BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Coveted

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The Coveted 08.08.2017

August is such a weird month for shopping. I’m terribly excited about all knits and woolens, but I don’t want the warm weather to go away! I find myself scooping up deeply discounted dresses to wear these last weeks of summer (just ordered this one to try), while wish-listing beautiful fall items that are out of my price range (like this gorgeous coat). What I really need to do this month is cut myself off so that I can splurge in September on a piece I’ll wear throughout the season and well into winter.

1. A.P.C. Marianne wool-blend jacket | 2. Zara beaded minaudiere | 3. DIFF Rose 55mm polarized mirrored sunglasses | 4. Astley Clarke Marcel oval hoop earrings | 5. H&M cotton shirt | 6. Lele Sadoughi sugarbush petal ring | 7. NARS dual-intensity eyeshadow | 8. H&M textured skirt | 9. Loeffler Randall Lock faux fur-trimmed shoulder bag | 10. Eddie Borgo Orissa gold-plated hoop earrings | 11. Tory Burch Loretta velvet platform sandals

 

Weekend Reading

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Weekend Reading 08.04.17

We’ve been living with mountains of boxes, rifling through them each time we need something. To say it’s frustrating would be putting it mildly! So, this weekend is all about unpacking and finding homes for our belongings, even if that home is Goodwill. I’m totally going to Marie Kondo this place and get rid of everything that doesn’t “spark joy” or serve a purpose. We have more stuff than I realized and when I want to tuck half of it away in the basement indefinitely, that’s probably a sign that I don’t need it at all. Other than that, we have a few home improvement projects to tackle, a chic ceiling fan to buy (do those even exist?!), meals to cook on the grill, and bike trails to explore around our new neighborhood.

Weekend Reading:

  • One of the best olive oil brands you can get comes from Costco. (This is the one we use most often and I can vouch for its quality, too!)
  • Exploring architecture’s influence on fashion.
  • The unusually popular summer travel destinations for residents in each state.
  • This slinky wrap dress is the most perfect item for the hottest days of summer.
  • I’ve linked to this before, but here’s where you can snag the jewelry cabinet I featured in my Instagram story Thursday night.
  • A new book shares what legendary authors preferred to wear.
  • Are you watching Netflix’s Glow? After reading this article on how the show’s makeup team nailed the 1980’s looks, I’m intrigued!
  • I tried this dress on yesterday and it’s so cute! I’ll be adding it to my wardrobe soon!
  • Your best lipstick shade according to your astrological sign. (I know it’s bunk, but they nailed it with Gemini and my love of bright pink shades!)
  • Traveling without an itinerary sounds like hell to me, but I realize that a lot of the best things that happen on vacation are the things that aren’t planned. Here are tips on how to break the cycle of over-planning before your next escape.

Five Under $50:

Earlier This Week:

  • I only bought four things in July, but they really added up!
  • Coveting summer-to-fall neutrals.
  • A peek at our bedroom inspiration.
  • More weekend links over at Curated Couple! (This is where I’m going to put more of the home-related content as I figure out a good posting groove. I don’t want to inundate you with things here that aren’t style-related if you’re not interested!)

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image via

The Coveted

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The Coveted 08.01.2017

I can’t believe it’s already August! With the house purchase and move, I feel like I haven’t been taking enough time to enjoy my favorite season — and it’s even harder to relish these last summer days with the temptation to shop for fall pieces! (I’m looking at you, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.) So, you’ll have to bear with me as I daydream about transitional items to bring my closet into autumn. Topping my wish list is this cropped jacket from J.Crew. It looks like such a cute piece to throw on with jeans or a fit-and-flare skirt and sneakers over the weekend.

1. Ellery Anthology gold-plated earrings | 2. Aaryah Naz Two Finger Ring | 3. Prada cat-eye sunglasses | 4. Three Graces London Mirinda striped linen and cotton-blend dress | 5. Target Windson wood arm chair | 6. Kate Spade Kelley pillow | 7. Rag & Bone Keaton flat crisscross canvas slide sandal | 8. J.Crew cropped jacket | 9. Nate Berkus brass hexagon end table | 10. Tory Burch rope knot stud earrings | 11. Madewell Devon fringe sandals

 

Wardrobe Update: July 2017

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Loft Garland Mixed Media Cami and Loft Garland Fluid Drawstring Shorts

At this point, a formal budget post gets tricky with how we’re allocating money now that we have a house and we’re adjusting to our new financial plan. As I mentioned last month, we gave each other an allowance of $200 per month to spend on whatever our hearts fancy. Additionally, any blog revenue I earn is going toward my monthly purchases or in a savings account for a splurge-worthy item. It makes a monthly budget fluid and I feel like I need to over-explain where the money came from. So, we’re just going to go back to a monthly wardrobe update for awhile. I still think there’s value in sharing monthly purchases with mini reviews and fit tips, plus I’m nosy myself and they’re my favorite posts to read on other’s blogs!

