I sure have, and likely at a highly curated specialty store, perusing a selection of rubber stamps or salts or tortoise shell-printed headbands. It’s not about my intent to buy, but to browse, letting my curiosity lead me through the shelves and stacks.

Today, I bring you a few of my favorite places to do just that. May you also find your flow (and some treats while you’re at it).

19+ of my favorite places to shop in NYC

Kalustyan’s | Kip’s Bay

One winter eve, fueled by a few Hot Toddy’s, I swung by “the world-class spice emporium” and spent what must’ve been two hours roaming the 21 aisles. As I strolled, my basket became comically heavy, filled with spices, teas, dried fruits and nuts, and prepared foods. (Kalustyan’s carries culinary finds from over 60 countries and six continents.)

The bliss a fading buzz and the world at your fingertips delivers…

Nowadays, when I’m not drinking-and-shopping, I like to go in not with a list but a budget, then buy whatever spices speak to me. Only when I get home do I search how to highlight them in a dish.

Kitchens Arts & Letters | UES

Speaking of food…a whole independent bookstore specializing on food and drink. Per their website, “Julia Child, James Beard, and Laurie Colwin were among our early customers.” Lots of great memoirs and, of course, cookbooks to be found here.

John Derian | East Village

A simply perfect shop, especially around the holidays. John Derian is known for his decoupage, the art of cutting and pasting paper, and his store features a fun curation of ceramics, ephemera, furniture, ornaments, candles, and more.

Casey Rubber Stamps | East Village

The age of AI has made me crave paper goods more than ever, and that includes all the accoutrements of writing, like stamps. Browse Casey’s online catalog of stamp after stamp or, even better, go to the East Village store and see for yourself.

You could also start writing to your friends snail mail-style, marking your stationary/envelopes with a custom signature stamp. Chic.

Sweet Pickle Books | LES

Donated my books for pickles here more than once. Good merch, too, if you’re into pickle bookstore merch like moi.

The Meadow | Nolita

A little shop with displays of salt, chocolate, bitters, and more. Last time I visited, there was a big glass jar of popcorn sprinkled in Parmesan Truffle Salt. Divine. (P.S. They also sell gift boxes online. I’d be giddy if this assorted chocolate one showed up at my door.)

Coming Soon | LES

Along with November 19 and Susan Alexandra, Coming Soon is a staple stop when I’m strolling Orchard Street. Instant dopamine boost.

Paquita Tea House | West Village

A loose leaf tea and antique shop offering tea to-go, or service at one of their few tables. I find it can get a bit crowded on the weekends, and I fantasize of the day that I can reserve a midweek, midday table and bring a book along. Ideally, it’d be raining and I’d be right by the window. A girl can dream.

Goods for the Study | Nolita, UWS, West Village

Because you can never have enough pens.

Dashi Okume Brooklyn | Greenpoint

Create your own dashi, an umami broth made by steeping whole ingredients like kombu kelp, bonito flakes, and shiitake mushrooms. Dashi Okume also sells all kinds of goodies, like noodles, miso, and matcha.

Big Night | Greenpoint, West Village, UES

Another place I can’t just walk by. I gifted my friend the Dinner Party Candle from there recently, intrigued by its profile of “fresh arugula, lemongrass, and basil, balanced with warm saffron, amber, and musky wood.” Let’s just say, it was a hit!

And a few more rapid fire…

• Tashkent Supermarket | Go for: the hot bar | West Village

• C.O. Bigelow | Go for: hair accessories | Greenwich Village

• Books Are Magic | Go for: books, duh | Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill

• Zitomer’s | Go for: Molton Brown soaps, hair accessories upstairs, winter hats | UES

• Bon Bon | Go for: Swedish candy & cute pink packaging | LES, West Village, UES

• Zabar’s | Go for: coffee beans | UWS

• Fish’s Eddy | Go for: dishware | Flatiron, Chelsea, Dumbo

• Book Club Bar | Go for: books, cocktails & coffee | East Village, Bushwick

What other specialty shops should I visit?

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Xx

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It was the last glorious day of two weeks in Michigan, one on the mitten side, another in the Upper Peninsula (lovingly dubbed the "Yoop”). The weather showed off for the entirety of the trip, and we took advantage—kayaking, biking, boating, golfing, and just sitting in the splendid sun.

Away from the city, surrounded by more trees than people and air so pure you just want to unhinge your jaw and drink it all in, I felt myself finally exhale. A midsummer reset.

To revel in it just a bit longer, I’ve been scrolling through my camera roll favorites and today I bring to you just a few. A photo diary, if you will.

Miss me with the Hamptons. I’ll always be a summer-in-Michigan kinda girl.

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. See you next time xx

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Back in NYC, Brett and I moved apartments. We ate dinner on moving boxes a few nights and toasted to this next chapter. Now, with art hung and a new tree, it’s starting to feel like our home.

At City Hall, Brett and I became domestic partners. We still giggle when we call each other that. And now I have insurance!

I started a new contract role. So far, so good. I’m excited that I’m excited by work once again. :)

The whole city cheered on the Knicks. After they won, NYC was unlike I’ve ever seen it before: For the first time, no one seemed in a rush to get home. Instead, the masses poured out of bars, restaurants, and bodega watch parties and lingered on the streets, sharing smiles, waving at honking busses, and soaking in the win, all clad in orange and blue.

That same weekend, the Carolina Hurricanes—Brett’s NHL team—won the Stanley Cup. This was his Knicks. We flew to Raleigh for the parade the next weekend and ended up at a bar with all the players and the cup itself. I’ve always been supportive, but now I’m officially a fan. My championship t-shirt is coming in the mail.

There was many cheers, and many treats, all month long. Froyo with sprinkles. Oysters. Orange wine. Ice-cold martinis. The collagen sheet masks influencer Eli Rallo said she used ahead of her wedding. New pants and new shoes and maybe some new tops too to revamp my office wardrobe after 1.5 years of remote work. I had an undeniable case of the Shoppies.

I don’t watch Love Island, but have been watching the new season on the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in the rare moments the World Cup’s not on. I cheered on my favorites, and got a little teary for those who didn’t make the cut. I’m impressed by their commitment to a full beat and hair everyday, even for practice. It inspired me to wear eye liner.

Not celebratory in a WOO! way, but rather the simple joy of a good read, I’ve been loving Maggie O’Farrell’s new book set in post-potato famine Ireland (she’s also the author of “Hamnet” and a “Marriage Portrait”).

I saw O’Farrell speak this week and her approach to writing historical fiction stuck with me: write until you come up against what you don’t know; research, research, research; then put just 0.01% of that into the book. Accuracy is important, yes, but don’t show all your cards or get lost in the minute details. I think this philosophy should apply to life beyond historical fiction.

