Guide

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: My Favorite Finds

Hi guys!

If you’re a fashion lover like me, then you probably know that today is the first day of early access for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale for all cardholders. I first heard about the sale two years ago and am always shocked by how many people shop it each year. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is unique because the items included are new styles for fall, not older or last season items! This sale is really the best time to stock up on all your fall looks because prices go back up once the sale is over!

This year’s sale is a little different. Usually card members can get early access a week before, but this year if you are a cardholder with Ambassador or Icon status you get to start shopping even earlier! Wednesday was the first day I could shop so I raced home from work and headed to the mall. I was debating sharing what I found because I feel like sometimes it can be a bit much with every blogger covering it, but you guys really seemed interested in what I got, so I figured I’d at least share some of the items that I really loved!

I swore before I walked in that I wouldn’t just get a bunch of sweaters, but here we are. I think my favorite two parts of the sale each year are sweaters and shoes, so it’s hard not to get carried away when I see all the new and coziest styles. Here are a few that I really couldn’t live without!

1.Chelsea28 Cowl Neck Sweater | Color: Beige Oatmeal Light Heather | My size: XS

2.BB Dakota Up to Speed Faux Leather Moto Jacket | Color: Parchment | My size: XS

3.Something Navy Flecked Crewneck Sweater | Color: Pink Windsome Combo | My size: XS

4.Caslon Side Snap Tunic Sweater | Color: Beige Oatmeal Light Heather | My size: XS (regular – fits like a dress on me and I’m 5’3”)

5.Leith Longline Cardigan (pictured above) | Color: Pink Adobe | My size: XXS

6.Leith Longline Cardigan | Color: Beige Oatmeal Medium Heather | My size: XXS

7.Make + Model ‘Gotta Have It’ V-Neck Tee | Color: White | My size: XS

8.Sperry Crest Vibe Platform Sneaker | Color: White/Tan Leather | My size: 6.5

9.Caslon Evelyn Genuine Calf Hair Mule | Color: Leopard Print Calf Hair | My size: 6.5

10. Halogen Button Sleeve Turtleneck Sweater | Color: Pink Bride | My size: XS

If you shop the sale, let me know! Also, if you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below or reach out to me!

My Favorite Summer Wines

Happy Saturday!

A glass of wine in the late afternoon light is what summer dreams are made of. My father’s side of the family is Italian, and I grew up spending summers in the town my grandmother grew up in. This little town called Filetto is southeast of Rome up in the mountains near the coast. What you can find in this quaint little town is old world charm, a culture of community and a strict adherence to the afternoon siesta schedule. You’ll also find acres and acres of grape vines.

I grew up with a love and appreciation of wine, how it’s made, and how it’s best enjoyed. My grandfather has been growing his own grapes and making his own wine his whole life. Even after moving to the states, he has kept the tradition alive. While wine is something my family believes can be consumed year round, I am especially found of the light summer whites and rosés that cool you down on a hot day.

Now, growing up surrounded by some of the best wines, I can be a bit particular in my choices; however, I’m firm in my belief that good wine can be found in any region and at any price point. I’m also a gal on a budget, so the wines I’ll be sharing today are all budget friendly, and of course, delicious!

Ruby Red Blood Orange Rosé

I found this slightly sweet rosé at my local liquor store, but you can check it out here. I like that its light, fruity, and refreshing. I’ve also tried the grapefruit version as well, which I also love. The flavor of both is unique and I almost feel like would go great in a sangria or homemade cocktail concoction!

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio

I love a good pinot (Grigio and noir) and as soon as summer rolls around it quickly becomes my drink of choice. This one is another local liquor store find that has quickly become a staple. I love how light it is, it’s really no wonder it’s award winning!

Strawberry & Raspberry Rossini

This wine tastes like a Bellini in a bottle. It’s prefect all day long, from brunch to dinner, just pick up a bottle at your local Trader Joe’s. It is very sweet, so if that’s not your thing then maybe stick to the plain Prosecco. I, however, have a wicked sweet tooth and can’t get enough of this fruity drink.

