My nightly peppermint tea is a little joy!
The light was hitting Henry just right, so being the ham he is, we had a photoshoot!
My Tiny Quickfires have started to bloom! This is a new hydrangea variety I planted in a planter. They are supposed to be similar to limelights but smaller!
Hope you are all having a great week! It's a 'usual' week over here. Workouts, work, dinners at home, and all of that mundane stuff! I wouldn't change a thing. There is something so truly wonderful about just your average week. This past weekend, we enjoyed Fantasia at the symphony, which was wonderful, and then went to the Pirates game on Saturday. Lots of fun was had! Tonight we are kicking off the weekend early with a date night, and I am hoping we lay low tomorrow night!
Also, this weekend, my dad and aunt have birthdays just one day apart, and since my aunt and uncle are in town (along with my sister and brother-in-law!), we're hosting everyone, plus a few more aunts, uncles, and cousins, at our house to celebrate. I love my family and being with them. Truly, nothing brings me more happiness than when my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and husband are all together under one roof, and the biggest bonus is when extended family joins us, too.
I'm making my Mediterranean orzo salad, which I haven't made in ages. It's one of my favorite summer side dishes because it's easy to make ahead and perfect for feeding a crowd. I went to pull up the recipe on my blog and realized I've somehow never shared it, which honestly shocked me! I'll write everything down as I make it this weekend so I can finally share the recipe with all of you.
I spent part of this week researching a new pet insurance provider for Henry. We've been loyal Healthy Paws customers for the past 8 years and, overall, have had a great experience with them. However, his premium is about to increase by nearly 50%.
When I reached out to ask why, they explained that veterinary claims in Pennsylvania have increased, leading to higher premiums across the board. Pet insurance isn't structured like human health insurance; it's more analogous to property insurance in how rates are determined.
When I looked back at what we've paid over the years, I realized Henry's premium has increased by 422% since we first enrolled. That was enough to make me start shopping around for other options.
Personally, I'm a big believer in pet insurance for the peace of mind it provides in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. Since we're Costco members, I saw that they offer a 15% discount on Figo pet insurance. I received a quote, and the pricing and coverage seem like a great fit for us.
Before we make the switch, though (if that's even possible), I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience with Figo, both good or bad. If it weren't for the significant premium increase, we likely would stay with Healthy Paws. They've always been easy to work with, and I've found their claims process and coverage to be fair.
Also, it is my understanding that we keep Henry's current policy during the waiting period of the new policy (which is 14 days), so there is no lapse in coverage. It makes sense, but if you have ever switched from one provider to another, is there anything else I should know? Sorry for the novel about this! I have researched this topic pretty well, but I always think first-hand experience is better!
Embroidered Linen Dress use code SYDNEY15
Athletic Dress use code SYDNEY15
ST generously sent me both of these dresses, and I love both. The linen one has beautiful embroidery and is perfectly lightweight for the summer heat. One of those great 'throw on' dresses. The athletic dress is not only cute, but if you are a longer torso gal like me, the attached shorts don't ride up, and there is room in the torso! Also, the skirt is a modest length. I often find athletic dresses to be way too short for my liking, and this one is just right. The only downside is that the shorts aren't detachable, so it's like a romper, and you have to undress each time you want to go to the bathroom. It's not a deal breaker for me, but I know it would be for some!
I love these colored bead necklaces because you can wear them as 'team colors'. I wore this to the Pirate game and was glad to have an easy pop of yellow for the occasion! I think I want to get a few different sizes in yellow, like this larger size, to layer for Pittsburgh sports games and events! A fun fact is that Pittsburgh is the only city in the country where its sports teams all wear the same colors: black and gold. We also don't have an NBA team!
This dress was gifted to me by a new-to-me French brand with simple, elegant pieces, and the prices are pretty reasonable, too!
We sadly had to attend a funeral this weekend, and I wore this black dress, which works for a multitude of occasions.
Wearing: I didn't wear anything too exciting this week. It's *so* hot. I have no idea what I'm going to wear tonight, but something very lightweight, that's for sure.
You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website!
Sale: I'm not a big Mackenzie Childs gal. Don't get me wrong, I like the pieces, but I just haven't really collected many! However, the wood cutting board we have is MC, and they are having a sale, and it's included. We *love* this cutting board. The quality is amazing. We use it daily as it's the perfect smaller size. I'm tempted to get the larger size (also on sale)!
