Loose Ends / 2.27.26

This week was a weeeee bit nutty! A vent sesh, surgery, steam cleaning mania, and a vacation countdown. Oh, and the company that's on my personal *shit* list!

Just a little note: this post is too long for email. So it’s best to read in the Substack app or in your browser.

Also: lotssss of personal updates, but scroll down to Open Tabs if you’re just here for the shopping.

Friday Footnote

This week was NUTTY! Chaotic, really. I can’t remember a recent week that has felt as long as this one did... Last weekend feels like a very distant memory. Somehow in the last four days, it feels like I’ve lived many lives. Let’s get into it…

Marley had surgery on Tuesday morning, which ended up being a very quick turnaround. I was able to pick her up 90 minutes later, which was wonderful (there’s nothing more sad than a drop-off appointment), but I wasn’t left with enough time to get anything done. For her surgery, she was just sedated (versus fully incubated), so they are able to sort of reverse the effects with medicine? Hence the quick visit.

She was SO out of it from the sedative the entire day, though, and (sorry this is TMI, but) she was accidentally peeing all over our house. Like every foot of our floors, both of her beds, multiple rugs, our bed, OUR COUCH. 🤢 I spent the entire day guiding her up/down all of our stairs to take her outside, where she would never end up squatting, but just wandering veeeery slowly down the sidewalk. When we were inside, she would pee every single place she laid down, so I was essentially following her around with Clorox spray, paper towels, and Folex. After a few hours, I turned into a maniac with my steam cleaner, steaming every single inch of our couch and living room rug.

Not to mention, we had a friend passing through Chicago and staying with us that same night. 😅 We couldn’t sit on the couch (because it was still wet/drying… didn’t really think that one through), our house very likely smelled like a litter box, and I was basically non-verbal from exhaustion by the time he arrived.

The amount of laundry I’ve done this week is absurd, yet I have a mountain of my personal laundry heaping out of my hamper that desperately needs to be washed.

And then a totally different front, Monday started off with a phone screening for a job, which then turned into a full hour-long interview on Wednesday. Between prep, reflection, and follow up, it definitely takes up a good chunk of mental load!

It truly felt like the week was going 100mph in all different directions!!

I hope I’m not coming across like I’m complaining (so many great things happening, too!!), but this little vent sesh definitely helped me to decompress from such a wild week. Thanks for being here! 🫶

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Highs & Lows

This week, at least, the saying is true — when it rains it pours, for both the highs and the lows!

This Week’s Rose(s) 🌹

I’m actually very excited about the job opportunity I mentioned interviewing for above! Who knows what will happen, but I do know I’m in the pool of the final few candidates.

And honestly, I’m also very excited about my new partnership with Armra Colostrum! I shared on Instagram stories this week, but when I shared my 2025 Favorites post back in January, I mentioned that Armra Watermelon Sticks were one of my favorite finds of the year. Up until that point, I had only ever purchased the product with my own money. But since they saw sales coming from that post, they reached out and asked to partner. So truly — THANK YOU for affording me the opportunity to work with a brand I genuinely love in such an organic way. 🫶 (They gave me a discount code to pass along to this community — code ‘JRS’ will take 15% off your first order.)

I also had a fun collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer go live on Instagram, which I was really pleased with and proud of how the content turned out.

Needless to say, I’m soooo very thankful to have energizing work opportunities that help to keep me sane when things feel chaotic on the home front!

This Week’s Thorn(s) 🥀

All three of us (Dave, Marley, and me) are still getting used to this giant cone that she has to wear for TWO WEEKS. TBH, I’m not sure which one of us hates it more, but it’s definitely Dave or me. Our girl is so resilient and taking it in stride, much better than we are. I feel so sorry for her, but I also feel sorry for me, which is making me further question my potential parenting ability.

