if you’re over hearing about it, this is your moment to rejoice. if you have been eyeing an item, this is your moment to pull the trigger. with free shipping + free returns, now is your chance because the beloved nordstrom sale ends in just 3 days.
this years’ sale had tons of great items at killer prices but let’s be real, you had to be on stalker status with the nordstrom page or your favorite bloggers insta stories to grab your favorites in the right size if you wanted any chance at getting some of those hot ticket items. just about all sale items popped back up throughout the sale, but even then… they were gone again within minutes. at times i enjoyed the game of cat and mouse. but those times were rare.
although many items have been sold out, there still are some great pieces that have been restocked [can’t promise they will stay in stock] but they’re available right now, so if you’re reading this, don’t walk… run!
below you will find my top 5 picks in each category. all are products i have purchased, already have, or brands that i stand behind because of quality and comfort. the bobbi brown lipstick found in my top 5 beauty products is actually the color i wore on my wedding day. loved it then and love it now. the rag and bone jeans were life changing for me. i never felt comfortable in jeans [no idea why] but these jeans were a game changer. they made me mix up my leggings and an oversized tee uniform with joy.
if you’re on the fence about something, go ahead and order it before prices go up. if you don’t like it, send it right back. [if you do this, decide whether you will be keeping the item the day you get it. if the answer is no, send it back before the week is over and check that off your to-do list as soon as you can]. but if you love it, then you congrats– you found a great nordstrom anniversary sale deal 🙂
i’m sure you have heard about the nordstrom sale from 1238979384579 other bloggers by this point. but let me tell you, there’s a reason for that. it’s the perfect time to stock up on great fall pieces and staple items. all items are new fall pieces and prices go back up august 6th. before shopping the sale i always:
1. Â set a budget. no need to go broke over here!
2.  write down what fall pieces you need and shop those first. allocate the bulk of your budget to necessities. jeans, basic pieces like white t-shirts and purses are usually my go-to’s. make sure to leave a little budget  wiggle room for number 3.
3. Â try something new. find a piece or style that you have been wanting to try and step out of your comfort zone. allocate the remainder of your budget to steals you find that would go great with the pieces you found on your necessities list.
tip: building outfits will go a long way. by doing this you won’t buy a top, skirt or pair of shoes that you will never wear because you have nothing to match them with. that only results in additional purchases. so find versatile pieces that go with things already in your closet and statement pieces that you can easily pair with a nice pair of denim or heels that you already own.
the above collage is made of my favorite pieces in the sale and are ones that will sell out fast! i ordered all except for the lamp and drybar sprays because sadly they would not ship to an APO. [i’m currently living overseas with my husband who is serving in the military]. but had they shipped, i would have gotten two of those beautiful lamps for my nightstands and had 3 day old hair look fresh and smelling great. [i guess a girl can dream].
with that being said, there sadly is no overnight ship option and nordstrom has not made it’s way over to south korea yet, so for sizing and full details on all products check back in 10 days or head over to my instagram [click to follow me if you aren’t already 🙂 ] stories around for a try on haul where i can assure you, i will be brutally honest. the pieces i love stay and the pieces i don’t go! i’ll have everything just in time for the sale to open up to the public so hold tight. until then, shop my favorite picks above by clicking on the pictures or the coordinating numbers below and/or way way below where i’ve categorized items by $50 and under and $100 and under. you can also shop by going to “nordstrom sale 2017″ found on the top menu bar of my blog. and last but most definitely not least, be sure to check the bottom of the page for the awesome giveaway happening now!
shop my favorites under $50
shop my favorites under $100
*special giveaway*
in the spirit of the sale, i have teamed up with same amazing blogger babes to give one lucky reader an incredible gucci bag. y’all… can i win my own giveaway? it’s as timeless as it gets and is a bag that the lucky winner will treasure forever. scroll down below to enter. best of luck <3
Use the widget below to enter the giveaway. The more “tasks” you complete, the more entries you will receive. The winner will be announced (on the widget) within 2 weeks of the giveaway ending. The giveaway is open worldwide.
