BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

On the Right Foot: My First Sartorial Purchase of the Year, Mocktails for Dry January, How Epidemics Influenced Home Design & More!

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On the Right Foot
photo by Melnychuk Nataliya

It feels tone deaf to be completely chipper on a Monday morning after the week we just endured. If it makes you feel any better, there are just nine more days left of Trump’s administration and we can — hopefully — turn our attention to healing. I am hopeful for a better 2021, especially knowing our president-elect recognizes the blatant racism that runs through America’s veins and isn’t shying away from talking about it. Now, we just need to do something about it. (While he’s goal-setting, maybe he can work on that vaccination rollout, too.)

Clearly I picked the wrong year to participate in Dry January. If you’re also declining booze this month (or just not a drinker in general), try these mocktails.

My first sartorial purchase of the year was this silk blouse. The additional 25% off sale ends at the end of today and items are returnable, so it’s worth giving something a shot if you have your eye on an item. I also adore these snakeskin-embossed flats.

The Sex and the City reboot has been confirmed!

I loved this response to those on social media who tell influencers to “stay in your lane” when it comes to politics.

Five tips for getting your creative project off the ground.

I have heart-eyes for this preppy phone case.

Women in construction share their advice on where to save and spend during a renovation.

Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the road ahead.

LEGO recently came out with a very cute botanical collection.

How previous epidemics influenced home design.

It’s about time to pare down that skincare and beauty collection.

I just added this unique taper holder to my home.

In case you missed it:

  • Today is the last day to enter to win $50 to NOVICA!
  • So much to love in the most recent The Coveted.

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On the Right Foot: Thoughts on Stylish With Jenna Lyons, Statement Gingham, Instant Pot Masala, & More!

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Lisbon Portugal
A snapshot from our 2019 trip to Portugal.

Exploring heritage’s role in fashion houses today.

How’s this for a business cautionary tale? Kodak created the digital camera in 1975, but didn’t pursue digital photography products in fear that it would siphon money from analog film. The market was saturated by the time Kodak decided to throw its hat in the ring 15 years later.

A fun quiz for identifying your interior aesthetic. I got retro, which I don’t think is entirely true, but I do like a vintage moment.

I adore this striped sweater!

I finished watching Stylish With Jenna Lyons over the weekend and it’s a trainwreck. As this piece suggests, the show is bit of a documentary of a wealthy woman going through a mid-life crisis. On the positive side, it does give the viewer plenty of tips on how not to manage people in the workplace. (That said, I do think Jenna is a style icon. This show, however, did nothing to improve her personal brand.)

I can get on board with lördagsgodis, Sweden’s tradition of eating sweets on Saturdays.

An interview with the co-founders of Mansur Gavriel.

A modern-meets-vintage necklace.

I feel like we’ll see Blair Eadie in this statement-making gingham dress sometime this year!

My parents gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas and I’m trying it out this week with chicken tikka masala.

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We did it! So long, 2020! + What’s in store for Q1

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image credit: Betty Subrizi

2020. Was. A. Year.

I know we can’t let out a sigh of relief just yet, but turning the calendar to 2021 feels like we’ve hit a major milestone in leaving behind the worst of year of our generation. (Fingers crossed.) And, yet, there was some good that came out of our collective “gap year.” We learned to slow down. We grew green onions on our windowsills. We lovingly raised sourdough starters. We relished the simplicity of walks. We watched so much TV (and still raise an eyebrow when Carole Baskin comes up). We cherished family and friends, and cared for them by social distancing. We supported the restaurant industry by ordering contactless pickup and delivery. We stayed home to ease the burden on healthcare workers. We masked because we cared for more than just ourselves. We pushed the reset button on our lives and identified our priorities.

It was a tough year, but in some respects, a year we needed.

I was thinking back to a year ago when blogs and Instagram accounts were littered with ambitious to-do lists, grandiose travel plans, and annual one-word mantras. No one knew what 2020 had in store for us and how it would force us to adapt to change and live more intentionally. While I’m thrilled to finally have 2020 behind us, I hope to bring some of that flexibility and thoughtfulness to the new year. In 2021, I’m approaching annual planning a bit differently this time around and taking it one quarter at a time. (I was dangerously close to a Fast and the Furious reference there.)

