BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Things I Bought & Loved: January 2022

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I love how a new year feels like a fresh slate and this month’s purchases were a reflection of that as I got back to the basics filling a couple of holes in my wardrobe with classic pearl drop earrings and a pair of non-cropped jeans. This month’s household projects desperately yearned for spring with some faux greenery and new sheets, and that boot tray is a long overdue need to keep our floors protected from salt and melting snow. As always, you’ll find the links below along with product reviews and additional commentary.

WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Chan Luu baroque pearl earrings in grey ($81; join their email and SMS list for a discount code) – These are more grey in person than they appear online. If you’d rather have a white pair, click here. They’re beautiful in person, and they nail that traditional-meets-modern design.
  • J.Crew 8″ Toothpick Jeans in ‘Vista’ ($90) – I had one pair of jeans that fit and they were cropped, which wasn’t exactly great for a Wisconsin winter. After trying on three other pairs of jeans (and this pair in two sizes), I finally found one that fits and I feel good in. This pair hits me right at the ankle and I ended up with my regular size.

HOUSEHOLD

  • Threshold small faux maidenhair fern ($15) & Threshold small faux ZZ plant ($15) – Target is knocking it out of the park this season with its selection of faux plants. I picked up the fern to put on the bottom shelf of our entryway table, atop of stack of books. We don’t get much sunlight there so most natural plants (at least those that are pet-friendly) would perish. This is a wonderful alternative that adds a cheerful dose of lifelike greenery. I put the ZZ plant on our desk. We have a couple of large real ZZ plants that Oliver doesn’t bother, but I didn’t want to tempt fate and poison our little dude with a tabletop one.
  • Anji Mountain rubber boot tray with coir insert ($31) – Hey, I’ll be the first to admit that boot trays aren’t pretty, but this one isn’t bad! Plus, it’s practical! The coir insert is removeable so you can shake out any accumulated dirt and debris. I bought the small size, which is perfect for two pairs of winter boots.
  • Hearth & Hand ticking stripe sheet set ($65) – While soft, these aren’t nearly as wonderful as our splurge-worthy linen sheets. However, I thought a set of striped sheets would be cute with our floral duvet cover. It is. Plus, it’s always nice to have another backup set in the linen closet.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Casegrace travel jewelry box ($9) – Gone are the days of tucking my jewelry into plastic sandwich bags when I travel! You can see more photos of this practical — and affordable — jewelry case here.
  • Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Lipstick in Fierce Flamingo ($23) – I’m a sucker for pink lipstick and this one is even more vibrant than the shade I typically wear. It’s a fun infusion of color and a shot of dopamine I desperately need in the middle of winter. It’s a bit drying, though, so I can’t wear it for more than one day at a time to allow my lips time to recover.

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Things I Bought & Loved: December 2021

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After two years of leaning into a pandemic wardrobe of yoga pants and sweaters, I’m desperate for a sartorial change and focused my spending on statement pieces this month, along with a dress that will be worn on repeat once the weather gets warm again. It was a Treat-Yo-Self kind of month in the closet that continues to spark so much joy.

On the home front, it was all about our upcoming bathroom renovations. So, while I don’t have anything listed here for home purchases this month (despite ordering a fair amount of products), I’ll be doing a full recap of what we bought for our powder room and main bathroom in the coming weeks! It’s really fun to see it coming together even if we still have a punch list of items yet to order in the next couple of weeks. Wish us luck!

