PORTUGAL THIS MAY

We’ve been looking for a European trip for either May or August this year. I originally wanted to visit Stockholm, but hesitated when roundtrip tickets were less than $400 in January. Those prices hadn’t resurfaced, so we expanded our search to other countries and came across flights in our budget to Lisbon. At this point, we’re thinking of spending five or six nights in Lisbon, taking a day trip to Sintra, and visiting Porto for a few days. Our flight actually returns from London, which saved us a few hundred dollars on each ticket, so we’ll need to make our way back to the U.K. at some point. (I’m actually really excited to go back to London so soon. I was incredibly sick for the first few days of last year’s trip and I felt like I missed out on a few things I wanted to do.) Let me know if you have any travel recommendations!

THE BEST OPTION FOR GAME NIGHT

Codenames is such a fun option for your game nights! We’ve been playing it with our friends just about every time we get together at the neighborhood bar for late-night drinks. The gist of the game is that you’re trying to get your teammates to guess words on the board that are highlighted on your secret map. There’s also an adult version with words that have x-rated connotations. That version is more difficult in a lot of ways because many of the words and the clues you’d give are so similar.

ARTWORK

I’m such a fan of Patricia Vargas’ abstract art, and I’m beyond excited by the teaser she posted on Instagram the other day. I’m thinking that stacking two of the prints might be an option for over our little entry table.

VINTAGE SHOPPING

I’ve been scouring Craigslist lately to find vintage pieces for our house. Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of junk. However, I came across — and purchased — that incredible chair pictured above! It will eventually go in our yet-to-be-remodeled sunroom. That realistically won’t happen for years, so right now it’s in our office and I find myself staring lovingly at it whenever I’m in there.

A NEW BAG

I’ll use my Paravel backpack during the day for most of our trip in May, but I’m on the hunt for a crossbody bag I can use in the evening that can hold a lot but isn’t bulky. I’m thinking that this Kate Spade option might be the one. I love the neutral leather that’ll pair nicely with spring clothes and it looks roomy. Madewell also released a pretty cute option today, which is significantly cheaper. So, we’ll see. (In other pre-trip shopping news, I’m thinking about these Vince sneakers that are part of the current Shopbop promotion. I love the pair I bought last year and would like a lighter color for spring.)

SHOES FROM A CULT FAVORITE BRAND

Did you see that accessory newcomer Staud introduced footwear this week? Like the rest of their pieces, the shoes have a nod to vintage design — although these skew more late ’90s and early ’00s with their minimalist look. I like the asymmetrical strap detail on these and the pared down sophistication of these.

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GOAL SETTING

After posting my 2019 resolutions, I’ve been thinking about breaking things off into more manageable milestones and setting monthly goals. This month I’m going to exercise twice a week, continue to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day, finish replacing the sconces in the living room with these (in brass with this shade), and strip the paint from the hardware for at least one more door.

SAVING

Saving … or rather not shopping. Just like last year at this time, I’ve found myself tired of spending money and in desperate need of a month-long spending freeze to get my finances back in order after the holidays. I already have so many things and there isn’t a lot that I truly need right now. Sure, I have some wish list items like a few boho blouses, this backpack, and a new black a-line skirt, but I’m taking the 31 days of January to research purchases rather than pull the trigger. It’s part of a larger goal I have for ’19 to be more intentional about how I spend my money. I’ll always love clothes and accessories, but I want to make sure that what I buy is something I’ll love for more than one season — and that wasn’t always the case last year. (The exceptions to this will be if we find a great deal on a spring trip to Europe, if I come across any fun vintage pieces while we’re in Florida next week, or if I find something to spend a holiday gift card on. Also, I’ll probably buy some storage containers for the next agenda item below.)

WATCHING

I mentioned recently that I was eager to watch You on Netflix, starring Penn Badgley. I watched the first season over the course of two days and loved it, even if I had a hard time seeing him as anyone other than Dan Humphrey.

