Weekend Links

February 17, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Happy Saturday! Dave and have already visited three new-to-us restaurants/bars since the weekend kicked off at 5 p.m. on Friday. I think we need to slow our roll unless we want to spend all of next week eating salad and exercising! We’re planning to spend a better part of the weekend making headway on our London itinerary since our early April trip will be here before we know it! What’s on your weekend agenda?

Weekend Links:

Sidestep mundane small talk with these five questions.
The official portraits of the Obamas were unveiled this week and they’re incredible.
And, here’s the story of the Milly dress Michelle Obama is wearing her portrait.
I love these earrings for spring and summer. The cobalt blue is gorgeous, but the white would go with everything.
The rise and fall of the water bed.
The best street style looks from New York Fashion Week. (Consider it your motivation to snag a statement coat.)
I’m all about the aviation cocktail lately.
Jade green appetizer plates are just the thing to brighten up your serveware for spring.

Finds Under $50:

I just ordered these salt and pepper shakers. The marble and brass is so pretty!
This asymmetrical dress looks like a sexy option for a date night.
A cute twill jacket.
Use code HAPPY to take 40% off of these floral slide loafers.
An oversize pink sweater is the winter-to-spring transitional item your closet needs.
Eye-catching floral hoops.

Earlier This Week:

Comfy loungewear from Garnet Hill.
Style steals under $50 and under $100.
What fits inside the small Gucci Marmont handbag?
Finally, a pair of sneakers I love! (Get them here.)

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Weekend Links

February 10, 2018 by jessica 1 Comment

Happy Saturday! This weekend we have a post-holiday gathering with Dave’s family, I get to pretend I’m Nina García as a judge for this event (and yesterday I realized I actually have to talk to introduce myself to the crowd — ugh, I have the worst anxiety about public speaking of any kind), and I’m going to get to work on more painting. Speaking of which, I’m going to incorporate more home posts into my content over here. I was trying to keep everything house-related on Curated Couple, and I still plan to keep that as a diary of our house updates, but the house is so ingrained into what I do each weekend that it feels weird to completely cut out a large part of my life. So, think of those posts as the “Bedknobs” portion of my blog title! I’ll still keep the emphasis on style, of course, but I’ll pepper in some of the fun home content and things we’re working on.

Weekend Links:

McDonald’s is giving away a “Bling Mac” ring worth $12,500.
Nine sheet mask reviews.
Erin’s design-focused guide to Portland makes me want to book a trip immediately.
Dave found this Etsy shop yesterday. To say that I’m obsessed with their light fixtures would be an understatement. I’m going to measure to see if this would fit at the top of our stairs.
Since I’m obviously a Gucci fan girl, I enjoyed this old article about how the brand embraced their logo despite the popularity of minimalism and logo-less designs.
Add panache to your cocktails with homemade maraschino cherries. It looks so easy and probably tastes a lot better than the bright red, overly candied version at the grocery store.
The inspiration behind Tory Burch’s carnation-filled runway.
Maayan Zilberman turns making candy into an art form.
How to know if your stylish home investment will be considered dated or classic.
Wow your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day with a meal of French bistro classics.

Finds Under $50:

Sophisticated champagne coupes to elevate your bar.
A sweet sundress to tuck away until spring.
Earrings that look like ribbons: here, here, and here.
Love the springtime stripes of this sweater, but the traditional navy and white version is great, too!
A sassy notepad for your desk.
Micropleats add interest to this top.
Oversize earrings for $14 is a great deal!

Earlier This Week:

I made the biggest sartorial splurge of my life. (I’ll do a post next week about what actually fits inside. I had a few people ask about that after I posted the bag on Instagram Stories, so I figured I’d show everyone in case it’s on your wish list, too.)
Valentine gift ideas for her (you?) and him.
At the end of 2017, I realized that I missed the little round ups I used to post that recounted some of the previous month’s snapshots. So, I’m bringing that back. Some are images that made it to Instagram, others are just fun things on my phone.

