The Girly Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 5: The Best Things in Life Are Freebies
Welcome back! If you missed last week’s issue, find it here.
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your best cherry blossom photos, bad date rants, and money-saving tips by replying to this email.
What They Don’t Tell You
DC may be divided into red and blue, but one thing unites us all: complaining about how expensive the DMV is. Rent, beer, parking — everything costs more here.
However, there are plenty of ways to save money if you look hard enough. Here are my top three tips for getting free (yes, FREE!) clothing and household items.
Join a Buy Nothing group
I didn’t hear about the Buy Nothing Project until 2020, but I wish I had sooner. Many neighborhoods in and around DC have hyperlocal Buy Nothing Facebook groups that allow you to give away or pick up items that you and your neighbors no longer need.
I’ve gotten leggings, scented candles, photo frames, and more by joining my neighborhood’s Buy Nothing group. It also feels really good to give an item that’s served you to someone who will enjoy it.
Find out if your neighborhood has a group by clicking here.
Don’t be afraid to dumpster dive
DC is a relatively transient place. People pick up and move all the time — or are just too lazy to take large furniture they don’t want anymore to a donation center. That means you’ll often pass dumpsters or street corners with relatively new furniture just sitting there.
I don’t endorse literal dumpster diving, but just because an item’s sitting by the dumpster doesn’t mean it’s trash.
The momentary embarrassment of stopping to examine abandoned furniture is worth it when you find a new end table or lamp for $0. Make sure to Clorox it when you get home, but otherwise you’re good to go. Martha Stewart could never.
Host a clothing swap
Women love two things: socializing and new clothes. Combine the two and host a clothing swap so that everyone gets new-to-you clothes and accessories!
I went to a clothing swap last summer and had a blast! There were about six of us girls, and we were pretty varied sizes, but between jewelry, perfume, purses and clothing we no longer wanted, everyone left with something they liked.
There are ways to organize clothing swaps, like giving everyone tickets to trade in for items or asking people to do one-for-one swaps, but we just had a free-for-all and everyone ended up pretty happy. Here’s an article that lays out the details of a successful clothing swap.
Let me know if you have any awesome finds thanks to these tips!
Interview with Taylor Hathorn
Every week, I plan to introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of D.C.
My friend Taylor Hathorn considered herself a bit of a nomad before coming to Washington, DC, having lived everywhere from Texas to Abu Dhabi. Read on for her tips on making the most out of DC life!
What neighborhood do you call home?
I spent my first two years here in Navy Yard, but now I live in Ballston and I LOVE it. I have access to great restaurants, parks, and shopping... and I can own a firearm in my own home by simply crossing to this side of the river. Freedom, imagine that. There are so many things that I love about Ballston, but I do miss the vibrancy that existed in DC pre-COVID — I hope we will get back to that soon.
What does your job look like during quarantine?
I’m Director of Alumni Relations at Young America’s Foundation. Very little has changed in the pandemic, truly. I was able to host fewer events this year than normal, but our staff got very creative pretty quickly.
I'm really proud of how resilient our staff has been through COVID and the political environment this year — everyone has handled it with grace and really adjusted to the circumstances.
What DC restaurants do you recommend?
My boyfriend and I are foodies. This is not to be mistaken with being a food snob — we are not better than Sonic mozzarella sticks.
There are several great places we love to frequent throughout the DMV: Rebellion on the Pike in Arlington (veteran-owned, American food), anything owned by José Andrés, Iron Age (all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ for $25!), Panda Gourmet (this is a Chinese restaurant inside of a Days Inn — trust me, go), Daikiya (shmancy authentic Ramen — be prepared for a wait but so worth it), Albi (very creative, gourmet twist on Middle East cuisine — request the chef's table!), El Paso (I'm admittedly snobbish about authentic TexMex — they do it right!), Bourbon Steak (the best steak in D.C. — get the Australian Wagyu) — to name a few.
What’s your favorite DC activity?
