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2016 Resolutions

January 4, 2016 by jessica 10 Comments

 

2016Resolutions

Happy 2016! Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I was excited to get back to my weekly routine on the first Monday of the year, but I am happy to have the holiday hoopla behind me! After a month of travel — and a flat tire on Saturday — I’m ready for a few weeks at home. And, it’s a good thing we don’t have plans this month. I’m going to need the extra time to get started on my new year’s resolutions:

CLEAN, ORGANIZE, PURGE

Dave and I have lived together for almost five years and we’ve accumulated quite a few things in our small apartment. Now that we’re becoming more serious about our house hunt, I’d like to spend the next few months going through our place and getting rid of the items we don’t love. I don’t want to move things into a new home if we’ll never use them again. I’m planning to go through my wardrobe in January and donate or sell unused items in February. After that, I will be going through the boxes I moved from my old apartment and never opened since. It’s a daunting project, so I’m heading down memory lane one box per weekend until the project is done, which should be completed by March.

FEWER, BETTER THINGS

This really goes hand-in-hand with the previous resolution. I’m growing tired of clutter. To be fair, it’s partly because we have a small apartment, but it’s also because I haven’t been as thoughtful about new purchases as I could be. In terms of clothing, I’m planning to cut back on the number of purchases during the year. Last year’s Pinterest board for new wardrobe additions shows that I added over 100 items in 2015. As much as I love clothing and accessories, that’s a bit much. (You can view my 2016 additions here.) This should be a fairly easy task to accomplish. I’m sticking to a stricter budget this year with $750 per season earmarked for clothing and accessories. This isn’t to say that I’m solely focusing on wardrobe classics again. I have enough of those. I simply want every sartorial purchase I make in 2016 to be very much “me.” For non-wardrobe items, I want to spend time looking for the “right” item and not throw money at something that will work for the time being.

TRAVEL SOMEPLACE NEW

My broken foot last year led us to reconsider some of our travel dreams. I wasn’t sure exactly when I’d be healed and how far I’d feel comfortable walking, so we revisited a few of our favorite U.S. cities. This year, we’d like to expand our horizons and travel to new destinations. We’re talking about visiting Copenhagen in the spring and taking a fall road trip to New England. I’ve always wanted to go to Maine and eat my weight in lobster rolls.

LOSE WEIGHT

…and speaking of weight, I need to shed a few pounds this year. My ambitious goal is to lose 20 pounds. I was on my way last year until my foot broke and I fell out of my exercise routine. Oh well, it’s a new year and a new chance to get myself in better shape! After college, I lost 70 pounds and have since gained back 35 of them. It’s incredibly hard, but I need to prioritize my health as I get older. Besides, my sluggish metabolism needs a kick in the arse with Jillian Michaels! I’d like to give myself little reward at each five-pound benchmark. Any ideas? (That said, I’m focusing more on total wellness than the scale itself with clean eating and exercise three times a week.)

JUST FOR FUN

Try two new recipes each month.

Keep champagne chilled for even the smallest special occasion.

Search for the perfect bar cart.

Wear bold patterns and embrace color.

Buy a new mattress.

***
images via 1, 2, 3, 4

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: 2016 new year's resolutions, new year's resolutions

The Weekend Guide

January 1, 2016 by jessica 5 Comments

The Weekend Guide 01.01.16

HAPPY 2016!

TAKE
For many of us, travel plans top our itineraries for 2016. Capture those memories with better photography.

RESOLVE
Making resolutions is easy. Sticking with them? Not so much. Achieve your goals in 2016 with these tips from psychologist Richard Wiseman.

ADOPT
Make the new year count at work with 10 habits worth adopting.

BAKE
One of my goals for 2016 is to try at least three new recipes each month. Raspberry almond scones look like the perfect accompaniment to Saturday morning coffee.

SHOP
There are only a few days left to take an additional 30% off sale items at Tory Burch. I usually use sale events like this to invest in a classic wardrobe staple like an oversize clutch or a cozy sweater. This time around, I purchased this cheeky pillow.

