A November Dispatch
The $14 vintage sunglass case that likely inspired The Row, beauty picks I’m loving, how we’re corralling the garden hose, and a little update on our signature home scent.
We’ve been in our home for a few months now, and I think we’ve finally narrowed in on our signature scent situation. Unsurprisingly, Santa Maria Novella does most of the heavy lifting. For hand soap, this lives in every bathroom. The bottle it comes in is perfect, and all you’ll ever need are the refill bags. For bar-soap loyalists, this is the one. We’ve been burning this non-stop after hoarding it for ages and it’s excruciatingly good.
When we to scent the air like a Japanese forest, this is still my favorite. When we want something floral-leaning but still woodsy, we go for this (a Plum Sykes discovery). In the TV room, this one continues to be quietly delicious. And without fail, this sits by the door in an old ceramic bowl from France, very similar to this and this.
We picked up a few pairs of vintage Giorgio Armani sunnies in Italy and, of course, none came with a case. The search led me to a $14 vintage Korean eel case (more versions here, here, and here) and I bought it immediately. If you’ve browsed The Row’s sunglass cases, you might recognize this and this for…a thousand percent more. Apparently brands know we want options and these sold-out versions from Ralph Lauren and Kallmeyer make that clear.
Lately, it feels like we’re adding less and crossing out more from the to-do list. As we sprint toward the end of the year, I’m determined to keep things moving. I’ll be leaning into this Alexis Smart remedy that’s already en route to me from CAP Beauty. JESSICAM10 gets you an extra 10% off what is easily one of my favorite stops on the internet.
We scored a beautiful outdoor iron dining set on Facebook Marketplace for $300 and are upholstering the chairs with a vintage Sunbrella stripe. We added a few of these sturdy hose holders around the garden after what felt like an endless search, and they make me unreasonably happy. I’ve never been one for decorative pillows, but these might change my mind.
As I’m thinking about host gifts, I’m considering some good pairings:
A go-to bottle of wine with a sculptural decanter, or champagne with this stopper.
My favorite non-alcoholic aperitif with beautiful glassware.
Flowers arranged in a vintage vase like this brass one, this glass one, or this silver one. I always look to Sophia for floral inspo.
A bucket of good salt with a salt cellar.
Freshly baked bread from a favorite bakery wrapped in a beautiful linen cloth or bread bag.
As for beauty products, these are currently in the top shelf:
Anything, truly anything, from Farah Homidi. I’m all in on her offerings and so my bag looks like a pop-up shop of her products. No one is doing packaging like her, and the formulas are “your skin but better” in the most sincere way. The bronzer is feathery, the concealer is second skin, the gloss is glossy without the stick. She’s also available at Violet Grey and Sephora.
The Mary Phillips lipstick balm has also become an immediate favorite. It glides like butter, and the shades are exactly what you’d hope. I went with First Base.
My favorite mascara now comes in espresso and I’m never looking back.
Eighth Day sent me their regenerative serum and I’m forever grateful. I love the name, but I love what’s inside the bottle even more. I’m 40 so I’m choosing to pay for a little youth in liquid form.
And this right here is the only face sunscreen I’ve ever worn without putting up a fight. It doesn’t smell like sunscreen, and it makes your skin look hydrated.
One of the things I miss the most about LA is the Korean Spa. And even though I use one of their famous scrub mitts on the regular, this set is a quick detour to feeling polished.
Some holiday decor I’m bookmarking:
This antique lace stocking.
The Menorah Collection from LES makes a case for displaying them year-round.
This flattened glass ornament, this poppy garland from ISAISA, and these $12 beaded zodiac ornaments.
A burgundy and duck egg colored ribbon & a honey gold ribbon.
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