Friday, December 24, 2021

My Favorite Things 2021

My Favorite Things 2021
Tumbler// Billeart Salmon Champagne// Jewelry Box// Nike Sneakers

Merry Christmas Eve and welcome to the last blog post of 2021! I'll see you all in 2022 and I'm wishing you all a joyous Christmas if you celebrate and a happy new year!!! Regular blog posts will resume promptly on January 3rd at 6am EST and the regular schedule of content Monday-Saturday will continue! 

It's always hard to pare down a list that spans an entire year but I think concise is always better. There were so many great things this year and I always love sharing them with you. But I think these things are items that really take the cake for me. 

I tried to make the list of mostly in stock items. I wanted to include J.McLaughlin's Glacier scarf and Talbots faux fur Blackwatch gloves and J.Crew cashmere oversized tee but sadly, all are sold out but things that I absolutely love.

Most of the things on this list were discoveries from 2022 but there were a few things I have had for years that I just had to include like this Tote and, of course, the green blanket which might make every list for all of time, ha!! 

I'll be doing the top products of 2021 based on analytics in January, so keep an eye out for that. I always love to see what makes that list!

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Lately



Seinfeld fans know today as Festivus, but to me, it's Eloise's quote 'It's Christmas Eve Eve!!' I hope you have all been having a great week! I'm ready to initiate holiday mode!!

This past weekend we celebrated a friend's engagement and we went to our club's Christmas party! Lots of fun was had that's for sure! 

As many of you know, Christmas Eve is the big night for our family and our celebrations. My parents have a big party and it's always one of the best nights of the year!!! We then go to my aunt's house for Christmas day dinner for prime rib and it's always delicious. 

Have you all gotten all your errands done and gifts wrapped? I'm officially DONE. Wahoo! 2022 will mark 13 years of blogging for me and last year was the first time ever that I took a week off from blogging and I'm doing to do that again this year. I think it was one of the best things I did. I felt so recharged and inspired and ready to start off the new year with great content. 

I'll still be doing some work all next week but am not pressuring myself. Tomorrow will be the last blog post of the year and it will be my favorite things from 2021! And then I'll be back here on Monday, January 3rd and continue to post Monday-Saturday and those posts will continue to go live each morning at 6am EST! 

I hope you all have the very best time celebrating with your family and friends and I'm wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2022!! Thank you all for visiting Summer Wind and taking the time out of your day to support me. It means SO much. I so appreciate your kindness throughout the year!
Drinking: My sister makes this punch for Christmas Eve each year. If you are in the need for a fun punch recipe: she just eyeballs the measurements but she puts in pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, a bottle of prosecco, vodka, lots of fresh limes squeezed, and then citrus, cranberries, and mint for garnish.

Sale: Nordstrom is having a really good sale right now. It's dangerous!!! 

Watching:
 Have you all watched a good movie lately? We haven't seen anything good at all in so long, but I would love a recommendation if you have it!! 

Listening: I'm so sad to have to quit the Christmas music soon. I just love it. However, if you need something with a similar vibe but that is not Christmas-y, my dinner party playlist is so good! 


Loving: I just got these Ugg slippers. They're metallic gold and what I love most about them is that the outside of them is not suede so if I spill my coffee on them (which has happened more often than I'd like to admit when it comes to slippers), it can be wiped off and won't stain!

Wanting: I saw this faux orchid in person and I loved it. It looked real! I really don't like fake flowers of any kind but I really do think this looked believably real! 

Pittsburgh: Would you know that I have not been downtown to ice skate in years. That is on my list to do this year!!! 

Quoting: See more of my favorites, here.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Wish List

Shop the List:
One last wish list segment for 2021! Whenever I do these, they always perform well... do you all like this where I share a fun wish list with you all? I plan on doing these more frequently in 2022!

And, as a reminder, whenever I share a wish list, it's just fun and frivolous, I'm not actually out there buying all of this stuff in one sitting! I just keep a notes section on my phone and if I see something I love, I add it to the list, and then when it comes time to post, I edit that list to only the things that I still want. 

It's actually good practice if you are someone who loves to shop. Don't buy things you want in the moment. Keep them in a list, tuck it away for a few days, weeks, months, and then when you come back to it you can reassess!! I find myself constantly removing things from my wish list. It's not only a great way to save money but just to keep yourself from buying anything you might regret or accumulating too much stuff! 

