Our Top 10 Must-Haves for Our Puppies
We learned so much with our first pup Potato that has come in handy in raising, Ringo, our newest guy. We love the puppy phase and don’t mind the potty training. That said, Jackson and I made this quick list for you of our favorite products that we regularly use with our dogs.
1. Slip Rope Leash
This slip leash is perfect for puppies who are wiggly on walks. We started early with Tato and followed suit with Ringo. We dislike harnesses because they allow the dog to keep pulling without any signal that they are doing so, whereas the slip rope gently lets them know.
2. Himalayan Yak Chews
Our friend Katherine turned us on to these yak cheese chews and they’re amazing! Your dog’s breath will smell like smoked gouda and they’ll be occupied chompin’ on this for hours.
3. Poop Bags with Carrier Clips
This pack of lavender scented poop bags will last you forever (we’ve had ours for 3 years and are still going strong) and even comes with a convenient carrier case you can clip onto the loop end of your leash so you’re never without a baggie.
4. The Classic Kong
The Kong is a classic for a good reason: it’s durable and will provide your pup hours of entertainment. Fill it with peanut butter and pop in a few blueberries then stick the whole thing in the freezer for a bit before giving it to your pup as a popsicle.
5. A Comfy, Neutral Bed
This darling bed is available from Italic in several colors. We like to keep our stuff neutral, so we’d go for either the cream or blue. We have a similar one from then last year.
6. Serious Clippers
We now groom our doodle boys at home. We had enough issues bringing Potato to groomers where he’d come back with a serious gash or a horrible style. Now we use these Andis clippers to do the heavy duty shearing of his coat in the summer before we trim up with a scissor set.
7. Folding Pen
We didn’t go the doggie gate route because we prefer that our dogs don’t have the run of the house when they’re little. We love this folding pen and use it to make a space for Ringo to be in while we’re in the living room or we use it to block of the exit on the back porch.
8. Plush Toys
With our guys, plush toys don’t last too long, but they love them so much and they come in the cutest styles so I buy them occasionally. When I do, I prefer not to pay more than $6 for one and Chewy is my best bet. How cute are these!
9. Puzzle Bowl
Our Ringo guy uses this slow feeding bowl every day (otherwise he scarfs his food down too fast and gets the hiccups which are very cute but probably don’t feel fantastic for him).
10. MudBuster
Cleaning muddy puppy paws is a breeze with this handy tool. You add a little water, stick their paw inside, twist it a bit, and then dry the much cleaner paw upon removal. This is a game-changer for the winter time here.
Bonus: Nature’s Miracle
When you can’t get there in time or your pup surprises you with a puddle of pee, Nature’s Miracle is your best friend. Get the big refill bottle in addition to the spray bottle.
Hope your puppy journey goes splendidly!
xo,
em
August Finds
Stay cool and keep some extra cash in your wallet.
Cute and Comfy Sneakers
I put many kilometers on the old model of these walking through Europe. Love.
Knit Weighted Blanket
If you’re like me and don’t want to shell out $250 for a Bearby napper, this one’s for you.
Ribbed Bodycon Dress
This classic style comes in a nice ribbed fabric and I dig this seafoam green color.
Flamingo Floatie
Milk this last month of hot summer fun by cooling down in a pool with this darling float.
Checkered Oven Mitt
It’s got a new classic kind of vibe with the checker and it’s $9 from Anthro. I mean, how could you not?
Le Pilage Tote
This is a serious discount on these bags! I’ve had the red and the grey and both have lasted years.
Rainbow Eye Earrings
They’re probably a little heavy but perfect for wearing to an event with all eyes on you ;)
Body Gua Sha
Add this to your dry brush and shower routine and get that lymphatic drainage going!
Daisy Ceramic Mug
How darling is this mug?! Handmade ceramic adds such a coziness to my mornings.
xo
em
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: My Top 10 Picks
I confess: I love Nordstrom. It’s where my mom would take us shopping as children, where we’d pick out a first day of school outfit, where I became enchanted with the color and sound and motion of a crowded shoe section. I miss the days of the live pianists, the pink cookies, the cafe.
To me, Nordstrom will always represent the highest quality of customer service. And, of course, it is my preferred shop given their free shipping and returns and price-matching. Unrivaled! Their anniversary sale lasts through Sunday, July 31st, so hurry on down to the store or over to the website and see if there’s something you’ve wanted or needed finally on sale.
