top buys of 2021: fashion/beauty

Up next in my favorite purchases/gifts of the year are some fashion/beauty selections. A large chunk of the year was spent in maternity wear, or things that could stretch to be maternity-friendly (how weird is it that this guy was inside me just 4 months ago?!), so it was a bit of a weird year for personal style. Thus, a random assortment of things: 

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I am a big lover of coats and jackets, so I bet one would appear on my favorites every year... this year's is the J.Crew cocoon puffer. It won't be as good as my parka in the dead of winter, but until then, I love how stylish it feels with the pattern of the quilting and the gold snaps, and how it feels a bit more fresh than the usual black puffer with the navy. I recommend this one, and it goes on sale frequently!

Had been looking for the perfect white button down for ages - and I really don't think it exists, since sometimes you want a flowier one on its own, sometimes you want one that's a bit more fitted for layering, etc. But I did find a really great one in the Madewell side-button ex-boyfriend version (this and this are similar). I like the oversized style with skinny jeans or leggings or even biker shorts, and it worked with a baby bump too!

Also had been looking for an upgrade on my robe, and definitely found one in this Barefoot Dreams CozyChic robe. Not cheap, but worth it for how truly cozy and soft it is, without being bulky or overwhelming. (Here's a similar, lest investment-y version that I also considered.)

Speaking of upgrade... for our 15th anniversary in February, the one for which there was definitely no Hawaii vacation because of quarentimes, Peter asked me whether I might like a new special jewelry piece? Turns out, yes, indeed I really did, once I found this infinity ring on Blue Nile. I wear it on its own now as my wedding/anniversary band and I love it so much. Perfect amount of sparkle without being loud, and some personality in the design too.

In footwear: The white foam Birkinstocks were my go-to footwear of the summer. So easy and fun - contemplating another color for next summer! And our household acquired a lot of Bombas, from dad+baby sets (so cute!) to kids to cycling to daily-wear calf to no-show options. Very pleased with the comfort and quality (and the buy one/donate one policy) for daily life and for exercise. The grippy versions are great too, as are the undies.

As for "beauty": I'm not that much of a makeup/products expert, so I take my cues from the influencer bloggers out there... Grace mentioned this Saie highlighter, and it's a great product that has lasted me a long time. It gives a nice all-over glow (could even skip any type of foundation in the summer), or can target cheekbones/brows for specific highlighting. And I know the Olive + June products are all over the blogs and Instagram. I finally tried them out for the first time at the end of 2020 with the advent calendar, and I liked it all enough to buy some full-sized versions in 2021: especially love the polish remover pots, the dry drops, the ES shade of red, and the fig ranch shade of pink.

Whew, that was a longer recap than planned, but I just really like all this stuff! Did you have any great wardrobe or beauty routine additions in 2021 that I should know about?

top buys of 2021: home goods

When I was working on my best books of 2021 post for last week, I started thinking about what I might list as my best buys of the year - besides lots of good books, that is. And I thought of so many things bringing joy and/or utility to my life that I ended up having to break it down into several categories! Thought it would be fun to share these favorite things that I purchased or were kindly gifted to me by loved ones in 2021 as we head toward that inevitable post-holiday winter 2022 slump coming in a few weeks - especially as there are some great indoor comforts in this first category of home goods.

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I realize I had several rather big-ticket items this year (guess that's what can happen when you spend approximately zero $ of your travel budget 2 years in a row) that are now part of my everyday life and are much appreciated... big shoutout to my new vehicle and its extra space for baby + heated seats and steering wheel (!!), but also I have loved having a treadmill and also the ipad mini Peter got me for my birthday (plus this great case) that I use a ton with the treadmill and Peloton app for walks/runs, or for crossword puzzling like an old lady (also shoutout to the NYT Crossword app that I finally subscribed to this year - so worth it!). I already subscribed to the Peloton app since getting my bike in 2020, but that is also one of the most well-worth-it things I pay for monthly, and having the treadmill now plus bike and some free weights means I can have everything (except childcare, womp womp) that my gym used to offer for me...

