weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #58
white shirts that won't bore you & some very juicy reads
Happy Monday! I spent the weekend celebrating my sister, who got a return offer at the law firm she interned at this summer. Yay!
Dogs making friends will always be my favorite thing!
Last week, I dove into TV shows everyone will love, natural fiber clothing you won’t sweat in, and a roadmap to becoming high agency. This week, white shirts that won’t bore you, how elite runners are slowly inching towards a three-minute mile, and the portable charger that puts all others to shame.
weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #57
Happy Monday! I spent the weekend out in the Hamptons with my five cousins and two siblings. I’m the oldest cousin on my dad’s side, and we grew up a town apart from each other in New Jersey.
My mom and I have both read this book, and we were discussing how much we loved it over the weekend.
If I could pick one confidence-related book to recommend, this would be it. Part memoir, part roadmap, it includes stories of inspiration and tools to push past your mental roadblocks. The author endured an awful childhood and later trained as an Army Ranger and Navy SEAL. Not a beach read! But so, so good.
I’m definitely not a runner (in middle school, running the gym class mile was my personal nightmare!), but even I enjoyed this WIRED look at the wild, wild world of running technology. People are increasingly clocking 4-minute miles. What’s the next frontier? The three-minute mile?
I loved this New Yorker feature on Mary Kay and how she built her empire. She really did pave the way for women making money on their own terms...which is pretty much the whole ethos of the creator economy!
And as a total ice cream fanatic, I lapped up every word of this Businessweek feature on Van Leeuwen and how they grew from a single ice cream shop to an ice cream behemoth. For the record, they just brought back fro-yo into some of their shops and it’s insanely good.
A new favorite! Had this healthified treat for an evening snack over the weekend and it *hit.* If you love Rice Krispies (raises hand) but feel like you need a PhD to decipher the ingredients, this equally delicious alternative is for you.
I’m heading to Lake Como later this week for a wedding (for one of my best friends, where I’m also speaking!) If there’s one thing I refuse to play about when traveling…it’s a dead phone.
I’m ruthless about my portable charger game, and this one checks every box. It has built-in lightning and USB-C cables (so no digging around your bag for cords!), a wall plug built into the charger itself, magnetic iPhone charging, and enough power to charge multiple devices at once. True magic!
The built-in wall charger is especially critical…because nothing is worse than having a dead phone, having a dead portable charger, and no way to charge that charger. I bought another one to bring with me!
If something is a little bit different, I’m immediately in. That applies to so many things in life... but especially white shirts. I find most of them to be super boring.
To me, the average white button-down looks like you’re gearing up for the first day of a catering job. Functional…but not non-super fashionable. Here are the off-the-beaten-path white shirts I own and love in my own closet:
This tie-back button-down is so good. I pair it with skirts, high-waisted jeans, and shorts. The back detail is edgy and very similar to this Simon Miller blouse that is 5x the price!
My brother and husband call this shirt my “pirate shirt.” Though it does have a PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN-esque feel to it, I personally think it’s gorgeous and a great way to funk up any outfit. My own version is a few years old, but this one is 100% cotton, under $60, and a fantastic DÔEN dupe.
I love a good collared shirt, but something that’s always bothered me is the cuffs. What’s the right way to cuff them? How do I create that effortless Jenna Lyons sleeve roll? This shirt completely removes all those thoughts from your mind...as the cuff is elastic. I’ve had it for years, and it’s made by an awesome female-owned small business. Super lightweight and great for all seasons!
Although some may think this shirt falls into the pirate category, to me it’s more Woodstock-y and free love. Sometimes DÔEN isn’t a complete rip off...and this shirt is a great example of that. Beautiful construction and 100% cotton. I love wearing it with wide-leg jeans for a 70s vibe, but you can wear it with anything!
What I’ve recommended over the past few weeks:
My tried-and-true travel bags (from pouches to my crossbody to my carry-on).
Boredom is good! Let your mind wander (via Craig Perry).
My brother and husband always rib me about these eyelet cutout jeans, which I happen to think are fabulous. They are on sale now, but still a splurge! However, this pair is a great alternative—and so is this one. You can frustrate men with your fashion sense at any price point 😊
Has anyone seen LUCKY yet (the new thriller on Apple TV+ starring Anya Taylor-Joy)? It feels right up my alley. The trailer sucked me in!
The Rosie Assoulin x Target collaboration is beyond good. As a longtime fan of the brand, the collaboration perfectly captures its funk! I personally ordered this gingham set, this rainbow striped polo dress, and this tie-waist shirtdress. All pieces are under $50 (but certainly don’t look like it).
For some fun one-to-one comparison:
A fun read on why so many of us still dream of not finishing our homework even though our school days are far, far behind us!
The company behind my beloved lymphatic drainage & compression leggings is still running their biggest sale of the year. They’re a splurge…but absolutely worth every penny. Everything is final sale, but DM me or email me with any sizing questions! What’s worth your money:
I love the bodysuit! I also wear mine as a one-piece bathing suit. So, so good! The chartreuse colorway has the steepest discount, but the black is also on sale (but there’s not as many sizes available…run!)
If you’ve been eyeing the leggings in brown, they’re majorly discounted.
The pieces worth your time this week:
As the loneliness epidemic takes hold, many startups are cashing in on the idea of community. This was a great look (via Cheek Media) at the rise of “paywalled friendships.” If you want to join a paid social club or community, great! Just make sure to do your due diligence. So many of these spaces will flame out or shut down within a few months. You don’t want to be left holding the bag (aka a hefty initiation fee!) with nothing to show for it.
If you haven’t already devoured The Hamptons Chronicle yet, it’s my new front-to-back Substack read. Rory (the creator!) really does have the inside track on all things Hamptons—new openings, gossip, and lots of absurdity. I particularly loved this issue about the rise of ticks in the Hamptons. Everyone should be on tick high alert!!! 🚨
I loved Maria DeVoto’s take on how she saves money in NYC. So many good cash-saving hacks within! I completely agree that having comfy shoes (ones that can easily take you 20K+ steps!) are as critical as having a MetroCard. These white sneakers and this more elevated pair are my personal favorites.
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