Simple pleasures
On joyful showers, a bookstore with plenty of heart and really good butter.
Shower with joy
I’ve talked about being Team Shower (and even written about how I can’t get myself to love baths). But never have I appreciated the joy of taking a shower as much as I have after becoming a mom. If you ask me about my beauty routine, it’s likely related to things I stock in the shower. Here’s what’s currently in rotation.
Amika The Kure: It’s been a while since I've used the same shampoo and conditioner for an extended period of time, but I’ve gone through multiple bottles of this duo. It lathers up and rinses off nicely, has a lovely scent, and my hair feels soft and less frizzy, making it less reliant on styling products. Plus, starting this month, you can buy refillable pouches to top up on empties.
Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator: There’s something about this exfoliator that makes it feel spa treatment-level fancy. I think it’s both the scent (sandalwood) and sensorial experience. It sloughs off dead skin using physical and chemical exfoliants without being overly scrubby and feels really good to use.
Caudalie Vinopure Cleansing Gel: I don’t always have time to wash my face at the sink so this cleanser has a spot right in the shower. It’s one of my all-time favourites with a gentle but effective formula that uses the brand’s signature grape water, along with naturally derived salicylic acid.
Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion: I have a giant tube from Target, but it’s now also available in Canada. It’s great for the colder months and works just as beautifully in warmer weather. It moisturizes (thank you, squalane), gently exfoliates (courtesy of white willow bark and papaya extract), and absorbs quickly (again, time is of the essence here!). Basically, it makes me feel like I’m slathering on Le Labo at one of the Fairmont properties, except instead of rationing lotion from mini bottles, I get a big, generous tube.
Special shoutout to Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Mask, which I use less often, but the coconut cream, mango butter, and banana treatment feels and smells like a South Asian dessert!
Happily ever afters
If this isn't a dream bookstore, I don't know what is! Happily Ever After Books — Canada’s first-ever romance bookshop — just opened up for business. During the pandemic, owner Jenny decided to fulfill her dream of owning a bookstore after working in an office for the last decade. “It's always been a dream to own a bookstore and finally I was like, well I might as well try it! If I'm going to do it, I might as well do it now and be first!” she shares. “It is my hope, that one day, Happily Ever After Books — as a brick-and-mortar — will become the community and cultural hub for romance books in Toronto, in the GTA and in Canada.”
The shop will also have a pop-up at the Word on the Street festival next month. “Obviously with it being online and doing pop-ups, we have a lot less inventory than a brick-and-mortar bookstore, so we have a small but mighty collection!” Said collection includes books from lots of amazing romance authors like Sally Thorne, Tessa Bailey, Alisha Rai and Emily Henry. You can place your orders online now.
What brings you joy, Lara Buchar?
Lara Buchar is an editor at Food Network Canada.
“Working in food media, I’m always searching for what’s next: from buzzy new ingredients to flavour combinations. But with that, I’ve come to really appreciate food that’s simple, tried and true. Lately, that’s bread and butter. Specifically, really good quality cultured butter (my go-to is Cows Creamery Sea Salted Creamery Butter) on a thick slice of sourdough. But instead of toasting it in a toaster, I pan fry the buttered bread for a couple minutes until crispy and golden – this also helps to soften the bread, which is a lifesaver on day-old sourdough. It’s a bit of extra effort but it goes such a long way. Whether it’s dipped into the jammy yolk of a fried egg for breakfast or topped with some thinly sliced radish and a sprinkle of flaky salt for an afternoon snack, it’s utter perfection. I’m also a big fan of keeping butter in my French Butter Keeper so it’s always soft, fresh and ready to spread at a moment’s notice.”
From my bookmarks:
The unexpected joy of this Harry Styles cover profile (and the publication that it’s in)
The mundane thrill of ‘romanticizing your life’
Ina Garten gives a food tour of Paris on Instagram
Hill House Vintage’s Paula Sutton on the Second Life podcast