Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

It’s (weirdly!) that time of again: gift guide season. In a year when the things we need and want are so dramatically different than they used to be, and when it feels like both nothing and literally everything has changed since last year, it’s sort of hard to conceive of gifts that make sense for 2020. But making gift guides is one of my truest pleasures, so I’m going to try my best!

Last year, I published three gift guides, which still really hold up, imho. You can find them all here: 

• Holiday gift ideas for pretty much everyone in your life

• Holiday gift ideas for the Everlane-loving, shit-together homebody in your life

• Holiday gift ideas for the well-dressed, blob-loving creative in your life

This year, I’m planning to do a few gift posts, in similar categories as the ones above (plus a couple of new ones). To kick things off, here are the MVPs that I think will work well for a lot of different people! 

Chile Crunch 

I bought this after a reader recommended it last year and love it on fried eggs and toast especially. Think of it as the new hot honey (which was, by far, the most popular item from last year’s gift guides). Get a jar from ChileCrunch.com for $12.80 or from Amazon for $19.75. (BTW, if you’re looking for DIY/edible gift ideas, you can also make your own.)

Danica taper candles

My precious beauties. (More info on why I love them here.) DM me if you’re obsessing over which color to get or wondering how they look IRL; I own…a lot of them. Get a box of five 9-inch tapers from Danica for $18.50. (Bonus pairing: taper holders — Urban usually has good ones that aren’t too expensive.)

Mexican train dominoes

I was first introduced to this game by Terri and I love it so much! It’s easy to learn and is a very good family game (and it only requires two people, so it’s nice for couples who are spending a lot of time at home together). You can find versions at a lot of different retailers, including Amazon ($39.97) and Target ($24.99), and you can get personalized hubs on Etsy which is a nice way to upgrade a standard set. 

The Comfy

This is one of those “as seen on TV” products that absolutely rules. My mom saw it on HSN and sent me a cream one (which is annoyingly no longer available), and I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. But you guys… it fucking rocks. It’s warm and cozy and so soft, and makes life on the couch or in bed so wonderful. (It’s also way better than a Snuggie in, like, every possible way.) Get one for $39.99 from The Comfy (use this referral link to get $10 off) or Amazon.

At-home Escape Room

This is such a clever way to recreate something that really can’t be done in our current pandemic reality! Get it from Uncommon Goods for $50. 

Wild One dog leash

This leash is such a beautiful color and it makes me happy every time I use it. (There are also several other colors that I’ve spotted around the park, and that are also lovely.) It’s also durable and easy to clean. Get it from Wild One for $58, and pair it with the coral poop bag carrier ($12) for a very cute vibe.

Yeelight smart color-changing bulb

I talked about this in my lighting post and, since then, a couple people have let me know they bought one and love it. Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Joy of Cooking

I swear by this classic cookbook; the authors use Wirecutter-esque rigor to develop truly great recipes. They released a new version in 2019, and it’s a good gift for new cooks or more experienced cooks who have never gotten around to buying this classic. Get it from Bookshop ($36.80), Amazon ($20.91), or your favorite local bookstore.

The Tushy

Fun fact: I regularly included a Squatty Potty on my BuzzFeed gift guides and it always sold extremely well. Obviously, anything hole-related is a “know your audience” gift, so use your best judgment here. But if you’ve already given a Squatty Potty, the Tushy is the next frontier, and while installation is not necessarily as easy as they make it sound — it really depends on your toilet, I think — it’s very doable and worth it in the long run. Get the classic on sale for $89 (normally $109).

Clip-on mini ring light

The current reality of very little daylight + lots of video calls makes this little guy a rather nice thing to have around. (I have one and use it regularly.) You can also clip it to your phone for nice selfie lighting. Get one from Amazon for $13.99. 🎁

More 2020 gift guides: Gift ideas for the design-minded kitsch-loving somebody in your life, gift ideas for cozy types who are always just vibin’, good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious, good gift ideas for the sweet, smart, fun, and cool youths in your life, good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice, and good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30.

