Wedding shoes, spring jackets, and a must-read memoir

Links we sent our friends #96 feat. Sophie of “Five Things I Ate”

Hi! Aja here. On Friday, I went for a long walk with my friend Mollie, and two minutes after we parted ways, she texted me: “Was the wind biting that entire time and we were distracted by friendship or did it just get terrible?”

Immediately, I realized my face and hands were numb with cold.

There’s a lot of research that being around other people increases your tolerance to both physical and emotional pain. It’s been a stressful few weeks (you too?!), but I’m leaning into walks and dinners and coffee dates — and they’re helping.

The concept of today’s guest Sophie’s newsletter is brilliant: Every week, she shares five things she ate. It turns out, you can learn a remarkable amount about someone through this lens — from her ability to truly get to know a place when she travels to her wry sense of humor. I enjoy every issue. And I think you’ll enjoy Sophie’s links.

Sophie’s Links:

1. This is the world’s most powerful cat bed. My cat is so obsessed with it that we’re convinced it’s stuffed full of narcotics.

2. Despite writing a food newsletter, I often have trouble feeding myself. This adorable “self-care pet” app provides a lot of positive reinforcement for consistent meals. You take a picture of your meal, and it uses AI to figure out what you’re eating and create an animated version you can “feed” to your cartoon cat. (Aja: I downloaded the app out of curiosity — truly, so cute.)

3. I’ll tell you a secret, but you have to promise to leave some for me: Hibiki-an has the highest-quality and most affordable matcha. And it’s still in stock, despite the matcha shortage.

4. Speaking of matcha: I recently bought a cute cup for iced beverages, and it cured my depression for a day. Everything tastes better in a glass tumbler.

5. Take it from a former professional contortionist (yes, I have led a very strange life), this vibrating back-warmer is a game-changer. It’s pricey, but worth it — plus, you can use your FSA dollars.

Left: Aja’s sesame cauliflower; Right: The app version.

Aja’s Links:

1. It’s the Freda Salvador Friends and Family sale! I’ve been waiting. Last year, I got these shoes (I wear them all the time), and this year, I bought these for my wedding (!!!!). (Use code FREDAFRIEND for 20% off.)

2. The Group Chat is one of the funniest things I’ve watched in a while. The next episode needs to drop STAT.

3. Also loving: Dying for Sex, a hilarious and invigorating Hulu show about a terminally ill woman who wants to get laid (a lot). It’s got a great female friendship, cute outfits, and Michelle Williams. Need I say more…

4. Aliza, want to have a spring picnic? That’ll give me an excuse to buy these. (Aliza: Yes, please!)

5. Loved this from Maggie Rogers’ latest newsletter, which answered a question about performances I’ve always had: “The truth about songs is that while they’re always grounded in a moment, or a person, or a feeling, the trick to keeping them emotionally fresh night after night is to reassign them to the people or events or stories in your present moment and let the songs evolve within and alongside your life.”

Aliza’s Links:

1. Five lessons Insecure can teach us about friendship, by

   Minaa B.
   I often need someone to remind me of #3.

2. I’ve been living in these pants over the last few weeks. They’ll be a staple through summer, too. Glad I ordered two colors! (Aja: I immediately looked these up after I saw them on you, ha.)

3. I’m seeing the chore jacket everywhere — particularly drawn to these options from Free People, Everlane, and… if we’re dreaming… DÔEN.

4. An important and thoughtful guide: How to be a good friend to people with autistic kids by

   Heidi Fiedler
   .

5. I saw the new musical Buena Vista Social Club in New York after

   Elena Sheppard
   ’s recommendation. It wrecked me (many tears, in a good way) and made me even more excited for Elena’s memoir, The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora (now available for preorder!)

   

Apparently, almost half of Americans don’t use all their FSA dollars!! During the years where I’ve had leftover money, I (Aja) have bought prescription sunglasses, my favorite sunscreen and lip balm (both on sale through today)… and I just learned period underwear is eligible!

What’s the best way you’ve spent leftover FSA/HSA money?

If you find yourself in NYC… get to Buena Vista Social Club.

• 29 things I’m glad I did in my twenties

• Songs for a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

• How to find a job (in an extremely tough market)

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