BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Coveted: October 2020

October 13, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

This house tour has so many lovely examples of taking a 1920s colonial home and giving it a modern update while retaining its historic charm. There are traditional elements, natural wood, and airy white rooms punctuated with just a bit of color. I love it. And I especially love the bedroom that reminded me of the pieces already on my fall wish list: the ballet flats, purse, and artwork below.

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On the Right Foot: Pumpkin Bread, Underrated Thrillers, Charming Dishtowels, & More!

October 5, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Calling this “bread” is a bit generous with the amount of sugar in the recipe, but it’s a delightful pumpkin bread that’s easy to make! I whipped it up on Sunday morning and it tastes like what you’d get if you put pumpkin pie in bread form.

These dishtowels are charming and a great price at $8 for a set of three. I love the kelly green striped set the most.

I realize it’s a bit early to talk about Christmas, but seeing this set of ornaments sent me off to Etsy to find similar ones for less. This artist has a few different kinds of wooden tree ornaments for $15 each. (While not similar to those, I also came across this darling little ornament.)

A roundup of underrated thrillers to add to your reading list.

I’ve been cracking up over Kate’s reviews of the 1990s’ American Girl catalogues. There’s an Instagram highlight labeled AG for your viewing pleasure.

I recently gave our bathroom a mini update with a coat of paint in a deep blue-green hue (“Riverway” by Sherwin-Williams). I probably should have done it a couple of years ago instead of holding off for an eventual remodel because I like the space so much more now! Over the weekend, I put a fresh coat of white paint on the linen closet, replaced the knobs with these in black, and ordered this light fixture to replace the fluorescent ceiling light.

I love this oversize scarf in the black check design. We’re all going to need more cold-weather garb if we’re going to have social-distanced get togethers outdoors this fall and winter.

How Black-led fashion organizations are holding the industry accountable.

I enjoyed this interview with Domino’s style director. In it, he shares the story of his most treasured possession. It’s a poignant reminder that the most cherished possessions aren’t just things; they have stories and memories associated with them that gives them life.

This $60 blouse is an elegant piece that would look just as beautiful dressed up with black pants as it would with a pair of jeans.

Things I Bought and Loved in September

October 1, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Candidly, I’m fairly impressed with how many affordable pieces I found for my wardrobe to round out the last bit of summer. I was to the point where I was wearing the same black Old Navy dress nearly every day (essentially this, but sleeveless). And, while I bought five of them last year and it wasn’t technically the same garment on repeat, I’m sure people thought I had given up on myself in Zoom meetings.

Aside from that, the month’s shining stars were on the home front with an heirloom-quality blanket and a new living room rug (even if I didn’t follow your advice).

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

A New Day long-sleeve dress in brown – This dress is just about sold out and for good reason, it’s adorable! It’s lightweight making it perfect for this transitional weather. It runs true to size.
Birkenstock ‘Madrid’ big buckle slide in cognac (also here and here) – I bought the classic Madrid sandal in black with the black buckle at the height of Birkenstock’s resurgence a few years ago. They’re probably my most worn sandals that I always bring on each warm-weather trip and have become my go-to house shoes during COVID. This pair with the big buckle is definitely the “make it fashion” version. They’re comfortable and versatile and absolutely worth buying. I typically wear a size 7 in shoes, and go with a 37 in this. The width claims to be narrow, but it’s a standard width for most people.
Banana Republic merino wool turtleneck in rust – I love the color of this sweater, but as the online reviews point out, it’s not the pictured turtleneck. The one I received is a fine-knit wool without that thicker ribbing at the sleeves and hem. It’s also more form-fitting than I would have liked for this work-at-home environment. However, I’m keeping it because the color is too perfect for fall and it’ll layer well under sleeveless dresses if I ever decide to dress up for a Zoom meeting. I went with a medium.
Universal Thread puff-sleeve tiered babydoll dress in pink – This is essentially a muumuu and I love the dress for it. It runs stupidly large and I ended up going with an XS.
H&M cotton puff-sleeve blouse in leaf print – I read the reviews for this and opted to size down to a small. However, the blouse I received was a size medium tucked into a bag labeled “small.” It was so cheap that I didn’t want to go to the effort of returning it even though it is awfully large. So, heed the advice of reviewers and go down a size. The print is really fun!

