Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

A Thing Or Two We’re Doing Besides Getting You Up To Speed (Copy)

You know us, always having a lot of thoughts. Right now, we are pondering vacuums, Japan travel advice, The RealReal, and a man whose Instagram stories we can’t stop, won’t stop watching. To dive into all of that with us, get your tush over to this newsletter’s ~companion podcast~, and read on for what else grabbed our eyeballs this week.

erica’s things

  • Wanting to consume this wine, jam, and honey, sure, but also just eating up their packaging. Joana Avillez illustrations on everything, please!

  • Slicking on lipgloss for the first time since the early aughts. This stuff is 1) moisturizing 2) not Elmer’s sticky.

  • Taking one ceramics course; wondering how long it’ll be until I can make a coffee table like these.

  • Whipping up what I’m dubbing the cheater’s tortilla española and experiencing a tiny burst of the adrenaline all those scammers must feel.

  • Trying my hand at the dating apps as a married person: Welcome to Ship, where you swipe for your friends.

claire’s things

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

A Thing Or Two We’re Doing Besides Getting You Up To Speed

Is it rude to just direct people to our podcast when they ask what we’ve been up to? Don’t answer ‘cause we’re doing it either way. What we’ve been up to is this: We reflected on what’s it’s like to lose the business we builtand not to have a job in general. One of us celebrated a first motherhood anniversary...and the other a first godparent anniversary. We got to ask our retail icon—everyone’s retail icon?!—Mickey Drexler all the Qs. And, of course, we contemplated important nonsense, ranging from skin barriers to black tights to the latest in SNACKS. Oh, and we made time to suss out what follows, too.

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Leaving it to Jerry Saltz to sum up what made Jason Polan so magical—and so very, very missed.

  • Leaning heavily on the Peloton app to get me through the drudgery of winter workouts. Key fact: You don’t need their equipment to use it.

  • Performing this magic trick on frozen chicken breasts at least once a week. It is quite handy to have on hand for salads, sandwiches, etc. and is also very toddler-fingers-friendly.

  • Hailing Harling Ross for always putting the gospel truth in writing: All good outfits expire by 3 p.m.

  • Silently cursing Tellus Mater for not existing when I was pregnant. Chic!!

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

A Thing Or Two We’re Doing Besides Slipping Back Into Your Inbox

Hi, friend! It’s been a while. But this newsletter—FKA 10 Things—is officially back, and it will be hitting your inbox on Mondays if you’ll have us. (And if you know anyone else who’d like to be on the receiving end, direct them here.) Speaking of Mondays, that’s when we release new episodes of our podcast, also called A Thing or Two. If you like this email and haven’t given that a listen, well, something tells us you’ll be into it, too. Who doesn’t want to hear about parenthood anniversaries and GF pets?

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Waiting impatiently for my favorite jeans to be released in a new wash so it’s not quite so obvious to everyone that I wear the same exact pants every day.

  • Feeling like I’ve acquired two very wise and wonderful older sisters via the Everything is Fine podcast, where Kim France and Tally Abecassis talk about life after 40.

  • Bragging about how fancy my purse snacks are these days.

  • Turning to @andreaanimates for all the felted stop-motion animation I never knew I needed in my life but definitely did.

  • Falling hard for two kids who spontaneously combust on the reg, along with their insanely likeable caretaker, in Nothing to See Here, one of the best books I’ve read in a good long while.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Saying Bye for Now

claire and erica’s things

  • Daring you to find a person who navigates the operational complexities of running a business with even half the poise and determination that Joan Baker does. Which is to say nothing of her reporting and finance chops!

  • Wishing all content everywhere got a dusting of Liz Sheldon’s trademark mix of thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and savvy—and that every team was so lucky as to have her kindness shaping the office ~vibes~.

  • Spotting a unicorn: Izzy Devine-Carter is—somehow—as good with words as she is with visuals (see our IG for proof), and that’s not even taking her digital and content production skills into account.

  • Showing you a woman who can juggle, like, 17 balls. Digital marketing, web project management, events? Jessie Newland’s on it, and she’ll make sure everyone else is on it, too.

  • Unearthing something we honestly didn’t know existed in a PR agency: LaRue relies on zero smoke or mirrors, just hard work and smarts, and everyone involved is just plain nice.

  • Predicting we’ll all be working for Marie Joh one day. She led our buying and merchandising for the last four years, but, like a true leader, she left her imprint on every part of the business.

  • Knowing we’ll be jealous of whatever brand is fortunate enough to benefit from Rachel Herzig’s incredible art-direction skills (and the fact that she is one of those rare creatives who is also insanely organized).

