Rainy day shoppies
A few things to add to cart to stave off the existential dread of summer sadness
Hi shoppers!
I think I’ve probably said this something like, six thousand times but — I hate the summer. I don’t tolerate the heat well, humidity makes me want to die, and unless I’m near or ideally in a body of water, I’m unhappy. And I can scratch the last refuge off my list because for those of us in the northeast though, we’re having a massive influx of great white sharks in the water. So truly what else is there to do but sit at home and shop.
It’s been a stressful few months for me as well, so I’ve been hitting that add to cart button a little exceptionally hard — but I’m trying to focus on smaller items that I can use in my day to day that will make me happy. So here’s a list of things, mostly under $100 that I’ve enjoyed lately.
Rhode Lip Treatment: Look, obviously I’m team Selena and obviously I own every lip gloss on the market but this one fucking.. god it fucking WORKS. And I’m so mad, mostly because I only ordered one tube and I should have ordered one for every room in my house. If you like the Summer Friday’s balm, you’ll like this — the texture is slightly thinner which I’ve been preferring in the humidity. It stays glossy and I actually have noticed my lips looking a little more plump. I bought the salted caramel scent which is delicious and reminds me a lot of the Sol de Janeiro 71 which I wear everyday.
Miffy Magnet board & magnets: We’re pretty strictly a Sanrio household but as a devout nordic noir obsessive, I’ve decided it’s time to welcome Miffy into my home. Miffy is sort of like, Scandanavia’s answer to Hello Kitty with all the restraint, minimalism, and hint of depression that comes with it. I recently bought this magnet memo board for my desk and matching magnets and it’s really sturdy, and both sleek and cute. I also got these little crochet Miffy and friends for my bed and they’re so beautifully crafted and special — a perfect gift for anyone in your life with a little one, or as a sweet accent in a bedroom.
Kevyn Aucoin Lighting Stick: Full disclosure I got this as a gift from the lovely folks at KA, but I’ve worn it everyday since. I wear it as an eyeshadow and a highlight on top of any blush I’m wearing that day and it gives such a natural but high shine glow. It also doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on the skin, which is a must for me in the summer.
Djerf Avenue Phone Case: I’ve been on the record many a time as a certified Djerf Avenue stan, and this phone case is no exception to their top quality reputation. I bought it on a whim because I got the email that they had restocked and it’s so sleek and feminine. It has a sort of matte to the touch feel and is made in Sweden from plant leftovers! Who knew!
Gap Poplin Shirt: I have approximately thirty thousand blue and white stripe shirts in my closet but does that ever stop me from buying more? Of course not. The latest addition to the family is this Gap one; I love the way it’s a solid blue with a fine white vertical strip. It’s a slightly denser material than some of the other button downs I’ve had from Gap — not at all heavy, but definitely feels more substantial and like something that will hold up to washing and wearing a lot. Even still, it has a really nice drape. When buying shirts like this, always but one in my actual size for wearing out, and one a size up to wear around the house!
Vintage ribbon from Etsy: I saw a girl on TikTok who had reams of this in her bedroom that she used to tie up her hair, put bows on things around the house, accent gifts etc. Someone in the comments asked where she got it and she said she just searched vintage jacquard ribbon on Etsy; I did the same and wow, what a treasure trove. This is my favorite that I found but truly there are so many to pick from and a few dollars a yard in some cases!
Djerf Avenue Skirt/Tube Dress: Ok yes, another Djerf Avenue purchase — don’t roll your eyes yet because there’s one more coming after this! But I recently scooped up both knit skirts from their summer drop and I wore the cream colored one out to the city last week, and the green set to a doctor’s appointment and both times I was impossibly comfortable, and felt so, so pretty. They’re surprisingly versatile; at first I was a little skeptical of WHITE knit anything or a GREEN crochet maxi skirt but both are beautifully made and perfect summer staples.
Djerf Avenue Loungewear: Last but certainly not least — the entire new loungewear drop from Djerf Avenue is sheer perfection. I have the short and tee set as well as the slip and I wear at least one everyday. I sleep in the slip a lot and it’s not hot or constricting and I throw the short and tee set on when I get up in the morning or after my shower if I’m gonna hang out and watch TV. I also wear both the tee and the shorts as separates and they’re definitely cute enough to wear out.
Swapping Material Girl Eats and Material Girl Watches this time time for Material Girl READS and Material Girl Watches (this might become a common occurrence) but I’ve been catching up on the Righteous Gemstones, partly for something work-related and absolutely loving it. It’s dark (necessary for me to enjoy a show) and really well done. As far as reading is concerned, I just finished Viveca Sten’s Hidden in Snow which was fantastic — it’s a substantial size book but it only took me a few days, I couldn’t put it down — you think you have it figured out about ten different times and then the twist at the end hits you like a ton of bricks. Same goes for Blaze Me A Sun which I finished up just before Hidden in Snow. I loved this as well, it’s a newer Scandinavian author and this is his US debut and it does a really good job examining the nuances of criminality, legacy, and family ties.