I’ve been in Montana for the past week, and what a week it’s been.  Last Friday, it was 73-degrees.  On Sunday, it was 37-degrees and snowed donut-sized flakes.  But by Wednesday, it was cool and sunny with chipmunks and buntings stealing seed from my Mom’s bird feeders.  Just another late spring in Montana.

Whenever I come to Montana, I become a minimalist.  I pare everything down to the essentials.  Skincare, makeup (if I wear any), hair care, wardrobe, everything becomes simpler.  So let’s embrace that simplicity and talk about what I’m wearing, reading, and cooking in Montana.

The Elizabeth and James x-shaped Windrose Ring is my favorite.  Every couple of years, I replace a scratched up, faded one for a new one.  And after almost seven years, I still get compliments almost every time I wear it.  It’s a classic with attitude, and it’s simplicity makes it perfect for layering with other pieces.

If you love the look, but you want a fine jewelry piece, this EF Collection ring is amazing.

In the midst of the Gilded Age, a woman from small-town New York marries one of the wealthiest men in America.  Cinderella gets the slipper back.  But it was until after his death, that Allene Tew’s life really began.  From New York City in the flapper era to the chateaus of a Europe gripped by the Russian Revolution, An American Princess is a wild, historical ride.

Keeping my skin looking its best when I’m in Montana is a delicate dance.  You must exfoliate away the dead skin, yet hydrate like it’s your job.  Bobbi Brown’s Buffing Grains for Face can be added to any face wash to face oil to create an amazing scrub.  If you’re hunting for something cheaper, grab a $10 Morihata charcoal-infused face scrubbing cloth.  It exfoliates as well as any scrub.

As for hydration, I am still obsessed with Tony Moly Banana Sleeping Pack.  Massively hydrating for when you need more moisture than a simple night cream can provide.  And it’s an affordable $17.

I’m not the 26-year-old staff assistant that I once was.  But a career of sitting has made wearing leggings a tenuous balance between being comfortable and feeling good about my body.  That’s why I’m all about compression leggings.

I used to buy Lululemon almost exclusively.  But last winter, I’d had enough of their (now former) CEO’s bad behavior, and went looking for an alternative.  I found these Old Navy compression leggings.  My favorite navy pair also comes in petite and tall sizes.  And $33 for leggings with frequent sales, sounds better than $98.

I love rotisserie chicken, but since the ones in the supermarket deli are typically cheaper than the whole chickens in the meat section, I just buy pre-made.  But this post on how to cook a rotisserie-style chicken with your Insta-Pot has me rethinking that decision.

Do you have an Insta-Pot?  We bought one this winter and loved it for making short ribs and stews.  I donated my slow-cooker and my rice maker once I bought it.  If you like comfort food that doesn’t take all day, this appliance is for you.