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Things I Bought & Loved in December

December 16, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

With the holidays fast approaching and shipping deadlines coming up this week, I realized that I’m done making personal purchases for 2020 and wanted to share this month’s favorites with you on the earlier side!

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • H&M long v-neck dress in blue/swan – Truth be told, I had forgotten I ordered this a few weeks ago since it took nearly four weeks to arrive after placing my order! I wanted something that was a bit dressier for WFH days, but was still comfortable and this dress hit the mark. I also love it with slip-on sneakers and chunky jewelry, which is how I intend to wear it come spring. You’ll want to go down a size. I’d normally take a medium in a dress like this, but opted for a small based on the reviews. The material is a bit stretchy and forgiving, and it’s a heavier-weight fabric that seems like it’ll hold up well.
  • Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Explore Hiker Boot – I needed a pair of boots that were more practical than my wedge Ugg boots that I wore en route to work with tights and dresses when offices were a thing. (This is the closest I found; mine don’t have hardware.) I snagged these Cole Haan boots during their Black Friday weekend sale. They’re very comfortable and seem well made. I bought my regular size 7, which is good with a pair of thin socks, but might be too tight with anything thicker for an extended period of time. It’ll be alright, though, since the boot itself is thick and well-insulated.
  • J.Crew ‘Chateau’ puffer jacket with PrimaLoft in black – I never really loved my old black puffer coat and thought I’d upgrade it this year, knowing that our gatherings with friends will be outside on snowy patios this winter! This one is true to size and I love that it has adjustable, waist-cinching cords to give it some shape. It also has snaps on the side hem if you need a little bit more room in the hips (a plus, since the coat doesn’t have a two-way zipper).
  • Tory Burch face masks – I have a set of Tory Burch masks from earlier in the pandemic and they’re my favorite. The size is good, they’re adjustable, and they have a metal insert to fit the mask over your nose. I figured I’d get ready for another pandemic spring and summer with florals.
  • Madewell crepe square-neck, puff-sleeve top – This is such a sweet, romantic top! It fits true-to-size and it’s a chic update to your Zoom-call wardrobe.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Brightech ‘Luna’ floor lamp – Now that it’s winter, our at-home office feels too dim in the late afternoon. The room only has a ceiling light so I had been looking for a floor lamp to supplement it. I had my eye on this lamp from Article, but kept going back and forth because I didn’t want to pay for shipping, and eventually came across this dupe. It took about two weeks to arrive and I absolutely adore it! It’s probably not as well made as the Article one since the stem does come in separate pieces that get screwed together, but it’s beautiful and sturdy. The shade is a frosted glass and while I’d prefer an opal glass, the price point makes up for it!

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Filed Under: Recent Purchases Tagged With: Bought and Loved, New Purchases

Things I Bought & Loved in November (Plus, the Item I Hated)

November 27, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Latest Purchases

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving to those of you in the United States! I’m not going to subject you to a list of Black Friday sales today because I suspect that you’re capable of navigating those on your own. Instead, I’m giving you a rundown of the items I bought and loved this month — and one I really hated.

Normally I just ignore the less-than-great items because it’s all personal preference or fit issues, but I can’t give this sweater the benefit of the doubt. It looks cute online; perfectly oversized to wear with #PandemicPants and has a flattering v-neckline. The downsides? It’s so staticky (which is probably to be expected with nylon and acrylic in the mix) and the knit has black flecks throughout that look like pills in the fabric from a distance. It’s the worst. Don’t buy it.