Here are my goals for the first quarter of the new year:

  • Office makeover! Working from home isn’t my favorite and it doesn’t help that I have a terribly uninspired room that I’m working in — one that still has an unpacked box from when we moved in. That’ll be changing shortly and I’ll be sure to share some before photos (maybe after I move that box…) and the direction I’m going in soon!
  • Lose 5.5 pounds. I have a goal of losing 21 pounds in 2021. I might document this; I might not. I struggle with my weight and even just putting a number and time frame of my hopeful weight loss is a bit daunting. I’m excited, though!
  • Paint the bathroom ceiling. As you may recall, I gave the bathroom a mini refresh last fall. I swapped out the old florescent light fixture in favor of a smaller, schoolhouse-inspired one and I was left with a pockmarked ceiling that was only partially painted. I need to get around to finishing that.
  • Paint the guest room. I painted the guest room grey when we moved in without adequately testing paint swatches. It turns out, the grey I picked looks lilac most of the day. I hate it and I really need to do something about it.
  • Contractor quotes. I’d like to do some contractor research and narrow it down to three to give us quotes on a full bathroom remodel as well as quotes on redoing our original-porch-turned-sunroom. I have no idea what this will cost and I’d like to get a better idea of what we’re saving for.
  • Get in the habit of doing the dishes every night. I tend to let them sit for a day. I know.
  • Read three books. For those who are voracious readers, I realize reading three book isn’t an impressive goal for the first three months of the year. I used to read a lot (one of my majors is in English literature!), but haven’t prioritized it lately. I’d like to start reading a bit before bed each night and rediscover my love of the written word.

What’s on deck for you in 2021? Are you looking at the year as a whole or breaking it down into smaller chunks?

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A Few of My Favorite Things: 2020

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Paravel Cabana Tote Review

It’s time for an annual review of my favorite products from the past year! Below, you’ll find the noteworthy standouts that brought joy in an extremely difficult year.

Paravel Cabana Tote | This generously sized tote bag has already been a workhorse with plenty of room to keep daytrip essentials at hand. It’s made of recycled plastic bottles and the material repels stains and dirt. I’m considering treating myself to the matching travel organizers.

Ikea Tekla Dish Towels | At just $0.79 each, these are perfect to use as cloth napkins for a relaxed, bistro-inspired look. At that price point, you won’t feel bad about relegating them to dish duty or rags once they’re stained.

J.Crew Supersoft Turtleneck Sweater | I swear, I’m going to continue signing praises of this sweater until you all purchase one. I added two more to my collection this year. They’re incredibly soft with a slight oversize fit that’s remarkably slimming. Get one. Wear it with #PandemicPants now and jeans later.

Tory Burch Facemasks | Going into 2020, no one would have expected facemasks to be the “It” item of the year! Tory Burch’s masks are my favorite for the ample face covering, the metal nose piece, and the breathability. They’re on the pricier side, but they’re worth it.

Cole Haan Insulated Hiker Boots | I normally don’t add such recent purchases to my favorites of the year, but these have already passed muster keeping my feet warm and dry while shoveling snow the other day. Plus, they’re very cute! You can also get them here.

Blissun Patio Umbrella | After our neighbors cut down a mature tree in their yard, our deck received so much more sunlight in the evening when we wanted to be outside for our WFH happy hour. We didn’t want to spend a fortune on a patio umbrella and found this one, opting for the black and white stripe. We took it down each evening, so it’s still in pristine condition.

Schoolhouse Blooming Field Duvet Cover | I can’t get over how pretty this print is. I bought the pillow shams last year, thinking that’d be enough to sate my desire for the bedding set. Not even close. The duvet cover is everything I hoped it would be.

Tory Burch Georgia Snakeskin Ballet Flats | I was due for a new pair of black flats after my pointed-toe J.Crew pair started to show more wear and tear than I’d like. These are a splurge, but absolutely worth it. They’re classic, the squared-toe is an unexpected update to your standard-issue flat, and the snakeskin gives it just the right amount of shine. They run true to size.

The Elements of a Home | This is a fun little book that shares the history of common household items.

J.Crew Perfect Rain Jacket | While it’s considered a rain jacket, I don’t think it’ll do much in a downpour. However, it’s the perfect lightweight jacket and the cinched waist makes it flattering.

Stutterheim Mosebacke Rain Coat | Now this is what you need for an actual rainy day. Stutterheim rain coats are a splurge, but they have semi-annual sales to make the price more palatable. I like the A-line design of the Mosebacke version, which makes it an attractive, feminine alternative to a regular slicker. A warning, though, mine had a strong rubber smell when it arrived and I had to air it out for a month before adding it to the coat closet.

West Elm Hudson Drink Table | Admittedly, this just arrived yesterday after being on backorder for the better half of the year. However, it’s so darn pretty and I’m already in love! The small size allows you to move it around to where it’s needed or you can use it as a plant stand on days you don’t need additional space to perch a cocktail. I bought the one with the walnut base.

Loloi II Layla Area Rug | We would have preferred a vintage rug in our living room, this was a wonderful — and affordable — alternative. Read more in my full review here.

Birkenstock Madrid Slide Sandal | Clearly comfort dressing won out this year, but there was no need to sacrifice all sense of style. I was nervous about the narrow width, but that’s akin to a normal width in any other brand. I go down to the equivalent of a 6.5 in Birkenstock slides, which is a half size down from my normal 7.

Inkbird Sous Vide | We didn’t want to spend a lot on our first foray into sous vide cooking and chose this more affordable version. It’s done an impressive job so far with steaks and a roast.

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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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