Edition #34 | The Elevated Everyday

Hello friends,

I was at a friend's house yesterday for a small gathering with a few girlfriends. She had fresh flowers on the table, linen napkins, a spread of snacks, and a plate of big, perfect chocolate chip cookies. Nothing over the top, but a few thoughtful touches that made a casual get-together feel elevated, yet inviting at the same time.

That friend is this week's guest curator.

Kelly is sharing her picks for elevating everyday life at home. It’s not about a complete overhaul, but just a few intentional items that make the things you already do feel a little more considered. In her words: "I'm equally passionate about traveling to amazing places and being a homebody, and the best feeling is when being at home feels like vacation."

Best rec she ever received: "My mom has a quote attributed to Jackie Kennedy framed in her closet that says, ‘Be kind and do your part. That's all there is to it.’ I can't find any evidence on the internet of this being from Jackie Kennedy, but I've always considered it a solid life tip...even if my mom made it up.”

Explore Postcard Atelier, where Kelly designs travel experiences with the same personal, intentional touch she brings to everything.

Here's to the everyday upgrade.
-Karli

For anyone who believes your daily rituals deserve the same attention as your travel itinerary. These are the items she loves for to make ordinary moments at home feel a little more intentional and worth savoring.

Demi-Sel Butter | Maison Bordier
“After a trip to France, I couldn’t get French salted butter out of my brain. I absolutely HAD to have it. A little sleuthing on the internet led me to gold. Maison Bordier is often considered the best butter in the world — so much so that people have been known to smuggle it back into the US. But, let me save you the trouble. Define Gourmet will import Maison Bordier butter and ship it directly to your house. It’s not cheap, but it is very worth it. Demi-Sel (salted) is my favorite, but their other flavors are incredible, too.”

Smart Temp Electric Kettle | KRUPS
“Please hear me when I say this will change your life. I used to boil water in a stovetop tea kettle — you know, the one with a whistle? Well, if you’re a tea snob like me, you know you shouldn’t be steeping more delicate teas in boiling water. I was constantly trying to gauge the water temperature with my heart and take it off a little before boiling. Once I got an electric kettle with adjustable temperatures, my life and my tea got better. All of Europe is rolling their eyes at me because they’ve known this forever. But now I’m cultured.”

Pima Robe | LAKE Pajamas
“One of the best parts of splurging on a nice hotel is lounging around in the hotel robe. Bring that feeling home by wrapping up in this perfectly lightweight version.”

Weekly Task Planner | Appointed
“I've tried less expensive (and other similarly-priced) planners, but none of them hold a candle to Appointed for me. The beauty is in its simplicity. I have an hourly schedule, tasks, notes, and priorities all in one view. I love the linen cover and the fact that I can personalize it with my initials, which feels like an elevated touch.”

Grey Brick | Brick
“Nothing elevates your life like getting off the internet and actually living. I purchased a Brick last year since my own willpower has apparently weakened to a state that I can’t keep myself from pushing “ignore limit” on the other app-blocking measures I have in place. It’s been a helpful tool to enforce the rules I can’t seem to enforce on my own.”

Ember Mug 2 | Ember
“I am a constant tea drinker, but I don't drink it fast. I love that I can set the exact temperature I want and have it stay warm much longer than a regular mug. I truly didn't think I needed this until it showed up in my Christmas stocking one year...my mind has been changed! Pro tip: Even though they have fun colors, get the stainless steel so the color doesn't start scratching off (a common complaint). Mine is stainless, and I've never had any issues.”

View the whole collection

What are you looking for a recommendation on? Post an Ask for your friends or the entire hili community to chime in with recs.

Here are a few things that have caught my attention this week:

🎤 This video of Marvin Gaye’s isolated vocals on I Heard It Through the Grapevine will knock your socks off!

📷 Check out these submissions for the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Contest to see incredible images of the world from above. 🤩

📚 Kelly’s recent book stack post from The Tea Library was aces! I have read a number of the same books so the new-to-me ones she mentioned were immediately added to my TBR list on my Libby app.