I am so excited to announce that my holiday collection with BURU launches this Thursday, November 9th at 9:30 ET. I worked with BURU’s founder Morgan Hutchinson to design the kinds of holiday and winter pieces that I’ve spent my entire adult life searching for but never found. As a sustainable brand, BURU sources deadstock fabric and all of their small batch designs are cut to order in their downtown LA factory, including those in this collab. Keep an eye on Instagram early this week for sneak peeks of the collection and set your alarm for Thursday at 9:30 ET.
I have shared this rollable smart touch screen from LG in the past, but it’s been out of stock all year and it’s finally back in stock. I'm telling you, this screen is truly the coolest thing I own. There are a lot of rooms we intentionally don’t want a TV in, but sometimes we wish we had the option. That’s when this portable touch screen comes in. It’s insanely easy to roll into the dining room when we want to view a photo slideshow at a birthday party, when I want to watch a movie from my tub or when we are playing with the girls in the living room, but Rich wants to have football on in the background. It also works as a second computer screen, so I can make any room in our house an instant home office, which is SO since having two screens is a critical part of my work life. We use it more than any other screen in our home. This would also make the ULTIMATE holiday gift.
My friend Meg Quinn designed this brilliant charcuterie board, which is basically a paint-by-numbers approach to serving meats and cheeses. The 22x17 rubber wood board has an easy-to-follow charcuterie map, so you can create professional looking charcuterie spreads at home. If you’re entertaining this fall or looking for a housewarming or hostess gift for a foodie, this board is a must. It was also just named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2023!
Obsessed doesn’t begin to describe my love for these Mary Gail Mary Jane flats from Sarah Flint. It may sound like I’m taking attendance at my daughter’s ballet class, but those names actually make up the most beautiful Mary Jane shoes that promptly sold out when they first arrived at Sarah Flint. I waited patiently for the restock and moved QUICK to secure a pair of the navy croc embossed patent leather and now the Mary Gail Mary Janes from Sarah Flint are Mary’s. Exactly as they should be.
Wildgrain is a subscription service unlike any other — they deliver a monthly box of sourdough breads, fresh pastas and artisan pastries directly to your door. They source clean carbs from some of the top bakers and pasta-makers in the US and with every membership, Wildgrain donates four meals to The Greater Boston Food Bank. You can build a box to fit your dietary needs, and all the contents are frozen-to-bake in 25 minutes or less. A membership with Wildgrain is an easy way to impress guests with fresh baked croissants or handmade pasta and that's something we all knead. Get it? Knead?
By December, our refrigerator is so inundated with holiday cards, it’s difficult to find the handle. And, like our Christmas tree, the cards stayed up well into the new year. In order to avoid that mess this year, I found this metal holiday card holder from Target. The antique brass scalloped stand is such a cute way to display the barrage of holiday cards without losing track of your fridge.
I saw this killer dress on my friend @katiesturino and stalked her for the details. I’ll save you that step: it’s from UK-based brand Never Fully Dressed, and I’m obsessed with the bold pink animal print and knit wrap silhouette. It's also available in red and a gray/oatmeal print if you need other options. Such a fun, wearable piece for the season.
If you spent most of the summer having underwater tea parties in the shallow end, I have a gift idea for you. My girls are obsessed with this adorable porcelain tea set. The set includes four saucers, four tea cups, a teapot with lid, creamer, sugar bowl and an adorable carrying case, all designed with little hands in mind. I love the hand-glazed turquoise polka dot pattern, and it’s also available in pink, pastel and floral patterns.
I keep coming back to the brand 8 Other Reasons for their vintage-inspired earrings, particularly these earrings. The gold plating, the textured design, the gem accent and pearl pendant... they ooze old school glamor. Not only are their designs timeless, but I don’t think a single pair of their earrings exceeds $50. If you’re looking for some ornaments (for your ears) this holiday season, these earrings are just one reason to check out 8 Other Reasons.
Estelle Colored Glass is a luxury brand of hand-blown glass stemware. The brighter jewel toned colors in Estelle’s collection of vibrant glassware usually get the most attention, but I recently fell in LOVE with these tinted regal goblets in Amber Smoke. The slightly more understated shade is no less beautiful and I figured it might blend in with our Thanksgiving tablescape better than the fuchsia.