with the numerous moves and hotel stays i have had the past year and a half, i found myself struggling to sleep at night. when i finally did fall asleep, i woke up feeling unrested. this is not the way anyone wants to start their day. and h e l l o, a girl needs her beauty sleep. after trying every trick in the book, i found the 9 tips below to be most helpful at getting a good night’s rest.
take a hot bath
this is one of my favorite things to do before bed. the warm bath water relaxes your body and muscles and helps you enter that groggy state right before bed. your body temperature rises as you lay in the warm water, so make sure to leave a little bit of time after your bath to allow your body to cool down and be in the ideal state to fall asleep.
skip late night snacks
the sugar and calories in late night snacks may be keeping you up at night. calories are essentially energy. you want your energy to wind down before bed, instead of wind up. if you feel you are hungry, try having a cup of warm tea instead. be sure to leave enough time to use the restroom before bed, so you are not disrupting your sleep cycle with having to get up in the middle of the night. 1-2 hours prior to bed is as close as i would cut it.
you can avoid the urge to snack all together by eating a colorful dinner filled with veggies and a light protein about 4-5 hours before bed. having a well balanced dinner will help prevent late night hunger pangs.
charge your phone in another room
having electronics in your bedroom is a major no-no. that goes for laptops, ipads, reading devices and cell phones. screen lights trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime. this may cause troubles when it comes time to fall asleep. it also prevents you from feeling the need to answer any messages, e-mails, or social media updates that may stimulate your mind prior to bed. we all do it and we all know we shouldn’t. charging your phone in another room is a great way to finally take action and make moves towards a healthier you.
invest in your bed/bedding
think about it. what is the one place you spend most of your time? your bed! you may [hopefully] not be awake for most of that time, but a good chunk of your life is spent sleeping. mattresses and bedding are items that last a good while. my husband and i have spent many nights in hotels recently and neither of us were sleeping well. we finally got to move into our home and unwrap our tuft and needle mattress and brooklinen bedding and it was a game changer. we are now sleeping like babies. if you’re in the market for new bedding and or a mattress, i can’t say enough good things about both of them. they’re a match made in heaven. jumping into bed has become one of the most relaxing and enjoyable parts of our day. [as it should be.]
hang out in a room other than your bedroom 1-2 hours prior to bed
according to my doctor, and many studies, the bedroom should be used for sleep and sex only. that’s right, i said it! but really, your bedroom should be your designated place of rest. you wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping in your office, would you? this goes for reading a book in bed, watching late night TV, crossword puzzles, whatever it may be, consider it a no-no. leave your bed as a sleep [or sex] zone only. your body will feel relaxed and ready for bed upon entering your room, which is exactly how you want to feel before bed.
add scents that relax the mind and body to your room
my personal favorite bedtime scents are lavender or chamomile. i use lavender essential oils before bed. i rub some on my wrists and behind my ears about 30 minutes prior to bedtime. it works like a charm every time. the aromas help calm and relax the body. this will get you and your body in the perfect state to get a good night’s rest.
if essential oils are not for you, i recommend trying non-heated infusers, a room spray, or wall plug-in. [if using a wall plug-in, i recommend either turning the scent meter up before bed, or completely unplugging during the day and plug-in 1-2 hours before bed]. you want to avoid using candles before bed because you don’t ever want to fall asleep with a lit candle.
try going sleep at the same time every night
we’ve all heard it. our bodies like routine. [but not for everything]. try going to bed and waking up around the same time every evening and morning. this will help get your body used to bed time. sounds simple and basic, but sometimes we need the reminder. [i know i sure do!]
turn on a fan
using a fan serves two great purposes. first, our body temperature rises as we sleep. one of the reasons for tossing and turning throughout the night is that we become too hot. this could lead to interruptions in your sleep cycle with you waking up in the middle of the night.
