From our community to your inbox, we trace what's worth discovering—the finds, voices, and recommendations shaping how we choose.
Edition #30 • Beyond the bottle 🍷
Hello friends,
There is a specific kind of exhale that comes with the first pour on a Friday night. The wine itself is barely the point with red, white, sparkling, NA all offering the same experience. It is the pause it makes room for, the conversation it slows down, the small ritual of swirl and sip that says the day is done.
Which is exactly why I wanted to introduce you to this week's guest curator.
Meet Jess.
Jess Thevenoz is the founder of Theodora, an app that helps you find wine you love without having to become a sommelier. She is based in Seattle by way of Montreal, and she has thought more about the experience of drinking wine than almost anyone I know.
Her collection is not about the bottle itself. It is about everything around it like the glassware, the stopper, the chiller. It’s these small upgrades that turn a regular night into something a little more special.
Best rec she ever received: “Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn is one of my favorite books of all time. My friend recommended it to me and it changed the way I connect with those around me. I cannot believe more people have not read it, it's a must for anyone who wants to get closer to those around them (also big believer that there really is nothing else more important). ”
Learn more about how Theodora can help you always choose the right wine for the occasion and follow along with Jess’s journey on Instagram and Tiktok.
Cheers.
-Karli
✨ Jess's “You bring the wine, I'll bring these” Collection
Wine is a ritual. From the pour and the swirl to the first sip with your favorite people. These picks make every part of it better.
Sophie Lou Jacobsen Trumpet Glasses
“I love all glasses by Sophie Lou Jacobsen. While these technically aren't wine glasses, I think they are so cute, I would drink anything from them.”
The Timmy Champagne Stopper
“I LOVE bubbles, but I can never finish a bottle. This will keep it a day longer better than anything else plus it is so cute.”
Williams Sonoma Marble Wine Chiller
“I always keep this in the freezer to take out on a sunny day. It keeps the wine cold on a sunny day, plus I think it is so chic!”
Viski Champagne Saber
“I got this as a wedding gift and it was a blast. Can't say I use it a lot, but it is really fun to pull out for fun gatherings.”
Sezane Marcia Basket Bag
“The cutest way to carry wine this summer! But also doubles as a cute bag.”
ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink
“As a founder in the wine space, I drink wine on the job and have a long to-do list the next day. I really swear by these, it reduces the feeling of a hangover the next day (I will even have it with just one glass).”
View the full collection and save your favorites
💬 Community asks
Someone needs what you already know. Whether it's the morning ritual you've perfected or the bag that goes with everything—if you've got an answer, share it!
Kelly B. wants to know which smart watch you love. “I’ve had a Garmin Venu 2s for several years, but the battery life is declining. One of the reasons I love my Garmin is because it looks more like a real watch than an Apple Watch does.” [Share your rec]
I am looking for Running/Exercise shorts for athletic legs. “I am looking for workout shorts that will fit muscular quads and glutes with a smaller waist. I prefer them to be a bit longer and not bunch. ” [Share your rec]
Sydney L. wants to know your favorite primer for oily skin and large pores? [Share your rec]
Looking for something? Post an Ask for your friends or the entire hili community to chime in with recs.
💜 Karli Loves
Here are a few things that have caught my attention this week:
⚽️ World Cup travelers are posting videos of their first time in the US and they are pure joy. The grocery stores, the portion sizes, and all the strangers striking up conversations. I especially love the stories of the Algerian national team being welcomed to Lawrence, Kansas.
🚓 Did you know in the late 1960s four Porsche 912s were specially built for use by the Japanese police to patrol major highways? Sooooo cool!
🏀 In honor of the first Knicks NBA championship win in 53 years artist, Claire Salvo, has painted the starting five on a set of US one dollar bills and pasted them around NYC. Also, in case you were wondering, here is the origin of every NBA team’s name.
🔗 Save to hili: catch the good stuff before you forget it
You know that bottle a friend served at dinner that you said you'd remember? You won't. Not without a little help.
The Save to hili browser extension lives in your toolbar so the next time you spot something worth recommending — a wine, a glassware shop, a restaurant, a great bag — you just click. The extension pulls in the details. You add why you love it. Done.
Build a collection for everything you find yourself recommending over and over. The next time someone asks, you'll actually have the answer.
👯♀️ hili gets better when your people are here
When your friends are on the app, you can create private Asks for them and build shared collections of your group's best finds. It’s like a home for the group chat gems.
👉 Share this link: app.gethili.com
Thanks for being here!