Johnston and Murphy

Taking A Step Back + Nordstrom Giveaway

Top: LOFT (on sale) | Shorts: Nordstrom | Sneakers: Johnston & Murphy | Earrings: Similar

Hi Friends! I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but I have taken a step back from the blog these past couple of months for multiple reasons. Some of those I am not able to share right now but others I will certainly let you in on. I am a big proponent of “quality over quantity” meaning that I don’t want to just get on here to write a post if my heart is not in it. I used to think that just getting a post up whether it was read-worthy was what it took to make it in the blogging world. Well I’ve come to learn that posting halfass blog posts doesn’t do either one of us any good. You don’t want to read something that has no point to it and I certainly don’t enjoy writing them! It’s a lose-lose.

These past few months have not been what I expected recovery to be. Not because recovery has been bad, in fact it has been really good! I am pretty much back to a completely normal lifestyle! I have started physical therapy and am currently going 3 times a week. Life is busier than ever with friends, family, events and just life. But then why is it that I feel so drained all of the time? I wake up already dreaming about what time I will be able to make it into bed that night. Usually my heart sinks a little when I realize that it will be another late night with little sleep. That is no way to start the day dreading how much you have to do. It’s discouraging to say the least.

I couldn’t even tell y’all the last time that I cleaned my house. There are still suitcases lying around my room from recent trips because I just haven’t had the time or energy to unpack them. Laundry hasn’t been done in months. There are still Easter decorations up. When I do have the time for these things, all I want to do is relax. Yet I can’t even seem to unplug and relax anymore without the worry and guilt of things that I should be doing. It’s a viscous cycle that I want out of!

My cup is empty. What do I mean by that? I have finally realized that I am pouring into so much that is not fulfilling me. All of these things that I am spending my time on should not have to feel like work. Friends, events, blogging, dinner dates, whatever it may be. I am so used to keeping a busy schedule that lately I couldn’t figure out why my busy schedule was not keeping me entertained. In fact why it was doing the exact opposite. So that’s why I have taken a step back to try to get things back in order. To try and figure out what it is that motivates me. To unplug and enjoy being present. To appreciate the little things. To come home to a clean house. And above all to be happy with where I am spending my time.

So many of us fill our schedules thinking that that is the way to success. Well hey if that is working for you then you just keep on keeping on! But if you are pouring into a lot of things that are not fulfilling you, you will eventually crash and burn. Instead of trying to pack “you” time into your already packed schedule (because so many people will suggest this), it might be necessary to take a step back altogether and reevaluate. There are very few things that we can give away and never get back, but time is one of those so choose how you spend it wisely!

I’ll get off of my soapbox now 🙂 With all of that being said, I wanted to let y’all know that I will still be around. I am just taking some time for me and still trying to blog in the process because it really is such a healing tool when I do finally get behind the keyboard. It’s the getting there that is the hard part! That being said, although I am a fashion blogger, recovery has taught me that I love writing about personal topics. Dating, real life, the messy parts, that’s what I have loved writing about recently and you guys seem to be loving it too! So you can expect to be seeing more of that!

Now onto the good stuff, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is just a little over a month away. This sale is HUGE guys. I’m talking full price items, even designer ones, on major sale. So much stuff flew off the shelves in the first couple of hours last year so you definitely have to be on your game! To get you ready for the big sale, I have teamed up with some other bloggers to gift one lucky reader a $1,000 Nordstrom gift card. See below to enter.

2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Now…it’s time for a fabulous giveaway!
I’ve teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers
to give YOU a chance to win:
a $1,000 Nordstrom Gift Card, just in time for the Anniversary Sale!

Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter.
You’ll receive one entry per completion.
This giveaway is open internationally and runs until 7/3.
Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Black Friday deals + Casual and cute style: chunky sweater + distressed denim + sneakers

Top: Urban Outfitters (ON SALE) | Sweater: Urban Outfitters (ON SALE) | Jeans: Nordstrom ($65) | Shoes: Johnston & Murphy | Bag: Johnston & Murphy | Choker: Bauble Bar (ON SALE)

Photography by: Banavenue

Happy Monday friends, Cyber Monday that is! If you didn’t get everything you wanted during the Black Friday deals, you lucked out because many of the Cyber Monday deals are just as good if not better. Since I spent Black Friday buying for myself (#guilty), I plan on finishing up my holiday shopping today for everybody else! If you don’t see a retailer below that you are interested in, please let me know and I will get it added to the list. Happy shopping friends and may the (sale) odds be ever in your favor 🙂

*CLICK AN IMAGE TO SHOP MY FAVORITES*

A-Z SALE LIST

Amazon: sales ALL WEEK

American Eagle: 40% off + free shipping

Ann Taylor: 50% off everything with code CELEBRATE

Anthropologie: 20% off full priced items + free shipping with purchases of $150+ with code STACKS

ASOS: 30% off everything with code THANKFUL30

Banana Republic: 50% off everything

Bauble Bar: [the BEST for chokers and tassel earrings] 35% off everything with code SAVE35

Chicwish: 25% off everything with code BLK25

Express: 50% off everything + free shipping

Forever 21: extra 30% off of sale items

Francesca’s: [the BEST for stocking stuffers] 30% off everything + up to 50% off online exclusives

Gap: 50% off of everything with code CYBMON

Goodnight Macaroon: 40% off of everything with code CYBER40

Happy Socks: [BEST gift for guys] 40% off + free shipping

J. Crew: 40% off of everything with code HOLIDAY

J. Crew Factory: 60% off + free shipping with code HAPPYSALE

Johnston & Murphy: up to 50% off

Kendra Scott: 20% off everything with code SALE20

LOFT: 50% off in stores & online with code CYBERMONDAY

Macy’s : 20% off everything + free shipping with code FEAST

Madewell: 20% off + free shipping after $50 with code THANKS

Nordstrom: 20% off of sale items and 40% off designer items

Old Navy: [My personal fav!! Everything is SO cheap/cute] 40% off everything + 15% off your order with code PERK

Revolve: Up to 65% off

SAKS: up to 40% off designers and up to $150 off of denim with code DENIM16 + online exclusive: earn a gift card up to $750 with code CYBER16

Shopbop: Spend $200+, get 15% off; Spend $500+, get 20% off; Spend $800+, get 25% off

Steve Madden: 35% of with code CYBER

Topshop: up to 50% off selected items

Tory Burch: 30% off when you spend $250 or more with code THANKS

Urban Outfitters: $50 off of $150 or $15 off of $75

Victoria’s Secret: $20 off of $125 (TAKE20) + free shipping on orders over $50 (SHIP50FREE)

MY TOP PICKS FROM ALL OF THE SALES

*click an image to shop*

*Thank you Johnston & Murphy for making this post possible. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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