What I Wanted and Bought in November

All of these things were on my floor after our move so I decided to make a flat lay out of it. A mix of old and new things.

I am so behind on my reviews right now, so in some ways these “What I Bought” posts are the only way to be current on the items that are eventually going to be reviewed. If you noticed I still have yet to review the items I received in September (like the Everlane soft day tote and Mansur Gavriel mini ocean tote). But that’s just how it goes I guess when you are out of town for a month, move, and then have health issues. Anyway onto the topic at hand…

What I Bought

I purchased with some credit from Everlane (thanks again to all those who used my referral link in the past!): The ReKnit Day Glove (which I plan to compare with my Rothy flats in a review) and the ReNew Catch-All Case (one for myself and a couple more as gifts).

Dr. Barbara Sturm Flight Essentials Kit: I’ve been hearing about Dr. Barbara Sturm stuff from the same beauty “gurus” (thats Eva Chen and Jennifer Fisher) who extolled the values of Augustinus Bader cream. So I used the Sephora VIB sale to try out this really expensive set. So far I’ve only tried a couple of their items but I hafta say, they’re pretty great.

From The RealReal: I snatched up an Ilana Kohn jumpsuit (like this one here) with some credit. I’ve heard about this brand from several other slow/ethical fashion but most of their made-in-NYC items are way out of my price range. I can’t really wear it until after my hysterectomy but I hope it fits! I also picked up a hat from Eric Javits (like this one) even though summer is over. But after seeing one in Bloomies (for over $200!) I really wanted one and figured I can still wear it in the winter in California since the sun is still blazing sometimes.

I also got a couple sweaters from PACT with credit (thanks again for all those who purchase through my referral link). If people are interested, I’ll do a review of them.

What I Was Gifted

A new-to-me zero waste brand called Luxe Refill so kindly reached out to me to see if I wanted to try some of their products, and I said yes because who wouldn’t want to try out a new zero-waste brand lol. Full review to be featured soon!

Mejuri Croissant Dome Cuff: Even though my Insta following is tiny, I guess I’m enough of an “influencer” for Mejuri to notice (they are like the new Daniel Wellington it seems, gifting a ton of influencers for exposure lol). I’m currently working on a review of the cuff and my experience with them even though all they asked for is a plug on Insta.

Everlane kindly sent me the micro form bag and their wool cashmere blanket scarf to try out. One is comically small, the other is comically big lol.

Whew, when I write this all out it’s a lot, and I’m so far behind on all my reviews. I’ve been thinking about it for quite awhile now but I’m pretty sure I’m going to try to move toward sponsorship next year, rather than reviewing a ton of gifted items. Of course I still plan to buy and try things myself but I also want to be more conscious of what I purchase going forward. I know you’ve already heard me say this, but seriously I have too much stuff!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

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For those of you who celebrated, hope you guys had an awesome Thanksgiving. I sadly could not feast this year because I got an ulcer (or maybe a pre-ulcer really since it didn’t bleed). But man it hurts like a mofo. It was so bad this past Monday morning that I went to the ER (I thought I was having a heart attack—irrational I know, but the pain was excruciating). Sadly they couldn’t diagnose it there. Only after I came home and had the pain after coffee did I realize it had something to do with my stomach. I really need to change doctors because after emailing my primary physician about this she just told me to keep taking an over the counter acid suppressor and wait 2 weeks. Oh and yea not eat anything that could irritate my stomach. Guess the stress and unhealthy eating habits have finally caught up to me.

Also I’ll finally be having my hysterectomy this coming Thursday. Wish me luck! It’ll be my first time going fully under, which I think might actually be better than the C-section where you’re fully awake. Though of course going under leads to other kinds of risks. Oh and the painkillers and empty stomach for surgery is not going to be fun with an ulcer. I guess when it rains it pours, eh?

Anyway sorry if I sound like debbie downer here but I’m under a lot of health-related stress. On the bright side, I haven’t shopped any Black Friday sales. I have a little FOMO about this (like what kind of good deals am I missing?!) but I just let that feeling go. Plus I already purchased enough things earlier this month. But maybe I can live vicariously through you: did you guys buy anything for Black Friday?

A Fairly Curated Holiday Gift Guide

I’ve been in the blogging game for about 5 years now and have never put out a holiday gift guide before because I disliked the idea of feeding into the consumer frenzy around the holidays. So I’ve boycotted gift guides in the past. But this year I felt that instead of being all Scroogey about it, I should embrace the fact that many of us like to give gifts during the holidays. And since I try a lot of products during the year and do a lot of reviews for this blog, it’s worth mentioning some of my favorite items that I think would make great gifts. Also since this is my first gift guide, I’m not sure the best way to organize this but I’ve decided to go from least expensive to most.

