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My Love for Perfume

My Love for PerfumeWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Despite the fact that we have been isolating and not going out in public in months – I still wear perfume every. single. day. despite being isolated and on maternity leave.

I have always been a perfume girl and I think it literally “is in the genes”. My grandmother grew up in Europe until she was in her late teens and came over to the USA after WWII ended. I remember she would *always* wear perfume, usually what I call “with a heavy European hand” – AKA doused in it! Her dressing table had a huge collections of perfume and she always loved getting perfume for Christmas.

I love getting perfume for Christmas too. My husband always says “what do you want for Christmas?” And literally every year I say “perfume”. He says, “but I just got you that last year!” Me… blank stare. “So?” The irony of it is I’m not allowed to wear perfume to work! That’s okay, like I said, I wear it for me!

When I was a teenager (think middle school), my foray into the perfume world started with Victoria’s Secret “Pear Glace” body spray, if you can remember that! I always loved the popular Tommy Girl with lemon, honeysuckle and sandalwood base. I also loved Gap’s Dream, which had tangerine, freesia, orange blossom and musk as a base.

In my later teenage years, we took a trip to Paris and I bought my first “real” perfumes. I bought Escada’s “Ibiza Hippie” which smells of “Spicy nutmeg adds warmth to fruity top notes of luscious pear, juicy peach, apricot and litchi. Intense floral heart notes of hyacinth, freesia and cranberry reveal sandalwood, musk and amber on the dry down”. I still have this bottle although frankly the perfume has aged and doesn’t smell as good as it used to.

I also got Dior’s “J’adore” – Fragrance Notes: Top – ylang-ylang. Middle – damascus rose. Base – grasse jasmine. I wore this at the end of high school and into college. I no longer wear it – gave it to my mom- but wow that bottle is pretty, isn’t it? This perfume made me feel like a real grown up! I believe I got it when I was 17.

I used to wear the same perfume everyday – a signature scent. But now I change them up depending on the season and my mood!

Why am I babbling on about perfume? Well, fragrances transport us to a different time, or place, or memory. Since being stuck at home, I feel just— stuck!! Perfumes create an olfactory scrapbook in your head and it is fun going through it! I STILL wish I could find the name of the diffuser scent of a hotel we walked through in Varenna, Italy.

The perfume I have been wearing for the longest time is Burberry Brit. It is a green-oriental blend of lush fruits, sweet nutty essences, soothing amber, vanilla, and Tonka bean. I tend to wear this in the Winter. This perfume I started wearing in college.

The scent I love the most is that of orange blossom. For my wedding and a long time after, I wore Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom eau de cologne. I actually stopped wearing it though because I became disappointed with how quickly the scent disappears despite paying a hefty price tag for it. I also am disappointed with how the bottle has aged – I have had it now for 6 years and frankly it just does not smell as good! I also had Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom and Honey… same problem, the fragrance just didn’t last.

I will always be fond of the orange blossom scent – one, it reminds me of my wedding, and two, it reminds me of California. There’s nothing like driving around in Southern California with the windows down getting wafts of the intoxicating orange blossom scent from the orange groves when they are blooming! I planted many citrus trees in my yard so when I opened the windows I could smell them!

My current FAVORITE perfume which I wear quite frequently is Diptyque’s Eau de Sens. It has orange blossom, angelica root, patchouli with juniper berry. I wear this one year round.

My next favorite perfume is also by Diptyque, called DoSon. It has tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine and marine accord. I tend to wear this one more in the Spring and Summer.

I also love Chloe’s Eau de Parfum. It smells of peony, rose, and sandalwood. I tend to wear this in the Fall or Winter as it is a little bit heavier with the powder. It “begins with a combination of floral powdery notes: hints of peony, lychee, and springtime freesia. The airy, flirtatious head notes drift away to reveal the richer and more sensual side of the rose. The distinctive character of this unique rose is accompanied by magnolia and lily of the valley, as well as subtle intimations of warm amber and elegant cedarwood.”

My most recent perfume purchase was Tom Ford’s Eau de Soleil Blanc. It is *perfect* for the Summer! It is a fresh scent of Vert de Bergamot, Orange Bitter, Petitgrain Bigarde, Ylang-Ylang, Pistachio Accord, Coco de Mer Accord.

I have a scent for every occasion! My evening scents are Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb which smells of Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Patchouli, rose and vanilla. Most recently I’ve been wearing YSL Black Opium which smells of Black Coffee, White Flowers, Vanilla.

