BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Falling for AuRate Gold Jewelry

October 15, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

As I get older, I find myself drawn to unfussy, classic pieces that withstand the test of time — and honestly, those have really been the foundation of my closet and the items I wear over and over again. Take this Tory Burch coat, for instance. I added it to my wardrobe back in 2015 and I look forward to chilly weather every year so I can wear it again. The Prada sunglasses were my first designer pair and I still reach for them weekly. The bag? Well, we all know it’s something I’ll keep in my closet forever. That’s not to say that I haven’t made some sartorial missteps when curating my closet — I’m sure taking a look through the archives here will turn up some gems — but narrowing down my style and considering the longevity of each piece is not only a fiscally responsible decision, it’s a sustainable way to shop. Long gone are the days of hitting up the mall to find a cheap “going out” top and a bauble to match, only to add them to the donation bag a few months later.

One brand that has quickly made its way into the “classic-pieces-I’ll-keep-forever” category is AUrate. I introduced you to AUrate earlier this year, but I wanted to put the jeweler back on your radar this season when we’re all looking at making bigger investments in our wardrobes and starting to think about gift-giving and receiving. AUrate is a lot like Warby Parker or Everlane in that the brand seeks to create more transparency in their industry by cutting out the middle man to bring direct-to-consumer fine jewelry at fair prices without sacrificing quality or style. All of AUrate’s pieces are handmade in New York City by experienced jewelers and are guaranteed for life.

When I browsed AUrate’s collection with my own wardrobe in mind, I knew I wanted to go with a gold necklace. I have a few dainty options, but nothing that bridged the gap between a luxe piece of jewelry and an easy-to-wear everyday piece. This 14k gold bar necklace nails it. I put the necklace on immediately when it arrived two weeks ago and I’ve been wearing it every day since. It’s a moderate investment at $220, but it’s one of those perfect pieces you’ll treasure for years.

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Thanks to AUrate for partnering on this post!

An Unexpected Hiatus + Weekend Links

October 12, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Welp! I didn’t expect to take a week-long hiatus from the blog, but work got in the way of the hobby this week! My annual business expo is coming up in 12 days and I’m in crunch time for the project. On days I wasn’t working late, I was chilling on the couch with Dave and Bacon — and keeping as far away from computer and phone screens as possible. I just needed time to breathe and not feel obligated to check another to-do off the list, but the truth is that I feel terribly guilty when I have weeks like this — and a little jealous of those who seem to effortlessly crank out posts. I know I shouldn’t feel that way; this isn’t my full-time job and there will be weeks where my creativity is spent and my attention needs to go to the thing that actually pays the bills.

And, if I’m being completely transparent, I’ve been in a bit of a funk since the Kavanaugh confirmation. I try not to get political in this space because things like clothing and home decor should be fun, but it’s difficult to put on a happy facade when I feel so angry about the whole thing. (I even got into a verbal spat with a guy at last week’s Badger game who was talking about how thrilled he was with the result. Ugh.) It was just one of those weeks, and while I didn’t contribute anything fun to the Internet, others did! So, let’s move on to lighter, happier, escapism-y things!

Weekend Links:

The HPV vaccination is now available for women ages 27 to 45. Make an appointment with your gynecologist STAT.
Can marijuana treat menstrual cramps?
I am obsessing over Polène, a new-to-me French handbag brand. This bag is at the very top of my wish list. Isn’t it breathtaking in this fall shade?
Do quartz and jade rollers actually do anything?
Ursula applying lipstick in The Little Mermaid really was a strangely satisfying part of the movie.
Move aside hygge, now there’s kalsarikännit.
Chewy, salty brownie cookies with the surprising addition of licorice root.
If you’re in the market for a new set of sheets, may I suggest these indulgent linen sheets from Lands’ End, which are currently 30% off? We bought a set this summer and they’re the most luxurious sheets I’ve ever owned.
Jenna Lyons is launching a lifestyle brand.
The top trends from the spring 2019 runways.
How to master your emotions.

Finds Under $50:

Add this faux-fur pom-pom beanie to your winter wardrobe immediately. I love it in grey! (There’s a cable-knit one in pink here.)
Faux pearls dot this cozy sweater.
An ice bucket that’s both whimsical and chic. It’s perfect for holiday entertaining!
A striped pullover sweater for fall days.
Dabble in the leopard-print trend with this wrap skirt.

