💤 Knocked out on the operating table (+ my favorite things of 2025)

What's happening: As you're reading this, I'm likely knocked out on the operating table or just waking up from anesthesia—it's surgery day!

What you'll find here: My favorite items/investments from 2025 that have genuinely made life better, plus a totally selfish ask for your best TV shows and book recommendations.

The real talk: Recovery is going to require me to actually rest (a concept I'm still wrapping my head around), so I'm choosing optimism and preparing my entertainment lineup.

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Hey {{first_name}},

By the time you're reading this, I'm either knocked out on the operating table or groggily coming out of anesthesia wondering why everything hurts and where my phone is (priorities, verdad?)

I've been preparing for this moment for weeks now, and honestly? I'm choosing to remain optimistic. I know recovery won't be fast or easy. I know that for the first time in my life, I'll need to truly slow down and rest—like, actually rest, not just scroll through my phone while horizontal.

But instead of spiraling into all the what-ifs and worries, I wanted to write something lighthearted. Something that feels like the kind of conversation you'd have with a friend: "Okay, so I don't lose my mind during recovery, what are some of your favorite shows, books, or hobbies?"

Here are some of my favorites - 

I discovered most of these toward the end of last year, and they've genuinely improved my daily life in unexpected ways. Some are practical, some are pure comfort—all of them have earned their place in my routine.

1. The Monarch App

For years, I tracked my finances in a homemade spreadsheet (shoutout to my inner spreadsheet nerd). But here's what kept tripping me up: tracking stocks and retirement accounts that live outside my regular paycheck. Pre-tax contributions, multiple investment platforms, trying to see the full picture... it was a lot of manual work.

Enter Monarch. The automation has held me way more accountable across ALL my accounts without me having to update forty different cells every week. If you want to try it, here's my referral link for 50% off the first year (not sponsored, just genuinely love it).

If you prefer a more manual version that still gives you structure (which honestly did help me for years before I switched), I recommend this one by a fellow Latina, Viv!

2. My Apple Watch (or Really, Any Smartwatch)

I got mine this year, and honestly? It's been a game-changer for reducing my phone attachment. Don't get me wrong—this isn't really about my health journey. It's just an item I genuinely enjoy because it helps me disconnect.

I can grab a call from my parents or my boyfriend without pulling out my phone and immediately getting sucked into doom scrolling. The health features are nice too (I do love tracking my steps and movement), but the real win is how much less intrusive it feels than constantly checking my phone.

3. Claude (Yes, the AI Tool)

Okay, hear me out—I know we're all drowning in AI tools right now, but Claude is my preferred one for a few reasons. It sounds the least robotic to me, and I appreciate that I can manage the privacy features more than in other apps.

Plus, it has an "incognito" mode which is perfect for those quick questions you don't want it to remember. Sometimes you just need to ask something without it living in your chat history forever, ya sabes?

4. Vuori Sweats

Last year, I was looking for warm but comfortable traveling outfits, and a former teammate suggested Vuori. I was skeptical—like, very skeptical—but I popped into their store to try them on just to see what the hype was about.

The moment I put them on? Chef's kiss. They were the softest, dreamiest pair of sweats I'd ever worn. I could literally envision myself curling up in them on the couch, at the airport, running errands—everywhere. I knew I had to have at least one pair. 

Since then, I treat myself to a new pair every few months or so. They help me feel put together while still being cozy enough for all of life’s adventures.

5. Ritual Vitamins

Among all my health issues this year, it felt right to start a daily multivitamin. I'll admit—I got totally pulled in by all the ads. But you know what? They've actually been great, and I love the subscription schedule (one less thing to remember).

I've since tried their pre/pro/postbiotic (so great for my gut health), and their stress relief vitamin (haven't noticed a big difference with that one, so I probably won't continue). But the daily multivitamin? That one's staying. Click here for $15 off your first order.

Okay, now it's your turn to help me out!

I'm going to be spending the next several weeks in recovery mode, which means I need ALL the entertainment recommendations. We're talking:

What have you been watching or reading lately that you can't stop thinking about? What should I add to my recovery lineup?

Hit reply and send me your favorites—I promise to actually read every single recommendation (because what else am I going to do while horizontal for weeks?).

P.S. - I’ve scheduled the next few newsletters, so you won’t get real time updates or chisme until ~mid-January. It’s still meaningful content, so keep an eye on your inbox!

_{¿Qué dijo? / What did she say?}
verdad - right
ya sabes - you know