worth it. 

2021 goals for 2021.

Goal #1: Have more realistic goals.

Goal #2: Use the Withings Body+ Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale to help us set and achieve our health and fitness targets.

Goal #3: Regularly check our body fat and water %—plus muscle and bone mass trends over time—on the Withings Health Mate app.

Goals #4–#2021: Repeat.

Get 20% off Body+ on Amazon until January 17th.

Try It: 

• Bored: If you’re sick of puzzling, hit the spacebar and Sbored will generate some activities to enjoy in your free time. 
• Veg out: From a chili crisp to a vegan mac with coconut bacon bits, here are all the products, tools, and recipes to get you (and me) through Veganuary. 
• Crafty: Remember sand art, lanyards, and Shrinky Dinks? Browse this Pinterest board of all the crafts you used to make as a kid. 
• Relaxed: 30+ ideas to add to your self-care menu. 

Buy It: 

• PJ party: I’ve had a blast writing the past few Sidekick newsletters in my West of Breakfast pajamas with green stripes and a pink frocket (not a typo). Don’t sleep on this women-owned pajama brand, cofounded by Sarah Kate Price, whom you may recognize from HBO’s Stylish.
• Festival season: For the first time, we can experience the magic of Sundance, the iconic Park City film festival, from anywhere. Don’t know where to start? My film buff friends say Passing and Together Together. Here’s how to reserve your virtual seats. 

Arielle Vey's Instagram

Alexa, play ocean waves. Arielle Vey’s Instagram is an ode to the California lifestyle, capturing flower fields, palm tree-lined streets, and this here low-tide glow.