A Thing or Two with Claire and Erica

Are black tights getting you down? Are you looking to investigate your alcohol consumption? Are you searching for some new places to shop? This is not an infomercial—it’s just an intro to all that awaits you in this week’s grab bag of an ep.   The linkage:   Our fave stores, for fashion and accessories: Idun, Kick Pleat, Noodle Stories, Love Adorned, Esqueleto, Lizzie Fortunato (don’t sleep on the Fortune Finds home goods either!), Lisa Says Gah, Garmentory, Concrete + Water, and Ban.do. Shops we love, for home and gifty stuff: Food52, Collyer’s Mansion, Primary Essentials, Coming Soon, Homecoming, Hawkins New York, and Leif. Tall (definitely investment) boots: Stuart Weitzman’s Lowland and Loeffler Randall's Gia ones. Sheer tights! Wolford Individual 10s are just great. Some drinking stuff: Omission GF beer and madeira, beloved by George Washington.   Some non-drinking stuff: Curious Elixirs, Kin Euphorics, Recess, Proteau, Zero Proof dinner series, The Goods article on how 2019 changed the way we drink, Tempest, and a NYT opinion column on A.A. and women (that came out after we recorded and is too relevant not to include!). Betterhelp.com/ATHINGORTWO for 10% off your first month! HelloNoemie.com/ATHINGORTWO for $50 off your first purchase! Produced by Dear Media

Talk about thrilling: We have a bonafide icon on today’s ep. We’re talking to Mickey Drexler—who spearheaded Gap and J.Crew in their heydays and is now helping make magic happen at Alex Mill—about how he works and just plain does his days. But first: sweet potatoes, which aren’t boring, ok?   The linkage: Three recipes for exciting sweet potatoes! Ones loaded with lentils, citrus, and feta, ones topped with tahini butter, and ones baked into a (paleo) bread. And one non-recipe: almond butter and seasoned rice vinegar mixed into a sauce and topped with furikake Mickey Drexler’s latest retail undertaking (led by his son, Alex Drexler!) is Alex Mill. We love it. Erica wears these and this all the time, Claire can often be spotted in this and this, and just about everybody sweats these. When it comes to meditating, Mickey is into Hamsa and Transcendental Meditation. A home-goods business Mickey likes: Snowe. Wow, do we get psyched about voicemails: 833-632-5463!   Produced by Dear Media

Something we learned in recording this episode: We have a lot of HG beauty products—and you’re ‘bout to hear about all of them. Oh, and about Christmas trees...which, is that still a seasonally appropriate topic?   The linkage:   Glass-blown ornament resources, five days after Christmas: Old World Christmas (hoodies in particular!), Worthwhile in Charleston (in-store only), ABC Carpet & Home, and Best Made Company.   The newsletter Garden Variety sparked Claire’s dry-orange tree-decor initiative.   Skincare we can go on and on about: Lancôme Eau Fraîche Douceur Micellar Cleansing Water, Yes to Cucumbers Gentle Milk Cleanser, Biologique Recherche P50, Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Exfoliating Acid Potion, Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique Barrier Restore Serum, Noto Botanics Resurface Scrub, Binu Binu Seshin Korean Scrub Mitt, Josie Maran Argan Moisturizing Bronzing Oil, Weleda Skin Food, Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, and regular ol’ coconut oil.     Makeup we’re way into: Kosas Tinted Face Oil, UnSun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen, RMS “Un” Cover-up, Rituel de Fille The Ethereal Veil Conceal and Cover, Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Desire, Noto Botanics Multi-Benne Stain Pot in Ono Ono, Lily Lolo Natural Vegan Mascara, Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara, Sania’s Brow Bar Angled Mechanical Brow Pencil, Glossier Boy Brow, Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner Pencil, Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner in Nude, Olio E Osso Balm in Poppy, Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick in Flame, Kosas Weightless Lip Color in Rosewater, Kosasport Lipfuel in Pulse, Lansinoh Lanolin Minis, and Sunnies Face Fluffmatte in Baked / Terracotta Peach.     Hair products we’re all about: Conair InfinitiPro Curling Wand, Virtue Smooth Shampoo, Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner, and Rahua Leave-In Treatment.    Scents that make good sense: Maison Marie Louis No.4 Bois de Balincourt Perfume Oil, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette, D.S. & Durga Coriander Perfume, Te+Te Hinoki Hand Wash, Norden Ojai Ceramic Candle, Dimes Candle, and Saint Olio Neroli Automatic Cleaner.      Dig into Sakara, and take $60 off, even! Head to Zola and nab 50% off wedding save the dates! Try out Acuity Scheduling—and get 45 days free! YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

