It's hardly snowing and Open AI's first Super Bowl ad

Vail is having their worst year in decades, Saks and Bergdorf owe billions, and I’m (somehow) still doing Dry January. Let’s get into it.

Snowfall is brutal out west

Those of you who are more sophisticated skiiers than I (shoutout to my pizza-down-the-mountain abilities) probably already know how rough it’s been at western ski resorts this year. Snowfall in the Rockies is at about 50% compared to average. Only 11% of Vail’s terrain is open, which has led to a serious drop in revenue: down 16% in dining and 15% in ski school. Why? Well, climate change, but more specifically, a rare combo of polar vortex plus La Niña. Forecast for apres is still looking good.

Luxury department stores file for bankruptcy

Apparently none of us are shopping luxury (shocker!). The parent company behind Saks, Bergdorf, and Neiman Marcus has filed for bankruptcy. Sales have been declining since 2023; they now owe at least $3.4 billion. Basically, the merger between Saks and Neiman’s was supposed to create a bullet-proof retail giant. But in reality, people are spending less money in general, and when they do shop for clothes, they’re no longer turning to department stores, instead choosing e-comm rivals. Guilty as charged.

This year’s Super Bowl is big for tech ads

For those of you who watch the ads and not the game (hi), a couple things to look out for: Open AI is planning their Super Bowl debut with a 60-second ad spot (probably cost them a minimum of $15 million, excluding production costs). Salesforce has something coming with Mr. Beast (is he a CRM guy??), and of course we can expect the typical beer/chips lineup (Pringles, Bud Light, Michelob—we know the drill). Oh, and TikTok-viral Tree Hut is debuting this year, too. They just did a cute rebrand. Guess I have to try their scrubs!

I'm still somehow doing Dry January (please, hold the applause). Spent the weekend avoiding cocktails, and instead went for a workout and shopping date with my MOH (pictured here). We also started prepping some bachelorette planning spreadsheets! Getting very real!

Oh, my belted jacket foray? I humbly admit that I partially love this because it feel likes a robe, which makes me think about the robe I will wear while getting ready for my wedding (exclusive wedding content coming in next few months!!), which makes me think less about all the emails I have to respond to! Unrelated: these Dolce Vita sneakers are the only shoes I can comfortably walk to work in without crying. Highly recommend.

Are you planning a bachelorette party this year? I ABSOLUTELY AM! While one night out is definitely a blast, there is something logistically simple and crowd-pleasing about hiring a chef and/or bartender to entertain the gals at home on the first night people arrive. It usually ends up being cheaper than a night out, requires far less planning (and fewer Ubers), and one night at home dancing in PJs and consuming too much tequila (also in PJs) is kind of a huge slay. I’m all for a PowerPoint presentation wth nightly dresscodes, but I also love a lazy-but-still-special night when you arrive to your destination, especially if it means not having to think/worry about a ton of planning. And don’t feel beholden to bachelorette packages (although there are many!). A very simple “private chef [location]” search will get you tons of great options. And if you do want to go out, you can still have someone come over and do cocktails and charcuterie. Then put on your themed fits, call the Ubers, and go out on the town!

Thanks for reading!