I saw Parasite last weekend and loved it. I didn’t know anything about it going into it — I had only seen the trailer — and that was perfect. It was so unique and so entertaining; highly, highly recommend. And I watched Death Becomes Her on Halloween and it was exactly what I was looking for in a Halloween movie. Just campy and funny and perfect!

‘Ween

This Marie Kondo family costume is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time. I also loved the 13 Pitbulls, the Holmeses, the Fleabag dogs, Jurassic Park, and pants.

Have a great Sunday! 🌚

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Just Good Shit: 10.27.19

Hello from rainy Brooklyn! It’s pouring outside and there’s taco soup on the stove and twinkle lights around the window, so I’m feeling great right now. Here’s what I was up to this week…

On the blog

The gold hoop earrings I wear every day

Elsewhere

So your kid is a bully. Here’s how to stop it., Vox.

Reading

Underground Lives: The Sunless World of Immigrants in Queens, The New York Times.

Why Black Homeowners in Brooklyn Are Being Victimized by Fraud, The New York Times.

She Was Assaulted During A Massage, And The Spa Blamed Her For It, The Cut.

Alison Roman Is More Than #TheStew, Jezebel.

The best $1.75 I ever spent: Hand sanitizer that allows me to exist in public, Vox.

Prince Harry and Meghan's ITV documentary focuses on rifts with British media and the Cambridges, Lainey Gossip.

I Became Vegan to Hide the Fact That I'm Gay, SELF.

Our Nostalgic, Fancy, and Kinda Polarizing Cranberry Sauce Is Here, Bon Appétit.

The Cranberry Caucus Is Insanely Powerful, Modern Farmer.
This is wild.

How to Tell What Everyone Is Talking About on Social Media, Lifehacker.

Watching

I watched Jawbreaker on Friday night, which I haven’t seen since high school (when I watched it dozens of times), so that was fun. And I’m going to see Parasite tonight with friends.

I also watched a few episodes of Modern Love on Amazon and it…sucked. Every episode is filmed in a way that signals “rom com” but like the plots don’t match that at all. Also, this version of NYC is so sanitized, I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie. The Tina Fey/John Slattery one is basically gay propaganda because it paints such a bleak picture of heterosexual marriage. They were all just so boring. DNR (do not recommend)!

Listening to

The Nicole Brown Simpson episodes of You’re Wrong About, which are harrowing.

Eating

I got my copy of Nothing Fancy this week, and am loving it so far. (I think it’s going to be better than Dining In.) I made the Labneh Dip with Sizzled Scallions and Chile on Friday night and it was *chef’s kiss*. It tastes like fancy French onion dip. I love labneh so I went out of my way to buy Karoun labneh at Whole Foods, but you can also use sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt.

I also went out for an anniversary dinner (!!) at Five Leaves (the Brussels sprouts are…incredible) and had brunch at Sauvage and drinks at Extra Fancy.

Have a great Sunday! 🎃

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The gold hoop earrings I wear every day

I spent a not-insignificant amount of time last fall looking for a new pair of earrings. I wanted wear-them-literally-every-day earrings (you know I’m not one for variety) because the pair I had been wearing for the past six years was feeling a bit tired/dated.

I was strictly looking for studs, but eventually started considering hoops, though I kept balking every time I’d try a pair on — because when you only wear studs, hoops will leave you feeling wildly overdressed. I looked at several different brands, clicked on every Instagram jewelry ad I got (there were many), and checked in with Catbird periodically to see if they had anything that felt right.

After a couple months of this, I was delighted to discover that Catbird was selling whisper thin tiny gold hoops ($88 for the pair). I went to the store to check them out and was thrilled to realize they were exactly what I had been looking for. Most small hoops are very chunky, but these aren’t; they are super subtle, and their texture makes them catch the light and sparkle. So…done! Sold!

While I was there, I started looking at all the other earrings, and lamented the fact that my second piercings had not been operational since...I literally could not recall? (Fun fact: I also used to have my cartilage pierced and my nose pierced!) On a whim, I decided to see if I could put an earring in the second hole, which honestly could have gone very badly, but it...worked????? My holes had not closed after all???? So I now also have a set of teeny diamond studs ($98 each) that I wear in my second piercings.

I have worn this combination of earrings basically every waking hour ever since, and I like them so much. They work with literally everything. The studs give the hoops a little extra sparkle. The hoops are a bit hard to put on/take off at first, but once you get used to them, they’re fine, and they feel very secure.

