Search Results for: behind the baubles

Weekend Reading

March 31, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

Whoohoo! We’re mere hours away from April and the promise of spring weather — finally! We have no plans this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited to sit around at home, throw open the windows, and curl up with a book, the cat, and a cocktail. I’m also looking forward to trying a couple of new recipes that I have bookmarked. I made these slow cooker Korean tacos earlier this week and they were pretty disappointing. However, the pork was ah-mazing in makeshift Korean burrito bowls. We sauteed the leftover meat with sesame oil and gochujang, and added salt, pepper, and garlic powder. We put the meat and the slaw (which needed more rice wine vinegar) over rice, drizzled it with Sriracha and Sriracha mayo, and added more green onions. So. Good.

MISS INDEPENDENT: Despite mounting pressure from department stores to create on-trend items that everyone is clamoring to purchase (ahem, off-the-shoulder everything), Tibi designer Amy Smilovic stayed true to her brand’s vision. As a result, her brand is stronger than ever with an even more loyal customer base.

VISIT CUBA: Brittany put together the most helpful Cuba travel guide that I’ve come across yet. In it, she walks you through the logistics of planning your trip, getting there, and many of the things you’ll need to consider before arriving (e.g. expect to enjoy an “unplugged” trip and cash is king — and, well, the only way you’ll be able to pay for things).

STATES OF UNDRESS: I just started watching this documentary series. Host Hailey Gates explore global fashion and its impact on social issues. I’ve only watched the first episode where she traveled to Pakistan and it was fascinating.

CLOTHING PURGE: Doing a little spring cleaning? Here’s a handy chart to help guide your decision on what to do with that unloved garment.

SIP: Obviously we all need to purchase this gold pineapple for sipping cocktails this summer. It’s the best $15 Target find yet.

8 SURPRISING FACTS: You probably don’t know everything there is to learn about one of Easter’s most beloved candies. (For the record, I’ll take Brach’s jelly beans over Jelly Belly any day.)

Weekend Reading

March 24, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

I can’t believe April is right around the corner! Where has the year gone already?! Next month should bring with it a spike in available homes for sale, so we’re hopeful we’ll find “the one” this time around. With that major purchase on the horizon, we’re pinching our pennies and planning to spend the weekend at home with new recipes to try and cocktails to mix up. I’m actually looking forward to a few days at home after traveling the past two weekends. I need a chance to finally unpack, run errands, and spring clean our apartment. What’s on your agenda?

SIP: It’s going to be 70 degrees today! It’s back to being seasonably chilly tomorrow, but I’m embracing the warm weather with a refreshing citrus cocktail and open windows!

DIY: Straw bags embellished with pom poms are everywhere this spring and they usually come with a high price tag. Follow in Grace’s footsteps and make your own instead! (She also linked to an Etsy shop for inexpensive straw bags. I want this one for the farmers’ market. It’s a steal at $28!) Use this bag and this one for inspiration!

SNAP: Are your blog photos feeling a little lackluster? Jess shares her tips to up your photography game.

AWW: Right?!

MISSING THE MARK: A couple of years ago, Anthropologie blamed its slipping sales on poor dress choices. However, the retailer still hasn’t got it right.

SNAG: These sandals are like the more refined version of the bauble-embellished pair I snagged at Zara. They’re a great deal at $70!

TAKE: Stop mindlessly scribbling notes during your work meetings and actually record the information effectively.

Budget Update: December 2016

December 27, 2016 by jessica 9 Comments

If I were to stay with my quarterly budget for the upcoming year, this would have been the month that kicked off my winter spending. However, I haven’t quite settled on my approach to budgeting for 2017. On one hand, the quarterly budget was nice in that it allowed me the flexibility to allocate more to months when stores were overflowing with treasures. On the other hand, I don’t think a budget actually reins in my spending. I can rationalize just about any purchase and, if I’m being honest, I can afford to go over my monthly allotment. So, the jury’s still out on how this series will unfold in 2017, but I’ll keep some iteration of it for three reasons:

I think it’s important to be transparent about the items I accrue, especially when it comes to the freebies from partnerships.
I’m super nosy and I love reading these types of posts from other people.
I hope that the mini reviews of the items I kept or returned help guide your purchasing decisions if these are also on your radar.

In December, I went a little overboard and spent a whopping $354. Holy moly. This is mostly due to the mirrored Rebecca Minkoff purse I’m crazy about. I had kept looking at it (read: obsessing over) the bag all November and finally bit the bullet over the Black Friday weekend. It’s definitely a statement maker, but the silver keeps it versatile and I love that it’s paired with gold hardware.

As far as Christmas goodies are concerned, I received two striped sweaters for my ever-growing collection of stripes (this one from my parents and this one from Dave in the ivory and black colorway). Dave also gave me these gorgeous Jenny Bird earrings. They’re such a unique, sculptural piece. The front hoop lays flat against your earlobe and the back hoop dangles from the earring backing. I’ve mentioned it before, but Jenny Bird is by far my favorite jeweler of the moment and there’s a “Behind the Baubles” interview in the works!

