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!