BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Weekend Guide

July 15, 2016 by jessica 1 Comment

FIRST THINGS FIRST…

It seems like every week there’s another awful thing happening in the world. Last night, a flat-bed truck plowed into a Bastille Day celebration in Nice killing 84 people. I don’t have the words to express how incredibly sad, heartbreaking, and shocking yet another terrorist attack is. While evidence proves that the world is becoming less violent, it doesn’t always feel that way.

REMINISCE
Reese Witherspoon took a trip down memory lane showing off — and trying on — some her costumes from Legally Blonde. Bend and snap, ladies!

DISCOVER
Before the cronut, there were fondue parties, ranch dressing on everything, and ladies flocking to the bar to order a cosmo. See what foods were popular over the last 40 years.

KNOW
I’m totally into Pokémon Go, especially because the location-based, augmented reality game is being considered a fitness fad, urging people to get outdoors and walk to catch ’em all. Personally, I enjoy taking a couple of 10-minute walks to break up the work day. Did you know the game was actually conceived two years ago as an April Fool’s joke?

SEE
Photographer Oliver Curtis turned his back on the world’s most famous landmarks to take photos in the “wrong” direction.

ENJOY
Researchers have discovered a strong link between those who drink more and those who exercise more.

MAKE
If you’ve dreamed of heading to New York Fashion Week, Cathy’s guide is a must read. She walks you through the steps to secure a hotel, and snag invitations to shows and presentations. Fair warning: you’ll have to hustle to make it happen.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Enter to win a personalized gemstone necklace.
Sipping on tropical drinks in Chicago.
A frond-print dress in the Windy City.
This week’s most coveted items are perfect for late summer.
My thoughts on the #NSale.

Thoughts on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

July 14, 2016 by jessica 8 Comments

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, or #NSale as you’ll see on social media for the next few weeks, is touted as the best sale event of the year. And, on its face, it is an enticing event with fall merchandise on sale before the season even begins. However, I don’t think the hype around the event is justified. I muddled through all 96 pages of the women’s sale and struggled to come up with a list of my favorites. Many items are inexpensive pieces from lower-end brands, others are just ugly (who is wearing this or, worse, this?), and some pieces are simply lackluster. I don’t know how many people are waking up today thrilled to discover a surprisingly high number of socks at discounted prices. I just don’t think the sale is as great as bloggers make it out to be.

Eventually I did find a few pieces I could get behind (listed above) and I’ve even added a couple to my wish list to revisit after the early access portion of the sale ends on July 22 and opens up to everyone. While there’s an option to sign up for a Nordstrom credit card or a debit card that pulls from your bank account, I’m not doing that. I’ll roll the dice and see if anything is available in a week. By then, I suspect some of the sale sparkle will have worn off anyway.

You can browse the sale merchandise here, and if — unlike me — you do spot something you can’t live without, snag it before the sale ends on Aug. 7.

The Coveted

July 12, 2016 by jessica 5 Comments

*This bag is also available in a smaller version. I have the small Kerrington bag in another pattern and adore it. (Worn here.) It looks like this season’s small version is better, though, with a removable shoulder strap. I have to tuck mine inside the bag. And, speaking of Tory Burch bags, how amazing is this petite purse? I’m tempted to spend half of my autumn budget on it.

There’s more to love:

P.S. There’s still time to enter to win a piece of engraved gemstone jewelry from LovePendants!

Summer in the City

July 11, 2016 by jessica 11 Comments

Rachel Rachel Roy Pleated Printed Fit & Flare Dress

Dave and I got back last night from our three-day weekend in Chicago. Even though the city is so close to Madison, we don’t make it down nearly as often as we should. In fact, this the first time we’ve visited the Windy City when it’s been warm outside. We typically head down for the Christmas market in December, and the last time we visited in July, the temperature didn’t rise over 65 degrees. (I had to buy tights!) We spent the weekend popping into beer bars we love, visiting The Field Museum for the Terracotta Warriors exhibit, and logging thousands of steps playing Pokémon Go along with the hundreds of other people playing — every time we saw someone holding their phone, walking with a sheepish smile, we knew they were playing, too!

