Tuesday Trends

Trend To Try: Hair Scarves

Trend to try: hair scarves

If you’ve seen my Instagram account lately, you’ve 100% seen my obsession with hair scarves. They are a God send for dirty hair days or just sprucing up an otherwise simple outfit. My favorite places to buy quality hair scarves are Madewell, Free People and Anthropologie. If you are looking for cheaper options, I suggest trying your local Walmart or Target as I will periodically find them there as well!

A couple pieces of advice: firstly, make sure you look for ones that are silk (faux silk works too!) as these are going to work best. They are easier to manipulate, stay put better, and overall look nicer!  Secondly, don’t pay too much of attention to the pattern since once it is rolled up, you will barely see it! Instead, look at the overall colors instead. See below for a round up of some of my favorites!


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Outfits, Top Ten

June Top Ten

Continuing on with the monthly top favorites, or the most purchased items by all of YOU, it is no surprise that we have some “repeat offenders”. Several of June’s top selling items were top sellers for previous months as well such as the Gucci belt dupe and Abercrombie shorts.

And as a reminder on how I obtain the monthly top ten data…

I use an affiliate program called rewardStyle. This means that if you click on any link- whether it be from my Instagram or blog- that takes you to a product page on a retailer’s site and rewardStyle is able to track that it originated from me. Some affiliate programs will pay the influencer for every click that they generate from their site. RewardStyle pays per purchase made. This means that if you click on one of my links and then end up purchasing that item, I will get a small commission (usually between 7-12%).  Many bloggers use this same program as part of their revenue source.

Because I use this service I do have access to data analytics. This means I can track what items are clicked on and purchased. I cannot see who clicked on them or what other items might have been purchased. For example, if you click on my Abercrombie shorts link and then purchase a swimsuit and a top in the same transaction, I will only be able to see that a purchase was made and that the shorts link is how you got to the retailer’s site.

These analytics are incredibly important to me because it allows me to see what all of you are liking. At the end of the day, this little blog business of mine is meant to be a resource for all of you so having the ability to track and measure each product’s success is invaluable. Coming from a Finance background, I tend to geek out over the analytics side of it as I find it incredibly intriguing what all of you are liking, buying and clicking on the most! It gets my gears turning because I genuinely want to bring you products that you are going to love and want to buy (at the right price point of course)!

Like I mentioned, this little blog is a full time business for me which means I am so appreciative when you choose to click and shop through my links – whether that be on Instagram or the blog. I have poured everything I have into being a resource for all of you so that hopefully it makes your life a little bit easier. I know that shopping through my links is an extra step for you, but please know it makes all the difference to me. It is how I am able to continue sharing great deals, try on sessions, and everything else. O and it allows me to pay my bills 🙂

All of that is to say, shopping through my links does not cost you anything additional (the item is the same price), the retailer will just pay me a small cut since I am the one that referred you. Please know I am so thankful when you choose to shop through my links and give me credit for helping you score a great find!

Now presenting… June Top Ten!

 

These sandals jumped to the top of the leader board last week real fast! Over 100 of y’all bought these in one day! I bought them and brown and black. Since they don’t have half sizes, I sized up to an 8 from a 7.5 but regretted not getting the 7. I will say I think they do run true to size though. For $12.99 they look just like these Steve Madden ones but for a fraction of the cost. In fact, Payless has quite a few good shoes right now and they are all included in the BOGO 60% off sales so most are under $15!

 

It’s no surprise that the Gucci belt dupe stays in the top ten every single month. It is now available in 3 sizes: small, medium and large.

I have owned this pair of jeans since last Fall and once they went under $20 you ladies went crazy for them! They are so darn comfortable mostly because they are super stretchy. Honestly they are the next best thing after leggings and the best part is that they come in multiple colors and lengths (petite, regular and tall). They run true to size. I wear a 25 short.

This was my first month in a long time to show you ladies how to style one piece multiple ways and it’s safe to say y’all are fans because this dress was by far a top seller. I love that not only is it appropriate for work, it would be so cute layered as a midi skirt too!

