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Mini Moments: March 2018

March 29, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Mini Moments: March 2018

March was fun, but I have to admit that I’m excited for it to be over so we can finally head into spring! Granted, I’ve already been pretending the weather is warmer than it actually is with bare legs and sleeveless tops (this machine-washable merino shell is perfect for work).

In addition to this month’s mini moments below, we’ve been gearing up for our London trip. It’s wheels up next Friday and I can’t wait! Dave splurged to upgrade our seats to United’s Economy Plus, so I’m sure I’ll feel extra fancy next week. (He went with the subscription option for Economy Plus where you and another passenger can be upgraded on every flight for a year. We’re going to Austin at the end of May and we’d like to book something else for later in the year to make sure we get our money’s worth. We’ve been daydreaming about Europe for Christmas markets this December if we somehow find ourselves with extra cash, but that seems unlikely with our house projects!)

Mini Moments (top to bottom, left to right):

  • A new brewery opened in Madison. The couple of beers we tried were really good and well balanced, and they have a rotating menu from one of the best chefs in town. We’ll likely be frequenting the place this spring and summer since it’s right off the bike path. Part of the reason we moved to the neighborhood we did was for the walkability and bikeability to bars and restaurants, and we’ve certainly been taking advantage of it! A couple of weeks ago, we ventured off for a Sunday Funday with a few of our neighborhood friends and had a blast visiting dive bars and playing shuffleboard.
  • I finally hung up artwork in our bedroom! I’ve had that print (c/o Minted) for a couple of years now and it’s never actually been on a wall. I’ve only had it propped up against the wall in our apartment because I couldn’t find just the right spot for it despite adoring it as much as I do. The colors work so well with our accent wall and that new Target throw blanket. (It does look a little small in that photo, but it should be okay once we get curtains installed.)
  • Admittedly, I’m not always the best at breaking down cardboard boxes and recycling them right away. I finally got around to it and, of course, Bacon picks the Gucci box to play in. What a fancy cat!
  • We stopped by a local greenhouse last weekend to purchase a snake plant for this planter. Thanks to the perfect rows of spring plants, I left inspired to work on our deck and yard when we get back from our trip. We’ve even picked out our deck paint already!
  • We’re starting to replace our light fixtures around the house. Some will be replacing ceiling fans, so we’ve opted to buy medallions to cover up any damage from the brackets rather than patching it. I love the added architectural detail to our 1920s home. The polka dot trim on this ceiling medallion makes it my favorite one yet.
  • I’m just going to go ahead and pack this entire outfit for London.
  • A bathroom renovation is a long way off, but I can’t help daydreaming about the tile we’ll eventually get! I love this floor, and I’ve had this tile and this one bookmarked, but a vintage-inspired hexagon pattern is just as tempting.
  • Last Sunday was a pretty perfect spring day in Madison, so we went for a long walk up and around the Capitol.
  • This gorgeous alabaster lamp (c/o Cottage & Bungalow) was all the motivation I needed to restyle our bar cabinet. I love the mid-century modern shape and the natural element the stone brings to the space. I’ll have more photos and a discount code for you next week!

More Mini Moments: January, February

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: mini moments

The Coveted: Gingham Edition

March 27, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

The Coveted 03.27.2018

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN

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Filed Under: Style, The Coveted Tagged With: gingham, spring style, the coveted

Wardrobe Update: March 2018

March 26, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Tory Burch plaid coat + Gucci small Marmont bag

This month was all about checking things off of my long-term wish list and filling gaps in my wardrobe. This made it an expensive month, but I feel really good about where things are at and it’s nice to have these essential pieces taken care, even if it makes this year’s wardrobe additions seem awfully boring when viewed together. Many of these purchases were in preparation for London. I needed a few foundation items (like jeans in a smaller size and loafers) to mix and match on our trip. I’m trying to pare down my suitcase substantially this time around. I tend to rewear items on trips, so I’m just going to embrace it. (I’ll share my packing list this week.) Granted, not as fully as I did in Copenhagen a couple of years ago when I didn’t realize it would be as cold as it was and I wore the same sweater and jeans every day!

I’m sure I’ll do enough damage to my bank account on our trip, but I’m primarily hoping to pick up housewares as souvenirs instead of clothes. (I say this knowing that I won’t be able to resist bringing home a piece of jewelry to commemorate our first visit to the U.K.) Once we’re back, I’ll take a look over my spring and summer wardrobe and see what kind of holes need to be filled or trends I’d like to embrace this year. I have so many spring dresses that I love and am excited to wear, so it’s not like I need anything, but it’s also nice to freshen up things with a floaty new frock. After all, spring shopping is the best shopping!

