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.
Holy moly where did July go!? Wrapping up July with really hot days and lots of pool time to cool off. This week was definitely busy and I was excited for the routine. We are expecting family to stay at my moms house for a few months to get a change of scenery while we quarantine. So we have been busy getting the house cleaned and decorated for their visit. This weeks Friday Favorites post is being posted late because I just found out it is Friday. I’m on summer time and days don’t count! Luckily, I keep a post it in my planner to write down a favorite thing every day and start a draft of this post on Mondays.
I woke up this morning terrified that I forgot to pay rent this month because I forgot it was August. Don’t worry, rent was paid back in late July but now that seems so long ago. Jake and I were talking today about how the days seem to be getting longer. I woke up early this morning and had breakfast with my family which was a nice way to start the day. I checked my emails and did some browsing because J Crew is having their big summer sale. While I saw a lot of cute things I would love to have, my bank account reminded me that I don’t currently have a job or any plans to leave the house in the next year. I worked outside, finished my book and did a few laps in the pool. I came inside thinking it was past dinnertime and it was only 4pm! These days are long! I’m in bed before 10pm most nights because the days feel so long that I’m ready for bed earlier and earlier!
For now, I spend my days outside as much as I can. I like to work on projects in the backyard like tending the garden or working on some landscaping project. Honestly pulling weeds takes up most of my day! Hurricane Isaias went through North Carolina so I’ve been sweeping up debris all week. Luckily, our home did not have any damage but we did lose electric for the night and most of the morning. Not fun with no AC and the Southern heat. With all of that time outside and quick dips in the pool to cool off, I haven’t had to use any of the fake tanner that I brought with me. I can’t remember the last time I was this tan! Waking up early has helped my mental health which I thought I would never say. I start to get “bored” around 4 or 5 o’clock so I’ve been going to my parents library or laying in a pool float while I read. My goal is to read a book a month and I’ve been keeping up. I recently created a Goodreads account which has been fun to keep track of what I’ve read and what I want to read.
At night I’ve been cleaning the kitchen before bed which is my little alone time where I load the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. Most importantly, I watch an episode of TV while I do it. I’ve been really good at not watching TV when I’m bored or for something to do. For months when we all were first stuck at home, my day revolved around the TV and now I limit myself to the news in the morning and then an episode at night while I clean. Last month I finished The Real Housewives of Dallas and have moved onto The Real Housewives of Potomac. I’m currently on the second season and it’s getting good!
I mentioned earlier that I created a Goodreads account so you can keep up with what I’m reading for suggestions. I finished reading Tidelands by Philippa Gregory today actually. I’ve been reading a lot of chick lit this summer which has been nice but wanted to switch it up with some historical fiction. I’ve been a long time fan of Philippa Gregory and was excited to see this book on sale when I ran errands a few weeks ago.
It was a good mail week so I’m excited to bring a lot of product reviews to the blog in the next few weeks! I’m keeping my routine simple since I am in the pool almost every day so it doesn’t make sense to wear makeup or much product. I’ve been using Ouai Leave In Conditioner a lot to protect my hair with all of the hair washing which my hair isn’t a big fan of. My mom and I are both using my Loreal Scalp Care shampoo and conditioner and are big fans!
If you have been following my blog you will know that one of my goals this year was to use up every single product that I already own. My linen closet back in Philly is filled with products that I’ve purchased and received for free because of the blog. Quarantine has helped me slow down and really create some time for self care. When I packed for a summer at my parents, I brought a giant bag with a ton of products and I’m on my 3rd bottle of lotion so far! The sales at Bath and Body Works are great but I end up with so much stuff I never use. Seems silly to be excited about that but I really want less clutter in my life in every single way. I’ve also been leaving my nighttime moisturizer on my night stand to help remind me to put it on at night.