Now, the good stuff…

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Chimi 008 sunglasses in coco (on sale today here) – I feel like most brown sunglasses are tortoiseshell and not solid, so I was drawn to the pretty warm brown hue of these. It’s unique, but still undeniably classic.
  • J.Crew tipped turtleneck sweater in heather dusk/black – My favorite sweater came in stripes this year! Naturally I couldn’t resist adding the grey-and-black version to my collection, upping my total to four of these. They’re perfectly relaxed and look great with jeans or cigarette pants. I wore them on repeat last winter and I doubt this year will be different. I opt for a medium, but could make the small work for a more fitted silhouette. Solid colors are available here.
  • J.Crew ribbed beanie in heather French purple – I actually don’t love the color purple, but I do think lilac is pretty on brunettes. So, I bought this and I think it’s pretty cute with the olive green jacket I snagged last month.
  • Tory Burch ‘Georgia’ snakeskin ballet flat – All things considered, I was being modest with my purchases this month, in part because a couple of large expenses came my way: I had a hefty auto repair bill after having work done I put off since February (I haven’t been driving much) and I ordered my annual supply of daily contact lenses. But then I saw these shoes. And my credit card had a promotion for 10% cash back at Tory Burch and, well, it didn’t take much to talk myself into them. I’m obsessed and it’s the first item since pandemic that has made me want to start wearing pretty clothing instead of athleisure and caftans. The squared toe is elegant and the snakeskin upper has the prettiest shine. Assuming we have widespread immunization next year, I’m leaning hard into my beloved mini-dress-meets-flats combo when I start going back to the office and these are definitely going to be my go-tos. They run true to size for me.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Inkbird WiFi sous vide – We’ve been talking about getting a sous vide for months now, so Dave didn’t hesitate to snag this one when it was on sale at Amazon a couple of weeks ago. (And it’s on sale again today for the price we paid!) So far, we’ve only done one steak night with it, but it really is a miracle worker in terms of getting the perfect doneness throughout!
  • Target light-up Christmas tree in medium and large – We didn’t have anything that lit up to add to our dining room for some holiday ambiance so I purchased a couple of these light-up mercury glass trees. They have a really pretty warm glow.
  • Target striped stockings – I definitely didn’t need stockings because I still adore the red herringbone ones we bought at Target a few years ago. However, I wasn’t feeling the red when I hung them on our railing. I’m probably just being particular this year. ::shrug::
  • Target faux mistletoe – Most faux mistletoe looks cheap, but this is a pretty good option. It also looks cute tucked in a vase.

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Filed Under: Recent Purchases, Style Tagged With: Bought and Loved, New Purchases

Things I Bought and Loved in October

October 30, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Sara Tramp Ceramics
bowl from Tramp Ceramics

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • J.Crew perfect rain jacket in dark moss – This is a great basic to have on hand for fall and eventually spring. The cinched waist gives it shape and there’s enough room around the hips for curvier girls. I went with a medium and there’s plenty of room for a sweater underneath.
  • J.Crew camp socks – I love these cozy socks for chilly days at home. They now have striped ones, too!
  • Gap cozy scarf in black check – This is such a pretty, soft scarf and I love the classic print.
  • Old Navy flannel pajama shorts in buffalo check – These fit as you’d expect and run true to size. For actual pajamas, I prefer short and tank sets from Soma’s “Cool Nights” collection, but I’m all about cheap pajama shorts for lounging on the couch.
  • Old Navy loose sweater-knit crop hoodie in gray heather – This was a surprise hit! I added this sweater-sweatshirt hybrid to my order to reach the free shipping threshold with the other items in the order. I figured it’d be a decent enough loungewear piece, but didn’t think it’d be as great as it is. I love the cropped, boxy shape with “pandemic pants” and it’s so darn soft. I bought a medium, but you could easily go down a size for a more fitted look.
  • LOFT floral shirred yoke blouse – There’s a shocking amount of hate for this blouse in the review section! It’s a gauzy fabric, which wasn’t what I expected, but I do like it. I went with a medium. It’s oversized, but drapes well without being bulky. I think it’s the perfect Thanksgiving blouse that gives you plenty of room without being clingy.
  • The Drop x Grace Atwood loose-fit dress – In full disclosure, I’m on the fence about keeping this. It was a bit expensive for quality that’s akin to a Target dress and I don’t love it with fall accessories or sneakers. However, I do love it with my Birks (in cognac) and summery jewelry. I might keep it for those reasons alone and hope that COVID-19 eases up enough in 2021 where we can go on a warm-weather trip earlier in the year.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Norwell Lighting schoolhouse semi-flushmount in polished nickel with the stepped opal shade – We replaced the old fluorescent light in our bathroom with this schoolhouse-inspired option. The stepped shade makes it a bit more unique than the standard shades that come with schoolhouse fixtures. It’s a good quality at that price point.
  • Hearth & Hand bathroom hook in black – After we did our bathroom refresh and replaced the cabinet knobs on the linen closet near the shower, our towels no longer stayed put when draped on the new knobs. So, a hook was in order. I found this one at Target and it’s so good! It’s sturdy and has a nice weight to it.
  • House of Antique Hardware mushroom glass cabinet knob in black – House of Antique Hardware always comes through when I’m looking for a vintage-inspired or replica replacement. These knobs are adorable for our bathroom linen closet. I actually ordered a pair in white, too, but loved the black ones more in our bathroom.
  • Threshold soap dispenser – I don’t have much to say about this, but it’s pretty and classic, and I thought I’d draw your attention to it if you’re looking for a new soap dispenser.
  • Tramp Ceramics almond bowl – Sara Tramp, former member of the Emily Henderson blog team, launched her online ceramic shop recently. She has such pretty pieces at an affordable price point! Follow the shop’s Instagram for updates.