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Just Good Shit: 11.15.20

Image: Kiyana Salkeld / Just Good Shit

Hi, peeps! Here’s what I was up to this week…

On the blog

• Sausage, potato, and white bean soup

I was also a guest on WNYC’s All of It talking about hunkering down for the upcoming winter.

BTW, if you are planning to spend the upcoming holidays alone or alone-ish, you might want to check out this post I wrote a few years ago: How To Spend Christmas Alone. I’ve actually spent every Christmas from 2015 onward alone so I have a lot of thoughts on how to get through it.

Reading

‘No One Is Listening to Us’, The Atlantic.
My aunt, an ICU nurse in Michigan, sent me a text a couple days before I read this article that was incredibly similar everything everything this article says. Things are so, so bleak for healthcare workers right now (see also: this and this).

The Pandemic Winter Is Coming to New York, and It’s Going to Be Unimaginably Hard, Curbed.

The Left Isn’t Going Back to Brunch After Trump, NY Mag.

No, This Election Did Not Go “Smoothly”, Slate.

The fifth wave, Mary Retta.

When Discrimination Targets the Privileged, The Atlantic.
This is fascinating, but it’s even more interesting to read in the context of the Mary Retta piece.

The Digital Nomads Did Not Prepare for This, New York Times.

How to Tell the Story of a Cult, The Atlantic.

My boss's boss asked me a fantastic question, Ask a Manager.

Getting in Better Shape Seems Like Too Much Work; Help!, VICE.

DIY Tiny Gourds Wreath, A Beautiful Mess.

Small ways to be helpful

This week I sent PPE to New Georgia Project, an org that is fighting voter suppression, and donated to Liberation Library, which sends books to incarcerated youth in Illinois. I’ve also set up recurring donations to Jon Ossoff’s and Raphael Warnock’s Senate campaigns.

Have a good one! 🍂

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Sausage, potato, and white bean soup

I recently dusted off this recipe — which I first posted about several blogs/years ago, and which was inspired by Olive Garden’s Zuppa toscana soup — and made some tweaks to it, and I’ve been making it regularly ever since. I had forgotten how easy and good it is! It’s also very forgiving; sometimes I’ll add more broth, or not measure out the olive oil or cream perfectly, or I’ll skip the kale because I don’t have any, and it always turns out really well.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1–2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 lb. ground Italian sausage (or use regular ground sausage and add 1 tbsp Italian seasoning)

• 2–3 large carrots, peeled and diced

• 5 and ½ cups chicken broth

• 4–6 small red potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces

• one can of cannellini beans (or other white beans), drained and rinsed

• one bunch kale, torn into bite-sized pieces

• ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and add olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots, sausage, and Italian seasoning. Cook until sausage is browned and cooked through.

2. Add broth, potatoes, and beans to the pot. Turn up the heat to bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

3. Add the kale to the simmering soup, and let it simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. ✨

Other good shit: the perfect chicken recipe and more recipes starring beans and greens.

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Just Good Shit: 11.08.20

Yesterday after the major networks called the election for Biden, my girlfriend and I, like so many of our neighbors, put our masks on and ran to the park for a spontaneous celebration. It was a beautiful fall day here — the leaves were orange and yellow and absolutely glorious — and the relief and joy was palpable. Finally, some good news.

I hope that this weekend you were able to celebrate and rest, and to let yourself envision a future where, at the very least, we have public health experts leading us through (and out of) this pandemic. There’s still a lot to post-mortem, and a lot of work to be done, but at least we know what we’re up against now.

Here’s what else I had going on this week…

On the blog

• The beginner's guide to Bravo

Writing

• Win or Lose, This Feels Bad

• What to Do if You Think Your Cousins Might Give Grandma COVID This Holiday

I was also on a Bitch Media panel talking about self-care right now. And a new episode of Oh, I Like That dropped on Thursday!

Reading

Why Trump Can’t Afford to Lose, The New Yorker.
A good longread on what may become of Trump after he leaves office.

