Monday Memo No. 111
Alright 2021, let’s get started.
New Year, New Goals
It’s always smart to kick off a new year by checking in with your career goals and most certainly setting new ones! Check out my thorough guides to career goal-setting here and here, I’ve been so pleased to see they’ve been two of my most popular posts of all time. Once you’ve established your goals for 2021, sign up for our new course on honing your interview skills! You can read a few of the amazing testimonials we’ve received so far here.
Vitamin D Drops
This audience knows I approach recommending anything in the medical realm with extreme caution. I always believe you should ask your doctor rather than the internet for medical advice, and certainly, before taking any supplements. Having said that and secure in the knowledge that you will consult your doctor before proceeding, I wanted to share that our entire family has been taking these Vitamin D drops for the last few months. While it is a new year, there’s still the same pandemic happening. You may have missed it during the flurry of holiday activity, but on December 21st, 120 scientists and medical experts wrote an open letter to governments urging them to treat Vitamin D supplementation like mask-wearing, as low Vitamin D levels markedly increase the likelihood of Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Especially as we continue through winter months when we’re likely not getting enough Vitamin D from the sun outside, these drops are amazing and much more easily absorbed by the body than supplements in pill form.
Oil Sprayer
Holiday cooking made it abundantly clear to me that I need a few new strategies for efficiently…you know, FEEDING MY FAMILY. This oil sprayer is one of those kitchen tools that helps you streamline what you’re doing and helps keep your kitchen ever so slightly more equipped for cleaner cooking. You can spray your pan before cooking, but I find it most helpful when roasting vegetables or anything that needs a nice coating of olive oil. Instead of pouring the oil from the bottle and trying to toss things around, this spray allows for a much more evenly-distributed coating.
Thrive Market
Especially at this time of year, we’re all focused on nutrition and health-conscious cooking. But, sometimes, it can be hard to find the items we’re looking for at local markets. I’m sure you’ve also noticed certain ingredients can really hike up the price of your grocery bills. Thrive Market is an amazing destination for finding the wellness and health-focused foods (and beauty, and household items!) you want, at majorly discounted prices, all delivered to your door. There is an annual membership fee involved, and this fee is what allows you to get those incredible discounts and free shipping on orders over $49. What I also love about Thrive Market is that they keep a running tally of how much money you’re saving by shopping with them, and you can see how rapidly that membership fee pays for itself. Also…hello yummy, healthy groceries. (Pro tip: Don’t sleep on Thrive’s in-house brand, there are some amazing finds that they produce themselves!)
Wax Candle Adapters
These little wax candle adapters are GENIUS, and work incredibly well. They’re little malleable dots that you adhere to the bottom of your candles to sturdily secure them to any surface. These adapters are a genuine game-changer for anyone who loves tall tapered or straight candles on the dining table but struggles to make them stand up straight. If crooked candles on your table drive you crazy and/or you have larger candles that always want to slip off of their decorative bases, these are your new best friend.
China and Dish Storage
If you’re putting away all of your holiday dishes and servingware, only to discover that you have essentially zero protection for your beloved pieces apart from like… a bare shelf, look into these perfect storage pieces. The reason they’re ideal is that they’ve got hard exterior covers, so you can protect your dishes and also stack your storage pieces. The felt dividers help ensure that each individual piece is perfectly protected until you need to use them again.
Rediscover Your Lunch Break
LOL lunch breaks, what are those? Unless I’m attending a (pre-pandemic) meeting at a restaurant, I honestly haven’t taken a real lunch “break” maybe ever. This… is not good. Breaks are a healthy and productive part of your day. If you’re looking to start the New Year with more productivity and purpose, I recommend rediscovering your lunch break with this book because the physical and mental break gives you the downtime you need to recharge and tackle the rest of the workday more efficiently.
Baby Bow Storage
I had you at the name, didn’t I? Because the apple does not fall far from the tree, Colette’s hair accessory situation is… abundant. I just bought this adorable storage solution for her bows and headbands that also works as a pretty display of cuteness. Honestly, I want one.
