Time for my favorite part of the week, ICYMI!!!

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ICYMI ₊♡₊˚ 🍒・₊✧ ₊

This past weekend, I had a solo-ish weekend at YC to date myself, where I wrote, read, planned, dreamt, created, rested, and recharged. Doing at least one intentional, no-distraction overnight solo trip is one of my quarterly HSR hacks, and I couldn’t be luckier to do mine in YC this past weekend. Lucky #3’s YPO (secret society) forum was in town staying at our chalet, which, based on their super strict confidentiality rules, meant I had a weekend alone to officially kick off my new year at a friend’s place who’s out of town.

♡ HSR Weekly Words: Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge. - Carl Jung

♡ This Week’s Short Read: One of the brightest and most contrarian minds in SF, who runs Slow Ventures, wrote an easy-to-digest thread about “The 2025 Founder Archetype. Spoiler: knowing how to code won’t make you special anymore.” I absolutely loved it and couldn’t agree more—it reminds me of everything I’ve been saying about storytelling.

♡ Self-Care Things I’m Loving: Because I’m skiing 3+ hours a day, I’m not doing many other workouts besides Pilates, and I’ve been loving Pilates by Bryony. I’m reading The “Let Them” Theory by Mel Robbins. Skiing has been exhausting, so I’ve been having this protein in a smoothie every morning, these electrolytes throughout the day and using this balm to protect my face from the wind and sun. I’m giving myself more facials using the entire Rhode lineup while the air stays dry in the mountains—and not taking off these boots unless I’m dry brushing or putting my legs up the wall for 10 minutes a day.

♡ 3 Journal Prompts:

♡ Where am I wasting my time? Hint: This could be with people, hobbies you no longer enjoy, a job you’ve outgrown, social media doom scrolling, etc. think hard with where you are wasting time and figure out a plan to detach from it.

♡ Who are the people who I’m inspired by? Hint: If you don’t have many IRL, surround yourself with positive inspirations online ONLY. Unfollow anyone who doesn’t give you an immediate motivation or inspiration when you view their content.

♡ What is one thing I can do this week for clarity? Hint: It could be a walk without music, a date with yourself and a notebook, a conversation with a friend (or a therapist), a day without anything on your calendar. Get creative!

♡ Controversial Things on My Mind:

♡ Spencer Pratt won the internet last week. Getting your wife’s 15+ year-old album to #1 on iTunes is no easy feat (coming from someone who worked in music). Doing that after your house burns down and winning over the internet as pop culture’s biggest former villain all in the same week is impressive. This collab with La La Land is just good controversial marketing and, IMO, was perfectly executed. Plus, I found out that Speidi is an HSR fan, which wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card.

♡ Alex Cooper is losing millennials: I wish it wasn’t true because I just listed her in a PR interview as an online inspiration, but millennials (including me) are almost over Alex Cooper unless she makes a change real fast. I couldn’t agree more with this video.

♡ You should let your man pick out your lingerie: This one is spicy in more ways than one but let’s be real, you don’t wear lingerie for you. You wear it for him (or her), so let them pick out what they like!

♡ A traditional marriage with roles and responsibilities does not mean that you approve of toxic masculinity. I want a traditional marriage where I get to be feminine at home because I’m masculine at work. But that being said, I want my man to be happy and fulfilled and I don’t know when it became wrong for you to say that?

♡ I’ve never ghosted a man, but over the past 5 months I’ve ghosted (being dramatic) but distanced myself from 2 friends and it’s been amazing. The first 2 months were hard and felt weird but now all I feel is free.

♡ I’m going to miss my boyfriend being the world’s worst kept secret. By the next time you read this newsletter’s next edition, you’ll have met Lucky #3 on episode 3 of the podcast and as much as I’m going to miss us being something sacred and private for just me, I’m ready for this next chapter.

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This Week’s Mood Board

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• HSR Case Study: Even Kim Kardashian Struggled To Break Through The 2%: Why SKKY Partners Struggled To Raise Capital

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♡ The HSR Podcast ♡

I can’t believe we already made it onto the top Spotify business charts after one week!! I would say it was easy, but it wasn’t. We’ve invested so much money, time, resources, sweat equity, tears, and fears into bringing you a show that is so needed for women right now. Something that brings you education as much as entertainment. Something that makes you feel like anything is possible and equips you with the tactical tools to help you get there sacrificing my own journey and most private stories, relationships and emotions to make it possible.

It’s been beautiful to have received over hundreds of DM from women who have loved the first 2 episodes, and I am so grateful.

If you’re one of those people who have loved the episodes so far and can’t wait to see where the show goes, let me ask you this…what would it take for you to stop what you’re doing and go rate, review and share the show with someone you know would love it too? It would mean the world to me.

♡

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HSR Updates

♡ everything fun and exciting in the land of HSR ♡

• Hot Smart Rich, The Podcast by Maggie Sellers hits #39 on Spotify’s Top Business Podcasts chart! 🎉 Thank you HSR, it’s all because of you. You’ve changed my life in so many ways, and I am eternally grateful ♡ - from Spotify.

• HSR Ventures portfolio company Allara Health raises $26M Series B to Transform Women’s Hormone Health from Index Ventures - from Instagram and TechCrunch.

• Locker has officially passed 5,000 new shoppers earning rewards for shopping through Payback! They are officially accepting new shoppers to earn while they shop with this link!

• Flaus is hiring for multiple roles, offering opportunities to join their innovative team - from Dover.

• Frate is hiring a software engineer in Toronto - from LinkedIn.

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Consumer News

♡ the brands, people, places, things that have captured my attention ♡

♡ Women’s Health & Beauty ♡

• Rare Beauty launches Soft Pinch Liquid Contour in seven shades, featuring six creators in its campaign - from Instagram.

• Mane and OUIA team up for "The Anti-Frizz Kit," combining a straightening brush with anti-frizz crème - from Instagram.

• The wellness trends of 2025 focus on "well-aging," supplements, and alternative therapies - from Instagram.

• 111SKIN receives a minority investment from SKKY Partners to scale its luxury skincare line globally - from PRNewswire.

• Arrae founders Siff & Nish highlight their standout creatine formula TONE designed to build lean muscle - from Instagram.

• Rhode introduces Peptide Lip Shape in 11 shades to contour and hydrate lips, launching January 30 featuring new it girl, Tate McRae - from Instagram.

♡ Media, Entertainment & Creator ♡

• Sephora makes their big screen debut with Faces of Music, a documentary celebrating diverse artistry - from BeautyMatter.

• Emma Léger announces the closure of Emma’s Olives, marking a bittersweet farewell and next chapter! - from Instagram

• Real Fine Studio and Heaven Mayhem launch a lab-grown jewelry collection supporting local charities - from Instagram.

• Alix Earle collaborates with FRAME for a capsule collection featuring skinny jeans and wardrobe essentials - from Elle.

• Perfect Parties with Melissa Andre premieres on YouTube next month! - from Instagram.

♡ E-Commerce, Retail & Social ♡

• Consumers continue to splurge on pets, driving record spending in the category - from The Economist.

• Influencer startup ShopMy raises $77.5M to expand into new ad categories and drive creator commerce - from WSJ.

♡ Tech, Business & Investing ♡

• Recharge announces Paris Hilton as the keynote speaker for Chargex25 in April - from LinkedIn.

• Unilever acquires Indian premium beauty brand Minimalist, expanding its global presence - from WWD.

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TYSM, I♡U!!!!

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