BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Recent Purchases: October 2019

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PURCHASED – FOR ME
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Target snake print, v-neck mini dress – I’m all about a long-sleeve mini dress and this one won me over with its low price point. It’s good quality and there’s a pretty pleated detail at the wrist. I went with my normal size. It’s obviously loose and swingy, but I don’t think a size smaller would have fit my shoulders correctly.
  • J.Crew ‘Gwen’ slingback flats in bright berry – This is one of my favorite sartorial purchases in a long time! I prefer flats to heels and had been yearning for a party-perfect pair for the holidays. The color is gorgeous! They run true to size.
  • J.Crew ‘Daphne’ tweed topcoat in guava – Continuing my adoration of pink lately, I ordered this lightweight coat to wear this fall. It looks vintage in the very best way and pairs well with tans and burnt oranges. It has already snowed in Madison (twice!) so I’m not sure how much use I’ll be able to get out of it the rest of the season, but the color will carry well into spring. It runs a bit large.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Schoolhouse Electric brass coaster set – You already know that I’m a huge fan of Schoolhouse Electric products, and these are my latest acquisition from the company. They’re beautifully made and will get better with time as they develop a patina. I’m going to purchase a second set at some point so we have enough when guests come over.
  • Bloomingville clear glass vase – This is a great size and the small opening on top is perfect for displaying a branch.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • J.Crew lodge coat in heather acorn – I couldn’t quite get the sizing to work for me on this given that my bottom half is larger than my top. And when I did, the coat just felt too boxy. It was well made, though, and I love the ribbed trim at the sleeves to keep the cold air out. The color is beautiful.

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The Coveted

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ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN

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Weekend Roundup: Fancy Flats, Chic Puzzles, Coupes You Need for Holiday Hosting, & More!

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JCrew Gwen slingback flats

It has been entirely too long since I’ve given into my affinity for pink (lipstick aside). I don’t know why I started to shy away from the hue, but I started wearing it again with one of last month’s purchases and my love of the color has been fully reignited with these flats. They’re so pretty and perfect for upcoming holiday parties. I’m obsessed. And in other pink purchases, I couldn’t help but order this top coat when it was on deep discount a few weeks back. I’ll take outfit pics with it soon!

As far as modern style icons go, Jenny Walton is one of mine. I’m always inspired by her feminine, vintage-inspired aesthetic. She just launched her debut accessory collection with the prettiest daisy pieces. The double daisy drop earrings are my favorite.

The complicated history of flamenco in Spain.

Now that the weather is getting chillier around here, we’re all about cocktail and puzzle nights. This company is making puzzles awfully chic!

Ten of the best houseplants for the bathroom.

This look on Lydia is one of my favorites of hers — she looks so elegant! And I completely agree with her on prioritizing vintage finds, even if I tend to do that for the home and less for my closet (with the exception of jewelry).

Whenever you sharpen these pencils, you’ll leave behind rainbow shavings.

We made these apple brandy sour cocktails last night to see if they’d be a hit on Thanksgiving. Verdict: yes. However, we’re going to toy around with making them as a batch cocktail to cut down on the hassle of mixing individual drinks on the holiday.

I’m a sucker for a good organizational tool — especially when it’s an analog version since I can’t always get on board with digitally recording everything — and I love Ashley’s home binder for all of the papers that come with homeownership.

Finds Under $50

  • I just placed an order for these coasters. They’re going to look so good with a patina.
  • This affordable oval mirror is so good!
  • I’m all about long-sleeve mini dresses for fall — and for going sans tights as long as possible!
  • I know it’s too early to think about Christmas, but I don’t want my favorites to sell out like this adorable potted faux tree! (We leave for Belgium on Black Friday, so admittedly, I’m hoping to have some holiday decorations up before we leave so our return is festive!)
  • The prettiest coupes!

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An Update on Bacon

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Bacon

As you may have seen on Instagram, it’s been an emotional few weeks to say the least! Two weeks ago, we brought Bacon to the vet for abdominal bloating and he had lost weight to the point where his spine and hip bones were protruding. After a long afternoon at the vet followed by a trip to the emergency vet for an ultrasound, he was diagnosed with cancer in his liver and pancreas. (Based on how often he tries to sneak into the bar cabinet, I’m not surprised his liver is compromised. 😉 It’s probably too soon to make jokes, I know.) He had the fluids in his abdomen drained so he’s more comfortable and given an appetite stimulant. He spent the first weekend after his diagnosis entirely couch-bound and sleepy, which made us worry that the end was closer than we anticipated. That might have been due to a kitty cold because he has since bounced back a bit and his energy levels have returned, albeit he’s not as playful as he was prior. However, he’s doing about as well as can be expected; he wants to be around us all the time, he’s eating, and he rushes to the door to greet us when we get home. He doesn’t appear to be in pain or experiencing discomfort (we’ll put him on a painkiller when the time comes). It’s extremely hard on us knowing in the back of our mind that we’ll need to say goodbye to the little guy, but we’re trying to stay positive and enjoy each day we get to hang out with him. As a childless couple, he’s our kid and we love him dearly.

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What I Bought in September

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Wardrobe Purchases September 2019

After going to Milwaukee for an afternoon of shopping for a few fall staples, it became apparent that I can’t step foot inside of a store or — god forbid — a mall. I can usually talk myself out of items when I have a screen and miles of distance between myself and a covetable piece. In person? All bets are off. It wouldn’t have been quite so bad if I hadn’t already purchased the Kate Spade heels and the DVF romper. But, c’est la vie.

The upside in a month of overindulgence is that I have exactly one item on my October wish list: this coat. I have an emerald green version from a previous year, and I’d love to add the camel one to my coat collection.

PURCHASED – FOR ME
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Diane von Furstenberg “Henrietta” romper – I’m a sucker for a good DVF piece, especially in the form of this flattering romper. It runs big, so you’ll want to size down. The v-neck is low, which makes midday removal easy, but you might want to use a safety pin or add a snap for modesty — although, it might be due to my small chest that it gapes open!
  • Kate Spade tortoiseshell pumps (also here)- I love a classic shoe and this pair from Kate Spade ticks all the boxes with a wearable height, wear-with-everything neutral print, and a patent upper. They run true to size.
  • Banana Republic merino sweater in green and black – My wardrobe was void of slightly-boxy sweaters that I could wear to work and on weekends. I loved these because of the thicker material that layers well. (I hate when you can see hints of what’s layered underneath a sweater because it’s too thin.) They ran true to size for me, but I probably could have sized down for a more fitted look.
  • Joe’s Jeans skinny ankle-length, raw-hem jeans (similar) – I gained weight in Portugal that I haven’t lost yet (oops) and I needed a pair of jeans that fit. These aren’t the same style exactly, but I bought a similar pair at Nordstrom Rack. I’ve always loved how soft Joe’s Jeans are.
  • J.Crew pavé daisy chandelier earrings – The photo doesn’t do these justice. They’re much more sparkly and eye-catching in real life and will be perfect for the holiday season. I wore them to an event already and received a lot of compliments. They’re on sale with an extra 50% off today — get them before they sell out!
  • Banana Republic chunky pointelle cropped sweater in cream – Fair warning for those with long torsos, this sweater is definitely cropped. It just covers the waistband of a pair of non-high-waisted jeans on me. The knit is really pretty with flecks of yellow and black in it. I went down a size.
Home Purchases September 2019

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Target plaid throw pillow in green – This wool-blend pillow is better quality than you’d think for the price. It’s a zippered cover with an insert, rather than the sewn-in ones that you usually get at Target. It’s perfect for adding an autumnal touch to your home without going overboard. (My mom was in town a couple of weeks ago and also loved it. I ordered two more for her when they came back in stock.)
  • Target striped shower curtain in grey – While we’re planning to do a full bathroom remodel eventually, I decided I wanted to give it an in-between update now. We’ll need to work with the existing beige tile, beige tiles, and beige linoleum flooring, and I thought this shower curtain would work well with the neutrals in the room. The fabric is really soft and seems like it’ll drape well.
  • Crate & Barrel wood taper candle holders – I stopped by the brick and mortar store when we were in Milwaukee recently and fell in love with these acacia wood candle holders. They’re a great modern shape and the wood lends warmth to a table setting.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • Madewell “Roadtripper” jeans – The waist was higher than I expected. They ran true-to-size for me, though.
  • Diane von Furstenberg “Savilla” dress – I was hoping to add some more business professional attire to my wardrobe and tried this dress, but I hated it on me. It felt matronly despite the wrap style that’s usually flattering on me. I think I just hate dresses with short sleeves.

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