Baby Sled
Here I go with the adorable item names again. Yes, baby sleds exist. Yes, they are the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. And, yes, you absolutely need this liner for added comfort and sweetness. Tiny-sized sleds mean your little ones don’t have to wait until they’re big enough sled solo to fully enjoy the wonders of winter. Also… the photos. Are you kidding me??
Botanical Garden Memberships
It’s the start of a new year, and if one of your resolutions is to find more (safe!) activities to do outside, consider becoming a member of your local botanical garden. This not only gives you a gorgeous space to be outdoors that’s family-friendly, but it also helps you support a local institution that’s likely hurting from reduced foot traffic in 2020. Win-win.
My Favorite Extra Large Water Tumblers and Metal Straws
I love my beautiful glassware, but I don’t love constantly refilling 10 oz water glasses all day. I also don’t love the feeling of using a travel Yeti or HydroFlask while just relaxing at home. These extra large, 32 oz plastic tumblers that I pair with my favorite metal straws, are my ideal solution to wanting to be both hydrated and not annoyed all day long. Basically, they’re a more acceptable version of the GIANT stadium and Taco Bell plastic cups my brothers would bring home which I secretly loved using because of their huge size. I also love these beauties as an option too, but I haven’t purchased them yet because they’re only 24 oz and that extra 8 oz is key! If you’re cool with 24oz though, definitely check them out, and this style is also a simple classic.
Frame Ornaments
Obviously, I’m shopping the sales for next year’s holiday decor. Why not peruse the discounts (specifically via Juliska, Pottery Barn, and Frontgate) and score serious deals while you can? I found some stunning frame ornaments which were sadly sold out, but it did give me the idea to put our family Christmas photo in a frame every year to hang on our tree. I love the idea of seeing this collection grow year after year. I opted for this style from Shutterfly. They’re beautiful and so easy to order, you just upload your photos!
Skims Loungewear
After initially dipping my toe into Kim Kardashian’s brand a few months ago via this robe and pant duo, I promptly ordered both in every color. I’ve now started exploring the brand’s new velour options, and good Lord. Start with this robe, these joggers, and/or these wide-leg pants. The comfort, my friends. The comfort!
Splurge-Worthy Coat
In my recent Instagram post (wherein I reveal the gender of baby #2), I’m wearing this splurge-worthy coat from Sentaler. It’s made of the silkiest alpaca fabric that’s unbelievably soft, and the quality and style combination makes it classic and wearable literally forever. Also, it’s the warmest, which I thoroughly appreciate while outside frolicking in the snow, thanks. Also, if you’re nervous about investment pieces, read up on their real value in this post which breaks down the cost-per-wear method.
Missoma Jewelry Sale
Missoma creates some of the most stunning and wearable jewelry available right now, and they’re having a SERIOUS sale. I just ordered these hoop earrings, but you’ll want to go ahead and devote an afternoon to perusing ALL of the discounted options.
The Bridgerton Book Series
Whelp, since the entire world is now obsessed with Netflix’s Bridgerton, I thought it might be pertinent to let you know that the series is actually based on a book. There are EIGHT of them, so if you need more period drama, you’ve got some great reading ahead of you.
The Best Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
Stop what you’re doing and make Rachel Parcell’s Valentine’s Day sugar cookie recipe. Yes, you heard me. I used the V-word, but let’s put that aside for a moment and just focus on these extremely delicious cookies. We’re still in the middle of a pandemic, it is literally always a good idea to talk about cookies. In this case, I’m speaking specifically about the best sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting that I’ve honestly ever had. This sugar cookie recipe results in thick, soft cookies (with an extra boost of flavor from almond extract) topped with a generous layer of Barefoot Contessa’s cream cheese frosting (which I can and do also just eat with a spoon). Make sure to read her baking notes so that yours come out as beautifully as hers!
5 responses to “Monday Memo No. 111”
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Just curious, is the vitamin D supplement USP verified?
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Mary, what are the details of the gorgeous pink outfit you are wearing in this week’s Memo?
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I second that – in LOVE with those pants would love to know where they’re from.
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Hi Dee and Susan,
The pant suit is from Veronica Beard from about 2 yrs ago though.
Mary
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Just wanted to note – you are revealing the baby’s sex NOT their “gender”. Gender doesn’t always align with biological sex!!!
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