Weekend Window Shopping: Anthro New Arrivals (send help.)

Hey, it's suddenly August and just like that, my brain has switched to thinking about fall options. Why am I like this? I just spend way too much time checking out the new arrivals at Anthropologie and now I have A LIST. Again, why am I like this. Help. Here's what I'm talking about:

Stuff I Like: No Theme At All.

I keep a running list of Stuff I Like to see if an obvious theme emerges and then I talk about those things. My current list did not do that but I want to talk about stuff anyway. Also, The Bear was on my list but I waited too long and I'm pretty sure everyone's watched it by now, right? (It's so good, though incredibly stressful if you've worked in a restaurant.) Anyway, here's what I've got this week:

This Single Earring I Am Ridiculously Pleased With
I haven't loved everything I've purchased from Quince (though the silk tank I posted about earlier this week is definitely a good one!) but one thing I've bought recently that surprised me is this single, teeny gold hoop for my second hole ear piercing. It's 14K gold and hinges in the middle so it snaps on securely and is so low profile that I never have to think about it. I seriously love it. I also have and love these gold line studs which are also tiny, but very cool looking in a second or third hole piercing. I'm currently saving up my credits for this diamond bezel necklace which feels like a perfect little thing, right? 

This Documentary That Too Sweet To Be Sour, Too Nice To Be Mean
Have you watched the Beastie Boys Story on AppleTV+ yet? It's so freaking good - basically a two hour love letter to Adam Yauch, who was really the heart of the group. This is a live format documentary with Adam Horowitz and Mike Diamond on a stage talking about the history and evolution of the Beastie Boys and damn, it's kind of amazing they made it so far but I'm glad they did. Their music is a part of my teen and young adult years and this documentary really brings allllll the Gen-X feels. Enjoy.

This Perfume Sampler That's So Wearable
My friend Kate introduced me to Henry Rose, a "clean" fragrance company founded by Michelle Pfeiffer. I don't know that they are as challenging or as hip as, say, Le Labo (who I also just ordered a couple of samples from) but what they are is REALLY wearable. I ordered the Warm Discovery Set which comes with a $20 coupon towards a full size bottle. I am super picky about fragrance because I'm prone to migraines, but these so far seem to be exactly what I'm looking for - wearable without being obnoxiously strong or cloying. So far I've tried Torn, a spicy vanilla-based floral that smells delicious - warm and spicy but not too sweet, and Windows Down, a citrusy tea scent that's perfect for summer. I like them both! I'm trying one each day because I really want to see how they react with my body chemistry.

This Podcast I'm Telling You About Again
I've cycled through a lot of podcasts and tend to be fickle. Like, I'll super love a podcast and listen to it too much until I freaking hate it. (Just me?) However, one that's absolutely stood the test of time is Were You Raised By Wolves? because I really love how expertly the hosts navigate and problem-solve some truly horrifying behavior. I love the reader question the best but I also appreciate the lessons they serve, like how to properly eat soup dumplings! Good stuff and super easy to listen to when you can't stomach one more true crime story. 

Outfit of the Day: Thrifted Goodness.

I love a blazer...in theory. It's one of those things you can just throw on with jeans and a tee and just elevate your outfit. You instantly look more pulled together, less casual. I do have one, the Going Out Blazer from J.Crew, and it's a great basic but I've been wanting something a bit more interesting (totally driven by Marianne's second hand acquisition of a great Veronica Beard blazer.) I started checking the blazer section every time I go thrifting and lo, I found The Oversized Blazer by Everlane:

I haven't linked Everlane in a few years, but this blazer is a GOOD one. It's definitely an oversized fit and on me almost feels more like outerwear, but I can see throwing this on with a scarf and calling it my coat. I'm wearing an 8 and it fits me well. There are a few reviews saying it feels cheap, but I disagree. This is a nice jacket! 

Would I pay full price for it? Probably not, because I don't know that I'd get enough use from it, but we'll find out this fall. I'd already been looking at this glen plaid blazer at Nordstrom, sent to me by my friend Kate because she has a similar sweater blazer that I love. Madewell currently has this one going on, which is very cute. 

I'm wearing my blazer with a washable silk tank from Quince and my mid rise jeans from Madewell. These aren't the most exciting jeans, but the rise is PERFECT. I hope they come out with more interesting washes in this cut. My belt is also Madewell and it's fine if you need a basic belt. 

Here's a better look at my Quince tank. It's washable silk, which is so nice! I'm wearing the large which is a bit big on me but the medium (which I also own) is a bit narrow in the hip. I can't win. I do wear them both, mostly under stuff. If you haven't tried Quince yet, get $20 off your first order through my link! (Full disclosure: I also get $20 credit.) 

I added a red bag because that's literally the best thing you can do to a neutral outfit. This one is by Rebecca Minkoff, who does a great red bag. I saw this classic at NR recently but this is the one that I keeping going back to look it. And this one at Yoox is so good!  Also, will someone please rescue this cute MJ bag? My rescue closet is full but ugh, it's so good. 

A quick n' dorky closeup so you can see that I'm wearing the same jewelry I've been wearing all summer - my Gorjana herringbone chain and compass pendant. More bag and shoe action:

My shoes are the Madewell Harper mules by way of Poshmark and I love them but I gotta get them zip-soled. The soles are really slick and I'm afraid I'll bust my ass. They're cute though.  

That's it! What do you think of my oversized blazer look? Am I pulling this off? 

Weekend Window Shopping: J.Crew Is Pulling Me Back In.

