Weekend Window Shopping: Old Navy Is Killing Me.

Stop it, Old Navy. Stop following me around the internet flaunting your cute and inexpensive springtime offerings. I want spring weather so badly but I'm not quite there yet with spring shopping. I'm working up to it though and here's what looks good to me:

Outfit of the Day: Trader Joe's Fun-Casual.

As we've discussed, sometimes I dress up to go to the grocery store because where else am I going to go? And for me, sometimes dressing up actually means dressing down but in a fun way. It's like an invite to a wedding with a really confusing dress code: Trader Joe's Fun-Casual! 

Anyway, it's been too cold and rainy lately to wear anything fun but we finally got a few warm days and I went for it:

Yay! I finally got the buckle replaced on my Veda Jayne leather jacket and couldn't wait to wear it. Definitely an improvement. I bought my jacket on eBay but for something similar, you cannot go wrong with the AllSaints Balfern and I also found this lovely number by SOIA & KYO. For a faux leather option, this one is cute! 

My jeans are an older pair of my favorite Madewell Slim Boyjean! I prefer the mid rise version over the high rise, but both are good! It's just a personal preference. You can't really see my most excellent t-shirt so here you go:

Yes! This was a fantastic gift from Marianne and it's by Letluv who also made my thermal lightning bolt tee. They are expensive, but I have been really happy with the quality of both. I have my eye on this sweatshirt and also love this Stones tee. And, if you're looking for a Bowie tee, Chaser does a nice job as well. 

More details! I added a very soft plaid scarf I got for my birthday and I'm wearing my red Everlane Day Glove flats, which I like more than I want to admit. Madewell also has a similar pair!  And, finally, I'm  carrying my old faithful Marc Jacobs hobo (similar style.) I've had this bag for five years! It's such a reliable friend. Aww. 

Stuff I Like: Rando Edition.

Hi hi hi! It's been a WEEK you guys and it's only Wednesday. I've been trying to stash away ideas for a Stuff I Like post and...it's kind of random. That is to say, there is no theme of any kind so why not start with a garlic press? 

This Garlic Press That is The Best One
Do you hate your garlic press? I did. Mine was plastic and it sucked  - so flexy and really hard to press which, hello, is the whole point! It made me so angry I would dice the garlic instead and I hate dicing garlic. Anyway, I did, um, way too much research and bought this one because it was all stainless steel. You guys, this thing is the Maserati of garlic presses. It works so beautifully and with so little effort, I almost cried the first time I used it. And because it's stainless it comes out of the dishwasher all sparkly clean and oh my god, is it weird to love a garlic press? (Don't answer that.) PS. I know there's a lot of snobby chef hate for pressed garlic but I don't care. I love mine. 

This Author We Can't Stop Reading
Marianne heard about Mhairi McFarlane from a podcast and recommended her to me. While her titles (and book covers) do her no favors, don't judge based on that - she fantastic. I guess you would call it rom com (ergh) but she's such a good writer, I don't even care. Her characters seem like real people, she's funny as hell and her stories are satisfying. So far we've both read Who's That Girl and are currently reading Here's Looking At You. If you are like us and just need something funny and entertaining (but not crap) to read, Mhairi McFarlane is what you want. PS. If you have a Kindle and Prime, a few of them are available to read free right now! 

This Gadget Marianne Likes Anyway
Listen: was this a purchase I made when feeling particularly blue/stressed? Yes. Is it overpriced? Yes again. Does it simulate a face lift in the slightest? NO. But hear me out: if you carry stress or tension in your jaw, the Sarah Chapman Skinesis The Facialift (also available here for a little less) is wonderful. Like a tiny jaw massage! I am sure there’s got to be a cheaper version out there, but this is what I have and I like using it.

This Perfect Desk Lip Tint I Can't Stop Using
The Allure Beauty Box (which you can get on Amazon now!) is still a favorite - the price went up but so did the quality. In my most recent box I got a full-sized Floss "Lip Advocate" tinted balm and it's so good! It just feels like lip balm but has enough sheer color to give you a bit of a color bump before your next Zoom meeting. I got Your Honor which is a semi-sheer berry pink but I really want to try Proof, which is a sheer berry color. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Pretty Tops For Spring.

 ONE DAY THE ICE WILL MELT AND WE CAN WEAR PRETTY THINGS AGAIN. OKAY YES. Sorry, I am getting a little emotional because I just went through a bunch of pretty tops on Anthro (which are all on sale right now!) and I am dreaming of spring when we can wear floaty things and not be shivery poodles. Here's what I love:

Outfit of the Day: Making Half An Effort.

