42 taurus delights
I like nice things. A list and links to all the fancy stuff I love.
Today is my birthday. I’m a Taurus and astrology says folks like me are grounded with an emphasis in the physical senses — touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing. We tend to love food, art, design.
I’m concerned with quality and the way something feels in my hands is a big deal. I’m all about enjoying beautiful things that last. I don’t care about a brand name and I veer from mainstream items but I prioritize when form meets function. I obsess over making the perfect bite on my spoon or I plan on how to make one corner of my home cozier, more livable, and prettier at the same time. I like when things are used and get more handsome as they age.
Basically, I have good taste :)
For my 42nd loop around the raging ball of fire in the sky, I gathered a list of things I enjoy, centered around the senses. I included items I get asked about from multiple people IRL. Many items are an investment, while some are free. I love clothes, I love my home, I love to eat, and this list is a perfect reflection of these interests.
They call it Patagucci for a reason, which is why Patagonia Worn Wear is worth exploring to save some bucks and put one less item of clothing in the complicated fast fashion system. I got my snowboard jacket here. I love the color so my kids can easily find their slow mom gliding down the hill!
Perhaps you’d like to consider an investment to wear art. And it’s reversible! These one-of-a-kind pieces are so so good. It is the number one item in my closet that gets the most compliments. Namai.
Wearing clothes can be fun. Designer Penelope Gazin makes the funnest direct-to-consumer slow fashion. Based out of LA, the folks at Fashion Brand Company source the best prints, including CUTE FISH of your nightmares (I own the pants and it’s the best conversation starter).
Tie-dye socks. These are the only socks I wear. And they make anything you wear a little more interesting. Philip Huang.
Call ur mom with my old LEGO LANDLINE PHONE. I got mine on etsy, there’s probably more on eBay as well. Mine totally works. When you come over, you can 3-way with your girlfriends and gossip about who has a crush on Jake.
Sweeping dog hairs off your floor can look good! With a broom and dustpan and holder.
Doing laundry can be ugly but you can make it beautiful, too. Baskets made by Amish artisans. We also use these to transport stuff in and out of our cars, to lug a bunch of stuff at once, and to cart stuff to and fro.
Love this clothes and style newsletter. She used to run a “fashion blog about trends that women love and men hate.” Love the premise and I love what she wears even though I don’t dress that way myself. The Cereal Isle.
Ditch the salon. Let them grays grow out. I did it and I’m freeeeee from the hassle and I think it looks awesome. I know it’s not for everyone but just think of the money you’ll save at the stylist, the time you’ll get back from not sitting in the chair or from doing it yourself. While I’m at it, I opt for naked nails. My fingers and toes look better ongoing if I just clip and moisturize. The nail salon makes them look perfect but when it all grows out everything looks terrible on me. Hang nails everywhere.
Wear house shoes. Buy regular shoes but wear them only inside the house. For comfort. Fuzzy birks slip-ons.
Framing my kids’ artwork instead of buying mass produced art you spot at Home Goods.
Receiving family heirloom vases and sticking wildflowers from my yard in them. I love receiving cool old things from family, which I can use. But I hate it, too. My attic is filled with too much old family stuff I don’t use!
The home design book I open most. My kids flip through it, too. The Selby Comes Home book is unlike all the other ones — highly stylized and looks like no one lives in those spaces.
Not-too-intense incense. Nag Champa California White Sage is where it’s at. Doesn’t punch you in the nostrils.
Everyday Oil is a great moisturizer in a good looking bottle. Love the scent Warm Feelings but all of them are good.
Unscented beeswax candles. I prefer unscented because we cook a lot here and there’s something terrible about smelling a pumpkin spice latte candle while I’m roasting garlic chicken. Buy candles from your local seller, at your farmer’s market, or the artisanal store you’ve been meaning to check out.
A yoga mat that doesn’t make your hands reek like tires. Your hands will stay firmly in place even if you’ve got sweaty palms. With how much I do yoga, it’s nice to look down and see and feel a beautiful mat. Liforme. Also, I get asked almost every time I go to yoga class where I got this yoga romper.
Toilet paper that won’t leave particles in your privates. You know what I’m talking about, the annoying TP that’s too soft and leaves pieces behind when you wipe. Get real clean with REEL.
Pencil it in. The most effective way I’ve been able to keep track of my schedule, to-do lists and jot down random thoughts is this cute planner. I recommend the cover they sell with them so you can personalize with stickers or, like me, with your kids’ drawings. Hobonichi Techo. The pages are super thin yet slick in a good way and durable.
I don’t take off my jewelry. I shower and sleep with it all on, otherwise I’d lose them. Marisa Mason is a favorite. Jess Vargas’ ADOBE stores are an aesthetic’s dream (esp for home goods) and she has great, handmade jewelry. Also, used jewelry is the best! My emerald ring is an antique from the 1800s and I got my (modest) Rolex used at Fashionphile. Also THIS BODY CHAIN IS HAWTTTTTT.
Papaw Oil. Do you remember when the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding sprayed Windex on everything as his cure all? Well, Papaw Oil is my Windex. I put it on chapped lips, a cut, a bug bite, dry skin… it can also probably fix your squeaky door.
