Gift Guide Part 1: Partners, Parents, and Grandparents
It’s that time of year: the unveiling of the best gift guide in the podcast multiverse (we like to think). Part 1 stars your most charming—and trickiest—partners, parents, and grandparents. Next week, tune in for part 2, and, in the meantime, dig into the ol’ present-paralysis back catalogue.
It’s that time of year: the unveiling of the best gift guide in the podcast multiverse (we like to think). Part 1 stars your most charming—and trickiest—partners, parents, and grandparents. Next week, tune in for part 2, and, in the meantime, dig into the ol’ present-paralysis back catalogue.
the linkage:
Husbands and Boyfriends!
42-year-old male. Recently started dating. Lawyer. Dad. World traveler. Cyclist. Just bought a new house. Moved back to the area (Philly) from upstate new york. photographer. reader. avid home cook. knows a Parisian knot. loves a good meal out. linen shirt wearer. loafers/boat shoes with shorts kind of guy. Enjoys wine and cocktails. catholic raised. city dweller. nerdy and thoughtful.
Photodom photography-themed Croc Jibbitz (Or really anything from Photodom—they have a cute gift guide on their site.)
Depths of Wikipedia tickets—NYC live show on 12/14 or Pittsburgh show on 12/16—or mug
Donation to TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image’s teen photo program in Philly
Husband who thinks he's outdoorsy but hasn't been camping in decades.
An actual camping weekend for next summer for him—a lot of places book a year or 9 months in advance. Recs: Hither Hills State Park and Assateague Island.
Donation to a local preservation organization, like, say, Save the Boundary Waters in MN
Husband who owns a ceramics company and has an eye for design.
Quark pegboard for his office or studio
Glass-blowing or leather-working class
Donation to People’s Pottery Project
Wives and Girlfriends!
Chronically ill wife with long-covid 2.5 years, doesn't like surprises, and in bed most days. loves sports, her friends, sitting in the park, and a great deal.
Nocs Provisions binoculars—they did a cool collab with the Native artist Amelia Winger-Bearskin that includes a strap
Vintage Masters golf gear, like this eighties ringer tee or this nineties hat)
Grandparents!
My 90-year-old grandma who refuses hearing aides because we don't visit enough and lives off of chipotle and chips.
My mostly home-bound grandma. Loves her tomato plants, vitamins, and Bob Barker.
If you have kids who she can share it with: Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi
Chronically Chic pill organizer for her vitamins
Moms, Stepmoms, and Mothers-In-Law!
My mom is my white whale: needs nothing, no guilt in buying herself things she wants. Hates Christmas but derives joy from getting to complain about it. Good cook with a global palette (has all the gadgets she approves of and a long list of gadgets she does not endorse), news junkie, reads a lot. 61, both of my parents are retired, lives in the Pacific Northwest. Has taste but no style, hates clutter. Buys her clothes at Costco. Drinks nice wine that she also buys at Costco. Thinks art is stupid (I am an artist). She's very funny but she really leans into her brand of "antisocial curmudgeon." Successful gifts in the past were an NYtimes subscription and a fancy amaryllis bulb that she can text me about and shame it for blooming the wrong time of year. I try to veer towards consumables. She can also appreciate a handmade ceramic (functional, not decorative).
Yun Hai dried fruit—there’s a gift set
Roz Chast books, like What I Hate from A to Z, or Roz Chast wall art
Ikebana bowl & bulb from Utility Objects (could pair with fancy Japanese floral scissors)
My mom: She always asks for electronics and then ends up not being able to figure them out - or just doesn't use them. Want to get her something meaningful she will use.
Stepmother-in-law who is a spiritual counselor in Colorado. Obviously vegan.
Mother In Law - has more clothes than Nordstrom. Lives alone but her party line is always ringing.
Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose by Lukas Volger
Custom sweater mending from Repair Shop
“Come Over” hat from Big Night
This one is for my five-foot-tall Italian American mother in law who has the thickest New York accent I've ever heard and could be described as "a tiny tank" in both stature and personality. she lives on Long Island and has access to everything; also tends to buy herself whatever she wants. so she's extremely hard to gift for. Whatever we give should probably be a physical gift vs. an experience. she is very judgmental and critical and not warm and fuzzy - but she has also had the difficult task of being a single parent to two kids, one of whom, my SIL, is living at home with significant physical and intellectual disabilities and who my MIL devotes all her time to - my SIL is so well taken care of. Looking for a gift that somehow recognizes/responds to all of this.
Ipsa, depending on part of Long Island
House cleaning from We Can Do It! – Si Se Puede Women's Cooperative (only operates in the five boroughs)
Marcella’s favorites gift set from Gustiamo
Mom and her husband just bought a boat. So something nautical or for small space living.
Personalized life saver buoy (U.S. Coast Guard-approved!)
