In January I finished reading all the books on my Winter TBR (plus an additional one) so it’s about time to give a review for the books I read. The reviews below do not contain spoilers.

Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell

As a teenager, Vogue was the primary source for satisfying my craving for fashion. Despite Anna’s lengthy career, I will always associate her with Vogue and therefore have some sort of appreciation for her despite knowing she is not a great person. I really appreciate that the author basically served Anna up on a platter and let the reader decide what they think of her. In a world that seems to really tiptoe around Anna Wintour, I loved that the author did not do that. I went into this book thinking I know a lot about Anna Wintour but I still learned new things. If you love Vogue, journalism, fashion, or personal style then I would recommend reading this biography.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Classics are considered classics for a reason, so I feel like it’s a bit inappropriate for me to review them. That being said, A Christmas Carol is one of those books I have a stronger appreciation for as an adult and I always enjoy rereading it during the holiday season.

The Nutcracker and The Mouse King by ETA Hoffmann

The Nutcracker and The Mouse King is also included in this Barnes and Noble edition. Unlike A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker is something that as I have grown older, it kind of has lost it’s magic. As much as I love the book still, I have always loved the ballet a little more.

Blame It On The Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

I very rarely pick up books that I have not heard reviews or recommendations of, so I believe at some point I heard someone give this book a positive review…and I resent that person. Sometimes I really enjoy a lighthearted YA but this felt VERY YA. The characters were cringey and it was painful to read.

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles

I see this book as being divided in two parts- the first third of the book felt slower pace and more thought provoking. The later two thirds of the book felt more plot driven and picked up pace. If you pick this book up and you are having a hard time getting into it, I urge you to try to make it to the later two thirds of the book. The things I loved most about this book is the relationships portrayed. It’s not uncommon to see women finding motherhood in becoming mother figures to children that are not theirs but it’s uncommon to see men stumble upon fatherhood. We get to see a character in this book become a father to a child that is not his, and it because such a beautiful and heartwarming relationship that I love to see unfold. I also feel that we don’t often see strong male friendships as we see strong female friendships. In this book not only do we see endearing and strong male friendships but they develop midlife and last through their older years. If you love historical fiction then this is a must read.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

I want to make an effort to read more classics, so when I finished my Winter TBR in early January, I picked up Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea to read next. Since it is a classic, I again don’t really feel comfortable reviewing it but I will say I love an adventure tale and Ned Land gives boomer energy.

I love Chanel and own a few pieces but the reality is Chanel ready to wear is out of my price range for clothing items. I’m also simple not willing to spend a ton of money on a single item of clothing. While I am adamantly against buying knockoffs, I love clothing and accessories inspired buy luxury designer brands. When I think of Chanel I think of great textured clothing like tweed, camellias, and pearls. Below are some pieces that feel very Chanel.

Black Tweed Dress Chanel has featured various black tweed dresses on the runway over the years.

Two Tone Shoes Chanel ballet flats are iconic, especially the two tone ones. I love the sligback style of these and the baby heel to give a little height.

Textured Ivory Cardigan In my opinion, Chanel does texture better than any other brand. This cardigan embodies that style. I’m a stickler for buttons…I find tons of great Chanel inspired cardigans that look beautiful but are ruined with cheap looking buttons. This cardigan has the best of both.

Pearl Necklace In most of the photos of Coco Chanel, she is wearing a pearl necklace. Pearl necklaces are something the brand always carries. This is a really timeless piece.

Floral Applique Sweater Camelias are synonymous with Chanel because it was Coco Chanel’s favorite flower that inspired designs and is always used on the packaging. In recent years the band has really leaned into using Camelias. While the flowers on the sweater are not camelias they do look similar.

Pearl Jeans Pearls are often used by the brand and I think these pearl jeans look very high end. From a distance the pearls might look like polka dots which is also fitting because Chanel featured quite a few polka dot pieces last year.

Black and White Tweed Jacket High contrast black and white clothes is something Chanel frequently does. I love the metallic threading in this jacket.

S’mores are one of the most underrated desserts. They are so simple and delicious but they are something you really need an open flame for and it almost feels wrong to make them unless your outdoors. Since I am not an outdoorsy person, I developed this cookie recipe to get my s’mores fix without leaving my home.

