We write about hundreds of products a week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked out some of our favorites — expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and the very good deals we uncovered while trolling through the vast online-shopping universe this past week, including a Vermont-made beanie for cross-country skiing, a seductive sculptural candle, and a better version of a beloved baby monitor.
A better version of a beloved baby monitor
“I’ve been using the Infant Optics DXR-8 baby monitor every day since my (almost) 2-year-old son was about 3 months old,” says Strategist writer Lauren Ro. “But as with anything one uses day in and day out, there are definitely things about the DXR-8 monitor I would change.” That’s why, when the brand reached out to Ro about trying its new DXR-8 Pro — which only costs $35 more than the original — she was intrigued “not only because I probably have another year (at least) of monitoring my son’s sleep, but also because, at just $35 more, I wondered how much different it could actually be?” Judged by looks alone, Ro says in her full review that the two closed-loop monitors are not that different (aside from the visibly larger screen on the Pro’s parent unit). But when it comes to video display, “the difference between the two models is like going from — pardon the cliché — black-and-white to Technicolor,” she says. “Or, quite literally, from low-def to hi-def: My husband and I can actually see my son’s eyes at night (it’s honestly a little creepy; he looks like a cyborg).” Other significant improvements include an increased range of up to 1,000 feet and a time display on the parent unit’s screen — “a small detail that makes a huge difference,” she says.
A cozy outer layer for inside the house
A house robe, as Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson puts it, should be “cozy enough to wear for hours and decent-looking enough to step out to fetch the mail.” If you’re looking for a cozy outer layer to loaf around (or work from home) in, Adelson spoke to a bunch of cool women about their favorite house robes, which include this plush L.L. Bean option that Caraa co-founder and creative director Carmen Chen Wu swears by. She says the “super thick and fluffy” robe is “truly like wearing your bed around with you” — and, really, how much cozier can you get?
Two cozy outer layers for outside the house
Editor’s note: MEC lists prices in Canadian dollars, so the prices shown for the Great Northern Down Parka and Tremblant Jacket are approximate conversions to U.S. dollars.
“As someone who married one, I can tell you that Canadians are very proud of two things: their maple syrup and their ability to withstand truly cold winters,” writes Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler. “Actually, make that enjoy truly cold winters. After recently moving to Montreal, I learned that frosty outdoor activities are built into Canadian culture and infrastructure.” Seeing as most of us have months of frosty outdoor activities ahead (if we want to socialize safely, that is), she took to the streets to observe the coats that her Canadian neighbors wear to cross-country ski, ice skate, or just stroll about in — and surprisingly discovered few bore the logo Canada Goose. Her observations were confirmed by some Canadian retail specialists, who say that Canada Goose sells less in Canada than some other just-as-warm outerwear brands. One is MEC, which Leimkuhler says “has been the country’s go-to retailer for all things outdoorsy since it opened in 1971. It carries a lot of the same brands as American outdoor stores (Patagonia, the North Face, et al.), and, like the best American outdoor stores, it also has an in-house label that is very popular due to its very high quality.” These are some of that in-house label’s most popular coats for women and men, according to an MEC employee, who told her that both are insulated with a “plush layer of RDS-certified down to keep you warm.”
The cotton face masks Cory Booker and Rosario Dawson wore to the inauguration
While everyone else was (understandably) atwitter about the purple Christopher John Rogers dress-and-jacket and the belted Sergio Hudson jumpsuit that Vice President Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama wore on Inauguration Day, we found ourselves obsessing over some of the event’s lesser-discussed accessories, including the matching pair of face masks worn by Senator Cory Booker and his girlfriend Rosario Dawson. Adelson, our senior writer, confirmed that the duo’s blue batik masks are from “Studio 189, a line of made-in-Africa clothing and accessories founded by Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, a former executive at Bottega Veneta.” If you’re looking to stock up on more masks to participate in our new President’s 100-day mask challenge, they are worth considering. “Hand-dyed by local artisans in Ghana, the Lola mask has cotton straps for an adjustable fit and a filter pocket — two features we always like to see in a face mask,” explains Adelson.
A Vermont-made beanie for cross-country skiing
Speaking of the inauguration, the mittens Senator Bernie Sanders wore to it reminded us (and the world) that Vermont is also the source of some exceptional cold-weather gear. Among that gear is this beanie, which experts say is ideal for spending hours cross-country skiing or doing most anything else outdoors. “Skida is huge around here. Folks love that it’s a Vermont company, and the hats and headbands are warm without being heavy. They’re great for Nordic skiing,” Tim Harper, a high-school cross-country-ski coach in Vermont, told Strategist contributor James Lynch. Skida founder Corinne Prevot adds that the hat was, in fact, “created for XC skiing. It’s lightweight, breathable, and the material does a good job of cutting the wind while not being too insulating” (again, all things that make it sound great for any other outdoor winter activity, too).
Jason Derulo’s favorite throat-soothing tea
“After I’ve been on tour for a while, my voice gets fatigued — just a laugh or a sneeze could mean a really, really difficult show. This tea coats your vocal chords. I drink it once or twice a day,” the singer told us when we spoke to him about the things he can’t live without. He also shared this tip: “People think that you should put lemon or lime in tea to coat the throat, but that’s actually the worst thing you can do. If your vocal cords are stressed, citrus just makes it worse.”
A closer way to birdwatch
While some may want to install a hidden camera for extra security, others may prefer using one for more pleasurable pursuits, like birdwatching. Which is exactly where this gadget from Strategist senior writer Adelson’s list of the best expert-recommended hidden cameras comes in. “If you’re a birder, this will give you a close-up view of any finches or warblers who stop by for a nibble,” she writes. “It’s motion activated, so it will turn on only when there’s actually a bird present … The camera isn’t exactly hidden in the feeder, but if you’re just looking for birds, they probably won’t notice.”
A seductive sculptural candle …
Our latest installment of Don’t Dillydally is full of things to spice up your life, from a new underwear collaboration to a limited-edition Sriracha spice blend to this rather sexy, sculptural candle in the shape of a female body. (There’s one shaped like the male form, too.) “The organic beeswax and soy-wax candles are made exclusively for the Standard hotels,” we write, by “art e-commerce brand Prospect and sculptor Bonam Kim, just in time for Valentine’s Day.”
… and a candle you can make yourself
These DIY candle-in-a-bag kits from Siblings are Strategist writer Dominique Pariso’s new favorite way to reuse old candle jars after the last of their wax has burned. Each affordable kit is “packaged in a plant-based bag and comes with a hunk of scented coconut-blend wax, a wick, and a wick holder that you use to assemble a candle inside whatever reusable vessel you might have lying around the house,” she writes, noting that the candle-making process couldn’t be easier. “While I certainly felt like a folksy candlemaker, it was probably the least labor-intensive DIY project I’ve ever done. And once I trimmed the wick and lit a match, I found that not only did the Siblings scent fill my kitchen; it was also a dead ringer for the Burning Rose candle it replaced.”
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
