Another month of pandemic shopping is in the books and, as you can tell, I’m continuing to embrace casual dressing and putting the money I would have spent on my wardrobe toward our home. It’s just hard to justify most clothing purchases right now when we rarely leave the house and I don’t have a reason to dress up — and then there’s the matter of the #PandemicPounds that have crept on, which doesn’t exactly leave me eager to shop for new clothes! (C’est la vie!) Don’t get me wrong, though, I love this shift in priorities and putting resources into our home to make it unquestionably our favorite place to be — which is essential when there’s no end in sight to the pandemic.

CLOTHING
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

• J.Crew linen-blend sweater in navy – I wanted this sweater to be oversize and slouchy, and first ordered a medium which is what I wear in the brand’s Tippi sweater. It was massive. I reordered it in a small when it became final sale and it’s a much better fit while still being boxy.
• J.Crew seaside shorts in loden – These shorts are fantastic for anyone with curvy hips and thighs. They do get a bit stretched out during the day, but not terribly so where you can’t get a second wear out of them. If you tend to be on the cusp of two sizes, go down one. Otherwise, stick with your regular size.

HOME DECOR & IMPROVEMENT

• Vintage tallboy dresser (see it here) – We actually bought this piece back in May from Cream City Restoration in Milwaukee after seeing the pre-restoration version on their Instagram story. It was originally a yellow-orange-ish oak color and we had it stained to a dark walnut to coordinate better with the rest of our dining room furniture. It’s perfect for storing things like linens, serving pieces, and Dave’s work-from-home items so they don’t clutter the table at night!
• Target amber glass candleholder in small (not pictured above) – I have these grandiose plans of lighting candles while we eat dinner this fall. While that’s unlikely to actually happen, I just adored these candlestick holders from Target. Keep an eye out at your local store; they’re great quality. Alternatively, there are some vintage amber-glass options on eBay right now! I love this one and this one.
• Outdoor umbrella in black and white stripe & stand (umbrella available in a 9-foot size here) – Our neighbors removed a mature maple tree from their yard last year and we had no idea how much late-afternoon sun it had blocked from our deck! It was entirely too sweltering to be outside in the direct sun after work (and, c’mon, you know how fair my skin is!), so this was an essential item to make our 5 o’clock patio happy hours much more enjoyable. We opted for this one because the price was better than most umbrellas we found. It’s holding up really well so far. We did have to tighten the screws in the base when we received it, but that’s an easy fix.
• Candlewick trimmer (not pictured above) – This seems like one of those items people claim is essential, but is really just a waste of money. It’s not. It’s been great for trimming wicks in candles that are too low for a traditional pair of scissors. This particular wick trimmer has a nice weight to it and seems like it’ll last.
• Arus plaid throw – I included this in a recent roundup and ended up purchasing the light green plaid one for our back deck. While we don’t need it now thanks to the high temperatures and humidity, I know I’m going to enjoy having it around come fall. I don’t think it’s chic enough for indoor use with its chunky fringe trim and whip-stitch edges, but it’s perfect for cozying up outside.
• Liberty three-prong hook in black (not pictured above) – Finally, I bought a few vintage-inspired hooks for Dave’s closet. These are a no-brainer at just $4 each.

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