BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

On the Right Foot: Adding Masks to Old Masters Paintings, A Getaway for Home Alone Fans, DIY Eggnog & More!

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Link Roundup
image via Unsplash

A gorgeous — and practical — bag that’d be great for work if we make our way back to offices next year!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer really is the worst Christmas special.

Reconsider using an essential oil diffuser if you have a cat.

Cranberry margaritas would be a fun holiday drink this week! (We’re on a strict lockdown so we can see immediate family over the holidays, otherwise I’d run out to buy ingredients for this!)

You can stay in the McCallister’s master bedroom.

I’m a fan of ceramics and came across the work of Liza Shoenfeld on Instagram recently. Love!

One of our friends surprised us with a Flaviar tasting box. It’s such a great gift idea! While the deadline for Christmas gifting has passed, keep it in mind for upcoming birthdays or Valentine’s Day.

Why we need a BLM activist in Congress.

While I love white linen sheets, I’m tempted to snag this black gingham set.

How to make eggnog. I’m lactose-intolerant, so I love that this recipe is flexible to incorporate the milk alternative of your choice.

German painter Volker Hermes is adding masks to famous Old Masters paintings. See more on his Instagram feed.

Why Instagrammable cookware is having a moment. (My hesitation with these cookware startups is whether or not the items are actually quality pieces — or just considered quality pieces by novice cooks doing it for the affiliate money. I may not talk about cooking much on the blog, but I am pretty good at it and I enjoy a piece of high-quality cookware.)

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Things I Bought & Loved in December

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With the holidays fast approaching and shipping deadlines coming up this week, I realized that I’m done making personal purchases for 2020 and wanted to share this month’s favorites with you on the earlier side!

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • H&M long v-neck dress in blue/swan – Truth be told, I had forgotten I ordered this a few weeks ago since it took nearly four weeks to arrive after placing my order! I wanted something that was a bit dressier for WFH days, but was still comfortable and this dress hit the mark. I also love it with slip-on sneakers and chunky jewelry, which is how I intend to wear it come spring. You’ll want to go down a size. I’d normally take a medium in a dress like this, but opted for a small based on the reviews. The material is a bit stretchy and forgiving, and it’s a heavier-weight fabric that seems like it’ll hold up well.
  • Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Explore Hiker Boot – I needed a pair of boots that were more practical than my wedge Ugg boots that I wore en route to work with tights and dresses when offices were a thing. (This is the closest I found; mine don’t have hardware.) I snagged these Cole Haan boots during their Black Friday weekend sale. They’re very comfortable and seem well made. I bought my regular size 7, which is good with a pair of thin socks, but might be too tight with anything thicker for an extended period of time. It’ll be alright, though, since the boot itself is thick and well-insulated.
  • J.Crew ‘Chateau’ puffer jacket with PrimaLoft in black – I never really loved my old black puffer coat and thought I’d upgrade it this year, knowing that our gatherings with friends will be outside on snowy patios this winter! This one is true to size and I love that it has adjustable, waist-cinching cords to give it some shape. It also has snaps on the side hem if you need a little bit more room in the hips (a plus, since the coat doesn’t have a two-way zipper).
  • Tory Burch face masks – I have a set of Tory Burch masks from earlier in the pandemic and they’re my favorite. The size is good, they’re adjustable, and they have a metal insert to fit the mask over your nose. I figured I’d get ready for another pandemic spring and summer with florals.
  • Madewell crepe square-neck, puff-sleeve top – This is such a sweet, romantic top! It fits true-to-size and it’s a chic update to your Zoom-call wardrobe.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Brightech ‘Luna’ floor lamp – Now that it’s winter, our at-home office feels too dim in the late afternoon. The room only has a ceiling light so I had been looking for a floor lamp to supplement it. I had my eye on this lamp from Article, but kept going back and forth because I didn’t want to pay for shipping, and eventually came across this dupe. It took about two weeks to arrive and I absolutely adore it! It’s probably not as well made as the Article one since the stem does come in separate pieces that get screwed together, but it’s beautiful and sturdy. The shade is a frosted glass and while I’d prefer an opal glass, the price point makes up for it!

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On the Right Foot: Cheerful Bathroom Tile, Pecan Pie, Earrings You’ll Love & More!

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Link Roundup
photo via Unsplash

Yesterday was Dave’s birthday and I made my first bourbon pecan pie to celebrate! I used this recipe with a few adjustments after reading the comments: reduced the sugar to a half cup using only light brown sugar, increased the pecans by approximately a half cup, and increased the bourbon by a tablespoon. I used a classic Pyrex pie plate and had a bit of the mixture leftover that didn’t fit in the plate, so I just disposed of it. It turned out wonderfully!

I love these asymmetrical flower earrings!

Inspired by this house tour.

If you live in Madison, try Ahan! It’s so good! We did contactless delivery last week and I’m still daydreaming about the red curry udon noodles.

Did you know that platypuses glow under black light?

The most cheerful bathroom tile!

Are you watching Jenna Lyons’ new show?

Since this won’t arrive before Christmas, start the new year on the right foot by upping your WFM style in this maxi dress. (I actually ordered it back in November and it just arrived today. It’s incredibly flattering, but you’ll need to go down a size.)

