BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Weekend Roundup

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Kim and Scott’s bathroom reveal has me considering green penny tile for our half bath, which I’d like to take on myself this year. We’ll see how far along I get until I need to call in a pro!

Not sure which Democratic candidate to support? The Washington Post created a quiz to see which one agrees with you the most.

Dani recently published a post on how to use Instagram for free at-home workouts.

This leaning floor mirror is so good.

Compostable take-out containers might not be any better for the environment than plastic.

I’m adding spicy-sweet sambal pork noodles to our dinner lineup next week.

If you love following along with old house restoration and design as much as I do, you’ll want to bookmark Manhattan Nest.

Pet-friendly houseplants.

Non-tacky heart jewelry is nearly impossible to find, but Jenny Bird nailed it with an organic take on the shape here and here.

Finds under $50:

  • I can’t get over how much I love these “fish bone” earrings. The “natural” color is my favorite.
  • Soludos’ striped, lace-up flat espadrille sandals are now just $20. (I just ordered them myself!)
  • How great would these pillow covers be for a sun room?
  • My hair is fine and thin, which makes any scarf-tying attempt slip right out. I think I’m going to give this hair tie a whirl for spring and summer!
  • Such a cute dress to pair with sneakers or sandals.

In case you missed it:

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Weekend Roundup: Chili Butter, Guide to Porto, a Cozy Sweater & More!

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Weekend Links on Bedknobs & Baubles
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Happy Saturday! We’re bracing for a snowstorm today, so we’re keeping close to home with some cleaning and organization projects before walking to a friends’ house for an evening of board games and cocktails. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I love the shape of these affordable sunglasses.

Nikki’s guide to Porto makes me want to go back! (As well as edit my photos from our May 2019 trip to Portugal.)

If you’re not already following Hitha on Instagram for her near-daily Five Smart Reads, go do that now. One article she shared yesterday is about the “Grooming Gap” and its effect on women in the workplace.

It seems that a spicy Calabrian chile butter is what my kitchen has been missing.

This oversize striped sweater looks like the perfect weekend piece.

Have you seen the brilliant billboard that was designed to promote BBC’s new series, Dracula?

Everything you need to know about storing wine at home.

How Tulum transformed into a tourism hot spot.

Everything you can do to help Australia.

Is the body positivity movement working?

Finds Under $50

  • I can’t help myself when I stop by a greenhouse and brought home a pilea peperomioides last week. I’m torn between this planter and this one.
  • This is such a great ruffled blouse! It also comes in plus sizes here.
  • How great is this skirt for a swimsuit cover-up?! I absolutely adore the vintage print. (I’d wear it with the not-under-$50 swimsuit I’m crushing on.)
  • Schoolhouse Electric is having a bedding sale! It’s a great time to snag the pillow shams I bought last year.
  • I have a set of these little bowls and I use them so often for meal prep, toppings, or for portioning out candy.

Earlier This Week

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Goals for 2020

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TRAVEL SOMEWHERE NEW

My perennial resolution is also my most favorite! Last year was amazing with two trips abroad, which I never would have anticipated when I was penning a similar post a year ago. That’s kind of what I love about this resolution. I have a few ideas of where I’d like to visit abroad and stateside (in no particular order: Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Austria, Quebec, somewhere in South America, Maine), but it really comes down to whatever destination we decide to research on a whim and ticket prices.

BE A BETTER STEWARD OF THE ENVIRONMENT

I love that people across the board are becoming more cognizant of their impact on the environment. I know that individually my impact won’t be as significant or meaningful than if corporations and governments fully committed to sustainability. But, I know I can do more to be more responsible and reduce the impact that I make. I want to reduce my consumption of single-use plastics this year. I already made the switch to reusable shopping bags, but I can do a better job with doing things like consistently packing my lunch into reusable containers instead of reaching for a baggie. I’m also trying to find ways to reuse plastics that groceries are packaged in. For example, yogurt containers are great for paint when I just need a little bit for touch-up work around the house. Also, I think I’m going to start composting this year. Until recently, had no idea how bad it was to send organic materials to a landfill, so I may as well make that into usable dirt for a small veggie garden in 2021.

I also want to extend this sustainability focus to purchasing items for my wardrobe. I’m so tired of fast fashion and trend-based pieces that don’t earn a spot in closets long term. It’s so wasteful. I want to make sure that everything I purchase this year is true to my style, is good quality, and is something I can see myself holding on to. It’s not to say I won’t geek out over the occasional Target dress, but I want to be sure that cheap thrill is something I actually want to own longer than a season.

PRIORITIZE MY HEALTH

I know how tragically cliche this one is, but my goodness, I gained nearly 15 pounds last year that I need to shed. Plus another 10 for good measure. I wanted to get in better shape last year and I lost focus of that goal and ate and drank my way through a couple of vacations and, well, the rest of the year. I’m now 36 years old and I’m worried that I’ll be facing health problems down the road if I don’t make significant changes to my routine now. So, Dave and I have committed to helping each other stay motivated to lose weight with calorie counting, cutting out weeknight drinks, and exercising (which will be much easier come spring). I’ve also scheduled one of my annual doctor’s appointments this month in order to start the year on a positive note. I’m actually really excited to make these changes and I’ve already lost 4.5 pounds since the holidays.

