We’re So Back!

Let’s talk track pants, brow gels, fine jewelry and, of course, CBK.

Hello from the other side of our unintentional winter break!

The beginning of this year was a real sprint for ya girls — new projects, new pets (!) and just generally feeling the “year of the Fire Horse” momentum, in a good way.

But we’re here now, ready to do what we do best! Aka, encouraging everyone to buy something cute, eat delicious meals, read great books and obsess over niche pop culture.

Happy eating, reading, shopping,

Rach + Cait

Open Tabs

RKH: Is it just me, or have the first two months of this year gone by faster than ever? I’ve really missed you guys!! We are staying busy with all things new house and working on that big project. Endless open tabs about all that we need to consider and make decisions about, which is mostly exciting (and only occasionally anxiety inducing). Would you all be interested in a house-specific send (or three)? I feel like it could be fun … but, let a girl know!

(full disclosure - not my actual house)

Outside of living in my HGTV fantasy world, some very real things I am interested in purchasing … I need a new curling iron, as my gHd curve was unfortunately a casualty of my 36 hours in Vegas at the end of last year. A few options I’ve been considering … the Bio Ionic long barrel, T3 Single Pass, and randomly, the SRI Labs CurlQ. This review has me intrigued on the last one! I was listening to Pia Baroncini’s podcast episode the other week where she was chatting about her current fav products, and she inspired me to order some new peels. I have the Shani Darden triple acid signature peel and the Glow Recipe LHA + AHA Toner Pads in my Sephora cart! She also mentioned the GLOW peptide – peptides were a hot topic on a girls trip to Sonoma earlier this month, and now I am very intrigued … will try (almost) anything for beauty! Speaking of Sonoma, we also spent the day at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn spa, which was lovely. Highly recommend!!

CP: As someone who’s seen behind the veil (peeped the Pinterest board) of Rach’s house project, I can say wholeheartedly that the details are not to be missed!!

I’ve had homewares on the brain lately, too. I’m trying this new, fun thing where instead of getting stuck in an algorithm loop (that has me questioning if that really IS Jim Carey…) I’ll browse Etsy at night. Some recent finds include this cool ivory hand vase (very Wuthering Heights, no?), this Italian magazine rack, and this shell-shaped gold dish.

RKH: In full support of this … it’s not mindless scrolling, it’s important research!

CP: At least less brain rot-y? I hope!

This chilly time of year also has me thinking a lot about baths — like, what should my bath show™️ be (Bridgerton), what fun products can I add to it (this fig tree + peppermint soap looks very chic), are bath salts are actually worthwhile (these magnesium restorative ones from Behrhaus seem to be??)

And, it wouldn’t be an OT issue if I didn’t pitch something sparkly + a red lip! My current curiosity is the new lip stain oil from Violette, in the burnt sienna shade Souci d’Automne. I also saw this citrine pinky ring that reminded me of when my patron saint of TCM, Dr Natazia zu Stolberg, posted about this citrine necklace. I fear I might need one/both for future beach days — *manifesting*!

Closed Tabs

RKH: Something very, very exciting to share! My cousin Abby has just launched a fine jewelry brand - Bravais Fine Jewelry. I am in awe that she is MAKING jewelry. A dream. I bought this Spitfire ring, and this white gold glitter chain. Everything is stunning and so unique, and I love how much energy she’s put into explaining the stones and her process in layman’s terms. She’s a literal genius (a Chemical Engineering & BioMaterials Science professor at Northeastern), with an amazing eye for design.

On the open tabs topics above re: skincare … I looked in the mirror the other day and shrieked when I looked at the skin under my eyes. Obviously, I panic overnighted several new eye creams to try! I’ve been liking the tinted Colorescience Total Eye (recommended by my gorgeous friend Tiff with perfect undereyes!), and the Peter Thomas Roth Fill + Fix under eye cream (also, with peptides!). I appreciate that the Colorescience one has SPF, though! For nighttime, I’ve been trying the Caudalie Premier Cru … I am not yet convinced on that one. I also recently had a conversation with new OT subscriber and freelance friend Lisa (hi girl!) where she recommended Neocutis LUMIÈRE eye cream, which of course I have already ordered.

I feel very late to the track pant party but am newly obsessed. A chic way to essentially wear sweatpants all day long … say less. I have and love this red and pink adidas Firebird pair courtesy of my sister (also, very OT!), and just bought this leopard pair with the white stripe. There are so many cute colors, I feel like I gotta catch ‘em all. I also have a new favorite bag I bought at the end of last year that I never got to tell you all about!!! I found an 80s vintage LV Jeune Fille bag at a vintage pop up market in Chicago – when I tell you I have used it every single day since … it’s truly the perfect shaped bag and sneakily large (see our IG for the proof!). Available on TRR here!

