I am not on board with this time-changing business, particularly when it occurs at the end of my Spring Break and I have to return to work the following day after a week of late nights and a little dabbling in sleeping in.
It is what it is, I suppose, but if our state government has their way with it we’d observe daylight savings time year-round. Sure, more daylight in the evenings is nice, but I detest waking up when it’s dark outside.
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Anyway, this week was the perfect mix of busy and lazy. Michael and I spent the first part of the week in Alabama, exploring Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery, and the second half of the week relaxing at home.
The weather has been glorious the past few days, so I made sure to get out and enjoy it, as I know our pleasant days are numbered. We also went to a live show with former child stars Danny Tamberelli and Michael C. Maronna (of Pete and Pete fame – hello fellow 90s Nickelodeon kids!):
But otherwise, life is moving along somewhat normally and Michael is moving around much more easily on his leg (hooray!). I’ve been doing some behind-the-scenes work on the blog during my time at home, so this week’s link roundup is a bit light in quantity, but not quality:
Travel
Starting in 2021, citizens of the U.S. (and Canada, Mexico, and other countries) will be required to register and pay a small fee in order to visit the Schengen-area countries of Europe. The E.T.I.A.S. is careful to note that this registration is not a visa and that it will be valid for three years of unlimited entry (though I presume the current ninety-day stay limit still applies).
Jessica shared about her time spent in Reno, and now I’m wondering why I never considered it as a destination before!
Travelers with wheelchairs share their advice for traveling with a wheelchair to the NYT (Fun fact! One of the contributors is an IRL friend who constantly inspires me).
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Food
Everything you can do with white beans. I always keep two or three cans of white beans in my pantry, as they are really just so inexpensive and versatile.
How to make canele. I love these little caramelized custardy treats, but I think I’ll leave them to the professionals.
Oh, yum – this giant pop tart looks much, much better than the store-bought version.
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Life
Gillian talks about why she blogs, and I think it’s important to step back every so often and examine why this space is here – and why it consumes so much of my time. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it, and then I receive a message from someone who was inspired to take a trip. It’s these moments that solidify that blogging is still alive and well, and worth my time.
The people who eat the same meal every day. I do this just about every weekday, and it has little to do with the actual food itself. Automating one choice in my workday has really made my life easier (and it saves money, too!).
How to beat stage fright. I definitely struggle with public speaking, even when it’s in a really small format like a staff meeting at work (my face gets red and hot – thanks rosacea! – and my breathing either quickens or completely stops). The author shares some tips I’d never considered before, like watching what I eat or drink beforehand.
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Style
Swimwear fave Summersalt now has a line of clothing for travel. I like the looks of The Everywhere Top and The Sleeveless Day-to-Night Bodysuit.
Vetta (now closed) has restocked many of their garments! I love the versatility of their Casual Capsule – mixing and matching five pieces into thirty outfits is a traveler’s dream.
What are your thoughts on the new Glossier Play line? While I believe you should wear what you want at any age, I’m finding the closer I get to thirty (as in, it’s next month) the less inclined I am to wear really vibrant, glittery things. The only thing that really piques my interest is the Vinylic Lip in Pony or Disco.
Does your charity t-shirt (you know, the one with a really cute or witty message on the front) actually empower the women who make it? Known Supply breaks it down in their recent post.
Sale alert! Nordstrom Rack is offering an extra 25% off their sale prices through today, although a lot of stuff is gone already, sadly. A few faves are this sleep shirt, this bag, and of course anything Eileen Fisher. Today only, Ulta is offering 50% off select dry shampoos for National Dry Shampoo Day (really?). My fave from Klorane is in the mix!
Things I bought this week
You may have seen three of these purchases in near real-time over on Instagram Stories, as the tee and two coats were purchased at Unclaimed Baggage in Alabama. I’ll share my store experience in its own post (edit: it’s here!), but I’ll go ahead and tell you a little about what I bought.
The first keeper I found in the store was this wool AllSaints Coat (linked to current style). I’m happy to say that it received a lot of wear just within the first few days of owning it.
I also found an A.P.C. Mac Coat in the women’s section, though I believe it is a men’s jacket. I’m surprised how much I love the boxy, oversized fit, and I think it will get a decent amount of wear during our rainy summer months. The fact that it has a little wear already (a little thinning at the cuffs and a few small, stray marks) is somewhat of a relief – I know that I won’t have to fret too much about potentially staining it.
The third item I purchased from Unclaimed Baggage is this Nasty Gal Tee (linked to similar). I’ve never purchased anything from the brand before, and in all honesty, probably won’t again. The quality isn’t great – it was brand new with tags yet has some dye issues – but like the Mac, the fact that it’s not a “precious” garment is kind of a nice thing.
The final thing I ordered this week came from Poshmark. I own this Everlane dress in navy and black, and it’s the perfect shape-shifter (it can really work in any environment), so I bought the rose version on a whim on Poshmark. Sadly it’s no longer available, but Quince offers a similar dress in several other colors if that’s the kind of thing you’re into.
Do you ever purchase things in multiples?