After I finish “Land,” I plan to read my girl Ann Patchett’s new book, and then also reread Bel Canto after talking about it over lunch with Emma. I’m also very excited about Meg Howrey’s new book coming out in September; if you haven’t read “They’re Going to Love You”, now’s the time.

It was a big month.

One defined by change, by celebrations. While I hope to settle into the next few months, to make more time for rest, I sure do hope the festivities continue.

It’s summer after all.

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. See you next time. Xx

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Summer’s here, baby.

I started this list earlier this week when I got on a subway car, only to find out it was AC-less. At the next stop I scurried to a new car, along with a handful of others praying to avoid sweat stains, then continued drafting, cool breeze on my neck.

Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

• Succumb to a high electric bill

  It’s in the cards. Written in the stars. Your destiny.

• Always have a portable fan on hand

  I have a cheap one that does the trick, but Hana recently bought the Shark ChillPill™ (“the only 3-in-1 fan, mist, and InstaChill personal cooling system”) and I anxiously await her review.

• Face spray, too

  Wrote about my favorite ones here.

• Buck up and take a cold shower

  Or, if you’re not there yet, add a cold burst at the start and end.

• Show some skin

  Now’s not the time for modesty. This Eckhaus Latta x Mango collaboration is great inspo.

• Pop into stores on your walking route

  Browse, cool off, continue.

• Eat as much froyo as you possible can

  Tip: There’s no line at Butterfield Market on a Thursday at 7:15 pm.

  

• Speaking of frozen treats, remember popsicles?

  Not just for youth soccer teams.

• Electrolytes!

  I love Moon Juice Mini Dew in Pomelo.

• Wear a chic hat

  I like this Staud one, this Loeffler Randall Panama Hat, and this raffia cowboy one from J Crew.

  

• See more matinees

  There’s nothing like leaving a movie theater and being rocked by it still being daylight.

• Find a body of water

  Rockaway Beach day, anyone? I’ll bring snacks.

• Don’t even think about turning the oven on

  Pasta salad season.

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing.

Stay cool out there. Xx

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From the List Person Archive:

Back, amongst the boxes of an apartment all packed to move, I’m transcribing my slanted scribbles. Maybe it’s serotonin from the sunshine or knowing we have post-dinner ice cream ambitions, but I have surprisingly few qualms.

Reflecting on the past month—in my week at home, in my forced career pivot to freelance, in saying goodbye to the first apartment Brett and I lived in together—I’m feeling shaken, yes, but mainly appreciative. (And simultaneously relieved, excited, and anxious.)

Here’s a taste of three of my favorite moments of May.

1. Annual Red Hook Day with Soph

   You’d think a rainy holiday weekend would deter the masses from lining up for the famed burger but there we were, halfway down the block, huddled under my umbrella and waiting to put our name in. By the time we sat for a late lunch, we were warned that the burgers were at risk of running out. I told them of Soph’s impending move to Milwaukee and how it’s our last go at this tradition. Puppy dog eyes followed. They found two.

   

2. A Much-Needed Week at Home (& a New Game)

   My brother Sam turned 30, and we all gathered in Chicago for it. Not only was it the perfect celebratory weekend, but the week leading up to it, at my parents home in the suburbs, did me good: biking through the forest preserve, spooning into a puppy chow ice cream freeze, cosplaying gardener (and making fresh mint tea at night from just-plucked leaves).

   At the bars, we played “Pass the Pig”, a game of rolling small plastic pigs like die, accumulating points based on how they land. A lot of luck, a little strategy, and pairs perfectly with another round of pints.

   I bought the small purse-friendly game for my own bar-going and pulled it out to show Hana on the subway yesterday as we made our way downtown. The guy sitting next to us scooched closer and asked if I could explain it to him, too.

3. Cotto Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip

   While everyone’s at Butterfield looking for Dot Cakes, I’m heading to grab this ranch-y cottage cheese dip in the back, introduced to me by Emily after cake and coffee at Café Sabarsky. It was one of those weeks where figuring out what to eat for lunch felt hard, but I gladly sat to a spread of crisp veggies, this dip, crackers, and tuna more than once.

   Emily’s been making her own renditions, mixing spices into whipped cottage cheese, and I think I’ll get on the same page to save a buck or two. If you don’t have Cotto by you, I encourage you to do the same.

   

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. See you next time xx

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I live by these lists, surveying them at the start and close of each day.

Go-go-go mode has its faults though, namely equating productivity with worth. Recognizing this, I’ve been actively trying to slooooow myself down, resisting the urge to check every box in record time. Simply being present instead.

So obviously I made a list for ways to do that, too.

Ways to slow down and savor the moment

• Set your alarm for 10-15 minutes earlier. Feel less rushed in the morning. Set the tone for your day.

• Carve out slow mornings: Take your coffee back to bed. Read, write, listen to the rain.

• Morning Pages (three pages of stream-of-consciousness journaling)

• Light a candle or burn incense (I love this At the Museum Incense by Kaleidadope, with notes of wood, paper, and leather)

• Take a stroll (bonus points for leaving the headphones behind)

  

• Read all the park bench inscriptions on said walk

• Sit down on one of the benches and take in the scenery

• Sit in plush grass and run your hands through it

• Lay back in it and identify shapes in the clouds

• Literally stop to smell the flowers

• Get outside for the sunrise or sunset

• Close your eyes and turn your face up to the sun. Notice the warmth.

• See live music/dance/art

• Make something with your hands (art, a recipe, a cup of tea)

• Cook out of a physical cookbook

• Eat sans TV or phone screen

• Don’t bring your laptop on vacation

• Go Do Not Disturb mode

• Leave early to meet a friend for dinner, popping into stores that peak your interest as you mosey

• Talk to your shopkeeper, server, barista

• Take a breath…

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. See you next time xx

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From the List Person Archives:

Layoffs aren’t personal, but it sure does feel like it when your job, the one that takes up 40+ hours of brain space a week; and your coworkers, who you giggle and gossip with on Google Meets; and your actual work, which you take immense pride in because you can’t help it, is simply “eliminated.”

While I’ve been cycling through feelings of panic and relief, hope and hopelessness, I find comfort in that I’ve been here before and live to tell the tale. It’s a sign from the universe, I say when I’m feeling woo-woo.

Because there’s only so much LinkedIn searching and networking a gal can do, I’ve started a list of other ways to fill my time during this unknown period of time, alongside moving, which I also have to do this week when I return from my trip home to Chicago. (Shoutout to my Saturn return for this wealth of change.)

What would you do if your days were more open than ever?

What museums or shows or bakeries or workout classes would you try?

What would you do that you can’t when you’re nine-to-fivin’?

This past Thursday, for example, my mom and I got cannolis from a new-to-us bakery, then went to see a matinee showing of “Devil Wears Prada 2.” No Slack huddles in sight.