Ingredients for a session dark ‘n stormy
Donation to The Ocean Cleanup
Mother-in-law who is the solo living grandparent to our 4-year-old and Buddhist priest who wants nothing but time with us. However, she is always a generous and thoughtful gift-giver so I can't just give her time. She is a tea lover but you can imagine how much tea I've already given her. She has a dog, loves the color periwinkle, and spends a lot of time on Zoom with her Sangha. She's forever 'writing a book' and loves getting on board with a system (for writing, for organizing, whatever). Help!
Rice xax candles for meditation
Mountain Valley Seed Company seed starter kit medicinal & herbal tea
Books to read with the grandkid: Jon J. Muth’s The Three Questions and Zen Shorts and Thich Nat Hanh’s Where is the Buddha? and A Handful of Quiet
Lena Corwin peace towel + matching kid-size one for the grandkid
Dads, Step-Dads, and Fathers-in-Law!
My dad, who is a retired chef (he still has knives from 40 years ago that he painstakingly cares for and finds most home kitchens to be very pretentious), can build/fix anything, loves to read non-fiction, and was suspended from Twitter frequently for tweeting insults at Donald Trump
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Vintage RAADVAD bread slicer
Manufacture de Digoin vinegar jar to make his own vinegar
Donation to his local food bank
Mid 60's Frenchman who lives in Alsace with his wife and they travel a lot in their RV. they are also coming to the states next spring on a cross-country RV trip so I really think it should revolve around that. but more about him- he doesn't drink or smoke (some Frenchman he is) when we would drive to Florida once a year he would always be so excited to get to put on Latin American music on the radio. last year we got him a record player and records that I am 100% sure he doesn't use. he loves scrabble and card games, and he builds these badass card holders out of wood that he then does wood-burning personalized deco on. he has everything he wants and he wears lee jeans.
Camping chair from Cliq, Woods, or Blue Ridge Chair Works
Personalized leatherbound America: National Parks Atlas (from PBS shop)
Dad who enjoys perfecting logistics and explaining credit card point strategy.
Solgaard carry-on closet suitcase (there’s a MoMA collab!)
iPad keyboard + Valerie Constance monogrammed keyboard case
Former CIA and green beret but loves appletinis and bubble baths.
Avec x Atelier Saucier bundle of cocktail napkins + drink mixers + garnishes + recipes
I need help finding a gift for my picky and hard-working lawyer Dad. He loves outdoor adventures, Neil Young, doing puzzles with my Mom, and reading. My parents recently became part-time New Yorkers and keep buying art museum memberships. He loves to do research before purchasing anything and tends to buy whatever he wants. My Mom is a chronic shopper, so he usually has multiples of whatever he confesses to liking - Ugg slippers, Jack Black face wash, William Henry knives. He is a big guy and doesn’t fit into standard S-L sizes. He also doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee. In the past, he has disliked gifts that involve more labor (i.e. a smoker, a drone). I am not opposed to making a donation in his name, but my family’s love language is gifts and I would need to accompany a donation with something for him to unwrap. Per Claire’s request for dental records, he lost his front teeth as a kid playing Pee Wee football. He broke his fake set in a fight the day of his junior prom and attended the dance sans front teeth. He is so fun and deserves a great gift. Last year, I got him a Storyworth membership and he loved it (thanks for the recommendation!) I am hoping for a repeat success. Also, he is a January birthday, so I could use multiple ideas. Please help!
Birding Bob walk in Central Park, plus a donation or membership to Wild Bird Fund
Day at the spa at Governor’s Island
Fancy pajamas from P. Le Moult
Todd Snyder x New Era nubby Yankees cap (see also: Dodgers, Cubs, and Red Sox hats)
MoMA Design Store has great puzzle selection. Also: this Neil Young jigsaw puzzle and Different Puzzles, which are fun and *challenging*
Wisconsin Father in Law who likes sports. End of list.
Depending on his teams, gear from a previous stadium—signs and even seats that go up for sale
Donation to Special Olympics Wisconsin
For last year’s gift guides, head here and here.
Keep those VMs and DMs coming at 833-632-5463 and @athingortwohq!
the sponsors (and promos!)
Feel your best in Honeylove and get 20% off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Book that doctor’s appointment already by downloading the free Zocdoc app.
Get the ecomm support you need with Shopify. Get a free 14-day trial with our link.
Unwrap good design this holiday season with MoMA Design Store’s holiday selection.
YAY.
Jamie Beck's Thingies...and Hate-Gifting?!
We’ve got the French-culture report AND a bunch of glorious Thingies from Jamie Beck, whose book An American in Provence: Art, Life and Photography is out tomorrow, just in time for holiday wish-listing. Related: We take a min. to talk about hate-gifting, sparked by some of the requests we’ve gotten in recent years.
