Can we all just collectively agree to ignore the fact that it’s already September? Please? (Or maybe it’s a good thing that this dumpster fire of a year is getting closer to over and done with.)
And what better way to take a moment away from reality than to talk about the cool stuff we bought this month to help improve our daily lives? It gets pretty dour being stuck indoors, not seeing human beings, and whatnot, and we think that anything that makes that a little easier to deal with is money well spent.
From food subscription boxes, to zero-waste products, to a whole lot of candles, here’s what our staff bought in August 2020.
“I’m obsessed with colorful art, so when I saw Blacksneakers come across my Twitter TL, I instantly knew I had to have some prints. I bought ‘In the Summer, I Wish To Be With You’ and ‘Some Things Are Larger Than Life’ and they somehow look even more amazing in person than they do digitally. I’m in love with them.” —Miller Kern, Shopping Reporter
“I bought, uh, way too many candles this month. From The Inventory, I got the scents Cleaning Day and Coffee Run and they both smell so freaking good. I love the smell of coffee, but I don’t drink it, so I wanted to try out Coffee Run to see if I could get that warm, delicious smell without actually having to brew anything, and it truly makes me feel like I’m in a coffee shop. It doesn’t smell like a weird, artificial coffee scent.” —Miller Kern, Shopping Reporter
“The other batch of candles I got are from Lotus Flame Candle Co. and I got the scents Block Him, Dummy Mission, and Presidential Suite. Block Him smells like Love Spell from Victoria’s Secret, and it brings me back to the middle school locker room after gym class. But like in a good way.” —Miller Kern, Shopping Reporter
“I was walking around Prospect Lefferts Gardens in Brooklyn and stumbled across Greenlight Bookstore and went in because I haven’t gotten to peruse a bookstore in months. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams has been on my reading list for a while, so I finally bought it and I am absolutely devouring it.” —Miller Kern, Shopping Reporter
Something to freshen up the menu
“Since lockdown began, I’ve really been lacking in the variety department when it comes to cooking. I literally eat the same things almost every day — it’s like I’m stuck in a time loop. So to diversify what I’m eating, I signed up for HelloFresh, and I’m loving it so far. I’m not eating the same stuff throughout the week, and the food is legitimately delicious and fun to prepare.” —Dylan Haas, Shopping Reporter
“I know summer is almost over but that’s never stifled my obsession with buying sunglasses and never will. I got this new pair from Crap Eyewear and they’re super cool. I really like the color of the lenses — they make the world look really beautiful.” —Dylan Haas, Shopping Reporter
“One of the first things I noticed at the start of lockdown was the lack of comfortable chairs in my flat. My WFH set up for much of lockdown consisted of me working from the sofa or my bed, which is…less than ideal. Eventually, I started to get neck pain and overall discomfort, so I decided to push the boat out and invest in some actual furniture so I can write in an upright position. I’ve been longing for a pink velvet chair for a really long time, but could never justify the spend. This one seemed reasonably priced and both stylish and practical. It is so pretty and comfy and is a real feature in my bedroom. I am fully obsessed.” —Rachel Thompson, Senior Culture Reporter
“I bought a Haotian wall mount desk, which I mounted on my wall at home to be a standing desk. It’s great for maximizing a small space, features a ton of storage, and is the perfect size for my laptop. It can also hold up to 66 pounds, should I want to put a larger desktop computer on it as we continue to work from home. I love all of the cubby spaces for cords/knick-knacks, the top shelf for books, and it looks super cute all set up.” —Tulika Bose, Associate Producer
“I’ve been thinking about investing in a facial roller of some sort for years now, and this month I finally ordered one. I’ve wanted to up my self-care game with a roller for so long, but whenever I would explore the seemingly endless options online I’d become paralyzed with indecisiveness. Did I want a fancy jade, rose quartz, or amethyst roller? Was my ultimate goal to cool, sculpt, or tighten my skin? I didn’t have a freaking clue, until one scorching summer day after closing my laptop I thought to myself, ‘Man, wouldn’t it feel great to just shove my hot, tired face into the freezer for a while?’ After a few texts to friends and Google searches, I found myself staring at the Esarora Ice Roller, which, to be honest, looks like a toy made for a toddler. The roller, which is meant to be stored in the freezer, had great reviews and claims to help alleviate facial swelling and migraines, shrink pores, help relieve signs of fatigue, prevent wrinkles, and even improve dry skin. The icy tool has yet to arrive, so I can’t personally vouch for it, but for only $22 it seems like it’s a great intro into the extensive world of facial rollers.” —Nicole Gallucci, Culture Reporter
An app to learn a new skill
“In August, I bit the bullet and paid for a guitar tabs app. I’m relearning guitar during quarantine and I was trying to get by with only free online tools. But, every song I would look up kept taking me back to the Ultimate Guitar Tabs app, which doesn’t really have a free option. The best deal was the annual plan for $14.99, so I got paid up for the next year.” —Sasha Lekach, Transportation Reporter
“I had some FB marketplace victories this month and someone three blocks away from me was selling this for only 10 to 15 bucks. You bet your butt I lugged this thing back to my place.” —Elvie Mae Parian, Associate Animator
“I’ve been trying to transition into more zero-waste ideas in my daily routine since we’ve been stuck at home. I finally invested in reusable straws months ago, but more recently got this reusable bubble tea straw since I’ve been brewing stuff at home! (And one of each color for when I see my friends again.)” —Elvie Mae Parian, Associate Animator
“I was running out of my usual disposable cotton rounds, so I went on Amazon to re-order. Most times, I click on the ranking link to see what’s good on the ‘best selling’ page. Half of the products on the page were reusable pads. I wasn’t sure at first. Like, are they too big or too small? Are they going to be too rough for my ever sensitive skin? Will it be enough to get me through the week, and how often will I need to wash them? Long story short, after reading a thousand reviews I decided to give them a try, and I’m so glad I did! I love them so much and seriously think that they’re superior to the disposable ones (even sustainability aside). Don’t know how I lived without them.” —Zlata Ivleva, Photographer and UX Designer
A vacuum that will actually last
“August was the month both me and my vacuum finally broke. My partner and I have been eating, sleeping, living, and working in our “cozy” one-bedroom Manhattan apartment (with our three dogs) trying not to kill each other. So, I decided it was time to treat myself to the newest, latest, greatest vacuum to use during the late-night rage cleaning of all those angry feelings I keep sweeping under the rug. Why the V11 Outsize (read: most expensive) over the others? First, the half-gallon bin takes longer to fill up. (So. Much. Dog. Hair.) Next, the extra battery life is just better compared to most other cordless vacuums I researched (all those feelings take a long time). Lastly, corded vacuums just don’t make sense anymore. Sure it’s expensive, but Dyson’s reputation precedes it, and with a great return policy and warranty, I already feel less angry thanks to my decision.” —Barret Wertz, AskMen Style & Grooming Editor
The coveted 4K TV
“After spending six months in front of my six-year-old TV, I finally decided to upgrade and get a TCL 43S525 4K HDR Roku TV. It only cost $300 and has made a real difference in terms of color and shadow depth, which matters a lot when your main, non-work activity is sitting on your couch trying to figure out what foreign sci-fi shows just dropped on Netflix. It’s also simplified my home entertainment setup, as I could drop my separate Roku for the built-in interface. Now I don’t have to face the mild case of agoraphobia I’ve developed in 2020!” —Sascha Segan, Lead Analyst, Mobile for PCMag
