One of my most significant bosses was the veteran Buyer I worked for at Macy’s HQ. ML was quintessential NYC retail and one of the most iconic New Yorkers I’ve ever met, but beyond that she taught me invaluable lessons about what it means to be a bold, decisive and caring woman in the workforce. She took zero shit off of anyone, but fiercely protected me and our team from the perils of 2000’s corporate culture. A decade later, I call on a lesson from ML on a nearly daily basis.

One of my favorite ML-isms was “Why does everything have to be so damn difficult?” In our line of work, the difficulties were varied: a slow elevator, f-ed up lunch order, meeting that could’ve been an email, wildly missed sales projections, late sample for a shoot, and most often our cartoonishly mean VP. There were very few miracles on 34th Street, but every moment of that time in my life molded me into who I am today. Like ML, I take no shit any day of the week and I am also rabidly loyal to those in my closest circle.

But let’s get back to the hard stuff– who has time for it in 2025?

This summer, I am invoking my beloved boss and asking for a tone down on the difficult. Forget Tomato Girl, we’re having an Eazy-E Summer. I am chasing the path of least resistance and here is how I am doing it:

1. Weekly pool service— Waking up to a destroyed bog of a pool due to a stupid-ass rainstorm is a singular type of stress. As of July 3, I have already done it twice, so am opting to outsource the anxiety. I have found a fabulous (and pretty cute) pool guy who so far has shown up when he said he would, and has helped bring my pool back to her full glory. It’s giving Mastercard priceless!
2. Closed Kitchen— We have talked about my hosting burnout plenty, and lemme tell you, it hasn’t cooled down! I have not held a dinner party of any sort since Easter and my streak will likely continue until the end of the year. It has taken me a few months, but I have firmly assuaged my guilt over the shutdown. The thought of hosting a pool full of friends/family and feeding them is beyond me. I simply cannot wear myself out plating summer fare and hauling chaise lounges and rinsing pool floats. Y’all, the water’s warm and the kitchen’s closed!
3. Capsule Dressing— I am addicted to an unhinged summer dinner look, but during the day, I am going capsule. Well…my version of a uniform, which is comprised of a slim tank or tee, cutoffs worn to pieces, Havainas/Tkees/Jack Rogers sandals, a bikini and zero makeup. Reporting for summer duty!
4. Bi-weekly house cleaning— Like my pool service, I am investing in keeping my home in tip-top shape at a more regular cadence. I have a wonderful woman who is dependable, detailed and totally self-reliant. She helps me stay organized and has gifted me with delicious peace of mind.
5. Big Talk— Borrowing from my girl Gabby Bernstein, I have transcended small chit-chat. As an extrovert who is so external I regularly attract conversation, questions, compliments, etc.; this new way of interacting with the world has been a steep learning curve. For most of my life, I was constantly getting caught in the crossfire of extended talks with people I had met .2 seconds prior. What I have discovered is that so much of small talk, both with strangers and acquaintances who perhaps just dance around your inner circle, is people-pleasing– give/take of pretending to deeply care about what the other person is saying, connecting dots that mean absolutely nothing to your daily life, and asking follow-up inquiries when you would rather just say “great to see you. bye!” Well, I’ve started skipping to the TTYL HAGS portion and have immediately felt my energy swell for the conversations that I care about most deeply. I have said it before but the consumption of me is not going to be one easy gulp!
6. Clean Girl— Since I am engaging in new weekly/bi-weekly home services, I need to pull from other budget lines. Sorry to the mani/pedi, but we are going in-house! I was in such a rush on a recent NYC trip that I literally painted my own little toe nails with no time even for a top-coat. And guess what? The earth kept on spinning and I continued with another completely fabulous trip to the center of my Universe. I have always been an at-home manicure girl, but I am going Full Monty this summer (I know that’s not what that means!), saving money + time. This recent purchase at beauty staple Detox Market is helping it all be easy breezy.
7. Ask for what you want— Pinging people-pleasing! Fellow Libran/cool girl, Gwyneth Paltrow described herself in one interview as being the community thermostat, meaning she would routinely adjust her personality to turn the temps up/down based on what she felt the moment needed. She credits uncovering and facing this behavior with true self-actualization. Like so many other things, where GOOP leads, I follow! I am also a thermostat girlie, but where my people-pleasing really pops off is downplaying or even vaporizing my own needs to maintain perceived equilibrium. I have recently forced myself to speak up for what I want/need in any given situation, no matter how insignificant or inconvenient the request may be. It’s hitting me now that one reason I feel most myself in New York is because it is a place that clears the path for unabashed desire. “Taxi!” arm thrown into the air, “and please do not take Broadway…or Madison” as you slide into the backseat. Well, Mimi is taking Manhattan on the road and asking exactly for what the f I want!

I know that we are living in unimaginably horrific times– both stateside and across the globe. This blog has been home to my outfits, musings, recipes and NYC adoration for over a decade, and I will continue to ground myself through my writing as often as I can. To quote one of my all-time favorite songs,

You know
Every now and then I think you might like to hear something from us
(Left a good job down in the city)
Nice and easy

Have a fabulous weekend, and I hope you are celebrating the holiday however it suits you! Xx