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My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

As you most likely know, one of the biggest sales of the year started this week. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open for their credit cardholders and in pre-sale mode for others, like me, who will wait until next week to shop when it opens to the public. I will be the first to admit that this sale can be very overwhelming. I personally use to avoid it. But, these days, I head over to the site and spend time researching my favorite brands like Patagonia, Barbour, Diptyque, JCrew and other classics and go-to gifts for friends and family.  Most years, I end up buying ten items – four or five classics and then a few new discoveries.

For those of you who aren’t card holders, I recommend heading to the website this weekend and spending some time reviewing the sale items. Once you find things you want, just add them to your wish list so you on July 20th, when the sale opens, you can quickly snag them.

Here are the items I’ve added to this year’s wish list:

  • Diptyque Candle Set – This year I have put two of these on my wish list, one to enjoy throughout the year and one to use as small gifts for friends throughout the year. I pair one of these candles with a bottle of wine for a perfect birthday gift or surprise during a tough week.
  • JCrew Vintage Pajama Set – I’ve fallen in love with pajama sets recently and this set seems like it’ll be perfect year-round. I added the hydrangea pair to my wish list.
  • JCrew Ruffle Tee– This dressed up tee would be perfectly paired with white jeans in summer or a dark pair of skinny pants and heels for the office.
  • Natori Feathers Bra – I fell in love with this bra right before getting pregnant with Katie as it is comfortable, flattering, a little bit fun and can be worn under everything from sweaters to tank tops. I am typically a 36A and find that in Natori brand, I have to go up a cup size. I added pink lemonade and dark grey to my wish list.
  • Hunter Tall Boots – I’ve had my Hunter Tall boots for eight years and they are ready to be replaced. They are a great, classic item to have in your closet for rainy days, regardless the season. Their classic colors rarely go on sale so this is a great time to buy!
  • Supergoop 50 Spray  – Bo and I have become very serious about protecting our skin after this year’s annual dermatolgist visit. Unfortunately skin cancer and melanoma runs in both of our families and therefore before we head out for the day, we spray ourselves head-to-toe in sunscreen. This is a great option to use as it’s includes less scary chemicals than others, applies easily and is water resistant.
  • Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan Last year this sold out before I could buy it! This year, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to snag this super soft, flattering cardigan on the 20th as I really want the charcoal or light silver.  I feel like it will be the perfect item to wear while I work from home, travel or run errands especially when paired with black leggings and tall boots.
  • Spanx Faux Leather Leggings– Speaking of leggings, I bought these during the 2015 Anniversary Sale and wore them non-stop that fall and winter. Unfortunately, they were put in the dryer and shrunk an unfortunate death. I’ve been waiting for this year’s sale to buy a new pair. They are a perfect closet essential as they are flattering, can easily be dressed up or down, and the high waist makes them very comfortable.
  • Zella Live In High Waist Leggings – I only discovered these last year and agree with each and every one of the rave reviews. It’s hard to go wrong when 3,800 other shoppers rave about a pair of leggings especially when they are only $36! These flattering and comfortable leggings are such a great deal that I’m looking forward to getting a second pair. I recently purged my workout and lounge wear, donating and getting rid of 10-year old, stretched out leggings and instead of going to Lululemon and spending over $100 to replace them, I’m buying these!
  • Vince Camuto Scuba Sheath Dress – Even though my role typically requires business casual attire, it is always important to have one or two essential dresses in my closet that can be worn for important business meetings. I love this dress because the thicker material resists wrinkles and is flattering. The pattern makes it a bit different yet the length makes it perfect for date night or work.

