Changed how caitlin. A brief context to set expectations.
Changed how caitlin: Quick notes
Happy Sunday and Happy (almost) Lunar New Year! We were so grateful to have gotten to spend a week together as a team in Palm Springs this last week. Per usual, it was a productive lovefest, and we left feeling very filled up in the best way. Some of us even got there early and got to experience the wonders of Mallory’s grandma’s perfect 80s condo. It was a Palm Springs dream! Ok, here are this week’s links…
This week’s house tour is an incredible design delight. Commune Design (an EHD favorite!) designed Scout Willis’ historical 1920s LA home. The integrity of the home remains beautifully intact while still feeling personal to Scout. It’s so dreamy, so please go check it out!
From Emily: I have good news and bad news (hair-wise). The good news: my hair has so much volume right now because of Nutrafol (on month 8 now). The bad news is that I have to battle helmet head every day because my “old hair” is long and thinner (below my shoulders). I’ll say it before, and I’ll say it again, I know that it’s a commitment, I know that it can feel expensive, but it works. You won’t notice a difference for 3 months, but then get ready.
From Caitlin: Well, this is going to start bleak, but stay with me: before she passed, my mom got a Tovala oven. The equipment was free as long as she purchased a set number of meals…which is how I became a Tovala subscriber, in an effort to fulfill her quota so I could return the oven. Here’s where the story flips: TURNS OUT, I LOVE IT! Every week, I place an order (Den and I get 8 meals, but you can choose more or less) and we receive ultra-fresh, ultra-tasty meals in the mail. They take seconds to prep, and then you simply SCAN THE QR CODE and 5-20 minutes later, you’re rewarded with a DELICIOUS, HOME-COOKED MEAL. It’s like magic! It’s been a lifesaver on the nights when neither of us has the energy to prep and cook, and it’s saved me major bucks on impulsive DoorDash ordering. It’s saved me a ton on grocery bills, too – I’m finally eating my vegetables without the onus of finishing an entire bag of spinach before it expires. Tovala, YOU HAVE FOUND A SUPER FAN IN ME! (As I write this, I have a crispy buffalo chicken pasta heating up – Den will be having the red wine-braised filet after mine finishes cooking. Will we snack on some pretzel bites with a warm cheese dip later? You know it! It really is like magic. I mean it.)
From Mallory: Austin and I recently made calabrian chili pasta, and WOW is it delicious. We basically made a vodka sauce and threw some of these bad boys in there (perhaps too many because ours was crazy spicy, so take heed before dumping half the jar in), but the flavor is just divine. We will be keeping these in our fridge regularly now.
From Gretchen: Toward the end of January, I took a quick trip to Central America. My good friends (who work remotely) decided to “move” to Costa Rica for a couple of months and rented a place with a guest room, making sure there was enough space for friends to come and stay–something I took advantage of IMMEDIATELY. Maybe you remember that Em and her family traveled there a few years ago, too (she shared her perfect itinerary and recs here). They had the time of their lives, and honestly, so did I. Together, my friends and I went zip-lining (at the same place as Em, Selvatura Park–highly recommend), hit the hot springs, adventured on night hikes, and saw so many incredible animals. Getting there was a little dicey (hello, propeller plane), and because of that, I wanted to be sure to pack as smart and as light as I could. I borrowed another friend’s incredible Cotopaxi backpack she’d taken on a recent trip and fell in LOVE. This pack is made from reused, deadstock materials, so the colors you get are a bit of a mystery, which I think is part of the appeal. Not to mention the eco-aspect. But it was SUCH an efficient and comfortable bag, and it held A TON. So many perfect pockets and straps. If you need a bag that packs a punch but still fits in the overhead bin, I HIGHLY recommend this one. Yes, it’s expensive, but anyone who’s used one will tell you it’s more than worth it.
From Marlee: About one year ago, I got a sample of Le Labo’s Noir 29 scent – bergamot, black tea, fig, vetiver, musk – DELICIOUS! The only problem is that it’s up to $340 for a bottle. Sorry, not happening! Luckily, I stumbled upon Dossier – a fragrance brand that makes dupes for name-brand scents – I ordered their Citrus Tea scent, and it smells exactly. the. same. And for only $49. It’s by far one of my most complimented scents, and I love being able to spritz myself freely without the “cost-per-spritz” looming in the back of my mind. In the last year, I’ve used about half the bottle, and I wear it pretty frequently, so it’s definitely a great value. I love it!
From Jess: As you are reading this, we have just come back from a wonderful team retreat in Palm Springs. And because we were going to be blog planning by the pool (ha!), I really needed a new suit. I have found that a lot of the swimsuits I’ve been looking at don’t give me the middle ground I’m looking for. They are either super teeny (which can be fun but not ideal for every situation) or have more coverage than I’d like. So when I stumbled upon the Left on Friday store last weekend, I was so excited to find this top and these bottoms in their Sweet Chili Heat color (aka Red and very Baywatch). One of my best friends has been wearing their suits for years, but for whatever reason, I hadn’t tried them yet. Their suits are made for “being active,” and they have some tops that go up to a G cup. I feel good, confident, and secure in this suit, which is all I can really ask for:)
From Arlyn: I’ve long been a fan of designer Laura Hodges, but I’ve recently discovered her shop, Domain Home Decor + Gifts. Of special mention is the vintage section, which is a revolving collection of delightful little housewares and occasionally some furniture. Right now, she has beautiful bentwood dining chairs, some great vintage baskets, and—perhaps my favorite—beautiful glassware like this trio of yellow glass bowls, or this set of vintage green glass juice cups. Give it a look, as there are many treasures to find at fair prices!
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Living Room Update – AGAIN – Our New Sofa, My Dream Floral Chaise And The Pop Of Red I Always Wanted In My Life
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