10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Dog-Collar Charms to Target’s Levi’s-Like Jeans
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 the sling bag one of our writers used for a week of run-commuting to the office, the tatami mat a family of four sleeps on instead of a mattress, and a Star Wars marble run (that would make a great holiday gift).
$30 Target jeans that look like vintage Levi’s
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Contributor Erika Veurink discovered these Target jeans after spotting them on her older cousin, Ashley, and mistaking them for vintage Levi’s. After learning they cost a mere $30, Veurink immediately ordered a few pairs and says they did not disappoint. The ’90s-inspired jeans are 100 percent cotton, so they’re soft but not stretchy, and as for the fit, “you can size down for something high-waisted or size way up to wear the jeans slung on your hips.”
The Japanese tatami mat and futon a family of four sleeps on
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Futon Tokyo Japanese Futon Mattress
Golde co-founders Trinity Mouzon Wofford and her husband, Issey Kobori, struggled to find a mattress firm enough for their taste. Then Kobori suggested a Japanese tatami mat, which he grew up sleeping on. Along with the tatami mat, they bought two double-size futons that they pushed together, and now the couple and their two daughters all sleep together on the floor. It makes the whole bedroom feel like a giant family bed, Mouzon Wofford says.
Monolid-friendly felt-tip liner
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In the latest edition of ourBeauty Brief newsletter, writer Kitty Guo reviewed Lisa Eldridge’s Kitten Flick Liquid Eyeliner, which she has been using for the past five months. Guo has often been disappointed by felt-tip eyeliners — but this formula dries down quickly and has a smaller brush tip for more control. Even during an extremely muggy late-summer trip to Disney World, she was impressed that her eyeliner stayed pristine. “It’s the only felt-tip liner I’ll ever buy, and if you’re as much of an eyeliner fanatic as I am, you might want to try it too,” she says.
A new Star Wars toy launch that’s favored by our resident toy expert
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Senior writer Liza Corsillo — who helms the Strategist’s toy coverage, including our (just-updated!) “Toy Store” — rounded up the recent toy launches she’s particularly excited about right now, just in time for early holiday shopping. This set from GraviTrax, maker of the intricate modular marble runs we’ve recommended for years, is the brand’s first-ever licensed toy. It’s modeled after the Battle of Yavin from Star Wars and has a base plate shaped like the Death Star.
Collar charms for your pup (to match your purse charms)
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In a new issue of “Strategist Brain,” we heard from junior writer Brenley Goertzen, who admitted to having “puppy brain” — she and her partner recently brought home a nine-week-old basset hound, so delightful dog-related items have been front-of-mind. “I’ve been seeing purse charms everywhere, and I’m quite taken with these fall-themed collar charms,” she writes. “The maple leaf is special, and the squirrel is very endearing.”
Bounce-free sling bag for run-commuting to and from the office
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Janji Multipass Sling Bag - 2L
Have you ever considered run-commuting to the office? Well, our writer Jeremy Rellosa has done the research — by running to and from work for one week straight (even without access to a shower upon arrival). Although Rellosa prefers to start off the week with a different mode of transport to haul his laptop, notebook, and a stash of clean clothes, this Janji sling bag worked well to carry smaller items like an extra shirt. He likes that it hugs his lower back in a way that doesn’t pinch when tightened.
Terrazzo turntable that won’t break the bank
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The secret to organizing your kitchen and maximizing space might be a lazy Susan, which can help you reach deep into a cabinet or provide easy access to ingredients on your counter. Our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman scoured the internet to find functional and attractive ones made of wood, marble, and more. Here’s an affordable pick Wartzman found on Etsy from the seller Left Corner Goods. They offer reasonably priced terrazzo stoneware turntables in green, white, beige, and navy.
Very Hungry Caterpillar coloring place mats for crayon-happy toddlers
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For folks on the lookout for engaging activity books for kids, contributor Youngna Park rounded up options for all age groups, many of which are made by artists or based on beloved children’s books. Park was given these Eric Carle–inspired coloring place mats for her daughter’s 3rd birthday and declared them “an ingenious invention that combines food, art, and creating a giant mess.”
Anorak jacket with a bold “It”-girl twist
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In our latest installment of “Don’t Dillydally,” we spotlighted Ganni’s third collaboration with heritage outerwear brand Barbour. The capsule collection includes coats, scarves, and bags, and writer Arielle Avila named this anorak silhouette “the most Ganni of the bunch” because it features leopard-print waxed fabric, an oversize collar, and a bright-green-and-black Ganni x Barbour logo patch.
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.
