In search of the finer things in life — because the finest ones still cost too much.

Worth the Wait

Put in the time and reap the rewards of these three buys.

Petra Canan Trudell

Sep 19

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Elizabeth Tower, as seen from the River Thames.

The first time I visited London in 2018, the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, was covered in scaffolding. Rising to the top of the London Eye, I was crushed to see this famous landmark obscured by tarps. I had dreamt of moving to London for a decade by that point, with a few false starts behind me. Once the newly refurbished tower was unveiled this year and I saw it in all its sparkling glory for the first time, it reminded me that some things—and some dreams—are worth the wait.

The three products in this week’s edition also require a bit of a time commitment to reach their full potential. But if you’re up for it, you won’t be disappointed.

Patience is truly a virtue.

1. UKLASH Ukbrow Eyebrow Serum (£45)

uklash

A post shared by UKLASH® Lash & Brow Enhancers (@uklash)

Every year of your life brings new surprises when it comes to your appearance. In my 35th year, my eyebrows started thinning. I don’t know what triggered it, but it seemed like I woke up one day and the ends were disappearing. After a frantic search, I found this serum from UKLASH that had amazing reviews, yet was half the price of more well-known brands. The key ingredients are hyaluronic acid, biotin peptide, myristoyl pentapeptide-17 and panthenol. I saw my brows getting thicker in about two weeks. Now, this serum is a staple of my nighttime beauty routine to keep them full.

2. Frye Melissa Chelsea Boot ($298)

thefryecompany

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A pair of leather (or faux leather) boots is a must for autumn. They complete any outfit with ease and will last for years if cared for properly. The first pair of pricier boots I ever owned were from The Frye Company, which was founded in 1863 in Marlboro, Massachusetts, by John A. Frye. I still have them. Leather boots can take some serious time (and ouchies) to break in, but once you do, they’re sure to become the pair of shoes you reach for most days. If you’re not sure what type to invest in, you can’t go wrong with a classic Chelsea boot, a neutral style of the shoe world.

3. Patch Rick Corn Plant (£9 and up)

patchplants

A post shared by Patch 🌱 (@patchplants)

When our corn plant from Patch was first delivered, I wasn’t sure about it. It looked a bit odd (we have the largest size on the left) and I wasn’t sure how to care for it. Almost two years later, it’s my favorite plant in our home. Resembling a trio of palm trees, it’s far easier to care for than many other houseplant varieties and is happy in sunny or shady spots with little watering. This year’s heatwave did scorch some of the leaves, so I’ll find a spot in our new place with less direct sunlight. I also just ordered another one of these pots to re-pot “Rick” this weekend.

Something to think about …

hispanic_federation

A post shared by Hispanic Federation (@hispanic_federation)

It’s been five years since Hurricane Maria caused mass devastation in Puerto Rico. Now, Hurricane Fiona has knocked out power for the entire island. If you want to support continuing recovery efforts, the Hispanic Federation is a great place to start.

Last week on MIDDI …

MIDDI

A Different View

There is never just one way to do something. As the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way. But I say, where there’s a great design, there’s a way. (It may not rhyme anymore, but you get the idea.) Smart design can help you tackle a nagging issue, try out a new style or inspire you to look at things differently…