I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! We went to East TN to hang out in the Smoky Mountains for a couple of days then saw our family in Knoxville. If you are like me then you missed Black Friday sales due to being with family or traveling. The great thing about these sales is that they are usually extended for a couple of days now to allow everyone to have time to scoop up some amazing savings.
My satin puff sleeved top is 50% off (no code needed) + my high-rise jeans are 50% off
(code: VERYMERRY), + my taupe booties are 50% off (no code needed)
I picked out some of my fave retailers to share their amazing steals + deals!
Anthropologie: Dates: Now - Nov. 30 Sale: 30% off sitewide Promo Code: Discount applied at checkout
These faux leather leggings should be a staple in all women's closets. They look amazing on all body types and really suck you in!
I love these velvet leggings and wore them throughout the whole holiday season last year!
Mignone Gavigan:
Dates: Ends Nov. 28th
Sale: 25% off Mini Madeline earrings + free shipping
Promo Code: None
These Mini Madeline styles rarely go on sale! I gifted myself and got the white/gold ones. They are perfect gifts and great for wearing throughout the holidays.
Tuckernuck:
Dates: Now - Nov. 30
Sale: 20% off everything + more percentage off orders over $500
Promo Code: BIGSALE
If you haven't discovered the brand, Dudley Stephens, yet then you need to check them out! I wore my fleece turtleneck all last winter. They are seriously the most comfy tops you will ever wear!
I hope your holiday was amazing despite these weird times. Hopefully these amazing deals will help get you in the holiday shopping mood. As always let me know if you need help finding a certain gift. I love to help people out in this department!
Prime Day is here! The epic Amazon sale lasts today thru tomorrow, October 14th. This is a great time to get ahead of holiday shopping and snatch up some goodies for yourself! This sale is exclusively for Prime members only. This is like Black Friday for Prime members and a great way in their words to "beat the holiday hustle!"
This is cheapest that the Apple AirPods have ever been marked down! So if you have been waiting to buy these; now is the time. My hubby gave me some last year and it was the best gift ever. It's so nice to not have to deal with tangled wires!
This Echo is brand new and comes with the clock feature now. My boys have both requested new clocks in their room for Christmas and this is the perfect gift idea for kids or adults!
I am terrible at doing that salon type of blowout at home. Round brushes are next to impossible at working through my naturally wavy hair. This tool is a total game changer! It really is foolproof to use and gives you body and smooths your hair at the same time. I will never go back to another blowdryer!
I've literally tried every serum on the market for my lashes. After having my 2 boys I noticed that my hormones were jacking with my eyelashes as well as my eyebrows making them less full. I didn't want to hassle with the maintenance of doing eyelash extensions so I started using serums. They really really work! I started with Latisse and also used the Rodan and Fields product. I loved the results with those products but they are very pricey. An aesthetician told me to try to this product and I have had even better results with this one! GrandeLASH is on sale for $45 which is 30% savings.
This is a classic blazer from a brand I love. The gold buttons give it a chic vibe and it comes in 3 colors. I own the black one and it's truly one of the most worn items in my closet. I'm going to scoop up the white one too!
Happy #national coffee day/every day for me! I literally get out of bed and walk straight to my Keurig every morning. I love being in control of what I put in my coffee so I can save where I can on calories and sugar. I also love going to other coffee shops and obviously Starbucks. But, if you are not careful, you can load up on some unwanted calories. I am always searching (and being super annoying and asking questions) the Starbucks menu for some lower sugar options.
The important thing to try and stay away from lots of milk and all the flavorings. They do have some Sugar Free Flavoring options (Vanilla, Caramel, Cinnamon Dolce and Mocha) which can be a good substitute to cut calories.
ALMOND MILK is the best option as far as sugar and calories go. They don't have an unsweetened milk option, so the Almond Milk is the next best thing. Reasons to love Starbucks Almond milk: Lowest sugar content, you taste your espresso more, it doesn’t contain carageenan, and it even has 1 gram of fiber!
Nutritional info per cup for Starbucks Milk options (per 8 oz) Almond milk: 60 calories, 4g fat, 5 carbs, 1,gram fiber (yay) and 3.5 grams of sugar Coconut Milk: 8.5 grams sugar 60 calories Nonfat Milk: 13 grams of sugar, but less calories than whole and 2% at 60 calories Soy: 13.5 grams sugar, 135 calories 2% Milk: 12.5 grams of sugar, 130 calories Whole Milk: 12.5 grams of sugar, 160 calories
Go to orders:
Cappuccino with Almond Milk and one pump Sugar Free Vanilla (the Cappuccino is better than a Latte because it is made with less milk)
Iced green tea with no sweetener and 1 scoop of matcha (the matcha is a little sweetened) Iced Coffee Splash of Almond Milk and 1-2 pumps Sugar Free Vanilla
Sugar Free Vanilla Latte with Almond Milk Americano with 1-2 pumps of Sugar Free Vanilla. I like to have my Nutpods handy and mix them in Sugar Free Cinnamon Dulce Latte with Almond Milk Sugar Free Mocha Latte with Almond Milk Coffee sweetened with Sugar Free Mocha Iced London Fog Tea Latte with Almond Milk and Sugar Free Vanilla
It probably goes without saying but always no whip cream please. If you like the consistency of the Frappacinos you can always order your latte the good way and have them blend with with ice.
