Five Practical Things I Recommend On Repeat

Plus the best of the MDW sales

Shitters! HOW in the world did we get to MDW already?! I’m staying put this weekend—after three weekends away from home, I couldn’t be happier to get a little reset. But whether you’re also lying low or doing the exact opposite, I wanted to send some light reading material your way!

What follows are a few very practical recommendations that I’ve found myself giving friends and family often lately—so often, that I felt like they were worth sharing (or in some cases, repeating) with you all! We’ll go rapid fire so you don’t get motion sickness if you’re reading this on a plane, train, or car, and we’ll finish with the best of the (many, many) MDW sales!

Aarke Water Filter (currently 20% off)

I went down the rabbit hole on water filters a year or so ago, and this is what I came up with. This water filter/pitcher is made entirely of glass and stainless steel—microplastics who?! The design is beautiful, the whole thing is dishwasher safe, and their refillable filter granules are available in an alkaline version, so if you’re concerned about the mineral content of filtered water, you no longer have to be! It’s a bit more expensive than your basic Brita, but better safe than sorry IMO.

Sidenote: Speaking of water, I was recently sent a few bottles of Loonen, which seems to be the new hot new water brand these days?? I’m fully aware that that is an insane thing to say let alone put into writing, but it’s kinda true. Anyways, I actually really do like the taste—if you’re a bottled water person, it’s worth a try.)

Lay-Flat Steamer

This is quite literally revolutionary. Every time I use a crappy hotel steamer I’m reminded of how much I love it. You can use it on hanging garments like a traditional steamer, but you can also lay something flat on your bed or ironing board and go to town, which IMO is so much easier. It heats up in seconds (essential for someone like me who’s always getting ready last minute), has a large surface area so it works super quickly, and it never sputters all over your silk like the cheap ones do.

Last Call (SIBAL for 20% off)

Every time I have more than one and a half drinks lately, I come home and take a Last Call. It is simply the only hangover prevention product that’s actually worked for me, thanks to DHM (a plant extract used widely across Korea to boost alcohol metabolism and help your body recover after drinking) and ingredients like theanine, prickly pear, and milk thistle that help with nausea, hydration, and liver support. I wouldn’t dream of going to a wedding without it, tbh.

My Dinner List

I’ve talked about my restaurant list here before, but I don’t think I’ve shared this one. This is a note I keep on my phone of dinners and lunches that I’ve made for myself and actually enjoyed. I break it into categories by protein and include the dish, a link to the recipe if I used one (or where to find it if it’s in a cookbook), sides I pair with it, etc. I use it to jog my memory when I have no idea what I want or will want to eat, or what to buy for the week ahead. There’s a lot of shit we have to stay on top of already—for me, keeping a bunch of quick, healthy, easy recipes that I know I like somewhere that’s easy to reference feels like an assist for my brain, and keeps me eating healthy/ saving on unnecessary delivery orders.

Grandmas Secret Stain Remover

Yes this is the kookiest branding in the world, but this stuff WORKS (just don’t ask what’s in it—I don’t know and don’t want to!!!). It’s revived pricey white tees that you inevitably spill on the first time you wear them out, prized sweatshirts with next to impossible grease stains, wine stained shirts that you (I) let sit at the bottom of the hamper for a week before mustering the energy to do anything about it… My friend Christie went so far to say this saved her marriage once, so if you don’t trust me, trust her!!!

MDW Sale Radar

There are a LOT of sales happening this weekend—this is an edit of the ones I actually shop/browse, plus things I’ve mentioned in earlier letters that are now on sale!

Net-A-Porter: I wrote about this summer dress last weekend and it’s already on sale? Call it manifesting! If you also can’t resist buying staples off season, 40% off Suzie Kondi cashmere and this chic Toteme coat might be calling your name. I ordered the sweater, but might have to go back for this brown Lisa Yang number too…. In things you’ll actually wear this summer: This poplin maxi skirt, a denim overshirt over mini dresses/skirts, and Baywatch red Hunza G. And I need someone in their bridal era to buy this immediately.

Almina Concept: Everything’s 20% off, doesn’t get easier than that. This dress is a dead ringer for the Matteau one I linked above, not exactly summery, but I do love this anorak, and I LIVE for an oversized button up + shorts combo in the heat, and Almina does them perfectly.

Toteme: Ok, fewer options to wear over the next few months here, but they did mark down a lot of staple outerwear and fall/winter pieces. Do I pull the trigger on this shearling coat and call it my birthday present?? This little pouch reminds me of The Row, but it’s under $300, this powder blue dress is one of those things that’ll save you when you need to dress up for a bridal or baby shower in a pinch, and who doesn’t love simple summer sandals?

Dermstore: Most things here are 20-25% off with code SUN. The assortment’s all over the place—from classics like BeautyStat’s brightening eye cream and our go-to blowdry brush, to newer discoveries like Jillian Dempsey’s kohl eyeliner (I sat down with Lila Childs for her podcast recently and she shared my enthusiasm for this one!), plus fun extras like Marvis toothpaste and Agent Nateur’s pearl + marine collagen powder (I use that in my matcha and loveeee it).

Other things worth browsing: Poplin pull on shorts for under $40? Obviously. 111Skin’s face masks could bring me back from the grave, and at 20% off, the price won’t send you there in the first place! (These give 111’s eye patches a run for their money and are currently $30). Sales where you have to spend a certain amount to get the discount are mostly annoying, but the thresholds are easy to hit at ROZ and Retrouvé (linked my favorites from both). I just packed up a bunch of OSEA goodies for a girlfriend who’s expecting her first baby in a few days, and they’re throwing in a free full-size of this with purchases over $125 (PRIYANKA10 still applies). These rugs continue to be some of the most popular things I’ve ever written about, and they’re up to 25% off. And once again, to anyone who spent the past few nights overheating in bed, there’s still time to get an EightSleep before summer really begins!! (Maybe order one for me too while you’re at it?!)

Wishing you all a sweet summer ahead!