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image via Unsplash

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Weekend Links

January 28, 2018 by jessica 1 Comment

I didn’t expect to take almost a week-long hiatus from the blog, but the days got away from me! Like many of you, I lose a lot of ambition in the winter when it’s dreary outside, and then I’m too eager to relish the nicer days that I let the blog take a backseat. Sometimes those breaks are nice, though, and offer a chance to come back to things with a fresh perspective.

One thing I wanted to share before we get to the best finds around the ‘net is the Madison Reading Project’s READ(y) to Wear fundraiser that’s happening on Feb. 10. (Think of it as an evening devoted to a Project Runway-inspired unconventional challenge with fashion created from paper.) I was selected to be a judge this year, so if you’re in the Madison area, this is your opportunity to see me live out my fantasy of being Nina García. Proceeds from the evening go toward literacy programs and enable Madison Reading Project to purchase books for the children in their partnering programs.

Weekend Links:

Joy Cho’s luggage collaboration with Calpak is so bright and cheerful!
A look at some of the trends fashion editors are giving up in 2018.
I’m all about houseplants lately. Here’s a roundup of some of the year’s chicest plants.
This kitchen remodel is gorgeous.
The 50 best fashion tips of all time.
How to freestyle tomato sauce.
I wish I had a place for this lamp.
Highlights from the couture jewelry presentations.
Nine decor items that will elevate your home.

Finds Under $50:

Black pointy mules.
An airy blouse.
A cross-body bag with a trendy handle.
A simple black shift dress.
Eye-catching earrings.

Earlier This Week:

Images of our house’s exterior over the past 10 years as seen on Google Maps.
A peek into our living room progress. (I shared one image on Instagram yesterday, but you’ll find more pics here.)
Another roundup of neutrals for spring.

January No Shop Update: I shouldn’t have gone to Target last week when I was feeling dissatisfied with our living room because a walk through the Project 62 aisle had me tucking this vase between the La Croix and cat litter. The quality of the vase is great and looks like it was purchased from an artisan, but for an insanely affordable price of $13. So as far as unnecessary purchases go, I’ll be finishing up the month with the vase and this shirt for a total of $35. It could have been a lot worse and I’ll share some of my thoughts on the month later this week.

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Weekend Links

January 20, 2018 by jessica 1 Comment

Man, January is kicking my butt. First I had car issues with the tires I recently had replaced (they wouldn’t hold air), I needed my brakes replaced, Dave’s grandfather passed away (at the very impressive age of 95!), and our furnace went out Tuesday night. We opted to wait until morning to have it fixed despite the overnight low of three degrees to save on after-hours fees. So, we bundled up, added more blankets to the bed, wished we had a space heater, and let water run overnight so our pipes didn’t freeze. (This is homeownership, folks!) The house was a brisk 50 degrees when we woke up (down from 65 when we turned in for the night), which isn’t terrible and probably speaks highly of the insulation in the place. It was still awfully cold, though, and a steamy shower was such a treat in the morning. I felt bad for Bacon who kept burrowing under piles of blankets to keep warm until the repair guy arrived in the afternoon. Anyway, that’s enough complaining! We had the funeral yesterday morning, a Destroyer concert last night (it’s Dave’s favorite band and I gave him tickets for Christmas), and absolutely no plans the rest of the weekend.

Weekend Links:

Victoria’s accidental experiment with minimalism is such a great reminder that we don’t actually need (or later want) many of the items we covet. I’ve been saving all of my possible purchases to a private Pinterest board, but I love the idea of keeping a list that doesn’t have photos included.
I’m obsessed with this cuff bracelet.
Who knew that Lowe’s could turn into a glamorous photo location?
A gorgeous photo essay offers a peek into one of America’s last pencil factories.
It probably comes as no surprise that Sketch is on my must-do list for London. I loved Nicole’s photos and tips for snagging that coveted reservation.
Instagram’s algorithm is such a mess. Here are the changes on the horizon.
Clare V. added her signature prints to wallpaper. I’ve tried to convince Dave we should put this one in the half bath off of our kitchen.
Creamy kimchi dip sounds amazing.
You don’t have to spend a fortune for large-scale artwork.
I came across a gorgeous matte black ceramic vase on Etsy. Isn’t it striking?