The Catbird hoops turned out to be kind of a gateway drug; I started experimenting with some other hoops in different sizes, so I have some additional recs for you!

I found a pair of gold hoops on Amazon that come in a bunch of sizes and are great if you prefer thin hoops. I got the 16mm pair ($26) when I decided to dip my toe into the bigger hoops pool, and I like them a lot. The 10mm ones ($20) would probably make for a pretty good Catbird knockoff, though I don’t know that they’ll hold up super well over time...but if you liked that size/general idea, you could always upgrade later.
I have Mejuri’s Between Hoops ($65), which are very similar to the style from Amazon but are sliiiightly (but noticeably!) thicker, and much higher quality.
My gf has Catbird’s and gold Ear Nut earrings ($66 each), which are very pretty and sort of mimic the look of a double piercing.
I loved these Wolf Circus hoops — again, I’ve come along way with regard to earring size in the past year — but they are no longer available. I was on the lookout for a similar pair for a while, and recently decided to try Mejuri’s Idol Earrings ($69). The Mejuri ones aren’t quite as cool but I like them a lot! I wear them when I want something to make me look more pulled-together/Dressed (most often with this navy turtleneck).
I don’t own these Mejuri Crescent Midi Hoops ($65) but I like them a lot! ✨

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Just Good Shit: 10.20.19

Hi, friends! Here’s what I’ve got for you this week…

Reading

One Night at Mount Sinai, The Cut.
This is harrowing.

A Young Man Nearly Lost His Life to Vaping, The New York Times.

Peloton is Spinning, The Cut.

Why Are All The Men In My Life So Angry About My Short Hair?, Refinery29.

A Former Justin Bieber Stan on Why She Finally Quit Him, Man Repeller.

How to pack a Norwegian sandwich, the world’s most boring lunch, Vox.

Yelp's Horniest (and Best) Reviewer Is a Jacked Foot Worshipper Named Fox E, VICE.

Autocorrect Is For Cowards, VICE.

Also, I was recently made aware of cheese board influencers; @thatcheeseplate is making my brain light up. (Look at this fall one!!!)

Have a great Sunday! 👻

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Just Good Shit: 10.13.19

Fall is officially upon us and I couldn’t be happier! Every time the temperature drops another 5 degrees, I get a little closer to my full powers. When I wasn’t trying on every sweater I own and aggressively researching boots and coats, here’s what else I had going on…

Reading

This week, I read Know My Name by Chanel Miller, which I highly, highly recommend. Miller is an excellent writer, and this book is an incredible meditation on trauma (and the tedium that often goes with it). I highlighted so many passages and cried fairly often, but I also cackled out loud on multiple occasions. Know My Name is, as far as I’m concerned, canon, and pretty much everyone should read it.

Also:

The Irrepressibly Political Survivorship of Chanel Miller, The New Yorker.

Ronan Farrow Depicts a Chilling Cover-up at NBC, The Cut.

It’s time to ban cars from Manhattan, Curbed.

What Are Californians Supposed to Do?, Slate.

On Coming Out, Slow and Not Always Steady: 6 Stories, Vogue.

Can a $1,300 baby bed make me a better mom?, Curbed.

How We Came to Live in “Cursed” Times, The New Yorker.

Discussing Blackness on Reddit? Photograph Your Forearm First, The New York Times.

Succession uses Shiv Roy’s hair and clothes to tell the story of her quest for power, Vox.

A good comment and another in an Ask a Manager thread about making a habit of using “they/them” pronouns.

At the Russian Baths With the Big Boys of Brawn, NY Mag.

AAFU: I begrudge my ex her success, The Outline.

Basic Bitches, Collective Delusion, and The Long American History of Being Defensive About Pumpkins, Summer Block.

A Publisher Attempts to Brainstorm Books for Women, McSweeney’s.

Eating

It’s fall, so taco soup is officially back in the rotation! Also, my girlfriend made Alison Roman’s creamy cauliflower pasta this week, which was delicious. And we went to Gertie for breakfast and loved it; it’s so cute and chill and the food was great.

Have a great Sunday! 🦇

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Just Good Shit: 10.06.19

Happy October! This week was a bit of a whirlwind — I started at VICE and then headed to a friend’s wedding this weekend. Here’s what else I’ve got…

Reading

Inside the Cutthroat World of Royal Gossips, Marie Claire.
This is fascinating.

Inside TheMaven's Plan To Turn Sports Illustrated Into A Rickety Content Mill, Deadspin.

