Happy Friday! In today’s Friday Four, I’m sharing four things that brought me joy this week and might do the same for you.
ONE: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I love celebrating my people, and one of our traditions is to have a special Valentine’s dinner.
When my kids were younger, I would make them an early dinner of spaghetti and meatballs or heart-shaped buttered noodles with strawberries cut into hearts and a fun dessert. After we put them to bed, my husband and I would stay up late cooking our own special meal.
Now, we have a big family dinner and try to make it special. This year, we’re cooking either paella or linguine with clams–two things our family loves–and I’ve got everything ready to set my Valentine’s table. The only thing new I bought were the jute chargers from Target, which I know I’ll reuse.
Most of the other pieces are from Amazon, including the gorgeous tablecloth. I have both pink and blue and use them all the time. The pink one may be low in stock, but THIS is a beautiful alternative. I’m not a fan of the fake arrangement here, but I adore this vase and will fill mine with hydrangeas and pink tulips (or whatever is in stock at Trader Joe’s next week!).
TABLECLOTH || CHARGERS || HEART PLATES || NAPKINS || VELVET RIBBON || CANDLE HOLDERS || TWISTED CANDLES || ACRYLIC VASE
For more Valentine’s inspiration, take a peek at yesterday’s post.
TWO: We had such a lovely time in Santa Barbara last week. The whole area is beyond charming, and my favorite parts were just walking around the property and surrounding beach at the Ritz Bacara and visiting San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito.
Here’s a peek at some of my outfits. The rest of the time, I was in a spa robe or workout gear.
SWEATER || FLORAL TOP (SIMILAR) || JEANS || SNEAKERS (SIMILAR) || PURSE
DRESS || SNEAKERS (SIMILAR) || PURSE
TOP || LEGGINGS || JACKET || SUNGLASSES || HAT
DRESS || SANDALS || HAT || PURSE
I’ve also linked everything in my LTK Shop.
THREE: I requested book recommendations for our trip and made a list in case you’re up for reading. You can add these to your “To Read” list in the iPhone Reminders App (see THIS POST for details).
Someone Else’s Shoes– Jojo Moyes (currently enjoying)
The Postcard– Anne Berest
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell– Robert Dugoni
The Book of Lost Friends– Lisa Wingate
The Paris Daughter– Kristin Harmel
Have you read any good books lately?
FOUR: I relaunched this space a month ago, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the kind reception. People are so thoughtful and have sent many sweet words of encouragement. It’s been interesting trying to juggle this new commitment with everything else on my plate, but I feel good about the decision.
Because I’m a data nerd, I reviewed the data to see which products you loved the most in January.
Here are your picks in reverse order:
FIVE: I bought this Amazon trench coat for our Italy trip last spring and was surprised at the style and quality for only $54. It is waterproof with a detachable hood and comes in several colors. I love the classic khaki.
FOUR: It’s no surprise that the tulip wreath made the cut, and you loved this tri-color version.
THREE: This dress is beautiful and will never go out of style. I have it in this beautiful blue and kelly green, and the red one made an appearance in yesterday’s Valentine’s Day post.
TWO: These earrings are modeled after Princess Diana’s engagement ring and are so lovely.
ONE: I wear this Sherpa jacket several times a week. It is cozy and cute and comes in three colors. I like it best without the hood.
Thanks for stopping by! Tell me—what brought you joy this week?
