Happy January! As I mentioned in a previous email, I am trying to consume more mindfully in 2026.
As I've gotten older, I've realized that marketing really wants us to believe that buying things is the way to create an identity. But in actuality, it's your interests, hobbies, beliefs, and the way you act that make up who you are.
I think we all feel the exhaustion of being sold to constantly. Obviously, this is ironic coming from me, a person who makes money off of videos that run ads or have sponsorships. So if and when you see me contributing to the chokehold marketing has on our culture: LOOK THE OTHER WAY BITCH! Mama has rent to pay! Toronto ain't cheap!
But also, I wholeheartedly support using ad-blockers or skipping sponsored portions of videos. I do it too! Maybe resisting marketing is a form of protest? I don't know, somebody more intelligent than me will have a better take on that.
Anyways, in an effort to curb the itch I feel to buy something I don't need, I've written a list of my essentials below. I was inspired by a Sofia Coppola list that I got from Long Live, one of my favourite newsletters about second-hand shopping. The writer, Erika Veurink, also wrote a gender-swapped When Harry Met Sally retelling that was a joy to read.
I'm hoping that writing this list will remind me of the items I already own and love.
(If you're not into the recommendation letters, do not fear! I am working on two pieces of writing that I will hopefully send out to you soon. One is about seeing the Unabomber's shack on a field trip, and another is about my disastrous audition for the Great Canadian Bake Off. You can also vote at the end of this email on the kind of stuff you want me to write here.)
1. L.L. Bean Barn Jacket
It's like wearing a blanket. I don't care if it's a trend. It's not a trend for me I will be buried in mine.
2. White Tank Top
I have seven different white tank tops. To the untrained eye, they are identical. But I know the difference because I am an expert. I have put in over ten thousand hours at the white tank top factory in my mind. They go with everything. You can wear them in the summer or the winter (as a layer). You can dress them down or up.
3. Baggu Shoulder Bag/Crescent Bag
I am not a fancy purse girl. I know that it's time to grow up and get a nice bag for work. I don't care. I love these bags. You can wash them in the washing machine. My friend spilled tzatziki all over mine this summer. No problem, I'll just wash it. My bottle of Advil spilled in the bottom of mine last week, and then my water bottle also spilled. Everything in my bag was covered in dissolved Advil juice. No problem, I'll just wash it.
4. Loop Earplugs
I think the world is too loud. These are chic little earplugs you can just pop in your ear. I use them at bars, concerts, the movies, public transit. The world is my oyster.
5. Blue French Chore Coat
I love wearing a jacket as a top. Button this bitch all the way to the top, and you are ready for anything. Adds a certain je ne sais quoi to any outfit.
im not like other girls
my chore jacket happens to be intemezzo blue so
6. Baseball Cap
She's a classic for a reason. This might seem like I'm plugging my own merch, but my favouite cap is the Girl Historians Salem Witch Trial Hat in black. I genuinely wear it everywhere. But I also love the cap I got from the merch stand at the Great Gatsby musical on Broadway that just says 'Old Sport.'
i wore it to the katseye concert
me, living my dreams (seeing the great gatsby musical on broadway)
7. Boys Loafers
I am a proud member of Ugly Shoe Nation. If shoes are not a genuine eye-sore, I am not interested. I love my thrifted Sperry boys' loafers. They are basically church shoes. I love them so much.
8. Muji Notebooks and Pens
I write everything by hand. Which is... a choice and not necessarily one I recommend. But I love the Muji A5 lined notebooks and their 0.5 pens.
9. Earl Grey French Blue Tea
A friend brought me back a couple bags of this from France, and I have been hooked ever since. It is better than regular Earl Grey, the flavour is deeper, maybe? I don't know, I'm not a tea scientist.
10. Button-Downs
I used to think button-downs made me look like a preppy little boy, then I realized that is my desired aesthetic. I like them in blue or white, with classic, masculine details (I don't want them to be fitted or have tiny buttons.) My favorites are J W Anderson's collab with Uniqlo and a thrifted Ralph Lauren Men's Oxford.
11. Minolta Freedom Action Zoom
I love taking pictures even though I know nothing about it. This is truly the best film camera if you are an idiot like me. You can take a picture of anything and it comes out great.
12. COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
This is the only face sunscreen I can use and not enter a sensory hellscape. I hate when sunscreen leaves a greasy film on my face, and this is the only one I've found that doesn't do that. They sell it in Canada now, but a couple of years ago, you couldn't buy it here, so I had a Korean Sunscreen Dealer that I would meet up with at a subway station and exchange cash for Korean Sunscreen like I was buying drugs.
13. (Probably Fake) Burberry Scarves
I have two Burberry scarves that I bought at vintage markets for under $200. I think they are probably fake, but I don't care. They are a lovely wool and feel very classy to me.
me, drinking raspberry cordial at the prince edward island airport in honour of anne (you might know her from green gables?)
running late! but in my grey scarf so things really aren't that bad
14. Aquaphor
What hasn't been said about Aquaphor? The air in Toronto in the winter is dry as hell, and I have eczema. This is the only shit that helps.
15. A Watch
I love a classic, silver watch. I used to rock with a Casio, but switched in the past year to Fossil's Harlow Three-Hand Stainless Steel Watch and love it. I feel like a rich old man.
i tried on my friends engagement ring as a joke but this is a good picture of my watch!
16. Carrying 3/4 Books on Me at All Times
I'm always carrying a notebook, my current read, a crossword book, and a chess book. You're never bored when you've got four books!
17. Thin Wild Mercury's Laurel Canyon Perfume.
I'm not a perfume girl. I have one perfume that I love more than life itself, and it is this perfume. It makes me smell like wild flowers and weed. I truly get a million compliments on it too. They don't ship to Canada anymore (RIP), so I have to find a new way to get it.
The Loch Ness Monster (and Katseye) | Girl Historians: 12 Days of Icons
We are doing the 12 Days of Icons over on Girl Historians, where for twelve days in December, we explore icons of history. The first two icons are the Loch Ness Monster and Charles Manson, so tonally it's a bit insane but lots of fun.
Every month, I make a bonus video (that isn't available anywhere else) based on a topic voted on by my patrons. If that sounds like fun to you, you should join!
Weekly(ish) dispatches featuring personal essays, thoughtful pop culture deep-dives, life updates, and recommendations. It's like I'm writing directly to you!
