Happy Friday, friends! Good news for the gals that don’t have a Nordstrom card – the Anniversary Sale officially kicks off today for any and everybody. While some favorites haven’t been restocked, there are still a ton of sale goodies worth grabbing. (You can check out a bunch of my fave finds here. You guys, you will not regret any of these dresses!)
And today I’m sharing a couple more pieces from the sale because, well, I admittedly went for shopping day round 2. #NoRegrets This Rolling Stones tee is not part of the sale, but it’s still under $40 and I just couldn’t pass it up. Paired with this sale skirt / sweater combo and the most comfy sock booties, it’s a summer to fall no-brainer. (Just, you know, maybe lose the sweater during our current heatwave. Just a thought.)
I promise I won’t keep bombarding you guys with sale posts, but if you want to see more looks, you can always head right over here. (Just click on any photo to instantly get the links to shop.) Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!
So who’s had a little luck with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this past week? I can definitely say that I found some pieces I LOVE this year. A few days ago I shared a bunch of my favorite picks from the sale, and today I’m dishing on the pieces that actually made it home with me. Well, so far. My main strategy this year was to focus on pieces that I could wear now rather than stocking up on sweaters and boots that will take months (and months and months) to make it out of my closet, and I’m happy to say there are a TON of pieces in the sale that are heat wave approved.
The little coral dress above may be a favorite find in the sale, but I’ll admit that I’ve probably got a few favorites. This dress is SO lightweight and comfy, and I love the ruffle detail of the skirt. It’s a color that I don’t wear often, but now I’m wondering why I don’t wear it more. This one is under $100, and you can still snag it in all sizes. Also, this bag is so good and currently over $75 off.
This Wayf dress is an updated version of one of their best-selling styles from last year, and I can see why it’s so popular. It’s light and airy, easy to wear, and currently comes in two prints plus this pretty purple color. Oh, and it’s under $50. I’m thinking it’s pretty perfect for those upcoming summer weddings on everyone’s horizons.
OK, this dress, y’all – all the heart emojis. I took this one to Boulder with me this past weekend for the Dead & Company show, and although it was definitely toasty out, this little floral number managed to keep me pretty cool. It’s under $40, and I’m super tempted to snag it in a second color. (And maybe another color in this bag?)
Every year in the sale I look for a great pair of jeans, and for me this year this pair is IT. (Although I’ve heard there is a pair of Blank NYC jeans that I also need to hunt down and try.) I’ve been a fan of Madewell jeans (and really, all things Madewell) since snagging this pair a few months ago. Their high rise is actually high, and their denim gives without stretching out so you won’t be pulling them up all day. (The sizing has been in and out of stock, but my guess is that these will be completely restocked when the sale goes live for everyone, not just card-holders, on the 20th.)
This dress is probably the piece that I searched for in my local store first. I just LOVE the jewel tone color, the dramatic sleeves, and pretty pleats. This one definitely runs a bit big, so make sure you size down.
I know I said my goal was to focus on pieces that I could wear now, but these booties were just too good to pass up. They’re about to be my staple fall footwear with dresses, skirts, leather shorts, you name it and are actually the only pair of shoes that I bought in the sale so far. (Although my plan is to scoop up a pair of sneakers today – I just can’t decide which ones!)
There are a couple more days to shop the Early Access sale, and then everything is open to the public from July 20th to August 5th. (If you’re not a card-holder and getting a little worried that things are selling out quickly – they usually do a pretty big restock when the sale opens to everyone.) Happy shopping, friends!
It’s been one whole week since I was taking in the sights, twirling in the flower fields, and eating ALL the food in La Jolla, and I’m already wondering how soon is too soon to go back? I’ve wanted to check out La Jolla for the longest, so when Kathleen and I got the chance to skip town for a couple of days last week and post up at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, it was a real no-brainer.
I love a good Hyatt (like this one in Huntington Beach), and this one in La Jolla was definitely no different. The people were all so nice and accommodating, and our room was seriously perfect. We ended up getting a suite with an extra adjoining room, so we had our own space but also a little common living room area for computer and wine time at night. We also each had our own bathroom which is so great for spreading out ALL of the hair and makeup things. (If only we could have rooms like this at New York Fashion Week!) We had access to the Club Lounge for all the snacks and coffees and an honor wine bar in the evenings. (Winner, winner!) The hotel also offers a junior sized Olympic pool, a gym, and a coffee bar that kept those almond milk lattes flowing. Overall, we had an amazing couple of days in La Jolla, and if you’re headed to the area soon, here are a couple of things not to miss.
