Monday Memo No. 66: Top 25 Most-Clicked Monday Memo Items
Rounding up the all-time favorites, according to you. It’s the Monday Memo Greatest Hits album, if you will.
AC Outlet Portable Charger
At this point, no one’s leaving the house without a portable charger for their phone, but what happens when your “portability” involves a dying laptop battery as well? If you’ve always been frustrated by your inability to charge your laptop on-the-go without sitting in a weird spot on the floor of an airport (been there), this charger is going to change the game for you. In addition to USB ports for charging your phone, it has a full 3-prong A/C outlet so dead laptops are nothing but a distant memory.
Cozy Socks
Bare feet, it’s been real, see you in June. Fall marks the start of cozy sock season, and I’m kicking things off (I’ve got jokes), with the coziest pack of seasonal socks I’ve ever seen. They are so soft, so warm and the vintage patterns are the actual cutest. They’re like your favorite Christmas socks with the bonus of not being so holiday-specific that you feel weird wearing them outside the month of December. Yes, pedicures are nice. But have you ever tried just couching it all day with really, really warm feet?
Sarah Flint Booties
Fall is the season of the good bootie, and if your collection is currently lacking, know that Sarah Flint makes a literally perfect one in two colorways and two heel height options. They are INEXPLICABLY comfortable from the second you slide your foot in and while yes, they look stunning online, you need to know that they are even more beautiful in person. Seriously, they’re the Halle Berry of boots. You can’t imagine how they’d be more amazing in person but somehow, yep, they are. You’ve heard me wax on about this brand a million times in the past (their Perfect Pumps and Natalie Flats are all-time FAVORITES), but just a reminder: Sarah Flint footwear is made in the same factories as Manolo Blahnik and Hermès, however, they’re sold direct-to-consumer, so they’re able to avoid middleman markups which means you get a luxury shoe for much, much less. Also, first-time customers can get $50 off with code MARY50 so you literally have no reason not to buy a pair. I swear, your feet will thank you.
Pill Remover
Guys, we’ve discussed this. You do not need to throw out your pilled sweaters from seasons past. You can simply use this $8 magical gadget and give them new life! If you’d like to save hundreds (potentially thousands) of dollars in sartorial spending, take proper care of your sweaters by always following their care instructions, and removing pills when they’re looking sad. You’ll get so much more longevity out of your clothes and you’ll never feel the sting of tossing out your faves.
Reading Pillow Backrest
After having a baby, this memory foam reading pillow was amazing for round-the-clock feedings and is so comfortable and supportive I literally have to be convinced to get out of bed. It’s a far better alternative to stacking up every pillow in your vicinity and hoping they’ll support you. This pillow was specifically designed for sitting up in bed comfortably, and man does it deliver.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
I’ll be honest, new formulas frighten me. I like the formulas I know, love, and use all the time, thankyouverymuch. So when I heard Laura Mercier was reformulating their cult favorite product, I was a bit (read: VERY) concerned. Turns out, I shouldn’t have been. The reformulation is phenomenal, and took place because the sunscreens in the old product were chalky, making medium and deeper shades difficult to create, so this overhaul was necessary. New shades have been added to the line, as well as lighter SPF options, too (with increased SPF coverage now at SPF 30). I’ve used the new formula, I don’t even miss the old one, and I’m confident you’ll feel the same. Check the recent reviews, everyone is still obsessed. Also, take note that they’ve made natural and illuminating formulations, and while I love both, I’ve personally been using the illuminating formula and absolutely love it. It gives the most beautiful, subtle glow without making me look like I’ve been glitter-bombed.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
I’ve sung the praises of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm before, but since I just emptied what seems to be my 400th jar of this stuff, I thought it was time for a reprise. It’s a cleanser that I absolutely swear by for ridding your skin of makeup and general grime that can build up over the course of the day. I don’t even know if “cleanse” is the right word this stuff works so well—it dissolves everything you don’t want on your face and washes it blissfully away… while also moisturizing your skin. For a deeper dive into cleansing (I have strong opinions on how to do it right), you can check out my post entirely dedicated to the topic of how to properly clean your face. AND, if you’re a fan of this Elemis cleansing balm or if you’re interested in giving it a try, the Elemis team was nice enough to offer my readers an amazing offer: by going to this page, you can get a FREE Deluxe Travel Size Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm with a luxury cleansing cloth. You pay only $5 shipping (and taxes, where applicable). Get ’em while they’re hot!
