i’m still waiting for a reporter to write about the Great Evil that is affiliate marketing. it’s possible it may not happen bc like literally every media company participates in commission kickbacks so that would be totes awks. and moi, i’m certainly not gonna write about it bc like 80% of my income now comes from producing shopping content and i have my own mouth to feed. my writing life once used to be pitching ideas i believed in and now i’ve surrendered myself to whatever seo-dictated, google-ranking key words that come my way. life?? is pain. is pain! i talk to my small biz pals and the strug is real and extremely lose-lose for the aspiring or even established entrepreneur who cannot afford to partake in this wretched system. this illuminating bbsp piece on ssense really had my brain hurting for days and one thing i’d add to the convo is that the retailer also offers a high commission rate (which includes the stuff on sale), which is why you’ll see a ton of media sites and fashion substacks regularly hyping up its products in various roundups and such. obvs i don’t understand the math or logic of it but then again i’m a writer who makes scant money and also gives stuff away for free so maybe i’m not the best person to understand what a biz plan even is. i for the most part don’t trust any product reviews or roundups. if headlines were truthful i think they’d read a lot more like “whaddup suckers here’s the best, most absolutely expensive mattress from this here dtc sleep brand that gives us a really amazing commission rate (ka-ching ka-ching watch me lick my own nipple).” of course there are pricey products that i would marry like my berkey and my dyson fan (much luv to both), but for the most part i am sus about the whole tried, tested, and true method that so many sites claim to employ (wirecutter included). clearly i’m actively part of the problem bc i am sickeningly obsessed with material things and i keep doing this work!!!! someone call 911 bc i need medical attn!!! i feel like i’m screaming into a landfill. anyway here are some things i hope you’ll take:

girlfriend collective, size M, no cups bc i removed them. i wore this swimsuit twice; it’s basically new. i never even got to christen it! (aka take a wiz in it)

all size 7. i paid a stupid amount of money for the brown clog at top from an actual european clog maker on etsy. so if you feel like throwing some dollars my way for that pair, i’ll take it, but also i’ll prob just give them to you. second pair is aerosoles. bottom is from marc fisher which i included in the last edition of this substack and i’m throwing them into the mix AGAIN bc i really need more space on my shoe rack.

new air purifier that i tested for a story. pick it up in time for the next wildfire air pollution extravaganza.

earlier this year i was telling people i was “getting into protein.” now i’m getting out of protein bc i’m tired of drinking these goddamn shakes (even though these actually taste pretty decent, i swear).

oh and here’s a protein shake blender bottle thingy. there’s a little mixer thing inside that helps you take your protein shake on the go.

black leggings from lululemon, abercrombie & fitch, and everlane, all size S and all slightly too long for my 27” inseam. i recommend someone with at least a 30” inseam to take these.

i was at some press dinner thing and i met the creator of this reusable sheet mask… you squirt your fav serum all over your face then put this sssssomebody ssssstop me mask on top to lock the moisture in. it had been a while since i’d been at a professional networking setting and i was unknowingly being a punisher…. just blabbing blabbing blabbing away bc i felt like i was carrying the convo but i got it all wrong the whole time. as soon as there was a break in the convo (probably bc i was likely catching my breath like a gd marathon runner), the gal flatly said, “i’m gonna go over there to talk to those people now.” sometimes the “jinnie knows everybody” and “she’s the mayor” jokes get me twisted that not everyone thinks i’m like pleasant to chat with. hahaha! that’s me laughing not at all nervously. needless to say i ate two slices of humble pie that night.

i bought this e-reader at the start of the pandemic when libs were closed and galleys were all digital. i got a rakuten kobo bc i was all like, fuck amazon fuck kindle. but then i like literally didn’t kow how to use this device and i couldn’t get into it so as you can see i have barely read anything on it. it’s time to let it go. this is something i paid for so if you feel like throwing some dollars my way, i’ll take it, but also maybe i’ll just give it to you. you get the moshfegh, berman, zhang, and safdie e-bookshelf for free (i don’t know how to reset this thing).

ok now here’s a bunch of random beauty products:

good creamy lippies from fluffmatte that had a splashy viral moment some time ago. sorry i used some of this stuff — but not a lot! ultimately i don’t wear lipstick and i think you should have it.

famous japanese exfoliator! still in the bubb wrap.

i used some of this to test so it’s mostly full. best for already wavy or curly hair.

i’m a huge fan of shampoo bars if you wanna see what they’re all about.

a whole lotta nose strips. just so you know that’s oscar da grouch with the starface collab, not a ninja turt.

til next time,

j