February/March edit

On the perfect travel bag, dopamine-inducing sneakers and a great rom-com.

Last month, I traveled to Singapore and Indonesia for vacation and soaked up some much-needed sun. February was also my birthday month, and living in a cold climate, I’ve come to realize that escaping somewhere warm is the best way to celebrate. Not only do you get to enjoy better weather, but by the time you get back, spring is right around the corner. The post-vacation jet lag has been brutal, but on the positive side, the time change has meant brighter evenings and I can almost smell spring in the air.

Here are a few highlights from what I read, wore, bought and more in February and March.

Uniqlo Multi Pocket Shoulder Bag
I have the viral Uniqlo bag in multiple colours (I've written about how well it marries form and function) so I was immediately eyeing the new crossbody shoulder bag when it landed in stores right before I left for vacation. Can confirm that this is another perfect travel bag from the brand, especially if you’re looking for something bigger (or require more space to carry kid things like snacks and refillable water bottles). It’s roomy with lots of easily accessible compartments, including two exterior side pockets.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
While I was in Singapore, I took myself on a solo date to watch Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. It was a fancy theatre with plush, fully reclinable seats, a pillow, blanket and snacks at the ready. It’s rare to find time for myself to do me-things so this felt like a nice treat. What made it even better was how much I loved the movie. I was nervous about how the film might revisit Bridget but it was better than what I’d hoped. A good rom-com for me isn’t just about how much I laugh, but also how much it moves me. I laughed and cried—a lot.

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 SD Metallic Series
One of my favourite purchases in Singapore was a pair of dreamy metallic pink Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. Initially, I couldn’t decide whether I wanted a classic, neutral colour or something bolder from the metallic series, but I kept thinking about the latter and knew I had to have them. I’m obsessed and will be wearing them all spring and summer long.

Could not walk away from these Onitsuka Tiger sneakers.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
This second-chance romance from Canadian author Hannah Bonam-Young is about a married couple that goes on a week-long wilderness expedition to help them reconnect. They’ve been together since grade 10 and begin to wonder whether they’ve simply grown apart over the years. I really love a good second-chance romance (Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan is another favourite) and this one was done so well and filled with great lines like, “If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you, always.”

Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar
This is another second-chance romance about a once-married couple. Meena returns to her hometown in Texas to get a divorce from her ex-husband and move on with her current love interest when a hurricane forces them to hunker down together. I loved Naina Kumar’s debut novel, Say You’ll Be Mine last year so I was excited to read this one. I really enjoyed the Sweet Home Alabama vibes.

Rhode Pocket Blush in Freckle
Singapore’s heat and humidity always wreaks havoc on my hair but it does wonders for my skin, which is why I tend to pare back on the makeup and just stick to a concealer + blush combo whenever I’m there. Rhode’s pocket blush is generally great, but it’s even better in hot weather. The creamy texture easily melts into the skin, but doesn’t melt off. I love the shade, Freckle, which is a pretty peachy colour.

Saje Pocket Farmacy Mindful Edition Essential Oil Kit
Canadian brand Saje makes great travel-friendly kits for its essential oils and I picked up a special travel edition over the holidays. This set contains mini versions of some of its bestsellers like Unwind (a blend of lavender, cinnamon and orange). I love having the kit with me when I travel so I can always reach for the essential oil I want. Note: the kit I bought that’s pictured above is no longer available, so I’ve linked to one that’s similar.

Running Point
I flew through the episodes of Mindy Kaling’s new comedy series, Running Point on Netflix, which is kind of a cross between Ted Lasso and The Mindy Project. It’s fun, breezy and signature to Mindy’s shows, has a strong, ambitious woman at the forefront who doesn’t always have her shit together. If you watch(ed) the show, I also recommend listening to Mindy Kaling’s podcast episode on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, which I really enjoyed.

LEGO Typewriter with Flowers
This was the best birthday gift from a friend and is also my current LEGO obsession (it started with the flower bouquet set in 2021). It’s a vintage typewriter with flowers! But you can also turn it into a keytar or or a flowerpot with a pen and notebook. It’s impossible to have this on your work desk and not smile every time you look at it.

Tower28 Mini SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
My skin always acts up when I travel and this mini version of Tower28’s SOS spray does a good job of soothing stressed-out skin, thanks to hypochlorous acid. I’ll usually apply this pre-flight, during and after. It’s also an easier option if you’re flying with kids and don’t want to fiddle around with a face mask.

• This whimsical London home on Homeworthy is a delight.

• Low-maintenance perennials to plant that’ll thrive year after year.

• What it was like to eat with Anthony Bourdain.

• Eight gardening essentials to thrift this spring.

• Obsessed with this post by

  Dish & Tell by @sjeaats
  detailing how she cooked her way through NYT Cooking’s 50 most popular recipes on TikTok.

• Exploring walking tour vacations!