Earlier This Week: Ha! 😉

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Weekend Links

October 6, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Happy weekend! We’re in for another dreary weekend here in Madison, but that just makes it feel fall-like as we cozy up at home with comfort food. (I made this last night. It’s one of our fall and winter favorites.) We are going to the Badger football game tonight and then meeting up with friends on Sunday to watch the Brewers game. All of this makes me seem like a bigger sports fan than I am. I like the social aspect of sporting events, but I couldn’t care less about the sport itself! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

Weekend Links:

Banksy art self-destructs at auction.
If you love these loafers, now is the time to snag them with a rare discount offer. (I ordered my size and a half size up to try. Most reviews say they stretch out, but I didn’t think that would be the case and preferred the half size larger. They’ve been incredibly comfortable and you can wear discreet loafer socks with them, too.)
Pumpkin and pecan scones with maple and caramel drizzle.
Spooky cocktails for your Halloween soiree.
Why we say “O.K.”
Did you know Dr. Dre’s “Next Episode” samples this song? (We heard the original at a cocktail lounge in Seattle, and I got a bit too excited about hearing one of my hip hop favorites … and then Dave whispered “settle down; it’s not the song you think it is.” Haha.)
I’m so excited for Blair’s collection with Nordstrom!
Um, Bacon needs this, right? (Pet costumes crack me up.)
Is “cost per like” the new “cost per wear?”
Creepy ghost stories from Reddit.
This coppery color is the perfect manicure option for fall.

Finds Under $50:

I just love this preppy plaid skirt, which is 40% off with code FALLFEST.
A pastel plaid scarf brightens up chilly days.
Bold colorful stripes make this turtleneck surprisingly versatile.
Modern, eye-catching earrings.
If you need a clear bag for stadiums this fall, here’s one that’s cheap and looks better than most.

Earlier This Week:

An easy outfit for exploring a new city.
This week’s most coveted finds. (And I may have ordered the coat…)
What’s on my radar this October.

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image via Unsplash

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On My Radar

October 3, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

WEARING

If you saw my post yesterday, you may have noticed these Vince sneakers. I purchased them during the recent Shopbop sale and I have no idea how I went this long without owning a pair. We’ve all seen them on countless bloggers, but personally, I didn’t see the hype for something that looked like a pair of Vans slip-ons. Well, I get it now. They are ridiculously comfortable and are undoubtedly the most chic pair of sneakers I own. I ordered them in my regular size and a half size smaller as recommended; my regular size fit the best.

READING

I used to be such a bookworm (heck, one of my two majors is in English) and fell out of that habit in recent years. I’m trying to get back into the groove by making it more of a priority, starting with Calypso by David Sedaris. The book garnered criticism for being darker than his other collections of essays. I disagree. Sure, there are mentions of getting older and failing health, but it’s done with that type of poignant humor Sedaris is so skilled at. (I’m roughly two-thirds of the way through, so I’ll let you know if it ends up being awful at the end.) I’d love to hear your book recommendations. I like collections of humorous essays for their easily digestible nature when I don’t have a lot of time. I’m also into psychologically uncomfortable works. (Ian McEwan is my favorite author and I’m behind on a few of his recent works, so I’ll be turning to those next.)

USING

I recently added this Kiehl’s vitamin C serum to my nighttime routine. I’ve been using it for roughly three weeks and it has done wonders for my complexion. My skin feels softer in the morning and my overall complexion has improved. (I layer my regular night moisturizer on top of it.) I don’t think it’s doing much for my forehead wrinkles (apparently I was too expressive when I was younger), but I’m going to take a photo sometime this weekend as an “almost-before” image to compare to an “after” picture in a couple of months. For me, it’s impossible to notice those gradual changes.

PLANNING

Dave was close to reaching silver status with United, so we added another trip to this year’s itinerary to make it to that milestone; we’re going to New York City for a few days at the end of November into early December. I’ve never been to the city, so I welcome any and all must-dos for a first-time trip! I’m also very excited to see the city decked out in holiday cheer. A couple that we’re friends with is going to be in the city at the same time, so we’ll meet up with them at night for drinks but will largely be on our own during the day to sightsee.

HYGGE-ING

Cold weather is fast approaching and we’re making the most of these fall days to get our home in order before the chill really sets in. As you may have noticed on Instagram stories, our dining room table arrived (so gorgeous!) as did the chairs we picked out (which are passable quality, but a lot cheaper than buying the real Danish version — which I want eventually). I can’t tell you how excited I am to have meals at our new table! To add to a cozy, hygge vibe, I’ve been all about candles. I bought a couple of brass candlesticks at Totokaelo in Seattle and I purchased this candle at another store, which has the most perfect fall and winter fragrance that isn’t overwhelmingly rustic.

HALLOWEEN-ING

First of all, two faux verbs shouldn’t be allowed in a post. Forgive me. October is my busiest month at work with our annual expo and Halloween always seems to sneak up on me. It seems that once the event is over, I turn around and the holiday is right there — and completely unplanned for. Not this year. I bought some of these adorable (and insanely affordable) LED-lit pumpkins last year that I’ll be bringing out this weekend, and I added a few of these posable skeletons to have climbing up our banister. Last year, we put out a faux spider web on our porch … which was soon covered with real insects caught in the web, so we’ll pass on that this year. As for a costume, I need ideas! I went as Little Red Riding Hood last year — a costume pulled together with the help of Amazon Prime. The gingham dress and basket could be repurposed into a Dorothy ensemble, but I’m not really feeling that this year. Do you dress up?

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