Career. Style. Restaurants. Life upgrades. And whatever else happens to be living rent-free in my brain that week. Every Thursday. Happy you’re here!
BOOKMARK THIS
🤎My Amazon storefront for all my Amazon finds, beauty favorites, home things, and random little life purchases:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/gabriiellas15
🤎My ShopMy for outfits, shoes, accessories, and everything I wear in posts/reels/newsletters:
https://shopmy.us/gabriiellas
🤎Barry’s free first class link - because we are getting summer-ready together:
https://share.barrys.com/gabbysep15!4ba0f95fc8!a
🤎Subscribe to this for a discount on your first lash appointment at Pampered Nail Salon - DM me after you do for the code!
🤎Subscribe to this for a discount on your first nail appointment at Blossom Nail Lounge - DM me after you do for the code!
What’s got me thinking this week:
A few things living rent-free in my brain…
Medical-grade, professional-grade…skincare...or just really good marketing?
After my first professional facial in months, I walked out convinced my skin had never looked better.
Naturally, that sent me down a skincare rabbit hole.
7-step routines.
TikTok ingredients.
$300 serums.
Devices that look like they belong in a dentist's office.
Medical-grade.
Professional.
Clinical.
Luxury.
And somehow everyone is an expert.
Some experts swear the formulas are backed by stronger ingredients and better delivery systems. Others argue the difference is mostly branding and that consistency matters far more than the label.
Now I'm questioning everything in my skincare cabinet.
(Research currently ongoing.😂)
The funny thing is...the older I get, the less interested I am in doing more.
Maybe that's the hardest part about being an adult right now.
Not finding information.
Finding the right information.
THIS WEEK’S EDIT:
AI Didn't Teach Me About Technology. It Taught Me About Curiosity.
AI Didn't Teach Me About Technology. It Taught Me About Curiosity.
When I first decided to spend a week learning AI and how to apply it practically in my job, I thought I knew exactly what I needed to do.
Become an expert.
Learn every tool.
Understand every model.
Figure out the "right" prompts.
Basically...know enough that I could confidently say I understood AI.
Instead, I walked away realizing I'd been chasing the wrong thing entirely.
The people getting the most out of AI aren't always the people who know the most.
They're the people who stay curious the longest.
That surprised me.
I expected the engineers and technical experts to have the biggest advantage. And of course, deep expertise still matters. But what I kept noticing—both in my own experiments and watching how other people worked—was that the biggest breakthroughs usually came from someone asking one more question.
"What if I tried it this way?"
"What happens if I give it more context?"
"Can you explain that differently?"
"Can you compare these two ideas?"
The difference between an average result and an incredible one usually wasn't a better AI model.
It was a better conversation.
And mind you…I come from a non-software engineer background…so don’t grill me for that one.
And that made me realize something much bigger than AI.
For most of my career, I assumed expertise was the ultimate competitive advantage.
Be the smartest person in the room.
Know the answer.
Become indispensable because of what you know.
But AI is quietly shifting that equation.
Knowledge has become dramatically more accessible.
The advantage isn't just having information anymore.
It's knowing how to think with it.
How to ask better questions.
How to challenge your first assumption.
How to keep iterating instead of settling for the first answer.
Curiosity has become a skill.
Not just a personality trait.
The people improving the fastest aren't waiting until they feel qualified.
They're experimenting.
They're testing.
They're failing quickly.
They're comfortable looking a little clueless while everyone else is trying to look like an expert.
And honestly...
I think that's the part that intimidated me the most.
Not learning AI.
Being willing to admit I didn't know what I was doing.
Because somewhere along the way, I think a lot of us started believing that confidence comes from already having the answer.
AI has reminded me that confidence often comes from trusting yourself to figure it out.
Those are two very different things.
The more I've played with these tools, the less interested I've become in calling myself an "AI expert."
The field is changing too quickly for anyone to have all the answers.
Instead, I'm trying to become someone who's endlessly curious.
Someone who isn't afraid to ask another question.
Someone who's willing to follow an interesting rabbit hole.
Someone who's okay changing her mind when she learns something new.
Because maybe the future won't belong to the people who know everything.
Maybe it'll belong to the people who never stop learning.
Apparently curiosity compounds faster than confidence.
And if that's true...
I think that's a pretty exciting skill to practice.
🤎
WHAT I WORE
Mister Jiu’s
What it is
An all-black look with PLT capri pants, a padded shoulder button-up, chunky thong heels, and a tiny top knot.
Why it worked
Whenever I don't know what to wear, I default to an all-black outfit and let the silhouette do the work. The structured shoulders and cropped pants made it feel modern, while the simple styling felt perfect for one of San Francisco's best tasting-menu restaurants.
It was polished enough for dinner but comfortable enough that I never thought about my outfit once I sat down—which is usually the goal.
Perfect for:
- 🍽️ Date night
- 🥂Anniversary dinners
- 🍸 Cocktails beforehand
- ✨Special occasions
- 🏙️ Nice dinners in the city
Outfit details —> here
LA Look One - Nights Out
A draped chocolate brown dress paired with white chunky heels and my newest obsession—Slate jewelry.
Why it worked
Sometimes the outfit isn't the interesting part.
The styling is.
The draping already gives the dress beautiful movement, so I kept everything else simple and let the jewelry become the focal point. It's one of those outfits that feels elevated without requiring much thought.
Perfect for:
- 🌴Vacation dinners
- 🍹Rooftop cocktails
- ❤️ Date night
- 🛍️ Dinner after a day of shopping
- ✈️ Packing one dress that works for almost everything
- 📸Golden hour photos
Outfit details —> here
Fable
What it is
An Amazon chocolate brown bubble halter dress paired with chunky suede heels, my favorite studded bag, and an oversized khaki jacket.
Why it worked
I know black gets all the attention, but chocolate brown has quietly become the color I reach for most. The bubble silhouette keeps the dress playful, while the oversized jacket and chunky accessories balance everything out so it doesn't feel overly feminine.
Apparently my summer personality is just...
tiny dresses + oversized jackets + chunky accessories.
Perfect for:
- 🍸 Girls' dinner
- 🥂Birthdays
- 🌇Summer evenings
- 📸When you want to feel put together without trying too hard
- ✨Restaurants where you know you'll end up taking photos
- 🍷Wine bars or nicer dinners with friends
Outfit details —> here
One Thing I Learned
The concept: The Misinformation Effect
In plain English…
Our brains don't just remember information.
They remember the last version of information we heard.
Which means repeated misinformation can slowly start feeling true...
...even when it's completely wrong.
Why It Matters
It explains why:
• skincare myths spread so quickly
• everyone suddenly becomes an expert online
• diet trends explode overnight
• confidence often beats accuracy on the internet
The more we hear something...
the more familiar it feels.
And our brains often mistake familiarity for truth.
What I’m stealing from this…
I've been trying to replace one question.
Instead of asking:
"How many people are saying this?"
I'm trying to ask:
"How do I actually know this is true?"
I think that's becoming one of the most useful skills we can have.
I'm Trying to Have More Opinions...Held More Loosely.
Everyone's an expert now.
Including me...I guess?😂
One of the weirdest parts about spending more time online is realizing how quickly everyone—including myself—starts sounding like an authority on things we're still figuring out.
Last week I was deep in skincare.
This week it's AI.
Next week it'll probably be something completely different.
And somehow the internet makes all of us sound equally qualified.
I'll catch myself saying,
"This moisturizer changed my skin,"
or
"Here's the AI prompt that made everything click."
Then five minutes later I'll read someone else's opinion and think...
"Wait...maybe they're right."
The older I get, the less interested I am in finding the answer.
I'm more interested in collecting perspectives.
I don't really want Gabriella's Edit to become a place where I tell people how to live.
I'd rather it be the group chat where we compare notes.
Here's what worked for me.
Here's what didn't.
Here's something interesting I learned.
Go see what you think.
Because I think that's becoming a competitive advantage.
Not expertise.
Discernment.
Knowing how to learn without believing everything you hear.
Including from me.
I hope you never read this newsletter thinking I have all the answers.
I hope you read it because you know I'm genuinely trying to ask better questions.
And maybe that gives you permission to do the same.
🤎
WHERE WE ATE
Mister Jiu’s - SF
The SF restaurant that made me fall back in love with tasting menus.
I'll admit it.
I've always thought tasting menus could feel a little intimidating.