What We Did:
Sightseeing at the Cove – The Cove is the area along the coast of La Jolla and 100% needs to be on your list. It’s where you can get views like this, beach hangs like this, and a front row seat to watch SO many sea lions sunning themselves on the sand. There are also a bunch of restaurants in the area, but we unfortunately didn’t have enough time to try any of them. (We got tons of suggestions about Puesto though, so if you go, it’s probably worth a try.)
Sunny Jim Sea Cave – There’s a little place called The Cave Store, and for $5 you can access a tunnel of stairs inside the store that leads down to Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Once you’re down there, you can’t really go far, but it’s still pretty cool to see the cave up close and think about how crazy it must have been building that tunnel. (Photos in the cave were really hard to capture, so unfortunately I don’t have any.) We were hoping for a repeat of the time that a curious little sea lion climbed the steps and roamed around the Cave Store, but for $5, we felt like it was still worth checking out.
Murals of La Jolla – If you paint it, the bloggers will come. Downtown La Jolla is all about a little outdoor art, and I, for one, am here for it. Kathleen looked up a few walls before our visit, and this one was calling our names. It was just about a 10-15 minute drive from the Hyatt, and the shop owners nearby didn’t seem to mind that we were trying to park it there for a little while. Hashtag, doin’ it for the ‘gram.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad – The Flower Fields were on our way home, so we figured we might as well stop. And we were so glad that we did. I had heard great things, but once you see them in person, it really is pretty impressive. Rows and rows and rows of the prettiest flowers, all organized by color. Red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and then some areas of mixed colors – it was seriously something to see. (And for the record, still kicking myself for not trying out the strawberry Dole Whip stand.)
What We Ate:
Breakfast at Barcino Grill – This is the breakfast grill at the Hyatt, and, y’all, it’s so freaking good. We skipped the buffet option and ordered off of the menu which I think is definitely the way to go. On the first day we split the breakfast sandwich (with bacon jam on a pretzel roll, yasssss) and SoCal scramble bowl and loved both so much that we ordered them again via room service on day two. (And added on an oatmeal, for good measure.)
Lunch at Cafe Japengo – This sushi spot is technically part of the Hyatt, but it’s actually located right across the street. And it was delish. We thought we might have a light sushi lunch before hitting the beach, but then “a couple of rolls” turned into SO much sushi, truffle fries, pork belly bun sliders, a little wine, and one large food coma. And it was all worth it – now if only we could get a Cafe Japengo in Orange County. (Seriously though – please?)
Happy hour and dinner at DRIFT eat + drink – We had dinner reservations here (inside the Hyatt) for 7:00 but thought we’d pop down earlier for a glass of wine. Well, turns out we were just in time for happy hour. As, you know, journalists, we just had to check out the happy hour, and it was a good one. There was a special on carafes of wine, so…journalism. We capped it off with the nachos and butternut squash dip, pushed our dinner back to 8:30, and headed back to the room before showing up for round two – salads. (And more wine, desert, and coffee, if I’m being completely honest.) The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly, the space was so pretty, and that tile floor was shoefie ready.
Dinner at the Red O La Jolla – The Red O is a favorite of mine in Newport Beach, so when I saw that their newest location in La Jolla was just about a mile from the Hyatt, we had to check it out. True to form, the new location is beautiful, and the food was worth talking about days later. While I love their steak and fish options, I switched things up this time with the Mariscos Chile Relleno and holy dankness. I couldn’t switch things up in the margarita department though because the Alacran has my heart. (If you like SPICY margaritas, this one is the jam.) We left FED. So full that we actually skipped the Uber ride home and walked the mile back to the hotel instead. Needed, and so worth it.
xoxo
Brought to you by Hyatt Regency La Jolla, but all opinions are my own.
St. Patty’s Day is officially upon us, and if you’re lucky enough to have some fun plans, then you’re gonna need some green, girl. (Me? I’m lucky enough to have some killer plans as I’ll be celebrating Jenn’s wedding in Mexico. Thankfully my dress has a little green in it so I can avoid getting pinched.)
