9 Things I Bought & Loved Lately
From outdoor gear to a new favorite candle, here’s what’s landed in my cart
I try to avoid retail as therapy and be thoughtful about what I buy, but I still love a good Target run! I thought I’d share a few things that I’ve bought and loved over the last several months just in case you’re on the lookout for something similar.
My threshold for what deserves to be shared: all of these have been in my possession for at least 2 months, and I would buy them again and/or rave about them to my friends. All of the photos are links, and there’s also a link in the description. Happy shopping (or bookmarking for later)!
For Summer Travel
This red swimsuit (Target, $35) was one of several that I purchased for our trip to St. Martin, and it quickly became my favorite. Somehow practical, cute, and full coverage? A rare combination, and perfect for summer adventures! Size up - their size chart says an XL is 16/18. I’m firmly a size 16, and it’s almost too small.
These water shoes (Amazon, $24-$30) have my stamp of approval for both beaches and rivers. The water just flows right out of them, they are shockingly light even when wet, and they dry so quickly! Luckily they also come in men’s, because as soon as Joey saw mine he wanted a pair, too. They’ve been through the wash a few times now, and they come out looking good as new.
These headphones (Amazon, $120-$150) were an impulse buy when I realized that I was about to spend quite a bit of time in airports/planes (and that I was just a few weeks from heading back into the office). The active noise cancelling is incredible, and they fit my tiny ears. They get over 20 hours of playback time, so I never have to worry about the battery.
For Cozy Times at Home
Everyone is obsessed with these leggings (Aerie, $50 but always on sale), and now I am too. They’re buttery soft, but nice and thick. And they have pockets, which is the best. I keep a pretty lean closet, but I’ll be back for more once another pair wears out!
We bought these linen sheets (Target, $159) in white as an intro-to-linen experiment. It’s been the better part of a year now and the verdict is in: we’re linen people now. Reviews were a little mixed on these sheets, so I was comforted that Target has a one-year return policy. The quality probably isn’t on par with high-end linen sheet sets like those at Parachute or Cultiver, but the price tag is also hundreds of dollars less. So far, we’re happy with them; the only flaws I’ve noticed are that the pillowcase seams aren’t great and that the flat sheet is very wide (Joey sees this as a positive). We may upgrade when these give out, but I’m glad we started here!
While we were splurging on sheets, we grabbed this candle (Target, $25), and now we’re both in love with it. It’s a little bit woodsy, a little bit floral, and very sophisticated. The vessel is also beautiful, and now it’s serving as a small vase; the color rubs off in the wash, which is a bummer, but it ends up lovely etched glass.
For Little Upgrades
I finally tried this cult-favorite chemical exfoliant (Amazon or Soko Glam, $27), and I will never ever go back. I’ve been loyal to the Paula’s Choice BHA for years now (and I’ve converted many friends), but the Neogen peel has earned a forever spot on my shelf. It ends breakouts even as they’re beginning and is incredibly gentle. I’ve used a lot of products, but never one like this. Pro-tip: cut the pads in half; it’s less fun to apply but you’ll have plenty of product. I use twice a week, let it dry for a few minutes, and rinse. Heads up: it definitely smells like grape juice.
This fluted planter (West Elm, $15-$130 depending on size) is so charming and classic. I’ve been swapping all my plants into white planters, and I like to play with textures. It’s so beautiful and has a nice heft. Also available in a terracotta color if that’s more your speed. I’m considering getting the larger sizes for our deck to grow roses in.
I’ve been looking for something like these boxes (Target, $14) for the top shelf of our closet for ages. They are a perfect fit for our closet and are now home to our out-of-season and not-my-size-right-now clothes. The boxes aren’t incredibly sturdy (it’s Target’s answer to Ikea), but they won’t get taken down much, so they work well for us. I also got a few of the coordinating shoe-size boxes for our hats and gloves.
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