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Weekend Reading

May 13, 2017 by jessica 3 Comments

Madison Magazine Feature - Meet five of Madison's most fashionable people

While I was working on this post this morning, Dave peeked over my shoulder and teased “Weekend Reading … about myself.” He’s so punchy in the morning! (::eye roll::) But yes, one of this week’s highlights includes my feature in Madison Magazine this month as one of the city’s most fashionable people. It was so flattering, but I really can’t hold a candle to the others featured in the section! (And in retrospect, I wish I had went with sandals for the picture. It was a chilly day in early April when we shot these and while we were inside the humid botanical gardens, it didn’t cross my mind to bring along warm-weather footwear!)

I house-hunting news, we have two properties to see today that have potential. One has been updated, but not to our tastes. (The bathroom is completely done in brown tile. It’s something…) However, it has a lot of space that we can expand into and my favorite feature is an upstairs bedroom with a balcony overlooking the backyard. It looks like such a relaxing space to make into our office. The other house was built in 1929, in our ideal neighborhood, and not officially on the market yet. We haven’t seen any interior photos and our real estate agent cautioned that it needs updates, but I’m still optimistic and it would be a relief to not have competing offers.

Weekend Reading:

  • The “Plan Bee” drone can pollinate flowers just as well as bees can.
  • Use code “FRIENDS” to save 50% on these items at M’oda ‘Operandi’s Friends & Family sale. I’m tempted to pick up Coqui Coqui’s Orange Blossom fragrance. I’ve heard really good things about it!
  • I’m already a fan of Nicki Minaj, but now I love her even more.
  • Remember the glory days of the wristlet?
  • This gingham jumpsuit is too cute! I just ordered it to try on, along with this dress.
  • Fran shared her experience saying yes to the dress at Kleinfeld Bridal.
  • I’m sure we’re going to end up with a less-than-stellar bathroom in our house. Provided the home has more than one bathroom, Dave gave me the green light to paint the vanity pink like Elsie did in her guest bathroom. He cautioned that it means we’d also need to find a vintage brass light fixture for the room, preferably with a pineapple design. (This is love, people.)
  • Here’s an easy DIY for a floral photo backdrop.
  • Twenty-four books to add to your summer reading list. (I used to be such a voracious reader and I’m trying to get back into it. Let me know if you have any recommendations. I’m a sucker for psychological thrillers and compilations of humorous essays.)
  • Tips to maximize space in a small closet.
  • It’s almost rhubarb season and time to indulge in this strawberry rhubarb pie.

ICYMI:

  • Breaking out a linen shirt in preparation for warmer temperatures.
  • Getting “nauti” with sailor-inspired picks. (I’ve been saying “ahoy” lately, so that sweater is a must when it goes on sale!)

Happy Mother’s Day weekend!

Filed Under: Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, weekend reading

Weekend Reading

May 5, 2017 by jessica 8 Comments

graducation dresses
Jojobride dress | Sea & Grass tote | Ann Taylor sandals (old; similar) | Julie Vos bracelet (c/o; similar and love this) | Karen Walker sunglasses (c/o Shopbop) | Monica Vinader ring (similar) | Addcolo wigs  Here

Weekend Reading:

  • Happy Cinco de Mayo! Celebrate with homemade margaritas, but leave the sugary mix at the store. Here’s all you need for the perfect marg. (This is pretty much the recipe I use, except I use agave nectar instead of simple syrup.)
  • I’m not sure it’s possible for me to love Gray Malin more than I already do, but this interview solidified my fan girl status.
  • It seems like I’m including a weekly pineapple item, huh? I like what I like! Here’s this week’s must have. It’s just $12!
  • This Tinder guy will provide for you. 😉 (Seriously, I’m so glad I never had to join that site. Fun fact: I met Dave on OkCupid!)
  • Kirby’s 48-hour guide to Nashville is the perfect way to spend a weekend. (Here’s my travel guide with a few additional must-dos if you’re in the city for a longer period of time.)
  • How amazing does Grasie look in her pajama-inspired dress?!
  • The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday. I love betting on horses probably more than I should, but I only do it on four occasions: when I’m actually at the track, Derby day, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. For the last three, I only put $25 down on the first race and use any winnings for the last two. (I’m pretty risk averse!) Read up on the Derby contenders here.
  • Who would have predicted that brow art would be a thing?
  • Zara’s jewelry is so good right now. I’m loving these orange fringe hoops and these rhinestone waterfalls.
  • This editorial explores why J.Crew’s vision of a preppy America failed, and its future isn’t looking too rosy with Jenna Lyons stepping down and a recent layoff of 150 employees.
  • West Elm is offering free shipping on select furniture for a limited time with code BIGDEAL. If you have your eye on any of these, buy them now! Shipping on oversize pieces really adds up.
  • Speaking of furniture, I’m crazy about this ultra glam outdoor chair.
  • This is an interesting peek into the lucrative “healing” gemstone industry.