The Delicious Monster

Another great Trader Joe’s find, this wine is from South Africa. I’m not going to lie, I base most of my wine trying decisions based off the label. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but before you taste that first sip, I find it’s pretty hard to go by much else. I love the palm print of this wine, but honestly I love the wine itself even more! Even better, it’s under $10, it’s a wine-win-win!

Anything from Chloe Wines

Unfortunately, I was fresh out of my favorite wine brand for this shoot – I literally cannot seem to keep a bottle in my house for a week without it disappearing – but here’s a fun throwback from last summer when Luca was a bitty baby pup. Some of my favorites are the Pinot Grigio, Rosé, and Prosecco. They’re all amazing and can be found at your local liquor store for under $15!

If you guys try any of these let me know what you think! I’m also always looking for new ones to try, so comment your favorites below!

Best Dressed for the Holidays

Hi guys!

I am finally settled in at home for break and loving it! I feel like once I come home I finally get take in the all of the magic of the holiday season. There’s always so much to do in December: shopping, decorating, baking, and lots of parties to attend! Holiday parties are so much fun. This probably comes as no surprise, but I love an opportunity to get dressed up! So today, I am sharing some of my favorite festive looks for all the parties this season!

Casual Gift Swap:

This Look | Sweater: Marshall’s (similar cute ones here: H&M, Target,) | Pants: Banana Republic | Flats: Tory Burch|

My mom surprised me with this sweater when I got home and I love it! It’s from Marshall’s and I can’t find it online, but I’ve linked some similar ones for you. I think it would be perfect for a holiday brunch or casual party with friends or family. Plus, it’s so cozy so it’s an all around winning look. I styled it here with black pants and flats, but you could swap the look out for jeans and booties too!

Dinner with Friends:

I actually got this shirt this summer but I love how festive it looks now. This look is great for a gathering with friends that calls for attire that is a little dressier than just a sweater and flats.

Christmas Cocktails:

This Look | Dress: Urban Outfitters (on sale!)| Shoes: Marshall’s (similar here) | Bracelets: Kate Spade |

I am in love with this dress. It makes me feel like Cher, from Clueless. I also loved that it was on sale for $40! I haven’t decided if I want to wear it for Christmas or New Years yer, but I love that it is perfect for both!

Sit-Down Dinner:

This Look | Shirt: Forever XXI | Skirt: Vineyard Vines | Shoes: Marshall’s (similar here) |

I have been looking for the perfect tartan skirt for ages and I was so excited when I saw this one at Vineyard Vines. I paired it here with a simple white shirt, but it could be dressed up even more with a nice sweater or blouse.

What to Pack for Thanksgiving Break

College students know the ups and downs of the fall semester. The excitement of going to sporting events and seeing your friends. The piles of work each week that seem endless. And the unmatched joy of knowing that a break is right around the corned. Fall is the best because it’s filled with fun mini breaks that help to make the semester feel less tiresome. One of the challenges though is deciding what and what not to pack. If you’re anything like me, packing can be a real nightmare that leads to your bag being stuffed fatter than the Thanksgiving turkey.

After years and years of overpacking (three years of boarding school and 4 years of college), I think I finally have found the perfect system that avoids piles of clothes and a bag that won’t zip.

The key is to try and plan your outfits in advance. This helps to alleviate the panic of “I need to pack this too because I might wear it!” Trust me, you probably won’t. Half the stuff I packed was stuff that I wanted to wear but didn’t put together in a full outfit, so it just got thrown to the side and then repacked.

The best place to start is with a clean space. Clutter around you only makes packing seem more overwhelming and puts things in your line of sight that you may accidentally end up throwing in too.

Before I pack, I always tidy my room and make sure my bed is made. It gives me peace of mind and a clean spot to lay out my clothes. It’s always best to do laundry first too (that’s a big stretch though, especially if half the reason you are so eager to go home is so that you can finally do your laundry in peace without fear that some random is going to waltz by and steal your dryer).

Once you have a clear space in front of you, plan out one outfit for each day that you are home. Sometimes I start by writing out a list, sometimes I start by laying out clothes…it all depends!

When you’re planning think of what you’ll be doing that day. I know for certain that I won’t want to be wearing a skirt and heels on Black Friday, when I’m running around like a crazy person. And I know that I won’t want anything tight fitted on Thursday because I plan to eat my weight in food (mostly dessert).

