weekly r.e.p.o.r.t c.a.r.d #3
a weekly download of the people, things, and ideas that inspire me
Happy Sunday! There’s nothing quite as glorious as a weekend without any plans. Even though I’m an extroverted extrovert, I *love* my alone time.
I’m organizing my apartment, catching up on work, and enjoying the perfect, seemingly AI-generated weather in NYC. 🤖
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 first and second issues. It’s a fun, light addition to the VARSITY READER fold.
Let’s dive in!
Without further ado…
Reading: I’m not sure how I learned about this memoir, but I devoured it within a day. A first-generation Chinese-American, Carrie Sun recounts her parents’ despair at her decision to drop out of Wharton and her broken engagement. Carrie spontaneously moved to NYC and landed a job as the executive assistant to a top hedge fund manager. (Her boss isn’t named in the book, but is rumored to be Chase Coleman, the founder of Tiger Global Management—who has an estimated net worth of $5.7B).
I thought this book would be a tale of gross, bro-y behavior. It wasn’t. Through her experience, Carrie reflects on her relationship to work—and how her sense of self gets eroded as she spends more time at the firm. Highly recommend. Lots of interesting stories about the world of finance and the role of work in our lives.
*Last week’s reading recommendation*: A thriller about an anonymous Upper East Side moms’ forum that gets hacked…and everyone’s identity is revealed. Lots of rich mom drama. A super fun, fast read if you live in NYC.
Eating: These protein bars are truly the sh*t. They’re so good I feel like I’m Regina George eating Kälteen bars and they’re some sort of hoax. But they’re real.
I’ve tried the cookie dough (15g protein) and brownie batter (17g) varieties so far, and both are truly a 1000/10. The coconut variety is on its way to me, and I can’t wait to review it! Some love for the bars on IG:
On the recipe front, this maple mustard chicken is *stellar* and a longtime favorite. It’s from the Balaboosta Chef (aka Jenni, a great follow on Instagram), and she pokes fun at how so many recipes are sold as “pantry friendly!” but then have you scrambling at the grocery store for some obscure ingredient. This recipe really is easy (and if I omit the fresh scallions, no one’s going to die). I typically pair with broccoli or asparagus, and the sauce pairs perfectly with the veggies!
Playing: As I mentioned last week, I’m in the process of organizing and optimizing my apartment. I played with the idea of hiring a professional organizer, but decided to DIY it using tactics I found on IG / TikTok. Two items I purchased to optimize my space:
A closet stepstool. I’m 5’7, but I can only reach some of the shelves in my closet by jumping. I was constantly dragging a chair from my kitchen table into my closet (or jumping up high for an item and getting hit in the face with piles of clothes when I missed). This compact stepstool was $50 and will live in my closet. Problem solved!
A bag organizer. Before this purchase, my bags were here, there, and everywhere in my apartment. This $30 organizer displays them all in one place so that I remember to wear what I have. It makes getting dressed so much easier—and pushes me to wear bags I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards because they’re all on display, on display, on display each and every day. (If you get that reference, I love you).
Obsessing: I spotted this sweatshirt earlier in the week and immediately added it to my wishlist. As a varsity reader and childhood sports flop, I absolutely need this.
Recommending: Is everyone okay? I don’t know about you, but I was talking with a fellow content creator friend of mine recently about the plethora of luxury goods shilled on social media. I believe we’ve gotten to a point where our sense of true taste has been eroded—as everyone seems to erupt into a wild frenzy about designer items that really aren’t that great…they’re just designer. IMO, the Row Margaux is a great example of this phenomenon. It’s basically a fancy bowling bag.
All of that is to say that someone who constantly shills head-to-toe designer looks simply doesn’t resonate with me. It’s not relatable or interesting. I want to follow women in the fashion realm who have that curated eye for *accessible* pieces. Because anyone could go to the Hermes website and replicate what the models are wearing.
