040524: Things that made life special this week
My spicy Italian era, tissue box disguises, a botanical arty Instagram, several good things that only take 5 min, 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.
We had a big time last weekend with family in town, great restaurant dinners, and hosting Easter lunch at our apartment. The weather turned stormy just as everyone headed home, perfectly supporting a few days of introvert recovery and putting my household (and brain) back in order.
Using: The Dyson AirWrap ‘soft smoothing brush’ attachment
I usually air-dried my hair wavy when it was layered, or used the barrel attachment of the AirWrap to get bouncy curls. I didn’t really like the way it looked blown out straight. With my new and improved blunt cut, I’m drying it straight and I get great volume, shine, and smoothness with the ‘soft smoothing brush’ attachment—and the entire blow dry start-to-finish takes about five minutes.
Buying: Chic tissue box covers from Heather Taylor Home
Tissue box covers are one of those decor details like switch plates that make an outsize difference in a room for very little investment. I’m one of those people who has a box of Kleenex in every room, despite their designs consistently being an aesthetic assault. Not sure why it took me so long to get around to dressing them up in pretty gingham covers, but that was a small but life-changing decision. (I’m also in love with these boldly striped tissue box covers from British designer Alice Palmer.)
Listening: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé, OF COURSE!
The original tracks. The covers. The featured artists. The transitions. The instrumentation. The vocal harmonies. The genre bending. The Dolly of it all. Why does this feel like the most natural next step in Beyoncé’s body of work, the album we didn’t know we were waiting for, but can’t imagine ever living without now that it’s here? I’m obsessed. It’s on repeat in my headphones.
P.S. Serious question: Are we still wearing over-the-head headphones or is everyone fully converted to AirPods these days?
Eating: Spicy Italian sandwiches and Italian chopped salads
Pepperoncini, salami, and oregano are my vibe right now! I got the Italian Chopped Salad at Sweetgreen a few weeks ago, and I’ve been hooked on the flavors ever since. My neighborhood deli, Formaggio Kitchen, makes a great spicy Italian sandwich on ciabatta, which I’ve ordered twice in the last week. You could also get creative and make an Italian chopped salad into a sandwich, which honestly sounds delicious.
Making: Quinoa, Carrot, and White Bean Salad from ’s Substack, Good Mood Food
Just the right thing to do with leftover Easter carrots! Per the Italian chopped salads of it all, I’m craving grain bowls / full-meal salads every day, and this one ticks all the boxes. Obviously I’m on the right side of history in the Great Dill Debate of 2024 and Gwyneth is wrong.
Doing: A big spring cleaning of my admin backlog (ahem, taxes and the donation pile)
I decided it’s time to address the miscellaneous tasks that have been piling up over the winter in my inbox and on my desk. No surprise, each of the tasks I’d built up in my mind only take about five minutes each, and the satisfaction of checking them off is immense.
Following: @le_jardin_robo on Instagram
This account posts botanical and nature art, and it gives my feed such a breath of fresh air, as well as introducing me to new-to-me artists. The spring posts have been especially inspiring! It’s also a great grid to scroll if you’re looking for color palette inspiration: for your home, an outfit, a tablescape, etc.
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.
Have a great weekend!
xx Jane
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