How we got here, how we get out, The White Pages.

America’s Problem is That White People Want It to Be a Failed State, Umair Haque.

Everyone Needs to Be More Furious Right Now, In These Times.

What Black History Should Already Have Taught Us About the Fragility of American Democracy, The New Yorker.

Stacey Abrams’s Fight for a Fair Vote, The New Yorker.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Biden’s Win, House Losses, and What’s Next for the Left, The New York Times.

Tamika Middleton on other issues in Georgia that could use your attention.

Latif Nasser’s thread on “an ancient force” that influences elections.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s How to Get Through the Workday., HBR.

Watch This Snowball Fight From 1897 for a Jolt of Pure Joy, The New York Times.

The Day the Dinosaurs Died, The New Yorker.

Decided last night at midnight that I don’t know enough about dinosaurs, which is how I ended up reading this fascinating article.

70 vetted Airbnbs, all within three hours of New York City, Curbed.
True escapism.

Watching & listening to

I’m currently obsessed with Tiny World on Apple TV+, a nature documentary that is narrated by Paul Rudd, and I have been watching Seduced on Starz. I’ve also been listening to the You’ve Got Mail episode of Blank Check, and Maintenance Phase, a new podcast from Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes.

Have a good night! 🇺🇸

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The beginner's guide to Bravo

Terri is back, y’all! She sent all of the below info to me in a Google Doc several months ago, and has now generously agreed to share it here. My girlfriend and I took Terri’s advice and started with Real Housewives of Potomac, which is great; the women are very funny and their lives are fairly interesting (especially compared to, say, the women on Beverly Hills), and the show is well-produced and well-edited. Now that we’re caught up on RHOP, we’ve moved onto RHONY, and I find myself saying, “What…is…Ramona Singer’s…DEAL???” at least once a day. I’m loving it! Anyway, with everything going on in the world right now, I gotta say… watching Bravo (and discussing the shows at length with my gf/talking about all of this with our friends) has been helping. —Rachel

There are some cultural institutions so deeply embedded into my brain and psyche that I reference or quote them daily, often without realizing — Seinfeld, Airplane!, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and, of course, the Bravo television universe. I started watching The Real Housewives of Orange County back in 2007, and have missed very few episodes of any franchise since. Sometimes, it feels like Bravo is the only TV I watch, so much so that I (unsuccessfully) tried to argue to a Spectrum cable representative that I should only have to pay for one channel as part of my cable package. Alas.

I know there’s a lot of good TV out there, but even before 2020, all I really wanted to watch was people quibbling over a stolen dress from a talk show or whether it’s OK to get a boob job from a “vagina doctor.” My deep, abiding love for the Real Housewives and their kin is such that when I started at BuzzFeed back in 2015 and was worried I wouldn’t make any coworker friends, someone told me, “Just find someone who watches Bravo and you’ll be friends.” And, reader, she was right!

Since the pandemic started, many of my friends have begun watching Bravo out of a need for addictive, low-stakes TV shows that come in mass quantities. And let me tell you, it has been thrilling to make recommendations and welcome people into the world of Bethenny Frankel and Captain Lee that I have largely lived in alone, save for my mom and sisters and some select pals. So I decided to package up those recs into a Bravo beginner viewer’s guide. Like many things, my rankings and recs are subject to change, but I feel pretty confident guiding you into the Bravoverse via this list.

Top-tier shows

Below Deck S3–present

Below Deck is my favorite, and arguably the best, show on Bravo right now. It’s like Real World, in that a group of 20/30 somethings work together and hook up a bunch, but THEN there’s a Downton Abbey upstairs/downstairs vibe going on because there are super rich people that rent the yacht they’re on, and they usually have their own drama going on. The cast changes up every season, which gives it good variety, but it’s consistently good during these seasons. Keep a special eye out for Rocky, Kyle, and of course, Kate. And Captain Lee, obviously.

