Happy Friday! I am on what is hopefully the tail end of a very bad cold (whatever is going around is just the worst) plus, big time construction! They started the demolition for my pool project this week. As with so many home projects one issue led to another which led to another (in this case we hit the water line and needed to move it and then discovered a block in my sewer (tree roots!) that needed to be removed). Mostly, my excitement about having a pool this summer outweighs any of the bad stuff. I will tell you one thing: the cats are not happy between all of the coughing and nose blowing and now the backyard getting blown to bits. Sorry boys!
I like to set intentions, goals, whatever you want to call them every year (mine will be coming soonish, maybe next week… I am still thinking!), but before that, I like to set a word for the year! Last year, my word was discipline. I wrote more about that in this blog post, and it served me well. Especially with my time!
This year, I am taking a softer approach… my word is NOURISH.
Here are some of the ways I think about this.
Nourishing meals. (Cooking more and healthy meal prep are going to be a big focus for me this year)
Workouts that leave my body feeling nourished vs. depleted and hangry.
Friend hangs that feed the soul. More walks, more smaller group dinners, more Mahjong nights, more spontaneity, having friends over my house. Less events and larger parties - they have their place but can be draining!
Books that nourish my mind (for me this means reading/listening to more non-fiction, especially self-improvement type of books). But also: comfort books (for me, comfort books are dark and twisty thrillers, not sure what that says about me but it is what it is!).
Just in general, taking better care of myself. Not in a way that is intense (lose weight! get ripped! be able to run 6 miles) but in a way that feels thoughtful and… nourishing! I guess that’s why nourish is the word!
On The Stripe (my blog!) this week.
5 posts this week! We are into peak January content which means LOTS of reflecting back on the previous year… and, looking ahead to 2024.
We kicked off the week with your favorite products of 2024. My best-selling products for the entire year. I always love digging through end of year numbers and seeing what resonated best!
And then: my year end books post: everything I read in 2023, neatly ranked and sorted by genre. We also did a more visual version of this for Instagram.
The 5 trends we are most excited about this year. (We being Carly and I). They’re surprisingly (refreshing!) easy to wear.
The top blog posts of the year. Number one really surprised me!
Lastly, a bit about my custom flower ring and the design process.
This Week in Reading:
I was sick for the better part of this week so I read a LOT, buckle up.
I finally finished reading The Covenant of Water on Sunday night. Oh my goodness. To be totally honest, this was a slog at times — it is dense and there are so many characters and it is over 700 pages long. But then! The last eighty pages took my breath away. Literally: I gasped. I felt like those eighty pages made the journey worth it - just took a while to get there. So do with that information what you will. This book is not for when you’re feeling antsy or impatient.
After that, I moved onto a Lisa Jewell book because I wanted something light and fun and her twisty thrillers are just it for me. The Family Remains was peak Lisa Jewell at her best. Super twisty, pretty dark… it’s about three different stories (set in London) that intersect. I read it in under 24 hours. LOVED.
I started Hello Beautiful on Wednesday. I’m about halfway through. I was shamed (in a nice way) by so many for not reading this one — it came highly recommended by so many. Anyway. It’s good but sleepy so far. My DM’s are a mix of “it gets better!” and “I DNF’d that one, way too slow.” I will let you know where I shake out.
On the audio front I finally finished Setting the Table by Danny Meyer. Loved this one. I love anything having to do with food and this is part memoir/part business book. I have been recommending it to anyone in the service industry (and YES - I consider influencing being in the service industry). So many great takeaways while also learning the stories behind so many of my favorite restaurants.
There are longer reviews of all of these in The Library!
A Reader Question!
(if you have a question for a future newsletter, please email grace@thestripe.com - it helps if you are specific and include budget, your personal style, etc.)
Q. Would love some help shopping for a dress for a formal wedding in Colombia in late March! My style is ‘basic but put together’ (if that makes sense?) and comfort is always key! Looking for a floor-length dress that ideally has either wider straps or a short flowy sleeve (not a cap sleeve fan over here), and is colorful without screaming resort wear/island vacation. Budget is about $300 but willing to go higher for a good quality and well fitting item and bonus if it is in petite sizing!
A. How fun! Here are a few ideas. (This sounded like an easy request but wounded up being hard. Why are there so few great formal dresses with short sleeves!?)
This satin gown from Banana is GORGE and it comes in petites. I think this would be my top pick. I know some say no to red for weddings (I never have personally heard that from a bride but I’ve heard others say it) but I feel like red would be perfect for Colombia. Also from Banana: not quite floor length but stunning and a great price.
This little cutie has a gorgeous flowy sleeve.
Farm Rio was my first instinct when I got your email. Most of their long dresses have long sleeves or spaghetti straps but I do love this or this.
Not sure how you feel about the lower neckline but this is a stunner and she’s under $100!
Last but not least a few fun finds from the Shopbop sale (all an extra 25% off through Sunday! Sizes going quickly. This pink Figue (only in a size 4 right now!), this Borgo de Nor (are the straps thick enough?), this green printed maxi, this printed purple.
Might not be long enough (though if you are petite, maybe) but had to include as I LOVE the print and the short sleeve is perfect: this floral tiered frock.
excited to follow along with the pool install. plus it totally aligns with your word of the year! (water = nourishing!)
I also undertook the one-word exercise and loved “harmony” but “nourish” also resonates. Playing with my word now...cultivate...nurture...