Some notes about the items I included... 

This Exfoliating Mask is amazing. I got a sample and now I want the full size. It is a physical and chemical exfoliator and I feel like it works after one use. My skin looks clearer and just all-around better.

I am not an eyeshadow person but I got this Eyeshadow and now want a second color. I LOVE it. It's brightening and subtle.

These Hydra Drops are a winter necessity for me. I am just about to finish a bottle so I need a new bottle. It plumps my skin like no other hydrating product and it works SO well under makeup. I'm continuously repurchasing this. 

I am dying for a Dale of Norway sweater. They are pricey but have the most beautiful aprés ski vibes! I especially love this  Fair Isle Sweater one. 

The Ugg Mini are very in right now and sold out everywhere. I am due for a new pair of Uggs and somehow scored the last pair in a size 9 at Shopbop. I'm so excited to get them. I know Uggs are very popular right now, but I have been an Ugg fan for life. They're such a necessity here in Pittsburgh and they are so cozy and comfortable. 

I think this Boucle Puffer is the chicest puffer I have ever seen.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Champagne/Sparkling Wine That I Recommend

Champagne/Sparkling Wine That I Recommend


So last week we chatted about red wine and today we are going to chat about sparkling wine/ champagne/ prosecco! My favorite topic!!! 

With Christmas just days away and New Year's eve right around the corner, there has never been a better excuse to break out the bubbly. I know a lot of people see anything carbonated as a celebratory beverage, and it is, but I seriously drink it as often as one would drink red wine and don't save the sparkling for a special occasion. I personally just live for anything carbonated. The more bubbles, the better!! 

Just as there are so many wines out there, there are SO many bubbly options. You have sparkling wine which is anything bubbly, then you have champagne which is only produced in the Champagne region in France, and then prosecco is Italian, and Cava is Spanish, and so on. 

I have done a lot of sparkling wine/etc. tasting in my life and I so I really know what I personally love. Again, as I said in the red wine post, I am no sommelier but I just know what I personally like. I had a few of you message me when I did the red wine post that wines seem to be so intimidating. I can understand that, but the thing is that you don't have to let it be intimidating. Just start tasting and learn what you personally like. There is no 'right and wrong'. Why would you drink a fancy expensive bottle of something if you truly don't like it, you know? There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving the $10 Barefoot bottle. I have said time and time again, I'm not a white wine fan... but there are so many people out there who love it and that's their go-to! 

When it comes to anything bubbly, I like dry and I like as many bubbles as possible but they have to be very tiny. Honestly, the bubble size is what I am most picky about, which I know, to some of you, I might truly sound crazy, haha!! I also usually prefer a pinot noir dominant champagne.

If you take price out of the equation, I'd personally always choose champagne. However, champagnes tend to run pricier so I'm not often cracking open a bottle of Billecart Salmon, especially because it is not like red wine where you can have a glass one night and then another glass another night. You have to open the bottle and consume it all that night. They do make champagne wine stoppers. I swear I have tried all of the methods to preserve an open bottle of bubbly but I just don't think it keeps at all, even overnight, no matter what method is used. 

Anyway, I digress. Here are the bottles I recommend...
billecart salmon brut rose
Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé// Now, I have to preface this by saying I am not a regular rosé drinker. I don't love it at all. This is a completely different taste than rosé so don't let the title confuse you. It's champagne and it's my #1 favorite champagne in all the world. The bubbles are sooooo fine that it is almost creamy and the taste is dry but so flavorful and bright. We drank this on our wedding day and I got a bottle for Christmas Eve. In PA it's about $90/bottle but I think it's FAR superior to something like Veuve Clicquot (which is like $60ish in PA). This is the kind of champagne where you want to be present while drinking it and really taste it and take your time to enjoy it.

Moet and Chandon Imperial Brut// This is another top-notch bottle of champagne. I always have a bottle or two of this on hand. It makes a great gift. It's nice and dry and the bubbles are fine and plentiful. It has a good amount of flavor. It's in the same price range as Veuve Clicquot but I think this has a bolder flavor. Both Moet and Chandon and Veuve Clicquot bruts are very consistent and dependable year after year. 

Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut 2012// I am not even going to include the 'regular' VC brut on the list because I feel like that's as common as you can get. Don't get me wrong, it's a good, safe choice (like Caymus for red wine), everyone knows the orange label (I often gift it) and no one is disappointed receiving a bottle of VC, however, the vintage 2012 is where it's at! This drinks like velvet.  VC also has La Grande Dame and I don't think I've ever tried it but I'm curious! 

Dom Perignon// There are all different years you can get but I think right now 2012 is the most common and least expensive. When the year changes, it can change the flavor slightly. The hype around Dom Perignon is overrated, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, the bubbles are sooooo fine and you can immediately tell with your first sip that it's vintage but I would personally rather have the Billecart Salmon brut rosé when I'm paying upwards of $100++. I think Dom Perignon is almost too mineral-y for me- the VC 2012 is not mineral-y like Dom is. But I included this on the list because this is a bottle that you bring as a gift that will impress. Dom Perignon is like Louis Vuitton, it's a brand name everyone will recognize (and they are quite literally owned by the same parent company). 
chandon blanc de pinot noir
Chandon Blanc de Pinot Noir// I really think this is my favorite from Chandon. It's a Napa sparkling wine and I particularly think this tastes more expensive than it is. I love the bold flavor. The bubbles are definitely larger than some of the champagnes I named above but still has a really nice mouthfeel- not completely creamy, but for me, this is what I typically drink as it's affordable (right around $20). Also, I love Chandon. I had a chance to go to Chandon in Napa and it was so well done. Overall, Chandon in general is just really great for the price. 

Chandon Etoile// The first time I was ever introduced to Etoile was in Napa and I fell in love. It's delicious and you can find it in PA. This is their 'higher end' sparkling wine and this definitely has a smoother feel to it vs. their $20ish bottles. I'd say this has a champagne feel to it. I'd probably think it was champagne if a blind taste test was done!  I want to say it is around $40 or $50 here in PA. I have noticed that lately, it is harder to find! 

Chandon Brut// This is another great 'everyday' bubbly. It's dry, has lots of bubbles (although the bubbles are bigger than most champagnes), and is easy to drink. We have a lot of this on hand at all times as I will often bring this to a friend's house if we are going over for dinner or whatnot. If I am having a big party where we will go through. many bottles, this is what I would serve to cut down on cost. 

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut// I think this is a great inexpensive bottle. It's French sparkling wine, which is why you see 'Cremant' on the label. It's funny, I remember when my dad discovered this. We were in DC for Christmas as a family one year, I think I was a senior in college and still love it to this day. It has a nice creamy texture which makes it taste a lot pricier than it is. I'd have to do a side-by-side but just by memory, I think the bubbles are finer than Chandon's brut. 

Some honorable mentions: Pol Roger Brut, G.H. Mumm, Perrier Jouet Brut, Mumm Brut, Laurent-Perrier Brut. 

My biggest bubbly tip is to make sure it's very chilled. For me personally, I think the colder, the better! A bucket with ice is great, but to really get that bottle cold, add in some cold water, too! 

Also to note, there is apparently a champagne shortage. When I went to the state store the other day, they were limiting 2 bottles per person and a portion of the shelves were bare. There was no Veuve but I asked for it and they had some in the back. They were completely out of Chandon brut and I bought the last bottle they had of Billecart Salmon! So keep an eye out and keep checking back because I think they are getting things in and restocking as fast as they can! 

I hope this helps you all in gifting this year. I think a bottle of bubbly makes for such a wonderful host/hostess gift. My family always says I am super hard to shop for (which is very true) but I would always gladly accept a good bottle of champagne!!! 

Monday, December 20, 2021

What I Wore to the Nutcracker




Shop the Outfit:
Last Thursday evening, my husband and I went to dinner and the Nutcracker here in Pittsburgh! It is always so beautifully done and it was my husband's first time seeing the Nutcracker. It was exactly the thing I needed to really get into the Christmas spirit. It is also always fun to see the decorations and lights downtown. 

I thought I would share with you all what I wore because we are just 11 days away from New Year's Eve. Again, we're just 11 days away from 2022. CRAZY. I honestly can't even wrap my mind around it! Time is just flying! 

The Sequin Skirt I wore is the PERFECT thing for a NYE celebration. I actually think I am going to re-wear this skirt for our big Christmas Eve celebration. I love it so much. I was complimented on the skirt by so many complete strangers. It's definitely a show-stopper. I usually wear a 2 or 4 and went with a 4 in this, a 2 would have been too tight on me! 

