Rebecca Barton

A few skin and haircare bottles I emptied, loved, and re-bought (and will buy again)! 💕

I'll be honest — my hair has been through it. This isn't a list of trendy launches or whatever's going viral this week. These are the bottles I've repurchased, the tools I reach for daily, and the products that finally got my hair to a place that I love and my friends ask about. 💕

Okay, so I’m borderline obsessed with fragrance. Like, it’s actually a problem. My husband jokes that I have more perfume bottles than shoes, and honestly? He’s right. I collect them like little pets, and I’ve had some of my bottles for years. 
But here’s the thing about perfume — it’s so personal. A scent can completely change your mood, bring back a memory, or make you feel like a completely different version of yourself. I’ve been thinking a lot about my current rotation lately, especially since fall hit and I’ve been gravitating toward richer, warmer scents. 
So I thought I’d share the fragrances that are actually living on my vanity right now, not those locked away in a cabinet (though they are still precious), but the ones I’m genuinely reaching for everyday this fall. I’ve broken them down by how I actually use them: the classics I’ll never stop wearing, my everyday favorites, and the fancy ones I save for when I’m feeling myself.

Skip the chocolate and roses — these are the Valentine's gifts she actually wants. I've hunted down the weird, wonderful, and genuinely thoughtful finds organized by budget, from $25 pasta-shaped magnets to grand gesture jewelry. For the friend who has everything and the partner who's impossible to shop for. 🩷New finds added all the time ◡̈

This isn't another gift guide full of things she already has or the things you've already seen everywhere else. This one's for the effortlessly chic — the friend with impeccable taste who notices the details and may intimidate you a little. I've gathered 75+ curated gift ideas ranging from thoughtful accessories, sculptural home accents, and vintage-style desk pieces to statement accessories and luxe entertaining finds. Everything is unique, elevated, and actually thoughtful; all things she'll actually want and be surprised by. So whether you’re shopping for your significant other, your girlfriend or wife, your sister, your mom, your bestie, or a colleague, here’s a list of things personally picked out by yours truly. New finds added all the time ◡̈

I have to admit, my husband, Fred, is always getting asked about his socks, his sunglasses, where he got his jacket or where he got XYZ. Friends and strangers are regularly asking him for advice on where to find gear, clothing, and the random little gadgets for that one specific purpose. This year, we're doing something a little different as the questions of “what should I get so and so for Christmas?” come in, and giving Fred the mic to share all his favorite things — so us wives and girlfriends may have it a little easier this year hunting for the holiday gifts for the men in our lives who seem to be so hard to shop for (heck, I live with him and was surprised by some of his picks below). So whether you’re shopping for your significant other, your boyfriend or husband, your brother, your dad, your uncle, or a colleague, here’s a list of things personally picked out (or approved by) by Fred himself. Happy browsing! ❄️

NYE outfits that don't look like everyone else at the party. Skip the head-to-toe sequins and basic LBD — these are the interesting pieces that say 'I put thought into this' without trying too hard. Velvet, texture, unexpected color, and one statement piece you'll actually wear again.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and all the furs, sequins, and velvets, omg. I've tagged my favorite finds of this holiday party season below! If you're into chic, polished, and effortless looks, this list is the one for you. ❄️🤍 🎄✨More finds added all the time! Like and follow for more ✨

Actually freezing, actually snowing, cold winter days in NYC need actual winter gear and this winter outfit is what I actually wear when it's ~15º or less outside. It took me a long time to be a convert to the Superpuff, and since getting one earlier this year I absolutely understand the hype. Adding it to your winter wardrobe in addition to wool base layers, thermal leggings, and snow boots that you can actually walk miles in. Plus, every all-black outfit needs a color moment, imo, and this blue one was too good to ignore. Everything is linked so you won't have to search for the products that i've personally tested and can attest will actually keep you warm. ❄️ ❤️ Be sure to check out more looks and follow for more finds. ◡̈You can shop my entire closet here: shopmy.us/shop/thatrebeccarae

Thinking about a cozy weekend at home? Me too. It's snowing out, and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and watch holiday movies 🎄❄️

Moody, scholarly, and maybe a little witchy — dark academia for your home without leaving amazon! Think old libraries, candlelit evenings, and the kind of space that makes you want to read poetry at 2am. Your latest Romantasy read as a home decor mood board. ✨

Mazie is my 2-year old Australian Shepherd, and we log 8-12 miles together every day — rain, snow, slush, whatever, we're getting our steps in. That kind of mileage in winter weather means her paws, coat, and gear take a literal beating. These are the products that have made our cold-weather walks easier to manage and kept her comfortable (and clean) when we get home. Some of this is grooming stuff for the post-walk chaos — because wet dog + city sidewalk grime is a whole situation — and some is gear that actually holds up to daily use in perfect and rough conditions. Everything here has been tested extensively by one very active Aussie living in Brooklyn.

