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I should also start by saying that none of these hobbies are truly “new”, but they have been resurrected from the catacombs of my subconscious, dusted off, and given a brand new shiny pair of grafting boots (fans of Love Island UK will understand).

1. Scrapbooking

Perhaps the biggest hobby in my life right now is my pursuit of the creation and completion of my son’s baby book. I knew I wanted to make some sort of memento for the first year of his life. I did not, however, know how all-consuming and financially demanding it was going to be… the truth is, I’m a thorough bish, and I simply could not make this book a small snippet of his first 12 months. 400 photos printed at Walgreens and [redacted] dollars spent at hobby lobby, and here I sit night after night constructing page after page while watching old seasons of Survivor. I average about one page per hour, so it’s safe to say this will become my fall hobby as well!

2. NYC Prep

Similar to scrapbooking but more in the dome (and on my phone) is my preparation for our upcoming trip to NYC! This will be my third time visiting and my husband’s second time (if you don’t include his 8th grade theatre field trip), and I am determined to do tons of new stuff throughout the city! I am such a creature of habit, and I’m also not super adventurous, but I just know the city is PACKED with food, coffee, and experiences galore that I haven’t even begun to unlock.

I regularly pitch a New York trip to my husband, and after months of begging (and a tragic Euro vacay fall-through thanks to a broken oven), we are finally returning to the Big Apple! The trip is scheduled for the week before Thanksgiving break, so I’m thinking it’ll be the best of both worlds season-wise with bits of fall foliage and Christmas delights sprinkled throughout! Drop you all time fave NYC recs in the comments!!!

3. Thrifting

This one is a no brainer, but the thrifts have been extra delicious lately, and I’m LOVING it! The summer was a little dead both thrift-hunt-wise and motivation-wise, but something about the change of seasons on the horizon (likely still two months away here in south GA, but you know…) brings fresh inspiration and I guess fresh donations based on the recent findz! I’m in desperate need of new hangers for all the items I’ve decided to keep for myself!

4. Reading

I always get the reading bug in the summer and fall as beach trips and the occasional pool-side relaxation call for a rom com, and the fall mystery/thrillers beckon me during cozy szn. Audiobooks were my jam in the spring, but I’ve opted for physical books this summer and have absolutely devoured Abby Jimenez back to back to back (still working on the third one actually—scrapbooking is taking precedence). If you haven’t read either of these, you’re in for a TREAT!

5. Writing Letters

I’ve always loved and collected stationary. When I worked for RUF as a support-raising intern, one of my favorite things to do was pick out a thank you note and a corresponding stamp to adorn the letter of the particular supporter I was addressing! I loved going to the Jackson post office and rifling through the stamp binder to pick out the prettiest packs, and I chose the loveliest thank you notes my local Target had to offer. No bulk basics for this girlie! The best part was that they were considered ministry expenses, so despite being poooooooor poor, I got to indulge in this past time in an aesthetic way not on my dime (kind of)!

I have tons of stationary and have recently gotten into collecting old novelty forever stamps on eBay and Mercari, but it’s time I started using them! I’ve been trying to write more letters and thank you notes to friends and loved ones as they come to mind, and it’s been delightful! Writing physical letters is a lost art. Bring back snail mail!!!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Would love to hear what you’re dabbling in these days!

-Anna Kristen Miller

So without further ado, here are some things that have sparked joy for me over the summer!

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1. Brown sugar shaken espresso

I have a really hard time with Starbucks beverages outside of the fall and winter seasons. My all time favorite Starbucks drink is the pumpkin cream cold brew (I drink approximately one million from August through November), but after the Christmas seasonals go, I’m kind of left in drink limbo for a long time. I try most of the new drinks, but nothing seems to stick! Even if I find myself enjoying one of the novelty creations, Starbucks snatches it right out from under me in a month’s time. I’ve finally found a drink that seems like it will be offered year-round which is an amazing comfort to a woman who loves a coffee treat! The Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso has been my go-to coffee balm for the past month, and I even make them at home on the regular now too!

2. Working out

Hear me out… I’ve always enjoyed fitness. I go through seasons of loving running, yoga, at-home weightlifting, group fitness classes, swimming laps, etc. Ever since I started working out as a celebration of my healthy body vs a punishment to make myself smaller, the workout world is my oyster! Late pregnancy with my son and postpartum caused me to put the breaks on many of my regularly scheduled physical activities. However, in a post-pelvic PT/hubby-is-working-from-home world, this mommy is having her workout glow-up summer!!! Catch me on the regular going on early morning runs with my family or at the Y doing the elliptical or battling a bunch of seniors for the E-Gym equipment.

3. Busch Apple

I have heard of the fabled Busch Apple beer for years now, but I’ve never been able to get my mitts on a pack until this year of our Lord, 2026. When you live in a college town, the scant amount of cases allocated to the local brew vendor get snatched up by frat guys the moment they hit the shelves. Shoutout Harris Teeter in Arden, NC for making our Busch Apple (and Natural light Naturdays) dreams come true!!!

4. Skirts

It’s a skirt girl summer over here! Breezy and flirty and fun, a skirt has been a personal favorite to style in the summer heat. Bonus points if they’re thrifted! (most of these are)

5. New deodorant

Yeah this one is weird, but hear me out. I’ve been using natural deodorant for almost a decade now, and I reek—REEK! Pregnancy was the first sign that my natty DO was failing me, postpartum didn’t help, but 1.5 years after childbearing and my body can no longer take it. I stinketh like I’ve never stunketh before, and with these 95-97 degree days, something must be done! I am very sensitive to scents and fragrances, and have found it incredibly hard to find deodorant I can tolerate, but the weekend of the July 4th I went on a hunt for my stink savior. Enter this Bridgerton Dove collab (lol) deodorant, and I am the happiest, least stinky I have been in months! Of course it has to be a limited edition scent that I’ve fallen for, so I will be stocking up for the apocalypse before they leave shelves.

6. Summer James

My son has lived his best life this summer 2026. Granted, he’s only been alive for 18 months, but still! My curly headed blonde baby is THRIVING in the dirt and chlorine and sweat of summer!

7. Bath and body works gingham body spray

Gingham is my bestie (and former All That model) AR’s signature scent, and I decided I needed to have some of my own! Upon a recent trip to the local Bath and Body Works, I have procured a few travel sizes of my own, and I LOVE the way it smells! Unfortunately the new CEO of B&BW has decided to do away with the scent (!?), so I bought 3 extra and I’ll be parceling them out for the foreseeable future. Why must I fall for such limited fragrances???

8. Local shopping

I live in a small town. The most glamorous shopping experiences you can find in Statesboro, Georgia are the local Hobby lobby and TJ Maxx. But if you’re a big shopper like myself, these options eventually grow stale. I’ve recently started exploring our local mall options (a mall so laughable and minuscule that it’s actually nicknamed the “Small”), but I have to admit it’s scratching an itch for me that I’ve been desperate for of late!

Indoor mall experiences are unfortunately not what they used to be, and barring one extremely fancy location in the Texas Woodlands, I’ve hardly experienced indoor mall shopping that doesn’t make me sad for the past decade. I miss the excitement of in-person shopping, and I am desperate to bring it back into my life! Though the local Beall’s and Encore Shoe Department aren’t quite what I would hope to get out of in-person shopping, they’re giving me what I need for now!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! What’s sparking joy in your life these days?

-Anna Kristen

Last week I managed to get dressed out out of my practical mom-uniform every single day! Even if only for a few hours each time. Here’s what I wore!

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Sunday:

It’s a little easier to dress on Sundays as they are church days, and I typically have a little extra help in the mornings with Baby James. Mind you, the Doen dresses typically fit short, so I did indeed wear bike shorts under the flowy hem!

Monday:

I confess I cannot even remember what I did this day in this fit. I think we went to the grocery store for the week, but Just like Gandalf in the Mines of Moria, “I have no memory of this place.”

Tuesday:

I planned to take James to TJ Maxx on this day in this fit, but we ended up going to Starbucks, the dry cleaners, and then coming home. I’m glad I avoided TJ Maxx because my husband and I got the chance to go alone later in the day thanks to an impromptu baby sitter, and James has become absolutely feral for the toy section which usually results in one of us racing him out of the store mid-meltdown.

I felt very cool-girl-surfer-beach-mom in this fit and ended up dressing James similarly! I paired the lewk with a metallic leather bag to balance the beach vibes. If I’d been in a coastal region in this fit, I would’ve fully leaned into it with some sort of straw or mesh bag, but as I was bopping around small town Statesboro instead of grabbing a smoothie ocean side, the metallic bag was the way to go.

And ofc, here’s James’ lewk for those interested!

Wednesday:

On this day I had the chance to leave the house ~alone~ to meet a friend for coffee! I always try to dress extra fun on the days I don’t have to worry about hauling around my 30lb baby. I saw this button-up trick done by Stay Golden Girl on Instagram a few years back, and it adds so much interest to the look! All you need is a few small elastic bands and voila, a whole new shirt!

Thursday:

I took James on a mommy-son date to Chick-fil-A and Home Goods just to have and excuse to leave the house! CFA was lovely, but we lasted 5 minutes in Home Goods thanks to a car-figurine-induced breakdown… my sweet boy just wants to hold every single car in existence. Even the breakable ones!

Friday:

On Friday we went back to Publix for a few more groceries and stopped at Starbucks along the way! Publix is our go-to for a relaxing outing. Shopping there really is a dang pleasure.

Saturday:

Saturday we made another trip to the farmer’s market mainly to support a friend of mine who had a ceramics booth! We try to limit ourselves to one Farmer’s market trip a month, otherwise we’d go broke.

Sunday:

Another church fit to complete the full cycle! I love getting dressed for church. I always find it fun to put together an outfit that’s a little extra jazzy from my everyday lewks!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks!

-Anna Kristen

I still have all the thoughts about clothing and secondhand sourcing and motherhood and personal style, so pardon my progress as I figure out what All That She Wrote should look like in this new stage of life. It’s evolving, just like me!

Today, however, I know exactly what I want to talk about: my recent new-year style challenge!

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In January of ‘24, I participated in Old Loser in Brooklyn’s “75 Hard Style Challenge”. The challenge consists of several rules, the main one being you have to get dressed every single day. At the time, I did not have a baby (he wasn’t even in my belly yet!), and I still found it incredibly hard, almost impossible, to get dressed every single day!

There were elements of the challenge I really loved, especially the encouragement to shop my own closet and hone in on personal style. It really pushed my limits, though, and there were days when it just wasn’t fun to get dressed. I felt pressure to always put together an outfit that was killer cool which usually left me feeling imposter syndrome as well as paralyzed by indecision.

In January, my son turned one (sobbing), and with it came the technical end of my postpartum journey. I was surprised and not surprised that it took pretty much the entire year for me to come back to myself! Around the eight month mark, I finished pelvic floor physical therapy (cannot recommend enough, mamas!!!!!!), I went on my first RUN in like 2 years, my son was taking two naps consistently, and the fog really started to clear. In the new year, I knew I wanted to set some ~goals and intentions~ for myself, and personal style had to be one of them.

With that came my own rules-free style challenge! My only goal was to intentionally get dressed five out of the seven days of the week in January and February. Every week other than one, I was able to accomplish that goal! Here’s what I learned along the way:

1. I do well when working with a uniform

If you’re a person who spends a lot of time thinking about personal style, it can be overwhelming to approach your closet on the days when you have five minutes to get dressed or your child is screaming at the top of their lungs unless you’re holding them. Who could be expected to put together a groundbreaking outfit in that environment!? This is when it comes in handy to have a template or a uniform of sorts to throw on so you can leave the house feeling like yourself. Athleisure has its place, but I can’t wear leggings every day and expect to keep my mental health at it’s peak—and that’s just me! It’s different for everyone.