fans help keep you cool throughout the night and help minimize sleep interruptions. [if it initially is too chilly for you, throw on a pair of socks to help keep your feet warm.]
second, a fan’s white noise helps drown out any other surrounding noise that you may be focusing on. as a light sleeper, i tend to hear every creak and cranny happening around me. having white noise helps distract your mind from noises that may be keeping you awake. it works wonders for me. a noise machine or playing music at low volumes work as well.
exercise
getting exercise, whether it is going out for a walk, run or hitting the gym, is said to help you get a better night’s rest. exercise increases your body’s temperature. the drop in body temperature post exercise may promote better sleep. some experts even say exercise helps reset the sleep cycle. exercise has also been linked to helping decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. both which may cause insomnia and may be keeping you awake at night.
as sad as i am to say goodbye to my cut-off shorts and tanks, i am just as equally thrilled for pull over sweaters, booties and fall denim. truth be told, i am extremely picky when it comes to jeans. a good pair of jeans aren’t easy to come by. and when you do come by them, you want them to last forever. i’ve had my fair share of $20 forever21 jeans and $30 target jeans, but nothing compares to a good fit pair of jeans.
a good pair of blue jeans is an investment [some don’t come very cheap], but they don’t have to be boring either. every year i invest in 2 or 3 good blue jeans then leave a little room for some trendy pieces. last fall i was all about the wide flare jeans [they’re still around] and this fall i’m loving velvet and prints.
every body type fits jeans differently. citizens of humanity jeans are well made, but stretch out with a few wears [nothing a quick toss in the dryer can’t fix, i actually enjoy the give on some days]. hudson jeans fit like a glove and tend to stay that way [these are my oo la la! jeans]. paige is just your comfy everyday jean. then there are rag and bone jeans which are one of my favorites [but cost a pretty penny] and of course, blank denim. blank denim is fun, trendy and affordable. and that’s just to name a few.
then there is the decision of color. how are there thousands of shades of blue jean?! there are so many shades. not to mention, maroon jeans and black and green jeans and so many colors. i label the colored jeans into my fun trendy pairs. i like to mix and match colors and patterns that work well with my skin tone and have a little fun with them. as for traditional blue jeans, staying towards darker shades always gives a nice slimming effect. but there are some real fun light shades that are just hard to say no to. hey— flaunt what you got, girl!
do spend some time trying on your jeans before purchasing, or deciding to keep an online order. i always walk [or pace in the dressing room] to get a feel of how the material moves, as well as sit and throw in a squat or two. the squat, because a squat never hurt anyone [okay, maybe if they were squatting heavy weights.. ] but also to make sure the jeans cover your goods. after you find a pair that fit you well, decide whether to hem them for an everyday wear paired with flats, or keep the length for pairings with heels and booties. you can always skip the hem and roll the bottom of your jeans as well.
below are some of favorite picks in different styles and colors. click the pictureto be taken directly to a shop-able link. happy fall!
everyday jeans
fun and trendy
distressed denim
wedding planning update: Â wedding planning is hard work! i’ve quickly learned to appreciate other people’s weddings so much more. great job on the napkin choice! the color scheme was perfect! these plate chargers are beautiful. every bride deserves those compliments and so much! also- i’m getting more and more excited with each passing day. 72 days to go:)
if you’re over hearing about it, this is your moment to rejoice. if you have been eyeing an item, this is your moment to pull the trigger. with free shipping + free returns, now is your chance because the beloved nordstrom sale ends in just 3 days.
with the numerous moves and hotel stays i have had the past year and a half, i found myself struggling to sleep at night. when i finally did fall asleep, i woke up feeling unrested. this is not the way anyone wants to start their day. and h e l l o, a girl needs her beauty sleep. after trying every trick in the book, i found the 9 tips below to be most helpful at getting a good night’s rest.
