just the hits #7
It’s 3 pm on Friday afternoon. Despite my mad dash across 30th Street Station following my panel, I missed my train back to New York. My new train will board in about 30 minutes, and I’m trying to decide if I cram the rest of my work during the ride or zone out to Real Housewives of Orange County instead.
The rest of my night will be the usual crush of pickup/dinner/bath/bed, and I have a feeling it’ll be the kind of night where I end up falling asleep in one of the kid’s beds before making my way to my own.
It’s 3:06. I see people lining up for a another train. Is it mine? Should I line up at mine?
It’s hard to imagine that I was finishing the most exquisite meal overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, exactly a week ago. After a quick drive from Rome, we settled into lounge chairs overlooking the sparkling water. I read Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings in a single sitting, sipping sparkling water and a glass of spumante (apparently, it’s only Prosecco if it comes from Veneto).
Last week was an amazing week - a Roman holiday that rivaled the movie.
And this week was an amazing week - albeit a more chaotic one. And despite the missed train, not grabbing an umbrella, and having to pick up the kids later than I’d wanted, I’m sitting in immense gratitude and contentment - and in a slightly tacky wooden bench in 30th Street 😬.
I’m grateful for speaking at two impactful events this week - moderating a conversation between Tech For Campaigns founder Jessica Alter and former Michigan House Democratic Leader Donna Donna Lasinski, and speaking on the Healthcare Reimagined panel at the Wharton Women In Business conference. Daniella Rabbani revealed my deep teenage desires to be the Indian Britney Spears while graciously hosting me on her podcast. My doctor truly heard me when I told her that I was struggling to stay on top of my health habits’ current standards, and helped me set new ones with new supplementation.
My niece and I ate Thai takeout and watched Real Housewives on Thursday night, and it was a highlight of my week (pro tip - re-fry your fried rice in a heavy skillet to get a satisfyingly crunchy crust - you won’t regret it).
It’s now 3:21. I’ve made my way to the winding line leading to Gate 9, to finally make my way home from my other home.
Amazing.
The Most Famous Girl in the World
by
I simultaneously was obsessed with this book & envious of Iman’s immense storytelling. I don’t know how she made the messiest people so endearing, a plot so twisting, and delivered a twist I didn’t see coming AT ALL. I remember my Kindle slipping from my fingers as I processed the last words of this book, and somewhat freaking out my kids with my frozen moment. If you felt underwhelmed by My Friend Anna or Inventing Anna, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.
Iman’s Substack,
You can find my 2024 reads here, and my September reads here.
Slim Power Bank ($25)
The indisputable GOAT of our Italy trip and my two marathon days this past week. This charger kept my phone alive when I was out for 12+ hour days, and I couldn’t survive without it. This one is slim enough to fit a small purse, and can fully charge my phone twice before needing to be plugged in again (and has built-in USB-C and Lightening cables)
Find all my Amazon favorites here.
Article
Watching Housewives is one of the best things I do for myself - it allows me to turn off the work/kids/life part of my brain, while firing up my curiosity and introspection on why we are the way we are, and what shows like Housewives say about the state of humanity.
This interview between
and was one I’ve read multiple times. It’s thoughtful, appropriately critical, and an excellent bridge between the past, present, and future of Housewives.My only request is that they dedicate a future interview to Bronwyn Newport, the newest Housewife from Salt Lake (with the most flamboyantly passionate style, and deep respect for high fashion).
I share smart & fun reads, cheap (and useful thrills), and outfits on Instagram, and random musings on Threads. If that’s your thing, please hang out with me over there!
Sharing
my favorite outfit from the summer (got one last wear out of it in Italy), and the monochromatic look I’ll be wearing all fall and winter.
the album I listen for mellow morning, the score I listen to when I need to focus, and a pump-up playlist that never fails to make me smile.
a necessary reframe on morning routines.
These are my most popular recommendations.
Making
my version of the pasta I ate repeatedly in Italy - homemade spaghetti with zucchini, lemon, and mint (along with parsley and basil). I tempered parsley stems, whole garlic cloves, whole peppercorns, and Calabrian chili flakes in extra virgin olive oil. After removing the stems, peppercorns, and whole garlic cloves, I combined the oil with the cooked zucchini, and added minced garlic, mint, and lemon zest before adding the spaghetti and reserved pasta water. Stir until it’s well combined and remove from heat, and add some lemon juice and stir in at the very end. I topped mine with freshly grated Pecorino Romano and freshly ground black pepper, and it was perfection.
This is our pasta machine, and it’s one of my favorite kitchen appliances!
Answering
What Kindle do you own?
Just a basic Kindle Paperwhite, a few years old. I’ve owned the more expensive Oasis in the past, but find that the battery wears out faster than the Paperwhite, and the faster page turning and buttons aren’t a necessary feature for me. I have two cases from Page (great protection, and also very fun)Where did you get the pink suit you wore on Wednesday?
It’s by Argent, part of their #VotingSuitsYou collection with When We All Vote. It was incredibly comfortable for a marathon day, and stayed wrinkle free through my evening speaking event. I took the blazer in a size 10 and the trousers in a size 12.What products/tools are you using for your hair right now?
I wash my hair every 5 days, alternating between the Verb purple shampoo and the Kerastate purple shampoo. My conditioner is the Verb purple hair mask, and I do a scalp massage with Ranavat or Indē Wild hair oil before every other wash. I use this Verb leave-in conditioner after a rough dry and usually let my hair air dry (pulling it back with this towel scrunchie), or get a blowout from Glamsquad. The Beachwaver curling iron is the only tool I use (mostly to curl the front pieces).
Reading
Bad Witches by H.K Akumiah
Gilded by Keren Eldad
Trying
to be better about taking my vitamins. When I saw my doctor at Modern Age, she recommended we change up my supplements based on my numbers and to take them near/along with my medications.
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Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.
xo,
HPN
1🤣.