My uniform changes with the seasons, and uniforms can always have variations! Because you also will not catch me wearing the same outfit every single day like a cartoon character. My uniform is roughly as follows:

Winter: sweater, jeans, socks, loafers, jacket if needed

Spring: striped shirt (usually a boat neck), light pants or shorts, flats

Summer: lightweight blouse (I’ve been collecting Doen tops secondhand), breezy shorts, sandals (usually a wrap sandal)

Fall: more boat neck striped shirts, jeans or lightweight pants, flats or loafers

Lucky for me I have multiples of every item listed in the uniform pairings which gives me leeway when creating! Here are some examples of the uniform that appeared during the style challenge:

As you can see, 3/4 of these looks include a striped boat neck top. I know what I’m about, people! I’m wearing one as I type this, lol. Every outfit has its own variation and combination, but they’re similar enough that I didn’t have to think too hard. The uniform can include variations as well like the examples below.

Variations to the uniform here include here a maxi skirt, a pair of cowboy boots, corduroy pants, and Birkenstocks. None of these additions cause me to feel less like me, they’re just one step above the usual uniform, except for the cargo pants look which is what I’d consider one step down. It leans more casual lounging than putting together an outfit, but it works!

2. More creative dressing has its place in the week, but it’s usually reserved for days with more brain cells (and time)

As much as I love the uniform, I also wanna go big from time to time! Usually these outfits present on Sundays for church, the occasional date night, or when I have a chance to leave the house alone. Basically the question is, do I have extra time to get ready or plan an outfit in advance, and do I have a place to wear my kewl outfit creation?

Here are a few examples of fun outfits I was able to put together through my style challenge:

All of the above lewks came together on Saturdays when I was heading out for some sort of fun errand! Every look save one was put together when I had someone to watch James while I got ready.

Above are four of my favorite church fits from the style challenge! I love doing it a little big on Sundays, and I love how all of these looks came together.

Lewks for nights out (plus one more church fit). My husband and I don’t get too many opportunities to go out on a date, but every now and then we get a sitter and treat ourselves to a meal with no food on the floor to clean up afterwards. Date nights also have the special bonus of no 25lb baby to lug around which means I think a lot less about how my accessories might get in the way when changing diapers, wrangling a little one into a car seat, and once again, carrying that big ole baby! These are the times I pull out the clutch purse, the unique layering, and the decoratively placed belts.

Let the record show I did not have a place to put my clutch at the local hibachi restaurant, so I set it on a napkin carefully placed on the sticky restaurant floor.

3. Dressing should be fun

It should be fun to get dressed, and there are a handful of things that can make it less so. Something I run into a lot is comparison! It can be hard to see other fashion creators online with fabulous style and not compare myself, photos, and videos to the ones they post on their Instagrams. That kind of comparison kills creativity!

A few years ago, I saw a quote saying something about how art is individual, and if you try to make your art look like someone else’s, it’ll always come up short. The same is true for dressing! I will never totally dress like X creator because I am not her. My brain sees different combinations, colors, and patterns it likes, and my life looks different than most fashion girlies on many counts! And that’s good! Because I am me and there’s only one of me. I don’t need to dress like anyone but myself.

I think it’s natural to be inspired by others on a daily basis, but at the end of the day we can only be who we are. I never want to look like a carbon copy of someone else.

Side note, that is why secondhand shopping is so fabulous! You’re almost always going to have things in your closet that no one else does which makes dressing like an individual a lot easier.

4. Picky shopping = less consumption

I’ve noticed I’m shopping a lot less than I used to, and I think there are multiple reasons for that. First of all, I don’t have as much money to spend! I’m selling less than I used to with All That and a Bag of Thrifts, and we also have a whole other person to sustain in our household. And frankly, it’s a lot of fun to buy him stuff! I also have become more picky about what I bring into my closet. Whether I’m thrifting or buying new, I’ve become quite the snob when it come to the fabric of my clothing. I almost exclusively buy natural fibers for my home and wardrobe, and that goes for the the things I source at the thrift store as well.

I think I’m also settling into my personal style the older I get, and something reallyyy has to tickle my fancy for me to pick it up for myself. I’m just not as easily pleased! But I think that’s good. Being more picky has led to less consumption, and I’m perfectly fine with that!

One of my few purchases during the style challenge was a thrifted metallic Michael Kors purse which I am 99.9% is genuine leather despite not being able to find a fabric tag. It was $20 at my local thrift which still to this day makes me roll my eyes in the back of my head. Like seriously, y’all? It’s Michael Kors… not Chanel. Hell, not even Dooney and Bourke! But despite its annoyingly high price tag, I was still thinking about it after leaving it behind, and I called a friend to pick it up for me. I genuinely have no regrets! I love the dang thing and have used it nonstop since purchasing it!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! And she did indeed write a lot… hoping to see you all here more frequently! Until next time!

-Anna Kristen

Here is my small but thoughtful list of last minute gift ideas that are all (most likely) available locally! No shipping or Amazon required!

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1. Fun Stamps

I’m not sure what has gotten into me lately, but the idea of fun stamps has become very exciting to me. Maybe this is my I’m-getting-old hobby? I’ve been dying to get my mitts on a book of the Goodnight Moon stamps this fall, so much so that I almost drove 40 minutes round trip earlier this week to get them two towns over (I didn’t—ordered them on USPS.com instead), and it’s got me searching eBay for other interesting books of stamps to add to my collection! I do intend to use them, though. I’m not going to be a weird stamp hoarder, rest assured!

Bop into your local USPS location and ask to flip through their stamp binder! You’re sure to find a book that will brighten up your loved one’s correspondences.

2. Local Coffee

I love coffee, and I love the idea of getting a bag from a friend or loved one’s favorite local joint! I also love gifting local coffee, especially with how expensive the market has become. Coffee as a gift? In this economy? Your java-loving friend or family member is sure to be thrilled!

3. Batch (or single serve) Desserts from Local Restaurants

Or chains! I personally plan to add a batch of Chick-fil-A chocolate chip cookies to my wish list this year. They’re my absolute fave, and I can’t believe I’ve only just now thought to do this! And have you tried the slices of cake from Newks? Delicious! Of course, think locally, too. Maybe your town has a mom and pop BBQ joint that has amazing peanut butter buckeyes, or maybe the nearby coffee shop makes amazing pastries! Swing by on the way to see your loved one and pick up something delicious and fresh for them to enjoy on site. Pop a bow on the take-out container for good festive measure!

4. Alcohol (responsibly)

Alcohol can make a great gift! I rarely gift things like wine or beer, but I do love the idea of buying one of those tall, skinny wine bags to dress it up for a recipient. My husband loves bourbon, and I love going to the liquor store to make a selection based solely on how pretty the bottle is! I usually tie a shimmery gold ribbon around the neck, and viola! The perfect gift. Is your friend or loved one more of a beer gal like myself? Make a pick six for them and tie a ribbon around the handle! Boom, last minute gift done! And let’s not forget about those cute tiny liquor bottles twinkling at you from the checkout counter. They make for great stocking stuffers, or consider buying a selection for a boozy little gift basket!

5. Thrifted Home Goods

I would be remiss if I not recommend a secondhand option for you all, and thrifted home goods make very easy, cheap, and unique gifts! All of the items in this photo were found on a single trip to my local Goodwill, and they’d all make great gifts! Never doubt the power of a good thrift find.

6. A Subscription

One of my favorite Christmas gifts of all time was from my friend Emily Anne who got me a subscription to Teen Vogue my junior year of high school. It was so thoughtful, and I credit it as one of the catalysts that got me interested in fashion! Once the year-long subscription ran out, I continued to send in my $7.95 (oh, how times have changed) to keep it going for the next few years!

There are so many subscriptions out there to consider as well. Whether that’s a meal subscription, bags of coffee beans, activity boxes for kids, a magazine, or a streaming service, there is definitely something out there for the loved one on your list!

7. Cold Hard Cash

Like you hadn’t already thought of that one, right? But yeah, sometimes cash is a great gift! I’m currently still holding on to some birthday money I received in July, and I’m planning to use it to get something I desperately need which is a pair of boots. If cash feels too impersonal, consider giving a gift card to said recipient’s favorite restaurant, store, or coffee shop! Better yet, research a highly rated local restaurant in the area for your gift card surprise. Not feeling the gift card idea? Offer to pay for their next babysitter, cleaning service, or home project. Money can be a personal gift if you play your cards (and cash) right!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I’d love to hear if this list inspired you or if you have anything to add! Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

-Anna Kristen

There have been so many times I’ve sat in a moment of solitude and started penning out an All That She Wrote only to get interrupted and have the words become buried in my notes app. A confusing treasure trove that notes app is… But here I am in November (and *finally* finishing this update in December) sitting ALONE at my favorite coffee shop with an iced latte and the remains of a carrot cake muffin. There are so many of those notes I want to resurrect and flesh out, but I think today we’ll just start with a check-in.

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My son is now 11 months old—that’s almost ONE YEAR, people! This age is a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work! He can crawl—very fast I might add—and he’s super curious and loves exploring! He loves turning pages in books, pulling up on anything and everything, opening cabinets and drawers, and climbing on the hearth. He loves giving “kisses” (aggressive open-mouth face plants), he loves eating food, especially raspberries, black beans, Ritz crackers, and pimento cheese. He is so bright and beautiful and delectable and I just want to eat him alive!!! We found out last week that he now weighs a whopping 23lbs 12oz and is in the 85th percentile for weight. Evidence for my near constant back pain!

He is active and energetic and also starting to get opinionated. I can hardly take my eyes off of him since his lists of interests also include putting shoes, cords, and my cat’s food in his mouth. These things add to the fact that I feel like I can’t take a single second to myself unless he’s asleep or someone besides myself is with him.

Getting to stay home with my son is an immense privilege as well as an incredible challenge and sacrifice. I have friends who have to work to support their families, so they drop their babies off at daycare at 7:30am and don’t see them again until 5:30pm. Then it’s time to eat, bathe, and go to bed, and then it starts all over again. I do not envy them. Staying home with James is fun and hard and frustrating and tiring and sweet and costly. I give my time, my energy, and my body every day to sustaining him, and it’s so hard. But I also wouldn’t trade it! I’ve been with him for every milestone, every new skill, and also every hard day. Even still, breaks are so nice! I wish I had more breaks…

So here I sit, on my break, enjoying my iced pecan pie latte while my baby is at home with a sitter (a kind friend from church who’s offered to watch James for FREE once a week. I cry.), and I’m excited to see him again but I also wish I didn’t have to rush home. Can’t a girl just have it all???

I’m sure at this point you can understand why Substacks are at the very bottom rung of my ladder of importance these days, but I do miss them terribly! Hopefully I can get back to more regular newsletters, maybe even once a month! A girl can dream.

To cap off this All That She Wrote, here are some things on my current wishlist! Some practical, some impractical, some are things I want to get for James, and some are pretty unhinged. I hope you enjoy!

1. Melissa and Doug cleaning set - this one is for James but also for me. Crystal (@beerbottles_chainsaws) recently posted her son’s favorite toys as a toddler, and she said that Melissa and Doug went multi platinum in their household. I felt that.

2. Gingham stroller bag - this one is so expensive but so cute, and you know what? Mama wants her boujee stroller bag.

3. Polo socks - I don’t need more socks, but these ones are so cute and will offer a fab pop of color to my winter loafer lewks!

4. Sandy Liang skirt - yeah I’m never going to spend $1k on a skirt, but this one lives rent free in my mind.

5. Wooden toy espresso set - this one is for James but is really for me… I mean come on, how cute!?

6. A trip to NYC - what is it about NYC, y’all? Every time I go I’m just ITCHING to get back as soon as possible! We’re trying to save up to go to Europe next summer, but I so badly want to squeeze in a trip to the city beforehand… it’s not going to happen, but I want it!!!

7. Perfume from the TJ Maxx perfume case - basically I’ve given my husband a list of options, and I want him to choose one Russian roulette style for me. It’s risky! But I’m pretty sure I can return it if I don’t like the scent…

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I’d love to hear what’s on your wishlist at the moment!

-Anna Kristen

Alongside beach vacations, summer bucket lists, trips to the pool, and my favorite month of all time (hello, July!!!), summer also brings a lot of fresh inspiration for me. I love seeing summer ‘fits—for myself and those I follow on socials—come together despite the challenges of high temperatures paired with the benefits of certain summer settings (the beach, European vacations, etc.).

