Thingies and “Unmentionables” with Mia Clarke and Eden Laurin of Nyssa
This ~bonus Thursday ep~ is brought to you by the heroes at Nyssa, a company providing products that support women through the most transformative times of life, from puberty to post-menopause. (Hit their site and use the code ATHINGORTWO for 15% off everything, including absolutely ideal postpartum gifts for a friend who had no idea she might need this stuff!) We’re diving into a discussion of “unmentionables” and, duh, Thingies with two of Nyssa’s charming and game-changing cofounders Mia Clarke and Eden Laurin. Oh, and just a quick note: Miscarriage and pregnancy loss come up at the end, in case those are topics you want to skip today.
This ~bonus Thursday ep~ is brought to you by the heroes at Nyssa, a company providing products that support women through the most transformative times of life, from puberty to post-menopause. (Hit their site and use the code ATHINGORTWO for 15% off everything, including absolutely ideal postpartum gifts for a friend who had no idea she might need this stuff!) We’re diving into a discussion of “unmentionables” and, duh, Thingies with two of Nyssa’s charming and game-changing cofounders Mia Clarke and Eden Laurin. Oh, and just a quick note: Miscarriage and pregnancy loss come up at the end, in case those are topics you want to skip today.
the linkage:
The one that started it all: Nyssa FourthWear Postpartum Recovery Underwear.
Mia and Eden’s Thingies: Betty’s Co., which kicks off women’s healthcare at a young age, Nyssa VieWear Period Comfort Underwear and Nyssa VieVision Between Legs Mirror, Dame (see also: “Sexual Wellness Brand Dame Settles Lawsuit With MTA, Debuts First Subway Campaign” from Adweek), the book Designing Motherhood by Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick that features the story of Margaret Crane (who invented the first pregancy test!), the menopause-care hub Elektra Health, "My Miscarriage, in Photos" by Becca Leitman with photographs by Casey Kelbaugh for The Cut.
How great is this free, downloadable teen period guide-slash-checklist?!
Share your Thingies at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. If you’re looking for more recommendations and more fun, a Secret Menu membership is for you.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Head on over to Nyssacare.com and use the code ATHINGORTWO for 15% off.
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Even More Home Trends and the JLo Content That’s Luring Us In
Why haven’t we been talking about JLo more here? Well, we’re about to remedy that—and fill ya in on more, more, more design trends that are speaking to us right now.
Why haven’t we been talking about JLo more here? Well, we’re about to remedy that—and fill ya in on more, more, more design trends that are speaking to us right now.
the linkage:
The women artist biographies/books Claire will be picking up include Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five PaAnne Truittinters and the Movement by Mary Gabriel, Daybook: The Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt, and Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa by Marilyn Chase.
If you’re also looking to do a JLo deep-dive, we recommend reading How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder, Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman, the story of the full-page ad Ben took out back when, Vulture’s Peoria, Illinois, analysis re: Marry Me, and this GQ article about THE dress. Also, listen to Just Like Us: The Tabloids that Changed America hosted by Clare Malone and watch the music video that Ben made to “On My Way To You” for Jen for Valentine’s Day.
In the home-design realm, some inspiration comes from two incredible New Orleans hotels, Hotel St. Vincent and Hotel Peter and Paul.
Fellow lovers of yellow furniture should bask in Billy Cotton space for Grace Morton, Sophie Ashby’s giant yellow velvet couch, and this kid’s room.
If you’re thinking of doing some furniture-painting on your own (inspiration: Matilda Goad’s London home!), see Erin Boyle of Reading My Tea Leaves make-over a dresser on IG and read her guides for refreshing trim and kitchen cabinets.
Wood paneling—SO COOL. See: Sound View Hotel, Les Arcs ski resort, Jane Hallworth for Tinder co-founder Sean Rad and his Wife Lizzie Grover Rad, and Wall for Apricots.
On the Swedish tile stove front, we love painter Mary Nelson Sinclair’s dining room, Victor Hugo’s fireplace, Lindholm Kakelugnar, and this explainer from Messy Nessy Chic.
Your favorite niche JLo stories need an audience! Share ‘em at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
So many more recs coming at you with a Secret Menu membership!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get professional counseling with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
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Guest Thingies with Véronique Hyland and, Ugh, Cooking
Ooh, what a joy it is to talk Thingies with Véronique Hyland, the fashion features director at Elle who coined the term millennial pink and has a brilliant new book, Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink, that checks so many boxes for us. But first, can we discuss cooking motivation…or lack thereof?