I haven’t left the house this week so I didn’t do any in store shopping but I do have some Amazon purchases on their way! After telling myself that I didn’t need them for months, I finally ordered the plastic heart sunglasses from Amazon that are like $10. Jake also told me to keep an eye on the door because he has shipped some items to me. Can’t wait to see what is on it’s way! Not beauty related but I am currently obsessed with Oui yogurt. Yes, I bought it because the jar was cute but now I’ve been buying them because it’s delicious and way more filling than my usual morning yogurt.
Starbucks bottled iced coffee. Going to the garden in the evening to pick tomatoes off the vine. Cooking dinners. Snapple iced tea. Oui yogurt. My new seashell bath mat. My mom got me new girly bedding for my room here. Tan lines. Noticing my body getting toned and getting fit. Box hair color. Facetime movie date night with Jake. Cookout drive thru for lunch last week. Gorgeous sunsets this week. Minion shaped chicken nuggets. The Calm App.
I didn’t know I needed new shoes until I went to a DSW in Raleigh because they were open. We went for my mom to get new shoes and I walked out of there with 4 boxes of shoes! Their clearance section has so many amazing brands and shoes for all seasons at unbelievable prices. I was able to purchase some amazing booties and shoes to wear right now with the warmer weather. Recently they just added half a million shoes to clearance to make room for fall shoes so take advantage of these amazing deals! DSW has different promotions and additional sales on top of clearance so I was able to get 4 pairs of shoes for $100. It never hurts to browse and buy shoes for a season you are not currently in because your future self will thank you for a good deal.
What I’ve noticed with DSW is that shoes I see in the famous Nordstrom Sale or are popular one year are often at DSW the next year. I like shoes but don’t need to have the most current style because honestly, they don’t change that often. DSW also carries current popular styles from name brands too so I like to shop from there first before I go anywhere else for new shoes.
MY HAUL
MARC FISHER PUMPS I am slowly buying this shoe in every single color because it is so comfortable! I currently have them in pink and black and just got a pair in leather ivory.
COLE HAAN MULE Now I need a reason to leave the house to wear these cute and comfortable mules with a block heel. Cole Haan makes amazing shoes and I love that I can always get them at an amazing price at DSW.
COLE HAAN BOOTIES Unfortunately, the booties I got are no longer available so I’m linking a very similar style from the same brand. All last year I was looking for a cute bootie that was waterproof that I could slip on and walk to the train to get to work instead of wearing sneakers or my nice work shoes. Now I can walk to work in comfortable shoes without sacrificing style!
SOLE SOCIETY BOOTIES There were so many booties in the clearance when I went to the store. I was able to buy these for a really good price and I remember seeing them at Nordstrom in the past.
ADIDAS SNEAKERS Here’s the thing, I don’t believe in spending $100 on sneakers because I plan on sweating and getting dirty in them! My Adidas sneakers were an impulse buy at Costco because they were on sale for less than $30 and I noticed that DSW sells the same ones for way less than are currently on sale at Nordstrom.
It is getting hotter in the South with no signs that fall is coming up! I’m still spending a lot of time outside and in the pool so I’m okay with summer taking it’s time before we switch to cooler weather. When I packed my suitcases, yes plural, to spend the summer at my parents in North Carolina I admit that I did over pack. It’s not summer until you wear those fun summer dresses, the cute tops and summer themed graphic tees! I’ve been getting up early every morning and enjoying a slow wake up with coffee while walking around the garden or working on my laptop. I get dressed every day in a cute outfit and wear a different swimsuit everyday. Outside my door there is a pandemic so I’m trying my best to accept this new normal and not letting it get in the way of my new routines.
I have one more week here in the South before Jake comes for a week vacation in September and then we load up the car to head back to Philadelphia. Now I’m scrambling to get as much time in the pool that I can and any errands that need to get done before we head back to the city. I’ll be sad to leave but I definitely miss my cat and my house and especially Jake. July always seems like a long month, I can’t even remember the 4th of July! In years past, August always flies by so I will enjoy summer mode as much as I can.
