weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #14

sneakers you can walk 10K+ steps in, the best vitamin C serum, and hiring a stylist

Happy Tuesday! I’m writing this from my home office (recently showed a peek on Instagram), but am headed to Williamsburg in a bit to co-work with some fellow entrepreneurs. There’s nothing like closing your door and doing heads-down work (and we all need to do that at some point).

But it’s equally gratifying to connect with fellow builders, swap ideas, and solve each other’s pain points. We’re all seeking a bit of human connection (we’re in a loneliness epidemic, after all), so any time I can connect with dynamic people, I’m up for it.

In this week’s dessert review, the pistachio gelato at Casa Tua is out of this world. I’m a chocolate > pistachio person to my core, but this was truly spectacular. They recently opened their Upper East Side location, and have outposts in Miami, Aspen, and Paris.

Let’s dive in!

P.S. If you’re new around here—welcome to the weekly r.e.p.o.r.t c.a.r.d! It’s a weekly grab bag of the ideas, things, and people that I’m loving. Check out the last issue here (and yes, it’s been a minute). It’s a fun, light addition to the VARSITY READER fold.

Reading (article): If you’re single (or know someone who is), this article about the matchmaking industry is a must-read. Hiring a matchmaker is a bit of a black box. You’re investing in yourself, betting on love, and there’s no guarantees. I know people who have met their significant others through matchmakers—and I know those who have been scammed by matchmakers. If you’re considering the investment, you need to go into it with eyes wide-open (and do your research).

Eating: This is a food and gadget recommendation. I love making protein matchas in the AM—an in-depth look at my process here. I’ve been using this protein powder for months and love it, but recently switched it up a bit. I now make my matcha and mix with these so-good-it-tastes-like-Ben-&-Jerry’s vanilla protein shakes.

By 9AM, I’m fully caffeinated and protein-packed—each of the shakes contain 42g of protein. My friend Jane (who really should be a content creator) encouraged me to blend the protein shake with ice first so that my matcha creation is more of a Slurpee. So, so good.

A key gadget in the recipe is this magic frother. Can you get cheaper frothers? Yes. I got a few lemon ones from TJMaxx before biting the bullet and getting this one. Not that much more expensive, but worth the price.

Playing: With the idea that at-home entertaining doesn’t have to be that serious. I love hosting, but have been searching for beautiful, functional ways to make the process easier. These stunning green paper plates fit the bill. How stunning are these?! I also love these vintage-inspired floral plates and this blue scalloped option. Perfect for a spring or summer party!

Obsessing: Shopbop is having a major sale (use code SELECT20 for 20% off), so I wanted to share my most-loved items that are part of the sale.

1. These sneakers, which I’ve had for two years—and I can comfortably walk 20K+ steps per day in them! I love the pop of red in this particular style. $60!

   

2. I’ve talked about this gorgeous woven tote in my post about the best work bags, so an added bonus that it’s on sale. $158 with the discount, and comes in a variety of colorways (white, tan, and chocolate brown).

3. I got these gold & silver earrings for my birthday last year, and love them! The mixed metal style makes them infinitely wearable. $57!

4. I just purchased these woven tan Mary Janes—adorable, but most importantly very comfy. I have a similar pair in black that I wear constantly (read my comfort review here), so I figured it was time to add another color to the rotation. $118!

5. More of a splurge, but I love the shape of these white barrel-leg pants. They’re corduroy, so they’re a bit more unexpected than your traditional white jean.

Recommending: Anything The Brightwood says, I do. They’re the medical-grade skincare facility on the UES I’ve been going to for the past year, and I’ve seen major changes in my skin tone and clarity. (They also have locations in Ridgewood, NJ and Summit, NJ. You can use the code JULIA15 for 15% off your first treatment).

I get a Diamond Glow facial there every month, recently completed three sessions of microneedling, and get Botox twice per year (more on my experiences here). But taking care of my skin outside of my time at the Brightwood is equally important.

Last year, I asked my aesthetician Elly about the best Vitamin C serum to use—and she recommended the Maelove Glow Maker Serum. I trust her recommendations, and was prepared to pony up.

But the price was right. $32.95 for the best Vitamin C serum on the market—great value and even better results. Since I’ve incorporated it into my morning routine (Glow Maker serum, then moisturizer, then sunscreen), I’ve seen a significant shift in the brightness of my skin.

Just to price compare, take a look at the Vitamin C offerings at Sephora. They’re double or triple the price—and the active ingredients aren’t as good. (P.S. Ask any aesthetician—Sephora is a destination for makeup, not the best-of-the-best skincare).

Maelove has a purely direct-to-consumer model to keep prices down, which I’m all for. I highly recommend—and am now on a subscription to save even more.

Treating: I shared a bit more about this process on Instagram, but I recently hired Nicole (aka @_letsgetyou), an incredible personal stylist. Last week, we overhauled my entire closet, purged it of pieces that no longer serve me, and restyled beloved pieces that weren’t getting worn. She convinced me to ditch all of my faux leather pants (more on why in this Reel), and recommended that I invest in real leather pants instead. That was the impetus to purchase these gorgeous blue leather pants. Expensive? Yes. A purchase I’ll have for a lifetime? Also yes.

I had some Net-A-Porter credits because they repeatedly delivered an order to the wrong address, so it wasn’t (as much) of a splurge. The brown colorway is on major sale here.

Cutting: My time with Nicole was the impetus to get organized—and cut anything from my closet that didn’t belong. Though I didn’t engage a professional organizer as part of our engagement, Nicole is very type-A and also played that role. Thanks to her guidance, I snagged these clear shelves that I’ll be hanging up to better display my bags. I also invested in these hat hooks (the ones I had were a bit flimsier and were peeling off the walls).

Admiring: If you don’t already follow @tripstyled on Instagram, she’s one of my favorite people (offline and online!) EE is based in Texas, works in finance, and has mastered the art of formal workwear. Her work style is very classic, but she travels a ton and has some fabulous resortwear in her closet as well. Whenever I have a speaking engagement or networking event coming up, I always browse her feed for inspiration. I highly recommend following her!

Daring: Though I aim to be regimented with my workout and self-care routine, my wedding is in five short months—so I’m really ramping up. I’ve committed to doing three 10K+ step walks per week with my beloved weighted vest. I’ve already seen a difference in my muscle tone, so I’ll be keeping it up!

In case you missed it

• Nine famous failure stories that will inspire & empower you

• The best spots for luxury vintage shopping in Tokyo

• Nine reads to jumpstart your portfolio career

• Stylist secrets: the item you need to toss for a more elegant look

Liked what you read?

…here’s what you can do to support!

📱Screenshot your favorite part of this newsletter and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @smarterinasec

📧 Forward this email to a friend

➡️ For more of this, follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

***The fine print: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products that I use, love, and can’t live without.