As you’re going through your outfit plans, make sure to ask yourself “will I actually wear this?” If the answer is yes, then put it in the pile, if the answers no, it’s best to leave it at home. It’s also good to try and think of pieces that you can wear multiple times. I planned at least two outfits around my tan vest so that’s one less thing I need to pack.

Be sure to be realistic with yourself. You probably won’t be home for more than a week, so you probably don’t need to pack three different pairs of jeans and 5 different pairs of leggings. I try and keep it to one pair of jeans, one pair of nice black pants, and a pair of leggings. Also try to keep in mind what you already may have at home. I know that I keep extra pajamas at home so I don’t need to worry about taking them back and forth.

The one thing you can never pack too much of is socks, I always seem to need more socks! Try and keep your shoes to a minimum as well. This is where I always struggle the most! I want to bring home all my boots and flats and booties and they just take up so much space! This year I am sticking with my tan boots (last seen here), my black heeled booties, my black Tory Burch flats, and my Hunter rain boots. Even that is probably too many pairs but hey, nobody’s perfect!

Anyway, once you’ve chosen all of your outfits and consolidated as much as possible, try and find a bag that will hold everything. I sometimes pick a bag that is too small and end up with multiple. My go to for weekends are the Vera Bradley Large Duffles. They come in lots of pretty prints and hold everything!

If you need a little inspiration, here is my packing list for this year. A few more things may slip in, like my cozy blanket scarf, but for the most part this is it!

Now that you’re packed and ready to go you can sit back and relax and think of all the delicious food you get to eat!

Do you guys have any go-to packing advice? Or any suggestions on what bags are good for travel (I’m always on the hunt for new ones!)? Feel free to share below!

Shop Your Color: Pink

Happy Friday!

Today I’ll be sharing the next of my Shop Your Color Guides. Today is Pretty in Pink! I’ve had a rocky relationship with the color pink for most of my life but I have to say it’s really grown on me in recent years.

To start off this guide is the cutest summer accessory of all – a pretty pink pool float! This is so cute and I feel like I could live out my dream of being a mermaid on it. Plus, think of all the instagrams you could post with it…sorry I’m shameless with the basic ‘grams.

I bought my first pair of Jack Rogers a few years back and they instantly became my go to sandals. I now own them in almost every color out there. These ones are super cute. I love the color pink they use and the gold whipstitch. I also really like that it has a slight wedge to it. It dresses the shoe up a bit (plus when you’re on the shorter side like me any extra height is appreciated).

This dress is so perfect for a summer wedding or party. My favorite part has to be the scallops at the bottom. It’s crazy how sometimes little details can add so much to a dress. The scallops give this dress an even more feminine look. It would probably pair perfectly with the Jacks next to it too!

Converse have been a staple since forever. Everyone knows the iconic sneakers. These ones though are awesome because while the typical pairs can be a bit chunky, these are much daintier. The light pink color is also perfect for pairing with so many looks, especially other great go-tos like jeans and a t-shirt.

I recently discovered Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s line, and have fallen completely in love. Each one of her pieces perfectly captures her preppy style and Southern background. These shorts are perfect for summer. The seersucker is a classic print and the white detailing on the side sets the look apart from so many others. I would pair these with a dressier white tank top (my go-to is a white cowl neck tank) and a simple pair of pearls. Casual yet elegant, just like Reese herself!

Every time I go to Target (or any store with home furnishings) I always seem to find myself in the candle isle. Candles are the best. I love them so much that I’ve spent years trying to hide them from my RAs in college (sorry!). This Peony Petals candle is one that I’ve had for years. I’m so glad Target still sells it. Its such a pretty smell. Plus its design just begs to be put on display. The gold top makes it a nice accent piece, so your home can look and smell better!

Two of my favorite styles are two piece sets and midi skirts and dresses, so you can probably guess I was a little beyond excited to find this set for sale at Nordstrom! It just makes me think of a picnic in a beautiful park. The gingham pattern and light weight material are just made for summer!