If you’re starved for a dose of our trademark randomness, WELCOME. There’s so much to reflect on today, including Marissa Cooper, paleo puffs, Amazon avoidance, and something *vaguely mysterious* called buccal massage.   The linkage:   The O.C. has us thinking a lot about Seth Cohen and Judaism (see also: Tommy Pickles and Judaism)...and low-rise jeans.    A whole lotta healthy-ish cheese curls/balls are having a moment, including Lesser Evil Paleo Puffs "No Cheese" Cheesiness, Lesser Evil Egg White Curls in Huevos Rancheros, and Pipcorn Cheese Balls (in Broccoli Cheddar, too). Oh, and please do read this wonderful New York mag story about Grace Church School that has a LOLZ-y Pirate’s Booty shout-out.   Other food things on our minds: Magic Spoon and Skyline Chili (which have probably never appeared side-by-side before).   For some Amazon long reads, check out The New Yorker piece by Charles Duhigg (author of The Power of Habit) and the NYT piece by Jodi Kantor (co-author of She Said).   To download Kindle books for free, it’s all about the Libby app.   Jaw/buccal massage—we suspect it’s going to trend. Noy Skincare in NYC does it, as does Take Care in NYC and LA.   Get Acuity Scheduling for free for 45 days! Try the InfinitiPRO by Conair Texture Styling Hair Dryer! Visit Lamps Plus for up to 50% off their holiday sale (through December 24th) YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

Welcome to the second half of our very enthusiastic, mildly frantic gift guide! If you’re still trying to track down something for that cool teen ya know, your nana, or anyone who demands practicality, we’ve got you. And hit up last week’s ep if you need more ideas, too. While we’re here, two reminders: 1) Donations are great gifts. 2) Don’t buy junk!!    The linkage:   For teens: Japanese watercolor markers, luggage (check out North Face rolling duffles, Baggu weekenders, and Herschel carry-ons), Olive & June nail polish or manicure kit, gift cert for Nike by You or Miadidas, Katie Kimmel hats/tees/bags, or Ban.do swag   For an eight-month-old baby: Donation to National Diaper Bank Network or RAICES Texas, an ornament (start a tradition!), Lovevery play kit or subscription, or Artifact Uprising board book   For nieces, ages seven and one: Dumye dolls and doll-making kit, Entireworld sweatsuits, Fanny at Chez Panisse cookbook, book-club subscription (Books Are Magic does YA, middle grade, and picture books, and The Picture Book Club customizes the picks), personalized Radio Flyer wagon/scooter/bike, or Crate & Barrel playhouse   For a 94-year-old grandmother: Storycorps recording or flower subscription—we are into Bouqs, Farmgirl Flowers, and Flowers for Dreams   For couples (how ‘bout under $50?): W&P Games or Wolfum backgammon or domino sets (though the latter are a little more $), a restaurant gift cert, or a hotel gift cert (think: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Airbnb, etc.)   For in-laws: FOOOOOOD. Goldbelly and Mouth are good resources, and we also feel strongly about Alioto-Lazio Fish Company crabs, Zingerman’s clubs for bacon or coffee cake or olive oil, Sqirl jams, Russ & Daughters smoked fish, Joe’s Stone Crab crab claws, and Jeni’s ice cream.   For best girlfriends (under $50!): Massage brush, fancy brush/comb, The Floral Society Edible Seed Kit, Hortense black friendship bracelet with pearl beads, Sunnies Face Fluffmatte lipstick, Hawkins candlesticks, or Boy Smells candle set   For people who value utility over luxury: Shhhowercap, Food52 cutting board (or anything from their Five Two line, really), Thermapen, a booklamp (Wirecutter has a pick), Google Home Mini, mini steamer, Dyson stick vac, Joseph Joseph kitchen scale, Muji travel neck pillow, Uniqlo HeatTech, or Benriner mandoline   For stockings: Noto Botanics lip and cheek stains, Baggu reusable bags, Hibi matches, Le Pen set, Clary balm, MT washi tape, cool postage stamps (these, these, these!), Stasher bags, Stojo cup, Acuballs, Moglea and Society6 phone cases, Helen Levi salt and pepper shakers, or Wit & Delight portable phone chargers   For a nanny or caregiver: Slippers (maybe Ugg or Ariana Bohling?), Zeel or Soothe in-home massage, or AMC gift card   For a Peorian pharmacist named Bob: Gift cert to Bushwacker (fave local store!) or to The Aviary/The Office in Chicago or tickets to see The Book of Mormon at the Peoria Civic Center in January   Try Cove if you get migraines—and get a month of meds for free. Grab the InfinitiPRO by Conair Texture Styling Hair Dryer. Give Acuity Scheduling a go with 45 days totally free. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

