Get a Move On
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Apologies for going off the grid last week, but I have a good excuse: I moved! Specifically, I moved from my childhood bedroom in the California suburbs all the way across the country to New York. If any of my lovely subscribers are in the NYC area and want to meet up (thrifting, anyone?) drop me a line! I’m fully vaxxed and craving social interaction (and I’m fun to hang out with, I think 🥺).
Also: I started a new job this week as a junior writer at The Strategist! I’ve been a Strategist fan for years now and they were a huge inspiration for why I started this newsletter — I was literally trying to emulate their style and format. Suffice to say that working there is a dream come true and I still can’t quite wrap my head around it. Turns out that you can, in fact, make a living out of compulsive online shopping!?
Ok ok, that’s all the life updates from me. On to the recs!
Putting on Airs
I arrived in New York in the middle of a heat wave; stepping off the freezing cold airplane, bundled in a wool sweater and sweatpants, to be greeted by 90+ degree heat was quite a shock to the system, to say the least. And when I finally got to my apartment, huffing and puffing from hauling my luggage up three flights of stairs, my room contained nothing but a paltry window fan. I started browsing for an AC unit ASAP, and stumbled upon these sleek July ones — they’re supposed to be a breeze to install, and they’re available in a variety of chic pastel hues, all of which I think will go nicely with my brick wall.
Bar None
COCONUT MILK SHAMPOO BAR - CHAGRIN VALLEY SOAP & SALVE BAR
Rather than cram a bunch of bulky bottles into my suitcase, I decided to make things easier on myself and just order toiletries to my new place, which seemed like a good opportunity to test out something new: shampoo bars. I’m trying to be more conscious of how much plastic waste I produce, and the great thing about a shampoo bar is once it’s gone, it’s gone. The offerings from Chagrin Valley boast a slew of eco-friendly badges — OEFFA organic, Rainforest Alliance certified, vegan, cruelty free — so I gave ‘em a shot; I got the coconut milk bar, and though I was a little nervous to see how it would perform, so far so great. It’s very gentle and nourishing, and my fried, bleached strands have nearly returned to their previously silky state.
Off Your Rocker
If you’ve Zoomed with me in the past few days, kindly stop reading now. I’ll give you a sec to exit out… ok, now that they’re gone, I have a confession to make: I’m literally sitting on a nightstand in all my Zoom calls. My room came furnished with a desk but no chair, so at the moment I have to make do by perching cross-legged on a 20” x 20” side table. Since I’ll be working remotely through at least the summer, I want to invest in a sturdy chair that won’t break the bank or my back. I’m very intrigued by this Muista rocking chair, which apparently helps strengthen your core and improve your balance by keeping your body in motion. Should I go for it or should I fall back on something a little more traditional? Let me know what you think!
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!