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How to Handle a Text-Only Friend 📱

But first: proof that cozy and cute can 100% coexist — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today

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August 1, 2026 9:03am EDT

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. At this very moment, I’m probably pressing play on Ariana Grande’s new album for the 700th time. Between listens, I’ll attend — and bawl my eyes out at — Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, so it’s quite the weekend for my inner theater kid. But I’ll also…

Dive into this highly recommended book that combines two of my favorite genres: twisty murder mysteries and intergenerational family dramas. I’m one chapter in, and I already can’t put it down.
Pull out the piece of clothing I only wear on New Year’s Eve. Stylish women are using it to elevate their everyday summer outfits — and plan to do so all fall, too. Grocery store, here I come.
Use this genuinely brilliant hack to transform my dust-covered brooches into necklaces with major Kacey Musgraves energy. My overstuffed jewelry box is going to be thrilled.
DIY the irresistible coffee drink that I’ve been spending too much money on at my favorite neighborhood cafe. There are just two ingredients — and it’s perfect for when you need caffeine but also a sweet treat.
Follow this game-changing advice for how to keep your friendships alive, even when you’re in different life stages or living far apart. This one’s for you, my fellow 30-somethings.

— Julia Reinstein / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY

Jenn Eats Good’s Street-Corn-Inspired Chicken and Rice

This Street-Corn-Inspired Weeknight Dinner Has Chicken, Rice, and Everything Nice

theSkimm

Friends, countrywomen, lend us your ears…of corn, that is. Because we can’t stop making Jenn Eats Good’s Street-Corn-Inspired Chicken and Rice — basically most of what we love about Mexican elote, but in an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in under an hour, in one pan. Think: smoky spiced chicken thighs, sweet corn, and toasted rice all cooking together, then topped with cotija cheese, lime, and cilantro. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t skip the side of tortilla chips for scooping up all the good stuff at the end. Call us corny, but we think we’re in love.

The Time Commitment: About 50 minutes.

Key Tips: Fresh, frozen, or canned corn work equally well here. And the dish freezes fantastically, so double the recipe — and consider it a gift to future you.

Other Takes: For more dishes that are worth buying an extra ear (or 10), try...

Grilled Halloumi, Corn, and Peach Summer Salad. Can you imagine a more delicious reason to fire up the grill — or, let’s be honest, skillet? No, you cannot. Next question.
Summer Steak With Corn and Tomatoes. The easiest weeknight steak recipe, served on a bed of salad that tastes precisely like summer.
Sweet Corn Carbonara. 🎶 Where the skies are so blue… 🎶

What’s new in food & home:

🍅 Dot cakes, you had a good run. But another dot-inspired creation has arrived, and it’s virtually savory Dippin’ Dots. In the words of one fan, “I crave the ORBS.”

💡 The coolest lighting trend? No, not those small portable lamps. But something that’ll take you back to your childhood Pizza Hut, in a good way.

📚 Stop organizing your books by color — the “Triangle” method is the designer-y trick that’ll have your shelves looking straight out of an Architectural Digest spread.

Furious Violet by Sarai Walker

theSkimm

If your favorite books are the ones that have you triple-checking that you locked your doors, add Sarai Walker’s Furious Violet to the top of your TBR pile. The novel follows Violet “West” Shelley, a true-crime writer living in the shadow of her mother, a renowned poet who died by suicide just months after giving birth to her. Now approaching 50, West is doing research for a long-overdue book about a serial killer in the ’70s and ’80s who wept for his mother immediately after his brutal crimes. But when West realizes she’s being stalked by a stranger who believes she’s their mother (which would be news to her), what follows is what one reviewer called a “pulse-pounding tale of paranoia.” We asked Walker a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?

Walker: Enlightened, the HBO series created by Mike White (of The White Lotus fame) and Laura Dern. It’s brilliant.

Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?

Walker: Ghost Ranch and the surrounding area in northern New Mexico, where Georgia O’Keeffe lived and painted some of her most iconic works. It’s a magical place and I absolutely love it there.

Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make?

Walker: This spoon cake from Erin French at The Lost Kitchen. The recipe calls for rhubarb, but I use strawberries. It’s so delicious that you’d never believe how easy it is to make.

PS: Walker has strong opinions on true-crime podcasts — but these three won her over.

