Thursday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• Plant-grown cups might replace plastic

• Meet nature’s most devoted dads

• Trending Father’s Day finds

• Meal planning tips for an easier week

True or False?

LED light bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Plant-Grown Cups Might Replace Plastic

A New York design studio is reimagining sustainability from the ground up. The design studio asked a simple but bold question: What if we could grow cups instead of manufacturing them? The result is The Gourd Project, which uses 3D-printed molds to shape gourds into functional, fully compostable drinking vessels.

The gourds grow into cup-like forms inside the molds, then dry into durable, watertight shells. Known as HyO-Cups, these natural containers can be tossed in the compost bin when they’re done. It leads to no plastic, no chemicals, and no landfill waste.

The studio hopes to expand production, aiming to turn this backyard experiment into a global alternative to single-use plastics.

Meet Nature’s Most Devoted Dads

Parenting comes in many forms, and in nature, some of the most dedicated dads are also the least expected.

Take the seahorse, for instance. In a role reversal, it’s the father who carries dozens of tiny babies. Then there’s the emperor penguin, who spends months balancing a single egg on his feet in the bitter Antarctic cold.

In warmer forests, marmoset dads are full-time caregivers, feeding, grooming, and carrying their babies on their backs. Wolves co-parent as a tight-knit family unit, with dads providing food and guidance as pups grow into the pack. Even frog fathers get involved. Some carry their tadpoles in their mouths or on their backs until they’re ready to hop off on their own.

Each of these animal dads shows that care can come in many forms: quiet, patient, protective, or playful. It’s a reminder that nurturing is universal, and sometimes the most powerful kind of strength is simply being there.

Trending Father’s Day Finds

Father’s Day is a chance to celebrate the dads, grandpas, partners, and father figures who show up in big and small ways. The best gifts are often the ones that fit naturally into his everyday life and remind him he’s appreciated. This year’s Father’s Day Gift Guide brings together practical upgrades, thoughtful finds, and easy ideas to help make your Father’s Day shopping feel a little simpler:

• 🥩 Paleovalley: A better snack for busy days, road trips, golf bags, or weekend projects. Their 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks are made with grass fed and finished beef, naturally fermented, and deliver 6 grams of protein without preservatives, nitrates, or added sugar. Get 15% off beef sticks.

• 🍳 HexClad: A cookware upgrade for the dad who loves to cook. Their hybrid pans are PFAS-free, dishwasher-safe, and built to handle metal utensils without scratching. For a limited time, get up to 50% off sitewide during HexClad’s Summer Sale.

• ⛳ Bushnell Golf: A smart pick for the dad who loves getting out on the course. Their rangefinders help make distance easier to judge, whether he’s aiming for the flag, checking a hazard, or deciding between clubs. Use code REVEL10 for 10% off.

• 🖼️ LegacyBox: A meaningful way to bring old family memories back to life. LegacyBox helps digitize home movies, photos, film, and recordings so Dad can save, share, and revisit them. For a limited time, use code REVEL65 for 65% off.

• 🥤 Beast Blender: A compact, useful pick for smoother mornings. The Beast® Mighty 850 Plus makes smoothies, protein shakes, and on-the-go drinks easier, with dishwasher-safe parts and a stainless steel option free from BPA, BPS, and PFAS. Use code NOTETOSELF15 for 15% off.

• ☕ Cumulus Coffee: A cold coffee upgrade for the dad who wants café-quality drinks at home. The Cumulus machine makes cold brew, nitro cold brew, and espresso-style drinks in seconds. Right now, get 20% off the machine plus a free 12-pack of coffee capsules.

• 🔥 BBQGuys: A one-stop shop for the dad who loves cooking outside. Their Father’s Day gift guide includes grill accessories, BBQ gift sets, outdoor cooking essentials, and popular brands like Weber, Napoleon, Blackstone, Traeger, and Gozney. Find deals up to 60% off.

Looking for more ideas? Shop our full Father’s Day Gift Guide here.

Thank you to the Father’s Day Gift Guide brands for sponsoring The Canopy.

Meal Planning Tips for an Easier Week

Meal planning is one of those small habits that can make everyday life feel a little calmer. At its core, it simply means deciding ahead of time what meals you’ll cook during the week. Instead of standing in front of the fridge wondering what to make, you already have a loose plan. It can save time, reduce grocery bills, and help cut down on food waste (something that’s good for both your household and the planet).

If you’re new to meal planning, start small. Take a look at what’s already in your fridge, freezer, and pantry, then build a few meals around those ingredients. Plan three or four dinners for the week instead of trying to plan everything. Make a short grocery list based on those meals, and prep a few ingredients ahead of time (like washing vegetables or cooking a batch of rice or grains). It doesn’t have to be perfect. The goal is simply to make the week a little easier while using what you have more thoughtfully.

When we buy food without a plan, it’s easy for ingredients to get forgotten in the back of the fridge. Planning a few meals ahead of time helps ensure the food you buy actually gets used. That means fewer trips to the store, fewer impulse purchases, and less food ending up in the trash. Over time, this simple shift can make grocery spending more predictable while also reducing waste.

Quick Picks:

• 👔 Find the perfect Father’s Day gift

• 🐬 Watch tiny baby dolphins learn to jump

• 🦘 Animal dads and their babies

Reflections:

🌎 True or False: True, and they usually last much longer, too.

🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!