Loving Lately

Lately, I’m loving:

This vintage brass elephant Dave tucked in my Christmas stocking. I’m using it as a ring holder on my dresser. (There are a lot of options on eBay. Don’t be put off by the dingy ones; brass cleaner works wonders.)
The polka dot clutch I won from Kayu’s Instagram giveaway. Now I’m even more anxious for the weather to warm up. (Today’s forecast has wind chills down to -50 degrees. Days like this make me thankful I don’t own a dog that needs to be walked. You’ll find me snuggled up in piles of blankets with the cat with absolutely no intention of stepping foot outdoors.)
This tank to wear with these shorts.

Lately, I’m loving:

The fountain pen I received from Parker. It arrived just in time for my card-writing frenzy and made the endeavor much more elegant. (I’m usually reaching for a freebie pen emblazoned with a company logo. This pen makes me feel like an adult.) I’m crazy about the Art Deco design at the tip. They’re now available at Bloomingdales.
Hanging out with my brother who came home for Christmas. He’s in the Army (currently doing IED training in the State of Washington) so I don’t see him often. It was really nice to catch up and meet his dachshund puppy, Basil.
The Tory Burch necklace that I almost missed out on from the Net-a-Porter sale. I was going to buy it after my morning shower last week and came back to find that it was sold out. I kept checking in on it obsessively over the past few days, hoping that there would be one more in stock, and actually woke up early today to find it available. It’s a Christmas Eve miracle.

Lately, I’m loving:

The beautiful candles Archipelago sent to me last week in their new holiday scents: Hope and Winter Frost. I’ve been burning the Winter Frost one whenever I’m home. It’s a Christmasy combination of white birch and evergreen that reminds me of a candle my parents had tucked away in their boxes of Christmas decorations. To me, it’s the holiday scent. The Hope candle is a bit more masculine with a woodsy blend of pine, bayberry and clove. All of Archipelago’s holiday candles are on sale right now, so it’s a great opportunity to stock up for next year. (I’m such a fan of their candles. They burn cleanly, the wax melts evenly and none of the fragrances I’ve tried are overpowering.)
Chex Mix. Why is it so good?!
The ridiculous cat t-shirt my coworker gave me. He has a party hat for goodness sakes! I’m counting down the days until Bacon’s spring birthday so I can break it out for the festivities.
The lamp I purchased after winning a $100 Lulu & Georgia gift card from In Honor of Design. It’s pretty and looks just like the photos. However, the quality isn’t great. I would have been irked if I bought it at full price. Wait for a sale.

Lately, I’m loving:

This DVF clutch from Loehmann’s that came to $55 after shipping. It’s a shame that my new iPhone (in gold!) doesn’t fit inside. Pretty > Impractical
A holiday sweater. We’re going to the Twin Cities the weekend of December 14th for a handful of birthday celebrations. We’re all expected to wear holiday sweaters, but I just can’t spend money on an ugly version. (I’m such a party pooper!) I’ll wear a tartan sweater with a light-up necklace and earrings instead.
Eric Stonestreet’s eggnog shake as described in the latest issue of Bon Appetit: eggnog, peppermint ice cream and rum blended together. Happy holidays, indeed.

Lately, I’m loving:

A chance to finally relax. After a year of planning and countless sleepless nights, our annual B2B expo went off without a hitch last Wednesday. Phew!
The Jennifer Meyer for J.Crew bracelet featured above. I adored the pieces from the collaboration when it was released, but the price point was a bit high. I purchased the bracelet a few weeks ago when there was an additional 40% off the sale price. It’s quite beautiful in person and the cut glass has a glimmering, prism-like quality.
Learning Spanish on Duolingo. Have you used the app?

Featured: Forever 21 dress // Kate Spade clutch // Forever 21 ring // gifted Cynthia Jones ring // Jennifer Meyer for J.Crew bracelet // Essie nail polish in “After School Boy Blazer”