Here are a few bars and restaurants we visited that you should add to your must-eat list the next time you’re in Chicago:

Piece Brewery and Pizzeria: Fantastic pizza where you can build your own culinary creation. We chose a white pizza topped with goat cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and red onions. A small is more than enough food for two people. There’s typically a wait at night, but the bar is lively and has a fairly quick turnover.
Mahalo: A Hawaiian-infusion restaurant in Wicker Park. It’s expensive, but worth it for the Instagrams you’ll get. Just get cocktails and go someplace else to eat.
Headquarters Beercade: Bar meets arcade. Order a drink and then select a free arcade game to play. They have an long beer list and a decent selection of cocktails to choose from. I played a lot of Ms. Pac-Man.
Au Cheval: According to Food Network and Bon Appetit, this is where you’ll find the best burger in America — and, yes, it’s really that good. Expect a long wait, though. We had a 90-minute wait time and went across the street to Haymarket Pub & Brewery for beer while we anxiously awaited our seat time.
Half Acre Beer Company: This is the brewery behind Chicagoland’s favorite beer, Daisy Cutter. The taproom also has a full kitchen.

P.S. There’s still time to enter to win a piece of engraved gemstone jewelry from LovePendants!

Banana Republic Italian Vachetta Bucket Bag Rachel Rachel Roy Pleated Printed Fit & Flare Dress

Art Institute of Chicago

Dress: RACHEL Rachel Roy (go down a size if you’re between two)
Bag: Banana Republic (it reminds me of this Stella McCartney bag)
Sunglasses: Miu Miu (borrowed from DITTO; sign up for a FREE month of their Endless Eyewear program with code BEDKNOBS)
Rings: Monica Vinader, c/o Julie Vos, Lulu Frost
Shoes: Soludos
Lips: Stila “Bella”
Nails: Zoya “Purity”

The Weekend Guide

July 8, 2016 by jessica 5 Comments

KNOW
As you know, Dave and I are getting into the cycling habit. We went on a 24-mile ride on Saturday and a 10-mile ride earlier this week after work. It’s great exercise and I’m even more enamoured knowing how good it is for both one’s mind and body. I’ve even — gasp — purchased athletic clothing to wear on our rides. My very first Athleta purchase consisted of this striped sports bra, this eyelet one, a skort, and a tank. They’re all so cute!

LEARN
In the midst of this week’s devastating news items (you know what I’m referring to), we made it to Jupiter. Isn’t that crazy? The spacecraft is expected to nosedive into the gas giant’s atmosphere in 2018, essentially self-destructing. Here’s why.

MAKE
I’m a sucker for hummus. This DIY version looks so much better than the pre-packaged alternative I typically buy for lunch!

SUCCEED
The first 90 days at a new job are crucial. Don’t screw ’em up.

VISIT
On Tuesday, we decided to book a hotel and spend the weekend in Chicago! I’m loving Jennifer’s guide to the best street art and murals in the city. Follow along on our Windy City adventure on Snapchat. My username is bedknobsbaubles.

ANALYZE
Instagram is slowly rolling out its own analytics program and it looks pretty great. Read Elle’s comparison between it and Iconosquare. (The analytics option isn’t available to me yet. I’m hoping I get access soon.)

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Enter to win a personalized gemstone necklace.
I wore red, white, and blue on Monday — just like the rest of you!
Mixed up a boozy pineapple punch.
Created what has basically become my fall wish list.
Reviewed the latest POPSUGAR Must Have box.
Obsessed over the Miu Miu sunglasses that you can try for free!*

*Try them for FREE (or choose from hundreds of other options) with DITTO’s Endless Eyewear program. Get your first month free with code BEDKNOBS. If you love the program, it’s just $24 per month afterward, and you can cancel at any time.