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Filed Under: Recent Purchases, Style Tagged With: Bought and Loved, New Purchases

Things I Bought and Loved in September

October 1, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Things I Bought & Loved

Candidly, I’m fairly impressed with how many affordable pieces I found for my wardrobe to round out the last bit of summer. I was to the point where I was wearing the same black Old Navy dress nearly every day (essentially this, but sleeveless). And, while I bought five of them last year and it wasn’t technically the same garment on repeat, I’m sure people thought I had given up on myself in Zoom meetings.

Aside from that, the month’s shining stars were on the home front with an heirloom-quality blanket and a new living room rug (even if I didn’t follow your advice).

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • A New Day long-sleeve dress in brown – This dress is just about sold out and for good reason, it’s adorable! It’s lightweight making it perfect for this transitional weather. It runs true to size.
  • Birkenstock ‘Madrid’ big buckle slide in cognac (also here and here) – I bought the classic Madrid sandal in black with the black buckle at the height of Birkenstock’s resurgence a few years ago. They’re probably my most worn sandals that I always bring on each warm-weather trip and have become my go-to house shoes during COVID. This pair with the big buckle is definitely the “make it fashion” version. They’re comfortable and versatile and absolutely worth buying. I typically wear a size 7 in shoes, and go with a 37 in this. The width claims to be narrow, but it’s a standard width for most people.
  • Banana Republic merino wool turtleneck in rust – I love the color of this sweater, but as the online reviews point out, it’s not the pictured turtleneck. The one I received is a fine-knit wool without that thicker ribbing at the sleeves and hem. It’s also more form-fitting than I would have liked for this work-at-home environment. However, I’m keeping it because the color is too perfect for fall and it’ll layer well under sleeveless dresses if I ever decide to dress up for a Zoom meeting. I went with a medium.
  • Universal Thread puff-sleeve tiered babydoll dress in pink – This is essentially a muumuu and I love the dress for it. It runs stupidly large and I ended up going with an XS.
  • H&M cotton puff-sleeve blouse in leaf print – I read the reviews for this and opted to size down to a small. However, the blouse I received was a size medium tucked into a bag labeled “small.” It was so cheap that I didn’t want to go to the effort of returning it even though it is awfully large. So, heed the advice of reviewers and go down a size. The print is really fun!

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Schoolhouse Electric cotton pinstripe blanket – I know this is such a splurge for a cotton blanket, but I’m a sucker for Schoolhouse Electric products. They’re so well made that you just know they’re destined to be heirloom pieces.
  • OXO Good Grips FurLifter – Oliver tends to sleep on our bed during the day, leaving cat hair all over the duvet cover. After going through entirely too many sheets of lint paper, I opted for a reusable lint brush to get it off. This one does a good job and the holder removes the hair from the brush.
  • Loloi II “Layla” rug (also available here) – We’ve been looking for a new living room rug for a few years now and had hoped to find a vintage one at an affordable price. We’re not exactly frequently antique stores anymore with COVID, so we went for the next best thing: an affordable vintage-inspired rug. It’s actually decent enough quality at the price. I like the whipstitch along the edge and while the design is printed rather than woven, it looks good. All in all, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in a similar situation.
  • IKEA ‘Tekla’ dish towels – Head over here for all of the reasons I love these dish towels.
  • IKEA ‘Citronsyra’ planters – I love these vintage metal planters so much that I bought four, even if I only had plans for one. I’ll use the others next year to plant herbs.
  • P.F. Candle Co. spiced pumpkin candle – This is pretty much fall in a candle. It smells a bit like pumpkin pie and has a sweetness that fortunately isn’t as pronounced when it’s actually burning.

