What we’re ‘adding to cart’ this July

You know that feeling when you stumble on just the thing – a product that makes your morning smoother, your skin glowier, or your coffee taste better? We live for those little discoveries. So, this month, we’re rounding up our team’s current obsessions: the things we’ve been raving about in group chats, passing around the office, and unapologetically adding to our carts.

Catherine Clark’s go-to summer wine: Nova 7

I adore a good glass of wine, and during the summer months my very favourite is Nova 7 from Nova Scotia’s fabulous Benjamin Bridge winery, located in the heart of the Gaspereau Valley. I have to give credit to dear friends Scott and Max, who first served up a bottle of Nova 7 over a meal in their beautiful Cheverie, NS home, and it was truly love at first sip for me. Nova 7 is like drinking the nectar of the gods – sweet, sparkly, delicious wine that also handily comes in at only 7 per cent alcohol content… and I say a big ‘cheers’ to that.

Jennifer Stewart’s skin secret: Anua Rice 70% Glow Milky Toner

I’ve been a soap-and-water girl my whole life, mostly because almost everything else irritates my skin. It’s dry, sensitive, and reacts to just about anything I try to use. But then a makeup artist told me about Anua. Their Rice 70% Glow Milky Toner has really changed how I approach my skin. It actually moisturizes without stinging or leaving my skin feeling tight. It’s light, calming, and so hydrating.
And I love the brand’s serum. For the first time, I feel like I have a routine that works with my skin, not against it. If you’ve got dry or reactive skin like me, Anua might just be your new best friend.

Mikka Zeisig’s ultimate mascara: Benefit Roller Lash & Lifting Mascara

As someone who’s not overly fussed about makeup, I feel naked without this mascara. It makes me feel put-together with almost zero effort, which is exactly what I am going for this summer. This Benefit mascara gives my lashes that perfect lift and length with no clumps. Even in a full-on summer sweat, it stays put. No smudgy surprises when I catch my reflection in a store window, which honestly feels like a small miracle. If I’m only grabbing one thing from my bag this summer, it’s 100 per cent this (and sunscreen, of course). 

Lisa Thibodeau’s current favourite book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

If you’re looking for your next summer read, I may just have the one. For me, the mark of a great book isn’t always how quickly I devour the story. Sometimes, it’s the ability to put the story down, and revisit it a few days later and be drawn back in without missing a beat. This month, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is that book for me! Originally published in 1943, this isn’t a new read, but it’s a beautiful coming-of-age story set in the streets of early 1900s New York City. Exploring themes like love, poverty, social class, and gender norms, this is a beautifully written piece that feels simple, yet deeply meaningful with every chapter.