The Weekly, 11.16.20

I am closing out a great weekend, and I am grateful to have a good one, because it feels like we are going to go back into a lockdown at any moment. With the winter months coming, and rates rising, I’m anxious about what’s next. We were able to enjoy an evening of outdoor dining, with an impromptu brass band concert in the streets while we ate. It is moments like those that make me love New York City so much.

Our weekend wound down with some errands and prepping for another work week. I got this adorable fleece cardigan from Madwell this week, and I am in love with the mint color (plus, it’s made from recycled materials). I have been wearing cardigans almost constantly, so I am glad to bring a new one into the mix. It’s surprisingly warm, and perfect for throwing on at home, or with something a little fancier, like a white blouse.

If you’re always looking for the perfect black legging like many of us are, I love this pair from Everlane. They are not specifically an exercise legging, but they are great for lounge or exercising. They are buttery soft, don’t stretch out at all, and have a nice high rise. I have them in a few colors, and I think they are great paired with a long tee, like this one from Anine Bing.

I was wearing another pair of my favorite leggings this weekend, the Spanx faux leather leggings, and my sister asked if they are really worth it. While I do love my Spanx leggings (I own four pairs, so you can trust me there), my ultimate pick for a faux leather legging are this pair from Commando. They have more of a leather-like texture, without making you sweat like many other faux leather pants can.

The holiday gifting season is upon us, and if you’re in the market for a quality handbag, but don’t want to break the bank, I highly suggest this bag from Polène Paris, a handbag company I have grown to love. Their bags are quality, leather pieces, and they have a designer look to them. I have two of their bags, and have my eyes on a third as a potential Christmas present this year.

In other finds from this last week, I got this amazing eyebrow gel in the Sephora sale, and I am in love. I’ve used the same gel for a long time, but they recently discontinued it. So I thought I would try this one after reading the reviews, and I was not disappointed. If you like a strong hold that keeps your eyebrows up, and more defined brow, then this gel is one to try.

I don’t know what is bothering my skin, but something irritated it earlier this week. It got very dry and almost a slightly bumpy texture, and the only thing I can think is that I combined something that was too much for skin to handle. In order to keep it hydrated, and calm it down, I have turned to one of my favorite toners, this Milky Tonic from Pixi. It has a cooling factor, and really helps restore balance to my face.

I fell down a major rabbit hole of online ordering some beauty picks from Walmart after Courtney Kerr posted about a few of the items this weekend. Some of my favorite eye shadow palettes are drug store picks from Revlon, and I’ve been looking for a palette with some nice taupe and beige colors, so I grabbed this one from Maybelline.

It was all downhill from there, and I ended up ordering some more of my favorite eye shadow brushes, this lip gloss that gives me Fenty vibes, and some lip liners and a matte lip (the best for under masks) from Milani. These are perfect for playing around, and my whole order ended up under $50, which is what I would have spent on one product on Sephora, so I am not mad about that. It’s kind of got me thinking about putting together a favorite drugstore skincare and beauty finds post for you.

With the temperatures dropping and the need to be outside to socialize, I had to break out the winter coats this weekend. I bought this adorable olive green teddy coat last year from J.Crew, and it is still such a favorite of mine this year. It’s flattering for a teddy coat (a lot of them are just so big), and I love that it isn’t the classic brown or black. If you’re in the market for a new coat, I highly recommend this one. Another great potential holiday wishlist item, even if my husband calls it my carpet jacket. Fashion, am I right?

Chris and I have made the tough choice to stay home for Thanksgiving, and to celebrate alone for the first time in our lives. It’s hard to believe that this is where we are, and 9 months of this has led us to the holiday season. There are tough choices to make, but I am trying to see the positive side of things and focus on what we can try and make feel special, even if we are staying at home. I hope to have a post with some holiday outfit ideas for those who are keeping things low-key, like us, this season, sometime this week.

I’m going to grasp at any attempts to feel the holiday spirit this year, and so I have already been burning my seasonal candles. But to really get me in the spirit, I’m planning on watching some of my holiday favorite movies this week, like The Family Stone, The Holiday and Love Actually, even if it’s before Thanksgiving. For reading material, I just started up Cristina Lauren’s newest release, In a Holidaze, which sounds like a good cheer up read.

My sister and I baked these tasty bourbon caramel pretzel cookies this weekend, and they did not disappoint. If you’re looking for something fun to bake for Thanksgiving or just to lift your own spirits, look no further.

I hope everyone has a good week ahead. While Chris and I were sad to decide to stay alone for the upcoming holiday, it was nice to make a final decision and avoid the limbo game many of us are in. We are also looking forward to not eating turkey (neither of us love it), and going for a roasted chicken this year with all of our favorite sides instead. Find one thing you’re looking forward to, and focus on the things that bring you cheer during this time of year, whether that is holiday shopping, giving back to the many who need it right now, or finding ways to keep things festive, even at home. Whatever brings you the most joy, do that.

Thanks for shopping my blog post! I’m so glad you’re loving what I love. For transparency, some of these links are affiliated, which means I may make a small commission off of any purchases that you make here.