Issue #147: 'Tis the damn ... ugh, you know
Good morning, shoppers!
Mariah Carey said it, and who are we to argue? It’s the holiday szn, ho ho ho, etc. It’s gift-o-clock, and we’re here to help. Need a suggestion for someone in your life? Just reply to this email, we may have an idea.
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Kase + Maggie
Once upon a time when I was still giving dating app profile prompts serious thought, I described myself as the unofficial hype woman for my friends and family. Years have passed but it’s still a pretty accurate description. Need a pep talk? I’m your girl. Trying to gas yourself up? Drop me a line. Affirmations? Mantras? They’re my specialty. This year, I’m hoping to gift that feeling in the form of a mini air horn ($9) to all my pals. While I can’t be everywhere, this pocket-sized gadget can and hopefully will deliver an appropriate boost in my absence. —MC
Ugh, how I love a doodad. A thingy. A pocket-size wonder that brings delight. Whether it’s a Good Pocket Rock (IYKYK) or a pen with an unexpected shape for the clip, I find a special joy in stuff that fits in the palm of my hand. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I totally overdo it on stockings come holiday time. My family utilizes extra-long knit numbers to accommodate maximum stuffage. A chocolate orange in the toe is non-negotiable, but the rest is fair game. I wouldn’t be upset to find something like this inexpensive clip that claims to hold books open and upright, and your crafty (or wannabe crafty) buds would surely love these little matchbox cross stitch projects. Field Notes notebooks are a sleek and useful gift, especially when paired with some decidedly un-basic basic pens. Bonus idea: pretty much anything from Papier or Parcel is sure to be a hit. —KW
Nothing says I’m one in a million like nameplate jewelry. Whether it’s your middle name in 14K gold dangling around your neck, your last name in block letters on your ring finger or your nickname with a diamond dotting the “i”, I wholeheartedly believe it should be trademarked as the official accessory of accepting zero substitutes, owning your power and being your damn self. That’s why I’m so excited for The Nameplate, a book that goes deep on the significance of nameplate jewelry with essays, portraits and a historical look at its place in culture, something I’d like to gift and receive. —MC
Speaking of little things, I recently found what seems to be an easy fix to a problem that has been bugging me for, oh, however long I’ve worn AirPods. I don’t know if I have exceptionally special ears or what, but my AirPods Pros fall out of my ears basically nonstop, even with the smallest set of tips. I can’t help it that my ear holes are so dainty, you know? After one last angry shove back into my beautiful tiny delicate ear finally ripped one of the rubber tips, I found out about these memory foam replacements. So far, I’m having more success. It also doesn’t hurt that they come in purple. It’s time for you to come to the aid of yourself or anyone you love who has Special Ears. —KW
It did not surprise me to learn that Kris Jenner has an entire room dedicated to glassware, a well-organized walk-in closet next to her kitchen that’s stocked with everything you need to host and imbibe. What did was that on a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kris and Khloé sit down to talk shop with two beer can-shaped glass cups with glass straws in front of them, leading me to wonder if TikTok’s favorite vessel has somehow made its way into the gated communities of Calabasas. The glasses themselves are less than spectacular, despite their puzzling title of “aesthetic” online, and yet, I cannot stop thinking about them. Six of them with bamboo lids and glass straws will run you around $20, which means they’ve somehow earned a spot on my Christmas list. —MC
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