Below Deck Mediterranean S2–present

Below Deck Med is basically as good as regular Below Deck, even though I personally dislike Hannah, the chief stew. But! This spinoff has Captain Sandy, a queer female yacht captain! And Season 2 is just absolutely non-stop with the drama. There was one episode I will truly never forget watching in real-time, that’s how entertaining it was.

Top Chef

A truly great reality competition show! There are a lot of seasons, so if you want specific recs, my personal favorites are S2, S6, and S17 (the most recent one, which was amazing but also an all-stars one, so you might not know a lot of the people if you’ve never watched before). I especially enjoy going to the restaurants of contestants, they’ve all been notably delicious.

Summer House

Terrible New Yorkers who rent a Hamptons house together. IDK why I’ve been captivated from the beginning, but it truly gets better every episode for me. No need to make it a priority, but I wanted to throw it in here. I think all seasons have been p entertaining, but it got especially good in S3, after a bunch of people got fired.

Southern Charm S1–S5

These first seasons are high-key art, and include, but aren’t limited to: people with exorbitant amounts of old money, a “hilbilly femme fatale,” a surprise lovechild, a no-nonsense older broad who wears caftans and has a butler… the list goes on. TW: sexual assault (off-camera, but Thomas Ravenel, a main character who has since left the show and been completely denounced, is awful), gaslighting, and a lot of plantations/glorification of the South. I don’t plan to watch the new season because 1) these people are racists, and 2) the most recent season was boring/trash. But if you can put aside how awful 95% of the cast is, watch it, it’s really entertaining.

Vanderpump Rules S1–6

Truly Shakespearean. It started as a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff, but it immediately found its legs as something entirely its own. Everyone on it is purely terrible (depraved from the beginning, but many on the cast have been revealed to be pretty awful and racist recently, so….). There is cheating, cheating with best friends, face-slapping, name-calling, and quite possibly some of the least self-aware people you’ll ever witness. It’s soapy and trashy, and just like… classic reality TV, if that’s what you want right now.

Shahs of Sunset

IDK y’all, it’s pretty problematic at times, especially recently, but the cast has truly been best friends for decades, which gives it a sense of history I really appreciate.

Now, you may notice—and be surprised by—the lack of Housewives in this must-watch/top-tier section. This is not an accident. Though they’re viewed as signature Bravo properties, they are a massive time commitment, more niche, and IMO, much more inconsistent. The shows listed here have a much lower barrier of entry and feel much more fresh, at least to me. There are Housewives seasons listed below though, if you’re interested!!

If you want Real Housewives

(Ed. note: you do!!!!)

Real Housewives of New York S3–present

There is not a bad season (or episode) in the bunch, but the action really starts in Season 3. There are fights, sure, but these women are friends and have some fun and ridiculous moments together, and some have been on for the full 12 years, so there’s some delightful character development (or deterioration) and continuity. If you’ve ever wondered how Bethenny Frankel got to be the way she is, heard of someone refer to “Scary Island,” or wondered why someone would jog IN TRAFFIC on Fifth Avenue, buckle up. Note that S3 might be a bit of a slow burn; there was a big casting upheaval after that one (for the better), and things get much more loose and fun going forward. But I think S3 is critical viewing for comparison and to get to see Bethenny before she struck out on her own.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills S1

It’s my humble (and correct) opinion that the first season was the only good one of this franchise. Content note: suicide (one of the main character’s husbands killed himself right after the season aired, probably due to what was revealed about him as a result of being on the show, which makes it a really tough rewatch). You could also tack on S2 and S3, but only if you really like S1. The other seasons really aren’t worth it. I promise.

Real Housewives of New Jersey S1–2

Confession: RHONJ has never been my favorite (too many family members fighting with each other), but S1 has a true villain in Danielle Staub, and the absolutely iconic table-flipping moment. If you want to hear someone yell “Engaged 19 times?! Prostitution whore!” then by all means, check this out.