My Funemployment Bucket List

• Upstate Day

• Riffle through magazines at Casa Magazines

• Chase a runner’s high and remember I’m more of a walker

• Walk around listening and nodding along to Emma Grede’s book “Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life”

• Ponder my personal metamorphosis in The Butterfly Vivarium in the American Museum of Natural History

• Sweat it out with a mid-day sauna sesh at Othership or Lore

• Spoon into this technicolor fruity whip at Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery in Greenpoint

  

• Visit Klimt’s Drawing Show at Gladstone (open through June 17)

• Take the ferry to the Noguchi Museum (free on the first Friday of the month)

• Find inner peace at The Floating Mountain Tea House in UWS

• Wiggle around at dance class

• Snag one of the coveted 12 seats at Stars in East Village

• Manifest a new job or an incredible freelance client while eating baked goods at Gem Home

• Annual Red Hook Day with Soph

• Finally finish the shaggy strawberry carpet I started months ago

• Look up flights and remember I have no income. Close search tab.

• Opt for Vienna on the UES with a coffee, cake, and a journaling moment at Café Sabarsky (P.S. this is your call to go now as it closes at the end of month until fall)

• Paint watercolor cards for anyone and everyone

• Repeat, repeat, repeat: I don’t chase, I attract. What belongs to me will find me.

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing.

If there’s something you think I should add to my list, I’m all ears. Xx

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Lately on List Person:

While devastated, this isn’t my first rodeo. In fact, this will be my fifth apartment in the five years I’ve lived in New York City.

Right out of school, I lived in a fifth floor walk-up on Stanton Street with my dear friend Stef. Without a living room, we ate meals in my bed watching TV and got ready together infront of my standing mirror, one of us sitting crossed leg on the floor, the other on the bench infront of my bed. I didn’t want to pay a professional to install my AC unit so I wedged it into the window myself, wrapping the cord around the leg of my bed as insurance should it think to fall and crush a poor passerby. In hindsight, a dumb risk to take.

We moved uptown when our other college roommate Hana came to NYC. I thought the angel number address was a good sign. When I arrived on move-in day, the door had a gaping hole where the lock should be, a phone number taped to the spot above it. Set to resolve the glaring security issue immediately, I dialed it up and was soon Venmoing a man $500 before I realized what happened. I recounted the story to Stef and Hana, who had yet to arrive, and they told me to call this scammer back. I once again dialed him up, this time crying, and shamed him for taking advantage of a young woman. He sent me back some $$$. We left the lock and keys for the next trio of girls that were taking our place. Again, hindsight.

The next summer, Stef moved to a farm in Montana, so Hana and I moved back downtown, now a fourth floor walk-up in heart of the LES. Constricted by space, we attempted to hang our TV on a swivel in the kitchen. Unsuccessful, we hired a fatherly TaskRabbit who installed it with ease and told us to call him should we need anything else. We spent the rest of the year ducking under our extended TV to make snacks in the kitchen, then back again to return to our uncomfortable-yet-cute green velvet two-seater.

The last move, back to the Upper East Side, now with Brett, went smoother. I learned to hire TaskRabbits. To throw everything into these blue bags. To not take (too much) shit from movers or supers or people you buy/sell furniture from on FaceBook Marketplace.

I’m trying to approach this next one with excitement. A chance to redesign our space, make some upgrades, and perhaps finally figure out a way to organize our closet (taking suggestions).

Here’s a few ways I’m exciting myself about the move, and just ways to generally spruce up your space this spring.

5 Ways to Refresh Your Space This Season

1. Buy a plant

   I recently wandered into my neighborhood plant shop, amused by all the greenery spilling onto the sidewalk. Admitting to needing low-maintenance foliage for my space (RIP to my last two snake plants), the shopkeeper sentenced me to the Money Tree, “hard to kill” and with a braided trunk to “trap fortunes.” Check and check. But also, get the check book. It was $70 bucks in its clay pot.

   I told him I’d think about it, when in reality I figured that the prices might be better at the Union Square Greenmarket. “You’ve got to spend money to make money,” he told me as I walked out the door. He has a point.

2. Fill your empty walls

   It’s time. Frame that collection of prints you’ve been compiling (and then hang them while you’re still in the mood). I’m going to try to recreate this cutesy photobooth strip frame and purchase this New York City Ballet print I saw at the studio I’ve been taking adult ballet classes at.

   A whimsical mirror, like this one or this one, could also be fun to add to the mix.

3. Replace your carpets (or just clean ‘em)

   I’ve seen this Koi Fish Runner Rug around (on TikTok) a bit now. It doesn’t match the current state of affairs in our home, but perchance it’ll match yours (or be a fun seasonal swap for a hall runner). For the new apartment, I’m thinking of a carpet like this or this for the living room, then still on the hunt for a plush-but-not-shaggy one for our bedroom. Where do people buy carpets these days? I wish I could test each by laying prone on it.

4. Opt for less-scary lights

   I recently saw a Curbed article about how window after window is aglow in shades of orange, a circadian-friendly way to wind down at night. I’m a warm lighting-lover myself (and read by red light before bed) but I’m not sure I’m ready for orange bulbs just yet.

   I have been eyeing linen pendant lights since January, a nifty way to redefine overhead lighting, and now’s the time I make my dreams a reality. Also a fan of ground-level orb-like lights and, you know me, candles galore.

   

5. Donate your clothes

   I admire my friend Cami’s rule: for every new piece of clothing she adds to her closet, she donates something she no longer wears. I personally have a hard time not letting my imagination run wild, conjuring up the exact scenario I might finally take the tags off the red satin dress with a slit too high for family holidays that I bought at a Reformation sample sale three years ago. With this move, I’m putting my foot down, only keeping what I truly wear (but also maybe still that dress).

   If you’re in NYC, this site can help you find places to donate near you. Some pick up!

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing! See you soon xx

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I won’t lie, I’ve only wore the blue satin Sandy Liang slippers one time since purchasing last April. They obliterated my heels on the walk to a nearby coffee shop, leaving me licking my wounds over an iced matcha then all-but-crawling back home. Blood is hard to extract from blue satin, and I’ve been scared to wear them since.

Now that I see it’s been 365+ days, the passage of time is making me realize my cost-per-wear is nowhere near where I’d thought it be, and I’m thinking I’ll need to break them in the way I once did with pointe shoes—thin socks first, then the shoe, then fuzzy socks over. Walk around the house. Do some relevés. Wish away the pain.

This April, I haven’t made any impractical shoe purchases yet (there’s still a few days and a Staud online sample sale underway though). Brett and I have to move soon and I can’t stop looking around at all our stuff and imagining it in boxes…

This will be my fifth NYC apartment in five years. I wish I embraced minimalism. I wish I was an influencer and that pink-branded moving company would transfer all our belongings in exchange for an in-feed post.

More on the impending move another time. In the meantime, here’s a few of my favorite things from April, from music to books to skincare.