Marley’s Monsters Cotton Facial Rounds ($18): I first reviewed them here a year ago and love them are still going strong. They’ve held up really well (both the bamboo and cotton versions). I prefer the cotton rounds because they’re softer and absorb more toner even though they pill a bit more with multiple washings. This zero waste gift is perfect for that beauty addict in your life!

Safety Razor ($29): This is a life-changer guys and it’s great for the environment. The receiver of this gift might be a little intimidated by it, so just send them a link to my blog post about it here lol :)

Everlane ReNew Catch-All Case ($30): Ok so this is the only item on this list that I haven’t personally purchased or tried out myself…yet. I’m very tempted to get this all purpose small bag because I can’t get enough small bags. Also I love that Everlane is working hard to make this case from 100% recycled materials. {Update: Actually I just purchased this to give as gifts and will let you know what I think of it when I get it!}

Salt Farm Truffle Salt ($40): I’ve been buying this salt for three years now and I still use it almost every morning on my eggs. Outside of Italy, this is the best truffle salt I’ve ever found (even better than those at Williams Sonoma or other cooking shops/markets). And a bottle of this lasts me all year.

Top Fill Humidifier ($45): I love this large top filling humidifier from Amazon. It’s so easy to add water (I really hate those humidifiers where you have to screw a top and then flip over to load into the base). I purchased one for myself and one for my mom for her birthday. It’s especially needed during these uber dry winter months.

Le Labo Lotion ($69): I love love love my Le Labo lotion in Jasmine. It’s the little bit of luxury that has replaced my perfume and it’s also great for my skin. The Jasmine scent is perfectly subtle and dreamy.

Renpho Air Purifier ($120): For those who read my air purifier review here you know this is my favorite of the bunch. What’s a better gift than that of clean air?

Augustinus Bader Rich Cream ($170): If you really love someone, then I would highly recommend getting the AB Rich Cream. It’s a dream present and I believe it can change the texture of anyone’s skin for the better. You can read my review of it here. Oh I just noticed they also have a new $85 (15ml) version of it here.

Everlane Form Mini Bag ($190): I love my Everlane mini form bag (reviewed here). It fits all the essentials, and the leather is beautiful yet durable. For those who need to carry a laptop with them, the regular form bag ($235) is also super useful and gorgeous!

Something from The RealReal or Fashionphile (what budget?): Lol, these are my two favorite online consignment sites and I’ve talked about them a lot and purchased many items from both. For purses, especially high-end ones, I always go with Fashionphile because 1) they have a better authentication process IMO and 2) they allow returns. The RealReal is better for more reasonably prices designer clothes and accessories. I know buying used things is not really a thing yet for most people when gift giving but I say why not? The items are still useful and valuable!

And lastly, I just wanted to mention that some of the best gifts are not things (but of course you know this). Some of the gifts I’ve enjoyed the most in the past are experiences (a special dinner out or a special dinner made at home) or quality time with someone. As for my husband and I, we are in dire need of a new dishwasher so that will be the present we give each other (especially since neither of us like to wash dishes lol).

What are some of your favorite gifts to give to your friends and family?

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I’m participating in the #letsgetearthy challenge this week on Insta and I love that it’s got me excited about my clothes again! My pic is in the center :)

Oops it’s been awhile since my last weekend update. I’ve been super busy with the move from our apartment to our new home. My goodness we’ve moved 4 times in the last year and a half. I should be a pro at this by now. I’ve been whittling down the number of things I own at every move, and had only a small bag to give to goodwill this time. You should have seen our first big move 3 years ago (we had a whole garage of stuff we ended up donating). I still have a box of things I want to sell through ebay but I’m thinking of really Marie Kondo-ing my life and getting rid of everything I’m not currently using or love. This fourth move + grief cleaning my dad’s life in his apartment + my recent fire evac scare has me reconsidering all the stuff I have in my life. I’m also planning to change my blog name sometime next year (because I am in my permanent home but no I’m not going to be a permanent-house wifey lol) and I might do a “moving sale” over on my Closet Sale page. I’ll let you know when that happens. Let me just tell you there’s probably going to be a lot of gently used Everlane on there and maybe even some vintage Grana. I plan to be ruthless with my closet.

Oh and have you guys seen Meryl Streep’s movie on Netflix, The Laundromat? I enjoyed it though there were some spots that felt a tad cheesy. I felt like I was watching another iteration of Mary Louise from Big Little Lies (which isn’t a bad thing). It also helped me understand the Panama Papers better and I just throw my hands up in the air at all the greed and corruption in this world.

I also watched a couple documentaries about clothing designers and thoroughly enjoyed them, though I’m not the type to wear their clothes. So far I’ve watched Halston and Westwood: Punk. Icon. Activist both on Amazon Prime Video. The Westwood one is particularly interesting to me because she grapples with her concern for the environment and the need to still make clothing for a living. I kind of know where she’s coming from since I too try not to harm this planet (too much) and yet I’m trying to earn money by blogging about material items. It’s a quandary every “ethical/sustainability” blogger must face. Next on my watch list is the Ralph Lauren documentary on HBO.