Meanwhile, on the internet…

Costco just dropped a ludicrously capacious, ludicrously cute tote — and it’s already selling out. Your move, Trader Joe’s.
If you’re as offended as we are by restaurant QR-code menus, wait till you see where the tech is now popping up. What happened to something old?
Apparently, these are the books you should read by the time you’re 40. Somehow A Court of Thorns and Roses didn’t make the cut.

You're catching us at a very sales time in our lives — starting with the epic BaubleBar sale we're shopping this weekend.

Next up: Abercrombie's tiered sale. Get $50 off $150+ or $25 off $100 on almost everything, including this reversible scoop-neck top you can wear braless.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

You’re Probably Missing Out on This Lesser-Known Colorado Mountain Town

theSkimm

Let’s get this out of the way: Is Crested Butte the most convenient town to get to in Colorado? No, but that’s precisely what makes it so special. CB has all the beauty of better-known Rocky Mountain towns (say, Aspen or Vail), yet as any local will proudly tell you, it’s quieter and less pretentious. The historic downtown is filled with mom-and-pop shops, beloved restaurants, and picture-perfect Victorian buildings. And while CB is best known as a ski destination, it’s — dare we say — even more spectacular in warmer months, when “the Wildflower Capital of Colorado” bursts with color, and residents and guests alike take advantage of every outdoor adventure imaginable.

⛰️ In what should be a surprise to no one, Crested Butte is paradise for people who love the outdoors. Hop on a chairlift at Mt. Crested Butte and relish the unparalleled views as you hike or mountain bike down the various trails. Or, head farther north on Gothic Road to the 5.8-mile Snodgrass Mountain Trail — another popular spot that winds through lush aspen groves and wildflower meadows. Feeling even more adventurous? Push deeper into the mountains, past the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Gothic (home to a shockingly good coffee shop and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory), and you’ll eventually reach Emerald Lake, where swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking in the bright turquoise water are well worth the (very rugged) drive.

🛍️ Soak up the ridiculously charming, small-town vibes with a stroll down Elk Avenue — CB’s vibrant main street. First, fuel up at Camp 4 Coffee (order an iced vanilla latte and you’ll understand the lines). Then browse the racks of mountain-chic clothes at Favor the Kind, pick out a handcrafted hat at Björkstam Hat Co., flip through new releases at Townie Books, and enjoy Chillberg’s New Zealand-style ice cream (essentially, soft serve blended with fruit). And be sure to stop in the many impressive art galleries, like the Shaun Horne Gallery (the owners specialize in dreamy plein-air paintings) and Paragon Art Gallery (showcasing local ceramicists, jewelry designers, and glass artists).

🍴 We never would’ve predicted that in a roughly 1,600-person town, you’d find truly wonderful bagels (yes, by New York standards) — but one bite of Butte Bagels’ pretzel everything was all it took to change our minds. When you’re ready for dinner, head to Two Twelve, where dishes like ramp pesto gnocchi and Black Angus filet are cooked over a live fire hearth. Or, snag a seat at The Breadery, a local fave known for — you guessed it — specialty breads and loaded flatbreads, all made from a 60-year-old starter…named Trisha. Finally, end the night at The Dogwood to enjoy inventive cocktails in an old miners’ cabin.

Here’s a wild idea: What if looking good and feeling cozy could coexist? It can, thanks to Vuori’s DreamKnit™ Collection made from their signature brushed jersey knit with four-way stretch and moisture-wicking technology. It’s buttery soft and versatile enough to take you from your morning walk to your afternoon movie marathon without missing a beat. The style range covers everything: tanks, wideleg pants, shorts, matching sets, and hoodies, all in that same can’t-stop-touching-it fabric. Effortless outfits, zero overthinking.*

Aritzia's sale section is now up to 70% off, which is honestly shocking. These relaxed-fit jeans are absolutely perfect.

It's not too late to get your perfect swimsuit. Use code GET30 for 30% off sitewide at Summersalt.

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:

My friend only seems to want to communicate via text and whenever I suggest hanging out in person, she’s noncommittal. I’m starting to wonder if it’s personal. How do I tell her I actually want to see her?

“When a friend sticks to texting, it’s often a sign of low social bandwidth rather than a lack of affection. To bridge the gap without adding pressure, suggest a low-stakes microhangout — a 20-minute coffee or a quick walk — that fits more easily into a busy schedule. Be direct but gentle: Let her know you miss spending time together in person and acknowledge how hard it can be to carve out time and energy. If she continues to dodge plans, it may be worth investing more energy in friendships where the effort to connect is mutual.”