Rat's Nest Week 41

Hey Rats!!

Surprise, surprise—like a true historian honoring the Irish, I made Jell-O shots for the first time (!!) at the ripe age of 31.

Obviously, I went all in (shocker) and made little pot of gold rainbow ones (cute, I know). They were just lemon Jell-O, whiskey, canned whipped cream, and a tiny rainbow sour strip on top. The only flaw? The whipped cream deflates over time, so just aggressively pressure people to take them immediately.

Also, just so we’re clear, I only had a few drinks. I was not a feral abomination like I was last month. ✨growth✨

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Rats!!!!

• ✋🏻 Hall of Shame: Sheets and Giggles- I feel like I’m seeing ads for them everywhere and I’m here to tell you that the sheets are great for about 6 months and then they literally disintegrate and turn into cheesecloth. Am I tempted to buy them again because they were so soft? Of course. But we can’t go back to things that no longer serve us!!

  • 🛌 I’m still on the hunt for great sheets, but if you’re just looking for a duvet cover, I love the Quince Organic Airy Gauze Duvet Cover Set. It’s 100% cotton, super soft, and has that perfect lightweight, lived-in feel. I’ve had mine for about seven months now, and it washes really well—no pilling, no weird texture changes. The only downside? The color selection is kind of a snooze. If you’re into soft neutrals, you’ll love it (I settled for the olive, which I do love). If you were hoping for something fun, you’ll be mildly disappointed- but at least you’ll be disappointed while tucked into a very cozy bed 😌

• 🪷 The Banana Republic X White Lotus collab is SO cool- somebody tell me I don’t need this jumpsuit before I make a poor financial decision (it’s $200 🥲)

• 📺 The Buccaneers: Full disclosure, haven’t watched it yet, but it’s high on my list because it promises exactly what I crave: rich people drama, messy love triangles, and fancy dresses. Costume departments never get enough credit!!!

• 👗 A quick little read (geared towards menswear, but applies to everyone) that argues against obsessing over "finding your style" via imitation and instead to just live your life. Let your look evolve naturally. I’ve gotten a little scroll-happy with diving into random trends the last few years (maybe the tiktok ban would be good for me) and find myself ordering shit i would never wear in real life. It’s okay to think something is cool without needing to own it. Admiration does not have to equal a purchase. Speaking of style, let's all take a moment to admire this very cool 80's dress I got at a vintage store (Blue Suede Vintage in Memphis) yesterday:

• 🪵 McMansions have entered their iPhone era—bigger, whiter, and somehow all looking the same. This Slate article explains why new-build homes suddenly resemble sad, sterile wedding venues.

• 🥣 Tiny billboards… for rats? Full transparency: I immediately looked into getting one for Rat’s Nest HQ, because how could I not? Rats are clearly a key demo for us.

• Southwest Airlines is ending free checked bags- RIP. I’ll preface this by admitting I’m the unofficial president of the Southwest Airlines Haters Club™️. The chaos of boarding gives Lord of the Flies, and who thought letting strangers choose to sit next to you on a four-hour flight was a good idea? I always feel like a weird guy wearing too much Old Spice body spray sits next to me. Literally, the only thing Southwest had going for it was the "bags fly free" perk, but now even that’s gone. Southwest- you are dead to me.

• Ex-Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg apparently spent $13K on lingerie in Europe, then told her aide to "come to bed" on a private jet. To be fair, it was reportedly the only bed available, so maybe she was just being polite?? Either way, as you know, Rat's Nest proudly supports women's rights AND wrongs. Who says scandalous C suite behavior is just for men?!!

• 🍔 K9 Veterans day (March 13th)- A holiday I can get behind- because dogs who can sniff out explosives deserve more praise (and naps!) than most humans I know. Case in point: TSA celebrated its retired K9 sniffer Tirado turning 15, and honestly, I relate a little too hard to Obelix, who prefers naps over parties.

Have a kickass week! (shout out to Rat Girl Whit for my new signoff)

Signing off manifesting a tiny rat billboard for Rat’s Nest,

Kate

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