Weekend Guide – Page 3

Weekend Links

April 27, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

This week was an adventure on the home front. You may recall earlier this week when I mentioned that we reached out to our electrician for help with installing our bedroom ceiling fan because the existing electrical box didn’t look like it’d support the weight. As it turns out, we’re missing the required ground wire and installing an appropriate electrical box with a ground came to $320, which doesn’t include the cost of installing the fan and comes with some risk of damaging the drywall. So, I think we’re going to pivot and just go with a light fixture and a vintage-inspired tabletop fan on our dresser. It’s not at all what I wanted, but it’s much more cost effective. Plus, this is our first full summer in the house and there’s a chance we won’t even need a fan with our home’s air conditioning.

Then, as I mentioned on Instagram stories, we had four trees removed because they were all infected with emerald ash borer and were dying. It’s definitely a change! The trees were next to our house and offered a lot of shade in our bedroom and office, so it’s a lot more sunny in those rooms in the morning. On the downside, the fourth tree was next to our deck. I was originally pretty excited to get rid of that one since insects would randomly fall out of it while we’re cocktailing outside (ew), but I didn’t realize how much privacy it added. We’re looking at adding some lattice work to the deck to give ourselves a privacy wall from our neighbor. I’ll take photos and do an update on that as we spiff things up for summer. I’m hoping to get started on that project this weekend (or at least draft up plans and choose paint colors and furniture), along with cleaning up our yard, and possibly adding a flower bed next to the garage.

Weekend Links:

A few months ago, Dave suggested that we plan a trip to Japan. It’s not exactly the cheapest place to fly to, so I’m not sure when we’ll actually go, but in the meantime I’m bookmarking travel tips and itineraries like this one for Osaka.
These white and brass hoops are stunning.
What you should really do with your tax return.
Have you switched to the new Gmail yet? Here’s what you can expect.
Add a lace detail to a pair of pumps with this easy DIY.
Your burning cheese-related questions are answered! How long can you leave cheese sit out? And, can you just cut mold off cheese and still eat it?
A comprehensive history of royal wedding gossip.
Tips for saving money when you don’t have a lot of cash to spare.
I’m really into these sandals.
How your favorite retailers curate their playlists.

Finds Under $50:

These resin earrings are great for work and weekend.
Satin criss-cross sandals.
Loving the pattern on this caftan dress.
My favorite under-$50 dress now comes in navy!
Still on the lookout for the perfect straw tote? How about this one?
This tunic-style dress is adorable.

Earlier This Week:

Wearing my new $32 jumpsuit.
The chambray dress in this week’s “The Coveted” is topping my wish list.
Everything I wore in London.

–
Let’s keep in touch! Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Hello Again + Weekend Links

April 20, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Hello! We arrived back in the United States on Monday and spent the night in Chicago before heading to Madison early Tuesday morning. The trip was wonderful (despite being sick for the first three days of it) and I have so many photos to share, along with what we did, what I’d recommend, and tips for traveling to London. (Side note: the Paravel backpack I purchased late last year was the best travel bag. I’m planning to do a full review now that I’ve actually taken it on a trip.) As expected, this week was all about getting settled, unpacked, and back into the groove at work. And, unexpectedly, shoveling out from a mid-April snowstorm. After getting a taste of spring in the U.K., I’m even more anxious for warmer weather to finally arrive!

Weekend Links:

In response to the incident in Philadelphia, Starbucks is closing 8,000 stores on May 29 for anti-racism training. I urge you to take Harvard’s implicit bias tests for an eye-opening look at your own subconscious beliefs. You might be embarrassed about the results, but it’s a valuable way to make you aware of your own biases so you can work to change your knee-jerk response to situations.
A peek into the history of Hanky Panky, which has been making colorful underpinnings in the U.S.A. since 1977.
This is the woven handbag I want for spring.
An interesting opinion piece on why it’s perfectly fine that everyone is insecure.
I think I need an indoor citrus tree.
A list of the most Instagrammable spots in New York City.
This cucumber salad looks like the perfect warm-weather side dish.
I pre-ordered Orlando’s book and it finally arrived this week. I’m only partway through, but it’s hilarious! I’ve read so many sections aloud to Dave, to the point where he’s getting a little annoyed with me.
Why a cashmere sweater can cost anywhere from $30 to $2,000.
Take a look back at some of the Met Gala’s most incredible interiors.

Finds Under $50:

A pretty pair of pineapple earrings. (If pineapples aren’t your thing, how about watermelon slices?)
Bon voyage.
I’m loving the preppy navy and red stripes on this cami.
A contemporary print adds modern appeal to this pretty sundress.
I can vouch that this cream is amazing for your bikini line.
Lucite is such a big trend for spring. These earrings are a great way to try the trend on a budget. (I snagged a long Lucite tassel necklace in London that I’m excited to debut.)
This striped tank top is adorable with the ruffled edge and bow detailing on the back.

