lee renee pineapple pendant

15 Pineapple Pieces for Summer

May 17, 2017 by jessica 3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I joked that the “Weekly Reading” posts always have at least one pineapple item to love. What can I say? I’m kind of obsessed with that perky tropical fruit!* One of my favorite pieces in my collection is this tiny pineapple pendant by Lee Renee that Dave gave me for my birthday two years ago (worn recently here). It’s the perfect pint-sized pineapple for everyday wear. And my penchant for pineapples isn’t waning even though I already have the necklace, the matching ring, and an assortment of vintage brass pineapples around the house! Here are 15 pineapple pieces I love for summer:

J.Crew’s latest collaboration with Ratti has resulted in two fantastic pineapple print fabrics. I could fill this list with items just from that collection, but I’ll refrain and draw your attention to the one I love most: this tie-shoulder dress.
These pineapple shot glasses are just the cutest things. I own a set and use them as decorations.
Bring pineapples the office by way of a shift dress.
An eBay search for “vintage pineapple ice bucket” will yield brass Hollywood Regency style pineapples. Some will need TLC, but it shouldn’t be anything brass polish can’t handle.
If you really love pineapples, consider splurging on this bag. The perforated design is perfectly subtle.
And, if your budget is more modest, here’s a straw clutch that won’t break the bank.
You know I’m a Lele Sadoughi fan girl and her sculptural pineapple earrings don’t disappoint.
I can’t get over this set of brass bookends.
Tassels adorn this scarf, which has a great tonal print. The larger version works as a sarong.
This breezy maxi is perfect for steamy summer days.
Love my necklace featured above, but would prefer a more affordable alternative? Try this.
This pineapple print makes me so happy.
Pineapple-embossed glassware makes cocktail hour both chic and cheeky.
A pair of espadrilles is guaranteed to make you smile when embellished with a pineapple and a palm tree.
Give your bathroom a summery makeover with this shower curtain.

*Never on a pizza, though.

Linen Lady

June 6, 2016 by jessica 15 Comments

J.Crew Factory Striped Linen-Cotton Shirt

I picked up this shirt at J.Crew Factory over the weekend. It’s a linen-cotton blend, making it a comfortable, no-fuss option for breezy summer days. Better yet, it shields my already-burnt skin from the sun! (It runs true to size.)

In other news, we put in an offer on a 1930 colonial-style house filled with charm and creaky wood floorboards the very day it went on the market. Even though we went $5,000 over asking, the seller decided to wait another day before reviewing offers and we were outbid. I’m devastated and have been crying on and off all weekend because of it. We’re now faced with a difficult decision today: renew our lease and stay in our apartment for another year or roll the dice and see if we can find a house in the next three weeks. If the latter doesn’t pan out, we’ll likely have to rent a different apartment and move at the end of July. (I have no doubt that our current place will be swept off the market soon. It’s in a good location and has low rent.) We’ve thought about renewing and subletting, but that seems like such a risky endeavor if the sublessee damages the place or skips town. Ugh. I have no idea what to do and we have 24 hours to decide. Any ideas? Should we just consult the Magic 8 Ball and be done with it?

J.Crew Factory Striped Linen-Cotton Shirt

Shirt: J.Crew Factory
Shorts: J.Crew (old, also love these)
Sandals: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Lee Renee
Bracelet: c/o Julie Vos (old, also love this)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop (on sale for $98 here)
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana c/o SmartBuyGlasses (also available here)
Lips: Stila “Betsey”

No Crutches!

July 13, 2015 by jessica 14 Comments

This was the first weekend I could go without crutches and it was amazing. I didn’t need as much clearance to maneuver. I could actually walk up and down stairs instead of kneeling or scooting on my butt. My arms weren’t unbelievably sore. My posture was better. I actually went in the pool! I just have one more week left of the boot until I’m stuck in sneakers for another four weeks. The doctor had first recommended Dansko clogs or Birkenstocks that cover the entire foot. Mercifully, she suggested sneakers after my horrified stare. Sneakers aren’t really my thing, but I ordered a pair of black Pumas to wear with casual dresses and black and white work ensembles. (Be careful if you order them on Amazon. I had searched for “Women’s Suede Puma” and the first search result was actually for the men’s version. I was surprised to see such a large size 7 arrive last week before I realized my mistake!)

June Highlights

July 8, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

Let’s just start by admitting that June wasn’t nearly as fun as May. My broken foot left me a little too gun shy to use crutches at the beginning and even when I was finally feeling more confident, I didn’t want to scoot around too much. It was exhausting! Here’s what I did manage to do:

Whine about my broken foot. Here’s what I learned during the experience.
Enjoyed beer and frites at my favorite restaurant in Madison.
Introduced Bacon to our new rug. Let’s just hope he doesn’t use it as an expensive scratching pad. (Truth be told, I hated this rug online, but fell in love with it in the store. The colors are much prettier in person.)
Enjoyed time at the pool, even if I didn’t go in. Instead, I sunned myself and made it through Girl on the Train. It’s similar to Gone Girl with an unreliable narrator, but not as good.
Bought a new Tory Burch dress because I can’t resist a good sale or a dress with pockets. It’s still available in different sizes at varying price points at Tory Burch, Bloomingdale’s, and Saks.
Received this gorgeous necklace as a birthday gift from Dave.
Ordered new sunglasses that I’ve been wearing nonstop.
Picked up Sunday donuts at Madison’s best bakery.
Finally wore my favorite bathing suit. It’s from LOFT last year, but I’m also loving this flattering striped suit and the batik stripes on this one. This year’s version of my LOFT swimsuit comes in an array of solid colors.

Pineapple Pendant

June 23, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

Even though there was a shipping delay on my birthday gift this year, it was worth the wait. Dave surprised me with this Lee Renee pineapple pendant. I first fell in love with the piece with I interviewed the designer back in February of last year and had no idea I’d be spoiled with it months afterward. Isn’t it just the cutest thing? It’s tiny, as you can see in the stock images, but the attention to detail is wonderful and it has a nice weight to it. The solid silver piece is handmade in London with an 18k gold plate.