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We write about hundreds of products each week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe — including one writer’s beef-tallow bath salts, a cow-themed calendar, and a newly upgraded carry-on bag.
A very “moo-ving” calendar
Art fans and ice-cream aficionados might know that the friendly cow on every pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is the creation of artist Woody Jackson. But for Matthew Schnipper, the former editor at Pitchfork and The Fader, that knowledge is more than a fun fact — it’s an obsession. “Even at 75, [Jackson is] still pumping out cow books, pillows, mugs, notepads, water bottles, and more,” Schnipper writes, and for some time now, he says, “I’ve been buying them along with any other Jackson offering I can get my hooves on.” His collection includes this charming “cowlendar” that features a cow painting corresponding to the weather each month.
The pants that Remi Wolf owns 20 pairs of
Budding pop girl Remi Wolf loves a piece of clothing that “looks cute but [is] literally the comfiest thing ever.” One such item is this baggy pair of pants that she also has her bandmates wear during shows. Of the 20 pairs she owns, her dark forest-green pair and a black-and-white checked pair are her favorites. With any color, you’ll “look very Eastside L.A.,” she says. “Get a pair of fucking Meals pants and a vintage T-shirt and then you’re chill.”
The least expensive Strategist-approved memory-foam pillow
Sleep experts often stress the importance of “investing in your sleep,” but when you factor in purchasing everything from the mattress to the sheets, those investments add up quickly. After dedicating years of research to sleep-related gear, Strategist writer Amelia Jerden reports that $1,500 is the minimum someone has to spend to get the best bed possible for the least amount of money. As part of that setup, you’ll want to include this memory-foam pillow that Jerden says “will give you a less obviously squishy feel and more heavy-duty neck support.” And if you’re a sweaty sleeper, she adds that it’s “infused with gel and perforated for cooling.”
One writer’s irresistible bodywash
This week, our beauty writers gave us a peek into their showers — specifically their favorite bodywashes. For Rachael Griffiths, that bodywash is from Lush and comes with a scent that’s “pleasant without becoming sickly.” As her small bathroom doesn’t have a tub, the bodywash is her substitute for the bath bombs, which tempt her when she’s bopping around London and catches a whiff of “the siren smell of a Lush.”
The newly upgraded Cotopaxi travel pack
Two years after Strategist contributor Margaret Eby waxed poetic about Cotopaxi’s original Allpa bag, the brand released a redesigned version of it that “addressed many of the small annoyances I had with an otherwise perfect bag,” Eby writes. The three innovations — an added small pocket at the front of the bag, an unobtrusive pass-through strap for securing luggage, and improved weight distribution — have allowed the bag to maintain its place as Eby’s go-to carry-on bag.
Beef-tallow bath salts
It’s true that “in a recent meeting, the Strategist staff hotly debated using tallow on one’s skin,” and Strategist senior editor Kiki Aranita started the debate. She’s Team Tallow and recently discovered these tallow bath salts, which she included in her edition of “Strategist Brain.” They work as both a scrub and a soap, and if you’re hesitant about putting the animal product on your skin, you might consider her argument: “You guys put snail mucin on your skin; this is definitely less weird.”
An adaptive teakettle for those with disabilities
There are many ways in which the world “is often completely inconsiderate toward people with disabilities, whether physical or cognitive,” writes Strategist contributor Chris Sarachilli. He’s a chef by trade and chatted with occupational therapists, nutrition educators, and disability advocates to gain a better understanding of which adaptive tools can make cooking easier for folks with a disability. One such item is this techy kettle that “virtually eliminates the chance of scalding yourself when you’re pouring hot water for tea or coffee,” he says. Using it is simple: “Tilt the kettle, which sits in a sturdy base, to pour the water without needing to lift it from the counter,” he says.
The new KitchenAid that set Strat Slack abuzz
Both Twitter and the Strategist Slack channel have been deep in discussion about the new statusy KitchenAid stand mixer that’s evergreen-colored, just in time for fall. “If you (or perhaps a group of friends contributing toward your wedding registry) can afford it, this limited-edition KitchenAid design with a walnut-wood mixing bowl really is just very pretty,” writes Strategist reporter Katherine Gillespie in the newest installment of “Don’t Dillydally.”
Our new best-in-class jogging stroller
If you’ve ever considered investing in a jogging stroller, you’ll be happy to know that Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says that “many parents I have spoken to report that the physical- and mental-health benefits of being able to go for a run with their kid make the cost well worth it.” After talking to even more fans of the Thule Urban Glide 2, she promoted the stroller from “Best Lightweight Jogging Stroller” to “Best Overall.” The stroller is the lightest one she’s found and is the smoothest stroller that Strategist writer Lauren Ro has ever pushed.
The most expensive item our junior writer owns
“Since I’m still building out my first apartment and just getting used to having a paycheck, I only have a few expensive items,” writes Strategist junior writer Bella Druckman in our behind-the-scenes peek into her brain. She’s slowly building out her furniture collection and splurged on this beautiful wooden table from Dobbin St. Vintage Co-Op in Greenpoint. “We dutifully protect it with place mats and coasters,” she writes. “Everyone compliments it as soon as they enter our place.”
No-fuss travel outfit
Those in the market for a Mediterranean vacation won’t be led astray by Strategist contributor Maggie Slepian’s breakdown of her recent vacation to Malta. In her guide, she divulges the places she hiked, spots she ate at, and the “ultracomfortable, wide-leg jumpsuit” she traveled in. “I love the lightly compressive top, which eliminates the need for a bra, and it tucks at the waist for a flattering fit,” she writes, adding that whether she wore it alone or paired it with a sweater, “it always felt comfortable and flattering.”
Not your ordinary crewneck sweatshirt
If you’re like fashion director and style expert Donnell Baldwin, who says, “I really haven’t met a stripe that I did not love,” you’ll do well with this striped crewneck sweatshirt from J.Crew. He recently recommended it in our new guide to the best crewneck sweatshirts for men and says that “whether it’s with a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a pair of basketball shorts, or a pair of chinos, you can still look polished without it looking like a traditional, zhlubby type of sweatshirt.”
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.