I also have to say that these are seriously one of my most favorite pairs of Shoes that I own. They are SO fun and sparkle beautifully! I also like the low heel height because they're comfortable and I feel like I can wear them in more situations. I've been wearing them non-stop. I feel like they add just the right amount of pizzazz to any outfit. I think a personal favorite way to wear them is with all black because then the shoes really pop and they add a level of dressiness to whatever I am pairing them with! 

Do you all have New Year's Eve plans? We actually don't have any at all yet and I never really feel pressured to do anything on the holiday. I do love a festive celebration and sparkles and champagne, but for some reason, New Year's Eve is just not my absolute favorite! I will say, though, I met my husband at a New Year's Eve party so while it's not my favorite holiday, 12/31 will always hold a special place in my heart! Actually, now that I think about it, it will be 5 years ago that we met on New Year's Eve and 5 months married to the day! 

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Lately



Can you all believe we are just 9 days from Christmas?! I really can't. Although I will say, I've been so distracted from work lately- anyone else? It's not really my personality to be distracted and want to neglect work, but I feel like last year we got so shorted on holiday cheer that I just really want to soak it all in! I'm totally ready to have fun, enjoy time with family and friends, wear sparkly things, and enjoy all that this season has to offer! 

This weekend was great and pretty routine. Tonight starts the busy, though. We are going out to dinner and then to see the Nutcracker! Tomorrow night we are going out to dinner again and an event, and Saturday and event. Lots of fun to be had! My sister will finally be coming home on Saturday, too, which is always so fun! 

Wearing:
I just got this Sweater and absolutely love it. It's so high quality and I love the marled blue color. It's nice and thick and luxurious. 
Eating: I had Bravo's salmon salad this week and I always forget how good their salads are. 

Drinking: Did you catch my red wine recommendations
Sale: Tuckernuck's extra 30% off with code FLASH30 is still going strong. They have so many good things included! 

Watching:
 We are currently watching Only Murders In The Building on Hulu and I'm loving it. It's so weird to see Steve Martin and Martin Short outside of father of the Bride but they act so well together! 

Brush (on sale)
Loving: This brush is quite frankly outrageously expensive. I got mine on sale and found it again on sale!!! I have to say, though, it's incredible. Like a scalp massage for your head, it feels so cushioned, it's kind of hard to explain. I think this would make such an incredible gift for someone who likes luxury things and is hard to shop for. I cannot believe I waited this long to get it. Even on sale, $100+ for a hairbrush is crazy but it's supposed to last for many many years. 
Wanting: Anything Richard Ginori is on my wish list right now! 

Smelling: This is such a good scent if you need a last-minute host gift! The scent notes description is 'currant, apple, clove, Valencia orange, cedarwood, thyme, Canadian fir, incense & sandalwood'. 

Quoting: 'Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly.'  // See more of my favorites, here.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Straight Leg Jeans Styled









Shop the Outfit:
I haven't done a good old-fashioned outfit post lately so here we are! This one is with the new bag that I got on sale during Cyber week (it's still on sale). It's a favorite of Kate Middleton and I just love it! I had been eyeing it for a while but finally decided to order it once it went on sale and I am so glad I did. It's the perfect beige color to go with everything and to wear year-round. I really like the structured, ladylike shape of it. 

A few of you had mentioned you also purchased this bag and someone had asked how to style it casually. It's an easy bag to dress up, but it can also be dressed down like the outfit that you see in the photos above! 

I'll do a bigger review of the bag in a post in the next few weeks but for now, I just wanted to share it styled here! 

I know everyone has been a chatter over the last year or two about Gen Z claiming that skinny jeans are out of style. I've written about my feelings on that before. As a refresher, I think wearing whatever you feel your best in is always in style! But I also don't think it's wrong to try out new things! 

I got these Jeans last year by the brand Mother. The exact wash I am wearing are no longer available but this style is still available in several different washes. They're a good hybrid of a skinny jean and straight-leg jean because they're slim like a skinny jean throughout the leg but at the hem, it's wider like a bootcut pair of jeans. I also really like that they have a lot of stretch to them. I have several pairs of real jeans without stretch and while I love the look, I think jeans with stretch are always much more comfortable! 