Real Housewives of Atlanta (any season)

RHOA is a good grab ‘n go franchise; it has its ups and downs, but it’s overall pretty entertaining, with highly memorable one-liners (“Who’s gonna check me, boo?”), some great drama (a brawl at a sexy lingerie party!), and some singular stars. Any season with Phaedra is a wild one, and if you like these women (they’re a blast to watch), then jump in wherever and enjoy the ride.

Real Housewives of Potomac S2–present

I was initially attracted to this franchise because I grew up in the area, but it really picked up during S2. Some wild allegations are thrown around, and the cast has a really good dynamic now. In fact, since I first created this doc, I would elevate the entire franchise to the highest tier of housewives. The women really show their lives, get into detail with each other, and still manage to bring the entertainment. (There is literally a parrot named T’Challa on the most recent season, and his contributions to the episodes cannot be understated.) If you watch, feel free to skip S1 (and go back to watch it to compare once you’re finished with your binge).

Honorable mentions

Million Dollar Listing: LA and New York

I like both cities equally. In LA, you get campy Josh Flagg (and in earlier seasons, his wonderful grandma), Josh Altman (blech) and Heather’s romance, giant LA estates, some celeb cameos, and some real cutthroat competition. In New York, you get my love Ryan Serhant, kooky Fredrik Eklund, a peek into some wildly overpriced New York City apartments, and also some cutthroat competition. It’s as much about their interpersonal and personal dramas as it is about real estate, and I love it! You could start from the beginning—I actually don’t think I ever watched the first few seasons of either franchise, so it doesn’t matter—or you can jump in around S3/S4 and still enjoy it.

Family Karma

This is the newest of the bunch; there’s only been one season and it aired this spring. I loved it! It follows a bunch of 20- and 30- something Indian Americans living in Florida AND their parents, and the parents have maybe even better drama than their kids. I really really hope they’re able to film another season, I am invested in these people.

Real Housewives of Melbourne

IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!!! But if you can, watch it. I’ve only been able to see the first 3–4 seasons and was obsessed, but then they stopped airing it in the US and I’ve been sad ever since.

Real Housewives of Dallas

They’re racist, Trump-supporting assholes, but there were some real unhinged highlights in S2 and S3, if you can stomach it.

Bonus: Canceled Shows I Love

• Bethenny Getting Married/Ever After

• Ladies of London

• NYC Prep

• Millionaire Matchmaker

• Old seasons of Project Runway, pre-move to Lifetime (it’s been meh ever since it came back to Bravo)

• ***my mom dearly misses Princesses: Long Island, but I never watched it. Threw it in here anyway since she’s a real Bravo fan. 📺

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Just Good Shit: 11.01.20

Image: Kiyana Salkeld / Just Good Shit

Hello! I hope, by now, that you’ve voted (or will on Tuesday) and have some plans in place so you feel supported throughout this week. I’ll be making ziti and maybe apple cider donut cake, and trying to keep myself busy.

Here’s what I was up to this week…

Writing

• How to Be Good at Having People Over

I was also a guest on MPR News With Angela Davis talking about COVID and the holidays.

Reading

Wide Awake, The Cut.
“The awakened and panicked and furious populace may suddenly be running as fast as it can through corridors it has been taught are the paths to progress — voting, organizing, unionizing, bringing lawsuits, registering voters, marching, giving money, educating themselves — but the hallways are collapsing.”

Florida Could Decide the Election. Inside the Count That’s Already Underway., The New York Times.

How Trump Could Shock the World Again, The Atlantic.

Don’t Sweat the Polls, The Atlantic.

How Worried Should We Be About Post-Election Violence?, Slate.

Gathering Guide for Election Night, Citizen University.
I love the idea of “civic scripture.”

Remember What They Did, In These Times.

“I Have Done Humanity a Big Friggin’ Favor”, Slate.
A COVID vaccine trial volunteer on what it’s like to be a part of this experiment.

It’s Time to Talk About Covid-19 and Surfaces Again, Wired.

How Do I Grieve?, ¡Hola Papi!