We’ve got the French-culture report AND a bunch of glorious Thingies from Jamie Beck, whose book An American in Provence: Art, Life and Photography is out tomorrow, just in time for holiday wish-listing. Related: We take a min. to talk about hate-gifting, sparked by some of the requests we’ve gotten in recent years.
the linkage:
You really have to see Jamie’s book An American in Provence to believe it (and to live vicariously through it, obviously).
Jamie’s Thingies include Dries Van Noten refillable lipstick in Antwerp Vermeil, good lighting (via a soft ring light, natural sunlight, or a fridge) and a chic phone case, cooking over a fire with an Alice Waters–approved egg spoon, Westman Atelier’s Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in Peau de Rosé and Chantecaille’s Liquid Lumière, and Savon de Marseille for stain-removal (related: Jenny Walton on IG). For some very French gift-giving, she loves anything from Buly 1803.
For all your gifting quandries, hit us up at at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And try out a Secret Menu membership for more recommendations!
the sponsors:
Help your hair with Nutrafol. Take $15 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Give professional counseling a chance with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Know your numbers with NetSuite - a cloud financial system.
YAY.
Halloween Candy, Crowded Travel, and Embracing Our Fandom
Happy Halloween from two people who nailed the theme! Today we’re celebrating the joy of dressing up for *any* occasion and sharing some more thoughts on travel when it just feels like everyone is going to the same places.
Happy Halloween from two people who nailed the theme! Today we’re celebrating the joy of dressing up for *any* occasion and sharing some more thoughts on travel when it just feels like everyone is going to the same places.
the linkage:
The inspiration behind our conversation about travel: Rebecca Jenning’s article “The Instagram capital of the world is a terrible place to be” for Vox.
If you want some outfit inspo for your next concert, Harry Styles or otherwise, check out this New Yorker Photo Booth feature or Paola Mathe’s GRWM.
For more on the impact fandom has on popular culture, check out Everything I Need I Get From You by Kaitlyn Tiffany.
Come at us with your hot takes! Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And try out a Secret Menu membership for many more recommendations.
YAY.
Recho Omondi's Thingies and "Know Regrets"
We’re chatting with Recho Omondi, a fashion designer and the host of the incredible podcast The Cutting Room Floor, and you’re going to want to hear her Thingies (and everything else she’s interested in, honestly). Also: a tattoo that got our wheels turning.
We’re chatting with Recho Omondi, a fashion designer and the host of the incredible podcast The Cutting Room Floor, and you’re going to want to hear her Thingies (and everything else she’s interested in, honestly). Also: a tattoo that got our wheels turning.
the linkage:
If you’re looking for a follow-up to our convo about living with longing, check out this this New Yorker article about choose your own adventure books by Leslie Jamison. See also: Lois Lowry on the 70 Over 70 podcast.
Hit play on Recho’s podcast The Cutting Room Floor; do all your chores! A recent cool guest: Mina White. A few dream guests: Mel Ottenberg and Piergiorgio Del Moro.
And if you’re YouTube-curious, Colin and Samir is a Recho-recommended channel.
Recho’s Thingies include Kinn fine jewelry, Camber hoodies (more ℅ a recent GQ story) Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (specifically the Massachusetts ep), Parachute linen bedding (our other recs: Linoto, and Merci), and her Jenni Kayne Home bed.
Do you have dream Thingies guests? Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And try out a Secret Menu membership for more recommendations.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Treat your curls to LUS and take 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Get the ecomm support you need with Shopify. Snag a free 14-day trial with our link.
Feel your best in Honeylove and get 20% off with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Margo Price’s Thingies and Fanny Packs
Introducing our first rockstar guest, Margo Price! She shares her Thingies and talks about writing her memoir, Maybe We’ll Make It, which is a story of perseverance, tell you what.
Introducing our first rockstar guest, Margo Price! She shares her Thingies and talks about writing her memoir, Maybe We’ll Make It, which is a story of perseverance, tell you what.
the linkage:
The fanny-pack discourse: We have an update on the Bandolier, a discussion of pockets ft. Véronique Hyland’s book Dress Code, and a pitch for goofier kids’ clothes inspired by this crewneck with a built-in fanny pack from All Small Co.
What inspired Margo’s Maybe We’ll Make It? Patti Smith’s incredible Just Kids.
Margo’s Thingies include T3 hair dryers and curling irons, Greater Goods CBD/CBN Evening Tincture, Thieves Oil, Acid for the Children by Flea, and two Nashville faves: A Shop of Things and The Continental.
If you’re new to Margo’s music and want a place to start, hit play on "Pay Gap"...and get ready for a new album in January.
Do you have a dream Thingies guest? Thoughts about fanny packs you need to share? We’re ready for them at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Destigmatize hair thinning by sharing your story at shedthesilence.com.
YAY.
High School Reunions and Snack 'n Condiment Updates
We're coming to you fresh from our high-school reunions, and there are lots of reflections ahead. On old friendships, yes…and also on dips, chips, and the controversial baby carrot.