It’s time for an update on how we’re doing with our (non-work-related) creative practices, and—hey, while we’re at it—we’ll go ahead and share some thoughts on what it's like to live in a shoe household vs. a shoeless one.
the linkage:
A smattering of dinner-making inspo if you need some too: 1) Brothy soup recipes—vegetarian lemon rice soup, beans and greens soup with harissa, and Helen Rosner’s Roberto specifically 2) The Magic of Tinned Fish: Elevate Your Cooking with Canned Anchovies, Sardines, Mackerel, Crab, and Other Amazing Seafood by Chris McDade 3) @glucosegoddess.
Véronique’s Thingies, coming through! Joe Iconis & Family, beach noir films + TV shows (including but not limited to Inherent Vice, Night Moves, Cutter’s Way, Veronica Mars, Terriers, and Moonlighting), and entertainment podcasts like I Saw What You Did, Junk Filter, and Nostalgia Trap. Key Twitter follows: @the_80s_man and this one account that recaps Paul Schrader’s Facebook posts. Her music recs: atmospheric YouTube videos (see: Music in an Empty Mall) and Mother Earth’s Plantasia. And when it comes to fashion, she needs you to know about Dauphinette by Olivia Cheng—amazing coats and other incredibleness also.
You can find Véronique at @niquepeeks, veroniquehyland.com, and, of course, in the pages of Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink
Book events—something we love and have missed! See Véronique in conversation with Robin Givhan in D.C. on March 19 and chatting it up with Marisa Meltzer in NYC on March 25.
Share your Thingies at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
Get all the recs, all the weeks with a Secret Menu membership!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Download the free Zocdoc app and book that doctor’s appointment today.
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How We're Thinking About Creativity and Shoeless Households
It’s time for an update on how we’re doing with our (non-work-related) creative practices, and—hey, while we’re at it—we’ll go ahead and share some thoughts on what it's like to live in a shoe household vs. a shoeless one.
It’s time for an update on how we’re doing with our (non-work-related) creative practices, and—hey, while we’re at it—we’ll go ahead and share some thoughts on what it's like to live in a shoe household vs. a shoeless one.
the linkage:
Claire’s creative resources: Wendy MacNaughton’s DrawTogether podcast, The Artist's Way (plus this New Yorker interview with the author Julia Cameron), and Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
Erica’s creative resources: Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer and Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell.
Share your creativity thoughts and feelings (and shoes-in-the-house musings) at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
Get more recs in your inbox with a Secret Menu membership!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Try professional counseling with BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month with our link.
Understand your reproductive health with Modern Fertility—$20 off your test with our link.
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Get your birth control online with The Pill Club, which will make a $10 donation to Bedsider.org when you use our link..
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Beauty Stuff We're Loving—Plus Themed Entertainment
Introducing an ode to the beauty products and concepts we’ve been very into. Plus! The odd joy of creating entertainment syllabi to curb streaming (and reading) indecision.
Introducing an ode to the beauty products and concepts we’ve been very into. Plus! The odd joy of creating entertainment syllabi to curb streaming (and reading) indecision.
the linkage:
If you’re also looking to take a Kirsten Dunst deep-dive, you’re gonna want to read this New Yorker piece.
The beauty products we’re all about: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, Freck Cheekslime in Fielding, Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal, Trish McEvoy Long-Wear Lipliner in Barely Nude, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude, Jenni Kayne Oak Essentials Cleansing Balm, Clinique’s Take the Day off Cleansing Balm, and Shani Darden Retinol Reform.
And if you’re looking to learn more about dry skin vs. dehydrated skin, dig into this Byrdie article.
Let’s not forget to acknowledge accidental plopping after a Sunday-night shower.
Share the beauty stuff you think we really have to try at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
If you’re in the mood for many more recs, there’s a Secret Menu membership for that.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get your vitamins from whole foods with GEM and take 30% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
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Author Rumaan Alam's Thingies and the Cross-Body Phone
This week, we muse on cross-body phone holders—time will tell if the trend wins us over—and talk Thingies with Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind, That Kind of Mother, and Rich and Pretty…books that are Thingies in their own right.
This week, we muse on cross-body phone holders—time will tell if the trend wins us over—and talk Thingies with Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind, That Kind of Mother, and Rich and Pretty…books that are Thingies in their own right.
the linkage:
His Thingies: The Fitbod app, audiobooks of dad books via Libro.fm, uniform dressing, Cate Le Bon, and some real page-turners including Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson, Luster by Raven Leilani, Last Resort by Andrew Lipstein, and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor.
Share your Thingies guest noms! 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
A dose of our recs coming to your inbox weekly with a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Try Nutrafol for thicker, healthier hair. Your first month’s subscription is $15 off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Give professional counseling a shot with BetterHelp—10% off your first month with our link.
