Curated Weekly

This past week as we find ourselves in the middle of autumn here in the northern hemisphere, for many of us time has officially fallen back one hour and the nighttime has come very early. I appreciate this season for what it is, a time of respite after the long, hot days of summer. A time to enjoy the pleasantries of home and to cozy in for time to enjoy the holidays as well as to start thinking about our goals for the upcoming new year. I have already purchased a new planner and have written out a few goals already. I am also starting to contemplate what word I want to guide my 2026 as I start to think of my word of the year for next year. But as we make our way through the rest of the year and start to move into the holiday season, let us remember that while planning is necessary and inspiring even, let us also too be here in the present moment to enjoy all that today has to offer and appreciate. As for today, I hope you enjoy and appreciate this week’s curated weekly post to start the weekend.

MODERN CLASSIC FINDS

Banana Republic is currently having a 40% off Holiday Preview Event and this Merino-Cotton Turtleneck Sweater is a timeless, elegant sweater perfect for the autumn/winter season and is already in my cart to purchase.

I recently purchased these Rechargeable Tea Lights Candles Battery Operated with Remote because I have a few candle holders that I wanted to be able to light at night and these candles have worked out so well as shown below. I can turn them on and off with ease with a small remote. The rechargeable candles comes with a USB charging cable that can charge up to 6 flameless candles at the same time which is very convenient.

I think a bar cart is so chic when it comes to home entertaining and if you are currently looking for one for a good price, then this Gardner Small Space Bar Table is currently on sale for only $122.91 and looks so elegant with its petite size.

Winter white is simply timeless and currently this Pearl Shadow Embossed Handle Crossbody Bag from Ann Taylor is on sale for only $33.95 and would be a beautiful bag to carry for the winter season.

And speaking of timeless winter white, I also found these beautiful Double Pearlized Drop Earrings on Ann Taylor’s site as well and these would simply be beautiful to wear anytime of the year.

A simple, elevated way to transition the home into the fall/winter season is to change out pillow covers from lighter colors to darker colors and currently this Damask Printed Lumbar Pillow is on sale at Pottery Barn for only $28.97 and looks so elegant.

I speak a lot about dressing well even at home, and that’s why having elevated casual pieces is a key component to a timeless wardrobe and this Marina boatneck sweater with gold buttons is not only an elevated basic perfect for home or casual outings, but it is also 50% off right now too.

Carleigh Courey has started preorders for her 2026 fine art calendar. The Fine Art Wall Calendar features prints of twelve original paintings that can be cut out and framed after each month has passed. Printed offset on a smooth, heavy, natural white paper, and bound by a small removable brass clip. I get these every year for my cubicle at work (see below) and they truly are a lovely, simple pleasure.

For my Nespresso lovers, they have finally brought back some of their seasonal favorites with their Gingerbread and Peppermint Pinwheel flavors just in time for the holidays. The Gingerbread offers a wide range of spice notes that are defined by cereal and ginger flavors while the Peppermint Pinwheel has natural aromas reminiscent of festive candy canes. A harmonious cup that is sweet in the beginning and carries peppermint notes in the aftertaste. The seasonal flavors make for the perfect cup of coffee as the days turn colder.

BOOKS

Just released this past October was Nature Tales for Winter Night by Nancy Campbell and looks to be a cozy read for the season. A treasure trove of nature tales from storytellers across the globe, bringing a little magic and wonder to every winter night. As the evenings draw in – a time of reckoning, rest and restoration – immerse yourself in this new seasonal anthology. Observations from Beth Chatto’s garden and Tove Jansson’s childhood join company with artists’ private letters, lines from Anne Frank’s diary and fireside stories told by indigenous voices. A hibernation companion, this book will transport you across time and country this winter.

If you are looking for an inspiring read then If You Live to 100, You Might as Well Be Happy: Essays on Ordinary Joy may pique your interest. This endearing, giftable guidebook by Korean bestseller Dr. Rhee reflects on the wisdom he’s learned during his life: how to forgive, persevere, and stop the rat race, plus the joys of living simply and the power of ordinary happiness. It’s a meditation on aging contently and finding peace and humor in everyday life.

A book that was released just this past Tuesday and looks charming is Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters by Adriana Trigiani. In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, eight authors have come together with wildly imaginative reboots of the lives of several of Jane Austen’s minor characters. Written with plenty of love and wit, these clever stories star everyone from Pride and Prejudice’s snobbish Caroline Bingley to the modern descendant of Sense and Sensibility’s Eliza Williams and much more. Blurring genres and taking us across the oceans, Ladies in Waiting is a heartfelt celebration of Jane Austen and her timeless masterpieces.