 I have a uniform now, a happy rut where I wear the same exact thing every single day because who even sees me? Stretchy Athleta pants, Quince sweater, t-shirt, boots or Birkenstock clogs. It's comfy but it bums me out to see my whole closet being unworn and unappreciated. So, on days I have meetings, I've been trying to wear something I haven't worn in a while. I'm trryyyyyyyying, y'all. Anyway, this was my effort the other day:

This blouse is Dolan Left Coast and it was thrifted last year (on my last visit to Marianne, pre-pandemic!) It's pink and has tiny ruffles which is definitely Not My Thing but it's also gray leopard print which is My Thing. Plus, it's nice to have something that's just pretty, you know? It's good for Zoom meetings and for cheering one up. There are a few on Poshmark but it's otherwise long gone from stores. For something similar, I love this blouse that has a good drape-y feel and this one is a bit precious but the print is nearly identical! For a similar boho style, I love this at Anthro and OMG how beautiful is this Maeve blouse?

I'm always freezing so I threw on my J.Crew cashmere cardigan, which is old but it's easy to find this style in cashmere. This one is well-priced and comes in a bunch of good colors and this one at NR is even less expensive and gets great reviews. My gray skinny jeans are, of course, Madewell and they also come in a cropped version! I want all the gray jeans now. On to details:

I'm still obsessively wearing my Gorjana Parker Wrap necklace with a labradorite stone pendant I bought from Etsy. And now, let's talk a minute about these boots:

My Blundstone 587 Classic Chelsea boots have been amazing. No crazy break-in period, no discomfort, just a solid, warm boot that works well with my style. I dig them a lot and I've been wearing them a lot. I got them in rustic black, which makes them very casual, but I have my Cole Haan Chelsea boots if I want something dressier. Right now, the Blundstones are working out great since our weather has been nothing but crappy. Yay February. 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Madewell Insiders Sale!

 If you do any shopping at Madewell you should definitely sign up for the loyalty program! It's free and the perks are real. Like, right now they have 20% basically everything (including stuff that rarely gets discounted) but if you're an Insider you get 25% off. I don't get kickbacks, it's just a really good program - points on purchases, free shipping and a birthday gift! 

Anyway, enough of the pitch, here's what I would buy with the discount if I could have anything I wanted:

Might as well start big.  This washed leather jacket is rarely on sale and comes in four colors but oh damn do I love this forest green version. So artsy and unusual.

Oooh, this is the Perfect Vintage jean in the best light wash for spring with raw hems! Love.

Ugh, I love this bag in the indigo color but this caramel also has my heart. It's perfection.

This is a really good classic denim jacket and those copper buttons just complete me. 

Madewell is getting into loungewear and I don't *need* more leggings but these look good.

Listen, just get used to seeing this raincoat until I make it mine because IT WILL BE MINE.

Sigh, I love this even though it's cashmere. It's so cool and slouchy and I'd ruin it by wearing a long sleeved tee underneath. I'm such a sensitive flower. 

Oh, hello pretty, oversized sweatshirt with POCKETS. Seriously, y'all it has pockets and comes in a bunch of great colors. I am tempted by this so much. There are also sweatpants in the same material if you want to give into full lounge (and really, who doesn't.) 

Weekend Window Shopping: Snow Day.

Oh February, why you gotta be the worst? We just got more snow and there's an ice storm on the way. As much as I'd love to be posting fun spring things, it's still very much winter so I'm going to show you some of my favorite stuff that's getting me through and a few things I wish I owned. Here we go:

We Discuss: Smells Like One Direction Spirit.

A: So, I bought that Volcano candle dupe at Target that you recommended and also got another one and this is one of the reviews online:

"this is supposed to smell louis william tomlinson and i don’t think i wanna burn it. i knew he would smell amazing i use this to cry bc ik i’ll never meet him. but stream defenseless and also stream walls :) tpwk- all the love a"

M: Oh my GOD

M: One Direction is SOMETHING

A: I KNOW. They really are

M: Wowowow

A: Like, how did this happen? Do you think Target has been planting people to say that certain candles smell like 1D?