ICYMI:

  • We lost out on another house, despite going $16,000 over asking. Sigh. Bacon didn’t care.
  • I’ve purchased a few things from this week’s “The Coveted” already.
  • New Orleans is more than just booze and beads! (The opening picture to the NOLA city guide is my favorite travel pic I’ve taken yet. There’s a good chance I’m getting that one framed for the new house whenever it happens!)

Filed Under: Outfits, Style, Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, weekend reading

Weekend Reading

April 28, 2017 by jessica 8 Comments

https://www.marrymeinphuket.com/

Happy Friday! After touring a home last Saturday that left us both underwhelmed, we headed north to Dave’s parents’ cabin for an overnight stay. Even though it was brief, sipping beer on the dock and chatting by the late-night fire was the perfect mini getaway to start the week refreshed. It was also the maiden voyage of the Soludos slides above. They’re ridiculously comfortable so long as you don’t mind going without arch support.

This weekend also promises to be laid back. If the rain holds off, I’d like to go to the farmers’ market on Saturday and then we have two homes to see this weekend. Each of the houses have their pros and cons. One is a two-story home built in 1920 with a ton of original character and charm (and the smallest galley-style kitchen ever and no air conditioning). It’s $65,000 less than the other contender: a 1956 ranch that has been updated with a much larger and functional kitchen, a finished basement, larger bedrooms, and the cutest vintage bathroom with original tile and a turquoise tub. They’re both in good neighborhoods and close to the bike trail. I’m hoping that we’re drawn to one in person, and that we can have an offer accepted and put this whole hullabaloo behind us and start focusing on the good stuff: paint and furniture.

Weekend Reading:

  • If you’re lucky enough to be in Los Angeles before May 29, snag tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream and take envy-inducing selfies in the pool of sprinkles.
  • I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ll probably buy this dress just because it looks so cute on Allie.
  • I’m all about this relaxed striped dress. It’s only $49, so there’s a high likelihood that I’ll snag it next month and wear it with my new favorite sandals and oversize earrings (in “warm sandstone”) every single weekend this summer.
  • Hitha’s recipe for Indian black pepper chicken looks amazing. I’m adding it to our menu this weekend.
  • These posters to raise awareness for pet adoption in Mumbai are brilliant.
  • Grace shared her most recent reading list. I can personally vouch for Styled.
  • I haven’t started reading this interview with Anna Wintour on politics and the business of fashion yet, but it looks interesting. (I helpfully emailed it to  myself two days ago with the subject line “read.”)
  • We all know that I rarely don a pair of heels, but I’m tempted to add these to my collection in the red-orange hue.
  • As if I didn’t already have intense wanderlust, a roundup of the prettiest beauty boutiques to visit is making me yearn to book a trip.
  • Ikea issued the best response to Balenciaga’s $2,145 lookalike.
  • The Met Gala is coming up on Monday, May 1. While you wait for this year’s looks to grace the red carpet, take a look back at some of the event’s best fashion moments.

ICYMI:

  • The outfit I’ve worn pretty much every weekend so far this spring.
  • Colorful favorites for spring.
  • This month’s shopping confessions, er, budget update.

 

Filed Under: Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, weekend reading

Weekend Reading

April 22, 2017 by jessica Leave a Comment

Weekend Reading 04.22.17

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! We’re off to see another house in a couple of hours. This one needs a bit more love and attention than the last house we put in an offer on, but there’s something I like about that. We’re less gunshy about making changes to the interior to really make it reflect our aesthetic. It’s hard to do that on a home that’s been recently renovated, even if the finishes aren’t to our taste. To that end, I’ve still been shopping for home items that I love, like a robin’s egg blue garden hose of all things. (It’s half that price at our local hardware store.) I never thought a garden hose would grace my wish list, but here we are. #Adulting

And with that, here’s what caught my fancy this week:

  • Dolce & Gabbana is partnering with the home appliance brand SMEG for a collection of brightly colored kitchen appliances that highlight Sicilian folklore.
  • How is Urban Outfitters navigating today’s retail landscape?
  • Ah! This mini woven tote is so cute! I just love all of the colors.
  • Abercrombie & Fitch is growing up, thanks to its senior vice president of design. (I’m surprised by how much I love this striped romper from the brand. Pair it with slides and a woven bag and you’re set for summer.)
  • I had no idea that Victoria’s Secret and Nike are among the top brands for Millennials.
  • I just bought this tie-front dress. I love that the top is lined and the fabric is thick enough that small-chested ladies won’t need a bra.
  • These earrings also arrived this week. They’re pretty lightweight for how large they are.
  • Here’s a cocktail that’s almost too pretty to drink.
  • The iconic TWA terminal at JFK airport by mid-century architect Eero Saarinen is being renovated into a hotel.
  • Just look at these gorgeous photos of Australia’s salt ponds.

ICYMI:

  • Preppy favorites for this week’s “The Coveted.”
  • Three one-piece swimsuits that are wallet-friendly alternatives to Marysia bathing suits.
  • A ruffled dress I wore in New Orleans.

The photo above is from our trip to NOLA. I’m planning to have a travel guide up next week!

