This + That: Cookies, Conspiracies & Capsule Wardrobes

BA’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

I cannot overstate the seriousness of my obsession with the Bon Appétit YouTube channel. Most of the bookmarks on my phone are videos of recipes I want to try, and I’m slowly making my way through ‘em; kind of like ‘Julie & Julia’ but with fewer live lobsters and a little less butter.

Two weekends ago, I baked a batch of their ‘Best Chocolate Chip Cookies‘. These cookies came together pretty quickly with a handful of pantry staples — no stand mixer, agressive-hand-mixing or chilling required — and were super satisfying; crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and the perfect balance of salty and sweet.

When I made myself a giant bowl of Carla’s white pesto pasta for dinner the following weekend, the ensuing carb coma was totally worth it.

Hot tip: if you’re a pasta lover, swap basic ol’ spaghetti noodles in your favorite recipes for bucatini; they’re dense long noodles with a hole in the center so they get covered and filled with sauce. My life is changed.

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#instastyle

Reposted from my Instagram last week :: Saturday errand style f/ two #styleonabudget favorites from last summer that are still going strong: this gingham ruffle cami I found on a clearance rack at @target + a rattan circle bag I bought for around $25 on @amazon. 
I’m killing the cost-per-wear game with these two. 😏 #whatiwore#ootd#summerstyle#stylefiles

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Planning My Autumn Capsule Wardrobe

I enjoyed my 30 for 30 remix so much. Having a pared-down selection of quality basics + a few fun wildcards made it super easy for me to mix-and-match weekday outfits that I felt great wearing. It helped me realize a few things: 1.) I thrive with less chaos and clutter in all aspects of my life, including my closet, 2.) I should commit to seasonal capsule wardrobes, and 3.) I need to get serious about sticking to a low-buy shopping strategy because even though I’m pretty intentional about adding to my wardrobe, I still have too much stuff.

So I’m making a list of the new things I want to buy for the season, inventorying the basics that need replacing, and planning a big closet clean-out next month. I spent Sunday morning shopping from my wish list in my PJs on the couch: I picked up a few basics from H&M + these budget-friendly pops of animal print that will transition well from summer to fall:

I also ordered two new pairs of my beloved ASOS ‘Farleigh’ slim mom jeans for fall: one in washed black ($51) and a light blue pair on sale for $40.

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Beauty Bits

Two of my favorite lazy beauty hacks: a bold lip paired with a basic outfit, and twisting my hair into a bun on the top of my head when I go to bed (secured with bobby pins instead of an elastic so there aren’t any dents) for instant volume in the morning.

I’m wearing the Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid Lip in the shade ‘Red The News’ here. It’s a long-wearing formula that’s not too drying, and the pointed doe-foot applicator makes it easy to get a clean, precise line around the lips. When it starts to wear off throughout the day from eating and sipping through a [metal, save-the-turtles] straw, I just dab a little lip balm over the top and smooth it out.

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Crackpot

Whether or not you believe conspiracy theories, they’re always entertaining to hear; and sometimes, you can’t help but wonder…

In the Crackpot podcast, two law school buddies, Zach and Tim, break down the believability of all kinds of conspiracy theories, from urban legends and the Loch Ness Monster, to the theory that we’re all living in a simulation. If you’re looking for something interesting and intellectual to pass the time while you cook dinner or do your daily commute, this is a good one.