Wardrobe Update July 2017 :: Bedknobs & Baubles

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial purchases here. I round the prices to the nearest dollar amount and reflect any discounts I applied.

  • LOFT garland mixed media cami ($22.25; worn here): I bought this solely to wear with the matching shorts as a practical take on a romper, and I absolutely love how they look together. The front of the cami is made from a woven material and the back is a lightweight jersey, which is a little weird and I would have preferred that the fabric on the front continued around back. However, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. It runs large with the swing shape throughout the torso, but you’ll want to opt for a size that fits your bust so that it lays correctly.
  • LOFT garland fluid drawstring shorts ($24.75; worn here): These have a wonderful silky material with a nice drape and weight to them. They also run large, so you’ll definitely want to try a size smaller. They get a little wrinkly when you’re sitting on them throughout the day, but the print camouflages it.
  • Loeffler Randall tassel pouch in melon leather fringe ($100): I bought this during Loeffler Randall’s end-of-season final sale. The fringe leather is unlike anything I own, making it a unique piece to add to my collection.
  • Kate Spade brushed silk swing dress ($266): This dress is my only Nordstrom Anniversary Sale purchase and I can’t say enough good things about it. I almost didn’t spring for it, considering the price point is still high and we’re feeling strapped for cash right now. (Houses are not cheap!) But I hadn’t found a dress that seemed so “me” in a long time and I loved that this had a short, loose shape with long sleeves. I ordered it thinking that I could easily return it if I wasn’t as enamored in person, but it turned out to be as lovely as I imagined it would be. It looks adorable with bare legs and flats for fall and it’ll continue into winter with tights. Go with your regular size, even if you have wide hips like I do. There’s plenty of fabric to skim over your hips so you can go with the correct fit on top.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.

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

  • LOFT striped wrap maxi dress ($49): I really wanted to love this, but it was way too large on top and kept falling open. I don’t think it would have been such an issue if the dress had adjustable shoulder straps.

SHOP IT

Weekend Reading

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Weekend Reading 07.28.17

We officially moved into our house on Thursday afternoon with the help of hired movers — thank goodness! I thought it was such an indulgent expense when we’re still young(ish) and able-bodied, but it really helped reduce a lot of the stress we would have felt otherwise. The house is in a good spot, too. We took care of the painting that we could conceivably get through before moving in, and the floors are refinished and gorgeous. There are still plenty of projects waiting in the wings, but the pressure to get things done after work every day has dissipated. We’ll work on a little bit here and there and it’ll be done before we know it — with the exception of big, expensive projects like a bathroom remodel. For now, however, I’m luxuriating in how wonderful it is to have all of our belongings in one place again — even if we don’t know where half of them are in the mountain of boxes waiting to be unpacked!

Weekend Reading:

  • The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is still going strong! If you didn’t shop earlier with this neat trick (bookmark it for next year!), now’s the time to scour the sale and see if there are any fall pieces you’d love to add to your wardrobe. I ordered some Smartwool no-show socks since I’m all about the bare ankles throughout the year, and this dress, which is a splurge, but I’m in love with it. (Happily, there’s enough room with the swing shape to accommodate full hips without having to go up a size!)
  • Sephora is testing a boutique-style shop in response to consumer habits.
  • As if I didn’t already have wanderlust, Temple St. Clair’s guide to Florence is making me want to book a trip!
  • This adorable couple travels around the world and takes the best photos interacting with the local architecture.
  • This interview with Giada de Laurentiis is filled with tips to take your pasta to the next level.
  • Even though this isn’t my style in the least, I’m really into to this popover anorak in green.
  • We painted our wood-paneled office white, which is a refreshing blank slate, but we’re eager to add some personality to the room with artwork by way of a gallery wall. I’ve pinned this guide from Emily Henderson for reference when we collect enough pieces!
  • Ugh, these are so expensive, but I want to wear them every day this fall!
  • Simple, fresh salads are at the top of my menu during these sweltering summer months. This one with tomatoes, nectarines, and fresh mozzarella looks incredible.
  • Remembering costume jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane, who passed away this week.

Five under $50:

ICYMI: