Oh, hey.
I promise I haven’t forgotten about this space – or you.
It’s been a busy few weeks moving up here and getting acquainted with our new city, and it hasn’t necessarily been an easy or smooth transition. I was rear-ended a few days after we moved, and managed to throw out my back and catch a nasty stomach bug last week. All, of course, while trying to unpack and manage our new household. And frankly, while I could have found time to write, I spent a couple of weeks just feeling burned out. I don’t think it’s uncommon, especially at this time of year, but it’s not a feeling I relish.
Not to say that things have been all bad around here. We’re trying to make the most out of our first holiday season in a place that feels, well, much more Christmasy than Florida. So far, we’ve visited this family’s DIY light show and various Christmas markets (at OMB, Camp North End, and others), and I can’t wait to check out the ice skating at the National Whitewater Center and Speedway Christmas where you get to drive on the NASCAR track – even if it’s a bit cheesy. We’ve caught up on lost time with our friends who live here and discovered great places to eat and drink. I’ve met some great local creatives, both online and offline, and we enjoyed attending our neighborhood’s annual community dinner. I’m really looking forward to building a new sense of community in a region that strives to breed it.
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But for now, I’ll skip ahead to the roundup – which I hope will return to its regular weekly spot here on the blog, along with everything else! Here are my picks from the past few weeks:
Travel
Flipping through the North Carolina Travel Guide that just arrived in yesterday’s mail. I’m so ready to get out and explore our new home state!
A good reminder to stick up for yourself and your stuff.
Have you ever encountered this Uber scam?
This bombshell of an article sparked a number of changes at the suitcase start-up, but I’ll be surprised if we’ve heard the last of things. I’m grateful for the customer service I’ve received whenever I’ve needed to contact Away, but it was always faster than expected or needed – it’s clear that’s not necessarily a good thing.
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Life & Home
I’m excited to compost through this organization here in Charlotte. Does your community offer a similar program?
This blog post (no longer available) has been bookmarked for backyard inspiration, and this one for everything else!
What are you doing on Christmas Eve?
I’m happy to have the chance to curl up and revisit this book, as it contains endless ideas for organizing and repurposing products around the house. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when moving into and decorating a blank space, and I find it’s good to take a moment and carefully consider the space and its functions.
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Food
Next year’s food trends, predicted.
I’m always amazed at the assortment of bûches de Noël available in France this time of year. They are works of art for sure (with prices to match!).
We made these Lussekatter yesterday (I cut the recipe in half, as they are quite large), and are glad to have a few extras today to toast with butter and jam.
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Style
Living in a larger city now, I’m noticing this trend more than ever. It’s fascinating, and also slightly horrifying.
This “Top 20 Things No Woman Should Wear After 30” list is accurate (I promise it will make you laugh, not angry).
Charlotte has been chilly, but not unbearably so yet. It’s fun to discover my winter style and I’m finding that I’m repeatedly reaching for my wide-leg pants, cashmere sweaters, leather boots, wool cocoon coat (current season), and topping it all off with a beret.
Things I bought this week
Aside from boring and wallet-busting purchases I’ve made recently (like a drill, washing machine and dryer set, and an indispensable humidifier), I’ve been seeking out a few small luxuries to bring into our home (okay, and my closet!). The largest of these has been on my radar thanks to countless Instagram ads, which I’m sure you’ve seen too. I finally agreed to dispose of our old, sad college cookware on the condition that we would buy a new set as a reward for actually moving. The Wednesday before we made the move, I ordered Great Jones’ Family Style. I’ve never owned nice cookware before, and cooking in these pots and pans is a real treat; and combined with a new-to-us oven in our rental, a good lesson in the kitchen as well.
We didn’t decorate our last home very much; we were on a month-to-month lease and there wasn’t much point. Since we’ll be in our new home for at least eighteen months, I’m anxious to bring a bit of light, warmth, and personality to the space – which admittedly feels a little generic. This clothes rack is now in our guest room/my workspace, and these peg rails are going in our carved-out entryway and the kitchen. I also ordered these sweet fragrance papers and a little bowl from East Fork (in nearby Asheville; I can’t wait to visit again since it’s so close!) to scent our home.
As for style and personal care, it was time to order a new toothbrush recently, and when I asked for recommendations on Instagram, many of you said to stay far away from Quip. I’m glad I did (thank you for your honesty!) since I’m actually enjoying the act of brushing my teeth daily with my new sonic brush. I stocked up as I do each year at Glossier’s annual sale with enough Boy Brow to last me until next year, and also grabbed a gorgeous mahogany shade of nail polish to see me through the end of late autumn. I’ve been bookmarking pairs of wool slippers on Etsy for a while without purchasing, but I couldn’t pass up this pair* with a leather sole when they were offered at a deep discount on Black Friday. Lastly, I ordered these Madewell flats to wear on some of the warmer days we’re having, as well as when spring returns. It’s been a while since I’ve ordered flats with a rubber sole, and I miss the way a leather sole feels when I’m wearing them – but I think they’ll be fine for work days or quick jaunts to the store.
*this item is no longer available and a similar product is linked
How has this season affected your mood? Are you suffering from a bit of burnout too, or does this time of year fill you with energy?