My travel perfume is Tory Burch by Tory Burch rollerball – Neroli, Grapefruit, Cassis, Bergamot, Peony, Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, Vetiver, Sandalwood. My travel perfume to Hawaii or tropical locations is Hibiscus Palm Eau de Parfum by Aerin Lauder. This parfum is formulated with accords of lotus flower and hibiscus palm that mingle with ylang-ylang and exotic ginger. Frangipani also blends with a heart of fragrant white blossoms wrapped in the velvety warmth of coconut milk, vanilla, and musk. Hibiscus palm captures the island scent of brilliant sunshine on a lush beach.

Needless tom ay, there are other perfumes I wear too. I have a whole box full of samples that I will occasionally rifle through and choose a different scent for the day.

Wearing perfume makes me feel happy. It brings back scent memories, makes me feel like a special individual, but also provides an escape – to where, that is your decision!

What is your favorite perfume?

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Cute Easter Fashion and Home Finds

Cute Easter Fashion and Home FindsWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

I just LOVE Easter and I think it has to do with the pretty pastels! Sharing a few of my favorite Easter fashion and home finds – perfect for Easter Brunch!

First, let me share my absolute favorites for this year:

Macaron Bunny Carriage

Macaron Chick Basket

Now for a pretty collage of favorites:

First row, left to right:

Floral Bunny Serving Platter
Floral Canvas Tote
Pink Candle Set
Floral Bunny Napkins

Second row, left to right:


Easter bunny set
Vintage Metal Egg Caddy
Sapto Djojokartiko Magani Flat Mules
Misa Pamelina Dress

Third row, left to right:

Floral Scrunchies
Kora Chandelier Earrings
Cocktail napkin set
slingback bow mules in pink

Fourth row, left to right:


Floral Bunny Salad Plates, Set of 4 – Assorted
Buttoned Floral-lace Midi Dress – Womens – Light Blue
Set-Of-Four Embroidered Linen Cocktail Napkins
Garden Bunny
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Pretty Pastels for Spring

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I love Spring because it’s time for pastel colors to shine!! Sharing some favorite fashion and home finds in the pastel color palette!

First row, Left to Right:

Needle & Thread – Prairie Flora Embellished Embroidered Tulle Dress
Gucci – Voile Sheer Lipstick
Laura Ashley Cotton Sheet Set
Taryn Rose Flat

Second row, Left to Right:

Tory Burch printed silk scarf

Phoebe Dress

Pink Cat Eye Sunglasses

Blue Barcelona Bracelet

Third Row, Left to Right:

Kendra Scott necklace

Floral clear cosmetics bag

Pastel yellow cotton linen blazer

Printed Silk-Satin Pillow

Fourth Row, Left to Right:

Julie Vos Chloe Bangle

Chinoiserie Ceramic Garden Stool

Bow Mini Satchel

Floral-Print Chiffon Midi Dress

Fifth Row, Left to Right:

Jadeite Cake Stand

Embroidered Linen Cocktail Napkins

Mini Acrylic Pink Ark Bag

Voluspa Glass Jar Candle

Or you can shop the widget:

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Baby Shower Dresses

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Bonus post today! I’ve been looking online for maternity dresses to wear to my baby shower and thought… WOW I’ve bookmarked a ton of them, so I thought I would share them with you!

I picked pretty romantic dresses. Not ALL of these are labeled “maternity”… what you can do is just size up. In fact I think many of these would look gorgeous in a maternity photo shoot as well!

Baby Shower Dresses, Maternity Dresses, What to Wear to a Baby Shower, Romantic Maternity Dress, maternity photoshoot dress outfit

Shop all my dress picks here:

Baby Shower Dresses, Maternity Dresses, What to Wear to a Baby Shower, Romantic Maternity Dress, maternity photoshoot dress outfit
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My Favorite New Sneakers

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I recently purchased some new shoes at the recommendation of my husband (I’m sure he’ll say he’s a fashionista now). I had to share them with you because I LOVE THEM!!!

The exact pair I got are the Wool Loungers in Frost, which are pictured above. I love them! They are SO SOFT and VERY COMFORTABLE. They are made of merino wool which makes them extra soft. You do not need to wear socks with them (you can if you want!). When I wear them without socks, I have not noticed any malodorous feet!

They are perfect for running errands or even just lounging around the house – my husband likes to wear them as his slippers.

I thought they ran a little bit small. I normally wear a 9 to 9.5 and ended up needing a size 10. So I suppose if you run into half sizes sometimes, you should size up.

