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Do I Have to Invite My Old Friends? 😬

But first: the SUV that gives you confidence on any terrain — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today

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June 20, 2026 9:00am EDT

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. This is by no means groundbreaking, but long weekends really do hit different. And while I wish I could say I used my extra 24 hours to better myself, I spent it…scrolling. A few of my best finds?

Trader Joe’s just dropped the latest version of its most cult-favorite item, which I’ve been anxiously anticipating for the past 49 days (not that I’m counting). It’s just the thing for my trip to Newport next weekend.
If you also go from sweaty to shivering the second you step inside, this expensive-looking layering piece will become your summer wardrobe MVP. I know because I’ve already gone from owning zero to three.
Is your washing machine’s interior something you’d rather not think about? (Same.) These are the other weekly cleaning tasks most people forget. Don’t worry, I’m failing spectacularly.
Summer’s prettiest “It” girl shoes are nearly identical to an item you had in your elementary school dress-up bin. My inner child is screaming.
Sure, it’s interesting that Taylor Swift was seen at an NYC music studio. But I’m more fixated on her mastery of the “Sandwich Method” styling trick — which I’ll be copying from now until forever.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

The Defined Dish’s One-Pan Spanakopita-Inspired Skillet

This One-Pan Spanakopita-Inspired Skillet Tastes Like a First-Class Ticket to Santorini

theSkimm

Ouzo. Sun. Sea. If none of that’s your reality right now, The Defined Dish’s One-Pan Spanakopita-Inspired Skillet is the next best thing. A riff on the classic Greek pie, the low-effort, high-reward recipe is packed with spiced chicken thighs, fluffy rice, hearty spinach, diced onions, fresh herbs, briny feta, and creamy ricotta (yes, two kinds of cheese). The result, as one fan put it, is something “super simple for a weeknight meal but impressive enough for entertaining.” Oh, and since it all cooks in exactly one pan, cleanup is minimal — meaning, you’ll still have time to watch Mamma Mia! for the 17th time. Hey, we know our priorities.

The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes.

Key Tip: Rice sticking to the bottom of the skillet? Alex Snodgrass (aka The Defined Dish) recommends adding some extra broth and giving it a stir.

Other Takes: For more ways to put that pack of chicken thighs to work, try…

Sheet-Pan Chicken With Shallots and Grapes. This sweet and savory dinner is on the table in 35 minutes — and, in the words of one commenter, “looks like a tapestry from the Renaissance.” Not wrong.
One-Pan Lemon Coconut Chicken and Rice. When life hands you extra lemons, this sunny, satisfying, and surprisingly simple dish is the answer. Rules are rules.
Sheet-Pan Chicken Tikka. You probably already have all the spices you need for this bold, Indian-ish recipe. And it’s so easy, you might have a moment of silence for your favorite takeout spot.

What’s new in food & home:

🍷 Whether you thought last summer’s jalapeños-in-white-wine trend was brilliant or bonkers, there’s a new Sauvy B garnish — and it might be the one that gets everyone on board.

💡 Hate the look of plastic storage bins? This unexpectedly clever solution works just as well, and it’s downright chic.

😴 After 15 years of hotel stays, one travel influencer finally cracked the code to the perfect “bed recipe.” We owe her everything.

Long Island Girls by Gabrielle Korn

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Former indie sleaze girls, this one’s for you. Gabrielle Korn’s Long Island Girls opens in 2005: Susan’s driving friends to see a band called ?? (pronounced “What-What,” naturally), when she’s asked to pick up Eliza, a teen she barely knows, but can’t look away from. Their connection is immediate — but thanks to small-town rumors, it’s also short-lived. Years later, Susan’s traded Long Island for Brooklyn and the music career she’s dreamed of. Then Eliza reappears. Old feelings resurface — as do old complications. Expect a queer coming-of-age story about first love, friendship, and finding yourself, with plenty of 2000s nostalgia to boot. We asked Korn a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?

Korn: Cheese pizza, specifically from Lillian’s in Forest Hills, Queens. Actually, I would eat this for every meal forever — even if I wasn’t stranded on a desert island.

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Korn: The correct amount of sleep is 10 hours.

Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?

Korn: Growing herbs in my garden. It’s so satisfying to just run out to the yard and snip some cilantro. It makes me feel like I’ve really accomplished something.

PS: To find out what Korn never leaves home without, read our extended author interview.

