A Pretty, Meaningful Gift Idea
I saw these friendship necklaces on Cup of Jo and ended up buying one for my sister, mom and I for Christmas. I love the delicate, hammered design and the fact that they're pieces of a circle that fit together—so we're connected, wherever we are. It's a cool idea for a loved one or BFFL—or you! (They can be purchased as individual pieces, too. #beyourownbestfriend)
The Ultimate Glam Coffee Table Book
I’ve admired OG blogger/influencer Aimee Song’s style for awhile and I'm a sucker for a gorgeously designed book (recipes, fashion, decor, you name it!), so I was super excited when I saw she had put out Capture Your Style. I was expecting lots of outfit inspo and chic street-style-esque shots from all around the world (check, check, check!). What I wasn't expecting was that I'd end up reading it cover to cover. I couldn't get enough of her tried-and-true, approachable advice for designing a beautiful Instagram profile. (It's an art! 😝) Capture Your Style gives you a peek into the behind-the-scenes of her methods and work, even more so than Instagram could. It now has a permanent spot on my coffee table. ;)
Trick Candles!
These LED candles are made of wax, but they're flameless. The best part is that the flickering "flame" looks so real! I got a set from Tom’s mom for Christmas and I use them all the time now. They add a warm glow to the room without a heavy scent and I don't have to worry that'll I'll forget to blow out the candle before I leave the apartment or go to sleep.
A Terrifying & Enthralling Book—and a Must-Read Article
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most captivating books I've read in a while. Have you read it? (I've just started watching the Golden-Globe winning series on Hulu.) It's chilling how this book—which was published in 1985—feels so especially relevant now. If you've read it (or don't mind spoilers) this essay by Atwood in the New York Times gives incredible insight into where she got her inspiration from. (This is totally the kind of stuff I geek out over.) She writes, "One of my rules was that I would not put any events into the book that had not already happened in what James Joyce called the “nightmare” of history, nor any technology not already available. No imaginary gizmos, no imaginary laws, no imaginary atrocities. God is in the details, they say. So is the Devil."
A Dinner Gamechanger
Since Tom and I moved in together, my usual style of cooking dinner—smaller, mostly vegetarian-based meals—has pretty much gone out the window. He's used to big dinners and definitely eats more meat than me. It's really important to me that we both take turns cooking and doing the cleanup, and Blue Apron has made our transition into living together (and making dinner for two) much smoother. We can open a bottle of wine and really enjoy the process of cooking together (even on a weeknight!) without a hectic trip to the grocery store or racking our brains for what to make for dinner. It's his first time really living "on his own," so cooking, of course, can be a bit daunting. (I've been living "on my own" for years and I still find cooking daunting.) Blue Apron makes it easy for both of us to put together meals that are incredibly flavorful and totally different than what we'd normally cook (in a good way). (I also like that most of the ingredients are GMO-free, the fish is sustainable and the meat doesn't have any added hormones or antibiotics.) We haven't gone out to eat much at all lately and surprisingly, I don't miss it that much. I was really hesitant about doing Blue Apron at first, but it's become essential for us. It evens out to about about $10 per person per meal, which isn't too bad. (Especially since we're eating out less, we rarely get takeout and we're spending less on groceries overall.) We've cooked 19 Blue Apron meals by now—from Spicy Shrimp Bucatini to Shiitake & Black Garlic Ramen to Ginger-Marinated Grassfed Steaks—and we’c ve enjoyed every. Single. One. Not a single recipe disappointed! And feeling like a master chef afterward is kinda awesome. The only bad part? Having to do the dishes afterward! :(
Wishing you a peaceful, cozy week!
Xoxo, Heather
P.S. Playing on repeat right now: the first album from Norwegian-native Anna of the North and the magical new album from Lights. So damn good.
P.P.S. None of these things are endorsed or sponsored, I just really love them and want to share them with you!
The earrings above are Asos and the ribbon is from J.Crew (similar).