It’s testing central ‘round these parts. First, we dig into snacks (and fall hard for a fancy GF pop-tart comp), and then Claire shares the beauty products that have won her over recently. Obviously both sunless tanner and deep conditioner make a showing.   What are we munching? Well! Wild Fruits Jam Tarts, 12tides Puffed Kelp Chips, and Pipcorn Jalapeño Cheddar Crunchies, since you asked.   Claire’s latest hair favorites: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Mask Deep Conditioner, Hairstory New Wash, Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo, and Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Massager.   Her new go-to skin stuff: Muri Lelu Mauvaise Herbe Indica Oil, Sunday Riley Good Genes, Consonant Hydrextreme Sheet Mask, St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, Tata Harper Creme Riche Moisturizer, and Diana Ralys Melt Away Oil Cleanser.   And two make-up things that made the cut: Artis Brush (Oval 6) and KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner.   Send your thoughts on any ‘n all of this to @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463. For a whole lot more where this came from, check out Secret Menu.   Get away with Dipsea’s sexy audio stories—a free 30-day trial is yours when you use our link. Scope out the online life insurance agency Haven Life and get a quote. Achieve supreme comfiness with American Giant’s Classic Full Zip Hoodie and take 15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

Feel that cross-breeze? Hard for us to tell if it’s fresh air or creative energy, to be honest. But much more on both ahead...   The opening the windows tweet that really spoke to us both.   The fan Claire recently, aspirationally acquired: this Zonix one in white.   You know Secret Menu? Because you should.   For some context around our creativity check-in, dive into our perfectionism ep (and maybe Big Magic?).   This NYT piece on future block!   Mary H.K. Choi inspired Erica’s writing approach, and Gina Hamadey and her new book I Want to Thank You helped shape Claire’s sketching routine.   Keep the feedback coming! @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463.   Better understand your fertility with Modern Fertility’s finger-prick test—it’s $20 off when you use our link. Get a quote from Haven Life, the online life insurance agency that’s all about ease. Look to BetterHelp for professional counseling and snag 10% off your first month when you use our link. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

If you’ve been thinking more about your meat and/or alcohol consumption—or would like to—pull up a chair and dig in. And, as always, feel free to drop us voicemail at 833-632-5463. Hungry for your thoughts.   Our less-meat news items: Epicurious on not publishing any (new) recipes with beef, Eleven Madison Park’s return with a vegan menu, and Taco Bell’s Cravetarian Taco.    One interesting beef source: Butter Meat Co.   Us-approved meat alts, should you want ‘em: Impossible (burgers with Omsom marinades, Helen Rosner’s Roberto soup, hard-shell tacos with Spicewalla seasonings), Trader Joe’s soy chorizo (for tacos, eggs, pastas with chickpeas!), and Lightlife Smart Deli Bologna for sandwiches.   The MSG essay by Shaad D'Souza (from Bon Appétit, not Eater—oops). Related: @know_msg, Red Boat salt, and Momofuku tamari.   The book name-checked by Chrissy Teigen about women + sobriety: Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker, founder of the recovery program Tempest.   A great installment of the Quartz Obsessions newsletter about sober-curiosity.   Your feedback: more than welcome. Get us at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463.   Secret’s out on how great our Secret Menu membership is.   Give Nutrafol a go for thicker, healthier hair. 20% off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

Just a podcast ep featuring two old pals: Miffy, chic cartoon rabbit, and Amanda Hesser, icon, inspiration, and co-founder of Food52, the site you’ve (we’ve) visited just a few thousand times.   First, some Miffy merch: this light that Erica and Cam own, these napkins, this corduroy stuffed animal, and this Converse collab.    A 2008 Daily Telegraph profile of Dick Bruna, the creator of Miffy.   The rumored Taylor Swift and Katy Perry collaboration.   Our Amanda Hesser fandom runs deep! We love all things Food52, of course, but we’ve been A.H. diehards since we read Cooking for Mr. Latte in the early aughts.   A few Amanda kitchen recs: Bien Cuit sourdough starter, Ortwo pepper grinder, and JK Adams two-tiered lazy susan.   The go-to recipe when Amanda’s kids are cooking: Zuni's Pasta with Preserved Tuna.   For deep-diving on Amanda and her co-founder Merrill Stubbs, check out our book Work Wife, and for more on Amanda’s backstory and business approach, check out this recent ep of How I Built This.   We love to hear from you, always. You can get us at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463.   For more insidery-ness from us, check out Secret Menu.   Download the (free!) Zocdoc app and book that doctor’s appointment—now’s the time. Escape with Dipsea’s hot ‘n heavy audio stories—you get a free 30-day trial when you use our link. Try out professional counseling with BetterHelp and snag 10% off your first month when you use our link. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

Less running around to meetings, more running routines! If this ep had a mantra, that would be it.   Other running and running-adjacent content: the C25K app, our podcast ep with Coach Bennett, Edith Zimmerman’s Drawing Links newsletter, and Nikki Ogunnaike and Aminatou Sow on IG.   Some “things we’re over” further reading: A BBC article on air travel + the environment, a tweet about overscheduled days, and a NYT article about disability and virtual accommodations.    We want/need your thoughts at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463! And, if you want more of our thoughts—on running and plenty more—come get ‘em at Secret Menu.   Try Right Wellness and CBN, the latest transformative hemp ingredient. Get 20% off with the code RIGHTFORYOU. Take Modern Fertility’s fertility test for $20 off when you use our link. Cozy up to American Giant’s Classic Full Zip Hoodie—15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

