All The Lifestyle, Wellbeing & Experience Picks R29 Loved In October
All The Lifestyle, Wellbeing & Experience Picks R29 Loved In October
At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favorite products that we've all personally tried and tested, just for you, each month.All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.Susan Devaney, Lifestyle Director A new pillow has entered my life and changed it for the better: Cozy Earth’s silk pillow. It’s so soft and silky that when my head hits it, it just sinks right in. Over the years, I’ve tried many pillows, but this one definitely comes out on top. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s worth it. Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Silk Pillow, $, available at Cozy EarthImage Courtesy of Cozy EarthThe first time I experienced the warm and endearing culture of Barcelona in Spain was when I was a teenager. I knew then how lucky I was to get to see Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia being built, but I never thought I’d be so lucky to see it again, completed in my lifetime. Staying at the gorgeous boutique hotel Miiro Borneta last month, I explored the city and Gaudí’s church with ease for a few days. The best part of Barcelona is being able to walk around it, looking up at the unique architecture as you stroll from street to street. The location of Miiro Borneta made this so easy. Nestled around the hotel, I found cute little wine bars, small tapas places filled with locals and a great gelato place, too. Every morning, though, I started my day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. The pastries were too good! Across from the hotel, there's a delightful park. I always love when cities have plenty of green spaces, and Barcelona certainly does! I can only hope I’m lucky enough to see this beautiful city and Gaudí’s incredible church again (top tip: always book your sightseeing tickets well in advance!). You can book your stay at Miiro Borneta Hotel here. Image Courtesy of Miiro Borneta/Harriet AdamOver the years, I’ve added a few GANNI dresses to my closet. So, naturally, I was intrigued by a GANNI x Lululemon collab. Opting for the espresso/pink combo, I’m loving the ruffle-trim jacket for working out. It’s soft to touch and soft on my skin which I really like. And it’s just got a touch of the cool factor too, doesn’t it? Ganni, Ganni x Lululemon GANNI x lululemon Define Ruffle-Trim Jacket, $, available at Ganni, LululemonImage Courtesy of Ganni x Lululemon Karina Hoshikawa, Senior WriterI moved last month, and my new refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in filtered water dispenser. (First-world problems, I know.) Since I was in the market for a pitcher anyway, I decided to upgrade my hydration game with the LARQ, which you may recognize from its popular water bottles. I won’t name names, but plenty of filtered pitchers I’ve tried just don’t deliver the crisp, refreshing H₂O that makes me actually want to meet my daily hydration goals. This one, however, gets it right. It uses a plant-based carbon filter designed to reduce more than 70 contaminants, including lead, PFAS, and chlorine. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty enough to leave on the counter, either. LARQ LARQ Pitcher 2, $, available at LARQImage Courtesy of LARQ I’ve been told by plenty of people that this is an unpopular opinion, but winter is my favorite season. It’s cozy, anchored by the holidays (which truly are the best time of year, and not just because of the song), and it’s the only season that — if you’re lucky — brings snow. The magic of my favorite meteorological phenomenon is captured beautifully in photographer Gray Malin’s latest book, SNOW. Featuring his signature aerial-view style, the book depicts skiers as tiny dots in colorful parkas against sweeping white mountain backdrops. It’s the perfect addition to my coffee table book collection as we transition into the colder months. If you have a skier or snow lover on your holiday gift list this year, I can’t think of a better present. Amazon Gray Malin: Snow, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Amazon As I mentioned above, moving gave me the perfect opportunity to do an in-depth audit of all my belongings — plates included. After finally shedding the last remnants of mismatched dishes and cutlery from my early 20s, I upgraded to a new set of china from Year & Day, which included this gorgeous serving bowl that now houses my fresh fruit and veggies. (I’m a little embarrassed to admit that until recently, my produce just sat naked on the kitchen counter.) The metallic brown hue may not be for everyone, but I find it surprisingly neutral and versatile. The glaze has an almost patina-like quality that makes it feel like something I might have uneart
At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favorite products that we've all personally tried and tested, just for you, each month.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Susan Devaney, Lifestyle Director
A new pillow has entered my life and changed it for the better: Cozy Earth’s silk pillow. It’s so soft and silky that when my head hits it, it just sinks right in. Over the years, I’ve tried many pillows, but this one definitely comes out on top. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s worth it.
Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Silk Pillow, $, available at Cozy EarthImage Courtesy of Cozy EarthThe first time I experienced the warm and endearing culture of Barcelona in Spain was when I was a teenager. I knew then how lucky I was to get to see Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia being built, but I never thought I’d be so lucky to see it again, completed in my lifetime.
Staying at the gorgeous boutique hotel Miiro Borneta last month, I explored the city and Gaudí’s church with ease for a few days. The best part of Barcelona is being able to walk around it, looking up at the unique architecture as you stroll from street to street. The location of Miiro Borneta made this so easy. Nestled around the hotel, I found cute little wine bars, small tapas places filled with locals and a great gelato place, too. Every morning, though, I started my day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. The pastries were too good!
Across from the hotel, there's a delightful park. I always love when cities have plenty of green spaces, and Barcelona certainly does!
I can only hope I’m lucky enough to see this beautiful city and Gaudí’s incredible church again (top tip: always book your sightseeing tickets well in advance!).
You can book your stay at Miiro Borneta Hotel here. Image Courtesy of Miiro Borneta/Harriet AdamOver the years, I’ve added a few GANNI dresses to my closet. So, naturally, I was intrigued by a GANNI x Lululemon collab. Opting for the espresso/pink combo, I’m loving the ruffle-trim jacket for working out. It’s soft to touch and soft on my skin which I really like. And it’s just got a touch of the cool factor too, doesn’t it?
Ganni, Ganni x Lululemon GANNI x lululemon Define Ruffle-Trim Jacket, $, available at Ganni, LululemonImage Courtesy of Ganni x Lululemon
Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
I moved last month, and my new refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in filtered water dispenser. (First-world problems, I know.) Since I was in the market for a pitcher anyway, I decided to upgrade my hydration game with the LARQ, which you may recognize from its popular water bottles. I won’t name names, but plenty of filtered pitchers I’ve tried just don’t deliver the crisp, refreshing H₂O that makes me actually want to meet my daily hydration goals. This one, however, gets it right. It uses a plant-based carbon filter designed to reduce more than 70 contaminants, including lead, PFAS, and chlorine. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty enough to leave on the counter, either.
LARQ LARQ Pitcher 2, $, available at LARQImage Courtesy of LARQ I’ve been told by plenty of people that this is an unpopular opinion, but winter is my favorite season. It’s cozy, anchored by the holidays (which truly are the best time of year, and not just because of the song), and it’s the only season that — if you’re lucky — brings snow. The magic of my favorite meteorological phenomenon is captured beautifully in photographer Gray Malin’s latest book, SNOW. Featuring his signature aerial-view style, the book depicts skiers as tiny dots in colorful parkas against sweeping white mountain backdrops. It’s the perfect addition to my coffee table book collection as we transition into the colder months. If you have a skier or snow lover on your holiday gift list this year, I can’t think of a better present.
Amazon Gray Malin: Snow, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Amazon As I mentioned above, moving gave me the perfect opportunity to do an in-depth audit of all my belongings — plates included. After finally shedding the last remnants of mismatched dishes and cutlery from my early 20s, I upgraded to a new set of china from Year & Day, which included this gorgeous serving bowl that now houses my fresh fruit and veggies. (I’m a little embarrassed to admit that until recently, my produce just sat naked on the kitchen counter.) The metallic brown hue may not be for everyone, but I find it surprisingly neutral and versatile. The glaze has an almost patina-like quality that makes it feel like something I might have unearthed at a vintage flea market. It’s durable, dishwasher-safe, and has already made me feel more grown-up than any other recent kitchen upgrade.
