Oh hey babe,
Coming at you after a Pilates + Booty Burner double, and whewwww, let me tell you, I am getting what I am paying for from my gym, plus a little extra side of motivation (iykyk). I woke up Monday morning with my European teams being thrust in the dark ages as the power grid went black. Part of me wonders how I would react. I’d likely panic for the first two hours and then realize it’s like one of those snow days they give kids at school where they’re free to live life however they want because things are out of their control. I’d grab a book, pack a picnic, and head to a quiet place to plop myself down and immerse myself in another place and time.
Speaking of full immersions, New York is in full swing as spring is finally spring-ing. The wind was in full effect, throwing cherry blossom leaves all over tourists and making movie moments left and right with this odd cacophony of sounds- from jazz playing, drums beating, and kids squealing with delight.
While Europe was going through a Dark Age, I’m reading about the act of pebbling - yes, like penguins- the act of sharing small gifts and acts of service as a token of affection- something humans do when they care. As I prepare for another stint of nomadic life, I realize that I am subconsciously pebbling my people with little moments and gifts of food to hold onto hoping they know how much I hate leaving for so long, on both sides of the coast. Leaving is hard, always, and the only way I get through it is with knowing it’s a see ya later, and a text message or phone call to say I miss you.
I pebble you, because I care
What I’ve been into lately
Ransom Canyon Is THE Show of the Summer: Netflix’s Ransom Canyon is the perfect comfort binge: part Yellowstone, part Virgin River, with enough small-town Texas drama to keep you wanting more. Bonus points for the palpable chemistry and swoon-worthy countryside. Plus, Josh Duhamel ages like fine wine.
Fauxzempic is a fraud, and hitting your Meta ads: As GLP-1 meds like Ozempic go viral, a new wave of "natural alternatives" is flooding the wellness market—and many are unregulated, shady, and potentially dangerous. Tbh, I’m tired of these ads, and controversial personal take? Get your booty to a booty burn class, and maybe eat some greens- there’s no side effects there except for a hot summer bod.
Pizza in Parks: If you haven’t done that, now’s the time, pepperoni plus sunshine is the perfect combo for life.
Protein: Whey or Plant? I can’t decide and I never know which to pick under pressure, I just know protein is good for you- send help!
Ellen Pompeo- on why nobody’s f*cking perfect, so stop trying to be. Own who you are instead. This Youtube series by InStyle is the perfect pep talk for when you are stuck in a rut, own your shit and be grateful, period.
just friends, huh?
Business & Marketing News
Soft Skills Are the New Hard Skills
HR leaders want to retire the term “soft skills” because honestly? There’s nothing soft about managing a room, resolving conflict, or keeping a team afloat during chaos. New preferred lingo: "core skills," "durable skills," or simply "human skills." Because being good with people is now the most powerful tech stack you can have, and something AI can’t generate.Tipping Culture Hits a Breaking Point
Turns out, half of consumers think tipping prompts have gotten out of control- forced tipping when I am buying a water bottle? No thanks, I’m out.Gig Work Is Eating 9-to-5 Alive
Freelancers, side hustlers, and gig workers are officially taking over the labor market. HR teams are scrambling to figure out how to recruit, manage, and retain a workforce that doesn’t want traditional jobs anymore, including when there’s no official hold over their ability to take time off or work in new time zones. People are burned out, and this is the way out.The Battle for Our Screens: Social Video vs. Studios
Streaming services are scrambling yet again as TikTok, YouTube, and creators become the new center of gravity for entertainment—and for ad dollars. Studios need to play nice with creators or they’ll get beaten at their own game.Your Coworker Might Be Your Company’s Next Influencer
Brands are skipping $100K influencer deals and asking their own employees to go viral instead. Cute in theory, risky in practice. (Should come with hazard pay for cringe.)
Culture & Lifestyle
Cowboy Core is lasso-ing us all into an evergreen trend
Cowboy Core is officially riding high in between Stagecoach’s western- themed activations and Queen Bey’s Cowboy Carter era. Speaking of Bei’s mechanical luggage activation in the desert was a huge hit and brought experiential marketing to a new level for this brand.
Productivity as self care?
Are your Chrome tabs a chaotic diary? Raindrop.io, Pocket, and GoodLinks are here to save your “save for later” chaos.Amazon’s Giant Book Sale Is Live
Your book club’s favorite time of year. Don’t miss out, buy them as gifts, for coworkers, or immerse yourself in a perfect summer read.
This week on the MHOB podcast, I sat down with Nathi Narciso, empowerment coach and founder of Gostosa Energy, a self-love platform for multicultural women. Nathi shares her inspiring journey from navigating life as an undocumented immigrant to building a movement that empowers women worldwide.
Key takeaways:
Breaking free from societal expectations starts with recognizing which "rules" you're following unconsciously.
Balancing a 9-5 with a passion project requires ruthless prioritization, not perfect time management.
Fashion can be a powerful tool for building confidence, especially during career transitions.
Finding your voice often means reconnecting with what you loved before the world told you who to be.
Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
A Love Letter to the Girls: Female Friendships Are the Real Secret to a Good Life
If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m a girls’ girl through and through. I will romanticize a group chat. I will champion a “let’s grab wine” night like it’s a national holiday. I will voice memo you podcast style when I know we won’t make a phone call between business meetings, soccer, and dinner with the fam. I will defend the sacred art of the 45-minute FaceTime debrief after one mildly dramatic text exchange.
Because I’ve lived it enough times to know: strong female friendships aren't just a phase—they're medicine, necessary for survival and our actual health.
And not in the “cute, catch up over brunch” kind of way (though that’s important too). In the real, soul-deep way that makes life softer, lighter, and more survivable. I think about how much of my own healing has been whispered across kitchen islands, on cracked bar stools at girls’ nights, on walks around the block where we’re “only gonna vent for five minutes” (liar).
I think about the heartbreaks, the career pivots, the tiny victories that only your closest girlfriends even know to celebrate. I think about how every version of myself—especially the messy, rebuilding, lost-in-the-sauce versions—was seen, held, and pulled back to life by the women in my circle.
And science backs it up, too.
Research shows that deep friendships can lower your cortisol levels (that’s your stress hormone), boost your immune system, and even extend your life expectancy. Translation: your group chat isn’t just good for your mental health. It’s literally keeping you alive longer.
But here’s the thing nobody talks about enough: Friendships need intentionality.
They don’t just survive off old memories and sporadic texts. You have to water them. Show up messy. Celebrate small things. Schedule time even when you’re “so busy.”
Because life isn’t about perfectly curated highlight reels.
It’s about knowing you have your people. The ones who’ll pour you a glass of wine and tell you you’re still magic—especially on the days you forget.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to plan the trip, book the dinner, or send the "thinking of you" text...
This is it, your future self will thank you.
And if you need someone to be the hype girl you didn’t know you needed—just know I’m always in your corner too. No, seriously, I am, DM, call, text, or email, I’ll make time, xo (and yes, it’s really me).
Mother’s Day gift guides for Mom
Recipes on a budget
Leadership and the power of finding purpose
Have ideas for future newsletters?
Hit reply and let me know what you want more of!
XX
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