Friday Favorites - October 20, 2023

The Jasper - An inviting, cozy space in the heart of Carytown here in Richmond, this speakeasy-style spot has a gorgeous vibe and killer drinks. We stopped in Saturday for a pre-birthday dinner drink and found a line about 20 people deep just prior to its opening at 5pm. We got in right away but it filled up quick. They have a menu of rotating cocktails with literally something for everyone; I had a Caribbean Kween (so delicious!) and Sky had Ready Fire Aim (a tad spicy but he loved it!). Definitely a great date night spot - we will most certainly be back!

 

Madewell Mid-Rise Perfect Vintage Jeans - I've been looking for a great pair of jeans for awhile now, and I think I've finally found them! These jeans aren't as tight as skinny jeans and they're not low-waisted like some of the new ones (ugh!), but they feel both comfortable and flattering - WIN WIN! I sized down one size because they stretch out about ½ size but I'm really happy with these and considering getting a second pair!

 

Maame by Jessica George - This month's book club pick, I'm a-l-m-o-s-t done and it's only not yet finished because I've had a to-do list a mile long with all of my upcoming events and all the birthdays in my family this month. It's well-written and it's told from the perspective of a young Ghanian-English woman in London navigating young adulthood while bridging two different cultures. Highly recommend!

 

Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad - Iowa Girl Eats recipes are a staple in our kitchen (though she doesn't seem to be publishing many new ones these days - sob!), and this is one of my favorites especially at this time of year! I've never been the biggest fan of brussels sprouts, but this is such a fun take on a fall salad and the flavors are just so perfect together - it's a perfect addition to a fall dinner or a packed lunch. I buy the brussels sprouts pre-shredded at Trader Joe's to make this a bit faster. 10/10 recommend!

 

Cranberry + Balsam Cedar Soy Wax Candle - Shameless candle plug, but this is what I'm currently burning at my desk when I'm working from home in the afternoons. This fall scent is so perfectly balanced with both woodsy and fruity notes, which are both tart and sweet! I love this scent for the transition from Fall into Holiday, and this would make a delightful hostess gift or set the mood at your Thanksgiving table this year. 

 

Work Life Podcast with Adam Grant - Apparently Adam Grant is a big name in some business circles, but since those are not the circles I typically run in (hello healthcare and education!), I'd never heard of him when I stumbled onto this podcast a few weeks ago. He's an organizational psychologist who unpacks some of the pieces of work life that can be both maddening and intriguing. I've especially enjoyed recent episodes on the importance of recharging on weekends and vacations as well as why meetings suck (and how to make them suck less). If you're interested in pop-ish psychology in the vein of Freakonomics and Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell), you might enjoy this podcast, no matter what your line of work. 

 

The Sill - A dear friend recently celebrated a milestone birthday, and a group of us were contemplating what to gift her to honor the occasion. In lieu of flowers, which are so lovely and always appreciated, we decided to go with a longer-lasting gift in the form of a houseplant (as a portion of her gift). We chose a snake plant with a lovely pot, and everything was shipped to her across the country. I like to think that she'll think about us and where she was in her life when she got the plant that will (hopefully) survive for many years! The Sill allows you to filter their offerings by pet-friendly, easy-care, etc., so it makes it easy to choose and send a houseplant as a gift, no matter where the recipient lives. I initally forgot to include a gift note, but their customer service department was very responsive, which I appreciated. 

 

Laurel Denise Planner - I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this planner last year, but wow, it's been amazing! I'm someone who needs to get my to-do list out of my head and onto paper (digital calendars just don't work in the same way for my brain). This innovative planner design allows you to see both the month AND week at the same time, so you can easily see what's on the schedule and what needs to be done; I've never seen a planner like this before and it just jives with my brain. I have been using the Horizontal Weekly Planner this year, but I'm going to try the Mini Horizontal Weekly Planner for 2024 since I find the original one a tad too big to tote around easily. They're based in Charlottesville (woohoo!) and sell out every year, I think, so check it out.