Two creators I love who do an excellent job at sharing well-priced fashion finds? Nomi Goldman and
.Nomi is a former preschool teacher and mom of two based in Chicago. Her tagline is “helping you look like a million bucks without spending it,” and she absolutely delivers on that promise. She curates the best of H&M, Zara, Mango, Target, and more every day on Instagram—and I’ve been influenced by many of her finds. I had the pleasure of meeting her when she was in NYC last year, and she is a true gem and an unabashed supporter of women! I know you’ll enjoy following her on Instagram!
Christina is a management consultant by day and a mom of three based in Boston. Her Substack—
—is excellent and focuses on postpartum style and getting dressed when you feel like you have nothing in your closet. Even though I’m not a parent, I appreciate her transparency about the help required to work full-time and raise three little ones *and* the mental energy it often takes to get dressed! I also love her focus on restyling the items in her closet (Nomi also does a great job of this). More creators should normalize outfit repeats! Follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her Substack.
Treating: I’m going to a wedding in London next month, and the theme for the rehearsal dinner is “dazzling and dapper.” I have a vision of an all-gold outfit (the dress is on the way, and I recently invested in this gold clutch).
My go-to brand for fun yet comfortable shoes is Schutz. They make my beloved silver chunky sandals, and I purchased these $138 gold sandals for the wedding. I also have a silver sandal from them that I’ve worn at 12+ weddings (and I have a very low tolerance for painful shoes).
If you have a black tie event coming up (or simply want a funky summer shoe), I highly recommend browsing their site. Their styles are elevated (and TBH, look identical to many way pricier designer shoes).
Cutting: My dear friend
is a true time management master. I attended an incredible MMLaFleur panel earlier in the week with her, Jeanelle Teves, and Catherine Brown, and I was reminded of her go-to phrase when gracefully turning down plans: “My schedule is as full as I’d like it to be for this week.” If you’re trying to trim your schedule, this phrase is a good one. It’s kind yet boundary-affirming, and is now stuck in my head for future use!
Admiring: Helen, my 88 year-old grandmother! She has a PhD in classics from Fordham and spent her career as a middle school English department head. My grandpa is 89, and they’re in excellent health—which I credit to many factors but also to their impulse decision to get a dog (Snoopy) at 85. They walk 5+ miles per day with Snoopy, read a ton, and are incredibly social.
I mention this because I’m headed to Greece later this month with my grandparents, dad, sister, aunt, uncle, and five cousins. (I can’t find a good picture of my grandma, but above is one of my brother, sister, cousins, and I from Christmas).
My grandma is 100% Greek (her mother was born there), and wanted to take a family trip to Gythio—where both her parents are from. I don’t know many others in their late 80s who have the desire to travel internationally (and are healthy enough to do so). I’m inspired by her energy, and excited to share content from the trip!
Referring: If you don’t already follow Mychal Threets, I highly recommend you start. He is truly joy personified. A California-based librarian, his entire social media presence is devoted to stories from his time in the library.
From library visitors searching for a book to help them learn English to a parent seeking the perfect book for their child, everything he shares is warm, fuzzy, and will have you diving for a book. He recently left his library to pursue a career in media, and recently appeared on Ms. Rachel. I love him and can’t wait to see what he does next!
Daring: I’m daring to…read even more day-to-day.
shared a blog post a few months back about how she prioritizes reading, and it had some great tips. One was always having a book on hand…because you never know when you’ll have a few spare minutes. On the subway, at a doctor’s appointment, waiting on line for a prescription—all times where I could be reading vs. scrolling on my phone.Plus, a friend recently gifted me this neck reading light, which I’ve been LOVING. It allows me to comfortably read in bed and not disturb my BF if he’s still sleeping. It’s also reminiscent of the many nights I read my book with a flashlight under the covers as a kid.
In case you missed it
The neck pillow that helps me fall asleep instantly on flights
The challenges of putting yourself out there on social media
How I interned at HarperCollins at 16 and the career lesson we can all learn
Liked what you read?
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***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.
I loved the book you recommended - read it over the weekend! Thank you. If anyone has any other 'rich new yorkers' recommendations I would love to hear them. Thanks :)
Thank you so much for my go-to line (which I really need to state a lot more often)