Have you guys seen anything good on Amazon/HBO/Netflix lately?

St. Agni Mules Review {Updated May 2023}

I love me a good mule. California is really a great place to wear mules almost year-around. I wear my Everlane Boss mules quite frequently. So I know if I added another black mule to my closet it would mostly definitely be worn. I had been eyeing the Jenni Kayne mules fooorever but I couldn’t quite pull the trigger ($395!). So I looked for alternatives, and the St. Agni mule (which is the favorite of every sustainable/ethical blogger out there because of their thoughtfully-designed hand made shoes) made it onto my radar. I have both brands saved as a search in the RealReal so when this pair popped up in my size, I snapped it up it even though it wasn’t the woven leather ones I had originally wanted. But how could I resist for $72 of credit?

First a note on sizing. I purchased these in a size 38. I’m usually a 7.5-8 and a solid 8 in Everlane. St. Agni is supposed to run narrow so they advise purchasing a full size up (so in this case I would buy a 39 since European size 38 is about a US 7.5). However I got really lucky with these and they’re the perfect snug fit. My heel also just fits without any overhang. I think by buying them used, someone had already done the work of stretching them out a little. But they look great, with only some minor wear on the soles and a slight wrinkling to the leather.

A little investigating on the internet tells me that this is the Saul Babouche Slide and it’s no longer being sold. The leather of these mules are thicker than the buttery soft leather of the Martiniano Glove shoes and thicker than the leather of the Everlane Day Flats and the Boss Mules. But even though the leather is thick it’s not stiff. It’s just the right amount to hold my foot in place. I also really love the slightly padded insole, which makes these flats super comfy (the Everlane mules have very minimal cushioning in the heel). I can walk in these all day with no blisters or pain points at all. These have quickly become my favorite pair of mules so get ready to see them on the blog often!

P.S. A follower on Insta mentioned that getting the sizing right for St. Agni can be tricky and that she had to do several return shipments to Australia on her own dime that really added up. If I were to buy a new pair of St. Agni shoes I’d probably purchase from a site like The Dreslyn since they’re based out of LA (though they still charge a return fee). I also see that Bloomingdales also carry some of their shoes.

{December 2021 Update: I’m still in love with these mules and are my favorite pair of St. Agni shoes to date. I’ve tried out several others (including more mules like the ever popular Paris mules) but nothing compares to this first pair. You can find my other St. Agni shoes reviews here.}

{May 2023 Update: I’ve been wearing these consistently for almost 4 years now and my love for them is still going strong. These are actually the only St. Agni mules left in my collection because the woven leather ones started irritating my feet (it might be because post-pregnancy my foot has changed a bit). But these Saul mules have molded to my feet perfectly and they’re hands down my favorite pair of shoes. So much so that they’ve worn down quite a bit and I’ve finally taken them into the shoe repair shop for new soles and heels (an $82 fix!! for a $70 shoe—but 100% worth). I still see this style time to time on Poshmark and would definitely recommend them if you’re in the market for a good leather mule. Also I see these in suede and as much as those look great when they’re new, it definitely wouldn’t hold up like these all leather ones!}

What It's Like To Live In California During Fire Season

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It’s here y’all, the end of the world/the apocalypse. Or that’s sort of what it feels like living in California during fire season (from October - to whenever the first rain falls in the winter). If you’re a lucky Californian, a fire season used to mean monitoring air quality daily, wearing a particulate filtering mask during the smoky days, and orange glowy sunlight (from the smoke haze). It also meant investing in a good air purifier (I’ve tried about half a dozen and here is a review of the air purifiers I liked and disliked).

But now fire season also means living with blackouts that can go on for days, and it’s affected a large number of us in Northern California including myself. Living without power adds a whole other level of complexity (especially in an apartment building). We are decently prepared, but that’s because my husband likes to camp (though we did find out the hard way that we need a new portable lamp). We have headlamps, a small propane “stove” (it’s called the jetboil, and it’s amazing), dry canned foods (though I’ll need to restock on that this week because another blackout is forecasted), a heavy duty cooler that can keep things cold at least 48 hours, and water jugs (also important for an earthquake kit).

And now that’s if you’re lucky. The worst is of course when the fire is in your neighborhood. We had a close call over the weekend and it has really opened my eyes that state of things and what my priorities are. We live in an apartment building in a very urban environment (I can walk to the downtown area in 5 minutes). So I never imagined a fire threatening our area (but if it can happen in a city center in New Zealand, it can happen in any small city center I suppose). But the next neighborhood over is quite heavily forested and a fire broke out there, and we’re right on the border. So even though we didn’t have mandatory evacuation orders, we were put on notice that it was heading our way. And the way the gusty (hurricane-force) dry winds blow these days, it could mean you have only minutes to leave.