We're coming to you fresh from our high-school reunions, and there are lots of reflections ahead. On old friendships, yes…and also on dips, chips, and the controversial baby carrot.
the linkage:
Some condiments we’re excited about include Cabi sweet yuzu vinegar, umami dashi soy sauce, and zesty sansho peppercorn miso. We’re also loving Chicas tortilla chips, Burlap & Barrel black lime and Reem’s spice blends, Gjusta Goods marinated olive oil and herbed salt, Ella’s Flats, Zingerman’s pimento cheese, Gotham Greens pesto, McClure’s little pickles, and Breadblok almond thins. For more tremendous munching, head to Portugalia Marketplace in Fall River, Massachusetts (or, you know, online).
An iconic book of our teen years: Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life by Ilene Rosenzweig and Cynthia Rowley.
Do you have thoughts on reunions (or hot snack tips)? Let us know at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Give professional counseling a chance with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Help your hair with Nutrafol. Take $15 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Book that doctor’s appointment—today! Download the free Zocdoc app.
YAY.
Jessi Hempel's Thingies and Reporting from the TikTok Frontlines
We have an amazing Guest Thingies episode today with Jessi Hempel, prolific tech writer and host of the podcast Hello Monday whose new memoir The Family Outing you have to check out. Also: details about our blossoming relationship with TikTok.
We have an amazing Guest Thingies episode today with Jessi Hempel, prolific tech writer and host of the podcast Hello Monday whose new memoir The Family Outing you have to check out. Also: details about our blossoming relationship with TikTok.
the linkage:
A TikTok follow for your pop-culture PR needs: @mollybmcpherson.
The Family Outing! A memoir! If this description doesn’t suck you in: “By the time Jessi reached adulthood, everyone in her family had come out: Jessi as gay, her sister as bisexual, her father as gay, her brother as transgender, and her mother as a survivor of a traumatic experience with an alleged serial killer.”
A book that gets at the challenges of memory: David Carr’s The Night of the Gun.
An A Thing or Two rec that Jessi cosigns: this inflatable travel pillow for flying with a kid…but probably for lots of other purposes, too.
Jessi’s Thingies: Potette (as she’s on a potty-training journey that rivals Claire’s), Cliq portable camping chairs for sitting…everywhere, Anne Helen Peterson’s Culture Study newsletter, and adding your pronouns to your email signature.
Our conversation about returning to the office—RTO, y’all!—made us think of Delia Cai’s great piece in Vanity Fair.
Share your dream Thingies guests with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get your curly hair looking its best with LUS and take 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Look into Allstate Identity Protection (your employer may offer it, even). Use our link for a 30-day free trial.
YAY.
The Jibbitz Origin Story, “Affordable” and “Expensive,” and a Good Gift Q
Updates AND new topics? Wow, this episode really has it all. We issue a correction about Jibbitz, share some third-birthday gift recommendations, and present some alts for words like “affordable” and “expensive,” which are loaded (<< money pun).
Updates AND new topics? Wow, this episode really has it all. We issue a correction about Jibbitz, share some third-birthday gift recommendations, and present some alts for words like “affordable” and “expensive,” which are loaded (<< money pun).
the linkage:
PSAs! Secret Menu subscribers now have access to searchable archives: You can now dig into the back issues of our Monday newsletter and each ‘n every installment of What Are the Cute. Also, we received so many amazing responses to our second-kid conversation that we saved a bunch to an Instagram highlight.
Our sources re: the backstory of Jibbitz: NBC News, Business News Daily, and The Times.
Molly Young’s article “The Cookie Jar Grows Up” in The New York Times that’s about so much more than a locked box for your phone. Also, we still think about Shonda Rimes's Year of Yes…and have starting thinking more about Brandy & Whitney’s Cinderella.
Our recs for a gift for a three year old include a Yoto Player, a karaoke mic, a Loog guitar or this Kid’s Concept one, a DJ Mixer, Magnatiles, a custom coloring poster with the kid’s name, costumes like this firefighter one or a customized superhero cape, If there’s room and it’s in the budget: Haus. And something we should all know: USPS now makes Buzz Lightyear stamps.
If you have recommendations for kid-friendly space movies—beyond Muppets from Space— or substitutes for “affordable,” “expensive,” and the like, let us know at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get your ecomm business going with Shopify. Try a free 14-day trial with our link.
YAY.
Ellen Van Dusen's Thingies and Creativity Insights from Elder Celebrity White Men
We’re so excited about this week’s Guest Thingies with Ellen Van Dusen of Dusen Dusen—great recommendations await! But first, some nuggets of wisdom from famously creative famous dudes.
We’re so excited about this week’s Guest Thingies with Ellen Van Dusen of Dusen Dusen—great recommendations await! But first, some nuggets of wisdom from famously creative famous dudes.
the linkage:
We’re definitely taking inspiration from Rod Stewart’s model railway side project and Tom Hanks's advice to Austin Butler.
