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To truly know me is to know that I am a paper planner person through and through. (It’s the editor in me!) Outside of work, if you send me a digital calendar invitation, that personally won’t suffice. For plans to actually be on the books, I have to write it down. Every plan, every potential plan, every appointment, every birthday, every reminder, and every doodle is in there. But to be able to record everything means that my planner is with me at all times. Yes, I’m that nerdy person and actually feel lost if my planner isn’t in my bag, on my desk, or somewhere near me. For me to actually go on vacation means I have to leave it at home. It’s really fun watching my friends laugh as I drag it out at brunch as we make our next date.
However, not just any planner will do! (You already know that, though, judging from my weirdness thoroughly depicted above.) I’m a very loyal Moleskine customer and decided a few years ago that their Classic 12-Month Weekly Planner was the one I wanted to use every year. Why do I need the same one, you ask? This planner checks every box I have.
It’s incredibly lightweight, slim, and you can truly take it anywhere. Big, clunky planners are no good, as cute as they may be. For a planner to be useful, you’ve got to be able to toss it in your bag, or it needs to take up as little space as possible. The Moleskine Weekly Planner is a hardcover pick, but that quality doesn’t make it rigid at all. It’s as soft as hardcover can get, if that makes any sense at all. This one also has a notebook feel, since the left side of the page is a calendar and the right side of the page is lined, free writing space for that week’s grocery list, to-dos, or anything else. It keeps me organized yet has plenty of room for jotting random things down.
What would I do without you?
I also like my planner to be pretty fuss-free in terms of bells and whistles on the page. I know some feel the exact opposite way, but I’m not into stickers, tabs, pockets, or anything that will add time to or literally weigh down my planner experience every day. (IMO, the point of having a planner is to write things down and get out!) If you’re familiar with the brand at all, you know that they have a great, simple color selection. I don’t want anyone to look at my planner and know it’s a planner — design- or color-wise — and this one really looks like it could be anything.
So many friends and family members have said at one point or another that a new planner would be the perfect holiday gift for me. While I’m never one to tell anyone what they can and can’t gift me, I always make it a point to say I use the same one every year and enjoy buying it myself. It’s a personal favorite way to start a new year — a sleek, fresh notebook and minimalistic, neatly marked pages that I can expect will soon to be full of plans. Happy new year!
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As excited as you are about a whole new year of possibility, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a little bit anxious going into 2022, too. Let’s face it, the last couple of years have been… challenging, which is why products for the home that offer a sense of comfort are extra essential right now.
One of our favorite ways to feel like we’re sleeping in a warm, welcoming hug? A weighted blanket! Weighted blankets are proven to help ease anxiety, depression, and insomnia (though you should talk also to your doctor about your symptoms), and they’re especially lovely during cold-weather months. We’ve tried loads of weighted blankets over the years — it’s a tough job, we know — and we’re kinda obsessed with one in particular: the bestselling Ella Jayne Reversible Blanket, which just happens to be on sale at Macy’s for a whopping 65 percent off right now.
There are so many details that make this weighted blanket shine above the rest. For starters, one side is velvety soft, while the other is smooth microfiber, giving you the best of both (cozy) worlds. It’s also lined with glass beads to provide heft — either 12, 15, or 20 pounds of pressure. The Ella Jayne blanket comes in a range of colors, but right now, the gray, 12-pound version is on sale for just $51.99 (usually $150). Yup, your wallet just got comfier, too.
And we’re not the only ones who can’t get enough of this cozy bedding. It was so popular with AT readers last year that it sold out multiple times this past year. That’s why we recommend adding this baby to your cart ASAP. At this incredible discount, it probably won’t be around for long.
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In my search for the perfect Christmas gift for my mom and brother this year, I decided to gift them something splurge-worthy that would make their lives in the kitchen easier. I realized a chef’s knife would be the perfect pick, especially since they’re guaranteed to get a ton of use out of it. I turned to editor-favorite brand Misen, which has a reputation for carrying impressive blades — their versatile Chef’s Knife made it on Kitchn’s list of the best chef’s knives. It also just so happens to be one of our top direct-to-consumer brands of 2021!
While I was able to grab three knives at a steal (yes, I bought one for myself!), you can do the same by taking advantage of Misen’s huge extended holiday sitewide sale that’s happening right now. As an end-of-year treat, now through Dec. 31, Misen is offering 20 percent off your entire purchase when you use code TISTHEMISEN20 at checkout.
With a blade made from premium stainless steel and a smooth ergonomic handle, this knife feels instantly comfortable in your hand. What makes this an amazing chef’s knife for home cooks in particular is that Misen specifically designed it to replace entire knife sets. It features a hybrid Japanese- and German-style blade that they say can do nearly all of your kitchen cutting — and I’m already a believer! If you’re someone who has never been particularly fussed about which knife from the block you pick (like myself), this is the multipurpose blade for you.
The first time I used this knife, it slid so seamlessly into the tomato I was cutting, slicing right through without getting stuck on the skin and squishing it. I was so blown away that I called my roommate into the kitchen to show her! The knife has totally transformed my family’s kitchen prep routines. I’ve effortlessly split squashes in half, my mom has chopped nuts with no mess, and my brother has deftly minced garlic like a pro. This handy knife is ideal for cutting, slicing, chopping, and dicing tasks both big and small, whether you’re a home cook novice or you have years of experience.
Olivia is an editorial intern on the commerce team at Apartment Therapy. When she’s not writing, she’s probably re-watching The West Wing, reading her horoscope, or researching skincare products. She is a proud University of Oregon alumna and firmly believes that seltzer water is part of a balanced diet.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
With 2022 just around the corner, our team has been keeping up with all the amazing end-of-year sales from our favorite retailers like Nordstrom and Macy’s. Now, Williams Sonoma is joining the fun for a very limited time with an amazing warehouse sale to cap off 2021. Today and tomorrow only (Dec. 28 and 29), you can shop huge discounts on tons of kitchen essentials at Williams Sonoma. We’re talking steals of up to 50 percent off bakeware, cookware, kitchen tools, and small appliances.
Whether you’re after post-Christmas gifts or little luxuries to add to your own kitchen, this sale is for you. To help you make the most of it, we’ve included some of our favorite picks ahead to narrow down the wide selection. You’ll find so many items from editor- and reader-favorite brands — like Le Creuset, Vitamix, All-Clad, Staub, and more — that it’ll be easy to transform your space in the new year.