Here are a few things I’ve saved recently that are making me feel inspired!

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I recently screenshotted a picture of this girl wearing a white tank and a sequin skirt (I can’t even remember whose Insta she was featured on) thinking, I can recreate this lewk! And so I did!

Another screenshot from Elizabeth Tamkin on Instagram. Her dad sports what seems to be a Zabar’s tote collab, and I want to get my mitts on it STAT!

Similarly to the first pics, this oversized white top and lace skirt combo has not left my mind since seeing it on Jessie Bush’s feed a couple of weeks back! I cannot wait to recreate this fit.

I cannot stop thinking about this giant Lucite bangle I saw on Hurst (@pigg.jpeg on Insta) recently. If you see a similar one out and about at the thrifts, holler at ya girl!

I’m absolutely obsessed with this pic of Reese Blutstein and her son in matching striped shorts as well as the yellow Donni tank she paired with them! It looks like the tank is sold out in this color way which is fine by me as $118 is a little steep for a cotton tank top. I feel so strongly that I could thrift something identical to it!

I’ve loved this Chora Store bag for years. Hoping one day I can find something similar that will scratch the itch for less than $400!

I haven’t bee very interested in the silk scarf trend until, well, now, but I’m loving the unique styling options offered here by Leandra Cohen and Renia Jaz. Now to find a scarf big enough to pull of the skirt and halter lewks!

Absolutely obsessed with this vintage baby lifeguard onesie I spotted on Mercari! I missed the widow for it fitting my son, but boy is it cute! I will be using the stripes color combo for future fit inspo, rest assured.

Sea New York is having a summer sale, and these two pieces are calling my name! I’m obsessed with the unique skirt applique which gives me MAJOR Sandy Liang vibes from that one collection. You know the one (or maybe you don’t). I’m convinced I could make it, but let’s be honest, it’ll never happen. In this *economy? (*season of motherhood) The pants are also fabulous, but I cannot justify a pair of cool pants atm.

This piece by Annalee Beck has me PUMPED for my favorite month of the year! And look at how darling! I need it in print version.

And last but CERTAINLY not least is this pic of my friend’s daughter taking a “call” in Aldi. The drop waist dress over bike shorts? The princess kitten heels? The STANCE? Faye is serving and we all know it. Best believe I will be recreating this lewk as soon as possible and giving her (and her mama) all the credit!!!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Inspiration is all around you. I hope you’re having a great July so far!

I’ve loved gifting for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always wanted gifts to feel super special! Practical things are nice, but when it comes to birthdays and Christmas, you will find neither hide nor hair of practicality on my list of wants. Once my friend Madison sent me her Christmas wishlist which was full of needs for her new home… curtain rods, a mop, a vacuum… I balked. “What the heck is this? There’s nothing fun on here,” to which she replied, “Well, this is what I want.” I got her a curtain rod and a copy of Last Holiday on DVD. Compromise! Gifts are meant to be fun things! They always have been. That is, until I had a child…

Here I stand on the cusp of my 31st birthday, and I can hardly conjure a non-practical wishlist item to save my life. I also realize it’s a whole month before my birthday, but I’ve already been asked to produce a wishlist of my typical caliber, and I’m stressin’! Everything I want is either very specific and expensive or completely practical (and also expensive).

It’s been so hard for me to pin down things that I’d like to have for my birthday because most of the things I desire in this season are concepts, not things. I want a day to myself or a clean home that I didn’t clean or a month-long stint of health. I want to enjoy my son and for him to be content in his car seat while I’m strolling the isles of TJ Maxx and Goodwill. I want to sit at a coffee shop by myself and write a dumb newsletter without my boobs being needed elsewhere in 3 hours or less. The things I want as a mom are considerably different that what I wanted as a not-mom. Don’t get me wrong, I still love clothes and trinkets and little treats, and I DO want gifts to open on my birthday, but I can openly admit that my tastes have indeed changed, and I think that’s okay!

Here’s my best attempt at a 31st birthday wishlist for my first year as a mom that marries practicality and funness!

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1. Coach Candle - Last month, Anna Russell and I went to the Coach store at the Tanger Outlets in Pooler, and I’ve been thinking about this candle ever since! I love the metal top and the tiny Coach tag, and the scent is divine.

2. Vintage Ferrari T-shirt - My husband and I have gotten annoyingly into Formula 1 thanks to the Netflix documentary Formula 1: Drive to Survive, and we’ve each chosen a team to pull for. I’ve decided I’m a Ferrari gal (because I’m a Lewis Hamilton gal… are we surprised?), and my husband prefers the underdog, Williams. Ebay is full of fun vintage Ferrari T-shirts, so I’m hoping to add a reasonably priced, single-stitch beauty to my collection!

3. Polaroid Film - Pretty simple, I want cutie pics of my baby on film.

4. Swiss Dot PJ Set - admittedly my forever PJs-as-day-clothes influencer Ruby Redstone got my lusting after this set! I would not, I assure you, wear them for sleeping. PJs as day clothes 4eva!

5. A maid service to clean the whole house - We had cleaners come in January once our home renovations were done, and it was a dang LUXURY! They cleaned the baseboards and the ceiling fans and even washed the dishes in our sink. I was shooketh in the best way! Been dreaming about it ever since.

6. Blackout Curtains - Yeah yeah, I know. Curtains, really? But yes really, because when I’m feeding the baby at 5:30am and there’s light streaming through the window, I don’t want him to get even a smidge of awareness that the day might be starting. His booty (and my booty) are going back to sleep for as long as I can manage!

7. Boujee Cotton Undies - Listen, y’all, postpartum ain’t no walk in the park. In fact, It’s more like a walk through a hail storm in a bikini with no shoes on and there’s also like an alligator trying to nip at our heels every few steps. And all the while, you’re wearing ratty undies. The time has come to reclaim pretty undergarments, and these cutie cotton ones have caught my eye!

8. A gift certificate for a massage - I don’t think I need to explain this one… mom back is real!

9. Charlie Beads Bloomers - I’ve had these on my wishlist for so long now! Maybe the time has finally come.

10. Susan Alexandra Tiny Joys Charms - I wear my tiny joys earrings every single week! They’re super easy to switch out and throw on with any outfit. The charms are a wee bit pricey, but I definitely get my money’s worth.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I hope you’re having a lovely week. Let me know what’s on your birthday wishlist this year!

-Anna Kristen

Though I wasn’t able to swim and tan and get dressed as much as I have in the past, I still had a few opportunities to throw some ‘fits. Here are the ones that made it out of the room!

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Much of my fashion goals for the week were motivated by functionality. I’m so used to my outfits being impractical because they can be, but Beach with Baby is a different game entirely. Can I wear the carrier with the outfit? Will it be able to withstand copious amounts of drool? Will I still be comfortable if I sweat completely through my shirt? All new considerations since in years past my main outfit creation motivation was, “will I look cool and feel cool?”

Lewk 1

Monday I didn’t wear much other than my Strand T-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts. Tuesday is when I really started dressin’! I felt insanely kewl in my vintage, single-stitch Miller Time T (from Mississippi Heat Vintage on Insta), my thrifted tie-dye terry cloth shorts (they’re Buc-ee’s merch lol), and my new flip flops from Havianas!

Despite my nursing boobs making every single one of my t-shirts too tight, I felt so good in this ‘fit. And it was practical! We took James to see the beach, and later he took a nap in the carrier while I enjoyed a scoop of my favorite ice cream on the planet: Cappuccino Crunch by Hershey.

Lewk 2

Tuesday night I was determined to take James to his first ever large group meeting before bed (we lasted approximately one song + the announcements before leaving), and I thought it was a good time to get completely dressed up, makeup and all, for the first time that week. And again, it was only for the duration of one song + the announcements. So pretty much 20 minutes… oh well, that’s mom life, right?

I was really excited about this fit! I transformed a pair of gaudy flare pants into these Gimaguas dupe bike shorts last summer, and they are SO comfy! I paired them with a thrifted boat neck, a beaded turquoise necklace, and the Havianas. It checked all the boxes: comfy, kewl, practical!

Lewk 3

My first true ‘fit all day was for our dinner out, and I was excited to get truly dolled up for the first time all week! Though this ‘fit was less practical than others, it still allowed comfortable movement and was carrier-wearable.

My top is a years-long beachy summer favorite! I thrifted it in 2017 in Florida, and thankfully I haven’t outgrown it through years of body shifts and changes. I got the pants last year on sale at Anthropologie, and they’re from their collab with Farmrio. They have elastic at the back which also allows for wear in different stages of life! The last time I wore them I was 16 weeks pregnant and just starting to show. The shell earrings are a thrifted holy grail from years back, and the orchid clips are from Etsy.

Lewk 4

Thursday morning we had an outing to get donuts at Thomas’, an iconic PCB establishment!

I snagged this striped boat-neck tank (y’all know I’m a slut for a striped boat neck) on Monday at Target and decided it was time to whip it out! I’m particularly excited about this tank because I’m able to wear it with my nursing bras whereas my other 5+ cotton tanks require a racer back. Why is that? Someone reach out to Big Tank Top and let me know… The shorts are a recent thrifted pair of Carhartt’s that I turned into cut-offs, sunglasses are from Walmart a few years ago, and of course the Havianas once again. Later I spruced the ‘fit up for ~night time~ by adding a pair of wrap-up huaraches and a chunky charm bracelet.

Lewk 5

All the wives of RUF campus ministers go out to lunch on Thursday, so I was excited to transfer da baby to my husband and get dressed up for the outing! For my first ever wives lunch, I rolled up in an exercise dress while everyone else was sporting their beachy best. I was so vastly underdressed that I had an identity crisis and have been working to restore my reputation (literally not a single person cares) ever since!

I got the meet-up times mixed up for our lunch and therefore was RUSHIN’ to get ready. The results were fine, but I wish I would’ve gone with a different necklace. The blouse is a recent thrift find, and it’s a 100% silk J.Crew piece! It’s tagged three sizes larger than what I normally wear, but it’s perfectly flowy and oversized! The itty bitty white shorts are a Target pair I thrifted a few years ago, and I’ve always loved how my legs look in them. The macramé purse is from an antique store in Waco, TX, the necklace is me-made, and the scrunchie, earrings, and wrap-up huarache sandals are from Etsy!

Lewk 6

The final lewk of the week was worn only for beach family photos, but it’s still worth sharing!

Our gingham pieces are both made by Little Lawless! I got my dress several years ago and just commissioned James a romper to match. I’m very sad to say that he’ll probably only get one more wear out of it before it gets too small. That boy is growing like a dang weed! I think the pics will turn out cuteeeee cute! And hopefully the photographer will edit out the breast milk stains from my leaking, braless bewbies, lol.

A quick moment for some of James’ beach lewks!!!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I hope you’re having a lovely start to your summer!

-Anna Kristen

For the past four years, I’ve treated these weeks as a beachy fashion outlet because 1) why not, and 2) you’re just not going to keep me from an excuse to dress the heck up. Also for the past four years, I’ve had literally zero responsibilities at SuCo other than to read a fun book on the beach and work on my tan! This year, however, will be different.

I am excited to take little man on his first ever vacation as well as his first trip to the beach, but I hear vacations look a littleeee different with kiddos. All this to say, my adventures in beach fashion will likely be confined to one-hour spurts on the beach and/or pool and nap time restraints inside of our room.

With this in mind, I’d like to reminisce on some of my favorite lewks from SuCos past! Enjoy this sunkissed trip down memory lane.

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SuCo 2021

The pandemic year we actually didn’t have official SuCo but rather “RUF Beach Week”. It was a day shorter than Summer Conference, and I don’t think ‘fits were at the forefront of my mind. Even still, here are the two I captured that week!

SuCo 2022

Once again I neglected to document many of my ‘fits this SuCo. I did, however, document my hormonal melasma.

SuCo 2023

This is when it starts getting good, if I do say so myself. The beach fits of ‘23 were so slay that I basically wanted to copy all of them again for ‘24!

