Latest news with #TalkingShop
NBC News
22-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- NBC News
Talking Shop with Blueland founder Sarah Paiji Yoo
Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. When it comes to following an eco-friendly lifestyle, Blueland founder Sarah Paiji Yoo doesn't just talk the talk. She's fully committed to making all parts of her family's life as 'green' as possible — in fact, she used to concoct her own toothpaste tablets using an at-home press. You don't necessarily need to do that, but if you're interested in reducing waste and cutting back on single-use plastic, Yoo recommends making small changes that add up long-term. 'The swaps are so sneaky,' says Yoo. For example, ditch paper towels and plastic bags and opt for reusable alternatives instead. Yoo tackles sustainable cleaning and body care using her Blueland products, but for everything else, she swears by a handful of essentials she's discovered over the years. I talked to Yoo about her all-time favorites below, including the water balloons that keep her kids entertained for hours and her go-to white button down. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up Mioceo Reusable Paper Towels 'These are a replacement for paper towels and napkins, and I use them every day, multiple times a day,' says Yoo. She even had one sitting next to her and held it up for me to see during our video interview. 'They're the first ones I found about six years ago and I've been using them ever since. We really don't use any paper towels or napkins around the house. Once you make the switch, it's just the new baseline.' Yoo keeps stacks of reusable paper towels in her bathrooms and kitchen so it's the first thing she and her family reach for. She also uses them as a replacement for wet wipes. 'A lot of parents carry wipes around, but all you need is a cloth that won't break down and a liquid like water.' Yoo throws the reusable paper towels in the washing machine with her laundry whenever she's doing a load. Maria McManus Cropped Oversized Shirt Maria McManus Cropped Oversized Shirt $380.00 Maria McManus 'I shop pre-owned and pre-loved when I can, even for my kids. If there's anything I need or see that I want, I always check The Real Real, Poshmark or eBay first. I'm always surprised by what I can find in really great condition at incredible prices,' says Yoo. 'It can be harder to find things like a crisp white button down that's pre-owned, so one of my favorite brands is Maria McManus. Her brand revolves around creating responsible, sustainable clothing and using fewer chemicals, less water and really minimizing waste during the production process. I find that all the details and materials she chooses to use are thoughtful, and she encourages customers to purchase less and wear their garments more.' 'Both of my sons play baseball, and gum and baseball go hand in hand. It's tough because I know the facts: gum is plastic, that's why it doesn't break down when you chew it over and over,' says Yoo. 'But there are brands out there like Simply Gum, which is petroleum-based and plastic free. Obviously [my son] still chews regular bubble gum at games, but we make sure that plastic-free gum is readily available at home.' Simply Gum is available in flavors like peppermint, cinnamon, coffee and maple. Soppycid Reusable Water Balloons 'When it's warm out, the kids use reusable water balloons, which keeps them busy for hours,' says Yoo. 'You fill them with water and they have a magnetic closure. The kids throw them at each other and throw them at things, and you're not wasting anything since the balloons aren't single-use.' These multicolored reusable water balloons are made from soft silicone and they come with a drawstring storage bag. Blueair Pure 511 Air Purifier 'I'm a big believer in using an air purifier, especially knowing what I know about microplastics in the air and synthetic fabrics that are in most rugs and clothes,' says Yoo. Her favorite models are from Blueair. She has the brand's Pure 511 for small rooms like her office, as well as the 211i Max for large rooms like bedrooms. 'It's so easy to replace the filter every six months or so. Some brands out there tell you to replace the filter every month or so, which is a lot,' she says. GIR Reusable Silicone Straws 'Reusable straws are something that's always been a staple in our home, especially with kids,' says Yoo. 'For many adults, a straw is not always necessary, but for kids, I find that they drink a lot more when they're using one.' She buys these silicone straws from GIR, which her family uses for hot and cold beverages. They come in a pack with a cleaning wand and a travel case. Stasher Bags You won't find single-use plastic bags in Yoo's home. Instead, she opts for reusable silicone bags from Stasher. Yoo fills them with almost anything that fits, especially snacks for her kids. The bags are oven-safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers topics like health, fitness, home and kitchen. To write this article, I interviewed Blueland founder Sarah Paiji Yoo about her favorite eco-friendly products ahead of Earth Day.
NBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Talking Shop with Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao
Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. When Jing Gao founded Fly By Jing in 2018, she had one goal: help people bring their favorite Asian flavors home. Prior to starting her company, she ran an underground supper club with a similar intention, and after developing a handful of sauce bases for recipes, she started bottling them to sell. One of those sauces might be in your refrigerator or pantry right now — I practically add Fly By Jing's Sichuan Chili Crisp to anything savory I eat, and use its Sichuan Gold chili oil when I really want to amp up a dish. Of course, Fly By Jing's products are staples in her kitchen, but Gao relies on many others when hosting or cooking dinner for her family. I talked to her about the kitchen essentials she can't live without, plus the food item she used to stuff her suitcase with before flying home from Singapore. 'Zojirushi is the Rolls Royce of rice cookers,' says Gao. 'I use it pretty much every day in my kitchen, and I have a small one because it's just me, my partner and my baby. You just press a button and it makes perfect rice every single time.' Beyond using it for rice, Gao also cooks congee in it. When she's using a wok to boil, steam, stir fry or braise ingredients, Gao's utensil of choice is long wood or bamboo cooking chopsticks. 'They give you more precision when you want to pick things up, and they're really good for separate noodles,' she says. 'Since they're so long, it prevents you from getting your hand all up in the steam and oil that might be splattering.' 'I have a lot of hot pot at home, and whenever I host, I love making it because it's the most simple yet impressive food that just looks beautiful,' says Gao. 'It's such a communal, wonderful experience where you're cooking and eating with friends, and it goes on for hours. It's a huge spread, but all you really did was wash some vegetables, chop some tofu and lay out pre-sliced meats from H-Mart or 99 Ranch.' 'With hot pot, you basically need some kind of a stove on your table,' says Gao. 'I love the Iwatani because you don't need to mess with cords since it runs off gas. You can put it in the middle of your table with your hot pot over it, and it's great for camping, too.' Diaspora Co. Aranya Black Pepper 'I swear by and only use Dispora's black pepper,' says Gao. 'It's the best black pepper and it will make you feel like every black pepper you've had in the past is awful. It's that good.' She also uses the brand's other single-origin, ethically-sourced spices, all of which are 'beautifully packaged' so Gao recommends gifting them to the home cook in your life. Toiro Donabe Steamer Mushi Nabe 'You can make hot pot in any type of pot, but I prefer a donabe, which is a Japanese clay vessel,' she says. 'They've been using it for thousands of years in China and Japan, and there's something about the clay that really holds the heat when you're cooking and amplifies the flavor.' Gao's favorite donabe is from Toiro, a Los Angeles-based brand. 'Toiro's artisan-crafted clay pots are just incredible and their donabe is such a versatile vessel. I cook hot pot in it, but I also use it to cook rice, steam vegetables and make Japanese curries.' Gao has this large donabe from Toiro that comes with a steamer attachment. She often makes soup or rice on the bottom, and salmon and vegetables on top in the steamer. 'It's all about convenience,' says Gao. 'I love making fresh rice, but sometimes, I just do not have the time,' says Gao. 'Having ready-to-eat rice in a bag that you just microwave for a minute is so easy.' She often uses Lundberg's 90-second rice to make fried rice, and adds vegetables and eggs to it. Irvins Salted Egg Salmon Skin Chip Crisps 'The most popular snack brand from Asia is Irvins, which is based in Singapore. I would literally go to Singapore and stop at the airport just to grab these chips,' says Gao. 'They're most famous for their salmon skin chips. Somehow, the way they fry it makes it super crispy and delicious, and they coat it in all kinds of flavors, like salted duck egg.' Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers topics like health, fitness, home and kitchen. I interviewed Jing Gao, founder of Fly By Jing and cookbook author, about her favorite products to cook with at home.
NBC News
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Talking Shop with ‘The Traitors' star Dorinda Medley
Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. Dorinda Medley, former 'The Real Housewives of New York City' cast member, knows a thing or two about being on the go. She famously splits her time between her Massacushetts estate, Blue Stone Manor, and Manhattan, and most recently, Scotland for season three of 'The Traitors.' Amid her frequent travels, she's become a pro at packing. Her number one tip? Keep your toiletry bag fully stocked with the essentials at all times. 'If I'm going away for a weekend, I just pick it up, put it in my bag and then it gets replenished when I get back,' she says. 'You never know when a hot man is going to call and say 'meet me at the airport in two hours.'' The exact contents of Medley's Anya Hindmarch toiletry bag changes slightly here and there, but for the most part, it's filled with products she's used for years. 'Whenever I'm with famous makeup artists, really great hairstylists and people that are really in the business, they pull out the old stuff,' she says. 'There's a reason why the oldies never disappear, and people who really know their craft use them.' Below, I talked with Medley about her travel essentials, plus her go-to perfume hack, the foundation 'all the old Housewives' cast members wear and more. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray The number one thing Medley says every woman should have in her toiletry bag is this hairspray, which she buys in large and mini sizes. 'It's been around forever, and it truly is the best because it has a great hold and smell' she says. But Medley doesn't just use the hairspray to get rid of frizz and set styles — she says it doubles as a fabric-saver. 'You can spray hairspray on the collar or sleeve of your clothing, inside and out, and it will keep any makeup from catching,' says Medley. It's an alternative to wearing a makeup protector net over your head — the hairspray coats fabric without damaging it to prevent foundation, blush and other cosmetics from transferring when you get dressed post-application. 