I love her more than I can put into words, but the whole cone thing is just exhausting. The clear one the vet sent us home with is so rigid and she (rightfully) has zero spacial awareness with it, so it’s just knocking into everything all the time, scraping our walls, getting muddy outside, getting caught on the stairs, etc. We have tight spaces in this little condo of ours, and the poor dog is getting caught between furniture, not being able to turn around, etc.

I ordered her a softer version on Amazon, which definitely seems more comfortable for her, but the thing is she can’t see with it on AT ALL (since it’s padded / not clear), so it somehow feels even more cumbersome?? So she’s mainly just been sleeping in that one. (We keep joking that she looks like a flower in a school play in that cone. 🌸)

During the day, we’ve been trying to let her go without a cone and constantly monitoring her. Like, trading off on babysitting her essentially, making sure one of us is next to her at all times so she can’t nuzzle her head on something or scratch out her stitches. I love being next to her all day, of course, but the constant back-and-forth contact about who has eyes on her all day long has been draining. Dave is obviously so helpful with her, but he’s been so busy with work (like, the busiest I’ve ever seen him) so it’s just been ~*a LoT*~ to manage this week.

You know, maybe I’m feeling a little extra spicy because my sleep has been awful this week. (Due to sleeping with this damn cone in our bed. 🫠)

And then there’s the Rufus du Sol concert at Wrigley Field… A self-inflicted fiasco, but just an epic waste of time and energy that pushed me over the edge yesterday. I signed up for the presale the day it got announced and was ON TOP OF IT for when the presale went live, at 11am on Tuesday. (Just as I was getting home with Marley from her surgery, but still managing to juggle!) I had tickets in my cart ready to check out, and made the mistake of pausing to double check with friends, and then lost the tickets. Fast forward to Thursday when the public sale went live — I had a buttoned up plan with my friends (which is like herding cats sometimes… sorry gals, love ya, but sheeeeesh! 😅), but there were only single tickets available by the time I got in. Epic fail all around! Dying to go to the show as it’s one of my favorite artists in one of my favorite venues, so we’ll just have to find tickets (and overpay) on the secondary.

I say this to friends all the time, but if I was smarter, I would figure out a way to take Ticketmaster down. No company makes me more ragey, and I feel like the entire ticketing world needs to be burned to the ground. 🤬 Maybe it’s misplaced rage that should be on all of the bots that scoop up tickets, but the whole marketplace is such a shit show.

Looking Ahead ✨

We’ve got fun dinner plans with some of our besties tonight, which is always a guaranteed good time! Martini me. 🍸

And then we leave for our annual ski trip on Thursday morning!!! 🎿 Counting down the actual hours. YOUR GIRL NEEDS A VACATION! (Remind me to never go six months without leaving town again…)

I wish I could say things are on the up and up from here, but this next week is likely going to test me. Dave is out of town for work Monday morning to Wednesday night, before we leave Thursday morning. Not the biggest deal, but lots of extra work to do… All of the prep to get the house ready for our dog sitter (it’s kind of like hosting), getting all of Marley’s oodles of instructions together, not to mention being solely responsible for all of her walks, meds, meals, babysitting…. While also working and packing. It’s overwhelming to think about, but sometimes I do think I thrive best when under pressure.

Hopefully, I’ll also have a next round interview this coming week, which I’ll need to squeeze in somewhere. And Dave is also on my ass to get my taxes done (this is our first year filing jointly 🫠), so I need to find time to get to that, too. 🆘

That vacation, though… 6 days!

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🔖 Open Tabs

Open tabs from the week, filed here instead of my browser.

This colorful outdoor rug is so chic! (And it’s washable!) Has me wanting to inject a little color into our outdoor spaces.

These Terry totes just might be the cutest bags I’ve seen for summer!!

Julia Amory is 20% off — today only! If you’ve been watching Love Story, I feel like so many pieces are Carolyn Bessette coded, like the Carolyn Shirt and the Sabrina top (although CBK would have worn it in black).

