Between Friends

Thanks for subscribing to my Substack and for the few of you who are paying. You know who you are and I love you for it. I made this account almost two years ago and then did the classic give up before I start move. I convinced myself Substack was already saturated and asked myself what I could possibly add even though I quite literally have so much to say about so much.

All of this has brought me to the point that you should try the things you think will be embarrassing. Do the things you think people will make fun of in their group chats. I have felt so supported not just by my friends but by myself. I feel like I have a voice again. I have absolutely been in my Lost Years era. More on the Lost Years theory later.

Also, I feel in very good company because you know who else who is maybe late to the Substack game but also joined this week Charli XCX and Dolly Parton. So it is truly never too late. If there is something in your life you are putting off because of fear I highly recommend taking the leap. Or reach out to me and I will encourage you. Being supportive is my superpower.

Music for the forever Pop Girlie
I worked on The Hills in the 2000s and because it was an MTV show we were obsessed with pop music syncs. So much so that when Lauren Conrad would get frustrated with us producers she would say “you are just going to put a Kelly Clarkson song over my sad face so why bother.” And she was right. She was always a great producer at heart.

Later when I worked on Glee it was the same thing. Pitch a song. Pitch a vibe. I would hear something in a Tracy Anderson class and run to the writers room to force pitch it. So here is a playlist for you all that is really just a modern version of that energy. A few of them are TikTok pillar songs of course. Here is a playlist and here are some highlights with context

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Olivia Dean “Man I Need”
She is everywhere and it does not hurt that she is stunning. This is giving soft ache in the best way.

Audrey Hobert “Shooting Star”
This song is so Hills coded it hurts. I actually found it because my comedian and camp queen friend Ali Kolbert did a TikTok to it about straight girls who like to be treated like shit by men and she was not wrong.

RAYE “Where Is My Husband”
This should be on everyone’s dating profile. Actually, maybe it will be on mine. You have to say what you want. My birthday blessing from Erin Foster was to tell the universe exactly what you want. Do not confuse her.

Olivia Dean “Man I Need” again
Yes it is here twice and honestly that feels right. Another banger with the theme that women want men again. She did not say a boy. This song is not in Nobody Wants This but it feels like it is and that is the highest compliment.

TV Shows I Actually Watched
I started watching All Her Fault after saying I probably would not. My Slack friend Neel pushed me because we both watched The Girlfriend on Amazon. Between that and Hunting Wives I realized I have a type. I asked ChatGPT to describe this taste and it said I love moral messiness. I feel both dragged and seen.

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Books I Am Trying To Read (but you should still try)
Aiden Arata “You Have A New Memory”
A book of essays I got during a book swap. I cannot get through the first few pages and I feel rude about it. This is a me problem.

Things You Need
Trader Joes Corn Candle
It basically smells like vanilla and I am declaring it the scent of the season.

Wellness Trends
Some I am into and some I am just reporting from the field.

Peptides
This is the new Ozempic trend meaning something you shoot up yourself. You get to feel like a little chemist. It is either an excuse to better yourself or it is the cure to longevity. Longevity is something you do not care about until midlife and then suddenly you want to live forever. For tech men longevity is a kink. For women it is living longer but hotter.

Here is the rundown of what people take and the excuses they give

NAD
People swear it gives them more energy better focus and cellular renewal. It is the wellness version of plugging your phone in for a fast charge. Sure?

Zinc
Immune support skin mood all of it. The girlies take it when they feel run down or anxious. Allegedly helps hormones.

BPC 157
Rising in popularity for healing and anti inflammation. People use it for gut issues injury recovery and that general my body is tired from life feeling.

Ipamorelin
Known for muscle growth and body composition support. People like it because it helps build lean muscle without feeling like you joined a five am CrossFit cult.

You will hear people say things like brain health but they mean “I want to be glowy.” And to get them you either have to claim you have Lyme disease or walk into a med spa with confidence. I am not a doctor. I just know vain and hot people.

Self Books You Do Not Need To Read But Could

Let Them by Mel Robbins
Mel is a marketing genius with a little spooky sports coach energy. I read Let Them this year and kept saying it to my friends when they annoyed me. The trick is you are not supposed to tell them. It is more show do not tell. This has sold over 6 million copies and I believe it because every girl in the sauna is always reading this and aggressively journaling. YES IN THE SAUNA, that means business. She is also on Armchair Expert this week if you don’t feel like reading you can listen here. Link here

Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson
She feels like the real deal because she basically says we are all our own intuitives and do not need psychics. As someone who is sober from psychics I liked this.

My friend Lydia lent me this book years ago and then asked for it back not because she is selfish but because she had notes in it. A reminder to respect a borrowed book. I tore my entire house apart and found it and then activated its purpose.

Not to be dark but one of my best friends Hilary Tisch passed away years ago and I always had this fear she was mad at me for losing touch. One day in the pouring rain I asked the universe to show me a sign she was not mad. I chose a butterfly. Two blocks later I stopped at a light and there was a huge butterfly mural. Believe it or do not. I am not recruiting. But I am saying play with the universe. Ask and see what happens.

The author has a new book called Guided and is doing the podcast circuit. I will probably just borrow it from Lydia again.

Vibration Plates
This trend is marketed as the lazy girls workout and I am open to the concept. It helps with lymphatic drainage which is code for makes you feel less bloated. Here is the one my new friend Blair swears by. I will report back. here is the link

Anyway posting here makes me feel alive again. I was truly dead the last seven years post selling my company HelloGiggles. I have a game with some friends called Dead or Alive and it’s when we diagnose our friend’s spirits. It’s important to know that others know sometimes better where you are at.

Thank you for reading and supporting my creativity or my mania. What is the difference anymore.