Outfit of the Day: The Best Thing About Winter.

I haven't been super inspired to post outfits lately because I've fallen into a pretty serious (and very comfortable) rut in which I wear a sweater, skinny jeans and ankle boots every single day. I used to wear dresses all the time but right now I'm down to about two that actually fit me so until I can find a few new ones, you get more of the same (with a bonus coat!):

I gotta say, this is maybe my perfect outfit for where I am right now. This leopard sweater is J.Crew-via-Poshmark and it is SO EXACTLY ME. I wanted the current version at J.Crew but my size was sold out so I lucked out with my secondhand purchase. Don't think I'm not also into the leopard sweatshirt which is ALSO SOLD OUT WTF JCREW. Okay, fine, perhaps the leopard sweater blazer thing? I would wear the hell out of that. Under my sweater is my favorite Everlane t-shirt which I now have in triplicate. It's the perfect itchy sweater protection. 

I am wearing my THIRD (!) pair of Madewell coated jeans. I bought my second pair when my first pair got too tight and then wore them so much the coating faded so yep, pair number three. I love that they kinda look like leather but are more substantial than the Spanx faux leather leggings. Unfortunately Madewell hasn't brought back the coated jeans this fall (found mine on Poshmark) but BlankNYC makes a nice looking pair, LOFT has some on sale and H&M has a pair that are crazy inexpensive. Details:

I'm wearing an ancient J.Crew locket but this one from Baublebar is really pretty. Mostly I wanted to show you my earrings - they're labradorite, my favorite, made by Panacea. I can't find them online but there is a pink version available and this pair which is a similar labradorite style. Oh, and I just found these which are mine in a different shape! I really love these earrings and have been wearing them a lot. They're big but not too heavy.

Same damn bag and boots as every week - my MBMJ hobo and Madewell Lucien boots. I would say the Madewell Regan boot is the most similar right now. Finally, new coat time: 

My old long puffer was starting to look a bit grubby (the downside of buying a silver grey coat) and I wanted something a bit more substantial. I found this French Connection coat at TJ Maxx and I freaking LOVE IT. The olive color is so good, the matte black hardware is excellent and the hood is very Extra. The only thing I don't love is the stupid stretchy belt: 

This belt is problematic but it's also removable so I am dealing with it. Unfortunately this coat doesn't seem to be available online anywhere (it was exclusive to Macy's) so once again, I am useless as a style blogger. But! I did find this French Connection puffer in the same great color but without the crazy hood and dumb belt. I also found an Andrew Marc puffer in olive green that's lined with velvet, so that is pretty damn fancy. And, if you want the crazy hood, you got it. I mean...

Isn't that the best thing about winter? Being able to wear a big coat with a dramatic hood? I think so.

Accidental Anthropologie Shopping Report.

Last Friday I went shopping for holiday gifts but also to try and find something festive to wear for parties and whatnot. I seem to have lots of work/casual clothes but not much in the way of festive party things. It's dumb and annoying. Anyway, I went to Anthropologie because of the 30% off sale (today is the last day!) and I tried on some things. First, I tried on this dress which seemed really, really cute on the hanger and very "me" but was actually a terrible monster dress:

I sent the photo to Marianne because I was starting to get snow-blind and needed a rational voice.

A: Tell me I don’t need this over-priced Anthro dress

M: That is doing you zero favors

M: Like. No

A: Thank you

A: It’s cuter irl but too expensive

A: I got two parties and nothing to wear

M: Hard pass

M: Like that dress is angering me

A: Haaa

M: I’m mad at it

A: That pic is making me mad now

M: It’s so so bad

M: You do not look like that

A: I love you

M: I’m serious! That dress is WRONG

A: I also tried on this top and it was cute but requires underpinnings:

M: That top would be pretty for a party with some black velvet pants (Target has some surprisingly decent ones RN)

A: I’m still cracking up at your reaction to that dress on me

M: Shew

M: I hate that dress

A: It seemed so cute on the hanger

M: Rude

A: I need to learn to not try on stuff like that

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Ugh, why can't this be easy? It's just not. While I was at Anthro I also tried on this top which surprised me:

With my coated black jeans, a fun necklace and a pair of heeled boots? It's shiny and a little rock 'n roll and looked great with my coloring. I think it's really fun but it's more than I would normally spend on such things, you know? I also thought this top was pretty but it had too much sleeve going on for me. There was also a gorgeous skirt (sold out online) that I loved on the hanger but the pleats did weird things in the back. You know what I really liked? This damn simple top:

They gave it to me to try on with the fancy skirt and it was so nice! Just a very simple cotton top with a flattering neckline. I probably should've just bought the damn thing. Anthro clothing is always a bit of a challenge for me and I guess every now and then I need a reminder. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Super Tempting Beauty Things.

One of my favorite shoppy things about the holidays is all the great new beauty sets, gifts, and shiny, shiny pretty makup things. Here's a small sample of what looks really tempting to me:


         

       

Gift Guide: IT'S BOOK TIME, Y'ALL.