Makes approximately 32 Cookies

Ingredients 

2 cups all purpose flour 

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar free instant vanilla pudding mix (or regular instant vanilla pudding mix)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar 

2 eggs

1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup marshmallow bits (I haven’t seen these in stores, so I do order it)

Hershey’s milk chocolate bars for topping (about 32 squares) 

Mini marshmallows for topping 

Smoked salt for topping 

Instructions 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Melt the butter in a small pot and stir regularly until the fat solids begin to separate and toast (it will start to smell nutty and caramel like). Once the fat solids begin to toast, immediately remove from the heat and continue to stir so it doesn’t burn. Let cool to room temperature and resolidify. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the pot into a bowl filled with ice. 

In a bowl mix together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking powder, and salt. 

In a stand mixer cream together the brown butter and both types of sugar. Once the mixture becomes lighter in color, add the vanilla extract and eggs one at a time. 

Working in batches, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Once fully incorporated add the chocolate chips and marshmallow bits. The marshmallow bits can crumble so don’t over mix them.  

Use a cookie scoop to form the cookies and place on a baking sheet. Top the cookies with mini marshmallows and bake for 9 to 10 minutes. It helps to create a divot in the top of each cookie to place the mini marshmallows in, so they don’t roll off the cookie when baking.

Once the cookies are finished baking, place them on a wire baking rack to cool and top with smoky sea salt and Hershey’s chocolate immediately.

This recipe calls for a coupe of ingredients that you might be tempted to swap out (like the marshmallow bits and smoked sea salt) but I strongly encourage you to make it according to the recipe. I opted for mini marshmallows on top, and marshmallow bits in the cookie, because the mini marshmallows melt when baking which cause the cookie to not maintain it’s structure if you put them in the dough. I wanted marshmallow in the actually cookie so I put marshmallow bits in the dough. Adding the mini marshmallows on top still gives the cookie that gooey marshmallow texture. The smoked sea salt gives the cookie the quintessential s’mores flavor. This is not your typical chocolate chip cookie and I promise it is worth going the extra mile for them.

Skirt Sweater Earrings Shoes

Jeans Sweater Earrings Shoes

Dress Necklace Shoes

I really only decorate our home for Halloween and Christmas, but every year I am tempted to decorate for Valentine’s Day. I think if we were going to be home on Valentine’s Day, I would cave in this year. I just love all the hearts, reds, and pinks. Below are my favorite Valentine’s Day decor for this year.

Candle Sticks I love switching out household items I already have in my home for holiday themed versions, like these candle sticks. If you feel like your home gets cluttered with holiday decor this is a great way to incorporate it without the cluttered feeling.

Wreath I love this wreath because it doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day. It’s something you can use throughout the spring.

Bow Garland When I was looking for Valentine’s Day decor, I noticed an influx of bows these year and I love it!

Heart Mugs I cannot get over how precious these mugs are. I love a holiday themed mug.

Diptyque Candle Like I mentioned with the candle sticks, switching out an everyday item for a holiday themed item is a great strategy for decorating. I love this candle because it’s an extremely subtle way to incorporate some pink into your home.

Table Runner This table runner is adorable. I love that it’s mostly a neutral color so it will be easy to incorporate into most homes.

Earlier this week I shared a Valentine’s Day Guide For Women so here is a gift guide for men as well. Like the women’s gift guide, the items below range in price so there is something for every budget.

Chocolate Cigars Something sweet is always a great low key Valentine’s Day Gift. I think something homemade would be particularly nice, but if you are not much of a baker or don’t have time, these chocolate cigars are a great option.

Watch A nice watch is always a great gift idea for men. I love the green face of this one. This is the perfect gift if you are looking to give a more premium gift.

Soap Set Like I mentioned in my women’s gift guide, a more luxurious version of something they already have or use on a daily basis is always a thoughtful gift.

Blanket It feels like no matter how many blankets we have in our house, there’s always space for more. I love giving a cozy and comforting gift, especially in the Winter.