I spent my mornings in cozy pajamas drinking coffee, getting ready in the morning with a quick and easy makeup routine, and spending my afternoons in the pool with good sun protection. If you missed it, I shared a lot of blog posts about haircare so be sure to check them out. I covered my favorite leave in conditioners, and two new lines of shampoo with Love Beauty and Planet and Loreal. Since we don’t have a car in Philly, I’ve been borrowing my parents to run a few errands to stock up on items that we need and get some new home decor items. Finally, I like to do a big to do list for each day, month and basically a life to do list. I wrote a blog post about what I have been working on and things I should be doing mid-year. It’s a good read!
I hope everyone had a good July and got to enjoy some normal summer activities. If not, we still have August to make the most out of summer while we stay home. Ever since I’ve been doing one thing a day to bring me joy and happiness, it’s definitely improved my days.
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.
I love lists because they keep track of all of the things going through my mind and help me get it all done! Since we are halfway into 2020 and starting a new month, I thought it would be good to do a long list to start off the month! Those New Years Resolutions have long been forgotten along with those plans and projects to accomplish during quarantine? Are we still pretending to work out every day from home? I wanted to make a realistic list of things to do this month of stuff I should do and things I may have overlooked.
Clean your door knobs Okay, so I know this sounds crazy but during the pandemic I’ve realized how rarely I’ve ever cleaned a door knob. I’ll grab a Clorox wipe or just a paper towel and spray it really good with a cleaning spray and then walk around wiping down the door knobs. Takes a few minutes and gives me some peace knowing our home is COVID free!
Water your plants My poor plants! I prefer succulents since they are tricky to kill and my one plant is really struggling because I just forget about it! I’ve added watering my plants to my Sunday refresh routine and I’ll add it to my calendar to remind me!
Save a copy of any rent/mortgage policies for COVID Things changed very quickly in 2020 and we all got a lot of emails from every retailer, credit card and company that has our email letting us know that they are here for us. I saved every notice about a COVID policy change in case I need to refer to it in the future. Know your options and be prepared in case you need assistance or receive conflicting notices.
Clean your fridge Take everything out and scrub it clean real good! Invest in some fridge organizers and glass tuperware to keep your fridge looking clean and organized.
Back up your photos We are all on our laptops more than ever right now so use your downtime productively. I’ve always used Google Photos to back up my photos and recently started to clear out junk and create albums so I can easily get to photos.
Finance check in Take a look at your income and note any changes since COVID. If you are saving money on your commute or daily Starbucks, add that money that you are not spending to your savings since you are already used to not spending it. Now is a good time to look at those quarantine purchases and how much money you spent. Looking at previous purchases will help you stop making impulse buys!
Buy a new toothbrush If you have to think about when the last time you got a new one, it’s been to long. I have a little reminder in my planner to get a new toothbrush head for my electric toothbrush every 3 months. After going on trips and forgetting a toothbrush too many times, I finally got a toothbrush to leave at my parents house in North Carolina, one for my toiletry bag and bunch of toothbrush heads to easily swap out every 3 months. Now I have no excuses for forgetting a toothbrush and not changing it on time.
Create a file for important documents If you asked me where my passport or birth certificate was, I would have to wait a few minutes to think and try a few places. A goal for me is to create an actual file with these important documents so I can find them easily when I design and decorate a guest room turned office in September. For now the goal is to find the documents….
Make a list of local restaurants to try I can’t wait to go back to Philly in the fall and one thing I am really looking forward to is going out to eat again. Jake and I are making a list of restaurants that are safe that we would like to visit. It’s a great way to support local businesses and help with making plans to get out of the house during the week.
Make cleaning caddies A bit excessive, but I have a bucket in all of my bathrooms and on each floor with cleaning products with a cabinet of extras so I always have what I need to clean. When everyone was struggling to find to find cleaners, I was prepared because of my Grove Collaborative subscription. Stock up because the stores are still bare and we will be getting another wave of Covid soon…
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