Notes from the Week, Vol. 3
My 36th birthday, a work trip to Amsterdam, a girls trip to CDMX, and FUCK ICE!
The last few weeks have been absolutely non-stop in the best way possible. I was in pretty deep hibernation mode during the holidays, but this reemergence is feeling exactly right. This post turned into a multi-week catch up and slightly long, but I hope you guys are enjoying these :)
Rewind to celebrating my 36th birthday! Here’s a little IG recap. I also spent some significant time reflecting on major themes I took from 35 — it was a really big, beautiful year and I wanted to write it all down and share with the world. So here’s a birthday weekend recap and 35 lessons at 35!
Then, I bopped over to Amsterdam for a work trip and wow, have I been living under a rock? I’ve already started looking at real estate. Granted I didn’t see much, but I’m sold — the people, the charm, the design. It’s one of my favorite new cities I’ve visited in a while. Here’s the IG recap.
I just got home last night from a 48 hour girls trip to Mexico City. We danced, we laughed, we saw a sunrise, we made new friends, and it was the best reminder that going on quick girls trips are good for the soul!! I’m not a CDMX connoisseur so I won’t go into a hit-list, but I do need to go back for a quieter, chill visit — because my last two trips there were ~*wild*~
I’m heading to New York this weekend for work and I can’t wait to show you guys what we’re scheming up over at Chan Luu ;) We launched our Spring 26 Collection this morning and it’s gorgeous if I do say so myself!
And of course, I watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance as soon as I landed last night and WOW. What a JOYFUL, beautiful performance! You could feel the pride in every detail… and the way it made millions of people feel seen.. what a gift in a dark America. I LOVED Lady Gaga’s cameo too, wowowow. It was all simply incredible. I am so obsessed with him!!!!
Sending everyone a big hug from wherever you are in the world. Stay safe, stay warm, and fuck ICE xoxo
Love,
Cat
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My birthday outfit! Absolutely no surprise it’s from Chan Luu. It’s a dress that comes with a belt, but I wore it as a tunic with jeans and mostly unbuttoned.
Mudroom runner. One of my best $32 purchases. I got this months ago and love how it acts like a doormat where you can wipe your outdoor shoes on without ruining it.
The Chan Luu dress worn as a tunic and my beautiful friend Holly :) Magnetic charger. I laugh at the things that bring me so much joy at this point in life… like discovering a great magnetic charger that’s thin and light. I posted it on my IG the other day and I can’t believe how many of you clicked it. It’s the simple things!
Wetvac / Mop update! I am not joking when I say I get asked about my wetvac at least once a week. It’s been brought to my attention that the version I have is being discontinued, so if you’re in the market, here is the newer version.
Journal and Le Pen. It’s simply the perfect journal and perfect pen.
The magnetic charger, the journal, the pen! An $18 serum that gives you glass skin. I’ve been using this Versed serum 3x a week for the last couple of weeks and I am blown away at how great it is. And for $18?! I’m adding it to my Master Beauty List.
A date top! This is a classic Doen top that be in your closet forever. I wore it on a date with blue jeans and heels. And someone asked, but I wore these nipple covers instead of a bra because it’s sheer.
The $18 serum! My skin immediately after a 12 hour flight home from Amsterdam. Also wearing the LuvAJ earrings here! Diamond Earrings. I’ve been wearing these Luv AJ cuties in my daily rotation and I just love them.
Baggy jeans so good I’ve been wearing them on flights. I was just introduced to EB Denim and I’ve been wearing this pair dressed up and down. I wore them on a 12 hour flight to Amsterdam and on my flight to and from Mexico City. And I wore them out with heels. They’re seriously so good!
The baggy jeans dressed up and down. My carry-on kit. I should really do a dedicated post on my can’t live without things on a flight. It’s short and sweet so here you go:
Cuyana Travel Case. I have the duo set and I use the mini one in my purse to hold the following things!
Necessaire Lip Balm. I don’t go anywhere without this, let alone a plane ride.
Kiehl’s Hand Salve. Is there anything worse than dry hands after washing your hands at the airport / on the plane?! I’ve been using this hand cream for 15 years.