My favorite thing to do in DC is going on dusk walks through the National Mall. Living here the past year has been pretty tough and discouraging, but anytime I walk (or scoot) through the Mall — I get pretty emotional about how blessed I am to live here. This is one of the most powerful cities in the world.
The legacy of what has been done here, how the world has been directly impacted by these decisions? It's a powerful thought and I think it is important we all take time to reflect on that. We have access to the history, art, culture, people who have made us "us" throughout the generations. It's a beautiful thing.
I would also highly recommend taking the elevator up into the tower of the Trump Hotel — this is managed by the National Parks Service and has a 360-degree view of the city. It is awe-inspiring and less claustrophobic than the Washington Monument.
What’s your quarantine beauty routine?
Ladies — use a retinoid before you think you need it and always wear sunscreen — even in the winter. I'm pretty strict about my skincare routine, and I am the biggest advocate for La Roche Posay products.
Morning is a La Roche face wash, Vitamin C serum, Vitamin C eye cream, and SUNSCREEN (do not forget this step, skin cancer is not cute). Evening is an oil-based face wash, La Roche face wash, a microderm mask two days a week from Image, Astringent from Vichy, a wrinkle serum from Vichy, Hyaluronic Acid serum from La Roche, eye cream, moisturizer and a retinoid.
Pro-tip: You can buy most of this from CVS, and once you join their Beauty Insider club, you get several 30-40% off coupons a month. I have saved almost $400 this year on skin and hair care purchasing there — coupons make being bougie easier on the pocket book!
How would you describe your style?
My style is "I do what I want." I was a cheerleader and multi-sport athlete in high school with purple hair (and a cut that mimicked Tom Petty — I have photos to prove it), who also sang in the choir, was in student government, and sat at the lunch table with the drama kids. I have never fit in a particular box and I carry that characteristic with my style.
I love a good band t-shirt with my Madewell jeans, but I will throw on a Tahari dress any day of the week. Life is short, dress how ya want. That said — I do have a bone to pick with 20-year-olds and the current clothing choices. Why are scrunchy tops and massively wide leg pants back? Dads with back problems who own a lawn mower shouldn't even wear New Balances, and neither should you. I said what I said.
Know a lady I should interview next? Reply to this email!
The Haps
Kristin Davis’ Second Act
What’s the saying? Always a supporting actress, never the lead? Well, that’s changing for actress Kristin Davis, best known for portraying beloved supporting character Charlotte York in “Sex and the City.”
Davis is starring in a new HBO Max show called “Deeds,” where she plays a realtor who teams up with a sociopathic young couple to make their way in the high-stakes world of Los Angeles real estate. It sounds like “Selling Sunset” meets “Mad Men,” so I’m in!
I may have some Carrie tendencies, but Charlotte’s fashion has always been my favorite. Let’s hope the wardrobe department dresses her just as well for this new show.
You can read more about “Deeds” by clicking here.
Here are some more links to what I’m reading these days:
“Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley on the Key to Their 18-Year Marriage: 'Focus on the Laughter'" - Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley have the cutest tradition: they keep a “greatest hits” journal of their most cherished memories they update every anniversary. Click here to read more of their cuteness.
“How Social Media Has Multiplied The “Mean Girls” Effect” - This article wasn’t quite what I expected — it’s less about cyberbullying and more about the subconscious ways social media convinces women they need to act or dress a certain way — but I found it to be an entertaining and thought-provoking read!
“An Interview With the Man Who Keeps Uploading My Feet to WikiFeet” - I couldn’t resist clicking this article by journalist Laura Bassett. It’s funny, a little disturbing, and mostly a good reminder that nothing on the Internet is private.
From The Sketchbook
“From The Sketchbook” will return next week. Send funny stories or text screenshots you think could make hilarious comic strips by replying to this email.
This is my favorite newsletter yet! Taylor is a QUEEN. I can’t wait to try the Korean bbq place!!! Obsessed!