Earlier This Week:

Not much, admittedly, but you can peek at a few London snapshots here.

–
Let’s keep in touch! Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Weekend Links

March 31, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Happy Easter weekend! We’re keeping things low key around here, mostly because it’s going to be chilly and windy, which doesn’t offer much motivation to leave the house! While we’re hunkering down at home, I’d like to install the ceiling fan we purchased for our bedroom and the light fixture we bought for the office. Swapping out light fixtures makes the rooms feel more finished, even if they’re not to that point just yet.

In other news, how cute are the red hoop earrings pictured above? Callixto sent them over last week and I can’t wait to pair them with nautical stripes and my favorite pink dress this spring!

Weekend Links:

There’s still time to dye Easter eggs this weekend! I love how these eggs turned out with plant-based dyes.
Instagram is making tweaks to the algorithm to [hopefully] show you more timely content.
These eyelet bow-topped flats are perfect to wear to work this spring. I’m really tempted to pull the trigger!
If you need a reason to visit D.C., look no further than the Renwick Gallery’s new exhibition “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man.”
Exploring why your favorite TV characters with less-than-lavish lifestyles have such expensive wardrobes.
Five stores that will match Costco’s prices.
More photos of Target’s upcoming Opalhouse line. I need to get my hands on those rattan chairs for our enclosed front porch, even if that renovation is a long ways off. (Although, I’m willing to bet that this rattan beauty is better quality than the Target ones will be!)
Add personality to boring white napkins with this dip-dye DIY.
Roasted fennel yogurt dip looks amazing.

Finds Under $50:

These earrings are on sale for a limited time. I love them in white.
I know this is such a dorky thing to be excited about, but I just purchased two of these laundry hampers and they look so good inside the closet.
Add a splash of color to your wardrobe with this red mini dress.
Take 50% off this color-blocked straw tote with code YESPLEASE to bring the price down to $34. It’ll be perfect for your trips to the farmers’ market.
If you were interested in Old Navy’s gingham bow sandals, get ’em now. The last size run sold out within a week. They’re also available in black, coral, or blush suede-like material.
These colorful earrings are fun for summer!

Earlier This Week:

The pieces I added to my wardrobe this month.
This week’s “The Coveted” is all about gingham.
March’s mini moments.
I’m eager to install this light fixture over the weekend. (Find it online here. I only paid $29, so keep an eye on it.)

–
Let’s keep in touch! Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Weekend Links

March 24, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Happy Saturday! We only have one more weekend to go until we’re wheels up in route to London! I can’t adequately describe how happy we are to having a trip on the horizon. We haven’t had a vacation in over a year, with the exception of taking a few days off last summer to paint the house. We both need a break from work and an opportunity to explore a new-to-us city. I’ve been going back and forth on booking reservations for tea at Sketch. It’s obviously an Instagram favorite and the tea service does have good reviews, but I’m not sure if spending the equivalent of $160 is worth it for a photo opp when I’d be just as happy with street food. Other than that, we’re in fairly good shape with our itinerary and we’ll be putting the finishing touches on it this weekend.

We’ll also spend time around the house this weekend putting our spring projects in motion. One of the biggest things we’d like to tackle is our outdoor space. Last summer, our lawn was mostly made up with weeds, which normally doesn’t bother me as long as it’s green, but we want to whip things into shape this year and create an outdoor area that we want to spend time in. We raked the leaves this week and picked up all of the sticks that fell over the winter. We also ripped up the landscape fabric that the previous owner put down over the entire perimeter of the yard for some ungodly reason. It looked awful and you’d see pieces of torn fabric in the yard, especially after mowing. Now that that’s gone, we’ll put down grass seed and see if that takes. We do need to have four trees removed when we get back from our trip because they’re infected with emerald ash borer. I was initially upset that four mature trees need to go, but they’re dying and removing them should give our yard a lot more sunlight in the afternoon. (Plus, one that’s getting taken out drapes over our deck and spiders randomly fall out of it. Ew.) After that, we’ll look to paint or stain our front porch, stain the deck, and buy outdoor furniture. Phew!

