If you’re following along on Instagram, you’ll know that we introduced this little leopard into our lives last week. Oliver is a five-year-old Bengal that we adopted through Great Lakes Bengal Rescue. He was surrendered because he was too aggressive with other pets in the homes that he was in previously. It’s a shame that it’s taken him so long to find a house where he can be the king of his castle because he’s gorgeous and so much fun to have around. He has the characteristic spots of a Bengal (Bacon had the marbled coat), his fur glitters in the sunlight, and he’s just so soft. We joke that his mother may have actually been a rabbit or a chinchilla. His independent spirit and intelligence is really what’s winning us over, though, even if we have to hide his treats so he doesn’t tear open the bag at night! He’s definitely still warming up to us and his new home, but he’s getting more affectionate each day. It’s really fun getting to know each other. 🙂 And without further ado, the Weekend Roundup:

Is Banksy a historically significant artist?

I spotted these patio chairs at Target last weekend. I’d snag a couple if we had room for them!

You can use chalk paint to upcycle old vases.

A cultural history of the wire hanger.

Love is Blind on Netflix is absolute trash, but also weirdly addicting. (The first couple of episodes are pretty boring as people pair up. The drama picks up eventually.)

This floor mirror is so good.

I love this art series by Jiro Ishihara. The acrylic-mounted photographs look like airplane windows.

Horrifying.

Tips for removing dried paint from wood trim.

Finds under $50:

• A wear-all-weekend sweater.
• A beautiful burl wood picture frame.
• Colorful beaded hoop earrings.
• A chiffon dress with a retro-inspired floral print.
• A modern planter that’s suitable for outdoor use this spring and summer.

In case you missed it:

• A vintage-inspired “Style Steals” post with items that are perfect for spring.
• The latest list of covetable finds.
• A roundup of ceramicists I’m into.
• Oliver now has an Instagram account because I’m that person.

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Kim and Scott’s bathroom reveal has me considering green penny tile for our half bath, which I’d like to take on myself this year. We’ll see how far along I get until I need to call in a pro!

Not sure which Democratic candidate to support? The Washington Post created a quiz to see which one agrees with you the most.

Dani recently published a post on how to use Instagram for free at-home workouts.

This leaning floor mirror is so good.

Compostable take-out containers might not be any better for the environment than plastic.

I’m adding spicy-sweet sambal pork noodles to our dinner lineup next week.

If you love following along with old house restoration and design as much as I do, you’ll want to bookmark Manhattan Nest.

Pet-friendly houseplants.

Non-tacky heart jewelry is nearly impossible to find, but Jenny Bird nailed it with an organic take on the shape here and here.

Finds under $50:

• I can’t get over how much I love these “fish bone” earrings. The “natural” color is my favorite.
• Soludos’ striped, lace-up flat espadrille sandals are now just $20. (I just ordered them myself!)
• How great would these pillow covers be for a sun room?
• My hair is fine and thin, which makes any scarf-tying attempt slip right out. I think I’m going to give this hair tie a whirl for spring and summer!
• Such a cute dress to pair with sneakers or sandals.

In case you missed it:

• The items I purchased last month.
• A coat I can’t stop obsessing over.
• I might need to pack away fragile items in our house if our adoption application for this guy is approved.

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Happy first weekend of 2020! We don’t have much on the agenda other than putting away the Christmas decor, cleaning the house (the holidays left it in shambles!), and picking up sandwiches for lunch at a new-to-us deli that somehow flew under our radar last year. (Does anyone else get in dining-out ruts with their favorite spots? We need to make it a point this year to try new places more regularly!) I hope you have an equally restorative couple of days before the first full work week in awhile!

Declutter your home this month alongside Ashley of The Gold Hive with her handy checklist.

I had no idea that Spanx made dress pants until recently. I bought the skinny ankle-length pair. They’re comfortable and perfect for work. To avoid the legging look of the top of them, I paired them with the oversize sweater I won’t stop talking about which hits mid-hip.

I have a penchant for searching out interesting animal facts. Did you know the slow loris is both venomous and may have evolved to mimic a cobra?

Another thing to file under “weird things to learn this weekend:” How Paris’ open-air urinals changed a city — and helped dismantle the Nazi regime.

My favorite part of turning the calendar to a new year is daydreaming about the vacations we’ll take. We don’t have any travel plans on the books yet, so I’m open to all of the inspiration I can get. (I’m thinking a tropical destination; somewhere in the U.S., possibly Maine; and Europe, possibly Poland and Prague, Croatia, Stockholm, or Vienna and Budapest. That said, ticket prices generally influence where we go!)

I love the organic shape of this delicate pendant.

While I’m not doing a dry January, here’s some inspiration for those of you who are. (I’m opting to cut back significantly on alcohol, sugar, and high-fat foods overall. I’ve also decided to stop drinking alcohol during the work week unless I have standing plans with friends that are more than just a last-minute happy hour. I did this a couple of years ago and dropped 15 pounds from January through May, so that’s part of the motivation, too.)

I’m making this soup recipe tomorrow!

Finds Under $50

• This striped turtleneck sweater is 50% off this weekend. I also love this turtleneck.
• Modern stoneware mugs.
• Pretty faux pearl hoops.
• This tote looks perfect for farmers’ market runs with the various pockets and a loop for flowers. (It’s also available on Amazon, but it’s $3 more there.)
• If you’re in the market for hooks, these are great and just $5 each.

