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Weekend Links

May 4, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Notting Hill, London

Doesn’t this look like it was taken in Charleston? Nope, Notting Hill in London. I think it’s crazy that they get so much water and such mild temperatures that variations of tropical foliage can thrive. It was definitely one of the most surprising things I discovered in the United Kingdom! (I’ll have more photos up soon, along with an itinerary of what we did and a travel guide.) Plant life aside, happy weekend! We delightfully have no plans this weekend and are hoping to go on a few bike rides, work around the house, enjoy home-cooked meals, and maybe even break out the grill!

Weekend Links:

  • It’s Kentucky Derby weekend! Here’s a ranking of this year’s horses based on name alone.
  • Obviously, you’ll have to perfect your mint julep skills before Saturday. (And if you feel like throwing a last-minute soiree for the most exciting two minutes in sports, take a look at this guide.)
  • Tory Burch’s favorite scent-related memories.
  • Allie’s roundup of Nashville’s most Instagrammable spots makes me want to go back! (You can read my Nashville guide here.)
  • I just ordered this dress to try. The shape is typically a flattering one for me, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. (I’ve lost 13 pounds since Thanksgiving, so I’m in this weird transitional period with some of my fitted items.)
  • High school dress codes are unbelievably outdated and sexist.
  • The story behind Madonna’s slip dress in “Like a Prayer.”
  • If you don’t already have wanderlust, this list of the world’s most colorful places is sure to have you aching to book a flight.
  • How many flowers go into a bottle of Chanel No. 5?
  • The Boy Scouts of America will be dropping the word “boy” as they welcome girls to scouting next year. I was a Girl Scout from first through 12th grade, but I think it’s great that the Boy Scouts are forming a co-ed scouting opportunity.

Finds Under $50:

  • This is the best deal I’ve found on a woven tote bag yet, and there’s free shipping through the end of today!
  • Pair this beach dress with strappy sandals and you have a dinner-ready outfit on your next excursion. (Use code SUNNY for 40% off.)
  • I bought this dress last week and I absolutely adore it. It reminds me of something you’d find at Anthro. (I’m going to have the ruffled sleeves removed.)
  • We’ve had a lot of rain lately, making an umbrella my daily accessory! I love the preppy stripes on this one.
  • This is such a cute little gingham top!

Earlier This Week:

  • I’m back on a sartorial budget.
  • April’s mini moments.
  • Sharing the pros and cons of the Paravel backpack I used in London.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, Weekend Links

Mini Moments: April 2018

May 1, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Mini Moments: April 2018

It’s officially my birthday month! And, I’m happy to report that a couple of retailers share my enthusiasm for a month-long celebration. Yesterday, I came home to birthday discounts from Tory Burch and West Elm. I’m kind of disenchanted with West Elm after the light fixture fiasco,* but I’m very excited about the Tory Burch gift. Apparently I’ve spent enough over the years to receive a $50 coupon for my birthday month. I’ve had my eye on this scarf and it seems like a good opportunity to add it to my collection.

I feel like a broken record lately, but this month is going to be all about house projects. We purchased some deck furniture last weekend: this bench with these cushions (no one wants to burn their thighs on metal in the summer) and these chairs. They look fantastic, but definitely make the unpainted deck look rough around the edges! I’d like to paint the railings this month and stain the floor. We’re also looking into a few yard projects, along with a few interior to-dos that have fallen off the radar in the winter (painting doors, continuing to replace light fixtures, etc.). May won’t be all about work, however! We have a trip to Austin scheduled at the end of the month to celebrate my 35th birthday. (Where has the time gone?!) Let me know if there’s anything I need to add to my must-visit list!

Lest you think things are just sunshine and rainbows over here, they’re not. Haha. I had an ear infection last week and now I have an unexplained rash on my legs (my doctor said to just take an antihistamine and see if that works — great), and both our washer and dryer broke in the middle of washing our only set of king sheets Sunday night. But, there’s no sense in dwelling on the lame stuff. Here are my favorite mini moments from April.

