Weekend Reads for the 3rd No Kings Weekend
Happy Saturday, folks. I can't imagine a single American who is 100% happy with what's going on right now with our country. Whether it's not investigating the murder of Charlie Kirk, the price of gas, the war in Iran, the lack of anything happening to those in the Epstein files, the disregard of our Constitution, American citizens and those lawfully allowed to be in this country being imprisoned without cause, that some of those who have been detained have been raped and treated inhumanely, double-standards like saying mail-in voting isn't to be trusted and then the president and his family vote via mail-in voting… I could go on. There's gotta be SOMETHING that is not sitting right with you right now.
So today, I encourage you to take an hour or two out of your day, visit this link and find a No Kings peaceful gathering close to where you live. You don't need a sign or a t-shirt or anything except some comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Go and realize you're not alone with your concerns, meet others in your community who also are looking for change, and I bet you'll leave feeling more hopeful and inspired.
This isn't about red or blue, left or right, liberal or conservative. It's about standing up for our country, standing up for what is right, and realizing we are not the minority. Getting the energy to take the next step, to understand that we the people still have power, and we have power in numbers when we mobilize.
Weekend Reads
Georgia mother released on bond as judge questions abortion-related murder charge. (The 19th)
You don't have to gamble for gambling to ruin your life. (Your Brain on Money via Substack)
Wired’s New Editor Doesn’t Care if the Tech Bros Are Mad. (New York Times – gift link)
Don't chase youth–chase vibrancy. (Inventory via Substack)
Through the end of the month, use code RTRXAGARY and get 60% off your first month at Rent the Runway. I recently renewed my membership; I find it so helpful for this transition period of weather and clothing. Why buy lightweight jackets and in-between clothes, just rent pieces, keep them as long as you want, save and extend your existing closet!
Will 5 Prunes a Day Save Our Bones from Osteoporosis? (Gloria)
My season of Ativan. (The New Yorker)
This has been so far the best root powder I've tried.
I Watched an Acquaintance Get Slut-Shamed by the Entire Country. (Jenny)
What oil actually costs. (Heated on Substack)
Do I need another Hulken in this pretty new color? One of the hardest working bags in my house.
The paradox of thrift. (The Flytrap)
The Strange and Fascinating History of Dr. Kegel. (Menopause: The Inside Info via Substack)
What I Did For Love #2: Say it Out Loud. (Oldster)
And very related… an interview with Joan Juliet Buck.
I just bought a pair of these and I am impressed.
The article passed around the most in my industry: The Influencer Infestation of Our Politics. (The Bulwark)
I don't know how I feel about this… (Vogue)
Y'all have been asking my opinion… I ordered a pair in black. Stay tuned…
How a pair of blue-blood impostors turned party crashing in the Hamptons and Palm Beach into a business. (Intelligencer)
While New York Magazine still doesn't offer gift links, it now has a referral program where you can get $20 off an annual subscription by using a subscriber's link; this is my link.
And a reminder that you can read any publication for free though your library card and apps like Libby!
Style Inspo & Sale Alert
LOFT has 50% off sitewide, no code needed, and no minimum for free shipping. I often find LOFT to skew a bit young, but I also have found some favorite pieces there that I enjoy for years.
- I really like LOFT tees and tanks; I own more than one of these tees and two of these sleeveless tee/tank hybrids (great weight, the white is opaque).
- LOFT's linen blend is 55% Linen 45% Viscose and gets great reviews for breathability, washability, and drape. My picks are these shorts, these pants, this top, this blouse, and this shirt.
- I dig LOFT in spring and summer because of the great dresses that you could easily find at department stores for 4X the price. And LOFT offers them up to size 18 and in petites. I especially like this one and this one.
- This sweater is 100% cotton and reminds me of one I got at Talbots years ago and live in every spring and summer.
The Colleen Rothschild Bestsellers Sale is on with 25% off the most popular skincare products from this brand I have loved and used consistently since 2016. My personal favorites:
- I thought I had combination sensitive reactive skin even though I used all sorts of cleansers and products for sensitive skin. Then I used the Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm and it made my skin happy and strong and supple. I've tried other oil cleansers; IMO this is the GOAT.
