My Monthly Edit

RECOVERING
Right before Thanksgiving, I was suddenly launched into one of the worst Lupus flares I’ve had in years.  But, the blessing in disguise was that it gave me a chance to finally get set up with a functional medicine doctor here in Oregon (who I love & am so thrilled to have found).  She firmly reminded me that self-care is not an indulgence, it’s a discipline…and one I need to practice regularly now that I’m caretaking for my parents. There is so much about my current circumstances that I don’t have the power to change…but each day, I can make choices that prioritize my health so I don’t end up burnt out.  So often, when people talk about self-care, they talk about taking a long bath or giving themselves a pampering spa treatment, which is wonderful to do every once in a while.  But, what I need to work on is getting into a regular rhythm of self-care – which, for me, looks like being kind to myself, setting clear boundaries, getting exercise every day, practicing gratitude, talking to a therapist, regularly unplugging (both from social media & those around me) and prioritizing sleep.  Because I’m so focused on serving my parents right now, it’s hard & feels selfish for me to do things for myself, but the truth is that I can’t care for them well if I’m not healthy, so it’s something I’m going to take much more seriously going forward.

LOVING
This is basically the necklace version of a classic tennis bracelet & I cannot get over how expensive it looks in person. Other necklaces like this can run anywhere from $350-$3,000 so this “look for less” style is much more budget-friendly.  It’s obviously quite stunning on all on its own, but I love the idea of layering it with some other dainty chains (like this) for added interest.  It’s just a fun way to add a little sparkle without feeling too fussy or serious.  More sparkly accessories worth checking out: these glimmering hoops, this rhinestone belt (so gorgeous over a simple LBD), this bejeweled headband and these pretty stacking rings.

MAKING
I always do more baking more this time of year, so I’ve been testing out some new recipes in anticipation of the holidays.  Of all the things I’ve made in the last couple months, these bars have been the biggest hit with both family & friends.  I like that you don’t even have to turn the oven on to make them, however, there is a little finesse to getting the crackers lined up perfectly and the pouring the layers evenly.  But, trust me, they are worth the effort!  If you have to eat gluten-free like me, I recommend using these instead of Club crackers.  If you’re looking to try some new recipes this season, I also highly recommend these cranberry white chocolate bars, these toffee bars and these peanut butter chocolate bars (they taste just like a Girl Scout Tagalong cookie!).

BUYING
As soon as these cashmere socks arrived in the mail, I slipped them on and them immediately ran to my computer to order more pairs.  They come in 4 different colors, are so unbelievably soft & they’re currently 50% off – I’m giving some away as Christmas gifts & keeping some for myself! More cashmere pieces under $60: this v-neck sweater, these slippers, this turtleneck, these gloves & this classic crewneck.

WEARING
I can’t remember where I originally saw it, but I came across a video of someone doing a hair tutorial using this french pin and I couldn’t wait to try it for myself.  I’m now completely hooked & have found this to be the easiest way to get my hair to stay up on a bun all day long (I even prefer it over the spin pins I was previously using).  These come in a set of two – I only use one at a time, but if you have longer, thicker hair, you might need both to hold it all up.  They also come in a pretty rose gold or a cool matte black + it’s only $10!  Clearly, I’m on a hair accessory kick lately, because I also bought this genius tool that keeps your ponytail looking perky & voluminous and a couple of jumbo scrunchies (here & here), which I promise look so chic when wrapped around a low pony or low chignon.

USING
My brother & sister-in-law got me this heated blanket for my birthday last month and I honestly don’t know how I ever lived without it.  It’s plush fabric on one side and sherpa on the other so it’s very soft & cozy + there’s 3 different heat settings so you can adjust it as needed.  I keep it plugged in next to my desk chair so I pretty much always have it on my lap while I’m sitting & working.  It would make such a great holiday gift, if you can bear to part ways with it!  If you’re not a fan of electric blankets, this faux fur throw is one I recently bought for our bedroom – it looks & feels so luxurious + I like that it’s bigger than most blankets so it covers the whole bed (perfect for sharing!).