Today, any Nordstrom cardholder can access the anniversary sale. ICYMI, I shared my picks and thoughts on the sale on Tuesday!
Watching: I still have 5-Star Weekend on my watch list, but I need to subscribe to Peacock to watch... sigh, another platform!! Other than that, I'm not watching a single thing. I'd love a good show, but I guess there hasn't really been much out lately since it is summertime. I did add 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' to my Netflix watchlist. There are two seasons, so maybe I will check that out!
Loving: I’ve always wanted a weighted blanket, but I have read the beads inside could potentially leak out, and I was too worried about that, and Henry potentially eating them. This new-to-me brand just gifted me this 100% cotton 15lb weighted blanket. When I tell you this is one of the most incredible things EVER, I am not even remotely exaggerating. The weight feels so good- it’s a calming feeling, and this blanket is just like a beautiful cable knit cream blanket that looks perfect with my bedding. It’s also designed with a chunky weave so air can circulate. No beads, this is just all pure cotton. It’s so soft. My mind is blown!!!! You better believe this will make the yearly favorites and be on gift guides later this year. I’m giddy over this! Oh, and it’s machine washable!
Wanting: How cool is this rotating ring?! A new-to-me jewelry brand that I have been heavily browsing to order my first piece! Henry is crate-trained, but we do not use a crate at home. If we did, though, I would definitely consider this crate- how cool! I think Henry would love that the crate is totally clear, so he can see 360 degrees. The sleekest, but fun clutch! If you are looking for a neutral rug, I really like this one! This pintuck top is elegant and would look great now with white trousers, but also looks great with a blazer! Have you all heard of the brand, Public Goods? This is a new-to-me brand that claims to sell organic, non-toxic, plant-based, cruelty-free items. My husband and I really do try to make a conscious effort to select organic when possible, use products with better/cleaner ingredients, use less plastic, etc. This site seems to make it easy to buy everyday essentials that promise a better impact on ourselves and the planet! I'm most interested in the sponges and glass cleaner, as those can be hard to find in a 'cleaner' version. This linen caftan is just stunning. Love the idea of this as a pinky ring! This Lee Jofa collab is too good! This shower curtain with a monogram is so good! These pants are adorable- I love the bandana print, but it's very hard to choose because all of the prints are perfect. This belt is a great Hermes look for less. I love collecting Hermes scarves, and if I saw this on someone in person, I would assume it was Hermes! This dress with the applique details is fabulous! A new-to-me pajama brand, and how cute! This print on this dress is lovely. This looks like a great sleep set for just $50! I did not know there was such a thing as 'bead clips'. Are they the next bag charm? I love a bag charm, which is essentially a glorified, often overpriced keychain. These bead clips are cool, but also seem to be overpriced for what they are... but I guess take my money! This is a very cool evening clutch that comes in many beautiful color combos. This striped cardigan is a classic. Love a good halter dress, and the embroidery on this one makes it special!
Pittsburgh: Butcher and the Rye just reopened after being closed for years. They did a few pop-up things in the space, but it's now back to a great menu and looks pretty much the same inside. We ducked in the other night, hoping we could grab seats at the bar for a drink and snacks before the symphony, and we lucked out. We got the beef tartare, and hamachi crudo, and both were incredible- even better than I remember. We also had the nicest server, John. We were in kind of a rush, and he was so on top of it! I was so impressed by it all.
Amazon Rec:
You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!
Smelling: Love these reed diffusers. I keep one in every bathroom in our house. They last a very long time. They don't fill a large room like a Pura does, but they're good for small spaces like a bathroom. We just finished this one, but they offer refills, which is nice, and I had a backup! This is the 'signature' scent, which, to me, is very universally appealing, with notes of cedar, amber, musk, etc. The scents are free of phthalates, parabens, and sulfates!
Traveling: My mom, sister, and I are doing a girls' trip to Italy in September. I am so looking forward to it. My mom's family is from Molochio, Reggio Calabria, so we are doing Rome, Florence, and Taormina (Sicily), but we will do a day in Molochio, where my great-grandparents are from! Rome is one of my favorite places I have ever been, so I am looking forward to returning. My sister has a travel agent she's used before, so they're planning most of it for us, which is so nice, but I would still love some great recs from you all if you have them!
Quoting: 'If your peace depends on everything going right, that isn't peace—that's control.' // See more of my favorites, here.
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