The Saturday Group Text, #76
A super cute gift idea, luxury beauty essentials, a happy springtime fragrance, highly effective sleep gummies, and more
Hi friends. I’m on the West Coast this weekend. This week and next will be a bit of a whirlwind. When I get back to Charleston, I’m home (for exactly one day!) for a shoot, and then I go to New York (for exactly one day!) to speak on a panel. Afterward, I’ll probably turn into a cat and hibernate for a weekend.
I hope you’re having a cozy Saturday. Weekend Reading is up on the blog. It’s a solid list. Lots of recipes this week (was I hungry when I made this? Perhaps). A dreamy Italian architect’s home. Everything we know about American Love Story (I can’t wait). The best true crime books of the year. How pantry items became status symbols. Everything that’s coming to Netflix in April. The twelve runway trends we’ll soon see everywhere. Shopping finds. And more. I hope you enjoy it; as always, it’s my favorite column to pull together.
PS - this one gets a little long. Click through to Substack to read the whole thing. And if you are feeling nice, give it a heart. It helps with the algo! <3
My New Waffle Pouch!
OMG. Is Abbode on your radar? They weren’t on mine until they reached out to offer to make me a waffle pouch and I am a little bit smitten. These would make a perfect gift. They have all sorts of great things you can have embroidered, and a huge selection of icons, too. I will admit that I was a bit miffed to see that while they feature a slew of fabulous dog icons, they don’t have cats! Alas, caviar, a martini, and an airplane summed up my travel mood nicely. I love this so much.
Luxurious Skincare Essentials
I started testing Eighth Day’s Regenerative Serum and Night Cream Treatment at the end of January and have been completely wowed by both products. These are luxury products, the secret ingredient being Peptide-rich Plasma®, which stimulates the skin’s ability to renew, restore, and regenerate. The serum does everything—fighting 10 signs of aging, leaving your skin smooth, glowy, and radiant. The new Night Cream Treatment contains their proprietary RetinalXR™ to visibly smooth, brighten, and firm skin with 250% greater potency than standard retinol. This is best for experienced retinol users but I will say that I did not have any sensitivity issues. I also found the cream to be extremely hydrating. Not a lick of dryness or peeling. For eight weeks, I used the Regenerative Serum every night and the Night Cream Treatment 3x a week. My skin has never been smoother, more radiant, or glowy, and I swear some of my fine lines have faded.
*Sponsored Mention
An Instant Fragrance Mood Lift
I’ve always believed in the power of fragrance to alter the mood, take us back in time, or remind us of someone we love. Scent is powerful! The second I smelled Citrus Blonde, by Lake & Skye, I was hooked. This may be my summer fragrance (though you know I tend to rotate!). This is fresh and crisp with notes of pink pepper, bergamot, peach blossom, and cedarwood. It’s summer in a bottle. There’s also a purse-size version, which is a great way to try it.
Two other Lake & Skye favorites are the 11 11 vanilla perfume oil (gorgeous on its own but it mixes nicely with this!) and the Santal Grey (this smells like a lighter, more airy version of Le Labo Santal 33). You can use GRACEATWOOD15 for a discount.
The Best Sleep Gummies I’ve Tried
My friend Holley (of ) raved about these sleep gummies, and it got my attention. They are amazing. I can wholeheartedly say that they are the best sleep focused supplement I’ve tried. For when you just really need a good night’s sleep (but not a tipsy buzz a la Earlybird), but can’t risk the tired/hungover feeling the next day. The sensation honestly remind me a little bit of Ambien in that you feel really happy and just fall asleep. But the key thing is that there is not a lick of grogginess or feeling icky. I will be buying these again and again.
I finally have something really good to recommend to you, thanks to
: The Last of the Sea Women, on Apple TV. Ever since reading Lisa See’s book, The Island of the Sea Women (one of my favorite books of all time), I’ve been fascinated by Korea’s Haenyeo (sea divers). Alisha recommended this in last week’s , and the second I finished work, I put this on.I have been watching Found on Peacock and really like it. A woman and her team help track down missing children. But there is a twist: her childhood captor is played by Mark Paul Gosselaar (aka Zach Morris).
The White Lotus persists. That incest storyline is really something though. Wow.
Material Kitchen is having a birthday sale, with up to 40% off. I love this brand; basically all my kitchen favorites come from here. This green pitcher, my everyday knives+ stand (bought 5 years ago, still perfect), the best cutting boards, and most recently, their amazing steak knives.
The Nordstrom Beauty Sale! Sephora’s Sale is coming soon but some faves that aren’t available at Sephora are the serum I mentioned above, this orange lip balm (it is more of a coral on—so pretty!), and this Neroli surface spray.
Shopbop Hearts are up to date. So many gorgeous finds for Spring this week.
I’ve been giving Theory another look. These indigo barrel jeans are perfect (pair with this chic wrap top?). I also love these pull-on linen pants and silky polo.
Hart launched their new Spring collection this week. I saw everything in person and it’s gorge. I got this charm necklace and love it. A reminder to seize the day!
Did you see Old Navy’s new occasion wear? These party dresses are really cute! I love this dotted maxi, this floral maxi, and this keyhole satin maxi. All under $100(!)
ICYMI - I am adding a little extra content beyond the paywall each week.
What’s below:
This week’s high + low
A fifth find!
Substack articles from fellow publishers that I enjoyed