BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Holiday Gift Guide for the Jewelry Obsessed

November 10, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

By this time of the year, I’m usually complaining about the hustle, bustle, and stress that the holidays bring. Not this year! I’ve been working on “The Ultimate Guide to the Holidays” to present to Dave in a few weeks. It’s an itinerary full of holiday cheer and excitement to make it the most magical time of the year, goddammit. Our festivities will kick off at Chicago’s Christkindlmarket on Nov. 20, but I couldn’t wait that long to start babbling about the holidays here. Besides, it seems I’m already behind. According to the National Retail Foundation, 40% of people started holiday shopping before Halloween.

I’d like to start this year’s gift-giving with my personal favorite: a guide for the jewelry obsessed. Obviously. Purchasing jewelry for the magpie on your list is a no-brainer, but it can be difficult to select baubles for another person. If you’re not sure what to buy, try a pretty catchall for her gems (I have this budget option and love it), a Tiffany & Co. Christmas ornament (that coveted blue box!), or a diamond ice cube tray (a great option for impersonal gift exchanges).

You can find these and other gift ideas on my Holiday Gift Ideas Pinterest board. I’ll continue to add items throughout the season!

*Read my Baublerella Bling Brush review here. It would be a fantastic stocking stuffer!

Home, Sweet, Home + Giveaway

November 9, 2015 by jessica 18 Comments

I certainly have sentimental pieces in my jewelry collection (like opal earrings made from my grandmother’s ring), but few things feel as personal at this necklace from A.Jaffe. It’s part of the “Maps by A.Jaffe” collection that allows you to pay homage to the place that holds a special place in your heart. The front is engraved with a map with a diamond marking a beloved location. Another map can be engraved on the reverse side, or you can opt for a personal message.

I chose to have the neighborhood I grew up in engraved on the necklace with the diamond marking my childhood home (see it here). On the piece, I can see the block my elementary school was on, the location of the neighborhood market where I worked for one week before getting a job at a jewelry store, and the spot of my grade school bestie’s house. A few years ago, my parents built a new house and prepared to put the old Victorian house up for sale. To say I was devastated would be a bit of an understatement! I spent an hour, cocktail and camera in hand, walking through my home, snapping photos of the rooms and details I took for granted all those years. I added a few of those photos below, but my favorite detail was the walkway in front of the house where 1323 was pressed into the concrete. Having that same detail on the back of my necklace makes it feel so much more personal.

I’m thrilled to share that A.Jaffe is giving one lucky reader her own “Maps” necklace in sterling silver (choose from the rectangle, circle, or heart). Just scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter. As always, there are bonus entries for being a reader of Bedknobs & Baubles and for supporting our sponsor. Good luck!

The giveaway is open to readers with a U.S. mailing address. Your email address will be shared with A.Jaffe.

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The Weekend Guide

November 6, 2015 by jessica 5 Comments

DEFEND
There’s a bit of sass over at The Guardian about black tights. The author muses that black tights immediately betray the wearer, signaling old age and low social status. This author vehemently disagrees.

LEARN
We’re all familiar with buffering when it comes to online videos (…so we can joyfully watch cat videos uninterrupted). Your home goes through a similar phase and here’s why it’s okay not to rush things.

MAKE
You can make 30 marble (actual real marble!) place cards for under $8. Bookmark this link for upcoming dinner parties and nuptials.

BUY
Between Twitter and the blog, this is the fourth time I’ve mentioned this side table. It’s because it’s awesome. The top is solid marble and it comes in at $90. It’s not available for shipping (lame), but order it online anyway for in-store pickup. Target has been running discounts for 10-15% off online. I picked one up for myself a few days ago. It’s on the low side, but I think it will be fabulous next to an armchair. (There’s no room for it in our apartment, but it was too good to pass up.)

DREAM
I’ve already been to Amsterdam twice, but Jamie’s photos are making me yearn to go back.

LEARN
We’re going to Chicago in a couple of weeks for the opening of the Christkindlmarket. I’ve been putting together an itinerary for the long weekend, but I’m most excited about Three Dots and a Dash, where I fully intend to escape the Chicago cold with too many umbrella drinks. Before we go, I’m brushing up on my cocktail umbrella history.

FIVE UNDER $55

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Wore a painterly plaid dress.
Went “Behind the Baubles” with Alexa Leigh.
Posted the easiest DIY ever, inspired by an expensive D&G hat.
Shared some of October’s mini moments.
Opted for brights and stripes for this week’s most coveted.
Donned ultra glamorous Miu Miu sunglasses.
Had a bright start to the week.

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additional images via 1, 2, 3

Behind the Baubles: Alexa Leigh

November 5, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

It all started when Alexa Leigh Meyer designed double pendant necklaces to be worn with one pendant in front and another at the nape of your neck. Since then, Alexa expanded her line to include additional pieces that can only be defined as modern classics. Her collection is crafted from precious metals — many are studded with diamond pavé — that mix and match with other items from the collection and your own jewelry box to create a look that’s both unique and timeless.

You can also shop the Alexa Leigh collection on Charm & Chain!

Follow Alexa Leigh: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

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additional image via

DIY It: Dolce & Gabbana Brooch Beanie

November 4, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

I was stunned to come across this Dolce & Gabbana knit hat for $1,375. I know it’s a luxury brand. I know it’s cashmere. But, I know it’s still a rip off. This is probably the easiest DIY project to tackle for much, much less and you get to walk away with a winter beanie that uniquely yours.

Pick out a black ribbed knit hat. I chose this merino wool version available for $24. There are certainly cheaper options, but the ribbed texture of this one looks luxe and real wool in the winter is always a better option than synthetic.
Pin on an assortment of brooches. You could go new with this Bauble Bar set or this one from The Limited. However, I’d recommend going vintage. Sift through your grandma’s jewelry box for ’50s beauties or scour eBay* to find unique brooches to decorate your hat. (Searching for “vintage Trifari brooch” will yield some great options. This one gives the D&G brooch a run for its money.) If you’d rather save time, I found this Dior bird on One Kings Lane and Sweet & Spark has a nicely curated selection.

*Don’t fret if your brooch arrives with a loose clasp. Snip off the pin with a pair of pliers, file away sharp edges, and sew it directly to your hat.