The exercise of packing all your earthly possessions into a car is an eye opener for sure. What to take? What to leave behind? If I had to wear the same thing over the next months or years what would that be (for me that’s Elizabeth Suzann, especially since I can sell it in a pinch if I had to). What do you leave which you can rebuy later? (That would be most of Emi’s stuff since baby clothes and toys are easier to come by). Anyway it made me see all the excess stuff we have. The things we wouldn’t take in case of a fire. And if those are not daily worn or used items, do I really need them? Having also done a year with 3 moves and a month of grief cleaning, I feel like my life is bloated by too many things. I feel this quite often actually, and try to purge. But I find myself in a vicious cycle of buying and purging. It’s a form of material bulimia. This is definitely something I’ll be working on.

Anyway these were just some of the thoughts I have this past weekend. And for my fellow Californians, I found the NextDoor app and getting notifications were super useful in a chaotic situation like an evacuation notice. We were able to get relevant information quick thanks to some vigilant neighbors. Also following your local county fire department and City/Community Twitter keeps you informed from the frontlines so to speak. And always have an emergency bag packed and know your emergency plan (because the middle of the night with no electricity is not the time to pack and figure things out). Stay safe this fire season guys!

What I Wanted and Bought in October

I’m sure no one noticed that I skipped the September version of What I Bought, so I’ll just mention here that I purchased (through credit from The RealReal) the Mansur Gavriel Mini Ocean Tote that I had been eyeing for awhile. I was also gifted from Everlane their Soft Day Tote. I guess when nothing fits because of my fibroids I go back to my favorite accessory (that I can wear no matter my size lol): bags.

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What I Wanted

Loewe Mini Lazo Bag: I was really tempted by this bag in Nordstrom Ala Moana in Hawaii because I saw it on Eva Chen on Instagram above (I’m so easily influenced >.<). I tend to buy my high end bags in Hawaii because the state has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the US (4.71%) as well as the best selection. I also had about $300 worth of Nordstrom gift cards so I was very tempted indeed. But in the end I was a responsible adult and did not purchase it because 1) I would still be out about $1500; 2) I tried on the bag and even through you would think it’s easy to pull in the handle straps to make it a compact crossbody, it isn’t; 3) they only had the leather and linen version like Eva’s and you know the linen is going to pick up dirt real quick; and 4) there’s no way to really secure the opening of the bag. These were all the ways I dissuaded myself from getting the bag and it worked. (Also I did not purchase despite all you enablers out there voting in my insta story poll lol).

What I Bought

Everlane curvy authentic stretch skinny jean: I got tired of waiting to fit back into my old jeans (which hopefully happens after my hysterectomy). So I decided to embrace my new “curvy” figure and buy some jeans that’ll fit. I’ll let you know how it goes in my review.

Everlane ReCashmere Varsity Cardigan: The ReCashmere line was something I’ve been itching to try since I’m all for products made from recycled materials (like Everlane’s ReNew puffer and Rothy’s shoes, both of which I love). $120 is pretty steep for a cardigan, but I guess that’s how it goes with the new tariffs.

Last Brand Italian Calfskin Crossbody and Last Brand Cashmere sweater: A reader asked me if I would do a review of a new Grana-like company based in SF called Last Brand and I obliged (since their stuff looks so minimal-chic and their price points are quite affordable). I’ll let you know what I think of these in a review coming soon!

Cartier Love Bracelet: I know I know, I’m outta my mind. But I have a whole post written up about why I decided to make this seemingly ridiculous purchase.

St. Agni Saul Mules (no longer sold): Oops forgot about this one (thanks Henny for helping me remember lol)! Got this off of the RealReal using some credit earned from their last event. A complete impulse purchase but I’m so glad I went for them since they’re perfect!

What I Was Gifted

Everlane Oversized Double Breasted Blazer: I caved and asked for this blazer when Everlane asked if I wanted anything from their October line-up. What can I say, I’m weak and a sucker for blazers. And even though I’ve said in the past that I no longer really have an occasion to wear blazers (since I don’t work in an office), I just can’t quit trying them. So far I’ve tried both Everlane’s oversized blazer and their academy blazer.

Weekend Update/Ramblings

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Sorry my posts have been slightly sporadic lately (sometimes posting on Tuesdays, sometimes Thursdays), but this was a travel week (ie flying back to Cali from Hawaii). I’m not one to travel too often (and each time it tires the heck out of me), but traveling with an infant is 100 times harder for sure. I look forward to staying home for awhile! Though I’ll still be busy with moving (yep haven’t moved into our house yet)+fibroid surgery+all the holiday stuff. Fun times.

This is something you guys all probably already know but buying less is better than buying green. This article was a good reminder that just because I’m buying “better” doesn’t mean I should keep buying. A “green materialist” as they call it, is a materialist all the same with a bunch of (“green”) things in a closet/house/etc. that will need to be taken care of and eventually responsibly disposed of. My favorite way of decluttering is to sell things since I know the new owner wanted the item enough to buy it (but this only works when you buy quality resellable things to begin with, ie no fast fashion). But still I wonder how simpler my life would be if I wasn’t constantly buying and selling things?