'I'm famous for my reading glasses,' says Medley, who carries three pairs with her whenever she travels. 'Reading glasses are a great statement, and they show that you're confident and you don't care. Inevitably, if not every day, every other day, someone asks me about my eyeglasses.' She loves buying pairs from Ryan Simkhai because they're around $30 and come in various colors, shapes and styles. 'If I go on holiday, I'll sometimes pack a crazy colored reading glass to match my outfit,' says Medley. 'I treat it like a belt. If I travel and I'm going to wear a Missoni jumpsuit, I'll take out a purple velour pair of reading glasses at dinner.' Neutrogena makes Medley's favorite makeup remover wipes, which she prefers buying individually packaged so they fit in all her bags. 'They're in every bag I have — they're practically in my medic bag,' she says. 'You never know when your mascara is going to slip, and if you have a little whoopsie when you're out, you can quickly fix it.' She also uses these wipes to remove stains when she gets makeup on clothes. Vanderbeek Designs Wearable Art Gallery Robe 'I think you need to make your hotel room feel like home, especially when you're filming, so I always bring my own bathrobe,' says Medley. She prefers lightweight styles instead of heavy, fluffy ones because they're better for lounging. Medley recently bought herself and her daughter these robes from Vanderbeek Designs, which she says don't wrinkle since they're made from polyester and spandex. 'After a nice shower, you can put on your robe and it gives you a moment to walk around and feel good about yourself, put on your lotions and potions, and get your makeup on,' she says. Bringing her favorite candle is another way Medley makes her hotel room feel like home. Her top pick is Harlem Candle Company's Speakeasy Luxury Candle, which has notes of palo santo, incense and dark chocolate. 'It elevates wherever you are,' she says. 'This Laura Geller foundation has been around for 100 years — all the old Housewives have this, I promise you,' says Medley. She started wearing the brand's makeup when she moved to New York and its store opened on Third Avenue in the early 90s. 'They didn't have places to get your makeup done back then, so when Laura Geller opened, you could go get your makeup done if you had something really special, like a wedding,' says Medley. 'All of us had this foundation, and it's still out, and it's still amazing.' Beyond her mascara and foundation, Medley brings Makeup Forever's HD Skin All in One Harmony 1 Palette on trips. 'If you don't want to bring a lot of makeup, you can just bring your mascara, foundation, a couple great lip glosses, lots of sunscreen and this little kit. I use it for my eyes, lips and all over my face.' 'I hate when I go to hotels that have dry heat, and a lot of times, you can't open the windows,' says Medley. 'I always have a humidifier on at home to create moisture, so I travel with this little tiny thing because it's so easy to carry. You can literally just take a water bottle out of the refrigerator, tip it in the humidifier and it starts misting.' 'Mascara is a savior for everything,' says Medley. 'You could look terrible, you could be hungover, you could have no makeup on… but you slap on mascara and a light gloss, and you're good to go.' In her eyes, L'Oreal Paris' Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara is unbeatable, but she also keeps Maybelline's Great Lash Waterproof Mascara on hand, too. 'A lot of times, I put on my mascara, and after it's dry, I put the waterproof mascara over it from the middle to the tip because it creates a nice hold,' says Medley. 'It keeps mascara from moving or smudging, and if you're on holiday, you can swim in it.' Batiste Original Dry Shampoo Because she washes her hair once or twice a week, Medley says she's a big believer in dry shampoo. 'It can really bring your hair back to life,' she says, but you have to apply it correctly. She flips her head over, sprays her hair from roots to tips, lets it sit for five minutes and brushes it. Then, she styles her hair with a curling iron or blow dryer. Since Batiste's dry shampoo comes in a pack of three, Medley likes that she can keep extras at home to restock her toiletry bag when she runs out. ' Vicks Vapor Rub and Vaseline — you could fight a war with those two products,' says Medley. 'It's magic.' She loves that it's multipurpose, so it gets rid of dry skin anywhere on her body, and she adds a few drops of essential oils to the jelly so it becomes a perfume of sorts. Medley has also made what she calls a 'perfume balm' with Vaseline and essential oils. 'I get a bunch of the little containers, fill them with essential oils and freeze them,' she says. 'They become like a perfume balm that's great if you don't want to carry around a whole bottle of perfume.' Medley uses all of Sio Beauty's silicone patches, like those for the forehead, chest, lips and eyes. 'They're not cheap, but they're reusable, so if you take care of them, you can get your money's worth,' she says. 'I sleep with them, and as soon as I wake up in the morning, I do the ceremonious peeling off, hoping to God I look 29 again.' The patches help reduce the appearance of creases and expression lines in the skin to create a smoother overall look, according to the brand. Lumara Viso 'If you're going to invest in one thing, invest in a LED light mask,' says Medley, who never travels without hers. 'You'll get your money's worth if you think cumulatively, and as far as I'm concerned, it's as good as a facial.' Her go-to mask is this one from Lumara, and she has the matching panel, too, which she uses at home. Medley finds using the LED tools relaxing and rejuvenating, especially after busy days. 'Especially in beauty and health routines, you have to have stuff that's easy, efficient and well-packaged,' says Medley. 'If it's not, you're throwing it away. Her teeth whitener of choice is Snow's Diamond Series Whitening Strips, which she says actually stick to her teeth and don't cause tooth sensitivity. The strips slowly dissolve as you use them, so you can even wear them on the plane. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers topics like health, fitness, home and kitchen. I interviewed Dorinda Medley, former 'The Real Housewives of New York City' and 'Traitors' season 3 cast member, about the essential products she keeps in her toiletry bag.
