VARSITY READER: issue #4

The panic-buy gift guide, productivity hacks, and five great reads

Christmas is nine days away! Whew. I don’t have kids…but I am an eldest daughter. My younger brother and sister say I’m my meanest during this season—and I wholeheartedly disagree. Mean? More like efficient.

I’ve experimented with letting the reins loose. But when I do, this is me—curled up in a ball and in crisis mode:

If you’re trying to get it all done this holiday season, two trusted productivity tips:

1. Binge a new show alongside holiday chores. I watched the first three episodes of Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy last night while folding laundry, cleaning my bathroom, and tidying my kitchen. Good ol’ Sonja antics pushed me to continue when I wanted to *literally* throw in the towel.

2. Pair tasks with scents. This year, I found a science-backed justification for my candle habit. I bought assorted candles at Trader Joe’s and paired them with specific tasks / activities. Working out, work, cooking, and reading in bed. I can only use the candle for said task / activity—no exceptions! This shift has helped me look forward to my at-home workouts, stay at my desk a little longer, and get me excited about cooking dinner after a long day. Try it!

Before we officially kick off, a kind warning that this VARSITY READER edition is best viewed on your browser. It’s a long one…but full of goodies. 😉

My favorite articles of the week (not shared anywhere else!)

As a varsity reader, I run through articles like athletes run marathons. There’s no way I’d be able to share every article I read (and adore!) on social media each day. Here’s five more, just for you:

• A Stubborn Workplace Holiday Tradition (The Atlantic). This piece unpacks the origins of the work holiday party…and how it’s become a tradition many dread.

• 41-year-old works for herself and bought a house in Sicily for $62,000—now she splits her time between Italy and the U.S. (CNBC Make It). Great read. I always appreciate the logistics (and finances!) of how someone lives between two countries.

• Energy Drinks Are Out of Control (Wired). Energy drinks are an American staple—but when you peel back the curtain, they’re wildly unregulated and dangerous.

• Hinge is spending $1 million to get people meeting IRL (Fast Company). Interesting to see a dating app company acknowledge that dating apps have made singles way more timid…and disconnected. Approach someone in person?! That’s medieval. I think we’ll see a lot more of these in-person activations in 2024.

• Last love: a romance in a care home (The Guardian): Love is everywhere…at every age!

The panic-buy gift guide

It’s December 16, and holiday shopping panic is setting in. Your feed is flooded with product recommendations—yet, you can’t seem to pull the trigger on anything. Nothing seems special enough for the chic, discerning women in your life.

Fear not! These eight curated picks will end your gifting indecision. No socks, no candles, no beauty products, no mugs—just good sh** you probably haven’t seen before. If you missed my other two gift guides, they can be found here and here.

Starting with the lowest-priced items first, of course. Because I truly question anyone who sorts a shopping site from high to low. 🤔

1. Frame with meaningful picture ($22+): In a world that gets more and more digital every year, printed photos are falling by the wayside. Every time I’ve gifted a nicely framed photo, it’s been met with delight. Framing photos is something that’s perpetually on people’s to-do lists…but somehow, never gets done. Head to Walgreens/CVS/Staples/FedEx for cheap & fast photo printing. As for the frames themselves—I’ve gifted these $22 gold bamboo frames before, and they look *way* more expensive than they actually are. (And yes—it’s $22 for the two-pack!)

2. Silky pajamas ($24.99): The best pajamas. I’ve purchased these countless times for gifts and bachelorettes. They’re soft, silky, and make you feel pulled together (even when you're not). I will 10000% be wearing these when I roll out of bed on Christmas morning. They’re classically designed and a true crowd pleaser. Even a Larry David-esque family member of mine complimented me on these.

   

3. Eucalyptus shower spray ($30). I simply cannot shut up about this eucalyptus shower spray…and for good reason. Spray it at the base of your shower, and your oh-sh**-I’m-late rinse-off is transformed into a spa. Take it from an Instagram follower who purchased earlier in the week!