Kate Spade is one of the best brands out there. The way they’re able to capture a lifestyle in each of their pieces is pretty inspiring. This book captures exactly that. A sort of guide for modern women, it contains tidbits of advice filled with both wit and wisdom. I know they say to never judge a book by its cover, but this cover is not only pretty and fun, but also does a great job of capturing the book’s message. I just love the circular wine stain (it’s very me).

Finally, I picked this Lilly Pulitzer pullover. I love Lilly and all the fun prints, but sometimes it can be hard to incorporate them into a daily look. I find that I don’t get much use out of each of my outfits. This piece however is much more versatile and understated, while still having the charming look of her other pieces. It is a great top to have to throw on at night time when the air gets a little cooler.

You guys can shop all my picks via the links up top and in each paragraph. I hope you enjoyed Pretty and Pink and I can’t wait to share the next Shop Your Color guide soon!

Shop Your Color: Red

Hi guys!

Welcome to my first ever Shop Your Color feature. I’ll be showing off my favorite items in each color category. Red being my favorite, I naturally picked it first!

I could go on for pages on why I love red so much. Its such a rich and vibrant color, it turns anything into a statement piece. I buy so much red it’s insane but I can’t help it, it’s always what catches my eye.

I found this dress on ASOS and it’s a perfect combination of all my favorite summer styles. It’s flowy and off the shoulder and the tassels on the sleeves are so fun! I’m just imagining how light and comfortable it must be. It would be the perfect piece to throw on in a rush. It honestly would work for a lot of occasions, dressy enough to wear out to dinner but casual enough to be a simple cover up for a day at the beach or pool. For me, that’s the perfect piece!

I am a big bracelet lover, you can catch me wearing gold ones in most of my posts (gold is my all time favorite) so naturally this pretty Tory Burch cuff caught my eye. It would pair nicely with an outfit with pops of red or could stand alone with a simple white tee and a pair of jeans. It is an easy way to take your look to the next level and add a bit of drama to a simple outfit.

This bikini set from J.Crew is currently on sale! The red is a nice hue with a more matte look, which great for giving a smoother overall look and making your tan pop! I also can’t get over the scalloped look its so pretty!

I’ve been seeing more and more of these tassel earrings everywhere and I really like them. My roommate wears them best and I can’t get over how fun they are. These ones are from BaubleBar where you can find all sorts of cute pieces to add to any outfit!

I bought a S’Well bottle this past year and will probably end up devoting a post to how much I love them. At first I was skeptical about their claim that they can keep drinks cold for 24 hours, but I’m a total believer now! I bring mine with me everywhere! My sister purchased an off brand one from Walmart and we brought them both to the beach to see how they would compare. Well, just a few hours in the sun and her water was lukewarm while mine was still cool as a cucumber. So I’m hooked, I already have this Lily Wood color, but the red one is so pretty I may just have to buy another.

I’ve stuck with my Ray-Bans forever but I saw these red sunglasses online and fell in love. They are the perfect shape and the red it just enough to add an edge without being too much. Plus, the details on the side (apparently called the “temples”) are so pretty. You can’t see them in the picture above but you can see them online!

I found the cutest red Tory Burch sandals around Christmas time this year at Nordstrom Rack and I love wearing them now that it’s finally warm enough. These ones are really similar and the pearl and gold accent is so so cute. Plus. I really like the jelly material because it makes them waterproof and leaves you with less worry about potentially ruining a nice pair of shoes at the hands of a puddle or surprise summer rainstorm. These shoes could really be work everyday because the dressier details and the wearable material combine to give you a versatile shoe you can wear all summer long.

Maybe it was all my summers life guarding that make me want this red swimsuit so badly. I love the high cut of the leg and obviously the bright beautiful color! You can find this fun one piece available for preorder from Revolve.

Last and certainly not least is this perfect little bag from Kate Spade. I have a really similar one that I bought a couple summers ago but this one may just be even cuter with the tassel bow accent!

I’m so excited to share these color collections with you guys, each item I’ve chosen is on my wish list. They’re all so fun and perfect for the hot summer months. Stay on the lookout for the other colors coming soon!

Love,

Ashley

Share:

Like this:

Share:

Like this:

Share:

Like this:

Share:

Like this:

Share:

Like this:

Share:

Like this: