Daily Skimm

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. After a relentless stretch of gray, rainy days, the sun’s finally returned to DC — and I feel 90% more alive. That’s not the only thing making me smile…

I’m off to the salon, and this time, I actually know what to ask for — stylish women everywhere are ditching the Italian Bob for a low-maintenance alternative that’s being called “Summer’s Chicest Haircut.”
If your frilly childhood comforter still has a chokehold on you, the most millennial-coded bedding brand has teamed up with H&M for a shockingly cute children’s collab. Lucky for my niece, her fourth birthday is coming up next week.
Strawberry season has officially arrived at Trader Joe’s, and these are the limited-edition items worth hoarding. No. 2, I’m coming for you.
Wondering what pattern could possibly dethrone polka dots? This Annie James- and Hallie Parker-approved print — and it’s cooler and more wearable than I remember.
The only Britain’s Got Talent contestant I can name is in a “new era.” Between the bob, sunglasses, and fur coat, I’m not exaggerating when I say the transformation is astounding. Someone check on Anna Wintour.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Maxi’s Kitchen’s Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls

These Easy Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls Will Be Your Summer Fixation

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We’re dangerously close to the time of year when the relentless overlords of heat and humidity could strike at any moment, making it downright offensive to turn on an oven. That’s one reason to have Maxi’s Kitchen’s Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls handy. The others? The dish takes less time to make than watching an episode of Summer House. The low-fuss recipe is packed with crunchy veggies and bouncy vermicelli noodles — so it’s essentially a deconstructed version of your favorite Vietnamese appetizer. And, perhaps most important, there’s a sweet, spicy, obscenely good peanut dressing that you’ll want to put on everything (speaking from experience). Good thing you’ll have all summer to do so.

The Time Commitment: Approximately 35 minutes.

Key Tip: To keep the noodles from sticking together, Maxine Sharf (aka Maxi’s Kitchen) recommends rinsing them in cold water after draining and tossing with a little olive oil.

Other Takes: For more easy, breezy, summer recipes, try…

Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes with Caper Chimichurri. We could wax poetic about this weeknight hero, but all you need to know: Everything cooks in one pan, then is smothered in a ridiculously vibrant sauce.
Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw. Use a rotisserie chicken and bagged coleslaw mix and the only real work is making the drinkable dressing and frying the shallots — technically optional, but are they really?
Corn Avocado Feta Dill Salad, which is loaded with crisp cucumbers, pickled onions, juicy chicken, and lots of herbs — so it’s fresh, filling, and in the words of one fan, “summer personified.”

What’s new in food & home:

🔍 As anyone who has ever made a recipe knows, not everything is spelled out. Case in point: five things you should always do, even when they aren’t written down. (The third is crucial.)

✨ The easiest way to make your home look like an interior decorator lives there? It involves this inexpensive find — and your coffee table, kitchen island, and, yes, even your bathroom toilet lid.

🥒 That plastic wrap around your cucumber isn’t just for protection — it’s the best storage hack you’re not using. As one commenter put it: “This feels like discovering your dress has pockets.”

The Divorce by Freida McFadden

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Still reeling from The Housemaid’s whiplash-inducing twist? Freida McFadden’s The Divorce is your next obsession. The psychological thriller follows Naomi, whose life looks flawless from the outside — a hedge fund manager husband, a dream house, a Lexus in the driveway, and a young son she’d do anything for. Until she comes home to find the locks changed. And that’s just the beginning. Jeremy hires a team of cutthroat divorce lawyers, empties the couple’s bank accounts, and takes up with 20-something Veronica, whom Naomi can’t stop thinking about. Naomi has two options: accept defeat and move on, or take matters into her own hands. We’ll let you guess which one she chooses in this domestic battle royale. We asked McFadden a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

McFadden: Freeze-dried yogurt. Technically, it’s meant for infants, but man, it’s delicious.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t leave the house without?

McFadden: A pair of sunglasses. I think I’m half vampire.

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

McFadden: Mushrooms, which currently comprise 50% of my diet. I’d die of malnutrition, but what a way to go.

PS: To learn what “thing” makes McFadden laugh without fail, read our extended author interview here.