I am a woman who grew up in the rural South, attended Catholic school, and received exactly the kind of sex education you'd expect from that combination — which is to say, almost none at all. What I did learn came wrapped in shame, silence, and a whole lot of "just don't." It took years to unlearn the guilt and fill in the gaps that abstinence-only education and church teachings left behind. These books were part of that ~10 year process. Some are scientific, some are historical, some are deeply personal memoirs. All of them taught me something I wish I'd known sooner, but am grateful to have found and learned from.I realize this is an inherently charged topic in America right now. Reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and even basic sex education have become often violent political battlegrounds. I'm not here to tell you what to think, I only believe that access to accurate, shame-free information is something every woman, and everyone, deserves. These books gave me the language and context to make my own informed decisions about my life, my body, and my relationships, romantic or otherwise. Whether you're unlearning things like I was, trying to understand yourself or a partner better, or just curious about the cultural and historical forces that shaped how we talk (or don't) about sex — there's something here for you. Approach all the titles with an open-mind, and do your best to suspend any biases (we all have them, it's ok).

I've spent most of my life at war with my body (being told your fat because your thighs touch in fourth grade can really f*ck you up). Counting calories, ignoring pain, pushing through exhaustion, and assuming that if something felt wrong, it was probably my fault. I didn't know that the diet industry was a $72 billion scam. I didn't know that most medical research excluded women until the 1990s. I didn't know that doctors are trained to dismiss symptoms they can't immediately explain — especially in women, especially in anyone who isn't white.These books filled in the gaps my health classes and google searches never touched. Why we hate our bodies and who profits from that hate. Why women's pain gets minimized and misdiagnosed. What it means to live with illness that doesn't show up on tests. And how to stop treating your body like a problem to be solved. This list isn't about wellness trends or self-optimization.It's about understanding the systems that taught you to distrust your own body — and unlearning them.

I didn't learn anything useful about money growing up. Not in school, not at home, not at church. What I picked up was a mix of shame, avoidance, and the vague sense that wanting money was somehow unladylike or greedy. It took years of reading, unlearning, and trial-and-error to build any kind of financial confidence. These books were part of that process. Some taught me the basics I should have learned at 18. Others helped me understand my own weird relationship with spending and saving. A few made me genuinely angry about the systems designed to keep people — especially women and people of color — from building wealth. I've organized this list by theme rather than difficulty. Start wherever feels right. Whether you're digging out of debt, finally ready to invest, or just trying to understand why money feels so emotionally loaded, there's something here for you.

This year, my husband and I have been seriously considering purchasing a house upstate, which means we’ve test-driving towns up and down the Hudson River Valley to see if the vibe is for us. So far we’ve spent weekends Beacon, Hudson, Kingston, Cold Spring, Callicoon, and Tannersville, as well looking at homes in New Paltz, Kerhonkson, and Rhinebeck, all while exploring the surrounding areas. The list below is all places we tried in our search for our next home that were especially memorable. I hope you’ll try them and love them too. Happy travels! 💕

We had the opportunity to visit New Orleans again this summer for my little brothers wedding and though I nearly melted into the sidewalk from the heat, we had an amazing long weekend. This list started on Google Maps, a way for Fred and I to share our favorites with friends, so I thought I’d add it here in case anyone is planning a trip and needs some inspiration. This isn't an exhaustive list, just some of the new and tried and true spots in our favorite city in the south (and that say's a lot about me, being from Alabama and all). For four days we ate, drank, and filled our bellies and souls up as much as we could before we ultimately had to get on the plane back to Brooklyn. I'll keep this list and update it when we get to go back, and I hope you'll share your recommendations with me! Drop your recommendations in the comments 🤍Happy Travels! 💕

We’ve only traveled to Montreal twice, but it is the place we chose to get married. 🤍✨ A little list of all of my favorite places that we frequent when we have a chance to go up.