the citizenry « Covet Living

I meant to do this post 2 weeks ago (whoops) – and considered just shelving it since we’re now *cough* 5 days away from Thanksgiving (how is that possible?), BUT there are so many goods on here to take you into next week and thru the Winter, if you wanna nab em. Behold, my favorite staples – for the home, for suppa, and for you!

1. Black Elk Peak Candle from Ethics Supply Co, $38: this is the most delightful thing I have in my house right now. SO GOOD for Fall! Ethics Supply Co is running 15% off right now if you sign up for their newsletter.

2. B(air) Denim Ankle Skinny Jeans from 7 for All Mankind, $99: On sale from $199, or they have a 30% off with code VIP30 on these Best Sellers and of those, these with velvet stripes are killer… plus free shipping & returns. I have these in a classic fade and also in black and I live in them. These jeans have just enough shape to hold all the things in and just enough stretch to be forgiving if you wanna slam some mashed potatoes. They’re also higher waisted which I love.

3. Nublado Throw from the Citizenry, $395: My sweet grandmother just rolled over in her grave because I put a $400 blanket on my blog, but HOLY TESTICLE TUESDAY LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL & CHUNKY & DELICIOUS IT IS! Also doubles as a work of art anywhere it’s sitting. If you’re like my family, we don’t throw blankets away until they actually disintegrate: I still sleep with the one I was swaddled in as a baby, and all the afghans we had in my house as a kid are still in a basket beside the couch at my mom’s house. Just sayin… #investmentpiece

4. Tapered Beeswax Candles in Black, $48 for set of 8: I love how unexpected the black is (and so moody!) – though any of the jewel tones would be gorgeous. I think they’re sold out of navy, but also love Forest. Top image via 100 Layer Cake.

5. This velvet pillow as the crown jewel on your bed. We didn’t have enough pillows in the house (that’s a big fat lie), so I had this one made recently and have an extra. The fabric is a Suzani / vintage textile print on velvet, and it retails for (hold onto your shorts) $350 mother-loving dollars per yard. I wanted something really cozy that brought some color into an otherwise neutral palette (Chris made the wood bed, and those Carolina Irving Patmos Stripe euros are a killer staple, but they needed a friend with some pop). Sham (no insert) is 31.5″W x 17″H, $150. Face is this velvet, back is solid linen. I can have a custom-sized insert ordered for whoever gets this gem (prob another $50ish). UPDATE 11/17/18 at 3pm: SOLD! But DM me on Insta or email me at stephanie.m.ballard@gmail.com if you still want one – I had at least 15 people inquire so we can always make more!

6. Goē Oil, $49: This stuff SAVES MY BACON (hands) when it gets cold and dry outside, which is about 8 months of the year where we live. Vaseline Intensive imposter has NOTHING on this goo. Available via Goop or also at Anthropologie.

PS: Did you know women in Colorado age (something horrifying like) 40% faster than women in more humid parts of the country because it’s dry as a damn bone in these parts? Eek. So you better believe I slather this stuff on my hands a few times a day (little goes a long way, and it does soak in quickly). Thanks to one of my fave people & rad clients, Jamie, for turning me onto it! Had she not, pretty sure this would’ve been me in a year:

7. Mulling Spice from Trader Joe’s: I haven’t tried this myself but have heard people RAVING about it and being like: “You will never need to try to make mulled wine from scratch at home ever again.” And thank the goodnesses, because Chris & I tried to mull some wine a few weeks ago, and lemme tell you that it smelled glorious on the stove but tasted very much what I imagine a moldy foot tastes like. All the cinnamon sticks in the world couldn’t help me. Lesson learned.

8. Classic Nubby Sweaters. Sweaters are tough, man! Gone are the days when I can see something that looks cute online and then have it not look like a potato sack on me when it comes in the mail. They’re often either too frumpy or too scratchy or too boxy (*COUGH* Madewell, I’m pointing at you). Or worst of all, they have those giant bell sleeves, perfect for dipping in your soup – I would like to give a good slap to whosever idea those were. So I don’t buy sweaters often – only when I REALLY love em… (this is me, setting you up for some-of-these-are-stupid-expensive-but-so-amazing-they’re-worth-the-splurge):

Heartloom Elsie Sweater, $68: I just bought this and it’s super cute and cozy. Runs large so size down (I got a small).

