
Monday Memo No. 177
Pardon the interruption, I had to eject a small human from my lower abdomen.

My collaboration with Kilte Collection is live! I have been a HUGE fan of Kilte since its launch in 2017 when the brand’s incredible founder, Hannah Hale Redfern, set out to make luxury knitwear for multi-dimensional women while also providing flexible work options for mothers. Our design collaboration builds on that premise with a collection of washable cashmere sustainably made in Italy. You read that right: washable cashmere.
The capsule is named after my daughters and includes the Colette Cableknit, the Elizabeth Set (also sold as separates), and the Georgiana Bow. Each piece is available in light camel, black and (my personal favorite) rose. They’re classic pieces that are as practical as they are beautiful, made to last season after season. Check out the entire collection here.

No matter how small, an unexpected blemish can absolutely ruin your day. Or even week. I absolutely ALWAYS keep these Hero Cosmetics’ Mighty Patches stocked in my beauty cabinet (and my travel bag). They contain hydrocolloid, a medical-grade gel that draws gunk out, so your blemish is flattened and less noticeable in just 6-8 hours. And, they’re so easy to use: just stick the patch on the spot and peel it off hours later to reveal a visibly flatter, smaller, less red blemish. I often sleep in them (they don't budge, even if you're a stomach sleeper) but since they're translucent they are also undetectable on zoom calls. So, when working from home, I can sport one during the daytime and no one is the wiser! They’re chemical-free, allergy tested and safe for all skin types. Use code MARYORTON for 15% off sitewide + free shipping on orders over $35!

This SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer from Makeup By Mario has quickly become my obsession but it’s extremely hard to describe because it does not fit neatly into any category. The product is basically a super creamy, tinted balm that offers light coverage and a warm glow to even out skin tone and make you look ALIVE. Is it a skin tint? Kinda. A creamy bronzer? Sorta. Is it worth all the hype? A resounding yes. FYI, I use shade Light Medium.

The new Aspen candle from Hotel Lobby Candle was created in collaboration with Hotel Jerome and is quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever smelled. The smoky leather and warm cedarwood scents are so rich, it's completely erasing any fear of summer ending and making me fully gung-ho for COZY SZN. This beauty is the ultimate fall candle.

I recently shared on IG reels my hatred for my birthstone, which is my personal cross to bear. Enter: birth flowers. Turns out, in addition to gemstones, every month has a birth flower tied to the season when it blooms. So, if you or a loved one also hates their birthstone, I recommend they check out these gorgeous vintage-inspired birth flower charms from Starling Jewelry. These charms come in 14K yellow, white or rose gold, with or without the chain, and even have an option for engraving.

I’m always on the hunt for relaxed clothing that doesn’t look like I just crawled out of bed, even if I did indeed just crawl out of bed. Amazon Essentials has come through with an absolutely iconic sweatsuit set. This relaxed crew-fit sweatshirt and matching jogger are made from a delicious, thick, buttery soft cotton blend that’s machine washable. The pair come in sizes ranging from XS to 6X in eight colors, my favorite of which is this dreamy periwinkle blue. Sidenote: I don't know why, but I'm completely obsessed with the pockets they put on the back of the joggers!

We got this little rattan shop stall from Ellie & Becks Co. for Coco’s birthday and it has been the biggest hit. We stocked it with toy food and a cash register and she is obsessed beyond words. Seriously, she’s ready to start selling wooden fruits and vegetables at the local farmers market. What I love most about this piece is how versatile it is—right now it’s a grocery store, but next week it might be a puppet theater, lemonade stand, or if I’m lucky, a coffee shop.

You know what they say: A good gold hoop never goes out of style. Okay, maybe that’s just something I say, but it certainly applies to these polished, gold hoops from Shashi. I’ve worn these earrings constantly the last couple of years and they’ve held up amazingly well. They’re comfortable, they match everything, and the best news: Shopbop just restocked them. Fair warning: My only slight complaint is that they're a little heavier than your average hoop so if you're sensitive to earring weight, these might not be for you.

This denim blazer from Veronica Beard might be the dreamiest, most versatile fall layer, and it’s a dickey jacket! I recommend snagging the coordinating denim trousers too. Worn together, you’re the epitome of relaxed polish and precision tailoring, worn separately, you're the chicest mom at school pickup. While you’re on Veronica Beard’s site, I recommend you check out the entire fall collection because it might be my favorite they’ve ever done.

We’ve all been bombarded with jade rollers and Gua Sha stones for years now, but I didn’t start doing it religiously until about six months ago and I honestly don’t know what took me so long. Now, I use this jade roller every. Single. Day. And the difference in jaw-line definition is insane. You’ve heard it all before, but face rolling relieves muscle tension, reduces puffiness and makes me look like I might have gotten more than three hours of sleep last night. Pro tip: I concentrate most of my rolling on my lower face, jawline and neck.

