issue #213 - the rambling one
I’m apparently quite fun in Nashville.
I spent most of the week here, for our annual girls trip we plan alongside the Mom 2.0 Summit. We spent our days exploring the city and taking in the wisdom from the summit (and speaking!), the evenings dining and actually going out, and remembering who we are at our core before we became wives, moms, leaders, and creators.
I reconnected with old friends and made new ones over the most incredible meals. I rediscovered my love for dancing and live music on Wednesday night, my aspiring pop star self at karaoke on Thursday night, and getting some clarity from a truly incredible tarot reading (and coming home with a crystal, a candle, and a new ritual).
I’m exhausted. But I’ve also never felt more like myself, and I’m grateful for this annual summit and time away from home in the setting where I feel incredibly safe and welcome.
When was the last time you felt like you - not the job you hold, the roles you have within your family and friends circle? When was the last time you felt like you?
For me, it was singng “Livin’ On A Prayer” at WannaB’s on Thursday night. If enough of you share your own karaoke songs in the comments, I just *may* post the singing video here on Substack. May.
Kiss an Angel
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
I can’t remember the exact context that this book was mentioned during Fated Mates’ live podcast show, but I purchased it immediately and started reading it in my Uber home. And I didn’t stop reading until I finished this old school, slightly corny but incredibly endearing romance about an arranged marriage, the circus, and a Romanov heir.
You can find my 2024 reading list and reviews here, and my April reads here.
Packing Cubes ($40)
Multi-stop trips (like my recent trip to Nashville) are the few times I use my packing cubes, and will pack the items I need for each stop in their own cube. These compression cubes are the best (I’ve tested nearly all the packing cubes on the market) - I tightly roll my items (or full workout outfits and pajama sets) to maximize my space. My kids each have a set of these cubes (in different colors), which helps me fit up to a week’s worth of clothes in a carry-on for them.
You can find my monthly Amazon favorites here.
The Clothes on the Campaign Trail
published in InStyle
If there’s anyone who knows a thing (or many) about dressing on the campaign trail, it’s
.Before she was the authority on the royal family and wrote her NYT bestselling book, she was on the campaign beat for the Wall Street Journal (and met her husband on the trail).
There is no better person to write about the fashion of my new favorite show, The Girls on the Bus (streaming on Max). The show follows four women journalists on the campaign bus during the presidential primary, and is inspired by fellow journalist Amy Chozick’s own book Chasing Hillary.
It’s such a smart piece about a smart show - I highly recommend you read this first, then start streaming it.
You can find every issue of #5SmartReads here, and subscribe to the daily newsletter here.
Sharing
My favorite Substacks right now:
- by . I was a fan of Caroline’s writing from her days at Cup of Jo, and spent a solid hour reading old issues of her thoughtful musings on the big and the little things.
start with: How to Change a Life
- feels like an old school blog that made you want to start a blog. Jordan has impeccable taste, deep thoughts that linger in my mind, and a brevity I envy.
start with: twenty things i’d rather do than be on my phone
I freaking love
so, so much. I’ve been a fan of hers since she was at Yahoo Travel, have read and loved every single one of her books and podcasts, and feel extraordinarily lucky to call her a friend. I’m genuinely excited when I see a new email from pop into my inbox, because I rarely know what I’m going to get - the latest installment of her trad wife thriller, a really smart interview about influencer culture, or a new story about her latest (and greatest) new book, The Sicilian Inheritance (have you picked up your copy yet)?start with: Should we embrace uncertainty to be happier?
Making
a fool of myself in Nashville, singing karaoke and getting a little too into Just Dance in the video game lounge. Zero regrets.
Answering
my supplement routine (a weirdly common question I got a lot last week) - please consult with your physician before starting any supplements.
1 hour after my thyroid medication, I drink my AG1 + protein powder shaken with ice water.
I take the following supplements with my protein shake: omega 3, iron, probiotic, and berberine.
I take these CBD gummies and this magnesium supplement at night
The handful of items I’m re-purchasing during the Sephora sale:
I’ve told everyone to purchase this hair oil duo to improve scalp and hair health.
the best serum for brightening, hydrating, and restoring your skin barrier.
the purple shampoo and conditioner that keeps my grays looking fresh, and this serum helps keep my hair strong.
if you’re on the hunt for a new scent, I love all the ones in this discovery set (they also layer beautifully).
New-to-me things I’m excited to test - this newly launched highlighter-blush, this body cream, nose strips for my aggressive blackheads, and this pretty eyeshadow.
Reading
The 3 Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Trying
to go to sleep early - and failing most nights over the past week. I’ll try better this week.
xo,
HPN
ahhh thank you for the kindest words <3 this means so so much
It was so great meeting you and attending your sessions. Next time I’ll be a little more fun and hopefully not on a knee scooter. Haha