Mini Moments (top to bottom, left to right):

  • When we moved in last year, we took the blades off of the 1980s ceiling fans so that we could paint around them. We didn’t bother putting the blades back on because they were awful, so we’ve been rocking our signature home aesthetic: the bladeless fan light fixture. I’m insanely picky about the light fixtures we purchase (even though just about anything is better than what we had) and I finally replaced the one in our office with this mid-century modern fixture. The globe is a bear to get on and off, but I only paid $29 and the LED bulb inside should last years.
  • I’m never going to be the person who takes obnoxious selfies with the palace guards, but I will take a pic of them on their own. (I’m sure they hate it.)
  • If you didn’t ‘gram your flight, did it really happen?
  • My favorite part about London was the number of flowers at every turn! There were floral arrangements like this one at Covent Garden, blossoms on trees, and gardens filled with tulips and daffodils.
  • I was so proud of myself for packing lightly for our trip. I even had extra space in my suitcase for the return flight despite buying a merino wool throw blanket that took up a substantial amount of room. You can see a list of everything I wore here.
  • Notting Hill was every bit as charming as you’d expect.
  • I just love these wallet-friendly slides from Old Navy. Now if it would just be warm enough for sandals!
  • Spotting signs of spring in London near St. Paul’s Cathedral.
  • Post-work cocktails with one of my coworkers.

More Mini Moments: January, February, March

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* Short version: I bought a light fixture, it arrived in two boxes, it was damaged, and it took weeks for the company to send a second return label for the second box despite calling and emailing numerous times. The replacement fixture was also damaged.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: mini moments

Weekend Links

April 27, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Notting Hill

This week was an adventure on the home front. You may recall earlier this week when I mentioned that we reached out to our electrician for help with installing our bedroom ceiling fan because the existing electrical box didn’t look like it’d support the weight. As it turns out, we’re missing the required ground wire and installing an appropriate electrical box with a ground came to $320, which doesn’t include the cost of installing the fan and comes with some risk of damaging the drywall. So, I think we’re going to pivot and just go with a light fixture and a vintage-inspired tabletop fan on our dresser. It’s not at all what I wanted, but it’s much more cost effective. Plus, this is our first full summer in the house and there’s a chance we won’t even need a fan with our home’s air conditioning.

Then, as I mentioned on Instagram stories, we had four trees removed because they were all infected with emerald ash borer and were dying. It’s definitely a change! The trees were next to our house and offered a lot of shade in our bedroom and office, so it’s a lot more sunny in those rooms in the morning. On the downside, the fourth tree was next to our deck. I was originally pretty excited to get rid of that one since insects would randomly fall out of it while we’re cocktailing outside (ew), but I didn’t realize how much privacy it added. We’re looking at adding some lattice work to the deck to give ourselves a privacy wall from our neighbor. I’ll take photos and do an update on that as we spiff things up for summer. I’m hoping to get started on that project this weekend (or at least draft up plans and choose paint colors and furniture), along with cleaning up our yard, and possibly adding a flower bed next to the garage.

Weekend Links:

  • A few months ago, Dave suggested that we plan a trip to Japan. It’s not exactly the cheapest place to fly to, so I’m not sure when we’ll actually go, but in the meantime I’m bookmarking travel tips and itineraries like this one for Osaka.
  • These white and brass hoops are stunning.
  • What you should really do with your tax return.
  • Have you switched to the new Gmail yet? Here’s what you can expect.
  • Add a lace detail to a pair of pumps with this easy DIY.
  • Your burning cheese-related questions are answered! How long can you leave cheese sit out? And, can you just cut mold off cheese and still eat it?
  • A comprehensive history of royal wedding gossip.
  • Tips for saving money when you don’t have a lot of cash to spare.
  • I’m really into these sandals.
  • How your favorite retailers curate their playlists.

Finds Under $50:

  • These resin earrings are great for work and weekend.
  • Satin criss-cross sandals.
  • Loving the pattern on this caftan dress.
  • My favorite under-$50 dress now comes in navy!
  • Still on the lookout for the perfect straw tote? How about this one?
  • This tunic-style dress is adorable.

Earlier This Week:

  • Wearing my new $32 jumpsuit.
  • The chambray dress in this week’s “The Coveted” is topping my wish list.
  • Everything I wore in London.