4. Dried flowers ($30+). Dried flowers are such an easy way to add character to a home or office—without the price tag of weekly fresh flowers. I did this in my own bathroom after catching a bouquet at a wedding, drying it, and popping it in a $17 vase. Such a great gift for a new homeowner, your colleague who wants to update their office space, or your younger cousin who recently moved to NYC and doesn’t have the budget to invest in decor.

5. Blowout subscription (price varies): For the bougie girl on the go! The perfect gift for a new mom, a college graduate at her first job, or simply an elegant woman in your life. You can subtly ask what salon she loves in her area—and buy a blowout pack / subscription based on her recommendation. So she has something to open beyond a gift card, consider pairing it with the best dry shampoo ($36)! Her blowout will be fresh and bouncy all week long.

6. DIY travel kit (price varies): I have a family member who I love dearly, but with them, the bar for good gifts…is practically on Pluto. They’re constantly on the road, so I kept it simple—and put together “go” bags for travel. I snagged these $8 pouches, and made one bag for chargers & electronics (I included new iPhone chargers and my favorite $23 USB-C and iPhone charger). I made another bag for travel snacks (I included my favorite chocolate almonds and pistachios). The third and final bag was dedicated to medicine—complete with travel-size bottles of Advil & Tylenol, packets of Emergen-C, and more. It’s not a sexy gift. But they’ve told me over and over how much they love it!

   

7. Monogrammed clutch ($59): My boyfriend’s mom gave me this clutch two years ago, and it’s the perfect vacation bag. The large size holds my phone, AirPods, lip gloss, mints, a mini sunscreen, and cash. I’ve also gifted this bag to friends—and they’ve also loved! If you order by Monday, December 18, you can get it monogrammed and delivered before Christmas.

   

8. Collegiate silk scarf ($130+): I discovered The Clearly Collective on TikTok, and have been enamored with all of their designs. The founder—Olivia Cleary—is an architect by trade, and wanted to bring the beauty of college architecture to scarves. Such an elegant and personalized gift! Check to see if your school is in stock—if not, they also have scarves for locales including the Hamptons, the West Village, Newport, and more.

One damn good buy

Analytics are a funny thing. In Sunday’s newsletter, I shared my favorite black jumpsuit. It’s perfect for work from home days, coffees with friends, and casual gatherings—a one-and-done piece when you want to look pulled together.

Fashion isn’t the primary focus of my content. But to my surprise, it was the most-clicked link in the entire newsletter.

I’m an *obsessive* shopper (and an even more obsessive returner). I send back 75% of what I buy. If it’s not perfect, it’s not entering my closet!

But for a long time, I was reluctant to share my fashion picks because 1. I felt it would take away from my core content and 2. there’s already so many women on social media sharing their fashion finds.

In reflecting on it more, everyone has a unique point of view and something different to offer. So…I’m going for it.

Every week around these parts, I’ll be sharing one damn good buy. It might be expensive, it might be a steal, or it might be *gasp* something that can’t be affiliate linked.

At any price point, you can trust that it’s a cornerstone of my closet that I wear again and again.

This week, I’m sharing my $99 furry black & tan winter boots. Enter Flo Rida belting “boots with the fur.” I’ve had these boots for three seasons, and get compliments on them everywhere I go. They’re beloved by everyone—ranging from my Gen Z sister (21) to my boyfriend’s grandma (87).

At $99, the price point is excellent. I love how they keep me warm yet add style to every look. They look especially great paired with split-hem pants so the fur peeks out a bit. Specifically, this split-hem pair has been on constant rotation for the past two seasons:

These boots were originally a recommendation from @meghandono years ago. If you buy these, e-mail / DM me! I want to see how you style them. 😊

In case you missed it

• Why everyone should be asking for more money (a critical mindset to take into your annual review!)

• Hot cocoa and holiday nostalgia

• The right way to mix business & friendship

• My recent revelation about hair (that made me feel like a fool)

• A networking mistake that so many people make (and how to fix it)

  • P.S. The ‘career tip of the week’ section is returning next week!

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