Ellen’s Thingies include being comfortable inside and outside the home (please see: her delightful robes…and brand-new slippers!!), @Favetiktoks420 on Instagram, and cool silverware (especially David Tisdale’s Picnic Flatware, which makes us think of Ahimsa dinnerware for kids). She also loves tile right now—see: Heath Ceramics, her collab with Concrete Collaborative, Fireclay, and Oasis—and you have to, have to check out her backyard mosaic. Last but not least: Her love of bird-watching has us asking when she’s going to start selling the birdhouse she designed for Brooklyn Botanic Garden (in the meantime, the MoMA one we’re all into). Ooh, and as we told Ellen, Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a great book and a much better movie than it gets credit for being.
Share your dream Thingies guests with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Give professional counseling a shot with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Help your curly hair look its best with LUS and get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
A Romantic-Fiction Primer and Some Identity-Protection Intel from Allstate
Let’s go in-depth on romance novels! But first, we’re chatting with Madeline Nusser from Allstate Identity Protection, which oh-so-graciously sponsored this episode, to dig into something equally sexy: doing what you can to thwart identity theft.
Let’s go in-depth on romance novels! But first, we’re chatting with Madeline Nusser from Allstate Identity Protection, which oh-so-graciously sponsored this episode, to dig into something equally sexy: doing what you can to thwart identity theft.
the linkage:
Go to AIP.com/AThingOrTwo today to see if Allstate Identity Protection is available through your employer. If not sign up there to get a 30-day free trial.
Check out The Washington Post article on the rise of romance in the U.S. and this Twitter thread from Helen Rosner on the weirdness of publishing categories.
Some books that are not romance novels but kind of are:
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (but her book Instructions for Dancing counts!)
Books we endorse for romance newbs:
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (see also: our podcast ep with Tallia)
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola (who’s a great Twitter follow)
More romance authors with many books to dive into:
Have a romance novel you want, neeeeeed to recommend? Let us know at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Support your hair with Nutrafol. Take $15 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Look into Allstate Identity Protection (and see if your employer offers it, too). Use our link for a 30-day free trial.
Try Bombas and take 20% off your first purchase when you use our link.
Book that doctor’s appointment: Download the free Zocdoc app.
YAY.
Stroll Don’t Scroll, Organized Whimsy, and Grandma Sayings
Join us! We’re revisiting how we approach creativity and talk about people who refuse to be hemmed in by expectations and the algorithm.
Join us! We’re revisiting how we approach creativity and talk about people who refuse to be hemmed in by expectations and the algorithm.
the linkage:
For some insight about opening up to what interests you at a time and trusting that it will serve you, check out Steve Martin’s memoir, Born Standing Up, and read Pamela Adlon’s essay for Harper’s Bazaar.
After watching the newest Julia on HBO Max, we’re doing a Judith Jones deep-dive—next up: reading her memoir The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food. Another book that’s making us think about creative possibility: Margiela: The Hermès Years.
People who spread their (creative) wings: Stacey Abrams and her romance career as Selena Montgomery, Serena Willaims and her nail technician story, Venus Williams founding her design firm V Starr Interiors the same year she was ranked No. 1, David Lynch and his woodworking, and Bella Hadid, who has a new glassblowing hobby.
Rachel Tashjian’s Opulent Tips newsletter—sign up via DM!—introduced us to the idea of STROLL DONT SCROLL, and her recent Harper’s Bazaar pieces on Christopher John Rogers and Schiaparelli are great reads that show ya how her brain works.
Tune into Details Matter, from Jenni Kayne Home, a podcast we’re producing that has also been giving us a whole lot of inspiration, including the IG algorithm bit we mention ℅ Amanda Gunawan.
Do you have any top-tier grandma sayings? Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Take your business to the next level with Shopify. Try a free 14-day trial with our link.
Embrace and love your unique waves, curls, kinks and coils with LUS Brands. Get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more when you use code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Kavi Ahuja Moltz’s Thingies and a Good Ol’ Potty-Training Update
It’s Guest Thingies Day! We’re so excited to chat with Kavi Ahuja Moltz, the CEO of the exceptional scent co. D.S. & DURGA and the sort of person who knows cool stuff, always.
It’s Guest Thingies Day! We’re so excited to chat with Kavi Ahuja Moltz, the CEO of the exceptional scent co. D.S. & DURGA and the sort of person who knows cool stuff, always.
the linkage:
But first: potty-training and a related story from Romper about camping with kids.
Our favorite D.S. & DURGA perfumes include Italian Citrus, Coriander, and Rose Atlantic…and don’t sleep on the candles and genius auto fragrances, either. Ooh, also: This one-minute quiz is surprisingly delightful.
