Favorite Things from My Friends
my favorite things from January, and the (under $50) things my friends brought to our "Favorite Things" party
You can read all previous editions of my monthly digest of favorite things here.
January was the longest 5-7 years of my life! Truly - the impressive stamina award goes to January 2024. And even though it felt like it lasted forever, it was a good month too!
I am getting back into a grove at work (being forced back into a grove!) and while I won’t lie and say it’s necessarily fun, I do feel some of the postpartum brain fog clearing a little bit which is nice, and I am energized by the project I’m working on and the team I’m collaborating with!
We had our first few snowstorms of the year this month, which brings a ton of work as a homeowner, and a lot of joy as a parent. We’ve been sledding, my kids have enthusiastically contributed in major ways to shoveling our front walk and driveway (the first day there was snow my middle daughter was dressed and ready to go outside at 6:45 AM, much to my husband’s chagrin!), we’ve made snow angels, built snowmen and even gone skiing! We’ve spent a lot of time outside - which is very hard to do in the cold winter (layers, gear, getting everything on, walking through ice/snow/sleet/puddles/etc.), but has tremendous payoff! This weekend we’re headed to New Hampshire with friends for our first ski weekend of the year, and I’m excited (to drop the kids in ski school, ha!)
And I just wrapped my no-buy January! On the one hand - the drudge and dreariness of January without the “fun” of having something new to add to my closet may have been a somewhat tortuous decision. On the other hand - it was actually pretty easy, and I’m proud of myself for accomplishing it - you can read a midway check-in here, about the original goal and plan here, and check back soon for a full recap and reflections on the exercise. I recapped a few early takeaways on Instagram this week!
I have a few things to highlight that have made my life better and easier this month — an assortment of accessories & shoes I reached for on repeat, beauty products that have been helping me battle winter dryness, and the best of the books that I read. And, this past week my college friends finally got around to having our “Favorite Things” party for 2023. I thought it would be fun to share our collective favorite things - many of which were new to me!
So, let’s dive in.
Hanni Products - I started seeing Hanni on several of my favorite and most trusted Instagram accounts early this summer and fall, and when they had a big sale over Cyber Week - I placed a big order and tried several items. I am DEEPLY obsessed with the Splash Salve - It’s a lotion that you apply in the shower. I OFTEN forget or feel as though I don’t have time to apply lotion after I’m towled off and rushing to get dressed. But, lotion in the shower…that I can do. I also got the Water Balm- which is a spray-on lotion that is super easy to apply, and it sprays the absolute perfect amount. I’m deeply obsessed with the smell! I am also really enjoying their razer. I am usually pretty dedicated to my epilator, but in the winter, when I go for longer stretches without needing to expose my legs, shaving is way faster (it takes a long time to remove all hair from my legs with the epilator when I’ve gone a week or two). The razor is super unique, and I love that you can shave dry (with the help of their Shave Pillow)- borderline life-changing. Plus, it’s extremely aesthetically pleasing in my bathroom. Hanni generously gifted me their new Good Aura body oil which is incredible - the weather, and, as a result, my skin has been so dry recently that I’ve often been using it in conjunction with the Splash Salve to stay deliciously moisturized/to achieve glazed donut body status. The body oil is NOT GREASY at all - which I LOVE. Anyways - I love this brand. Their products are great, and I find the price to be extremely fair for the quality and volume of products you get. If you’re shopping for a new lotion or body oil, or need a disposable razer - I highly recommend it!
New Balance 990s & Adidas Sambas - The number of times I wore sneakers this month made me laugh - I’m fully leaning into the suburban dad aesthetic. The truth is - sneakers are extremely practical for my life right now, and so if I’m going to wear them constantly, I want to love them. I had Sambas on my wishlist for a while, and my sister got me a pair for Christmas. We got the size conversion wrong, and had to do an exchange - so I finally got to wear them the first time this month. And, I love them! I’ve been wearing with jeans and my beloved Donni pants. I can’t wait to wear them this spring with dresses and skirts! And, then I also got these New Balance 990s. Actually - I bought these in October and returned them because I ordered a bunch of things from Shopbop and had to make some hard decisions. Fast forward to mid-December and I got a package that was marked from Madewell and I was confused about what it could be. Turns out I accidentally put a Madewell return label on the shoes — so, they never made it back to Shopbop, and now they’re mine! I love the sportier look of them, and they are EXTREMELY comfortable for walking which is great!
