The pessimist in me might lament that my life is half over, while the optimist says I’ve got some of my best years ahead.
I am a sucker for a good visualization and thus appreciated a graphic I saw this week that shows “Your Life In Months”. This year I’ve been breaking down major to-do’s or goals into month long buckets. An example of these goals include:
Host a B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pizza party and contest)
A long term vision I have is to live and work abroad. Maybe I enjoyed the Diplomat on Netflix too much, but I think being a US Ambassador would the pinnacle embodyment of this vision.
I don’t need to be Ambassador to the UK, my top five are: New Zealand, Portugal, Urguay, Costa Rica, and Botswana.
Time to get to work!
Without further ado….
Why SC?
SC came highly recommended by my friend Mary Van Meter Baker. Mary thought that Sarah Catherine would make a great profile. Mary said that SC is an “attorney turned Vanderbilt teacher and Harry Styles fanatic…and always seems to be plotting something fun.”
Secretly introverted, chronically online former corporate attorney and Harry Styles superfan who is happiest while cooking for a crowd and drinking a glass of Cab.
A few months ago, I started carrying tiny ducks with me everywhere I go. You can buy 200 of them on Amazon for about $8 (search "tiny ducks"). I hand them out to people and call them Good Luck Ducks. I'll close out at a bar or restaurant, flip over the receipt, place a tiny duck, and write a little note: "This is a Good Luck Duck. To bring you good luck and good vibes for whatever you're working on." -- It's a super easy way to spread joy and people's reactions are shockingly lovely. I have had several people start crying--ha!
I saw Harry Styles's show 17 times in 5 countries and wrote a whole book about it, how could I not recommend seeing him live next time he tours? I'll be there, I can promise you that.
I thought a hostess gift I received this Christmas was particularly cute; a party guest gave me a cutely wrapped baggy containing scissors, colorful krinkle paper, and Scotch tape. The gift tag said "Happy Wrapping!" -- I am filing that away for next year. So easy, cute, and practical.
I am presently very obsessed with Two Hands (NY, Dallas, LA, Austin, Nashville, Denver). Here's the order: Brassicas Bowl (finely chopped charred broccolini, Brussel sprouts, kale, hummus, six-minute egg, avocado, pickled shallot, buzz chili, seeds) WITH added halloumi cheese and a hash brown. Man. Let me tell you. That's got to be one of the best lunches in the game. And reasonably healthy, too. I just ordered it while I was typing this.
I found this brand in Paris last summer when they were doing a popup at Le Bon Marche. I am floored by the quality of these canvas bags. The white one was my go-to in the summer, the black has been on hand every single day in the winter. I think the price is reasonable for the quality and the style is a knockout classic with cool leather detailing and metal snaps.
I'm not tech-savvy whatsoever but I think my Jura coffee machine might count. It lives up to the hype. I cannot overemphasize how much I look forward to making coffee each morning (2.5 shots of espresso over ice + oat milk + cinnamon powder + mason jar + glass straw from Amazon + getting back in bed = perfectly happy SC).
My first book, Styles of Joy, came out on 2/25/25. It is a four-part feel-good framework for how to maximize joy in all of our lives and follows a loose narrative arc about how this former corporate attorney threw out the rulebook and became a fangirl, traveling to 17 shows in 5 countries and making friends along the way.
Want to get in touch with SC? Reach out to her via Instagram
P.S. from Rambull — I am the trash / recycling guy in our house. I hate to admit this but a small stressor is when our recycling bin is overflowing. We shop at Costco and always have those extra-thick cardboard boxes to break down. This cordless power cutter is the real deal. I know that this is a major splurge at $30 but if you (or someone in your family is a habitual Amazon shopper - you know who you are…) break down a lot of boxes, worth it.
Awesome post! Love the idea of the “Good Luck Duck”.
The box cutter comment made me laugh aloud. It's the bane of my husbands existence being the designated family recycling guy. Buying this!