Slip into Honeylove, bras and underwear you can feel great about. 20% off your second item and 10% off your whole order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Download Best Fiends—for free—on the App Store or Google Play.
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The Home Trends That Have Us Wanting to Redo a Room
Recording live from a frictionless day, we’re talking all about the home trends that we’ve been loving right now, from Murano glass to canned-tomato decor.
Recording live from a frictionless day, we’re talking all about the home trends that we’ve been loving right now, from Murano glass to canned-tomato decor.
the linkage:
If you’re also having a Murano glass moment, check out this NYT article and this YouTube video showing the process and then dig into some of our favorites in the Murano and Murano-inspired world: Sogni Di Cristallo, Ichendorf Milano, LagunaB, Susan Alexandra, Edie Parker Flower, Face Vessel by Degen, Casa Celva, and Serena Confalonieri.
For fans of marble everything, No One Alike goes hard at the decor, Concrete Cat makes epic lazy susans, Voutsa x Lambert McGuire Design has incredible wallpaper, and if you’re ever in Italy, Il Papiro in Florence makes incredible marbled paper goods as does Conti Borbone in Milan.
For floral motifs and more Italian vibes, check out Lisa Corti, Miho, and Issimo.
For turning your space into a GD garden, we love Bill Rebholz’s canned tomato print, Erin Jang’s asian pear print, and the oh-so-classic Enzo Mari apple print. Nonna’s Grocer carries some hyper-real citrus candles, and Handmade Soap Emporium has outrageous grape soaps. And we can’t talk about produce decor without mentioning Bordallo Pinheiro's cabbage dishes (also: the pepper storage box and the cabbage lamp).
For some magical hand-painted walls and furniture, check out the hotel Mesón Hidalgo in San Miguel de Allende, this Jake Arnold dining room, Beata Heuman kid’s room and this bar in another Beata Heuman project, and these bedside tables from Studio Ashby.
For some lots more design inspo, check out Annamarie Tendler’s profile in Harper’s Bazaar, Jayna Maleri’s home tour in Domino, Maire Coulson’s house in Architectural Digest, Brett Heyman’s home tour in Domino, Margherita Missoni home tour in Architectural Digest, and Beata Heuman’s mom’s house.
Let us know what home stuff you’re into (or any glass-blowing class experience you have!) at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
More recs coming your way with a Secret Menu membership!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Discover N°1 DE CHANEL.
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Val Monroe’s Thingies and the Weirdness of Signatures
Let’s talk about signing your name (hello, strange custom) and dig into Val Monroe’s Thingies! This genius woman—the former beauty director of O, The Oprah Magazine—writes the extremely thoughtful and epically named newsletter How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, and we’re fairly obsessed.
Let’s talk about signing your name (hello, strange custom) and dig into Val Monroe’s Thingies! This genius woman—the former beauty director of O, The Oprah Magazine—writes the extremely thoughtful and epically named newsletter How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, and we’re fairly obsessed.
the linkage:
Let’s talk about signing your name (hello, strange custom) and dig into Val Monroe’s Thingies! This genius woman—the former beauty director of O, The Oprah Magazine—writes the extremely thoughtful and epically named newsletter How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, and we’re fairly obsessed.
Sign up for Val’s newsletter at valeriemonroe.substack.com immediately. This is the moving installment on Facetiming with her granddaughter.
Val had a bunch of reading (and audiobook-listening) recommendations: the Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel, How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee, Mike Nichols: A Life by Mark Harris (see also: Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris and Rewrites: A Memoir by Neil Simon), The News Sorority by Sheila Weller, The Overstory by Richard Powers, The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
For a companion newsletter to Val’s, subscribe to Jessica DeFino’s The Unpublishable.
Beauty-ish things Val raves about: her aminolevulinic acid treatment experience, Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50, the French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, Laura Geller Baked Foundation, and Tocca Florence Laundry Delicate.
Share your favorite Thingies at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. Please!
If you’re in the mood for many more recs, there’s a Secret Menu membership for that.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Download the Zocdoc app for free and book that doctor’s appointment already.
Get your birth control online with The Pill Club, which will make a $10 donation to Bedsider.org when you use our link.
Feel fresh all day with Native and get 20% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
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Our Best Shopping Memories—and Our (Many) Thoughts on Robes
This week, we’re getting wrapped up in a conversation about robes, the practice of towel time, and our favorite shopping memories featuring dated (but iconic!) tie skirts and timeless wrap dresses.
