Morning Brew - 🍹 Ice cube

Hello and happy Monday, Sidekick readers. After a canceled flight, a mediocre-at-best airport sandwich, and 12 hours of zzz’s, I’m throwing it back to my Chicago roots and coming to you live from my childhood bedroom. 

— Rachel Cantor 

P.S. A poll: What color was your childhood bedroom? Mine is emerald green.

The remote vs. IRL work debate is like tie dye—overhyped and everywhere. We all talk about how wonderful it is to throw in your laundry at 2:20pm on a Tuesday or hop on your Peloton between meetings, but we leave career mobility out of the conversation. In her most recent WSJ column, writer Rachel Feintzeig tackles how remote work impacts your promotion chances. 

Some of us are lucky in that we have a choice—five days, two to three days, or zero days in the office. But even if we are most productive at home, Brian Kropp, who leads HR research at Gartner, told Feintzeig that “managers consistently label in-office workers higher performers and give them bigger raises and promotions...even though data shows there’s really no difference between the two groups.” 

With all this in mind, the big question I’m pondering is the one Feintzeig asks in her article: “If you’re the one leaning into flexibility, how do you make sure you’re not unintentionally leaning out of your career?” A question that’s especially relevant for working parents, most notably working moms. 

Some jobs do require you to be in the office. But for me, as a writer early in my career, I’m kind of a lone wolf—most of my work is done solo. And although I cherish the moments when I can write in my pajamas and sit like a pretzel on my bedroom floor (I really like writing on the floor), there’s some part of me that craves an office environment—the chitchat about terribly amazing, cringeworthy Netflix shows, and of course, the opportunities to build lasting relationships both professionally and personally. 

There’s something to be said about the relationship-building that goes on in person. It’s really hard to advocate for your career when you don’t know someone in a three-dimensional sense. What, if anything, will change if we want to advance at work, but we only know our boss over Zoom? And if we’re competing with others who are in the office more than we are—or are able to be? 

Remote work provides new opportunities, but now more than ever, the onus is on the employee to “be more direct about their goals and accomplishments, since bosses aren’t just going to pick up on those things by osmosis from the next desk over.” But for many employees, especially young professionals entering the workforce, that doesn’t come naturally. It’s not taught in school, and it’s not taught behind the screen. So I can’t help but think career mobility becomes pretty difficult when you’re mostly on mute.

• The ice cube tray you got at last year’s white elephant can finally be put to work with these 16 ingenious uses—from freezer pesto to citronella diffusers. 
• A marketing email you’ll open (facts). Meet Marketing Brew, the go-to newsletter for creatives, which covers standout ad campaigns, trends to watch, and the latest news on emerging platforms like TikTok. 
• Create a wall of thank you notes for your colleague, mom, or kiddo’s camp counselor. 
• Shout out to Sidekick reader Samara for my most recent internet rabbit hole—Dendwell (still in beta, FYI). Put a name to your style and find yourself a mushroom lamp or squiggly table with their collective of online vintage sellers. 
• Out with Ina’s massive cosmo; in with her summer rosé sangria pitcher. It tastes like sweet, sparkling pomegranate juice, and it’s what we’re stirring up this week in the Cantor household. 
• Winter isn’t coming anytime soon (phew), but the Game of Thrones prequel will be here before you know it. There’s still time to visit these IRL GOT film locations this summer.  

My mom always tells me to protect my sleep, but sometimes staying out an extra hour just to hear my favorite Black Eyed Peas song play at a dive bar is way more compelling. Time and time again, sleep is the first thing we compromise on, especially in the summer, but “getting quality, sufficient sleep on a regular basis is, without question, the foundation of mental and probably physical health,” said Dr. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and Stanford professor, on a recent episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast. 

Besides implementing a caffeine cut-off time (I never follow that, oops) and hitting the sack at a “reasonable hour,” what else can we do to rewire your brain for sleep? According to Dr. Huberman, you’re gonna want to start your mornings with bright light exposure, ideally from natural sunlight, within 30 minutes to an hour after waking up. Just for two to 10 mins, and if it’s artificial light, that’s better than nothing. Without getting too technical, “it basically times this cortisol spike to wake you up. And then it sets a timer on your melatonin release.” 

Listen to the rest of the pod for his tips on how to eat for quality sleep, and why you’re waking up in the middle of the night and unable to fall back asleep. It’s worth your time. 

Which creamer will rise to the top?

Earlier this year, Brew readers (and yes, fine, some non-readers) submitted thousands of sweepstake entries vying to be selected as the next Chobani® Coffee Creamer flavor, with a grand prize of $75K. 

Three flavors have risen to the top, and now it’s time to choose the real cream of the crop. You have until August 8 to vote for your fan-inspired flavor-ite.  

Make sure to share your link with friends to help your favorite flavor win, as the winning flavor will end up in a grocery store near you (and maybe, idk, a cup of coffee).

The good thing is: We all win no matter which fan-inspired Chobani® Coffee Creamer flavor becomes the supreme cream.

To vote for the next flavor of Chobani® Coffee Creamer flavor, click here. 

• I’m still full from celebrating the launch of Mariana Velásquez’s cookbook, Colombiana, (and from eating her amazing Empanaditas de Pipián). Mariana did all the food styling for In the Heights, and Colombiana is a love letter to her home country. Each recipe is a work of art, with stunning photography showcasing Colombian artists, and the book also contains hosting tips, playlist recs, and ways to stock an aperitivo bar.
• This Crate & Barrel glass pitcher is the tabletop equivalent of Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress—something we should all own. From displaying farmers’ market flowers to serving Ina’s sangria or Mariana’s Patillazo (can’t-miss recipe in the cookbook), this piece of glassware will always be the center of attention.  
• Drama isn’t necessarily a bad thing...at least when it comes to setting the table. I like to make my tablescapes a little more visually interesting with this set of Hudson Grace votives. They melt inward, and they’re unscented, so they won’t take away from all the flavors and scents of the meal. Weave them throughout your dishes for a little pizzazz.