Monday Memo No. 181
Retinol patches, deep fall fashion and the Sephora Savings Event making my Halloween costume as a “well-rested human” possible.
Boarderie makes fully arranged, gourmet-quality cheese and charcuterie boards that they ship for free, nationwide. If you think that sounds like an utterly brilliant idea, you’re not alone: Boarderie has been featured on Oprah and Shark Tank. The boards (which are available meat-free) come in assorted themes, serving sizes and ship overnight in custom temperature-controlled packaging, making hosting easy as 1, 2, brie. (Sorry, that was cheesy.)
The Sephora’s Savings Event is ON. As of today, Rouge members receive 20% off through 11/6. Starting tomorrow (10/31) VIB and Insiders receive 15% and 10% off respectively, with the code TIMETOSAVE at checkout. Not only is this a fantastic time to stock up on your favorites, it’s also a great time to shop Sephora Collection, which is 30% off for all. Somehow, Dyson Airwraps are included in the sale and still in stock, so snag one if you haven't yet had your life transformed by this glorious product (truly worth every penny). Also, I'll be stocking up on my favorite Buxom lip products.
I had this customizable plaque made for the girls’ bedroom and it came out absolutely adorable. You can choose the size, the font, the size of the font, everything. It’s been so much fun to add these personal touches to the space which I’ll be sharing very soon!
Before Lost and all the Star Wars and the Missions Impossible, J.J. Abrams co-created a little television show called Felicity. Whether you were a diehard fan in the nineties or are just coming to the show for the first time, Felicity is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and it is peak comfort TV. I’m a first-time watcher and I’m obsessed. Stream all four seasons on Hulu and let me know whether you’re #TeamBen or #TeamNoel.
Schumacher’s highly-anticipated “Blue & White Done Right” book, compiled by Fredric’s Design Editor Hudson Moore, is finally available! This is one of those iconic decorating books you will reference again and again and cherish forever. The 132 drool-worthy pages capture the most stunning uses of blue-and-white interiors from a collection of renowned interior designers ranging from the most traditional to the most modern. I highly recommend you snag this book for yourself and/or any decor lovers in your life. I’m ordering extra copies to give as hostess gifts.
Petit Peony has partnered with Natalie Steen of The Nat Note on a capsule collection that is absolutely precious. The six-piece capsule includes sizing from newborn to 10Y and is filled with delicate florals and deep red corduroys that are ripe for the season. Petit Peony also has some seriously adorable collections of their own when it comes to outfits for littles. Prepare to see my crew in these precious nutcracker dresses soon.
Now that the girls’ room is finally coming together, I’ve been able to get into some of the more fun décor choices (no offense to their box springs). These bespoke children's chairs from Pierrot are topping the fun décor list. The solid beech wood chairs with woven rush seats are hand-painted by English artist Tess Newell and they are truly magical. You can choose from a collection of designs and colors to personalize your little one’s chair. For example, I asked her to add each girl's birth month flower to the whimsical motifs, and they came out absolutely breathtaking. Newell also launched her own collection of hand-painted homewares like wallpaper, mirrors and the sweetest lamp shades. Maybe the girls’ room isn’t done quite yet...
In case you need a reminder of how amazing Nordstrom Rack is, this is me, reminding you: Nordstrom Rack is amazing. I recently bought these plum wine pants and matching crepe blazer from Vince for over 50% off. I love the rich autumnal color and the quality is incredible. I also threw in this perfect crewneck sweater from Elodie in wine to complete the monochromatic look. It is the most perfect cropped crewneck sweater so I'm going back for it in more colors.
Whenever I order a pair of slingbacks, I check to make sure I have enough Band-Aids to handle the inevitable blisters. These absolutely stunning slingbacks from Veronica Beard are so comfortable — even on the first wear — that I didn’t need a first aid kit. I have the blue/black colorway and love the cap toe and soft suede. Their silhouette is so classic, I could be easily persuaded to add the other colorways to my collection too.
Palak Patel’s new cookbook The Chutney Life is an inspiring collection of 100 easy-to-make Indian-inspired recipes. The book is filled with family recipes and exciting ways to incorporate Indian spices and flavors into your cooking. Every recipe I've ever tried from Palak has been a huge hit in our house and I personally can’t wait to try her Coconut Shrimp Po’ Boys with Panang Curry Remoulade next. YUM.
I am completely smitten with these gorgeous scarves from Tuckernuck. The 100% silk scarves can offer a pop of color around your neck, in your hair or even tied to your bag. Maybe it reminds me of mulled wine or maybe I’m mentally accessorizing my new Vince suit but I especially love the mulberry floral print.
I absolutely love the original Mighty Patches for shrinking blemishes and these retinol patches are another killer product from Hero Cosmetics. The 1,390 dissolving Micropoints feature retinol, sodium hyaluronate, and niacinamide that target fine lines without drying out your skin. Like the blemish patches, you can sleep in them, but since they're translucent they are also invisible on zoom calls (depending on where you place them). If you’re ready to incorporate retinol into your skincare routine, these patches make it simple.
Shareable photo streams and digital picture frames have their place, but sometimes a good old-fashioned photo album is best. I found this classic photo album in deep burgundy leather that holds up to 300 4x6 photos. Not only does it carry our cherished family memories, the photo album also looks beautiful on the shelf. It’d also make a great holiday gift for grandparents. I upload photos to my Shutterfly app and have photos delivered to our door, ready to add to this book.
Spanx has added this long sleeve wide leg jumpsuit to their AirEssentials collection and I am absolutely obsessed with it. It comes in petite, regular and tall in the same lightweight, luxuriously soft fabric AirEssentials is known for. It has all of the stretch and comfort of a sweat suit, with the look of a polished jumpsuit. I’ve also been wearing this tunic nonstop which is another new style recently added to this favorite line of mine. As always, use code MARYOXSPANX for 10% off.
If you're looking for a great pair of corduroys, let me suggest these relaxed mid-rise beauties from AGOLDE. The lightweight corduroy has stretch and the legs have a subtle wide-leg silhouette. This rich, chestnut saddle colorway is the dreamiest and the perfect fall neutral for all of your cozy looks.
If you haven’t heard of ABCmouse.com, it’s an award-winning online curriculum designed in collaboration with nationally-recognized childhood education experts. That doesn’t sound as fun as it is — the site offers interactive games, puzzles and learning videos in a variety of subjects for children ages 2-7. Our kids just started using it and LOVE.
1 thought on “Monday Memo No. 181”
Thank you, Mary, for the much anticipated ray of sunshine your weekly email brings along with some fantastic recommendations. I click and buy A LOT (don’t tell my husband) and have never been disappointed. I love your humor and style and I wish you lived next door. 😊