Another Little Lawless (formerly Lady Lawless) vintage find! This Hilo Hattie dress is the stuff beachy dreams are made of. Someone hemmed the bottom to make a sash, but I cut it in half and have used it as a hair accessory every time instead!

SuCo 2024

I had to get creative in an attempt to out-fashion the SuCo ‘fits of ‘23, but I’m still very pleased with the results a year later!

This fit was a personal favorite! The top is Maison Cleo and is a piece I wanted for years and years and finally purchased two summers ago. The pants are part of a two-piece set from M.92 Clothing. I saved for the set for so long! The inseam on the pants is shorter than I’d prefer, but what can ya do. The necklace is from a small local shop in Kill Devil Hills, and it’s made from recycled sea glass! The shell earrings are a holy grail thrift find. Orchid clips and huarache wrap sandals are both from Etsy. Purse was an insane $1 thrift find!

Took this video in front of a teen who was facetiming a friend on the other side of the balcony. We do what we gotta do to document the ‘fit! Crocheted top is from Etsy, necklace is another me-made piece, clip is from Target. Shorts and sandals are mentioned above!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Stay tuned for this year’s beach ‘fit roundup! I’m going to do my darnedest to still be cutie beach girl even though I’m a mom this year, haha. We shall see what she comes up with!

-Anna Kristen

Here’s a list of things that brought me joy in April both in the good and the hard moments!

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Fresh Flowers

Since February, I’ve almost always had a fresh bouquet in our home, and it’s been a game changer! Even if I’m having a horrible day, the flowers sprouting out of our dining room table are an instant mood booster. Call me crazy, but I guess that’s just nature for you!

Dressing my Son (and sometimes dressing like my son)

There’s just something about a baby ‘fit, man. James lived in pajama onesies his first month of life, but now that it’s so much warmer and he also seems less breakable, getting him dressed is one of my favorite things!

Solo Coffee Shop Trips

When you spend most of your waking moments at home, the chance to get out of the house alone becomes SUCH a luxury. At least once a week I try to get to a coffee shop by myself, whether that’s the drive through at Starbucks or sitting down at my favorite local spot. I’m a big latte and two pastries girlie! Also loving the cherry cold foam at Starbucks lately!

Jelly Sandals

Jellies are the perfect transitional shoe—not quite a flat, not quite a full on grippers-out sandal—and I can hardly take mine off! Not only that, but they seem to trigger a nostalgic reaction from folks my age and older which is a sweet perk. My lactation consultant has pointed them out at least three times now! They’re also comfy as heck and perfect for ~mom life~.

Homemade Lattes

Normally a huge homemade latte gal, I got put off of them during pregnancy. I think mainly because my coffee aversion started at home with a homemade latte, I couldn’t stomach the thought of one for ages. I still can’t go near my Torani salted caramel syrup when it was previously my daily go-to! When I had my son, my appetite was completely out of whack for several weeks which was causing me to keep coffee—a newborn life necessity—at bay. I’ve recently been playing around with unique flavors which has helped spark the at-home latte interest once again! Mainly lavender, rose, and chocolate-banana.

Not Wearing the Same Thing Every Day

When you become a mom, you assume a daily uniform for better or worse. Mine has consistently been a striped boat neck top, elastic waist bottoms, and Birkenstocks or jellie sandals. Any time I get to wear something different, whether it’s for my son’s out-of-town OT appointments, church, or a rare date night, I get excited! It feels special to pull out a pair of Loeffler Randall flats, a sexy lil top, or even JEANS! When they’re not too tight…

Korean Food at Home

You can thank (as in I can thank) K-dramas for sparking mine and my husband’s interest in Korean food, and we cannot get enough! Kimchi, gimbap, udon noodles… give it all to us! Often when my mother-in-law is in town we make a stop at the Asian market, and we always leave with a haul of goodies to try out!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I hope you find beauty amidst the mundane today!

-Anna Kristen

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Loeffler Randall Suede Tote

After a laundry fiasco with a Loeffler Randall cardigan I got for Christmas, I was left with a store credit and lots of scrolling to do. After much contemplation, I decided to go for a practical (roomy enough for all my mom crap) and impractical (heavy and pristinely clean genuine suede which is totally unsuitable for sticky fingers) studded leather tote! It’s a gorgeous bag, but admittedly difficult to lug around whilst also carrying a car seat.

Leather Etsy Keychains

I love a bag charm! Last spring I got pulled into the trend of adorning a big ole purse with trinkets, necklaces, keychains, and the like.

I took a pause in the fall and re-evaluated what I like about the trend. Now I find myself attracted to one or two simple charms hanging off a bag vs a bauble hanging from every available strap or zipper. I also like to take the charms off of my bags after each use so I can place them on any subsequent purse in use vs the charm living on one single bag. This makes getting ready rather cumbersome if I’m trying to get multiple keychain rings on a zipper while my baby is crying… so now I’m trying to pair down while still enjoying a cute lil charm hanging off my daily bag!

My most recent purse charm purchases were two handmade leather charms from Etsy. This tulip charm and a little leather “A” charm.

Jelly Sandals

You may recall in my pp check-in the mentioning of the netted jelly sandals that are dupes of the $900 pair from The Row. The pair I had my heart set on was a red pair from the Australian brand Senso. They were a pretty penny for a pair of sandals, but with such a large following on Insta, I decided to take the plunge. They did, after all, appear to be the right color and shape to suit my itch.

After about a month of waiting, the sandals finally arrived in my mailbox from Down Under, and… they were too small. They were also shockingly low-quality feeling (in my humble opinion). I thought the sole of the shoe would be sturdier, but it’s literally completely slick and made from the same plastic material as the netting. Call me crazy, but I expected just a bit more from a $115 shoe. Maybe they’d hold up amazingly well over time, but as they were so small, I couldn’t even consider the possibility of testing that theory.

I made sure to check the return policy before purchasing, and they are returnable. HOWEVER, I have to ship them back to literal Australia on my own dime… I get they’re a small business, but come on! Shipping will likely be half of what I paid. A big ole thumbs down and zero stars. Will never shop with them again!

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago I stumbled upon an identical pair in a clear color way in TJ Maxx for $14. I’ve been wearing said pair on repeat! Here’s hoping they last forever because they’re so comfy and I’m obsessed with them.

Momcozy Milk Pump

This one might seem lame to all the non-mommies out there, but I found it worth mentioning! I got a Spectra pump from my insurance, but I found it so clunky to use, and almost impossible to go about daily life and pump at the same time. Not only that, but my milk output was extremely inconsistent. Sometimes I’d get 3oz from my morning pump (not even enough for a full bottle for my son), and sometimes I’d manage to squeeze out 4.5oz. Idk what the difference is, but the Momcozy M5 milks me like a damn cow. I’m getting almost double of my Spectra output, and I can do stuff during my pump! No more sitting on the couch scrolling through pics of my son and concentrating extra hard to stimulate a letdown.

They say a wearable pump shouldn’t be your main pump, but I honestly don’t know why. Also, every pumping bra sucks. With the MomCozy, I’m able to stick it in my nursing bra and call it a day. No more finagling with pesky flanges!!! It does have one million parts I have to wash at the end of the day, but it’s worth it to me.

LL Bean Boat and Tote

This one is another recall from my pp wishlist! I finally found what I consider is my perfect tote combo: white on white with red lettering. Still loving the Pop of Red™. It’s super roomy and also fits all my Mom Crap! Win win!

Hanna Andersson PJs

Before becoming a mom, I would hear other moms talking about Hanna Andersson and feel totally lost. My algo has discovered that I’ve had a child, and it’s started pumping my feed full of cute baby brands, one of which is HA.

I didn’t really get it until I started scrolling, but the stuff is cuteeee! I decided to splurge and get my son and myself matching HA PJs because why the hell not?? Me and that boy will be matching until he becomes self aware enough to tell me otherwise (and then some… because I said so!!!). And may I just say, they’re so soft and high quality! And the mom PJs have pockets! My absolute fave.

So Much eBay

I avoided late night feeding scrolling for so long, but I’ve officially given in… In the past two weeks I’ve purchased six PB Bear books (one of my favorites as a child), four Hanna Andersson pieces for my son (three pairs of PJs and a swimsuit), a belated birthday gift for my brother (a bolo tie—don’t tell him!), and two pairs of Baby Boden pants. Phew, that’s a lot! But we’ll reap the benefits for a while… right?

Baggu Miffy Collection

Not Baggu dropping a literal thirst trap collab with Miffy while I’m in my mom era!!! I snagged a reusable bag as well as a picnic blanket! I can’t wait to take it to the park to use with my son once he can sit up on his own.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Now I’m off to the thrift store to look for more Mom Crap and Baby Crap! Enjoy the latest Angel Baby pic! He’s growing too fast, y’all :’-)

-Anna Kristen

Though terribly excited to reclaim my lost wardrobe from pregnancy, I knew it would take some time to return to my pre-pregnancy pieces (if ever!). Perhaps one of the scariest closet items to approach were my jeans. Not only are they less forgiving than any other textile in my closet and thus not kind to a squishy, post-baby-bump belly, but the premise of introducing denim to my nether regions and tender abdomen so soon postpartum sounded like a nightmare. Thus my month without jeans began!

I simply could not go a whole month (and then some) without pants in the peak of winter, so below you will find some of the bottoms I wore to soothe my bottom in my jeans’ stead.

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Cool Sweatpants:

Sweatpants are the quintessential cozy pant, but most of my life the term “sweatpants” only conjured images of baggy, heather gray Hanes pieces or team sport warmup gear. Over the years, the sweats game has evolved significantly! Two of my pairs on repeat during postpartum have been a barrel-style pair from Anthropologie and a pair I snagged from Tibi’s semi-annual sale last summer. Both are not cheap options, but they’ve definitely made lounging around the house feel much more glam!

Elastic Waist Pants:

Like, yeah no duh. But my elastic waist cotton (or cotton-adjacent) pants have put in some WORK the past month! I feel like almost all of these pants have been acquired within the last two years, and boy am I reaping those benefits.

Comfy Shorts:

We had a bought of warm weather earlier in February which was such a balm to the soul, but it also allowed for a switcheroo of cozy home lewks as I bared my (non shaven) legs for the first time in months!

Skirts:

When pants fail you, skirts are always an option! This Mango skirt was an absolute workhorse for me in pregnancy, and it’s remained a go-to in postpartum. See the large elastic waist…

Stretchy Pants Highlight:

I’d be remiss to not highlight these non-jeans pants that sort of fit into their own category. A year or two ago, High Sport put out a pair of cropped, red flare pants that some of the influencer types on my insta feed started incorporating into their wardrobe. They are a cool $890 on Net-A-Porter and thus will never have a space in my closet. Recently I got a suggested ad on Instagram for a similar pair from Gap. At the time they were on sale for just $40! This was by far the most affordable option I’d seen of this style pant. J.crew also has a pair on sale for $120 (which is fishy bc I’m pretty sure they’re a part of the same parent company buttttt I digress). I ordered the Gap pair and have been so pleased! They’re very comfy and offer an elevated take on a stretchy business casual style pant. Not that she’s doing business, but still.

Fit Highlight:

Before I go, I wanted to share my favorite no-jeans lewk since having my son! Grandma was in town last week which meant Nathanael and I could get out for a few hours. We went out to dinner at one of our favorite local spots, and this is the ensemble I put together. I wore these thrifted trousers throughout most of my pregnancy because they’re multiple sizes big and also have elastic built into the waist! Now that my baby bump is sleeping peacefully in his SnuggleMe, I can roll down the waist on these trousers which has always been the goal.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! One day jeans and I will meet again, but today is still not that day.

If you need me, I’ll be here for the foreseeable future!

-Anna Kristen

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My son James was born on January 16th, and we’ve been in a total baby bubble since then. It’s insane how black-hole-like those first few weeks are, especially if you’re having a difficult recovery (I am). The baby bubble is blissful and sweet, but we’re also learning how to balance being parents while maintaining the hobbies we love as well as prioritizing one another and time with our little man. Some days that looks like Nathanael playing video games in his office while I feed the baby on the couch and watch Love Island. Some days it looks like stealing away to a coffee shop for two hours to pen out an overdue All That She Wrote while dad keeps the baby at home, like today! My pelvic floor is finally healed enough to sit on a non-cushioned café chair for an hour, so here we are!

