Seven Quick Takes, Stuff I Recommend Edition

.1. Breaking up with sugar. This is, without a doubt, the very best kind of breakup. Unlike the normal variety, this breakup will make you sleep better, eat better, and feel better than you did before. Your sisters will thank you, because you’ll have no need to call them in tears, and BONUS! You will develop absolutely no desire to get a hideously unflattering haircut.

.2. Babies. They make hilarious noises and facial expressions. They make you feel wonderful about yourself—how many grownups do you know who kick with glee every time you enter a room?—and they will snuggle with you whenever you want. But perhaps their biggest selling point is the almost unbelievable simplicity of their relational dynamics: in most cases in which you make them angry or they get upset, they can be immediately placated with Cheerios.

.3. Reusable coffee cups. If you like to drink coffee but don’t like unnecessary waste, please to try this. Dishwasher and microwave safe, more effective at insulating than paper, and also completely freaking adorable. (Polka dots! Did you see the polka dots?!) At least in the DC area, you can find blue and pink ones (in addition to the brown pictured here) at Bed, Bath & Beyond for only $7.99. Since many coffee shops offer a discount when you use a reusable cup, this purchase could pay for itself pretty quickly! (If you’re lucky enough to live with an amazing woman named Lauren, you will probably receive this delightful marvel of plastic wonderfulness as a present, but few people are so fortunate.)

.4. Dresses. You may, at one point in your life, have hesitated to wear dresses because you thought you looked bad in them. You were wrong. (Unless you are a man, in which case you were right, and also you may skip to Take 5 immediately.) There are so many different cuts and styles of dresses that pretty much any woman can find dresses that look terrific on her. Summer dresses almost always keep you cooler than separates. AND, if you still need convincing, think about this: dresses are READY MADE OUTFITS. So, in the morning, when you are hurrying to get ready for work, you don’t have to DECIDE. Think of all the time you’ll save!

.5. Appointment books. You know, books. The kind made out of paper. Because writing down lunch dates is infinitely more satisfying than typing them in, and Blackberries are very rarely purple. And also, it gives you a reason to buy something else from the stationery section of Barnes & Noble.

.6. The tomato sandwich. Sounds crazy. Is, in fact, one of the best foods ever invented. Simply acquire some fresh, local tomatoes (for full effect, purchase at a farmer’s market) and a loaf of good bread—an herby foccacia would be perfect, but almost anything will do as long as it doesn’t have raisins in it. Lightly toast bread, spread with mayonnaise (trust me, even if you don’t like mayonnaise), place tomato slices on top, and sprinkle liberally with kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper. Take a bite. Tastes like summer.

.7. Best friends. Especially if they are named Amy. But get your own, because you can’t have mine.

More quick takes at Conversion Diary.