  • Feeling like we were never worthy of Melanie Sellinger’s extreme dedication, unparalleled attention to detail, invaluable candor, and, most of all, killer buying instincts.

  • Wondering how we got so lucky as to find the one warehouse in all the land that cares about the little things as much as we do—and was willing (nay, wanting) to manage the bonkers process of hand-written thank-you notes and certificates of authenticity because of that.

  • Telling you something you already know if you’ve ever interacted with Ruby Tucker: Nobody feels more deeply for Of a Kind’s customers than she does. If you think she oozes warmth in an email, you should see her at work.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Seeking Some Chill

erica’s things

  • Treating my Sonicare (and, duh, my mouth) to this toothpaste. My teeth feel so slick after I use it.

  • LOLing at these. Now I just have to make room for them on a bookshelf, a project that will require a few of its own balancing acts.

  • Maintaining my Texas enthusiasm with some stand-out Hill Country wine. Love that Mataro (a red, unusual for me!), and I’m itching to try the Piquette.

  • Fawning over a wedding-dress line.

  • Leveling up with measuring cups that (gasp!) just make sense.

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from claire

  • Predicting the imminent return of the arm party, for which this beauty makes a stellar starting point.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Bringing Our Podcast to You LIVE from New York

erica’s things

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from erica

  • Welcoming all o’ the corduroy to my fall wardrobe—but in this form first and foremost.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Sharing a Story or Six

erica’s things

claire’s things

turn it up to 11- from erica

  • Knowing I should be more embarrassed by how many days in a row I’ve worn these.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Asking You All the Questions

erica’s things

  • Finding a dream wedding cake six years too late. First time I’ve felt compelled to renew my vows, tell you what.

  • Encouraging a daily-ish writing habit with the aid of the I Should Be Writing plug-in for Google Docs. It lets you set a time or a word-count goal—handy!

  • Taking a Museum Hack tour of the Met that truly speaks to my interests: badass bitches.

  • Making the gazpacho that, apparently, everyone is making while I still have access to the seasonal produce to do it justice.

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from erica

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Smelling Extra Good

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Cribbing the sweetest, simplest long-distance friendship trick: Shoot a pal a quick “Text me your right now,” a prompt for them to send you a snap of wherever/whatever’s happening in their life right that instant. Low-pressure and perfect.

  • Marking my calendar for 9/12, when Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn is putting the iconic Parker Posey flick Party Girl up on the big screen.

  • Feeling like I *actually* understand wine for the first time, thanks to a group lesson from Vanessa Price. Strong recommendation for your next bachelorette party, team off-site, or milestone birthday.

  • Scouring eBay for Herman Miller summer picnic posters.

  • Declaring a new favorite thing: babies in sunglasses.

turn it up to 11 - from claire

  • Feeling like I should just stock up on several of these because what’s a cuter birthday/housewarming/hostess gift?

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Upping our Professional Enthusiasm

erica’s things

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from erica

  • Buying into a name: This serum really is everything.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Fancying the Finest of Fine Jewelry

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Tearing through a YA-ish book that’s a little bit Duggars, a little bit Kardashians with a side of The Miseducation of Cameron Post.

  • Bringing you the latest in #chipchat: These are like if Bugles decided to go health-conscious.

  • Welcoming the opportunity to never again have to tear apart my house looking for that one roll of packing tape that is impossible to unfurl.

  • Appreciating Meaghan O’Connell piping up about (yet another!) postpartum thing that’s all too common yet so rarely discussed.

  • IDing a perfect (and perfectly free!) activity to keep a curious NYC kid busy: tree-peeping.

turn it up to 11 - from claire

  • Calling it: Tiny cups are the next tiny spoons

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Serving Up the Speed Reads

erica’s things

claire’s things

turn it up to 11- from erica

  • Stocking up on cards, as the type of person who regularly stocks up on cards. These and these and these are worth having a stash of, IMO.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Podcasting and Not Podcasting

erica’s things

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from claire

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Spilling the Tee

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Letting this plus a grill be the starting point for dinner most nights this summer.

  • Still not getting a dog, but feeling happy for everyone else that they can have such nice things.

  • Confessing that I’m not sure which makes me more grown-up: having a kid or owning a bar cart.

  • Wondering who would have ever guessed that WeTransfer, of all things, would be a company I’d feel such warmth toward? Remember this? And now this! (← Also a quick lesson on how medical debt works.)