Card Case Card cases have become increasingly popular amongst men. I got one for my husband last year and it’s one of his most used and favorite gifts.

Lounge Pants My husband has had Ralph Lauren pajama pants for years and they have held up impeccably well.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you exchange gifts, now is the time to start thinking about what you are gifting. Below is a gift guide for all the women in your life. These gifts could be great for a romantic partner, a Galentine, a daughter, or even yourself.

Silk Travel Set I’m all for doing whatever you need to do to make a long flight more comfortable. I have a silk travel set from this brand that I love. This makes for a great gift because it’s an upgraded, more high end version, of something they might already have and likely wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Butterfly Chocolate Set This is the cutest set of chocolates I have ever seen. A Set of chocolates is a bit of a predictable Valentine’s Day gift, but the butterfly shape makes it a little special.

Pink Ring This is one of my most worn pieces of jewelry. This isn’t fine jewelry but still a great quality and beautiful piece.

Body Oil I am a body care junky so I love to give and receive stuff like this. Any self care pampering gifts are always a good idea.

Pajama Top and Bottom Premium pajamas are always a thoughtful gift. I love the pink stripes on this set.

Sheet Mask Set I love to use sheet masks in the Winter. A high end sheet mask set is such a generous gift to give.

Sheet Mask Set This sheet mask sett is a more affordable option and it has a variety of sheet masks in it.

I’m very fortunate to be able to afford to invest more in clothes that I really love, that will last decades to come, but I also understand that is not always realistic. When I was a college student and in my early 20s I was on a pretty tight budget and that was what inspired this series of outfits under $100. I’ve been sharing outfit ideas under $100 for years now, but it has become increasingly difficult to do so. I’m still a believer that you can look great on any budget, but in the future I will be changing it to outfit under $150. It’s sadly the end of an era.

Dress

Shoes

Ever since getting diagnosed with LADA Type 1 Diabetes, I have been on the hunt for a tote I could use as a personal item that would optimize the allowance for a personal item when flying. I bought the Beis East to West tote and I have used it on two trips so far, and I love it.

When it comes to luggage I want certain features but I don’t want it to have more features than I want. When luggage has too many compartments that I personally would not utilize, it can actually make it more difficult to pack and stay organized.

The bag is made of a durable material that is easy to clean. It measures at 17.13″ W x 14.17″ H x 9.06″ D. TSA doesn’t have restrictions for personal items as it has more to do with the specific airline. Generally as long as your personal item can fit under the seat in front of you, it’s not going to cause a problem. Both of the trips I used this bag for I flew in basic economy on United Airlines and did not have a problem fitting it under the seat in front of me.

There is a pocket in the front exterior of the bag that is the perfect size for a small wallet, passport, and phone. It’s nice to have easy access to those items when I’m in the airport and going through TSA.

On the inside of the bag there is a zip closure pocket that is perfect to stick some snacks into. The bag has two water bottle pockets. As someone that always travels with my Larq water bottle I love to have a pocket for it so it’s not rolling around in the bottom of my bag and it’s easy to get out. There is also a padded pocket inside the bag that would be perfect for any size laptop or tablet. I personally don’t travel with a laptop or tablet but I have been using that pocket for in flight entertainment stuff, like a book, my airpods, and charging cables.

Once I have packed everything I mentioned above, I still have plenty of space in the bag to pack other items. The bag has three different straps so you can carry it however you want and it does contain a slot in the back so you can slide it over a roller bag handle.

As I’m in my post-holiday reset, I thought I’d share some of my favorite activewear. I feel my best and therefore perform better when working out if I have activewear that is comfortable and supportive. Below are some of my favorite activewear clothes.

Red Top and Red Leggings This set is my favorite affordable set. The price is fantastic and the material is so soft. I don’t recommend the sports bra if you are heavy chested and/or need a lot of support.

Black Leggings I typically workout in the afternoon but sometimes put on my workout clothes first thing in the morning. These are my go-to leggings when I do that because they don’t feel like your typical activewear leggings. They are my softest and most comfortable leggings.

Colorblock Sports Bra and Leggings This is my most sportive workout set. It’s great for intense workouts. This sports bra is really great for anyone that needs a lot of support.