Lifestyle
The Link Up: Two Podcast Episodes That Gripped Emily Hard, Mal’s $200 Hairbrush Dupe, And How To Actually Get The Nancy Meyer’s Look
Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope everyone caught Em’s “All The Design Projects We Have Going On” post this week so you know we are hard at work to get you some awesome reveals, and soon. It’s gearing up to be a busy fall too, which we continue to be so grateful for. Hope you are having a restful weekend and are ready for some fun links. Let’s get to it.
This week’s house tour is the home of a true artist. The British fashion photographer-stylist-creative director, Venetia Scott, lives in a post office-turned studio/apartment, and it’s incredible. Layered with art, cool fabrics, colors, and more. It’s a feast for the eyes.
From Emily: Two podcast episodes I was so gripped by that I mostly stared at a wall while listening to. 1. Armchair Expert with crime expert (former government agent, sniper, and FBI expert) Chris Whitcomb, who recently wrote his latest book about the Idaho murders. As part of the zeitgeist writ large, I obviously knew about this heinous crime (every parent’s worst nightmare), and I thought there were a lot of suspicious things about the case, but I also find the internet and social media to be generally inflammatory and conspiratorial, so I feel like I have no one to trust. WELL, COLOR ME SUSPICIOUS. Chris’ book does not claim who did it or that Brian Kohlerberger is innocent, but as a seasoned investigator with a ruthless pursuit of justice, he clearly outlines evidence in the case that doesn’t make sense. I don’t want to spoil it for you, and you don’t need to know much about the case to listen to it, but wow, it’s riveting. (If you haven’t listened to the Amanda Knox episode, please do – INCREDIBLE). 2. As someone who lives in this influencer world, I was excited to hear Nara Smith on Call Her Daddy. If you don’t know who she is, she is a 24-year-old former model with 4 kids who makes Skittles and Cheez-Its from scratch for her family – All for content on her insanely popular TikTok. She is gorgeous, wears gowns while cooking, and does the seemingly impossible, thus her extreme explosion on social media. It’s absolutely fascinating, entertaining, and provocative – intentionally or not. I have a lot to say about the “trad-wife” movement. I’ve been so interested by the media coverage of Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm and, moreover, the backlash (all from women). I have more to say, so much more, and I’ve written many unpublished drafts about what I think is actually going on with this supposed movement. But if you want a glimpse inside this very interesting media bonanza, listen to Nara Smith on Call Your Daddy. It’s a good listen.
From Arlyn: I found myself in need of a sconce for a spot in my living room, but I didn’t want to spend too much money. In doing some research for the very specific design I wanted—articulating arm, pewter or chrome—I found this baby on Pooky’s site for a huge discount. And then, scrolling through their other offerings, I was stunned by the pricing on some of their sale and clearance items. They aren’t super easy to find all in one place, but do yourself a favor and just dig around to see what you can stumble upon. I saw some quality lighting for like $25! You can’t even buy some cheap tinfoil-like lights off Amazon for that price.
From Mallory: I shot a Walmart commercial back in January of this year (which was so fun), and I got to have my own glam team (a total dream honestly!!) – the hairstylist took one look at my hair and was like, “Girl, you gotta get a Mason Pierre brush“. When I inquired more about this famous brush, he said, “It basically moves the oils from the top of your head and evenly distributes them throughout your hair so it helps a lot with dry ends.” He said they’re crazy expensive, but it’s the only brush you ever need to buy…I was immediately sold until my makeup artist whispered to me, “Girl, the one at Sally Beauty is the exact same, and it’s $10 instead of $200.” Well, I passed a Sally Beauty the other day and snagged one, and I LOVE IT. My hair feels silky smooth, and it really feels like it untangles everything so well. If you’re in the market or if you’ve been wanting to try the fancy brush – try the dupe first to see if you like it:)
Anthropologie will forever be a staple for us, and this weekend they are giving an extra 40% off of their sale section. Music to our ears! Looking for some cute breezy tops? Check out this one and this one. Love Em’s Trucker hats?? She has this one and this one. The stock is good, so if you need some new pieces (at a much more affordable price), check out their sale.