Meanwhile, on the internet…

These are the five items pilots and flight attendants never eat or drink on a plane — and we’re guilty of every single one.
We regret to inform you that you might not be as good a friend as you think. These are the 11 signs.
Skip the Coke vs. Pepsi debate. The real soda civil war is bubbling up between two unexpected rivals — and you definitely have a side.

Vet bills are officially out of control, so we recommend signing up for pet insurance. These plans are as low as $10 a month and offer 24/7 virtual vet access. Peace of mind when your dog eats a mysterious object off the sidewalk? Priceless.

One shapewear-averse editor wore these mesh compression shorts to a wedding and swears they're actually comfortable.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Less Spritz, More Scandi — This Summer, Copenhagen’s Calling

theSkimm

What comes to mind when you think of a European summer? Sipping spritzes in Italy? A picnic under the Eiffel Tower? Copenhagen said, “hold my Carlsberg beer.” The bike-friendly Danish city has long been lauded for pilgrimage-worthy design and dining, but it’s quietly emerging as Europe’s new capital of cool. So expect plenty of harborside swimming spots, renowned cultural institutions (don’t miss the nearby Louisiana Museum of Modern Art), vibrant neighborhoods, Scandi-chic hotels (check out Villa Copenhagen), and outrageously good bakeries. Add in blissfully long summer days and one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, and it’s no surprise Denmark regularly ranks among the happiest places on Earth. Disney, who?

📐 There’s no better place than Copenhagen for a crash course on what’s arguably Denmark’s top export: design. Kick things off at the Danish Architecture Center to learn how the city became a global design capital, then join one of its guided walking tours. After, swing by Designmuseum Danmark — worth visiting for the Danish Modern exhibit alone (see: the famous “chair tunnel”). And to bring a little hygge home, stop by Strøget — Copenhagen’s main shopping area — to browse sleek furniture, stunning textiles, and covetable ceramics at stores like Hay House and Illums Bolighus.

⚓ Copenhagen’s idyllic waterways aren’t just for show — they’re central to the city’s charm and packed with things to do. After wandering around the picture-perfect Nyhavn harbor (imagine colorfully painted town houses, wooden ships, and outdoor cafés galore), sail through the city’s famed canals, either hopping aboard an organized boat tour or renting your own via GoBoat (no experience necessary). Need to cool off? Join the locals and take a dip at one of the many swimming spots along the waterfront (we promise, it’s much cleaner than you think), including at La Banchina, a popular hangout/restaurant in the buzzy Refshaleøen neighborhood.

🍴 There’s only one acceptable way to start the day in Copenhagen — and that’s with a heavenly croissant, gooey cinnamon roll, or buttery cardamom bun (we’re partial to the ones at Juno the Bakery). When you’re ready for lunch, head to Barr, known for inventive spins on traditional smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches on rye bread), with toppings like fried pickled herring or beef tartare. Come dinnertime, snag a reservation at Kødbyens Fiskebar, where the seafood is just about as fresh as it gets — think: razor clams, mussels, and the “famously good” oysters you won’t want to skip.

This app connects you with a registered dietician tailored to your goals — whether that's enhancing your strength, soothing stomach issues, or overall wellness. Plus, it's covered by insurance.

It's slickback season. We're fans of the "hair smoothie" method — work this scalp treatment into your roots, leave-in mask into your ends, and smooth it all back with this styling cream.

Temperatures are rising, which means you need to stay hydrated. Here's how to get the job done.

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:

Q: My partner and I recently went on a double date with another couple, who suggested a fancy new restaurant and mentioned they had a gift card. When the bill came, they only applied it to their portion. Were we wrong to assume it would go toward the total?

Two couples on a double date at a restaurant

“If these are friends you dine with regularly, and this restaurant was outside the normal price range for the four of you, then yes, it was fair to assume the gift card would allow you all to try somewhere new and pricey. But if you’ve only dined together a few times, there’s less reason to assume it covered everyone. They may have just been trying to explain why they suggested that place. Either way, they should’ve been clear from the start — something like: ‘We have a gift card, but if you’d prefer somewhere less pricey this weekend, we can save it for another time.’ That said, you could’ve also asked about the gift card up front or suggested a different restaurant if the price point gave you pause. Bottom line: The other couple handled this poorly.”