Lifestyle

Lately

January 21, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

Squealed over cute bottles of rum our friends brought back from Puerto Rico
Purchased a new purse (and gave Bacon the box, of course)
Enjoyed evening drinks in downtown Madison
Edited our Brussels photos and plan to post them soon
Freshened up the house with a bouquet of tulips
Paired geometric flowers with black and white stripes
Taken an impromptu road trip to Decorah
Wore a couple of Christmas gifts on repeat: a stunning necklace from Gerard Yosca and a wallet from my parents in the prettiest shade of blue

When I was little, my mom made a cross-stitch piece for my bedroom with the inscription “Each new year’s a chance to see your dreams become reality.” That piece is packed away with the rest of my childhood decor, but what a wonderful phrase to bring back at the dawn of a new year. Everyone seemed to be strong out of the gate with their 2015 resolutions, but I needed extra time to collect my thoughts about the new year.

TRAVEL SOMEWHERE NEW

This is a perennial goal of mine and one I think should grace everyone’s list. Last year, we were fortunate enough to travel to Belgium and visit Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges. We made a stop in Amsterdam (a repeat for me, but new to Dave) and took a Memorial Day roadtrip to Louisville, a city we visited a couple of years prior. I love the balance of revisiting favorites and mixing in new destinations during the year. So far, we’re talking about an April trip somewhere warm, like Puerto Rico, Mexico, or Florida, and a December trip to Europe. Visiting Christmas markets in Europe is a major bucket list item for me. It’d be incredible to check that off the to-do list this year! (However, I’m a little worried about how much holiday decor I’ll end up bringing home!)

LOSE WEIGHT

Ugh, I don’t know how the pounds crept up over the last year. When we got back from Belgium, I was 20 pounds lighter than I am now! All of the beer fests, eating out, and ordering pizza really did me in–and it’s not like my slowing metabolism is helping anything! I need to get back in shape. I’m armed with my FitBit, a Weight Watchers membership, and Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. (Any other FitBit users want to be friends on the app? My cousin joined and I’m surprised at how motivating it is to see her daily steps add up.)

FIND FASHION FUN AGAIN

The last few years have been about curating a wardrobe of quality basics. It was a fantastic learning experience that taught me to value quality clothing and forgo shopping at fast fashion stores. However, it put the emphasis so much on basics that I ignored the things about fashion that make me happiest: unexpected fabrics, big prints, and color. I want to have fun with clothes again, while still adhering to the principles I worked so hard to incorporate: quality over quantity and no impulse buys.

MIND MY MONEY

I say this every year, but adhering to a budget and saving money is becoming more and more important as I get older. I spent time last weekend working on a realistic budget that allows me to tuck away and invest a decent amount of money each month, while still allowing myself $250 per month for clothing. I’m going to scrap the six-month clothing budget that I was trying (it would have continued through February) and start fresh this year with a monthly budget. The six-month allowance was too tempting to go overboard at the beginning and I’d like to keep all budget-related items to a calendar year. I’ll allow any unused portion to roll over to the next month and, as always, a portion of blog revenue and eBay sales will be added to the budget. I’m also starting a 2015 Pinterest board of all new wardrobe additions, both gifted and purchased. I’ll share more about this in January’s budget recap in a few weeks.

WILDCARD RESOLUTIONS

Stop letting dishes pile up.

Lately

September 2, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

I bought this DVF purse on Gilt last year and it’s still one of my favorites. (I don’t feature it often here, though. I usually opt for a purse I can put my camera in after taking photos.) It’s now available online at Saks Off Fifth and I strongly recommend it if you’re in the market for a small bag. It fits a card case, an iPhone, beauty essentials, and a bulky set of keys with room to spare. Besides, the bright red is pretty fun. (My dress is no longer available, but this one is similar.)

I spent Labor Day weekend visiting my parents in Northern Wisconsin and took a detour past my childhood home. No one has purchased the house yet. My hometown is pretty economically depressed and buyers are more interested in an open concept home—not exactly a strength of a Victorian.

Finally purchased NARS’ “orgasm” blush after hearing great things about it for years. With sheer, buildable coverage, it’s just as good as everyone says. I also bought a charcoal mask that I’m thrilled with. It didn’t do much the first couple of times, but I woke up with noticeably softer skin and clearer pores after night three.

I’ve been layering dainty gems in lieu of a larger piece of jewelry. The hammered bar is by Gorjana and the gemstone piece is Kalan by Suzanne Kalan.

During our Labor Day visit, we headed up to Bayfield and took the ferry over to Lake Superior’s Madeline Island.

I bought my first fall item: this gorgeous floral skirt by Ted Baker. The quality is impeccable and it even has a small crinoline to keep the bottom full. It’s still a little too warm to wear it, but it makes the approaching cool weather easier to tolerate.