Whitney

Fun theme once I figured it out. Made me feel like a genius when I explained it to my mom and fiancé and they both looked at me like I had three heads

Bonked myself big time by filling BIG READER for 1A instead of EGGHEADED. Took me a while to realize that was the thing holding me back in the upper half - that and ERSE, which I mixed up with EIRE. I felt a bit silly once I finally got them right. But that is why I love crosswords; they’re like yoga for the brain! The stretching is the point!

Even with knowledge of American cereal brands, this was a tough solve for an elder zillennial who doesn’t ski. But I still enjoy the surprise of a 20-minute Wednesday solve every now and then