Has perfectionism jumped the shark? And how do we remember names when we start meeting new people again?! Clearly, we have a lot of questions (and some answers).   If you like this, you’ll probably really like Secret Menu.   A couple books that made us ponder perfectionism: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi, and Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu.   Related convos: our ambition ep, this episode of Jam Session, and the Wit & Delight posts here and here.   Come and get us at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463!    Download the (free!) Zocdoc app and book that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off. Check out Right Wellness and CBN, the latest transformative hemp ingredient. Get 20% off with the code RIGHTFORYOU. Turn to Ana Luisa for sustainable and cool jewelry for Mother’s Day. Get 15% off with the code ATHINGORTWOMD. Tune into The Genius Recipe Tapes from Food52 wherever you get your podcasts. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

When we can all go out in the world again, will we be getting dressed up? And what will “dressed up” even mean?! Oh, do we have questions—and some answers—about re-entry fashion...and also about kombucha titan GT Dave.   A hot topic, apparently: GT Dave of GT’s Kombucha.   A few shoe lines that have us ready to set aside our Birkenstocks for a minute: Alepel, Kkerelé, and Emme Parsons.   If you’re ready to dabble in hard pants after some time away, Claire loves these AYR jeans.   The centerpiece of Erica’s spring/summer mood board: this Marni tulip-print matching set.   Let’s gush for a sec about the statement-y jewelry from Lizzie Fortunato’s fall collection.   Are we doing bold eye makeup? Like this Violette liquid shadow and Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner?   How are YOU gonna be dressing? Tell at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463.    For a whole lot more from us, sign up for Secret Menu.   Check out Right Wellness and CBN, the latest transformative hemp ingredient. Get 20% off with the code RIGHTFORYOU. Shop sustainable and cool Ana Luisa jewelry for 15% off with the code ATHINGORTWOMD. Try Nutrafol to grow thicker, healthier hair. Your first month’s subscription is 20% off with the code ATHINGORTWO. Tune into the Women Who Travel podcast from Condé Nast Traveler (oh, how we aspire to be women who travel again!). YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

We’ve got Mateo Askaripour, author of the extremely buzzy novel Black Buck, with us today—and, hey, we also showed up with our best going-away gift ideas for a stellar boss who perhaps deserves a travel mug thingy emblazoned with his catchphrase.   Gifting Q: Boss going-away gift. Best boss I ever had. Mentor. Mid-fifties. Male. Already gave booze. Our thoughts: Leatherology modern round coaster set, custom Yeti bottle, knives from Opinel or Laguiole, Souda business card holder, or flowers (always).   You gotta read Mateo Askaripour’s debut novel Black Buck! Tell you what!   Sales books that got Mateo started: Jeffrey Gitomer’s The Little Red Book of Selling and Sales Bible.    Books Mateo would say are in conversation with his own: The Spook Who Sat by the Door by Sam Greenlee, The Sellout by Paul Beatty, and Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires.   We want your thoughts over at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463. If you want more from us, sign up for Secret Menu.   Slather on COOLA’s sunscreen and organic skincare, both. They’re 10% off with the code ATHINGORTWO. Try Right Wellness for the latest transformative hemp ingredient, CBN, and take 20% off with the code RIGHTFORYOU. Munch on Lesser Evil’s incredible snacks and get 25% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO. Take Modern Fertility’s fertility test for $20 off when you use our link. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

You know what’s a grab bag? An episode on nineties screensavers, long breakfasts, box cutters, and recipes we’re embarrassed to share. Join us!   Just a short film of 281 After Dark modules and a very timely tweet.   The tools we wear by: box cutters, measuring tapes (see also: this ep of Gee Thanks, Just Bought It), kitchen scales (the Joseph Joseph TriScale one specifically), dough scrapers, kitchen spiders, and fish spatulas.   Claire’s (embarrassing) buffalo chicken chowder, her favorite coconut yogurt Cocojune, and the bfast tacos she wants to try.   We welcome—cherish!—your feedback. Send it on over to @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463. Or leave us a review! OOH, and sign up for Secret Menu.   Gobble up Lesser Evil’s A++ snacks. 25% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO. Shop Ana Luisa for sustainable and v. cool jewelry, and get 10% off with the code ATHINGORTWO. Check out Right Wellness for the latest transformative hemp ingredient, CBN, and take 20% off with the code RIGHTFORYOU. Try COOLA for sunscreen and organic skincare, both. Get 10% off with the code ATHINGORTWO.   Produced by Dear Media

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but, well, we’re totally getting ahead of ourselves: Is anyone else a little clenchy about having social lives again...sometime soon? Another topic of discussion: the beauty products Erica has on rotation—top threes instead of HGs!—from sunscreens to deep conditioners.   “Late-Stage Pandemic Is Messing With Your Brain”—or ours, at least.   The energy we’re seeking: John Jannuzzi’s dance compilation videos.   Sunscreens: Coola Sun Silk Drops, EleVen by Venus Unrivaled Sun Serum (related: a must-see trophy room), and Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint.   Body moisturizers: Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil (related: this ep of The Glossy Beauty Podcast), Weleda Skin Food Body Butter, and classic ol’ coconut oil.   Deep conditioners: IGK Offline 3-Minute Hydration Hair Mask (a Harling Ross rec) and Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strengthening Treatment Oil (while doing the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask).   Nail things: the Bare Hands kit and Olive & June polishes (EC, CV, and SC) along with the Poppy.   We’re here for your thoughts on socializing, personal-caring, and anything else at @athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463.   Are you signed up for Secret Menu?   Discover a new restaurant on Caviar and get 20% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO2021. Wake up your face with Clarins Total Eye Lift. It’s 10% off with the code ATHINGORTWO. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media