If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what everyday stuff famous people add to their carts, like hair spray or an electric toothbrush. We asked actress and comedian Heidi Gardner — who will appear as a judge on the upcoming competition show Second Chance Stage and is collaborating with TULA Skincare — about the Kansas City snack mix, lucky horseshoe ring, and tie-dye pajama pants she can’t live without.
I’m from Kansas City, and Guy’s is a local snack company that I grew up with as a kid. I just always thought I would have Guy’s in my life, and then I moved away and was like, Wait, where is Guy’s? The Tasty mix is sort of like a Chex mix, but it’s an elevated Chex mix. There’s pretzel sticks in it, but there’s also a cheese ball and a Cheerio that’s covered in their seasoning. So I would just say if you’re reaching for Chex mix or Gardetto’s, try a new motley crew. Try Guy’s.
I have blonde hair that’s slightly damaged at this point, and I’ve tried so many different masks and hydrating products. I was doing too much to my hair and I was losing the natural texture that I had before. Crown Affair takes it back to basics. I have a shampoo and a conditioner, and they clean my hair, they hydrate my hair, and they leave it with a good texture. I don’t have to add in all these other products. I also think the packaging is beautiful. I put a set in my guest bathroom. It looks clean and simple, but it makes people feel like they’re using a luxury product.
I had gotten a Roy G. slip dress with a really beautiful, vibrant tie-dyed pattern. And then I saw they had these pajamas. They’re happy clothes. Not only do they feel great, but anytime I wear them, people immediately comment on them. I can wear the pants out — I’ll just pair them with a T-shirt. So yes, they work as pajamas, but they work in real life too. Also, I think people, including myself, burned out on home-done tie-dye during the pandemic. There’s a real skill to it. I’m like, Maybe it’s good to go back to the professionals. They’re the best at what they do.
I like this cookbook because it’s approachable and clean. It’s not necessarily diet forward; it’s just healthy habits forward. With the schedule I have, making recipes that are easy and healthy and sometimes only take four ingredients is so nice. I like to still try and act like I have a normal life and prepare food at home rather than ordering out all the time. This has recipes that are super-delicious, but not super-fussy. One of my favorites is the no-bake almond-butter fudge. It just takes a few ingredients: cacao, almond butter, maple syrup, a little sea salt. Mix ’em all together, put it in the freezer, and then cut yourself some fudge.
You can make anything with these. Great tacos, I’ve done that. But the tortillas are so good on their own, too. Oftentimes, if I come home needing a munchie, I’ll just put these tortillas right on the grill, warm them up, sprinkle a little salt on them and roll them up, and it just makes for a comforting snack. Just the flavor of the flour tortilla itself with a little salt is all you need. They’re way better than what you can get at the grocery store. In fact, I believe last year they won a James Beard award.
Sierra Winter is a Midwest jewelry designer. She’s from Manhattan, Kansas, and has a store in Kansas City. Being a Midwest girl myself, I like that she takes the things she saw growing up on a wheat farm and around her grandparents in the rodeo and incorporates them into really modern, beautiful jewelry. I believe the horseshoe ring was something she always saw her great aunt wearing, so she made one for her jewelry line. I was getting a gift for a bunch of my girlfriends once, and I was like, Oh, I think this would be good to bring joy into their lives. And then I couldn’t help but get myself one as well. I wanted to be part of my horseshoe club.
I would probably buy these even if they didn’t taste so good, because they’re little works of art. I put them in my dressing room on Saturday nights for my guests at SNL. They’re a cocktail in a Jell-O shot. The last time I really remember having Jell-O shots was at a random Halloween party or frat party in college and they were not awesome. They just tasted like straight vodka and a little bit of Jell-O. These taste like a blood-orange margarita or a negroni sbagliato. They nail the flavors, you get a little buzz, and they’re absolutely beautiful. You can order the shots in New York, but their jelly cakes are online and you can order those nationwide.
Dry Vintage is a really well-curated and affordable vintage store. It’s just one of those one-stop shops. Since high school, I’ve always been on the hunt for the perfect vintage tees. I don’t necessarily go thrifting as much as I used to when I was in high school, so being able to go to someone who has a good eye is really useful if you’re a fan of vintage. Amanda, the owner, does story sales on Instagram every couple of weeks, and I just think it’s so well put together. She models her own stuff. She looks like everyone’s best friend. You’re like, Yeah, she’s a cool girl. I love their tees, but you can get anything, from Edwardian dresses to ’80s concert tees to a perfect quilted jacket for the fall.
Cosmic Crust makes hemp-based pizzas. They do pop-ups in New York, or you can order catering from the website. We’ve hired them for a pizza party at SNL before. The owner, Matt Makar, is known for the hemp crust — it’s plant-based, so it’s vegan and gluten-free. It’s like a thin crust, and I just find it to be the most enjoyable crust alternative out there.
It’s really hard to find a moisturizer that’s not too heavy and not too oily, but not too light, either. The name of this cream says it’s weightless, and it actually delivers on what it says it’s going to do. I’ve been putting mine in the fridge, and I get this super-cooling feeling when I apply it in the morning and at night, and it feels really good. Maybe it’s something to do with the summer, too. I’ve been putting on a lot of sunscreen, so I’m just sick of feeling like there’s a lot on my face. So to end the day with something that feels weightless and cold is an added bonus.
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