👟 8 things I wholeheartedly recommend
Random recommendations from me to you.
Nearly a decade ago now, I created a Google Doc called Kara’s Guide to Life. It was 21 pages long and in my body copy font of choice at the time, Work Sans (yuck!). It had my travel and restaurant recommendations, a list of random unsolicited advice, and various product links.
It’s outdated (and set to private) now, but here are eight things I’d put on it.
This newsletter contains affiliate links—meaning I may earn a small commission from items you buy, at no cost to you.
Nike Killshot 2 in style “FZ5630-101”, $90
Tired of looking like an NYU freshman, I upgraded my Adidas Superstar sneakers to Nike Killshot 2s a few years ago.
They are the perfect white sneaker. The monochromatic swoosh logo fades into the shoe, giving it a Keds feel, but with more flair! I also just love the gum rubber sole. A few of my friends bought the black version, and I think I’ll buy a pair next time there is a sale, too.
Regarding sizing, I typically wear a size 7 or 7.5 US and have found that I wear 7.5 in Nikes (I wear a 6 in Adidas, if that’s helpful). I use the HouseWork shoe cleaning method for maintenance, which I should be doing more regularly than I currently do.
The açaí bowl from Joe & the Juice at MSP airport terminal 1, concourse C, $14
I have 3k words brewing on airport and air travel food for Home Food, but in the meantime, I simply must endorse the Joe & The Juice (JATJ) açaí bowl.
Airport food infuriates me—I hate spending money on bad food. Usually, I pack what snacks I can, but return trips make that pretty impossible. Reddit searches revealed two recommended spots in the MSP airport for my 3-hour layover, but I wasn’t convinced during my drive-by.
I returned to my gate and got the açaí bowl from JATJ, and I couldn’t have been happier. Since it was cold, it forced me to eat it slowly. I could have used more granola, and the sliced bananas had seen better hours, but it was maybe the first time I’d eaten airport food and not felt bloated and despondent afterward. $14, while still a crime, is better than a shitty $30 quesadilla.
My research reveals JATJ locations at PIT, MSP, and SFO.
East Fork, The Mug, $44
I drink one cup of pour-over coffee every morning, and always reach for one of my three East Fork mugs. These mugs are the perfect size and weight. I have #TheMug in Eggshell, Amoro, and a limited edition pink.
Now I am eyeing the glossy Gumdrop. Gorgeous!
Casper night lights, $19
My husband bought these motion-activated night lights for our kitchen and bathroom. They emit a soft yet sufficient glow, and the motion-activated brightness slowly fades in, making it less shocking during a midnight bathroom run.
Loop earplugs, $25
My saving grace when traveling is these earplugs. I’m a sensitive sleeper, and my body will take any excuse to wake up. I sleep on my side and use just one of these earplugs in my outer ear. They are fine to sleep on directly, but I’ve found that just one plug can muffle new-house sounds or chatty morning birds. I have the “Quiet 2.”
Manny’s Wine Shop, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
My favorite wine store in New York City is Manny’s Wine Shop in Bed-Stuy (on Halsey and Stuyvesant). I don’t know enough about wine to shop with authority, so I appreciate that every wine here has a placard with tasting notes, origin, and style. Most of the wines are natural or organic, and the store has friendly cashiers and an Apple Pay-connected discount points program.
Desktop pen tray, $8
I have no sense of volume or space, and I routinely buy things that are either too small or too big, so I experienced schadenfreude delight when my husband ordered a steel tray to use as a cat litter mat. Reader, it was 6x10 inches.
He gave me the tray, and I’ve been using it to store my dot markers ($10-25, sets one, two, and three) and other journaling accessories. I am loving all things chrome right now.
(He did end up buying the largest tray to use as a cat litter mat and it worked great!).
Hanes crew socks, $9 for a pack of 10
Maybe it’s because I started parting my hair down the middle in 2015, but I am Team Gen Z regarding many Millennial-associated style choices. Skinny jeans aren’t flattering! And ankle socks, when you think about them… are not cool.
I asked my friend Eric, who pulls off a sort of hot dad normcore look (you know that’s a compliment), what the best crew socks were, and he recommended Hanes.
Great I was trying to save money now I’m absolutely going to buy all of these today
The msp açaí bowl 🤩😂