Like you needed to understand wine pairings, recognize every ingredient, and pretend you knew exactly what was happening.
Mister Jiu's completely changed that for me.
Instead of recreating traditional Chinese dishes, it reimagines them through a California lens—seasonal, thoughtful, and incredibly creative without ever feeling pretentious.
We went with work partners, ordered cocktails, worked our way through the full tasting menu, and honestly...there wasn't a bad dish.
Mister Jiu’s - SF
The Peking duck absolutely lived up to the hype, and by the end of the meal I was already talking about when I'd come back. Every course felt intentional, beautifully plated, and somehow comforting and exciting at the same time.
And whatever you do...
Don't skip Moon Gate upstairs for a post-dinner cocktail.
It was the perfect way to end the night overlooking Chinatown.
One of those dinners that reminds you food can still feel like an experience.
Good for:
• Date night
• Client dinners
• Celebrations
• Work dinners
• Out-of-town visitors
• Special occasions
Arquet
Also worth your reservation:
SF
Hilda and Jesse
Good for: Birthday brunch, foodie visitors or a morning that deserves bubbles
Hilda and Jesse is brunch for the friend group that wants pancakes and a little drama—in the best way.
The Michelin-starred, queer-owned North Beach restaurant is known for its wildly creative take on brunch, whether you commit to the five-course Chef’s Adventure Menu or order à la carte.
Fun fact: Hilda and Jesse were the owners’ grandparents.🥹
Book it for a birthday brunch, an out-of-town foodie or any morning that deserves bubbles. The tempura sweet potato “avocado toast” and French toast sticks with Rice Krispies ice cream prove this is not your standard eggs-and-toast situation.
House of Shields
Good for: After-work drinks, a pre-dinner cocktail or impressing an out-of-towner
Sometimes the best happy hour comes with more than a century of gossip.
Open since 1908, House of Shields is a classic San Francisco cocktail bar that intentionally has no clock or television—so apparently you have no choice but to stay for another drink.
Its history includes Prohibition, presidential legends and stories of a secret passageway beneath New Montgomery Street.
Go for an after-work cocktail, stop in before dinner or bring an out-of-towner who wants a little old-school San Francisco with their martini.
Qua O La
Good for: A low-key date, catching up over wine or starting a night in North Beach
Qua O La is the mellow North Beach wine bar to visit before dinner—or before the night becomes significantly less mellow.
The family-run spot celebrates both Croatian and Italian roots with regional wine flights, charcuterie, cicchetti and Croatian specialties. Its name means “here or there” in Italian, reflecting the family’s connection to both cultures.
The room also includes a vintage cable-car bell, a Photomatica booth and an entire wall of celebrities flipping the bird. Naturally.
Come for a low-key date or catch-up, ask for a wine recommendation, order a snack board and absolutely take the photo-booth pictures.
NYC
Ray-Ban House
Good for: A casual lunch or quick bite in SoHo
Think of the convenience-store egg sando you dream about in Japan, then give it a SoHo upgrade. Ray-Ban House at 62 Prince Street might honestly have one of my favorite egg sandwiches in New York—an easy stop when you want something quick but still worth going out of your way for.
Unnecessary
Good for: Dessert after dinner or a fun Lower East Side stop
A dirty martini…but make it soft serve. From the team behind Double Chicken Please, Unnecessary turns cocktails and other drinks into playful frozen flavors, including nonalcoholic options. Add it to the list for an unexpected Lower East Side dessert stop after dinner.
Love Thy Neighbor
Good for: Date night, creative cocktails or drinks with a friend
Love Thy Neighbor is an intimate West Village bar made for people who want their cocktails to be part of the experience. The Japanese-influenced drinks and small plates feel thoughtful and a little unexpected, while the warm, transportive room makes it especially good for a first date or a catch-up with your cocktail-obsessed friend.
LA
Cafe Knotted
Good for: Brunch, a casual coffee date or an Arts District morning
The Seoul-born Cafe Knotted is the kind of bakery café that makes a casual coffee date feel like an actual plan. Go for the cream-filled donuts, coffee or matcha—and if you visit the Arts District location in the morning, add the warm breakfast sandwich with soufflé egg, hash brown, cheese and gochujang aioli.
