1. Brooklyn Candle Studio: I heart candles. I always have, since I was a young’un shopping at a gift store in the mall (its name escapes me) that had a million candles in all scents and sizes and colors—and even in the shape of animals. Lately, I’ve been wanting to make my own candles, and a friend told me about this place in Brooklyn that sells hand-poured soy candles AND holds classes. So I signed up for the studio’s workshop, which I took last Thursday, and I loved it so much! I even bought some candles in a variety of holders and fragrances to bring home with me: Cedarwood Vanilla, Green Tea Lemongrass, and Fern + Moss. They all smell incredible…and how gorgeous are they?!
2. Otomi Embroidery. Last winter, a friend sent around an email from her friend who was traveling in the Otomi region of Mexico. There, he discovered and started buying beautiful hand-embroidered textiles directly from the makers, to sell as holiday gifts. Fast forward to this past weekend, when my friend texted to tell me she was selling some pieces at the Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg. My husband and I stopped by, and we picked out the below piece for $30. I’m not sure what the animals on it are (kangaroos? rabbits? kanga-rabbits?), but I absolutely love it! It sure is going to make for a fun wall hanging.
3. Everlane: a “radically transparent” clothing company. I believe I first heard about this place on Refinery 29, and ever since that John Oliver segment about fast fashion a few weeks back, I’ve felt like an asshole for shopping at those kinds of stores. So I decided to try out Everlane, a company that is trying to change the way we think about the clothes that we buy. Their website explains where all their factories are, and for each item of clothing they tell you which factory makes it, how much it costs for materials, labor, shipping, and more. I got The Linen Tank in the color Dark Pacific, for $30. I know that it was made in Ho Chi Minh City, and that the true cost (including materials, labor, duties, and transport) is $14. On top of all that, it’s very cute and comfy, too!
4. Pacifica French Lilac Solid Perfume. One of my absolute most favorite things about visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the spring is the lilac row. When those trees are in full bloom, it’s the most incredible smell in the world. I was talking to a friend about this and she told me that Pacifica has a lilac perfume, which I found at Whole Foods today and promptly bought for $8.99 after sniffing the tester. The fragrance also comes in a classic spray bottle and a roll-on. I know, just the other day I went on about how I’m all “Marc Jacobs by Marc Jacobs perfume ’til I die,” but considering how much I love that area of the BBG, I think I’d also like to smell like lilacs now and then. 🙂 And just look how cute this packaging is—the tin fits in the palm of my hand.
5. Aveda Roll-On Oils: Blue Oil and Stress Fix. I’ve used Blue Oil for years, but I only recently started using Stress Fix as well. Blue Oil is a “balancing concentrate” that you can apply to your temples and pulse points. It feels cool and tingly when you put it on, and it smells so amazing! The Stress Fix oil can also be applied to pulse points (but not the face) and it smells pretty strongly of lavender. I’ve been using both of these at night as part of my going-to-bed ritual; I apply the Blue Oil to my temples, and the Stress Fix to the pulse points at the sides of my neck. Having this little ritual helps me relax as I wind down for sleepytime.