A few great items for baby and children:

  • See Kai Run shoes – Katie absolutely loves these shoes! She doesn’t kick them off like others and they have a snug enough fit that they help with her walking attempts versus hindering. We went ahead and ordered two pair of these for Fall and Winter since she’s quickly outgrowing her current pair.
  • Babymoov Anti UV Tent – We bought this tent when Katie was two months old to use down in Savannah. It is so compact that we brought it back up here and actually used it to block Katie from the television when we enjoyed the NCAA National Championship game. Now this tent lives on our glassed-in back porch unless she’s playing in the backyard or going to the beach. While it’s a bit tricky to figure out how to properly fold it, once you have the hang of it you can take it anywhere since it’s so compact! It’s packed in our car for our week at the beach as it will provide a shaded place for Katie to play.
  • Aden + Anais Swaddling Cloths – These were a necessity during the first few months of Katie’s life and now we always keep them in her stroller to use for everything from an on the go burp cloth, clean up spills, or provide a clean spot at the park. This brand tended to be softer than any other and was a bit larger, which was a welcome benefit as we tried to master the art of swaddling.

 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Virtual Coffee Date – July 2018

Virtual Coffee Date

Happy Thursday! I hope you’ll sit down and refill that cup of coffee or glass of wine, depending on the hour, as it is time for a virtual date. A lot has transpired since our last date together.  Even though I am smack in the middle of a whirlwind work week before we head out on vacation, I’m in a far better place than I was a few months ago. Life continues to speed by faster than ever, but I find myself waking up smiling and going to bed feeling content I have a lot to share with you all today, so here goes.

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you that the baby weight is finally gone. As of this morning, I weight exactly what I weighed in August of 2016. My mom and so many other wise friends and women always told me that it took nine to ten months to put on the weight, so it will take at least that long to take off the weight. They were right! It took almost thirteen months but I am proud that I didn’t drive myself crazy. I didn’t obsess over numbers on the scale or the size on a clothing tag. My body shape is not the same as it was before, since I now am the proud of owner of hips and a few more curves.

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you that I am really enjoying my workout routine these days. For the past month I’ve been doing Pilates 2-3 times per week, running 3-4 times per week and walking everywhere. Once maternity leave was over, I suddenly started sitting more than ever before. I wasn’t walking or commuting into the city for workouts or trekking all over to meet friends or run errands. Instead, I was walking a 1/3 of a mile to the nanny share and back each day. I’ve increased my average step count each week since this realization from around 5,000 to 9,000. On weekdays, when I’m working from home, I’m taking 20 minutes during the day, typically during a conference call that doesn’t require a computer, to walk outside. I’m also taking the “long” way to nanny share and home each day with Katie. I’ve come to enjoy this time together as we have a very one-sided conversation about the day, the weather and everything we are passing along the way.

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you that I am so proud of my dear friend Theodora. I have learned so much over the past year, as I’ve watched her go through the grief process following her mother’s death. I am a far better friend now than I was two years ago, due in part to the things I’ve learned from her as I’ve done my best to support her through this difficult time. The other night, during a tough moment, she told me how sad she is for her friends who will go through the grief process at one point when they lose their mother or another loved one. As someone who still has both her parents, this of course struck a chord. Needless to say, I’m making a more conscious effort to connect with my loved ones via phone and in person. I’m thankful that this year we’ve chosen to use most of our vacation time to be with family. Next week we are heading to Avalon, New Jersey for a week of beach and sunshine with Bo’s parents and cousins and then in August we’ll be down in Savannah for 10 days. I’m going to focus on enjoying the moment and creating memories during each of these trips. (You can read more about Theodora’s journey in this Women’s Health article.)

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you I love the new Question feature in Instagram. It’s been so fun to respond to the questions people have on topics ranging from weight loss to baby schedules. It reminds me of back in the day when people used to leave a ton of comments on blog posts.  I love how easy Instagram made it for friends and followers to ask questions and it will hopefully decrease the DM which tend to get easily lost.

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you that I’m so excited to head upstairs in a few minutes. I’ve fallen out of the habit of reading before bed but am focused on getting back in the habit. I find that I sleep better when I spend 20 or 30 minutes relaxing in bed with a good book and putting away my phone. It gives my body and mind a chance to relax before going to sleep. Right now I’m reading two books – Educated and The Identicals. I’m having a hard time making it through some portions of Educated so find that I can enjoy it more when I read it every other night.  In a perfect world, I would get back to the evening routine that makes me happiest – apply relaxing hand cream, light a candle, read for 30 minutes, turn off the lights, and meditate for 3-5 minutes using Headspace.