Gabriel and Simone Dani Blue Light Blocking Glasses - Gabriel & Simone generously gifted me these glasses, and given that I spent 8+ hours a day in front of my laptop, it seems like something I should be conscious about. I’ve been wearing them every day and so far I like looking smarter, and I am glad to be protecting my eyes! If you’re in the market - they have a great selection of options, and you can use CHRISTINAT20 for 20% off your order sitewide!
Shit That I Knit Beanie - I’ve had this hat for years, and I love it. Why is finding a winter hat that you love so hard? I don’t know, but I love this brand, and this is truly the only winter hat you will ever need!
Naturium Glow Getter Body Wash -
turned me on to this (the Amber recommendation » package on my front porch is a very common occurrence for me), and it’s SO NICE. Can’t argue with a giant bottle of body wash for $16!Stroller Mittens & Smartwool Merino Gloves - It is cold, and so all my winter gear is getting it’s reps in. When I had my son, I thought stroller mittens were a gimmicky product that was invented to fill a need that doesn’t exist, but, as I texted a friend this fall, I was wrong. We have multiples of this (inexpensive!) pair - on each of our strollers! I also frequently wear these Smartwool Gloves - I’ve had them for YEARS, and I noticed I have some holes in them so am planning on replacing them. They are super warm but lightweight and thin. I love them for running. And they have little fingerpad touchpoints so you can use your phone while wearing them!
Magnolia Parks Books - MY GOD. The grip this series has on me. I love them and I hate them and I cannot stop listening. British Gossip Girl in their mid-20s. It is a sweet treat in the form of a book, with its own universe, love-to-hate (and hate-to-love) character, and multiple books in the series. I HIGHLY recommend it. (Audio books with British narrators > all other audiobooks).
I am so very, very lucky to have an incredible group of friends from college who are all local to the greater Boston area. Ride or die ladies. This past week, we got together to share our favorite things. The rules of the road were that it had to be something you had and loved, and our budget was $50/person. Could be one thing, could be multiple things. We exchanged the gifts Yankee Swap Style. This was so fun to do - I highly recommend it - like, maybe we should admit that not enough people are into book clubs and just have Favorite Things Clubs instead??
So, what did we love? Here’s the list of things…all promising to make your life a little better, for less than $50.
Merit Mascara - This was part of my contribution. I am a big Merit fan (this was a theme, we love Merit!), and I love this mascara for everyday wear.
& Glossier You - This was also my contribution. This made me rediscover my love for perfume. Both the products I brought been featured in this series previously!
Pickleball Set - This is what I took home with me! Pretty excited to use this when the weather warms up - thinking, date light with my husband! We also have big plans to organize a big pickleball tournament this spring!
Lounge Set - My friend Emily brought this - she spent the majority of 2023 pregnant and so she crowned it the year of chic loungewear - this set delivers!
Morrocan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner - The hair products available at the CBI spa (luxurious, and also where many of us spent college summers working) - they smell amazing.
Goop G.Tox Salt Scrub Shampoo - This stuff is amazing. It was coveted. One of my friends uses it as her only shampoo and is very happy with the results. I use it once a week, sometimes every other week (I only shampoo once or twice I week, so I alternate it every couple of washes with my normal shampoo to make sure I’m getting a deep clean every once in awhile!)
Merit Solo Shadow - Eyeshadow is back, and this is a great, flattering, and extremely wearable shade! I think everyone ordered this while we were sitting at the table!
Tatcha Dew Cream - A lovely winter moisturizer with a great weight & non-sticky application. This just feels so good when you wear it!
Patchology Eye Patches - What a great gift to receive - have them on hand for any time you need a little boost in the morning!
Tatcha Serum Stick - This is a perfect moisture-providing item to apply throughout the day when you need a little touch-up. Perfect for your purse or your desk!
Dr. Teals Sleep Spray - This is a Lavender & Melatonin Pillow Spray. We stan a non-habit-forming sleep aid!
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen - A great sunscreen that you can’t see OR feel.
Osea Body Oil - This is one of the best body oils. A great item to receive as a gift, IMO, bc the price is a little high (although, watch for sales!) for just a standard body item.
ICYMI:
Some recent pieces that you might enjoy…
Thanks for reading!
If you like what you’re reading, please consider:
📱 Screenshotting your favorite part of this newsletter and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @ct_shopguide and I’d love for you to follow!
💌 Forwarding this email to a friend
👩💻 Commenting and liking this post on Substack!
All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated!
Love the idea of a "favorite things" party!! I am also a big fan of Merit.
The touchpoint gloves! I lost mine and it’s doing my head in taking my mittens off 100 times a day to press screens for things. Winter necessity for the chronically online!