Weekend Links:

I’m smitten with Clare Elsaesser’s art. I’m contemplating this print, this one, or this one for our home.
You’ll be surprised to learn what color the Eiffel Tower was originally painted.
This bathroom is seriously inspirational. I love how the different tiles work together to create a cohesive space.
A roundup of spring cocktails to try.
Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham wrote a secret memoir that will be published this September. You can pre-order it here.
Jessica’s roundup of every outfit she wore in Australia is giving me major wanderlust.
This chair is amazing.
I really dislike our kitchen. The walls have an awful textured treatment, the floor is outdated linoleum that looks like river rocks (seriously), and the counter is a speckled brown that hides just about every crumb and spill (great, until you clean and realize it was dirtier than you thought it was). We don’t want to invest too much in a remodel, so we’re just looking at doing cosmetic changes. One will definitely be painting the cabinets white. I’ve bookmarked this post with step-by-step directions for doing it right.
Gray Malin wallpaper is a thing!
My style icon, Iris Apfel, now has her very own Barbie! While I won’t be purchasing the doll, I did just order her book.
16 of the most beautiful streets in the world.

Finds Under $50:

I love the wood detail in these modern earrings.
How great is the bust detailing on this swimsuit?
I’m eager to try this lip scrub.
The perfect mug for weekend coffee.
These bow-topped slides are the cutest!
Classic menswear-inspired pajamas.
The shape of this sleek cocktail shaker is perfect.
A sophisticated jumpsuit that will look adorable with black slides this summer.

Earlier This Week:

Wearing all of my favorites in one outfit.
I have a crush on both pairs of earrings in this week’s “The Coveted.”
Sharing five of my can’t-live-without-it items under $50.

_
image via Unsplash

Let’s keep in touch! Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Weekend Links

March 2, 2018 by jessica 3 Comments

Happy Friday! I couldn’t be happier that this week is wrapping up. I was in a funk for most of it and kind of crabby, which I’m sure is partly due to the transitional weather that seems to drag on when spring is tantalizingly close. On the happier side, I played hooky on Tuesday afternoon to enjoy temperatures that edged close to 60 degrees. I bought myself tulips, went for a two-and-a-half mile walk, and made headway on some blog ideas. This week also marks a personal accomplishment of losing 10 pounds since Thanksgiving. I started counting calories with the MyFitnessPal app at the beginning of the year, so I’m only 5.3 pounds down there, but I’m still really proud of myself. I’m hoping to lose another 10 pounds this year, so form-fitting clothing purchases will be put on the back burner during this time. But you know I’m crazy about the loose dresses, so I’m sure I’ll amass plenty of spring duds I can wear throughout the weight-loss period. 😉 How was your week?

Weekend Links:

My new favorite Twitter account.
Organization guru, Marie Kondo, collaborated with Cuyana on a collection of perfect jewelry travel cases.
Angela kicked off a new blog series where she features her favorite font finds of the month, including a freebie to download. (Don’t be surprised if you see that ‘Chloe’ font make an appearance on the blog.)
Obviously Christmas is a long way off, but I couldn’t help ordering these mules yesterday to pack away for the holiday season. Aren’t they ridiculous in the very best way? It’s basically the shoe version of an ugly sweater.
Here are 45 ideas for decorating a blank wall in your home. Plus, use Grace’s tip for affordable art! (We have a random doorway cut between our master bedroom and the guest room from when the house was a two-flat. The guest room was the kitchen and we had to remove cabinetry when we moved in. The master bedroom must have been the living room. It wouldn’t be so bad if the door frame was more than just haphazard two-by-fours and there was an actual door to separate the rooms. Anyway, we’re looking to close it off and add a shallow bookcase to the master bedroom side to display items. That list is coming in handy.)
An interview with Desiree Gruber with great advice on building your personal brand.
This vase is such a work of art.
Chanel is launching a pop-up beauty shop with so many Instagrammable moments. Swing by if you’re in L.A. at the beginning of March!
My optometrist keeps suggesting I consider LASIK because I’ve had stable vision for well over a decade. (I swear, he must get some sort of referral commission considering how many times he’s suggested it.) Julia’s experience with vision correction sounds like absolute hell and has put me in the “F* no” camp on that one.
Meet the designers behind some of the most striking book covers.

Finds Under $50:

Bow-topped slides in a pretty lavender hue.
A pretty pink sweater is the perfect piece for winter-to-spring weather.
I love that this phone case is inspired by a take-out bag.
If you really want to make a statement at your next cocktail soiree, bust out a vintage-inspired velvet turban.
This dramatic necklace will add a punch to your simplest dresses this spring.
Use code DIYUMSN to take 30% off slides that come in a fun blue glitter option or a multi-color stripe.

Earlier This Week:

Reaching for the classics when I feel uninspired.
This week’s most coveted items.
What I bought this month.
Behind the Baubles with Candy Shop Vintage.

_
image via Unsplash

Let’s keep in touch! Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’