Year And Day Year & Day Sequoia Serving Bowl , $, available at Year And DayImage Courtesy of Year & DayI’m a lifelong reader and book lover — and have been an e-reader skeptic for basically just as long. A lot of my love of reading comes down to the tactile experience: the smell of fresh paper, the feeling of turning a page, and honestly? The joy of not looking at my phone. However, after one too many trips spent forgetting to pack my current read, I finally caved and gave the new Kindle a go. It’s compact (and comes in cute colors that remind me of the iPod Mini era of tech devices) and mind-blowingly lightweight, making it easy to tuck into even a small tote or purse. But the real surprise is how much I enjoy the reading experience itself — something I genuinely never thought I’d say. The screen has a matte, paper-like quality, and I actually feel like I read faster on it, thanks to how easy it is to turn the page with a tap on the right-hand side. (Though that might also have something to do with my current read, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, which is a bona fide page-turner.) I love that the battery lasts for days before needing a charge, too. These days, I’m reading while waiting in line at my coffee shop instead of mindlessly scrolling Instagram. Turns out, I never had to choose between being “team book” and “team e-reader” — I’m both.
Kindle Kindle 32GB, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Amazon
Lisa Dionisio, Newsletter Director
These pink glasses from Hawkins New York are probably the ones most used in my cabinet. I have it in the medium size and it comes in a set of 4. They’re very lightweight but not too fragile, they’re dishwasher safe, and they’re perfect to use as a water glass or for any drink concoction. I love how they can stack so they don’t take up that much space. I’m currently eyeing another set in the large, but I can’t decide among the many fun colors they have to choose from.
Hawkins New York Essential Glassware in Blush, $, available at Hawkins New YorkImage Courtesy of Hawkins New YorkI have so many mini notebooks that I’ve started to add them to every bag I carry. This Moleskine Pocket notebook with the Dotted pages is my current favorite. I’m loving the dotted grid layout to keep my handwriting neat and thoughts organized. Plus, It’s the perfect size for slipping into my work bag or inside my bigger planner. These notebooks come in a set of three and they come out to around $3 each so I’m not very precious with it. I also love that the back pages are perforated for any notes you need to tear away or toss.
Moleskine Moleskine Pocket Notebook, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Amazon
Raquel Reichard, Somos Director
Literie is a woman-founded candle brand using vegan soy-coconut to capture the scent of specific memories and cultural touchpoints, especially the best smells of New York City. I know what you’re thinking: Is there any part of NY that doesn’t make you want to hold your breath? And, actually, the answer is yes. The smell of coffee at your go-to bodega. The whiff of grass during an afternoon walk at Central Park. And that sweet aroma you take in every time you walk past a Nuts 4 Nuts pushcart. That last one is undoubtedly my favorite, and now, living more than 1,000 miles away in Orlando, Florida, I light my Literie Hot Roasted Nut Cart candle to savor the yummy nostalgic scent of nuts and sweet burnt sugar.
Literie Candles Literie Hot Roasted Nut Cart Candle, $, available at Literie CandlesImage Courtesy of LiterieFlorida tap water isn’t necessarily unsafe, but it isn’t exactly the tastiest, either. For the most part, I’ve gotten used to it, so I typically refill my reusable water bottle straight from the refrigerator tap and only stock up on grocery store-bought bottled water when I have guests. But as someone who’s trying to minimize my plastic use, those bulk bottled-water purchases hurt, both my wallet and the planet. This month, I’ve been using the Ninja HydraSense™ Countertop Water Filtration System. Using Precision Pressure Technology with a multi-layer nanofiber and packed activated carbon filter to remove up to 99% of more than 80 specific contaminants, it cleans water while preserving healthy, natural minerals. A bonus: It significantly improves my tap water’s taste, too. And with a 120-gallon filter life, I refill it once a day. Easy-peasy and easily my new favorite kitchen appliance.
Ninja Ninja HydraSense Water Filter, $, available at NinjaImage Courtesy of Ninja
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