Annnd if you’re like me and find yourself scurrying around at the last minute with no green in sight in your closet, well you’re in luck because it’s not too late. Sites like Shopbop have super affordable 2-day shipping, and even better? They’re Amazon Prime eligible, so if you’ve got a Prime account, then you can upgrade your shipping fo’ free. Not bad, right?
If Nordstrom is more your jam and you’ve got a local store, then you have to check out their in-store pick-up option. It’s seriously been a lifesaver for those times when I’m not exactly on the ball. I live pretty close to two Nordstrom stores, so when I’m in a pinch, I just find the things I need online, pay for them, and pick them up in the store within an hour or so. One of our Nordstrom stores even has an outdoor pick-up window to make things super fast.
It may only be Tuesday, but there’s no better time than now to get that weekend outfit ready. (And if you’re looking for a little more inspiration, check out this post from last spring which I admittedly still love.)
Happy Monday, everyone! Especially those of you who have today off – lucky ducks. Admittedly, I plan to take it pretty easy today and take the pup on a longgg walk, but Eric didn’t take the day off so it’s business as usual around here. We kept things pretty mellow this weekend besides a family dinner on Friday and hanging at a friend’s house on Saturday.
And then yesterday I took on the LARGE task of cleaning out my closet. I’m talking, big task. But so worth the time spent because now I’m packing up everything and hauling it all to The Stylist LA. Starting on Thursday night, I’ll be selling a bunch of new-ish or gently used pieces along with a couple favorite blogger gals – more details here. If you’re in the LA area, you should definitely check it out.
And now for today’s look. (Well, blog look. In real life you can find me in workout clothes preparing for previously mentioned puppy walk.) Y’all, I’ve shared these high rise jeans before, and today I’m sharing ’em again because they’ve been on serious repeat lately. I don’t know if it’s the super high rise or the fact that they’re so easy to tuck into boots, but they make getting dressed a breeze.
And currently they’re on sale. The wash I’m wearing is called Red Wonder, and it’s currently 25% off. But if that one doesn’t float your boat, there are 16 more washes to choose from. Yep, 16. Some of them are under $60, but every single pair is under $100. Add a loose blouse and open cardigan, and you’ve got easy layers to take you from day to night. (The blouse and cardigan are from boutiques in my home town, but I’m linking several similar options under $100 below.)
It seriously seems like just a couple of months ago that I was writing a little recap of 2016, and yet somehow, here we are, already a couple of days in to 2018. I know that lots of folks are having lots of mixed reviews of 2017, but I gotta say, it was a pretty wonderful one around here.
We kicked off 2017 by packing up our house and getting ready for a pretty easy remodel. We were adding on a dining room and an office for Eric and changing out all of the existing exterior plaster for new. We found an awesome rental house and thought we’d make ourselves at home there for about a month. (The plaster changing meant we wouldn’t have exterior walls, so the house was just too cold to live in.) You know what they say, the best laid plans…
Fast forward five months, and our sweet little remodel turned into an entirely different house. We eliminated walls, vaulted ceilings, did an entire kitchen remodel, and changed just about every room in the house. Over the next seven months, we added on a front patio with a fire pit that we love, completely reworked the backyard to include a built-in BBQ and jacuzzi area, and finally switched out the dirt yard and port-o-potty out front for actual grass and landscaping. (Hashtag, that construction life.) And I swear, more photos of the home are coming soon.
In May after moving back into our house, we welcomed our sweet pup Louise, and although girlfriend certainly put me through it for a couple of months, she’s now the sweetest little member of our family. (And as you can probably tell from the photos above, my furry sidekick loves a good photo opp.)
Over the summer we were super fortunate to purchase a house in Palm Springs (more photos here) and worked with a handful of amazing companies to furnish, decorate, and make it a home. We’ve loved every single day we’ve gotten to spend there, loved ringing in the new year there, and can’t wait to spend more time in the desert this year.
Year after year, I’m so very fortunate that you guys keep reading and following along on my journey. I’m so thankful for all the comments, likes, emails, in-person hello’s and so very thankful for this little community. There are already some fun things in the works for 2018, so I certainly hope that you’ll keep following along! Here’s hoping everyone has the best year ahead!
xoxo
P.S. – For all outfit details and photographer info, click the photo above to see the original post.
