Friday Day Dreams - February 22

February 22, 2019

This week's high: Mark started a new job! I’m so excited for him and really hope that it’s a good fit. He’ll be working from home, which he’s excited about and I know Louie will be pumped to have a buddy with him all day 😊

This week's low: All of the snow. While I love snow, let’s just say I’m counting down the days until we go to Florida next weekend!

What I'm reading: I just finished An Anonymous Girl. I got my mom Book of the Month for Christmas and got to pick a free book for myself so this was my pick. It’s a thriller about a woman who finds herself a subject in a psychology study where the professor who’s running the study has dark, ulterior motives. 

What I'm watching: Mark and I are trying to finish up our list of Oscars movies but for TV we’re currently watching True Detective season 3 and so far so good!

Best thing from the internet: This is a few weeks old at this point but I loved this video of a corgi riding a horse😂

Currently obsessed with: Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel. I’ve been having a lot of issues with acne lately so I’ve been seeing a dermatologist who has me using retinol to help with the breakouts so my skin is verrrrry parched. I’m talking can’t put makeup on without it peeling. I was doing some research on drugstore extra hydrating moisturizers and came across this one. I’m only about a week into using it but it’s been super helpful so far!

Weekend plans: Tonight is my company holiday party (better late than never, right?) and then watching the Oscars on Sunday! No other plans as of now. 

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

xo Catherine 

What I Wore to Work for a Month

February 19, 2019

I'm so excited to introduce today's post because I've been preparing it for over a month! I kept feeling guilty that I wasn't shooting outfits for the blog but in the winter I tend to feel less inspired and am rarely in the mood to stand outside in 20 degree weather for photos😇Enter the mirror selfie. I documented what I wore to work every day for four weeks in the hopes of inspiring myself to get a bit more creative with my outfits this month. Along the way I learned that I basically only ever wear my hair down, I love my cognac booties, and that I gravitate towards a lot of red, black and camel in the winter months.

 A few things to note: 
1. To be totally transparent, I did rewear a few things to show that I do rewear my clothes, but because I was taking photos every day I definitely repeated less than I would have normally. 
2. It was dark most mornings/nights when I was taking photos so please excuse the poor overhead lighting.
3. On the days I was wearing flats, don't fret, I wore boots into the office and swapped shoes inside😊
4. I work at a very casual advertising agency so you'll notice that my outfits are pretty laid back. 

Anywho, I hope you enjoy this little peak into my daily life!what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
Middle: Similar black top. J. Crew vest is sold out but I saw some listings for it on Poshmark. Madewell jeansSplendid booties
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
Middle: Similar cashmere sweater. Tuckernuck scarf is sold out but Etsy has some really cool options. Similar Rag and Bone jeansSplendid booties.
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
Right: Similar button down. I couldn't find any similar pants but it's this style from Old Navy. Similar flats
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month
Middle: Similar turtleneck. Tuckernuck scarf is sold out but Etsy has some really cool options. Madewell jeansSplendid booties.
what-i-wore-to-work-for-a-month

I really enjoyed putting this together so I hope you liked it too. January is kind of the worst because it was freezing and I was already sick of my winter clothes so this was a great way to force me to mix it up and not reach for the same four sweaters all the time. I plan to do another version of this in the spring or summer to inspire myself to get creative when there are less layering possibilities. I'm looking forward to it!

xo Catherine 

Recent Reads - Vol. 19

February 13, 2019

Happy Wednesday! I always love writing these posts because I could talk about books all day every day. I'm still getting caught up with sharing all of the books I read in the time I wasn't blogging so some of these are from several months ago. I'll get caught up eventually!

Born a Crime: We read this for my October book club and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't have picked this up myself since I don't really follow Trevor Noah but it's enjoyable even if you don't know much about him. Trevor writes very beautifully (and comically) about growing up in South Africa and being of mixed race during and after apartheid. I'm ashamed to say I really didn't know all that much about apartheid other than it ended not that long ago so this book was very informative for me. He has so many hilarious anecdotes and I just overall really enjoyed reading his life story. Would I recommend: definitely! Like I said, even if you wouldn't consider yourself a Trevor Noah fan this book is excellent and you'll learn a lot from his firsthand account.

Standard Deviation: This book follows Graham, Audra and their son David in New York as they encounter new neighbors, origami-club members and doormen. Sounds kind of odd, right? I promise it's interesting! Graham had divorced his first wife to marry Audra and then his first wife comes back into the pictures so he can't help comparing them and questioning how he loved two women who were so different. Honestly, this is a book where not a whole lot happens plot-wise, the best parts of the book are just the random scenarios and all of the great character development. Would I recommend: yes. I didn't love this book but I really really liked it.

