030324: Things that made life special this week
A miracle balm, a refreshing eye gel, airplane snacks, two playful clutches, the best straw hat, and more
Hello and welcome to Things That Made Life Special This Week, a celebration of the pursuits that add a little something extra to the everyday.
This recommendations newsletter is coming a couple of days late because I’ve been enjoying the most wonderful week of warm weather vacation with my mom in Florida. So for once I have something to report beyond the typical winter routine in Boston!
Eating: Country Archer Jerky
Beef or turkey jerky is my go-to travel snack. It’s 100% protein so it actually fills you up, you can buy it at Starbucks and most newsstand shops, it’s lightweight, and it doesn’t require utensils. If you’re getting ready for a trip, try this variety pack or these mini sticks and throw them in your carryon.
Using: La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Balm
I slather this stuff on as my last layer of skincare every night after a day in the sun. It’s a miracle product for soothing irritated skin, redness, rashes, chapping, and dryness. And it’s only $16 on Amazon and probably cheaper at your local pharmacy.
Listening: The sounds of nature
I was blessed by the sounds of the ocean and tropical birds this week, but at home I’ve also been trying to take more walks without my headphones. I feel more a part of my community when I hear the sounds of daily city life around me, rather than being cut off by music or a podcast that takes my attention away from the present.
Moving: Swimming outdoors, but also this 30 min Feel Good Ride with Ally Love
Is there anything better than swimming? I need to join a fitness club with a lap pool. It’s been an active week, between walking, swimming in the Atlantic ocean and the pool, and a couple of visits to the hotel gym. A ‘Feel Good’ ride felt like the right choice for a vacation workout, to build on the already good feels!
Buying: Replacing my trusty Helen Kaminski straw hat
A year or so ago, I wrote about this hat, my beloved packable and stylish sun accessory. Then over the summer, it got wet during a rainstorm and shrunk beyond hope. After a mourning period, I ordered a new one in the color ‘nougat.’ How chic is the black, too?
Wearing: My resort-y straw clutch
I have this adorable style in yellow (and different embroidery) from a past season, but how fab is this pearly shell-shaped bag for beachside fashion? I think buying it would go a long way towards manifesting an invitation onto someone’s yacht.
Reading: One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy
This book was a great beach read: a fun walk through the past and present of the millennial female existence. Kennedy is one of my favorite podcasters, the host of Be There in Five, a solo-hosted millennial zeitgeist commentary show. She offers astute observations, comedy, and memories about a much misunderstood and maligned generation (that I happen to think is pretty great). :)
Trying: Tammy Fender Awakening Eye Gel
One of the many fun parts of traveling with my mom is that I get to play with her skincare lineup. Right now, she and I are both leaning towards gentle, botanical-based products without harsh retinol and other strong actives. After testing my mom’s, I treated myself to a bottle of the wonderfully refreshing eye gel. Looking forward to testing more from this holistic skincare line!
Join me in the open recommendations thread on Substack Chat, where I’d love to hear what’s making your life special this week. Here’s how to download the app if you don’t already have it.
I hope you have a great week ahead!
xx Jane
This newsletter includes a few affiliate links. I like to shop small and don’t exclusively feature brands that are part of an affiliate program, so not all links will earn me a commission. But some will! If you plan to buy something featured in this newsletter, using my link will help support the time and love I put into writing these for you. I appreciate your support so much!