‘I Love My Boyfriend, But I Can’t Trust Him With Money’, The Cut.

I made a monster Sauce with all the leftover condiment packets I’ve hoarded for years, The Takeout.

Living Through History Fucking Sucks, Jezebel.

See you on the other side! 🗳

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Just Good Shit: 10.25.20

Image: Kiyana Salkeld / Just Good Shit

Hello and happy Sunday! The big news of the week around here is that my friend Sally and I launched our new podcast, Oh, I Like That. We’re just talking about things we like — areas of interest, life hacks, books and other media, etc. — as well as sharing our thoughts on how to be a person in society (aka talking about the AITA subreddit and the like). The first two episodes are out now on iTunes and Spotify, among other apps. (And if you want/need transcripts, you can find those at the Simplecast link above.) We hope you’ll listen/subscribe/rate and review!

Logo by Amber Seger

Here’s what else I had going on this week…

On the blog

• Extremely good shit: IKEA Fado lamp

• Unscented taper candles? Unscented taper candles!!!

Writing

• How to Tell Your Family You're Not Coming Home for the Holidays

I’ve also been working on a bunch of stuff VICE’s holiday package! All of the content is great and 100% worth your time, but Amy Rose Spiegel’s list of ways to make your Thanksgiving weird and fun is a true not-to-be-missed gem.

My shit, elsewhere

I was on the Washington State Indivisible podcast discussing talking reaching apathetic voters, and I talked with my pal Nisha Chittal about what I’m doing to prepare for our impending pandemic winter. (I also recommend subscribing to her newsletter — I think you’ll like it!)

Reading

Dear Fuck-Up: Why Won't My Friend Text Me Back?, Jezebel.

On being a “public figure”, Maybe Baby.

A Journey to the Center of a Spicy Dunkin’ Donut, The Ringer.

I Would Sell My Soul for This Dutch Oven, Food & Wine.

Wearing

I decided to finally give the Baggu face masks ($32 for a set of three) a try and they are so great! We ordered two more packs. I’m also loving these autumnal scrunch socks ($22.90 for a four-pack from Amazon) — they are a great fall vibe.

Have a good Sunday night! 👻

P.S. The IKEA shelves I mentioned last week are finally up on the wall…though it got worse before it got better. More on that another day!

Sign up to get these links each week in a newsletter.

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Unscented taper candles? Unscented taper candles!!!

When it comes to making purchases in an attempt to stave off existential dread, candles are at the top of my list — which is actually kind of a new thing for me! It all started when my girlfriend traveled to Sweden for work in early February. In addition to discovering that Swedish McDonald’s is called “McDonken,” and offers “Donken Deals” and “Donken Meals,” she learned a lot about great lighting.

Norrmalms Elektriska in Stockholm

Here’s what she had to say about all of this:  

“I visited Stockholm in February and learned that because it’s fairly far north, you experience regular early-afternoon darkness. Evidently, the shortest days are around six hours, and as you go further north, it’s basically dark around the clock. My guess is that because it gets so cold and dark there, Swedes have become experts in cozy, ephemeral lighting. (See also: hygge.) Even public street lamps were beautiful — soft, glowy orbs. 

In addition to beautiful lamps — think: mushroom lamps and paper lantern orbs — unscented taper candles and candlestick holders were ubiquitous and inexpensive. The candles were widely available in really lovely colors, most notably soft pastels. While I was there, I visited Lagerhaus (basically a cooler, leveled-up Bed Bath & Beyond) and bought as many candles as I could fit in my suitcase. When I got back home, I was reluctant to burn the candles; as far as I can tell, Lagerhaus doesn’t ship to the U.S., and I knew that once my supply ran out, that would be it.

A month or two later, I was browsing the website of Shop Sounds, a Park Slope boutique, and realized they sold colorful, unscented tapers. I bought two 6” pairs, at $6 a set. When I tried to buy more later, they were sold out, so I wanted to figure out if any other retailers carried them. 