This week, we’re getting wrapped up in a conversation about robes, the practice of towel time, and our favorite shopping memories featuring dated (but iconic!) tie skirts and timeless wrap dresses.
the linkage:
Some of the robes we love, for your lounging pleasure and leisure: Parachute’s Classic Turkish Cotton Robe, Skin’s Sierra Robe and Basic Double Layer Wrap Robe, Eberjey’s Rosalia Robe and Alpine Chic Super Sherpa Robe, and all the fun ones Block Shop and Print Fresh make. And how ‘bout this wings + horns Ace take?
Share your robe and towel-time rituals! 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
For many, many more of our favorites, get yourself a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Discover N°1 DE CHANEL.
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Grappling with Planning and Revisiting Nostalgic Scents
Get ready to take a trip down (your nose’s) memory lane because we’re talking about the scents of our youth. Oh, and: We’re making a plan to prevent contingency-planning from becoming a full-blown hobby.
Get ready to take a trip down (your nose’s) memory lane because we’re talking about the scents of our youth. Oh, and: We’re making a plan to prevent contingency-planning from becoming a full-blown hobby.
the linkage:
Scent-sational reading: this 1988 New York Times article, written during the dawn of the age of the perfume ad, the book The End of Fashion by Teri Agins on how perfume and stockings became luxury-brand cash cows, and this BBC article about the heyday of celebrity fragrances.
Scentmatchers.com—go for the URL, stay for the extensive dropdown menu.
Check out our near-obsession Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman for a welcome perspective on time-management.
Did you have a signature scent? Is there some discontinued fragrance you’re sniffing around for? We need to know—@athingortwohq, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and 833-632-5463!
Sign up for Secret Menu for more, more, more where this came from.
the sponsors (and promos!):
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Support your business (big or small) with Shopify. Get a free 14-day trial with our link.
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Content We Feel Great About Right Now
We’re in need of things to enjoy—no, relish: Bring on the comfort content! Please! If you have recs, share ‘em with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
We’re in need of things to enjoy—no, relish: Bring on the comfort content! Please! If you have recs, share ‘em with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
the linkage:
Read more about CUNY’s anonymous cash donor in the New York Times.
Check out Lewis Miller’s Flower Flash book, his Instagram, all of it.
To watch All That Jazz (not on a Delta flight), it’s all about the Criterion Collection.
Listen to Once Upon a Time…at Bennington College podcast for all the hot 1980s undergrad goss about literary icons. (Check out the oral history that inspired the podcast, too.)
Everything Mindy Kailing touches is gold, and we’re especially sweating The Sex Lives of College Girls (what a name).
As for things we’re excited for in the future? Season 2 of Starstruck, Season 2 of White Lotus, and a Marcel the Shell with Shoes On movie!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Harnessing the revitalizing powers of the Red Camellia flower, Chanel research introduces a new generation of sustainably developed skincare.
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Guest Thingies with Harling Ross Anton and “Everything Is Nice in Here”
This week, we talk Thingies with the writer, creative consultant, and theorist behind the 3 p.m. outfit expiration, Harling Ross Anton. She also breaks down her rubric for what makes a good recommendation. All this to say: Everything is nice in here.
This week, we talk Thingies with the writer, creative consultant, and theorist behind the 3 p.m. outfit expiration, Harling Ross Anton. She also breaks down her rubric for what makes a good recommendation. All this to say: Everything is nice in here.
the linkage:
Harling’s Thingies! Fleece-lined black tights (all of them, really), Merit's The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick (Harling uses the shade bisque.), Chinya’s milk frother, Mighty Sesame Co.’s Tahini in a Squeeze Bottle, a made-just-for-her button-down shirt from Chava, DGL licorice extract for heartburn, D-Mannose for UTIs, and fantasy novels like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Plz, plz follow Harling for so many more recs! She’s extremely good at them.
Share your favorite thingies at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
For more of our favorites, get yourself a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
See that show you’ve always wanted to see—or discover something new that you’ll love just as much, for even less - visit TodayTix and use promo code athingortwo to get ten dollars off your first purchase.
Get thicker, healthier hair with Nutrafol. Your first month’s subscription is $15 off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
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Try professional counseling with BetterHelp—10% off your first month with our link.
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The It’s Not That Deep Woman, Acknowledgment Sections, and Next-Lev Work Hacks
It’s the first episode we’re recording in 2022, and we have THOUGHTS! TO! SHARE! We discuss the It’s Not That Deep archetype, the wackiest (slash most ingenious) “work smarter and not harder” moments, and acknowledgment sections—unskippable, if you ask us.