Earlier This Week

• Sharing my favorite products of 2019. (Plus, all of 2018’s products are still among my favorites! Trust me when I say that linen sheets are worth every penny.)

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I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are gearing up to make 2020 one of the best years yet! Personally, I’m looking forward to clearing the holiday decor and getting a fresh start on my lofty home to-do list. There are so many projects in limbo that I’d like to commit time and effort in the new year to getting things done. I’ll share some of those goals with you next week. Until then, I hope your last weekend of 2019 is amazing!

Remembering some of the brands we lost in the 2010s.

There’s a steep discount on this Kate Spade faux fur jacket! I just ordered it in both colors to try on and see which one I like most. (The photos are better on the Bloomingdale’s site, but it’s much more expensive there.)

The Amazon Coat, one year later.

Habit tracking may be more effective than New Year’s resolutions when it comes to making changes in your life.

A gorgeous wear-with-everything cuff bracelet.

Ten truths to help you declutter your home.

Why fashion in the 2020s will be about making new clothes out of old ones. (While textile recycling is important, it’s always better to be a thoughtful consumer and purchase items you’ll love and wear for years.)

Try this for chapped lips.

Save your used mascara wands this year and donate them to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

I’m in love with this swimsuit.

Finds Under $50

• A terrazzo planter and a dish made from recycled glass and concrete.
• Take an extra 50% off this pink crossbody bag with code BIGGESTSALE.
• I started using this serum each night. It leaves my skin soft and my complexion brighter.
• If you’re lucky enough to have a warm-weather vacation coming up, this cover-up is really cute! I like it most in black.
• How gorgeous is this decanter?!

Earlier This Week

• Snapshots of the most Christmassy moments from our trip to Belgium earlier this month.
• Sharing the pieces I added to my wardrobe and home over the past two months.
• I might be biased, but this is the prettiest Christmas tree of the year. (Considering that post has my highest number of likes for an Instagram ever, I’m guessing you’d like to see more home content. Let me know if that’s the case!)

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Goodness, a lot has happened since I last posted! On Black Friday, we left for an incredible trip to Belgium to kick off the holiday season — as you may have noticed on Instagram. I know I’m bad at recapping trips shortly after I get back, but I’m planning to post snapshots next week because no one is going to want to look at photos of holiday lights come January!

On a more sobering note, we had to say goodbye to Bacon last month. He was, unquestionably, the cutest cat I’ve ever met. We had a month with him since his cancer diagnosis. It was longer than we expected, which allowed us to be at peace when it came time to let him go. I’ll spare you the details, but everyone was right: pet owners just know when it’s time. We’re doing okay overall, but my goodness, the house is so quiet now. I’m amazed that a 15-pound animal could make so much noise! There are so many times that I momentarily forget that he’s gone and I expect to see him when I come home, which is the hardest part. We’ll get another Bengal after we’ve had time to heal, but there’s no telling when that’ll be. We had this photo framed via Framebridge for the shelf in our bedroom and it’s been a nice, subtle way to remember him. (It was my first time using them, so I was curious to know how the quality would be since I had only ever seen sponsored reviews of their products. It turned out beautifully! If you’re looking for a personalized holiday gift, you can use this code to save 15%. In full disclosure, I’ll receive a $15 credit if you place an order with it.)

There really isn’t a good transition from that, so we’ll just move on to some of the things I’ve spotted online recently to share with you:

I recently purchased this turtleneck sweater in two colors (emerald and light grey). As the name suggests, it is super soft. The material is substantial and it doesn’t lose its shape during the day. I vary between a small and medium in J.Crew sweaters and went with a medium for this one, which is perfectly oversize. I wore the light grey one three times on our trip and just ordered another one just in case the first one gets ruined somehow — that’s how much I love it.

If you’re in need of an easy appetizer this holiday season, try goat cheese with honey, fig, and pistachios.

How homeownership became part of the American dream.

Paravel recently released carry-on suitcases. I’m in love with the white one with the black accent. I don’t have a carry-on approved for the overhead bins of inter-Europe flights, which makes this one especially tempting. (That said, I have this carry-on and Dave has the smaller version. It’s cheaper and his fits just fine on smaller planes.)

Your clothing may be telling others how competent you are, according to this study.

I shared this recipe for peppermint crinkle cookies years ago and it’s worth sharing again because it’s one of my absolute favorites. The recipe comes together easily and they get rave reviews. I’m going to make a few batches to drop off at our friends’ houses. (I picked up these cute cookie boxes yesterday.)

I love Sweden’s tradition of watching Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas Eve.

How to tackle uncomfortable family questions and conversations this holiday season.

These earrings are on my wish list. (Not like I need more jewelry…)

Finds Under $50:

• When I went to Target recently, I purchased this throw blanket. The “gray” online, as one reviewer points out, is actually a forest green and it’s perfect for the holiday season! It’s generously sized and incredibly soft.
• A couple of pretty accessories: a sparkly headband and faux pearl drop earrings.
• I just ordered this blouse. The fabric is soft and drapes well, and the print is great in person! Use code SURPRISE for 50% off.
• A classic Georgette blouse.
• Add a dose of glam to your black wool coat with this faux fur scarf in a trendy leopard print.
• I have a faux fur blanket and it’s the coziest thing for movie nights in the winter. This one is only $40 for a limited time.

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