These joggers surprised me how fast they made it into the top sellers! I loved them so much myself that I snagged one color in store and then ran home and ordered the other two. They are now on sale for under $40 but make sure to size down. I got an XXSP and normally wear an XS. I showed you ladies a couple ways to style them with a nicer blouse and pumps for a comfy chic office look. I’ve linked some of those blouses and shoe options below.

You ladies like your dupes! These Sam Edelman sandals were a hit as they are very similar to the $200 Tory Burch Miller sandals. They come in 6 colors and are now on sale for 40% off. Make sure to size up a half size!

This tank and shorts combo have placed in the top ten for fourth months in a row now so you know they are good. I own the tank in 6 colors and the shorts in 3 washes. I suggest sizing up in the tank (I wear a small) and the shorts (I wear a 25). The light wash is pictured above.

I sported more “hobo chic” outfits in June than probably socially acceptable but I’m glad you all loved them as much as I did. This sweatshirt is the second one that I own from The Daily Tay shop and is SO darn comfy. These $15 shorts aren’t bad either 😉 Both run true to size but I suggest sizing up in the sweatshirt for a more oversized fit.

I’m not sure what it was about this top, but it was a fan favorite! I love it for the warmer weather because it is nice and flowly so it doesn’t stick to you in the heat. It comes in 3 colors and is now 40% off! My favorite way to wear it is with a bralette.

After publishing my huge Wedding Style Guide, this dress proved to be the top rated wedding guest dress of the season! It comes in 7 colors and is so flattering. It features an open back, a lace overlay and hugs the booty just right! The ivory color is also a beautiful dress option for my brides for any engagement photos, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner and is currently 45% off!

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Life, Outfits

Bikini Body Ready with Ebay

Ebay Lululemon workout outfit

Would you believe me if I told you I scored this entire outfit (sunglasses and shoes included) for 30-60% off?! eBay does it again! I almost never pay full price for anything, especially name brand items, anymore before hitting up ebay.com and searching for it first. All of my designer items have come from eBay and my most recent discovery on my road to “bikini body ready” has been their athletic wear selection starting at just $14.99! *insert praise hands here*


Ebay Lululemon workout outfit

Ebay Lululemon workout outfitEbay Lululemon workout outfitEbay Lululemon workout outfit

Photos by: Banavenue

Up until a few weeks ago the only workout that my body was accustomed to was raising a glass of wine but with Miami swim week approaching I decided to kick the workouts into high gear. And by high gear I mean a few easy, at home workouts that can make you lose five pounds and gain a six pack in less than a month. Totally possible right?! The Internet says yes so that means it has to be true…

I’m a firm believer in fake it till you make it. While I feel like a total “newbie” working out, looking the part is half of the battle. Speaking from experience, your old college t-shirts and ratty shorts don’t make you feel all that pumped up to work out. Plus all of the cool gym kids these days are wearing Lululemon which apparently makes you feel 10X cooler and more excited to work out. The problem here is that I have never been able to justify Lululemon or other expensive activewear brands because before a month ago the most action my athletic clothes saw was a leisurely trip to Chick-fil-a and Target.

After my first at home workout, I decided to “treat” myself to a legitimate athletic outfit. I say treat lightly because you know I can’t buy anything full price when I can get it for less somewhere else! Since the Abercrombie and Hollister days, eBay has been my best kept secret for scoring great deals. For high dollar, out of stock, or designer items, eBay has saved the day and my wallet on countless occasions. Now that I have discovered their amazing stock of athletic wear, I’d be surprised if I ever pay full price for brands like Lululemon, Athleta, Lorna Jane or Nike ever again!

Most people I’ve shared my hidden secret with have had no idea that the majority of items on eBay are actually new with tags (NWT in eBay terms) and most have free shipping too. With over 1 billion listings, eBay can get overwhelming pretty fast if you don’t know what you are looking for or how to narrow down what you are looking for.

HOW I SHOP EBAY:

  • If the item is still online at the retailer site, copy the exact product name on the retailer’s site then head to eBay.com and paste it into the search bar. I almost always add NWT onto the beginning of the search so that it only pulls back listings that are brand new.
  • If the item is out of stock online, but I know exactly the name of the item that I am looking for, I will describe the item down to the size and color that I want. For ex: Aquamarine Cool racerback Lululemon tank size 4
  • If the item is out of stock online, but I don’t know the exact name of the item, I will describe the item as best as I can and still include size and color. For ex: blue racerback Lululemon size 4.

