BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

2017 New Year’s Goals

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lace front wigs

Happy 2017! A new year brings with it a renewed sense of optimism and excitement for the months ahead. Sure, we have a certain president to contend with later this month, but let’s move beyond that for now and focus our attention on happier pursuits: the things we’d love to accomplish in the new year. Setting out with a list of resolutions for the year sounds daunting (and oftentimes unrealistic), so instead I’m framing them as goals. These are the items I’d like to work toward in the coming months and, honestly, I might not accomplish any of them. That’s okay. Setting goals rather than resolutions means that even the small steps forward are successes worth celebrating.

MORE OUTFIT POSTS

I’m sure Dave is super excited about helping me accomplish this 2017 goal, but they’re the most popular posts and, honestly, my favorite ones to do. Plus, photographing my sartorial hits (and misses) helps me hone in my style and encourages me to be more creative, which leads me to my next goal:

STOP OVERTHINKING CLOTHES

Fashion should be fun and personal style should be a creative journey unmarred by overthinking things like cost per wear and “Can I wear this with three items I already own?” Year after year, my favorite purchases typically fall into one of three categories: impulse purchases that struck an I-have-to-own-this-now chord, uniquely designed items that I love to wear simply because they’re fun, or expensive items I actually had to save up for. (The latter is certainly the anomaly, but it applies to designer duds my bank account can’t handle on a whim like my Hermès bracelet.) Of course, I don’t want to just throw money at anything that catches my eye. I’m working on finding the balance between identifying the items I’ll wear a lot and making sure they’re not just boring basics. And, really, if an item is just that good, I’ll figure out ways to wear it. I also want to get out of the habit of only purchasing individual items because they’re versatile. Why not buy an entire outfit because it looks great together?

TRAVEL TO NEW DESTINATIONS

I can’t let a New Year’s post go by without my perennial goal to travel to new destinations. Last year, we ticked Copenhagen off of our travel list and also visited Nashville. We’re planning to visit Arizona this spring. (I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon and I hear it’s kind of a big deal.) We’d also love to head back to Europe this summer. London is high on our travel wish list as is Iceland, but we’re open to any destination with a deal on airfare. I also really want to spend a long weekend beached at, well, the beach.

BUY A HOUSE

Last year was an emotional roller coaster with our house hunt. (I never expected to feel so devastated after losing out on the only house we liked enough to put an offer on.) The real estate market in Madison is tough with low inventory, but things are starting to come on the market again and I’m optimistic that this is the year we’ll finally become homeowners. This also means we’ll finally get rid of some of our ugly hand-me-down transitional furniture. It just doesn’t make sense to buy things like new couches until we know what kind of space we have to work with.

EAT OUT LESS OFTEN

With the aforementioned plans, we’ll have to find ways to cut expenses throughout the year. Dining (and drinking) out is a huge line item that can be trimmed. Not only is dining out multiple times a week expensive, it’s also doing a number on our waistlines with the calorie-laden meals. Besides, I enjoy cooking. It’s a fun, creative way to unwind after a busy day at the office. So, here’s to getting mileage out of my Bon Appetit subscription with more meals at home in 2017!

Happy New Year! 

My Heart Hurts

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I’m struggling to process what happened yesterday and the fact of the matter is that I can’t. I’m sad. I’m ashamed. I’m disgusted. I’m numb. I’m discouraged. I’m a myriad of emotions that I can’t properly express. I’ve broken down in tears at work and yearned to be shaken awake from this nightmare.

I wish I could say I didn’t think this could happen. Trump is bombastic. He is a demagogue. He is hot headed. He is a misogynist. He is a racist. He is what America wanted. There’s a strong undercurrent of hatred in this country — not only for women, the LBGT population, immigrants, and Muslims — but for the establishment. Hillary was very much a personification of the establishment that many wanted to break from. This rich white man was, ironically, the answer to their call.

Fear elected Trump and, in turn, I’m fearful. America is going to change. The rights that many have worked so hard to achieve will be in jeopardy. We risk ripping health care from Americans, denying marriage rights to the LBGT population, blaming immigrants unfairly for the ills of the country, and removing a woman’s right to choose. This election was, to put it bluntly, a big fucking deal.

And I do want to make it clear that while I’m a Democrat, I am not upset by a Republican presidency. I am upset by a Trump presidency. To stand united with America in support of this man is something I won’t do. I will not support a man who grabs women by the pussy (without her asking for it), makes a comment about the “pretty picture” a woman makes dropping to her knees, and laughs off sexual assault charges by saying that they weren’t pretty enough to hit on in the first place. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that all women have had to navigate the uncomfortable waters of unwanted sexual objectification. And I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that all women should be outraged by an America led by Trump.

I want to do whatever small steps I can to support women at this time. Even if our views on Roe v. Wade divide us, I hope you’ll consider donating to Planned Parenthood to support women’s reproductive health and access to screenings. It might not be much in the face of what’s to come, but for a woman who can’t afford to go to the doctor, it matters a great deal.

One final thought: if you voted your heart, be proud. I don’t mean to alienate you with this post. I’m shell-shocked and passionate and couldn’t let this monumental day go by silently.

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photo by Krista Mangulsone

33 in 33

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My 30s have been my favorite decade thus far and today I kick off year 33! I’ve had a stellar birthday weekend already with a walk through Olbrich Gardens, lunch at a new restaurant, mini golf, a Memorial Day cookout with friends, and dinner with my parents last night. I’m feeling incredibly content and excited for the next year.

I don’t want the year to slip by without fanfare, though, so I put together a list of 33 must-dos for year 33. Think of this as an alternative to a New Year’s resolution list without the pressure of losing weight and saving money!

