My Monthly Edit

PLANNING
We only have 3 months left until our big move and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit panicked about all that we have to do in preparation.  Every other time we’ve moved out of state, it’s been for a job change, so a company was paying for packers, movers, etc.  But this time we are doing it all ourselves and it’s daunting to say the least.  One of my mom’s famous quotes that keeps coming to mind: “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch; yard by yard, life is hard.”  So, we’re starting now by setting aside some time each week to photograph & post furniture items we want to sell, pack up non-essentials into boxes and purge as much as possible.  Last weekend, we all went down to the basement, cranked the music and worked for a couple hours – this inevitably ended in a family dance party, so it didn’t feel too arduous.  If you’ve done an out-of-state move on your own, I’d love to hear any suggestions you have for making make the process as smooth as possible – we need all the help we can get!

CRAVING
Crochet is one of spring’s hottest trends that I fully plan on embracing once the weather warms up.  Retailers have just started to roll these styles out, but expect to see many more options as the season continues in the form of bags, dresses, swimwear, tops & even shoes!  I just ordered this puff sleeve sweater (cardigan option here & mockneck style here), but I also love this crochet lace blouse, this neutral sweater (in stripes here), this square-neck top & this swim cover-up (just ordered!).

USING
Unless I’m eating leftovers from the night before, I almost always have a big salad for lunch every day.  This is easy to do because I’m working from home most days.  But when we’re on a family road trip, camping or I’m running errands during lunchtime, it’s really difficult to find convenient food that fits within my dietary restrictions…so, bringing food with me in the car is usually the safest bet.  This portable salad bowl has been a game-changer for such occasions because it has separate compartments for all your toppings and a lidded container for dressing (plus a built-in reusable fork!).  You could use this for things other than salad too – keep pasta in the bottom with your meat & marinara sauce on top, put rice in the bottom with chicken, diced veggies & teriyaki sauce on top…the possibilities are endless!  Side note: these are the bowls I use for pretty much every at-home meal (breakfast, lunch & dinner) – who else prefers bowls over plates?

LOVING
On my last trip back to Oregon, I opened my suitcase to find that one of my favorite bracelets broke en route (I tried to have my Dad fix it but it was beyond repair).  I’ve been using the same soft jewelry roll for years, so this happening made me realize that I needed a hard-sided case to prevent my baubles from getting smashed in transit.  I browsed dozens of options & finally ordered this travel jewelry box – it’s the perfect size and there are multiple compartments for every piece you own.  After it arrived, I immediately ordered a second one for my girlfriend who travels all the time for work & she loved it as much as I did.  If you need something larger, this is a great option as well.

TESTING
I’ve gotten pretty serious about my skincare regimen lately and I’ve been testing so many products to try to correct some of my biggest concerns before investing in peels or laser treatments.  I’d previously been using a retinol eye cream, but I wanted to find something that would help with my dark circles too.  I’ve only been testing it for 3 weeks, but so far I’m very impressed with this brightening cream – it feels so lightweight, it absorbs quickly and I swear my undereye area looks brighter since I starting using it.  Other products I’ve purchased & fallen in love with include this luminous sunscreen (this will be my go-to all summer long), these eye patches (would buy in bulk if I could!) & this dark spot correcting serum (great for age spots & hyperpigmentation).

BUYING
There was a beaded Zara bag identical to this one that sold out last summer before I had the chance to buy it – so when I found this amazingly affordable dupe, I quickly added it to my cart.  It arrived last week and I could not get over the quality!  I love the neutral colors and retro-inspired beading + it’s the perfect size to carry your essentials.  I think it will be so chic with both casual outfits & spring dresses – it’s one of those “special” pieces that I know I’ll keep forever.  Other budget-friendly bags with a one-of-a-kind vintage feel: this raffia tote, this wooden crossbody, this embroidered jute clutch, this beaded tote & this bamboo handle bag.  I’ll be sharing more spring handbags in tomorrow’s post, so stay tuned!