The Girl's Guide
Issue 94: It's Okay to Be Extra
Welcome back to The Girl’s Guide! If you missed the last issue, find it here.
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It’s Okay to Be Extra
In the last Girl’s Guide, I asked you readers to share the items you can’t live without that some people may consider, well, a little extra. You did not disappoint! I especially love this advice from reader Sarah Selip: “Be high maintenance to be low maintenance.” In that spirit, I’m definitely going to be adding many of these items to my wishlist.
In the Kitchen
“I LOVE my Boos Block cutting board! When I was building my wedding registry, I completely forgot to register for a cutting board. So my husband and I settled for a tiny $7 IKEA board that ended up warping and cracking. We were being a little too thrifty! My grandpa, an amazing cook, gifted us with a gorgeous Boos Block for Christmas. I’ll never need another cutting board again! It’s a beautiful, thick maple wood cutting board with end-grain construction, meaning it won’t warp or crack due to its extra durability. It’s also 3” thick, making chopping way more comfortable. It’s also a gorgeous kitchen decor item. I oil my board once a week to keep it looking pristine. I definitely consider myself extra with my $300 cutting board, but I’ll never consider another cutting board again!” - Kayla Panchak
“My Vitamix. I use it for everything now, and it's so easy to use and keep clean, plus it's the best blender I've ever owned. I guess generally speaking, good cooking equipment because I can say the same for my stainless steel pots.” - Luna Salinas
Beauty Buys
“Makeup without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and endocrine disruptors. Kosas, PYT, Ilia, Tower28, anything basically that the store Credo carries. (Credo is like Sephora but they only sell clean brands.) Also love the perfumes by Ellis Brooklyn, Sana Jardin, and Henry Rose. Mainstream perfumes are infamous as endocrine disruptors, but these brands are all clean!” - Sarah Gustafson
“A good haircut at Luna’s in DuPont! I’ve been going there for more than four years now. Bonus: Emissary is across the street so you can treat yourself to a good coffee before your appointment!” - Bailey Mailloux
“Skincare. Always. Research first, don’t just go after what’s viral. Make sure it works for your skin and your needs.” - Sarah Selip
Passion for Fashion
“My Kate Spade handbag. I don’t know why, they just make me feel like a classy boss lady who is elegant and on top of her life. I have the Brynn Tote in light pink.” - Catherine Francois
“Vintage clothing. Investment pieces are a fake concept now because manufacturing quality is so low. I have so many favorites. My grandma gave me all her stuff — I have about a dozen Pendleton Virgin Wool blazers. They are all very structured and beautiful and durable. Any investment piece is not determined by price or brand, but by stitching quality, material and upkeep. It’s pretty obvious when things ‘feel’ good it seems like they will hang well. I think lots of people think things are investment pieces because they are expensive and chic, when they could easily be low quality B.S.” - Patricia Patnode
Lightning Round
“Under-desk treadmill.” - Andrea Mew
“Vianté electric kettle.” - Karly Matthews
“Milk frother.” - Alicia Bittle
“Skincare and manicures.” - Jennie Taer
“Silk pillowcases and feather & down Hilton pillows.” - Elle Kalisz
“Good luggage.” - Sarah Selip
Interview with Jacqueline Thomas
In today’s newsletter, I’m introducing you to Jacqueline Thomas. She’s former Miss Arizona but now calls the DMV home! You can connect with Jacquline on Instagram and on her website at ladyleadersempower.com.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
When I first moved to DC, I lived in a loft in Mount Vernon Triangle and really loved the experience of living right in the heart of DC. Now my husband and I live in Alexandria near Kingstowne. We love that the energy in the suburbs is peaceful and quiet with lots of hiking trails to walk our two-year-old golden retriever, Teddy.
What does your life look like right now?
I am newly married and my husband and I have spent the last year renovating our first property and making it a home. My work has traditionally been in communications and public relations, but I’m focusing now more on business development and also applying to grad schools. I love sharing personal branding tips on my social media, routines that have helped my husband and I be more successful, and capsule wardrobe pieces.
How did your experience as Miss Arizona prepare you for working in DC?
My experience as Miss Arizona prepared me for the intensity that is working in DC in three specific categories: 1) It prepared me for a high level of professionality, how to engage with executives, and how to deliver to meet high expectations, 2) It taught me to be organized, plan ahead, project manage, and how to successful navigate really long work weeks, and 3) I came to DC prepared to dress for success — I know how to combine my personal brand with how to match the standards of the office I was working in.
How would you describe your style, and what's your advice to a young woman who wants to level up her personal presentation?
I like to describe my style as a mix of classic with a touch of edge. I like styles that are flattering, tailored, and classic, but I never want to lose sight on fashion-forward styles that are edgier. To level up your personal presentation, I would first do an audit of these three areas in your life: Your wardrobe, your cosmetic presentation (nails, hair color, makeup use), your self-care habits (skin care, working out) — there are always simple areas we can improve through our daily habits. My #1 tips for leveling up your professional clothing are to focus on capsule wardrobe pieces — items you love and will wear time and time again with a variety of different outfits.
The Haps
Ireland’s Four Courts Reopening at Long Last
Arlington’s favorite Irish pub made headlines for all the wrong reasons last year — a freak car crash injured 14 people inside and set the building ablaze. Now Ireland’s Four Courts is ready to reopen after an amazing renovation and an event honoring the first responders who saved lives that day. Read more at ARLNow.com.
Thrifted Painting Turns Out to Be Long-Lost N.C. Wyeth
In case you needed another reason to go thrifting, listen to this. A woman paid $4 for a framed painting at a New Hampshire thrift shop, unaware that it was a long-lost painting by illustrator N.C. Wyeth. Years later, she posted the painting in a Facebook group, and the rest is history. Read more at Artnet.com.
Here are links to what I’ve written lately:
Wired Contributor Claims “Preferring Biological Children Is Immoral”: As important as it is to ignore the Clickbait Industrial Complex most of the time, sometimes an article comes along that’s so backward it merits a response.
Our 25 Favorite Wedding Dresses From Movies: This was a fun one to write! I was definitely inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s dress — but not her relationship, thankfully.
Media Moment: Thirteen Days
If you watched Oppenheimer and thought, you know what, I’d like to watch another movie about impending nuclear war, have I got the film for you. Nick and I recently watched Thirteen Days, which details JFK’s steps to de-escalate the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. White House Down it is not. There’s not a lot of action, but there is a lot of tense diplomacy and realistic situation room soul-searching. Let me know if you watch it!
You can read my recent review of a very DC romcom here. Send me a blurb about your favorite DC-related media by replying to this email.
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