From Marlee: Well… I have good news and bad news… and more good news, and so on. GOOD NEWS: I was recently at a “vintage” market (emphasis on the quotation marks) and found a SUPER cute tank top. “It looks like Doen!” I exclaimed. Paid $15 for it and have been wearing it nonstop all summer. BAD NEWS: last week I had to take my sister to Target and lo and behold, on the rack, lies my new shirt (here it is). Vintage schmintage. GOOD NEWS: that means you can have it too. BAD NEWS: it’s almost sold out. GOOD NEWS: it also comes in a dress, which is also VERY cute. Couldn’t tell you what size to get in the shirt, because the tag was ripped off – at least I saved $2. Ha!
From Gretchen: I don’t know what it is about a cream stick, but lately my entire makeup routine has revolved around them. My holiest of grail products is my Fenty Contour Stick (in shade Mocha). I love how instant and easily it pays off. A messy swipe or three across my cheeks and a haphazard brush blend, and I’m out the door looking glowy as ever. For the longest time, I used IT Cosmetics CC cream as my base (still love it and still use it from time to time), but there’s nothing quite like the ease of swiping a cream stick product, so I figured it was time to find one to fit the bill for foundation. Well, surprise, I did! This LYS Beauty stick is exactly what I was hoping it would be. The triangle shape makes swiping this under my eyes a breeze, and I just love love LOVE the way it blends out. Plus it actually camouflages my dark circles. And just like my bronzer stick, I can swipe this one on in a messy hurry, give it a quick blend with my fingers or brush, and it comes out amazing. Definitely hydrating like the CC cream, with plenty of coverage and a price tag that didn’t give me immediate sticker shock. This will definitely be a product I repurchase as soon as I’m out.
From Jess: I might be the last to know about the long-form conversation podcast Talk Easy, but I just started listening, and I love it so far. The host, Sam Fragoso, has the most incredible soothing radio voice; his research is very thorough, and his questions are poignant and thoughtful. The guests are artists, activists, and politicians, and there are so many I’m excited to listen to. I found the podcast by way of comedian/actor Mary Beth Barone (whose Netflix special, Galaxy Brain, just dropped, and I also loved). Robby Hoffman’s conversation is wonderful, funny, and a must-listen. If this kind of podcast style is your favorite (like me), I think you’ll also really enjoy it!
From Caitlin: I recently discovered Jon Hutman’s YouTube channel and cannot believe he only has 41,000 followers. If his name doesn’t ring a bell, it should – he’s Nancy Meyer’s set designer! And he’s giving out unbelievable advice! On the internet! For free! I know that you’ll love this 13-minute video on how he designed the cottage from The Holiday, and this 16-minute video is filled with great tips on creating a cozy home. I could listen to Jon talk about pulling these sets together all day – I can’t believe we FINALLY get to learn the nitty-gritty secrets of building the Nancy Meyers aesthetic straight from the horse’s mouth. They’re really fun to watch, especially as we head into fall!
Also from Caitlin: Bike folk, I need you. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good beach cruiser or e-bike? Den and I have decided to hang in Rehoboth Beach for a few months (thank you for the advice!), but we’re looking to ditch the car for a bit – ideally we’d be able to trick one out to handle our grocery and pet food hauls. But I have literally no idea what to look for or what to avoid – if you like to bike, I will take any advice I can get!
Thank you for sharing part of your day with us, and come back tomorrow for a great reveal! xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Official Summer 2026 Backyard Tour (It’s Grown So Much!)
Emily, I am interested in the post you’re working on re Ballerina Farm! But I just have to say, I find it very frustrating when people point out that the tradwife backlash is “from women.” I don’t know what your intent was, so I won’t assume this applies to you, but often I see it used to imply that negative responses are just cattiness and infighting, instead of considered opinion on a public figure. Of course the criticism is coming from women! We are not only the target audience, we are the ones hurt by the potential mainstreaming of a framework that discounts our autonomy and personhood. I’m not saying Nara Smith as an individual can’t be self-actualized making cheez-its in a beautiful gown– good for her, not for me. But if I have questions about it, or about whether Ballerina Farm’s agri-cosplay is indeed MAGA-coded, and if I have thoughts about why that might matter for me personally…that isn’t “women fighting women,” it’s one person examining the messages another person uses their platform to broadcast.
Thank you for writing my thoughts and feelings so eloquently.