A FEW OTHER HELPFUL TIPS:

  • While bidding on high dollar items can pay off, I tend to stick to the “buy it now” option. It’s faster and easier to use while still scoring a great deal. I normally use the “make an offer” feature for designer purses, shoes and sunglasses but stick to the “buy it now” option for clothing.
  • I will only buy from sellers that accept returns. While I have personally never had a bad experience purchasing from eBay, I feel more comfortable knowing that I can return the item if it gets delivered damaged or not as pictured. This will be stated on the listing.
  • Make sure you check shipping prices! If a listing looks too good to be true, check the shipping cost before doing a happy dance. Some sellers will try to stick it to you with the shipping prices. I personally look for sellers that offer free shipping. This will be stated on the listing.

Bikini body workout routine

Now that you look the part, let’s work on that bikini body. For days that you can’t (or don’t want to) make it to the gym, these easy workouts get the job done for a full body workout with a major focus on your core.

ABS

3 easy, at home ab workouts

3 easy, at home ab workouts

I do a series of abs but always include crunches, pike ups, and leg raises. For crunches I will always throw in some alternating sides to work my entire core and obliques. I stick to reps of 20 each: 20 up, 20 right, 20 left, 20 alternating sides. For pike ups, I will do 20 with my legs in a pike position and reaching towards my butt and then 20 reaching for my toes but every time you bring your hands down you also bring your legs down too making sure to never touch the ground (this is the hard part). For leg raises, I sit on my hands and raise my feet about a foot off the ground and hold it for 20 seconds. I do 3 reps of each of these exercises.

ARMS

3 easy, at home ab workouts

3 easy, at home ab workouts

3 easy, at home ab workouts

3 easy, at home ab workouts

Find a ledge or chair to do these exercises. I first do 3 reps of 20 arm dips with my legs extended. The key with all of these exercises is to flex your core. This will work out your abs as well. Next, I face down like I am doing a push up on the ledge. I do 3 reps of normal push ups and then staying in the push up position I will alternate bringing my knee up to my chest. This will work your abs and arms. Again do 3 reps of 20.

*Thank you eBay for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, Outfits

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Prep

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

2018 NORDSTROM CATALOG

Get ready friends! The big kahuna of sales is just two weeks away! I can assure you this sale is a marathon not a sprint so knowing how to prepare for it is MONEY! Literally, figuratively, emotionally. All of the above because if you don’t know how to shop it, I can assure you that it can be overwhelming. After three years of doing this, I know how to find the hidden gems before everyone else and I’m sharing all of it with all of YOU!

WHAT IS THE “NSALE”?

If you have been around here long enough, you know I haunt sales like it’s my job. Unlike other sales that mark down old or last season’s trends, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has BRAND NEW items (both Summer and Fall finds) discounted by up to 70% from brands like Tory Burch, Top Shop, MAC, Stuart Weitzman, Free People, Rebecca Minkoff and SO many more! The sale runs for 3.5 weeks with new items added each day and at the end of the sale, everything goes back to full price. You can view some of the first items that will go on sale here.

WHEN DOES THE NSALE START?

Early Access: Thursday, July 12 – Thursday, July 19

Public Event: Friday, July 20 – Sunday, August 5

HOW SHOULD I PREP?

1. GET THE NORDSTROM CREDIT CARD

Only Nordstrom cardholders will gain access on July 12th- a full week before the rest of the world. The reason this matters is because most of the good stuff WILL sell out before public access even opens. It happens every year. I finally bit the bullet this year and applied for the credit card because after two years of not having it, I know better. For those that are weary about owning another credit card, keep in mind you don’t even have to shop the early access sale with it, you just have to own it. I plan on using my usual credit card to pay for my Nordstrom Sale purchases so I don’t have to pay off more than one credit card! If you want to shop the sale early, APPLY ASAP so you can be approved before early access starts. Apply here.

2. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED

The sale will bring out new items geared for Fall/Winter but there will also be items that you can wear now! While you might not be ready just yet to think about cold weather clothing, the deals that you will score now are well worth it later on. In years past my favorite items to shop for were leather boots, lightweight jackets, designer purses, jeans, everyday tops and beauty items. I highly suggest going through your closet now to see what items you actually need verses making impulse decisions when the sale comes.

I suggest looking at some of my popular posts from last year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to see what type of items you might be able to score this year. Here are a few popular blog posts from last year where you can see what items were on sale and also this should give you an idea of similar blog posts that I plan on doing for the sale this year.

Dressing Room Diaries

9 STYLED OUTFITS

WEAR NOW & LATER

IN STOCK AND UNDER $50

3. LET ME SHOP FOR YOU

If you want to share what items you are shopping for this year, please do! Comment below and let me know what type of items you are looking for. I will be making a list and shopping those items as soon as the sale goes live (usually around 2 am CST). While the Nordstrom Sale will have literally hundreds of pages of sale items, it is my job to shop for what you ladies want. So send me your lists and let me do the hard part for you! I will also be checking as popular items come back in stock so once the sale starts, feel free to send me items you might have missed out on because items do get returned within the 3.5 week sale period!

Keep in mind that I will be shopping the sale in real time and will update you on the blog and social media with all of the best items including those that I think will sell out super fast. Make sure to follow along on my Instagram and Facebook as this is where I will be sharing sizing guides, favorite items, styling tips and giveaways before they make it to the blog!

Blog wise, you can expect to see similar blog posts to those last year as well as a shop tab (located in the drop down menu at the top of my blog) where I will have categories such as work wear, athletic wear, men’s, shoes, etc.

POPULAR ITEMS LAST YEAR

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

MY FAVORITE ITEMS FROM YEARS PAST

Nordstrom Anniversary SaleNordstrom Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Don’t forget to check out the 2018 catalog and let me know what you ladies are shopping for! I’ll see y’all back here and on Instagram July 12th at 2 am with all of the best steals and deals so rest up until then 🙂

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Outfits

Wedding Dress Codes and Style Guide

Wedding Guest Dress Code

Dress: Nordstrom (comes in 7 colors) | Shoes: Steve Madden (ON SALE)

Wedding season is in full force and has been the most requested topic by far from you ladies! This post idea has been in the works for quite some time and I’m hoping that it will serve as a comprehensive guide for all of your wedding attire needs for both brides and wedding guests. Everything from showers to bachelorette parties to the actual wedding weekend, I’ve sifted through thousands and thousands of dresses to find appropriate choices for each of these events. This is a long post but should answer all of your questions when it comes to what to wear to a wedding event whether it’s in a barn, on the beach or a church!

WEDDING DAY DRESS CODE:

BLACK TIE

Black tie and black tie optional weddings are going to be more “gala-like” than a cocktail attire wedding. Men pull out their tuxedos and women are decked out in floor length gowns. The “optional” part in black tie just means that you don’t have to wear a floor length gown if you do not wish to. But hey, after prom how many times do us girls get the chance to rock a gown? Have a little fun with it! For black tie optional, nicer midi dresses and jumpsuits are totally fine just remember to error on the dressier side (like this!). For black tie weddings, keep in mind that renting a ball gown is an excellent option! You don’t want to spend $200+ on a dress chances are you are never going to wear again especially since you know you’ll want something new for the next event! Rent The Runway is a service I have used several times now. They have thousands of designer and name brand dress options. The best part is that they send you two sizing options so that if your normal size doesn’t work, you have  a back up!

He should wear: A tuxedo or formal dark suit and tie

She should wear: A long evening dress or formal cocktail dress

 

COCKTAIL ATTIRE

From personal experience, 9 out of 10 weddings you are going to be invited to will be cocktail attire. If the invitation says “dressy casual”  or semi formal you might as well look at it as cocktail attire. Why there are 500 different ways to say cocktail attire I have no idea. It’s 2018 so people think they are really creative when honestly they are just really confusing.