Also I’m still trying to finish my bottle of Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, which I like as a face mask (but it’s too strong for my sensitive skin if I leave it on as a treatment). But I mention this because I read this week about how Sunday Riley’s CEO made employees write fake reviews on Sephora and then I went and read some reviews of this product. Long story short, I can no longer recommend this product because of the dubious ethics of the CEO and they apparently reformulated the product so it no longer is as good as it once was. Since my bottle of Good Genes is at least a year old, it’s still the old formula and works well. But I guess the newer stuff is no bueno.

And lastly, I feel like adding some light blues and browns to my winter wardrobe this year. I don’t really want to buy anything new so I’ll try to see what I can come up with using what I already have. But the pics above are some of my inspo from pinterest and they got me excited to try some new combos!

P.S. Everlane is offering free 2-day shipping today!

Top 10 Favorite Things I've Blogged About

I wrote a post like this last March, so I thought it would be interesting to update this list because my top 10 favorite items have changed quite a bit. Is it because I’ve blogged about so many more new items or is it because as a human I always will love the new and the exciting? Well there are some repeats on here and I’d be interested to see how much this list will change/stay the same again next year.

ES Mara Jumpsuit + Celine Soft Cube Bag

1) Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here) in both silk and linen (no longer made): I bought the silk one used and loved it so much that I also got a linen one later when it went on “sale” over at ES. I wear both constantly and they’re such work horses in my wardrobe. See how one of my favorite grammers, mayetteraisa styles her Mara during the #fauxfall10x10 challenge.

2) Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here): One of the most worn bag in my closet and I did a 100 wears later post here. Currently using this bag for my one month in Hawaii and I’m in love with this bag again. It’s the perfect size, minimal yet chic, and can be carried by hand or across the body. I will never give this bag up!

3) Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: I reviewed it here and I still love it (just started my third bottle for the year—it lasts me about 4 months). I’m officially an AB Cream addict and it’s an expensive habit (though I justify it by saying I buy about 3 bottles a year for a total of about $800 a year and that’s still less than microneedling treatments or any other cosmetic procedure). My skin texture has vastly improved and I suffer from far fewer pimples than I used to before the cream. It’s no wonder this is a favorite cream for lots of people.

Everlane Jacket, Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Dress, Everlane Day Heel Mule, Celine Seau Sangle

4) Everlane Modern Utility Jacket (reviewed here): I don’t talk about this jacket a lot and it was only featured once during a 10x10 challenge, but I looooove this jacket. As soon as the weather is cool enough I wear it everywhere. It’s also a great dog walking jacket since there are multiple pockets and it’s water resistant. This one has become a classic in my wardrobe.

5) Thinx Underwear (on last year’s list): Still love my Thinx. It came in handy during my difficult pregnancy with multiple bleeds and leaking amniotic fluid during the end of the pregnancy (lol sorry TMI?). I liked them so much I ordered another couple of them just recently and wrote a new review of them here.

6) Storq Easy Pants: Loved these when I was pregnant and love them now that I have fibroids. Basically these easy pants are the best thing when you don’t want a constricting waist band around your tummy. It’s like wearing PJs in public.

7) Lovevery Toys and Play Mat: Of course this is for Emi and not for me, but when baby’s happy and occupied Mama’s happy and otherly occupied. I love that she can play on the playmat for (cumulatively) hours a day, it’s easy to clean, and so well built. As for the toys, she still loves some of her toys from the 3-4 month box (and she’s 7 months now). I liked the toys so much I went ahead and purchased the 7-8 month box in anticipation of her growing tired of her first set of toys but that has yet to happen. I expect her to play with her new toys until she’s a year old!

8) PACT Underwear (also on last year’s list): My faves are the lace waistband ones and my original pairs have held up great. They’re comfy, well-made, well-priced and made from organic cotton. I don’t know what more you could want for reliable underwear!

9) Martiniano Glove Shoes: Aka the Bentley of flats. I love these shoes for their buttery leather that not only make them super comfy but oh so luxurious. Even after recently purchasing Chanel ballet flats (reviewed here), I think the Martiniano Glove shoes are above and beyond a more luxurious shoe.

10) A Zero Waste Shower Routine: Ok, so this isn’t just one thing but I’m pretty happy with my total zero waste shower routine. On those days I feel like I don’t measure up or I’m not doing enough, being able to feel like I’m making some kind of progress every time I shower is sometimes the little boost I need.