IN THE WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Kate Spade ‘Buckle-Up’ flats in glittery tweed – These make me the happiest! They dress up a little black dress, but they also look cute with jeans and a sweater. I found that they run true to size.
  • Banana Republic pleated sequin mini dress – I bought this when it was on sale for about half price, which is the price point I think you should spend on it. I love BR’s revival, but I don’t think the quality matches the price yet. That said, this is a beautiful dress with lots of shimmer and a fun swingy shape. The lining matches the shape and size of the dress instead of being cut smaller, so it’s a good option for women with hips. The arm holes don’t go down as far as they do on the model, so you’re not actually on the verge of a sideboob peep show. Some of the reviews to say to go down a size. I went with a medium, which was correct. (I’ll typically wear a medium on top and a large on bottom.)
  • Ann Taylor floral shirred v-neck top – This was really a workwear purchase for me. We’re getting back to doing more in-person events and I realized that I don’t have a lot in my closet that actually fits in terms of professional clothes now that we’re coming out of the worst of the pandemic. I went with a medium and it drapes well and has enough room at the top of my hips. The shirred v-neckline is flattering.
  • Loeffler Randall ‘Doreen’ clutch – There have been so many times that I’ve had a special occasion come up that I’ll find a beautiful cocktail dress for, but I’ll come up empty on the clutch. When I saw this beauty, I knew that it’d be the perfect clutch for every foreseeable dressy event. It’s a splurge, but I just had to have it. It’s destined to be one of those timeless items you’ll have in your closet forever. Plus, it actually holds quite a bit. My phone, card case, keys, and lipstick all fit inside with room to spare. It’s worth every penny.
  • Anthropologie tiered v-neck tunic dress – I love, love, love this dress! It’s SO flattering! I also bought this in a medium and it’s flirty and short and so much fun! I can’t wait for warm weather (or a warm-weather getaway) to wear this! I’ll be pairing it with tights until then.

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Things I Bought & Loved in November

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In addition to the items below, I had ordered two items from J.Crew that were huge misses: this dress that ran small in the bodice despite the smocked back (plus, the quality did not warrant the price tag); and this blouse that was the most unflattering shape on me. Oh well, they can’t all be winners, right? Here are the items that made the cut this month:

IN THE WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Karen Walker ‘Number One’ sunglasses in tan/gold – I have these sunglasses in black and tortoiseshell and they remain my favorites, so adding another color when they were on sale seemed like a worthwhile investment in my sunglasses wardrobe.
  • Marc New York ‘Paige’ boucle coat in camel (also available here) – My goal to lose weight this year was largely unsuccessful and I needed a heavier-yet-dressy coat that I could wear this season. This one has a flattering, classic shape and runs true to size. I can’t attest to how warm it is yet, but I was comfortable in it for a long walk with a sweater underneath in 30-degree weather. (I had also tried this coat from the same brand. It’s longer and I preferred the pocket placement, but I was between sizes. The medium was too small to wear with a sweater and I was drowning in the large.)
  • J.Crew supersoft turtleneck sweater in camel – This was my favorite sweater for two years running, but J.Crew reworked the shape and added vents on the sides making it a lot less flattering than it used to be. It’s still incredibly comfortable, which is the only reason I kept it. However, if you loved the version from the last couple of years, this isn’t it.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Reindeer cocktail picks – I randomly came across these on Amazon and it was a quick add-to-cart moment. They’re so darn cute and are good quality.
  • Wood Christmas trees – I found these on Etsy when I was looking for a few Scandinavian-inspired Christmas decorations for our office bookshelf. I bought a large one in natural and a smaller one in green. They’re absolutely darling in person and perfect for an understated holiday touch.
  • Happy Holidays doormat – I impulse purchased this doormat at Target and for $13, it’s perfect!

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Things I Bought & Loved in October (A.K.A. The Loungewear Edition)

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October was all about being cozy with three pajama sets purchased! It was intentional, however, as I have strabismus surgery coming up in November and I wanted to have a selection of loungewear to look forward to wearing on my recovery days. (My left eye has been turning in as I’ve gotten older and I need to have the muscles adjusted so it’s straight again. Yes, I’m nervous. Yes, cute loungewear helps take the edge off.)

I did try on the coat that I was enamored with earlier this month and it was laughably bad on me. The color was beautiful, but the oversize fit was … not great. It looked like I was wearing my father’s jacket. I ordered a couple of additional coats to try and will report back if they’re worth keeping.

Other than that, I did find a beautiful vintage cocktail ring that I posted on my Insta story over the weekend, along with a vintage decanter for our bar. Those will make appearances online eventually!