Basically a cocktail dress is just a fancy term for a “nice” dress that is not a ball gown. If you are unsure of what would qualify as a cocktail dress think about it this way: a dress that you would feel overdressed wearing to a luncheon and underdressed wearing to a gala. While most cocktail dresses usually hit above the knee, midi and maxi dresses can also be worn for cocktail attire. Keep in mind a less formal approach to a longer length dress might be more appropriate as not to look you are going to a black tie wedding. Jumpsuits are certainly appropriate as well for cocktail attire but error on the side of a more formal jumpsuit (like this!). I did an entire post here on why I actually prefer to wear jumpsuits for weddings. Here is just one of several reasons that I gave in the post:

…while every other girl is trying to hike up her dress and awkwardly dance, you are 10 steps ahead of them ready to take on the limbo, cha cha slide, cotton-eyed joe and every other cliche wedding song like a total champ!

He should wear: A suit and tie

She should wear: A cocktail dress or jumpsuit

 

BEACHY FORMAL

Apparently this is becoming a thing guys! News to me too because I haven’t had the pleasure of having been invited to one. *Side note: all of my destination beach wedding friends can come out of hiding now*. The formal term is used relatively loosely here, mostly meaning that a dress below the knees would be best but is not required. You will want to dress for the elements (sun, sand and sweat) so flowy, sleeveless options are usually best.

He should wear: A summer suit with (no ties required), linen pants (or khakis) and sandals

She should wear: A formal sundress at knee length or below with sandals

CASUAL

Generally speaking, casual means anything goes but jeans, shorts and tank tops are probably not appropriate unless they’re specifically noted as acceptable. Keep in mind the time of day for the wedding. Daytime weddings are going to be a little less dressy than a night time wedding. Also note the type of venue. You probably don’t want to wear a nice cocktail dress to a barn wedding and a sundress might be too casual for a nice hotel. If you are still confused on what to wear, I promise this little dress won’t steer you wrong.

He should wear: Dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo

She should wear: A sundress or a skirt with a nice top

ACCESSORIES

No matter what type of wedding you attend, accessorizing is one in the same. 9 out of 10 times you will find me in these nude heels. They seriously go with any and every dress! Not to mention they are great for date night or a girls night out too. Speaking from experience, you honestly can’t go wrong with a pair of Steve Madden heels! Jewelry wise, invest in a couple of fun pairs of earrings that you can dress up or down. This way you can wear them beyond weddings! My gold hoops almost never leave my ears- weddings, date nights, work wear, you name it! If you buy one pair of earrings, make it these. Lastly, if you know you might be cold at the wedding, bring a wrap instead of a jacket as it will look a bit nicer!

WEDDING SHOWER

Attire for showers is completely dependent on location. For locations such as somebody’s house or an informal restaurant, a casual sundress, skirt or even jeans and a nice top will do! If the shower is at a nicer restaurant, church or formal venue, you will want to wear a sundress.

FOR THE BRIDE:

FOR THE GUEST:

REHEARSAL DINNER

Again attire is dependent on location. If the rehearsal is held at a church, you have to be mindful that it is a holy place. Some religions require that your shoulders be covered when inside of the church. I would not advise wearing a skirt or jeans unless the bride tells you this is okay to do so.

FOR THE BRIDE:

FOR THE GUEST:

BACHELORETTE PARTY

Location and what the bride wants you to wear is everything!

For the bride: Most brides tend to want to stick to wearing all white, after all nothing says bride like wearing all white! And if that fails, hopefully your friends also get you an obnoxious sash and penis themed everything to let the rest of the world know it is in fact your weekend.

For the guests: The bride will usually give details on dress code for the party but if not, it is a safe bet to wear black! Rompers are my favorite option when going out (although they aren’t the easiest to go to the bathroom in) because if you like to dance, they are the best option to bust a move in!

Lingerie: If not at the bachelorette, there is usually a lingerie party for the bride. I don’t care how old or mature you are, don’t tell me that lingerie is not awkward to buy. Save yourself the embarassment and buy it online. My go to places for relatively cheap and PG (I personally stay away from gifting anything PG-13 because I’m an inner 5 year old) lingerie are always Nordstrom Rack and Hautelook. They are always running lingerie sales. Brand wise: I like Free People and Sam Edelman lingerie. It is cute and sexy… if that is possible.

Wedding Style Guide: Dress Codes, Etiquette and FAQ
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