Wendy’s Picks

“Wendy’s Weekly Picks,” is a feature in which I highlight stuff I like or recommend in the worlds of fashion, gift ideas, home decor, makeup, websites, entertainment, and recipes. Of course, ​much​ of the stuff I link to will be affiliate products, which means I’ll receive a commission on any click-throughs or purchases you make through the affiliate links. As always, I appreciate your support! Here are my favorite finds this week, including my favorite find of the whole year (which I only discovered last week and it’s a game-changer):

Anthropologie is having a 30% off last-minute gifts, like these slippers (which should be brought to a NYE party and changed into as the night progresses and feet get tired).

West Elm‘s big 20% off sale ends tonight. Last minute gift ideas: this vase, this ring holder (I’m calling it: 2018 is going to be the year of the cactus!), and a gilded cafe mirror tray because everyone needs ones.

If you have a kid on your holiday list, between 5-10 years old, you can’t go wrong with this compass adventure kit, for less than ten bucks. We gave one to Jackson for Hanukkah last night and his excitement was off the charts (even surpassing the enthusiasm for all twenty-seven fairy wands he’s received this year, which is really saying something because for Jackson 2017 was the year of the fairy wand.) Now he’s talking about going on Safari in Africa in three years (when Joanie is old enough “to get something out of it”) and bringing a compass so he can find his way around. Ten bucks well spent.

I got my hair cut last week with a new stylist and mentioned to her that I was thinking about coloring my hair again. Save for one or two gloss treatments, I haven’t had any color on my hair since before Jackson was born. When I was around 29 or so, I noticed that my once very vibrant red hair had lost some of its oomph and I started coloring it regularly. It was expensive and time-consuming and I stopped once I got pregnant and my priorities shifted. Now that the kids are getting a little older, I’ve been wanting to shift some focus back on myself a bit again, and I thought experimenting with hair color was a good place to start. Well, the stylist said she had this color-depositing conditioner for copper hair she could use that would give my hair a little vibrancy for a few days. I was skeptical. So, color me shocked when I got home and saw for myself a dramatic difference! It looked as if I spent $200 and two hours at the salon getting a special color treatment. I immediately called the salon and asked the stylist what that magic potion was. It was Davines Alchemic Conditioner Copper. I ordered three jars to hopefully last me a few months and I’ve used it twice at home since I received them and, I swear, this stuff works! I can’t vouch for the other colors, but if you have coppery-red hair (either natural or color-treated) and you want to boost or maintain the color, give this stuff a try. It’s amazing. Favorite discovery of the whole year.

Another great discovery: the tv show, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which just got nominated for a couple Golden Globe awards. It’s set in New York in the 50s, so if you liked “Mad Men” for the costumes and general nostalgia, you’ll like this. It’s also funny and features a female protagonist who kicks ass, so that’s always fun. You start watching and think you know what it’s going to be about (an urban housewife living life), and then, boom, it turns out it’s about something else (a urban housewife who decides she wants to be a stand-up comic… and is quite good!).

Save 30% on last minute gifts at CB2. See, I told you 2018 is going to be the year of the cactus!

Have I sung the praises yet of my new wallpaper in our teeny powder room? It might just be one of my favorite features in our new place (ok, next to my own bath tub, that is). If you have a small space where you want to make a big statement, this wallpaper does the job. It’s pricey (which is why I used it only in our bathroom that is the size of an airplane lavatory) but a little bit of it goes a long way.

Finally, if you’re in the market for a new rug, especially one for a kid’s room, I have to give a shout-out to Pottery Barn Kids (my too cool-for-school 25-year-old self just died a little after reading that), which is extending their 25% off sale. I bought the kids a new rug for their bedroom when we moved a couple weeks ago and it’s such great quality — really, one of the best rugs I’ve ever bought — and looks awesome, too. And with the 25% off discount it was very reasonably priced.