Five highlights from this past month:

• New Noah Kahan Album

  Since “The Great Divide” dropped, I’ve been playing it during every park walk, bus ride, and shower. (Get a dedicated bathroom speaker; it’s game-changing.)

  “Dashboard,” “Dan,” and “End of August” are early favorites, but I’m still getting a grasp on the album. I need to watch his documentary but heard you should have tissues nearby.

  Never forget the time Hana and I got cheap tickets to see him at Pier 17 the week “Stick Season” came out, or the time we saw him open for James Bay in 2019 with Stef and Char. Both times involved a lot of red wine.

• Miso-Ginger Chuck Roast

  Easy, delicious, and made the whole house (read: 500-square feet of our apartment) smell divine during its three-hour stint in the oven. In it’s last 15 minutes, you remove the lid, letting it get all crispy and charred on the outside. Mmmmmm.

  

• Every Brilliant Thing with Daniel Radcliffe

  I wrote about this moving one-man show last week, along with a few of the things I find brilliant. If you’re in or around New York, I urge you to go before Daniel’s last show on May 24 (after which Mariska Hargitay stars).

• “Lost Lambs” by Madeline Cash

  Dark, absurd, and at times tender, this book had me smiling to myself from my coveted seat on the crowded downtown 4.

  I particularly enjoyed the author’s stylistic misspelling of words; after mentioning a gnat infestation in the story’s church, she slips g-s into words with n-s (e.g., “explagnation”, “intergnational,” “gnatural”) and it continues until the pests are exterminated. This Reddit thread is pretty divided on it (some DNF’d because of it), but I found it quirky and unserious, like the book itself.

  Now I’m finally listening to Lena Dunham’s “Famesick” and I just bought “Yesteryear” on my Kindle. My bookclub is discussing “Strangers” next week. Take that, reading rut.

• aphaéa Face Mist

  I bought this last September in Greece with Kayla, but just recently moved it from the medicine cabinet to my desk. I find myself reaching for it a few times a day for a little refresh between Google Meets.

  I’m unsure if they ship to the U.S., but it’s more the ritual of a facial spray that I recommend than this one specifically (although it is very rejuvenating and light). Esthetician Sofie Pavitt can do no wrong, so I bet hers is great. I’ve also used and enjoyed the Tower 28 one.

  Along with an at-the-desk refresh, they’re great for spritzing on post-flight or post-workout.

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. I’d love to know your favorites from the month.

See you next time xx

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Lately on List Person:

Since, I’ve published 45 lists, from places to have a very good meal in NYC, to things I find incredibly chic, to 54 pieces of crowd-sourced advice.

I’ve made seasonal bucket lists, I’ve dreamt about what I’d buy with $237,150,000, and I’ve passed the baton to three lovely ladies for a series I’ve dubbed Guest List.

This isn’t a place where I’ve applied my work marketing brain, or made a content calendar, or strategized for growth. I haven’t even used AI. Often, the lists are drafted and sent out on the same day. Often, they receive just a few likes or comments.

This past year, I’ve learned that they’re not going to be perfect or my best writing, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll spark a smile from my grandma or future mother-in-law or even a complete stranger. We’re just having fun here!

On that note… Today’s list is inspired by a very good list I saw on Broadway a few weekends ago: “Every Brilliant Thing,” a one-man show starring Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe. In it, over the course of his character’s life, he compiles all the brilliant, wonderful, simple-yet-extraordinary things that make life worth living. (Yes, I got teary-eyed.)

As the List Person, these little pleasures and delights and gratitude lists are my favorite kind of list entry, the ones I go back to time and time again. (See here and here and here.)

Inspired by the play, I started my own List of Brilliant Things and have been adding to it as I wait for the subway, or right before pilates starts, or as I’m drifting off to sleep.

Here’s a taste of what I have thus far. I would love to know what you find brilliant.

A List of Brilliant Things

• Dancing in public

• A cold eucalyptus towel after hot yoga

• Realizing you can take a break from work to get froyo

• Cherry blossoms in bloom

• Rainbow sprinkles

• The pay day that’s in the middle of the month (doesn’t go right to rent)

• Drinking wine sitting criss-cross on the floor with friends

• Listening to voice memos from your friends and picturing them driving in Wisconsin or in the back of a cab in Shanghai

• Baked Alaska

  

• “On the house”

• Fresh herbs

• The smell left on your fingers after picking fresh herbs

• Showering and getting ready for dinner after a day at the beach

• Getting a tax return. Hell yeah.

• Reading a book that makes you smile (currently “Lost Lambs” by Madeline Cash)

• Cuckoo clocks

• A side of ranch

• Snowmen

• The silly plastic bib they give you to eat lobster

  

• A well-proportioned aperol spritz

• Playing country music when it’s sunny and/or I miss my dad

• The peanut butter and chocolate combo

• A well-executed theme

• Seeing someone really talented do what they’re so clearly meant to do (sing, dance, act, etc.)

• All Too Well 10-Minute Version

• When people don’t take things so seriously

  

• Rainbows

• Waterfalls

• Fireflies

• Fiddlers

• Striped umbrellas

  

• Getting back into bed with your coffee to read or journal

• A cat in your lap

• Community gardens

• The willingness to brazenly embarrass yourself at karaoke

• A breeze that picks up the pieces of hair that fell out of your pony and tickles the back of your neck

• BOGOs

• Love :,)

• Getting randomly sat directly next to your friends at a restaurant

• Park bench inscriptions

• Trying a new takeout place and it being a banger

• The perfect white overall

• Dogs (duh)

• Waking up and feeling well-rested

• Finding something you thought you lost

• When everyone’s active in the groupchat at the same time

• When a dress you’ve been eyeing goes on sale

• When you get to the subway platform right as the train arrives

• The first shower in your new apartment after a sweaty moving day

• Watching the NYC Marathon

  

• The smell of a newspaper

• The smell of fresh cut grass

• The smell of garlic and butter on the stovetop

• Sleeping and switching off who’s little spoon

• “This made me think of you”

• A non-oily potato chip

• Really big masterpieces that make you wonder what the artist’s workshop must look like

• The first snow

• 70 degrees and sunny

• Toddlers walking

• Flowers

• Rain falling on a body of water

• Swimming in the ocean

• Getting really hot in the sauna then running and jumping in the lake

• Pool noodles

• Pontoon boats

• Coasting down a small hill on a bike

• The feeling of relief when you finally floss out something that was stuck in your tooth

• Lists (!!!)

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Happy one year to us xx

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When I first heard of “looksmaxxing,” I thought, what an adorable re-brand of what women have been doing for centuries: sacrificing money, energy, personal fulfillment, occasionally even physical well-being for the sake of beauty. However, during our headstart in this race, many of us have learned what these Gen Z boys are yet to—the pursuit of beauty is a game played against an indomitable enemy: time. And, ironically, time is also the highest price you pay to play. Twenty minutes a day Gua Sha’ing, weeks spent acquiring pharmaceutical grade retinol, hours researching the ‘most natural’ fake tanner, more hours washing the not-so-natural-after-all fake tanner out of your sheets, years of watching makeup tutorials for your eyeshadow to still look unintentional. Boys, I promise, we have tried it all. We’ve waist-trained, dermaplaned, and chemical peeled, and still the only thing that works is sunscreen.

