While everyone is freaking out about not being ale to get a haircut I’m more concerned about not being able to get my blonde highlights touched up! I’ve been investing in the right products for my hair to keep it healthy until I get a trim. It takes a lot of work to get shiny and healthy hair but it gets easier when you use amazing products like Clairol. It’s a company that has been around forever and there is a reason why.
For years I used Clairol Shimmer Lights shampoo to keep my hair blonde and get rid of the brassy color that happens over time. I like to use it once a week and leave it in my hair for 10-15 minutes while I wash up.
Now I’m even more excited because Clairol has a Shimmer Lights Violet Toning Mask and Shimmer Lights Thermal Shine Spray. The mask is definitely a blonde’s best friend! After washing your hair leave the mask on for 5 minutes to condition and tone your blonde hair to keep it bright and shiny. It strengthens your hair over time
Every blonde knows that taking care of blonde hair means keeping it conditioned and protected from heat. Shake and spray the Shimmer Lights Thermal Shine Spray onto your hair before heat styling. I like to use it in the morning when I style my hair to help tame frizz and flyaways to get that extra shine. My hair feels smooth and protects my hair from heat tools without feeling heavy or greasy.
I trust the Clairol Shimmer Lights line to keep my blonde bright and shiny! I’ve been using Clairol for a long time. Products in this post were received complimentary but as always, all opinions are my own.
When I was clicking through the sale preview pages I realized that a few of the items looked very familiar. So maybe that’s proof I really do have good taste? Over the last few years I’ve been more picky about my purchases and choosing to spend more money on some items because I know they will last me for years.
Some items in my closet (and in storage) are from Nordstrom sales in the past. I think why this sale is SO popular is because you can’t beat these sales on items that truly are investment pieces that you can use daily. Other items in my closet are from Target and honestly, they do the same job. I love wearing clothes and buying clothes. I was happy to see that some items I’ve purchased from other retailers were included in the sale (for example a brown leather skirt). I purchased mine from another retailer last year and now I can’t wait to wear it again this year in new ways.
I love shopping but I love a good deal more. Below I put together a long post of items that I currently own that are a part of the Nordstrom sale. Some are from Nordstrom or other higher end stores and some items are from Target. Do some browsing and see what catches your eye. If you have the budget, do some shopping. The way that I look at it is you can buy 10 fast fashion bags that will break and fall apart easily or buy one amazing designer handbag that you can use every day for years. This year I’m shopping the sales on the jewelry to get presents for friends and family and a few things for myself because you can’t beat that price.
Happy shopping!
TORY BURCH LEATHER TOTE PURSE // If you want to buy yourself a nice designer item that you will definitely use a lot, I suggest getting a designer handbag. I treated myself to a Tory Burch bag in 2018 and it looks like I just bought it. I use it a lot in the fall as my everyday bag and I love that it acts like a tote bag because I can throw things easily in there and it’s small enough to be an everyday bag.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY LIPSTICK // I worked on a campaign with Charlotte Tilbury more than a year ago and that is when I finally understood why everyone is obsessed with this lipstick! It’s goes on smooth and I find it lasts all day. You can read more about the brand in this blog post here.
KATE SPADE INITIAL PENDANT NECKLACE // This is a necklace that I wear all the time because it’s tiny and goes with any type of outfit. I bought mine during a Nordstrom sale years ago and it still has its gold color even after wearing it in the rain, lots of sweat and daily wear. This would be a great present for someone or for yourself.
PLATED STUD EARRINGS // Whenever I wear these earrings, which is often, I always get compliments on them. They look super expensive but are very budget friendly which is great for treating yourself or stocking up on gifts. The earrings work for everyday and for work so these have been my go to since I got them a few years ago.
PAJAMA SETS // I love to buy pajamas and I’m actually a little embarrassed by how many pajama sets I own. That being said, Nordstrom does have pajama sets on sale during the sale but I have never purchased them. For now I am sticking with my pajama sets from Target because I feel like they are just as soft and are more budget friendly. I recently did a full blog post about my favorite pajama sets from target here.
MULES // I am slightly embarrassed by how many pairs of mules I own because they are so easy to slip into and walk out the door. This year, multiple colors will be on sale and I suggest you grab a few. They last forever and I wear them all year round. Great for weekends and can be worn at work so it’s a show that you really do get a lot of wear out of. I own mules in pink, 3 black pairs and white. I told you, I’m obsessed!
WHITE SNEAKERS // I have spent months trying to find a chic white sneaker that can be worn not for working out. I love the look of white sneakers with jeans or a dress but struggled to find a pair that would work. Recently I just purchased a pair of white Steve Madden sneakers at TJ Maxx and they look so good on! Obviously they are last seasons so I’m excited to see a new version this year just as chic!