Semi-big ticket but also so worth it have been the flameless candles from Pottery Barn. I got a whole set + candle stand to put in the fireplace, and they provide such a lovely glow all winter long thanks to their automatic timer. 

Less big ticket is the knock-off Theragun massager that we decided to try rather than investing in the real version. Guess I can't exactly compare, but we have both liked this for easing sore muscles or tight spots.

The hydroflask was a gift from my sister, and I use it like crazy. I had already been drinking 80+ oz of water a day, but it really is even better with this bottle, and now that I'm nursing, it helps me to get even more in, with easy access. Another nursing aid is this super cozy plush blanket. I already had one in another color, so when I needed something for chilly nights in Freddie's room I knew that this was the one to get - the best!

And finally, the world of non-alcoholic beers was something I started to explore while pregnant, and we have liked the selections from Athletic Brewing so much that it's still mostly what we drink around here now, especially the All Out (dark) and Free Wave (hazy IPA) varieties. All the enjoyment, none of the ill-effects.

So that's some favorite purchases from around the house - would love to hear what new things you've found really useful or just fun in the last year!

top reads of 2021

Reading 100+ books per year, I find it pretty hard to narrow down to a "best of" list, so I typically try to break it down into categories and pick my 2 top ones in each. And every year I seem to find that I need to break down my categories even further, so that I can squeeze in some more mentions of books I loved. So this is a pretty long list, but for the record, here is my (somewhat stingy/arbitrary, I know!) list of 5-star books for the year (but I've got plenty of 4.5-ers below): 84 Charing Cross Road, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, Nobody Will Tell You This but Me, The Poet X, and Mother May I.

Though we're obviously not quite to the end of the year, I thought I'd go ahead and post my list now as I'm not sure these will be topped in the next week or so - and also because if you've got some time off over the holidays, or maybe even receive some bookstore giftcard presents (wooo!), you can't go wrong with picking up one of these great reads. (You can also check out my top picks for the last couple of years too, because there are some good ones there that I still find myself recommending over and over! 2020 / 2019.) 

And do tell if you've read/enjoyed any of these, and/or hit me with your best books of the year so I can start thinking about my 2022 reading priorities!

Literary fiction

What Comes After: great combination of character-driven, following two parents in their grief and a young woman in her loneliness, and plot-driven, as we unravel what led to a murder-suicide of a teen and his friend. Sounds dark, and there are certainly some very heavy moments, but ultimately connection and hope and forgiveness too (full review).

A Children's Bible: this story has lots going on, with an apocalyptic/climate change storyline, but also read to me as coming-of-age, allegory, and a bit of satire as well. A bit of a weird one, but very interesting and well-written, and I still can't stop thinking about it (full review).

Contemporary fiction

Early Morning Riser: quirky cast of characters and overall big-hearted tone with the unconventional/found-family aspect, as we basically just follow their small-town lives and relationships over the course of several years, but not too light/fluffy/zany. Plus I loved the small-town Michigan setting!

Under the Rainbow: reads as a series of connected short stories about LGBTQ activist group coming to work in the town voted most homophobic in America. Comes together really nicely, got me thinking about multiple perspectives, and brought a hopeful tone to this real-world area of acrimony in the US (full review).

Historical fiction

The Song of Achilles: retells the story of Achilles through the perspective of his friend (lover) Patrocles. Both a coming-of-age and love story, super well done and engrossing (full review).

Outlawed: a bit of an alternate reality history in a Wild West of a US that is dominated by religion that prizes female fertility - so this is the story of the outlaws who don't fit that mold because they are barren, gender nonconforming, etc. So much food for thought combined with a gender-bending Western complete with nail-biting shoot-out scenes (full review).

Romance/rom-com

The Soulmate Equation: well-developed characters who are facing some struggles but have great banter/some comedic moments, and a great twist on tropes I love - enemies to lovers, with a dash of fake dating, but the backdrop of the story is a new dating app that matches people based on genetic markers, to predict their compatibility (full review).

Very Sincerely Yours: a light and very tame romance for those who want a sweet story without too much hot'n'heavy action, with a woman trying to find her purpose in life having a meet-cute with Everett St. James, a very cute Mr. Rogers-like figure, who maybe needs her help letting go a little of his single-minded focus on his children's tv show. Very cute, great banter.