So, while the boys hammer their cheek bones, I encourage the ladies to join me in greener pastures: comfortmaxxing. Comfortmaxxing is a philosophy of optimizing your wardrobe for physical comfort…while still looking kinda cute, because c’mon we can’t eschew all societal influences!

The Cardinal Principles of Comfortmaxxing:

1. Size UP. Let go of all notions of what size you ‘are’ and go with the size feels right. It would be generous to say I’m a B-cup, but I buy bralettes—obviously I’ve ditched underwire—in a size extra-large. Bigger is better.

2. High-waisted pants are bad for digestion AND morale. Do you have a stomach ache or are your jeans cutting off circulation to a vital organ?

3. Compression is oppression. NO MORE SHAPEWEAR.

To help you embark on your Comfortmaxxing journey, I present a list of comfy pants for all occasions.

The Ultimate List of Comfy Pants for Every Occassion

DISCLAIMER: I acknowledge that all of these pants are expensive, but when I say comfortmaxxing, I do mean maxxing… I’m also bad with money :)

Comfiest Everyday Pant: Leset Rio High-Waist Flare Pant

The Leset Rio pants are not a showstopper, but they are the pair I reach for most. The fabric has a thickness and a quality to it that makes them just slightly more elevated than a yoga pant. Pair ‘em with a flat or a kitten heel (see above) and sneak in a nap at the office. Bonus points because the cropped cut fits my 5’3 frame with no alterations.

Comfiest Work Pants: Theory Pull-on Pant

The Theory pull-on pant is the final boss of work pants. With this elastic waistband, your days of post-lunch agony are behind you. Even better, the tailored, freshly ironed look holds true through overpacked suitcases and clothes-pile-chairs alike. These come in many styles and fabrics, but my favorite is the Treeca in Admirable Crepe for the short girls (see left). Shout out also to the wide-leg version which I loved, but couldn’t be bothered to hem (see right).

Comfiest Lounge Pants: Leset Lauren Straight Leg Pants / Lauren Crop Flare for the short gals

My lifelong dream is to look put together wearing pajamas, and this Leset pair made it possible. The fabric is revolutionary—an invention on par with the printing press or penicillin. I gave my sister a pair and she never got them tailored because she couldn’t let them go for two days. They’re that good.

Comfiest Slim Fit Jeans: Mother

In a sea of violently rigid denim, Mother offers pliable, stretchy jeans in all shapes and colors. Two of my faves are pictured above, but choose whichever style speaks to you—the magic is in the fabric.

Comfiest Baggy Jeans: Rag & Bone Featherweight Baggy Boyfriend Jeans

Rag & Bone’s Featherweight denim is an extraordinarily soft and breathable alternative to traditional jeans. These give you the look of a classic pair of Levi’s without the stiflingly thick fabric. Embrace the low-rise (see rule 2).

Comfiest Workout Pants: Lululemon Align Leggings

I know, I know. Say it ain’t so. Unfortunately, Lululemon’s Align leggings are in fact the comfiest on the market. In a world of workout pants trying to ‘suck you in’ (see rule 3), this fabric stretches and molds to fit your actual body, as is—imagine that. The price is abominable, but these do hold up forever.

Comfiest Funky Pants: Anthropologie Maeve Kick-Flare Pants

As you may have gleaned from the preceding photos, I’m not oft sporting a pattern (I leave those to Tessa); however, when I want a little pizzazz these Anthro pants are my go-to. The stretchy material and elastic waistband make them bloat-proof; plus, Anthropologie is constantly releasing new colors and patterns for those funkier than I.

Comfiest Comfy Pants: Your Oldest, Most Rancid Sweats

Ultimately, only you can source your comfiest comfy pants—they are personal and irreplicable. Perhaps they were your grandma’s pajamas, relics of a bat mitzvah long past, or in my case a pair of sorority hand-me-downs with faded greek lettering lovingly scrawled across the ass.

From one bloated gal to another, go forth in comfort!

Tess again! I don’t know anyone more qualified to speak on comfort with such clarity than Hana. Many of our conversations are held horizontally. I’d say follow Hana on Instagram or check her out Substack, but she has an elusive online presence. Until her reality show one day…

Thanks for reading and subscribing. See you next week. Xx

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Past Guest Lists:

In reflecting on the past month’s eats, I’ve realized I’ve finally checked a few boxes on my ever-growing must-try list, like Bernie’s and Le French Diner, as well as returned to some tried-and-true favorites. Feeling very content (and very full).

Below, a few stand-outs. As always, I’m taking recs.

My favorite meals of March:

• Sunday Roast at Hawksmoor

  “Because Sunday is not about restraint. It is about abundance, gravy boats within easy reach, and the table falling quiet for all the right reasons.”
  

  If this quote, plucked straight from Hawksmoor’s website, resonants with you, then you may also want to pay the NYC outpost of this posh British restaurant a visit. Specifically on a Sunday afternoon.

  Think: dry-aged rump roast, Yorkshire puddings, and roasted veg—all dressed in a rich, glossy gravy and polished off with sticky toffee pudding.

  The best part of our dining experience was that Brett and I were spontaneously sat directly next to our good friends (British lads themselves just out for a taste of home). Of all the restaurants in the city. Of all the seats in the restaurant. Felt so very kismet.

• Forsythia Date Night

  My first apartment in NYC was a fifth floor walk-up on Stanton Street next to a perfectly shitty bodega and a romantic Roman-inspired restaurant called Forsythia.

  Every day, on the walk to my office in SoHo, I’d see them hand-rolling pasta and fantasize about a world where I befriended the pasta artisans and entirety of the staff; in this fantasy, I’d be the last one at the bar, sipping wine and chatting while they wiped wine glasses dry, the chef bringing out dessert on the house. Unfortunately, I’m a bed-at-10 kinda girl. And also sometimes shy.

  Brett and I went just once that year. I brought my parents there a few years later on a visit. The short rib agnolotti is one of my favorite dishes in the city. I booked us a Tuesday date night there back in February when I was just craving something to look forward to.

  Along with the agnolotti, we also selected a few dishes (and a juice pairing!) from their limited-run collaboration with Oslo restaurant Maeemo, including a cappelletti (essentially a tortellini) with lamb neck, carrot cream, and lamb jus. And, of course, we couldn’t leave without dessert.

