62 Extremely Passionate Recommendations

From the ideal pair of scissors to an app that sets you up with strangers for dinner.

I was texting with my friend Mattie earlier this week when she confessed that what feels charming and cozy to her in December completely loses its luster by mid-January. Unfortunately (for me), I share this affliction. But fortunately (for all of us), this week’s newsletter might just be the cure. Below, you’ll find 62 passionate, vetted, highly specific recommendations for things to do, try, experience, and indulge in — courtesy of the Gumshoe community. From a truly comfortable air mattress to an app that might change how you think about consumption, the range of recs is as niche as it is energizing. They were submitted via my end-of-year reader survey (recapped here, if you missed it), and I’ve organized them into the following categories:

• Tiny life upgrades (with big impacts)

• Quality entertainment

• Beauty and wellness obsessions

• Websites, apps, and tech hacks

• Food for thought

• Museums, classes, and other worthwhile experiences

• Nice habits

I felt so inspired reading through them, and I think you will too.

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Tiny life upgrades (with big impacts)…

1. Niwaki utility scissors. “My go-to housewarming/hard-to-shop-for person gift. They’re $26, slightly shorter and stouter than regular scissors, have a nice balance and a good weight that feels luxurious, and the silicone grip feels (to me) soft as baby skin.”

2. Kinto water bottle. “The 17 oz one fits in your purse, in the dishwasher and is so chic and cute!”

3. Silicone spoonulas. “Dishwasher safe, less fussy than a wooden spoon, and as effective at scraping as a spatula.”

4. Moccamaster coffee maker. “It makes such a good pot of coffee and it’s so simple to use.”

5. Picnic blanket from Tartan Blanket Co. “I use it all the time with my son, and can’t believe I went so many years without a good outdoor blanket.”

6. Sealy AlwaysAire airbed. “It’s the first airbed I’ve ever bought that actually stays inflated and uncomfortable. They should give me an affiliate link for how often I’ve shared it with friends and family.”

7. 7.5 oz Bormioli Rocco tasting glasses. “I’m obsessed with them, I gifted them to everyone on my Christmas list. They’re useful when cooking, they’re great for a cocktail or glass of wine. The lines are beautiful. And they’re indestructible. My father-in-law dropped one from our second floor porch over Thanksgiving and it didn’t break.”

Quality entertainment, from the most underrated new TV show to a beautifully written novel

1. The book I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. “This is probably my top read of 2024, made me cry, still makes me tear up when I think about the ending, just so so incredibly written!”

2. The book Babel by RF Kuang. “It brought me back to the power of well-researched, beautifully written literature.”

3. The book Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff. “I devoured this book and it reminded me why I love reading. Excited to see what else the new publisher 831 Stories has in store!”

4. The book Matrescence by Lucy Jones. “Just read it. Mind-blowingly beautiful and life affirming.”

5. A subscription to The Atlantic. “Makes me feel smarter, better informed, and helps me question my worldview in the best way.”

6. The show Somebody Somewhere on HBO. “Truly the most heartwarming, lovely, and crass show.” (Two separate people recommended!)

7. The movie There's Still Tomorrow (C'è ancora domani). “The single best movie I saw this year, it's perfect!”

8. The podcast Nothing Much Happens. “Beautifully-written, queer-inclusive ‘bedtime stories’ that are gems of coziness and sweetness. They are incredibly comforting to me in hard times, whether I fall asleep to them or not.”

9. The comedy platform DropOut. “Independent, ad-free, uncensored comedy.”

10. The Instagram account @Aufait.news. “It amplifies news about women, especially from areas that are under-reported by mainstream media.”

11. The subreddits Bitches with Taste and the local NYC Bitches with Taste. “These online communities offer advice and support that ranges from the inane to dealing with grief. I really value their unbiased recommendations, especially as I become wary of paid promotion with other media sources.”

Beauty and wellness obsessions…

1. Huckleberry lip balm from Island Thyme. “The perfect lip balm: hydrating while adding just a bit of color!”

2. The skincare brand Good Molecules. “This brand has completely changed how I approach skincare!! It is so affordable and can be bought at any Ulta or Target. I haven’t tried a product I don't like. My entire skincare regime now consists of their products and honestly my skin and bank account have never been happier.”