Mystery/thriller

Mother May I: family drama with twists and turns that are so satisfying - but also makes you really think about motherhood, what past mistakes might be forgivable in a relationship (bit of a #MeToo edge), and what parents are willing to do for their children. A read-in-one-day book for me (full review).

The Survivors: Jane Harper does it again with a slow-burn, atmospheric, family-drama mystery that is enhanced by another Australian setting, this time a small, windswept coastal town where past tragedy is resurfacing in light of a new one (full review).

Nonfiction

 Nobody Will Tell You This but Me: Bess Kalb's memoir of her relationship with her grandmother who has recently passed away - told from her grandmother's witty, zingy perspective. Will make you laugh and cry and take away some great life lessons from this impressive and feisty lady. (full review)

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street: must read Helene Hanff's memoir-in-letters first; this follow-up is the journal of the trip she finally gets to take to the bookshop in London she has been corresponding with for years. It is a *delight* and some pretty great armchair travel too (full review).

Backlist

Girl, Woman, Other: through interconnected (short) stories of individual women we get a picture of the range of British Black female (or non-binary) experience and opportunities (or lack of), from country of origin/first or second generation immigrant experience, social class, sexual orientation, to political persuasion and more. Poetic writing in the best of ways, and powerful stories (full review).

The Poet X: I have enjoyed all of Elizazbeth Acevedo's recent books so finally went back to her first, a YA novel-in-verse about a Latina girl who is just "too" everything and is trying to find her voice and space in the world, and I think it is her best work of all! Very powerful and gorgeously written (full review).

YA

Firekeeper's Daughter: has standard YA feels with the friendship/romantic interest/starting college aspects, but also it's a mystery, a sports book (lots of hockey), an exploration of a Native American culture (which also gives it a very strong sense of place), and even an exploration of what opioid/meth epidemics are doing to communities. Really enjoyed what all this combination meant for the character development and the plot (full review).

Tokyo Ever After: when you just want a Princess Diaries/American Royals/Crazy Rich Asians-lite escape... so satisfying on all these counts, I couldn't put it down. (full review).

Middle grade 

El Deafo: a graphic novel that Peter, Hendrik, and I all enjoyed equally. Tells the story of the author's experiences with major hearing loss early in life, and how she turned this difficulty into her "superpower." Illustrations are delightful!

Winterhouse: a bookish, wordplay-loving girl is sent alone by her mean aunt & uncle to the Winterhouse Hotel for Christmas break - which turns out to be a delightful place with new friends, but also with a strange family mystery and maybe some magic too... A great holiday break read. Fun, bookish, found family vibes - and part of a series, so I'm excited to get to spend more time at this hotel that I wish were a real-life place!

Shop them all here, plus a few bonus picks:

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wearing lately: re-booted

It's been a few years since I had a more "dressy" type of ankle boot - finding that they just weren't that great for winter because they didn't keep my feet warm enough, were too slippery out on the sidewalk or in slushy parking lots, and weren't all that comfy anyway. Luckily my Sorel flat and wedge selections covered all of that plus being waterproof, and they could mostly dress up as much as I wanted/needed them to. But then I noticed that this year Madewell has re-booted (pun intended?) their leather heeled ankle boot that I loved for the looks but got rid of because of the above...

This time around they've got a lug sole, which helps with grip and also with warmth, keeping the cold from the pavement from seeping in a bit. And their insoles are way more comfortable now too. 

I'm feeling quite pleased with having boots in this style back in my closet for how they make me feel a bit more polished than the excellent but undeniably sportier Sorels. It's just jeans and a sweater (in the henley style that is 100% my thing right now whether in t-shirt or sweater form thanks to this season of nursing), but with these boots it's an outfit, right? Not entirely sure why I am looking for this when it's still quarentimes here and I don't really need to dress up... but I like this updated boots situation anyway.

wearing lately: a bit like Christmas

Now that it's starting to look a bit like Christmas around the house, my wardrobe is starting to lean the same way... just like the decor, keeping it simple this year (even though I usually love putting together a little holiday capsule like this or this - it's not like I'm going to holiday parties at the moment, or really anywhere for that matter) but trying to capture a little of that feeling of having some special outfit touches to make things feel festive.

