Sunday Summary - 02.13.22
Dreaming of Vacation
The picture above was taken on our honeymoon at the entrance to Andaz Maui. That dreamy little walkway takes you into a breezy, indoor/outdoor lobby that overlooks the ocean and a 4-tier infinity pool. It was the nicest resort we’ve ever visited, and we vowed to ourselves we’d be back! (But probably not this year.)
I’d love to visit a new tropical location in 2022, and we’re in the process getting one on the books with our friends Ashley and Jordan of @keepgoingplaces. Funny story - we met these friends in Italy in 2018 where we found out we lived in the same apartment complex in Dallas (weird). Since then, we’ve spent MANY days together, but some of the best after Italy were in Croatia, Greece, and Seattle.
What I would do to be at a wine tasting in Greece right now... If you are headed to Santorini soon, add Santo Wines to your itinerary. The views were unbelievable, the pours were generous, and the snacks were delish.
Reading
When I mentioned I was reading Anxious People a few weeks ago, I was surprised the reviews from y’all were so mixed! I thought the author did a fantastic job of tying all the characters’ storylines together, and while it was a heavier read, I still laughed a lot. It earned 5 stars on Goodreads from me! Now it’s time for an easy breezy read, so I’m starting Meet Me in Paradise. I’ll share more about the plot next week, because I legitimately just opened it.
Big news in the reading world for fans of the American Royals series! Katherine McGee is releasing two new books this May - one is a prequel & the other is a continuation of the storyline (Book 3). I was SO excited to see them pop up in the recommendations section of my Kindle a few nights ago.
Watching
I’ve been bad about keeping up with the Olympics this Winter, but I did see some of the top events this week - including Shaun White’s 4th place finish in his final Olympic Games. Seeing the support for him on Instagram made me really emotional, because I just love the positivity these games bring to the often negative inter-webs.
I also watched the Oscar nominations and realized we’d seen exactly 0 movies nominated for Best Picture, so we rented Dune last night. We were both fans and were sad to see that the second installment isn’t set to release until sometime in 2023. Highly recommend if you’re a sci-fi fan!
Also - Bryan made me rewind the end of my latest video approximately 15 times to watch the footage of baby Nash. I turn THIRTY in 13 days when you’re reading this, and I’ve been pretty reflective lately - hence, the Best Purchases of my 20s video.
Cooking
I was so excited to finally use the stove-to-oven feature of our new cookware this week! We’re now ~2 months in, and I’m continually impressed by the whole set - this piece, especially. We cooked this one skillet meal and were blown away by the feta sauce. (No one is surprised. I rave about a good sauce almost weekly.)
I also had a little Galentine’s Day get together with some friends on Thursday, and my contributions were cocktails and no-fail cookie bars. I truly think the Miss Jones cake mix in the recipe makes a noticeable difference in both quality and flavor. It’s made with REAL ingredients - cane sugar, wheat flour, wheat starch, baking powder, vanilla, sea salt. That’s it!
Golden Hour Cocktail Recipe (makes 1) - from The Comfortable Kitchen:
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Aperol
1 oz St. Germain
1 oz Lemon Juice
Top with sparkling water (optional - I skip this)
Garnish - I used rosemary, but mint is fantastic too!
Working On
Maximizing the benefits of my tax-advantaged accounts & refining my retirement savings plan. (If your eyes just rolled to the back of your head, stick with me.)
When people hear that I’m a CPA, I get the same “Oh, you wanna do my taxes?” joke every time. (The answer is no because Turbo Tax & Bryan do the majority of our taxes annually, and I worked in Audit — not Tax.) BUT you also probably assume that I have the stock market totally figured out and that I am really well-versed in the intricacies of my own retirement savings accounts. Well, this week I was #humbled and this year I made it a goal for myself to beef up my own financial education and share what I learn on the soon-to-be-released website. (THIS MONTH, people!)
Learning should be fun, so I promise to make it interesting!
One Subscription I Can’t Give Up
I’ve whittled down my subscription boxes from way-too-many to one. Instead of hitting up the latest weekend sale at LOFT, I’ve been using nuuly. It keeps my closet fresh without commitment, it’s better for the planet, and it’s a much more cost effective way to wear the latest trends - especially for special occasions. I’m so excited to wear this stunning $695 number to a wedding next weekend!
You rent 6 items for $88 a month, and can pause or skip whenever you want.
Creator Spotlight
Last week I shared @annamaegroves’ sweatband hack, and her instagram account was the most clicked link in the newsletter. Ya love to see a supportive community of mostly women supporting other women, so I decided to make this creator spotlight a mainstay for a few weeks.
If you’re petite like me, stop what you’re doing and go follow Jean Wang. She’s a Boston-based creator with a wardrobe that screams “class.” She has great tips for how to make standard sized clothing look flattering on petites, and she recently launched her own brand of petite-friendly items called Edited Pieces. I picked up 3 accessories recently that have been worn on repeat! (I recommend getting on her email list for restock notifications!)
Nora Bracelet - I have mine in the 6”
Reversible Horsebit Belt - Innovative & goes with everything
Gemma Hoop Earrings - A unique take on a classic style
P.S. Bryan loves her husband’s (Nick) style and purchased a coat from one of his gift guides several years ago.
Working on this newsletter throughout the week has brought so much joy and creative inspiration that I didn’t know I was missing. Thanks for being part of this. It means more than you know!