Goodness, this week has been challenging both professionally and personally — and it’s mostly because the stress of the former is starting to affect my mood during off hours. I’m sure you’ve noticed my near absence here and social media. All I’ve wanted to do at the end of the day has been put my pajamas on and sit in front of the TV. Suffice to say, I’m ready for the weekend and a chance to clean, organize, exercise, blog, eat healthier meals, visit with friends (which will be decidedly not healthy when we inevitably get cocktails), and – hopefully – get a vacation on the books. Basically, self-care without the bubble baths and face masks! I hope you have a rejuvenative weekend, too!

Weekend Links:

• I’m not going to kid myself and say that Karl Lagerfeld was a saint. He said some pretty misogynistic things over the years that shouldn’t be swept under the rug just because he passed away this week. That said, some of his quotes are gold. Especially the one about sweatpants in this list. (I’m also weirdly excited that Choupette is inheriting a portion of his estate.)
• Tips for selecting a contractor.
• This may be a bit of a splurge for a candle holder, but just check out this one that’s made with a gorgeous gemstone terrazzo. Then, learn about designer Sasha Burchuk here.
• Why so many book covers use the phrase “a novel.”
• A history of black costume design in television and film.
• I don’t really like peanut butter all that much, but this pie sounds amazing. Plus, it requires only a handful of ingredients.
• There’s something about this snakeskin-print dress that I’m really into.
• A playlist of Hollywood hits in time for the Oscars.
• What your hairstylist really thinks of you.

Finds Under $50:

• A pair of wear-with-everything sandals.
• Perfectly feminine earrings for spring.
• A work-appropriate little black dress.
• Wood dishes to use for casual summer gatherings or as a catchall tray.
• Oversize lilac sunglasses.

What You May Have Missed:

• Just one post! I wanted those sandals (in black) last year and held off, but I feel like I should buy them now that they’ve been reintroduced.

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Weekend Links:

• I’ve never watched something with more WTF moments than Abducted in Plain Sight. I’m know it’s not fair to judge the actions of those parents from my couch without delving deeper, but it’s really hard not to be critical.
• I have to put this Gray Malin photograph in my closet to pay homage to one of my style icons.
• This falafel soup sounds amazing!
• Email’s fundamental flaw.
• Did you grow up with decal glasses festooned with cartoon characters, too? I love that restaurants are embracing these 1980s relics for cocktails.
• Anna Wintour recaps New York Fashion Week.
• I’m so inspired by Audrey’s hallway transformation. That’s actually paint instead of wallpaper!
• A peek into the industry of trend forecasting.
• I’m into this cheeky ring.
• The secret history of women in coding.

Finds Under $50:

• A pretty chiffon blouse.
• This open-front cardigan looks so cozy and perfect for long plane rides!
• A leopard-print midi skirt.
• If you add one impulse purchase to your Target cart this month, make it this vase. I bought it last weekend and it looks like it should be a pricier artisan find. The texture is so good.
• A sweet gingham dress.

What You May Have Missed:

• Nine pairs of spring earrings that caught my eye.
• Rounding up a selection of romantic items for this week’s “The Coveted.”

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It’s hard to believe it’s already February! I can’t say I mind, especially after this week’s arctic blast. Like most of the Midwest, we were inundated with frostbite-inducing temperatures with a -25 degree real temperature and wind chills bringing that down to -55. Our office was closed for the better part of it due to the cold and we were all instructed to work from home. I love the flexibility of my workplace, but a week at home is enough to drive me batty! I’m looking forward to getting out today and enjoying highs in the 40s — what a difference a few days makes!

In other news, we had a carpenter/handyman/restorer come out on Friday to look at a few projects around the house like closing off a shoddily installed (and unnecessary) doorway between two bedrooms, filling in a missing strip of crown molding, and restoring some of the baseboards. I have no idea what stuff like this costs, and I’m crossing my fingers that the better part of it comes in under a grand. (We have a shared savings account with Capital One 360 that we both contribute to each paycheck. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made, giving us funds for unexpected repairs that come up and for splurge-worthy furnishings. Honestly, I’d recommend that everyone do this no matter their living situation. Even $25 per check adds up over the year and gives you extra money for something down the road.)

Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Links:

• The struggle retailers have with ditching the plastic polybags.
• I love Briony’s approach to the new year with The Happiness Project.
• This print is beautiful.
• The return of Emily Henderson’s Craigslist posts prompted me to follow suit this weekend. I’m actually heading out to see this chair later today! It looks like the perfect mid-century take on rattan.
• Stop hoarding beauty samples.
• The psychology of gossiping.
• I’m not much for heart motifs, but these earrings would make for the perfect Valentine’s gift.
• Dani shared a list on how to tidy up consciously, and make sure your unused items make their way to people who will actually appreciate them.
• Would more women in fashion power positions mean more female customers?
• Seven things to know before buying a fixer-upper. (These are all so true!)

Finds Under $50:

• A cute tabletop planter.
• The look of Cult Gaia’s wood earrings for less.
• A pair of modern mules.
• The flattering placement of the rib-knit detail makes this sweater look more expensive than it is.
• A sweet dress.
• Add Kate Spade’s latest pattern to the handle of your purse.

What You May Have Missed:

• Wood bead bags are the must-have accessory for spring.
• I’m obsessed with the chair in this week’s “The Coveted.” We’ll be remodeling our front porch/sun room eventually and I’d love a couple of those chairs out there!
• A no-shop January didn’t go as planned, but I’m delighted with what I bought.
• Where should we go for our big trip in 2019?

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After purchasing our living room sconces back in June, we finally finished installing them last weekend. I’m not sure why it took us so long to get around to it (::cough:: laziness ::cough::), but at least it’s done now! It really pulls the living room together, so now we can shift our attention to finding a larger rug (preferably vintage), styling the space, and adding some much-needed color. Honestly, I’m always impressed with (and probably a little jealous of) bloggers who seem to pull together rooms in a matter of weeks, but man, house things are expensive and you really need to love what you buy for your space. Plus, I want our house to look like it’s been collected over time — even if the only vintage pieces in this vignette are a couple of candlesticks and that cute silver-plated vessel for cocktail picks that we bought in London.

Sources: bar cabinet | brass planters | lamp | mirror | decanters (here and here) | tray | sconces and shades | entry table (I’m planning to swap out the drawer pulls) | table-top planter | entry rug | thermostat (we’ve really liked this one)

Weekend Links:

• A couple of gorgeous clutches serve as eye candy: this one that looks like jewelry and this one that’s made from hundreds of colorful seed beads.
• It’ll be the first Valentine’s Day without Sweethearts in 153 years.
• A gemologist found an insect entombed in opal rather than amber.
• Insight into why e-commerce sales of counterfeit goods is so hard to stop.
• Why every luxury brand’s label looks the same.
• Tips to become a better online shopper.
• In defense of wearing obnoxious outerwear.
• I love these wear-with-everything slingback flats for spring.
• Can we really change our habits with 30-day challenges?
• This guide makes me want to go back to New Orleans.

Finds Under $50:

• Get the look of casually tying your hair with a scarf, but with a scrunchie that’ll actually stay put.
• A linen-blend top with flutter sleeves.
• Dress up your bar cart with wood-topped decanters.
• This dress is right up my alley.
• Lucite earrings aren’t going anywhere yet.

What You May Have Missed:

• Daydreaming about spring with this week’s most coveted finds.
• My top five travel accessories.

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