They recently came out with Wool Runners in this limited edition pink color, which I kind of love. My husband just bought some Men’s Wool Runners and really likes them too.

My only concern is how hot my feet my get wearing these wool shoes in the Summer, which is why I’m considering one of their “tree” versions.

The tree shoes are not made of wool so they are more appropriate for hotter climates or Summer.

I’m debating about getting is the tree lounger. I like the lounger style because I don’t have to tie my shoes! Never thought I’d say that!

The other style I am considering is the Tree Breezer, but I don’t know if it would be as comfy as the sneakers because the sole profile is smaller. However you could probably wear these to work depending on your job!

Overall, I would not wear the runners or loungers as work-out shoes. They are more appropriate for city trekking, errands, lounging, and I’d say even traveling. If you’re going to go running, jogging, cross training, weightlifting – stick to your regular sneakers.

They frequently come out with limited edition colors so be sure to check out their site here for Men’s and Women’s styles.

FYI this was NOT a paid post. Just sharing some shoes I liked!

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Favorite Oscar Looks 2020

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Here are my favorite looks from the Oscars 2020. I did not watch the Oscars – frankly, I almost never do. I just love looking at red carpet pictures! What I love is really… the textiles and craftsmanship that goes into each beautiful dress!

Natalie Portman in Dior

Lily Aldridge in Ralph Lauren

Regina King in Versace

Laura Dern in Armani

Janelle Monae in Ralph Lauren

Renee Zellweger in Armani Prive.

Penelope Cruz in Chanel

Brie Larson in Celine

Sandra Oh in Elie Saab

My two favorite after party looks…

Florence Pugh in Louis Vuitton

Gal Gadot in Saint Laurent

I think my favorite was Renee Zellweger.

Photos from Getty.

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Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2020

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Sharing my favorite looks from the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2020 show. All pictures are from Vogue. See the entire show here.

Also – email subscribers, I thought I had canceled my subscription service, but apparently all I did was cancel my paid subscription service. It then defaulted to a free one. I don’t know what the free one entails, so I’m just going to roll with it…

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10 Gifts for Valentine’s Day

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Sharing some of my favorites for Valentine’s Day. You can treat yourself #lovethyself or perhaps a special someone can make a little purchase for you!

  1. Diptyque Paris en Fleur Candle

Every year Diptyque comes out with a limited edition rose scented candle and EVERY YEAR for the past 4 years now I cannot help myself and buy it. They smell so good! Also, they have a pretty design on the candle!

2. Ugg Pom Pom Slipper

I got this pair of slippers for Christmas and they are the cutest! I love the little pom pom! I got them in pink, but it seems pink is sold out at a lot of places (besides the link above, try here). You can get them in chestnut/cream here.

3. Heart Sunglasses

These sunglasses are dupes for a more famous designer version

4. Heart Blouse

Not all Valentine’s Day wear needs to be pink! I love this cute blue heart blouse!

5. Pink Longchamp Handbag

I love Longchamp handbags because they are so versatile and lightweight! They travel easy too! For Valentine’s Day, I like this pink color!

6. Cute Valentine’s Day Loungewear

The above set is by P.J. Salvage which is super comfortable! I also like these heart joggers by the same company.

7. Vintage Valentine’s Day Notecards

Send a vintage Valentine to your Valentine (or friend!)

8. Julie Vos Pink Jewelry!

Love this collection! Left to right: Earrings, Bracelet, Necklace. I own the necklace in this color and the earrings in two different colors!

9. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Now who doesn’t love chocolate covered strawberries? These actually ship via Amazon and have 1000 reviews rated as 4/5 stars. They are cheaper than Sherrie’s Berries.

10. Gucci Princetown Mule

If you want to totally splurge, I recommend the Gucci Princetown Mule or Loafer! I own the loafer and looooove it. The Mule didn’t look as good on *my* feet… I wrote my review comparing the two here.

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Golden Globes Fashion 2020

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It’s that time of year again! Awards season! Honestly, I don’t usually watch the awards shows other than a few clips online here and there. But I DO love the red carpet.

I was disappointed by the looks this year that many of the stars wore. Many of the “big names” I feel wasted an opportunity on an ugly dress!

Margot Robbie in Chanel
Naomi Watts in Armani

Gillian Anderson… I think this simple white dress is really lovely and I love the covered one shoulder and the look on the back too!

Priyanka Chopra in Christina Ottaviano

My runners up are Ellen and Portia in custom Celine suits! Totally digging how they look together. I would totally wear Portia’s, in fact, I have looked for a female tuxedo like this and it is very difficult to find!