AROUND THE HOUSE

Schoolhouse Electric cotton pinstripe blanket – I know this is such a splurge for a cotton blanket, but I’m a sucker for Schoolhouse Electric products. They’re so well made that you just know they’re destined to be heirloom pieces.
OXO Good Grips FurLifter – Oliver tends to sleep on our bed during the day, leaving cat hair all over the duvet cover. After going through entirely too many sheets of lint paper, I opted for a reusable lint brush to get it off. This one does a good job and the holder removes the hair from the brush.
Loloi II “Layla” rug (also available here) – We’ve been looking for a new living room rug for a few years now and had hoped to find a vintage one at an affordable price. We’re not exactly frequently antique stores anymore with COVID, so we went for the next best thing: an affordable vintage-inspired rug. It’s actually decent enough quality at the price. I like the whipstitch along the edge and while the design is printed rather than woven, it looks good. All in all, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in a similar situation.
IKEA ‘Tekla’ dish towels – Head over here for all of the reasons I love these dish towels.
IKEA ‘Citronsyra’ planters – I love these vintage metal planters so much that I bought four, even if I only had plans for one. I’ll use the others next year to plant herbs.
P.F. Candle Co. spiced pumpkin candle – This is pretty much fall in a candle. It smells a bit like pumpkin pie and has a sweetness that fortunately isn’t as pronounced when it’s actually burning.

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The Best $0.79 to Spend on Your Home

September 23, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

IKEA’s Tekla dish towels are a cult favorite for their low price and durability, but what makes them even better is that they can double as cloth napkins. I don’t know if you’ve looked at the price of cloth napkins lately, but they’re surprisingly expensive for a swath of fabric that’s inevitably going to be stained with red wine. With these, however, you can afford to stock up. They’re generously sized with a charming red border that reminds me of a French bistro, and I love the idea of pairing them with a linen tablecloth for casual dinners this fall. Plus, let’s face it, Thanksgiving is likely going to be a low key affair this year, so you may as well take it a step further with a selection of brass candlesticks (preferably vintage and cleaned up with Flitz polish) for a farm-to-table-inspired look.

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On the Right Foot: Remembering RBG, Preparing for a Pandemic Winter, Soup Bowls to Buy, & More!

September 21, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

When I began seeing murmurs of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing on social media Friday evening, I frantically Googled for confirmation in disbelief, shock, and horror — and then I cried. I had never before shed tears for a public figure and I wish it was simply out of respect for and in honor of a remarkable leader. But it wasn’t just that. We all knew how pivotal her passing would be in a Trump-led America — and the collective fear of fellow Democrats was realized less than two months from the election. I channeled that anger into a donation to Amy McGrath’s campaign, the Kentuckian looking to unseat Mitch McConnell, and it looks like other leftists also donated in record amounts over the weekend. This is not the year to be apathetic. Donate if you can. Vote because your future depends on it.

Many people are dreading being cooped up inside during a pandemic winter. Here are some things you can do to prepare.

Such a cute dress to pair with sneakers this fall.

We started watching Ted Lasso last week and I adore it. It’s both funny and heartwarming.

I’ve had my eye on these soup/pasta bowls for well over a year now. I think I’m finally going to take the plunge.

How algorithms determine your mood based on what you’re writing online.

Here’s what inspired the set design for Netflix’s Ratched.

One legacy of the pandemic may be less judgement of those who opt not to have children.

This dress is great. It reminds me a bit of Ulla Johnson, it’s $30, and it runs stupidly large. It’s pretty much the best work-from-home dress you could ask for. I normally get a medium in Target dresses and I sized down to an XS in this one. If I had a larger chest, sizing down only one size probably would have been preferable.