heather & olive

 

Ah, the strange time between Christmas and New Year's where time stands still and my sluggery reaches an all time high. This is the first year in a very long time that I've taken extended time off from work around the holidays, and while it has been amazing, I think I'll be ready to get back into a groove on January 1st.

I'm currently in Quebec City spending my days eating croissants and drinking pistachio lattes but have felt a little retrospective about the best things of 2024. So, here they are:

Best Thing I Wore:

j.crew stratus pant in textured satin

I first learned of these pants via Emily's Instagram and they very quickly become the best item of clothing I purchased this year. I have them in black and and navy (and I might need them in green), and they are the most comfortable and chic pants in my rotation (think fancy pajamas). I love them with sneakers just as much as ballet flats, and I know they will continue to get a lot of wear in 2025, especially in the office.

Best Thing I Ate:

the artichoke and nettle lasagna from Fore Street

I posted about this earlier this year, and I still can't stop thinking about it. The artichoke and nettle lasagna from Fore Street was sublime: this restaurant is a Portland staple for a delicious meal, and the wood fired pasta did not disappoint. It was the perfect combination of savory and sweet, and I only wish they didn't change their menu on the daily so I could eat this forever.

The Best Thing I Read:

all the colors of the dark, chris whitaker

Gah, this book was so good. It's part thriller, part heartwarming/heartbreaking journey about old friends who experienced a tragedy. It follows their lives as they grow up and I loved every second.

l.l. bean wicked good lodge chukkas my mom got these for christmas, and I would have stolen them from her if my feet weren't too big. currently backordered until march, but 20% off until 1/14/20 with code WINTER.

cuyana oversize carryall tote I have the medium version of this, and it's slightly too small for everything I want to bring with me to work (mostly, another pair of shoes and my beats headphones, along with all of my other office stuff). I will be buying this sooner rather than later (and it's way more practical than the other designer bag I've been considering).

madewell roadtripper jeggings can jeans change your life? If they're these, they can. I'm super late to the madewell jeans game, but I finally snagged a pair during black friday and I love the fact that they're super high waisted and fit like a glove. I will be slowly replacing all of my denim with some version of these in the future,

SoYoung Lunch Poche  because I need to carry my leftovers to work in style, and I love the long (optional) strap.

jenni kayne cheetah pony hair mule because there is nothing chicer than a leopard mule, and these are supposed to be exceptionally comfortable.

the ZOE strap by SALT because it's a chic way to switch up all of my satchels.

no.6 old school clog because I think I've become a clog person.

buca boot lockable rear bike basket (currently sold out, but I'm stalking the site until it's restocked) because I'm all about bike accessories.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of the old fashioned, especially this time of year. There's nothing better than sipping on this delectable cocktail on a freezing day while the bourbon warms your insides. The only problem? I was never able to recreate the deliciousness I experienced at restaurants at home (mine always tasted way too bourbon-y and burned my throat).

Until now.

During our Portland trip over Thanksgiving, my sister bought Craft Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup at Gus & Ruby. I was a little suspect at first, but it turns out, this syrup is a total game changer. It creates the perfect old fashioned every time with no need for muddling or adding separate bitters. I immediately grabbed some when we went back to Gus & Ruby (this time in Portsmouth) the next day. It's seriously the best.

(They also make an Italian Spritz syrup, Spicy Margarita syrup and more - I can't wait to try them all.)

west elm's belgian flax linen sheets.

Let's talk sheets. For most of my adult life, I've slept in the basic cotton sheet set you grab on a whim at Target or Home Goods. They were easy and fine and I generally had no complaints.

But after battling through this summer and the insanely high temps and humidity, I decided it was high time I explore my sheet options and see what could serve the dual purpose of keeping me cool in the summer and warm in the winter. After extensive research, linen appeared to be the best option.

I bought West Elm's Belgian Flax Linen Sheets during one of their 30% off sales, and to say I'm obsessed is an understatement. These sheets are the best. They kept me cool during the tail end of the summer, and as the temps have dropped I've been perfectly comfortable with the addition of a quilt. I love the weight and the texture--they're soft, but not overly so, and they're also slightly heavy but breathable--every time I climb into bed I thank myself for splurging on the set. Sleeping in any other kind of sheet has become a let down.

I seriously cannot recommend these enough--if you've ever thought of buying linen sheets, do it!  

alo goddess legging

I recently received these leggings as a gift (thanks, Mom!) and it's safe to say I'm in love. They're super comfortable and flattering, and although I was initially skeptical of the leg warmer bottoms, I love the long length and stretchy material (they also come in solid colors for those who aren't fans of the two-tone). I'm already planning on getting another pair.

peak water bottle ice cube tray

My condo came with a slightly dated fridge that has no ice-making capabilities, and I'm a lady who likes her beverages really cold. I was super happy to find these Peak ice cube trays at Gus & Ruby in Portland - they freeze ice cylindrically (that's a real word) and are perfect for putting in a S'well bottle.

{ image via hbo }

Have you been watching Sharp Objects? I read the book a while ago, and had completely forgotten what happened in the end -- it's been slowly coming back as I've been catching up on episodes and YIKES. Totally freaky but very good (I'm sad it's ending on Sunday). 

epoch stay gold.

epoch speedway creme.

heritage thousand navy.

Have you heard of thousand? Founded by Gloria Hwang (formerly of TOMS) who lost a friend to a fatal bike accident, thousand makes "a bike helmet you'll actually want to wear". I got a new cruiser for my birthday and after having multiple family members have pretty serious bike accidents through the years, I knew I needed a helmet. I ended up going with the navy, and it honestly reminds me of the kind of helmet I wear horseback riding, which I love. And, you can easily lock the helmet to your bike (the "thsd" emblem pops out and you can put your lock right through it) so you don't need to carry it with you around town. I highly recommend.

skyline views.

art institute lunching.

little goat brunching.

ramen at slurping turtle.

sitting on top of the world.