The Proposal: I had read The Wedding Date so I was very excited for this semi-sequel to come out! The Proposal is about Carlos (who is briefly in The Wedding Date) and Nik who meet at a Dodger's game after a guy who Nik is casually dating proposes to her on the Jumbotron...and she says no. Carlos and his sister rescue Nik from camera crews and then Nik and Carlos end up hitting it off. This is Reese's current book club pick, so if you like her taste you'll enjoy this book! You definitely don't have to have read The Wedding Date first but this does reference it a little bit. Would I recommend: yes! This was such a cute read —like a rom-com in book form.

Becoming: Oh my gosh you guys. I was so so so excited to read this and it did not disappoint. We read it for December book club and everyone loved it. Michelle is an amazing writer and I learned so much about her from this book. It follows her from her childhood on Chicago's south side all the way into the White House. I was actually really surprised at how a-political the book was. She was obviously surrounded by politics but she and Barack tried not to talk about work so the book is much more personal than political. Would I recommend: 1000x yes! Such a good read, especially the story of her and Barack's romance😍

From the Corner of the Oval: I followed up one political memoir with another. This is written by Beck Dorey-Stein who was a stenographer for the White House during the Obama presidency. It was a really interesting look into what it's like to be a White House employee, i.e. all of the protocol, travel, etc. that is part of that lifestyle. The book reads like fiction even though it's her actual life because it's pretty juicy. I wouldn't say it's salacious, but she does write about everyone very candidly, including the affair she had on and off with another staffer. Would I recommend: yes, if you're into politics. I thought the author was kind of immature and wanted to tell her to stop making stupid choices a lot but it was a fascinating read.

One Day in December: I'm sure you've heard of this book since it was Reese's December book club pick but I'm going to tell you about it here too! This is another rom-com, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Laurie makes eye contact with Jack from the top of a double decker bus one night and she swears that there was a connection between them. She spends the next year looking for the mysterious "bus boy" and just when she's about to give up, her best friend brings home her new boyfriend who just happens to be...bus boy. The book follows Jack and Laurie's relationships, friendships and achievements over the next ten years as their lives overlap. Even though it starts around Christmas, I wouldn't call it a holiday book and it can be read at any time. Would I recommend: yes. It was very cute, slightly predictable, but that's just what I'm looking for when I read this genre. 

Have you read any of these books? Would love to know what you thought!
xo Catherine 

Friday Day Dreams - February 8

February 8, 2019

I completely spaced on last week's Friday Day Dreams because it was nuts at work and I honestly just lost track of time. It wasn't until Saturday that I realized it had slipped my mind, that's how much of a week it was. Oh well, lot's to fill you in on today then since it's been two weeks!

This week's high: Our Hewing Hotel staycation last weekend. Not sure if it counts as this week since it was last weekend, but this is my blog and I make the rules, so let's say it does! My in-laws gifted us a night at the Hewing in Minneapolis for Christmas and it was so delightful. We got massages, used their rooftop hot tub, ate some delicious pizza, slept soundly in our gorgeous room and had a delicious brunch. I'd highly recommend the Hewing both for a hotel but also their bar and restaurant are v. good. 

This week's low: Cooking. Mark and I both really dislike cooking but it's obviously a necessity. For some reason the disdain we feel for this task was worse than normal this week and so every night was a struggle. 

What I'm reading: Ghosted. I just started this book this week and am liking it so far! Everyone said it takes a while to get into, but I haven't found that to be the case yet. 

What I'm watching: The Good Place. I finished Schitt's Creek this week and needed another comedy to fill the void. I've tried watching The Good Place before and wasn't that into it but I'm giving it another shot!

Best thing from the internet: I wasn't familiar with Seth Meyers' This is the Kind of Story We Need Right Now segment but saw this video going around this week. It's about a guy who got invited to a random bachelor party and went to it even though he didn't know anyone. It was definitely what I needed to see this week😂

Currently obsessed with: My new cordless vacuum. Hear me out. I am not what you'd call a neat freak 😇 I like things to be put away but when it comes to actually vacuuming, sanitizing, etc., I'm not great. Enter this cordless vacuum that I'm so excited about. We were in desperate need of a new vacuum and I wanted one of the Dyson ones but wasn't willing to shell out $400. This one is a great dupe and had good reviews on Amazon. So far I really love it and that cordless life is so freeing!

Weekend plans: It's going to be a busy weekend. We're going out to a concert at a jazz club tonight and then tomorrow is my cousin's baby shower at my mom's house. After that my sister, mom and I plan to spend the day together, which I'm very excited about. Sunday will then be spent relaxing because three days of plans in a row would just be too much 😉

I hope you have an amazing weekend!
xo Catherine 

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