The Idle Talk, Busy Mind Semi-Official Gift Guide

This issue is specifically for my girls who have really good taste, know how to shop, and aren’t afraid of self-indulgence.

Nov 24, 2024

Hello! Happy Sunday!

We’re entering peak gift guide season. Every brand and influencer is tossing their ideas into the ring, and Substack has become the unofficial mecca of recommendations. Unfortunately, I am not immune to the urge.

This gift guide, however, is different. I’m not here to tell you what to buy for your hard-to-shop-for aunt or that father-in-law who swears by his grill. No. This guide is about you—or, let’s be honest, me, but also you. It’s a list of things I’ve loved, lusted after, and nearly added to my cart at least six times.

Before we dive in, two things worth mentioning:

I’m running a survey on loneliness, connection, and third spaces in Gen Z and Millennial culture. It’s anonymous, takes less than 5 minutes, and your answers could (anonymously!) be featured in the next newsletter. Fill it out here.
Océanne in Crocker Park has opened their doors for business. My friend, Shellby, just started working there and Miss Mawma was busy working the permanent jewelry station like the star she is. The new space is beautiful and massive, and Océanne’s small hoop earrings are a staple in my life. Go see Shellby, then treat yourself to a margarita flatbread at Leo’s Italian Social afterward.

Now to the gifting…

Cassidy’s Semi-Official Gift Guide: For You, Not Them

Here’s the curated, not-so-official ITBM gift guide. Buy these things for yourself and maybe other people. If you want.

Things I’ve Bought (or am About to Buy):

Loftie Alarm Clock. I already bought this, so you little punks can’t sell it out.
Glossier Rêve perfume. That little maroon bottle is IT.
Weighted blanket. I actually don’t know which one I want to get, so if you have recommendations, let me know!
Moon Juice Cosmic Cocoa. This stuff is soooo good. I consider it a winter essential. Hot chocolate, but wellness-y.
The Vitruvi Cloud Humidifier. Like skincare for your air.
Make Movies Shorter Hat. Self Explanatory.

If I had more money and a careless mind, I would buy:

Bamboo sheets - Cooling, luxurious, and probably life-changing.
This dreamy duvet from Happy Fluffy Cloud
This is evidently one of the better weighted blankets, but I refuse to pay $200+ for a blanket.
Comme Si Pajama Set. This is just the shirt, the pants are separate.
Bartholomew Bear. Just cute.

Lexxola The Ida in Burnt Tort AND Black
Sporty & Rich Wishlist:
- This cashmere hoodie and pant set
- This sexy, perfectly cropped wool turtleneck. I have chills looking at it omg.
- This puffer with the most awesome funnel neck ever.
Acne Studios Mohair Scarf.
A vintage bear sweater from Ralph Lauren.
Tods Leather Loafers. I’m not corporate, but I could be for these.
Regenerative Wool Head Scarf. Me pretending to be Syd from The Bear.

This very chic and very cool burn bag from Edie Parker. The red croc specifically is amaze.
The Rimowa aluminum phone case. $180 for a phone case is absurd, but it’s beautiful, so I want it.
Very large candle from Diptyque. I just like the color.
Porsche Lego Set. Very cool.

If it were up to me, my whole kitchen and dining room would consist of items exclusively from the Gohar brand. These are the items I’m lusting over:

Bean Candle Holder
Baby Spoon III. Not necessary at all. But, also designed by Elsa Peretti, so maybe necessary.
Dessert Coupe. Imagine eating a scoop of ice cream with your baby spoon III in this.
Personalized Host Gloves. This actually could be a good gift for the hostess in your life.

C’est tout! If you buy any of these, please report back. Better yet, send me photos so I can live vicariously through your good decisions—or just buy me something. (Kidding. Kind of.)

Lunch Break

Stuff I’m consuming, noticing, and observing on my lunch break.

Proof this Newsletter can be Trusted: In ITBM #002, I mentioned that MGK and Jon Pinney are taking over Shooters on the Water. Here’s the official update:
- It’s reopening as Shooters Yacht Club (very Fort Lauderdale) in summer 2025.
- TurnDev, a real estate venture with Pinney and CrossCountry Mortgages’s Ron Leonhardt Jr., is leading the renovation. This is the same group redoing the police HQ in the ArtCraft building, which I know has received much pushback in previous years.
- Names like Pat D’Onofrio (Velvet Tango Room) and Andrew Wilber (KJK) are rumored to be involved.
Rock and Roll Land: Bedrock is proposing a 17-story music venue/hotel combo called Rock and Roll Land. Here’s where I’m at:
- Cleveland’s charm is its chaos—sports, music, arts all mixed together. Turning it into “music Vegas” feels like a bad idea, but maybe I’ll be proven wrong.
- Also: Rock and Roll Land sounds like the name of a Cedar Point neighborhood.
Really pretty & peaceful-looking house selling in Berea if anyone has a spare $1 mil. to spend.

I’m really excited about the Irishtown Bend Park re-design renderings.
The KIA Boys: This might be too real for this newsletter, but here we go. Blaming 14-year-olds for car theft sprees is shortsighted and lazy. These kids need resources, community, and support—not just punishment. I’d also like to remind everyone that a key point from Cleveland’s recent State of the Youth Forum was the lack of parental love and care in many households. Fix the underlying issues, and maybe we’ll fix the problem.
The advice section of Cleveland.com is unhinged, preposterous, and oddly very drama??? I love it.