What the pandemic Christmas of 1918 looked like.

A roundup of 27 rice bowls to add to your meal plan.

I’m trying to get back into shape after putting on some weight this year and so far I’m enjoying this yoga series.

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25 Holiday Gift Ideas

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Hearth & Hand With Magnolia Garland

I’m knee-deep in Internet scouring to finish holiday shopping for my family and items to put on my own wish list. With shipping delays, I’m not sure I’ll have time to create a couple of gift guides this year, so I thought I’d share 25 items I spotted while shopping that might be perfect for your own gift-giving or wish-listing this year!

  1. For sentimental home chefs, a custom tea towel printed with a handwritten recipe card.
  2. A Yeti tumbler or mug is a gift that’ll please just about everyone on your list.
  3. This is a great option for keeping tech accessories and cords organized while traveling.
  4. For the one who loves lowkey hosting, a fuss-free cookbook for post-COVID gatherings.
  5. Pretty face masks in a selection of springtime florals since we’ll be wearing masks for the better part of next year.
  6. I’ve waxed poetic about these brass coasters before, but that’s because they really are lovely and make for a great unisex gift. Prefer monogramming things? Right this way.
  7. A book of festive cocktails and a pair of pretty glasses to go with it.
  8. I know that scarves tend to be a last-minute, impersonal gift idea, but this black check one is one of my favorites!
  9. A beautiful cheese board isn’t necessarily something they’d think to buy themselves.
  10. A colorful puzzle.
  11. For those who love to cook, a gift box of specialty spices. (If you’d just like a single to use as a stocking stuffer, I love the peri peri seasoning. Their flat packs ship free.)
  12. Cashmere sweaters for her and him. (Dave really likes the cashmere sweaters from Lands’ End.)
  13. This paperweight is quirky, yet classic and makes me exceptionally happy.
  14. Bobbleheads are fun and quirky dolls that make a lovely gift for every occasion. Whether your daughter is graduating or you’re getting married, a custom bobblehead is a great way to mark the momentous occasion. Lucky Bobbleheads specializes in sculpting custom bobbleheads. We make bobbleheads for various themes, including weddings, graduation, birthdays, promotions, sports, anniversaries, and so on. .
  15. An essential oil diffuser that’s also well designed.
  16. I asked for a monogrammed jewelry travel case this year. (I prefer the small one since I don’t travel with too many pieces.)
  17. Perfect their at-home steak game with a sous vide.
  18. For the one resolving to get fit during quarantine, a set of weighted bangles.
  19. This vanity case!
  20. A stunning clay serving dish.
  21. We love our Instax photo printer. Add some film to the gift so they can start printing memories right away. (This would also make a great gift for a teen or college student!)
  22. A set of espresso mugs for the coffee-obsessed.
  23. This mother-of-pearl pendant necklace is gorgeous. There’s also a smaller one with a shorter chain.
  24. Refresh their linen closet with a set of these bath towels. My mom gifted us a set last year in pewter and I’ve never loved a towel more!
  25. A beautiful set of steak knives.

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On the Right Foot: Home Decor and Mental Health, Starting an Art Collection, the Best Lounge Shorts & More!

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I definitely didn’t expect to take a weeklong hiatus, but things have been busy around here with holiday prep and shopping! We’re self-quarantining beginning this Thursday in order to be able to see Dave’s immediate family and my parents for the holidays. (Obviously, they’re also quarantining to make this happen.) We’ll get a COVID test on the 17th, which should be enough incubation time if we picked up the virus before we go into lockdown, but we’ll plan to call the whole thing off if anyone develops even the tiniest sniffle. So, knowing that we’ll be locked away unable to do any sort of errand for a couple of weeks means that we’ve been diligently ticking things off of our to-do list and gathering groceries much earlier than usual for the holidays! And, now the week’s links:

How dating in a pandemic is like being in a Jane Austen novel.

Schitt’s Creek meets fine art.

Your home decor can impact your mental health.

I just bought these lounge shorts and they are incredibly comfortable! They do run large. I normally wear a 10 on bottom (but let’s face it, it’s probably a 12 during pandemic times) and they fit best in a medium.

This full-length mirror would be well-worth the splurge.

I just snagged these Cole Haan cold-weather hiking boots on sale and they’re so much better in person!

The dream job is dead.

I’m inspired by Jacey’s kitchen remodel because she and her designer kept a lot of the vintage charm intact, and the cabinet color is beautiful!

A few tips on how to start an art collection.

Such a sweet, flirty top!

I totally agree with the assessment that The Undoing was “meh,” but those coats!

Great gift idea: A set of three Tory Burch face masks because you know we’ll be wearing masks throughout the better half of next year. I have a set from earlier this year and they’re my favorite. The moisture-wicking fabric is breathable and they’re fully adjustable. I know the Lele Sadoughi masks get a lot of love — I have a set as well — but they’re smaller and while they fit my face, they’re too small for one of my friends to wear. They’re also not as breathable.

In case you missed it:

  • New throw pillows for the living room! (I also received a lot of love for that side table; it’s linked in the post!)
  • Everything I bought and loved in November — and the one item I hated.
  • How I’m wrapping this year’s Christmas gifts.

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