Anyway this post has also helped me reflect on all the various things I’ve tried on this blog and I’m so grateful for everyone who comes here to read what I’ve got to say. Thank you to all of you guys who say the nicest things about my reviews and who make writing this blog worth it!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Things have been quite busy for me as I wrap up all the things I need to get done while in Hawaii. I finally finished going through my dad’s apartment and have come away with 3 plastic bins of his and my Grandma’s stuff (including the photos above of myself, my mom, my grandma and my great-grandmother in kimonos). I’ll probably consolidate it down to one box someday, but for now I’m happy to only be taking 3 bins out of a stuffed apartment. I’m also finishing up his bank matters and I am so grateful for everything he left me. He never spent a cent on himself so I assumed all these years he didn’t have a lot to spend. Now I find that he saved every cent and chose not to spend it on himself. I need to be more like my dad. Also I’ve learned quite a bit about inherited IRAs this week and my one tip for those of you who have IRAs: don’t put them in a trust with the rest of your assets. For tax purposes just designate a beneficiary.

Anyway in other news I’ve finally given it up. After a year and a half of tracking what I wear (through the Stylebook App) I’ve decided to call it quits. During my time tracking my wears, I had a good chance to see what were my most worn items (which tbh you intuitively know already even without a clothing tracker because those items are the ones you always reach for). I also got to know what it feels like to wear something for 30 wears, 60 wears, and 100 wears. Thirty wears takes much longer than you think (at least 3 months or more for me). And 100 wears is super rare indeed (so much so that I dedicated posts to those 3 items that made it to the “100 club”). But now that I have a better idea of wear count it’s time to move on and get comfy with my seasonal uniforms. I think it’s worthwhile for everyone to spend some time tracking the wears of their clothing because it really does give you a good sense of closet utilization. But at some point we all have to call it a day.

And if Louis Vuitton is making bags in Texas and paying their workers $13/hour I’m going to be passing on LV bags for awhile. It seems to me they’re increasing their profit margins and not increasing quality. Plus the whole collaboration between Arnault (the CEO of the LV group) and Trump is such a big turn-off. I’ll be boycotting LV for the foreseeable future. Then again, I don’t currently have anything from LV in my bag collection so I guess I’m not really into them anyway.

Everlane's Choose What You Pay Sale

Everlane has added some new item to their CWYP sale and there are some items on there that are too good not to mention. If you’ve been eyeing any of these things from my reviews, this is a good time to buy (especially since these old stock items weren’t tariffed the way the new items are now plus they’re on discount).

The Boss Mules (reviewed here): I still love ‘em and wear them constantly (in fact I just wore them in my last Linenfox review). And just in time for the season: I call them my witch shoes. They’re great for elongating the leg since they’re so pointy.

The Cotton Collarless Shirtdress (reviewed here): This is the 2017 version and one of my most favorite dresses from Everlane. It’s great for petite gals since it’s short and can be belted at your natural waist.

The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress (reviewed here): This is the 2019 version which I love for the slightly puffed 3/4 sleeves. I’ve also worn this as a duster inspired by the much more expensive shirtdress from Hackwith Design. Again this is best for petite women since it’s short. For taller girls, the cotton weave picnic dress is a nice option (and it’s also on sale).

The Linen Pants (reviewed here): A great affordable pair of linen straight leg pants got even cheaper. I kind of wish I had waited for these prices before purchasing mine. These have a drawstring waist so it feels like you’re wearing linen PJs, but the black color make them look appropriate for wearing in public.

The Renew Lightweight Puffer (reviewed here): I love my Renew Puffer and wear it constantly. It’s the perfect layer for misty morning or cold California winter days. They also have other styles for sale including the Renew half-zip puffer.

Cashmere sweaters (reviewed here): And if you love cashmere but don’t want to spend too much, Everlane’s CWYP cashmere is such a great deal. If you can, I would recommend purchasing cashmere pieces that were originally more than $100. I just don’t find their $100 cashmere to be of that great quality. I love Everlane’s textured cashmere and this rib mockneck version looks dreamy.

Anyway for those who are interested in Everlane, I highly recommend these items!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

This past week I messaged one of my all-time favorite Instagrammers, Jamie of AnnStreetStudio, with a zero-waste suggestion to use these aluminum bento boxes for her cheese take-out. And I was a little too excited when she responded haha. I know big grammers are regular people but it kind of felt like I was chatting with a famous person. Anyway those aluminum bento boxes have been great for packing snacks on the plane, they’re leak proof and really quite light. I also plan to use them when I take out poke here in Hawaii to reduce my own use of single use plastic.

As for me the cleaning of my dad’s apartment goes on. My dad has been living in this apartment since childhood and though he had a couple decades where he didn’t live there, he’s been there for the last 30 years with my grandma who passed away 3 years ago. And they were two peas in a pod when it comes to not being able to throw anything away. I now know what a lifetime of plastic bag hoarding looks like (along with paper bags, gift boxes and bags, plastic nut containers, and cookie tins). Believe me, all that fills a 800 sq ft apartment from floor to ceiling with only narrow pathways of walking space in the bedrooms. And I see those hoarding tendencies in myself because I feel bad to have to throw some of that away. But at least my mom is taking all those plastic bags and plans to use them to last her lifetime (since Hawaii finally banned free flimsy plastic bags at grocery stores). Currently we’re using them to throw out all of Emi’s poopy diapers since we don’t have a diaper genie here.

