I loved Leslie Stephens brilliant “42 Things I'd Recommend Passionately to Anyone Who Will Listen”— and wanted to try my hand at something similar! If you haven’t read Morning Person, you should, and I have a feeling you’ll love it.
In the meantime, here are 39 things I will stand behind with ten toes down, like…
my non-pretentious but still great secret spots for a drink or dinner in NYC
the dating approach that lead me to my fiancé
the travel-sized bottle that changed my hair texture forever
my vintage bridal plug
the one shift that doubled how much I read
the white couch that stayed pristinely white after an entire can of Diet Coke was poured on it in a continuous and shocking stream…
The Sarah J. Maas series Throne of Glass.
Making a large batch of kuku sabzi on Sunday night to have as a healthy breakfast or lunch for the week. I like to wrap mine in lavash bread with a handful of walnuts, and I always add zereshk, or barberries.
Deleting all social media apps from my phone.
K18 is the only thing that revives my dry, dull, summer hair.
Grilling. Why didn’t I buy a grill five years ago? Cooking over an open flame is the only way I want to cook. Look no further than this lovely example for inspiration.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserVintage bridal, if you’re looking to feel ~uniquely yourself~ and to alleviate some of the eternal ick that is the bridal industrial complex. I went to Vionette, Monet is amazing.
Having lunch and then ordering the warm madeleines at St. John in London.
Fatty15, a supplement I take. I find the science behind it really interesting, its discovery actually comes from the Navy’s study of dolphins. It’s so expensive but if I had to cut out all supplements and only keep one, this would be it.
Vintage Ralph Lauren on eBay.
Buying a Kindle. You will read SO much more.
Buying a really cute Kindle cover from an independent maker like this one.
Turns out the Dyson AirWrap was as good as everyone said it was.
Getting set up. Before João was my fiancé he was my best friend’s best friend from middle and high school.
A frozen passionfruit cocktail at the extremely unpretentious Williamsburg locale Beco.
The sleep gummies I’ve loved for years now— I’ve gotten many friends hooked since.
The couch we splurged on from 7th Avenue. I sat on MANY, many, many couches. This one was expensive but worth every penny. I was kind of sold when the woman at the showroom opened a can of Diet Coke and poured the entire thing out on the white couch. Not a stain in sight…
Monograms. I’d like to get better at embroidery so I can do my own and add a touch of personalization or whimsy to gifts for friends.
100% cotton.
Except for, I suppose, the workout clothes from Gap Factory. I can’t understand spending a lot of money on a workout set that is made 100% from plastic. Polyester is bad for the planet, microplastic shed is bad for the planet… why am I spending $200 on two pieces of it when I could spend $20 on two pieces of it that perform just as well? (Exceptions made for local makers or recycled polyester, of course, but I can’t say I see too much of that these days…)
A weighted vest. I’m sorry. I’m just at that age now where I really care about walking around with a weighted vest…
The Stakt handweights. So expensive but unfortunately so functional.
Doing something fun with your friends every single year, like Becca Freeman’s Lobster Roll Off tradition. Traditions rock, you probably need more of them.
Vans. I know everybody likes Sambas and Onitsuka Tigers now. (I have to say, I am over the Samba!) But Vans just stay Vans— California, classic, timeless. I love them and I feel a lot better now that I am no longer trying to participate in running on the “NYC status sneaker” hamster wheel.
Fresh flowers from the farmer’s market every Wednesday morning.
Watching old reruns of Ina Garten or Jacques Pepin on TV just to feel cozy. (I don’t feel like enough people are talking about Jacques Pepin!)
Soft Services retinol hand cream.
Sabrina Carpenter.
Ditch Plains, the only warm-weather candle I need.
Getting a King sized bed the first second you possibly can.
Using Farm Match to find a local farmer in your area to buy food from directly! We use Pleasant Pastures and I’m a huge fan.
Gabby George’s bridal arm series on TikTok. (You do not need to be a bride to want strong arms.)
@gabbylgeorgeNEW & IMPROVED Bridal Arms Series: Day 1—7-minute triceps, back, biceps & shoulder sculpt💍🚀 Spice level: 9.6 Equipment used: @Shop Bala Bangles 2lb bangles #fitnessinstructor #pilatesinstructor #pilatesworkout #fitnesstips #tonedarms #fitnessmotivation #armsworkout #armworkout #bridaltiktok #weddingtiktokTiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserThose Land’s End no-iron sheets that everybody raves about.
Going on a solo trip to Edinburgh for a long weekend. Make sure you make a reservation at Noto and The Palmerston.
Katie Kime’s customizable phone cases. Much more durable than anything else I’ve bought.
Having as many parties as possible.
My favorite (luxury scented and Certified Plastic Negative) soap refills for hand and body.
Getting brunch, not dinner, at The Snail.
Making tomato sauce out of burst sungolds. I don’t use a recipe, but Wishbone Kitchen has a good one in her book.
Adopting a dog.
