The 6 Best Purchases Our Editors Made In November

We’ve officially entered the busiest season of the year, so it’s really no surprise that our recent purchases are all about streamlining the way we dress, cook and take care of our skin. From easy wardrobe staples to a small appliance that does it all to a high-protein dinner hack for picky eaters, here’s what our team bought and loved this month.

Jenny Bird Monogram Necklace, $110

“For my birthday, I was gifted this beautiful gold-plated monogram necklace from Jenny Bird, with the initial ’e’ in honour of my late mom. I don’t wear much jewellery—and what I do is usually very, very minimal—so I love how simple and classic this necklace is. I also learned it’s a Team Chats favourite: senior editor Andréanne Dion has an ‘a’ of her own.” —Erica Lenti, deputy editor, features 

George Satin Skirt, $18

“No one is more surprised about this than me, but my most-worn item of the year is this $18 satin skirt from Walmart’s house brand George. I have it in black, and I wear it several times a week; it’s great for travel as it packs really small, and it can be dressed up or down with a change of top and a few accessories. I love it so much that I also picked it up in this beautiful merlot hue for winter.” —Andréanne Dion, senior editor, style, beauty and travel

KitchenAid Rice and Grain Cooker, $280

“I’ve been testing this grain cooker for over a year and it has become one of my most-used small appliances. It not only makes perfect rice, it also turns out perfect grains—quinoa, farro, bulgur, steel-cut oats, you name it. Plus, it does an amazing job at cooking dried beans—so amazing that I've almost stopped buying canned. And it’s a steamer to boot—I use it for ‘boiled’ eggs or to steam fish to serve over rice. You measure the rice, grains or beans into the machine and it weighs them and calculates the cooking time automatically, so it’s almost entirely hands-off. 

“The drawbacks are that it’s pricey, and the touch-screen and weighing function are a bit glitchy—I’ve had to dump everything out of the container when it won’t reset. But I’m gradually getting used to its quirks, and use it regularly despite them. If you eat a lot of grains, beans and rice, it’s worth the splurge.” —Gillian Grace, deputy editor, digital   

Chickapea Chickpea Pasta, $6

“While I do get the well-intentioned and science-backed desire people have to up their daily protein intake, I think most protein-ified food products, from latte mixes to cereal, are kind of gross. I don’t want protein in my coffee! I also resent the idea of giving up things like eggs because the ‘macros aren't great,’ or whatever kind of language health influencers are using about food and health these days. But when both my kids decided that they don’t like meat, or fish, or beans, I had to try something. Enter Chickapea, a Collingwood, Ont.-based company that manufactures dried pasta out of chickpea and pea flour. It’s got protein and fibre content, is made in Canada and, while it doesn’t taste exactly the same as semolina flour pasta, it’s pretty darn good. My kids have since changed their mind about chicken and beans, but this pasta is still in our weeknight dinner rotation. I consider that a win.” —Chantal Braganza, deputy editor, food  

Hale Derma Post-Procedure Mist, from $30

“I have eczema, so I'm very selective with the products I introduce into my routine. Hale Derma, a brand from Kitchener, Ont., is known for its Post-Procedure Mist, which uses hypochlorous acid to help hydrate and reduce redness and irritation. Hypochlorous acid is naturally found in the skin—it acts as a disinfectant, but it’s also incredibly gentle. Thanks to the ingredient’s anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, I haven't had any reactions to my active patches of eczema—that’s the best possible outcome for me, and the reason I will continue using it.” —Aimee Nishitoba, art director  

Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket, $600

“I got this jacket for an upcoming trip to Vietnam. I picked it because it’s light, packable and fully waterproof and windproof, so it will be perfect for the temperatures, which are expected to range from 30C to 2C. The long pit zips and 3-layer Gore-Tex will keep me dry without overheating, and it works as an all-season jacket when layered so I will get a ton of wear out of it beyond my vacation. My husband’s Arc’teryx jacket lasted more than 10 years but eventually delaminated from not being washed regularly. Still, the brand’s excellent customer service replaced it—proof that investing in quality gear really pays off.” —Sun Ngo, creative director