My Favorite Things Right Now
As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend a very high percentage of my time with women. One of the benefits of this lifestyle is the constant trading of resources. We’re always sharing books, shows, products and more with one another. Regularly referred to as, “Idea Girl” in my family, offering resources and solutions is one of my very favorite things to do. I also LOVE learning about new options. This personality trait brings us to one of my periodic blog post themes: My Favorite Things Right Now. Here we go!
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My Favorite Things Right Now
Strike Force Five
Oh man, the last few months have been rough. As someone who is a nonfiction junkie, finding something light and fun to listen to is a struggle. And when life feels heavy, humor is especially helpful. Enter Strike Force Five, the podcast collaboration with Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Oliver and Stephen Colbert. The crew teamed up to raise money for their respective staffs during the writer’s strike and ended up creating 12 truly delightful episodes of magic. (Episode 1 isn’t the greatest but by episode 5, they are on fire.) Need a pick me up? This is it.
Boden Wide Leg Pants
Sure, we all want soft pants and yes, we also want to look good. Personally, I don’t feel the same without a level of polish that I don’t get when stealing my husband’s sweatpants. (Although, they are very cozy.) My favorite go-to option is available in full length (petite, regular or long length) or opt for the shorter version (available in petite or regular lengths). Each one goes up to size 22.
Scalp Massager
During a recent haircut my stylist use this game changing scalp massager on my head. Apparently, it’s designed to remove shampoo build up and help with dandruff. I picked one up and my family quickly discovered that it is a direct route to relaxation and for those of us with physical touch as a love language, this goes a long way with minimal effort.
When the Body Says No
I picked up this book by Gabor Mate several months ago after hearing an interview with him. He’s riveting. After a couple of chapters I drifted into another book and forgot all about it. Mate has a new book out, co-authored with his son, “The Myth of Normal.” He was a guest on a recent episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and I was reminded of my love for him. (Also, in my head, he looks like this guy, which is helpful.) So, before diving into his new book I want back to When the Body Says No and have been truly riveted ever since. It’s about how people with specific chronic illnesses tend to have particular personality types, often stemming from childhood. If you or someone you know have suffered with a chronic illness or disease or are interested in preventing one in the future, this book is for you. (I’m rolling with the audible version.)
Love is Blind Season 5
Like so many of us, I’ve been a super fan of Love is Blind since season 1. I’m not terribly enthusiastic about reality shows with lots of screaming and deceit. Love is Blind feels like a place where people who genuinely want to get married go to find a partner. Knowing so many incredible women who are still single and would rather not be and having worked at the world’s largest dating service all through college, I’m a sucker for any way to bring people together. This season was a huge departure with lots of drama. Honestly, I hope it isn’t the new normal. But I binged it nonetheless and am glad I did.
Mighty Patch
Thanks to the magic of Spironolactone, I rarely break out. (I’m not a doctor, so consult your dermatologist about this one.) But, when it does happen, I am truly amazed at the effectiveness of the Mighty Patch. I picked up a pack in my effort to have resources for my teen should he start needing anything for skincare and when a random breakout occurred, I tried it out. Just one night and it was gone.
Reflective Clothing
If you’ve been reading this blog for some time, you are familiar with my love of reflective clothing. It gets VERY dark in the Pacific Northwest and I wanted to find a reflective jacket for my son. But, being a stylist, I also wanted it to look cool and align with his personal style. As it turns out, that was tricky. Enter ReflectiveClo. Crazy affordable pieces designed for raves, yes raves, this website has an assortment of grey clothing for men and women that reflects light. I’ve got a cropped puffer and he gets a new jacket each year.
California Farms Oat Creamer (either flavor)
Oh man, finding a tasty nondairy flavored creamer has been a slog. But, I FINALLY did it. If this is a struggle you face, it’s time for California Farms Oat Creamer. Vanilla and Cinnamon Roll are very different from one another, but both are great options.
Yuan Spa Hydrotherapy
If you are in the Seattle area, the Kirkland location of Yuan Spa is calling to you. If you aren’t, it’s time to find a local hydrotherapy option to help ease your stress. I adore the self directed hot/cold routine in a clean, relaxing environment. Often, it’s less expensive than getting a massage or facial and has lasting impact.
Roller Dancing Competition Show thanks to Chip & Joanna Gaines
On the positive side, get ready for a roller dancing competition show! On the less awesome side, we won’t be seeing it until 2024. Mark your calendars for some super fun from two of America’s most inspirational entrepreneurs.
Pilates with a reformer
Every once in a while I like to share my adoration for my reformer. This is truly a giant luxury and a very real investment. A lover of pilates, I had never considered having one until I read about a woman who sold several designer pieces to buy a used reformer at the beginning of lockdown. When we purchased it in early 2020, it was easier to justify. Each day, I’m grateful for the choice as the reformer is something I’ll still be able to use in retirement and having the easily accessible strength training is invaluable. If having your own reformer isn’t for you, try out a pilates class nearby.
Monthly Dinners
While on the board for YouthCare, a nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness in the Seattle area, I made a collection of very strong friendships. Over the years, getting together has been challenging… until a few months ago. Our crew started having monthly dinners out. It’s had a transformational impact on my life and has been a wonderful way for everyone to grow closer. There’s so much information on the loneliness epidemic right now. Often, we don’t get the friend time we need simply because scheduling is so arduous. Having a pre-scheduled regular time for friends is key.
Quince
Pining for something specific but don’t want to pay full price? Looking for quality but designer labels aren’t important to you? I vote you try Quince. The website cuts out the middle person giving you quality items in current styles for significantly less. Check out some of my favorites in my recent post on how to style silk slip dress.
The Ideal Schedule
I once heard Brene` Brown talk about her quest to find fun activities for her family that each of them truly enjoyed. Her solution to the ongoing issue of “family time” doing things that aren’t actually enjoyable was to sit down as a team and list all of the activities that each person found enjoyable. Then, they created a Venn diagram to show what past times were actually fun for all. I love this concept. Recently, our family did something similar regarding how we’d each like to spend our time. As an extrovert married to an introvert, I wondered if he was getting enough alone time. As our son’s social network becomes more important to him, I wondered if he was getting enough of the kind of friend time that means the most. And I realized that I hadn’t been driving enough activities with friends that I find enjoyable. While we can’t control everything, we can make time for what’s most important. It’s hard to know what that is without giving it some thought and it’s impossible to know what that is for someone else without asking them. We’ve had a family schedule for the past few years that clearly identifies time alone, time as a couple, family time and time for each of us with our son. But, this took that to the next level and acknowledged changing needs and desires. Highly recommend.
Client Photo Books
I’ve run Poplin Style for over a decade and displaying outfits for clients on a password protected webpage has always been part of the offerings. Recently, we’ve discovered that having a hard copy photo book with outfit images that lives in each client’s closet simplifies her life even further. Now, we include these in every package. I love seeing each book before it’s shipped and even more, I am grateful to have clients who are vocal about their needs so we can continue improving the process.
I can’t wait to hear which of these appeal to you. Enjoy!
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