From the Archives: Literally Obsessed Edition 001
Hi peeps! Welcome to the *first edition* of "Literally Obsessed." Congratulations on taking the two major steps of: 1. fishing this email out of your spam, and 2. trusting me fully enough to click "looks safe" when the yellow "report phishing" pop-up came up. Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty. This newsletter will take you on an epic journey through the mind of a consumerist with a short attention span and a limited concept of "careful spending." BUT, because when I'm not mindlessly online shopping, I'm sometimes reading great books/articles, watching cool movies/shows, and going to fun exhibits, I'll drop those in too. Enjoy! And if you don't, I promise I'll never bring up the fact that you unsubscribed in a Real Housewives-style table flipping fight in the middle of a dinner party. But I will talk about it with the producers in my confessional.
On y va!
The Product: Dr Singha’s Mustard Bath
Sweatin’ like the oldies
I purchased this bath powder because I thought it would look good on the shelf. Not only was the medicinal branding chic, but the yellow font matched my shower curtain. This is how other people choose their products, right? Moving on. I got into the bath and did as instructed: kept it as hot as possible, sat there for twenty minutes (sweating my face off, I'll have you know), followed it up with a cold shower, and dried off with a "rough towel." Used for years by Dr. Shyam Singha, there are all sorts of purported benefits to a mustard bath. The benefits I noticed? Improved sleep, clearer sinuses, glowing skin. Be careful with this one if you have sensitive skin, but if you don't...once a week for the rest of the winter and you're golden.
Image via anthropologie
Komorebi Sweatshirts
Cool friends doing cool things
"Sustainable fashion" is certainly a buzzy phrase these days. But what if I told you there's a brand that ONLY makes their clothes to order (there's a six week lead time to ensure no excess products are created), uses sustainable farming techniques to grow their clothing fibers, ensures all production machines run on renewable energy and invests in biodiversity projects? And THEN what if I told you that the clothes themselves, from a brand called Komorebi (Japanese for "dappled sunlight"), were a much cooler unisex answer to the Kenzo sweatshirts of the past? Pre-order one now so you can rock it in time for sweater weather. I linked my fave below, which features Koko, the leopard the brand has sponsored. There are only 80 left in the world. Shopping here means saving her (sort of)! Whatever, just do it!
Photo via Komorebi
Charity of choice
Here’s my 25 cents
If you're someone who reads my blog (lol thanks), you might know that I'm committed to doing more volunteer work in my own city this year. However, that doesn't mean I plan to abandon the international charities that I've worked with for years now. I first got involved with The Lunchbox Fund in 2013, after studying abroad in South Africa. At least 4.4 million of the 12 million children living below the poverty line in South Africa don't have regular access to food. The Lunchbox Fund helps to fill the gap, offering school meals to 30,000 children per day, with the long-term goal of feeding every hungry child in South Africa. All meals are macro-nutrient rich, and served by "food mamas," women in local communities who LBF employs. The program needs donations now more than ever due to COVID, and 25 cents can provide one child with a meal. If you donate $100, you are providing four hundred hot, nutrient-rich meals to children in need. 100% of donations go directly to providing food (you should always check Charity Navigator or GuideStar for resource and budget allocation before donating to a cause)!
A very good home good
Even better than Seth Rogen’s pottery (look it up)
I don't own a piece by Alma Berrow, and I don't know if I ever will, but ever since discovering her quirky ceramic work on Lucy Williams' Instagram (a favorite follow - @lucywilliamso2), I've been hooked on her work, which could best be described as "cheeky." From ashtrays with stubbed out cigarettes spilling glitter to faux oyster plates (my personal favorite), they'd add a subversive twist to even the stuffiest of rooms. Commissions start at $350, making these investment pieces that aren't astronomical. Also a fun gift if you're feeling generous!