The Link Up: Rummage Sale Details + The Best Tomato Soup + New Product Faves

This past week was pretty darn good. I think I achieved a near perfect balance of work and family (with the help of the one and only Brian Henderson). This is not something that happens often, as the concept of balance feels like as likely as me riding a unicorn, with the perfect color of blonde on my head, owning every Thonet chair in the universe. But this week I NEEDED to get in a solid writing session for that book I keep saying I’m writing. 🙂 So after a great day of shooting the kitchen at the mountain house on Wednesday, my team packed up and I burrowed in and wrote. That’s why so many thanks go to Brian for solo parenting for a few days. But now I’m back with my family and I am going to take in this Sunday as slow as possible. Hope you also have a perfectly slow Sunday, free of any mishaps and/or tantrums. Let these links be the start you need…

First and foremost, we wanted to let everyone know that the Rummage Sale, benefiting the non-profit organization Pen + Napkin is happening again next Sunday, March 10 from 9 am to 2 pm at Rene’s Van + Storage (4563 Colorado Blvd. in Los Angeles). They’re accepting donation drop-offs this whole week (Monday through Friday) from 10 am to 3 pm each day at the same location as the sale. (Note, all donations have to be approved prior to drop-off, so please email donations@penandnapkin.org). Though we’re not a part of this year, I absolutely wanted to share with you all because it’s such an amazing organization. Plus, myself and some of the team will be there shopping, so please do come on over and say hi if you see us. Check out their Instagram for any other information.

If you haven’t seen the STUNNING and latest work of Sarah Sherman Samuel then click HERE immediately. She helped the ever cool Garance Dore transform her builder grade/character lacking LA home into a true modern paradise. 

Another house tour that had me jumping up and down is this huge Santa Monica home I saw on My Domaine that’s actually a rental.

Guys, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard just announced the launch of their new affordable baby line, Hello Bello, this week. I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet but the packaging is so cute and is said to be filled with all the good stuff we as parents want to use on our kids. So happy for them.

Since I am talking celebs, did you see all the hot pink on the Oscar red carpet this year? 2015 Emily is extremely excited/validated while 2019 Emily is asking if maybe she needs to bring it back?? Here is a link to see all the best pink looks from the night.

I am not shy about my love for Food52 and this week they just added a new product to their Five.Two line…WOOD SPOONS. They are beautiful, wooden and I want all of them. 

This week, Arlyn is bringing is us our new show to watch,  Pen15 on Hulu. She says, “It catapults me back in time to when I was 13, awkward, as obsessed with my best friend as I was boy-crazed, and figuring out that ‘not a kid/not an adult’ time in my life. It’s a serious buffet of all-you-can-eat nostalgia. If you’ve ever been 13 (duh), you’ll absolutely find something to relate to. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty cringeworthy.” Ya, I’m sold.  

This article hit Sara hard and fast. As someone who’s always been full of hustle this article made her question WHY I feel the need to hustle so hard, all the time.

Another read (but a book this time) I highly recommend is High Vibrational Beauty: Recipes & Rituals for Radical Self Care. It’s co-written by one of my former bosses (so it’s styled beautifully) and has a ton of great ideas on how to better take care of ourselves and our earth. I let Julie borrow it on a work trip and she loved it, too. Hope you’re convinced because you should be. 

Speaking of natural beauty and work trips, Sara found her new favorite lippy in Minneapolis last month. Say hello to Henne Organics’ Lip Tint in Bare It’s got that perfect “it girl” brick color with enough punch to show up but it’s not thick or strong. A pretty, sophisticated sheer tint. Bonus, it’s super moisturizing.

When it comes to skincare, Jess just wants people to tell her what to buy. So when almost 1,500 people on Amazon raved about Weleda’s Skin Food natural moisturizer for sensitive skin, she was in. Then she saw it was $10, she was IN in.

Michael bought the Bell flush mount light from CB2 for his guest bathroom recently and he’s been all about it. It’s simple, pretty and affordable. He also loves that it doesn’t feel invasive in his small bathroom but adds just enough style and class. 

Arlyn has big news…she made the best tomato soup she’s ever had using this recipe from Cup of Jo. The only tweak she made was using chicken stock instead of water and while it’s a solid hour of babysitting, she guarantees it’s worth it (once you add some homemade croutons). Glad I have dinner plans tonight. 🙂

That about wraps it up for today. Hope you read a little, cook a little, maybe even shop a little and if you want a little inspiration head to the new Projects Page on the site. Just make sure to enjoy the rest of your Sunday and see you tomorrow!