ORGANIZING

How in the world do cabinets and closets get so messy?! And that’s not even taking into consideration the state of our basement and the fact that we have unopened boxes from when we moved in a year and a half ago. (Some of those are sentimental items or books that I want but don’t need out, but other boxes include things that don’t fit our aesthetic or lifestyle and should be donated.) I’m planning to do a deep clean and organization of these messier areas, and donate the things that aren’t useful or loved. My closet is the only space where I’ll hesitate to donate things immediately. I typically put unworn items in a box and let them sit for a year to see if I miss them, but it’s nice to get them out of the closet and make it easier to find the things that I do wear.

MOISTURIZING

Did you see that Clinque is offering more choices for its Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion? The cult classic has remained virtually unchanged since its debut in 1968. Now, you can purchase cartridges for your lotion that target different skincare needs: uneven skintone; lines and wrinkles; irritation; pores and uneven texture; and fatigue. The add-on cartridge only increases the price of the lotion by $11, making it an affordable option when it comes to targeted skincare.

INVESTIGATING

You may recall that I mentioned a new company, Basepaws, in this post. It’s basically a DNA test for cats that allows you insight into the breeds your cat is most closely related to. It also offers insight into genetic abnormalities that may lead to disease. The company sent me a kit to test Bacon’s DNA, which I’m pretty excited about. He’s a Bengal (or at least should be!), so that aspect of the test is probably more interesting to cats that aren’t purebreds, but I’m very much interested in what diseases he may have a predisposition for so we can be proactive in his care. Unlike animals such as mice and dogs, cat DNA isn’t heavily studied. As more people submit DNA for testing, Basepaws will be able to compile more comprehensive results about your cat and will continue to send updates as more research is done.

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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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Happy Labor Day! I can barely believe it’s September. It feels like we just flipped the calendar to June and while summer is technically in full swing for a few more weeks (and it certainly feels like summer outside), fall temps will be here before we know it. Before we head into another month, I thought it would be fun to share a roundup of the things I’ve been up to and interested in over the past few weeks.

BUYING

My fall wish list is all about the classics. I didn’t take advantage of too many Labor Day sales, but I did snag a few things to round out my wardrobe: a black shell (can be worn on its own or over blouses), a black turtleneck (my old one shrunk in the wash), black pants (although there’s a good chance these are going back), a tie-neck blouse (love the powder blue color), and a striped t-shirt. I’ve been tired of my weekday wardrobe, so provided these all work out, they’ll serve as good foundation pieces for the upcoming seasons.

PLANNING

Our trip to Seattle is fast approaching. We’re heading to Washington for my brother’s wedding in three weeks. He lives in Selah, but since I hadn’t been to the state before, we tacked on a few days before and after the nuptials to explore the Seattle area. Any recommendations of what to do? Where to eat? Best breweries to visit? Instagrammable areas? Coolest natural areas that are within a two-hour drive? Any and all ideas are welcome!

WATCHING

Last week we started — and finished — Killing Eve. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so enthralled with a show that I actually put my phone down for the entire thing. I can’t wait for season two.

INSTALLING

A few months ago, we purchased a ceiling fan to replace the one in the bedroom. However, we quickly learned the junction box couldn’t support a ceiling fan (perhaps that’s why the old one wobbled dangerously) and after talking to our electrician, we decided we didn’t want a ceiling fan that badly given the cost of installing a new box. So, we recently bought a pretty fixture instead. The hole from the fan is too large for the new fixture’s canopy to cover, so we’re adding a ceiling medallion. I love the traditional look of a medallion, especially when it’s paired with a modern fixture. Here’s a tutorial on how to install a medallion if you’re curious.

COOKING

Alright, it’s too hot outside to actually start making slow cooker recipes, but this one for chicken tikka masala is one to have on hand for when things do cool down. We make it at least twice a month during fall and winter. When you assemble it, make a second set of the spice mixture to store. It cuts down on prep time the next time you make it.

STOCKING UP

The Hearth & Hand floursack towels are fantastic quality for the price point. I bought a lot of them last fall when the line first debuted and they’ve held up beautifully.

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