On My Mind: Salomon Alternatives and Winter Skirts

"Strategist Brain" is a series in which staffers share the stores they've stopped into, stuff they've spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they've worked on. You'll hear from a different writer every week.

My boyfriend and I moved in mid-October and have made a real effort to make our new home feel a little more grown-up. I have a whole wish list dedicated to this endeavor, but two swaps have made a big difference: a new couch and a new duvet cover and pillowcases. Both completely changed the state of our living room and bedroom in an instant. I replaced our old black leather Ikea Kivik with this new Crate & Barrel couch , which looks cozier and conveniently has a pullout mattress for guests. (We can finally retire the air mattress.) And during our Ikea trip this weekend, I was really taken with the quality of these striped sheets. I was initially drawn in by their classic, almost European linen look and was later surprised that they're 100 percent cotton, soft, and thick.

While unpacking, I rediscovered this little soap dish I've had boxed up for about a year. It fits in the new shower perfectly and is from a Houston-based company that makes all its home goods by hand. (If you're one of my friends or family members reading this, don't be surprised if something from Pretti.cool ends up in your stocking this year.)

Slashop Reversible Comfort Sofa / Couch Cover now 25% off I'm trying my best to keep our new sofa in pristine condition for as long as possible — a tough task with a dog that loves couch naps when no one's home. So I'm also on the hunt for a nice-looking sofa cover. Luckily, there are plenty of options that don't involve plastic-wrapping my furniture. Here's one I'm leaning toward.

I've also been thinking a lot about how to store my boxes of books. I narrowed it down to shelving behind the couch, but I'm still deciding on the right kind. Ikea's Kallax and Billy bookcases are easy, affordable options, and I found this splurgy ladder-shelf situation. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

I'm gearing up for some upcoming hiking trips, which, to me, is an opportunity for new shoes. I spotted the brand Flower Mountain at Leif in Brooklyn a few months back and have been thinking about it ever since. I was truly delighted to find that it makes very fun Salomon alternatives.

I have far too many jeans in my wardrobe and not enough midi skirts. I'm trying to expand outside of my plain silk options, so I've started bookmarking ones I see on Substack, TikTok, and Instagram. I've been really into skirts that are bunched and gathered in interesting ways, like these.

Any time I go to the grocery store, I can't help but pick up a new dog toy. It's hit-or-miss with my very picky dog, but this time around, I struck gold. Here's the latest squeaky toy I got for Maggie.