Kavi’s Thingies include traveling with playing cards, Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Cream Blush in Daiquiri Dip, looong walks, and potato chips (Charles Chips in the tin especially—and shout-out to this Eater story about why we don’t have masala chips at our grocers). She also loves fun socks! Her faves are from Simone Rocha and Tabio (see also: Darner and Hysteria), and her standard go-tos are Adidas black with white stripes.
Do you have tips for how to make walking meetings work? Please share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Get professional counseling with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Check out Allstate Identity Protection (and see if your employer offers it, too). Use our link for a 30-day free trial.
Sip on De Soi and get 15% off when you use the code ATHINGORTWO.
Vacation with BÉIS and snag 15% off your first purchase with our link.
Book that doctor’s appointment: Download the free Zocdoc app.
YAY.
Best of the Monday Newsletter and Hamlet, but with Karaoke
It’s time to chat about all the stuff we’re obsessed with lately, most of which has been included in our Monday newsletter—do you get that thing??
It’s time to chat about all the stuff we’re obsessed with lately, most of which has been included in our Monday newsletter—do you get that thing??
the linkage:
Keep an eye on Fat Ham, a play we think will definitely have a second life, ideally on Broadway.
We both got a lot out of Burn Rate by Bonobos founder Andy Dunn, which tells the story of founding, running, and ultimately selling his company all while grappling with severe bipolar disorder. For another excellent memoir about bipolar disorder, read Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind.
Huge endorsement of the walnut larb at Good Night in Woodstock New York. The closest recipe comp we have surfaced is the one from walnuts.org.
For a perfect after-dinner candle, it’s all about Big Night’s Dinner Party one. See also: Epicurious’s story about dinner-party-appropriate scents, No.10 Aboukir by Maison Louis Marie, and Park Life by Boy Smells.
Want to make sorbet at home? Everyday Food from Martha has a vid withThomas Joseph that involves floating an egg to achieve the ideal sugar content and texture.
Cam’s forest camp introduced us to the amazing Muddy Buddy, we’re getting more our of our walks listening to Marcos Trinidad's Human/Nature podcast, and we’re on top of hyper-local news thanks to Patch.com.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Grow your business with Shopify. Try a free 14-day trial with our link.
Drink something different with De Soi and get 15% off when you use the code ATHINGORTWO.
Slip on some Bombas and take 20% off your first purchase when you use our link.
Embrace your waves, curls, kinks, and coils with LUS Brands, and get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more when you use the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Gardening, Second Kids, and Slackers
Buckle in, folks! This week, we’re talking about our garden-curator journeys, second-kid thoughts, and the slacker–to–chaos goblin line cook pipeline.
Buckle in, folks! This week, we’re talking about our garden-curator journeys, second-kid thoughts, and the slacker–to–chaos goblin line cook pipeline.
the linkage:
Looking for Fast-Growing Trees? Thank goodness there’s a company that sells exactly those. Love the Bloomerang lilac shrub, and you clearly need to know about the smoothie kit. If you wanna grow the ~cool~ flowers, check out Plantgem. A few faves they sell: ProCut plum sunflower, crocus saffron bulbs, and Irene Parrot tulip bulbs. Peony fans should investigate Styer’s, David Austin is as good at roses as at customer service, and for regional wildflower seed mixes, look to Wildseed Farms.
How’d you decide whether or not to have a second kid? Please share any and all thoughts you have on this topic with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. An article related to this conversation: Emily Gould’s NYT piece "More Kids? After the Last Two Years? No Thanks.”
For thoughts about the present-day incarnation of the slacker, check out this tremendous tweet by @yeehaw_meg. (Of course, we’re thinking about it in the context of The Bear.)
Any plants you’re obsessed with? Have theories about slackers? Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Download Best Fiends—for free—on the App Store or Google Play.
Get that thicker, healthier hair with Nutrafol. Take $15 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Jazz up your wardrobe with Nuuly. Get $10 off your first month when you sign up with the code ATHINGORTWO10.
YAY.
Noah Kalina's Thingies and Destination Sandwiches
This is a jam-packed episode: We’ve got destination sandwiches. We’ve got photographer Noah Kalina’s Thingies. We’ve got baby-wipes expertise from grown-ups. Ready? Great.
This is a jam-packed episode: We’ve got destination sandwiches. We’ve got photographer Noah Kalina’s Thingies. We’ve got baby-wipes expertise from grown-ups. Ready? Great.
the linkage:
If you’re in NYC, please scurry to & Sons Buttery for their salami cotto sandwich (please also eat at the restaurant—a ham bar!) and Court Street Grocers for their vegitalian. Special shoutout to The Bobbie from Capriotti’s in Wilmington, Delaware, too. For further destination-sandwich reading, check out Helen Rosner's New Yorker story about the plane sandwich and the Turkey and the Wolf cookbook by Mason Hereford with JJ Goode.
Check out Noah Kalina’s Instagram, his curiosity-filled newsletter, his podcasts JPEG 2000 and Do you hear that?, his incredible portraits of chickens, and, wow, so much more.