Amanda Jones Vaughan influenced me on this utterly life-changing self-feeding baby cushion and now I’m paying it forward. It’s a super soft adjustable cushion with a bottle holder that allows your baby to be fed a bottle hands-free. With the right-sized bottle and angle, this cushion is an absolute game changer. Thanks, Amanda. The rest of my life starts now.

As summer turns to fall and tan lines fade, we all turn to self-tanner. However, I LOATHE the sticky feeling after applying self-tanner so when I'm finished shellacking myself, I dust this sweat-absorbing body powder all over — especially on particularly sticky areas like the underside of my arms, insides of my legs, under my bust line and behind my knees. While the body dust does the heavy lifting, the fleece puff in this bundle is essential in applying the dust easily and evenly.

Everyone needs this vegan leather jacket from Norma Kamali, and I mean everyone. I ordered it a couple weeks ago and the oversized fit, the midweight faux leather, the padded shoulders, the skinny belt—it’s all perfection. The darted waist and adjustable belt are especially flattering — and thrilling for those of us who just rediscovered our waist after months of pregnancy. The jacket comes in classic black and also this creamy camel color.

How chic are these earplugs? Yes, I just described earplugs as chic, but look at them! Is there any other way? They look like you’re wearing some kind of really cool ear jewelry. However, these silicone earplugs aren’t just beautiful, they’re noise canceling, which is perfect for loud concerts or helping to focus while you work.

The Lip Power Long Lasting Satin Lipstick from Armani Beauty is one of my all-time favorite lip products. It goes on silky smooth and the hydrating oils in it give long-lasting vivid color. There are nearly twenty-five wearable shades to choose from but my favorite is 500 Fatale, a pale pink, which has finally been restocked so I’m celebrating by adding three to my stockpile. If you're wondering exactly how I wear it, I've shared my go-to lip combo using this product here.

I got onto fray sealant via this video from Kate Bryan and it’s as amazing as it looks. The liquid sealant dries clear and successfully keeps raw edges (think ribbon, trim, denim) secure. I’ve been known to take scissors to my jeans to achieve the ideal length and this fray check is a fantastic way to make sure the fraying doesn’t get too out of control.

I constantly get asked about an old chunky, oversized aqua cable knit cardigan that's long sold out. However, this new cable knit cardigan from J. Crew is an amazing dupe! In addition to the aqua blue shade, this sweater comes in warm acorn and wild fuchsia colorways for all your fall layering needs. It’s also currently 30% off with code SHOPNOW.

I ordered a few sets of these bow-knot brass wall hooks for the girls’ closet and they are absolutely darling. So darling, in fact, that I went ahead and ordered some for myself too. The set includes two thick, high-quality brass hooks with mounting screws for easy installation. I hung them in the girls’ closet, but they would be just as cute for hanging towels or robes in a bathroom.

I absolutely adore everything about these black and navy denim sling heels from Sam Edelman. The chunky heel and adjustable buckle slingback strap ticks all the right boxes, but I think it’s the juxtaposition of the deep blue denim and that black satin toe that has me planning my entire fall wardrobe around these shoes.

I’ve highlighted Madewell's organic cotton baseball caps before, and now they’ve gone above and beyond with this timeless menswear-inspired wool cap. Whether you’re looking to add a pop of plaid or simply cover a blowout going on day five, this is the perfect cap for fall.

This anywhere cup holder is an oldie but SUCH a goodie. It holds drinks, snacks, phones, remotes, everything. I use it like crazy while breastfeeding to keep drinks in arm’s reach. It’s also an amazing thing to have in bed anytime you’re working or watching a movie if your nightstand is a little too far out of reach. We use the holder in the car, on the sofa, or even when we have picnics with the girls on the living room floor.

I cannot overstate how soft and magnificent this long-sleeve crewneck ribbed tee is from Macy’s new On 34th line. The new On 34th brand recently launched a collection of modern classics and this super wearable top is one of my instant favorites. It comes in six colors, perfect for mixing and matching, dressing up or down. It’s the ultimate base layer for every fall outfit.

The Amazon swivel casters in this video are life-changing. They are easy to stick on and hold up to 18 pounds, which is perfect for small kitchen appliances or coffee makers. We use our Vitamix blender every day for smoothies and I hate dragging it back and forth across our counter. Putting these mini caster wheels on it has been game-changing.
2 thoughts on “Monday Memo No. 177”
I really wish Kilte had a better size range. These pieces are gorgeous. Where is the XL?
Congratulations on the birth of your newest edition 💕