Baby James is such a sweetie. We’ve so loved getting to know him and soak up all the newborn snuggles! And objectively he is just so darn beautiful. Like, he came out of me beautiful. I’m not sure how we got such a cute baby, but we did!

The first week out of the hospital was a total crap shoot when it came to sleep, but now he’s adjusted a bit, and we’re actually racking up some decent hours at night! It feels like a miracle, but it’s something we prayed fervently for pre-birth as I have a history with bad bad insomnia and hormonal issues related to many nights with no sleep.

Recovery has been hard for me. Pre-birth, no one mentioned how physically taxing it could be to recover from pushing a human out of your body. Besides the knowledge that I would bleed for a few weeks along with a postpartum Frida Mom care package, I was totally and completely unprepared. To be fair, I didn’t seek out birth stories because I wanted to go in unfazed. I figured labor and delivery would be hard, it’s what came after that I was totally shocked by.

I feel like recovery is something many women don’t talk about or simply block out due to trauma, and honestly I get it! I’ll spare you the gory deets of my experience, but I ended up pushing for three hours to bring James earth side, and it resulted in me being totally out of commission for about a week and needing help with simple things like going to the bathroom and standing up or sitting down. Being that helpless also took a toll on my mental health… understandably so.

I have healed SO much since the day they wheeled me into the postpartum hospital room, but I’m still dealing with some pp complications. Namely one particular mystery infection that presents as a UTI but hasn’t gone away with two rounds of antibiotics… but I digress. Ultimately I’m doing well, but y’all please check in on your postpartum friends!!! They are going through it.

P.S. If you ever ever ever want someone to talk to about birth/pregnancy/postpartum recovery, please reach out! I’m an open book. It’s not all bad and scary, but I would’ve liked to be a wee bit more prepared than I was! Just reply to this email or DM me at @allthatandabagofthrifts on Insta! Or text me if you have my number, lol.

Now for the fun stuff! Towards the end of my pregnancy, I started compiling a list of items that I was lusting after post-big belly era! These aren’t things I added to my cart the second James was out of the womb, but rather a few things I want to keep in mind the next time I’m hankering for a treat (which I almost always am). I set myself up to enjoy these treats by selling a bunch of closet items the weeks leading up to delivery and saving virtually all the money I made. Now it’s time to fill my cart! Here’s what will be in it:

1. Cuffed, Stretchy Jeans

Currently the idea of sliding into jeans while I have stitches in my hoo-ha is the stuff nightmares are made of, but when the time comes, this pair is calling my name! I don’t know much about this brand other than Elizabeth from Stay Golden Girl hyped them up on her Insta, but gosh they’re so darn cute! They’re currently sold out in my size, so fingers crossed they restock!

2. LL Bean Boat and Tote

I’ve wanted an LL Bean tote for so long, but I’m paralyzed by color combos and monogram options! I can’t decide if I want one with red accents or this all-white tote with a red monogram… decisions, decisions! Not that she needs another tote, but who’s going to stop me!?!

3. J.Crew Satin Square-toe Ballet Flats

J.Crew is SO good right now!!! Idk when they made the switch from preppy-summers-in-the-Hamptons core/if-you-wore-it-in-my-high-school-you-had-money chic, but here they are in 2025 putting out sexy little pieces that make my heart race!!! These flats feel like the more affordable (though still an investment) alternative to the Sandy Liang satin ballet flats, and I’m thiiiis close to taking the plunge. Flats have had a place in my wardrobe for years, and I think they’ll continue to be a staple for me as I delve into the world of mom fashion.

4. Retinol Hand Lotion

This stuff is stupid expensive (in my humble opinion), but it’s made with retinol and is supposed to young-ify your hands after X amount of uses! You’re prohibited from using retinol during pregnancy (though I’ve never actually used it before), but now that my baby has been evicted from my abdomen, I wanna retinol it up!!! Plus, boujee hand lotion is one of those decadent things you can splurge on and you don’t have to worry if it’s going to fit or not when it comes in the mail. We all need something like that in our lives!

5. Sunscreen Serum

Speaking of boujee skincare, this piqued my interest the other day as I once again fell prey to targeted Instagram ads. I’ve heard good things about this brand, and I’m intrigued!

6. Jelly Sandals

These sandals are cool as heck, and they’re a knockoff of The Row version which retail for around $900. There are other Row-esque jelly sandal offerings on the internet right now, but this is the general idea! has been rocking a pair for months now throughout her charming LA fall and winter, and I just cannot get them out of my head! As one of my forever icons, I shouldn’t be surprised to feel influenced by her style yet again.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I’m hoping to get back to thrifting and writing more again soon, especially when Baby James can safely accompany me to the germ-ridden racks of Goodwill! And seriously, do reach out if you ever want to talk about postpartum, etc. <3

-Anna Kristen

I hate the term “New Year’s Resolutions” because they feel temporary and easily breakable, but compiling a list of yearly goals or aspirations excites me and gives me something to look forward to as the old year draws to a close! I’ve been doing this since 2018, and it’s a practice I plan to continue. I know in theory nothing truly changes as 12am rolls the world from December 31st to January 1st, just like nothing really changes when you turn a year older, but I don’t care. Something truly feels different and fresh to me, and I always get excited and inspired to step into the next year! If you feel similarly, this All That She Wrote is for you!

I’ve compiled a list of New Year’s recommendations to offer to you as a way to make the start of 2025 feel fresh and exciting!

First, and perhaps most obvious, make a list of New Year’s goals:

Every year on New Year’s Eve, I sit down and pen out my list of goals for the year to come! The key here is sustainability. What are some truly attainable goals you can accomplish within a year’s time? Perhaps reading one book a week is way too ambitious and cumbersome than a goal of reading 10 books a year (I think my goal this year was six!), and definitely steer clear of potentially dangerous body goals or diet culture influences (like losing “x” amount of lbs, giving up sugar, or working out seven days a week).

Want to exercise more? Start small with a goal to intentionally move your body two or three times a week. Want to be more mindful about eating habits? Look into intuitive eating or have a goal to swap one of your daily carby snacks for something with multiple macronutrients! It’s all about balance and attainability. And the best part is that these are yearly goals. That means if you start working at them in July rather than getting it right every day of January, that’s okay!!! And consider adding some non-health goals to your list as well. I know someone who last year wanted to finish 2024 being able to do the splits! I personally wanted to try 10 new Crumbl cookie flavors and watch one new movie a month. Make sure to add something fun to your list!

Here’s a list of some of my goals from 2024!

As you can see, I did have some health goals, but they were all goals that felt very attainable for me! I’d say for much of the year I did eat more well-rounded meals, I stayed very consistent with exercise as my body allowed (hello third-trimester-sedentary-lifestyle-caused-by-miscellaneous-pain), and I completed the Yoga with Adrienne 30-day challenge! More on that later.

I also did indeed watch at least one new movie a month, try over 10 new Crumbl flavors, and read six books (audiobooks included). There were also some things I didn’t accomplish like getting back into swimming laps, but hey, you win some, you lose some! I’m pleased with how the year shook out!

Try a New Year’s challenge:

New Year’s challenges feel different than yearly goals as they normally start in January, but if you pick the right one for your lifestyle, I think they can be an exciting way to start the year! They also give you something to look forward to when January 1st rolls around. As always, feel free to complete your challenges any time during the year if January doesn’t suit you. Here are a few I’ve tried in the past or plan to try in 2025!

1. Yoga with Adrienne 30-day challenge

   I’ve completed this challenge twice now, both in 2022 and 2024 (I attempted it in 2023 during some debilitating insomnia which was NOT the move, friends), and it always leaves me feeling so good and strong! Adrienne’s yoga flows are also very gentle and beginner-friendly, and they usually range from 20-30 minutes to accommodate a busy lifestyle. And the best part? They’re all free on YouTube! She starts the challenge on January 2nd, so you’ve still got time to secure your yoga mat! I’m sad I can’t participate this year, but if you think this 9-month-preg belly can do chaturanga to updog, well you’re just dead wrong.

Hitting the crow on the final day of the challenge last year!!! It was wobbly, but I was very proud!

2. 75 hard style challenge with Old Loser in Brooklyn

   I’ve referenced this challenge before in my All That She Wrote on personal style, but it’s a GREAT way to hone in on your style preferences and re-charge after a few weeks spent in your Christmas jammies! Mandy has already referenced the challenge returning this year, and she said she plans to mainly document her ‘fits and process via her Instagram and Substack: ! I did about 65 days of the challenge last year before tapping out (some days you just want to wear sweats, and I needed that freedom), but it was a very fun challenge for me nonetheless! I will not be participating this year as my son will be joining us in January, and my main lewk most days will undoubtedly be stretchy PJs or a big fluffy robe (both presumably covered in breast milk).

3. A Bible-in-a-year Reading Plan

   I realize this one is Christian-specific, but I am attempting one this year and feeling excited about it! I’ve attempted Bible-in-a-year plans twice before and never completed them. One was chronological which I admittedly gave up on somewhere around Job, and the other was a five-days-a-week plan which was my speed in theory but ultimately had chunks of scripture too large to tackle every time I sat down to read my Bible. I might be a little ambitious with this year’s goal seeing as though I’m, oh idk, having a baby, but I’m thinking 4am feedings will be a good time to crank out those passages rather than scrolling mindlessly… we shall see!

   Alternately (if you’re not a Bible reader), you could try a book challenge of a different type! Maybe get a friend to commit to doing it with you and enjoy how it bonds your friendship in reading accountability!

Incorporate a clothing cleanse:

If you’re like me, shopping is almost a constant. It can be nice to break up the consumerism by taking a month off from shopping! This isn’t a hardcore challenge but rather a way to reflect on your clothing consumption habits, and you choose the rules! Personally I’ve done no-clothes-shopping cleanses (accessories allowed), and no shopping at all (nothing outside of necessities). I also chronicled my last two cleanses here on All That She Wrote! I had a fairly successful May clothing cleanse and a less successful September cleanse.

Skeptical as to whether or not you need to “cleanse” in the first place? Try keeping track of all your clothing and accessory purchases in a month! I’ve done this every month since last January, and it is SHOCKING the amount of clothing that I, one singular woman, integrate into my wardrobe in the span of 30 days. Cleansing has helped me take a break from the consumerism as well as keep a wishlist of gaps I find in my closet during my no-buy month!

Swap for secondhand:

If you’re here, odds are you already follow my thrift Insta All That and a Bag of Thrifts and probably already have an interest in shopping secondhand or thrifting. However, we all fall prey to new trends and the desire for impulse buys, myself included! This year, if there’s something you’re interested in, why not try to find it secondhand first? It might not always pan out, but most likely the thing you want already exists preowned somewhere, and it also probably exists in a higher quality context! Clothes are made so cheaply these days… I won’t get on my soapbox about it, though.

Two examples of a time I opted for secondhand instead of new in 2024 were a leather Banana Republic clutch and a gray cardigan. First, the clutch. In February I attempted a clothing cleanse (see previous recommendation!), and whilst “browsing but not shopping” at a nearby outlet mall, I stumbled upon a clutch I decided I could not live without. However, before adding it to my physical shopping cart, I did a cursory search for the clutch on eBay. Low and behold, the clutch was there, still in its dust bag, too! No, it probably didn’t live much of a life before I got it, but it was still a secondhand purchase. I paid more on eBay than I would have in-store, but I was okay with the trade off.

Next, the cardigan. I wanted a gray cardigan SO bad this fall, but I could not for the life of me find a 100% cotton cardigan that wasn’t $100+. The search was arduous, but I wouldn’t be satisfied until I’d brought this classic staple into my wardrobe. I think a full month passed before I found the perfect fit on Depop! It was a cotton blend, but it still hit the mark for me! I think I paid something like $25 for it, and I bundled it with another piece from the seller’s shop that became a Christmas gift which also awarded me free shipping. Win-win!!!