And my BEST DRESSED goes to…. Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent! I adore this dress! It is so chic! I would also wear this!

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I Got My Ears Pierced As An Adult

I Got My Ears Pierced As An AdultWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

I know this isn’t something I normally write about on this blog, but it’s my blog and I write what I want. HA!

So about 8 weeks ago I got my ears pierced… as an adult. Yep, that’s right. I’ve never had my ears pierced before.

I made it through my teenager years without pierced ears. The reason I waited so long is because one, I was frankly afraid of the needle (those that know me will laugh at this given that I literally put needles in other people all day), and then two, I knew I would spend a ton of money on earrings.

Well, one random day, I decided “TODAY IS THE DAY!” so I went to get it done. I went to a professional piercing/tattoo parlor where they use a needle at not the piercing gun. The piercing gun is not as sterile and causes more trauma to the ear than a needle.

So the biggest question is… DID IT HURT?

The answer is… yes. The first one went through and it felt like a hard pinch, but the second one did hurt. The pain wasn’t too bad, but everywhere I read that says “it doesn’t hurt”… well, all I can say is… lies. ON the second ear where it was more painful, I realized a week later that there was a bruise behind my ear which is probably why it hurt more.

So I cleaned my ears every day twice a day with sterile saline solution. Nothing fancy.

Then came the day when I got to switch out my earrings! BIG DAY!

Well, it took me (and my husband) about 20 minutes to figure out how the earrings came apart. It wasn’t the standard way. I would say when you get your ears pierced, make sure you write down which way they come apart. Does the front twist? Does the back twist? Do they pull apart??

I tried to wear dangly earrings (nothing too big) but my ears are a little sensitive still so I’m sticking to studs for now.

I bought these beautiful studs.

And also this pair in blue and clear crystal.

Bought these beautiful hoops.

I love these but my ears I don’t think can handle this right now.

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It’s Amazon Prime Day!

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This past week has been a big week for shopping. First, the Nordstrom Anniversary kicked off. And today starts Amazon Prime Day! This year Amazon Prime day is TWO DAYS long! I will update this page as I find deals

First off, you are not already an Amazon Prime Member, you can try Amazon Prime free with a 30 day trial here.

The best deals come from Lightning Deals, which you can get to below:

Prime Day Lightning Deals

First off, let’s talk about my #1 favorite item from Amazon. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite E-reader. I LOVE THIS THING!! The newest version is waterproof… so yup, imagine sitting on a pool float reading your favorite book with this in hand! I do this all the time.

Besides purchasing a kindle, joining Kindle Unlimited was the next best thing I’ve done. You get access to tons of books for a monthly fee– the amount you pay per month depends on how long you subscribe for.

My husband and I also love Audible! It is an app you download on your phone and then you can listen to audiobooks. You get one credit a month (so 1 free book a month of your choosing) plus than two free Amazon original books. We listen to books on our commute. If you have Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited the books that have available audiobooks will also appear on the Audible app. You can try audible and get TWO FREE audiobooks here!

Now for a few of my recent favorite product purchases!

Make up Brush cleaner – I can’t believe I went this long without using this cleaner on my makeup brushes! WHOA it does a fantastic job!

Laundry bra wash bags– these bags keep my bras is good shape when I wash them on delicate in the washer. You can put up to two bras in one bag and they come in a set of three. Love these!!

Dip-on-ice serving bowl – Purchased this dip bowl to use at Summer parties and it is great! It keeps my dip nice and cold so I don’t have to worry about getting sick from the dip!

You can visit my AMAZON STORE PAGE here – where I’ve linked tons and tons of products that I love!

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Favorite Picks!!

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Sharing my picks for the Nordstrom #NSale Anniversary picks for 2019! Keep checking back as I’ll update this page!

Important Dates

July 9 – 11th: Icon level Nordy Club early shopping in-stores
July 11th – Icon and Ambassador status can shop online and in-stores. Online shopping begins at 12:30PM ET.
July 12th: Early access begins for ALL Nordstrom Card Holders
July 19th – The sale is now open to the general public in stores and online.
August 4th – Last day of the sale

As you can see above, it is really beneficial to have a Nordstrom card and join their Nordy club.

Women’s Clothing

Halogen Crewneck Sweater – I always pick up at least one of these every year at the sale. This year I love this striped version! Comes in many different colors.

Chelsea28 Cowl Neck Sweater – I love cowl neck sweaters and this one is very cute! Comes in several different colors!