It’s the first episode we’re recording in 2022, and we have THOUGHTS! TO! SHARE! We discuss the It’s Not That Deep archetype, the wackiest (slash most ingenious) “work smarter and not harder” moments, and acknowledgment sections—unskippable, if you ask us.
the linkage:
Related to the It’s Not That Deep mentality: Tune into our perfectionism ep (and maybe pick up Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, too.).
Two essays on the acknowledgment section: "With a Little Help From Their Friends (and Agents and Librarians and Fact-Checkers ...)" by Jennifer Senior and "Against Acknowledgments" by Sam Sacks.
One of our favorite acknowledgement sections of late was from Black Buck—and don’t worry, we asked the author Mateo Askaripour about it when we interviewed him.
Have thoughts (or a story about an extreme case of working smarter and not harder)? We want to hear them at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq!
If you like this, you’ll love Secret Menu. We think!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Right now, The Pill Club is offering a $10 donation to Bedsider.org for every A Thing Or Two listener who becomes a patient.
Download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor
Honeylove is designed for comfort and looks. Get 20% off your second item, PLUS an ADDITIONAL 10% off with code ATHINGORTWO.
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Guest Thingies with Kelly Wright of Yuns and Romance Reads Ya Need
If you need a Week Two 2022 pick-me-up, how about an all-consuming romance novel and some Thingies from our guest Kelly Wright, founder of the internet’s coolest hardware store, Yuns?
If you need a Week Two 2022 pick-me-up, how about an all-consuming romance novel and some Thingies from our guest Kelly Wright, founder of the internet’s coolest hardware store, Yuns?
the linkage:
For romance novels featuring autistic leads, pick up The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test, and The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (<< someone profile this woman!)! For a straight romance by a queer couple, read The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta. For one that features our beloved University of Chicago, check out People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (and also her books Beach Read and Book Lovers, which is out in May). And for something Harry Styles fanfic–adjacent, grab If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich.
If you want to *listen* to your next romance, check out Bone, Marry, Bury this February from Rachael King and Becca Freeman of RomComPods.
Time for Kelly’s Thingies! Edith’s Iced Cafe, Ronny’s Seltzer, Bonk Planners, "The Untold Story of Sushi in America" via The New York Times, Viennetta, and Oda Speakers.
As for Kelly’s DIY advice, her favorite tool at the moment is a pair of slip joint pliers, and she also thinks a hammer, a Phillips-head screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver, and a tape measure should be in your toolbox regardless of experience (all available at helloyuns.com, duh).
Are there Thingies you're dying to share? Hit us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
For more of our favorites, get yourself a Secret Menu subscription.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Grow your business with Shopify today.
Bring a friend, or even your significant other, to see ‘Redeeming Love’!
The easy and affordable way to test your fertility hormones at home? It’s through Modern Fertility. Save $20 off of your test today!
We want you to start living a happier life today. Visit BetterHelp and you’ll get 10% off your first month.
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Obligation, People-Pleasing, and Pillows (Yes, Pillows)
This episode is all about the pressures we feel on our lives and our time (and, to a lesser extent, our necks and our tailbones). Don’t sleep on this one, is what we’re saying.
This episode is all about the pressures we feel on our lives and our time (and, to a lesser extent, our necks and our tailbones). Don’t sleep on this one, is what we’re saying.
the linkage:
Live that ComfiLife! Side-sleep with a Hullo pillow!
The “Things We Want to Leave Behind and How to Start a Running Routine” ep we reference.
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin—there’s also a quiz for that.
A handful of reads related to parenting (and, sigh, house work): All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior, Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu, and More Work For Mother by Ruth Schwartz Cowan.
An enthusiastic endorsement of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
Dirt’s “The season of tabs” newsletter by Alex Aciman. WE RELATE.
"The Myth of the Productive Commute" installment of Anne Helen Petersen’s Culture Study newsletter.
Talking about protecting your time with Mimi O Chun and “what happens if you don’t?” with Caroline Moss.
For last-min. presents, might we suggest Secret Menu gift subscriptions?
Please share your obligation feeeeeelings! 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Try professional counseling with BetterHelp—10% off your first month with our link.
Sleep cozy in Printfresh—and get 15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
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Thingies and Dumplings: a Delicious Combination
We’re steaming (and pan-frying!) a lot of frozen dumplings, and we’re recommending a lot of Thingies. Come along with us, huh?
We’re steaming (and pan-frying!) a lot of frozen dumplings, and we’re recommending a lot of Thingies. Come along with us, huh?
the linkage:
But first: latke cookies.
A dumplings-as-an-aesthetic episode of this very podcast.
