current obsessions vol. 5
Welcome to Volume 5 of “current obsessions.” If you missed previous editions, you can find previous columns here: vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, & vol. 4.
This is a weekly (ish) series, inspired by other women who I regularly turn to for recommendations and inspiration. My hope is that this inspires you, too! And is a fun way to regularly share in addition to my longer essays.
I am freshly back from a carefree, unstructured (albeit, not necessarily that relaxing, IYKYK) vacation and hurtling headfirst into back-to-school and back-to-work and end-of-summer transitions. In other words, we’re all over the place this week. Enjoy!
1: A place (or pouch) for everything:: Not sure if it’s fall or back-to-school or what, but I am on a major organizational kick. I want everything to have a place and to be in it. These are my favorite wet bags ever, and they make a great baby gift! I have one for each of my kids — it perfectly fits a changing pad, container of wipes, change of clothes and several diapers! I have been looking for a few new containers - to hold a growing collection of tiny animals that my son is obsessed with, to contain sunscreen, and to have on hand for myself. I have been eyeing this brand on Etsy, specifically these bags. These are great for a simpler option - I have one of these filled with “special” toys for each kiddo and take it with us whenever we’re going to a restaurant!
2: Best makeup bags: On the “bag for everything” theme, I love, love, love this makeup/toiletry bag set from Cuyana. I treated myself to this when I was packing my hospital bag for my first son. Four years later and they are still in incredible shape. The smaller one is the perfect size for your everyday makeup, and the bigger fits lotions, serums, hair products, etc. If you want to spend a little less, I have heard great things about White Elephant Designs Toiletry Pouches (honestly they look almost identical to the Cuyana ones, and especially nice if you just want to pick a single size!)
3: Cary Soto Is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid - I haven’t even finished this book yet and I am obsessed! I am listening via LibroFM and tearing through it. I love TJR - her books are so immersive. I especially love that the audio books are a whole experience in and of themselves — like listening to a play! I love when authors create universes and write books about different characters within that same universe - I love the breadcrumbs of other characters that you pick up on in each of her books! Highly recommend this one!
4: Trousers - If you have considered fall trends, you know that trousers are IN this season. You’re looking for a high-waist style, relaxed through the leg, and then a couple different options — could be slightly cropped, could be straight-legged, could be with a slight flare. I’m going to Madrid next week for work and having a mild panic attack (I kid, but also I am swirling about this!) about what I will be packing/wearing. I have no less than 6 pairs on their way to me. I’m most excited about this pair from Reformation, but also excited about these, these, and these (fingers crossed for a restock). These are out of stock in my size, but I’m obsessed. And, if I thought these would get to me on time, I would try them! A couple budget-friendly options are here, here, and here.
5: Matching Set - On the total other end of the season spectrum is my continued obsessed with this Vitamin A set. I wore it 5 out of 10 days on our recent vacation, reached for it almost every weekend this summer and have been checking the weather daily to make sure I am maximizing my ability to wear it the next few weeks.
6: Merit Eyebrow Gel: Something you should know about me is that I color/define my eyebrows basically everyday. I will regularly not wear a lick of other makeup, but I almost always do my brows. I have tried A LOT of products out there, and I love a wand that gives color + volume for quick application. I tried this during the Sephora sale and just reordered. It has just the right amount of pigment, doesn’t go on too thick and provides enough volume/structure to keep everything in place.
7: Fabric Organization Boxes: On the organization theme, I found these (pretty nice looking, IMO) boxes for documents to have a better system for filing a couple different things that are piling up. I got a large one for each of my kids to keep a selection of their art projects and other papers, and a medium one to keep printed photos in that I never seem to know what to do with. I think I’m going to get one more box to just have to keep random papers that always seem to accumulate!
8: Bertola Home Studio Bobbin Frames: We just hit the 2 year mark in our house and I am feeling very ready to feel fully settled into more of our rooms. Obviously, we have stuff, but nothing feels “finished.” I know two years is a long time, but it’s taken this long (and going to take even long) to slowly get the right pieces into our home - to pick them out, place orders (we were very plagued by supply chain issues in 2020 and 2021!), budget/save up for pieces and get things installed just right. We have the vast majority of our big pieces, and I am working on details — pillows, lighting, art. I take my time with these types of selections — I tend to walk the fine line between taking your time and analysis paralysis, to be honest— and I can easily spend several hours perusing Etsy, looking at various beautiful pieces. This shop was an awesome discovery — the pieces are beautiful and I love the colors. I am thinking about a couple frames, and also eyeing a mirror!!