The last piece of this outfit I want to highlight are these brown suede Booties. They have western vibes but are more streamlined. They are so comfortable but what I love most about them is that I feel like they lengthen my legs when I wear them. It's like somehow my legs look longer (and I don't have long legs)! I think it's the shape at the toe, but I'm honestly not sure, they are just flattering all around! 

I'm not a huge boot person, I prefer flats or heels if anything, but in the winter in Pittsburgh, boots are pretty much a necessity so I'm always on the hunt for beautiful boots so my feet are kept warm.  
As a side note from this post, Tuckernuck is having a big sale where they are offering an extra 30% off their sale using code FLASH30. I've been eyeing this Naghedi tote and I can't believe it's included in their sale! I also love their sport collection and a lot of those pieces are included. I wear their sports bras on the regular! 

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

My Favorite Red Wines

My Favorite Red Wines

This has been a highly requested post and I thought now was the perfect time to share as you are all probably heading over to friends and family's homes and obviously don't want to arrive empty-handed! I think a bottle of wine is always a great gift to bring the host/hostess (only if you know they drink wine). 

I love cabernet so I am going to focus on that for this post and then I'll do another with bubbly. Otherwise, I don't really drink white wine or rosé or much other red- maybe a little pinot noir or a malbec here and there, but if given the choice, I'd always choose cabernet over another type of red!

I should also preference this by saying that I don't really know what I am talking about when it comes to wine. I've been to Napa, my parents are really into wine so they have taught me a thing or two, but at the end of the day, I just know what I personally like, so take these recommendations with a grain of salt! And with that, I like dry- nothing sweet. 

Also, I am going to link to each wine so you can read about it. 

From Left to Right... 

Stag's Leap// This is pricey but VERY good. If you are gifting this to someone who knows their wines, this is the bottle to get them over Caymus or anything else. This is one of my favorite pricey bottles of cab. Another I would recommend on this level is Far Niente Cab- for people that know what they are talking about, ha! If someone brought me this as a hostess gift, I would be thrilled. 

Prisoner// This is a good $50ish red blend. They also have a cab that's fantastic. Dry, and just very easy to drink. I feel like most people know Prisoner so even if they're not super into wine, they'll know and appreciate this wine! 

Marietta Game Trail// This is under $40 and my favorite red wine. Easily. It is bold and so flavorful but also has a bit of a fruity note to it. Marietta is the most underrated label, in my opinion. Not enough people know about it, and part of me wants to keep it that way, ha!! I literally have loved everything I have had from Marietta. But this Game Trail takes the cake for me. They used to make Angeli Cuvee (and they still have one called Angeli but it's not the same as 2014ish). There is a 2018 Angeli that just came out. I haven't tried it yet, but want to. Anyway, we did a blind taste test last winter between Game Trail and Angeli Cuvee and I much preferred Game Trail which surprised me because I had previously thought Angeli Cuvee was the best ever. Anyway, I am passionate about my Game Trail. It's just so good and especially for the price. If you can find 2016, still, snag it!!! Right now all I can find is 2018. 

Marietta Old Vine Red// This is another red blend and it's super inexpensive. It's what we call pizza wine because it is just very drinkable and goes great with pizza! If you're new to red wine, this is a good place to start. 

Marietta Armé// This is a newer find for me and it's fantastic. Not as good as Game Trail, in my opinion, but very good. They are right around the same price point. It's also a cabernet. Compared to Game Trail this one is even drier with a bit of a 'bite' to it at the end (definitely not technical wine terms, here). 

Havens// This is their black and blue (red blend) but you cannot go wrong with any red from Havens. They age really well. They're all amazing. Priced similarly to Stag's Leap so it's a bit on the pricey side. It's hard to find in Pennsylvania... PA is a controlled state and it can be SO frustrating at times. 

Estancia// This is another inexpensive (under $20) cabernet option. I think it tastes much more expensive than it is. It's full-bodied and complex. I would not recommend drinking something like Game Trail and then switching to Estancia in the same night- then you'll notice the difference, but otherwise, this is a solid inexpensive cabernet. 

Caymus// I call this the Veuve Clicquot of cabernets because the name is so buzz-worthy. People that don't know anything about wine, know about Caymus. It's really good, don't get me wrong (very dry, full-bodied, etc.) and it would make for a great gift, but I think it's overrated. I'd personally go with Stags Leap, Far Niente, Salvestrin, Duckhorn before I'd go with Caymus, but I do think since it's so well known, it's the 'safest' choice when you're giving it as a gift. Again, this is all based on my opinion. Caymus always wins all of the awards, so take my recs with a grain of salt!