Get into a new hobby:

Somehow the new year just seems like the best time to start a new hobby! Again, it all goes back to that fresh-year feeling. Get into baking or sourdough, start weightlifting or doing yoga (another plug for the Yoga with Adrienne challenge), get a paint set, pull out your old sewing machine, start watching a new reality show… It can be anything you want it to be! My husband got a 3D printer on Black Friday and is so excited about setting it up and printing DND miniatures and airplane models. Last year we started watching K-dramas in January, and our life has never been the same! If you’re K-curious, might I suggest Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha on Netflix? I’m not being dramatic when I say it’s life-changing. Be prepared to feel all the feels!!!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Wishing you the happiest New Year and a 2025 full of joy!

-Anna Kristen

I’ve put together four categories of gift giving ideas for your browsing pleasure as well as one extra category (miscellaneous good gift ideas that didn’t fit anywhere in particular). I’ve also included a few things that are on my personal wish list for this year!

I hope you enjoy the browsing of this gift guide as much as I did the building of it. Please let me know if you end up getting anything from this list!!! I’d loveeee to see if I inspired anyone out there!

So without further ado, the official All That Gift Guide for 2024:

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For the Homebody:

1. Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister - $11 - Mystery novels are some of the coziest reads in my humble opinion! These three are all mysteries I have enjoyed over the past two years, and I think your homebody friend will enjoy them as well!

2. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - $11 - I personally enjoyed this one more than The Guest List, but that’s another good one for your mystery-loving friend!

3. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse - $10 - A little more spooky than the others, but this one has a sequel! And there’s a third in production as I understand it.

4. Puffy Mug and Saucer Set - Currently on sale for $28! - Perfect for your friend or loved one’s aesthetic coffee/tea/matcha needs!

5. Zabar’s Coffee - $17 - You didn’t think I was going to make it through this gift guide without an NYC rec, did you?? Coffee always makes a great gift! Have this New York staple delivered right to your loved one’s door!

6. Homebody Sweatshirt - $34 - I thrifted a “Homebody” sweatshirt from my local Goodwill, and it’s one of my most complimented pieces! This one comes in multiple colors, too.

7. Turkish Towels - $31.20 per bath towel - The perfect cozy self-care accessory for the one who prefers a night in!

For the Sustainable Friend:

1. Girlfriend Collective Apparel - Pictured and linked, Paloma sports bra, $56 - Girlfriend Collective has become my all time favorite athletic brand! Their compression pieces are so good, and everything is made from recycled water bottles! How cool is that!? I have two of these Paloma sports bras on my personal Christmas wish list. They’re my all time faves!

2. Baggu Reusable Bags - $14 - If you’re my friend, odds are I’ve gifted you one of these reusable bags. They are my everyday shopping go-tos! I think I own like 30 of them… They’re double the size of a regular shopping bag, and they can be thrown in the wash if they get dirty! They also come in all sorts of adorable prints. Win, win, win!

3. Anything from eBay - Pictured and linked, Wedgewood Jasperware Tea Cup and Saucer Set, $30 - eBay is a stinking treasure trove, y’all. Whether you’re looking for Carhartt, Prada, old nostalgic toys, Christmas decorations, vintage accessories, eclectic home goods… if you can dream it, eBay has got it! Your sustainable friend (or anyone in your life for that matter) will love and treasure their unique gift for the holiday season!

4. Vintage Shell Purse via eBay - $15 - A beautiful vintage statement piece!

5. Vintage Barn Jacket via eBay - $45 - The barn jacket is the moment. Your friend or loved one doesn’t wear size Large? Ebay has a plethora of barn jackets in all color ways and sizes! Just search for what you need!

6. Rechargeable Lighter - $9 - I have one of these, and I use it almost every day! No more buying those bulky disposable lighters from the store!

7. Reusable Paper Towels - $26 - Once again, this gift guide item comes from a personal recommendation. I own a set of reusable paper towels, and it’s helped us cut down on our paper towel consumption significantly! Those things are expensive, people! But these are cute and washable. I love that for the sustainable girlies.

For the One Who Travels:

1. Owala Water Bottle - $30 - Owala bottles come in all sorts of fun colors, and they have several different size options! My favorite Owala features are the two drinking options (sip-from-a-straw and tip-back-to-drink) as well as the loop on top for easy carrying!

2. Loeffler Randall Travel Tote - $195 - A bit more pricey than most of the gift guide offerings, but it is Loeffler Randall after all! This tote has a slot on the back to slide over your suitcase handles! Available in four color ways.

3. Baggu Travel Pouches - $40 - An adorable set of travel pouches for your friend’s on-the-go needs! They come in multiple print combinations, but the gingham is by far my favorite.

4. Comrad Compression Socks - $32 - Compression socks are a must have for those who travel long distances! I have a pair of these socks for pregnancy swelling, and I find them effective and useful! They’re also cuter than the average compression sock. Level up your friend’s compression sock game!

5. Baggu Airpods Case - $15 - Can you tell I’m a fan of Baggu? These puffy Airpods cases are adorable and perfect to clip onto a travel tote or backpack! Multiple prints available, as always.

6. Silk Eye Mask - $18 - An eye mask is a nightly essential for yours truly, and this striped one is extra cute for those overnight flights or unpredictable hotel stays! Your finicky sleeper friend will thank you!

For the Fashionista:

1. Susan Alexandra Pieces - Pictured and linked, Popsicle Tiny Joys Charm, $40 - I am obsessed with Susan Alexandra. The obsession started with her beautiful beaded bags, but now I am quite fixated on her jewelry! I’ve been to the brick and mortar in NYC twice now (each visit was a magical experience), but you can always find one of her pieces on my Christmas or birthday wish list! The fashionista in your life will love any gift from her vast and cutesy inventory.

2. Susan Alexandra Tote Bag - $98 - Still a splurge for a tote bag, but much more affordable than her handmade bead bags!

3. Susan Alexandra Bear Bag Charm - $63 - Speaking of beading, the SA bag charms are absolutely adorable! Here’s one from the critter collection, but make sure to check out the fruit collection, too!

4. Charlie’s Beads Bloomer Shorts - $68 - I have a pair of these on my personal Christmas wish list, so fingers crossed I’ll have a pair of my own in a couple month’s time! They are all made of deadstock fabrics, and they come in a wide variety of adorable prints!

5. Colorful Caps via eBay - Pictured and linked, Red Polo Cap, $25 - Caps are such a fun way to add some color to an outfit, and Polo seems to have one in every color of the rainbow! This specific cap is new with tags, but there are copious amounts of preloved Polo caps to choose from on eBay as well as other vintage caps!

6. Room Shop Scrunchie - $27 - Room Shop has so many scrunchies and hair accessories to choose from, but one of my personal favorites has to be the giant scrunchies! I find this red one particularly stunning!

7. Tabi Shoes - $60 - Tabis are the ultimate fashion girlie shoe. For those of us who can’t afford the $900 Maison Margiela tabis, there are some more affordable offerings available online! I am not familiar with the brand of the linked Tabis, Raboesy, but they’ve got good reviews and are listed at a reasonable price point!

More Fun Gift Ideas:

1. Vintage Lunch Trays - $68 - I have a set of vintage lunch trays like these, and they are so fun to pull out for dinner parties! The vintage Dallas trays come in lots of fun colors and prints like these. This set is a bit pricey, but they have the “make offer” option available, or you could hunt down a different set! I’ve collected mine two at a time over the past few years.

2. Custom Cocktail Napkins - $48 - These custom cocktail napkins are the perfect gift for a friend who loves to host! I love the wavy edge and the red/pink color combo!

3. Anything from Salter House - Pictured and linked, Hand Poured Scented Candle, $44 - Salter House is a small New York based company that carries the most adorable home goods and beautiful handmade clothes! I’ve had the privilege of going to both their Brooklyn and Manhattan locations. Both are as sweet as can be!

4. Salter House Beeswax Taper Candles - $16 - I love these tapers! The twisted design is so cute, and they look perfect in any candlestick. Available in three colors!

5. Salter House Horsehair Dish Brush - $9 - These are the best dish brushes! I know this might seem like a boring Christmas gift, but trust. Your clean freak friend will thank you!

6. Fancy Chocolates - $40 - You can never go wrong with a box of chocolates as a gift. There are plenty of fancy chocolates that don’t cost $40, but this brand did a collab with The Met which comes in some very fun collective tins! But of course you can Google “fancy chocolates” and find a variety of brands and price points.

7. Candied Pecans - $19/lb - These can probably be found at your local farmer’s market or holiday market, or if you live in NYC just stop at any Nuts 4 Nuts store or kiosk, but candied nuts are always a good gift for the (allergy-free) nut lovers in your life! And they smell absolutely divine.

8. Chunks Hair Clips - $24 - Chunks has all sorts of adorable hair clips, barrettes, and accessories! I personally love this large claw clip, though. For the thick hair girlies!

9. Baggu Fanny Pack - $48 - Last one, I promise! You can almost never go wrong with a fanny pack, and this one will definitely go on sale during Black Friday!

10. Custom Embroidered Pillow - $58 - A little pricey for a gift, but these are the cutest little pillows! Or perhaps good DIY inspo if you can sew and cross stitch!

What’s on My Wish List?

1. Richard Scarry Tote - $42 - How cute is this tote!? I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I’m going to be a mom soon or the Richard Scarry Instagram account I recently followed, but I’ve become a little obsessed. And bonus, this tote would make a great baby bag for our coming-soon son!

2. Hanni Smooth Body Oil - $34 - I’ve been wanting to try Hanni Smooth for a while now, mostly due to ’s influence, and the gift-giving holidays seem like the perfect occasion to ask for skincare products that pique your interest!

3. Gray Calzedonia Tights - $15 - I recently saw someone on social media wearing gray tights and thought, yes. That’s it. I hear rave reviews about this brand but have never tried it!

4. Cozyland Pajamas - $160 - Definitely the most frivolous thing on my wish list… No one really needs $160 pajamas, but these ones are super cute, and I’ve wanted them for a year now! Plus, so few of my PJ’s actually fit right now that it was worth a wish list shot.

5. Calico Critters Keychain - $14 - I didn’t know a single thing about Calico Critters until seeing them in a fancy schmancy toy store in Jackson, MS earlier this fall, but now I want to collect them. A keychain seemed like a very age-appropriate place to start! It’s a gateway critter…

6. Bodum Milk Frother - $40 - This might be the item on my list I’m the most excited about. Not too long ago, I saw Reese Blutstein (@double3xposure on Instagram) making her morning coffee using this Bodum electric milk frother, and I immediately inquired as to where the sorcery came from. I can steam milk using the wand on my cheapy espresso machine, but I have to physically handle it, it takes forever, and the sound it makes is utterly offensive and ringwraith-esque. With this frother, I can press a button, walk away, and return to perfectly fluffy, frothed, and steamed milk. It’s going to be a morning coffee game changer!!!

7. Room Shop Award Ribbon - $28 - I didn’t think I’d get into the award ribbon trend, but alas. I felt similarly about the rosette trend, but I’m still wearing my Etsy rosette a year after purchasing it, and I consider that a trend win! Hopefully the award ribbon will stand the test of time in my wardrobe as well. Time will tell! (assuming I get it…)

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! A reminder to please let me know if you scoop any of these items for yourself or for a loved one!!! I’d love to know if I inspired any purchases for you!

-Anna Kristen

In this All That She Wrote, I’m playing around with three colors to pop in your fits this fall and winter to give them the oomph that red might be starting to lack! Specifically, orange, yellow, and blue.

I’ve been working on this particular All That She Wrote for over a month now, but I’ve finally put together enough lewks to release this into the wild. I hope you enjoy!

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Orange:

I don’t own many orange pieces (as evidenced by my sparse “pop of orange” fits), but I think it’s one I’ll start drawing into my wardrobe more and more.

A cap

While in the NY Public Library gift shop in September, I saw another tourist wearing a bright orange Polo cap with her fit, and I immediately opened my eBay app in search of my own! I’m normally not drawn to orange on the regular, but something about the color in cap form was very attractive to me.