A plaid flannel shirt like this doesn't necessarily scream *Christmas* which is nice because it can be used all fall and winter long - but the coziness still feels very seasonal, and even a bit festive when paired with some red. I like textures for seasonal wear just as much as colors, I think.

Plus: party-ready hair! When it's a new haircut day, the 'do really must be shown off, so I had to snap a few quick photos (since, again, all done up with nowhere to go). Got the whole holiday package here. Oh, and speaking of hair: the easiest way to turn any outfit into a holiday-ready outfit is a plaid headband! Try something like this or this for instant festivity and cheer.

holiday home tour 2021

I love getting the house festive for the season, and it's always fun to share that holiday spirit here - particularly this year and last when we really didn't have people coming over (here we are with another Covid Christmas...ugh) - but this year's will be a bit brief because I kept it pretty simple. No new decor except for the front door wreath, and I didn't even put out a bunch of the garlands and other things in my bins... I could have managed despite having hands busy with a baby, but it's the putting it all away in January that I just know I'm not going to be excited about. So simple it is, but the smiling faces of my 2 festively dressed boys jazz things up even more!

Thanks for visiting my holiday home... hope yours is feeling merry and cozy and all the festive things too.

five things Friday: December TBR edition

Already to the last month of the year, and time to pick out what final books I want to fit into 2021! Also to start thinking about those best-of-the-year lists... decisions, decisions. At least for December, here's what's potentially on the agenda:

First up, want to pick up Harlem Shuffle to finish off my 12 BOTM books for the year, and am looking forward to finishing off my final RAD Reading Challenge category by picking up Kate Baer's new collection, I Hope This Finds You Well. Definitely sounds like it will be as great as What Kind of Woman. And I've been wanting to preview a few middle-grade books for Hendrik so that he can have some good selections to keep him busy over the upcoming break from school; Winterhouse is about a magical hotel full of secrets, most specifically its huge library containing a book full of puzzles that need to be solved - which is right up both of our alleys. 

I'm not usually one to buy/read cookbooks, but I got this NYT No-Recipe Recipes book on a great Kindle deal, and I want to actually take some time to sit down and read through the intro and heavily browse the recipes to bookmark some for future use. Wanting to simplify cooking, with our busy schedules, but also still have some interesting meals in the repertoire since I'm getting bored of some of the usuals, and this book definitely looks like it'll provide all of that. I just have to get myself to actually utilize the book, so planning some time to sit down and look at it ought to help...

And since it's the holiday season, thought it might be fun to add in a little seasonal reading if I have the chance. I always enjoy Christina Lauren books, so In a Holidaze would be a fun one to breeze through, I think. 

For my November reading list, I had shared some books I was most looking forward to on my library Kindle holds list. Three of them arrived to me by now:

