BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Weekend Guide

October 23, 2015 by jessica 4 Comments

DRILL
Forget carving a face into your Jack O’ Lantern this year and opt for drilled polka dots to give your pumpkin a celestial effect.

MASQUERADE
Sleepy Holly Golightly is one of my go-to costumes when I’m in a pinch. (Just make sure your friends actually know of the movie. Otherwise, you risk looking like a walk of shame, albeit a glamorous one.)

PLAN
We’re starting to think about next year’s travel plans. I’ve bookmarked this list of ten one-week European itineraries just in case.

DECORATE
Finally! A chic, affordable bar cart that comes in at just $130.

WATCH
‘Tis the season for horror movies. Here’s a list of the top 50 scariest movies of all time.

COOK
Spending time in the kitchen making hearty meals is one of my favorite things about fall. I’m anxious to try this take on beer cheese soup.

NOTABLE SALES
Take 20% off full-price items at Lulu Frost with code FF2015.
Take 20% off jewelry at Kelly Wearstler with code FALLFLASH.
Save up to 70% at Tory Burch’s private sale.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
I finally found a cape!
I worked with Minted to pick out a new piece of artwork.
I wore these “darling” earrings.
I coveted a selection of silver and grey.
I harassed our cat.

Snapshot

October 22, 2015 by jessica 5 Comments

As many of you know, I’m an event planner for a local business magazine. Our biggest event of the year, a business-to-business expo, was held yesterday and I’m absolutely tuckered out. So much so that I’m heading to the office late, leaving early, and taking tomorrow off. I think I deserve it, considering I walked the equivalent of nine miles yesterday! I wore these Kate Spade shoes with a pair of loafer socks. My feet were certainly tired at the end of the day, but I didn’t have blisters and there’s no swelling today. It’s making me seriously consider another pair in metallic silver, magenta, or light gold.

And, speaking of recent purchases, I picked up these at the Shopbop Friends & Family sale: star ear climbers from the Jem and the Holograms collection and a “darling” trinket tray by Rosanna. I’m a bit disappointed that this rainbow fur scarf wasn’t available at the time. I’m kind of obsessed with it.

Choosing Art With Minted

October 21, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

I’m a sucker for a good piece of art. Ever since I moved away from home, I would pick out a piece of artwork each summer from the annual art fair in Madison, and my 31st birthday present to myself was a Gray Malin print. So, when Minted asked if I’d be interested in checking out their stable of artists, I jumped at the chance to add a new piece to my ever-growing collection. And, while we should be spending our time looking at houses, isn’t it more fun to think of the items nestled inside once the mortgage is signed? (No? Just me?)

Even though I’m kidding about that, it does bring up a worthwhile reminder. Buying art as a couple is full of compromises. We sat down together and scoured Minted’s marketplace of independent artists, discussing the things we loved and didn’t love about each piece, eventually narrowing it down to a handful of favorites (or ones we could both live with), including (clockwise, starting from the top): Float, Morning Mist, Going For a Swim, Pining For Pineapple, Bits, Malibu Surf & Sky II, and Rainforest.

Given my propensity for seaworthy prints and ocean hues, we decided to go with something that would complement our art collection and chose “Morning Mist” by artist Lindsay Megahed. The print has the color scheme I’m drawn to, while adding welcome contrast. Once that was settled, there were a few more decisions to make:

Paper: You can go with the standard option of acid- and lignin-free paper with a deluxe pigment print, or the archival option on 100% cotton rag paper for a museum-quality archival pigment print. We went with the less expensive, standard option.
Size: Most, if not all, prints come in a wide range of sizes. In the case of our pick, sizes start at 5″ x 7″ and go up to 44″ x 60″, giving you the flexibility to choose a statement piece to feature or find the perfect petite print to fill in a spot on your gallery wall. (We went with 18″ x 24″.) There’s also a handy size chart at the bottom that shows a person holding the various prints. It’s an easier reference point than gauging the size based on a room rendering.
Frame: Minted offers 11 choices to coordinate with various interiors. We went with the ultra sleek white option. (I’d like all of our art to have white frames, eventually.)

The print arrived safely in a sturdy cardboard mailer approximately 10 days later. Artist signatures adorned the inside of the package. (You know I love good branding.)

You also have the option of having the artist sign the work in pencil in the lower, right corner of the piece. (Honestly, I’m not sure why anyone would decline this option. It makes the work feel more personal.) It comes ready to hang with wire attached to the back of the frame.

Shop It: Minted art | Kate Spade couch, lamp, and table | West Elm glass knot | Zoya nail polish

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Thanks to Minted for partnering on this post!

The Coveted

October 20, 2015 by jessica 9 Comments

Between the nail polish I’ve been wearing nonstop, my faux-Chloe bag, and the cape I just purchased, I can’t get enough of grey this season. Here’s what else caught my eye:

The incredible woven textile on this coat.
A textured mini bag that’s sleek enough to wear with everything this fall and winter.
These dainty mother of pearl blossom earrings from one of my favorite jewelry designers.
This stunning — and expensive — Guerlain compact, even though I’m sure this illuminating powder would do the trick.
A cozy cashmere sweater. (I have it in camel and it’s one of my favorites.)
Glossy ankle boots. They’re the perfect finishing touch to your ’60s-inspired ensembles.
A watch you’ll have forever. Add it to your holiday wish list now.

Caped

October 19, 2015 by jessica 34 Comments

My shopping M.O. usually comes down to “if Blair wore it, I probably won’t look good in it,” but I couldn’t resist at least trying DKNY’s “Blythe” hooded cape that made a reappearance this season after quickly selling out last winter. As you may recall, I struck out with J.Crew’s cape in September. I hated the color in person and I couldn’t really justify outerwear that restricted my ability to drive. This cape, on the other hand, is perfect. It’s kind of a stadium blanket-coat hybrid that’s amazingly cozy with a thick wool-blend fabric. Openings on each side allow for ample movement, while snaps give the illusion of sleeves. I wore it out for the day on Sunday (more house hunting!) and was actually a little too warm when the temperature reached the mid-50s, which is reassuring since I plan to get as much use out of it as possible until the first snowfall. Prices on the cape vary wildly. 6pm.com has the black version available for $90, while Nordstrom has both black and grey available for $158. Zappos and Bloomingdale’s are significantly more expensive at $240 and $354, respectively.

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linking up with Rachelle, Jenna, and Caryl