july favorites

I did it! I actually have another video for all of you, and it has me feeling super accomplished. I haven't filmed a monthly favorites in quite awhile so this is more like a round-up of things I've been loving and using since April. The full list of products is on the YouTube page.

Note: I realized after I uploaded this video that I forgot to include a picture of the couch I mentioned, but I do include a link to the website!

nordstrom anniversary sale picks {what i bought}

You're probably sick of hearing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but I had to share this post. I'm still waiting for all my purchases to come in, but for now, I'll let you shop all the things that I loved enough to put in my closet. I'll probably film a video that will go up next week so that you can see what they actually look like and my thoughts on everything. For now, this will have to do.

Though I'm officially on a No Buy since my closet has everything I think I need for the next two seasons, I'd still love to hear what you bought during the #NSale!

beauty haul! {ulta, house of lashes, and cvs}

I know that everyone is talking about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but I wanted to break it up just a bit to show you some new beauty and makeup things I've acquired over the past month or so. I made some purchases and Ulta and House of Lashes and had the boxes sitting unopened for nearly a month. Since I haven't filmed a video in quite some time, I decided a little unboxing/makeup haul would be the perfect way to get back into the swing of things.

A full list of products is on my YouTube page!

nordstrom anniversary sale picks {vol. 1}

Nordstrom has released a little sneak peak for those of us without a Nordstrom card. I went through it all and picked my favorites. Some of these have even made it to my own wish list!

I'll have another one next week when I can finally shop the sale. Hopefully there will be lots of goodies still available!

CLICK TO SHOP!

1. Michael Kors Hooded Trench Coat // 2. Leith Shawl Collar Cocoon Cardigan // 3. Chelsea28 Ruffle Trim Cardigan // 4. BP Open Front Cardigan // 5. Topshop Jeans // 6. Trouve Faux Leather Leggings // 7. UGG 'Ava' Suede Boot // 8. Hanky Panky Lace Thong // 9. Vince Camuto 'Pedra' OTK Boot // 10. Diptyque Candle Set // 11. Vince Camuto 'Abril' Shoulder Bag // 12. Hunter Short Moto Rain Boot // 13. Louise et Cie 'Jayde' Mary Jane Pump

nordstrom anniversary sale starts today! + tips

You've probably been hearing a lot of talk about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and for good reason. It is the biggest and best sale of the year where you can scoop up brand spankin' new fall items at majorly discounted prices. I'm talking about brands like Rebecca Minkoff, Theory, Rag & Bone, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, and Topshop. Some of you lucky folks out there can start shopping the sale today {aka you have a Nordstrom debit or credit card} but will open up to the public on July 22nd.

But don't just spend to spend! It's easy to get caught up in all the good prices and even easier to just buy anything that catches your eye. Here are a few tips to get you through the sale and keep your wallet and bank account happy...

1. Know all the details. Like I said, early access for all Nordstrom card holders starts today. The sale will open up to the public on the 22nd. All prices will go up on August 8th.

2. Set a budget and shop mindfully. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to worry about money and could just buy everything we wanted? Yes, it probably would be, but we can't. Give yourself a budget so that you're not just adding and adding and adding things to your cart that you may not be able to afford or really need. Which leads me to my next point...

3. Create a shopping list. I know, I know - the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is full of amazing deals for fall and winter. But it's best to go in with a game plan. Know what you really NEED for the upcoming seasons. The best way to do it is to scan the catalog and start writing down what you need.

4. Have multiples because things will sell out. If you're like me and can't shop til the 22nd, have backups or multiples on your list. Lots of things sell out quickly because of the great prices, and it can be discouraging if you really liked something. There are so many options though that you are definitely going to find very similar items, possibly at lower prices.

5. What should you buy? All the staple and investment pieces! If you're really looking to get the most bang for your buck, get those closet staples and investment pieces. No doubt they will be heavily discounted so why not scoop them up now? Fall boots and booties, a cozy sweater, and a quality coat to get you through the seasons are your best bet. Handbags are a good option too!

6. Filter, filter, filter! There are SO MANY items in this sale. So many that, when you're shopping online, it's daunting to just look at how many pages there are. That's when filters are your best friend. If you know that you're looking for a grey cardigan and want to keep it under $100, then look for just that. Nordstrom has a super easy filter system with drop down menus so you won't have to be looking at page after page of things that you're not looking for. Also, this helps you stick to your budget and only get what's on your list!

I'll sharing my top picks while the sale is going on, and then a haul video when I have all of my purchases. I'd love to know what's on your wish list and what you end up getting!

PS. Do any of you have a Nordstrom card? Should I get one? Is it worth it? Let me know!

toffee chocolate chip shortbread + the open!



Two things I love: golf and baking. I've done other posts similar to this where I combine the two by baking up something that reminds me of a major location. I've done pimento cheese and chocolate cake with pistachio buttercream for the Masters, Arnold Palmer baked doughnuts for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and shortbread cookies for the British Open. Well, if we're going to be completely honest, I wasn't all that happy with the cookies I baked up for last year's Open. So for this year, I decided to try a new recipe with chocolate chips and toffee bits. These turned out SO. GOOD. I brought extras to work and my coworkers loved them. A success in my eyes!

Since shortbread cookies is still new to my repertoire, I followed this recipe step-by-step from The Kitchn but eliminated dipping them in chocolate. I'll try that out the next time I make them...

Wondering why I chose shortbread cookies? The 145th British Open is taking place at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Shortbread originated in Scotland so it just made sense. Plus, who doesn't love these crumbly buttery cookies?