Meanwhile, on the internet…

Forget sl*tty little glasses — older men have now entered a new eyewear era. They really will do anything but go to therapy.
Turns out, accidentally baking something NSFW for your kid’s birthday is a lot easier than you think. New fear unlocked.
Millennials, remember when we were told our avocado toast obsession would be the thing that’d bankrupt us? Gen Z is now being told to give up something else — and it may be worse.

If you're ordering in a lot, use this hack to save on delivery fees.

The Sephora sale is still going strong. Now's the time to get up to 50% off summer staples, like a Mediterranean-inspired fragrance and the hydrating lip tint we've tried and loved.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

The Most Underrated Summer Destination on the East Coast

theSkimm

Sure, places like the Hamptons and Cape Cod have the name recognition, but this summer, the real move is heading to the Berkshires. Tucked into the rolling hills of western Massachusetts, this four-season destination trades sandy beaches for dramatic mountain landscapes, farm-to-table food, and trails that actually make you want to leave the car. Boasting 90 miles of Appalachian Trail and a cultural roster that rivals major cities, it’s exactly the kind of energy the Jeep_® Grand Cherokee L was built for. With five different 4x4 drive modes and the confidence to handle whatever the road (or the terrain) brings, all that’s left to figure out is where to stop first.

👟 Named one of the “best small towns in America,” make Great Barrington your home base. Start your morning with a stroll through the Great Barrington Cultural District, where charming boutiques, eclectic galleries, and antique shops make it hard to leave empty-handed. Then, make your way to the Housatonic River Walk, a half-mile greenway trail that winds right through town for an easy, scenic stretch of the legs. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to The Bistro Box, a seasonal roadside fave that serves up creative comfort food (hello, fries with wild ramp pesto).

🎨 The Berkshires might just be the most underrated art destination in the country. In Stockbridge, the Norman Rockwell Museum holds the world’s largest collection from the iconic artist who spent the last 25 years of his life right here in town. You could also bop over to Williamstown to check out the Clark Institute, a renowned 140-acre campus where world-class art meets serious architectural beauty. Or, drive to North Adams, where MASS MoCA — housed inside a sprawling complex of 19th-century mill buildings — hosts rotating contemporary exhibits and live events.

⛰️ Save the best for last. Load up the Jeep_® Grand Cherokee L and start cruising to Mount Greylock — the highest point in Massachusetts. At 3,491 feet, the summit delivers panoramic views stretching up to 90 miles on a clear day. It's the kind of scenery that makes you pull over, take a breath, and forget what you were stressed about. And with seating for up to seven, third-row power folding seats, and enough cargo space for all the gear (and the snacks), the whole crew rides in comfort — no compromise required.

The Berkshires are waiting, and the Jeep_® Grand Cherokee L is ready to go. Whether you're navigating mountain terrain, loading up for a family trip, or just following the road wherever it leads, it has the comfort, capability, and style to do it all — on your terms. Visit Jeep.com to find what drives your adventure today.*

Jeep and the Jeep grille are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.

TOGETHER WITH ALLY BANK

In this episode, comedian and impressionist Mary Elizabeth Kelly tackles your most head-scratching tipping dilemmas such as:

Is a $5 tip enough for food delivery?
How much should you tip your rideshare driver?
What’s an appropriate tip for dogsitting?

Next Caller Please

Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Here's our Senior Commerce Editor's secret to long-lasting, melt-proof summer makeup.

Whether you live for beach season or simply tolerate it, you’ll find at least one swimsuit you’ll be excited to wear here.

PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.

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

We throw an annual Fourth of July party, and some of the guests we’ve invited in the past have since fallen out of our lives. We don’t want to invite them this year, but they’ve already asked if we’re having the party. Do we have to?

“Ultimately, it’s your party and you have the right to curate your guest list as you see fit — just because someone attended in the past doesn’t mean they’re automatically invited to future ones. That said, it’s worth considering the particulars of the situation. If it’s two people who are part of a larger friend group you see regularly, it might be worth extending the invitation to keep the peace. But if you’ve truly drifted apart, that’s a fair reason to move on. Either way, don’t try to hide the fact that you’re having a party — clear and honest communication will always serve you better, even when it’s uncomfortable. You could say something like, ‘We’re celebrating the Fourth at home this year, but we’ve decided to keep it smaller this time, as much as we wish we could invite everyone.’”