READ
Winter weekends are the perfect excuse to stay in and read. Here are 16 upcoming novels from female authors to add to your Kindle.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Compiled photos of my favorite accessories and outfits from 2015.
Finally got my hands on pineapple shot glasses.
Shared my top 10 most loved and least liked purchases of the year.
Went down memory lane with snapshots from December.
Added these items to my wish list.
Took a stroll on the UW-Madison campus to take photos of my NYE dress.
Disclosed my December purchases.

FIVE UNDER $55

***
additional images via 1, 2, 3

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: 10 habits for work success, books to read in 2016, raspberry almond scones, tips for new year's resolutions, travel photo tips

Mini Moments: October 2015

November 4, 2015 by jessica 2 Comments

Highlights-October-2015

October is my busiest work month and I think that was pretty evident this year, given the lack of color in my Instagram feed over the month. I didn’t realize quite how dark things had gotten until I posted this yesterday. It looks so out of place with the other photos! Here are some of my favorites from the month:

  • Tried the new Cafe Hollander, a Belgian-inspired restaurant in Madison with roots in Milwaukee. Everything was good (they even had bitterballen!), but it was too expensive. Four beers, bitterballen, and two sandwiches came to $100 after tip. Brasserie V in Madison is a much better bet for better beer, food, ambiance, and a lower ticket price.
  • How, ahem, darling is this little tray?! It’s only $15 and makes for the perfect gift this holiday season. I’m also obsessed with this Tiffany-blue mug and saucer.
  • My jewelry drawer (seriously, not a jewelry box, a full drawer in our dresser is dedicated to gems) got a serious upgrade thanks to Julie Vos and her team. I’ve been wearing this pendant and ring almost exclusively since they arrived. I’m sharing some insights into her collection with a couple of interviews coming up!
  • This outfit post is one of my most popular yet and for good reason: the cape is pretty amazing! If you’re a medium/large, it’s on sale right now for $100! You can score the black version for $90 in XS/S or M/L here. (I went with the XS/S because I have narrow shoulders.)
  • I can’t pass up an opportunity for a Ferragamo + Floor photo.
  • Sharing a special, slightly-harass-y moment with Bacon. I went to Target on Sunday, hoping to find deeply discounted Halloween costumes for him (because if there’s one thing a cat loves, it’s a costume…). They were sold out, but I did find this fuzzy winter hat to purchase later.
  • Treated myself to snowy white mums.
  • Tried out the recently renovated Avenue Club in Madison. It was a wood-paneled neighborhood bar before it underwent a Midcentury Modern makeover.
  • Went out of my comfort zone to try this ASOS dress. I just wish the weather was warm enough to wear it again!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: asos polka dot dress, avenue bar madison review, cafe hollander review, dkny blythe cape, ferragamo varina black, Julie Vos, mini moments, rosanna darling tray

The Weekend Guide

September 12, 2015 by jessica 1 Comment

WeekendGuide091215

ADMIRE
It took upwards of five hours to create the stunning masks for Givenchy’s first runway show at New York Fashion Week.

PRE-ORDER
Do you remember when Motorola had a fuchsia Razr flip phone that was exclusive to AT&T? Well, my excitement for the rose gold iPhone just about parallels my excitement for that Razr.

PEEK
I’m beyond excited for Tory Burch’s show every season. Judging by these behind-the-scenes images, it should be another hit.

MAKE
Scour your farmers’ market for the best late-summer vegetables to make this garden tart. The base is a roasted red pepper and feta spread.

BUY
Now through Monday, take 30% off bespoke Stubbs & Wootton slippers. I’m terribly tempted to get a pair with varsity letters spelling out “HI” or with my initials.

INCREASE
Start next week on the right foot with four productivity tips learned from working at Google.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
#IHaveThisThingWithFloors at the Library of Congress
The pretty sleeve detail on my new dress from Zara.
My first outfit in D.C.
A few things I’m currently coveting.

