TREAT (43A: Little ___ culture (form of self-care that involves rewards)) Although the term "little TREAT culture" is new to me, the practice isn't. I'm a firm believer in treating myself! Little TREAT culture is exactly what it sounds like, indulging in a small TREAT (maybe a coffee drink, a walk to a park, or solving a crossword) as a reward (perhaps for running errands, completing a work assignment, or paying bills). The term "little TREAT culture" emerged on TikTok, where there are many videos encouraging folks to TREAT themselves. If used correctly, little TREATs can provide a mental boost and play a role in self-care; it's science .
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
MALE (15A: Like bright-red cardinals) As is the case with several bird species, MALE and female cardinals have different coloring. MALE cardinals are bright red, while female cardinals are a light brown with a reddish tint on the wings, crest, and tail feathers. Young cardinals have a coloring similar to female cardinals, regardless of their sex. A MALE cardinal only acquires the characteristic red coloring after it molts and grows adult feathers.
GYMNASTICS (18A: Simone Biles' sport) During the Summer Olympics in Paris that are happening now, there has been a lot of news about Simone Biles doing GYMNASTICS. Simone Biles will be coming home from Paris with three gold medals and one silver medal. That brings her total number of Olympic medals to 11. Simone Biles has also won 30 World Championship medals. She is the most decorated athlete in the history of GYMNASTICS.
WAGS (22A: Swishes back and forth, like a tail) My cat, Willow, has an extremely fluffy tail, and when she WAGS it, she doesn't always pay attention to where it's going. She's been known to sweep things off the table with her tail, and occasionally I've gotten a face full of tail.
Willow and her fluffy tail Sally Hoelscher
TIP (26A: "Ugh, it's right on the ___ of my tongue!") The older I get, the more words seem to get stuck right on the TIP of my tongue!
OSLO (34A: Norway's capital) In addition to being its capital, OSLO is the most populous city in Norway. OSLO is located at the northernmost end of Oslofjord, one of the many fjords that make up Norway's coast.
SOY (40A: Tamari ingredient) Tamari is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. It is similar to SOY sauce, but slightly thicker (and gluten-free)
CBS (52A: "The Equalizer" TV network) The Equalizer is a crime drama TV series that premiered on CBS in 2021. The show is a reboot of a series of the same name that aired on CBS from 1985-1989). In the reboot, Queen Latifah stars as the title character, a former CIA operative acting as a vigilante to help those with the odds stacked against them to obtain justice. The fifth season of The Equalizer is scheduled to air later this year.
ARTS (56A: The "A" in STEAM) In education, the acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, ARTS, and mathematics. STEAM programs incorporate skills associated with the ARTS – such as design and creative thinking – into the teaching of STEM skills.
WASP (58A: Ant-Man's partner) Ant-Man and WASP are Marvel Comics characters. In the Marvel movies Ant-Man and the WASP (2018), and Ant-Man and the WASP: Quantumania (2023), the characters are played by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly respectively. Ant-Man and WASP both have suits that allow them to shrink or grow in scale while increasing in strength.
TODAY (68A: Day before tomorrow) I thoroughly enjoyed this clue! I had to think about it a moment, and then, "Aha!"
SVEN (70A: Reindeer in "Frozen") In the Disney animated movies Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019), SVEN is Kristoff's reindeer companion. (Kristoff is an iceman living in the mountains.) During the making of Frozen , Disney brought a live reindeer into the studio so animators could study its movements. They learned that reindeer scratch their heads with their hind legs, similar to dogs. Although SVEN is not a talking animal, Kristoff sometimes "talks" for him, voicing what SVEN might be thinking. Jonathan Groff who voices Kristoff, also provides SVEN's voice for those moments.
GINA (3D: "Suits" actress Torres) GINA Torres played the role of Jessica Lourdes Pearson in the legal drama, Suits (2011-2019). She reprised the role in the spin-off TV series, Pearson , that aired in 2019 for one season. Currently, GINA Torres is playing the role of Emergency Medical Services Captain Tommy Vega on the TV series, 9-1-1: Lone Star.
ALMA (7D: "___ and How She Got Her Name" (children's book)) ALMA and How She Got Her Name is a picture book by Juana Martinez Neal. It is about a young girl named ALMA Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. She thinks she has too many names, until her father tells her the story of each of her names. Fun fact: We have previously seen this book title used to clue the words GOT , HER , and NAME .
ASIA (19A: Angkor Wat's continent) Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, is a complex that was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire in the early 12th century. It was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century. Angkor Wat is spread across 400 acres, and the Guinness World Records considers it the world's largest religious structure . Although it is no longer used as a temple, Angkor Wat attracts numerous visitors, and is still considered by many to be a spiritual place. This is the first appearance of our crossword-friend ASIA this month.
PIE (27D: Dessert eaten on Pi Day) I'm always happy to see mentions of Pi Day and PIE in the grid.
SLEEP STUDY (31D: Procedure that can diagnose apnea) SLEEP apnea is a condition where a person's breathing temporarily stops more often than normal (defined as more than five times per hour) while they are sleeping. As you might imagine, SLEEP apnea disrupts normal SLEEP. A SLEEP STUDY, which records bodily activity during SLEEP can diagnose SLEEP apnea, as well as other conditions such as SLEEP-related movement disorders, seizure disorders, or grinding of the teeth.
IAGO (37D: "Aladdin" parrot) In the Disney animated movie Aladdin (1992), IAGO is a talking parrot voiced by Gilbert Gottfried. IAGO is the sidekick of Jafar, the movie's villain. In the sequels and TV series in the Aladdin franchise, IAGO is reformed into a better character. IAGO is named for the Shakespeare villain in Othello .
SNAP (57D: Provide validation at a slam poetry event) As I've mentioned previously, a SNAP is used as a way to show appreciation at poetry slams, as SNAPs are less likely to distract the performer.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
GET MOVING! (Freestyle): The word freestyle in the puzzle lets us know there's no theme today. The title could be a nod to MUSICAL CHAIRS (29A: Game where you sit when the tunes shut off). It could also be a nod to GYMNASTICS, as that is a sport that certainly requires one to GET MOVING!
Since I learned the term "little TREAT culture" today, it's appropriate that this puzzle was a TREAT to solve. In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I enjoyed the ADDITIONAL answers PLAYING IT COOL, SOUNDS GOOD, THINGS TO DO, and YOGA POSE. Thank you, Claire, for this delightful puzzle.
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