Boutiques like this will typically name the designer of each item, but these particular candles were conspicuously missing a designer. Still, the website description offered one clue: ‘Designed and made in Rockport, Maine.’ So, I did a bit of Googling and discovered Danica Design Candles — a candle company based in West Rockport, Maine.

Don’t let their website fool you; the tapers are beautiful, come in tons of colors, and ship super quickly. Not only were we able to order the candles directly from them, in even more colors, they were significantly cheaper: $3 per pair vs. $6. So we ordered a bunch, and, because they were less expensive/easily replaced, started burning them every evening just...because. A new duvet o’clock, basically.” 

The Danica candles are available in several sizes, but we buy either the 6” tapers ($15.50 for a box of 10) and 9” tapers ($18.50 per box of 10). I like the look of the longer ones better, but the smaller ones tend to be a better fit for a lot of candle holders. 

Unscented taper candles were a revelation for me; I’m pretty sensitive to fragrances, so I can’t burn scented candles for very long/too near where I’m hanging out, and I avoid strong candles entirely. And because I was used to jar candles, I had always viewed them as something you do for fragrance/mood first and foremost versus something you do for decor. (While some candles, like Totem and Goober, are obviously decor, I would be less likely to burn them because I wouldn’t want to ruin the shapes.) But because unscented tapers are so elegant and the colors are so lovely, I see them more as a really beautiful decorative item and a way to create a mood. (They are also a pretty good source of light! Imagine that!) And because they don’t have a fragrance, you can light a bunch at once and let them burn for a few hours without getting a migraine. 

I’m also really loving unscented tapers as an (inexpensive) way to decorate for different seasons; this summer, we bought brighter colors (like maize, peach, and antique rose), and are now moving into fall colors (like pewter, honey, willow, bordeaux, and black). Last month, I ordered a bunch of boxes of Danica candles and shipped them to friends as part of a fall care package. (Shout out to my postal scale!) Here’s how our friends Tom and Danny styled the bordeaux tapers we sent them:

Image: @tomgvellner

Taper inspiration

My girlfriend and I follow a bunch of Scandinavian home accounts, and taper candles show up there pretty regularly. Some inspo: 

Image: @danicachloedk

Image: @mariaharmuth

Image: @frollein_herr

Image: @frollein_herr

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @aylagurganus

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @mosebacke

Image: @mosebacke

Other good taper candles

While I mostly stick to Danica’s tapers, I’ve expanded a little bit here and there in the past few months; I bought an ombré taper set from Urban and recently got two Frau Gold ombré tapers from Casa Ziki. The other ones I’m really excited about are these spiral candles from Kiosk48th; the colors are amazing and I love the glossy finish.

Image: Kiosk48th

While those particular ones are currently sold out, I’m seeing similar candles pop up at a lot of other retailers, and Etsy has a ton of not-quiiiite-the-same-but-still-nice twists too.

Taper holders

You’ll need something to put the tapers in, but taper holders are fairly plentiful in bigger retailers, at thrift and vintage stores, and on Etsy. We’ve collected a bunch over the past few months; here are some shopping recs: 

• We recently bought a couple $4.99 IKEA godtagbar candle holders, which are great — inexpensive, and built to catch dripping wax

• Urban Outfitters has lots of cute options, though the specific ones I have are no longer available

• Target has really nice, straightforward taper holders

• Blue and white wedding china–esque holders are plentiful on Etsy and look lovely mixed in with other, more modern, candle holders

• I ordered this splurgey Hübsch metal candle holder this summer, and Førmprojekt has other options in a range of prices

• I love Kiosk48th’s home goods, and their vintage section often has cool candelabras; I bought one that looks like this a few months ago

• Flying Tiger, which is based in Denmark but has stores in the New York area, has tons of unscented candles and candle holders, so I’m excited to be able to shop there again...someday

• A few days after I looked at tons of vintage red wooden candle holders in this style on Etsy, thinking it would be nice to get one for Christmas, my friend Caroline — who had no idea I had been looking at these! — was randomly like, “Hey I thrifted a candelabra that I think you guys would like, I’m going to ship it to you!” and it turned out to be a red wooden candelabra in the exact same style! Thrilling! 