For those who may be new around here, I lost 70 pounds after college. (I know, right?!) I had gained 50 of that back over the past eight years. (That weight-creep when you’re older is real!) I want to split the difference and lose 25 and put myself at a weight that felt maintainable and where I felt balanced. I was a size four at my lowest weight — which felt insane to a girl who had always been overweight, and it was almost impossible to maintain if I ate anything more than a salad for lunch and dinner. My current goal weight was what I stuck with for the longest amount of time and I feel like it’s achievable this year. It’s still going to be hard and it’s going to be a long road ahead, but I know I need to make this change for myself.

TACKLE PROJECTS AROUND THE HOUSE

I actually put together a post outlining the tasks I have in mind for the first six months of the year. I took a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-based) approach to goal-setting for this so that these items don’t sit on a wish list forever. I plan to refer to this post throughout the next six month and check back with you on my progress with plenty of home-related content. It seems to perform the best judging by the analytics, so I suspect you have an interest in it, too!

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Weekend Roundup: A Decluttering Checklist, Dry January Inspiration, A Pretty Pendant & More!

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Weekend Links on Bedknobs & Baubles
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Happy first weekend of 2020! We don’t have much on the agenda other than putting away the Christmas decor, cleaning the house (the holidays left it in shambles!), and picking up sandwiches for lunch at a new-to-us deli that somehow flew under our radar last year. (Does anyone else get in dining-out ruts with their favorite spots? We need to make it a point this year to try new places more regularly!) I hope you have an equally restorative couple of days before the first full work week in awhile!

Declutter your home this month alongside Ashley of The Gold Hive with her handy checklist.

I had no idea that Spanx made dress pants until recently. I bought the skinny ankle-length pair. They’re comfortable and perfect for work. To avoid the legging look of the top of them, I paired them with the oversize sweater I won’t stop talking about which hits mid-hip.

I have a penchant for searching out interesting animal facts. Did you know the slow loris is both venomous and may have evolved to mimic a cobra?

Another thing to file under “weird things to learn this weekend:” How Paris’ open-air urinals changed a city — and helped dismantle the Nazi regime.

My favorite part of turning the calendar to a new year is daydreaming about the vacations we’ll take. We don’t have any travel plans on the books yet, so I’m open to all of the inspiration I can get. (I’m thinking a tropical destination; somewhere in the U.S., possibly Maine; and Europe, possibly Poland and Prague, Croatia, Stockholm, or Vienna and Budapest. That said, ticket prices generally influence where we go!)

I love the organic shape of this delicate pendant.

While I’m not doing a dry January, here’s some inspiration for those of you who are. (I’m opting to cut back significantly on alcohol, sugar, and high-fat foods overall. I’ve also decided to stop drinking alcohol during the work week unless I have standing plans with friends that are more than just a last-minute happy hour. I did this a couple of years ago and dropped 15 pounds from January through May, so that’s part of the motivation, too.)

I’m making this soup recipe tomorrow!

Finds Under $50

Earlier This Week

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Weekend Roundup: A Plush Faux Fur Jacket, Habit Tracking, Decluttering Tips & More!

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Weekend Links on Bedknobs & Baubles
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I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are gearing up to make 2020 one of the best years yet! Personally, I’m looking forward to clearing the holiday decor and getting a fresh start on my lofty home to-do list. There are so many projects in limbo that I’d like to commit time and effort in the new year to getting things done. I’ll share some of those goals with you next week. Until then, I hope your last weekend of 2019 is amazing!

Remembering some of the brands we lost in the 2010s.

There’s a steep discount on this Kate Spade faux fur jacket! I just ordered it in both colors to try on and see which one I like most. (The photos are better on the Bloomingdale’s site, but it’s much more expensive there.)

The Amazon Coat, one year later.

Habit tracking may be more effective than New Year’s resolutions when it comes to making changes in your life.

A gorgeous wear-with-everything cuff bracelet.

Ten truths to help you declutter your home.

Why fashion in the 2020s will be about making new clothes out of old ones. (While textile recycling is important, it’s always better to be a thoughtful consumer and purchase items you’ll love and wear for years.)

Try this for chapped lips.

Save your used mascara wands this year and donate them to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

I’m in love with this swimsuit.

Finds Under $50

Earlier This Week

  • Snapshots of the most Christmassy moments from our trip to Belgium earlier this month.
  • Sharing the pieces I added to my wardrobe and home over the past two months.
  • I might be biased, but this is the prettiest Christmas tree of the year. (Considering that post has my highest number of likes for an Instagram ever, I’m guessing you’d like to see more home content. Let me know if that’s the case!)

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