LOAFERS // I purchased black loafers late last summer and they honestly became my most worn shoes. I’m excited to see these included in the sale because they are super affordable! The loafers are a great shoe to commute to work in and you can wear around the office. Honestly, a shoe that you can wear all the time is worth every penny.
ADIDAS SNEAKERS // Sneakers are always a great item to stock up on during this sale. I recently picked up some similar Adidas sneakers for $29 at Costco that I didn’t need but for that price I thought why not. Later that week I saw a whole display at TJ Maxx with the same sneaker for $35 I believe. Both were a great bargain and I assume “last years style”. But do sneakers go out of style?
OUAI LEAVE IN CONDITIONER // I recently rounded up a few of my favorite leave in conditioners lately and what do you know, the Ouai one is currently included in the sale! I’ll spray my hair with two squirts with the leave in conditioner and then brush my hair from root to end so the product goes all over my hair. A little bit goes a long way and I can tell I’m going to have this for a long time! Read more about my favorite leave in conditioners in this blog post here.
PLAID DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER // Every year during the Nordstrom sale there is a plaid double breasted blazer on sale. I’ve wanted one for a while but my work dress code didn’t require them so I didn’t get one last year. So you can imagine how excited I was to see one on sale at Target for a much smaller price than the one listed on Nordstrom. I’m linking this years Target version here. I will say that I felt a lot better about throwing my blazer in my work bag on my way to work when I needed to wear a coat.
TORY BURCH LOGO EARRINGS // I bought a similar style Tory Burch logo earrings back in 2018 and I’m still wearing mine all the time. I love to wear them for work because they can dress up an outfit and for everyday look. It’s a nice small designer investment you can make if you have a budget.
TIE WAIST ANKLE PANTS // If you are looking for new work pants then these pants that have a cute bow detail would be perfect! I’ve purchased a few pairs from LOFT over the last year and love how polished an outfit looks when I wear them with a top to work. I’m linking the LOFT version here in case you want to compare.
KNEE HIGH BOOTS // I love these boots and the looks I can do with them. Last year during the sale I had like no money because we were in the process of moving so I was not able to get the boots. Insert sad emoji here. Luckily, a few months later I found an amazing dupe for the boots at Target. The price? Just what you would expect – affordable! So I bought them and they have been sitting on my closet floor since then. The point is, just because something looks pretty doesn’t mean you will actually wear it. And sometimes waiting to buy something pays off!
MULE SHOES WITH A HEEL // At work I used to have a drawer full of shoes that I could slip on after I got to work in Uggs or sneakers. Commuting to work on the train was not glamorous and I was not running in heels! I had a pair of brown leather mules with a block heel in my drawer that were easy to slip into if I had meetings that day and wanted to look professional. With long pants or even a dress, they give the appearance that you are wearing heels but you are actually wearing comfy shoes!
BLACK SUEDE WATERPROOF BOOTIES // It is so nice to have a pair of nice looking shoes that you can do anything in without worrying about the weather. A few years ago I bought waterpoof suede booties because they were inexpensive not realizing how much I would wear them over the years. Great for commuting, great for picking out a Christmas tree (see picture above) and perfect for unpredictable weather.
BROWN LEATHER SKIRT // Personally, I didn’t know I needed a brown leather skirt until I bought one. It’s an easy way to dress up oversized tees, sweaters and blouses. I purchased mine from another retailer last winter and I’m excited to see that the style is back. I’ve also noticed Meghan Markle often wearing a leather pencil skirt and a matching blouse. It’s a very chic look!
LANCOME HYPNOSE MASCARA DUO // If you are looking for a good mascara deal, this is the one for you! I wore this mascara a lot for when I used to go out with friends or dates because it gives a lot of volume and lots of lashes. Since running out I’ve tried to use drug store mascaras but nothing is as good as this mascara. Also the primer is amazing and the makeup remover mini is great for traveling! They offer the best deal on mascara sets right now during the Nordstrom Sale.
T3 HAIR CURLING IRON // Yes, it is pricey but I love my curling iron so much! It gives me gorgeous curls in just a few minutes and they last all day. For days that I wake up with frizzy hair, I can quickly curl my hair to get polished perfect curls in minutes.
T3 HAIR DRYER // After my hair dryer from high school stopped working, I put my money together and purchased the T3 hair dryer that everyone was talking about. I knew I needed to invest in a good hair dryer because I have a lot of thick hair and it normally takes forever to blow dry it, With all of that time using high heat on my hair, it can really damage your hair. So now with my T3 hair dryer, my hair dries faster with that polished shine look and I’ve noticed my hair looks less fried.
BRUSH SET // Normally I wouldn’t look to Nordstrom to buy new hair brushes but when you break it down, the cost per brush is so inexpensive! This will definitely be in my cart to purchase!