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, Weekend Links

Hello Again + Weekend Links

April 20, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Tower Bridge in London

Hello! We arrived back in the United States on Monday and spent the night in Chicago before heading to Madison early Tuesday morning. The trip was wonderful (despite being sick for the first three days of it) and I have so many photos to share, along with what we did, what I’d recommend, and tips for traveling to London. (Side note: the Paravel backpack I purchased late last year was the best travel bag. I’m planning to do a full review now that I’ve actually taken it on a trip.) As expected, this week was all about getting settled, unpacked, and back into the groove at work. And, unexpectedly, shoveling out from a mid-April snowstorm. After getting a taste of spring in the U.K., I’m even more anxious for warmer weather to finally arrive!

Weekend Links:

  • In response to the incident in Philadelphia, Starbucks is closing 8,000 stores on May 29 for anti-racism training. I urge you to take Harvard’s implicit bias tests for an eye-opening look at your own subconscious beliefs. You might be embarrassed about the results, but it’s a valuable way to make you aware of your own biases so you can work to change your knee-jerk response to situations.
  • A peek into the history of Hanky Panky, which has been making colorful underpinnings in the U.S.A. since 1977.
  • This is the woven handbag I want for spring.
  • An interesting opinion piece on why it’s perfectly fine that everyone is insecure.
  • I think I need an indoor citrus tree.
  • A list of the most Instagrammable spots in New York City.
  • This cucumber salad looks like the perfect warm-weather side dish.
  • I pre-ordered Orlando’s book and it finally arrived this week. I’m only partway through, but it’s hilarious! I’ve read so many sections aloud to Dave, to the point where he’s getting a little annoyed with me.
  • Why a cashmere sweater can cost anywhere from $30 to $2,000.
  • Take a look back at some of the Met Gala’s most incredible interiors.

Finds Under $50:

  • A pretty pair of pineapple earrings. (If pineapples aren’t your thing, how about watermelon slices?)
  • Bon voyage.
  • I’m loving the preppy navy and red stripes on this cami.
  • A contemporary print adds modern appeal to this pretty sundress.
  • I can vouch that this cream is amazing for your bikini line.
  • Lucite is such a big trend for spring. These earrings are a great way to try the trend on a budget. (I snagged a long Lucite tassel necklace in London that I’m excited to debut.)
  • This striped tank top is adorable with the ruffled edge and bow detailing on the back.

Earlier This Week:

  • Not much, admittedly, but you can peek at a few London snapshots here.

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Let’s keep in touch!  Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Weekend Guide Tagged With: Weekend Links

Weekend Links + London Calling

April 7, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Bon Voyage: London

By the time you read this, we’ll be in London! I know I’ve been talking about our trip a lot, but I’m so excited to get away for our first vacation in over a year. I hope you’ll follow along on Instagram at @bedknobsandbaubles! Cheerio!

Weekend Links:

  • 15 ways to save money on a home renovation.
  • I never thought to spray paint wicker furniture. What a great way to freshen up a patio set!
  • Reviews of popular drugstore “gel” nail polishes.
  • This take on a spicy margarita pairs Cholula hot sauce with pineapple juice and adds a smokey twist.
  • 22 design rules to follow for your living room.
  • There are two things on my wish list right now: this floral blouse and this gold pendant.
  • Beauty industry professionals dish on what products they think are scams.
  • The resale market is expected to surpass fast fashion in 10 years.
  • Sometimes a Starbucks breakfast is unavoidable. Here are the healthiest things to order.

Finds Under $50:

  • Pair this charming straw bag with your most nautical looks.
  • Linen pull-on shorts look comfortable for lazy summer days.
  • Kelly green stripes make this tie-shoulder dress perfect for spring!
  • And if you can’t get enough green stripes, take a look at this top.
  • Flower hoop earrings are so pretty!

Earlier This Week:

  • All but one of this week’s most coveted items are under $85.
  • Giving our home a springtime refresh with Cottage & Bungalow.
  • The cutest spring sandals.

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image via Unsplash

Let’s keep in touch!  Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: Weekend Links

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Hello!


Welcome! My name is Jessica Hamm and I'm a Madison-based style blogger, jewelry addict, travel lover, and first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house. Follow along for personal style, travel, and lifestyle content.

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Such a cute dress, and it’s only $50!

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I’m in love with the shape of this side table.

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