The Weekly, 11.23.20

Happy Thanksgiving! When we started this quarantine journey in March, despite predictions, I don’t think any of us wanted to believe we would still be here by the holidays. Yet, here we are, and I am determined to find some positives about where we are.

I spent a lot of time watching television this weekend, and I saw a lot of these satirical commercials about 2020 and what a shit storm it has been. I have to say – I do not find them funny. I am not really ready to laugh at a situation that is far from over, and while there has been so much that has happened to a point that could be laughable, I am not sure I see the humor in sharing a sense of negativity around this one year. No judgement if you can, I am just not there.

What I feel negative about is the way in which we could have prevented so much of what has happened. But – unpopular opinion here – I don’t think that everything that has come this year has been negative. I won’t drone on and on about all of the wonderful things that 2020 has brought (because that might be challenging for anyone…), but I will say that I think we have all learned a lot about ourselves, what we need and what we do not, what we want in a home and who, and I personally have had a lot of valuable reflection time. Listen, this shit isn’t over, and we are heading in to what feels like the worst of, emotionally. But that’s just my little nugget of introspection heading into Thanksgiving.

And speaking of giving thanks, this week marks six months that this blog has been up and running. If little else, 2020 let me feel ready to start a small passion project, and I’ve had so much fun doing it. I’ve also learned some new skills, and enjoyed sharing what I love with others and finding more confidence in the process. A big thank you to those of you who have supported me along the way – it is appreciated more than you know.

I am so looking forward to getting through these three days of work to reach a four day weekend. I have big plans of sitting on my couch and watching a lot of television and holiday movies. If you haven’t been watching the new season of, The Crown, then you need to get started. I was too young to really know the full context of the scandal around Princess Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles, and the show’s most recent season is really bringing a lot of the drama to life. Coming up next is, The Undoing, which I have heard many good things about.

After a few days in my school building before getting shut down, again (living in limbo is so fun…), I realized that if/when we re-open, which seems likely, it is going to be freezing in our school building. We have to keep at least two windows open in each room, and even with the old scalding radiators on full blast, it. is. freezing. I was like a human popsicle, and thank god for this thick scarf that feels like a blanket. I have two of these scarfs from Anthropologie, and they are perfection for really keeping you warm. Next stop? This heated blanket from Amazon. I kid you not.

That also inspired me to start shopping for some sweaters – quite possibly the piece of clothing I have the biggest collection of besides denim. And I really just recently started ordering from Mango (I kind of despise that they don’t have any sizing beyond a 10), I am loving the quality of their sweaters. They have some great sales happening this season, so I stocked up with this white ribbed turtleneck, this padded shoulder long sleeve tee, and this adorable lemon ruched sweater (extremely flattering). I also grabbed this adorable puffed-shoulder sweater, which I thought came with the collar until I had already placed the order. I found this affordable sheer baby-doll collar blouse to layer underneath.

I’m also majorly manifesting a beautiful plaid topcoat. I most definitely do not need another coat or jacket (I have quite the collection), but I think a houndstooth coat like this one is gorgeous and gives me equestrian-chic vibes. In a different but equally as gorgeous style in this plaid topcoat I saw all over Instagram this week. It’s on sale for a great price with early Black Friday sales, and I am just going to stare at it longingly for the next few days before deciding.

These sales are also a great time to stock up on some essentials that are harder for me to justify spending money on, like pajamas. Chris rarely ever comments on my wardrobe, but I have these old pajamas that he despises. I made a big order from LOFT, with a 50% off sale for cardholders. I grabbed these two sets of super soft pajamas from their Lou & Grey line – one with pants and one with shorts. I also grabbed this cute blue satin zebra print set (top & bottom), and this leopard print pair (top & bottom). I’ve also heard great things about these J.Crew cotton pajama sets that are on super sale right now.

If you’re starting your holiday shopping early with all of these sales going on, then I highly recommend checking out this gift guide from one of my favorite bloggers, Somewhere Lately. There’s a lot of gift guide spam to sift through out in the influencer world, but I have to say, I think this one is by far the best and most comprehensive list I have seen. It really has it all. Particularly love the luxe gift guide for my own wishlist (I’m dying for a Dyson air wrap or this pair of Golden Goose, maybe?), or the gifts for people you don’t know well, and gifts for her under $100. I love all of their home picks, and just think this list does it all. Well done.

In the world of beauty, I have seen this scalloped crown-like headband on so many beauty bloggers, but it has never been for sale. I’ve tried finding alternate versions of it online without success. And because Instagram ads stalk your searches, yesterday, this glorious headband appears in an add for this Versed skincare holiday set. So you know, I had to buy it. Do I need all of the serums it comes with? No. But I will gladly test them out for the price if it means that I get that gorgeous headband. Can’t tell you why I love it, but I do.

I was also browsing some of the beauty Black Friday deals on QVC, where I buy a lot of my luxe skincare from brands like TATCHA, Elemis, and more. I purchased this favorite acid treatment that I like to use for quick exfoliating facial at home. I also have my eye on this beauty gadget from Nuface, this resurfacing set from Elemis, my favorite set of day/night creams from Elemis, and this overnight brightening set from TATCHA. I have also recently been addicted to this serum stick that I layer underneath my moisturizers around my eyes and nose where I get extremely dry and flaky during the colder months.

With the temperatures dropping this week, I was in a perpetual state of fluctuating between hot and cold at home. I have a few cozy must-haves if you’re in the market, and one of them is this fuzzy robe from Skims. I have to tell you, this might be one of my top five purchases of 2020. I love it layered like a long cardigan while working from home, or putting it on over PJ’s, or even just while I am getting ready after the shower. My feet also get so cold at night before bed, and I’ve grown accustomed to wearing socks around the house, something I never did before. I love this set from Adidas, and I just ordered this slouchy sock set from Amazon.

Very excited to pop on some cozies, curl up with some holiday movies, and start decorating our little Christmas tree this weekend. My favorite holiday movies are, The Family Stone (will forever be my #1 despite that fact that my family and Chris hate it), White Christmas, Love Actually, and The Holiday. I’ll be watching those on repeat, and blasting Motown Christmas music starting Friday. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Would love to know, below. And let me know if there are any gift suggestions you’re looking for – I am hoping to get some gift guides out this week or next!

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