Growing Up In The Forever 21 Generation, Refinery29.
“As the brand scaled, it continued to place all its eggs in one basket, its only appeal: It was so cheap and so on-trend that you could afford to ignore the rest.”

How the Pineapple Became the Icon of I.V.F., The New York Times.

The Cheating Scandal Rocking the Poker World, The Ringer.

In a professional wrestling ring, a transgender woman faces a roaring crowd, The Washington Post.

Pop Culture History 101, The Ringer.

Your Joke's Not Funny Anymore, Lifehacker.

Have a great Sunday! 🍂

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Just Good Shit: 09.29.19

Friends, I have some good news to share: I have a new job and I start tomorrow! I’m joining the team at VICE as Deputy Editor, Life. I got the news, like, minutes after I got the first draft of my manuscript back with edits, and right after lining up a ton of freelance work for September, which is why I’ve been quiet lately — a lot has been happening! I’m very excited about VICE, and only a tiny bit nervous about going back into an office after eight months away. (I feel…feral, and have been wearing a bra in increasing increments every day this week to prepare.)

Even more good news: my girlfriend also just accepted a new job! The amount of work/prep she did to get to this point has been truly incredible and very impressive to watch, and the job is so good/exactly what she wanted/extremely well-deserved. I am so, so thrilled for her!

It’s been a big few weeks, and I’m feeling very excited and optimistic about October! Here’s what else I have for you today…

On the blog

Elsewhere

This week, I wrote two posts for Girls’ Night In: A Modest Proposal: Make a Q4 Resolution – You Won't Regret It and Go Small or Go Home: How to Adjust Plans So You Actually Keep Them. I also guest-edited this week’s GNI newsletter.

I was also interviewed for a series of articles for Shine Text: How to Own the Awkward and Make New Friends, How To Treat Yourself Like A Friend—Especially When You Feel Lonely, and How to Lean Into and Deepen Your Friendships.

Reading

The “Cancel Culture” Con, The New Republic.

The Internet Is Overrun With Images of Child Sexual Abuse. What Went Wrong?, The New York Times.
Head’s up that this is a fairly graphic article.

'I Will Survive' Saves Marginalized People A Spot On The Dance Floor, NPR.

‘Close Friends,’ for a Monthly Fee, The Atlantic.

Hustlers is a recession-era period piece. Here’s how the costume designer created it., The Goods / Vox.

Deep Throat’s identity was a mystery for decades because no one believed this woman, Washington Post.
(lol at the fact that “this woman” is Nora Ephron)

Mattel, Maker of Barbie, Debuts Gender-Neutral Dolls, The New York Times.

How to say “it's not okay” at work, Ask a Manager.

‘Our Love Is Built to Last’, The New York Times.
This wedding is incredible.

Watching

The Savage X Fenty fashion show on Amazon Prime.

Wearing

I’ve mentioned these Los Angeles Apparel sweatpants ($40) before, but I just wanted to share them again because my gf recently bought them in the Maple and they are such a pretty color for fall. (They are the color of pumpkin pie!)

Have a great Sunday! 👩🏽‍💻

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I’m currently very into Tessa clogs

White jeans, cream socks, and dark blue Tessa clogs photographed in front of city skyline/waters edge

Earlier this summer, I spent a not-small amount of time looking for the perfect clogs. I still like/wear the pair of Hasbeens I bought on sale last summer, but I was on the hunt for a slip-on clog with a slightly lower heel and minimal hardware in a neutral color that was not black. My girlfriend also wanted a pair of clogs (she had slightly different — but no less fussy — requirements), and, well, the next thing I knew, I was 75 tabs deep in clog round-ups/options!

I like clogs for a lot of reasons. Similar to a jumpsuit, clogs make you look put-together while also being very easy/comfortable. I bought my Hasbeens because I wanted a comfortable closed-toe summer shoe, but I also appreciate that you can add socks and wear them in colder months. I’ve also been slowly phasing out my skinny jeans, and clogs are a good shoe for straighter/wider leg pants. And if you, like me, prefer to be this person instead of tying/untying your shoes, well…clogs are great in that regard, too!

Dark blue clogs, cream socks, white jeans, in front of rocks at water’s edge

During my search, I looked at No. 06, Bryr, Rachel Comey (which is the brand Aidy Bryant wore on Shrill), Charlotte Stone, Beklina, Hasbeens, Sandgrens, Lotta from Stockholm, and Madewell. While I found some good contenders, nothing was quite it. I loved the No. 06 in clover green for fall and the Bryr in Pacific gray and natural, but I really balked at the price.