MADEWELL JEANS // I sure do miss working at J Crew because of that employee discount! One thing that I would tell anyone is to invest in good denim. It lasts forever and if you can wait for a good sale, you can get a good deal! I’ve tried wearing other budget friendly jeans and while they can be good, nothing compares to Madewell and J. Crew jeans.
One of my favorite things about being at my parents house in North Carolina is being able to get dressed up and wear makeup while we run the essential errands. My parents live in a county with very few COVID cases and the stores are taking precautions seriously so shopping can be safe. It’s also summer and feels like 114 degrees in the South so I want an easy makeup routine without much fuss because it will melt off! Everything you see below is simple and quick to apply. I wear a little makeup to help myself look and feel put together without taking a long time to get ready. You’ll notice that there are very few products because it’s summer so no one wants to wear a lot of makeup!
Mascara Great for everyday when you want some volume and color for us blondes!
Eyeliner Super easy to apply and gives a perfect thick black liquid line that lasts all day.
Eyeshadow I brought a ton of eyeshadow palettes with me and I keep grabbing this one for a natural everyday look. I linked a similar one since mine is discontinued.
Setting Powder with SPF If my face looks a little red I like to use this setting spray because it’s a bit lighter than my current shade. Plus there is SPF!
Foundation I don’t wear foundation often but when I want to wear a bit more makeup, I’ve been using this one because it looks the most natural and doesn’t melt off my face in the heat.
Anyone else’s email full of email after email about a sale? The last few months being at home made me realize that we did need a few things for our home but I wasn’t paying Amazon prices and sometimes you just need to see the things in store, ya know? So while in North Carolina I’ve been able to do some in store shopping because my parents town is very large (lots of land) and a small population. Stores are often empty especially on the weekdays so that is when I browse. I wanted to share what stores I am keeping an eye on for sales and good deals on home items.
Starting off with TJ Maxx, Homegoods and Marshalls because for the months the physical stores were closed, they still continued to receive weekly shipments. My mom and I went to Homegoods a week or so after one opened back up and it was like Christmas because so many items were on clearance. Those kitchen basics like a butter dish we never got around to buying was on clearance. These stores need to clear the shelves to make room for more stuff. Lots of holiday decor ( Easter, Spring and Summer) were really cheap because they need to make room for Fall and back to school items. Now that the stores are back open, I am still seeing a good amount of items in the clearance section marked down.
My parents have a Belk around the corner so we went there recently to stock up on bedding and towels for their Air BnB. While I was there I took advantage of some good sales as well, They have name brand kitchen and home items that were on major sale so Jake got some presents! Belk also has adorable bedding so we got some for my bedroom here at my parents house since I took all of my stuff with me to Philly. I also bought too many candles because they were only $6…. Oops!
I’m sure you have heard that Pier1 is closing. They have a slow liquidation and markdowns are on Thursdays so that is when I pop into the store and browse. Right now I am only purchasing items that go on clearance because the prices are still a bit high. I was able to get adorable Easter bunny plates that were less than $1 each. My mom got me some cute seagull beach themed plates and Jake sent me money to get lemon themed dinner plates because I’ve had my eyes on them for weeks. I talked more about my recent Pier1 haul here. If you can, stop by a store and do some shopping. Most of the items listed online are marked sold out but are available in store so it’s best to shop in store.
I’ve only been to Hobby Lobby a few times because we never had one near us. It’s where my mom and I went to get some decor for her laundry room redesign and it’s impossible to go in and not get something! I have been watching their sales, some categories have been 50% off and Spring/Summer items are significantly discounted to make room for fall.
My parents have been talking about Ollie’s since they moved down here but I never heard of it. I finally went and now I’m making stops all the time to browse. It’s similar to Big Lots with just more inexpensive items and more known brand names. They have a large book section and everything is under $5 so I went a little crazy stocking up!
In the South there is a giant Walmart in every town. I went there with my mom a few weeks ago when we redesigned an old playroom into a craft room for her to get some cube organizers and containers to organize her crafts. While we were there, we bought new towels for the pool and I got some items for our home. I’m in love with a lot of the Better, Homes and Garden collection and the price was too good not to take advantage of!
Of course I have been to Target while I’ve been visiting my parents. I’ve been pretty good at not buying much there but I have been buying a lot of home items that are in the dollar bins. Cute lazy Susan’s, lemon decor, serving platters and more!
My parents town is full of antique stores so I’ve been going to a few with my parents. Even if we don’t buy anything, it’s been fun to just walk around in air conditioning and look at some cool stuff. I’ve purchased new lamps, a table for $40 that will stay at my parents house until we get a bigger house and other little things. Living in a city is great but being in a small town makes me miss how easy it is to go to a store, how affordable things can be. So after a few of my shopping trips, I told Jake that he better rent a SUV when he comes to visit and take me back Philly in September!
