On My Mind: I Found a New Favorite Tote

I’ve been trying this mineral spray sunscreen for the past few weeks, and I’m really into it. It goes on feeling no different from a cream formula with the added ease of a nonaerosol spray. It’s not sticky and rubs thoroughly into my skin after I spray it on. I had my husband try it this past weekend for an afternoon at the river because he is notoriously picky about how sunscreen feels; he told me it was one of his favorites he had ever tried because it felt so lightweight and nongreasy. The formula and application reminded us of an amazing bottle ofNivea sunscreenwe bought during our honeymoon in Greece — essentially a cream sunscreen packaged in a spray bottle — that I’ve never been able to find in the United States. And even though it’s a mineral formula, it doesn’t leave much of a white cast (with the caveat that I don’t have particularly dark skin). It’s the first mineral spray sunscreen I’ve tried, so I’ve been genuinely impressed. But now I’m planning to try some mineral sprays from other brands, likeBlue Lizard,Sun Bum, orBask, for comparison.

I bought this tote when I saw Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman a couple of months ago, and it has become my absolute favorite bag. The one I have is printed with their tour artwork, which is lovely — if you’re a fan, you can stillbuy it— but the bag itself is amazing regardless. It’s made by Los Angeles Apparel from 100 percent cotton, and you can order a nonbranded one for yourself in 12 different colors. What makes this bag great is how capacious it is without becoming cumbersome. It’s about double the size of a normal tote but still maintains a low-key, slouchy vibe. I can fit a sweater or hoodie inside it without the bag looking stuffed, but it’s not so large that it’s ridiculously oversize for my daily essentials. I’ve also used it when I needed to schlep some extra stuff, like a towel and a change of clothes on a recent white-water-rafting trip. I appreciate how the wide straps don’t dig into my shoulders when I’m carrying it.

Carve Designs sent me these shorts when I was working on a story about thebest swim shorts. While they weren’t exactly what I was looking for in swim shorts, I do like them quite a bit and want to give them a shout-out. They’re basically a more lightweight (potentially better) version of the Patagonia Baggies. They’re quick-drying, have an elastic waist, and aren’t too short. I wore them to hang out on the river this past weekend and loved how they felt light and airy in the hot afternoon but not so delicate I had to worry about damaging them. I wouldn’t wear these for swimming — they’re too loose and baggy — but they are perfect for layering over a swimsuit. I would definitely consider wearing them for water activities like kayaking orpaddle boarding, in which you aren’t swimmingbut you may get wet. I’ve always worn my Baggies for those, but the Ocean Breeze Short fits me better and is easier to move around in; the Baggies can sometimes feel a little stiff, and as I am a fairly pear-shaped woman, they don’t always seem to fit me quite right. I also appreciate that the Ocean Breeze shorts have pockets, including a hidden zip pocket that would be perfect for stashing keys or other valuables you don’t want to lose while out adventuring.

As every cat owner knows, our pets love to lie right on top of our computers or keyboards while we’re trying to work. Rather than constantly kicking them out, I put this Tuft & Paw bed on the corner of my desk so the cats would have a dedicated place to hang out with me while I’m working. It hasn’t resolvedalltheir lying-on-keyboard instincts, but it has reduced them. The bed is made of molded foam covered in shearling, and it’s the perfect size and shape for them to cuddle up in.

Coloring has been my go-to low-key hobby for a year or so — throwing on a podcast and spending an hour coloring is genuinely so relaxing — and I’ve been itching for a new book. I picked up the Autumnalwood coloring book a few weeks ago, and it’s downright delightful with magical illustrations of adorable mushrooms, wizard frogs, and mystical fairies.

I’m also eyeing Bobbie Goods’ new summer-break-themed coloring book — the illustrations are just so darling. Perhaps the start of summer is the right reason to finally buy one.

My other indoor hobby of late has been playingTomodachi Lifeon my Nintendo Switch. I’m not much of a gamer in the grand scheme of things, but every so often a game comes along that I get absolutely engrossed in. For several years, that has beenStardew Valley. But ever since my husband downloaded this game earlier this spring, I’ve been hooked. It feels like a blend ofThe SimsandAnimal Crossingwith the added fun of making Miis — very nostalgic to me as a child of the Wii era. In the game, you create Miis to live on an island, which you can upgrade and design however you like. Your only real objective is to make your Miis happy. You can give them different foods and outfits and introduce them to one another so they can become friends; sometimes they even fall in love. What makes the game really fun, though, is how oddly surreal and funny it is. The premise is so basic, but so many aspects of the game, from the animation to the ways the Miis incorporate user-submitted words and phrases, are so slightly bizarre that you never quite know what to expect.