weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #35

fake GLP-1 & medical advertising, a motherhood thriller, & trusted 2025 rebuys

Happy Sunday from Montana! I’m in Big Sky for a friend’s bachelorette until Tuesday and excited to spend some quality time with one of my best friends (who is really one of a kind). Has anyone been?! Have any shopping / restaurant recs?

A little anecdote about her—she grew up in China, where going to Peking University is the gold star (and is considered the Harvard of China). Her parents named her Boya after a tower on the school’s campus…hoping that by some miracle, she would end up going there. And yes—she ended up there (and graduated at the top of her class). That’s like naming your kid Harvard…and they end up going to Harvard. 🤯

I took a bit of a hiatus from Substack as the New Year ramped up, but excited to be back—and continue sharing smart content about all the things.

Here’s to having friends over more in 2026! Two of my friends spontaneously came over for dinner the other night and it was so fun. We got takeout, so I didn’t pull out my serving bowls and saved the touch of fancy for the place settings.

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.

Reading (book): I’m in my thirties, and as I got married earlier this year, I am slowly warming up to the idea of parenthood. But when I say slow, I mean slow. I feel like I still haven’t quite beaten teen pregnancy.

I am very much in my data collection phase. Data makes us all more informed…which in turn, makes me less scared about motherhood! I’m asking women I trust (across age groups) all of the hard questions—how much childcare do you have? How much does that childcare cost? When did you have your first and did you think that was the right age? How has motherhood impacted your career (especially if they’re self-employed)?

I’ll share the answers to those questions in due time, but a book that has come up a few times (and is one that I loved) is THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS.

Though it’s fiction, it’s one of those books that forces you to contemplate real-life questions—like how society judges mothers, what makes a good mother, and what makes a bad mother. I would describe it as a science fiction thriller (and I’m not usually someone who likes science fiction). Highly, highly recommend!

For more book recs, here’s my library—which has links to every single book I’ve ever recommended (plus a mini-review!)

Reading (article): Is everyone being targeted by GLP-1 supplement ads, or is that just me?! I’m being bombarded by ads touting “natural GLP-1” with language that seems way out there (and not medically approved)—“get to your goal weight,” “works just as well as Ozempic,” “summer bodies start in the winter,” and other wild claims. Examples of this verbiage can be found here and here.

I’m all for snappy copy—but not when it’s a blatant lie. This sent me down a rabbit hole of U.S. medical advertising laws vs. the status quo in other countries. Long story short…medical advertising regulations in the U.S. are incredibly loose (and especially when it comes to supplements that aren’t FDA-approved).

It’s a bit academic, but this article by a UMiami Law student is a great deep dive into this problem. This NIH journal article shares even more. TLDR—listen to licensed medical professionals on the medication you should be taking…not a random paid ad.

Eating: I’m currently on a 30-day sugar cleanse, which I’m surprisingly enjoying (and may extend to 45 days). I share a bit more about the why here, but I lack all self-control when it comes to sugar and was eating a “little sweet treat” multiple times per day. The cleanse has significantly reduced my sugar cravings and forced me to focus on eating whole foods and getting enough protein.

Have I broken it a few times? Yes, I’m human…but when I did, I had a few bites of something and then didn’t want more. If you’re also addicted to sugar, I highly recommend this exercise—I do think it will forever change my relationship with sugar (for the better!)

The meals and snacks I’ve been turning to during my cleanse:

• Trader Joe’s has a fantastic dupe of the Starbucks sous vide egg bites. A super easy and quick breakfast option.

• I’ve been trying to avoid sugar entirely and not just turn to sugar alternatives (Stevia, honey, etc). I was recommended this cinnamon tea and it’s fantastic. Super sweet, but there’s absolutely no added sugar. The perfect nighttime indulgence (because that’s when my sugar cravings really kick in!)

• This green tuna hits three major buckets—no sugar, a fast lunch option, and protein-packed. Avocado is swapped for mayo, and the gherkin mix-ins add the perfect sweet & salty kick. Made this once and definitely making it again.

• This naturally sugar-free jam is a new discovery. I’ve had artificially sugar-free jam before and I found it so gross, so I was definitely dubious before I tried. However, it absolutely delivered (I made a sugar-free almond butter & jam sandwich with it). There’s only a handful of ingredients (fruit, dates, lemon, chia seeds, and pectin, which is a natural fruit thickener). So good and excited to try other flavors (I’ve only had the strawberry so far).

• Nuts have also been a major go-to! These salt & vinegar nuts are so good…and the seasoning is so spot-on it feels like you’re eating chips. Also great for travel, as they come in mini-packs.