I went looking for last year's book gift guide and was shocked, SHOCKED, to discover I didn't write one. What is the world coming to. (I did, however, make a million very specific GIFs for our post about the Last Christmas video, so that's way better than books, really.) Anyway, I wrote book gift guides in 2016, 2015, and 2014 and I'm going to do another one right now, though it's slightly problematic because I've shared most my good books in the "stuff I like" entries. Crap.


Oh wait, I thought of a few:

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II
Y'all I am reading this right now and it is BAD ASS. I have always been interested in the English Enigma codebreakers during WWII but now I'm reading about the women in the USA who did amazing war work and, naturally, were not allowed to talk about it and never got credit for it. I'm so glad these stories are coming out now (seriously, if you haven't watched Mercury 13, you should probably do that right now) but it's frustrating how much of women's history is unknown or disregarded.

King of the Wind 
Y'all know I was a horsey girl when I was little and I read alllllll the horse books. Marguerite Henry was one of the big horsey-girl novelists and even though Misty of Chincoteague gets a lot of love, my very favorite was King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian. It's technically the fictionalized history one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred but really its just a good adventure story. (The desert! Prophecies! A mute stable boy named Agba! A cat named Grimalkin! Travel! Tribulations! Jail! Triumph!)

Cravings: Hungry for More 
This is on Marianne's list and even though Chrissy Teigen can be polarizing, we both love her and have only heard good things about this, which is her second cookbook. Like, damn, French Toast with whipped honey ricotta topping? Pad Thai Carbonara? SIGN ME UP. (Her first cookbook was also very popular and I don't understand why I don't own it. Hello? Anyone?)

Brooklyn
This is not new, obviously, but if you haven't read this quiet, beautifully written little novel by Colm Toibin, you probably should. It's about the struggle to try to build a life for yourself despite the pull of family obligation. It takes place in the 1950s and is a snapshot into life in NY for a young Irish immigrant. I highly recommend it. (The movie is also quite good but the book is always what I recommend first.)

The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City
Okay, this is one on my wishlist! I absolutely love David Lebovitz's IG account and now I want to read about his adventures in Paris. This isn't his newest book, but it's the one that appeals to me the most because two days in Paris was enough to make me dream about living there. (I'm such a cliche but that shit was magical, y'all.)

The Cafe By The Sea

If you're looking for a light, fun read, Marianne and I both enjoy Jenny Colgan books, specifically the series about Flora which includes The Cafe by the Sea and The Endless Beach. They aren't great literature but the characters are (mostly) likable and the remote Scottish island setting is wonderful. Also, I just discovered there's a third installment - Christmas on the Island, which I just downloaded on my Kindle. (The reviews tell me the author has a thing or two to say about current American politics in this one which has infuriated some of her readers and just makes me want to read it more. Ha.) 

Gift Guide: Marianne's Wishlist

Yesterday I posted my wishlist of things I actually really would like for the holidays. Today, it's Marianne's turn:

I am NOT asking for these but that doesn't mean I don't want them:

And these assholes have my number as usual:

I also like WWAKE's stick wisp earrings:

I'd like a new set of prep bowls so I can get rid of our plastic ones. These are nice:

There are quite a few things on my Amazon list that I would love. A pretty brass mister for my plants:

New towels for the pool, several books (Adrien is saving those for the book gift guide because she's mean), and an essential oil diffuser:

Your turn! What's on your personal wishlist? A pony? A pair of Birkenstocks? A Dissent pin?

Gift Guide: Adrien's Wishlist.

I am panic-shopping, you guys. PANIC. SHOPPING. Why do I do this to myself every year? Why is anything? So I thought instead of posting a bunch of stuff I found online (though if we're being honest is still kind of fun?) I thought I'd post up a few things that are on my personal wishlist.

I love this caramel lip balm from Fresh and now they have a coconut version which I have not checked out IRL but I'm sure it's amazing:

I am very into fun cycling socks and The Athletic makes the absolute best designs (and are not just for cyclists!) I especially covet their mismatched pairs:

So, listen. I don't know when I became a scented candle person but the really expensive ones are my kryptonite and I would love a little set of mini Diptyque candles:

I fully give into my Birkenstock love and now I want a pair of shearling-lined clogs. Badly:

Finally, this is the stuff of fantasy but these earrings at Nine Roses (an amazing local shop) are KILLING ME. Killing me. Killing. Me:

I KNOW I KNOW. I can't even go see them in person because I'm scared of what I might do.

That's my list! Tomorrow I'll post Marianne's list. Hooray.

BUY THIS (Because It's a Gift Guide): Anthro Under-$50 Sale Picks!

It's gift guide time! I am currently snowed in and out of ideas but Anthro is giving an extra 30% off sale stuff (discount in cart) so I thought I'd pick out a few things under $50 that would make nice holiday gifts. Here's what I like: