Happy Sunday and Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We hope you got a laugh out of this year’s April Fools post, haha. Emily is truly the mastermind behind them and never seems to miss. The toilet pillow trend was also pretty hilarious. Look, we’ll take any chance to help y’all smile. Ok, here are this week’s links.
This week’s house tour is both so layered and warm, but also so calming and happy! A real Notting Hill dream. Go check it out if you want to smile:)
From Emily: A sweetest comfort rom-com that I binged on spring break. The Ex-Vows (Kindle + Book). I had both Atmosphere (Kindle + Book) and Project Hail Mary (Kindle + Book) downloaded on my Kindle (that I left on the plane headed to spring break), so I picked up this book, The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce, and was so delighted by how sweet, fun, and still page-turny it was. I had forgotten that I loved her first book, You, With A View (Kindle + Book), and she does nostalgia and first love so well (with a nice amount of steam).
From Jess: I am a pretty huge scented candle lover, but am extremely particular/some might say “snobby” about them (well, just my brother says that). Any time of year, any time of day, I feel happier with a candle lit. So here are three of my favorites that feel very appropriate for spring and summer. First up is a classic and was originally recommended to the real candle queen, Sara Ligorria-Tramp – Tatine’s Garden Mint. It’s SO fresh and lovely and transports you to a magical wild garden filled with intoxicating herbs. Next is one I found at the Downtown Modernism flea market! The brand is Otts & Kulcha. A stunning ceramics brand that also makes incredible-smelling candles. I have the “Grigio Celeste” light blue vessel (so so pretty) in the market scent. The smell is warm but light (in feeling, not scent throw) and just so beautiful. They also sell diffusers, which I might get at the next flea! This one is more expensive because the vessel is a piece of art/keepsake. But the newest addition to my candle arsenal is this one from Roen. It’s more citrusy but really special, and I just finished it, so I will need a new one asap.
From Arlyn: As you may know, if you read my “big news!” post last week, I’m moving (!!!). We’re currently in the thick of the chaos and, by the time you read this, we’ll be wrapping things up for the movers to come on Monday. I wanted to share something I picked up that has been great for quickly and easily filling small nail holes from all of my art. This clever little tube has a squeeze tip with a mud-like substance that effectively covers small holes. The cap doubles as a sanding block, and the top acts as a putty knife. It’s all-in-one! Keep in mind, though, that it’s not great for anything larger than a nail, so it’s not for large screws or bolts (use normal wall spackle for that).
From Gretchen: I’m in desperate need of a hairdresser and recently decided to visit the salon down my street, just for a consultation. If I don’t go somewhere convenient (or cheap), I probably won’t go at all. I haven’t touched my hair in maybe a year (terrible, I know) apart from box dye (a sin, I’m aware), and I’m seriously due for a haircut (or exorcism at this point). She took one look at my crusty, dusty hair (so valid) and recommended a ton of products for me to try until we met again to tackle it for real. I bought all her recs but have been WILDLY impressed with the K18 leave-in mask. It’s been leaving my hair feeling SO soft, and I trust that it’s working its repair magic at the microscopic level. My hair used to be so so tangly, but after even just a few uses, I’m running my fingers through it again, no problem. It smells amazing, too! Now the price is STEEP, but you really don’t need much for it to be effective, so snagging the mini size should do you right to start.
Emma Chamberlain’s West Elm Collab came out this week, and there were some pieces we really liked! We love her personality, so it’s no surprise that her collection is quite playful – we’re talking button motifs and ceramic pigeons. Check it out if you are interested!
Two-Tone Armoire | Round Button Pillow | Faceted Flush Mount
Pigeon Pitcher | Floral Sheet Set | Burl Jewelry Box Collection
From Marlee: I really love these shoes – the brown-purple combo is so fun/unexpected, and I’m EXTREMELY tempted to get them in more colors (because there’s soooo many options). I wear them walking all around town, and they’re super comfy. My only note is to size down half a size!
From Caitlin: I NEED TO TALK TO A CASTING DIRECTOR. Whom amongst us can get me on the next season of That Thrifting Show?! Den and I binged all of the available episodes on Hulu last weekend, and I am a woman obsessed. The gist: two teams are given identical rooms, a specific design direction (like “Park Avenue bedroom” or “Palm Springs office,” for example), a $2,000 budget, and 2 days in which to design, source, and install a room using only vintage pieces. Contestants go to estate sales, consignment shops, thrift stores, and there’s a lot of heavy Facebook marketplace use – IT IS MY DREAM. (There are also a few games, which I was VERY GOOD AT, that offer advantages to the winning team.) It’s hosted by the inimitable Lara Spencer, and while I was never big into Flea Market Flip – I don’t have that DIY gift – this new show of hers scratches my vintage-loving itch SO WELL. I’m so excited to see a new era of home programming that isn’t just about lightning-fast renovations! But seriously, SOMEONE PICK ME FOR NEXT SEASON. (I can put the vintage pieces in order in under 30 seconds! I can guess the price of Lara’s thrift finds within $4 every time!! I want to play!!!)
From Mallory: Hands down, my favorite follow on Instagram right now is Viv Truran – she’s like the internet’s stylish British grandmother, and I just LOVE her outfits. I’ve been wanting to pull