• Lined up for Bernie’s

  The sundae at Bernie’s caught my eye awhile back, but the fact that you have to go at 4 pm, put your name in, and wait was daunting. But, with a newfound pep in my step from the onset of spring, and my dear friend Emily to accompany, we picked a Saturday to venture to Greenpoint and give it a whirl. We lined up up at 3:45 for their 4 pm open, and were told to come back at 6 for dinner. Two hours? Easy. We grabbed a spritz, then did some lazy laps around McCarren Park.

  The wedge salad was a stand-out. As was the sundae. And the dirty martini.

• Vietnaam Take-Out

  Recreate my perfect past Friday night: 6:00 pm yoga, everything shower, take-out pho (eaten in your robe), two glasses of chilled red, and an at-home viewing of Hamnet. Grab tissues. Jessie Buckley earned that Oscar.

  

• Thursday Night at Le French Diner

  I met my friend Sophie for a post-work dinner on a very beautiful, very sunny Thursday. We met at the quaint LES bistro, max 18 seats, walk-in only, at 6 pm and were immediately seated—in the prime window spot, nonetheless.

  Buzzing off our table assignment, the glorious sun, and a split bottle of orange wine, we shared buttery, garlic-y escargot (sopped up with sourdough), a crisp green salad, and the hangar steak. The only photo I got was the picture of Soph’s pour. Generous.

  

• Honorable mention: Up Thai

  With friends in town last week, I rounded out our UES itinerary with a prime-time dinner res at my local favorite. It’d be a crime to not order the curry puffs.

And then, because I love ya, here’s a bonus list of some recipes I’ve enjoyed lately and think you should recreate imminently:

• Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies (don’t skimp on the chocolate chips)

• Spring Quinoa Salad

• Copycat Reese’s Eggs

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Xx

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Still hungry?

Even before they booked their flights here, I distributed an itinerary in the form of a shared Note—my Type A symbol of love.

The best weekend, in my opinion, checks off the following: great food, great drinks, a park visit, a little shopping, and a little arts/culture moment. It’s both structured and spontaneous and, yes, even has a little down time baked in (don’t worry).

Feeling nostalgic, I looked through a few of the past itineraries I’ve shared from my Notes app. What I found was a few recurring themes, or rather areas of the city. Below, a taste of just three of them (which I also love to do by myself on any given weekend).

The LES Hit List

If I had to pick a favorite street in the city, it’d be Orchard Street. I lived off it for one year and, while I look back at that shoebox apartment and cringe, it was incredible to be in such close proximity to so many great shops and bars. If I’m taking you down to the Lower East Side/Dimes Square, we’re probably going to:

• Shop: Susan Alexandra, Sandy Liang, LAAMS, Sweet Pickle Books, The Vintage Twin, Coming Soon, Ron David Studio, November 19

• Eat: Kiki’s, Cervo’s, Scarr’s Pizza, Sunday to Sunday, Elbow Bread

• Drink: Bar Belly, Casetta, Le Dive, Skin Contact

Also, if you’re looking to learn in the LES, I recommend the Tenement Museum.

Arts & Culture in the UES

I love to explore my own neighborhood, especially the park, and especially when the weather is as springy and glorious as it was this past weekend. Just wait until cherry blossom season! With all the museums, it’s also a great spot to spend a rainy afternoon.

• Shop: Stroll along Madison Ave (and be sure to hit Zitomer Pharmacy)

• Eat: The Bagel Shop (pair with a Birch Coffee), Butterfield Market (for froyo), Up Thai, NR, JG Melon, Milano Market, Nightly’s, Pop Up Bagels, Anita’s Gelato

• Drink: Third Avenue Ale House, Bar Florine, Jeremy’s, Plug Uglies

• Do: Central Park (Conservatory Garden), museum moment (MET, Guggenheim, or The Frick), CityPickle in the park

Brooklyn Bopping

Get off at Bedford Ave and walk down toward the water. After popping in a few shops, stop for a cheeky day drink at the new location of Dolly’s, then let that buzz carry you to Greenpoint for a few more shops and bops.

• Shop: Artists & Fleas, Ganni, Sabah House, Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op, Dream Fishing Tackle, Tula House

• Eat: Cafe Mogador, Bernie’s Restaurant, Pierozek, Rule of Thirds, Cafe Panna, Radio Bakery, Birds of a Feather, Leo, Oxomoco

• Drink: Dolly’s Swing & Dive, Layla, Matchaful, Brouwerij Lane, Luckydog

• Do: Go sit and be content by the water, The Gutter (bowling & beer), Happy Medium

So…come visit?

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Xx

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Lately on List Person:

The dirty snow was practically gone. The neighborhood watering hole had patrons spilling onto the sidewalk, spritzes and pints in hand. Central Park was saturated with strollers and dogs and picnic blankets once again.

I shed my puffer and nearly a tear. Was this what hope felt like?

Sadly, winter-ish weather has since resumed but, instead of reentering hibernation, I’ve decided that spring, for me, starts now. Damn the equinox!

As Hugh Grant narrates in Love Actually, “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” Replace “love” with “spring” and voilà: you too can enter a spring-y state of mind.

Here’s to a season of whimsy and carrot cake and pastels and metamorphosis. A time to eat Reese’s eggs and feign your annual interest in basketball for March Madness and stash an umbrella in your bag.

A time to tilt your chin up to the sun and let it hit your face and smile—because winter is over and your Coned bill is not yet astronomical.

A list of what’s filling my heart with spring:

• After-work walks in the daylight

• Quiche

• These vegetable patch taper candle holders

• Tulips from the bodega

  

• Pops of light purple

• Kicking the AC back on

• Overalls

• Day drinking on a Saturday

• Pink sunsets

  

• Strangers smiling at you

• Shoving your big puffer back under your bed

• Wicker baskets

• The pale yellow sweater I just ordered from Gap

  

• An iced matcha

• These lilypad cocktail napkins

• The urge to skip

• This nature timeline from NYC Parks & Rec

  

• Froyo for dinner

• Cream cheese frosting

• Craving a spritz

  

That’s all for now. Happy spring from yours truly.

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Xx

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Let’s get right into it.

My Favorite Moments/Eats/Seasonal Citruses/Crafts/Etc. From the Past Month

• Breakfast for dinner

• Karaoke

  It’s fun to sing places other than the shower. Mikayla and I duet-ed “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and were given a Green Tea shot mid-performance. I’d call it a success.

• Steak frites at Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte

  Picture this: you’re having a shitty, shitty day at work. You and your coworker friend meet for martinis, steak, and venting. For a fleeting moment, all is well in the world.

  

• All the engagement love from our friends and family

  Still feeling so loved (and our bar cart is brimming with champagne)! A mimosa-heavy brunch is in our near-future.

• Speaking of love…Valentine’s Day celebrations with friends

• Sumo citrus

  People forget that once, when faced with an apartment building fire, I grabbed a Sumo from my fruit bowl on the way out the door.

• Antica Farmacista Aperol Spritz Diffuser

  Also in the citrus realm. I didn’t buy it when I was putzing around Zitomer Pharmacy, but I’ve been thinking about it since. On deck to become a spring/summer purchase.