My Favorite Red Wines
Pants// Heels (my favorite shoes right now!)

When gifting wine, I usually just add a bow around the neck of the bottle. I've also attached ornaments or a stopper or a cute little spreading knife to the bow as an added 'something'. You can also get a tea towel and wrap the bottle in the tea towel with a bow. It makes for a really nice presentation! 

Also as a side note, I'm often asked how to start a wine collection and there is really no particular way- don't be intimidated!! I think you just start to buy what you love and find a cool, dry, dark place in your home to store it. If I find something I love, I will buy a case or two of it and consume it over the years or have it on hand to bring as host/hostess gifts or serve to guests. I love to learn about wine, try new-to-me wine, collect bottles, etc. My husband has gotten into it, too, and we basically like the same things when it comes to wine so it has been fun for us to collect together! Whenever you are starting a collection of anything, it has to start somewhere. Snag a bottle or two here and there and look, you have started! 

Is there a red wine I should know about? Share in the comments! 

Monday, December 13, 2021

Holiday Appetizers


I've shared this a bunch in the past, but every Christmas Eve my parents host a big party at their house. The first portion of the night is heavy appetizers and then much later, my mom serves dinner. I honestly look forward to the appetizer portion even more than the actual dinner. There are SO many delicious things! 

My mom often makes a lot of the same things year after year as they are true crowd-pleasers (ex. deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, different dips, etc.) but I have been searching for some fun ideas to make to mix things up. I thought it might be helpful for you all in case you are planning an upcoming event or need an idea of an appetizer to bring to a party! 

I feel like this is SO easy to do and will do well sitting out for a bit. 

Same with this one. You could make this in the afternoon before your event and store it in the refrigerator. 

Why am I not eating this for a snack daily? This is like all of my favorite things in one! 

Ok YUM. 

Onion and pear together is not something I would have done on my own but it sounds delicious! 

These are adorable! 

This is so fun! And now that I am thinking about it, you could do this in different styles like a 'taco cupcake'! 

Little, but heavy and filling which can be good if the dinner will be later! 

We have had a variation of this in the past and it's SO good. 

Love the idea of serving the chicken salad on a sliced apple! 

Seems so simple, but I would have never thought of this on my own!

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Saturday Shopping

Friday, December 10, 2021

Festive Holiday Coffee Mugs

Festive Holiday Coffee Mugs

Festive Holiday Coffee Mugs
Not only am I sharing this adorable and cozy lounge set with you all today, but I'm also often asked about this tartan mug whenever I am holding it on Instastories. It's Pendleton brand from many years ago. However, I thought that I would take the opportunity to round up some beautiful and festive coffee mugs. I love seasonal mugs as I drink coffee every morning and I swear, the better the coffee mug, the better the start to the morning! 

But first, this set. I felt like it looked very 'aprés ski' and so, therefore, I just knew I had to order it. It's a thick sweater material. Soft and cozy for sure. Because it's so heavy, it is not something I would sleep in. So this is a true lounge outfit but you could definitely wear the top portion with jeans or whatever! I am wearing a small in both the Pullover and Pants and I would say both fit true to size (but very roomy). 

Festive Holiday Coffee Mugs
Ok now to the mugs, there are SO many good ones out there. I also think they make a wonderful holiday gift. You can put a little hot chocolate package in there, a Starbucks gift card, etc. inside, and then wrap it in clear cellophane with a big bow. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Lately

How has everyone's week been so far? We are hosting an early Christmas celebration at our home this weekend with my husband's side of the family so I have been doing lots of prepping for that!! 

Otherwise, I have just been working in preparation to take the week off after Christmas. I did it for the first time last year and it was SO nice. I find working ahead and getting as much done as I can now will set me up for relaxation post-Christmas! 

December is just flying by. I cannot believe Christmas is just 16 days away!!! I am trying to slow down so I can enjoy every moment. 

Wearing: These stud earrings were my first Asha purchase and they will not be my last. They are so gorogeous and the quality is amazing. I feel so glam whenever I wear them. They were also packaged in the most beautiful, high end way so they would make such a good gift! I am not a huge costume jewelry person, but I am already plotting my next purchase! 