Noah’s Thingies include the Samsung Frame that turns into art (art!) when it’s off, Cometeer coffee, the Toto Washlet, Water Wipes for when you’re away from your Toto Washlet, (bonus rec from Claire for toddlers: Coterie Wipes), Ego power tools, and Crocs (<< Erica has feelings.).
Share your Thingies (and destination sandwiches…that might also qualify as Thingies) with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Travel better with BÉIS and snag 15% off your first purchase with our link.
Treat kids to Little Passports and get 50% off of your first month’s subscription when you use our link.
Refresh your closet with Nuuly. Get $10 off your first month when you sign up with the code ATHINGORTWO10
Try some non-alcoholic apéritifs and get 15% off your first purchase at De Soi with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Corrections, Follow-Ups, and Milan
It’s about time for an addendums episode! AKA an ep where we dump our additional thoughts (and your feedback) on topics we’ve discussed—because there’s always more to say about styling, aging, and, apparently, catalogs.
It’s about time for an addendums episode! AKA an ep where we dump our additional thoughts (and your feedback) on topics we’ve discussed—because there’s always more to say about styling, aging, and, apparently, catalogs.
the linkage:
Looking for a method to define your personal style? Check out Allison Bornstein’s Three-Word Method on TikTok: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6 for your clicking pleasure. (Call us with your wooords!!) More about her philosophy in this Harper’s Bazaar profile.
Re: styling, a follow-up on Amy Smilovic, including the outfit that stopped Claire in her tracks and her shirt-tying innovation. When it comes to button-downs, Claire loves her custom oversize Chava one—it’s great with elastic-waist pants (as is this Roucha tank top.)
In response to our discussion of marbling, we learned about some family-owned places to get monogrammed marbled gifts in Florence: Alberto Cozzi and Riccardo Luci.
Speaking of Italy, we both recently visited and fell hard for Milan—it lives up to the promise of Jenny Walton’s Instagram and Sight Unseen’s Design Week coverage. Keep an eye out for a future Secret Menu installment starring our favorite Milan spots.
Also on the docket: push-up tips, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande for grieving and coping with aging parents, and The Flamingo Estate catalog for zaniness…and as a resource for anyone in L.A. who might want to receive a bag of manure as a gift.
Share your thoughts with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Dip into professional counseling with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Refresh your closet with Nuuly. Get $10 off your first month when you sign up with the code ATHINGORTWO10.
Support a business of any size with Shopify. Dig in with a free 14-day trial with our link.
YAY.
Lauren Sherman's Thingies and It's a Trip, Not a Vacation
Who better to talk Thingies with than Lauren Sherman, the chief correspondent at The Business of Fashion and the host of their wonderful—and quick!—new podcast The Debrief?! NOBODY. She fills us in on the third-wave coffee movement (We have a lot of questions.), a great investment T-shirt, and the trick that keeps her kid well-rested while traveling. Speaking of travel: There is a difference between a trip and a vacation, and we’d like to manage some expectations.
Who better to talk Thingies with than Lauren Sherman, the chief correspondent at The Business of Fashion and the host of their wonderful—and quick!—new podcast The Debrief?! NOBODY. She fills us in on the third-wave coffee movement (We have a lot of questions.), a great investment T-shirt, and the trick that keeps her kid well-rested while traveling. Speaking of travel: There is a difference between a trip and a vacation, and we’d like to manage some expectations.
the linkage:
Listen to The Debrief—it has as feeling more fashion-industry-informed than we have in years.
Lauren has a LOT of insight on third-wave coffee and natural-process coffee beans. Some of her favorite places to get them: Andytown in San Franciso, Heart Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon, Tandem Coffee Roasters in Portland, Maine, 49th Parallel in Vancouver, Cafe integral in NYC, Dune Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara, and Kumquat Coffee & Tea in Los Angeles. She’s also passionate about Three Trees almondmilk and making coffee with an AeroPress.
If you’re looking for a stand-out T-shirt, Lauren loves Dries van Noten’s. If you find yourself in Europe, scoop ‘em up there for better prices—or keep an eye on Yoox and The Outnet for deals. Other especially good brands for tees: James Perse and the men’s dept. of Comme des Garçons.
When hitting the road with a baby, Lauren highly recommends bringing a SnoozeShade for Pack 'n Plays.
How do you order stuff that doesn’t ship to the U.S.? Lauren uses Reship.com for that, and KoreaBuddy is a good option for items from Korea specifically.
We 1000% need some new catchphrases. Share your thoughts with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Support your immune system with Athletic Greens and get a one-year supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase when you use our link.
Turn to Thinx and get $10 off your first order when you visit rethinkyourcycyle.com and use the code ATHINGORTWO.
Treat kids to Little Passports and get 50% off when you use our link.
Get comfy with Bombas and take 20% off your first purchase when you use our link.