  1. Close on our first home! We just need to find it first. (We have about three weeks left to shop until we need to figure out housing for the next 12 months. Our lease ends Aug. 1.)
  2. Visit a new state.
  3. Plan a trip to Iceland. We’re hopeful we can make this happen next summer. It’ll be after I turn 34, so we’ll aim to have the trip booked this year! (Really, though, any overseas destination will do!)
  4. Head up to Duluth, Minn. for the Tall Ships.
  5. Spend a long summer weekend in Chicago.
  6. And a weekend in Milwaukee.
  7. And head back to the Windy City this December for the Christkindlmarket. It’s becoming our traditional way to kickoff the holiday season.
  8. Buy a new mattress …
  9. … and a new couch. I love this one, but we might go with a modern sectional if it’s a better fit for the floor plan of our eventual house.
  10. Oh, and a dining set while we’re at it. I want a table like this one with these chairs. I’m using this image for inspiration.
  11. Go through our possessions and donate anything we won’t use again. I don’t want to move items that aren’t loved.
  12. Finally buy a bar cart.
  13. Take a fitness class, possibly hot yoga or barre.
  14. Keep champagne chilled for impromptu celebrations.
  15. Play hooky from work to head to a water park.
  16. Go to the zoo.
  17. Spend a day at the ballpark.
  18. Watch the fireworks.
  19. Go to a beer festival.
  20. Read a book each month.
  21. Take a jewelry-making class.
  22. Try two new recipes each month.
  23. Master the quiche.
  24. Find a great red-orange lipstick.
  25. Actually learn the ins and outs of my camera. I can’t justify purchasing a new one until I have this one down pat.
  26. Visit a beach … or a desert. Basically anything with a lot of sand.
  27. Relearn how to ride a bicycle and go biking with Dave.
  28. Enjoy a summer afternoon at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW-Madison campus.
  29. Mini golf!
  30. Go to an art fair.
  31. Buy produce at the farmers’ market.
  32. Write useful travel guides for our vacations, and finally edit and share trip photos on Facebook. (I’m so bad at taking the time to actually do this.)
  33. Embrace another year older!

My necklace is from Lele Sadoughi.  You can save 20% on everything — including sale items — with code BEDKNOBSANDBAUBLES.

The Weekend Guide

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The Weekend Guide 03.04.16

ANTICIPATE
I’m so excited that the Finnish brand Marimekko is making its way to Target on April 17. I’ll be overseas at the time, but it won’t stop me for placing an order for a few home goods.

SLEEP
As I mentioned here, I’m having the hardest time with insomnia as I get older. I’m all for trying new techniques before self medicating.

CONSIDER
If there was ever an article that hit home for me, this is it. I’m so tired of shopping and sifting through racks the same ol’ things. I find myself saving up for more unique — and more expensive — items just so I have something that hasn’t saturated the market. (Next up: these.)

DYE
I’m waiting until we buy a house to start my blue-and-white china collection (unless I find great pieces at European flea markets next month). In the meantime, I’m just going to dye eggs like this for Easter.

BUY
Shopbop is having its annual spring sale with a tiered discount. If you have your eye on Ferrgamo Varina flats (and why wouldn’t you?), now’s the time to snag them with a 20% discount. I find that they run true to size.

GIVE
How cute are these mini bouquets?! Add ’em to your Pinterest board for baby showers, bridal showers, or May Day surprises.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
(Honestly, I didn’t do much this week. It was a rough one at work and I can’t wait for the weekend.)
Shared a few of February’s favorite moments.
Posted a summery roundup of covetable items.
Sheepishly admitted to breaking our closet.
Couldn’t wait to go back to Moeder Lambic for brunch.
Tried out a new brewery.
Placed an order for pineapple cocktail napkins on Etsy.

Five Under $55
sunglasses, $12 | earrings, $40 | espadrilles, $48 | necklace, $48 | dress, $48

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additional image via

Mini Moments: February 2016

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Mini-Moments-Feb-2016

I had originally planned on an outfit post today, following yesterday’s Instagram teaser. However, a spell of insomnia last night left me wide awake until sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. and much too tired to work on a post before work. I’m finding sleepless nights more frequent as I get older. Usually taking melatonin or reading for an hour will make me sleepy enough to forget whatever it is I’m worried about, but no such luck last night. I’ve picked up Zzzquil for the next sleepless night. Has anyone tried it?

Exhaustion aside, February was a pretty fun month — and what better day to celebrate it than on Leap Year’s bonus day?! Without doing any actual research, I’d go out on a limb to say that this must have been one of the most temperate Februarys on record with warm, springlike weekends. (Mother Nature was much more seasonably cold during the work week.) I even went without tights on three separate weekends!

February’s Mini Moments:

  • Enjoyed sunny days in my favorite sunglasses.
  • Made mini heart-shaped cherry pies for breakfast. I used this press, but found that cutting out heart shapes and pressing them together with my fingers or a fork was more efficient. A double pie crust recipe made enough for four mini pies. I used a half can of cherries to make a filling.
  • Obsessed over this red dress, worn here.
  • Celebrated Valentine’s Day with a heart-print dress.
  • Went for a long walk on a sunny day, but wasn’t brave enough to stroll across the ice like some were!
  • Consumed copious amounts of coffee. While the above photo wasn’t a cup brewed at home, I’ve been obsessing over my new French press. I had been missing out for years!
  • Purchased the best striped long-sleeve top. I’ve worn it at least once a week since purchasing it. I also added a pair of oversized earrings to my collection.
  • Preferred pineapples to snow. Obviously.
  • Treated myself to a fluffy bouquet of hydrangeas. The Tory Burch pitcher is the perfect size for them.