Leopard Short Sleeve Dress – If I had to dress up for work everyday, I would definitely buy this dress!!

Caslon Tunic Sweatshirt – perfect for lounging around the house!

Zella Live In Leggings – These leggings are GREAT and are a good deal on the sale!

Vince Cableknit Sweater – This sweater is a must-buy for me. It isn’t cheap, but I have a different Vince cable knit cardigan that has lasted for years and I get tons of compliments on it!

J. Crew Striped Shirt – Love this shirt – perfect for the Francophile!

Tie Waist Top – Super cute, wear it casual or dressed up!

Lace Trim Satin Camisole – comes in many different colors, and a great price at $25!! Would look cute with layers!

Lace Trim Wrap Camisole – Super cute!

Alo High Waist Moto Leggings – While I love the Zella Live in Leggings, I also LOVE these Moto leggings!! They look super stylish and I wear them even when I’m not working out

North Face Vest – Super practical and cute!

Zella Criss Cross Sports Bra – How cute is this sports bra?! Love the back!

Natori Feathers Bra – seriously the best bra ever and a Nordstrom bestseller. I always stock up on these during the sale. Many different colors.

Jackets, Coats and Cardigans

Faux Leather Motorcycle Jacket – a great edgy look for going out!

Periwinkle Long Coat – I LOOOOOVE this coat!! I want to buy it even though I’d probably only wear it like two times a year here in California.

Madewell Ryder Cardigan – These always sell out every sale!

Madewell Oversize Denim Jacket – This denim jacket is a little bit bigger and longer than other jackets and so I plan to buy it and see how it fits.

Wool and Cashmere Long Cardigan – If there’s one thing that lasts forever in my wardrobe (regardless if I go up and down in weight) it is a long cardigan like this one!

Treasure and Bond Biker Jacket – Love the look of this jacket! I plan to order it and see how it looks on me.

Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan – So comfy! A bestseller every year!

Longline Open Cardigan – cute long cardigan, lots of colors and a great price at $32!

Kenneth Cole Plaid Coat with removable shawl collar – Love this coat too!

Barbour Waxed Jacket – I have a waxed cotton Barbour and LOOOOVE it!

Barbour Quilted Jacket – Can you tell I love Barbour??

Barbour Waterproof Raincoat with hood – love this color!

BB Dakota Faux Suede Jacket – How cute is this jacket?!?!

BEST SELLERS

Besides my favorite picks above, below are some #1 BEST SELLERS! These WILL SELL OUT I guarantee it!

BP Long Leopard Jacquard sweater

Leith Wrap Sweater – comes in many colors. I don’t wear wrap shirts since they never look good on me, but this one is a great buy and can be dressed up or down!

Free People Knit Tunic – this will look super cute with a pair of leggings or jeans this Fall! Or pair it with tall or thigh high boots!

Patagonia Fleece Jacket – I bought the pullover version of this jacket one year at the sale and loooooove it!!

Zella Leggings – Already mentioned above, but they really are best seller and come in different colors too. Shop all Zella here.

Halogen Open Front Cardigan – Great price, comes in tons of colors. Very versatile!

Spanx Faux Leather Leggings – I have read so many good things about these, I think I might splurge and get them this year. Apparently they make your legs and bootie look good!

Women’s Shoes

Tory Burch Riding Boots – last year’s Tory Burch boot collection was a disappointment. This year though… check these beauties out!

Vince Camuto Perforated Booties – These booties are always a #1 seller at the sale and you can see why! Super cute!

Hunter Rain Boots – I have two pairs of Hunter boots and love them!!

Nike Classic Cortez Sneaker – I have these in a different color way and I love them!

Paul Green slouchy booty– Love Paul Green shoes! They are so comfy!!

Paige Studded Booties – I have read multiple reviews that these are super comfy. I love the edgy look of them. They kind of remind me of the Celine boots that are 6-7x this price!

Tory Burch Everly Slide – Cute and chic! Comes in several colors.

Adidas Gazelle Sneakers – Can’t go wrong with these classic sneakers!

Ugg Scuffette Slipper – Ugg slippers are so comfy. I have multiple pairs. These are a great deal and don’t forget they work as Christmas presents!!!

Accessories

Tory Burch Saddle Bag – I’ve been looking for the perfect crossbody saddle bag and I think this is it! Comes in several different color ways.

Kate Spade Satchel – cute bag, several different colors!

Longchamp Le pliage expandable tote – If you do not own one of these then I strongly suggest buying one at the sale! They are a great deal right now and perfect for traveling!