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Filed Under: Recent Purchases, Style Tagged With: Bought and Loved, New Purchases

Recent Purchases: May Edition

May 29, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Latest Purchases

I know this is the epitome of first-world problems (and I’m grateful I can even complain about this because I’ve been healthy), but one of the most difficult things about the global pandemic is not being able to travel. In a typical year, we would have already had at least one getaway by now. And while we were able to do long weekends in Chicago and Milwaukee before the world was turned upside down, it’s not nearly the same as our usual spring jaunts that Facebook is so helpfully reminding me of almost daily. (Yes, I know we were in Portugal one year ago … yep, I know Austin was two years ago … please stop.) These May trips are largely because my birthday is at the end of the month (tomorrow, in fact!) and I like to plan a jaunt to celebrate another trip around the sun. This year is just as memorable, of course, but not for the right reasons! Below, you’ll find a roundup of the things I bought during my birthday month.

I did order a couple of dresses (this and this) from Shopbop yesterday that are scheduled to arrive today (one of the perks of living in the same city as its warehouse!). Fingers crossed that I’ll be celebrating my birthday in one of them!

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

  • J.Crew seaside short in chambray – I’m all about easy, pull-on shorts for summer bike rides when I don’t want to wear athletic clothes. These run true to size, but they get a bit stretched out at the end of the day. I just ordered a size smaller to have on hand, too, since I’ve been shedding some of this COVID weight — finally.
  • Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific polka dot utility jacket – This is a great pairing of a classic silhouette and a whimsical twist. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it! It runs true to size.
  • Madewell pull-on shorts in black – For the same reasons as above, I snagged this pair of shorts from Madewell. It’s hard to find shorts to accommodate an ample rear end and thighs, and these fit the bill. These also run true to size.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Schoolhouse Electric ‘Blooming Field’ duvet cover – I can’t even tell you how much I love this! I bought the pillow shams last year after falling head-over-heels for the pattern. Twelve months later, still obsessed with the design, I ordered the matching duvet cover. It’s such a great print that brings in a floral that isn’t too feminine.
  • Target self-watering planters – This isn’t very exciting, which is why I didn’t include them in the photo above. However, if you’re looking for inexpensive, lightweight planters for your patio garden, these are great options!

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

  • J.Crew seaside short in stripe – Unlike the chambray pair, this one fits a bit tighter and just didn’t look as cute. It kind of reminds me of the stripes a stereotypical train conductor wears.
  • En Saison striped tiered babydoll dress – Kudos to the brand for having a lining in a loose dress that isn’t tighter than the dress itself! However, the dress ran large and the ruffled sleeves made me look wide on top.
  • Luv Aj mother-of-pearl circle hoops – These are so pretty, so I was disappointed to see that the pearl design is only on one side of the earring. The back is all gold, which is easily seen when worn. There are better earrings out there for the price point.

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Filed Under: Home, Style Tagged With: New Purchases, Purchase Reviews, What I Bought

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Hello!


Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry.

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I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog of travel photos before we book our next trip. First up, photos of the gothic York Minster. I’m not religious in the slightest but I can’t resist stunning architecture and the opportunity to climb hundreds of cathedral stairs for a city view. This one only had a single rest stop about halfway up the flight of 275 steps for a closeup view of the flying buttresses — and a waiver you had to sign before your ascent to promise you’re healthy enough to make it.
Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone nook to good use.
Christmassy mornings. Christmassy mornings.
Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake f Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake from Dessert Person by @csaffitz

#dessertperson #thanksgiving #eastfork #eastforkdoesmydishes #eastforkpottery #dansk #food52 #dessert
Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Hal Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Halloween spirit. While it claims to be the most haunted place in Europe and is dubbed the city of a thousand ghosts, we only encountered the wire-mesh sculptures of Ghosts in the Gardens (@the_york_bid) and the family of souvenir ghosts I brought home from @yorkghostmerchants. 

#ghostsinthegardens #york #hauntedyork #yorkmuseumgardens #yorkghostmerchants
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