Adriana Trigiani isn’t the only one celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with a book. Rachel Parris also had a new release this past week with Introducing Mrs. Collins: A Novel. It’s the story of Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend, Charlotte Lucas, in this heartfelt and mesmerizing sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Introducing Mrs. Collins is for anyone who wondered if there was more to the sensible character we met in Pride and Prejudice. It is the story of a woman who had written herself out of her own life and is only now daring to want more.

I do love a good murder mystery book and this new release, The Bridesmaid: A Novel looks to be a good thriller about a society wedding turned deadly. Join the Kensingtons as they invite you to the society wedding of the decade in this novel. There’s just one hitch. The characters might not make it out alive. 

Being released next week is a new cookbook from Mimi Thorisson, A Kitchen in Italy: A Year of Family Meals and Celebrations from Our Home. With recipes spanning antipasti, primi, secondi, and dolci, you can tuck into a rustic countryside dish on a weeknight or build a special occasion menu to delight your friends. Featuring 150 photographs shot by Mimi’s husband, Oddur Thorisson, A Kitchen in Italy brings Mimi’s Italian secrets to your dinner table.

MOVIES/TELEVISION/MEDIA

We never miss an Agatha Christie adaptation around here and I was so excited when I got to see the new trailer for Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials which will be released on January 15th. When a playful prank at a country manor leads to murder, an unlikely sleuth Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent must unravel a dangerous web of secrets in this captivating Agatha Christie adaptation.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday over the weekend on The Roku channel (which is free to stream). Roku Channel does have four seasons available if you have not watched before, but this season was such a fun episode and has gotten me in the Christmas mood already.

Biltmore Estate will always be one of my favorite places to visit and this year marks their 130th anniversary for Christmas at Biltmore. I have been once to Christmas at Biltmore and we are planning a visit for Christmas 2026. This video was such a lovely watch and I enjoyed learning about the history of Christmas at Biltmore.

For those of you who are fans of British-American period crime dramas, Miss Scarlet is premiering its Season 6 on December 7th on the PBS App and PBS MASTERPIECE on Prime Video.  

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

An enchanting Anglophile and British Royals article to start this week with Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones on Wearing Her Grandmother Princess Margaret’s Royal Engagement Ring.

As mentioned above with my excitement for the new Agatha Christie coming to Netflix, here is also an article about Netflix Adapting Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery.

Celebrate the beauty of fall by savoring a resplendent teatime featuring stately china and sumptuous, autumnal-themed sweets and savories set among a luxurious, yet welcoming, backdrop in this lovely article by TeaTime Magazine.

It is never too early in November to start thinking about holiday gift ideas and this Holiday Gift Guide from The EveryGirl is an all-in-one place for everyone on your list. It’s mindfully curated so that choosing presents for your loved ones (and yourself) is joyful and seamless.

And the lovely Shannon Ables has also released her Annual Francophile & Anglophile Holiday Gift Guide at The Simply Luxurious Life Blog and I personally have my eye on the Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas Treats hamper.

I savored reading From crackers to candles: How to style the perfect Christmas table from The English Home Magazine and got a lot of inspiration out of it too.

If you loved the book French Blooms by Sandra Sigman, then you will love her new 2026 calendar, A Year of French Blooms.

It’s holiday cup season! And you can see the Starbucks new festive designs in this article from Starbucks. For this year’s designs Starbucks creative director Kristy Cameron leads the team that brings Starbucks holiday cups to life, which made their debut alongside Starbucks holiday food and beverages on Nov. 6. I went on my lunch break to pick up my own red cup to enjoy for the afternoon. You can also read about their new holiday menu offerings here.

As mentioned last week in Curated Weekly, The Great American Baking Show – Celebrity Holiday premiered on Roku Channel which I watched and enjoyed this past weekend. Now, we have a date for the The Great British Baking Show: Holidays which will premier on Netflix on November 20th. I may wait a couple of weeks to enjoy this one so that I will have the Christmas Tree up and can enjoy my annual ritual of baking iced gingerbread cookies for the occasion as shown below. Typically there are two episodes that accompany each season and I am looking forward to cozying up and savoring them both this holiday season.