On My Mind:Goodnight MoonStamps and Jelly Totes
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“Strategist Brain” is a series where staffers share the stores they’ve stopped into, stuff they’ve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they’ve worked on. You’ll hear from a different writer every week.
The impending close of the school year has reduced me to a walking state of overwhelm; the familySkylight calendaris an unwinnable game ofTetris. Over the next week and a half, we’ll fit in separate field days, recitals, and all manner of other ceremonial proceedings for both kids, then kick off the even more chaotic summer version of this scenario, where we send them to a variety of day camps and activities that cost too much and never last long enough but remain essential to ever getting any work done.
It’s possible, though, that the physical onslaught of this seasonal transition is worse than the mental one; at least the in-brain clutter isn’t sitting on the dining table for weeks, daring me to finally do something about it. The backpacks are coming home full of ratty school supplies that’ve just been cleaned out of desks; there’s even more paper and artwork and other random detritus pouring in than usual. The edges of every flat surface in our home are literally closing in.
The only realansweris to be ruthless, to recycle or donate or not buy or trash as much as possible. But I’m as prone as anyone else to the delusion that pretty, uniform storage will save us all (a minimalist, I am not).
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I’m considering buying a couple of these shelves to serve as designated spots for library books on loan, so they don’t get lost amid our at-home stacks.
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Vitra Uten.silo
I’ve long ogled the classic Uten.Silo wall organizer designed in the late ’60s. It won’t hold nearly enough to solve our overflowingart-suppliesproblem, but oh, what a stylish “mail and keys” center it could be.
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I would love to have three of these handsome steel wastebaskets, so that I could put one each in my home office, my bedroom, and my kids’ bedroom. They seem perfect for paper scraps, tissues, tags snipped off of new clothing, and other not-too-gross refuse. Crucially, they have a cover so you don’t have to look at what’s inside.
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I just bought a new four-pack of myfavorite storage bin(I also use these to protect my beloved collection of Christmas ornaments). Two will hold childhood keepsakes and artwork — one bin per kid, and once they’re full, it’s time to edit again. The other two will hold toys and books they’ve outgrown but that I’m not ready to part with just yet, so I can stash them in the attic. I always wait for a sale — they were 30 percent off for Memorial Day — but even then, the price per box helps stop me from saving too much.
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently …
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Not only are theseGoodnight Moonstamps just so charming, but the USPS went and included one featuring the “bowl full of mush,” the book’s best and most ridiculous rhyme. I don’t have anything to mail at the moment, and writing letters is unrealistic at this juncture (see above). Looks like they’ll be going on my holiday cards this year.
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I am slowly upgrading all my light-switch covers from the standard white plastic rectangle to a mix of unique and novelty designs, depending on the room and its purpose. I also love a sheet-ghost motif. Ergo, I could not pass up Lorien Stern’s smiling specter. (Would it be creepy to install this in the guest room?)
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Margaret Cross Shrine Charm
I find the concept of mourning jewelry so lovely, even if it may seem a bit macabre. Margaret Cross is a Brooklyn jeweler whose custom work often incorporates alock of hairor encapsulatedashes, but I’m most enamored with the “Shrine” lockets from her Love & Loss collection, which can hold a photo, a baby tooth, a tuft of fur, or any other memento that is special to the wearer, to be displayed behind of veil of smoky quartz.
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Half of my family is Greek, so I feel particularlydrawn to column-core, independent oftrends. Most recently, thesemodern takeson ancient pottery caught my eye.
Editor’s note: Ini Ceramique lists its prices in euros, so this price is an approximation of U.S. dollars.
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I also discovered Spode’s “Greek” pattern while browsing an online estate sale and saved a new eBay search. It appears to come in several colors, but I’m partial tothe brown.
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I can appreciate thejelly-shoe resurgencewhile remaining steadfast that it is Not for Me. However, I’m newly into this refined jellybagthat I’ll happily take to the pool and the lake this summer, if appropriately hot weather ever actually arrives.
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I have been thinking about this giant, banana-shaped Andy Warhol iPhone case since it came out earlier this year. I would like to have one both as a wacky statement accessory and a deterrent to pulling out my phone and scrolling at ill-advised times. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring,Bananaphone!
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The Strategistis 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 abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
