How to Politely Decline Something You Can’t Afford
I spent my 20s trying to keep up with the Joneses. The problem was, I lived in New York City, where the Joneses were basically…
How to Pray When You’re Really Not Feeling It
When I was growing up, nightly prayers were a formal, ritualized affair. I was raised in the grand Catholic tradition of kneeling by the side…
4 Realistic Rom-Coms to Soothe Your Skeptical Soul
In the halcyon days of my youth, it was hard to decide which dashing cinema hero I’d rather have as my boyfriend: free-spirited, sensitive artist…
Self-Help Books That Live up to the Hype
Allow me to start with a brief list of the self-help/advice books I’ve started and never finished: “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up;” “Wherever You…
How My Best Friend and I Have Stayed Close for 25 Years
The first time I saw my best friend Sara, her wrist was in a cast covered in signatures. It was 1992, and we were in…
Skip the Small Talk on Dates: Here’s What to Ask Instead
I am the queen of first dates. Ask any of my friends, and they’ll tell you: I’m an extremely extroverted hopeless romantic who loves an…
How to Practice Self-Care Without Going Broke
One of my favorite writers, Laurie Penny, wrote this scathing screed against “neoliberal self-care” and the elitist and often exclusionary forms it takes: “Lifestyle bloggers…
Getting to Know Your New Roommate
I spent a four-year interlude living in Chicago, where I had a cozy, light-filled apartment all to my own. Everything was exactly as I wanted…
How to Know When Burning a Bridge Is Okay
A few seasons ago, the high-fashion brand Vetements produced a hoodie I’m still obsessed with. Bold letters on the front declared, “May the bridges I…
The 4 Commandments of Texting
We’ve all been there: You emerge from class or a meeting at work to find that your “Squad” group text has somehow multiplied by 271…