Drinking: I ran into Wine and Spirits the other day and snapped this photo of my cart. I heard there was a champagne shortage so that's what prompted it all, haha! They were limiting champagne purchases to 2 per brand for literally every brand I love the most. I got Veuve Clicquot, Billecart Salmon brut rosé, two bottles of Chandon brut (best under $20 bubbly), and then I finally found the 2018 Marietta Game Trail- my very favorite red wine. I haven't tried the 2018 yet, but my fingers are crossed that it is as good as the 2016 that is no longer available! I also noticed that the Billecart Salmon brut rosé went up in price by $10 since July, which is wild!!! It's pricey so I only buy it for special occasions. We will drink this on Christmas Eve! It's the best champagne I have ever had. 

Reading: First look at Bridgerton season 2 which is supposed to come out some time in 2022! 
Sale: Yesterday's post was all about the outfit I am wearing in this photo! This pullover is still on sale and it is the best! 
Sale II: Through 12/12, Sephora is 20% off using code GIFTEASY. Such a good promotion! Here's what is in my cart! I love the Westman Atelier brand. If you are interested in trying the brand, this gift trio is such a good price for all three of these things! 

Watching:
 We just watched Nine Perfect Strangers and it was so good! It was a little weird at first and kind of reminded me of The White Lotus, but so different at the same time. 

Listening: Kenny G holiday station on Pandora is soooo good to work to!! 

Loving: This is the bag I ordered during Cyber Week! I had been eyeing it for so long and finally caved. It's just gorgeous. The perfect size and I love that it has a top handle and a crossbody strap that is removeable! 
Loving II: I am not someone who has used primer much ever. However, I bought this primer on a whim and I LOVE it. This is an awkwardly close-up/cropped photo but I feel like it shows how my makeup looks with the primer. I just felt like it made my makeup blend even better and looked even more natural. I was so impressed and my skin didn't even feel like I did that extra step. I won't be using primer daily by any means, but this is so great for special occasions! 
Wanting: This is out of my budget for a novelty style cardigan but boy do I love it!!

Quoting: See more of my favorites, here.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Favorite Workout Items





I just ordered another one of these long-sleeved tee shirts and it reminded me to write a post about this outfit that is compromised of some of my most-worn workout items as of late. I have worn them non-stop the past several months! 

Let's start off with the Long Sleeve Tee...
It's the perfect thing to throw on over top of my workout tank before/after a workout. I wear a tank when I workout regardless of the weather so I need layers in the winter. This is the best. It's lightweight, but substantial enough that it doesn't feel cheap. It's 100% cotton so it's ince and breathable (size up to account for shrinkage in the dryer) and it's pretty oversized so it is very comfortable. 

And this Quilted Pullover...
I've shared this one a bunch. It is the BEST. I throw it on over the long sleeve tee and it's been perfect. It's thick and warm but still thin enough that I can layer it under a puffer coat. The weather has been decently mild so I've been ditching my coat and running in and out of Orange Theory in just this pullover. It's insanely soft, I love the roomy fit but it does not look frumpy. I think the quilted stitching adds some structure to the shape. My one recommendation would be to either lay flat to dry and do not tumble dry or size up one size. I got a small and I had been laying it flat to dry, but I accidentally put it in the dryer and it shrunk a bit. Not enough to make me not like it anymore, but I wish I hadn't done that!! It's cotton (which I didn't realize) so that's why it shrunk a bit. 


Lastly, these Tennis Shoes...
I have ordered no less than 8 pairs of sneakers over the past several months. You are supposed to get new workout sneakers every 6ish months. I was getting hip pain and I knew it was from my shoes that had been overused. Every pair of shoes I tried, they just did not work or feel good on my feet. I have insanely high arches. I tried all of the most popular options and finally I ordered these. They're AMAZING. My hip pain is totally gone and I feel so much better. They are technically for trail running but I use them for Orange Theory and love them. I actually bought a second pair as backup I love them that much. They're so cushiony but they are not crazy bouncy either. I feel like they have a really good amount of suppport, too, for the floor portion of OTF and they fit well in the rowers! I have loved Adidas Ultraboost, Nike Pegasus, and Nike Joyride in the past but these take the cake for the best workout shoes I've ever worn!
 

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