BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Tropical Vibes

August 22, 2016 by jessica 13 Comments

I can’t believe it’s Monday already! We had an extended weekend that began on Thursday with a trip to visit my parents in northern Wisconsin. We didn’t do much other than swing by the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth, Minn., which was awful. As an event manager, I can be unfairly critical of other events, but this so poorly run that it made for a sour experience. Oh well. Not all weekend outings can be stellar, right? At least it was a beautiful day!

In other news, I finally ponied up the cash to purchase Adobe Lightroom. Game. Changer. Photo editing is a breeze and images look so much better edited in Lightroom versus Photoshop where I’m far too likely to screw up the color. (I’m really tan this year compared to my normal ultra-pale skin tone. It throws me off and I find myself removing orange hues from photos!) I also scooped up this summer dress from Target (available online in black). I’m not ready to start dressing for fall just yet, especially when tropical prints look so good with this necklace from Lisi Lerch. Lisi is basically the queen of tassel jewelry and I’m thrilled to share a “Behind the Baubles” interview with her later this week! (One quick note about the necklace: the tassel was askew after its trip through the mail, but a quick clamp in a hair straightener fixed it.)

Dress: Target (in black; love this version for pre-fall)
Necklace: c/o Lisi Lerch
Ring: c/o Julie Vos
Bracelet: House of Harlow (similar)
Sandals: Steve Madden (old, love these)
Bag: Cult Gaia
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop

The Weekend Guide

August 19, 2016 by jessica 2 Comments

GAIN
Interior designers always have the inside scoop on the best places to scout out home decor. Here are seven shops to keep on your radar.

MEET
There’s a new class of CDFA Fashion Incubator designers. Meet them here. (I can’t pick a favorite!)

READ
Have you watched Stranger Things yet? We wrapped up the season last week. I didn’t love it the way some people did, but still really enjoyed the season and its nod to ’80s horror motifs.

SHOP
Tory Burch’s Private Sale is coming to a close today. I picked up a merino wool knit cap topped with a fluffy fur pom pom. Whether we want to admit it or not, it’ll be winter eventually. (How’s that for pessimism?)

TRAVEL
I’m all about visiting local markets when I’m overseas, so I’m bookmarking this one if we ever find ourselves in Paris.

SIP
This is probably the prettiest smoothie I’ve ever seen and it’s made with natural ingredients.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Took part in a Clutter Cleanse Challenge.
Coveted more pre-fall pieces.
Wore a wooden watch.
Added a vintage snake necklace to my collection.
Floated away with this cutie.
Headed up north to visit my parents and will be attending the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth today!

PLUS, ENTER TO WIN!
There’s still time to enter to win a travel atomizer from Travalo valued at $50!

Back to Nature

August 18, 2016 by jessica 3 Comments

A few weeks ago, JORD reached out to me with the offer to try out one of their wood watches. I’m not opposed to wooden accessories. In fact, few things are more perfect for summer than a stack of wooded bangle bracelets or a necklace of wooden beads. But a wood watch? I was skeptical at first, but curiosity got the better of me and I picked out the Cora style with a rose gold face and koa wood. It turned out to be a versatile statement piece for summer, especially with a neutral outfit.

When placing an order, you’ll be asked to supply your wrist measurements in centimeters to ensure a comfortable fit. Despite this, my watch was a link too large when it arrived a few days later and off to the jeweler I went to have it resized. A few minutes later, the watch was ready for its debut. I was initially struck by how lightweight the watch is. The barely-there weight isn’t terribly surprising given that koa wood is known for its buoyancy. (In fact, ancient Hawaiians used to craft canoes and surfboards out of the material). Beyond that, it’s just an aesthetically beautiful timepiece with thoughtful details. I love that you can see the self-winding movement of the watch through the clear circle on the face and also through the transparent back of the watch. The face is dotted with Swarovski crystal markers and covered with strong, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. Even the packaging is a showstopper with a tweed pillow nestled in a substantial wood box (containing extra links, of course) making it perfect for gift giving — even if it’s just for yourself! (No judgement here!)

Sweater: J.Crew
Shorts: Lou & Grey (go up a size; a bit sheer if they’re snug)
Watch: c/o JORD
Bag: Banana Republic (smaller similar style)
Sandals: Birkenstock
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop
Bracelet: Hermes
Rings: c/o Julie Vos, Monica Vinader

Wooden Watch Review

Thanks to JORD for partnering on this post!

The Coveted

August 16, 2016 by jessica 6 Comments

There’s more to love:

The Clutter Cleanse Challenge with NuFACE

August 15, 2016 by jessica 6 Comments

Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we own. Going through our garage a few weeks ago and donating seven bags of unloved treasures was a great first step, but it doesn’t end there. We have the second half of the garage to weed through, unworn items hiding in our closet, unloved dust-collectors in our living space, and unused beauty products in the bathroom. It’s time to shed the clutter and keep only the items that are truly loved and actually used, which is why I’m embarking on the 28-Day Clutter Cleanse Challenge with NuFACE.

NuFACE launched the #LessStuffMoreMe challenge in an effort to help women live a true, authentic life free from clutter, starting with their cosmetic drawers. Did you know that 75% of cosmetic users don’t actually finish a container of product? I know I’m guilty of keeping partially used products sitting around, and don’t get me started on the sample-sized goodies I haven’t tried yet! The challenge extends to other areas as well, including putting a spotlight on overflowing closets and handbags, and a reminder to treat yourself with tech-free days and alone time.

The challenge actually started on July 25, so I’m jumping in late on day 22 with a much-needed overhaul of my handbag. Try it yourself later today and see how much you can toss after going through every nook and cranny of your purse and wallet, photograph it, and tag your challenge photo on Instagram with @MyNuFACE and #LessStuffMoreMe. Not only will you meet other women who are taking part in the 28-day challenge, you’ll also be entered to win $500 to celebrate your clutter-free life with friends. You can read more about the giveaway here.

If you’re like me and are joining the clutter-free fun late, I encourage you to start at the beginning in a few days. Use the calendar as a way to break down what could otherwise be an overwhelming task. The steps above will help guide you to a clutter-free life in a stress-free way. I’m anxious to streamline my beauty routine, especially with the addition of the NuFACE device. I’ve only used it once and it can take up to 60 days for visible results with use five days a week for five minutes a day. I’ll be sure to post again once I’ve tried the device for a few months with an update on its effectiveness — and hopefully an improvement in the fine lines I’m starting to spot!

DAY 22 CLUTTER-CLEANSE RESULTS

How does so much stuff accumulate in a purse? I’m fairly good at tossing old receipts and tissues, but the challenge made me realize that I could do a better job at that. It seems that once a coupon or gift card makes its way into my wallet, it’s never to be seen again. I threw away a few Victoria’s Secret coupons (including an expired $10 reward coupon earned with credit card points — that hurt), and discovered a couple of gift cards with balances remaining that have been in there for years ($5 to Starbucks and $15 to Barnes & Noble). I also went through my work tote and the cosmetic case I throw in it, which includes things like Band-Aids, lip balm, and floss.

Thanks to NuFACE for partnering on this post!