A Japanese Kettle, Kyra Sedgwick’s Breast Pillow, and Other Recent Strategist Finds

Ophthalmologists generally agree at this point that blue-light-blocking glasses aren’t going to be much help in terms of protecting your eyes from screen time during the day (if your eyes hurt from staring at a screen, stare at a screen less). But there is some evidence that wearing them while toggling among TikTok and Instagram and Slack on your phone before bed can lead to a better night’s sleep. So which to get? In the past five years or so, particularly post-pandemic, the industry has exploded and there are a zillion blue-light blockers on the market. The Strategist’s tech writer Jordan McMahon has been most impressed with Infield Safety’s Terminator UV-400 glasses. They come in a deep-orange tint that blocks 100 percent of blue light. The lenses wrap ever so slightly to ensure no stray waves sneak in, and, according to McMahon, the glasses are more stylish—they have a sort of ’90s vibe to them—than other similarly hued options out there. And while it means Selina Meyer is orange when he watches Veep reruns before bed, he has an easier time falling asleep when he wears them.

“I was with my friend, and their place smelled amazing. It was this candle. I legit went and bought it that day and sent it to my house because I loved it so much. There’s a vanilla-y aspect to it. Usually, a lot of products I love have vanilla in them. There’s something very calming and cozy about it. Whenever I walk into a room and the candle is burning, it just relaxes me.”

“The cleavage pillow is something I’ve put on every night for the past 15 years or so. It basically creates a separation for your boobs so when you wake up in the morning, you don’t have big deep creases between your boobs and your décolleté. It’s the most important secret of all. Young people, start early.”

“I’d rather my kids see me writing on paper than on my phone. So I have these notebooks all over the house. If I get an idea, whether it’s for a joke or a scene in my show, I have to write it down right away. Then I rip the page out and put it in the same corner of the house so I can go back to it at the end of the week.”

I’ve been on the hunt for something more affordable and subtle than my beloved Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, so when I heard about MCoBeauty’s new moisturizer that seemed similar—and cheaper—
I called it in to give it a try. I first did a blind scent test and they smelled nearly identical. Next, I applied each to my arms. MCoBeauty’s cream had a slightly thinner consistency than Sol de Janeiro’s, and it took a couple more swipes to fully sink in. But it left me feeling silky soft without any greasiness. For the next week, I solely used MCoBeauty’s moisturizer. My skin felt smooth and nourished, even after days out by the pool. While it has the same sweetness as the Bum Bum Cream, it’s not as strong and doesn’t project as far, but it still has staying power and lasts a whole day. –Arielle Avila

For a traditional martini glass with a bit of flair, the Cocktail Snob’s Camille Wilson recommends these Estelle glasses. “The extra-long stem is beautiful and looks and feels so elegant. I have the ‘amber smoke’ color, and I think the color is stunning,” she says.

Paul MacDonald, bartender at Friday Saturday Sunday, loves a coupe more than a triangular martini glass. “I’m happy that we’ve managed to reclaim both style and function in a martini with properly round-bottomed, tapered coupes that facilitate drinking rather than spilling,” he says. His favorite is this etched version.

If your heart is set on the conical, classic martini glasses that were popular in the ’80s and ’90s, look no further than the Rona, bartender Jillian Moore’s glass of choice. She says, “There is something so ridiculous about it that I think the visual is almost as important as the drink in the glass.”

Sam Clark, the creative director of beverage at Fairmont Banff Springs, particularly likes that the thin rim of this glass “creates a seamless liquid- to-mouth experience that thicker glassware simply cannot” alongside the long stem, which ensures that the warmth of your hand won’t interfere with the temperature of the cocktail.

Tony Abou-Ganim, author of The Modern Mixologist, loves a Nick-and- Nora glass. “The size and feel of the glass is both elegant and functional with a touch of style and nostalgia,” he says.

Recovery is a constant topic of conversation in my house. From my days as a Division I runner to my partner Connor’s career as a pro athlete, we’re always obsessing over the best tools to soothe sore muscles. As part of Connor’s birthday gift this summer, I gave him Hyperice’s Venom 2 Back. But since he unwrapped it, I’ve borrowed it most days. It’s essentially a heating pad on steroids—you can use it to ease muscle tension, decrease soreness, and loosen knots. The back wrap runs for 20 minutes, which is enough time to relieve pressure in my lower back. I can work from home as it pulses away on my pain points, and I love using it before an intense track workout, too. Since getting it, I’m no longer struggling to touch my toes or fighting back tears when stretching my hamstrings in downward dog.
–Brenley Goertzen

I recently spent a week in Tokyo, where I purchased, among many delightful things, this stovetop enamel kettle. I collect kettles and couldn’t resist this one with its thin spout for brewing pour-over coffee. After spotting a lovely selection of them on Kappabashi Kitchen Tools Street (a very strong recommendation if you are visiting the city) and then regretting the non-purchase, I ended up picking one up from the very fun department store Beams on my final day. It has been a mostly ornamental purchase but brings me joy when I see it on the stove each day—a nice memory of Japan and Beams. –Katherine Gillespie