girl crush: nicole garelick

the girl who got me hooked on substack

Nicole is a friend of a friend whose hilarious and incredibly digestible Substack, The Performance Plan, got me into Substack in the first place. I love that her posts take me only a minute or two to read and have a way of making me feel seen, while also reminding me that I don’t have to take everything so seriously. She’s smart, she’s cool, she’s funny. So, without further adieu…

Meet Nicole Garelick:

Where are you from & where do you live now?

I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota but currently live in Chicago, Illinois.

Who (&/or what) lives with you?

I live with my husband Greg and our two little boys Leon (4.5) and Ruben (1.5) and their never ending piles of toys.

How do you spend your days? (ie. “What do you do?”)

By day I run customer support for an HR tech company, and by night or in the early mornings I’m trying my best to be a comedy writer.

What do you love about motherhood right now?

My kids are both very funny and they infuse a ton of wonder into my life. They notice every day things I never do, and say incredibly silly things all the time. I feel like I’m laughing a lot.

What feels hard about motherhood right now?

The physicality of it, you’re talking to me on a day where I threw my neck out from lifting them. I can only turn my neck by turning my whole body.

What does your parenting “village” or support system look like?

Our village includes our beloved nanny Gina who has been with us since Leon was born, my twin sister and her husband, my husband’s parents who live reasonably close, and our dear friends in the neighborhood who we trade off dropping off kids in each others basements to romp around.

How do you carve out YOU time and what do you spend it doing?

I love to watch obscure foreign television. Think Israeli TV shows or Spanish television. I spend a lot of time at my favorite workout class which is called Common Language, and I love shopping. My mom wrote a column about window shopping, and I’m basically a professional as well so I love finding new boutiques to peek into. Also, I walk a ton.

Currently reading?

I’m currently re-reading old Nora Ephron. I figure if you want to write the proverbial bible you have to read it. I just finished I Feel Bad About My Neck, now onto Heartburn.

Currently watching?

Reformed on Max. It’s a French TV show about a young female rabbi. It’s irreverent and thoughtful. Plus, Lea’s clothes are a dream.

Three Substacks to recommend?

I love the Grudge Report by Bess Kalb, Making it Work by Younga Park, and Hung Up by Hunter Harris for the smartest takes on culture.

One thing in your closet you come back to time and time again?

I love Ali Golden jumpsuits and her black sailor pants. I’ve repurchased them like three times.

One thing you’re lusting over?

I lust over a lot of things. But right now, this entire suit has me in a tizzy.

One thing you’re looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to painting my front deck. My twin sister doesn’t think I can do it but I want to prove her wrong.

What’s your superpower?

I can find you a recommendation to pretty anything. Sometimes I find myself giving out recs to people I don’t even know, I don’t know why but I relish being this person.

Where can people find you? (plug yourself!)

You can find me on Substack! Check out The Performance Plan and subscribe.