AUG 13, 2026

INSIDE: Highlighting Taste, Saving for Priorities, and Emotional Support Buys.

TODAY I WILL:

Wear my favorite outfit, again.

Today, Y2K is ordering a drink, bandanas are saving our hair, and beauty trends are keeping us on our toes.

• “Ferritin face”is putting iron deficiency in the spotlight.

• Are you a Russian manicure or Japanese manicure girl?

• Bandanas are making summer hair a whole lot easier.

• The Y2K revival has officially entered happy hour.

• A new weight-loss drug is getting attention before it’s even approved.

We all know we have to save money, but in practice this can be a little less straightforward. Between an emergency fund, a 401(k), and your 2027 Euro trip, it can start to feel like an unrealistic number of simultaneous goals. However, according to Matt Martin, Chief Operating Officer at Redwood Credit Union, that’s not the case. “The good news is you don't have to fund all three equally at the same time,” he said, “Think of it as splitting one savings dollar into slices rather than choosing one goal at the expense of the others.” An easy way to do this is to use dedicated sub-savings accounts for these individual goals (labeled emergency, travel, or retirement). Redwood, and many other credit unions and banks, offer this type of classification, plus automations that transfer money into each account on payday (before temptation strikes). You should also take advantage of any savings tools, like those that round up debit purchases and deposit the difference into your savings account.

Beyond those things, the steps he recommends to prioritize maximum savings and current life enjoyment are as follows:

1. Build an emergency fund to cover life’s unexpected expenses, like an urgent bill, job loss, or natural disaster, so you have a financial cushion when you need it most.

2. Pay down high-interest debt. Consider repayment strategies like the snowball method (paying off the smallest balances first for quick wins) or the avalanche method (paying off the highest-interest balances first to save more on interest).

3. Take full advantage of any employer retirement match. If your job matches, say, 4% of your 401(k) contributions, put in at least enough to receive the full match. It's one of the few opportunities to immediately double those matched dollars.

4. Once those priorities are covered, divide remaining savings among retirement, future needs, and the things you enjoy. Planning for both the future and the present can make long-term goals easier to sustain.

In the Age of AI, We Want Authentic Taste

AI can write the caption, resize the graphic, and help turn a half-formed idea into something ready to post. It’s so helpful when you’re looking for a way to bounce ideas off your own, but let’s face it… everyone has access to these tools and the result makes that clear. So, as more creators and small businesses get access to the same tools, there’s a new question to answer: How do you make sure your content still feels like you? 

New research from Adobe Express suggests the answer might be something decidedly human: taste. In a survey, 56% of small business owners said that when everyone has access to the same AI tools, the competitive advantage goes to whoever has the best taste. And 79% agree that, in the age of AI, having a clear point of view isn’t just good branding—it’s what makes people follow you. And honestly, even brands like Gucci are learning to navigate content that isn’t “AI Slop.” 

Taylor Loren, Refinery29’s social content strategist, founder of @reelstips, and an Adobe partner, knows all about the importance of perspective and making something worth paying attention to. Using AI while honing your creativity is a balance. She told The Newsette, “AI gives you the power to generate quality, creative marketing content, but the real value is still found in the human touch you bring to the final draft.”

Notably, as AI continues to stretch its capabilities and prove a helpful resource, a large conversation today is how to essentially prove that there is still human touch that just used AI in the process. 

Taylor said that when she thinks about using AI—and teaching others to use it effectively—she acknowledged that “bringing an idea from your head to the screen can be daunting, so I like to use AI as a starting point that I can build on…AI can help illustrate the passion and point-of-view behind your business, but in the end, you are still responsible for ensuring your brand is clear in the final content.” 

She added that she “always recommends doing a brain dump of content ideas so you can hone in on how to bring your vision to life. Once you have some ideas, you can start to play around with colors, fonts, and logos to create your brand kit. Having these locked in will make all your content 100% on-brand instantly, and you can feel confident in your new brand right from the start.” 

The Takeaway? Utilize AI as a part of your process, but keep your taste, instincts, and point of view in the driver’s seat because being unmistakably yourself may be the thing that stands out most.

Retail Therapy, Approved

Some purchases are practical. Others just make your day a little better. Whether it's the candle you light every evening, the water bottle that somehow makes you drink more water, or the pajamas you immediately change into after work, these are the little things that earn their keep. Here are a few editor-approved picks that feel worth every penny.

A Really Good Candle: The quickest way to make your apartment feel calmer, cozier, or just more put together. Pick a scent you genuinely look forward to coming home to, and suddenly even folding laundry feels a little less painful.

An Elevated Water Bottle: Yes, it's just a water bottle. But if having one you actually love means you're staying hydrated all day, we'd call that money well spent. Bonus points if it fits in your cup holder and doesn't leak.

Cloud-Level Pajamas