—The Mourning Report, by Caitlin Garvey: Another LGBTQ writer, Chicago-based Caitlin Garvey, writes about her mother and her own sexuality in The Mourning Report. The work details Garvey’s “grief journey,” in which she interviews the people involved in her mother’s dying process: a hospice nurse, a priest, an estate planner, a hairstylist and a funeral director. If she figured out how they could function after being so close to her mother’s death, then maybe she could learn how to navigate her own life. The Mourning Report asks what it means to “move on.”
—Delightful Pastries’ paczki (5927 W. Lawrence Ave.; http://DelightfulPastries.com): In case you don’t know, paczki are filled doughnuts, usually found in Polish cuisine. And when it comes to these treats (and other items), Delightful Pastries is one of the best known. This year’s flavors include apricot jelly, sea-salted caramel, plum butter, and even moonshine and lemon—among others. And don’t forget that Paczki Day is Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16.
—Hourglass Equilibrium skin products (http://HourglassCosmetics.com, http://nordstrom.com): These newest (vegan and cruelty-free) products are meant to establish balance to your skin—hence the name. Equilibrium Restoring Essence (doesn’t feel greasy at all and should be used to prime skin. A little of the Rebalancing Cream Cleanser goes a long way (and that’s meant in the best possible way) while the Intensive Hydrating Eye Balm instantly plumps that undereye area. Your skin will thank you.
—Mooala Keto Mylk (http://mooala.com): Mooala—which already had products such as almond, oat and even banana milk as well as creamers—now has Keto Mylk. Varieties include Original, Vanilla Creme, Cinnamon Roll and Chocolaty Chip—and they’re all delicious. Also, if you don’t want to get it online, you can find which stores are nearby.