M: I bought two of the little yuzu candles so I could have them for my office

M: Office candle is a nice upgrade but I don’t need a big one in here

A: I bought one of the little Sparkling Yuzu and one Cozy Nights aka 1D

M: lolololollll

A: I DIDN’T KNOW

A: But honestly, Louis smells pretty nice

A: Here's another review:

"Did I buy this because a random person on the Internet said it smelled like Louis Tomlinson? Why yes, yes I did. Does it smell like Louis Tomlinson? Why yes, yes it does. Absolute heaven and sun in one"

M: I literally typed in “candle that smells like” and it autofilled Harry Styles

A: random person on the Internet = Target’s marketing department

M: ⁠A Candle That Allegedly Smells Like Harry Styles Is Out of Stock

A: Well, we already knew what Harry smells like because we’re creepy

M: Target seems to be on a roll with these dudes

A: Big Target is raking it in:

"I love Louis, I love this candle. You kill my mind. I love this candle Never been so defenseless. I love this candle. Only for the brave. I love this candle. I got this candle for the first time in October I’ve gotten 4 ever since then. Louis Tomlinson world domination. Stream walls. Thank you Tommy for No control."

M: Wowowowow

A: It just keeps going

M: Can you imagine having that directed at you? overwhelming

A: Ha: 

M: Saw that too

M: Pandering!

A: Totally

+++

M: Louis DOES smell good!

A: It’s nice, right?

M: I haven’t lit it yet but it’s in my stash

A: I found it very cozy without being too wood burny

M: I like to smell it and cry

A: Louuuuuissssss

M: Imagine picking him over Harry, I mean really

A: Kids today, I swear

A: The Harry candle appears to be available at Target again, just FYI

M: Oh dang

A: I know

M: Oh look how cute! 

A: So cute! And it smells like Harry Styles? Sold. 

Outfit of the Day: Let's Redefine "Flattering"

 I go thrifting on a regular basis and occasionally I find something that isn't quite "me" but it's weird or interesting enough that I buy it anyway. Recently I found a COS top with the tags still on and I bought it even though I didn't quite understand it:

I'm not sure it's super flattering, but what is that anyway? When something is flattering, do we mean it makes us look thin? I really hope not. Honestly, if something fits me correctly and makes me feel good or cool or whatever that's what matters. 

I think of COS as high concept, well-cut clothing that isn't trying to make you look thin, it's trying to create an interesting, clean silhouette, which is much more interesting to me. My top is two layers - a long sleeved top with a...cape-like overlayer. It's weird and fun and it moves when I move. 

I couldn't find my exact top but this one at COS is exactly my kind of thing and I love the shape of this sweatshirt. I also think this looks like a really excellent long-sleeved tee. And ugh, I love this one too!

I'm wearing my cool-ass new top with an older pair of Madewell skinny jeans very similar to this pair and some Madewell leopard boots that I love beyond all reason. I should wear them to the grocery store soon - give them an outing. My pair is almost sold out but they also have this pair that looks great.

There is really only one bag that would work best with this and it's my Miu Miu. What a beaut. There's one for sale here but this Coach bag is quite nice and very similar and this bag is gorgeous and much easier on the wallet. Details: 

I still get a little thrill every time I carry this bag. It's true love. Finally, I'm wearing the necklace I posted about recently:

It's the Gorjana Parker wrap necklace which I fancied up with a labradorite charm I bought from Etsy. I also found this Gorjana lariat style necklace on sale which has a similar flair.

Review: Women's Blundstone Chelsea Boots.

Can you handle one more pair of boots from me? I know, I know. I have a problem, but hear me out.  I decided to give Blunstones a try. I couldn't decide  between two styles (as I mentioned here)  so I ordered one of each to try - The Classic Chelsea boot and the Chelsea Dress boot, both in "rustic black" which is really more of a charcoal gray. They are pretty similar but the classic has a rounded toe, a shorter shaft and a more rugged heel:

 The dress boot has a chisel toe, a taller profile and a more defined heel:

And here they are side by side IRL, classic on the left, dress on the right:

The lighting is making the classic pair appear darker but in person they are identical. When I tried them on, the Classic were immediately the more comfortable pair but both fit well. I tried them on for my boyfriend who looked at me like I was trying to trick him. He was like, if you hadn't told me they were different styles I'd never have known. Hahaha. I mean, he's not wrong: 

This is the Classic pair. I love the shorter shaft (which makes them easier to wear with skinny jeans) and they were definitely the most "immediately comfortable out of the box" pair. I like that they're a little more rugged, as well. Here's what the toe looks like: 

