Sweater

2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale & How My Shopping Cart Looks Different This Year

Say hello to your no frills, zero bullshit, reasonably priced, and easy to wear smart guide to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Funny story, while visiting Alaska last week, I drove to Nordstrom, all the while thinking "Man, I could drive here in my sleep"– haha! Truth is I worked as a Stylist at Nordstrom all through high school and college, so I know the ins and outs of this sale like the back of my hand! Trust me, it's a good one, and this year the buyers knocked it out of the park with their selections!

In case you're new to the conversation, Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is their biggest sale of the year, and the threat is real– prices go up August 6th! The best part? You get to shop all of next season's collections in advance & at a discount (typically 30-40% off). If you're a Nordstrom card holder, you get to shop even earlier during pre-sale days. This year the dates are as follows:

  • July 12 - 19 Cardmember Early Access

  • July 20 - Aug 5 Open to the Public.

*Pro-tip: if you're shopping early, schedule one of your triple points days ahead in order to maximize your reward ;)  

Perfectly timed for late-July, it's the best opportunity to stock up on all your fall and winter favorites. Think boots, cozy sweaters, jackets/coats, and denim. These are your investment pieces for the months ahead– shop everything you know you'll need later, NOW! 

Unlike years past, this time I've pulled a couple "just for fun" pieces, but everything is much more strategic based on life with baby. Don't judge me yet, it's not all pajamas (I think I only, selected one), but it's not all sequins and stilettos either. Think wrap sweaters (nursing mamas, you're welcome!), low-heel weatherproof boots (winter is coming), no high price point dresses you'll only wear once, and finally, no "Dry clean only" instructions.

That being said, (nursing bras/tanks aside) since becoming a mom and throughout my pregnancy, I only ever purchased two maternity pieces, everything else I either already owned or simply ordered a size (or two) up. Therefore, if you're not a new mom or even remotely interested in the thought of babies, this guide is still just as much for you as it is me.... I'd like to think my style choices haven't suffered too much in this journey :)

Finally, remember you can now shop online and pick-up in store! If you're anything like me, this added convenience is perhaps the best feature of Nordstrom's online shopping experience!

I'll continue to update this list as the sale continues & eventually provide some product review on style, materials, and fit, so keep an eye out in Stories or head to my SHOP tab! 

xoxo

 


Sweaters:
 


Tops:
 


Bottoms:
 


Shoes:
 


Jackets + Outerwear:
 


Active:
 


Handbags + Accessories:
 


Beauty:

 


Mom Life:
 


December Dust

Happy December! If you're anything like me, you've been looking forward to this holiday season since you were forced to pack up the stockings back in January.

We were lucky enough to head home for Thanksgiving, and it's funny how the cold always surprises me. Don't be fooled by these photos, temperatures hovered between 0-10 degrees the whole time we were there, so coming back to a 50-60degree Chicago feels like Spring!

Also, Paul has this ridiculous rule that I can't start any Christmas related activities until after Nov. 24th (I don't know where he comes up with this nonsense). Needless to say, now that we're home, the holiday songs are streaming nonstop, and this weekend will be 100% Christmas themed! In the words of Buddy the Elf,  "I planned out our whole day: First, we'll make snow angels for two hours, and then we'll go ice skating, and then we'll eat a whole roll of Toll-House cookie dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we'll snuggle." 

What are you most looking forward to this month?...

Still shopping for Christmas gifts? Highly recommend this cardigan (size down) and scarf, wore them almost every day we were in Alaska– so cozy & both under $50!


#HowDoYouHoliday - Day 2

Sweater  | Turtleneck | Pants | Boots | Hat | Watch | Aviators

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fireJack Frost nipping at your noseYuletide carols being sung by a choirAnd folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoeHelp to make the season brightTiny tots with their eyes all aglowWill find it hard to sleep tonight..."
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song

This holiday season looks a little different, and I mean that quite literally. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the  crunchy leaves and 70 degree days in December– that's both awesome and ridiculous. However, this is my first holiday season without snow and that's a big deal.

Growing up in Alaska, I only had one birthday without snow, and my birthday comes before Thanksgiving. To me the holidays are a cozy season by the fire with a warm drink. Christmas music is always in the background (more about that here) and the Christmas tree is always lit. Big sweaters, leggings, and boots are essentials, and fuzzy beanies feel like a December hug. It's the little things like these that make this time of year my favorite.

The hubs and I will be headed home for the holidays in just a week, and I can't tell you how excited I am to replace this backdrop with mountaintops and snow. Follow on Instagram, and I'll show you what I mean ;)

I'd love to hear how you spend your holidays! Use hashtag #HowDoYouHoliday...

xoxo

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This post has been brought to you by Vineyard Vines, however, all opinions remain my own. The integrity of this site is far more important to me than any compensation or brand partnership. – S

Monday Bedhead

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SweaterOn Sale! | Pants, c/o Last Call | Bag | Baseball Cap | Booties | Bracelets | Aviators

If there's ever a day for messy hair, it's Mondays. Luckily, I'm a sucker for some glam bedhead. Also, I'm mildly obsessed with hats, so wether I'm craving a quick change or in need of rescuing a bad hair day, you can usually find me carrying one around.

But enough about messy hair, let's talk about these pants! While this is the first that I've styled these for the site, I've worn them plenty. I'm not gonna lie, at first I was slightly intimidated by the idea of metallic pants, but after a little Pinterest inspiration, I came up with a few solid styling ideas that are easy to throw on for any occassion. Best, of all, and much to my surprise, these plastic legs are super comfortable– seriously, that's half the reason I sport these so often! That being said, because these pants are such a statement, I found that they're best worn with a simply top– and I mean really simple–like a balck or while tee or sweatshirt, no patterns, and little to no texture variation. The sweater I chose for this look is slightly jewelled, but because it's so muted it added just the right amount of sparkle without overwhelming the look as a whole.

As always thanks for stopping by, and stay warm everyone, this storm is crazy!...