weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #50

AI school, some woo-woo granola hacks, and MDW sales worth your $

Happy Monday from a very, very rainy NYC. Just like Hitha Palepu, I live for a rainy weekend. The perfect excuse to check some things off my to-do list (like finishing my wedding thank you cards!) and doing a closet purge.

If you’re in NYC and in the process of doing a closet cleanout, I highly recommend reaching out to Courtney Rabren. She will pick up clothes from your apartment and list them on Poshmark—she keeps 50%, you keep 50%. Totally fair! A good fit for clothes that aren’t quite nice enough for The Real Real, but are too nice to just give away. DM her on Instagram if you want to work with her! And if you live outside of NYC, I’m sure you can work something out with her.

One of my favorite money-saving NYC hacks…frequenting Japanese markets for the best (and most well-priced!) sushi. Eons better than what you’d get at a grocery store. The peanut avocado roll from Katagiri Japanese Grocery was supreme.

Last week’s r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. is here. This week, lots of juicy articles, making your own almond milk, and MDW sale finds all worth your money (all things I personally own and love).

Reading (book): I love controversial people (and books). Even if I don’t agree with their POV, they deserve a bit of my attention for wiggling themselves into the public lexicon. That’s how I feel about this memoir, which recounts a reality star’s rise to politics. He dominated my TV screen as a middle schooler and now he’s at a whole different level of fame. Worth reading…even if you don’t like him.

What else I’ve been reading lately: this thriller about motherhood and this Japanese guide to bucking the haters and doing your own thing.

Reading (article): Like everyone else, I was completely obsessed with STRANGERS. My mom and I shared the book on a girls’ trip to Savannah earlier this year and we literally set a one-hour timer, traded it back and forth, and begged for more time when we had to give it up. It’s that good.

However, this New Yorker article is a good read. STRANGERS may not tell the full story about the author’s financial situation, and some parts may have been exaggerated for the plot. Ultimately, I don’t think that matters—Burden started a worldwide conversation about financial transparency and prenups.

I also really enjoyed this deep dive into Alpha School. If you haven’t already heard of Alpha School, it’s an AI-powered private school where there are no teachers, the academic day lasts just two hours, and kids earn $100 for perfect test scores. The model is intriguing and super entrepreneurial. I’m not quite sure whether they’re a boom or bust. I’ll be patiently waiting on the sidelines for more achievement data.

And on CAREER CONFESSIONALS this week, a woman who went from a $30,000 salary to $630,000 in just three years. Really. Proof that niching down and picking a subject matter expertise majorly pays off.

Eating: Julia Casella is right about most things. She recommended this propolis throat spray to me years ago and I’ve been a superfan ever since. I use it nearly every morning and haven’t been down-bad sick in years. An essential…especially if you’re entering a season of heavy travel.

A must if you don’t want to get sick this summer. I have a ton of wedding travel coming up and will be using religiously.

So when I saw that Methodology (my favorite done-for-you meal prep program) was doing a collaboration with Beekeeper’s, I immediately ordered. All of the meals were designed to be sprinkled with bee pollen—and they’re so, so good. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar free.

A splurge, but the food quality is supreme. I will spring for Methodology if I have a particularly busy week and won’t have a ton of free time to grocery shop. I also ordered it a ton before my wedding last year. A lot of the other prepared meal plans out there are simply slop…this one isn’t. Highly recommend! You can get 10% off your order with the code JULIALYN.

On another note, THE PLASTIC DETOX really impacted me—and inspired me to clean up my kitchen. A documentary about microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, it profiled six couples struggling with unexplained infertility. They made major lifestyle changes as part of a research study (including reducing their exposure to plastics).

I won’t spoil the ending, but yes, some of the couples ended up successfully conceiving. Absolutely worth watching (and I don’t even consider myself a super granola person). Changes I’ve made as as result of the documentary:

• Started making my own cashew milk. Many plant milks are made with gums (and sit in plastic containers for months). This is the recipe I use. A major money-saver, takes fifteen minutes at the start of every week, and is so, so delicious. I store in these glass pitchers!

