LIFE & STYLE
The Pampering Edition
Stylish New Products for 2022!
According to Google, tradition dictates Christmas decorations be taken down on Twelfth Night. Good to know. A foolproof way to store ornaments, however, eluded me until Scout’s Joy Box in their Jennifer Garland pattern. Thanks to 48 cubbies, every cherished angel, reindeer, and elf has a secure, private residence for another year.
Info: scoutbags.com
Commonplace snack aggrandized to adults-only heights: EATABLE spirit-infused gourmet popcorn is conceptually—and literally—an outside the box indulgence. The designer menu of options comes with names like “Poppin’ Rosé all Day” and “Pop the Salt & Tequila,” each in its own sophisticated black bag. I recommend the Connoisseur’s Flight: six flavors, no hangover. Info: eatable.com
Paint the New Year “inspired” with The Doodle Hog Watercolor Paints Half Pans and Brush Pens Bundle and watch your numero uno surrender to their creativity. The experienced will bask in the 36 colors (I basked in cerulean blue) and multiple brushes, while newbies will thrill to getting their artistic freak on. All you need, just water… and paper!
Info: doodlehog.com
Even the most jaded fashionista will want to do some serious scrolling on Grey Bandit’s website this winter. And while the company’s overall style sense teeters on Millennial, I can attest to the fact that anyone can find their style soulmate here. I found mine in Meredith—a super-soft Ivory cropped sweater—one of many edgy crops with names like Allie, Kiana, Mallory.
Info: greybandit.com
Capturing much of what makes winter wondrous, from snowflakes and skiing to mittens and ice-skating, Scout’s Frame and Fortune, with its peek-a-boo dachshund (hence the design moniker Daching Through The Snow) is poised to hold a favorite photo, possibly from last month’s holiday revels. Mine is home to kitties Cosmo and Reggie in jaunty Santa hats. Just saying.
Info: scoutbags.com
For olive oil purists, only extra virgin with pedigree of place will do. TRE Olive, from the Calabria region of Southern Italy, wins on both fronts while tantalizing with exceptional flavor. Distinctive tins come in a variety of flavors while stately bottles house their flawless award-winning oils. Customizable gift boxes are necessary—especially if you’re on the receiving end.
Info: treolive.com
Earn accolades throughout 2022 by gifting the universe. Planets in Time jettisons the commonplace with custom prints of the solar system featuring hand-painted planets aligned to a date of your choosing. NASA data ensures accuracy, so galactically preserved anniversaries, birthdays, vacations, career milestones, etc., can reach astronomical heights.
Info: planetsintime.com
Impatience and flab are not a good combo. Saddled with both, I’ve been able to take control with a Power Weighted Fitness Vest from Power WearHouse. Comfortable, plus it allows me to incrementally add weights as I up my routine and work to reclaim my pre-pandemic/pre-holiday body. Own it; reap the rewards; embrace new-found bragging rights.
Info:powerwearhouse.com
Wannabe bakers who enjoy a tasty culinary chuckle need Nailed It! Baking Challenges for the Rest of Us, companion cookbook to the hit Netflix series, introed (with helpful tips) by head judge Jacques Torres. A confessed fan, I was thrilled to learn you can make nailing it sweeter still by adding a box of amazing Celebration Macarons to your order.
Info: abramsbooks.com
Fusing timeless style with street acumen requires a synergy of purpose, something Garrett Leight and Slam Jam embraced when they joined forces to conjure GLCO X Slam Jam Calabar sunglasses. Boldly oversized with sculpted temple and “black blaze mirrored lenses,” these cutting-edge beauties with a retro vibe redefine visionary.
Info: garrettleight.com
The smoothie antidote to a January 1st hangover (or any subsequent hangovers, for that matter), becomes counterintuitive once the decibel level goes ballistic. Solution: Black + Decker Quiet Blender with a Cyclone® Glass Jar that replaces headache-shattering noise with a temperate purr. Additionally, it runs fast, making it my go-to kitchen dynamo.
Info: blackanddecker.com
I don’t care how many selfies or pet pix you have on your cell phone; nothing beats a session with a pro behind the camera. Having had a personal encounter of the photographic kind with female-run Shoott, years of theatrical headshots and travel photo-ops paled in comparison. To wit, relaxed session atmosphere and proof sheet with multiple “keepers.”
Info: shoott.com
For outdoor enthusiasts planning their next excursion, a reminder: rising with the sun requires serious java. And even practicality demands perfection. BruTrek’s Expedition Coffee Kit’s rugged aluminum case houses a first-class 32 French press, canisters, insulated mugs and scoops – gear that elevates roughing it to something worth savoring.
Info: planetarydesign.com
If Halsted Trays in Cambria Britannica Gold Quartz beckon with their come-hither good looks, I assure you there’s more to them than meets even the most sophisticated eye. Sure, they up the panache of a sideboard or buffet, but they (large and small options) are so devastatingly durable they effortlessly make the transition from buffet sidebar to vanity table.
Info: roomandboard.com
Social media babes are constantly “obsessed” with—everything. I always considered myself above obsession. Until Alice + Olivia teamed with Posh Peanut for the ultimate pajamas. The silken-soft bamboo-viscose fiber alone… wow. And the vibrant old-world patterns—Beach Bliss; Bengal; Midnight Rose. For mom and tots of all sizes. Again, wow.
Info: poshpeanut.com
Gallery-worthy sculpture is not usually what comes to mind when talking candles, and yet Greentree Home Candle has redefined wax tapers and pillars into works of art, so lovely you think twice before putting match to wick. Once you do, though, the payoff is ambient bliss. And if you’re partial to whimsy, be sure to check out their cleverly cozy beeswax houses.
Info: greentreehomecandle.com
You don’t have to be an epicure to crave flavor sensations beyond the banal. Salt-is-salt is-salt just won’t cut it when there’s mega-fusion just outside your spice rack at SaltWorks®, where variety is the spice of life with a plethora of sea salt blends like Spanish Rosemary, Vintage Merlot, and Black Truffle. Thankfully, there are several sampler sets. Info: seasalt.com
When shutting out the world calls for more than a hot bath and new age soundtrack, you might do well to succumb to Huggaroo Soothe’s absolute escapism. An oversized, plush head wrap that’s both microwavable and freezable, Soothe blocks out light, muffles sound and calms with lavender scent. Staggeringly affordable for the gold standard of R&R.
Info: huggaroo.com