A Cardigan

This cardigan was a surprise Christmas present from my husband in ‘21. I say “surprise” because I make very detailed birthday and Christmas wish lists, and there are rarely off-list surprises (even though I expect them every year!). Apparently (as my husband tells it) I was looking at this cardigan via an Instagram ad, remarked that it was cute, then completely forgot about it as he proceeded to track it down online and buy it for me in the month of August. I have zero recollection of looking at the cardigan online, but it was a sweet surprise and quickly became one of my most worn pieces in the winter of ‘22!

I admittedly don’t reach for it as much as I did back then, but it’s still a really fun one to pop some color in my outfits!

A T-shirt

I’m not sure if this one totally counts, but we’re counting it for the sake of the Substack! I think graphic T designs can absolutely add color and interest into a fit just like this one did when I wore it.

A purse

A nice Pop of Orange throwback from my Florida days! I wish I still had this thrifted straw purse, but I’m a chronic closet-cleaner-outer, and unfortunately it’s been long gone. But still v good Pop of Orange inspo regardless!

More Pop of Orange inspo from my fave, Tibi!

Blue:

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of blue! Especially baby blue. I find it pairs exceptionally well with other colors I love like red, brown, or butter yellow.

A sweater

I thrifted this sweater in Round Rock, Texas in 2020, and it remains one of my favorite sweaters all these years later! The color is unique, and the fabric is extremely structured which is rare in a sweater and completely impossible to find new these days. Vintage is where it’s at, folks!

A cap

You’ll have to excuse the old pic from the spring, but ya girl only wears so many outfits in a week! I’m proud to see my March self opted for this blue cap from an old Man Repeller merch drop instead of my usual red Polo cap . I love the way it pairs with the yellow!

A sock

A sock can be so subtle but add so much interest to a lewk. Socks were basically a part of my personality from 2020-21, but I’ve pulled them back a bit. Still, a solid colored sock does a world of wonder for a fit!

One last Pop of Blue inspo from Alfonso Ribeiro in last week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. The brown and blue suit combo is giving me life!!!

Yellow:

I have no shortage of yellow in my wardrobe. Specifically, butter yellow has become one of my favorite colors in the past few years! They say blondes aren’t supposed to wear yellow, but I do what I want. Butter yellow is in my color wheelhouse if you ask me!

A cardigan

She popped some red here too, oops! Like I said, I’m a slut for Pop of Red™. The cardigan is a fairly new eBay purchase. I saw this exact sweater in a thrift store in Monterey, CA over the summer, but I passed it up because I just couldn’t decide if I had the room in my suitcase or if it was too out-of-season for the shop.

Months later, I saw one of the Blutstein twins (@double3xposure and @accidentalinfluencer on Insta) styling a vintage yellow cardigan, though right now I cannot find the picture for the life of me, and I decided it was a sign. To the pages of eBay I went!

I found a replica of the one I’d seen in Monterey, and I snatched that sucker up. Statesboro is having THE hottest fall of all time, but I found one day a few weeks ago where styling it wasn’t pure sweaty misery.

A pant

These soft as butter (and buttery yellow, too) pants are part of a PJ set from HAY Design. Yes, that’s the Danish furniture design company that makes those storage bins everyone is obsessed with. Last summer I saw Ruby Redstone sporting the set on her Instagram, and I immediately started scheming on how to get my own.

I now own the pants, top, and matching shorts, and I wear all three pieces constantly! They add such a fun Pop of Yellow to any outfit, and they’re comfy as heck.

A pullover sweater

EBay and Polo should be the unofficial sponsors of this Substack if you ask me… I bought this sweater last winter, and it instantly became one of my favorites! Its so perfectly oversized and cozy, and it’s also 100% cotton which I’ll never kick out of bed. Yellow and brown is a new favorite color combination, and I thought this pairing was delectable!

A sock

Last year during the Christmas season, my husband and I had our annual viewing of White Christmas. If you know the film, there’s one scene where Danny Kaye as Phil Davis is pretending to have a sprained ankle to keep General Waverly away from the TV for an hour or so, and he’s wearing a delicious pair of buttery yellow socks. I was immediately inspired! I found this pair via Uniqlo last year, and I love the pop of color they bring to an outfit.

Honorable mention: Brat Green

For the Olds, think sour apple green. I’ve been seeing this color appear all over in fashion recently. I’m convinced all colors eventually through the fashion cycle (see Pop of Red™), and after our culturally titled “Brat Girl Summer,” I’ve started to see this color all the time. I don’t currently own any Brat Green pieces, but my current wish list item is a twin set, vintage J.Crew if I can find it!

Tibi has featured the color in their new collection as well as Prada, and it’s only a matter of time before Pop of Green™ starts to affect us all.

I have to admit there’s something very attractive to me about this green! I hope to be able to source some Brat green pieces and start popping them in my wardrobe ASAP.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Will you try any of these pops of color this fall/winter season?

-Anna Kristen

I left NYC feeling like I finally got it… I get why people rave about the city, and I get why folks are always trying to move there! It is so unlike anywhere else in the US. I think several factors set it apart, but a huge one for me was transportation. I’ve never been in a totally walkable city before New York, and even though the subways are dingy and sometimes contain awkward encounters with folks asking for money, the convenience of travel amongst the neighborhoods makes it all worth it! You never ever have to worry about parking, and you don’t even have to splurge on an Uber if you don’t want to. You can totally navigate through public transit, and that became so appealing to me.

Besides the sweaty subways, the city does offer much more attractive elements to it such as some of the most highly acclaimed museums in the world, countless historical sites (if you like that sort of thing…), and more delicious food and beverage options than you could ever dream of! And the shopping… we simply CANNOT forget about the shopping.

After my most recent visit, I was asked to compile a list of my top recs for a friend. I decided to adapt that extensive list into an All That She Wrote! Below is a list of my top 10 recs for visiting the city, both practical tips and spots I’ve loved visiting. I hope you enjoy!

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In no particular order… except #1

1. Download Citymapper

First and foremost, you need to download the Citymapper app before going to the city!!! This is a free navigation app that is tailor made to get around big cities via multiple transportation methods. For instance, if you’re at the Met and you want to get to SoHo, simply type in your destination, and Citymapper will navigate you the entire way, you just choose the train or bus route you’d like to take. It works way better for subway and bus transit than Google Maps!!! I prefer Google Maps for walking from point A to point B, but do use Citymapper if you’re going to take the bus or subway. It’s 10/10 the best.

This is an example of a selection of routes on Citymapper! As you can see, the app gives you options for walking, taxis, bikes, and below is a list of busses and trains. Sometimes it includes combinations of both! It also lets you know the cost of the route and approximate times.

When you’re on the subway, Citymapper will give you a list of stops with live updates until your destination! It’s so helpful. I can’t recommend it enough!

2. Zabar’s

Fans of You’ve Got Mail cannot miss out on this historic grocery store in the upper west side! Even if you’ve never seen the film (though you should), it’s still a lovely eating and shopping experience. They’ve got a bagel and pastry café alongside the grocery store, and I both love their bagels as well as picking up treats for loved ones at the grocery store before heading home!

3. Broadway

You gotta go. It doesn’t matter which show you see, you’ve just got to go! If you like musical theatre even a little bit, do not skip Broadway! Even the smaller shows are still cool and exciting. My husband and I saw Wicked in ‘23, and a friend and I saw Hadestown in September. Wicked was a freaking dream come true, and ngl, I kind of wish I’d seen it again in this year... Hadestown was fine, but it’s a bit more fun if you know a few of the songs (in my humble opinion) before you sit there for three hours. Both shows were fabulous experiences, though! Save up and splurge on some nice seats. You won’t regret it!

4. Veniero’s

If you only take one recommendation from this list, let it be Veniero’s. This is a historic (they just celebrated their 130th anniversary!) Italian Pasticceria on the East Side, and the desserts are to die for! I’ve been there twice now, both times for post-dinner dessert and café au lait, and the sheer amount of options boggles the mind. From cheesecake to mousse to gelato to coffees, there is literally something for everyone! This past trip we took a seasoned New Yorker along with us who claimed this was a new stop on her must-do list when friends and family come to visit! Do not skip it!!!

5. Central Park

This is a quintessential NYC spot. You can spend as much or as little time in Central Park, and it will most likely be delightful! It's got its tourist attractions, sure, but it’s also a big spot for locals. At the very least, you should walk from the upper west side (UWS) to the upper east side (UES) through the park just to get a glimpse! The iconic landmarks are also on Google maps. The Bethesda Terrace is worth a visit in my opinion, and there are free bathrooms there too! If you go in the winter it will most likely be MUCH less crowded.

There’s always someone playing music in the Bethesda Terrace! If anyone can recognize this song based on the 7 seconds of audio, please let a sister know.

6. Freeman’s

I’ve eaten at Freeman’s both times during my NYC trips, and the food and atmosphere are unbeatable! It’s at the end of a graffitied alleyway, and when you step inside the restaurant, you feel like you’re in a British pub. It’s so cozy! I’ve been for lunch both times, and both times I got the lobster roll with a side salad… whoops. The waitress told us to come back for dinner next time, and I think I’ll take her up on that!

7. The Met

The museum of all museums. Be prepared for a crowd, tourists and locals alike! You could spend an entire day in The Met. I think we were there two total hours back in ‘23, and we barelyyy scratched the surface. Museums admittedly are not my thing, but I’d definitely go back if I could see a Met Gala fashion exhibition. I just don’t like reading those little plaques, lol. I am who I am! If you’re a museum person, the Met is not to be missed!

8. Shopping

If you’re like me, shopping is an important part of all travel, but especially in NYC! Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to explore any vintage or secondhand shops, mainly because both trips I was so laser focused on visiting the brick and mortars to so many of my favorite online shops and brands, but I know they’re out there! Here’s a rapid-fire list of some of my favorite shopping experiences in the big city!

• Uniqlo on 5th Ave - It’s massive, and I love that. Uniqlo, if you’re not familiar, is mainly known for their basics. Good solid building block pieces!

• Susan Alexandra - I can’t get enough of her jewelry! The shop is small but soooo cute. It’s covered from top to bottom with yellow tiles and stocked wall to wall with her dazzling beaded bags and adorable charms!

• Sandy Liang - Just across the street from Susan Alexandra, and always a source of dreamy inspo for me (I can’t exactly afford her pieces new).

• Glossier - Such a fun in-person shopping experience! And so fun to try out the products irl before you buy! The attendants are all super helpful, too.

• Tibi - Speaking of helpful attendants, my husband’s favorite shopping experience in NYC was definitely Tibi. I had no intention of buying anything (if it’s not on sale, it’s wayyy out of my price range), but the attendant brought Nathanael a bottle of water and set me up in a dressing room while I browsed! 10/10 customer service.

• Strand Books - Idk if this is a big spot for locals, but I, a two-time tourist, am obsessed. Three floors of wall to wall books as well as my favorite: book store trinkets! If you’re a book lover, you must go!

• Muji - My husband and I stumbled upon Muji while walking to Strand back in ‘23, and we’d never heard of the store before. Turns out NYC has something like 6 locations, but it felt very novel and exciting for us when we discovered it! Their clothing is now my husband’s whole personality. They also carry a smattering of stationary items, home goods, and snack foods! Worth the visit. A great place to find stocking stuffers for Christmas time!

• Salter House - If you can make it to Brooklyn, you should absolutely visit the Salter House there, but there’s one in Manhattan if not! They carry the cutest home goods and the loveliest NY-made clothing. The Brooklyn location has a tiny café and a bathroom as well! An important thing to note for NYC shopping imo…

• Chelsea Market - Lots of great restaurants and local shopping to be had at the Chelsea Market! A great place to spend a morning or an afternoon.

• Loeffler Randall - One of my all time favorite shoe and clothing lines! Every piece is a bit of an investment, but their items are high quality and will last you for years to come.

• The Harry Potter Store - Okay last one, but if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, the store is touristy but so cute! Definitely worth the visit, and a great spot to find gifts for your fellow Gryffindors.