3. Nuud deodorant. “The best I've ever used.”

4. Aerosol Aquaphor. “It locks in lotion so easily!”

5. The Soft Services buffing bar. “Using this hurts good. Its like getting a body scrub — never have my legs felt smoother and been less dry.”

6. The combination of tretinoin, Prequel Vitamin C, and La Roche Posay UV Mune sunscreen. “Since being consistent with these three products, I have gotten more compliments on my skin than ever before.”

7. Kiehl’s Sunscreen Serum. “I’m on my third bottle. So smooth, not sticky, no big smell, I genuinely believe it’s made my skin better. Plus SPF 50!”

8. Everyday Oil. “Super versatile, fragrant enough that it gives you a light scent but not overpowering. Can also sub for face wash if you’re traveling!”

9. JS Health hair + energy supplements. “These actually work! My hair has never been so thick, long, and healthy even though I'm currently going swimming 3x a week.”

10. Alexis Smart Flower remedies. “These have been life-changing for illness and homeopathic treatment. I gifted a protocol to everyone important to me this year.”

11. "Savon de Marseille" French olive oil soap. “For everything: face, body, hands, even clothing stains.”

12. Hydrafacials. “Life changing.”

13. Rolfing. “After a year of super physical work (i.e. mothering 25 lb twins), my posture, back, shoulders, rotator cuffs, neck were totally EFFED. A few sessions of bodywork and myofascial release have truly made me a new woman!”

14. Bathhouse spa in Williamsburg. “Getting a massage and using the pools: utterly relaxing.”

15. A needle mat. “For neck and shoulder tension.”

16. Kara Duval’s online Pilates platform. “She is a trained Pilates instructor so her classes incorporate some traditional Pilates moves but she also goes beyond Pilates and into mobility, strength, and movement for the pleasure of movement itself. She has completely changed my relationship with exercise — away from punishment and towards joy, nourishment, and expansion. I’ve been using her platform for over a year now, and tell everyone about it.”

17. Doing ballet. “I started taking ballet classes last year at the age of 52 and it has been so good for my self-confidence, posture, and mental health. Plus I’ve made new friends.”

18. Sculpt society workouts. “The most amazing workouts pregnancy and postpartum. Megan Roup is so wonderfully educated in all things pelvic floor and diastasis recti — what I have learned from her is beyond anything I’ve learned from multiple pelvic floor PTs.”

19. A set of Bowflex adjustable dumbells that go from 5-50lbs, and functional strength training videos via Apple Fitness+. “I am so much stronger and hotter after a year of consistency! My back no longer hurts, I can carry my 50 lb daughter up the stairs, and even deadlifted my husband as a joke (didn't think I could do it but surprise, I'm super strong now). These specific weights are especially amazing as they really allow me to push my limits and approach failure every time I exercise, so I'm really building strength.”

Websites, apps, and tech hacks that make life a little more enjoyable…

1. The website Catawiki. “It's incredible for bidding on fantastic vintage items — from clothing to furniture to whatever else you can think of. I keep bringing it up in conversations.”

2. The website Encore. “It’s like chatGPT for shopping.”

3. The Chrome extension Beni. “Populates identical and/or similar secondhand items while you online shop.”

4. The app Lucky Sweater. “Changed my entire approach to consumption and thought process around the ‘value’ of clothing (it's all relative!), and has unlocked a lot of playfulness and creativity in how I dress myself and think about proportion, color and materials.”

5. The app TimeLeft. “You make an account, answer a few brief questions, and they pair you up with five strangers to go eat dinner with.”

6. The app Libby. “As a big reader in a small city rowhome, I can’t keep all the books I read, so I love the library, and I love an app that lets me library even more!”

7. The app To Be Magnetic. “I love that it's a mix of self help, meditation, personal growth and spirituality — but you can do it in your own way if there's something you don't believe in, like spirituality. You learn SO much about yourself.”

8. The app Shop. “Great way to follow specific brands and see what's new. They also offer exclusive promos and cash back (not sponsored, lol, promise!). I saved like half price on a Paravel carry-on bag using it.”

9. Capsule pharmacy. “I loveee having my prescriptions delivered to my door, and they're able to deliver controlled substances, too.” (Recommended by two separate people!)