  • Eyeing Social Studies for our next fancy partay—because who wants to clean and store all those linens and dishes?!

turn it up to 11 - from erica

  • Piling on the hearts in a way that’d do six-year-old me proud.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Bringing You the Latest ‘n Greatest Potions

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Giving you the heads-up on the next big snack and condiment trend: The dates are coming, and they are instagrammable.

  • Finally finding a reusable cup that’s compact enough to be habit-forming.

  • Laughing, crying, and insisting you drop everything to read this astoundingly good story of a 65-year-old man who sold his dentistry practice to become a line cook at one of the country’s hottest restaurants.

  • Losing my mind a little over the things happening at Baby Kiss Kiss.

  • Subscribing to an interesting newsletter written by people who are, in fact, very interesting.

turn it up to 11- from claire

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Shopping the Last Day of Our Impressive Summer Sale

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Questioning why the standard bib size even exists when there’s an option to cover your child’s entire body.

  • Stirring Hozon into almost every sauce I make. (Also eating it off the spoon in between stirs.)

  • Nominating Dorothy Ashby for your dinnertime soundtrack.

  • Sitting out The Cookies and The Stew, but going all in for The Fish.

  • Getting reacquainted with my core (and arms and thighs and butt…) with the help of Revolution Motherhood’s A+ program.

turn it up to 11 - from erica

  • Doing what I can to make life just a bowl—wait, THREE bowls—of cherries.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Bringing You the Low-Hanging Fruit

erica’s things

  • Spying a charming—and delicious??—new use for bubble wrap.

  • Loading up on book recs from one of the greatest readers I know. (They happen to be accompanied by art from one of the greatest illustrators I know, too.)

  • Requesting a deep dive into fast-casual style after lasering in on the term here.

  • Getting a real kick out of this product, which makes webcam privacy feel so much more lighthearted and cheery.

  • Looking back on Elaine Benes’s wardrobe with (American treasure) Julia Louis-Dreyfus herself.

claire’s things

turn it up to 11- from erica

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Getting on the Same Page

erica’s things

claire’s things

  • Offering up a second chance to hear us gab about our book in NYC (this time, with the genius author of Text Me When You Get Home) in case ya missed last week’s!

  • Recognizing the absolutely delusional amount of ambition involved in the purchase of this thing but buying it anyway.

  • Stepping up the party-supply game in a big way with L’entramise.

  • Deciding that you really only want the best when it comes to things you’re sticking in your baby’s butt, so scooping up the infant thermometer. The associated app is wonderfully useful.

  • Perfecting my onion-caramelizing technique, a skill that comes in wonderfully handy for everything from taco night to frittata brunch.

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Socking It to You

Remember when we used to bare our naked ankles long past the point when it was safe to do so without risking frostbite? Let’s all take a moment to be grateful that the statement sock’s time has come and honor it with appropriate fanfare by diving deep into the latest in happening hosiery

erica’s things

  • Cackling over billboards.

  • Starting a phone note for “Best NYC Food Under $10,” starring Chang’an Spicy Tofu from Xi’an Famous Foods and Nasi Lemak from Kopitiam. Recommend eating either on a park bench on a perfect fall-ish day.

  • Fighting the urge to buy all the school supplies, and this and this aren’t helping.

  • Wanting to hire someone just so I can post on this job board.

  • Contemplating the effect of Barbie's Dreamhouse on my psyche.

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from claire

  • Rubbing this all over my growing belly as an offering to the patron saint of stretch marks

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Catherine Krenzer Catherine Krenzer

10 Things We're Doing Besides Womanning Up

Because now feels like a particularly good time to fill your ear drums with unapologetically ambitious women: Get acquainted with the journalist Alicia Menendez, whose A Few Things episode elicited multiple enthusiastic texts from friends and family, and then queue up a convo with Jaclyn Johnson, who’s made it her life’s work to get women ahead at work. And if you need something just a bit light (we get it), hear a little history of Sanrio and an impassioned defense of label makers

erica’s things

  • Getting top-notch help putting together my shiny new bike. Related: this.

  • Experiencing shave-ice withdrawal after consuming mountains of the stuff in Japan and visiting NYC’s own Bonsai Kakigōri and The Little One in one afternoon to remedy that.

  • Waiting for all of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, trend stories to land. Because this and this and this!

  • Admiring the beauty of The Surfer’s Journal as someone who has absolutely zero interest in surfing herself.

  • Seeing my sauce dreams realized. I had been holding out for a Hellmann’s x Heinz collab, but I’ll take this..

claire’s things

turn it up to 11 - from erica

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