9. Maman

Maman is a beautiful French coffee shop complete with house made pastries to make your mouth water and aesthetic toile printed to-go cups to house their delicious lattes! They have several locations throughout the city. I’ll always make time for Maman while in NYC!

10. The New York Public Library

Probably the chillest of all the attractions which makes sense due to the fact it’s… a library. But worth a visit if you’re in the area! It’s a really gorgeous, historic building, the information desk volunteer was such a delight, the treasury room was very cool, and we got to have a peek at the room where they filmed that one Ghostbusters scene! You could only get inside it if you were a certified researcher, smh. Clean bathrooms and good gift shop, too. Overall just a lovely experience!

And there you have it! My top 10 for NYC! Honorable mention to the Laguardia airport (PLEASE do not fly through anywhere else), and the New York City Ballet (I hope to see The Nutcracker there someday!). Whatever you decide to do in The Big Apple, I hope you enjoy yourself! It’s now one of my favorite places on earth.

That’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Happy exploring!

As I’m writing this, we’re already a few days into September. I know even now that this will be more of a low-buy month (as close to nothing as possible) rather than a no-buy month. On September 1st, I thrifted a black blazer which has been on my wishlist for quite some time now. I’ve been eyeing the Djerf Avenue Forever Blazer for years now, but I can’t bring myself to buy it knowing there are so many blazers waiting to be found at thrift stores. Idk if this blazer will stick in my closet (the shoulder pads are QUITE thick and not removable), but I did indeed purchase it in the month of September, soooo job not well done I suppose!

Another contributing factor which makes this a low-buy month rather than a no-buy month is the fact that I’m going to NYC on the 23rd. I’ve been saving since January for some big-city spending, and I plan to spend my hoarded spending money on clothing and accessories while there! My husband and I agree that this is permissible seeing as though the spending will come from a separate NYC-curated budget. I will remind the court that I am the budgeteer in my family unit, and my husband supports my clothes-as-a-hobby spending budget. The clothing cleanses were my idea! See Clothing Cleanse Diaries No. 1 for more details.

So without further ado, here are September’s clothing cleanse diaries!

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9/4/24

As stated previously, August was a high-volume purchase month. Somewhere around August 20th, I was pleased to find an affordable and in-good-condition barn jacket on Depop that fit my personal preferences! The seller even offered free shipping on bundles, so I threw a t-shirt for my husband into the mix. Two weeks passed, and I’d received ZERO communication from the seller (despite two very stern Depop messages), and my order hadn’t budged. Today I woke up to an email saying that my order had be refunded. Immediately I took to eBay in search of a replacement. I found a suitable option, made a reasonable offer, the seller accepted, and now I await my replacement barn jacket.

Since my refund from the negligent Depop seller was higher priced than the new eBay score, I’m not letting this one count as a purchase. And can you really blame me?

I have several other outstanding orders from August that I am waiting to receive in the mail, and one of them may turn out to be a scam… I’ll keep you posted!

9/6/24

In the above entry, I mentioned an outstanding August purchase that I was worried might be a scam. For over a year now, I have been searching high and low on secondhand platforms for THE Sandy Liang x Salomon Sneakers that sold out in seconds within their April ‘23 release. It was a shock and a tragedy to the entire Sandy community, and the aftermath resulted in numerous scammers claiming to sell the shoes on their perspective platforms OR folks listing them for $400+ on eBay (insert eye roll emoji).

On August 25th, I spotted a pair on Poshmark that seemed to be legit. The seller hadn’t marked them extremely low, they had various other listings, all of the seller’s pieces were photographed in front of the same printed sheet… everything seemed to check out. I made an offer, it got accepted, and then the waiting began.

To my surprise, I got a message from the app a few days later saying that the shoes had shipped! They idled at their Jacksonville post office for almost two weeks, and I started to worry this was some sort of a scam tactic. Maybe the seller created a label but didn’t put the shoes in the mail? I had read Poshmark’s protection policy front to back, and I was pretty sure I could get my money back if the shoes didn’t ever make it to me, I just had to wait.

And then… this morning I woke up to a text from USPS saying that the shoes are OUT FOR DELIVERY!!! I will report back soon whether the report was true or not!

9/9/24

The Sandy sneakers have arrived. They’re gorgeous, they’re comfortable, they’re brand new with tags, and they are about a half inch too small… I am devastated! One big motivation for snagging these sneakers was for my upcoming pilgrimage to NYC, but I’m fairly certain my toes will be killing me if I attempt to wear these shoes all day long, and I plan to.

So what have I done? Well, I’ve ordered the next size up on Poshmark… I know, I know! This is a huge investment for one single pair of sneakers! But I plan to sell the too-small pair which I hope will be an easy task seeing as though they’re still a highly coveted item. The idea is a similar switcheroo to the barn jacket… one out, one in. Annnnd since I placed the order for the first Sandy sneakers in August, it still doesn’t count towards September shopping!!! Now let’s pray the second pair isn’t a scam and that they arrive before my trip!

9/10/24

Okay y’all… I know this month probably seems like a no-buy/low-buy fail, but pregnancy is so tricky. I bought a pair of compression socks yesterday in anticipation of flying to NYC and fears of swelling. My feet have been hurting a lot lately, and I’m assuming it’s due to the extra weight dis baby is putting on my body (despite him being about 1lb). 

Also, and excuse my candidness, my boobs have become absolutely massive during this pregnancy. I might be up two whole cup sizes, and I do NOT appreciate it. My under boob sweat is also out of control! Presumably due to the extra weight and the increased blood flow/sweat gland activity yadi yada. My ARQ (God rest her soul) bralettes are hardly doing the trick anymore, and my under-boob sweat has stained them all. Not that the staining affects their efficacy, they’re just starting to look quite frumpy. Long (and potentially TMI) story short, I bought a bralette… but these two were purchases of necessity in my opinion! It’s not like I’ve gone on a thrift shopping spree. Give a girl a break!!!

9/16/24

Okay, we’re halfway through September, and my only non-preg/necessity/replacement purchases so far have still been that black thrifted blazer! Again, I’d like to remind the court that the Sandy sneakers and the barn jacket were replacements for August purchase fails, and I’ve made about 5 pregnancy purchases this month. Technically two of those actually came out of my husband’s fun-money budget (the sweetie caught me crying about my too-small bras and took me to Walmart for an emergency replacement purchase. He’s an angel!).

I’m starting to consider this month a real success as far as low-buy standards are concerned! I’ll be heading to NYC next week which of course will include some shopping, but again, that doesn’t count!!!

9/18/24

Just checking in to say that I haven’t bought any other non-boring-pregnancy-essential crap since the blazer! But I do have a new wishlist item(s). In preparation of bebe coming in January, I really want a house robe. This one from Djerf Avenue looks sooo cozy! I also kinda want the matching PJ set, too. We’ll see what kind of funds I’m looking at post-NYC! Even still, my shopping will be contained within September 23-26 until October rolls around.

9/30/24

Okay, so… I went to NYC, and as promised, I shopped till I dropped. I returned home on Thursday the 26th just in time to welcome hurricane Helene. And may I just say, what a bitch!!! Sorry for the language, folks, but… you get it. We’ve been without power since Friday around 2am. Thankfully we’ve been able to stay with some generous friends who have electricity and Wi-Fi, but I’ve officially broken the clothing cleanse.

There were several things I’d hoped to find in NYC that I couldn’t, and honestly I just needed some retail therapy. If you’re interested, I purchased two pairs of maternity bike shorts (because they’re alll I’m wearing atm) and some maternity jeans (finally). Still pregnancy purchases, so not quite fun splurges, but still. We’ll try again in a few months. Until then, thanks for following along anyway! I’m only human, sometimes these clothing cleanses just don’t work, lol.

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! I hope you’re all staying safe out there!

-Anna Kristen

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A few months ago, I wrote a piece on my personal style journey. I took readers through my varied phases of personal fashion starting with high school and ending in present day. What I gained through my photo research is the discovery that there are some through lines!

Since age 15 or so, I’ve loved putting an outfit together! In high school, my outfits were mainly inspired by other fashionable girls at my high school and Teen Vogue magazines with the occasional inspo from someone in my youth group (hello Toms mania).

Pinterest didn’t yet exist, and even if it had, I didn’t get a smartphone until graduating high school (specifically, the iPhone 4 I purchased with graduation money in 2012). My fashion inspo had to come from images or muses around me or the stores I had access to in my town. My personal fave was a local boutique called AzWell. Any Flowood, MS alums remember that one?

When considering my personal style, I never feel like I can really define it without considering what I’m enjoying at the specific moment in time, and I don’t think it has a specific title (modern, boho, eclectic, etc.). But where does that leave me over the past 15 years? Again, I think it’s important to consider those through lines.

I’d say since discovering ~fashion~ in high school, I’ve always enjoyed dressing in color. Two pieces that stand out to me specifically are a pair of purple corduroy skinny jeans I got from a Delia’s catalog my freshman year and a mustard yellow H&M mini skirt I found a thrift shop in Jackson, MS called The Orange Peel.

Though my fashion interests wax and wane (#neverforget the great trendy plight of 2020), I’d say that color has always intrigued me. So where do we go from there? Maybe this one through line is a good place to start, but what else? My style isn’t solely defined by being colorful.

In 2021, I got really into Amy Smilovic of Tibi’s reels/Instagram stories on how to find your personal style through a set of three defining style words. Her words are “chill, modern, and classic”. When getting dressed or shopping for new items, Amy always has these three words in mind. Can this outfit be defined as chill? Does it look modern? Does it have classic elements?

Finding my style words was a helpful place for me to start when considering my individual style in the 2020’s. I don’t always think through them when getting dressed, but I think it could be a helpful place for some folks to start. I also think having some style words can help us be a bit more mindful when shopping for our wardrobes! If you’re curious, my words are structured, feminine, and creative.

Here are three pictures from ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24 respectively. I think to each one there is a structured element (a vintage jean, a fitted blazer, a pleated skirt), a feminine element (a gingham PJ top, a flattering silhouette, a Mary Jane shoe), and a creative element (a tie dye sock, the Staud bucket bag, a denim chore jacket paired with preppy pieces). Now, does that mean I can only dress to these three words? Absolutely not. I daresay the outfit I’m wearing while writing this Substack might not have a specific “feminine” element to it other than my makeup or hairstyling (which counts imo). Again, these “style words” can be a good place for fashion-curious folks to start!

So what does that mean for you? Well, maybe start by asking yourself, “what are some things I like about my style? What are some things I like about myself?” Maybe you’re really athletic, so maybe your word for that is “sporty”. Maybe you’re really brilliant, so you choose the style word “smart”. Maybe you’re quite a relaxed person, so your style word is “chill” like Amy’s. If you find yourself feeling stumped, reach out to a close friend or a relative and ask them if they’ve noticed any defining elements of your personal style! They might be able to weigh in on your ‘fits in ways you can’t see yourself.

Another way to get started on defining your personal style is with a styling challenge! Mandy Lee of Old Loser in Brooklyn does a styling challenge at the start of every year in order to help herself hone in on her personal style and get her creative juices flowing. I participated in the challenge this year (up to day 65, that is), and it was a really great way to flex the creative outfit mind and hone in on my personal style!

The challenge consists of a few rules: get dressed every day, no shopping, document your daily outfits, set personal goals, etc. She challenges participants to use Pinterest and Instagram sparingly when creating outfits. The point is to push yourself in your own wardrobe without leaning on new pieces or inspo from the outside world!

For anyone looking to discover their personal style or become acquainted with it more deeply, this challenge (or even a similar 20 or 30 day challenge) as well as choosing some style words are where I suggest you start! Personal style is ever-evolving and difficult to define, but there are ways to tune out the new-trend-noise and focus on what you relate to personally. Harling Ross Anton had a Gumshoe Substack on this very thing! It’s currently behind a paywall, but if you’re already a subscriber, I suggest giving it a read.

Like I said before, I don’t have it all figured out, but I hope this gave you a good place to start! Getting dressed should be fun, not something that feels like a chore (though it’s natural to have those days). I hope getting dressed can be exciting for you in the days to come!

And that’s All That She Wrote today, folks! Happy styling!

-Anna Kristen