  

• Elta MD Tinted Face Sunscreen

  Just repurchased for the ~712th time. Been wearing this since high school.

• Heatless overnight curls

  Pair with the Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray, per my mom’s advice.

• Local Style Potato Chips

  Not too greasy. A perfect crunch. And unique flavors! The hot dog one is my favorite. It’s perfectly pickle-y.

  

• Being home

  Including a beautiful 60-degree day where my mom and I got 20,000+ steps wedding venue-perusing in Chicago.

• This healing elixir

  Hot water, a whole lemon, honey, turmeric, cinnamon, and a crack of black pepper (which activates the turmeric).

  

• Latch Hooking

  I’m making a carpet in the shape of a strawberry. My goal is to be done by April!

• Song: What I Might Do by Ben Pearce

• Book: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

• Show: Love Story

That’s all for now! I’d love to know about your February favorites. Xx

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Lately on List Person:

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Just the past few days I’ve found myself discussing:

Is waiting in line for the freddo cappuccino at the new UES outpost of Casita of Brooklyn worth the time? My fiancé and I, hungry for breakfast, decided no. I’ll come back on a weekday.

Is a post-work walk worth the energy? 1000%, especially after working from home all day. As tempting as just slinking to the couch is, it serves as a much needed transition from work mode to relaxation mode.

Is the Nécessaire “The Deodorant” worth the money? And fast follow-up: Does this natural deodorant work? says yes and yes; I’ve placed an order of her favorite Hinoki scent and will report back. My long-time love, Dove Advanced Care in Cucumber, is quaking.

Below a running list of what I find worth my time, money, energy, and embarrassment. Would love to know what’s worth yours.

THINGS WORTH MY MONEY

• Daily contacts

• Hostess & housewarming gifts

• A thick black scarf

• Nice butter

• Subscription to

• Flowers

• A sexy black boot

• Tipping 20% while dining out

• Nice sheets

• Girl Scout Thin Mints

• TSA Pre-Check

• Califia Farms Organic Almond Milk (just 3 ingredients, no weird additives, AND froths well)

• Skims pajamas

  

• A girls trip

• Going on vacation

• Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Clearing Serum (I’ve been using this for well over a year and it has truly transformed my skin)

• Delivery fee (+ tip) for takeout on a rainy night after a long day of work when you have nothing in your fridge

• Keap Candle in Wood Cabin

• A coffee you didn’t really want but it was an opportunity to hang with a coworker

• TaskRabbit

THINGS WORTH MY TIME

• Russian manicures

• Watching Game of Thrones

• The line to get a cardamom bun at La Cabra

  

• Getting up 30 minutes earlier to journal

• Stretching

• A good book (May I recommend “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans?)

• An afternoon at the MET

• Curating a playlist before a party

• Listening to NPR Up First every morning

• Calling your mom

• Taking off work on your/your significant other’s birthday

• A slow Sunday morning in bed

• Making pancakes

• PTO!!!

• Volunteering

• Waiting to eat at JG Melon

  

• Making a cup of tea

• Baking

• Visiting the farmers market

• Sending a “this reminded me of you” text

• Traveling to Michigan

• Flossing/dental care

• Annual physical

THINGS WORTH MY ENERGY

• Maintaining friendships

• FaceTimes

• Dogs

• Going on a walk

• Maintaining traditions

• A good cardio workout (bonus points if it’s dance-y)

• Hosting a themed dinner party (long live Souptember)

• Putting up seasonal decor

• Doing a quick tidy before going to bed

• Going to Trader Joe’s for the Hot + Sweet Jalapeños

• Making peace before you go to sleep

• Weeknight plan (breaks up the week)

• Strategic networking

• Listening to the answer to “How was your day?”

• Seeing a movie in theaters* (*theater must have fully reclining chairs)

• A silly night out (hopefully worth the hangover, too)

• Snagging a Friday reservation at Le Veau d’Or

• Bringing your shoes to a cobbler

• Getting something tailored

• Meal-prepping overnight oats

• Molly Baz Pistachio, Brown Butter & Halva Cookies (let the dough rest overnight)

  

THINGS WORTH THE EMBARRASSMENT

• Asking to pet a dog

• Asking for a skinny spicy marg (sue me, but I feel much better in the morning)

• Asking for directions

• Bundling up in the biggest possible puffer when it’s cold

  

• Karaoke

• Being a tourist

• Haggling prices (when appropriate)

• Learning something new

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Xx

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As always, the girls delivered. Below, sixty incredibly sexy moments, people, fabrics, drinks, decor, and more. Just in time to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day!

A List of 60 Sexy Things

• Candlelight

• Lace

• Silk

• Red nails

• Red wine

• Martinis, ice cold

• “I made us a reservation. Be ready at 7.”

• Eating at the bar (Author’s note: Sit at the bar at Forsythia or Claud.)

• A hot bartender

• Having a drink waiting for you

• Low-lit wine bars

• Whiskey neat

• Glossy lips

• An accent

• Glasses

• A pointed toe shoe

• Pinky rings

• Witty humor

• Confidence

• People being their true self

• Follow through

• A voice memo instead of a text

• A positive response during disagreements or stress

• Concentrated/competitive facial expressions

• Little gestures (e.g., pumping gas, carrying suitcase)

• When they’re a little bit toxic

• A big bowl of pasta

• Oysters

• Whipped cream

• A fresh pizza glistening with grease

• Being alone with your snacks and show

• Heated Rivalry

• Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley

• Conrad Fisher washing and drying the dishes in TSITP

• Andy Anderson (Kate Hudson) in her yellow dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

• Drinking from an espresso cup

• Freshly brewed coffee (just the way you like it) handed to you right when you wake up

• Wearing a big oversized boy’s shirt

• Warm, spicy, woody scents

• A three-day weekend

• Sunsets

• Boats

• Bad Bunny

• Dua Lipa

• Jacob Elordi

• Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet (“together as a unit”)

• Madison Chock and Evan Bates

  

• A heels dance class

• Trampoline bounce class (“cuz you feel snatched from the lymphatic drainage”)

• Muscles in motion

• A well-tailored suit

  

• A breezy white button-up

• Girls’ night

• Small finger tattoos

• A plan

• A planless Saturday

• Playing pool

• Playing hooky

• Nice arms

• That video of Oscar Isaac kissing the inside of Jessica Chastains arm on the red carpet (Author’s note: I’ve only just become aware of this. My goodness!)

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing!

Hope you have a hot date, with yourself, a friend, or a love, this Valentine’s Day.

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More crowdsourced wisdom:

We weren’t supposed to still be upstate; our noon train got cancelled and the rest of the day’s trains back were fully booked.

As a Certified Type A gal, I’m not one to usually enjoy a change in plans. This was an exception. To have one extra day to ourselves—a quiet Sunday of chess and reading and brunch with waffles for table—was special.