And speaking of poop, I read this article this week about Waste Water Sanitation companies repackaging human feces as fertilizer and now it’s making people sick. This seems to be a common practice (about 60% of this sewage sludge is going to be spread over farmlands this year). So if you live near farms (especially in Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida) please be informed since many farmlands there are now contaminated with the chemicals from human feces. And one of those chemicals is PFASs (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances). That’s the stuff used for non-stick pans, stain resistant fabrics, and fire-fighting foams. PFASs are not biodegradable and persist in humans and the environment (a “forever chemical”). They are associated with health issues like cancer, hormone disruption, and immune suppression in children. And we in California might be drinking this stuff through our water system. Most household filters can’t filter out PFASs. As you can see I went down a bit of a rabbit hole on this subject (it’s the public health nerd in me) and now I’m looking into an activated charcoal filter like this one or reverse osmosis filtration system for my house.

My Zero-Waste Shower Routine

via

I don’t know how it is for you, but getting to any kind of consistent zero-waste routine has been quite a struggle for me. So now that I’ve got my shower routine down to zero waste I couldn’t be prouder. Granted, this stuff is pretty low hanging fruit. But still it’s progress, right? So here are the ways my shower routine is now zero waste:

1) Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash from Plaine Products

Yep, reviewed this back in 2017 and I’m still going strong. However, shipping back the aluminum cans can be kind of a pain so I’m looking into ordering from The Good Fill next (they ship their products in reusable plastic pouches that you ship back and you use your own containers—I’ll be reusing the Plaine Product containers of course).

2) Organic Cotton Washcloths from Muji

I’ve never blogged about these before but I love my organic cotton Muji washcloths. They’re thin enough that when they’re full of soap and water they don’t get super weighed down. And they’re just enough gentle exfoliation for my sensitive skin. I’ve been using them for years and they’ve held up like a champ.

3) Safety Razor

And the new zero waste love of my life is my safety razor, which I reviewed here. No cuts or nicks yet—you just have to use the very slightest of pressure. Also I use the Plaine Products conditioner as a shaving cream. But if you’re prone to cuts with a safety razor I recently found this other zero waste razor that is more like traditional razors.

Okay so yes that was a pretty short list. But really that’s all it takes to be zero waste in the shower. For my face wash, I use these small microfiber wash cloths to remove make-up and these cotton rounds for toner. Unfortunately my favorite face wash for acne-prone skin and toner don’t yet come in a zero-waste option. But my beauty routine is one of the next things I want to tackle to make zero waste. Anyone have tips for zero waste beauty?

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Hi y’all, how are you guys doing? I’m currently in Hawaii and it’s H-O-T and humid. Emi did great on her first airplane ride and slept through half of it. Though that night she cried for an hour before going to sleep from over-tiredness. But we survived! So far we’ve been busy visiting family so we haven’t done anything really exciting (though we did get out to the beach for a bit but Emi wasn’t really a fan lol). I also started cleaning up my dad’s apartment and it’s been rough. I miss him very much and I can’t help thinking he would have loved to meet his granddaughter. At the same time I see how he’s kept every single thing I’ve made (most of which I don’t even remember making) and I feel his love even though he is not here anymore. Anyway we’ll see how long it all takes but I’m motivated to get it done asap.

Completely changing topics now but have you see Inside Bill’s Brain on Netflix yet? If not, I highly recommend watching it. He is really trying to move some mountains and I support him all the way, including his endeavours in nuclear energy and especially in his efforts to improve sanitation to reduce childhood death by diarrhea. I would include this documentary in my list of “must-watch” tv, which also currently includes Ice on Fire on HBO. If these two documentaries don’t convince you of climate change and the need to change our ways, then nothing will.

Everlane Review: The Texture Cotton Crop Cardigan {Updated October 2020}

When Everlane came out with their texture cotton crop cardigan (aka the babaa dupe) last year, I have to admit I was put off by the 27% nylon content of the yarn they used for this knit (vs. the 100% cotton weave of the babaa). But now I have to get off my high-horse and admit I was wrong for looking down on this dupe because it’s a pretty great sweater.

{Wearing: Everlane Texture Cotton Crop Cardigan, Elizabeth Suzann Harlow Dress (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove Shoes (reviewed here), Celine Small Cabas Phantom (reviewed here)}

First of all, I do feel Everlane wades into some shady waters when it copies the design of smaller ethical and more expensive brands. Call it the Zara-move if you will. But at the same time, I could never really pull the trigger on a babaa cardigan (even when they had their sale in July). And as much as some of us love to support small brands, we can’t always spend that kind of dough. I actually was lucky enough to try the babaa cardigan in person at West Coast Craft and I didn’t love it enough to spend $250+ on it. So when Everlane offered me something free to review, I succumbed to temptation and asked to try this cardigan. And I have to say I love the way it fits more than the babaa version, and maybe it’s because of the nylon. The Everlane sweater overall feels less bulky and I appreciate the stretch it has over the babaa one.

