Week Links [8 November]

Well, we did it. Or, we didn’t do it, but organizers in swing states did it. Special shout out to Philly, Detroit, & Atlanta. I love Atlanta, and when we’re allowed to travel again, I’m definitely doing long weekends in Philly and Detroit and giving them all of my tourism money. I think we’ll always remember where we were when we found out the election had been called—I was washing dishes, and I got a text from my husband that said, “Is Biden President??” I immediately responded, “No,” but then I refreshed the ABC News live map on my phone and my heart stopped for a second. I kind of wish I’d gotten to see the news break in real time, but I’LL TAKE IT. Remember, remember the 7th of November, bitch!

I’ll be critical next week, but this weekend is for celebration. One less thing to worry about. We pop bottles when we vote out fascists.

  1. Never going to stop listening to this song for as long as I live! Let’s make it the most streamed rap song of all time. This is also in the running.
  2. Speaking of patriotism, Whitney Houston’s performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” is the best version ever performed or recorded. It’s hard to find a decent video of it, but this one starts at 1:15.
  3. Really wishing I had these champagne coupes to toast this weekend. *theatre kid voice* Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away!
  4. The Target Wondershop is absolutely popping off this year. Can you even handle this lemon ornament? I’m trying to be deliberate about my decoration curation, because the ornaments we had in my house growing up were really special—some from my mom’s childhood, some from ours—and although I am an Aesthetic™ bitch, I do want to bring that happy energy to my own children’s lives, should I ever be lucky enough to have kids (waiting on that vaccine for sure). And if I’m being honest, I’m probably going to get this retro tree in both sizes. I love that shit that was old even 25 years ago when I was a kid is coming back into vogue. *cue “Landslide“*
  5. I finally bought this sweatshirt after weeks of waffling because I thought it might be a jinx. Proud of my vote! Should I get a set of pearls to go with?
  6. My friend Rachel made a playlist of showtunes to blast when Biden’s victory was declared. She is an icon and a national treasure.
  7. Did we know that MIZ Stacey Abrams writes romance novels? Gonna have to find a way to buy all of them.
  8. I’ve been compiling a list of recipes to make if I’m ever allowed to host a gathering again and this is a definite yes. P.S. Very excited to soon have a President who believes in science and will take whatever measures are possible to mitigate the spread of the virus!
  9. I rewatched the 1997 animated film Anastasia on HBO Max on Wednesday (because stress), and I have to say it’s wildly underrated. Name a better voice cast! There are FIVE musical numbers before the 30 minute mark.
  10. My husband sent me this video about the most important run in music history. I’ve been working on this since roughly 2011 and I don’t think I’ve ever successfully done it.
  11. And, like, no neolib, but it is actually a huge fucking deal that Kamala Harris is our first woman Vice President. She has some blemishes on her record that she needs to acknowledge and atone for, and she wasn’t my choice in the primaries, but a Black, South Asian daughter of immigrants and HBCU grad without children who didn’t take her husband’s last name being elected to the second-highest office in the land? Representation matters—in big ways (young black and brown girls in this country get to grow up with a leader that looks like them), and slightly less significant, but still remarkable ways (you don’t have to give birth or let your identity be subsumed by a man’s to make it in politics). Even Hillary Clinton reluctantly took her husband’s last name in the interest of political expediency. This is a bit of a pet issue for me, I’ll admit, but in 2021 we’re moisturizing, drinking water, and not participating in the patriarchy anymore.
it is with a heavy heart that i must admit that young joe biden was a snack

Wallet Woes: Home Décor Edition

Like any American 20-something with a pulse, I love Target in a big, big way. I don’t buy my clothes, accessories, and food there, but basically everything else I need to live comes from Target. I have one on the way home from work AND 5 minutes down the road from my house, so I’m pretty much doomed. I’m boxed in!

 

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This cutie is now making my bathroom.

 

As a young (read: broke) person living on her own, I have to weigh a lot of options before I make big décor purchases. Décor necessarily falls into the “wants” not “needs” category, so decorating my home has taken me over 2 years and it’s still not nearly where I want it to be. Target has been an invaluable resource for buying things that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive, like lighting fixtures and rugs. There’s always some sort of deal going on!

 

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This bath mat. I mean, bitches love geometric patterns, amirite?

 

Piece by piece, our little home is coming together. Nate Berkus for Target has really helped with that. Affordable pieces with a high-end feel are my jam right now.

I chose to redo the bathroom, as it’s been the most neglected room in the house. Seriously…even with cleaning. It’s messed up. I decided it was time to pretty-fy. It is amazing how much making a space pretty will affect my desire to clean.

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I committed to this hue because, hello, pink towels. My bathroom is all black & white (and gold, thanks soap dispenser!), so I thought that a dark blush color story would be the perfect pop!

The bedroom also got a bit of a makeover. I bought this amazing rug in its 6′ round style and damn, is it plushy and perf. Della obviously approves.

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My office is still the ultimate work-in-progress, but little details like this letter sorter and my kick-ass lamp from Urban Outfitters really make it feel like an actual room worthy of an actual adult.

 

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I mean, does this letter sorter not give you LIFE?

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Also, who doesn’t need a banner of copper triangles above their office? I mean, come on.

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Piece by piece, the house is coming together. On Friday, my grandmother surprised me with my bridal shower and wedding presents: a new refrigerator and a new living room set! This week will bring a lot of changes, and I couldn’t be more excited.

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My new sectional is modern AF. It’s a leather-alternative with tons of storage and adjustable headrests. We got the matching storage ottoman as well. So excited to chuck our cat-hair infested hand-me-down couch!

 

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So. Much. Storage. DUDE. No more coffee table for the Figs!

So, it appears that my house is black, white, and gold with occasional pops of mustard, blush, and turquoise. I can’t say I saw that coming, but it happened organically, so it’s from the heart. Decorating our house has been the most time-consuming, eternal endeavor, but I’m having the best time.

What are your favorite décor shops?

–DellaBites