& because I feel like I can’t tease house updates below and then not share here … some highlights around decisions we’ve made that I’m VERY excited about! We landed on this Castelli Marble tile for the kitchen in 12” with crema dots, and are getting very close to finalizing our custom soapstone kitchen countertops, fabricated from a gigantic slab we found at Bedrosians. We’re also doing Fireclay Natural Press Ceramic Tile in Manzanita (our bath!) and Alberta (Lonny’s!). I have been wholly consumed by thoughts of tile and natural stone. It is such a relief to have finally made some decisions (champagne problems!). Also for her bathroom, I am obsessed with this little bath tap/hand held shower that we ordered. Trying to keep things whimsical, as well as intentional! Of course we have also made a lot of decisions on things like plumbing fixtures, toilets, appliances, etc., that I won’t bore you all with (unless you are interested … & then maybe I *will* do a separate send with all of the gory details lol).

CP: This makes me want to officially commit to the Leandra Medine x Relax Lacrosse track pants! Tempting…

My Marco Polo group chats are probably sick of hearing me yap about the new Bob Beauté brow gel but seriously — it’s a game changer. The brush is teeny tiny, so you’re able to really fine-tune the application. Which is, as we say in the Pangares-Schwartz house, a nice “precision girl” task — IYKYK! I’m also lovinggg the new Sofie Pavitt Face SPF. She really is a skin whisperer, that gal! Final thing for beauty rec corner, I got the new Merit Lip Blush in shade Kitten Heel and am liking it so far! I will say, Bisou Balm has the same effect and I do think its slightly better, but Merit is chasing that same high.

In terms of literal closed tabs, we had an incredible Japanese tea service + lunch at Nodoguro last weekend (which is inside the coolest indoor alley), I also loved dinner at French creole pop-up Ma Cher and recently bought way too many things pre-Tabor dog walk at Coquine Market, as one does.

RKH: Thinking this is our sign to plan a Tabor dog walk outing in coordinating track pants this spring!

Open Books

RKH: I’ve already cruised through some very good books this year! On the heels of Heart the Lover, I grabbed another Lily King book, Euphoria, and it was so good and in a similar vein re: love triangles and missed connections. The Names also left quite an impression on me – highly recommend!! I also enjoyed the much-hyped Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash, and Open Wide – a story unlike any I’ve read, in my favorite genre, women being weird. I also just finished Workhorse, a fun read for my fellow gals who religiously read magazines cover-to-cover (masthead included!) in the aughts. Up next for me (and per everyone else, according to my Instagram/TikTok/Podcasts/etc): Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage!

CP: Right now, I’m soaking up every delicious detail in Joan Didion’s nephew’s book, The Friday Afternoon Club. From his account of taking Carrie Fisher’s virginity (surprisingly earnest!) to Sean Connery saving him from drowning in a pool — it’s top-tier scoop.

Next up, I’m a year late but I’m determined to get through Margot’s Got Money Troubles before the Elle Fanning/Ron Swanson adaptation and, similarly, need to read Vladimir prior to seeing Rachel Weiss and Leo Woodall take it on.

After that, I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a twisty mystery like Whidby, which is set to release in April.

Open Obsessions

RKH: I LOVE being Bricked! It is so relaxing. It unfortunately is not realistic for me to be the type of person who puts my phone in a drawer from 8pm to 7am (anxiety levels too high for that!), but I love blocking specific apps in a way that feels so much more effective than tapping “remind me in 15 minutes” 47 times in a row.

CP: When we moved to Portland, I told Mike that I wanted “a big, orange, super snuggly cat named Miso.” Cut to the end of Jan and we’ve officially fostered-failed exactly that cat! Ask the universe and you shall receive, my friends.

Lastly — I, like everyone, have a renewed CBK/JFK Jr hyperfixation. Catch me screenshotting both of their street style fits (he walked so Jacob Elordi and his ballet flats could run!) and tuning in every week to Love Story. But, I couldn’t help but wonder… would they be as iconic these days, or do we idolize her/them because we didn’t have unfettered access to them for a long time? Either way, it’s peak 90s nostalgia and I’m very here for it!

RKH: In my next life I want to be Mr. Miso!! A perfect angel. 🥹

That’s all for this issue! To see more of what we ate, linked to or chatted about in this letter, follow our Instagram @opentabsletter or shop all of our issues here.