“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:
I checked this book out of the library over the weekend, not knowing anything about it exceptthat it was a memoir in essay form, it was brand new, and it was well-reviewed. Turns out it’s written by a woman who moved around every couple of years growing up, lacked a clear career path in her 20s, and is the mother of a child with autism — some of which I can really relate to. That it’s incredibly moving and well-written is such a treat. I burst into tears in the first chapter. And I’m not even PMS-ing.
Beauty bloggers have been talking about jade rollers for a couple years now, but I’m not a beauty blogger and I’m only joining the bandwagon in 2018, so sue me. If you don’t know, a jade roller is an ancient Chinese beauty tool that looks a little like a mini paint roller and massages the facial muscles with a rounded jade stone. The coolness of the stone feels great on tired skin, and the massage ritual improves circulation as well as collagen production, reduces puffiness, releases toxins, and even skin tones. It’s also pretty relaxing. Jade is also thought to have healing properties that help balance chi and ward off negativity. There are lots of different jade rollers on the market, at different price points, but this is a great mid-range one that gets the job done.
I was looking for a candle that would make guests comment on how great our place smelled the minute they walked in the door. So last week I bought this candle, made right here in Brooklyn, and two days later a friend came over and, as soon as she walked in the door, commented on how great the place smelled. The next day it happened again. Billed as a “broody, full-bodied fragrance of charcoal, with notes of cedar, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, and smoke,” this candle is the total bomb.
Continuing with the charcoal theme, as well as the theme of jumping on bandwagons that beauty bloggers jumped on eons ago: I’ve been really enjoying charcoal masks lately. I asked my esthetician friend — who, if you live in Chicago, you MUST go visit for a facial or other skin or beauty treatment because she’s amazing — and she recommends this brand. She says to put these masks back in their serum solutions and reuse because they’re pricey and you’re using them on clean skin anyway, so there’s no reason to throw them out after one use and waste the precious active ingredients.
Come on, how cute is this leather wallet-purse? I love it for spring (which is only a few weeks away, guys!).
Have you heard of the app Marco Polo? It’s sort of a combination of FaceTime, Snapchat, texting, and walkie talkies, and it’s pretty awesome. Basically, you use it to make short videos that you can immediately send to friends like a text, to which they can immediately respond. And there are fun image and vocal filters you can use. It’s a great alternative to other means of keeping in touch, especially for those of us who get tired of texting, and don’t like the pressure of sustained conversations that phone calls and even Facetime (or Skype) demand. Plus, the “macho” voice filter is pretty great.
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