My last trip into a J.Crew store was back in the spring and it was...not great. I was severely disappointed and unimpressed. But I'd heard that it was getting better so I went to take a look and now I have A LIST. It's mostly things I'd like to have for autumn but I'm kinda done with summer shopping anyway. Also, 30% off with code SHOPNOW! Here's what I like:

Outfit of the Day: Two Purchases.

Just a note: My little attic loft space where I work and take photos gets super hot when we're having a heatwave and we're having a heatwave! I took these photos rull quick, all sweaty and disheveled, so they aren't the best. The things I do for you.

Hi! As I mentioned in the last entry, I recently bought a couple of things and they arrived on the same day, so threw them on for a quick fake outfit/review post:

My Madewell jeans arrived! These are the Cali Demi-Boot Jeans in Dorrance Wash and I got them during the $50 jeans sale. I sized down one in these and that was the right way to go - they are super stretchy. I am a big fan of the Cali Demi-Boot style and these are so good! Very cute with sneakers and sandals and of course i'm wearing them with my white Birkenstock Arizonas.

I like that they aren't distressed and aren't super cropped and the lighter wash will take me through the end of summer. They are also very high rise which is my preference when paired with slightly cropped tops - it definitely lengthens the leg. I haven't actually been able to wear these out of the house yet but next week the temps are coming down and I'll be back in jeans. 

I'm wearing my new jeans with an Alex Mill striped tee which is a favorite of mine! Not inexpensive but it still looks as good as when I bought it two years ago. They currently have this cute striped tee that I covet and their long sleeve version looks kind of amazing. For something similar to my red striped tee, COS has one that looks great.

This is the other thing that just arrived - the leopard print Clare V Midi Sac. It's cute but I think I like my snakeskin bag better. This one is made of a soft suede material and the print is so small that I don't think it has the same impact. I do love the strap?  I think I'm going to return this but I'm glad I ordered it because sometimes you just have to see something in person so you know for sure.

Here's a better look at the bag which I'm liking more as I look at these photos, but again, I think it's the strap I dig, not the actual bag: 

I just want that print to be punchier! I don't know, I just feel like there are better leopard bags out there. This little Madewell crossbody gets the print exactly right and this bag is a bit bigger and I love balance of leopard to leather. I also love this little bag which is under $34! 

Anyway, that's it! One keeper, one return. You win some, you lose some. (Now, who wants to help me find a wedding dress? 😀) 

Stuff I Like: Summer Reading List.

I've been spendy this month, way more than I meant to be. I bought these jeans (still very on sale) from Madewell, this Clare V bag (when it was super marked down) and I recently ordered a perfume sampler from Henry Rose, a brand that my friend Kate introduced me to. I've decided to do a no-buy/low-buy for most of the month of August to balance things out (more details on that soon) and today, instead of talking about clothes and stuff, I thought I'd tell you about a bunch of books I've read this summer. 

Currently reading:

The Telling by Jo Baker
I loved Longbourn by Jo Baker (discussed briefly here and here) so I was happy to realize she had written other books! I'm about a third of the way through The Telling, which is a ghost story, sort of. It's about two women living in the same house, two centuries apart. Jo Baker is an excellent atmospheric writer and after the first two chapters, I was hooked. I'll report back when I've finished it! 

Three I recently finished:

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
I mentioned this one recently but at that point I was still reading it. I am happy to report I completely loved it and it's probably my favorite book this summer. Just a solid story with a likable protagonist,  a touch of time travel and some nostalgic Gen-X goodness. I've added another of Emma Straub's books to reading list, which I hope I love just as much.

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
This one was light and fun - a good beach or vacation book. It's a fast read and the twist wasn't a huge surprise, but still a good one! I love a heist story and even better with two women as the lead characters. I also loved getting some insight into the world of super-fake designer bags. Not the best thing I've every read but it was an enjoyable read.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
I didn't LOVE this but I did enjoy it the way you enjoy any beach-read romantic fluff. It's a friends-to-lovers story set over the course of six summers and one weekend. It's not perfect - I found some of the descriptions kind of cringe-y and the dialogue skewed a little YA to me (I am an Old), but it really captures the feeling of high summer and overall I enjoyed the story as it unfolded. 

Two I DNF'd because life is too short to read something you're not into:

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle
I truly loved In Five Years (discussed here) so I was excited to read this one but I almost immediately disliked the main character which isn't a great place to start. I also didn't like her mother because she was such an overbearing presence living rent-free in this character's brain. Also, girl, your mother is the love of your life? Cannot relate. The whole thing just struck me as weird and whiny and insincere. I will say, the descriptions of Italy were wonderful done but I just couldn't put aside my dislike of the characters long enough to enjoy them. 

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
Here's another one where I liked her first book, Evvie Drake Starts Over, but this one fell flat for me. It wasn't bad, exactly, I just wasn't invested in the main character and didn't understand why a wooden duck would create any kind of mystery. I think it's probably a decent cozy story with a low-stakes mystery and some romance but it just wasn't for me. 

Four I've got on my "to read" list:

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

"A romance ghostwriter who's lost her motivation after a breakup is haunted by the spirit of her newly departed editor in this whimsical paranormal romance."

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

"Two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design."

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A story about "Elizabeth Zott, a scientist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show."

The Maid by Nita Prose

“A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center.”

Weekend Window Shopping: Athleta Summer Essentials on Sale.

Athleta has a sale going right now with a bunch of good summer items $40 and under. Anyone who reads this blog knows I'm a big fan of Athleta, so I felt it was my duty to look at every single item and pick out a bunch of things that I absolutely do not need but would love to have. Here's what's good: