The winter months always make me feel a little stir-crazy.
Usually, the travel winds down and the temperatures dip and you just kind of want to stay inside and hunker. Which, for me, is nice but I can only take so much.
Fortunately, I’ve been venturing out more recently, and have some fun travel coming up (I’m heading to Orlando for a work thing this week, but I’ll be going to Salt Lake City and Tucson next month for Home Shows — send me your recs for both, btw. Will be my first time in Salt Lake!).
BUT — I’m still me! I’m still reading interesting articles, watching fun shows, and obsessing over specific vintage items or skincare products.
I always enjoy reading highlights of what other people are into, and as a former magazine editor, I used to publish these little roundups once per month, as something of an “editor’s picks” page.
So, I thought I’d start a series here, highlighting the same — the shows I’m watching, the links I’m clicking, the stuff I’ve been eating and making and wearing … a veritable grab-bag of sorts. I hope to publish one of these per month; let me know what else you’d like to see from me.
More to come. xx.
My Current Hyper-Fixation: Faux Bois
I spotted the above wooden table at a thrift store for $95 and did not buy it because I have nowhere to put it (nor room in my storage unit) but I’ve thought about it every day since. I love anything faux bois (French for fake wood) and this table is exceptional, due both to the shape and the patina.
A Recent Purchase
I just splurged and placed a big order on Moda Operandi. I have some travel coming up this year and figured I needed some new stuff. I am obsessed with the Nigerian designer Andrea Iyamah, and pre-ordered this maxi-dress, this satin mini-dress, and this top-and-pant combo. It all feels very wearable and the pricing isn’t astronomical (expensive, yes, but not like most of the stuff on Moda).
Things I’m Reading
The above quote, written by Jean-Paul Sartre in The Age of Reason and published in 1945. Maybe because I just celebrated a big birthday, but I’ve been thinking a lot about regrets. In the end, I think we all regret the things we didn’t do — the people we didn’t tell we loved (because you should tell people every chance you get), the trips we didn’t take, the opportunities we didn’t seize — rather than the mistakes we made. I don’t think anyone sits on their deathbed and thinks, Gosh, I really wish I hadn’t kissed that stranger in college, or Sheesh, I wish I hadn’t taken that spur-of-the-moment trip to Mexico with my girlfriends on my 30th birthday. Wear the dress. Kiss the stranger. Dance in high heels with your girlfriends. Tell that amazing person you love them. We only get one chance at this and in the end, we regret not knowing — and the only way to know is to bite into life.
This article, about how vintage sweaters are so much more well-made than their modern-day counterparts. I’d like to write something similar about furniture and explain more about why buying dupes is just not the move (bad for the the environment, bad for your health due to microplastics, and ends up costing you more in the long run — dupes are poorly made and you’ll need to replace them in a couple years). I love that this piece explains what to look for when you’re shopping vintage sweaters (fabric, seams, etc.).
My boyfriend’s Substack. Tom and I have very different interests and wildly different personalities, but one thing we have in common is our knowledge and passion for the things we love. Two of his biggest interests are college football and Star Wars, and he is incredibly knowledgeable about both (like, Rain Man-level knowledgeable — he makes Excel spreadsheets about college football and has an encyclopedic understanding of Big Ten football, in particular). This post he wrote, on why Star Wars isn’t what it used to be (and how it can course-correct) is so thoughtful and well-written. One fun fact about Tom is that he has excellent taste in music that spans from hip hop deep cuts to top 40 pop. He was among the top 1% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify Wrapped 2024, which I think is a huge green flag. Hopefully, he will write about that soon.
A New Bathroom Sink Filter
I bought a sink faucet filter for the primary bathroom and I love it. I use a filter on my showerhead and it has really transformed my skin and hair so I figured I should add one to my sink, too, so that I would get the benefits when I wash my face at night. It filters out chlorine, chloramine, and contaminants as small as 0.000001mm — I can’t speak for every state, but Florida is notorious for hard water and using a filter will make a HUGE difference on your skin and hair, I promise you. The sink filter is $125 and you can use the code VIRGINIAC10 for $10 off.
My Favorite Way to Un-Wind
I love a great show. Currently, I’m really into The Agency and The Pitt. Both are so good. And lately, I’ve been really into popping a big bowl of this Regalis truffle popcorn and eating it on the couch while I watch.
A Double Whammy Eyelash-Growth Routine
I have never done lash extensions (the time commitment is too much for me) but I do love to pop on a false lash for an event. For every day, though, I just want my lashes to be long and healthy. I use this eyelash serum every night before bed, and when I wear mascara, I use this, which has an eyelash growth factor in it. It’s also non-tubing and I love how it looks on.
3 Other Things I’m Really Into ATM
The best shampoo and conditioner. I’ve written about this shampoo and conditioner in the past, I think (at the very least, I have mentioned it on Instagram). Every time I use it, I have a good hair day.
A great chocolate bar. This dark chocolate bar studded with pistachio glitter (which is just crushed nuts and spices, but isn’t “glitter” so much more fun?) is delicious. I ordered both the dark and milk chocolate. Both are great. Pretty packaging; would be a fun gift.
My vintage jackets. I have a pretty strong collection of vintage designer jackets and I’ve been making more of an effort to wear them. I find that the key is having a good base layer (I love Commando bodysuits) and a great pant (I’m a big cargo girl — these are very pricey, but excellent).
And I’ll leave you with this…
I am a sucker for a good vintage jacket, I have too many of them as it is. I love your red dress outfit, so glamorous.💕