Frozen dumplings we’re into: Fly by Jing and Nom Wah.
Stunning rainbow dumplings we’re into: Sandita’s rainbow dumplings.
Three things that make a big difference when cooking up dumplings at home: a bamboo steamer, Chinkiang black vinegar, and these Wing on Wo soup spoons. Another helpful resource: Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes.
Ok, Thingies!! Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Volume Mascara (Claire) and Lily Lolo Natural Vegan Mascara (Erica), Saint Olio cleaner (plus hand sanitizer), Wolford tights (start with Velvet De Luxe 50 or 66), Zicam lozenges, Maldon salt (see: this Bon App article), Kewpie Deep-Roasted Sesame Dressing, Lo & Sons The O.G. 2 carry-on (plus a charming video), Kinto kids’ dishes, and Trader Joe’s Roasted & Salted Marcona Almonds with Rosemary.
Secret Menu gift subscriptions are ready and waiting.
Hit us with your feedback, your Thingies noms! 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq
the sponsors (and promos!):
Download the (free!) Zocdoc app and book that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off.
Take a break with Dipsea’s hot ‘n heavy audio stories—you get a free 30-day trial when you use our link.
Get your romance-movie fix with Redeeming Love, out in January.
Treat the skin on your body right with Esker and get 20% off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Holidays and Giving with Caroline Moss (and the New Illustrated Us!)
Caroline Moss, host of the podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It!, brings joy to everything she does, and we’re jazzed to ride her wave of holiday-giving enthusiasm straight through December and into 2022. Another thing we’re taking into next year is our new mantra: What happens if you don’t?
Caroline Moss, host of the podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It!, brings joy to everything she does, and we’re jazzed to ride her wave of holiday-giving enthusiasm straight through December and into 2022. Another thing we’re taking into next year is our new mantra: What happens if you don’t?
the linkage:
Julie Houts did the wonderful new illustration of us ya see in our podcast art! You’ve gotta check out her Instagram! Ooh, and shop her prints!
Related content: Erica waiting for Claire in fitting rooms.
If you don’t listen to Caroline’s podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! yet, you’re in for a treat. Our Black Friday ep with her could be a good starting point. Don’t sleep on her gift guides either—or the book she co-wrote Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails.
Caroline’s go-to Hallmark holiday movie: The Christmas List.
A few holiday giving initiatives Caroline supports and you can too (like, this year—not at all too late!): Operation Santa (there’s a doc, Dear Santa, about it, even) and Transanta.
Vulture on the Christmas ep of Ted Lasso.
Re: Venmo and taxes, this Forbes piece.
“What Mutual Aid Can Do During a Pandemic” by Jia Tolentino for The New Yorker.
Tell us all of your thoughts! At 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq!
Secret Menu six-month or one-year gift subscriptions are very much a thing.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get thicker, healthier hair with Nutrafol. Your first month’s subscription is $15 off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Try Printfresh’s perfect-for-gifting sleepwear—and get 15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Give professional counseling a shot with BetterHelp—10% off your first month with our link.
Scoop up Ana Luisa jewelry during their biggest sale of the year—60% off on the second item you purchase with our link.
YAY.
BECs, Celebrities Reading Memoirs, and Other Things We Love Talking About
What an episode we have in store! We’re going deep on some of our favorite recent discoveries from our Monday newsletter—which: If you aren’t signed up for that thing, now's your chance to fix that.
What an episode we have in store! We’re going deep on some of our favorite recent discoveries from our Monday newsletter—which: If you aren’t signed up for that thing, now's your chance to fix that.
the linkage:
The usefulness of the term bitch eating crackers (BEC) (for context: Someecards).
Celebrity memoirs as audiobooks: Inside Out by Demi Moore, Acid for the Children by Flea, and Yearbook by Seth Rogen (see also: this profile by Jonah Weiner for NYT Magazine). Next up: My Life So Far by Jane Fonda, Faithfull by Marianne Faithful, The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish. Oh, and: the podcast Celebrity Book Club with Steven & Lily. Also: Please read Open by Andre Agassi and J.R. Moehringer!
Important breaking news: There is now Spelling Bee merch.
Let’s hear Claire’s QVC pitch for the Pattern mist spray bottle!! Somewhat related: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater...as a hair product?
Erica’s 11 a.m. tea go-to: Soul Chai. Another (slightly sweetened rec): Dona.
A workspace-changing Philips Hue light strip. You may also like: Gorilla mounting tape, Storage Theory Power Perch, and the Pretty Handy Girl video for changing your doorknobs.
