A curated collection of quality reads, my personal writings and the best product recommendations for optimal living.

Juris Kristobans

Juris is a former celebrity chef based in London having cooked for Elton John, Prince Williams and David Beckham. Now he writes one of my favorite newsletters, Modern Different, where he helps you discover useful, beautiful products that can improve your home environment and help you live better. If you’re enjoying my newsletter, there’s no doubt you will enjoy his!

We recently collaborated with our newsletters and I asked him what his five product picks are to share with all of you. They are listed below.

  1. Byredo Mojave Ghost

In the beginning, I was pretty skeptical about the Byredo perfume because it is unisex. Now I love this approach because it gives me the freedom to wear what I like. There is no one to judge me. byredo.com

  1. Paynter Field Jacket

These field jackets are like no other. They drop jackets only three times per year, plus a couple of micro-batches made of truly unique fabrics — usually selling out in under 3 minutes. Following or subscribing is the only way to hear about new product drops. paynterjacket.com

  1. Hoka One One Clifton

As an enthusiastic runner, I've tested many running shoes from leading brands. These Hoka’s look clunky and awkward and for that reason, I've never considered them as good running shoes — until I ran 500 miles in them. They are super comfortable on long runs, incredibly light, and responsive. hokaoneone.com

  1. Form Performance Protein

Performance's tiramisu flavor is the perfect post-workout vegan protein powder. It has 30g of organic pea, brown rice, and hemp proteins. It tastes great with just water, but I like to add almond milk and banana. It helps me build muscle and recover faster after long runs. formnutrition.com

  1. Monocole Magazine

Each issue of the magazine focuses on business, culture, design, and fashion. I can guarantee that by reading Monocle, you will become a more interesting person. I enjoy a good mix of thoughtful text, beautiful pictures, and clever illustrations. monocle.com