Lake Pajamas has released its annual holiday collection and it’s divine, but when I tell you this robe is the coziest thing I’ve ever wrapped my body in, I do not exaggerate. The exterior is a super soft, stretch jersey sweatshirt material and the inside is fleece. Legitimate heaven. It comes in spruce green, cloud blue, and a soft berry pink. Use code MOxLAKE for 10% off the entire site.
Architect and artist Bernardo Rudofsky has been designing classic footwear since the forties under his brand Bernardo. Over 75 years and the brand is still putting out modern classics like these dreamy woven flats. I was torn between the mahogany and navy glove leather and just when I thought I was prepared to make a decision, I discovered they also come in gold. Halp!
I have long-admired the Nordic brand Projekti Tyyny for their absolutely stunning textiles. I recently ordered two of their gorgeous quilts for my girls’ bedroom. This Hajuherne (Sweetpea) patchwork quilt has beautiful scalloped edges and was designed with five Liberty of London prints. Although the Hajuherne style sold out, the Ruutu style also incorporates Liberty of London fabric and is currently on sale! Take a spin through their site and prepare to fall in love.
Everyone (including me) was obsessed with the book “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr, which spent over 200 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. The historical fiction came out in 2014, and the four episode All The Light We Cannot See miniseries adaptation came out this week — I’m so excited to start it tonight!
Rodial makes several of my all-time-favorite beauty and skincare products and they are honoring my stan-dom by offering the “Mary Kit.” The set includes four products I simply cannot live without: their Banana Lowlighter, Glass Powder, Blush Drops in Frosted Pink, and Lip Oil. That’s $182 worth of product for only $117. Rodial has also rounded up a few other favorites of mine here and they’re offering 15% off sitewide with the code MARY15 (which brings the entire kit down to $100).
I came to GreenRow for these gorgeous textured lampshades, and I stayed for everything else. Greenrow, which launched less than six months ago, is quickly becoming one of my favorite destinations for thoughtfully designed, sustainable homewares. The brand offers everything from furniture and lighting to table and bed linens, rugs, and dinnerware. And it’s all so chic.
Mom brain is real and I genuinely always forget that TJ Maxx is online now. Thankfully I recently remembered and subsequently snagged SO many great items for the holidays: I got this advent counter nutcracker because the girls are obsessed with The Nutcracker. Also, remember how I always complain that a classic gold star tree topper is so hard to find? Well T.J. Maxx answered my prayers with this metal option. And, don’t sleep on their handbag section — T.J. Maxx carries designer styles like this tote from Longchamp (which is making a major resurgence), heavily discounted.
Everyone's favorite "American en Provence," Jamie Beck, just teamed up with one of my favorite shoe brands, Margaux NY to design two limited-edition shoe styles that are magnifique! I got the Mary Jane, which boasts the comfort Margaux’s shoes are known for, and this pair is uniquely styled with Jamie Beck’s dreamy Provincial blue silk. These are like a French love letter to your feet.
I’ve never done Elf On The Shelf but if I do dive in, this kit from the Mama Elf is basically the only way. I saw @kathleen_barnes share this on her Instagram and it’s a Christmas miracle. Each kit contains instructions, activities and supplies to make the holiday season full of magic, ease and cheer for your little ones.
2 thoughts on “Monday Memo No. 182”
I did enjoy All the Light we Cannot see miniseries but I absolutely love Lessons in Chemistry that has new episodes every Friday. I actually liked All the Light We Cannot see book better than Lessons in Chemistry book but the series for Lessons in Chemistry is fabulous. Brie Larson is wonderful as Elizabeth Zott.
Mary, love the must-have lists! Another Great (with a capital ‘G’) holiday gift idea that absolutely should be on your rec list is a selection of chocolates from woman-owned Bar and Cocoa, a Denver-based artisanal chocolates seller with a HUGE selection of world-class goodies (50+ chocolate makers from 30+ countries). Many of the companies are women-owned and operated. They have so many yummy, affordable gift ideas. Please give the site a look! (FTR, I don’t work for them–just a huge chocolate-loving fan).