For your consideration, we’re (re-)sharing some thoughts about buying things, including a letter of recommendation for shopping in person and takes on sourcing made-in-America products and acquiring things while traveling. One of our greatest-hit episodes of 2022!

 

If you’re interested in the idea of One Fit February (or the less alliterative One Fit April), score yourself some cool points and check out  this installment of the Blackbird Spyplane’s newsletter by Jonah Weiner.

 

A rundown of some cool made-in-America brands here, and, if you’re looking for something specific, check out stillmadeinusa.com.

 

A couple standout MiA brands include the only whisk manufacturers in the U.S., Best Manufacturers based in Portland, Oregon, (more on them), and Libman mops and brooms based in Arcola, Illinois, since 1896 (the mayor Jesus Garza's story also!).  

 

Do you have opinions about buying things? Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq. Grab a Secret Menu membership for more, more recommendations.

 

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

 

Try Shopify, the trustiest ecomm platform around, and get a free 14-day trial with our link.

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Crowd Favorite: Our Buying-Things Update

Hosts Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo, who you might know as the co-founders of the website Of a Kind (RIP!) or the co-authors of the book Work Wife, are all about discovery and enthusiasm. We've heard this weekly podcast described as a 'unique mix of urgent discussions of non-urgent things and thoughtful discussions of important, and often otherwise ignored, things,' and we're very much on board with that take. 


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We are here to report on our experiences at TWO Major Cultural Events: an Olivia Rodrigo concert at MSG (incredible and moving!) and a screening of The Idea of You (really fun—lots of laughter!).




Fans of the The Idea of You book—if you haven’t read this yet, let’s GO!— join us for a night of trivia on May 1 at The Crown Inn in Brooklyn. 




The Idea of You lands on Prime Video on May 2, and you better believe we’re watching it again.




If you, like most we know, consider Lauren Sherman’s newsletter Line Sheet required reading, tune into her new podcast Fashion People on Tuesdays and Fridays, too.




When you watch The Idea of You, PLEASE share your thoughts with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq—or chat with other Bobs in our Geneva. We probably need to air some reactions, right?!




Score the good writing tools with ​​JetPens—free JetPens marker and washi tape with any $50 order when you use our link until 6/30/24.

Impress yourself and your nails with Olive & June—20% off your first Mani System when you use our link.

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Our Many Thoughts on an Olivia Rodrigo Concert and The Idea of You Movie

You want more Thingies? We’ve got more Thingies! This time with one of the most charming interior designers around, Billy Cotton, who has a stellar new collaboration with West Elm and a book we love, love, love.




Billy’s Thingies include a Lorezi Milano toothpaste squeezer (paired with Marvis Toothpaste at the moment), Cowboy Carter (but of course), Hillstone (specifically the Bal Harbour location) Elephant and Castle (Michigan Star!), the city of Houston, and, of course, Fruit Loops. 




A few of our favorites from his West Elm collection are this checkered rug, this pepper mill, this etched glassware, and this shell bowl for cereal or anything you please.




Didn’t know we had to announce it, but we’re #teammascara. See: Kevyn Aucoin'The Volume Mascara and Lily Lolo Mascara…and let us know your faves at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq—or chat with other Bobs in our Geneva. 




Give your hair a boost with Nutrafol. Take $10 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.

Get the good writing tools with ​​JetPens—free JetPens marker and washi tape with any $50 order when you use our link until 6/30/24.

Go green with Fast Growing Trees—get an additional 15% off your first purchase with the code ATHINGORTWO.

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Interior Designer Extraordinaire Billy Cotton’s Thingies—and Mascara as Underpants

We brought back Nikki Ogunnaike, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire and writer of the very good shopping newsletter Self Checkout, to share her Thingies. Also: Closing shift, to the tune of “Closing Time.” 




Ready for Nikki’s Thingies? Great. Try Uniqlo U white T-shirts, Vegamour GRO Biotin Gummies, Uzo liquid eyeliner and pencil eyeliner, and three resources for the good watches: Fashionphile, The RealReal, and Bob’s Watches.




A whole sub-category of running Thingies! Like Coach Bennett’s guided runs on the Nike Run Club App (also: our past episode with Coach Bennett that we still think about), Fabletics Define PowerHold High-Waisted 9” Short, Panache Wired Sports Bras, and LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix (also a bonus shoutout to Pocari Sweat).




The idea of the closing shift came to our attention via The Everygirl newsletter, and it lead us to think about Mike Bise’s Gap Store Playlists.




Dip into our 2020 convo with Nikki, too!




What are your Thingies? Share them with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq—or chat with other Bobs in our Geneva. 




Give your closet a spring refresh with Nuuly and take $20 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO20.

Make some new plant friends with Fast Growing Trees—get an addition 15% off your first purchase with the code ATHINGORTWO.

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Closing Shift and Marie Claire EIC Nikki Ogunnaike’s Thingies

We’re giving some children’s programming rave reviews, digging into your trending Thingies, and reading a lot into an interesting story about Manhattan’s history. 




Endorsed by Claire (and Cam!) Cosmic Kids Yoga (+ guided meditation!) and Numberblocks. 




People love granola! Now more than ever, according to Global Newswire! If you’re in NYC, seek out the greenmaket seller Baker’s Bounty; if you’re anywhere else, make Bon Appétit's Vanilla-Scented Granola. Also, something that makes us giggle: this 2016 headline from The Cut: “Americans Still Believe Granola is Good for Them.”




People are dyeing their brows at home! Specifically using henna or Just for Men, but Harper’s Bazaar recommends getting brow-specific products or going to a professional. 




After one of y’all shared enstrual discs as a Thingie, we received several votes for Flex —they have disposable and reusable versions. 




Lots of discussion about making natural deodorant actually work. Erica is using Megababe’s Soapy Pits plus Space Bar Underarm Soap. People like Nuud, which is its own ~vibe~. There’s also a lot of discussion about using CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser for its 4% benzoyl peroxide—and LOL at the "How to Clean Armpits with Cerave" TikTok page. 




Thoughts on deodorant? Vaginal discs vs. cups? Share with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq—or chat with other Bobs in our Geneva. 




Hire with Indeed and get a $75 sponsored job credit when you use our link.

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British Kids’ Programming, Brow-Dyeing, and Many More of Your Thingies

This week, we’re issuing some micro updates and corrections before we dive into the meat of this episode: grief. (A content warning, if you will.) 




Some corrections: The Stanley cups are WEARING the backpacks (find a visual aid here), BonBon Swedish candy is having a nightlife moment, and the Pineberry also goes by Berry de Blanc. 




On loss: The LA Times story "How Not to Say the Wrong Thing" by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman delves into the ring theory of grief, and All There Is with Anderson Cooper explores anticipatory grief.




If you care about a person (any person), give Being Mortal by Atul Gawande a read—it offers much good guidance and framing for tough conversations.




A couple planning resources: Policygenius for life insurance and Trust & Will for, you guessed it, trusts and wills.




Share all of your thoughts with us at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, or @athingortwohq—or chat with other Bobs in our Geneva. 




Refresh your wardrobe with Nuuly and take $20 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO20.

Treat your hair to Nutrafol. Take $10 off your first month’s subscription with the code ATHINGORTWO.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Crowd Favorite: Our Buying-Things Update

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