Things I think about weekly
.....no, it's not the Roman Empire.
Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be reconnecting with you (and meeting some new faces) through this newsletter. While this is not the first newsletter I’ve ever sent out, this is the first one I’ve sent out through SubStack, which makes everything feel shiny and new. (PS In case you missed my announcement, you can read it on the blog here.)
To kick off this new(ish) newsletter, I thought I would share some of the things that have been on my mind lately and things that have been happening in my life. Just a warning, this first one may feel a little chaotic, but my brain is a little chaotic right now (you’ll see why in a second). I feel like I just got off of a desert island and have to tell you EVERYTHING you missed. I promise I’ll calm down in the next email.
Life Happenings:
I’m six months pregnant! Surprise! Don’t worry, this is NOT going to turn into a moms/pregnancy newsletter. But obviously, it’s at the top of my mind a lot lately. It was (luckily) a pretty easy first few months, but phew, I am tired all of the time. I also feel constantly overwhelmed with how much you have to get done before the baby even arrives.
New job. I started a new job back in June! I have no idea if I mentioned this or not, but I was laid off in December 2022. It was a bit of a shock to the system, but I started a new job this past June and I love it.
Cookie Decorating. In the last six months I started and had to pause a cookie decorating business. Remember how I just mentioned that I was laid off last December? Well, in addition to job hunting, I needed something to take up my time, so I took up cookie decorating. I feel absolutely in love with it and launched a small cookie decorating business. Except, as soon as I set everything up and announced it, I discovered that I was pregnant and the idea of cookie dough made me feel sick. So that has put that side business on hold for a while. I’m still decorating for fun and we’ll see where that takes me.
Moving. Oh, yeah, we’re moving. Isn’t that a fun idea when you’re six months pregnant? But we didn’t really have a choice. Our current place just isn’t great for a baby, so it’s time to move.
Now the fun stuff: things on my mind:
Fall Fashion. I’ve been hating what’s going on in fashion for the last two years. This Fall has FINALLY been a breath of fresh air and I love everything that’s coming out. But of course, this change has happened now that I’m pregnant and very much showing, so I just sit and stare at all the new clothes coming out (and silently cry to myself). I can still wear all of the cardigans, jackets, and shoes coming out (for now), so you can bet I’ve been taking advantage of those. The top of my list right now are these Everlane flats and these loafers (which have been a favorite for a while)
Lady Jackets. Oh my god, they are my favorite new thing. I think I have like three lady jackets right now and a few more on the way. This is my favorite one right now, but don’t worry, I have a whole newsletter about these coming soon.
Back to my two year annoyance with fashion. It was an annoying couple of years, but it gave me a chance to check out newer to me brands like AYR and Quince who focus more on classic, timeless pieces.
TV lately. During the last six months, laying on the couch has been a godsend. I’m constantly telling my husband that all I want to be is horizontal. Don’t worry, I’ve been making sure to keep moving and working out, but there is nothing I love more than to be laying down right now. Laying on the couch has also meant that there has been a lot of tv in my life lately. Right now, I seem to focus my watching on three things: British mysteries, Bravo, and Hallmark. A weird combination? Definitely. But this combination has been running my life right now and I’m so happy to keep it going. By the way, if you watch Below Deck, RHONY, RHOSLC, or Love Island (UK) please reply to this email. I need more people to chat about these things with.
Fall. Thank god it’s finally Fall. I’m really not a summer person (DC is just too hot), but I love everything about Fall. I don’t care if it makes me basic, but nothing delights me more than eating pumpkin (or apple) everything and reading cozy mysteries.
Deals for you!
I love finding good deals around the web and I want to make sure that I share my favorites with you.
Deux Cookie Dough: I liked Deux before I got pregnant, but I’m mildly obsessed with it not. Lucky for you, you can get 10% off with code danaw.
Sarah Flint: Did you know I’m a Sarah Flint Ambassador? Well for the next day or two you can get 20% off your pair of flats AND if use my code SARAHFLINT-BADANAW, you can get $60 off of your first pair.
Madewell: It’s the Madewell insiders event (no code needed for a discount!) and their sweaters this season are SO GOOD. I love this sweater so much that I got it in both colors.
Nisolo: I’ve come to love this brand, even though their sizing is a little weird (I’ve started sizing up and I think that makes it better). Well, through September 27th, use code FALL30 and you can get 30% off of your order. I have this pair in black (they’re so comfortable) and I have my eye on this pair.
Great Jones: It’s officially heavy baking season! I’ve been slowly replacing all of my bakeware with Great Jones and it’s been the best. I love the bright colors and the quality of the bakeware is so good. There are always great deals on the sales page and now is the perfect time to stock up.
That’s all for now!
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in my next email!