Forte Forte Round Neck Giada Sweater, $730: I know, get out of town…I can’t get on board with spending $700-odd dollars on a sweater, but I can get on board with sitting in my H&M sweatpants & dreaming about it, then putting it in my eBay “Saved Search” list and nabbing it when it comes up on supa-sale.

Joie Minava Sweater, $349 – I tried this on at Nordy last weekend and never wanted to take it off. The pic on the model scarcely does it justice – SO CUTE WITH HIGH WAISTED JEANS AND A TOPKNOT. Or a lob, if you have one.

St. Roche Sissy Sweater, $375 because the 80’s remain the best decade ever, and this one has just enough cute details with the perky shoulders and the neck detail and the ribbing at the waist.

9. Creamy Rigatoni with Broccolini & Sausage from What’s Gaby Cooking: I’m foaming at the mouth and can’t wait to make this. Nomnomnomnom.

10. Melbourne Patchwork OTK Boot from Sole Society, $149.95 less 15% off today: These are Karrie’s pick! So rad, good price for what they are, come in a few colors and have great reviews.

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

Happy Monday! Hope you guys had a great weekend. Karrie and I spent much of ours spitballing between San Diego & LA about how to decorate the new casa. First order of biz was to get girlfriend a bed, since no one’s had a great time sleeping on a mattress on the floor since frat parties ca. 1998 at IU, when they were too hopped up on jungle juice to know the difference. We did end up pulling the trigger on one, but I’ll save it for a post on the master bedroom later this week when we get it all dialed in. But for now, I can show you the guest room (!) Which was easy because *COUGH* since it’s (( air quotes )) “mine,” I got to pick out whatever I wanted. AKA, Karrie’s words were, “just pick out what you normally would and do your Beautiful Mind thing,” so the only client I had to run it by was Sir Licks-a-lot (Gus). Here’s what’s gonna go down in the front guest room at Casa Covet Living:

a) Paint Color: Dunn Edwards, Icy Lavender DE5924. This came out slightly more pigmented / more purple than we wanted, so we decided to tone the rest of the room down with a lot of neutral layers.

b) Bamboo Pendant Light: Sinnerlig, Isle Crawford for Ikea. THIS IS UNDER $60 PEOPLE!!! And freaking fabulous in person. I carried it on my head like it was a 200 lb fruit basket through the sea that is Ikea a month ago when I saw it, having no idea where it would go. If I were you, I might buy 2 and hang ’em over my dining room table. Like – go now.

c) Drapery Panel Fabric: Shibori Angle Grey by Michelle Mathis. This chick has a TON of great patterns you should check out. Think Amber Interiors / global style, but for closer to $20/yard.

d) Wall Sconces: Midcentury, Lumfardo Luread “F” Sconces, 1st Dibs. These are amazing, but too $$. But will source lookalikes on Etsy… or just wait to snap these up on eBay.

e) Artwork: source unknown. But every time I look at this, I get transported to a peaceful place. On a remote lake somewhere. In the summertime. At dusk. Where else would anyone ever wanna be?

f) Upholstered Bed: Target Parkside Button Tufted Bed. Frankly, I have no idea if Target’s beds are gonna sh*t the bed or not in terms of quality, but I figure if Emily Henderson can do it, we can give it a whirl. They have SURPRISINGLY bomb silhouettes… post on that later.

g) Nightstands: Restoration Hardware Martens Round Side Tables. Love these for their spare, rustic quality & patina. Also always good to introduce another round shape in a space where there aren’t many.

h) Euro Sham Fabric: Seema Krish “Gramercy in Metropolitan Grey”, through Nicky Rising. Part global & part Granny. Love the detail in all of Seema’s patterns.

i) Throw: Estrato Oversized Bed Throw / Coverlet. All I ever wanted was a pom pom coverlet to take naps under.

j) Rug: Antique, via Aja Rugs in La Jolla. I’ve had this pinned for awhile but just had to email them for pricing this weekend. These shopowners are great to work with, but this thing is a stunner, so cross your fingers this isn’t four trillion dollars.