I used to think a weekly “things I’m loving” list was frivolous — just another scroll of pretty pictures. Then a few small purchases in one week made me realize: this is actually how I shop now. No sales, no urgency. Just a running list of the few things that genuinely caught my attention.
This week’s list: a serene coastal bedroom that stopped me mid-scroll, a Walmart cardigan that outperformed the brand I’ve worn for years, a wooden pumpkin candle worth burning for hours, $20 ballet flats in a lime green I can’t stop wearing, and some fall stems for vases that keep things simple.
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The whole point of this list is that nothing here is a must-buy. It’s the stuff that made me pause and think, oh, that’s the one.
A bedroom worth waking up in
This Baker’s Bay cottage tour in the Bahamas from Andrew Howard’s coverage is a stunner. Despite the pattern on pattern, the bedroom feels genuinely serene — the kind of calm that doesn’t come from minimalism, but from a room that’s clearly been lived in and loved.
Can you imagine waking up here in the mornings? Light on the water, and a room that doesn’t ask you to do a single thing.
The Walmart cardigan that fooled me
A few years back I was loving everything at Walmart fashion-wise. Their house brands tend to be great quality, some are made of organic materials, and they have a new brand called Scenario that looks really cute. But the last year or two fell flat for me — there just wasn’t much I got excited about.
But wow. They are back in a big way.
I just ordered this cardigan sweater jacket in navy blue (with striped trim, cuffs, and collar) and loved it so much I ordered the burgundy, too. It has real structure since it’s a heavier material, and it’s generously sized — I ordered a large, so if you’re between sizes, go with your smaller size. The weight means it works just as easily as a light jacket or a cardigan blazer. It has a slightly cropped fit (I’m super long-torsoed and don’t find it too short), and it looks great with high-waisted jeans. It can be worn open or closed — the gold buttons are fully functional — and it gives major Tuckernuck vibes on a Walmart budget. The stock photos aren’t doing it justice. I promise you nobody will believe it’s from Walmart.
With the success of that item, I went ahead and ordered a few of the other pieces I’d had my eyes on. I specifically looked at the denim options and ordered a couple of pairs. Does anyone remember the pair I wore nearly every day when we first moved to Florida? I wore them so often for a few years that I finally wore a hole in them from walking too much in Europe. Ha.
A necklace is also on its way to me — so perfect for fall outfits. I’m also trying a cableknit hoodie, a blazer with ribbed cuffs, and a striped cotton sweater. They also have cableknit cashmere sweaters that strongly compete with the brand I usually reach for. All of it is on my way, and I’ll tell you how it holds up once it arrives.
The candle that started the season
A friend recently gave me this wooden pumpkin candle for my birthday, and holy crap. It might be one of the best fall candles I’ve ever smelled. My partner and I burned it for hours the other day because we both loved it so much — and the wooden pumpkin vessel couldn’t be cuter for fall.
The scent includes pumpkin, bourbon vanilla, molasses, allspice, clove, and nutmeg. It’s quintessential fall — the kind of candle that makes a regular evening feel like a small ritual.
If you want more fall candles, here are some popular options I’ve had my eye on this season. The reviews on nearly all of them are strong, and I’ll be testing a few of these myself over the next few weeks.
$20 ballet flats that fooled me
I recently bought these $20 lime green ballet flats because I’ve been loving this shade of green all year. The reviews were excellent, and they did not disappoint in person. They’re so cute and the perfect color.
They remind me so much of a pair I own that cost 6x the price that I keep double-checking the tag. And I personally love the pearl detail on the cheaper version — it’s the kind of thing that makes me smile. They’re actually very comfy, too. If you’re between sizes, I’d order up half a size if available. The color is true on my screen — they call it lime green, but it’s more of a chartreuse.
For the record: 80/20 is enough. I don’t need the expensive version to feel good in a pair of flats. I just need the color to make me want to walk somewhere.
Simple fall decor: swap the stems
If you like to keep your seasonal decor simple, sometimes all it takes is a swap of stems in your vases. No new furniture, no repainting. Just a few branches that say autumn without shouting it.
Here are some fun options for fall from a variety of retailers. I actually ordered some of these stems (after the collage was made) because they don’t scream fall in the way that feels forced — they’re the kind that works in warmer climates too. I’ll keep you posted if they’re as good as the reviews suggest.
A note from Hazel
What I love about this list is that it’s all small things. A cardigan, a candle, a pair of flats, a vase of stems. None of them required a decision I had to defend to anyone. And that, I’ve learned, is exactly what enough looks like.
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