EDITORâS NOTE Happy Saturday. Thereâs something about this fall thatâs making me feel wistful for high school. Not only is my teenage crush having a major comeback, but so is Gossip Girl apparently, as evidenced by Camila Cabelloâs plaid mini skirt (itâs giving major Prep School Energy) and Nicola Coughlanâs extremely chic burgundy-tights-and-LBD combo. Plus, nothing screams â2010â quite like Natalie Portmanâs mini dress and tights look (which, for the record, Iâm a fan of). Speaking of, Iâm also into Selena Gomezâs casually cool take on âcheugyâ jeans that Iâll attempt to recreate, along with Megan Foxâs Twilight-esque âhot Victorian vampireâ mani. But to really relive my childhood, Iâll be whipping up some copycat Cosmic Brownies this weekend. Nostalgia never tasted better. â Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY |
|
Fall Hasnât Started Until Youâve Made These Spiced Pumpkin SnickerdoodlestheSkimmWe know, we know: Pumpkin? For fall? Groundbreaking. Except that these Spiced Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Sarah Fennel (aka Broma Bakery) kind of are. A twist on the classic cookie, this genius hybrid â which is included in Fennelâs upcoming cookbook Sweet Tooth â combines some of the best fall flavors (think: cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, and of course, pumpkin) in one delightfully chewy, perfectly puffy, melt-in-your-mouth treat. And while the cookies should be enjoyed under any circumstance, we promise they taste even better when paired with an autumnal-coded rom-com and cozy candle. The Time Commitment: Just over an hour. Though, 30 minutes of that is for chilling the dough â giving you plenty of time to whip up a Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte. Key Tips: While a quick Google search would have you think otherwise, there really is no good substitute for cream of tartar, which creates that signature snickerdoodle taste and texture. Also, donât worry if your cookies appear slightly underbaked when they come out of the oven â theyâll continue to firm up as they cool. Other Takes: Assuming you only make one or two batches of cookies, youâll have plenty of leftover pumpkin puree. So next up should be this extremely fluffy, aptly named Pumpkin Dream Cake or this Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake, which has the only respectable crumb cake ratio (read: half plush cake, half cinnamon streusel). Not a cake person? These decadent Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars are essentially the love child of pumpkin pie and cheesecake, while this sticky-sweet Pumpkin Chai-Spiced Monkey Bread uses canned cinnamon rolls, so it requires just 15 minutes of prep. And thanks to its âimpossible-not-to-pick offâ cinnamon-sugar crust, weâre declaring this Pumpkin Bread the GOAT (pro tip: serve it with Homemade Maple Butter). |
|
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina GartentheSkimmAfter delighting the internet with the most entertaining and memeable press tour in recent memory (case in point: the instantly viral dishwasher comment), Ina Gartenâs memoir is finally here. And while fans may think they already know everything about the iconic chef, TV personality, and button-down devotee, Be Ready When the Luck Happens delves into the deeper, messier parts of her story â much of which took place before she became the Barefoot Contessa. From growing up in an abusive household to her early career at the White House, Garten opens up about the lessons sheâs learned along the way. Ina, we raise an obscenely large cosmo to you. |
|
Weâre usually all about packing passports and taking cloud pics, but this fall, weâre staying grounded. Why? Because some of the best adventures are just waiting to be discovered by car. Instead of security lines and cramped seats, think wide-open roads and breathtaking views. And with the new 2025 Ford ExplorerÂźïž SUV, your next great adventure starts the moment you hit the gas. đ Thereâs no better time of the year to see New Hampshireâs Kancamagus Highway than autumn. Nicknamed âThe Kanc,â this 34-mile stretch is a prime spot for leaf-peeping. Drive through the White Mountains while catching jaw-dropping views of the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall foliage. Bonus: Sabbaday Falls and the Albany Covered Bridge make for perfect picnic pit stops. đ Craving the coast? The famous 17-Mile Drive in Monterey County, CA, winds through dramatic cliffs and rugged coastline for ocean views that stretch for miles. Stop at Bird Rock Vista Point to see sea lions, harbor seals, and even (if youâre lucky) migrating gray whales, or wander among the Ghost Trees of Pescadero Point for a chance to encounter the paranormal. It is spooky season, after all. đKnown as the first national park in the world, Yellowstone spans over 2 million acres across three states, so, yes, itâs got something for everyone. Cruise through the park to see the famous Old Faithful geyser erupt, and keep your eyes peeled for the parkâs diverse wildlife, from the free-roaming bison to the ever-elusive gray wolves. Ready to put the pedal to the metal? The new 2025 Ford ExplorerÂźïž SUV is ready to take you on your next adventure. With seating for up to seven and cutting-edge tech like available Ford BlueCruise for hands-free highway driver-assistance, itâs here to help you enjoy wherever your next trip takes you. Go ahead â take the road less traveled.* |
|
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question youâd like answered. The winner was: Q: One of the women in my friend group earns significantly less than the rest of us, so planning trips is tricky. We want to include her, but we also want to spend what we feel comfortable with. How do we handle this?â[A big worry for women is] missing out or being forgotten ⊠[So] how can you address [that] in your initial ask? Perhaps you [say], âI know some of us really want to go to Bali. What do you guys think?â You should also offer different [price options] ⊠It might still be out of reach for [your friend], but the point is to acknowledge peopleâs different capabilities. You could say, âThe least expensive option is to stay at this all-inclusive resort and skip excursions. [Or, another option] is to do two excursions and go to this fancy resort. Which do we want to do?â [Ultimately], this is for her to decide if she can go ⊠If you [end up] taking the trip and one person canât come, [think about how to make them still feel] included. [For example], âWeâre going to go on this trip, but I really want to do a staycation when we get back.â [Itâs all about] making her feel like sheâs being thought of.â |
|
Which etiquette question should an expert answer next week? |
| Stay ahead with the Skimm Well newsletter, where expert advice and tools help you confidently manage your health. |
| Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here. |
|
Skimmâd by: Taylor Trudon, Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson | Photos by Sarah Fennel, Crown, Dimensions via Getty Images, courtesy of Danielle Bayard Jackson, Brand Partners Design by theSkimm *PS: This is a sponsored post. |
|
|
|