Happy Tuesday! For those new here: this is The Skinny, a free weekly newsletter designed to entertain and save you time—everyone’s most valued resource—by serving up our signature, curated lifestyle news.

Today’s The Skinny should take less than three minutes to breeze through, and you’ll have lots to talk about at tomorrow’s water cooler. What we’re covering: 

• Tonight’s Strawberry Moon, and other naturally occurring sweetness (plus honey and strawberry recipes)

• The buzz on honey: raw vs. processed, ‘Barbie Bees’ & your new favorite coffee hack 

• Why we can’t live without our foam roller (and how it can help you sleep better) 

• Hogs and kisses: building the ultimate Father’s Day BLT bar (& other last-minute Father’s Day gifts) 

• Do you love or hate the AC? How to stay chill this summer 

• Plus, Chef Boyardee: the man beyond the can, how to overcome sugar cravings, the viral ‘Freezer Dress’ (and polo shirt), Hot Tomato Summer continues & a new French hotel in an old convent

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Rising signs

Things that are naturally sweet, starting with tonight’s Strawberry Moon  

The Skinny: A rare, low-lying “Strawberry Moon” rises tonight. In honor of this moon, named for the start of berry harvest season, we dedicate this item to things that are naturally sweet. (For the science-minded, all about the Strawberry Moon phenomenon here, and why it may appear to have a pink or reddish hue.)

Honey is of course the sweetest natural food, and once we rose above the ick-factor of a sticky jar or honey bear bottle (which took Nicole years), we now have a Pooh-worthy appreciation of the good stuff. As any bear will tell you, the first thing to know about honey is the difference between raw and processed (with raw reportedly having more health benefits). It’s easy to tell: raw, unfiltered honey will look more cloudy and opaque, while processed honey is smoother and clear. 

This honey education came to be since we heard from Drizzle Honey, a brand we immediately appreciated thanks to their certified B Corp status and clever, simple logo. 

Overall, when talking about honey, a reminder that we need bees to make it, and this “Garden Story” from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (one of our favorite places to get lost) is an excellent explainer on honey bees (with some surprising fun facts including a “Barbie Bee,” which only gathers pink pollen). 

To try: Nicole, a die-hard black coffee drinker who admits to being an annoying braggart about it, had never heard of putting honey in coffee (suggested by Drizzle for the Golden variety). Incredible, and Jill did it in Spain, too! Just a small amount—a couple twirls of the honey dipper—gave her fresh ground hazelnut coffee a glorious hint of savory flavor that wasn’t too sweet. And, it also comes with the extra satisfaction of knowing you’re also getting a dose of raw honey’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Sold. Summing up, to learn the secrets of proper honey dipper usage, a very short tutorial.

Another honey that may be new to you as it was to Jill in Hawaii last fall, is Kiawe honey —which is spreadable, white and best slathered on freshly baked bread (along with plenty of butter.) While we suggest a trip to the Rock to enjoy it in its natural habitat, you can also get it in a less desirable way, by surfing on Amazon.  

To try: a two-ingredient “no recipe recipe” of honey roasted strawberries, or any of these recipes from the Drizzle Honey site, like Honey Butter Popcorn, Turmeric Honey Sweet Potatoes, Ginger Honey Mint Lemonade & Honey, or Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini.

Finally, some practical sugar tips: Real Simple dishes out real advice on how to overcome sugar cravings, and here are 7 ingredients that add sweetness without sugar.

Gift Guide

Last-minute Dad gifts that are no joke

The Skinny: It’s not too late to get something delicious for Dad! Below, a couple fast-and-easy The Skinny-approved ideas: 

Drizzle Honey has an exclusive Father’s Day Bundle that includes fan favorites—Hot Honey (a natural match for grillers), delicate and buttery White Raw Honey, and Golden Raw Honey to be paired with strong flavors. 

Jill did this a few years ago to rave reviews and of course has no photos and hence no proof, but a great Father’s Day menu is a BLT bar! She used ciabatta, bakery sourdough, Hawaiian sweet rolls, bacon,pork belly, and a full suite of condiments. Regrettably, this was before she discovered Slawsa, which has a permanent spot in the Skinny condiment Hall of Fame. 

For more ideas/inspo, What’s Gaby Cooking offers her take on the perfect BLT bar. We approve! 

If that’s not enough, here are some sizzly gifts for the bacon loving dad (and really, anyone): 

• George Foreman indoor grill 

• Sir Kensington’s Olive Oil Mayo

• Goldbelly Bacon of the Month Club 

• Cast Iron Sandwich and Burger Press Set

Life Essentials

Regarding those items we can’t live without

The Skinny: Foam rollers: the hardened healers of the muscles, body and soul. Nicole’s mom gave her one for Christmas several years ago, and her family is definitely tired of her claiming it can cure any body ache and ailment. Shoulder impingement—roll it out! Knee acting up? There’s a foam roll for that, people, just search it up. And yes, because there is nothing the foam roller cannot do, it can even help you sleep better.

It’s Chill

What to know about ‘AC’ season

The Skinny: Are you an AC lover or a hater? Cold Misers wanna keep that AC cranking all hours, while Heat Misers are more Italian-style and opt for fresh air, ventilation, closing the tapparelle and staying inside during midday. But wherever you fall on the AC spectrum, we’re sharing this story that tackles all sides of the AC debate: its potential health benefits (and risks), and even how being a little too hot (or cold) can also boost metabolism. Related: 7 things to do before “AC season” goes into full gear. 

And by the way, maybe it’s the Mediterranean in her—Nicole is definitely this guy in her family.

Last Licks

This week’s newsfeed

• Would you take a vow of celibacy to stay here? We might: The Hôtel du Couvent Opens in A Former Nice Convent.

• Strategic sweat-proof dressing, 101: we can’t wait to try this crazy popular Freezer Dress with a bajillion rave reviews—here, a stylish Travel & Leisure editor shows how to dress it up or down. And bros, don’t worry—: here’s the men’s version, a Freezer Polo. 

• From the Plaza Hotel to the canned food aisle: we learned about the fascinating Chef Boyardee backstory from our new favorite newsletter. Word Smarts. PS, from the same story: you’re also pronouncing “IKEA” wrong. 

• Give this Le Crueset pop-up designer a raise! (Be sure to wait for the end for la pièce de résistance.)

• As we forecasted in E63, Tomato Girl Summer is upon us—and we have updates.

  • Celebrate with the Tomatini – summer’s “Ultimate Martini”

  • Whilst in Trader Joe’s, Jill spotted Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Tomato Vine hand soap (in addition to Fresh Cut Grass and Dandelion)

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