COOL SH*T I LOVELOVELOVE - Monthly Favorites, January 2025

I’ll be honest (as always)…I so miss writing here. It’s been a bit of a once-a-month rhythm of favorites and favorites alone in this season of bookwriting etc, which feels bittersweet. Sweet in that I lovelovelove sharing my favorite things with you in the hopes that you find a few new favorites, too – bitter in that it feels like I’m just popping in to say hi and then right back out the door again with my head in the book. If you’re on our newsletter list (join the CURowd here!), you get a few more personal chats throughout the month…so consider this your big fat warm welcome to get those notes if you’re not already. 😉 ANYHOO – this month’s Cool Sh*t was admittedly *hard* to narrow down, because there were some goooooodies found this month! So without further adieu…

1.) FRE non-alcoholic brut

In the hunt for a good fake champagne, this one takes the cake! Both J + I lovelovelove it…I had 3 flute-fulls on New Year’s Eve. It’s a really delish non-alcoholic sparkling wine that truly tastes so similar to the real deal! We are both sensitive to non-alcoholic wine tasting…absolutely not like wine haha. If it tastes like sugary, expensive juice, I can’t do it. But this really hits the palette nicely. Highly recommend pairing with an afternoon of chores. Ha!

2.) Fourth Wing sweatshirt

If you, too, have been re-reading the Fourth Wing series and bingeing Onyx Storm, this fandom sweatshirt just feels right. I’ve worn mine no less than 7 times this month and had to explain every single detail of it to my husband, from Scottish Gaelich pronunciations to what the heck a “war college” is to the dragons on dragons on dragons. Grabbed it out of the laundry hamper to snap a quick pic – ha! There are dragons on the back, as well – and multiple color combos to choose from.

I sized up to a large for a more oversized fit!

3.) IT Cosmetics dual brush

I’m not usually a sucker for a makeup brush, but this dual-ended brush is really practical so I’m here for it. The bigger, fluffier-but-dense-enough end is great for foundation application while the smaller side is clutch for concealer. Due to wash mine, clearly!

4.) Heathered cream joggers (discount code: ELGXSPANX)

The way I put these on my body and immediately gasped because they are GOOD. Freaking good, friends. They’re the same buttery soft and airy material that I simply lovelovelove in this line, but with a chic front seam that just uplevels them as joggers. The front snap is great for easy on/off (although it’s an elastic waistband anyway so BLESS). And this heathered cream color is pretty and unique (I didn’t have anything like it in my closet!).

Code ELGXSPANX will take 10% off for you at checkout!

5.) Younger on Netflix

I don’t know where I was since 2021, but somehow Younger has totally missed my radar when it first came out. Which is funny, because I’m a huge Sutton Foster fan! Fun fact: I got to meet Sutton briefly when she was Reno in Anything Goes on Broadway! It was my senior year of high school and I was playing Reno in our own school production, so when our cast went to NYC to see the show I somehow managed to get a picture with her. She’s insanely talented and I have the utmost respect.

This is an easily bingeable, lighthearted sitcom that’s delightfully predictable and predictably frustrating as any good 7-season run show goes. But I’m somewhere in season four at present, so there’s definitely room for the plot to go awry…have you seen the series yet?

6.) Weighted vest

Whether you wear it for walks, runs, or cleaning the house…GET A WEIGHTED VEST! I’m telling you, easiest way to immediately uplevel your workout or regular daily movement. It’s great for your bones and overall strength. Has some built-in hidden pockets and is stitched nicely to avoid chafing or rubbing. A #1 Amazon bestseller for strength training with over 6,500 stellar reviews! I got one for Mimi for Christmas, too.

I have the 12 pound vest!

7.) Humm probiotic kombucha

J + I are on a major kombucha kick. They had the mango passionfruit flavor in a 12-pack at Costco this month, which got us hooked. They’re delish because they don’t taste vinegary like some kombuchas do! Really lives up to the “absurdly tasty” label. 😉

I spent way more dollars to get the variety pack of flavors on Amazon and they’re due to arrive on our doorstep any day now…

8.) Naturium phyto-glow lip balm

I saw this lip balm recommended on TikTok and picked it up on a Target run…then promptly ordered 2 more online. I’m picky with lippies and want something that feels truly deeply hydrating – not just surface level where it wipes off immediately. This feels really conditioning and a bit thicker, which I like. It’s also a clean formula and cruelty-free, fragrance free, paraben free, and vegan/gluten-free.

Gives nice shine, too…overall, this stuff is great in my book.

9.) GO BIRDS sweatshirt

Right in time for this weekend! 😉 I sized up one. GO BIRDS!

10.) Picta app (discount code: ERICA40)

OK so this is a fun + random one! I tried out a new photo-printing app because I had heard great things. Now, I’m PICKY with photo printing, namely because I want my prints to look perfect. Life’s too short for oversaturated photos. I’ve had horror experiences with the quick-printing kiosks in places like CVS before where the photos came out color-distorted and borderline blurry…no bueno. So I was skeptical here, but hopeful.

The app is ridiculously user friendly, so that was the first win. It lets you select photo sizes (+ other products too, like big poster prints and framed magnets!) right there and crop everything how you’d like it right in your cart.

But then you select your local Walgreen’s for pickup, and your order is ready within the hour.

I kid you not, I had 19 items in my order and I got the text that it was done 47 minutes later.

I had ordered a variety of photo print sizes – 4×4, 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, as well as 11×14 – AND I had ordered quite a few framed magnets and the entire order came out perfectly. Impressed is an understatement.

Better yet, they gave us a 40% off code (!!!) for you…which is unreal because everything was already affordable, so now I feel like we’re stealing but HERE WE ARE FOLKS, CARPE DIEM! If you’ve had “print photos” on your to-do list, need to update a few frames, or want to create a quick gift for Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day to take advantage of the 1-hour pickup, use this link and drop code ERICA40 at checkout to get the deal!!!!