One thing I am loving right now is the excuse not to wash my hair that often. I’ve been trying to keep my hair washing to once a week to prevent any heat damage and keep it healthy. After a few days of dirty hair, I’ve been throwing my hair up in a bun to keep it out of the way. Not only has it saved me so much time but I can notice over time that my hair feels and looks healthier. I’ve been using a leave in conditioner when I wash my hair now because it leaves my hair smooth and shiny. It’s a great way to tame the frizz and make my hair look smooth – the same look that I get when I use a hair straightener. The leave in conditioner goes the extra step to protect your hair from breakage and prevent knots. If you do want to blow dry or use a hair straightener, the leave in conditioner does an amazing job at protecting your hair to keep it healthy too! There are leave in conditioners that you can in the shower and ones to use when you get out of the shower when your hair is still wet. I’m so forgetful that I have both so I can spray my hair if I forget to use one in the shower ha! Leave in conditioners are great for easy great hair days and keeping your hair healthy.
Here are some of my favorite leave in conditioners that I’ve been using the last few months to keep my hair healthy and polished without the heat tools!
I purchased this after reading that so many people use it in their haircare routine and screamed from the mountain tops about how good it was. At the time I was struggling with dry, brittle hair so I wanted to see if it would work. It makes your hair easy to brush, protects from heat, fights frizz and gives you that shiny hair look without a lot of weight. If you are looking for no fuss hair products, I highly recommend this one!
I started to use this product after my shower in the Spring and loved it after just one use! It makes my hair super soft and when my hair air dries it actually looks cute! Not only does it leave my hair looking and feeling really soft, it fights frizz and makes my hair really manageable. Perfect for lazy hair days or days when you don’t have time for hot tools. The spray bottle makes it easy to spray all over and brush it through your hair. I’d recommend using little product because it’s so conditioning and can make your hair feel weighed down with too much product.
This is a product I had never heard about when I got it in my Summer FabFitFun box. I put it in my shower and after a week of forgetting to use it before I got out of the shower, I finally used it. I squirted a bit into my hand and ran it through my hair right before I got out of the shower and went to bed with wet hair. Usually, that is never a good idea but I woke up with soft, wavy hair that I couldn’t even do with all of the hair tools I own. It’s a bit pricey but I don’t need that much product to get moisturized hair.
Holy humidity! It has been a hot couple of days so I am thankful that one of my recent quarantine projects was putting away winter clothes an taking out my shorts out of storage! It feels like Spring flew by because we were all inside while the seasons changed. Now that it is getting warmer, I am spending as much time as I can (safely) outside! Right now I am visiting my parents in North Carolina spending most of my day in the backyard by the pool. In Philly, we have a really nice size backyard so we were eating our meals outside whenever the weather cooperated. I’m now looking forward to my daily shower as a way to cool off but one thing I dreaded was drying my hair. Letting it air dry with the humidity makes my hair big, puffy and super frizzy. I didn’t want to spend 30 minutes with a hair straightener so I needed something that could dry my hair quickly and leave it looking styled without much fuss.
Luckily I was offered to work with Conair and try out their new Knot Dr. Detangling Hot Air Brush. It’s like the similar round brush hair dryers that were very popular a few months ago. After doing some research I read a lot of complaints about hair getting damaged because of the heat and the brush causing a lot of knots. I loved the idea of the product but knew they would not work for me. I’m happy to report that the new Conair version dries my hair quickly and since you can control the heat settings, I haven’t noticed any hair damage. The shape of the brush allows you to dry your hair straight or curled at the end making it easy to change up hair styles. For my girls with thick hair, this hair dryer works on your hair too! I prefer to let my hair air dry a bit before using the hair dryer but when I am pressed for time, I only need to spend around 10 minutes brushing my hair to get it dry and somewhat styled. It only takes me a 6 minutes total to curl my hair when it’s partially dry which is a lot faster than using my round brushes and normal hair dryer!
On my non hair wash days, I have been using the round brush hair dryer in the morning to curl my hair and use heat to tame the frizz caused by the humidity. During the summer months I want to look put together but don’t want to spend time in the heat doing it. Another great feature is how light it is! I’ve heard that other versions are heavy and bulky, the last thing I want is to get an arm workout while I try to dry my hair!
My normal hair dryer is collecting dust on a shelf right now because this hot air brush is all I need to easily and quickly dry my hair! I always use a heat protectant spray before using any hot tools and since switching to a Wet Brush I don’t have any knots in my hair. After waiting for my hair to air dry as long as I can, I’ll spray it with a heat protectant spray and section off my hair in sections to brush dry. I love it! It’s a perfect alternative to straightening your hair and using less heat.
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