Here are ten of my favorite things from the sale, focusing on pieces that are steeply discounted, well reviewed, long lasting, and classic.
by BERNARDO
$200 $120
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more flattering design for a packable puffer. Ditch the straight across lines and go with the butterfly quilting!
The Perfect Vintage Straight Leg Jeans
by MADEWELL
$129 $75
Look, I have some beef with Madewell’s non-inclusive sizing and sales tactics. AND these jeans are great. Both can be true.
by FRENCH CONNECTION
$138 $80
The LBD hero we’ve been waiting for. She’s flirty, she’s formal-ish, she’s fun.
by COLE HAAN
$195 $135
Jackson owns a pair of these and I’m obviously jealous. They’re unisex IMHO and bring a little polish and pizzazz to any outfit.
by AVEC LES FILLES
$290 $160
You know I can’t leave a good pink coat behind. This combines a classic line with a bold color.
by HALOGEN
$39 $25
Where wouldn’t you wear this?! Halogen really nails it when it comes to basics. This is a wardrobe staple throughout fall and winter.
by BLANKNYC
$98 $60
I didn’t think I’d ever want “faux leather culottes” but here we are. These are fabulous and chic.
by BAREFOOT DREAMS
$120 $80
Every Barefoot Dreams piece I own is a dream come true. Amazingly comfortable and durable thanks to bamboo fabric.
by HANKY PANKY
$22 $17
I only wear these underwear. No joke. And a sale is hard to come by on these. You will not regret the purchase.
by GOODLIFE
$125 $50
This is Jackson’s favorite sweatshirt. A hundred bucks is steep for a sweatshirt, but snag it at less than half the price!
Gel Manicures At Home
I haven’t seen my naked nails for more than the hour between polish changes in I don’t know how long. My mother passed on this trait from her mother to my sister and me: we pretty much always have our nails painted.
I used to want to grow up to be the person who named polish colors. In part, it’s a fun femme expression for me when I otherwise have to keep my nails short for music. My natural nails have become brittle and striated in the past few years, so keeping it colorful helps me feel a little more put together. Colors and patterns and gems. But when it chips, it bothers me. So much.
Enter: gel polish.
It’s a little more expensive and a good bit more time-consuming than regular polish, but it’s chip-resistant and has a lacquered finish closer to acrylic nails than to standard polish.
After researching any side-effects of the UV light (it turns out the data isn’t much nor is it conclusive regarding any cancer risk increase), I went online, got myself a starter kit, and haven’t looked back. I’ve tried several brands of polish and this is by far my favorite.
I like to change up my nails about once every 10 days and of course I have gotten back into nail art with the zillion tiny brushes I have.
I tend to alternate between solids and patterns, between muted and neutral tones and bright splashes of color.
I’m still on the hunt for the perfect pink. Suggestions welcome.
xo
em
Red and Pink and Hearts All Over
Y’all. I luuuuurv Valentine’s Day. I love putting red and pink together. I love the thoughtful notes and gestures. I love the dedication to romance.
Y’all. I luuuuurv Valentine’s Day.
I love putting red and pink together. I love the thoughtful notes and gestures. I love the dedication to romance.
But don’t get me wrong: I can leave all the candies and roses and cards. I don’t think these are essential. I don’t think the holiday requires us to be in a relationship to celebrate. My take is this: we all could use a day to appreciate the marvel that is love in all its mystery and beauty. And if that means appreciating it with your friends or by yourself or with a partner, then that is worthwhile.
I like to surround myself with reminders of seasonal events and holidays like Valentine’s.
I always like to have my nails painted. It’s a Grager girl thing I share with my mom and my sister Camille. But my nails are brittle and sad and chip easily and I hate how they look when they’re chipped SO I do gel polish. I ain’t got the money to do the salon for that. I do it at home with a lil UV light and some Aimeili polish. This week, I went for colorful kisses with a matte finish.
In the spirit of love, here are a few of my fave finds. Some are more bougie than budget, but hey dreaming is free.
Candle by Ginger June
$24
Billie Eilish Record in Red,
$22 (BOGO records at the Sound of Vinyl right now!)
Gold Star Necklace by Adornia
$25 (was $170)
LBD by Dress the Population
$198
Red Felt Rancher by Free People
$98
Fuzzy Slippers by Chinese Laundry
$15
Congolese Basket by Tirzah
$45
L’amour Plate by Anthropologie
$16
Y’all got fun Valentine’s / Galentine’s / Palentine’s plans?
xo
em
Goodbye, wallpaper. Hello, paint!
When wallpaper is too expensive but you still want a pop of color and pattern in a space, painting is the way to go.