And here is the Dress pair, which are a bit more streamlined out of the box but on my feet they somehow looked both long and chonky:

I am wearing a smaller size in this style (more on sizing below) but they're definitely longer overall and I wish the chisel toe was more defined. They just didn't seem that much different in style and the taller shaft made them awkward to style with cuffed skinny jeans. Even the leggings I'm wearing were tough - I had to tuck them which looks a little weird. Here's the toe:

Overall, I think they're both solid choices but for what I wanted, the Classic style definitely is the winner. The Dress is slightly more sleek but...not really that much. I went for the pair that felt the most comfortable and worked best with my style:

Sorry, I know this isn't actually a great picture but you get the idea. I'm wearing my Quince cashmere sweater and my Athleta moto tights (similar lined), as per usual. It's Monday, I'm boring, what can you do. 

A quick note on sizing: I got an 8.5 (AU 5.5) in the Classic not realizing that the half sizes are actually  wide widths, so an 8.5 is actually an 8W. They were too short so I reordered in a 9 and that fit perfectly. For the Dress, however, I ordered the 8.5 because they're a longer style and they also fit perfectly. Not confusing at all! Thankfully, Zappos is the best with returns and exchanges. 

Weekend Window Shopping: My Alex Mill Wishlist.

 I don't know if you guys have checked out the latest offerings from Alex Mill, but ever since I bought that striped shirt last summer, I've been keeping my eye on the line. They really nail the whole WFH vibe of comfy-but-presentable clothing. I mean, yeah:

This excellent jacket is more Marianne's color than mine, but I am really into those big pockets. 

This looks like an excellent t-shirt and the amazing olive color is a step above. 

I love these comfy looking cotton cargo pants with just the right crop.

Pretty! Wear this skirt with a cotton tank or a fancy sequined blouse. Good either way.

Yep, it's still winter and this looks cozy af but you could also wear it into spring. 

*whine* I WANT IT AND I WANT IT NOW.

I love a sweatshirt with a refined cut. It comes in other colors but the grey is totally the best, right?

Um, these are technically sweatpants but they're cut like real pants. YES OKAY THANK YOU.

Stuff I Like: Entertainment!

Here are a few things that have been keeping me entertained lately:

This Cookbook I Highly Recommend. 
Somewhere along the way I got out of the habit of cooking from cookbooks and just went out and found recipes on various blogs. This has resulted in some lovely surprises and some complete disasters. Anyway, I received Chrissy Teigen's Cravings for Christmas and was determined to make something from it immediately. And looking through it I was like, why did I stop doing this? Cookbooks are so relaxing! This one has Pretty photos, interesting stories and well-tested recipes, a world of options. I started simple with her Pad Grapow Chicken (Basil Chicken) and it was DELICIOUS even through I didn't buy enough basil (3 cups is a frickin lot of basil.) Super easy and very tasty. I'm going to make it again this week instead of picking something new because that's how much I liked it. 

This Austen-world Book I Really Loved. 

Y'all know I love a good book that takes place in the world or stories of Jane Austen (Longbourn is another favorite) and The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow was a really satisfying read. It follows the story of the much-despised eye roll that is Mary Bennet as written, but I really liked that this story is much more sympathetic towards Mary than Jane Austen ever was. The first half basically follows the plot of Pride and Prejudice (which I didn't mind, but it does make the book longer than it needs to be) and the second half is Mary's story after the events of the book. If you're an Austen fan, definitely check this one out! Also, if you've never watched the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, what are you waiting for? Young Colin Firth at his very firthyest. 

This Podcast Episode That Is HILARIA-OUS.
I don't know about you, but when the Hilaria Baldwin scandal broke out I was DELIGHTED. Everything in the news had been so dark and heavy and I needed something silly to enjoy. I mean, come on, the whole thing was completely absurd and Alec Baldwin is such a comic villain that he just added to the ridiculousness. ANYYYYYWAY, the Scam Goddess podcast did an episode about it and I was cracking up the entire time. They aren't overly mean, they just have a lot of fun with the whole situation and I am here for it. 

This Show That Took Me By Surprise.

Finally, I am going to tell you that on paper, Ted Lasso did not sound like my kind of thing but it is so ridiculously good and sweet and makes me laugh so hard I cry at least once an episode. (And sometimes it just makes me cry, tbh.) Jason Sudeikis is great but the supporting characters are amazing, especially the women. I still have a few episodes left and I'm already planning on watching it again because I'm sure I missed things. Just watch it and trust.