A weeknight spanakopita, inexpensive luxuries and local wineries
A tiny inbox relief from the Black Friday madness.
Hello, it’s great to
see you again.
Editor – Phoebe Tully
—
With all the current madness of Black Friday, I appreciate being in your inbox.
Incidentally, there’s a few ideas you may wish to add to your shopping list – but also a few little joys that have nothing to do with ecommerce. None are affiliates, just things I love.
I have been in discussion with some of my clients for the past month about whether or not to participate in this “capitalism showcase”, and I think we’re all perfectly capable of making that decision for ourselves.
For many small businesses, this weekend is one of their biggest influxes of cash – something I’m all for! So maybe it’s about being a bit of a cherry-picker about who we support, and ensuring that what we do buy are intentional purchases. Things that genuinely make life better for us or the recipient – the small things, one might say.
Oil you need is a dry oil.
I’m not into one-hit wonders; I love a multi-tasker. So let me introduce you to Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil ($).
Diminish the appearance of stretch marks? Tick! Moisturise skin for eight continuous hours? Tick! Leave hair softer, nourished and repaired? Yep!
Apparently “France's Number 1, best-selling dry oil” (I really have no idea how to fact-check that), the formula uses repairing, soothing and nourishing botanical oils, such as macadamia, borage, sweet almond and argan – without the use of any silicones, preservatives or mineral oils. And without any oily stickiness.
As someone who would put orange blossom water into basically anything (whipped cream! ironing water! this lamb shanks recipe!), I was additionally thrilled to find the orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla scent. Although if you prefer a grapefruit, magnolia and musk scent, there’s a version for you ($). And if you like a plain old neroli (citrus) scent, there’s a version for you too ($).
Maybe just get them all. You’ll never want to be without a bottle again.
Layer ‘em up (easily).
OK, contrary to the above, this guy is kind of a one-hit wonder but I love him anyway. A necklace layering clasp ($) is one of those weirdly useful and cheap things you’ll wonder how you didn’t use before (like a mug warmer, seriously, I am going to need to talk about mug warmers soon).
Not only can you effortlessly wear several perfectly-spaced necklaces, there’s only one clasp you need to do to take them all off! You’ll find clasps for just two chains, all the way through to four or five ($). Tangles and faffing around, begone.
DO | Declare a dedicated driver, jump in the car and visit a local vineyard to support your local producers. Expect to box at least a few bottles to enjoy later and remember your day out.
MAKE | A big cast iron pan of delicious, easy spanakopita. This recipe by Smitten Kitchen absolutely changed my mind about how hard and fussy this dish is to make, simply by cutting out the whole stovetop step. Enjoy!
READ | The Lido – Libby Page
WATCH | Another Round (2020)
LISTEN | Dreamland – Madeleine Peyroux