Colapasta
Good for: A low-key date night or affordable Italian dinner
Colapasta is proof that a really good pasta night in Santa Monica does not have to become a special-occasion expense. The Bib Gourmand spot uses farmers-market ingredients in handmade pastas that feel thoughtful but unfussy, making it an easy pick for a low-key date night or dinner with a friend who always wants Italian.
The Night We Met
Good for: Girls’ happy hour or an early date-night drink
Cancel the overpriced happy hour: The Night We Met offers $10 food and $10 drinks Sunday through Thursday from 5–6 p.m. It feels made for an affordable girls’ catch-up or an early date-night drink—just get there on time, because that one-hour window is doing a lot of work.
HIS EDIT
PAAK’S PICKS
The easiest way to make almost any outfit look more expensive.
This week he paired an olive green Abercrombie polo with Zara trousers, Chelsea boots, a simple Gap belt, and his Aimé Leon Dore Dodgers hat.
Nothing about it is complicated.
It just works because every piece feels intentional.
Perfect for:
- 🍻Weekend plans
- 🍽️ Dinner with friends
- ✈️ Traveling with one versatile outfit
- ⚾ Baseball games
- 🍺Brewery hopping
- 🌇Casual date night
Paak's Style Rule
If the pants fit well, the outfit is already halfway there.
A great pair of neutral trousers makes almost everything in your closet look more put together.
Shop his look → here
Things That Made Life Better Lately
This has been one of the newest additions to my skincare routine, and I originally picked it up because I'm focusing more on collagen support and overall skin quality rather than just chasing quick fixes. I have already seen it improve luminosity & texture.
Perfect for:
- ✨Supporting skin renewal
- 🤍Preventative skincare
- 💧Adding hydration without heaviness
- 🌿A skin barrier-focused routine shop now
I've become surprisingly picky about cleansers because I want something that actually removes everything without making my skin feel tight afterward. This one leaves my skin feeling clean but still hydrated, which is a balance that's harder to find than I expected.
Perfect for:
- ✨A simple but elevated skincare routine
- 💧Clogged skin
- 🌙Your evening cleanse 2-3x per week
- 🤍Anyone trying to simplify their products
Probably one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. It's lightweight enough for everyday wear but still leaves my skin feeling incredibly nourished. After dealing with some skin irritation earlier this year, I've found myself reaching for products that prioritize keeping my skin barrier happy—and this has earned a permanent spot on my bathroom counter.
Perfect for:
- 🤍Sensitive skin
- 💧Repairing your skin barrier
- 🌙Nighttime hydration
- ☀️ Everyday moisturizing
shop now
These have stayed in my routine because they're one of the easiest ways to gently exfoliate without feeling overly harsh. I especially like using them on the mornings to give extra glow!
Perfect for:
- ✨Brighter skin
- 🧖♀️ Texture concerns
- 💄Better makeup application
- 🌙Non-retinal nights
CLOSING VIBES
📺 Watching
The Capture
I binged both seasons in what can only be described as an unhealthy amount of time.
Every episode ended with another twist that had me literally gasping at my TV.
By the finale I immediately texted my parents:
"You have to watch this."
10/10 if you love conspiracy thrillers, deepfakes, surveillance, and constantly changing your mind about who's actually telling the truth.
🎈Currently Adding to My Personality
Planning other people's parties.
If you're having a birthday, engagement party, dinner party, baby shower...
please invite me.
Not because I want free food.
Because I desperately want to design the tablescape.
I fear I've become the friend who gets more excited about linen napkins than the actual event.
😂
🌞Tiny Joy
I accidentally made the smoothie I'll probably drink for the rest of summer.
The Bomb Co. Get Up & Goji Blender Bomb, orange juice, frozen berries (I do blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry mix), Greek yogurt, a little honey, and vanilla collagen powder.
It tastes like something you'd spend $12 on after Pilates…at Life Time…which is why I’m obsessed.
I've made it almost every afternoon.
No notes.
🤎One Last Thing
Thanks for spending another Thursday with me.
Whether you came for the restaurants...
the outfits...
the skincare rabbit holes...
or my latest AI existential crisis...
I'm really happy you're here.
See you next week. Can’t believe it’s been over 4 months!
♡
