Weekly Extras: Good for the Soul
Inspiring moments, pieces and dishes from the week.
Welcome back to Weekly Extras! Each week I share recipes (mine or others), inspiring pieces or brands I have come across, and what I am reading or wearing. I offer my thoughts on each and include links to relevant pieces, places, products, and more. Last week featured the brilliant work of David Yarrow and Rebecca Yarros and a new breakfast recipe I fell in love with.
It is hard to believe we have already reached the point in the year when the weather has become quite the tease. One minute we can practically smell the fresh blooms from the trees and the next we are cursing the biting cold and digging for our gloves. This rollercoaster of temperatures has left me feeling a little irritable this past week, so I am turning to elements in my life that soothe.
R O A S T E D B U T T E R N U T S Q U A S H P A S T A
with toasted walnuts, sage, and lemon zest
First and foremost, food. This is a go-to recipe when I am seeking a comforting and healthy meal in the cooler months. Before you even take a bite the recipe has already worked its magic. As the squash roasts, the whole house embraces the warm nutty scent, instantly easing tensions.
You won’t find any butter or cream here, all the richness comes from the pureed roasted squash and garlic, which is divine. It presents like an adult mac-n-cheese though richly layered with toasted walnuts, crispy sage, and a subtle note of fresh lemon to bring it home. It’s a bear hug of a dish that’s perfect for the season.
F A C E R E A L I T Y and a $6 M A S K
A close family friend of mine is currently fulfilling her dreams and studying to become an esthetician. As a huge skin guru, I’m thrilled for her and this means I get to grill her for new products she comes across. A few months ago, I was in the market for a face wash that removes all my makeup and leaves my skin fresh (like you see in all those Neutrogena commercials).
She recommended dual cleansing with the creamy and gel cleansers from Face Reality. Instantly convinced, I purchased them minutes later. About three months in (I won’t ever recommend a product I have not been using for at least 2-3 months), it is everything I want. Dual cleansing—creamy first, gel second—successfully removes all the stubborn makeup, leaves my skin feeling fresh, and to all my sensitive skin friends, it is scent-free. Give them a try if you are also frustrated with your cleanser.
In these bitter cold months, my face is often yelling at me, especially after a walk outside with the wind whipping at my cheeks, to layer on lots of hydration. While I own a fantastic moisturizer it doesn’t feel enough on days like this. So I turn to my rejuvenating and creamy mask from As of Today, formulated with high concentrations of peptides, to give my skin the hydrating boost it desperately craves.
Like many of you, I’m sure, I have partaken in my fair share of sheet masks mostly because they are a fun activity when friends are over but I rarely notice a difference after using them. However, to my surprise, this left my skin feeling great. Hyrdated, fresh, plump, calm. I have a stack in my bathroom drawer to layer on after a wintery day outside. If you are looking for that hydrating boost then here is your answer. Thank me later.
A fun side story: I had the privilege of meeting the founder, Sarah Choi, of As of Today a year ago at Neighborhood Goods in Chelsea Market (which is sadly no longer open). I was wandering around the store on Black Friday and a saleswoman asked if I wanted to talk to the founder of the skincare brand I was pursuing, before I had a chance to say no (I wasn’t particularly in the mood for chatting) Sarah walked up and introduced herself. She didn’t need to sell me on anything because her skin was the epitome of perfection, beautifully hydrated and radiantly glowing. She was such a pleasure to speak to as she walked me through her vision and how and why she formulated the products the way she did. I left excited to try them out and over a year later I am still religiously using the three she convinced me to try: the R Peptide Renewing Mask, R Peptide Handcream, and R Peptide Ampoule Serum. It’s safe to say, I learned my lesson not to be stubborn and quiet and to chat with everyone as opportunities present themselves.
R O W E N and W R E N
Rowen and Wren is a beautiful shop featuring handmade homewares designed in Britain and run by husband and wife team Graeme and Lucy. Their brand aesthetic is a reflection of their opposite yet complimentary styles—warm fabrics and furnishings with a heritage character woven with contemporary accents that fuse into a exquisite collection. Beautifully simple and timeless, their pieces provide daily doses of comfort and joy with home-spun comfort that speak to the notion of a simple life, in harmony with nature's rhythms.
I love how intentionally each item is designed and styled, perfectly lived in with a sophisticated casualness—curating a space where you can imagine kicking your feet up and enjoying a crispy glass of champagne. It is this notion that invited me in and keeps me returning. Well, that, and their products are handsomely and pristinely crafted, you can practically feel the care taken in creating each piece.