Noshinku hand sanitizer in Eucalyptus. It’s super thin, so it fits in my little pouch and it smells great.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. These for short flights and then the big guys for anything over 6 hours.
Portable charger. My fear of a dead phone should be studied.
Carry-on. I’m a tried and true Away girl. I use the Carry-On Flex and it’s perfect.
Biodance Face Masks. This is nothing new, but this really is the best face mask. I use one at least 1x a week. It doesn’t get all gooey and slipperly like some of them (you know?!) I put this on last night immediately after my everything shower post CDMX flight when my skin was dry AF.
Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads. A must for traveling because they don’t take up any space and your skin will thank you after a travel day. I’ve been using these for years!
A cashmere polo. This is so soft and cute, I’ve been wearing it to work and cozy enough to wear on my flight to Amsterdam.
A lace body suit and pashmina. I got this over the holidays but have been wearing it for nights out and I love the combo, or separately!
Everything here is DOEN :) The classic top, the lace bodysuit, the pashmina! William Sonoma Oven Mitts. A reminder that if you think it’s time for a new pair of oven mitts, it probably is. These are $16 and so cute. Also, matching towels are the best kitchen towels ever.
Freezing things!! I have a hard time going through all my produce living alone, so I got really into freezing things. Berries and spinach for future smoothies are the obvious. But my bff brought me a ton of lemons from her tree, so I got small ice cube trays to squeeze lemon juice for my daily morning hot water and lemon. I also love these silicone trays for freezing soup and broth. Whenever you want to reheat a bowl, you just pop it out!
Cashmere Polo so great that I wore on my flight to Amsterdam and to the office :) Every day socks, 3 for $13. I swear by Uniqlo socks and I tend to acquire them anytime I’m in a new country and randomly need a new pair of socks. I’be been wearing these white ones with my Vans or Sambas lately!
The $34 mudroom rug. William Sonoma oven mitts forever. A chic toilet scrubber. There’s no cute way to say this, but this is in fact, the cutest option for a toilet bowl scrubber. I get a new one every few months to keep it fresh.
Eye drops for extra dry eyes. Ok this is random, but I’ve been struggling with extra dry eyes lately and my optometrist got me onto these eye drops and I am OBSESSED. Is anyone else going crazy with this dryness?!
The baggy jeans, again! I’m a tried and true Away suitcase girl, this is the Carry-On Flex. Good Hang with Amy Poehler ft. Michelle Obama. This is an episode from last year, but it made me actually lol while I was doing chores. God I love this podcast and I’m so happy it exists.
Fiction books. I’m on a reading tear right now and I’d love some great fiction recs please! I’ve never read Pride & Prejudice before (!!) and I love it. Ugh the yearning!!
A quick Amsterdam recap ❄️
Rijsel. Not that I needed a reason to love Amsterdam more, but this restaurant sealed the deal. I don’t say this lightly — this made my top 10 restaurants in the world. It was (to me), perfect in every way. The ambiance, the menu, the food, the wine, the people.
Rika Studios. We stumbled on this shop on the canals, and it was our lucky day because the founder, Rika, was in the shop. We spent an hour talking with her, admiring her pieces. I highly recommend stopping by!
The Lebanese Sajeria. One of my favorite bites of food on the trip. We wanted something quick and easy and wow, this blew our minds. It was a simple wrap but hot damn it was so good!!!
Van Gogh Museum. We only had time to go to one museum and I’m so glad we got to see his work. The Sunflowers really took my breath away.
Most popular from last week’s notes 💌
A new runner for my hallway. It’s sooo soft and cozy, and most importantly, affordable. And I just checked, it’s on sale! I love it so much. Code: catchen15
New Bathmats! I stand by the fact that the smallest upgrades make every day life so much more enjoyable. I finally upgraded to these Frontgate bathmats in the color Chiffon. How cute is the border!! I have the bath sheets, hand towels, and face towels in Chiffon too and I won’t shut up about how fluffy and perfect they are. I was introduced to these a few years ago and have never looked back.
Almond Cow. It’s a nut milk maker that I’ve used 1-2x a week for the last two years. I truly have not bought milk from a store since.
I’m so excited to try a new eye drop (fellow dry eye sufferer)
Also hotel rec for Amsterdam pls!