weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #48

a juicy beach read, a ten-minute dinner recipe, and the myth of fractional work

Happy Sunday! And Happy Mother’s Day to all. I was honored to receive this text from my friend Catherine in our creator group chat this AM:

Not a mom (yet), but will gladly take this title.

I spent the day celebrating my own mom—playing tennis, pampering her, and sharing lots of laughs. A therapist in northern NJ, she decided to go back to school (for her second master’s!) at 57. She’s an example that it’s truly never too late, and always pushed my brother, sister, and I do to (and be) our absolute best. More on her parenting philosophies here.

Yay for moms (this is my mom, Alice!)

Last week’s r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. is here. This week, lots of buzzy articles, a fun dinner hack, and quotes that immediately stopped my scroll.

Reading (book): As Memorial Day approaches, I know we’re all on the hunt for juicy beach reads. Look no further. This book was actually recommended to me by my 90 year-old grandma, a classics PhD and former middle school English department chair with fabulous literary taste.

It’s about a dysfunctional family in Brooklyn Heights—and how they treat new entrants (eg., their daughter-in-law). Witty, fast-paced, and features rich people doing bad things. Deliciously fun!

Reading (article): I don’t have kids yet, so I’m somewhat separated from what it’s like to be a tween today. (Casey Lewis keeps me updated on Gen Z and Gen Alpha with After School, though—a must-read for all things youth trends).

So I absolutely lapped up this New Yorker article about a twelve year-old in San Francisco. I learned some new slang, sure—but also became more sympathetic to the many challenges kids face today.

For anyone who has a professional development budget to spend, this is a great Bloomberg read on the state of executive education. As I always say, everything tastes better on the corporate card. If your company is paying for an executive MBA, go for it—you’ll build your network and get exposure to a smattering of new topics. But think very, very carefully if you’re self-funding. Your money is likely better spent elsewhere.

On CAREER CONFESSIONALS this week, the story of an accidental entrepreneur. A former government IT professional turned multi-million dollar executive. And he didn’t even have to leave his day job to come up with his money-making idea…it was literally suggested to him by a fellow government worker. If you want a roadmap of how to build something while still at your 9 - 5, this is the one to read.

Eating: We tried something different this Mother’s Day—making sushi! We didn’t want to spend hours rolling and making picture-perfect rolls, so my mom found this ice cube sushi tray hack. The Japanese would probably cringe at this, but it was a fast and fun activity (and the sushi was delicious!)

Playing: My mom loves fashion, but doesn’t love the admin behind shopping. The returns! The receipts! So for Mother’s Day (and her birthday, which is on May 8), I decided to remove this lift from her plate. She’s a therapist and wanted clothes she could wear to work (but also didn’t feel too stuffy).

Here’s everything I snagged for her (and she kept every piece!)

• This stretchy, ultra-flattering set. The top works with any body type, and the trousers make you look so long and lean. For a lower-priced option, I’ve heard great reviews about this pair.

• A ruched black dress is an easy closet staple. Pair with a sweater and it’s immediately office-ready. This is a similarly chic pick (and slightly cheaper).

• We all need an office cardigan…but might as well make it textured and stylish, right? Also love that this piece is navy rather than black. As an alternative, this lace-knit cardigan comes in so many colorways.

Recommending: I cherish all of my friends, but it’s beyond special to have friends in different life stages. A new friend of mine is in her 60s, and in her second act, invests in beauty & wellness brands.

She turned me onto 4AM Skin and I was an immediate fan. They’re on-the-go micellar makeup wipes that also moisturize in addition to removing your makeup. My schedule was ultra-packed this week, so it was a good opportunity to road test when I was feeling a bit beaten down.

I noticed that my skin felt glowier when I woke up…so they’re working. They have 4x the liquid of a standard makeup wipe, so they’re really more like a sheet mask. I already repurchased and know they’ll be a longtime favorite.

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

• Ali Kriegsman on the power of saying no and staying laser-focused on your goals:

• I’m currently in the midst of finishing up my wedding thank you notes (this is the stationery I swear by!) I was searching for a good background show to watch as I churn through them, and my brother recommended WORST EX EVER—a wild documentary series about lovers gone sour. All I can say is…vet everyone you go on a date with!

• This is my new favorite wedding guest dress (on sale!) It would look great paired with this satin clutch (under $100, but seems like a $1000+ bag). This raffia clutch (also very well-priced!) is a great option too.

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And finally, Substack Saves—a new section spotlighting the pieces worth your time.

• Newly obsessed with Face Forward, which anonymously unveils women’s beauty routines (and how much they cost). Like CAREER CONFESSIONALS but for your face vs. your bank account. This edition reveals the $34,335 beauty and wellness routine of a 39-year old executive coach in NYC.

• Fractional work is a new career norm (especially those with portfolio careers!), and it takes a lot to determine if a role is a true fit. Or if you’re cut out for fractional work entirely. Kate Citron interviewed six marketers on their fractional head of marketing gigs (and what they wish they would have known before accepting their roles).

• Resting Rich Face™’s take on Emma Grede’s proclamation that “careers require proximity and visibility” (aka, WFH is a career killer). I have so many thoughts as well—but above all, that every situation is different and that for many women, WFH allows them to flex their ambition and show up as a present parent.

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