Travel better with BÉIS and snag 15% off your first purchase with our link.
YAY.
A Bouquet Hack, a Brunch Cookout, and What to Wear When It’s Hot—It’s a Grab Bag!
Today in mishmashes: We’re sharing some of the tricks and treats we’ve discovered recently, featuring Claire’s flower-wrapping upgrade, Erica’s brunch cookout recipes, and what to wear when it's hot, hot, hot.
Today in mishmashes: We’re sharing some of the tricks and treats we’ve discovered recently, featuring Claire’s flower-wrapping upgrade, Erica’s brunch cookout recipes, and what to wear when it's hot, hot, hot.
the linkage:
Erica’s rooftop brunch agenda included ordering donuts (from Doughnut Plant if you’re in NYC), finding a reliable friend to be in charge of grilling sausages (or, um, sausage strips!), and whipping up two frittatas: the mustard-asparagus one from Cookie + Kate and the mushroom-ricotta one Julia Turshen’s Now & Again cookbook.
And for dinner, Erica’s favorite canned cherry tomatoes from Mutti are great for many things, including her go-to summer tomato sauce c/o Alison Roman.
Claire’s revisiting this Mo Willems interview often, and on the diaper-bag front, she recommends Longchamp's Le Pliage (or any flat bag like it!).
As we slip back into shorts, we like these knit guys from Kordal, a pleated linen pair from Alex Mill, grown-up cut-offs from Agolde, and these rolled jorts from Raey.
Some options on our quest for a great summer dress include ones from Mille, Mirth, Sunspel, Organic by John Patrick, Kule, Falke, Loup Charmant, and Anaak.
And on the topic of summer jeans, we like these from Agolde, and these from Roucha Pala. But also, these Jenni Kayne trousers!
Finally, if you’re looking for a dopamine hit, we highly recommend you search #sheldon shrimp to see the wonderful world of Sheldon Shrimp the Jellycat stuffed animal and his friends Herman Hermit, Crispin Crab (and, course, Bashful Bunny).
Have anything related to this grab bag you’d like to share with us? Please do at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And for more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership!
the sponsors (and promos!):
Treat yourself to professional counseling with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Download Best Fiends—for free—on the App Store or Google Play.
Support thicker, healthier hair with Nutrafol. Take $15 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.
YAY.
Aging and Longing (Um, the Wisdom Episode?)
We’re wise enough to know it’s about time for a ~wisdom~ ep. We share our feelings about feeling our age and some excellent advice we caught about living with a little longing.
We’re wise enough to know it’s about time for a ~wisdom~ ep. We share our feelings about feeling our age and some excellent advice we caught about living with a little longing.
the linkage:
Some readings that impacted how we’ve been navigating aging include Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, Casey Johnston’s Swole Woman program, Cheryl Wischover’s “What Changed When I Started Lifting Weights” in the Gloria newsletter, and Kayleen Schaefer’s “How 50 Pushups A Day Helped Me Cope In An Uncertain World” for Elle.
If you have thoughts on longing or musings about aging share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. And try out a Secret Menu membership for more recommendations.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Try professional counseling with BetterHelp and take 10% off your first month with our link.
Slip on Thinx and get $10 off your first order when you visit rethinkyourcycyle.com and use the code ATHINGORTWO.
Evolve your piercing and earring experience with Studs and take 20% off your first order when you use our link.
YAY.
Getting Dressed and Making Small Talk—SO HARD
Today we’re answering a listener question that we’ve been asking ourselves our whole lives: How TF does one get dressed (and, you know, feel good about what they’re wearing)? Also: We grapple with the big challenges we’re having with small talk.
Today we’re answering a listener question that we’ve been asking ourselves our whole lives: How TF does one get dressed (and, you know, feel good about what they’re wearing)? Also: We grapple with the big challenges we’re having with small talk.
the linkage:
For those looking for a tailor in NYC, Mend Tailoring and Alteration Specialists do house calls, and Silhouettes & Profiles on the UWS is great. In L.A., it’s all about Elias in Santa Monica.
Check out Amy Smilovic, Katie Sturino, and Jenna Lyons-era J.Crew for styling tips. Another stellar rec from our editor Maddie: Allison Bornstein’s TikTok.
If you have any small-talk tips (and advice for what to wear with Issey Miyake Pleats Please pants) we want them at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. For more recommendations, try out a Secret Menu membership.
the sponsors (and promos!):
Support a business with Shopify. Dig in with a free 14-day trial with our link.
Amp up your immune system with Athletic Greens and get a one-year supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase when you use our link.
Get better sleep with Beam Dream and get up to 35% with the code ATHINGORTWO.
Try Thinx and get $10 off your first order when you visit rethinkyourcycyle.com and use the code ATHINGORTWO.
Upgrade your piercing and earring experience with Studs and take 20% off your first order when you use our link.
YAY.