Jewelry renovation with Spur = talk about amazing.
You know we love to hear from you! Get us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
Didya know we do six-month or one-year Secret Menu subscriptions? Ideal for gifting, tell you what.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Find your body skin type with Esker and get 20% off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Control your coffee and tea temp with Ember. It’s 10% off for first-time purchasers with our link.
Snuggle up with Printfresh’s perfect-for-gifting sleepwear—and get 15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Score Ana Luisa jewelry during their biggest sale of the year—60% off on the second item you purchase with our link.
YAY.
Rolling Calls and a Round of Guest Thingies with David Cho
You know what we love? When someone makes a thing we’re really desperate to use. Which means we can’t wait for the launch of Postcard, a tool to help us share our travel recommendations in an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing way. We’ll let David Cho tell ya all about it...and share his Thingies. That’s right: a guest Thingies ep. Tell us how you feel about that??
You know what we love? When someone makes a thing we’re really desperate to use. Which means we can’t wait for the launch of Postcard, a tool to help us share our travel recommendations in an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing way. We’ll let David Cho tell ya all about it...and share his Thingies. That’s right: a guest Thingies ep. Tell us how you feel about that??
the linkage:
Two relevant celebrity memoirs: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling and Yearbook by Seth Rogen.
Oh, the joy of a website called findcelebrityjobs.com.
Be Postcard guinea pigs! Make some lists! Send them to us!
David’s Thingies! Orion Turtle Chips Choco Churros Flavor (and Sweet Corn if you’re us), Rose Delights, therapy!!!, Golden Fertile Eggs, Sun Ha Jang in L.A., and “A Home Movies Thanksgiving Special with Alison Roman” (also her spring chicken with crispy leeks recipe).
Do you have Thingies noms? Hit us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq.
For so many more of our favorites, get yourself a Secret Menu subscription.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Scoop up Ana Luisa jewelry during their biggest sale of the year.
Keep that coffee and tea at the perfect temp with Ember. It’s 10% off for first-time purchasers with our link.
Grab tickets for Redeeming Love and get your romance-movie fix.
Snag Printfresh’s perfect-for-gifting sleepwear—and get 15% off your first order with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Gift Guide Round 3: Siblings, Teens, Co-Workers, Friends, and Grandparents!
Our third gift guide ep already?! We know. There’s so much ahead—and behind if you missed part 1 and part 2—but if you’re still on the present hunt, subscribe to Secret Menu for many more holiday-shopping thoughts ‘n feelings.
Our third gift guide ep already?! We know. There’s so much ahead—and behind if you missed part 1 and part 2—but if you’re still on the present hunt, subscribe to Secret Menu for many more holiday-shopping thoughts ‘n feelings.
the linkage:
Kids and Teens!
Almost 14 year old girl Brooklyn kid
Art! Ideal Bookshelf 974: Feminists by Jane Mount, The Ten Largest, No. 2, Childhood, Group IV by Hilma af Klint, Krista Marie Young painting, and Amber Vittoria prints
The start of a charm bracelet, maybe with this Catbird Holy Cannoli charm
Lizzie Fortunato Little Candy DIY Kit (for a younger kid: Super Smalls or Susan Alexandra)
This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew
D C-T! by Joana Avillez and Molly Young
Donation to Girl Up
Monogrammed tech accessories from Leatherology
Angsty teenage nephews who already have everything
Art! Eye Test Chart by George Mayerle, Every Outdoor Basketball Court in Manhattan by Jenny Odell (paired with How to Do Nothing?), or something from Top Posters & Prints
Via the Public Announcement newsletter: Procure an iPod, load the iPod with music you love, give the iPod to the kid.
Snacks: Bokksu, Patagonia Provisions, Lani Halliday pop-tarts, Blondery Blondies, or Oreo ID
Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use it by Jamie Margolin
Donation to Canines for Disabled Kids
10 year old niece who is obsessed with Japan (Japan trip isn't in the budget)
Pen pal through Pen Friend Clubs of Japan (PFC)
Sanrio! Gudetama bank, Hello Kitty happy lunch box set, and all the stickers, pens, notebooks
Nephews/Godsons who already have so much stuff. They are 6 months (read: only interested in food but not really able to eat it) and 4. The 4 year old loves trucks, singing, Toy Story, and learning about everything. but he has all of the things! While I think donations are cool, I'm not really interested in that for a four year old who won't understand that i didn't forget to give him a gift.
Brothers and Brothers-in-Law!