• The Paper Palace: set at a family's summer cabin in the woods near Cape Cod, the present timeline follows one day in the aftermath of an infidelity: Elle has had sex with her oldest friend Jonas, even as their spouses and kids were around. And to uncover what led to this, we get interspersed stories from Elle's childhood and strained family dynamics, the summer she met Jonas, the secrets they've kept throughout the years. It reminded me a bit of Ann Patchett's Commonwealth in how it tells the story of a family from the instigating point of by an infidelity that changes everything - actually this is the case in both the present and past timelines for this story. It's a character-driven book, but the type that is propulsive because of the secrets the characters have kept, and has relationships/family dynamics that feel real and relatable (especially the matriarchal one), even if some of the happenings are not comparable to my family (there's rather an ick factor a couple of times with sexual predators, FYI). But exploring the family history through a particular place - their historied summer home in the woods - really made me think about my family and the cottage that has been our summer gathering place for generations. Felt maybe slightly long to me at times, in trying to get the backstory pieced together, but overall was impressed with the character dynamics - even if I didn't love Elle's choices - and really liked the dialogue and some of the themes it explores. ★★★.5
• State of Terror: I have mixed feelings about this one. I don't read many political thrillers, but I got the feeling that this really hews to the genre, which means a certain tone/pacing of writing that maybe can feel a little formulaic. But if you like the genre, you'll like it. Knowing it was written by Louise Penny of the Inspector Gamache fame and Hillary Clinton, who are good friends in real life, was the big impetus for picking it up, and it was very interesting with that perspective, given that the main character is a female Secretary of State working for her rival political opponent - and that when you get a large chunk of the way through the book, all of a sudden you get a whole bunch of Three Pines easter eggs. Interesting to see what real-life experiences of Secretary Clinton's were drawn on for the book, but the way the previous administration in the story was so obviously modeled on the Trump administration sometimes felt a bit on-the-nose.(Also: appreciated that there isn't any intense torture type stuff, a big reason I don't usually read this genre.) ★★★.5
• The Guncle: wasn't 100% sure this one would be for me, as I've read a previous one by this author and found the tone was a little too flippant for me. Had heard a lot of good review though, about this story of a family tragedy that brings together a gay uncle (guncle) and his grieving young niece and nephew, so I gave it a whirl, and while I can see why some people love it and adore the relationship of the guncle/kids and the overall feel-good story with the snarky-ish sort of curmudgeonly feel (almost some Man Called Ove vibes in that way), it just didn't feel as endearing to me because again the tone of that type of book is just not quite for me. Feels almost farcical or forced at times? I don't know. But if you like the curmudgeon loner is changed for the better type book, you'll like this one, I bet. ★★★

Still really looking forward to Where the Truth Lies (literary mystery) and The Charm Offensive (rom-com), because these are 2 genres that I just crave right now, and I've heard these are good picks in those categories!

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currently

 

decorating: the mantel with an additional stocking this year! (Hanging with these lovely wood + metal stocking holders.) Hendrik and I are both excited about Freddie's first Christmas, but Hendrik did say that he thought Freddie had better have the mini stocking - which Hendrik had for years and just last year got the full-sized one like us. Baby brother's got to put in his dues on that, ha!

feeling: Christmas cheer thanks to Hendrik's excitement, the lovely glow of the tree, our fun book-a-day advent calendar, and the start of holiday baking. But also disappointment and sadness that we have to think so hard about what will be safe for gathering again this year, probably again doing more staying home than we would otherwise. Grateful that Hendrik will be fully vaccinated by Christmas, but of course Freddie can't be. And with the grim reality that hospitals in our area are completely full... we really all need to think carefully about how to keep everyone healthy, even if vaccinated.

sending: Christmas cards already in the 1st week of December because I was very on top of ordering them thanks to a great photo from a family shoot my mom organized for my grandma's birthday in the fall, and also finding Paper Culture's gorgeous selections + a 50% off sale in early November. 

smelling: some holiday baking. We'll make our traditional Christmas cookies of course, and Hendrik and I have plans to use this mold my grandma gave us last year to bake a little spice cake gingerbread village again, but new to the lineup for 2021 is this excellent chocolate chip cake from Inspired by Charm. I actually made it for Thanksgiving, but it would be delish for a little something different for any holiday season gathering or even brunch - a bit of a coffee cake texture, and the cinnamon + chocolate combo feels right for the holidays to me. It's so good.

wrapping: lots of books! My gift-giving formula for most people this year is a book + something cozy (socks or a candle), and I bought early, so I'm wrapping early too. Just love how the tree looks even more when there are piles of presents underneath... And of course, as usual, I love to have a new theme for my gift wrap for the year, and I just love the colors of this collection from Target.

What are you up to in this festive + end of year season? I hope you are enjoying time to celebrate and be with family.

I mentioned last month that I wasn't sure about continuing the linkup in the new year, but let's try for a January gathering here... I have time to write my own posts but not really time to stop by others and comment, which is a bit sad to me, taking away from the spirit of the whole thing - hoping it's just a short season of that, while Freddie is tiny, and that you all are enjoying the community and getting to know one another. I'll jump back into full participation when I can, but for now, I'll provide some prompts and a link-up widget for whoever wants to take part!

So. Wednesday, January 5, we'll do: anticipating, organizing, reading, resolving, and scheduling.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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