Love Letters to Carbonation, Candlesticks, and Cardigans

Welcome to Love Letters, a weekly column about what I'm testing and appreciating. As a professional product reviewer, I have plenty of goodies cross my desk for evaluation—and here's what I'm currently loving.

With more travel content on the horizon, I'm not entirely covering shopping and products—until gift guide hits, I'm sure. Believe it or not, the second midsummer passed, every professional reviewer you know immediately started getting holiday pitches. I generally star emails to go back to if I know I'll sample, but even in August, the inboxes are positively buried already.

While my neighbors have very kind patience about the influx of boxes I receive on a weekly basis (not to be that person), there are a few products that I reach for repeatedly. They'll sneak into my shopping coverage at other magazines, but I still love them enough to write them a lil' love letter until then.

Without further ado, here's what I'm currently loving.

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Sophie & Hailee — Distressed Floral Cardigan

STYLE

Credit / Sophie & Hailee

Since I live on the North Shore of O'ahu, the weather is pretty comfortably in the nineties. I always say you can tell who lives here and who's visiting by who's wearing a hoodie just because it's nighttime. Still, despite me realizing that I hate driving in August because my AC-less car has me dripping sweat five minutes in, I still like to be bundled while I work inside.

I received this cardigan a few months ago and have absolutely loved its light but cozy weight; it's just enough to be comforting but not too warm. The distressed details on each sleeve make me happy, I love its olive green shade, and the floral details add a little funkiness when my outfit is otherwise athletic shorts and a t-shirt (or I can dress it up to hit the town.) For that reason, it's one of the most versatile items in my maximalist closet that feels consistently wearable but never boring. Plus, at $56, it's a pretty friendly price point for an all-weather sweater that feels high quality to me.

Juliette Has a Gun — Juliette Perfume

BEAUTY

Credit / Juliette Has a Gun

I've been holding a grudge against Tocca ever since they discontinued my favorite fragrance, Margaux. One day when I was maybe a freshman in college (?), I picked it up from an Anthropologie to sniff and asked for it for Christmas. Needless to say, that perfume has seen a lot of memories (and scent is so closely associated with memory that I'm a nostalgic packrat about it. I try to Pavlov myself into separating out portions of my life.) Since then, I've been trying to recreate the attachment. I'm not really the type to be in a brand's DMs making trouble, but every so often, I'll send them a little message asking if I could literally special order the scent. People in college used to tell me after a hug or whatever that they associated the scent with me; it felt very "Grace," whatever that means.

I have quite a few perfume testers on my nightstand, and will eventually get around to evaluating each. What do I like? What feels like this stage of life? What do other people like?

Anyway, this is the only one that has come even close. Apparently, I like a dark cherry and jasmine base—and I absolutely love the marketing copy too.

“Sensual whispers of Dark Cherry and Pink Pepper ignite the rhythm. with a single glance, Juliette snaps her fingers and claims her prey.”

Hello, yes, I'd like to claim prey!

Top Notes: Dark Cherry, Pink Pepper
Heart Notes: Cashmere Flower, Jasmine Absolute
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Tonka Bean

Naturally, out of all perfumes I've tested, I love one of the more expensive bottles. C'est la vie. But I would definitely re-buy.

Breville — InFizz Fusion

HOME

Credit / Breville

I'm big on any sort of carbonated beverage. My afternoons always feature a crispy Diet Coke. Champagne's easily my favorite alcoholic beverage. The mouthfeel of a sparkling water? Ideal.

I've owned a Sodastream before, which stresses that you can only carbonate water. That's totally fine; I'll pop in a dash of lime and it's good to go. (I also love making a Kin mocktail with the same—sparkling water and lime.)

But what's intriguing about the Breville InFizz Fusion beyond its stylish stainless steel is that it wants you to carbonate everything, including wine. So instead of springing for a $20 bottle of prosecco that makes me feel guilty because I have to go through it in one evening (guaranteed to give me a God-awful headache because I'm technically allergic to alcohol), I can just buy the white and fizz as needed.

Pros and cons, but I've been a huge fan. Plus, my kitchen is extremely small and doubles as my office, so I love that it doesn't look too obvious or hulking on my countertop. My taste in products — especially splurges — is anything that elevates a daily ritual or makes it easier, so I love the problem-solving nature of this appliance.

Ikea — Tuvkornell Mixed Candlesticks

HOME

Credit / Ikea

There's no IKEA in Hawai'i, but these were small and bright enough that I popped them in my suitcase on the return leg of my last trip home. They're only $10, but they immediately add so much cheer to my space (and they even coordinate with my bedding.) Candlesticks evoke such immediate romance and serenity for me, especially since I've nearly always had trouble sleeping, so I love winding down with these.

Troubadour — Apex Everyday Tote

TRAVEL

Credit / Troubadour

As a travel writer-slash-product reviewer, a middle ground for my editors seems to be assigning me travel-related shopping pieces. I'm regularly interviewing flight attendants, travel agents, and other experts for their favorite checked bags, carry-ons, weekenders, etc,. and have gotten to test a healthy batch of them myself. I'm often experimenting with the stack that will magically make my sore shoulders disappear (I'm an overpacker, sue me) and tote all my tech without a fuss. The Troubadour Apex Everyday Tote piqued my interest in the pitch thanks to its magnetic water bottle holder and interior organization.

I can vouch that it's sleek, convenient, attractive, and durable. Since receiving it, I've kept all my "work gear" in there: laptop, iPad, notebooks, planners, post-its, pens, sunglasses, keys, etc,. and it's always really easy to reach for anything. I also love how sleek it looks. Most of my totes are canvas prints of locations I'm rather fond of, so I appreciate that I could take this one to a professional gathering. The leather detailing strikes me as especially polished.