I get a lot of my clothes secondhand on Poshmark. Ozma has the softest natural fiber sweaters with beautiful silhouettes. Ace&Jig is a colorful dream of clothing (HAVE FUN WITH WHAT YOU WEAR!). Big Bud Press work pants look good on everyone, whether you’ve got a big butt or a little butt, short or tall. Seriously. GO.
Utensils I love to hold and write with. I look for traits like a good weight, or the solid feel in my hand, or how the ink glides on paper. If you know me IRL, you can always find me writing things down on a piece of paper or journal. Here’s my 2 writing tools, which I personalized. This Lamy Pen fits in your pocket, ain’t it cute?! And this Tactile Turn pencil in copper patinas the more you use it.
Clogs that aren’t clunky. I love a wood clog but MY KNEES! This looks like wood but is soft and so comfortable. The Penny Plum is my fancy going out shoe but I can walk and walk and walk in them without wanting to rip off my feet at the end of the day. Calou Stockholm.
With these oven mitts, there is absolutely no fear in touching a hot dutch oven that’s been in the oven at 450 degrees for 1 hour. I go to Wirecutter for many best-of products; I have agreed with many of their reviews.
Vintage Levi’s redone in LA. These high rise wide leg crop are the only jeans I wear, great for petite peeps like me.
This bag that holds all my stuff and everyone else’s stuff I live with while we’re out and about and it doesn’t look like a boring mom bag. The fat strap makes it cozy to wear.
A handmade, made-to-order Moroccan rug. The colors! The patterns! I have this one, check out other prints; the seller was very easy to work with. + Hand-selected vintage rugs sourced directly from Morocco. June + Blue is responsible for the most beautiful old rugs in my home. Mine is 120 years old. Quality and beauty that lasts! Thanks to the rec from our designer Abbie Naber.
Bedding must be 100% cotton. We grow and restore and rebuild in our sleep, we cannot mess it up with unbreathable sheets! People who sleep at my house always ask me where I get my bedding. Brooklinen has the best pillows and sheets. I have several blankets from Coyuchi 2nd Hand Renewed and Parachute.
My dry 42-year-old skin loves this stuff. Evan Healy’s ingredients are natural and top notch.
AZ West bowls. Handmade and looks rustic and rad. Got these at my DIY writers retreat and they’ve received a beating in my house and still hold up. Dishwasher proof, too.
Make leftovers new again. We are huge fans of leftovers in this house. I like to roast veggies, make a protein, prepare rice/farro/quinoa and then throw variations of this in a bowl with sauce, salsa, yogurt, and sprinkle nuts for crunch. Add greens, pickled things, hot sauce. You can make this different each day so you don’t get tired of your leftovers.
Joshua Tree Coffee Company Mellow Ethiopian. Subscribe and get it in the mail. And I take my coffee with whole milk and a scoop of sugar. Been meeting a lot of black coffee drinkers. I cannot do this. I need joy in my cup!
Lunar Logic superbrew powders are a treat in a cup. Every single one of their flavors is lovely. I mix the golden mylk with my coffee to make it a dirty chai.
This is the most awesomest bestest naturally decaf loose leaf tea. Turmeric Tantra Chai. Old people and young people alike have told me so.
This ain’t no boring pancake mix. Trader Joe’s Ube mochi pancake mix. The texture, the taste!
Water, just water. Mostly room temp or warm for good digestion. All day long. I don’t even mess with other drinks unless it’s coffee.
Salt from Real Salt. “Redmond Real Salt is unrefined sea salt mined from an ancient seabed in Utah… It’s pure, unprocessed, and full of trace minerals that give it one-of-a-kind nutritional benefits and a subtly sweet flavor that brings out the best in each bite.” Yeah, what the website said!
3 EZ recipes with few ingredients. 1) A dip for apples: Mix yogurt, peanut butter and honey — good for the gut, big on protein and f-ing delicious. 2) Roasted veggies in a cast iron skillet taste better than in a sheet pan: 375 with olive oil and quality salt, best when cooked in a Lodge cast iron skillet, which is the least expensive cast iron pan you can get for the quality, don’t even mess with the other higher priced pans. 3) Ginger honey immune support: slice ginger thinly, place in a jar, fill with honey — add a spoonful to hot water for a tea, so delicious. Bonus points if you chew the ginger!
85C Bakery Cafe snow cubes.
you ruined me with these.Overstimulated? Wear over-the-ear headphones. Do you ever feel overstimulated by life? Try putting on headphones to muffle out the world for a bit. I have been doing this over the last several months, especially when I need to recharge after my senses have been in overdrive. I wear Bose but it doesn’t matter; pick one that fits your head well and blocks out noise.
Walking meditation. Can’t meditate? Have a hard time sitting still? Try listening to your breath and watching your footsteps instead. It’s the most approachable way to meditate, in my opinion.
Happy birthday, friend!! This list was a delight! Especially knowing we put each other on to so many of these gems. Sorry ‘bout the coconut squares. I’m taking everyone down with me.
Happy Birthday! Many blessings and much joy in the year ahead.