Style Steals Under $50:

If you’re heading someplace warm, consider this dress. The copper colorway would look gorgeous with a woven bag and nude sandals.
I, ahem, “love” this t-shirt.
Use code COZY to take 50% off this cute swing dress.
Add a burst of color to your winter wardrobe with this sweater. The green one is my favorite.
Slip’s eyemask gets a flirty update in time for Valentine’s Day.

Earlier This Week:

Debuting my Paravel backpack.
Coveting neutral colors.
Baubles on a budget.

January No Shop Update: The furnace was kind of the last straw and sent my stress levels through the roof, so perhaps it was no coincidence that this week I caved and made an unnecessary purchase. At 50% off and a rare free shipping offer from LOFT, this shirt was too tempting to pass up without trying it on. I can’t tell you how guilty I felt after I placed the order and I figured I could always return it and no harm done. And then it arrived. I’m so freaking in love with it. It’s cute tucked into an a-line skirt. I love it with jeans and my favorite red flats. And it’s adorable underneath a sleeveless crewneck dress. I guess as far as impulse purchases go, $22 isn’t terrible after months of spending 10 times that on unnecessary things. Plus, at least it wasn’t an expensive foray into the bell-sleeve trend if I don’t end up wearing it past spring. Anyway, I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to hold out another 11 days until the end of the month, but I’m not going to beat myself up over it as long as it’s the only thing that makes its way into my closet this January!

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image via Unsplash

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Weekend Links

January 12, 2018 by jessica 2 Comments

Weekend Links:

A money strategy that makes more sense than a strict budget.
Anthro’s shoe selection is to die for this season. I’m crazy about these kitten heels and these tasseled pumps, but I’m absolutely head-over-heels (pun!) for these flats. That oversize bow just gets me!
Gucci is opening a restaurant.
If Emily Henderson says that wood paneling adds character to a home, then I’m even happier about our decision to paint it in our bedroom and office.
Nine ways to stay happy in winter.
A 12-hour closet makeover.
This should be your next TV show to binge.
I try not to get political in this space, but I did want you to be aware of the fact that you’ll need to double check your own paycheck for accuracy next month because of the hastily passed tax law.
Learn how England’s Crown Jewels were hidden during World War II.
Ikea’s latest ad is brilliant.

Style Steals Under $50:

A dose of color with bold earrings.
A simple crepe dress that comes in nine colors. (It’s a great backdrop for oversize jewelry!)
A dress with a fantastic mod print. (I’ll be obsessing over this until my shopping ban is over.)
A sweet blouse with bell sleeves and a feminine tie-front detail.
I didn’t want to overwhelm you with dresses this week, but I love this one, too!

Earlier This Week:

Style steals under $50 and under $100.
Nine swimsuits to consider if you have an upcoming beach getaway.
Now that the holiday decor is gone, freshen up your home with a new houseplant in a pretty planter.
This book makes coffee tables look better.

January No Shop Update: We’re a third of the way through January and I’m happy to report that I’m still holding steady with my spending freeze on unnecessary items. Spring items are becoming a bit more tempting, though, like the aforementioned shoes. But waiting a few more weeks will be good to determine whether or not they still capture my fancy. We did go out for drinks on Sunday and ordered Thai food for dinner, but as I mentioned, we had already figured we’d eat out two or three times this month instead of completely turning into hermits. And, I had my brakes replaced today, which is obviously a necessary expense. (I’m just a bit annoyed that this “cheap living” month became as pricey as it did!) The only thing I anticipate buying this weekend (groceries aside) is another gallon of paint to continue working on the trim in our house. There’s 30% off at Sherwin-Williams this month, so I’d rather get it now than wait until next month as possibly pay full price.

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image via Tory Burch

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