Happy Monday ya’ll. I’m sorry this is so late. I was in Cairo, Egypt for my friends Erika and Ankur’s wedding, and the schedule was so packed I barely had time to write.
The wedding was truly unlike anything I’ve ever attended, and I’ll be posting more on Instagram this week. I met the couple when I was hired to attend an event for BILT, Ankur’s company. We hit it off and the rest is history!!!
If you rent your apartment like me, you should absolutely apply for a BILT credit card. BILT will send a check to your landlord and will charge your credit card so you can build credit (and earn points) from your rent, which is arguably your biggest expense every month. It’s such a genius concept and I’m mad at myself for not getting one sooner. Sign up here.
Today’s newsletter includes my weekly report and ALL of my travel hacks.
THE WEEKLY REPORT
READING: Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering. There was no WiFi on the eleven hour plane ride to Egypt, so I started and finished Bye Baby in a couple of hours. Lovering is also the author of Tell Me Lies, which is one of my favorite books and was recently turned into a show for HULU. The show is great, but the book is even better. Bye Baby was a quick read. I thought it was a really interesting take on friendships and healing from trauma. It hits on the importance of communicating - no matter what happens, communication is the foundation of any relationship. You have to have those tough conversations and know that what is meant for you will never pass you.
EATING: My favorite ice cream store, Salt & Straw is finally launching in the West Village and I am so fucking excited. Ice cream is my favorite dessert on the planet. I think the reason for my ice cream addiction is that my mami furiously ate pints of Ben & Jerry’s “Chunky Monkey” during her pregnancy (her obstetrician told her it was okay to eat as much as she wanted during her pregnancy, which was not sound advice. LOL.)
PROUD OF: I’ve been a Paris Hilton fan since I was 10 years old.I don't remember what exactly attracted me to her. But there was something about her unabashed sense of confidence that, as a pre-pubescent, chubby girl, seemed unattainable and aspirational at the same time. I dressed as her for a party when I was 14 years old (I can't find the picture but it is seared in my memory) and exchanged stories about Paris with my Argentine aunt, Diana, who was also obsessed with her. So when I got an offer to collaborate with Paris Hilton on her Tan Luxe self-tan product, I was over the moon and I knew exactly what I wanted to do: a homage to my idol. I researched all her iconic lines, outfits, and photos, and acquired every outfit and prop. After an immediate approval from the brand, I proceeded to shoot the video. I was super proud of how it came out, but still a bit anxious about how Paris would receive it. So when the video was posted and Paris herself re-posted it for her 26.4 million followers, let’s just say it doesn't get sweeter than this. Watch the video here.
OBSESSING: Tony Bianco’s commitment to providing us dupes of all the season’s hottest shoes is absolutely incredible. While there’s obviously an ethical conundrum when it comes to dupes (technically replicas?), I also appreciate being able to buy a trendy shoe at the fraction of a price. How good are these? They are giving The Row. And these are giving Miu Miu. Oh, and these Alaia dupes are currently being shipped to me.
TRAVELING: Egypt was amazing — I wish I had more time to explore Cairo. A couple days before the wedding, Ankur & Erika closed down the pyramids to give us all a private tour. It was unbelievable to be able to see the Sphinx and pyramids so up close. It truly is a wonder of the world and I’m so grateful I was able to see these magnificent and deeply historical landmarks up close.
I’ve noticed that destination weddings are becoming more and more common, so as I prepared for the 11 hour flight to Egypt, I took note of all my travel hacks (see below). You’re welcome.
STREAMING: Watch Ripley. Every frame is beautiful and the acting is fantastic. It’s a con-man story (yes, it’s adapted from the same book as The Talented Mr. Ripley movie) with the art house treatment - it’s shot in black and white, which normally would turn me off but no. This was the most beautiful cinematography I have seen in ages. What a fucking masterpiece.
We also finished Baby Reindeer. We all know by now how the Netflix algorithm sometimes delivers an unexpected show without absolutely any advance notice. No marketing, no press articles; you just see it at the top of your feed and without warning, you’re in for a bumpy ride. That’s how I felt watching this show. It seems to be a comedic-thriller about a stalker, but ends up being so much more. It depicts the pursuit of FAME and attention, something that as a content creator, I struggle with sometimes. How far would you go to get your content out? To be seen? How much is the need for an audience the need for unconditional love? It sounds heady but it is not; it’s masterfully done and it will leave you wanting more from its creator, Richard Gadd. More on it here. *TW: it contains depictions of violence and sexual abuse.
Next up: Under the Bridge on Hulu, starring Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone and my favorite, Riley Keough (Riley was in my dad’s show, The Girlfriend Experience, which you should watch if you haven't yet.)
TRAVEL HACKS
I am not a stranger to long flights. Every year since I was born, I’ve done a 12 hour red eye flight to Argentina. In college, I even did a 24+ hour flight when I spent a college semester abroad in Sydney. However, I have rarely ever traveled First Class unless it’s paid by someone else, so if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I know how to make the most of my travel (although I am not a member of the Mile High Club and I’m fuming).
My #1 hack is paying for CLEAR and TSA Pre-check. They truly are the biggest game changers. This reminds me, I still need to get my shit together and apply for Global Entry.
FYI: I always assume that there will be no WiFi, so I pre-download a bunch of books and movies and use flights as an opportunity to unplug and recharge, even if the seats barely decline.
Below are my recs for:
Luggage (& all things packing)
“Must have” electronics
Plane skincare
Airport snacks
Entertainment
Sleep aids
Simple, comfy & chic flight fits
The travel-related dating app line I used to use 😉
Packing
Suitcase - Sarvi introduced me to this suitcase and I’m so obsessed, I have two of them. I’m pretty sure it’s for skiing, but the soft exterior is more generous than the usual hardshell suitcases… which is great if you’re an over-packer!
Packing Cubes - These help me stay organized and allow me to fit so much more stuff.
Swimsuit Cubes - These are essential for keeping sets together and avoiding the classic dig-around-and-mess-everything-up situation that happens when you arrive at your destination.
Makeup Brush Holder - Perfect for keeping all your brushes together and also, avoiding foundation stains on the lining of your beautiful new makeup bag.
Electronics
Portable Charger - Everyone needs this. No like, throw away any phone charger you own. This one does it all.
Headphones - These are incredible for noise canceling.
In-Flight Skincare
I swear by this spray - I spray it before all of my serums, which was recommended to me by my facialist, Samantha at Casa Cipriani Spa. (If you missed last week’s newsletter, I put all of my NYC beauty recs in one place - you can read it here)
De-puffing Face Mask - a must for the bloat that comes with flying.
Eye serum - this is thick and perfect for staying hydrated on planes.
Lip Balm - again, hydration, hydration, hydration.
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