weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #20
a new favorite Hamptons thriller, an underrated clothing brand, and viral buys
Hi! Happy Sunday. I think it’s rained every single summer weekend so far…but I like kicking off summer with froyo. (If you haven’t already read this article about the resurgence of froyo in NYC, it’s a good one).
IMO, the only way to do froyo is to completely cover your cup with toppings. A strong froyo to topping ratio is critical!
My go-to toppings are Heath bar, hot fudge, and brownie bites.
I’m also gearing up for all things wedding. I’m getting married in the Hudson Valley in late August (August 23!), so have been spending some time up here to prepare. If you haven’t already been to the Hudson Valley, it’s a 90-minute escape in NYC that’s the best in the summer months. Here’s a roundup of my favorite HV spots!
Blue skies! No NYC trash!
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. It’s a fun, light addition to the VARSITY READER fold.
P.P.S. This post is too long for e-mail (too much good stuff), so click through to Substack to read it all.
Reading: I will devour every book about the Hamptons. And I recently read one set in the Hamptons penned by a well-known influencer. I’m not going to link it here, but the book release was rife with controversy…she used a ghostwriter (no shame in that!), but claimed on multiple podcasts that it was a solo endeavor. The book was fine (truly the kiss of death adjective)—and the lack of transparency really turned me off.
So if you’re looking for a fun, rich-people-doing-bad-things thriller set in the Hamptons, this book is way better. It’s about a girls’ trip to the Hamptons that goes awfully wrong. A fast read and one that hooks you from the first page!
Eating: Something that I’ve realized in my current life stage is that it’s really hard for me to plan & eat fish. A first-world problem…definitely. I buy a nice piece of salmon at Whole Foods and then a friend invites me to an exciting last-minute event. Do I forgo the event knowing I have dinner at home? Or go to the event, make the fish at midnight, and eat it the next day (a subpar experience)?
So my mom gave me a Sea to Table subscription last year for my birthday, and I absolutely love it! It was the best gift. I just re-upped on my own, and the fish quality is fantastic (and well-priced). I’ve gotten the Alaska Sockeye Salmon, the Wild King Salmon, and the scallops…all have been delicious.
I don’t have a discount code, but am going to reach out to the company to ask!
A recent dinner…scallops from Sea to Table with a side of Israeli salad!
Playing: Time isn’t something to play with…it’s all something we’re running short on! But I recently (politely!) cut a meeting short when I realized that I was being pitched and majorly demeaned. (I shared a bit more on Instagram here). If someone is eating up your time, isn’t making you feel good, and you’re able to make an exit, there’s no shame in doing so.
Obsessing: I’m not one to go on the Internet and talk about underwear…but this underwear really is THAT good.
I’ve tried SKIMS. I have. And everything I’ve gotten from the brand is a miss. I tried their bodysuit and felt like I was Elastigirl. I tried their underwear (and kept it of course)…fine, but not worth the price.
Why is this pair any different? I’m particularly in love with this brand’s high sculpt thong. Ultra-comfortable, layers perfectly under leggings, and free of any tugging or pulling throughout the day. Expensive? Yes. On a cost-per-wear basis…no! But I’ve since replaced many of the pairs languishing in my underwear drawer with this variety. Worth the price!
Recommending: Free content is great. But if a publication is delivering great content, I have no problem paying (within reason!) I recently became an Air Mail subscriber and have been loving everything they’re putting out. If you like the vibe of Town & Country, Air Mail is similar—a mix of hard-hitting news, social commentary, and product recommendations with a hint of wit. I tried every paywall jumping tool on Air Mail before I gave up and ponied up. Worth it!
Treating: I recently sprung for these viral barrel jeans. I tried them on in-store and completely fell in love.
I have two other varieties of lower-priced barrel jeans—this $65 pair and this pair, which I got on sale for $150 but is mostly out of stock now. However, both were corduroy pairs…and for summer, I wanted a go-to denim pant. Hence my purchase! I recently wore them to a speaking engagement at New York Tech Week with this blazer, and they made me feel professional but not too stuffy.
Admiring: There’s one brand that I always associate with bland work clothes. I haven’t stepped foot in a store in years, but their clothes found their way to me via paid media. And I’m impressed—clearly they’ve done a rebrand / have a new creative director. These red floral leather sandals ($82!) This collarless jean jacket (which I personally own and is now $42!) This red striped poplin set ($50!)
I mean, how good is this jacket?!?
Resolving: To bring something great to my family reunion next weekend. We all get together at my aunt & uncle’s house at the Jersey Shore every summer, and I love bringing a little something for us to munch on during the weekend. I’m thinking of making a recipe from this cookbook, but does anyone have a go-to dessert recipe?!
Daring: To spend some time this weekend cleaning out my closet. Because the more you can see your clothes…the more ways you can style them!
In case you missed it…
I recently made blueberry cornbread crumb cakes and they were a huge hit - you should make those for dessert! You could probably swap the regular flour that’s in it for GF flour too since I know your partner is GF! It’s a recipe by Easy Gay Oven on Substack - I linked it at the top of my latest post.