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

Rebecca Minkoff small “Love” crossbody in metallic silver ($146; worn here): I could wax poetic about this bag, but I won’t. Just know that I’m smitten with it. The only drawback is that it doesn’t hold a lot. It takes some creativity to tuck my daily essentials inside: an iPhone, a tube of lipstick, a small mirror, a mini hairbrush, a credit card case, and my inhaler (#winter).
Rebecca Minkoff mini trifold wallet ($0): This was the gift with purchase for any purchase over $100 on Cyber Monday. While I had originally ordered the purse above on Thanksgiving, the Cyber Monday deal was enough motivation to place a second order and return the first. What can I say? I’m a sucker for free things especially when they’re adorable.
Gap true skinny ankle-length jeans ($33; worn here): This is the first pair of jeans that I’ve ever truly loved. They miraculously don’t get baggy during the day! I might just turn into a denim girl yet! (Unlikely…)
Rachel Roy sequin swing dress ($60): This is the best dress to have on hand for special occasions! The champagne color is gorgeous in person and I love that the shimmery side of the sequins lays down, but you’ll get a peek of the glimmer when they’re brushed up. (Fair warning: people really want to feel your dress when you wear it. So many people at Dave’s office holiday party insisted on brushing the sequins up and down!) It does run small in the chest, so pick a size to fit that area comfortably. The a-line shape skims over curves.
Sanctuary lace-up printed dress ($48, also available here and here): This dress runs large, so be sure to size down even if you don’t think you’ll need to. I reached for a medium first, but ended up selecting the small.
Banana Republic striped turtleneck sweater ($38): I don’t think I would have ever ordered this online, but I fell in love with it in the store. It’s just a really pretty, sophisticated sweater. It fits true to size.
J.Crew crystal drop earrings in pink ($17): The color of these earrings is more vibrant in person. They’re not terribly heavy, making them comfortable for all-day wear.
Gorjana “Petra” cuff ($12): I actually just ordered this today, so I have no idea how it’ll be in person. I’m usually happy with Gorjana purchases and the sale price was too good to pass up. (Browse the rest of the sale here.)

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.

Garnet Hill belted faux fur collar coat (worn here)
Make Me Chic lace-up sweater: Coming to an outfit post soon!
eShakti star-print dress: The great thing about eShakti is that you can fully customize your dress. I went sleeveless with a crew neck to give it a much younger vibe. I’ll wear it on the blog soon!

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

H&M sequined skirt: The color is gorgeous, but the length is just too long to be flattering on me.

SHOP IT

***
I’m linking up with Fran!

The Weekend Guide

August 27, 2016 by jessica 1 Comment

I’m sorry I’m late with this weekend’s guide! I sat down to work on it yesterday and found myself suddenly motivated to sift through our photos from our spring vacation Denmark, edit them, and create a Facebook album to share with family and friends. I’ll share some of them here soon with the travel guide I’m working on. Hopefully, it’ll be next week!

LEARN
Nailing the perfect outfit Instagram isn’t easy, but Marianna breaks it down with ten tips for making your #OOTD stand out.

COO
These photos are probably the cutest things you’ll see all day.

KNOW
The world’s largest diamond was expected to sell for over the $100 million reserve at auction, and yet, it struggled to close at $61 millon. This article offers insights into why that may have happened, along with some background into the diamond industry.

ANTICIPATE
The Coveteur is coming out with a book this October! I can’t wait to get my hands on the coffee table eye candy.

SHOP
We’ve been keeping our eye out for furniture we’d love to buy as we continue with our house hunt. Some things, like a king-size bed and mattress, will happen now (so excited!) and others will be put on the back burner until we close. I’ve bookmarked Kirsten’s post with 30 affordable dining room chairs to reference when we’re finally ready to take the plunge.

MOURN
Fashion icon Sonia Rykiel passed away last week at the age of 86.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Daydreamed about a tropical vacation in this outfit.
Coveted a sophisticated collection of jewel tones.
Went “Behind the Baubles” with Lisi Lerch.

Tropical Vibes

August 22, 2016 by jessica 13 Comments

I can’t believe it’s Monday already! We had an extended weekend that began on Thursday with a trip to visit my parents in northern Wisconsin. We didn’t do much other than swing by the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth, Minn., which was awful. As an event manager, I can be unfairly critical of other events, but this so poorly run that it made for a sour experience. Oh well. Not all weekend outings can be stellar, right? At least it was a beautiful day!

In other news, I finally ponied up the cash to purchase Adobe Lightroom. Game. Changer. Photo editing is a breeze and images look so much better edited in Lightroom versus Photoshop where I’m far too likely to screw up the color. (I’m really tan this year compared to my normal ultra-pale skin tone. It throws me off and I find myself removing orange hues from photos!) I also scooped up this summer dress from Target (available online in black). I’m not ready to start dressing for fall just yet, especially when tropical prints look so good with this necklace from Lisi Lerch. Lisi is basically the queen of tassel jewelry and I’m thrilled to share a “Behind the Baubles” interview with her later this week! (One quick note about the necklace: the tassel was askew after its trip through the mail, but a quick clamp in a hair straightener fixed it.)