Playing: With easy pants. This is the stretch of winter in NYC that’s beautiful but miserable, and I can’t imagine trudging around the city (or any cold place, for that matter!) in a pair of tight jeans. Pairs I’ve been reaching for:

• These split-hem leggings. Super comfortable, on major sale, and bring an elevated touch to boots, flats, or heels. My mother-in-law originally introduced them to me, so they’re truly a style that works for all age groups!

• The barrel pants that feel like sweatpants. No wrinkle, and look just as cute paired with sneakers as they do with boots. They’re a fun barrel shape without being too barrel-y. For the record, my husband (who normally hates barrel pants) actually likes these. I haggled with the company for a code (JULIA15).

• The silky, comfy flare-leg pants. I’m currently in a bit of a tiff with this company—I sent them a strongly worded cold e-mail requesting a deeper discount, and they haven’t gotten back to me yet. An in-person visit is coming next! In the meantime, though, I can’t stop talking about these pants. They drape beautifully and dress up every outfit. I have the code SMARTERINASEC10 for right now, but working to get something better.

  • If you want a pair of silky pants but don’t want to spend a ton, these are a great option. They’re a solid 7/10. Is the drape / fit as gorgeous? No. But they’re a damn good alternative. For $23, you’re not going to find better!

Obsessing: One new-to-me Substack I’ve been loving is Ali Kriegsman’s New Motives. Lots of frank talk about money, careers, and how people afford to live in NYC as creatives. Her latest piece spotlights Sophia June, who quit a full-time job at the New York Times to work part-time for NYLON Magazine. It might not make sense on the surface, but the article lays it all out.

Recommending: A new year is a welcome excuse for a purchase audit. What items were the backbone of my day-to-day? Which purchases promised big-time…but were total flops? Here are the non-aesthetic (but super useful) buys I purchased again and again in 2025:

• These Beauty Blender dupes. I’ve heard from makeup artists that they actually prefer these to the OG…and they’re a fraction of the price ($10 for a pack of six vs. $20 per sponge). I just re-ordered another pack. Save your money for stocks—not something boring like sponges!

• An inconvenient truth is that these disposable face towels are supreme. If you don’t struggle with acne or are an environmentalist, washcloths are the way to go. But I’ve been acne-prone since I came out of the womb…and face washcloths harbor a ton of bacteria, not to mention the mental load of washing and folding them every week. I use them to dry my face post-wash as well as apply toner. I have seen a reduction in breakouts since I started using them last year.

  • And as a bonus, you can use them to wipe down your sink before you toss them. Cleans your face and home!

• From 2022 - 2023, I was in a deep, dark hole of eyelash extensions. It was bad. My addiction finally ended with an emergency—I couldn’t open my right eye because I had an allergy to the eyelash glue. My addiction was over—and I was then on the hunt for a mascara that (safely) delivered the eyelash extension look.

  • I tried a number of different mascaras, but only this one really hit it out of the park. It’s a tubing mascara, so it’s super easy to layer (and take off). I’ve repurchased this mascara three times (and am coming up on my fourth rebuy).

• These mesh travel pouches are a newer addition to my rotation—but have quickly become a staple. I love that you can see everything that’s stashed away in the pouches for easy access. I have separate pouches for cash, makeup, daily essentials (mints, hand sanitizer), and travel medication (Advil, etc).

Admiring: Some things, people, and content I’ve been loving this week:

• This New Yorker profile of Amanda Seyfried. Love her (and yes, some people really do think she has the brains of Karen from Mean Girls).

• I’m not usually one for action movies, but I can’t resist the combo of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. THE RIP is a new Netflix movie about a group of Miami cops who discover cash in a stash house—and the betrayal and lies that goes along with it. Lots of violence, but the plot will keep you hooked.

• When every influencer posts about a brand, I’m immediately suspicious. Is the product really that good? Or is the commission simply just high? That’s exactly how I felt about Margaux. It took me about a year of seeing creators extoll their comfort before finally pulling the trigger myself. And I’m so glad I did!

  • Their shoes are truly so comfortable…so much so that I’ve walked 10K+ steps the first day I got each pair. No break-in period—seriously. My Chanel flats could never (two years in, they’re still not fully broken in).

  • Margaux is having a major sale right now, so if you’re already a fan of the brand (or have been curious to try), it’s a great time to buy. However, all pairs are final sale. I wanted to specifically call that out, as I get super annoyed as a consumer when influencers promote sales that are final sale and don’t mention the fine print. If you’re willing to take the risk, here are the pairs I recommend:

    • I love my woven flats. The shape is the perfect touch of funk and they look like they hit far above their price point.

    • These cream Mary Janes have been a staple in my closet for two years. Ultra-comfy (and I was even asked by a salesperson at Bergdorf if they were The Row!) 👀

    • The perfect chunky loafer (and looks similar to the viral YSLs).

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