Curated Weekly

This past week was my 41st birthday and also the start of the trees blooming here in Raleigh. I took a couple of days off of work to enjoy doing some things around town that I enjoy. The weather was very nice with the temperatures getting into the mid-70’s with sunny skies and being able to be outside again without a coat on was a lovely way to start my birthday weekend. As we move into the spring season, I am looking forward to experiencing so many delightful things here in Raleigh. Last year when we moved it was in February, so while we did get out into town some, we were also still adjusting and trying to create new routines for ourselves, so there were many weekends where we stayed at home too. For this year though now that we are fully adjusted, I am looking forward to visiting more places around town and to savor the spring season as much as I can.

I hope that you too are getting out as the weather starts to get warm where you are and that you visit nature as much as you can as it begins to awaken from the past winter months. For now, let us cozy in once again for another curated weekly post to start the weekend.

SHOPPING, BOOKS, MEDIA, ETC.

With the warmer temperatures also comes days at the farmer’s markets, beach, and in the parks and if you are looking for a straw tote bag then this Loft Beach Double Strap Straw Tote Bag is on sale now for $55.96.

Always one to appreciate a good Francophile find, I saw this Boulangerie Kitchen Towel last time I was at Sur La Table and thought it was so pretty. They have a few different French designs, so be sure to check them out online.

While spring has only just begun it won’t be long before summer is close behind and that is why I keep a few pair of chino shorts in my spring/summer wardrobe. I personally love the 5″ stretch chino shorts from J. Crew and the white color is an elegant choice for the summer months ahead.

While the oversized button-down shirt has been the trendier style for the past few years, I very much like a slim fit as it looks more tailored and elegant, and this Ralph Lauren knit cotton oxford shirt looks so nice for the warmer seasons.

I have been freshening up the home for spring these past few weeks and this Jacquard throw blanket from Target caught my attention recently as I have been looking for lighter blanket to add to the bedroom.

I was in Madewell this past weekend and saw this soft cashmere-wool striped cardigan and thought it looked so nice for the spring season, and I can attest that the wool material was indeed very soft to the touch. It also on sale right now for $59.99.

I love my Le Creuset and while they are on the pricier side, they are worth the investment if you are looking for new cookware. That’s why I wanted to share their signature petal braiser which would be a beautiful piece to cook with. It comes in several colors and is sure to last a lifetime.

One thing I love about visiting used bookstores is that you always find a book that you never knew existed but know that you would love. That is where I found What Are Gardens For? Visiting, Experiencing and Thinking About Gardens. This book approaches the experience of being in a garden from many different angles, questioning many of our easily adopted assumptions and suggesting ways of getting more from any garden, whether it is our own or one we are visiting. While I do not have a garden of my own (yet), I do love to visit them both locally and when I travel, and this book has already provided so many insights that I have enjoyed thus far.

While this book won’t be released until September 2nd, I still want to mention it so that you can add it to your list (like I did) and not miss out. I am looking forward to Zoé de Las Cases La Maison: Decorating with French vintage style. In La Maison, Zoé shares her love for hunting out second-hand treasures, her eye for the delicate color combinations that have become her signature style, and her tips and tricks for designing a beautiful home that works for you. It’s going to be a lovely decor book to be sure and I’ll rerun this one when it comes closer time to publishing.

For a good book that you can pick up now, A Jane Austen Year was released this past Tuesday and also looks to be a fun read. This beautifully illustrated book charts the life of one of the world’s most beloved authors through the letters, objects, and manuscripts that shaped her life. Read this book for a unique and intimate insight into Austen’s world. Dip into it as you will, or visit each month, and enjoy a full year of Austen—her life, works and letters, people and objects she knew, and of course her idyllic, inspiring home.

And yet another good new release from this week is Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives. As a child, Lucy Mangan was reading all the time, using books to navigate the challenges and complexities of this world and many others. As an adult, she uses her new relationship with literature to seize upon the most important (how) do books prepare us for life? Bookish picks up where Bookworm left at the cusp of teenage, when everything – including the way we read – undergoes a not-so-subtle transformation. Here, Mangan vividly recounts her metamorphosis from bookworm to bookish adult.

To mark Commonwealth Day 2025, The King’s Music Room, recorded at Buckingham Palace, offers an exclusive insight into His Majesty’s relationship with music from around the Commonwealth – including artists stretching from 1930s crooners to Afrobeats stars, as well as disco divas and reggae icons. Such a fun way to mark the occasion!

Being released in theaters only on May 16th (and I am very much hoping for a showing here in Raleigh) is Jane Austen Wrecked M Life. Agathe is a hopelessly clumsy yet charming young woman who works in the legendary Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in Paris, while she dreams of being a successful writer, and of experiencing love akin to a Jane Austen novel, she finds herself desperately single and plagued by writer’s block. When Agathe’s best friend (Pablo Pauly) gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England, she finally has her Jane Austen moment…and is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. Agathe must let go of her insecurities to decide what she really wants for herself, and to achieve her romantic and professional dreams.

If you were a fan of Antoni Porowski from Netflix’s Queer Eye, then you are in for a treat as he will headline his own travel & food show, No Taste Like Home. This one was actually released back in February but has seemed to go under the radar. Each journey culminates in a heartfelt family meal featuring a regional classic, showcasing the beauty and diversity of their cultural heritage. From dining with royalty to off-road adventures, No Taste Like Home is filled with heartwarming moments, bold flavors, and surprising revelations that offer a delicious glimpse into the stories that shape us all. It can be streamed on Hulu or Disney+.

articles of interest

If you happen to find yourself lucky enough to travel to London this year, then be sure to check out the new exhibition, Dress Codes. Dress Codes showcases some of the treasures of the unparalleled Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection and it opened on March 13 and will run through November 30 at Kensington Palace.

Spring decorating has been ongoing in my home for a couple of weeks now, and if you too are looking for inspiration then be sure to read Softening Interiors for Spring by My French Country Home.

This was such a lovely interview from Flowers Magazine which I picked up a physical copy of with The Botanical World of Aerin Lauder. I adore Aerin Lauder and am looking forward to reading her new book soon.

Lemon is such a favorite springtime flavor, and these lemon recipes for Spring by Teatime magazine look so very good and it provides sweet as well as savory recipes to enjoy.

The only thing better than Trader Joe’s is seasonal Trader Joe’s and here is a list of 13 Trader Joe’s items to check out this spring.

I think everyone needs a day every now and then where they simply relax, and this article The Art of Doing Nothing: How to Create Your Own Personal Retreat Day was a good one to read for inspiration from Camille Styles.

And because we can never get enough of beautiful English home decor, here is an article about homeware designer Alice Palmer and how she took inspiration from her travels to create a richly layered home.

in case you missed it…

This week on the blog started out with a bonus post inspired by With Love, Meghan that I enjoyed watching on Netflix and felt inspired by. Many of you reached out to thank me for creating a thoughtful post with so much style inspiration and for finding the beauty and charm in the show as it was meant to be. Also this week I was inspired by spring being upon us and wanted to touch upon the simple pleasures we can enjoy to welcome the spring season which I have been currently doing myself this past week. And to round out the week was even more inspiration on how to be a modern-day sophisticate as some days the world seems a little chaotic, but slowing down and living in a more elegant way is always a good idea.