Oh and Hay makes storage bins ($6–$10 from MoMA Design Store) that are a great way to store your growing candle collection!

The thing I really like about the Danica taper candles is that they have forced me to stop being precious about beautiful but ultimately fleeting items. I’ve certainly been guilty of saving things like candles and face masks and journals for some “special” future use, to the point that I don’t actually ever let myself enjoy them. It’s been nice to buy these candles and give myself permission to actually burn them just for the hell of it. 🕯

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Extremely good shit: IKEA Fado lamp

IKEA Lisabo side table, Mimi Ceramics planter, Poketo coaster

As the days get shorter and we prepare for a long winter at home, I’m getting very into lighting! I come to you with two strong recs in this department: unscented taper candles, and, today, the $25 IKEA Fado lamp.

I cannot say enough good things about this lamp, which my girlfriend brought into my life last year. It looks so nice and creates a soft, glowy, warm, cozy light. It also really pulls its weight, brightening up dark spaces without being too harsh.

It was actually impossible to get the Fado in Brooklyn for a while this spring/summer, but I kept checking the website regularly and they eventually returned — so we were able to buy two more, bringing our total to four (two in the living room, two in the bedroom). Other friends have mentioned the same thing happening in other cities recently, but they were also able to get them eventually, so don’t give up if it appears to be out of stock where you live.

The Fado comes with a perfectly good bulb, but if you want to take it to the next level, I recommend the Yeelight multicolor smart LED bulb ($32.99 on Amazon). We have two of these, and have been really happy with them. You can use the app that goes with it to choose the exact shade of white and brightness you want, and/or easily turn the bulb whatever color you want. (My friend Devin sold me on this idea, and now I’m very into it, especially for movie nights. I recommend a pink shade, personally.)

Other lighting-related odds and ends:

• While poking around Tradera (a Swedish version of eBay) this summer, my gf came across the IKEA Lykta lamp, which they no longer produce. It originally came in a bunch of colors; we tracked down a Barbie–fuchsia one on eBay, and absolutely love it. While the color is fairly aggro, it’s balanced by the fact that the lamp is so small. And when it’s on, it looks very much like the wax in a lava lamp, mid-bloop. It’s very flirty!!!

• The Room Essentials G40 clear globes from Target ($12 for a 20-ct. string) are my all-time favorite indoor/outdoor string lights.

• Good floor lamps are hard to find, but Article now has an orb floor lamp (floorb?) that looks pretty nice.

• I’m into IKEA's $12 Tokabo table lamp, which seems like it might be the new Lykta. The lamp’s designer said, “I see TOKABO table lamp as a cute little friend who fits anywhere, on the smallest shelf or table top.” A cute little friend!!! I love it. 💡

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Just Good Shit: 10.18.20

Image: Kiyana Salked / Just Good Shit

Hello! I’m currently taking a break from the hell that is trying to mount IKEA’s Svalnäs shelves. If anyone has successfully installed these (and put things on them without a catastrophic result), please DM me!!!! I have already talked about these shelves in therapy once and I would like to finish this project very soon.

Moving on! Here’s what else I was up to this week…

My shit, elsewhere

I talked to Sarah Galli of Andy’s Girls about RHOP this week! Listen here.

Reading

My Mustache, My Self, New York Times.
If you read one thing this week, make it this. Every single line is so good.

Who Keeps Us Safe?, The Baffler.

Last Exit From Autocracy, The Atlantic.

Safety Turducken, Emily Oster.

Don’t Grieve Alone. Reach Out., New York Times.

The Town That Went Feral, New Republic.

'Emily in Paris' Captures the Worst of American White Girls Abroad, VICE.

Circling The Block, Defector.
I was really stressed out reading this at first, but I was fully smiling by the end.

Have a good Sunday night! 🔨

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