Look on the Bright Side

Hi everyone, happy Wednesday! 

I never really understood how much seasons can impact your mental state until I moved here. Amidst the slog of cold, grey, below-30 degree weather, the brief reprieve of a stray 60+ degree day can feel like a life raft. I, for one, could sorely use a pick-me-up (or three), so here are some items that are completely unrelated except for the fact that they all bring me joy when I look at them!! I hope they do the same for you! 

Throw in the Towel

COSMIC RAINBOW TOWEL (ORGANIC) - BATHING CULTURE ($75)

My Strat colleague Sanibel recently wrote about this Bathing Culture towel, which I also happen to own, and I can confidently co-sign everything she says in the article. (They’re currently sold out but have plans to restock next month!) It’s made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, manufactured under safe and fair working conditions, without using any toxic chemicals during processing, which is all very wonderful and I’m happy to hear it!! But mostly I just love it because it makes me so happy to use — like, I look forward to stepping out of the shower and drying myself off. It’s so soft and fluffy to the touch, the vibrant pattern brightens my bathroom, and I have no doubt that I’ll be fielding plenty of compliments at the pool once summer rolls around. 

Under the Hood

RAINBOW BALACLAVA - THE SERIES NY ($90)

Every time I step outside and get assaulted by an icy, soul-sucking wind, my impulse to hop on the balaclava trend grows stronger. The ones with cut-out eye holes probably won’t work with my glasses (and look a little too, uh, burglar-chic for my taste), but these colorful crocheted granny square balaclavas from The Series NY leave room for your whole face and are super stylish to boot. They’re made in small batches by local artisans, using a mix of upcycled and recycled fabrics as well as vintage crochet remnants. They were even featured on the Drew Barrymore Show, and Drew’s reaction to wearing one is nothing short of pure delight.  

Cue the Confetti

GLASS BLOWN MULTICOLOR MINI VASE - MARIA IDA DESIGNS ($53)

Nothing lifts my mood faster than picking up a bouquet bursting with fresh blooms from the corner store — not for any particular occasion, but just because life is short and beauty is a gift! I mostly leave the large arrangements in the living room, but I still want to keep a bud or two to liven up my own room. The baby boot vases from the Western-themed issue I wrote a while back seemed to be a big hit with readers, so I went searching for similar-sized vases meant for displaying just one or two stems, and stumbled across these mini rainbow ones from artist Maria Struk. They’re all adorable and perfect and I love them, but if I had to choose only one, I think I’d have to go with the pleasingly plump gourd-shaped one.

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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!