small wooden vases

Just to have something non-ikea in your first apartment.

$15 at offcutstudio

nostalgic mini pouch

Isn't this perfect? Everyone needs something mustard in their life, and the pretty pleats and adorable key charm elevate this little pouch accessory to understated statement!

$15.50 at aylla

sparrow sculpture

Love these LED-lit wax birds - so clean and modern, but still warm.

$17 at Uncommon Goods

see's raspberry cream

We usually avoid food, but can I just take two seconds of your time to hawk this, the most delicious chocolate on Earth? I am divided between commanding all of you who have never had See's to order it to your doorstep immediately and urging you to protect your wallets from the inevitable addiction to follow. I, for one, after extensive experimentation, have chosen to devote myself to raspberry cream and the milk and dark bordeauxs. But you, your world is wide open. Go. Explore. Consume. Delight.

$16.10 for 1 lb. at See's

antique silver spreaders

Seriously, I can almost taste the cheese. And figs. YUM.

$19 at Pottery Barn

essie nail-polish four-pack

For the Secret Santa, for the stocking stuffing, for the office gift exchange, for the sister-in-law you only met at the wedding, for the niece who aged 25 years in 10 minutes, for the neighbor who got your mail the one you had to go away.

$20 at J.Crew

striped cowlneck top

Overall, I haven't loved Gap's latest line of shapeless, see-through tops. But their basics are still great, and as upwards of 90 reviews attest, this is a still-great basic. The cowlneck and the draping keep the shape fresh, the colors are fun and anti-boring, and the price! is! awesome!

$14.99 at Gap

athletic cinced capris

You know what's weird? To shop someplace you thought was super cool when you were 13. But isn't the point of being older that you can wisely sift through the too-young stuff and find the gems? Ok, fine, the point is that you're older now and you recognize that sweatpant capris are kind of amazing, if and only if worn only in your own house, and not "tucked into suede boots" as the description suggests.

$17.25 at Aeropostale

rondell earrings

You know what I'm loving? All these stores that are revitalizing the heck out of themselves. Ann Taylor and LOFT, and now Talbots, for crying out loud, and apparently, kiiiiind of, The Limited. I think they need an overhaul of the website (ditch the brownish-gray backgrounds on those pictures!), and some more cohesiveness in the collection, and a little bit more trendiness overall, but it's kind of shaping up, isn't it? (Oh, and lower the starting price point, please! Your audience is a little more broke than that.) So here's hoping that NY&Co and Arden B jump on this train soon!

$16.90 at The Limited

numbered pill boxes

How could I love something so small so much?

$4.50 each at zhush

strapless layered chiffon dress

Twelve dollar dress!! I like the bustier bit and the olive green color. If you dress it down with conservative shoes, I think you can get away with a military jacket thrown on top. Or go clunky boots with a soft cardigan. Either way, it's a twelve dollar dress!

$11.95 at Go Jane

library books mug

For those of you read in a reader, click through to see why we obviously looooooooooooove this mug.

$20 at kate spade

moose vintage dictionary art print

This shop has amazing vintage images printed on dictionary pages over 100 years old. I bought myself a sailing ship, and I'm oddly enamored of this moose, but you should look around and find birds, and anatomy, and Alice in Wonderland prints that you can be oddly enamored of

$10 (free shipping in US/$1 outside US) at kiintage

faux raincoat

Not really my thing, but it's hard to argue with adorable.

$15.60 at House of Plum Red