Filed Under: Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, weekend reading

Weekend Reading

April 15, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

Weekend Reading 04.15.17

Goodness, what a week. We fell head-over-heels in love with the house we saw on Sunday, put in an offer over asking, and on Tuesday morning we received news that we didn’t get it. I didn’t expect to feel as heartbroken as I did and I left work early to come home and curl up in a depressed pile on the couch. This process is heart wrenching. It’s not just a piece of property you’re looking to buy, it’s a home and a life and a future. There’s so much wrapped up in putting in that offer that it’s soul-crushing when it doesn’t work out the way you hope it will. It’d be one thing if Madison had more houses on the market, but we’ve now gone another week and there’s nothing that we want to see. Plus, real estate in this market is expensive. Our budget is $275,000 and that will either get us a boring, carpeted, newly built home in the suburbs or a 1940s home that has never been renovated, doesn’t have a dishwasher, and no garage. So, the rare house that falls within our preferred neighborhoods that has the pretty finishes and upgrades go for $20,000 or more over asking. I’m scared that we’re going to find ourselves settling on a dumpy little home that we’re lukewarm about at best. It’s stressful and I so badly want it to work out for us. I know this isn’t the most uplifting life update, but #RealLife?

Anyway, here’s what I came across this week:

ON TOUR: Take a peek behind the scenes at the Lulu Frost studio with designer and founder Lisa Salzer.

BE INSPIRED: I loved going down memory lane with Emily Henderson in her post about their first home and everything they did to renovate and decorate. I found the kitchen especially inspiring. She didn’t have money for a full gut and renovation, but a backsplash, new counters, new cabinet hardware, and a coat of paint made a huge difference. Plus, that’s something that we can afford if our future kitchen is less than picture perfect.

EDIT: I’m such a Gray Malin fan girl, so I loved this post about how he edits his iPhone photos.

GIGGLE: I’m sure anyone who has had a bar haircut can relate to this.

WEAR: I spotted these earrings online yesterday and immediately went to H&M to buy them. They’re large and heavy and the cheap metal will probably irritate my skin, but I love them all the same!

WASH: I will never be someone who only shampoos occasionally. I don’t understand you people and, frankly, I don’t need to be convinced that it’s better to cut back on shampooing. My hair looks better when it’s squeaky clean.

SMILE: I loved this piece on how women are routinely judged more harshly than men in fictional shows.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

  • Ten tassel earrings under $100
  • The one item I bought at the Shopbop sale
  • A review of the watch brand Welly Merck

CAUGHT MY EYE:

  • A striped dress for hot summer days. I love the tie-front at the bodice.
  • This sweet romper. The sleeve detail is gorgeous.
  • An oversized sweater that looks perfect to pair with denim shorts on chillier summer nights.
  • A pineapple trivet and pineapple glasses.
  • The neckline of this dress.

If you celebrate Easter, I hope you have a happy holiday weekend!

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekend Guide Tagged With: weekend guide, weekend reading

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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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Our guest room wasn’t a design priority until la Our guest room wasn’t a design priority until late last year when we finally bought a bed, mattress, and a set of sheets. We used some of our own extra bedding (tucking in the generous overhang of our king blankets under the queen-sized mattress) and old bedside lamps from our bedroom: functional, but not quite the charming space I’d envisioned.
 
That started to change when I purchased the Popcorn Grid Coverlet from Schoolhouse — an item I’d been eyeing for years — plus some graphic floral pillows. Then came a bright blue round cushion and the sweetest Teig lamp, both generously gifted by Schoolhouse, and the room finally started to come together. You can shop my picks here: https://liketk.it/5f322

#Ad #SchoolhousePartner #SchoolhouseSpringStyle #SchoolhouseLiving #InteriorInspo #SlowDecorating #GuestRoom
Growing up in northern Wisconsin, lilacs always hi Growing up in northern Wisconsin, lilacs always hit peak bloom right around my birthday on May 30. My mom would fill a large crystal vase with fresh-cut stems, and their scent would waft through the house. 

Now that I live a few hours south and lilac season wraps up earlier, the blooms actually mark the start of my birthday month.

#Lilacs #LilacSeason #SpringFlowers #InBloom #BirthdayMonth #MayBirthday
Snapshots from the past week: • Spent quality t Snapshots from the past week:

• Spent quality time with my favorite cat

• Biked for Pacificos, chips and quac, and tacos at @bandit.tacos 

• Loved how the rain collected on the Lady’s Mantle I planted last year

• Dipped my toes (quite literally) into this year’s mesh shoe trend

• Snapped a lot of Lily content

• Drove home with a new lilac in the passenger seat
Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours this year, and the cute Teig Lamp from Schoolhouse is such a charming addition to the space. It’s named for the German word for “dough,” which is perfect for its soft, petite shape.

Find this and the other Schoolhouse items we’re using in the space here: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/bedknobsandbaubles/posts/e01ae8c9-38af-11f0-b5c2-0242ac11000b

(The lamp and circle pillow were gifted. I purchased the other items.)

 #schoolhousespringstyle #schoolhousepartner #ad
Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka do Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka dot of bright blue to punctuate our guest room bedding. 

#guestroom #bedding #schoolhouseliving #schoolhouse #landsend #homedesign
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.
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