Glamsquad Discount Codes
I’ve shared Glamsquad many times now because I’m quite honestly enamored with the fact that I can have in-home glam on demand. You can get your hair or makeup done (amazing!), but my personal favorite might have to be the in-home manicure and pedicure, which is truly something out a dream. The Glamsquad team was nice enough to provide my readers with discount codes, and since I always get asked to re-share these, I wanted to immortalize them here for you. Use MARYORTON for $25 off for first time customers, and MARYORTON15 for $15 off for repeat customers. Go forth and glam, with sweet discounts. And, if you forget to write these down, just know you can always come back to memorandum.com and enter “glamsquad” into the search bar to find them!
Quilted Jacket
If last year’s fall coats are worn out, or just annoyingly stored away someplace that’s hard to reach, this Calvin Klein option is a real beauty. Absolutely classic and effortlessly functional for fall, I know you probably won’t want to rely on one coat all season, I’m just saying that theoretically, with this coat, you could. And, don’t just take my word for it: I’ve received countless messages from readers after purchasing this beauty saying that it’s a true closet hero. Keep the DMs coming!
Airpod Alternatives
I’m entirely convinced that I will lose any Airpods I own within 30 seconds of purchasing them and have therefore resisted the ubiquitous ear accessory, despite being shamed online and IRL for my continued use of earphones (brace yourself) with actual CORDS (the horror!). However, my desire to live a cordless life (especially when working out) has been ever-increasing, so as an intermediate precautionary step to see if (a) I like the Airpod lifestyle and (b) I can actually keep track of these tiny buggers, I purchased these bluetooth wireless earbuds on Amazon for less than a third of the price of Apple airpods. This just in: they’re AMAZING. They fit very comfortably in my ear, they’re waterproof (so I don’t worry about getting super sweaty with them in the gym), and they last a really long time. Also just alleviating that constant fear of dropping an actual Airpod in a subway grating is such a relief.
Tote Organizer
Yeah, that whole digging around in my tote thing? I’m over it. I recently got this tote organizer to secure my belongings and my sanity (especially when enjoying this fab Everlane tote that I shared recently). Undoubtedly, it has become even more handy when wanting to convert my favorite totes into diaper bags, but regardless of whether your organization needs are baby-induced or not, I love that this tote organizer keeps your things in place AND makes swapping bags SO much easier. Also, it comes in tons of other colors, too, so will blend in with any color lining!
Zeel On-Demand Massages
I’ve heard about Zeel’s on-demand, in-home massages for awhile, but I just tried them for myself over the past few months and am OBSESSED BEYOND WORDS. Zeel’s massages are very reasonably priced—they’re less than the price of many massages in NYC and they come to you (amazing!!). They have highly qualified top-notch massage therapists capable of all sorts of techniques, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Sports and Sleep. The last one is new to me but how great does that sound?! You’re having trouble sleeping so you get someone to come over and give you a massage that’s specifically designed to relax and lull you into a deep sleep?! Sign me up. When I first tried Zeel, I wanted someone specifically trained and highly experienced in prenatal/maternity massage and not only did they have one, but they had one available same-day. I’m not kidding, it was the best massage OF MY LIFE. And I’ve had many a top-notch massage. My therapist Elizabeth brought the bed (with special maternity cushions to accommodate the bump so I could still lie flat on my stomach), relaxation music, essential oils—the whole nine yards. And, since I loved her so much, I was able to request her for my subsequent massages, so I always know what I’m getting. My living room was transformed into a spa oasis for 90 minutes and I am officially obsessed with this service. It’s available in major cities nationwide, so click here to look them up and book one because I’M TELLING YOU IT WILL BE THE BEST THING YOU DO THIS WEEK/MONTH/YEAR. Use code MaryOrton for $20 off your first massage!!
Pan Organizer
Raise your hand if your pots and pans drawer is chaos. My friend Grace recently introduced me to this modern marvel of organization and it’s a game changer. Or a kitchen changer. Either way, I can find my own cookware now, thanks.