What’s this? A holiday gift guide?! You bet. We solicited your Qs for hard-to-shop-for loved ones on Instagram, and we have so very many thoughts. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for here, tune in next Monday for the second half, huh?   The linkage:   For pretty/cool playing cards: Look to Fredericks and Mae, Joe Doucet for Areaware, Parks Project, Frank Lloyd Wright, or Woman Cards (there’s a women-in-tech deck, too)       For coworkers (like, $10-$15!): Alpaca keychain, Areaware Little Puzzle Thing, R.P.S pencil case, or Wary Meyers soap      For bosses (like, under $25!): A plant from a nursery or The Sill or a Fort Standard for Areaware totem candle   For employees ($50-ish): Tortuga bookends, Poketo glass straws, or a gift certificate—think a manicure (Tenoverten in NYC, LA, Austin), a massage (The Now in LA), a facial (Heyday in Philly, NYC, LA), or food/drink (Sweetgreen, Blue Bottle, etc.!)   For (but of course) work wives: An experience for you two to do OOO, like a concert, a flower-arranging class, or a workout adventure   For dads, brothers, and men in your life with no hobbies: Snake River Farms wagyu beef, Oceanbox seafood, a leather belt that you get monogrammed by your local cobbler, Glerups slippers, Kingston Wine Co. subscription, Patagonia Houdini or Action Works donation, or a digital subscription—specifically crosswords (NYT or The Inkubator), The Athletic, or Audm.   For the families of significant others when you’re not sure if you need to get them something: holiday bread! We like panettone from From Roy, babka from Breads Bakery, and stollen from Big Sur Bakery.   For a new significant other: A ~fun date~. Sporting event tix! Pottery class! What have you!   For the sig other who loves natty wine, cooking, and the REI sale (under $50, plz): Snowpeak camping dishes/utensils, Pok Pok Som drinking vinegars, Mama O’s kimchi kit, or Victoria tortilla press     For the professor husband jealous of his fashionable Brooklyn friends but wears mostly sweats: Well, then, nice sweats, like ones from Saturdays (reverse fleece in particular), Norse Projects, Entireworld, and Todd Snyder x Champion. Or Taylor Stitch or Alex Mill clothes.   For Alice Waters–adjacent moms: Alice Waters Masterclass, Hudson Valley Seed Co. seeds, Permanent Collection something, The Floral Society market tote, or a citrus tree      For fancy stepmoms: Hill House Home monogrammed washcloths (or anything from this brand, really), Caroline Z. Hurley cloth napkins, or Brown Parcel Press calendar    For cooler, younger sisters-in-law: Hysteria by Happy Socks socks, Lunya silk scrunchie, Piecework puzzle, Thompson Street Studio coasters, Machete anything, Hay jug      For suburban sisters-in-law not into too-cool Brooklyn-y stuff: The Floral Society flower frog, Leah Goren pet portrait, Illustrated Bookshelf art (or mug!), Book of the Month club (or books sourced with NPR’s Book Concierge), Parachute or Eberjey robe, Creekside Farms herb wreath   Get 50% off your first Feals order! Try 45 days of Acuity Scheduling for free! Give the InfinitiPRO by Conair Texture Styling Hair Dryer a go! YAY.   Produced by Dear Media

So, you may have heard: Of a Kind is no more. What’s it been like for us to step away from the business we built and ran for nine years? How are we doing over here? What are we still processing? Oh, so very many thoughts and feeeeeeelings ahead…   The linkage:   Go to the gyno! In NYC, Erica’s a fan of Pure OBGYN, and Claire loves Vanessa Pena. Also, Claire’s doula, if you’re looking.   Jenny Odell’s book How to Do Nothing feels so right for our transition.   Erica is planning on using this time to deep-dive into some cookbooks—Cannelle et Vanille, Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes, and Nothing Fancy in particular.   If you want more on Of a Kind’s run, Callia Hargrove wrote a piece for Fashionista that definitely made us cry.   Better Help for 10% off your first month Acuity Scheduling for 45 days FREE Cove for your first month FREE   Produced by Dear Media

Super compelling topics on this week’s episode include paper towels and pasta straws—and if you’re thirsty to know more about what exactly that means, read on. The linkage… For some sustainable sipping, scoop up a Stojo cup and HAY! straws. Check into Willow House in Terlingua the next time you mess with Texas, and don’t miss out on Big Bend in general. Soak up some nineties nostalgia with a viewing of Party Girl. Sign up for the Oversharing newsletter for up-to-date info (and LOLs) on the sharing economy—and read more about responsible entrepreneurship from Ann Yang, who recently wrote about leaving her company Misfit Foods. Make personalized board books your kids can’t destroy with the help of Artifact Uprising. Feals - 50% OFF First Order + FREE SHIPPING Sakara - For $60 OFF your First Order   Produced by Dear Media

We rounded up your mailbag questions all about being a boss, having a boss, and just, like, WORKING and asked Julia Hunter, the CEO of the ultra-cool fashion and home line Jenni Kayne for her take. Oh, does she deliver the insights and realness. The linkage… The Laundress dry-cleaning detox kit and mesh bags. Organic by John Patrick slip dresses—no dry-cleaning required! Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes—or give us a call at (833) OF A KIND and leave us a voicemail! Click Here for 15% off at FOUR SIGMATIC with code: AFEWTHINGS Produced by Dear Media

You had questions, and this week Claire and Erica have the answers to some of them—keep an ear open for answers to even more in coming weeks. If you’re wondering what to read next, how to show thanks, or how to prepare for your due date, tune in and hear them drop some knowledge. Plus, hear the stories of how these work wives met their husbands, because apparently, you really wanted to know! Click Here for $60 off your first order with Sakara! Produced by Dear Media