BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Look for Less: Marysia One-Piece Swimsuit

April 20, 2017 by jessica 4 Comments

Lydia’s comment on yesterday’s post prompted me to go on an Internet scavenger hunt last night to find affordable alternatives to the Marysia swimsuits we all love. It’s definitely easier to find scalloped-edged bikinis, so I focused my hunt on one-piece bathing suits, which I love more anyway. (Seriously, why bother killing yourself at the gym just to get a summer-ready bikini body? Pack it all in a one-piece, grab an umbrella cocktail, and call it a day! #MoreToLifeThanAbs 😉 ) I bypassed quite a few cheap-looking versions and narrowed it down to three I felt were the best “inspired by” swimsuits that look like they cost more than they do. The key was finding options with a textured fabric, which is characteristic of a lot of Marysia suits.

First up, this black one-shoulder swimsuit that comes in at just $39.99. It has quite the flirty back! It’s also available in magenta.

Next, a bright poppy bathing suit. This is the most expensive of the group at $99.99, but it’s still a far cry from dropping over $300 on a swimsuit. Like the black one, it doesn’t have a lot of coverage in the back. It’s also available in white and black.

And, finally, my favorite of the three: this white halter-top suit. It’s the least expensive at $28.99. It has full coverage, so you won’t need to worry if you’re rocking some love handles this year. The online description says the swimsuit is fully lined. Hopefully it’s done well enough that a dip in the pool won’t leave you overexposed!

Let me know if you try any of these! I’d love to know if they’re as great in person as I hope they are!

The Coveted

April 19, 2017 by jessica 5 Comments

Weekend Reading

April 15, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

Goodness, what a week. We fell head-over-heels in love with the house we saw on Sunday, put in an offer over asking, and on Tuesday morning we received news that we didn’t get it. I didn’t expect to feel as heartbroken as I did and I left work early to come home and curl up in a depressed pile on the couch. This process is heart wrenching. It’s not just a piece of property you’re looking to buy, it’s a home and a life and a future. There’s so much wrapped up in putting in that offer that it’s soul-crushing when it doesn’t work out the way you hope it will. It’d be one thing if Madison had more houses on the market, but we’ve now gone another week and there’s nothing that we want to see. Plus, real estate in this market is expensive. Our budget is $275,000 and that will either get us a boring, carpeted, newly built home in the suburbs or a 1940s home that has never been renovated, doesn’t have a dishwasher, and no garage. So, the rare house that falls within our preferred neighborhoods that has the pretty finishes and upgrades go for $20,000 or more over asking. I’m scared that we’re going to find ourselves settling on a dumpy little home that we’re lukewarm about at best. It’s stressful and I so badly want it to work out for us. I know this isn’t the most uplifting life update, but #RealLife?

Anyway, here’s what I came across this week:

ON TOUR: Take a peek behind the scenes at the Lulu Frost studio with designer and founder Lisa Salzer.

BE INSPIRED: I loved going down memory lane with Emily Henderson in her post about their first home and everything they did to renovate and decorate. I found the kitchen especially inspiring. She didn’t have money for a full gut and renovation, but a backsplash, new counters, new cabinet hardware, and a coat of paint made a huge difference. Plus, that’s something that we can afford if our future kitchen is less than picture perfect.

EDIT: I’m such a Gray Malin fan girl, so I loved this post about how he edits his iPhone photos.

GIGGLE: I’m sure anyone who has had a bar haircut can relate to this.

WEAR: I spotted these earrings online yesterday and immediately went to H&M to buy them. They’re large and heavy and the cheap metal will probably irritate my skin, but I love them all the same!

WASH: I will never be someone who only shampoos occasionally. I don’t understand you people and, frankly, I don’t need to be convinced that it’s better to cut back on shampooing. My hair looks better when it’s squeaky clean.

SMILE: I loved this piece on how women are routinely judged more harshly than men in fictional shows.

My Shopbop Sale Find

April 14, 2017 by jessica 2 Comments

Oh, did you happen to hear that there’s a Shopbop sale happening right now? 😉 Of course you did, given that everyone is talking about it this week. I didn’t want to succumb to the pressure to highlight the same sale and the same items as everyone else, but then I placed my own purchase for these sandals and I couldn’t let the opportunity for you to score them on sale go unannounced. I had them pinned to my secret “stuff I’ll probably buy in the future” Pinterest board for a few weeks and figured I’d probably buy them eventually, so why not take advantage of the discount? I’m in love, you guys! The leather is so soft that they feel like slippers! (Admittedly, the leather is a little squeaky right now, but I’m going to hit it with some leather conditioner later today ease some of the friction.)

Soludos, how do you manage to make such comfortable summer shoes?!

And, of course, that got me revisiting the sale this morning to find other items I would have purchased had I not been on the hunt for a house. (Sidebar: we put an offer on a house earlier this week — over the listing price, again — and lost out on it. I’m still heartbroken.) Here’s what captured my fancy:

These blue and white beaded earrings that I’ve waxed poetic about before.
A romper with a fresh citrus print.
This woven bag for the confetti-inspired handle alone.
The bold irises printed on this flirty dress.
A fun iPhone case for summer.

Featured above:
Sea & Grass tote | Soludos slides (also available here) | Ann Taylor earrings | Kate Spade passport cover (similar)

Time for Spring

April 13, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

This week has just been slipping away from me! I’ve barely had enough time to take care of my priority list at work, let alone blog in the evening! So, it’s especially fitting that today’s post is all about the watch brand that I’m currently obsessed with: Welly Merck. Welly Merck was founded by a couple that met on a trip to Italy: Merck, an American man who was born into a steel artisan family, and Welly, a Swiss woman who came from a traditional watch-making family. After a transcontinental romance, Merck eventually moved to Switzerland to be with Welly and the two merged their artisan skills to launch a watch brand commemorating their love story.

The timepiece these two lovebirds created is absolutely stunning! If you saw my Instagram story last week, you know I was already over-the-moon with the company based on the packaging alone. I mean, a turquoise gift box with a magenta ribbon?! Be still my beating heart! Of course, the piece nestled inside that box was even more beautiful. I chose the “Classic Chicago” design with a gold-plated mesh band and a white face. The watch has a nice weight to it that feels luxurious rather than heavy, and the flexible mesh band and clasp allows you to size the watch without going to a jeweler. (I have tiny wrists and I always have to get links taken out of watch bands. I love that this one can be easily adjusted for my pint-sized wrists.) My favorite aspect of the watch is that the substantial mesh band looks like a luxe piece of jewelry that you can stack with your other beloved pieces. It also comes in rose gold and silver, allowing you to pick the piece that will coordinate with your collection. You know I’m all about my gold costume jewels, so I felt I’d get the most mileage out of the gold version. Although, that rose gold watch was awfully tempting! (There are also leather straps available if metal isn’t your thing.)

The watch is an investment for many budgets, coming in at $265. While I received a complimentary sample, I do feel like the quality is in line with that price point. It feels — and looks — more expensive than it is. Plus, after a week of wear, it seems like it’ll be scratch-resistant, keeping it picture-perfect for years to come.

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A big thanks to Welly Merck for partnering on this post!