Hello everyone!
I've been living out of a suitcase for the past few weeks and I'm not going to lie, there's something kind of surreal about finally being home. The work travel was incredible and I’m genuinely grateful for every opportunity to show up in rooms I used to only dream about being in, but my body has been running on airplane coffee and hotel pillows, and I could feel it catching up to me.
There's this moment when you walk back into your own apartment after weeks away and everything feels familiar and foreign at the same time. Like your plants are judging you for being gone so long, and your dog doesn't know whether to be excited or petty about the whole situation.
The good thing is now I get to do what I've been looking forward to since November: actually be present with my family for the holidays. No laptop open during dinner, no "sorry I have to jump on a call," just quality time with the people I love the most. That's the stuff that grounds you when everything else feels like it's moving at a thousand miles per hour.
Anyhow, while I was out there collecting airline miles and trying to remember what city I woke up in, the world kept spinning. Here's the tea.
What I’ve been thinking about lately
Spontaneous joy on a Wednesday shouldn't require a permission slip. Somewhere along the way, we decided being a functioning adult meant never choosing fun over optimization. I'm trying to find the middle ground between calling out every Friday and not doing anything spontaneous.
The cost of admission to certain circles will recalibrate your entire relationship with money. A $2,000 charity event at the Met had me questioning whether networking is an investment or just expensive people-watching.
The real plot twist of your 30s isn't that your body changes, it's that you stop apologizing for it. My best friend watched me try to squeeze into a jumpsuit that no longer fits and said the most honest thing anyone's said to me all year: "Your body's changed. Get rid of it."
Business & Marketing
Lululemon's CEO is stepping down in January after the brand's stock fell nearly 50% and founder Chip Wilson took out a full-page WSJ ad titled "Lululemon: in a Nosedive."
Prada is launching $930 "Made in India" Kolhapuri sandals after getting called out for cultural appropriation earlier this year.
Skims turned a TikTok livestream into a shoppable holiday variety show with Kim Kardashian hosting "Kimsmas Live!" featuring exclusive deals and celebrity guests.
Culture & Lifestyle
Beyoncé is co-chairing the 2026 Met Gala alongside Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams for the "Costume Art" exhibition.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are starring in three movies together next year, starting with A24's dark comedy "The Drama" dropping in April.
European fashion houses are suddenly obsessed with showing in the U.S. with Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Dior all heading stateside this year.
Tech & Leadership
An AI dating app raised $4 million to find your "soulmate" and charges men a $50,000 "marriage bounty" if they actually get married.
Disney invested $1 billion in OpenAI and Mickey Mouse is coming to Sora.
Your next phone might cost more because AI data centers are eating all the memory supply.
Yanna is a former professor turned multi-million dollar business builder who's helped secure over $6 million in funding. She's the woman power players call when they're ready to become the face of their brand and turn audacious dreams into action.
This conversation is for anyone who's been playing it safe and knows deep down that the "security" of a traditional job is kind of an illusion. Yanna breaks down how she went from academia to entrepreneurship after realizing her salary had a ceiling, and why building multiple income streams isn't optional anymore.
Key takeaways:
The security of traditional employment is often an illusion; real growth happens when you bet on yourself
Multiple income streams aren't a luxury, they're essential for financial stability
Kindness and accountability aren't opposites; the best leaders hold both
Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What's Actually in My Cart
The holidays are literally around the corner and I refuse to be the person panic-buying gift cards on December 23rd. These are a few things that I actually love and would give to the people in my life. Whether you're shopping for your best friend, your brother, your dog, or channeling cool tia energy for your niece, I've got you.
Girly Gift Ideas [Shop the full list here]
The Five Minute Journal: The gratitude practice that doesn't require becoming a morning person.
PHLUR Sweet Skin Trio: Three vanilla-adjacent scents for the girl who wants to smell expensive without trying.
JW PEI Harlee Bag: The "it" bag energy without the "it" bag price tag.
Gifts for the Boys [Shop the full list here]
Salomon Speedcross Running Shoes: For the guy who makes hiking his entire personality.
Garmin vívoactive 6 Smartwatch: Fitness tracking for someone who will actually use it.
The North Face Jester Backpack: The commuter bag that doesn't scream "I work in finance."
Doggy Must-Haves [Shop the full list here]
Benebone 4-Pack Chew Toys: Indestructible entertainment for your chaos gremlin.
Remy+Roo Bandana Set: Because your dog deserves a signature look.
OUAI Fur Bébé Pet Shampoo: Bougie bath time that makes them smell like a West Village apartment.
Cool Tia Gifts [Shop the full list here]
Petimini Girls Bike with Basket: Main character energy for the kid who's already cooler than you.
Teamson Kids Play Kitchen: The gift that makes you the favorite aunt, full stop.
Mattel Toy Story Jessie Figure: Nostalgia meets new generation obsession.
ICYMI: The AI Campaigns Takeover Is Already Happening
Zalando cut campaign production from six weeks to three days and slashed costs by 90%. H&M is letting models own their own digital twins. Coca-Cola doubled down on AI Christmas ads after the internet called them soulless. We're watching the entire playbook get rewritten in real time, and the brands that figure out how to use AI for efficiency without hollowing out the creativity are going to eat everyone else's lunch. Read more here.
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