Here is my Mother’s Day Wishlist and it gets pretty insane as you keep going (but it’s super short!)
Silver Ring (Unhinged scale 1.5/5)
I love this ring and I love that buying it means supporting my friend Subikksha and her brand Goldstories. She designs beautiful, well crafted pieces, and they are made locally right here in SF. My gift to myself is the Rani Cuff Ring in Silver. I love the texture of it and that it’s matte silver, which is so hard to find. It is so cool and timeless yet so beautiful, and I genuinely see this as something I can hold onto forever and eventually pass down to my daughter. That feels like a worthwhile purchase to me. Hoping I am able to place and pick up my order this week!
Flore Flore Dress (Unhinged scale 2/5)
This brand has been on my radar for a while now and I have seen so many people on Substack rave about them. My honest hesitation has always been the price point for what is essentially basic t-shirts. Because here is the thing about my t-shirts: they get a weird stain, or a tiny hole, or they stretch out. That is just my current life. Spending upwards of $100 on something with that kind of risk is hard for me. I will absolutely spend that amount (and more) on bags or shoes, but t-shirts? I struggle.
Then I met up with Angela Galvez for happy hour and she was wearing one and I completely get it now. The fit was so good on her. Snug without looking tight. That texture, that structure, exactly what I want.
I still cannot bring myself to buy a t-shirt from them, but this dress (also loving the red)? This I can justify. It is more likely to last for my lifestyle, the cost per wear math actually works, and I am obsessed with it. It is still a pretty penny but I think it is the right call. I’ve just placed the order so I will report back once it arrives and I get to try it out!
P.S Angela said she has put her shirts through multiple wash and dry rounds and they come out looking perfect, which is a hard task for most t-shirt brands so I do get why they are so popular once people give them a try!
Tattoos - Finger Tattoos Specifically (Unhinged scale 2.5/5)
I have one tattoo and I really, really, really want some tiny ones on my fingers. Here is what is holding me back: one, I have heard they are pretty painful. And two, they apparently fade faster than other placements, which makes me wonder what the point is. Both valid concerns. And yet I still want them. I think about it more than I should. I have an entire Pinterest board full of ones I want.
Celine Trio Flap Bag (Unhinged scale 5/5)
In my absolute dream world, I would be getting one of those new Chanel bags. But given that I am not a VIC and do not have $10,000 sitting around, I have redirected my attention to this one from Celine. I never liked the trio zipper version before, but this new style is genuinely so cool and very much my taste. The contrast lining has me completely obsessed, and I want it in red. I also think I could remove the strap and wear it as a clutch, which I love as an option.
Here is the thing though. I do not want to just order it online. That is not the vision. The vision is: I go somewhere in Europe, I find it, I buy it for less, I get the VAT back, and then every time someone compliments it, I get to casually say “oh, I got it for a lot less in [insert European country] because of VAT back.” Because at that point it is not really about the bag. It is about the “savings”. There is nothing that brings me more joy than getting something at a discount. Nothing. So yes, not only do I want this bag, but I also want an international trip for Mother’s day so I can bag the bag.
An Aman Hotel Stay (Unhinged scale 100/5)
Self explanatory. I will take any location. Ideally four nights, five days minimum. Actually, I would specifically love a location where I can get scuba certified while I am there. Please and thank you. But wait… what if instead it’s something like Amanzoe in Greece, wrap the trip with some duty free shopping to get the aforementioned Celine bag. Might have to give up on my scuba certification at this location but I am amenable to this hypothetical situation. A girl can dream.
Okay, I wrote about these in my last newsletter and mentioned I had already ordered them. Well, they arrived. I got the Caramel combo and I genuinely cannot stop wearing them (even though the weather has been REALLY uncooperative and is making it very difficult for me). They are so simple and so cute and I am fully obsessed.
One thing though: the paracord that comes with them is too thick and honestly kind of hard to tie. So I went ahead and ordered a pack of 12 thinner, more fun ones (from Amazon), and I am giving 6 to my friend Sasha, who also bought these in the green combo. I am officially declaring these the shoes of summer. There is just something so joyous about jelly shoes with neon colored paracords.
Buyer beware - there aren’t your walk 10 miles in shoes. They are for aesthetics. And there is ZERO footbed cushion so if your arches can’t handle that, then skip it.
Year-round Deodorant
It was hot last week. This week it’s been raining and a bit muggy. No matter the weather, we need a solid deodorant and I have been meaning to talk about this for a while. This deodorant is genuinely one of my best purchases, going strong since 2025. A single bottle lasts me over six months. I feel fully protected all day. And most importantly, it has not aggravated my eczema at all - even when I wear the scented version (my favorite scent from the brand for all things is Driftwood). I am not even looking at any other brand anymore. I’ve recommended it to friends, who have recommended it to their friends. So you know it’s good. I love pretty much every body care item I’ve tried from the brand.
If you couldn’t tell from my #1 wishlist item, I am back in my silver era and it feels right. After over a year of wearing the exact same set of three pairs of gold tone earstack, I was ready for a change. So I got these and I am really into the chunkiness. They feel fresh without being too much.
Also, I have a theory I need to share with you: I find silver earrings are very face slimming. Something about the way silver refracts light ends up creating a contour effect. Gold (and pearls), on the other hand, illuminates and brings warmth to your face. Neither is better, they just do different things. Do with that information what you will.
Sole Searching: A Bag Lady’s Guide to Vacation Shoes
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Apr 15
If you’ve been here a minute, you probably already know I’m a self-proclaimed bag lady. So naturally, or maybe not so naturally, shoes are where I struggle. I love the idea of heels, but actually wearing them is another story, especially if there’s any significant standing involved. Forget it entirely if we’re walking. A small kitten heel is fine (1 to …
Female Founder - Subikksha Balaje
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May 5, 2024
Gold jewelry is part of my DNA. If you ask anyone if South Asian origin, they would probably tell you something similar. We have grown up in families that marked moments and occasions with the purchase of gold jewelry. I never understood it or cared for it when I was younger to be honest. I refused to wear most of the pieces my parents asked me to wear because it didn’t feel cool or modern. As a kid, I was in my own world of fun clothes, costume jewelry and jelly slippers. But in the last 10 years, thankfully with a refined taste and a better understanding of value, I have been really getting into fine jewelry. And with the growing number of incredible brands that create beautiful wearable pieces, it has really made the transition to gold jewelry that much easier.
Here’s the deal: every newsletter takes me hours to write and edit. It’s a true labor of love and something I look forward to, even if it takes way more time (and tea ☕️🫖) than I care to admit. If you enjoy reading Brands and Bobs, I’d be so grateful for your support.
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