Favorite Nail Colors
I get a lot of questions about my nail color any time my hands happen to be visible in an Instagram Story so I figured I’d post the colors that are most often in rotation here so you can easily find it. My all-time-favorites are OPI Lisbon Wants Moor on my hands, and OPI Got the Blues for Red on my toes. (FYI, if the salon only has CND options, the equivalent colors are “Romantique” and “Rouge Rite,” respectively.) I typically get both done in OPI GelColor so that it lasts a few weeks, but you can get the same shades in their regular polish versions as well. *Books manicure appointment.*
Le Specs Sunglasses
Sunnies! You’ve seen me wear this pair of black cat-eye Le Specs Sunglasses incessantly over the past year, and I just added this tortoise cat-eye pair to my collection. I just love Le Spec’s designs and the price tags are always fantastic. Apparently Meghan Markle’s a fan too. Cool.
Sunday Riley’s CEO Vitamin C Oil
Sunday Riley’s CEO Vitamin C Oil (also available here) is a new-ish product from one of my favorite skincare brands that eliminates two of my morning routine steps—vitamin c serum and facial oil—and I’m all ears when it comes to timesaving finds that are ALSO skincare. This product brightens, evens, moisturizes, combats aging and is packed with amazing vitamins offering antioxidant protection and much more. Sign me and my face up.
Kate Somerville Eradikate
Everyone has their favorite spot treatment, and Kate Somerville Eradikate is mine. When something just works, there’s literally no point in messing around with anything else, and when I see something on my face that needs to vacate the premises immediately, this product is my holy grail. Works perfectly overnight, every time. Another very similar cult favorite is the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion which is also fantastic.
Shadow Shields
If you are not yet using Shadow Shields, get it together. Shadow Shields are little under-eye Post-It Note-like thingies that catch falling eyeshadow debris while you’re applying your makeup and keep it from ruining your otherwise perfectly contoured and blended cheeks. We’re talking about makeup chivalry here, friends.
The Best Affordable, Non-Iron Button-Down Shirts
I am a bonafide hoarder of white button-down shirts. Since they often get stained season to season, I’m always looking for affordable options and recently, I discovered these men’s non-iron button down shirts at Uniqlo which have quickly become a favorite. As mentioned, they are indeed in the men’s section, but lucky for ladies, they go all the way down to size XXS. Since the style right now is to be slightly boxy and masculine in silhouette, the fit is absolutely perfect and for under $30, I’ve hoarded them in every color. FYI, if you haven’t purchased non-iron button-downs before, you’re in for a real treat. I have lots of similar classic cotton button-up shirts, but the constant need to iron them after every wash means I end up reaching for them much less frequently. Not the case with these beauties which are good to go after the dryer.
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie in NYC
Lately I’ve been conducting extensive researching into a very important matter: What is the best chocolate chip cookie in NYC. After months of exploration, comparison, and intense invaluation in the name of science, I can confidently say that the best chocolate chip cookie in NYC is located at Culture Espresso. I highly advise you to get your hands on one or 17 of these scrumptious treats immediately. Yes, there are more than a few outstanding chocolate chip cookie options in our fair city. So really, the winner of this contest is us. But overall, you know where I stand. And snack.
Velvet Scrunchies
Are you into velvet scrunchies yet? If not, WELCOME FRIENDS. These velvet beauties come in the prettiest colors which spark major joy and are also super comfortable to wear. Best $11 I’ve spent on Amazon all year.
How I Do My Hair
Lots of questions about how I do my hair come through via Instagram. As much as I want to tell you I roll out of bed this way, I do not roll out of bed this way. However, with a little product, a very little time, and the right tools, I make it work. You can find all the nitty-gritty details in this blog post!
The Best Sleep Mask With Contoured Eye Cups
Like many people with light blue irises, my eyes are super sensitive so even the smallest amount of light keeps me up/wakes me up. I’ve tried just about every eye mask under the sun, and finally discovered this incredible $12 contoured sleep mask a couple years ago. The eye area on each side is contoured outward so the fabric is not pressing tightly against your eyes which allows you to blink freely and open your eyes if you need to. This also means that when you wake up in the morning, your eyelashes aren’t crimped or bent in weird directions. If you ever get eyelash extensions, this is also the only eye mask you can use for the same reasons. Amazon prime this sucker STAT.
My Favorite Houseplants That Are Impossible To Kill
This probably warrants a longer, dedicated post, but if you follow me on instagram stories where you often see peeks of our NYC apartment, you know that I’m a big fan of indoor plants. I’m completely obsessed with bringing greens into a space whenever and wherever possible because from an aesthetic perspective, they can absolutely transform a room. If you don’t have a particularly green thumb and are worried about upkeep, try one of the following four great houseplants that are nearly impossible to kill:- ZZ plants
- Snake plants
- Dracaena Marginata
- Monstera stems
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