The Top COVID Symptoms to Look for as We Head Into Peak Virus Season

“‘Is a jogging stroller really necessary?’ was the first question I asked myself when I considered longer, more consistent walks with my baby. I’ve roamed around with our Cybex (which I love). Still, Guava offered to send me their jogger stroller so I could experience the difference between a regular travel system and a jogging system, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It has super durable rubber tires that seamlessly glide all over the bumpy streets of my NYC neighborhood; it also gives me nice speed when I’m power walking or jogging my neighborhood track. There are many useful compartments and enhancements (including a snack tray my daughter loves). The best part? It folds pretty compactly, so when I’m done with my walks, it doesn’t take up too much space in our apartment. I love using this stroller, and it has single handedly encouraged me to move more with my baby (which has been amazing for my mental health).”*

*Gifted

“I have combination skin that leans on the dryer side (outside of my T-zone, which is super oily), and I’ve been loving this skin-plumping serum lately, which makes my skin feel naturally hydrated. Its ingredients list is stacked with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, and red algae—which make my thirsty skin feel plump and bouncy every time I use it. I’m constantly testing many beauty products, but this one is staying in rotation as we start to brave cooler weather.”

“It’s wild how much I love this electric skillet. My partner and I make burgers every Friday (Burger Friday) and without a grill, we’ve been stuck with an incredibly greasy stovetop for years. To save my kitchen/sanity, I bought this skillet to help contain the mess to a 12-by-15-inch area—and truly, it has been a freakin’ game changer.

This thing gets hot (adjustable to 450 degrees) and stays hot, so it actually leaves a sear on burgers and chicken. It’s also super easy to wash: Throw the glass lid in the dishwasher, then hand-wash the base (note: The base is technically dishwasher-safe too, but we like to play it safe). We love this skillet so much, we actually just bought a second one to store in the closet in case it breaks unexpectedly.”

“Blundstone has been around for a while, but it was only recently that I got my own pair. Suffice it to say: I get why they’re so beloved. What I thought was a shoe reserved for the outdoorsy types had proven to be so much more. Yes, it has rugged appeal and tactical features—a supportive footbed and excellent traction—that make it suitable for the great outdoors. But if, like me, you live in a city, where your main mode of transportation is your feet, you may appreciate these features just as much. It’s surprisingly versatile, too: I’ve worn it with jeans as well as dresses, and I plan on keeping it in heavy rotation through the fall season.”*

*Gifted

“Of all the hair styling tools I own, Mane’s thermal brush is the one I now use most. I have a lot of hair that, when left to air dry, is unruly and can’t be tamed with a regular brush. However, this thermal brush leaves my hair softer, shinier, and more obedient in its wake. I can also do a lot with it: I can straighten and curl the ends of my hair, and it can work as well to refresh my hairstyle between wash days. I’ve also traveled abroad with it (yes, it has dual voltage!), and it was great for achieving a fast, easy blowout when I needed it.”

“I’m notorious for losing or breaking nearly every pair of sunglasses I buy. At the very least, they end up dirty or scratched from being tossed in my purse or in the center console of my car. Recently, I came across this Baggu Puffy Glasses Sleeve at a boutique while on vacation, and I knew I needed to buy it to protect my latest pair of sunnies from the sand and surf.

It’s super padded so I can toss it anywhere and not have to worry about my glasses breaking inside. Plus, it comes in all sorts of fun patterns, like a checked print, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy. (Don’t worry, you can get solid colors as well if that’s more your style.) As a bonus, this glasses sleeve is made from recycled polyester and is shipped in recycled packaging.”

“I’m clinging to the very last days of summer by my fingernails and this tomato-y room spray. It smells SO freakin’ good, it’s basically a vegetable garden in a bottle and gets compliments from everyone who walks in the door.”

“I finally caved and bought my own JetBoil during REI’s Labor Day sale. It’s an outdoorsy gal’s dream—I can boil water for coffee, soup, ramen noodles, and more in 100 seconds flat. Can’t wait to take it on all my fall camping adventures.”

“My fear of leaving burning candles on my countertop for my kids to topple over has led me to the discovery of the Pura 4 fragrance diffuser. It’s a plug-in that connects to your phone through an app, allowing you to customize fragrance intensity and even set a scent schedule. (I love scheduling a warm vanilla scent for when my husband gets home from work so the first thing he smells is not wet dog.) The device holds two chambers for scent cartridges, so you can switch out your home’s aroma depending on your mood. I have a few of these set up around my home and it’s the topic of conversation whenever I have guests over. ‘How does your home smell like an upscale hotel every time we visit?’ I tell them, it’s Pura!”

“I know, I know, it’s only October. But if you’re like me, you don’t like to leave your holiday gift shopping to the last minute, and when you see the perfect gift (time of year be damned!), you grab it. So here it is: Uncharted Coffee’s Holiday Explorer Box, featuring three bags of premium Fair Trade coffee (I tried them all and was not disappointed). I also love that Uncharted is a Black Women-owned business dedicated to sustainable sourcing and ethical roasting. Its mission is to decolonize coffee and reclaim the narrative for Black and Brown generational coffee farmers around the globe. Coffee for a cause is that much more delicious.”*

*Gifted