weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #39
being a teacher in the age of AI, workwear under $200, and product quality tea
Happy Sunday from a (somehow) 65-degree NYC! On the first warm day of the year, the entire city comes alive. It’s the best excuse to roam around the city with a good podcast in my ear. Good weather makes hitting 10K steps so much easier!
My step count has honestly been abysmal lately. Cold weather is the ultimate demotivator. But I’m vowing to continue my 10K streak for the rest of March! My go-to shoes for 20K+ step days—these woven flats, these white sneakers that are cute enough to walk around a city & go to dinner in, and these super chic Mary Janes (someone thought they were the Row).
One of my favorite parts of creating content online is connecting with ambitious, interesting women. Hannah Zhang is just that! She is a Wharton MBA grad who works in tech by day and has created a massively successful personal brand about non-linear careers by night. (She’s one of my favorite IG follows!) She interviewed me about my own non-linear career journey on her Substack, and we got into relationship currency, how to build a portfolio career from zero, and more.
What other career creators do you love? I’m always on the hunt for sharp, interesting people sharing about careers & professional development.
Reading (book): Japan truly does everything better. This book came up in conversation this weekend, and it’s easy to remember why it’s long been a favorite. THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED dismantles so much of what we’ve been taught—following the herd and fitting in. A self-help book that actually delivers something (and isn’t at all preachy).
Reading (article): Good read about what it’s like to be a teacher today in the age of AI. More policing, homework assignments that inspire deeper thinking, and a third eye for AI abusers!
Eating: I attended the Female Founder Collective conference earlier this week, and it was a fun day of insights and hearing thought leaders speak (like Bozoma St. John & Rebecca Minkoff). But honestly, one of my favorite parts of conferences is the free swag and snacks. I knew going in that there would be lots of brands to discover.
And I was right. I took a sample bag of these gluten-free chocolate-chip cookies and was immediately smitten. My husband is gluten-free (or really, only when I’m watching!), so I’m always on the hunt for delicious snacks that taste just like the wheat-laden version. These deliver! They come in mini, 130-calorie bags, so they’re the perfect after-dinner (and portion controlled) indulgence.
If you’re not GF, I can’t get enough of the tiny Tate’s. The crispy cookie you love—just in a super mini form. I love snacking on them solo or adding them to top ice cream (or popcorn for a salty / sweet combo).
Playing: With my workout routine—and recognizing how ridiculous it might seem if you were a fly on the wall in my living room. I got married in August, and a main focus for me was toning my arms. Though I did pivot to lifting heavier weights in my bridal era, one thing that stayed consistent was my Melissa Wood Health routine.
I discovered Melissa during the pandemic, and my mom, sister, and I have been fans ever since. I’m the first one to admit that some of Melissa’s -isms are wacky (my sister and I love trolling each other and saying “triggers are our treasures,” one of her favorite sayings). But the workouts themselves are damn good. She has a ton of fifteen-minute and ten-minute videos, which are great for time-squeezed days.
As a woman, I am committed to lifting heavy weights to build bone density (and reduce my risk of developing osteoporosis). However, Melissa’s workouts are very effective (some are non-weighted, others leverage two- to three-pound weights). If you’re a skeptic (I know I was!), she has a seven-day free trial for you to test out.
Obsessing: Over Aja Frost’s point about making (and committing to) plans. Life gets busy…but we’re all wired to be social!
Recommending: I’ve been speaking out on Instagram about product quality…and how so many brands have truly gone to sh*t (pardon my French). (This Substack by Hanna Horvath is a great read about this very issue). They build a loyal customer base, get an injection of private equity money, and are then forced to increase their margins…so their product quality tanks.
I met a very sweet sales associate at a very popular, fast-growing brand you’ve definitely heard of earlier this week. She is starting a new job outside of the retail industry next week, but struggled to find high-quality workwear…even though that’s a primary pillar of the brand she works for. And she doesn’t necessarily trust workwear recommendations from creators who have never stepped foot into an office!
As someone who is self-employed but in dressy corporate spaces all the time (offices, conferences), here are my top picks! (More workwear recs linked here).
This lady jacket, which looks like Nili Lotan for $139. The quality is insanely good! Made by a mall brand that’s truly on the rise.
This chocolate brown midi dress, which would be perfect with a tall boot. Michael Kors (and on sale for $45!)
These stretchy black work pants, which simply aren’t dupe-able. They’re a super flattering fabric and truly hold you in. Even my hard-to-please Gen Z sister is a major fan!
This striped midi dress—very reminiscent of Veronica Beard for $40. I snagged one and sizes are going fast.
This nearly wrinkle-free white button-down. If you’ve been around here a while, you know how much I hate linen—I feel messy the second I walk outside and I’m fussing with myself all day. Even if a button-down isn’t linen, the material tends to be very thin—making wrinkles instantaneous. The material of this magical button-down is a bit thicker (yet breathable!). It’s the perfect all-day piece.
This 100% cashmere cardigan, which looks way more expensive than its price point because of a styling trick…buttons that are the same color as the cardigan itself. Instantly elevated!
Admiring: Some things, people, and content I’ve been loving this week:
X is one of my favorite social platforms. I’ve been spending more time there, and I’m always entertained (and leave a bit more educated, too!) This tweet was too good not to share:
If you’re looking for an easy, entertaining watch, I started VLADIMIR (Netflix) last night and have been loving. It stars Rachel Weisz as an English professor drawn to a younger colleague (as she navigates a complicated marriage of her own). A good show for couples, too…it got my husband’s vote of approval.
I wore this Alo dupe jacket all day today in the 65-degree NYC weather and it was the perfect outer layer. Functional with an exaggerated collar that’s just the right touch of funk.
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