BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Wardrobe Update: July 2017

July 31, 2017 by jessica 4 Comments

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!

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.

MakeMeChic gingham dress (worn here)

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

July 29, 2017 by jessica 3 Comments

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:

I’m so tempted to order these feather earrings.
This midi dress looks like a great summer-to-fall transitional piece that you can wear to the office.
A slinky satin wrap dress for nights out. (Wear it over a turtleneck with booties this fall.)
A pair of oversize geometric earrings.
Wear-with-everything sandals embellished with pearls.

ICYMI:

Wearing a practical take on a romper.
My latest skincare obsession.

My Favorite Facial Moisturizer for Dry, Sensitive Skin

July 26, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

I don’t talk about beauty a lot around here, which is mostly because I have my routine down and I don’t really stray from a natural makeup palette with bright pink lipstick. That said, skincare is something that’s been at the top of my mind lately as I’m getting older and starting to see signs of aging. (I say this as I have the worst sunburn from our weekend in Chicago. Evidently I missed a few places with sunscreen.) One of the things I really wanted to nail down was my daily moisturizer. I had been using Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for years, and while it softened my skin for the most part and absorbed fairly quickly, it didn’t make my skin look or feel any different and I hated that I had to run to the mall or place an online order when it ran out. I then tried a daily moisturizer from Origins, which of course still meant that I had to plan an errand to replenish my supply, but I just loved the packaging and the citrus fragrance so much that I hoped it wouldn’t annoy me as much. However, that moisturizer doesn’t do much for dryness. It felt nice going on and the tub packaging means you can get to every last bit of product, but the dry patches on my face were just as dry afterward.

During a recent trip to Walgreens, I decided to try Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream. I know that a lot of people wax poetic about Burt’s Bees, but my only experience with the brand had been with its lip balm and I wasn’t a huge fan. (I stock up on candy cane ChapStick when it’s available during the holidays.) This face cream, however, is amazing. (Like amazing enough to take a break from packing up our apartment to write this post!) It has a light, creamy texture that feels luxurious and absorbs quickly into the skin leaving it softer and firmer. All of my dry, flaky patches are gone, and there wasn’t even a hint of skin irritation. I’ve only been using it at night for about a week since I still have some of the Origins moisturizer to get through, but there’s already such an improvement in my complexion. The price per ounce is on par with department store brands, which is a little annoying, but it doesn’t bother me given how convenient it is to restock. Seriously, give it a whirl if you’re in a similar boat. I haven’t felt compelled to write about a skincare product in a long time, but I was really surprised by how well this product works and how great it feels.

Windy City

July 24, 2017 by jessica 3 Comments

It’s moving week! And, as I’m sure you’ve guessed it, there won’t be a lot of content on the blog — again — as we finish up packing and move into our house on Thursday! It’s been a whirlwind lately and I can’t wait to finally be living in just one spot. We carved out some time for fun this weekend and headed down to Chicago to explore the city for a couple of days. We really didn’t do a whole lot other than wander around and pop into some of our beloved bars and restaurants. We added Homeslice to our growing list of favorites. The place looks like a log cabin and they serve your beer in a koozie! (Our server let us take a couple of them home!) On the sartorial front, I’ve been living in pajama-esque clothing lately. It’s been far too hot for anything form-fitting and clingy! This impulse-buy from LOFT is one of my favorite ensembles lately. The cami and shorts look cute with other items, but they’re better together as a more practical take on a romper. (The cami runs true to size for your bust, but the midsection is flowy, and the shorts run large.)

Gingham Girl

July 17, 2017 by jessica 3 Comments