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

  • Gap mid-rise true skinny ankle jeans – I already own these jeans, but my current pair is getting baggy after I lost 10 pounds since Thanksgiving. The recent Friends & Family promotion made snagging a smaller pair a no-brainer. I’m going to bring these on the trip along with the larger pair for when I inevitably eat too many orders of fish and chips.
  • Banana Republic machine-washable merino shell in medium blue vintage – When I was scouring the Gap family of brands during their Friends & Family promotion for the aforementioned jeans, I came across this merino shell. It’s not exactly the most exciting purchase, but it’s a versatile piece to wear to work with an a-line mini skirt or jeans on casual days. I’ve already worn it three times and it retains its shape throughout the day.
  • Lululemon “Effortless Jacket” in navy – Dave had heard good things about Lululemon’s men’s pants for travel, but they didn’t stack up. (They made his rear end look baggy.) While he was shopping, I came across this cropped jacket and fell in love. It’s such an impulsive purchase for me, but I think it’s going to be great for bike riding on chilly days. It runs incredibly large. I first started with an 8 and 10 in the fitting room, then tried the 6, and then the 4. I liked how the 4 fit most in the body, but the sleeves were too short and so I opted for the 6 instead. The jacket has so many pockets and storage options, plus there’s a stowaway hood in the collar for unexpected showers. The cropped length also looks adorable with casual dresses.
  • Madewell “Elinor” loafer in black – I already have these loafers in brown and wanted the black pair in the rotation. They’re so comfortable right out of the box with zero breaking in necessary. (True be told, I really wanted these, but they’re on backorder until the end of May.)
  • Paravel crossbody capsule in scout – I received a 20% discount code and figured it was a good time to buy the Paravel bag I’ve crushed on since last summer. It’s every bit as perfect in person!
  • Old Navy jersey knit swing dress in grey – I snagged this to wear on the plane. I’ve tried a variety of flight outfits over the years and I’m always most comfortable in a loose dress. I don’t get terribly cold on planes, but I’ll layer this with a cardigan and a cashmere wrap that doubles as a blanket, and will slip on compression socks when it’s time to sleep. (#SoChic)
  • vintage necklace (pictured above) – I couldn’t pass up this $10 beauty when we visited a local vintage shop earlier in the month.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • Sam Edelman “Lior” loafer in black – The toe box was way too long for me and they felt cheap in person.
  • Banana Republic “Sloan” skinny-fit pant in black – I loved these pants a few years ago when I was a size smaller than I am now. I can technically zip up the other pair, but they’re so tight that they look like yoga pants! I decided to order the size larger to bring on our trip and wear to work this season. Unfortunately, though, Banana Republic must have changed the fit because I can’t even come close to zipping the larger pair.
  • Leith racerback shift dress in light pink – I love this dress so much in black (worn here), but the light pink was a let down. It was a bit on the sheer side and looked inexpensive.

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Filed Under: Budget, Style Tagged With: Purchase Reviews, wardrobe update, wardrobe welcome

Weekend Links

March 24, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Weekend Links 03.24.18

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.

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image via Unsplash

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Weekend Guide Tagged With: Weekend Links

5 Items Under $50 I Can’t Live Without

March 22, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

Don’t you just love when you find an inexpensive item that becomes so integral to your routine that you couldn’t imagine your life without it? Me, too! Which is why I was so excited to take part in the first-ever blog linkup for <em>press themes that challenged participants to share their must-have items under $50. Below, you’ll find five of my everyday essentials along with a list of other people who are divulging their favorites. Be sure to share your own in the comments! I’m all for any new-to-me products that can make my life easier!

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

If you suffer from dry flaky skin, you need to add this serum to your beauty arsenal. This is the only thing that has worked to keep flakiness at bay and keep my complexion smooth. I apply one pump of product and follow up with moisturizer once it’s absorbed. The texture of the product doesn’t feel luxurious — and sometimes a little sticky — but after you smooth it on and leave it for 15 minutes or so, it disappears into your skin and feels weightless. In the morning, those little flakes have miraculously disappeared leaving my skin smooth and soft. The price is steep at $36 per ounce, but you really don’t need a lot of product at a time.

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

Full wallets take up so much space in a purse, and it’s space I don’t really have given my affinity for small crossbody bags! A few years ago, I purchased a small card case like this one (Kate Spade ones often go on sale, too) and haven’t looked back since. It takes up barely any room to bring along my true must-haves — driver’s license, credit card, debit card, and $20 worth of cash — freeing up space for my other daily essentials. I keep my wallet handy in my closet for additional credit cards, gift cards, and loyalty cards.

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

Every now and then I suffer from insomnia. It was worse at the apartment before we purchased our house, which leads me to believe that a lot of if is anxiety-based given that the house hunt was so stressful, but I still struggle with it every few weeks. One of the things that has helped the most is this white noise machine. It creates a soothing sound of rushing air that drowns out other ambient noise and you can adjust the speed and tone to find the one that’s best for you. (On the most restless nights, ZzzQuil or one of its generic counterparts works, too. Plus, you get the benefit of those crazy NyQuil dreams without the cold medicine.)

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

I’ve had these tweezers since college and they’re the absolute best at plucking stray hairs and they’re sharp enough to grab even the most pesky ones. If your tweezers ever get dull, you can send them back to Tweezerman to get sharpened for free.

5 Items Under $50 I Can't Live Without

This portable charger is one of the most useful items under $50 that we own. We purchased it before we went to Copenhagen back in 2014 and were incredibly impressed with its staying power on the trip. It can fully charge an iPhone five times before its battery depletes and the relatively slim profile makes it easy to carry around all day. Plus, you can plug in two phones at once. Not only do we bring this charger on every vacation, we typically carry it with us when we’re out on the weekend. It’s small enough where Dave doesn’t mind putting it in his pocket if my purse space is at a premium.

What are your favorite items under $50? Share in the comments below!

Visit the following blogs to see other must-haves under $50! 

Indigo Row
A Touch of Teal
Sincerely, Dani Rose
Luv in the Bubble
TamarasJoy.com
Not for Wallflowers
Politics of Pretty
Monica Dutia
Rosé and Brosé
VICILOVES
Beauty and Burberry
Victoria McGinley Studio
Elembee
The Sasha Nicole
<em>dash

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: beauty, essential items, First Aid Beauty, lifestyle, must-have items

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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.

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Our guest room wasn’t a design priority until la Our guest room wasn’t a design priority until late last year when we finally bought a bed, mattress, and a set of sheets. We used some of our own extra bedding (tucking in the generous overhang of our king blankets under the queen-sized mattress) and old bedside lamps from our bedroom: functional, but not quite the charming space I’d envisioned.
 
That started to change when I purchased the Popcorn Grid Coverlet from Schoolhouse — an item I’d been eyeing for years — plus some graphic floral pillows. Then came a bright blue round cushion and the sweetest Teig lamp, both generously gifted by Schoolhouse, and the room finally started to come together. You can shop my picks here: https://liketk.it/5f322

#Ad #SchoolhousePartner #SchoolhouseSpringStyle #SchoolhouseLiving #InteriorInspo #SlowDecorating #GuestRoom
Growing up in northern Wisconsin, lilacs always hi Growing up in northern Wisconsin, lilacs always hit peak bloom right around my birthday on May 30. My mom would fill a large crystal vase with fresh-cut stems, and their scent would waft through the house. 

Now that I live a few hours south and lilac season wraps up earlier, the blooms actually mark the start of my birthday month.

#Lilacs #LilacSeason #SpringFlowers #InBloom #BirthdayMonth #MayBirthday
Snapshots from the past week: • Spent quality t Snapshots from the past week:

• Spent quality time with my favorite cat

• Biked for Pacificos, chips and quac, and tacos at @bandit.tacos 

• Loved how the rain collected on the Lady’s Mantle I planted last year

• Dipped my toes (quite literally) into this year’s mesh shoe trend

• Snapped a lot of Lily content

• Drove home with a new lilac in the passenger seat
Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours this year, and the cute Teig Lamp from Schoolhouse is such a charming addition to the space. It’s named for the German word for “dough,” which is perfect for its soft, petite shape.

Find this and the other Schoolhouse items we’re using in the space here: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/bedknobsandbaubles/posts/e01ae8c9-38af-11f0-b5c2-0242ac11000b

(The lamp and circle pillow were gifted. I purchased the other items.)

 #schoolhousespringstyle #schoolhousepartner #ad
Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka do Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka dot of bright blue to punctuate our guest room bedding. 

#guestroom #bedding #schoolhouseliving #schoolhouse #landsend #homedesign
I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog of travel photos before we book our next trip. First up, photos of the gothic York Minster. I’m not religious in the slightest but I can’t resist stunning architecture and the opportunity to climb hundreds of cathedral stairs for a city view. This one only had a single rest stop about halfway up the flight of 275 steps for a closeup view of the flying buttresses — and a waiver you had to sign before your ascent to promise you’re healthy enough to make it.
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