Substack isn’t where I’ll wax poetic, but it is where I’ll share that, because this moment has been a long-time coming, I didn’t expect to feel so giddy. Yet, every time I look down at the ring, I feel just that: warm and loved and excited and bubbly. And not just by Brett. The outpouring of love from our family and friends (and even distant high school classmates) has been extremely heartwarming.

So, while I’m me and have already started to compile mood boards and research venues and peruse Sandy Liang’s bridal collection, I’m also trying to stop and enjoy this moment.

It was a perfect weekend away and if you find yourself looking for an escape from New York City sans car, below are my recommendations for a trip to Hudson. I can’t wait to go back and experience it in the summer.

Where to Spend a Wintery Weekend in Hudson

• Feast & Floret

  A cozy Italian restaurant off the town’s main street. Think fireplace, furs over chairs, lots of candles, a shared bottle of red, and hands-down one of the best tiramisus I ever did eat. The waitress said something about hazelnut in it?

• Lava Hot Yoga

  A great place to sweat out said bottle of red wine the next morning. (P.S. Mats are free to rent your first visit.)

• The Antique Warehouse

  40,000 square feet of antique furniture, housewares, and clothes. You could truly spend a whole day in here.

• Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery

  Started our time here doing the “Winter Flight” tasting, ended with slightly buzzed FaceTimes to our family and friends to share that we just got engaged! This is first-up on my list to visit when there’s not a foot-plus of snow.

• Baba Louie’s Pizza

  A rec from a friend with very good taste. Makes for a great casual dinner or lunch spot.

  

• Shopping along Warren St.

  Pop into a shop, strike up a convo with the shop owner, warm up, exit, repeat.

• Maker Hotel

  This hotel is sexy. While we didn’t have $700/night to spend on one of their artfully curated rooms (see here), we did enjoy afternoon tea in their café’s sun-soaked window spot. Next time, we’ll get drinks at the bar.

• WM Farmers & Son

  Oysters and a Negroni Sbagliato and a fire crackling nearby. Say less!

• Kitty’s

  A great diner. Get the BEC with sauerkraut (just trust me).

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and subscribing.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and Superbowl Sunday tomorrow. I’m making Wishbone Kitchen’s Spinach Artichoke Dip.

See you next week xx

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Maybe it’s the fact that I’m an undeniable romantic, or my Midwestern childhood, or that I just love any excuse to pull out my adorable Nordic wool mittens, but the snow really does it for me.

I feel truly giddy watching it come down.

There’s something particularly magical about this brief period when the snow is a clean, pure cloak over the entire city. Soon, the streets will become mushy and a disaster to navigate in your favorite pair of shoes. Embrace it now!

The storm’s dominated conversation for much of the week and, as such, I’ve been planning my Central Park walk—followed by a stop to get hot chocolate—since Tuesday. I’ve also been talked out of renting snowshoes for said walk.

I also can’t wait to simply wrap in my blanket and sit infront of the (YouTube TV) fire and read, glancing up at the window frequently to reinforce the coziness of my situation.

Whether you plan to slip on your boots or happily enjoy the day from inside, here’s a few ways to savor your snow day.

Ways to Make the Most of Your Snowy Sunday

• Read. Now’s the time to finally finish Wuthering Heights ahead of the Margot Robbie x Jacob Elordi movie adaptation, if I do say so myself.

• Watch. I also can’t think of a better time for a matinée showing right from your living room. Opt for a collection of Wes Anderson films, or Harry Potters, or nostalgic 2000s bangers (e.g., She’s the Man, Bring It On, A Cinderella Story). Perhaps building a fort sans the presence of kids is overboard, but I’d still encourage you to bring out all your blankets, maybe even your comforter, to curate peak cozy vibes.

• Venture out. Go to a park. See kids sled. Tilt your chin up to the sky and catch a snowflake on your tongue. Rock your favorite mittens.

  

• Make a soup! Alison Roman’s new cookbook, “Something from Nothing,” is also great for days like today when you don’t want to grocery shop but you still want to conjure up something delicious.

• Cozy up at a café or wine bar. Preferably with a prime seat by the window. Order something warm and fun. (La Bomboniera is great on the UES, or go a little more upscale with Café Sabarsky. Get the Wiener Mélange or any of the coffees with whipped cream. And don’t forget the Sachertorte.)

• Sip hot spiced wine. I have cinnamon sticks, star anise, a Sumo citrus, and a bottle of red just waiting to be turned into a steamy, blush-inducing mug of vino.

• Go out to eat. Hear me out: A lot of people are staying in. Now’s your time to walk into a buzzy restaurant and try your hand at a table. I’ve also done dim sum on a snow day before and it was divine.

• Plan. Maybe you vehemently oppose the snow…to each their own. Plan a trip somewhere warm. I give you permission to start shopping for outfits, too.

How are you spending your snow day? I’d love to know!

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing. Until next time Xx

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Lately on List Person:

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Between chopsticks-full of my favorite Thai take-out, I dug through the site, stopping to ponder weird SKUs like a pet grooming set and an oak wood-and-steel dumbbell stand before landing on a list of homeware I’d happily own.

Find them all below, categorized. (And someone tell me I don’t need a toast rack before it’s too late.)

Most Important Meal of the Day

• Gloss Decorative Trays - Giving Gustaf Westman.

• Glass Espresso Cup with a Raised Design - Under $6. Undeniably chic.

• Toast Rack & Butter Dish - I think I’d eat a lot more toast for breakfast if it was served on such a vessel.

Host Doing the Most

• Mother of Pearl Coasters - Pair with the Gohar World Pearl Napkin rings.

• Triple Appetizer Bowl - Fill with the holy trinity of aperitivo hour: Castelvetrano olives, Marcona almonds, fancy cheese cubes.

• Brass Standing Wine Cooler - Imagine you show up at mine for a casual drink and I have a funky red chilling in here.

Sweet Treat O’ Clock

• Metal Glass Cake Dish - I’m imagining a batch of blueberry muffins within.

• Silicone Ice Cream Containers - Meal prep meets sweet treat.

• Scalloped Metal Glasses - For a big scoop of tiramisu. Or that aforementioned ice cream. Or even just a little berry medley.

Home Improvements

• Small Asymmetric Wall Mirror - Swanky.

• Geometric Root Table - I’m not sure this has drawers, which doesn’t make it very functional storage-wise, but I do enjoy the optics.

• Linen Pendant Lamp Lampshade - Redefining “overhead light” one pendant lamp at a time.

Bonus: I didn’t have a category for this Floral Print Kitchen Colander, but needed to share incase you too have a clunky, plastic eye sore of a colander.

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As always, thank you for reading and subscribing.

And if you’re in the market for a brown suede belt, check out my search for the perfect one on The Strategist.

Until next time. Xx

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