Three white Sézane blouses I’m absolutely DROOLING over… This long-sleeve lace top, this embroidered top, and this gorgeous shirt.

I’ve mentioned Boden a few times recently, but I found code SHOPMY20 that should work to take 20% off!! I can’t get enough of their multi-colored stripes… This maxi skirt, this midi dress, this linen shirt, this swimsuit, and these striped pants. This non-rainbow striped linen skirt is also very chic!

Gasped when I saw these $60 sandals. They look like Loeffler Randall, but with jelly vibes!! And the color will go with absolutely everything.

If you still can’t get into the jellies, peep these sandals look like LR for a fraction of the cost!

I think this brown wooden bangle set ($88) is a must.

This pink lace dress is CHIC for a pool party this summer or even spring break.

This green striped collared sweater is so easy and effortless!

I’ve never marked my calendar faster… Cannot wait for this collab!!! 😍🐰💜

Another shirt that’s perfect for Cubs games!! (I’ve been saving my favorites here and here.)

Dave thought I was crazy when we were in my hometown and I wanted to stop at Walmart to check out the clothing, but Brandon Maxwell is crushing it. I just ordered this cardigan for spring. A few other faves… This feminine jacket, this peplum top, this structured shirt dress, this shoulder bag (that looks like Staud!), and this tweed vest.

Personally, I love an end of season sale. (A seal, if you will.) If you’re buying timeless pieces that will work next year, you’ll get a handful of wears out of them now and they’ll still feel shiny and new when you switch your closet later this year for the next fall/winter! Here are a few favorites…

• There’s no world where burgundy wouldn’t be a great pop of color next fall. It pairs perfectly with brown, but also the pastels that designers are showing for next fall. This coat with a detachable fur collar is so good.

• This camel coat (80% wool) is definitely a classic.

• This tweed jacket (under $90) is something you’ll reach for in your closet for years. Looks like Veronica Beard!

• These brown loafers are great.

• A few more coats… this black (70% wool) coat, this handmade brown wool (55%) coat, this black coat (53% wool), and this barn jacket.

This polka dot dress is way out of my price range, but it’s gorgeous.

This green gingham dress (under $100!) is so perfect for Masters parties, but even Mother’s Day brunch and general spring/summer wear.

Obsessed with this high-neck cropped trench.

This fringe top (under $50) is an obvious add to cart!! Looks like Simon Miller.

More Zara favorites: this gingham smocked top (in my cart), this green suede jacket (reminds me of Staud!!), these bangles, these striped socks, this necklace, this printed scarf, this sheer underlay skirt, this bucket hat, this side sash dress, this faux leather belted jacket, this suede blazer, these boat shoes, this cropped jacket, this sequin top (that is somehow SO perfect for spring), this short-sleeve striped sweater, this lightweight striped sweater, this lace hem skirt, the list goes on and on.

I bought this four-pack of socks this week. Every time I wear a pair of socks that’s not this brand, I immediately regret it. (Sounds dramatic, but it’s true.)

I also bought this rainbow striped coverup for a friend’s daughter this week. How cute!!! (Also, I stg it looks identical to a Monica & Andy version I’ve purchased in the past. Just me??)

This stripe mixing is scratching all of my East Coast summer itches.

This pastel fleece is SO cute. Perfect for this current season of wanting spring when it’s actually very much winter.

This little Lands End tote is darling.

Are these pet steps not the chicest thing you’ve ever seen?! Based in the UK and very pricey, but you can completely customize them a million different ways.

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Happy Friday, friends! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. xoxo

PS: If you enjoy my Loose Ends series, would you be kind enough to tap the little heart? It’s the littlest thing that actually makes a big impact in the Substack world. 🫶

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PPS: This coming Monday’s Monday Mix post is SO GOOD! (If I do say so myself.) I’ve been compiling it over the last few weeks and am pleased with where it’s at. Stay tuned!