If we were sitting together today, I would tell you that I celebrated feeling good about my body by buying new clothes to enjoy the rest of this summer and on our two upcoming vacations. I guess I’ve become accustomed to living a more streamlined, simplified life because after trying everything on, I decided to return quite a few items because I just didn’t “need” them.  I ended up keeping my favorite v-neck t-shirt in a bright red and athletic gray, these fun pull-on shorts , this easy, breezy t-shirt dress, these jean shorts, and these white jeans.  If you need summer clothes, JCrew has 30% off sale items and Jcrew Factory has up to 60% off!

If we were sitting together today, I would laugh about the fact that I’ve come to realize that some household chores drive me bonkers. Emptying the dishwasher and putting away folded clothes are always the last on my list. What is your least favorite household chore?  Every two to three weeks we have a maid cleaning lady come and do deep cleaning but in between, Bo and I do our best to keep the house looking and feeling nice. When the house is clean and organized, we are both much happier people. We typically use the spare bedroom as a “junk room” and then put things away during the weekend. Some people have junk drawers and we have a junk room. I’m not sure what that says about us but for now, it works. We typically have a small pile of folded clothes, things that need to be returned/exchanged and boxes we have to cut.

Photos: Anna Rachel Photograph

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My Favorite Summer Running Outfit

If you follow me on Instagram Stories, then you may already know that I’ve been wearing a few items on almost EVERY run. In fact, I love these pieces so much that I ordered a second pair of each item.  These items have me feeling confident and comfortable during my runs and have worked well on every style of run – tempo, long, sprints, or conversational. They’ve allowed me to log miles in the rain, sticky heat and perfect days in between without any chafing or feeling like the material is hanging off my body. I remember, back in the day, when I ran in Nike Tempo shorts, that I would worry that the moisture would weigh them down so much that they would fall down. Or, that unfortunate under arm or inner thigh chafing that I thought was “common” during humid and hot running.

Nope. 

This gear has me jumping out of bed and excited to run even when it’s 4:55 AM. Today this gear helped me log 3 miles and then head to the Pilates studio for a challenging 60-minute tower class. While I may not have smelled very good by the end of the 90-minute workout, I was comfortable.

  • Visor – Since having Katie, I rarely go out for a run or outdoor workout without a hat or visor as my melasma seems to flare after even just short exposure to the sun. This bright, lightweight Brooks Run Happy visor is a fun way to block the sun, keep my hair out of my face and spread the Run Happy vibes.  It’s easily adjustable thanks to a velcro back closure and the sweat-wicking material ensures that I’m not wasting energy or time wiping sweat out of my face during my workout.
  • Sports Bra – The Brooks Uprise Crossback sports bra has quickly become my favorite sports bra. It is a medium impact bra that keeps me supported during even the toughest of workouts without being complicated. Since I’m a B cup I don’t need much but this one delivers beyond my expectations thanks to the breathable cups, shape and support from molded cups, and comfort due to the soft material. I also love that the pads aren’t constantly coming out in the wash since this bra has molded cups versus removable pads. It is currently on sale for $26 on Brooks and Nordstrom Rack.
  • Tank – The Brooks Ritual Tank is loose, breathable and bright. The flattering tank includes a mesh back that allows for air flow while the broad arm openings minimize chafing. I love that it’s available in multiple bright color combinations, including the blue and teal that I’m wearing in these photos. It’s on sale on Zappos and Brooks so be sure to snag it before it sells out! It runs a bit large, as I am wearing the medium and typically wear a large in most Brooks tops.
  • Shorts – Okay, I still can’t believe that the Brooks Greenlight 7″ Short Tight is my new favorite running short. I thought after years of running marathons in super-tight CW-X compression shorts, I’d given up on this style of short but Charlie and Zoe convinced me to give them a try. I figured they’d be unflattering due to the fitted nature but instead, they are the opposite. The wide waistband, smooth design and supportive material holds everything in while still being breathable. There are two pockets that easily fit keys, cash or credit cards as well. You can find these at Zappos and Brooks. While they aren’t on sale, they are well worth the $46.

All pictures are Anna Rachel Photography 

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