Check out my What's in my Coffee Post to see what I put in my coffee at home. Hope this helps and you become an annoying Starbucks orderer just like me :) Crystal
By now you might be really sick of hearing about this epic sale but just in case I want to provide additional help! So Nordstrom has now opened the sale to the public today (you don't have to have a nordy card to shop!). Just a reminder that the sale ends on August 30th and there are still some great deals to be had.
Be sure to check out my previous blog post here with my picks on athleisure + accessories.
These Quay tortoise sunglasses are still available on the sale and detract from my no-makeup look and sweaty gym hair- ha! My crystal huggie hoop earrings aren't on the sale but are still available at Nordstrom for under $30. Check out my previous post with more accessories picks.
Check out some of more in-stock picks for clothing, shoes, lounge, and beauty:
It's time for literally the best sale of the year! Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is currently underway for certain card holders. The sale is open to everyone from August 19–August 30, and prices go up August 31. I wasn't sure how interested in the sale I was going to be this year with everything going on but I was pleasantly surprised with a lot of the options. The great thing about the sale this year is that you can preview the items and save them in your wish list which will make it easy for you when it's your turn to shop. This year my focus in the sale is definitely casual pieces- there are some amazing athleisure deals and classic accessories that you can wear for years to come. People aren't dressing up as much so Nordstrom took notice and included tons of practical buys. I put together my top items from 2 fave categories: athleisure + accessories. As always message me if you need any additional help! I will roll out my faves from other categories throughout the week.
Athleisure:
Two of my top buys from last year's sale that are available this year as well are my cropped Zella black leggings + white adidas running shoes. I seriously wear these basic leggings multiple times a week. I love a cropped style especially in warmer weather and the fit on these are awesome. This sale always features amazing deals on adidas sneakers. I love a classic white pair and these come in solid black as well!
I also am planning on scooping up this Zella racerback tank which comes in 5 colors.
Shop more athleisure picks below!
Accessories:
My next fave category to shop for in this sale is accessories. I've always gotten some classic + chic bags from this sale. This Madewell Transport tote is a great twist on a classic bag with the stripe detail. The sale always has a great selection of fab sunnies as well- these Quay cat eye ones are awesome. I'm also loving this square Ray-Ban pair as well.
This mini crossbody bag is super versatile in this beige color. It also comes in a gorgeous citrus color as well and you can't beat the price point of under $150 (after the sale it's $350).
Check back throughout the week for more of my faves from other categories!
Summer has officially started in Tennessee. While I love running and exercising outdoors the heat can definitely add an extra challenge. I typically only workout in leggings or capris but during this summer heat I have to switch it up. Check out some of my go-to shorts and tanks to keep you cool and moving this summer.
I am not totally on the bike shorts train yet. I love them on others but haven't worn them myself. I really love these Nike Pro Flex shorts because they are the best of both worlds. They have the built-in underneath bike shorts with the baggy shorts on top. They also have a great elastic waist band so they stay put and give you extra comfort. I have loved teaching my outdoor yoga classes in these!
Amanda turned me on to the Montiel Activewear brand. I have this Montiel Cowl Back Tank in 3 colors and would honestly wear them every single day. Their sports bras are some of my faves as well. They are so comfy and easy to get off- even when sweaty.
I am also loving these Amazon running shorts. They come in lots of colors and are light+ comfy to run in. Here I am caught again wearing my favee Montiel top which is not surprising!
If you are like me then with everything going on recently I've become super forgetful. I just realized that Father's Day is this coming weekend. So for all you fellow procrastinators (I hoping that I'm in good company!) I put some gift ideas for the awesome dad/hubby in your life. Thanks goodness for Amazon and Prime shipping so these gifts will all arrive before Sunday!
2. RampShop Game Set: Since we have 2 active boys I always like to find gifts that my hubby can do with them. This is touted as a more exciting, faster paced version of corn hole. This game is easier to transport as well and works for the beach, tailgating, or the outdoors.
3. GrowlerWerks 64 oz carbonated growler: For the beer lover this gift looks amazing! It keeps beer fresh for weeks and you can easily pour the beer through the dispenser tap.
4. Havaianas men's flip flop: Most men don't take the time to purchase new flip flops and are still wearing their Rainbow ones from the 90's ha! I love the simplicity of this brand's flip flops and the blue color would look great on any dude.
5. Skagen touchscreen smartwatch: I love the sleek design of this tech watch that tracks activities and your heart rate using google fit. It comes in tons of colors and the silicone strap is chic + sporty.
6. Waterproof portable speaker with clip: This speaker is super lightweight and the clip helps keep it in place easily. This also comes in several colors and provides 10 hours of playtime.
7. Bevel shave kit: This kit includes a safety razor, shave creams, oil, balm, and 20 blades. This gives a high quality grooming experience for any dad!
8. 2 pack of beer freezer plastic pint glasses: Simply pop these glasses in the freezer for 2 hours then they will keep your beverage between forty-three and fifty-three degrees. I love the no sweat silicone band detail which keeps your hand from freezing.
9. Thule crossover travel kit: This travel kit is the perfect size for pens, toiletries, or charging cables. This brand is known for being super durable with a no-fuss look.
10. Temperature control smart mug: If you are shopping for a coffee lover than look no further. This mug keeps your hot drink at the exact temp you prefer. It comes with a charging saucer or it can last on 1 hour of battery off the charger.
"Dad, you've always been the coolest like all those times you said yes and Mom said no." -Author Unknown
"Being a dad is like living in a frat house. Nobody sleeps, everything's broken, and there's a lot of throwing up." - Ray Romano
I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day honoring the special dads in your life!