On a side note, one of the reasons why I’m going to leave instagram is that it’s changed over the years. I enjoyed it when it was authentic – people just wanting to connect with others (whether it be DIY, recipes, life situations etc). Now it’s basically a QVC. Nothing seems authentic, everything is linked. Sure, I like the idea of being able to monetize a business – but once someone shares a link of a product they have been gifted (and paid to promote) it loses it’s value to me because IMHO it’s not a true review.
I hear you and agree. Its such a charged topic with a lot of valid points of views. Honestly, i’m not going to step in it until I have time to write a clear, articulate and fully backed up article and hope that people engage in the discourse, and not just respond to the headlines they’ve read. I think your comment is a really good point. I think we can all agree that women can be really judgemental of other women, and this subject really activates a lot of women. I guess I should have said that, instead of judging the backlash. But I totally agree – of course the backlash is women – why would a man weigh in on this? LOL. Again, more to say but I appreciate your comment and I, too, have a lot of criticism. its just soooooo nuanced. xx
One very important off shoot of the trad wife phenomenon is how it relates to women’s suffrage. It was in reading articles about the threats to womens voting rights (and desires by a growing percentage to move to household voting) where I first learned about the trad wife movement. I wanted to mention it here in case this was news to anyone curious to learn more. I am not saying everyone involved in the trad wife movement wants household voting of course, just that the connection is drawn. Maybe it doesn’t go without saying anymore; voting rights for all of us are so important!
FYI, the hairbrush is Mason Pearson…. Not Mason Pierre. I have one and love it. Hope the dupe is equally great!
What is the link for the dupe?
It’s likely the Professional Boar & Nylon Cushion Brush by ION from Sally Beauty.
Thank you, Tana!
Cruiser E-bike rec – Aventon Abound! So comfortable/fun to ride, lots of room to haul stuff on the cargo tail!
Caitlyn,
I think there is an e-bike rental place near the Georgetown- Lewes trail. At this time e-bikes are
still allowed on the trail and you could probably test out several different e-bikes on the trail to see which you might like . Then when you narrow it down you can test some out in the traffic
Around Lewes and Rehoboth. Just a few more weeks and it will be so much easier to ride a bike once the traffic eases up. As a Sussex County girl I have learned to make my life easier and just head to Rehoboth area after Labor Day.
It will be a great place for you to relax and recharge. I will be interested in what kind of bikes you buy and why you chose them.
Do you two ever go out to Hopkins Dairy for ice cream?
Was there supposed to be a link to the Walmart hairbrush?
Probably the Professional Boar & Nylon Cushion Brush by ION from Sally Beauty.
Prob the Professional Boar & Nylon Cushion Brush by ION from Sally Beauty
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I have a radio flyer e-bike and like it quite a lot. that said, some factors to consider are: regular tires or fatter tires? (I like the stability of fatter tires for riding on rough roads, but I live in a rural place and have a squirmy kid on the back of my bike usually.) throttle or no throttle? (I love the throttle for getting up to speed quickly on a hill or at an intersection.) gears or not? (I find the ability to shift (in addition to diff power levels) very helpful.) hydraulic or mechanical brakes? (mine has mechanical, which is less ideal in my hilly area — but might be fine for you.) suspension or no suspension? (mine doesn’t have suspension, not ideal for gravel and dirt roads but again maybe not relevant to you.) in general, having an e-bike has made it possible for me to bike in areas where I absolutely wouldn’t have biked otherwise, and it’s something I look forward to as soon as the snow melts every year. they are HEAVY and expensive, but for me it’s been well worth it.
Caitlin! What fun! For bike stuff, I would hold off on getting an e-bike until you’ve tried that I-ride-my-bike-everywhere lifestyle and are sure that it’s for you. A good e-bike is expensive and super heavy, so they’re not as good for bopping around town on. They’re also hard to impossible to repair, depending on where you live. I love Linus bikes though – they’re cute and comfortable and if you need to pick it up, it’s a normal bike weight. Regardless of which kind of bike you get, if you really want to do all of your shopping with it, you’ll need to get some sort of wagon attachment for it. I’ve tried front baskets and over the back wheel things and they’re both not great for real shopping – either stuff falls out of them or they make the bike feel unsteady. A backpack works better than anything attached to your bike. For real though, I would Uber to or Instacart from the grocery store or Target if you need a haul. It really sucks riding any kind of bike when you have 75 pounds of dog food, pasta sauce, cleaning supplies, and whatnot strapped to you. But a… Read more »