My 35 yo brother who exclusively wears shirts from regattas, has horrible taste in women
Games: Wolfum checkers/chess set or Molkky
Brother who's living #vanlife
Fancy tinned fish: Big Night if you’re in NYC, Conserva Culture, and Fishwife
Westerlind for clothes
Alice Waters egg spoon or one from Eggspoon.com
Libro.fm subscription for audiobooks
Feeding America donation
Sisters and Sisters-in-Law!
Sister - has main character energy. Runs an apple cider vin business. Into funky style.
Custom perfume from Nova
Isabel Halley wine cups or dessert plates
Custom hand-painted sign from Cevallos Brothers or Olive Panter
My sister: hyper-intellectual, single, gay, social justice dr., autoimmune issues so stuck home.
Mary Roach books: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, and Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Sister in law who is mostly great and has very good taste but veryyy self absorbed, always has long term relationships but then doesn't commit because she doesn't believe in compromise, likes good food wine coffee, and also clothes (everlane/& other stories), likes to be luxe but in a slightly (not completely) subdued way.
Ceramic coffee set-up, like Anna Lebrija french press or Zizi Ceramics dripper set
Big Macs & Burgundy by Vanessa Price and Adam Laukuf
Susanne Kaufman bath oil or bath oil trio
My fiance's family does a gift exchange with the extended family with the idea that you can get a bigger/better gift for the one person instead of having to buy something smaller for everyone. I got assigned his cool cousin who lives in NYC. She's in her late 30's, got married 2 years ago, no kids, and she's a really successful lawyer. We only see her so often and she's usually on her computer keeping up with work when we do see her, so I don't have a great idea of her interests...besides they have a tiny dog that they love. I always love an experience gift for people, def something there with NYC? One other possibility is my fiance got her older sister in the gift exchange, so there's a possibility that we could do something that the both of them could enjoy together? Her sister lives in a Philly suburb and has a family with 2 kids so different point of life.
Card holder: OAD wallet or Bottega Veneta credit card holder
Flower Flash by Lewis Miller
Museum or botanical garden membership
Tickets to Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (deadline is 11/29!)
Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Other Adults You Know!
Next door neighbor, 94 year old Italian woman who loves the Pope and New England sports
Go up for Glory by Bill Russell
Novel Mart Italiano collection—a bolognese sweatshirt, a ravioli hat!
Grossy Pelosi pasta water mug (with homemade Italian Holiday cookies!)
Older curmudgeonly uncle with lots of stories and jokes. Cooks but scorns fancy equipment.
Made In cookware
Small Victories by Julia Turshen
Save Room for Pie by Roy Blount Jr.
Local food bank donation
My smart feminist ex-social worker grandma who likes G&Ts and is a hoarder
Woman Made: Great Women Designers by Jane Hall
Plan C or National Network of Abortion Funds donation
Friends!
29 y/o BFF who just got dumped and fired, she loves Rebecca Solnit, POOG, and yoga
Private yoga class with one of her fave instructors
Collective Wisdom by Grace Bonney
Start Where You Are or When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön
Something creativity-focused: Gondola Pastels, POJ Studio waza kits, The F Series paint sticks, Studio Sundays art supplies, Art Life practice kits, and Unwind Studio needlepoint kits
Best friend! loves old furniture and travel and old churches and beauty, less than $100
The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore & Care for Furniture by Christophe Pourny
Stained glass or glass-blowing workshop: Pressed Flowers Stained Glass at Urban Glass in NYC on 12/9
Miniature stained glass churches—so many good ones on Etsy, like this
Trendy-ish beauty service, like brow laminating
Co-Workers and Bosses!
My boss who is a die hard AKA sorority sister (same as Kamala Harris), v much part of the Bey-hive, and wears all of the hats (boss, mentor, counselor, mom, wife).
Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu
People I work with - design studio so they all already have access to nice things. Our team is small enough that the vibe is to give everyone something? Under $40
Custom Marmite or Sour Patch Kids
Cute food! Opopop, Omsom, Soul Chai, Cornbread26 madeleines, The Chai Box gift set, Gjusta marinated olive oil, and Batchworthy
Ali Forney Center donation
For last year’s gift guides, head here and here.
What are your last-minute gifting go-tos? We wanna know at 833-632-5463 and @athingortwohq!
the sponsors (and promos!)
Download the Zocdoc app—it’s free!—and book that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off.
Explore all of our favorite gift picks at MoMA Design Store—so much amazing stuff, and it’s 10% of now through November 24 with the code ATHINGORTWO online or in store.
Try professional counseling with BetterHelp—10% off your first month with our link.
Gift the coffee- and tea-drinkers in your life Ember. It’s 10% off for first-time purchasers with our link.
YAY.