IN THE WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Ann Taylor bunny pajama set – Proof that bunnies can be chic! I just love these so much. The colors, the contrast cuff, the satin fabric! It’s just all so good. I sized up to a large since the fabric doesn’t have any stretch to it and pajamas definitely can’t be restricting.
  • Soma tank and short pajama set – My favorite pajamas are from Soma’s “Cool Nights” collection, lauded for the fabric’s ability to stay cool and keep from sticking to you at night. I prefer shorts and tanks for sleeping, so this was a no-brainer for my collection. Plus, I can mix and match it with the two pieces below. (I bought a medium, which is my regular size at Soma.)
  • Soma ‘Cool Nights’ long sleeve pajama top – This top also runs true to size. I’ve been wearing it with the shorts from the pajama set above on work-from-home days.
  • Soma ‘Sunday’ lounge pants – I wore the shorts version of these a lot during the pandemic and fully expect the pants to be equally loved. I wear a medium in these as well.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Beech wood doorstops – I actually bought these last month and neglected to tell you about them! Our cat, Oliver, has a tendency to close doors and I get so nervous that he’ll lock himself in a bedroom while we’re gone that I bought four of these to keep our upstairs doors open. They’re prettier than metal doorstops and the price is great at $10 for a set of two.
  • Ranger Station balsam fir candle – The balsam scent of this candle is fresh and clean, making it ideal for the upcoming season. It makes for a great gift too, as it comes with a box of matches and can be used as a cocktail glass once the candle is finished.

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Things I Bought & Loved in September

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The Hill House ‘Athena’ nap dress in Matilda plaid was a standout this month!

Oh, hi! I’m trying to get back into the spontaneity of posting and not worrying so much about things being picture-perfect (which just resulted in me not posting much at all) — and since I love mirror-selfies from others with their new purchases and impromptu outfit pics, I’m doing the same this month to show you just how good this Hill House nap dress is! I’ll admit that I thought they were kind of silly and the long ones were too Little House on the Prairie for my style. But this one is adorable! I love a smocked bodice that doesn’t require a bra and it’s just so ridiculously comfortable. It runs large so you can definitely size down if you’re debating two sizes. The fabric is a lightweight, crisp cotton that would be perfect for warm days. (Those warm days are becoming sparse in Wisconsin, so this is really a jump on next year’s summer wardrobe!)

Another item that topped my favorites of the month is this moody forest landscape by ND Trivette Photography that I picked up at Madison’s art fair last weekend. His work is beautiful if you’re into minimal nature images!

As always, here’s this month’s roundup:

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Hill House ‘Athena’ nap dress in Matilda plaid – Reviewed above!
  • Rothy’s sneakers in juniper terry – I’ve never been a fan of the Rothy’s ballet flats that everyone seemed to have a couple of years ago, but I kept hearing about how comfortable the shoes are. I finally caved and ordered the sneakers when I saw that they were available in emerald (which is one of my favorite colors, even if I don’t wear it often). You guys! They are incredibly comfortable! And, as a bonus, they’re made of recycled water bottles and washable! I tried my regular size 7 first and ended up exchanging them for a 7.5 (once you drop off the incorrect fit and it’s scanned at the shipping company, they’ll send the new pair out). You can get $30 off your first order through the end of September with this link. (Full disclosure, I’ll get $30, too, which I’d likely spend on another pair of these sneakers in a neutral color. I believe it goes down to $20 off after this month.)
  • Madewell drawstring mini slip skirt – I kept thinking about this skirt after posting it in a Monday roundup and couldn’t resist at least trying it in person. It’s really pretty and surprisingly not staticky, which I kind of expected for a satin skirt. It runs a bit large and you could you probably opt for the smaller size if you’re between two. It’s especially cute worn with a chunky sweater.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Target cornhusk pumpkin – I’m all about understated pumpkin decor in the fall and this one is perfect for our entry table.
  • Target faux oakleaves – I swapped out the faux branch pictured here in favor of this oak one from Target. It’s not terribly realistic, but it’s good enough for the time being and the price is right at $5.
  • West Elm linen throw pillow covers in olive – These are prettier in person and classic enough to hold on to forever. They also have a great “golden oak” color that would be lovely this fall.
  • CB2 tealight candle holders – I had been crushing on these for awhile and finally pulled the trigger. They’re gorgeous in person! I have them sprinkled throughout the house, but plan to use them for holiday tablescapes this year. I’m using them with these flameless tealights. See it in action here.
  • CB2 twisted taper candles – I needed a ride-along item at CB2 for free shipping and added these to my cart. They’re an elegant alternative to standard tapers.

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