And as much as I prefer an all-natural fiber and no plastic in my clothing, there are advantages to plastic. Not only does the nylon make the sweater stretchier and lighter but it helps retain the shape of the sweater. I’ve decided to take the “treat plastic like gold” disposition with this sweater and treasure it as if it did cost $250.

Anyway I’m wearing a size small here and feel like it’s the perfect fit for 5’4” me. I find the sleeves a bit long so I need to roll them up. I really love the drop shoulder detail and the overall cropped fit. I can’t wait to wear this cardigan more in the fall and style them with other outfits. I have a feeling this cardigan is going to be a staple in my wardrobe!

{October 2020 Update: So after having this sweater for over a year, I have to say that sadly it isn’t as great as I first thought it was. My main issue with it is that once the sweater snags the nylon fibers, the fibers break super easily and you’re left with a stringy mess. It can’t be pulled back in so I end up having to cut the fibers to clean up the look. After admiring the babaa cardigan for so long (2.5 years!) I finally purchased it and now understand why there’s such a cult following for babaa. I have to admit it was idealistic of me to think I could treat plastic like gold and think it would work out. Sometimes the original thing is better than a substitute. But I also understand if the original is not within your budget, then yes maybe treating the dupe like the original might work—but only if you’re careful with your sweaters. And sadly I am not.}

Amazon Prime Wardrobe Review

What I ended up keeping through Amazon Prime Wardrobe

So when I first heard about Amazon Prime Wardrobe, I thought do we really need another method to buy more clothes? Basically it’s a service available to Prime members that allows you to try items for free at home, and they will only charge you for the things you keep. So it’s $0 upfront. But if you don’t return the items within 7 days, you’ll be charged for everything you ordered. So it’s probably a service best for those who are good about returning packages. It’s sort of like those try-at-home subscription style service but you choose what you want (with a minimum of 3 items per box). You could also have a stylist pick out clothes for you for a fee, but we’ll see if that really catches on. And though I wouldn’t personally use Amazon Prime Wardrobe to buy more clothes (I already have enough on my wishlist from slow fashion brands), I did take the opportunity to try out different sleep sacks for my baby since I wasn’t sure which one she’d like best. She was super picky when it came to which swaddle she liked best (we tried 3 different kinds and her favorite was the Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle). This time I’m going to try out the sleep sacks before committing to buying one.

Well their marketing works because even though I was only planning to keep one sleepsack, I ended up with two (granted one is a larger size for her to grow into). The one she liked are the ones by Burt’s Bees. The package itself comes with a return shipping label and a resealable plastic mailer so the return is super easy. Just indicate on your Amazon prime wardrobe page what pieces you’ll be keeping and then return the rest via UPS. Amazon will also send you reminder emails for when it’s time to send things back. Once you return it, the items you kept will be charged to your card. I guess it’s not too different from just buying it outright and then returning something for a refund, but at least you don’t have to pay the upfront cost.

Has anyone else tried Amazon Prime Wardrobe and what did you think?

Weekend Update/Ramblings

via: Loved this fall inspiration look. It’s the It’s-Fall-And-I’m-A-Busy-Mom look lol

Thank you to everyone’s kind comments and support from last week’s weekend update. I’ve decided to look at the bright side of these fibroids and am grateful that it’s a wake-up call to take care of my health more. In an effort to shrink the fibroids I’m laying off the booze and red meat (which the internet tells me can lead to fibroids/fibroid growth). And because of that, I’m feeling overall quite healthy. Maybe this is just the start for me to eat more of a plant-based diet.

Starting next week I’ll be in Hawaii with Emi for a month. She’ll finally meet her paternal grandmother and great-grandmother, along with all my uncles, aunties and cousins. I’m also going to spend several weeks clearing a lifetime of my dad’s clutter. But first I have to pack (I’ll spare you a packing list post because do people really read those kinds of posts? I don’t because obvi we just pack what we need to pack from the things we have available). We also need to get through a 5 hour plane ride. I’m trying not to be too anxious about it because I don’t want Emi to sense that anxiety when we get on the plane. Luckily we spoiled ourselves by buying Emi her own seat because neither of us wanted to hold a 20-pound (yes 20 lbs!), squirming 6-month old for 5 hours (even with taking turns).

Anyway this is all to say my scheduled posts are running out and there might be some radio silence over on the blog. But I’ll try to keep up with my insta-stories (because who doesn’t want to insta-story a Hawaii trip lol).

P.S. Have you guys seen The Mind Explained on Netflix yet? I loved all the episodes and it reminded me I need to pick up my meditation practice again.