Today I’m testing the waters with yet another new series called 5 Random Things with Lemon Stripes. This monthly blog post will include 5 things that I’m loving and using at the moment. I will go into detail about why I love each product or service and nothing in this series will ever be sponsored. It’s basically just a mish-mosh of what I’m currently loving all in one place because I never know where to share these things.
Unlike “Life Lately” everything on these lists will be products I already own and use on the regular. Let me know what you think and if this series is something you want to see monthly. I’m really feeling it!
1. Quarter sheet pans: Man I feel old putting this as the first item on my first list but quarter sheet pans are the new black, let me tell you. I don’t know why it took me so long to buy them, but I’ll never turn back. They’re great for cooking a dinner for two, roasting multiple types of veggies at once, and heating up Amalia’s dinners. I added 4 of these to my last Brandless order and I recommend buying from there because they’re only $9 and made the USA. Check out what I wrote about their baby and pet collections here.
2. Purification healing mist: If you’re not into crystals or the “woo woo” stuff I love, maybeeee skip this one because it’s a little out there. Or don’t and you’ll thank me later! I buy all of my crystals, palo santo, sage, and that good stuff from a local brand, Open Heart Apothecary. Luckily for you, the owner, Alyssa, also has a beautiful Etsy shop. We’ve become Instagram friends, so she sent me her new healing mists to try out a few months back. I have fallen in love with the Purification healing mist and spray it every night before bed. I even bought a second one for my dopp kit so I can spray it in hotel rooms and rental homes when I’m on the road. It smells clean and delicious and clears the energy of a room without having to light a match. The mist itself is made from just water and essential oils (palo santo, white sage, clary sage, tulsi, and lavender) and she adds charged clear quartz crystals inside the bottle. I can’t get enough of this stuff.
3. Madewell white jeans: I tried on my friend Lauren’s white jeans after seeing her rock them and bought myself a pair on the spot. It’s really hard for me to find white jeans that I love because I find that the fit is off, the fabric is too thin (slash see-through) or they’re simply unflattering. These are not only flattering and made from high-quality fabric, but they have two details that make them a little more exciting than other pairs I own. The button-front high-waisted top looks great with shirts tucked in (see here), and the little fray detail on the ankle gives them some flair. And another random thing I love about them is that the pockets don’t stick out, which can make your hips look bigger.
4. Florgasm eau de parfum: I am very picky about my scents. Chemical-based perfumes and lotions have been giving me headaches lately, but it’s hard to find a natural, essential-oil based scent that actually lingers without being too overpowering. While I was in Nantucket last month, I found my dream scent and bought it on the spot. I’ve tested it out for a month and am happy to report that I still love it. The scent is a mix of French tuberose, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, and linden, mixed with pink pepper and ambrette. It smells clean like a floral soap… but sexier. The description on the goop website says it best. “Florgasm is more ingenue than grandmother, blossoming without banging you (or anyone near you) over the head. It’s a sexy secret, leaving a faint trail of prettiness wherever you’ve spritzed it.”
5. Stone & Strand diamond initial stud: Ever since I got my new piercings (I now have 5 and that makes me very cool IMO), I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect “A” stud because Amalia and Anel both start with A (duh). I bought this one at Tai and loved it but I remembered that I need solid gold posts or my earring hole gets all kinds of messed up. I won’t go into details but it’s not cute. After searching for months, I finally came across one I loved and haven’t taken it off since. It’s lowercase which is kind of cool and different and doesn’t bother my ear at all. It’s small and delicate without being too small and delicate. It’s pretty perfect, in fact.
Love this type of post and learning of great products. It may be fun to have readers respond with the 5 things they’re loving as well.
Love that! What are yours? 🙂
Aw, thanks! Hard to narrow down, but if I had to list 5 they would be..Lafco Powder Room candle, Aesop Resurrection hand soap, Nathan Turner Orange Crush wallpaper in pink, Nicola Bathie brass and embellishment earring (they haven’t arrived yet, but I’m hopeful they’re as beautiful in person!)..and David Parise Barbie and Ken artwork being at top of my list!
I love this kind of post. More photos please. Two random thoughts, both somewhat tied to the fact I’m about to be 50. First, I am very traditional and have no tattoos and only one hole per ear. That said I would describe my style as preppy with a side of gypsy. I love stacks on stacks of jewelry. I recently saw an ad in my Instagram for Baublebar. It was a picture of an ear stacked with cuffs. I’m now obsessed.
Also, you mentioned in a post last week that you feel like some people in your business are moving on. Maybe it’s my age, but I really don’t like the way that everyone else is going. People I once loved now feel very foreign and perhaps less genuine. I know that in some ways it comes down to a business decision, but I find the way you continue to post to be right on!
On the 4th someone just asked me about my white jeans. Madewell (and even JCrew) are the only ones I’ve ever found that work! And half sheet pans, yes!! I use them on the grill too!
Agreed! Although J.Brand makes nice ones too. But they’re so much pricier and the Madwell ones are actually better quality IMO
Yes – definitely love these kinds of posts. Keep them coming! The more random the better 🙂
I’ll try to be as random as possible 🙂
I am excited for this series, Julia! I love hearing what other people’s favorite things of the moment are! And, Madewell white jeans are THE best!!
xx Libby
These are some of my favorite posts. I am curious with the spray do you spray the air, your sheets/bed, yourself? I love all of the items in her Etsy shop. Thanks for sharing!
Good question! I just spray the air but good idea to spray the sheets. I’ll be doing that tonight.
Well, this series rocks. I love it! Keep it coming!
Hahaha thank you Megan! I will do just that.
So glad you mentioned about the solid gold posts on those earrings – I need that too and they can be hard to find! Their site has a lot of cute options…now which ones to order?!
I know! I ordered the really tiny diamond for another hole because it is such a good price and so cute. Can’t go wrong, really.
I love this so much. I still remember the day that I found out my favorite Instagram person was actually getting paid to recommend products. While I understand the business, I appreciate your authenticity. Also, thank you for only covering a few staple pieces from the Nordstrom sale. Try on hauls may be helpful if you are the exact same size and shape as the blogger, but I don’t find them to be super beneficial. One more thing, do people actually ask you if you would size up or down in an item or is that just something that bloggers add?
Thanks so much for saying that! And yes, people ask about sizing every single time I post which is why I try to mention it ahead of time. It’s so odd because I’d never think to ask that, but lots of people do.
LOVE this!
Julia, I truly do not mean for this to come off as a rude comment but you posting about a “new series” brought to mind your “Rewear It” series. What has happened to that? If I’m counting correctly you’ve done three this year, and it’s now July. With your newfound focus on sustainability, the “Rewear It” series makes perfect sense because one of the BEST things you can do regarding a sustainable wardrobe is wear what you already have. Buying ethically sourced clothes is definitely an improvement, but it’s still buying new things so it would make a lot of sense to tie the two together. Not saying you can’t start a new series of course, but it would be nice if there was a little more focus on ones you’ve already introduced.
You are SO right and I have a rewear it comin atcha next week! I’m really bad about keeping up with this stuff but I’m working on it, I promise 🙂
5 random things – what a great new series. I like the variety and it’s a quick read! Thanks!