Then, deep in my twentieth Strategist article, I came across a single link to Tessa Clogs. The Tessa website is A Lot, but the plain traditional heel ($84.95 + ~$15 shipping) is a good place to start — that’s actually what my girlfriend and I both ended up buying. I went with the denim blue, which reads as sort of a soft black/grayish navy in person, and she got the black, which is classic and lovely IRL.

Dark blue clogs, cream socks, white jeans shown outside in city park

Even though I wish Tessa had the color offering of No. 06 or Bryr, I love that the plain low heel clogs are super customizable (and are considerably less expensive than the other brands). You can choose from three sole colors and order them with or without a strap/snap, and with or without an edge band. (For reference, these clogs have a raw edge; mine don’t — they have an edge band.)

The website isn’t the easiest to navigate, but they have very good/responsive customer service. I emailed them to ask a bunch of questions, and they were great. They mailed me a (clog-shaped!!) swatch so I could be 100% sure on the color before I ordered, which was super helpful. My girlfriend’s clogs turned out to be a little too roomy across the top of her foot (i.e., they fit length-wise, but they weren’t snug enough to stay on her foot) and they let her ship them back so they could adjust the fit.

Anyway, if you’re in the market for clogs, Tessa clogs are very good! I like mine a lot and will probably buy another pair at some point soon.

Further clog-related reading:

The Life-Changing Magic of Clogs, The New Yorker.
In Praise of an Aggressively Unfashionable Shoe, The New York Times.
The New Mom Uniform of Park Slope, The New York Times.
Also, while working on this post, I fell down an ABBA rabbit hole because I was trying to find something to back up the claim that ABBA popularized clogs in the US in the ‘70s. I couldn’t find that, but I did find an article that says that ABBA’s costumes were designed to help them avoid paying taxes!
Why is No. 06 stepping on my neck like this??? ✨

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Tiny life tip: Name your group texts on iPhone

Here’s a tiny life tip that is both fun and also efficient: name your iMessage group texts!

I always liked this as a general concept, but what I didn’t realize until recently is that you can name a thread between a group of people, but you don’t have to exclusively use the labeled thread with that group. So you can have one text thread named, say, “Saugatuck plans 🌊” with three people...but also just have a regular, not-named, not-plans-related thread with those same three people, essentially keeping the conversations separate so you can easily find the one dedicated to the trip later.

Here’s how to name a text thread on an iPhone:

Tap into a text message/thread.
Tap the > under the name circles at the top of the thread. Then tap “info.”
Tap “enter a group name.” Enter a group name and/or any emojis you’d like to include.

That’s it! It’s just a small thing that makes my life a little more organized and a little more delightful.

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Just Good Shit: 09.22.19

Happy Sunday! Today was a long (fun!) day of Doing Stuff — first the Brooklyn Book Festival, and then Printed Matter’s Art Fair at MoMA PS1. Here’s what else I was up to this week…

Writing

How to Cancel Plans Without Losing Friends and Feeling Like a Jerk, SELF.

Reading

Jonathan Van Ness of ‘Queer Eye’ Comes Out, The New York Times.

How Reese Witherspoon became the new high priestess of book clubs, The Goods / Vox.

Everyone Who's Upset About This Black Girl's Hair Is Telling On Themselves, Jezebel.

Maybe the Best Way to Find Love Is … Not on an App?, The New York Times.

Stalking Janet Jackson, and Other Stories Behind the Hustlers Soundtrack, Vulture.

The Hustle Behind Hustlers, Vulture.

Why Some Sex Workers Aren’t Happy About ‘Hustlers’, Rolling Stone.

The 5 Best Things We Learned About the Costumes of 'Hustlers', Shondaland.

Is Succession a Comedy?, Vulture.

Let’s Talk About the Clothes on ‘Succession’, The New Yorker.

How Succession Created an Even Weirder Rich Family Than the Roys, Vulture.

We Get It, Everlane, Your Clothes Are Flattering, The Cut.

Listening to

You’re Wrong About, which my friend Alanna recommended. I started with the Tonya Harding episode and it’s great — one of the co-hosts is Sarah Marshall, who wrote a 2014 Baffler piece on Tonya Harding that’s so, so good. (I’ve read it, like, multiple times.)

The Daily: “Keeping Harvey Weinstein’s Secrets, Part 1: Lisa Bloom” and “Keeping Harvey Weinstein’s Secrets, Part 2: Gloria Allred.”

Loving

The new Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew — it’s so good! And this video, which I’ve watched like 20 times.

Have a great Sunday! 📚

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