• Rid my kitchen of plastic containers. Such an easy and high-impact upgrade. I switched to these glass containers.

Playing: With easy entertaining. I love hosting, but all of the setup can be a major headache. I was gifted this platter for our wedding, and it’s one of our most-used items for hosting. A charcuterie board in an instant—no prosciutto roses or fancy styling needed! On major sale for MDW.

Recommending: It’s the season of sales, and everyone and their mother is sharing MDW picks. It’s overwhelming! To cut through the noise, I’m only sharing the things that I personally own, love, and are worth your money.

Consider me a subject matter expert when it comes to wedding guest dressing. I have seven weddings in 2026 (have gone to two so far). These are the pieces I return to again and again:

1. I’ve worn this black gown at least fifteen times. The cost per wear is pennies at this point. When I got it tailored for length, my tailor thought it was a $2500 dress. He was shocked to learn that it’s under $250! Incredible fabric that sucks you in and is ultra-flattering.

2. This dress is a newer addition to my wedding guest lineup. I snagged it a few weeks ago, and when I walked out of the fitting room, my fellow shoppers literally said “wow.” My mom (62) actually has the same one in a different colorway. The polka dots are a classic, while the asymmetric hem keeps things fun.

3. These pearl drop earrings aren’t on sale, but they’re so well-priced that they don’t have to be. Instantly add polish to any look.

4. A gorgeous satin clutch that looks like it’s $1k! Always get compliments on it.

5. I wore these silver platform heels on my wedding night, and they’re ultra-comfortable. I’ve worn them to many events since. Due to the high platform, you won’t be rushing to rip them off at the end of the night.

And on the day-to-day front, these are my top picks. Comfortable, easy, and the kinds of pieces that become a backbone to your wardrobe.

1. I get so many compliments every time I wear this set. Perfect for business casual settings! And under $200 for the entire set.

2. LESET makes great tees…but so does this retailer. I’ve been buying them in bulk for years. The perfect fit (for under $20).

3. I always try to prioritize natural fibers, but especially in the summer. This 100% wool cardigan is the ultimate use case. Very lightweight, and the bold color is perfect for throwing over your shoulders.

4. I’ve opined about these sneakers, but they really are that good. I clocked 10K+ steps my first day wearing them, and have since subjected them to many 20K+ step days. Functional, adorable, and under $110!

5. These lace raffia flats look like they’re high designer—but in fact, are a total steal. Under $100!

6. Another great summer sweater. 100% cotton, love a stripe detail, and looks very similar to the La Ligne sweater.

Two more spring rabbit holes I'm sending you down: these funky bags and a roundup of well-priced statement jewelry.

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

We all need to hear this (via morgan):

• I’ve been loving REAL HOUSEWIVES OF RHODE ISLAND, but IN THE CITY is my new Bravo obsession. The SUMMER HOUSE drama you know and love…with a few new characters added in.

• For all of my fellow pale-skinned ladies with red undertones—this redness-reducing cream is a total miracle-worker. I use daily and it’s dramatically evened out my skin tone. On sale for MDW!

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

• I’m all about money tea (hence why I started CAREER CONFESSIONALS), but emilie dayan hill, cfa takes it a step further in her latest Substack. A financial advisor to HNWs, she reveals the nine money truths no one wants to admit.

• This read about the dumbification of girls really made me think. By nadia., it points out how the “I’m just a girl!” discourse on social media is deeply, deeply damaging.

• Lana Li is a dating anthropologist and data scientist, so I immediately subscribed when I came across her work earlier this week. Even though I’m married, I’m endlessly fascinated by dating (and love setting people up). Her Substack about texting every guy who ever dumped her is ballsy…but full of insight.

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