The Strategist Haul: What the Editors Bought in February

I’ve been on a very unglamorous buying kick recently (as evidenced by the last Strat Haul, too). Purchases this month included a new drain stopper for my kitchen sink from my local hardware store, a bag of soil to repot one of my plants, and some white socks to replace pairs with holes. I did, however, buy one slightly more exciting thing: the smallest version of the classic L.L.Bean tote. I wanted something roomier and more casual than a nice purse for running errands, but also less branded than the totes I use for grocery shopping. This totally fits the bill. It’s nicely structured (I took it on a recent flight to Miami and everything stayed organized and upright on the plane), and because I got the longer-handle version, it fits comfortably over my shoulder when I’m schlepping things around Brooklyn.

After being unable to play the original Machi Koro at a board-game café due to the … moldy nature of some of the pieces, I did a bit of research online and found an upgraded version of the game.

In Machi Koro 2, you begin with five coins and are tasked with creating a bustling metropolis of sushi bars, business centers, flower gardens, and more by rolling dice and drawing cards. According to online reviews, this sequel has sturdier, more detailed playing cards, plastic coins instead of paper ones (yay for no mold!), and more streamlined game play. It’s not reinventing the wheel — I found it similar to Splendor — but it’s easy to learn and just downright enjoyable to play.

I hadn’t realized it, but I was clearly on cocooning-at-home overdrive at the start of the year — by mid-month, I’d burned four of my favorite candles nearly all the way down. I was sent a limited-edition herby candle from the U.K.-based brand NEOM, but its stock is already running low. That inspired me to pick up one of its classics, an almost powdery floral that blends jasmine, lavender, and Brazilian rosewood. You end up with an enveloping scent, but it doesn’t do that thing where it catches in the back of your throat after a deep inhale. It would make a cute gift, too.

My husband and I went on our honeymoon this month, and it was very nice and plenty romantic. The 22-hour travel day to get home was not. And as I stared at my jet-lagged, plane-dehydrated face in the mirror upon my return, I decided I needed something, anything to soothe the dark circles under my eyes. That’s how I convinced myself to buy Dieux’s new Auracle eye cream. That, and the fact that the brand was running a special, so I got the eye cream with a free set of angel-wing-shaped forever eye masks. I’ve been using it nightly for about a week, and so far, my under-eye area is looking more hydrated, which I’ll round up to a success.

I was worried about what constantly being on my phone meant for my poor hands, so I finally got a PopSocket, and now my life has improved considerably. I can hold my phone a million times more comfortably — without using my pinky! — and it gives me more options for gripping or picking up my device. It pushes down flat and has a super-thin profile so I can still easily slip my phone into my back pocket. The PopSocket is great for running and juggling kiddos, too, and it feels super-durable. After trying mine out, my husband immediately ordered one for himself.

I’m heading to Seoul next month and wanted a bag somewhere in between my teeny-tiny Telfar and enormous tote bags for schlepping essentials around. I’ve seen plenty of people worshiping the Uniqlo over-the-shoulder bags the past year, and given that it’s less than $20, I thought one was worth a try. When it arrived, it was smaller than I’d pictured, but its appearance was deceptive: The amount of stuff I’ve fit inside it is absurd. Right now, I have my 35mm camera, a portable charger, my phone, my passport, a makeup bag and — most impressively — a book stowed inside. Quite simply, if a petite bag can fit a Penguin classic, it’s a winner.

It’s still very much winter in Minnesota and everything is unbearably dry. As someone who completed Accutane in the past, the corners of my mouth are always the first to crack. To keep chapped lips at bay, I typically cycle between Aquaphor and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. More recently, however, I decided to look for something that lasts two to three hours for when I inevitably forget to reapply. I know it’s pricey, but this stuff is next level. It’s highly sticky, so I don’t recommend using it on windy days, but the glossy shine it creates is unlike the cloudier look of most lip moisturizers. It also has a minty scent, so it feels extra refreshing to put on after a meal.

It’s surprisingly difficult to find a gingham shower curtain that doesn’t look awful. It seems so simple, but it took me a couple weeks to land on this one in the russet shade. Nearly $90 for a shower curtain feels excessive to me, so I compulsively checked pricing until it was marked down 25 percent. Turns out it was worth it. It’s a really nice, soft cotton; the check is the exact right size; and the color is an interesting red-earth brown.

I make and go through a lot of stock, soup, beans, and grains, but I also like to make large batches so I can freeze the excess for later use. I have had my eye on these silicone freezer trays for a couple of years now and am hopeful they will make dealing with frozen portions feel a lot less like a doomed Tetris game. I got the two-cup-size set, but they also make a very popular one-cup version.

The resident gamer in my household has been holding out for a non-PC, non-Facebook-owned VR headset (and didn’t find the PSVR 1 compelling enough to buy), and this new one from PlayStation seems promising.

I’ve worn the same pair of slim navy J.Crew chinos since college, and in February, I finally ripped a hole in the inner thigh that made them unwearable in the winter. Since those navy chinos are basically my uniform, I wanted to get a similar pair to wear until I got those fixed. I tried these on at the J.Crew Men’s Shop in Noho and loved the wider fit. The cotton is thicker than that of my previous pair, which gives them structure and a straight silhouette. I’ve worn them about three days a week since I bought them, and I don’t see that frequency declining anytime soon.

In February, I started upping my running mileage since I’m training for a half-marathon this spring, and I’ve been using these socks for speed workouts and tempo runs. I’ve been a huge fan of Tracksmith’s shorts (our favorite men’s pair for running), but I hadn’t tested other Tracksmith apparel before. The brand sent me some new pieces to try, including these socks. After my first week of using them, they were the socks I threw on most frequently, so I bought another pair. They’re a bit thin, so don’t expect lots of cushion — they’re best for speedier workouts. I’ve also used them on faster long runs where I’m pushing close to race pace.

As a Spurs fan, I was a bit embarrassed when I realized I only had one piece of apparel that supported my club. I also needed a scarf I could throw on and wear to the pub, so I chose this one because of the simple, clean design and the yellow accents (although I was worried one might confuse the yellow and blue for a Chelsea scarf — it’s much less noticeable in person). Since I bought it, the Spurs have won two in a row — I think we owe those wins to the scarf.