032224: Things that made life special this week
Spring denim, a British police procedural, peppermint chocolates, the best and most cheerful toothbrushes, 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.
Last week, I recommended The Daily Stone by Kate McLeod (clicking this link gets you 20% off) and I am obsessed. The texture is luxurious but not greasy, and the smell is intoxicating. Definitely jumped into the ranks of my top body moisturizers. Do yourselves a favor and order this for your self-care lineup.
This week, winter turned to spring! Optimism is in the air. Check out my big Spring Equinox Edition of seasonal recommendations in case you missed it on Wednesday. And I have a great batch of recs for you this week, so let’s get into it.
Buying: Kick-flare jeans
I ordered no less than 14 pairs of jeans to try on last week, looking for some denim to freshen up my transitional wardrobe. This pair was the winner, and I took my true size. I love the cut and the lack of stretch so they don’t hug the body. The downside of being 100% cotton, of course, is that they start out very stiff when you buy them. But I anticipate they’ll soften and become really comfortable over time.
Watching: Vera on Britbox
I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I’m always behind, be it the latest series or a cult classic. This week I finally got into beloved British procedural Vera, about a cantankerous detective solving murders in Northumberland, England. It’s one of those cozy shows where you don’t really see any gore and there are plenty of sweeping shots of the English countryside.
Eating: ChocXO Peppermint Chocolate Cups
Mint chocolate is one of my favorite flavor combinations (team Junior Mints for best movie theater snack) and I don’t see any reason it needs to be limited to December. I stumbled on this brand through @realfoodology on Instagram and the low sugar content caught my attention. While one Reese’s peanut butter cup has 10.5g of sugar, one ChocXO cup only has 4!
The brand also makes coconut cups, almond butter cups, and salted coconut and almond bars. These will definitely stay in my healthier sweet treat rotation.
Reading: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Oh man, this book. I know I’m the last one to read it since its publication in 2014. But I’m dying to watch the Netflix adaptation, and I have a personal rule to read the book before I watch the film version of anything.
In case you missed it, the plot switches between the perspectives of a young blind French girl who flees Paris with her father and a young German orphan boy turned Nazi soldier during the German occupation of France in World War II. It’s heartbreaking and tender and well-written, and definitely deserves its place in the canon of all the fiction that has been written about that time period.
Making: Alison Roman Sheet Pan Chicken with Chickpeas, Cumin, and Turmeric
This recipe is a weeknight standby in my household. Briefly marinate the chicken, throw everything on a cookie sheet, enjoy an hour later with a couple of easy, fresh garnishes.
Using: Curaprox Swiss Toothbrushes
You know I believe in the power of something tiny to uplift an otherwise mundane experience, and that’s what these delightful Swiss-made toothbrushes do for my dental hygiene routine. I first saw them in the French pharmacy where I bought them for the colors—they’re bright, with bristles in contrast to the handle—but stayed loyal because of the great quality ultra-soft bristles and brushing experience. If you’re the other last person on earth not using an electric toothbrush, do yourself a favor and get these.
Doing: Preparing for Easter lunch…
…with the help of
’s tips. Good thing we’re armed with our toothbrushes, because a very chocolatey weekend is coming up! If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’m a huge fan of cookbook author and expert hostess Skye McAlpine. In fact, I’m relying almost entirely on recipes in her book A Table for Friends for the Easter Lunch I’m hosting next weekend. She just launched a newsletter, The Dolce Vita Diaries, where I’m also turning for tabletop and menu inspiration.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.
xx Jane
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