Key Ingredients v.11

a lot of what I'm wearing, as it turns out.

As we clear the winter solstice and usher in the crisp energy of the season, I hope this once weekly now sporadic newsletter finds you surviving the gallop of the holidays.

The energy for 2025 is [see below left] while also [see right]. There’s a duality I gravitate towards: A full send into the new year, hi hello I MISS YOU where have you been all my life meets I’ll be home cuddling on my couch with my family, hunkered down reading and writing.

And because sometimes life requires that you channel your nineteen year old soul self on the page, my wardrobe come to life is brought to you by an old friend Abercrombie and his best pal Fitch.

Newbies: This newsletter is not a typical selfie filled (indulge me!) shopping spree, but rather a place where I share whatever I’m loving lately. If you’re like heyyy but I signed up for travel posts, for deep thinking, or have no idea how you got here but you’re here - welcome!

Last year, I complimented everything a my age girlfriend wore in repetition. “Abercrombie!” she responded. “What do you mean….Abercrombie?”

“They’re back!”

When I asked my twenty-six year old niece what she wanted for Christmas “Literally anything from Abercrombie.”

Ok perfect as that’s my favorite place to shop now.

Please Do Not Disturb Crew Sweater | Short Sleeve Butter Graphic Tee | Jeep Wrangler Oversized Graphic Tee | High Rise Loose Jeans | Sequin Mini

I subscribe to quite a few fashion forward affiliate links all up in my inbox newsletters with a healthy dose of travel, food, cooking, culture, bookish, all of the above. The gift guide inundation of the past two months had me intuitively hitting delete before I could even click open. There was frankly too much to consume and a small voice inside me said: halt. That’s no fault of the creators - you’re making bank, you send those gift guides soaring.

If you’re feeling subscription fatigued much like myself, and none of this overconsumption actually matters, you have a closet full of perfectly imperfect clothes, bathroom shelves full of product, I give you permission to hit delete.

Medium Thigh Destroy! You got me. Soft and relaxing slipper-esque clogs are the only shoes I (want to) wear: Chestnut Ugg Tasmans and my fluffy rimmed black OluKais full stop.

The ultimate skincare duo for winter:

Ursa Major is my holy grail — no better serum or cream exist in this realm. I get to slather my face with dreamy ingredients like star-tipped lichen, golden aspen, and honey locust seed. Add in Essential Face Wipes for removing makeup prior to cleansing, or as a one step cleanse on the go. Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant always, and finally, Green Slate Mineral Polish for a full send on exfoliation. I’ve exfoliated for years with Tata but Ursa offers a deeply satisfying switch.

Switching gears to ears: Hammered Rectangles for an easy, inexpensive glow up and Riverside Ear Climbers on repeat for a touch of everyday glam.

Shout-outs:

Your Stylist Says - Abby Arad’s got all the style game and her newsletter is approachable, classy, unfussy, elegant, all the energy I want to channel!

Ash Ruddy Unfiltered - if you found your way over here on a recommendation from Ash, welcome! Likewise, I hope you’ll check out her graceful, powerful newsletter navigating faith and family in a secular world.

Happiest of Holidays my faithful subscribers! See you in 2025!!

Some honest thoughts as we enter the new year: