Issue #71: Q what for
Good morning, shoppers!
First things first: We regret to inform you that, despite last week’s subject line, it is in fact Q4. We can pretend it was a joke, but in reality Maggie and I are actually that unmoored from time and space, like the time traveler’s wife but with an online cart. Fun!
Speaking of being lost in time, I’ve been thriving on the time capsule playlist Spotify curated for me this week. Chances are if you call me I’ve hit pause on “Love Song” or “Unwell” in the past 30 seconds (don’t call me). It’s like comfort food in music form: These are the songs from college, when all my best friends lived within a 10-minute walk away and I’d stage incredible all-you-can-eat feats of strength in the dining hall on the daily with zero tummy consequence. Set the time machine, I’m there.
What’s bringing you joy this week? We’ve got a button hearkening back to times past, an accidental family pet that I never have to feed, and more.
Add to cart,
Kase + Maggie
We love democracy and exercising our right to it. This year is rife with mail-in and absentee ballots, including my own, which I’m walking directly to a ballot drop box this week, but that doesn’t mean I’m not missing my traditional “I voted” sticker. (Actually, fun fact, my home state of Oregon has been a mail-in state for years, so I’ve only gotten to experience the joy of a sticker in recent years.) The geniuses behind the I Voted Today Etsy shop have designed stylish, statement-making stickers so you can still flaunt your vote. Even better, $2 of every $5 sticker pack is donated to Vote.org. I opted for the RBG-inspired “Dissenter” design, and am deciding whether it should get a permanent home on my coffee thermos or my home office monitor. Decisions, decisions. —KW
A couple of weeks ago, on a bright, breezy day that could only ever take place on a Saturday in September, I went to the Met. I didn’t think I’d be one of those people eager to get back into a museum but as I approached its steps, I couldn’t ignore the lump in my throat. In front of me, vendors galore; to my right, a line creeping around the corner — it felt just like old times. I thought back to nine years ago when I waited hours with my friend Denise to get into “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” walking around “China: Through the Looking Glass” quiet and alone when the world felt too heavy to bear and laughing through “Camp: Notes on Fashion” with my friend Amanda. I had so many good memories there, and here I was making a brand new one with someone whose mask couldn’t hide his smile; how could I not rush back through its doors when they opened? I owed this place something. So naturally, I was pretty taken with Catbird’s collaboration with The Met on a 14K gold charm ($68) to commemorate the admission button they replaced with stickers back in 2013. The tiny charm is described as “a symbol of a New York that was, and that could be again.” A thought I’m still savoring, long after my visit. —MC
What is it they say about the best-laid plans? That they teach your toddler about empathy and result in you having Halloween decorations the size of a labrador become a permanent decor fixture in your home? Something like that.
When I ordered this unicorn skeleton, I thought, hey, this is festive. It’s fun. Might freak my kid out a little, but I’m into it. I thought it would live on my porch, a nice complement to last year’s skeleton flamingos that have taken up permanent residence on my lawn. I thought wrong. Peaches, as the unicorn has been dubbed, lives wherever my daughter does (though she understands that unicorns don’t like stairs, so we’re spared any bedtime shenanigans in her room). She offers it bites of grilled cheese sandwich from her high chair, and reassuring pats on the snout. “Shh, Peaches, it’s OK,” she murmurs, minutes after screeching “get away from me, Mama!” for daring to approach with a napkin. When I tried to put Peaches on the porch, it was a big no-go. Peaches is currently carefully swaddled in a blanket, eagerly waiting for his (I’ve been informed that Peaches is “a boy, Mama”) human to come home for the day, one would assume. Learn from my mistakes: You mess with the skelecorn, you get the horn. —KW
Does pumpkin spice still inspire hysteria? I thought for a moment there we were over it, but based on the crop of “2020 is a mess, let us enjoy our Pumpkin Spice Lattes in peace”-themed memes, looks like this flavor profile just won’t die. If an artificial pumpkin taste is what you need to cope with the shortening days and impending sense of doom, then vaya con dios, but might I suggest an alternative scent? Apple cider! Sure, it’s just one rung up on the basic ladder, but a change will do you good. Your gateway drug will be Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap in Apple Cider. It’s $3.99, smells like a pie coming out of the oven and it lingers on your hands for a while after you’ve dried them. You’re welcome. —MC
Working out again means I’m starting to think twice about everything that goes into my body. Existing on salads and tea isn’t cutting it — I need to consider nutrition, supplements and eating enough calories so I don’t keel over while breathlessly singing along to “Same Damn Time” in one of Alex Touissant’s Peloton classes. I’ve started paying real attention to protein; snacking on soft-boiled eggs and making smoothies galore, which is how I discovered Golde’s Superfood Latte Sampler, a 12-pack of superfood rich powders to mix into beverages. The three flavors are turmeric, which targets skin and gut health, matcha, which offers a natural boost of caffeine and cacao, known for naturally easing stress. Plus, the sachets are beautifully designed, which means my friends will want to know what they’re all about when I pull them out of my purse during our next coffee date. —MC
An essential step to better government is better representation, and Run For Something helps young progressive people who may not have the leg up, funding and network that many candidates do break into local office. Run For Something offers support at all stages of candidates’ campaigns and helps demystify the process of running for office. Leadership and voting isn’t just about the topline — please consider donating today to help get progressive candidates into office.
Disclosure: We picked these products ourselves, but may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. Thanks for shopping your feelings!