Food for thought, including an unusual salad topping and the best chocolate chip cookie recipe…

1. Smoked paprika, crisped up capers, rose petal harissa, and Sarawak black peppercorns. “Game-changing ingredients.”

2. Pretzels on salad!!!! “They add crunch to every bite and are so much easier to eat than croutons (which are always too big, let’s be real). I have bought a $5 bag of Hanover Sourdough Thins every week for months now for salad consumption, and my life is infinitely better. (My current salad is arugula or mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, feta, green olives, balsamic, olive oil, and ofc PRETZELS).”

3. Jenn Eats Good. “It’s a lady who does these shopping lists with recipes. Often the shopping lists are $50 and there are enough dinners for the week for a family. The recipes are delicious, healthy, and easy to make swaps (dairy-free, gluten-free, etc).”

4. Dorie Greenspan’s chocolate chip cookie recipe with pecans. “By far the best version of the classic cookie I’ve made at home and any time someone tries it they immediately want the recipe.”

5. Comadre Panadería. “A bakery in my city (Austin) with life changing sweets and an ever changing menu with flavors that are really inspiring. I am so passionate about seeing them do well and want everyone to share in the joy!”

6. Fancy water. “I.e. herbal teas, sweetener free electrolyte packets, tart cherry juice, chia water. It feels like i'm finally truly hydrating my body, and tastes better too.”

Museums, classes, and other worthwhile experiences…

1. AMC A-List. “So worth it if you like going to the movies!”

2. Getting fitted for a pair of vintage jeans at The Consistency Project in Brooklyn. “You make an appointment with them and tell them the style of jean you're looking for. They measure you in store and then pull a bunch of options for you to try on. They also offer complimentary tailoring onsite if you do end up making a purchase. I had a wonderful experience. The staff was so friendly and helpful! I bought a pair of Levi's there earlier this year and they have easily become my most worn pair of pants.”

3. Wecandoo. “You can book a workshop with an artisan to learn a technique such as glassblowing, potter's wheel, sourdough bread, edible flowers, kombucha, leatherwork, tufting, jewelry, perfume making... As a person who works on a computer all day, I love taking the time to make things with my hands.” (Note: only available in select cities in Europe / UK).

4. A yearly membership to the Huntington Gardens. I recommend this to to any Angelenos. It's one of the most beautiful places to go.

5. A Brooklyn Botanic Garden membership. “I received this as a gift and it's been my little slice of heaven in the city. Cannot recommend it as a little escape enough!”

6. The newly re-installed American galleries at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. “Curator Stephanie Sparling Williams and her team are doing something really special over there, modeling a new approach to the presentation and interpretation of American art (pre-colonial to c.1945).”

7. Poster House museum. “I've had a membership for a few years now and in my opinion it's the best museum membership you can get for your money in NYC. Members get access to opening night parties for the museum's tentpole exhibits, behind the scenes archive tours, and discounts on their fantastic gift shop. But the best thing is that they also partner with other museums and galleries in the city to do special tours for members. I've gotten to tour Fotografiska, Print Center New York, and The Society of Illustrators. I gifted a membership to a friend of mine when she moved to New York and now we use their opening night parties as an excuse to get dressed up, drink wine, look at poster art, and then discuss over dinner afterwards. Even if you don't live in NYC, I think a membership to a local museum makes a great gift.”

Nice habits

1. Candlelight. “Our family is a big proponent of having tapered candles lit throughout the living space. We light a candle at every meal, and for a while, this ritual was the main incentive to get our one year old to happily sit in his high chair. The latest craze for me has been ending the evening with a candlelit shower and skincare routine. It creates such a warm and peaceful atmosphere for sinking into the evening.”

2. Switching your phone to black and white. “Settings > accessibility > color filters > grayscale. Without the normal colors (which honestly look so garish to me now) I'm basically never drawn to look unnecessarily at my phone.”

3. Penpal-ing. “I have started writing to a couple of my friends over the last few years, and putting in a considerable effort to mail birthday cards to family. It is such a wholesome pastime/way to communicate. It makes me put more thought into what I want to say which makes me put more thought into what is going on in my life. It's also incredibly aesthetic and something romantic about it, even with platonic loves. Lately I've been including extra bits in the envelopes with things like: 'What I'm obsessed with lately' or 'books I'm currently reading' or 'my bands/songs on repeat right now.’”

Thank you so much to everyone who submitted! I’m treating this list as my winter syllabus — and starting Somebody Somewhere tonight 😎.

xo Harling