Happy Saturday! Can you believe that we’re just days away from our first house-iversary? It doesn’t feel like a year has passed since closing on June 20 and dedicating all summer evenings and weekends to cleaning and painting! I can’t say I miss those days, either! Last summer was exhausting and while we made a lot of progress before we moved in, and plenty of progress since then, we’ve been good about balancing work and fun this summer. And that’s exactly what we’re up to over the next couple of days. We’re starting to tackle another painting project that fell off the priority list last year (the upstairs hallway and the built-in linen closet), along with continuing to paint our doors and remove paint from the antique hardware. It’s tedious work, which is why bike rides and outdoor cocktails are a welcome break!

Weekend Links:

• The popular podcast S-Town is coming to the big screen.
• Here’s why expensive pasta is worth the extra cash.
• An artist reimagines noteworthy pieces as “melting masterpieces.”
• If you love the shape of this Cult Gaia bag, but think it’s ridiculously oversized (it is), check out this $35 clutch!
• Six finance experts share their advice for millennial women.
• There’s a startup company that’s looking to transform food crop waste into wearable fibers for clothing.
• “The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week” might be my new favorite podcast.
• A roundup of some of the best acne-fighting facial cleansers on the market.
• Proposed legislation in California would require that all public companies headquartered in the state to have at least one woman on their board.
• We’re adding Vietnamese banh mi street tacos to our meal planning next week. They look incredible!

Finds Under $50:

• I came home to this bag sitting on my doorstep the other day (c/o WhoWhatWear). I have yet to feature it, but it’s such a cute mini bucket bag for summer and I love the vibrant red hue. It’ll look adorable with all of your Fourth of July looks!
• Lace-up detailing adds interest to this swing dress.
• The batik-inspired print on this blouse is perfection.
• A stunning plant stand.
• Pair this red, white, and blue top with a pair of high-waist trousers.
• I picked up this long-wearing lipstick to try (in red, which is a weird departure from my signature pink) and they’re not exaggerating. This stuff doesn’t budge.

Earlier This Week:

• Style steals under $50 and under $100.
• The best full-price purchase I’ve made in a long time.
• Celebrating this guy’s 10th birthday.

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image via Unsplash

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Weekend Links:

• Kate Spade’s passing touched many of us this week. Her pieces were oftentimes our first foray into the designer fashion world, and what a fun and imaginative world it was! A couple of my favorite pieces of remembrance can be read here, here, and here. (As I was writing this, I just learned of Anthony Bourdain’s suicide. I’m stunned that we lost two creative greats this week.)
• According to a piece in the New York Times, “a majority of women, and nearly half of men, say it’s unacceptable to have dinner or drinks alone with someone of the opposite sex other than their spouse.” And it gets more shocking when it comes to business meetings. Read the study here.
• I have a crush on these studded sandals.
• Lydia looks so cute in these pics. (Isn’t her vintage bag absolutely perfect?)
• A blueberry-pecan galette looks like the ideal summer dessert.
• Bats take up residence in a Portuguese library to aid in book preservation.
• I just learned that Getty Images has a site to purchase framed art prints. Check out the Slim Aarons collection, for example.
• Decluttering? Don’t just put things in the donation pile without first seeing what they might be worth. Here are some of the items that hold resale value.
• Tips on how to feel confident in a bathing suit.
• A bit of patio inspiration to get your deck in tip top shape.

Finds Under $50:

• A butterfly top looks like a perfectly breezy way to beat the heat. (The colorway I like is actually $2 more, but I can’t resist those sherbet-like hues!)
• I love the knot detail on this pretty cami.
• Oversize beaded flower earrings? I’m in! (If you’re in the market for a more modern statement earring, check out these.)
• This dress looks a lot like the one I wore here.
• A sleeveless sweater is such a great wear-to-work option for summer.

Earlier This Week:

• The best dress to beat the heat in Austin.
• Crazy about the affordable net bag in this week’s “The Coveted.”
• Practical tips to prep your car for a summer road trip.
• Mini moments from last month.

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image via Unsplash

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