Hey uhhhhh, Christmas is next week and I feel wholly unprepared. I still have like, half of my shopping to do (idk why no one thought to align the holidays with my pay schedule??) and my self-imposed standards for present wrapping are already looming over me. But you can still catch me at the thrift store this weekend pawing through the sad little ribbon section like a feral animal, because I’ll be damned if I ever buy new wrapping supplies again. This year I’m rocking with a roll of very lovely blue toile print paper I got at an estate sale, a bunch of weird little trinkets from the thrift store, little gift tags I cut out myself, and an assortment of ribbons I’ve been squirreling away for months. If it sounds insane, that’s because it is!

Anyway, I’m taking next week off of newsletter writing because it’s the lord’s birthday (have some respect?), but I’ll be back in your inbox in the new year! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and good tidings to you and your kin, etc.

On My Brain

Rivals is the Show We All Need RN

Giggling, kicking my feet watching this show. I say “watching,” but I finished it in three days because I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The plot description didn’t really do anything for me (“In 1980’s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head”) but I saw ppl on the interwebs loving it, so I gave it a shot, and I’m so glad I did. It’s got a bit of Fleabag, a bit of The Crown, a bit of Derry Girls, and is just all-around extremely silly and extremely sexy. My only gripe is Taggie’s wig, which is worse than Teresa Guidice’s real hairline, and I didn’t think that was possible. I have a hard time focusing on the actor because her wig is so comically bad. I need a season 2 immediately, but if I have to wait for them to get a better wig person, I will be patient.

We’re Going to London Next Week!

Yay! We were supposed to visit our friends, Sophia and Harry, in the spring of this year but it was not an intelligent financial decision (lol). But Jeffery felt badly and wanted to make sure I got to see my long distance bff (and he also wanted to get out of the country, tbf) so we’re going for New Year’s!

On the itinerary: a trip to Harrod’s (need to go after finishing the last season of The Crown) and Dunelm (a British home store), a visit to the V&A museum which I’ve heard is lovely, Indian dinner on Brick Lane (still chasing the high of the meal I had there two years ago), NYE dinner in a cozy pub, a day trip to the Cotswolds (I’m desperate to see the English countryside), and a football match (read: soccer game) on New Year’s Day. If you so desire, drop me a line on the question form and I’ll round up my (and Sophia’s) favorite things/recommendations in London and I’ll add it to the next issue.

Checking In Re: Perioral Dermatitis

Good news! My bumpy, itchy chin and mouth area has cleared up almost entirely. I went back to basics with just face wash (the YTTP superfood cleanser) and moisturizer (CeraVe moisturizing cream) and that helped a bunch, and then my friend Rachel gave me a little pot of prescription metronidazole which absolutely killed it off. Feeling so blessed that I don’t have adult acne (yet, lol) and that my skin is getting back to normal. Also sharing the below advice from one of y’all in case it’s helpful:

“For your perioral derm worries: topical metronidazole gel at night, Elidel cream in AM (can be worn under make up), need an Rx for both, but it's what always works for me since I refuse 8 weeks of doxycycline. Good luck.”

In My Cart

Actually I’m like, completely cleared out and the only things in my cart right now are gifts I’m getting for friends and family that I don’t want to disclose, so instead I’ll share with you what I put on my personal Christmas list:

Basic Bitch Uggs for Walking the Dog

I’m getting older and colder (physically), and find myself wanting more warm and cozy things than ever. Two-ish years ago Jeffery got me Uggs for Christmas but Oswald chewed one up, and I’ve been wanting a new pair since. I can’t deny the allure of these platform Tazz slippers with the bright red embroidery (an elevated version of the Ugg slippers I begged my mom for in middle school), and maybe I’ll be lucky enough that Santa snagged them before they sold out for the season, lol.

Speaking of Slippers…

I’m in need of a new pair of *house shoes* and I simply want to replace the Birkenstock slippers I already own. I’ve had them for two years and the sherpa lining is finally starting to rub off, and in an extremely lame turn of events, they don’t sell replacement inserts? So I guess I need a whole new pair of shuffling-around-the-house shoes, because I’ve become a no-shoes-in-the-house kinda gal in the last few years. Older, colder, etc.

Reusable Eye Masks for My Puffy-Ass Eyes

Have I mentioned I’m getting married next year? Well, I want some eye masks that will hydrate my inevitably puffy eyes for the big (huge) day, but I don’t want to eff around with a product I’m not used to because my skin grows more sensitive by the day (my god, is this Christmas list just about aging?). So I really like the idea of these reusable eye masks that you can pair with your own serum, even though I’m sick of seeing content by the founder on TikTok. She still got me!

An Eyeshadow Palette to Replace My Banged Up Old Tarte One

Aforementioned Sophia loves to give me shit for my beat up, passé Tarte eyeshadow palette, and she’s mostly allowed bc she has worked at Birchbox, Sephora, and now Charlotte Tilbury. So I’m hoping that before I see her I’ll have this shiny new Makeup by Mario palette, and I really kinda need it because half the colors in my existing palette are busted up and on their very last leg :).

A Different Scarf to Any of the Ones I Showed You In a Previous Issue

I think I literally told you I’d end up impulse picking a different scarf even when I so carefully chose a bunch I really liked… and yes, I know myself! I saw this scarf IRL at Aritzia and really liked it, so onto my Christmas list it went!

A Perfume Rollerball that Hopefully Won’t Give Me Hives

Yeaaaaah, I did get an itchy, hivey rash from Le Labo Another 13, but I have no issues with Santal 33 and I really love the earthy scent of Matcha 26 so I’m rolling the dice. My current scent is Malin + Goetz Cannabis, which comes in an oil rollerball that I prefer to the spray parfum because it lasts longer on my skin, so I’m thinking I’ll prefer the same for Matcha 26? We’ll see (maybe!).

Stocking Stuffer Suggestions as Requested by My MIL

Idk about your family, but in mine (and Jeffery’s), stockings are mostly for silly trinkets and everyday essentials, so my MIL asked what items we needed. On my list: these socks from Bombas (I stay talking about socks in this newsletter), First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, and travel size stuff for the coming year like this Amika set and this Necessaire set.

In My Belly

Uncrustables Rule, Actually

That’s it, really. We got some Uncrustables at Costco last week and we wolfed them down in nothing flat for breakfast, lunch, and snack. I forgot how good a PB&J is on white bread (I usually make them on an English muffin or add both to oatmeal), and oh man do these things rule.

You Ask, I Answer

Q: Can u advise on some cool everyday sneakers I can get that will look festive?

A: I am, as always, in the sneaker trenches. Sometimes I spend so much time poring over sneaker options on GOAT that I don’t even know if I want to wear sneakers ever again… but my pervasive particularities notwithstanding, here are some everyday sneakers I think are cool and also readily available:

New Balance 9060

Chunky, dad-ish (positive), and go with everything. I love a shoe that gives me big ol’ clompers, and I mean that so genuinely.

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66

After a brief hiatus, Onitsuka Tiger is shipping to the US again! The Mexico 66’s are classic and low profile—they don’t scream “I’m really cool,” they whisper it.

Nike Cortez 

Another classic, and good for wearing with jeans, leggings, and dresses alike. I’m partial to the simple black and white, a pop of blue, or this fun green colorway.

Need a gift suggestion for your mother-in-law’s birthday? Stuck on how to rearrange the furniture in your living room? Want to know what to do with a jar of marinated artichokes? Come to mama. Hit me up with your questions, and I'll answer them in an upcoming letter.