- I keep a bottle of Face Oil No. 9 on my nightstand. I apply two pumps to my face and décolleté before getting into bed. It's light, it sort of “seals” in the rest of my skincare and adds hydration that lasts.
- I shared the magic of the Illuminating Tinted Eye Cream on Instagram Stories yesterday; alone or under makeup it blurs and disguises dark circles and darkness anywhere (hello marionette lines) without looking obvious and while moisturizing.
M.M.LaFleur has its Hop To It Event with 20% off using code HOP20. Sale ends March 30th. If you have been looking for colorful suiting and workwear, M.M. has brought it this spring with Sunset (I own that blazer in 16, it's a great piece), Ocean Blue, Deep Iris, Viridian (which you saw in this capsule wardrobe), and Red Ribbon is the perfect pop for work, play, and everything in between.
See/Hear/Read
This week we finished The Madison (Paramount+), the latest Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) series. If it's Taylor Sheridan you know there will be sweeping landscapes during golden hour, beautiful and slightly unhinged women and patient strong men who love them. And this one has it, with gorgeous sweeping views of Montana, Michelle Pfeiffer whose character Stacy Clyburn is strong and beautiful and broken, and Kurt Russel, the patient strong man who loves her fiercely.
The concept is that Pfeiffer lives in NYC with her husband (Russell) and so do her two adult daughters and their families. Russell's character is a wealthy Wall Street dude in NYC, and while he adores his wife and family, a big part of his heart is in Montana, where he has a plot of land and a compound of cabins on the edge of the Madison Lake. Due to a family tragedy, the Clyburn family flies between Madison Avenue and Madison Lake.
This series is not tied to Yellowstone; there are no overlapping characters or storylines. It is six episodes, and Season 2 is already filmed and ready to come out supposedly later this year. The women are all slightly unhinged but not as much as say Beth Dutton of Yellowstone or Angela Norris of Landman, the men are strong but not always in the most typical manner, and my husband and I both really enjoyed it and are looking forward to Season 2.
I can't end this review without mentioning the beauty that is Michelle Pfeiffer (67) and her phenomenal hair in the series. From the research I did, it's not a wig, it's not extensions, it's just glorious. And in case you're wondering about Pfeiffer's sunglasses in the show, they are the Celine “Baby Audrey” style CL4003IN. That color is available at Alexander Daas, and the tortoise and black options are available for regular or prescription lenses at Sunglass Hut.
For Your Entertainment
Who else remembers Trashcan Sinatras? Honestly, I didn't remember the music, only the name, and when I saw it pop up in my YouTube algorithm, I went down music memory lane.
A Scottish group that formed in 1986, Trashcan Sinatras were sometimes compared to The Smiths but never as well known. I'd say their most recognized song is “Opportunity Knocks.”
Well, Trashcan Sinatras are back, releasing their seventh album this summer and dropping singles for early buzz. The latest is, “Bad Husband,” and if the female voice sounds familiar, it's Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell. And the actors in the video may also look quite familiar to you,
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We’re with you in Spirit @No Kings on the West Coast today. Fight the good fight.
Alison, thanks for being a central point of contact/clearing house for protest information.
One suggestion – I couldn’t find the collapsable water bottle that I previously bought on your recommendation. So I went searching thru your posts. The first one I found didn’t have a thing so you could hang it off your bag. so I had to dig deeper, using the search (which isn’t fab IMHO). Since your woman’s march post found a good chunk of your community, & you continue to post about protests/preparing for protests, maybe you could have a tab, shelf, whatever the terms are the groups all of those together in one place, like you have (had) for travel, capsules, etc.
I did finally find that it’s the vapur anti-bottle that I was looking for. I ordered a backup, because there will be more protests & then there is election day.
Thank you for being you!
I can’t wait for your feedback on the Ruti pants. I got them in black as well. I bought them on sale but still thought about sending them back at first because for $200 I have to love them. Then I started styling them with a bunch of things already in my wardrobe and find myself wearing them at least once a week now. If you love them I’d be so excited to see how you style them.