{ via }

I recently got a sample of Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk with my Nordstrom order, and I might have to spring for a bigger size. While my favorite summer fragrance will always be White Sand from Finn and Co., Beach Walk is a close second--I only wish it would last longer!

{ via }

My sister gave me Cravings for Christmas last year, and I'm obsessed. I made the Basil Chicken and the Cauliflower, Feta, Orzo Salad this week and they were so delicious and super easy--and the Margarita Chicken Fajitas are my absolute favorite. I highly recommend this cookbook.

{ via }

The Keepers on Netlfix is a must-watch--the documentary starts as a story about the murder of a Catholic nun but quickly evolves into something much more, and I've loved watching this series (despite the heartbreaking and disturbing subject matter). It's so good.

Every summer I find myself wanting a picnic basket (for all of those picnics I go on) but I find that most of them are pretty pricey...until now. Land's End has a couple of great picnic basket options, and the prices can't be beat--especially since you can almost always get some sort of discount.

First up, the traditional:

English Style Picnic Basket

And then, for the wine aficionado:

Vino Picnic Basket

Vino Picnic Basket

They offer two options--a traditional "English Style" full blown picnic basket with settings for four, and the Vino picnic basket with room for two wine bottles (and complete with a corkscrew and cheeseboard). Realistically, I didn't see myself serving three of my friends a full blown picnic so I went with the Vino option. I definitely plan on packing up some wine and cheese to savor Maine sunsets this summer. And, both are available monogrammed--the perfect treat for yourself (or as a wedding gift)!

*I tried searching the Land's End website for both of these but they didn't show up, but if you search the internet or use my links, they will take to the site. As of today, they're both available. 

{ white sand body cream}

{ white sand fragrance oil }

{ white sand candle }

With the unofficial start of summer fast approaching this weekend, I have all things beach on my mind. Although I won't constantly be oceanside, I plan on smelling like it thanks to discovering Finn & Co. while in Kennebunkport a couple of years ago.

Finn & Co. is a Maine-based company that has created the most delicious, beachy smelling products--I know there are a lot of Bobbi Brown Beach fans out there (and I was one of them), but I must admit that I love the White Sand line from Finn & Co. so much more. I bought the lotion and the body oil and they are incredibly long lasting (I put the lotion on in the morning and people can still smell it on me when I come home at night). It's the perfect beach scent and the lotion is paraben, sulfate, formaldehyde, phthalate, propylene glycol, and phosphate free...and if you prefer a more sultry version, the Black Sand products are perfect. They have the same beach undertones of White Sand but with some sexier, darker layers mixed in.

I cannot recommend this line enough--go forth and smell like your best beach self this summer (even if you're stuck in the city).

Flowers in bloom.

Beach walk at dusk.

Perfect seating arrangement.

Harbor walk.

I had a perfect weekend up in Maine. The weather was great--it was sunny both days with mild temps which made for plenty of walks with Olive (she has very specific routes she likes to take and I was happy to oblige). My parents and I made a quick trip up to Portland on Saturday and had a fun lunch outside at Sebago Brewing Company (their Lake Trout Stout was delicious) and it was so nice to soak in the scenery.

It was definitely hard packing up and heading home on Sunday--Maine is seriously my favorite place and I truly love every minute I get to spend there.

TGIF. One part of me feels like this week flew by, but the other part of me thought Wednesday was Thursday so it's safe to say I'm all over the place. Regardless, I am very happy the weekend is here and it's supposed to (finally) stop raining.

Here are some things I've been loving as of late:

J.Crew Gathered Carnation Earrings

99% of the time I wear stud earrings, but I recently saw J.Crew's carnation earrings and bought them in navy and white. They're super light, comfortable and currently 30% off an already cheap price--I highly recommend!

texture app

It's no secret that I'm a magazine hoarder, so when I heard of texture I thought I'd give it a go before my Vienna trip and now I'm hooked. The app gives access to all of my favorite magazines on my ipad for $10 a month. While part of me misses reading an actual magazine, the convenience and cost savings is hard to beat.

albeit cheek stain

While partaking in a bit of buzzed shopping the other weekend, I came across Albeit Cheek Stain at Anthropologie and I was immediately drawn to the bare rose color (pictured, but it's a brighter pink in person). I bought it on a whim, and I was rather pleased to find it has a lot of staying power and a really nice consistency that gives my cheeks a great flush. Buzzed shopping for the win!

Big Little Lies Soundtrack

I loved watching Big Little Lies on HBO so much and now there's a void since I finished the last episode. The soundtrack is equally great, and I plan on playing it all summer long.

Capri Blue Diffuser

The Capri Blue diffuser was yet another random Anthropologie purchase, but I'm so happy with it. You can smell it throughout the first floor of my house, and it beats constantly lighting a candle--I'll definitely be stocking up on more of these in the future.

Have a great weekend!

pretty view while walking the dogs.

empty dock.

an accurate sign in portsmouth.

fried clams at robert's.

cozy fires every night.

I was able to get away this past weekend for a quick trip up to Maine with my parents, and it was great. We went on long walks with the dogs, did a little shopping and a lot of eating. I'm so lucky to have this little retreat so close--I need to take advantage of it more.

This week has been busy (work has been crazy and I thought I posted this on Tuesday but clearly never hit publish) but I'm really trying get my act together and set up a healthier routine. I feel like I say that every week but this time it's going to be different.

Maybe.