Hi friends! Welcome to the seventh issue of gleamed.
This week’s issue is all about little ways to treat yourself. While there might be a common misconception that treating yourself is an indulgent practice, I argue that can actually be quite the opposite.
The way we work as Americans can easily lead to burnout, and providing yourself with love, encouragement, and positive reinforcement for a job well done can lead to increased (and healthier) levels of productivity. Personally, I always get the best work done after giving myself a little bit of space to rest and recuperate, and I’ve been trying to tap more into the little things that provide me with tiny, daily sources of joy.
Moments that bring me joy: lighting a scented candle after cleaning the apartment, serving myself a fancy coffee in a nice cup, bringing home a new plant, taking a mid-day work break to lay down with my cat, waking up early to walk with a friend, shaking up a well-deserved cocktail, and picking out a candy from the jar on my coffee table. What sparks joy for you?
Finally, if you have any suggestions or requests as this newsletter is taking shape, my inbox is always open!
xx,
Austa
This week I’m feeling…the adult candy jar
One of the easiest ways to create small joy-sparking moments at home is by taking simple, everyday items, or processes, and elevating them. I wrote about this concept in an earlier issue of gleamed, with suggestions for upgrading your morning coffee with homemade cold brew.
These aren’t time consuming exercises, and when they add up can make a huge impact on how you feel moving about your own home.
One of my personal favorite items in my home is my adult candy jar. It might sound counterintuitive, but nothing makes me feel more grown up than offering a visiting friend to indulge in some candy from the jar sitting on my coffee table.
To add one to your home, first pick a beautiful vessel that fits with the rest of your decor. It can be as small or large as you desire. Most of the candy jars I’ve been seeing are enormous, á la the Kardashians, but I personally prefer a smaller vessel. The lack of transparency makes the experience more of a happy surprise for guests, and puts less pressure on you to constantly keep it full. It also prevents you from having to deal with constant visual temptation.
Next, pick a few types of candy that you genuinely love, and might not get to eat very often. I love these little Italian fruit candies that you can sometimes find at the hostess stands of restaurants. If you prefer chocolate, rather than stocking Hershey’s kisses, try upgrading to Lindt truffles, Ferrero Rochers, or Venchi chocolates. If you’re into it, you can also fill your candy jar with CBD or TCH-infused edibles, which I’ve done before as well. Just make sure your guests know what they’re getting before they reach their hand in.
An artisan spotlight…Helle Mardahl
The candy dish on my coffee table is by a Danish artist, Helle Mardahl. Glass is one of my favorite artistic mediums, after I got hooked on the Netflix show Blown Away a few years ago. After pandemic restrictions eased in late 2020, I took 16 weeks of glass blowing classes at Brooklyn Glass in Gowanus. Those classes helped me realize just how challenging of a craft it is, between all the danger factors, the heat, the cost, and the sheer artistry behind it all.
Mardahl’s work is often compared to sugary confections (her signature pieces are called Bonbonnieres and Bon Bons), lending themselves naturally for use as upgraded candy jars.
Hand blown in bright, contrasting colors, her unique vessels are a welcome diversion from the traditional standard quo of glass: unsymmetrical, amorphous, opaque, and super fun. After following her on Instagram for years, my partner surprised me with a visit to her studio on a recent trip to Copenhagen, where we purchased the Bon Bon we now display in our living room.
My living room, photographed by Liz Calka.
On my shopping list…soft pants
Another way to treat yourself at home is with the intentional curation of your WFH wardrobe. I’m totally guilty of sometimes wearing a large sleep shirt and sweatpants all afternoon, but I know when I do that I’m less likely to go out for a walk, grab a coffee, or run small errands that day—simply because when I’m wearing lazy clothes I feel more lazy, and wouldn’t leave the house wearing my pajamas (most of the time).
There’s also no way that I’m going to sit around at home wearing jeans, which is where soft pants come in. There are tons of people who feel comfortable donning leggings all day, but they just honestly aren’t for me, as I find them constricting on my waist while sitting for long periods of time. Instead, I prefer to wear loose fitting, high waisted pants that are nice enough that I could put on some sneakers or heels and meet a friend for happy hour in them.
A few options on my current fall and winter wishlist include this black knitted set by Australian brand DISSH, a relaxed linen trouser by Z Supply, caramel-colored satin pants by Song of Style, and these fluffy-yet-structured sweats on Revolve.
Where I’m to traveling next…Montpelier, Vermont