Breakfast and champions

There was some confusion that came out of last week’s newsletter, specifically the subject line: [YOUR NAME], This one’s for you. Just to clarify and hopefully erase any lingering creeped-out feelings— that was all newsletter mailing list magic. My apologies, EVERYONE.

1.

Who’s watching the Olympics? Not a lot of fans, at least not compared to past years’ games; the ratings fluctuate from day-to-day, but on the whole, viewership has been down as much as a third. I think some athletes’ TikTok accounts are getting more views. I hadn’t been watching much myself, mostly because I’ve been feeling so down on the games, the scandals, and the outdated rules as a whole, but this recent Opinion piece in the Times energized me. As the writer Lindsay Crouse sums it up: “We can, and should, be critical of the Olympics as an institution while still appreciating the achievements of Olympians themselves. Like all of us, they are caught up in systems they didn’t create. Yes, there are lies, abuses and failures — but the talent and hard work are real.” And speaking of talent, look what the adorable British diver Tom Daley knit for his gold medal.

2.

These days, I’ve been really, really getting into the clean beauty brand Merit’snon-makeup makeup offerings, mostly for how easy the brand makes things for me, both in terms of application—because my skill-level is on par with that of a toddler’s—and choice. Rather than fifty shades of beiges and neutrals, there’s just a perfect handful in each category. High-five to brand founder Katherine Power for the Day Glow highlighting sticks and the Flush Balm for cheeks, both of which got me through some very pallid-looking times this spring. 

3.

Highly-recommended for anyone with kids, or a project they’re documenting, or really anyone with a few seconds to capture. This is hands-down, one of the easiest visual diary apps out there. 

4.

Here’s the thing: I love interviews and conversations between two people in the same field of expertise—musicians chatting with other musicians, artists with artists, and so forth. There’s an ease, as well as a depth and understanding of one another’s craft that tends to exist outside of typical journalist-subject exchanges. When he’s not acting himself, I think Alec Baldwin is at his best when he’s talking to other actors such as Julianne Moore and Maggie Gyllenhaal on his podcast. Screw the Oscars, can I nominate him to be the next Inside the Actor’s Studio host??? 

5.

The name Magic Spoon is pretty apt, except I might revise it to Magic ‘handful’ considering how much I’ve been shoving fistfuls of this new, grain-free cereal in my face. It’s high-protein, sugar-free, super-addictive, and the flavors (maple waffles!!!) are extraordinarily spot-on.