Happy almost weekend, gals, and holy crap – happy almost December. Are we sure that tomorrow is December 1st? Because I’m for reals confused about it. But also, I can’t say that I hate it.
Tonight I’m super excited to be a part of one of the coolest holiday events ever. I’m headed to the Outlets at San Clemente along with a bunch of blogger pals where I’ll be matched with a little boy or girl currently undergoing cancer treatment at CHOC, the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. I’ll have a list of all of his or her favorite things, and armed with a couple of gift cards, I get to do a little Christmas shopping for my CHOC buddy. I’m so, so excited and will be sharing the shopping fun over on my Instagram stories tonight.
And here on the blog today, back at it with another gift guide, and today’s picks are all under $50. Well, almost all. Okayyyy, so one item on the list is over $50, but it’s the cutest puffer of all time, comes in 4 colors, and is still under $60. So I included it. And bought one for myself. But everything else is definitely under $50, and many items are under $20.
So grab her a vase, a pretty sweater, or the faux fur slippers that I’m currently eyeing, and if you need a few more ideas, check out my gift guides for the home body and for the guys in your life. Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!
It’s the day before Thanksgiving and two days before Black Friday, but while you’re preparing yourself for the food coma ahead, you can get a head start on shopping the sales because a few of my favorite retailers are kicking things off early. Every year I look forward to Shopbop’s Buy More Save More sale because pretty much everything on the whole site is on sale – including items already on sale. Use code MORE17 for 20% off $200, 25% off $500, and 30% off $800.
It’s seriously the best time to stock up on those pieces you’ve had your eye on, and I personally just placed a huge order of cozy gear to take on our upcoming trip to Jackson Hole. I’m rounding up a few more favorites above and below, and check back throughout the day for a few more sales that I’m jazzed about. So before the turkey and stuffing-induced nap sets in, happy shopping, y’all!
xoxo
The Sale List:
Ann Taylor – 50% off everything with code THANKFUL
Well, friends, it’s finally here – the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is about to be dunzo. It’s the final week of every blogger in the land telling you about this deal and that one, but more importantly, it’s your last week to grab those final goodies before prices go up.
Personally, I’ll admit that I hit the sale more than a handful of times. I started off with the clothing, shoes, and handbags of course, and last week I scooped up a few finds from the home section – check those out here.
This week I may or may not have gone back just one last time. (Haha, I crack myself up – I’ve still got a couple of days left to shop the sale.) But this time I focused solely on the activewear section because I’m back on the Pilates bus, and nothing motivates me more than new workout gear. (Well, new workout gear and tacos and margs – all very motivational.)
I walked away with some spankin’ new workout gear, and y’all, these leggings are amazing. (Also loving this cropped pair.) Also, if you buy one last thing from the sale, perhaps this pocketed wrap cardigan should be IT. It’s perfect for the post-workout errands once the weather cools (or those days when your workout gear never actually made it to the gym), and I’m thinking that it will be my new favorite for traveling. So so cozy for cold airplanes.
So today I’m rounding up just a few more last-minute picks from the sale. Throw ’em in your cart, or kick yourself later. Prices go up August 7th. Happy shopping, y’all!
What do you do when you can’t wait a single second longer for denim shorts season? You pair ’em with a couple of cozy, layered tops and call it a day. I’ve been yammering on and on lately about cabi clothing, and this little sweater tank is another fave of the season. Wear it with a pair of flowy pants, skinny jeans, or your favorite denim shorts. And these shorts (first worn back here) are definitely my faves.
Every time I wear these shorts someone asks where they are from because they’re not like the usual tight-fitting, suctioned to your legs fit that seams to fill the retail shelves. Why is it so hard to find denim shorts that aren’t like denim undies? Can I get an amen? If you’re looking for something that’s a little more comfy and appropriate then I’d definitely suggest checking these out. Hope everyone is having a great week!
Rolling Stones tee; Topshop skirt; Oversized cardigan (size down); Sock booties; Saint Laurent bag (look for less version here); Quay sunglasses; Burberry liquid lipstick
Fountain at Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Outdoor happy hour at the Hyatt – so good!
Sushi and truffle fries at 
Tile at 
Room service breakfast from 
Outside of 
1. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