FIVE UNDER $55

***
additional image via

Filed Under: Home, Jewelry, Lifestyle, Weekend Guide Tagged With: garden tart, givenchy masks, productivity tips, rose gold iphone, stubbs & wootton sale, tory burch ss16 collection

August Highlights

September 2, 2015 by jessica 7 Comments

Highlights-August-2015

In Monday’s post, I mentioned that we didn’t have any plans for Labor Day weekend … well, now that’s changed. We’re heading to Washington, D.C.! A few months ago, we had actually talked about visiting the nation’s capital over the holiday weekend, but plans fell by the wayside when we decided to simply enjoy our Louisville jaunt instead of putting another trip on the calendar so soon. We’re also looking into a two- or three-week trip to Denmark next year, so extra money isn’t exactly in abundance around these parts! But who can pass up a cheap vacation package, especially when the flight is direct from Madison?! (It’s such a rare treat. We have so few direct flights here and usually drive to Milwaukee or Chicago to fly.) If we’ve been blog or Instagram buddies for awhile, you’ll know this is our fourth trip to D.C. We just love the city so much! I’m looking forward to dining at our favorite pizzeria, trying new beer bars, visiting museums and monuments, shopping at Eastern Market, and taking plenty of photos of the quaint neighborhoods. (I’ll be turning to Rosa’s blog for ideas!) Before I fully turn my attention to what’s to come, here are a few favorite moments and snapshots from August:

  • Took my most cliche blog photo yet. I love all of your suggestions on what I should have added to the pic! I knew I should have picked up some macarons and scattered open tubes of lipstick on the table. (Yes, the bag is a total Chloe knockoff. Read my thoughts on it here.)
  • Snapped photos of flowers at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
  • Enjoyed drinks with Fran! I was so excited to finally meet Fran in person when she was in Madison last month. I can’t believe how quickly the time passed when we were catching up over drinks at Madison’s darling new cocktail bar, Gib’s.
  • Began our five-hour drive to my parents’ house with a sugary breakfast.
  • Visited Michigan’s Lake Superior shoreline.
  • Found the prettiest turquoise wall for an outfit photo.
  • Saw acres of sunflowers at Pope Farm Conservancy.
  • Ditched sneakers in favor of pretty summer sandals — finally!
  • Tried a new pair of sunglasses, thanks to DITTO’s Endless Eyewear program. Endless Eyewear is a monthly subscription service that allows you to try out designer sunglasses for $19 per month. You can swap out your shades as often as you’d like, making it a great way to try out sunglasses before committing or to simply keep your look fresh. You can get your first month for free with code BEDKNOBS. (What better way to play dress up with Karen Walker’s signature shades?) Sign up here.

Let’s be friends on Instagram! Find me @bedknobsandbaubles.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: chloe drew bag dupe, ditto endless eyewear, gib's bar madison, jcos studios bag, wisconsin state capitol flowers

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Hello!


Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry. Follow along for personal style, travel, and lifestyle content.

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Lily’s favorite place to wait while I get ready Lily’s favorite place to wait while I get ready in the morning.
The last of the summer flowers on my camera roll. The last of the summer flowers on my camera roll.
It’s autumn … in 21 days, but who’s counting It’s autumn … in 21 days, but who’s counting? 🍂 

I recently repainted the wall in our bedroom (that’s closer to a green-blue-grey IRL) and it’s serving up fall vibes with the faux maple stems that are hanging out just until our new lamps arrive.
Reminiscing. 📍The Netherlands, 2022 Reminiscing. 

📍The Netherlands, 2022
After her big adventure to northern Wisconsin, Lil After her big adventure to northern Wisconsin, Lily seems pretty happy to be home.
Very few things are surviving in my garden this ye Very few things are surviving in my garden this year, but the delphiniums looked great. Here’s hoping they spread next year! 🤞🏻
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