Marc Jacobs Camera Bag – Camera bags are ALL the rage this year. This one is $100 off its regular price and comes in tons of colors!

Rebecca Minkoff Cross Body Circle Bag – Also a very popular bag style this year! I love the faux crocodile.

Faux Leather Crossbody – This leather crossbody is super cute and under $40!

Love these Rayban Sunglasses!!

St. Tropez Tanning Express Mousse – this stuff is GREAT. The best self-tanner there is.

NeuLash – Eyelash Growth Serum. This is like the miracle worker for beautiful full long lashes.

Kiehls Creme de Corps Body Cream – This stuff is fantastic! It is always a great buy at the sale! Stock up on this stuff.

Tory Burch Milgrain Stud Earrings – cute earrings and on sale!

Kendra Scott Adjustable Pendant Necklace – I have an older version of this necklace and it is so versatile!

Plaid Wrap Scarf – This blanket scarf is guaranteed to sell out because it is cute and a great bargain!!

Lightweight Cashmere Scarf – this scarf is PERFECT for travel and wearing on the airplane!!

For the Home

Barefoot Dreams Blanket– Supersoft! Perfect for cuddling up to on the couch!

Diptyque Five Candle Set – A great buy! Makes great gifts. $55. I love Ditpqyute and they make seriously the best candles ever. If I could, I would wrap myself up in a little Diptyque cocoon every day as that is how good they smell.

Tumi V3 International Carry-On – Okay. Luggage is expensive. GOOD luggage is even more expensive. My Dad, who has traveled something like 500,000 miles uses Tumi. So we use Tumi. Did you know he had the same Tumi bag while traveling those thousands of miles?? Tumi is a great brand – so if you are looking for luggage this is the one to get!

Pure Silk Pillowcase – I’ve read many great things about sleeping on a pure silk pillowcase! This one is on sale!

Antica Farmacista Diffusers – I always stock up on these. MY favorite scent is Prosecco.

Nest Handsoap – treat yourself (or your guests) to some nice hand soap.

Men’s Finds

I’ll add more to the Men’s section as I go… this is what I’ve found so far that are must-haves.

Barbour Men’s Quilted Bowden Jacket

Barbour Flyweight Jacket

AG Slim straight jeans – good deal, good looking.

Allen Edmond’s Park Avenue – My husband says Allen Edmonds makes the best dress shoes ever. The classics rarely go on sale, so now is your chance to buy them!

AG Wanderer Modern Slim Shorts – husband loves these shorts. Will pick up some new colors this sale.

Shop Women’s Clothing // Shoes // Handbags // Jewelry // Beauty

Shop Men’s Clothing // Shoes // children’s // home

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Gucci Princetown Mule vs Brixton Loafer Review

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

In search for a classic loafer/mule style for a while, I had my eyes on a pair of Guccis for quite some time.  I bought a pair of black Brixton loafers last year and without a doubt I can say it was the best shoe decision I’ve ever made.  The shoes feel like butter on my feet. They are made of the softest leather with leather soles.  They mold to the shape of your feet.  I broke them in and walked 5 miles in them in one day… and I had no blisters.

Another reason they are super comfy is because the heel of the shoe is extra supple. In fact, it is designed to be worn like below.  Often times on loafers or flats the heel is uncomfortable and will dig into my heel.  But with the extra soft leather, it doesn’t!

Below is the alternate way you can wear them.

So, I decided to get a second pair. 

I know that the Princetown mules are incredibly popular, so I bought a pair.  And guess what… I didn’t love them!  And for the price, you HAVE to love them!

Why didn’t I love them?  Well, I’ll show you. The pink shoe on the left is the Princetown Mule. The black shoe on the right is the Brixton Loafer.  Do you see how the pink mule has a longer tongue and goes further up my foot?  It made my foot look bigger. I wear size 9 or (39 in Gucci). Since it went further up my foot it also wasn’t as comfortable when I walked.

So I returned the mules and ordered the pink loafers!  You can see them below! I think the proportion of the loafer is better looking on my foot. Plus, the loafer is actually a nicer shoe.

I’ll explain how it is a nicer shoe.  Let’s exam the soles.  The bottom left is the Princetown. The bottom right is the Brixton.  The one of the right is clearly nicer.  One, look how many nails are in the sole of the shoe to keep the shoe together? The brixton has 10.  7 in the heel and 3 at the toe.  The Princetown only has 2 in the heel.  That means the rest of the sole is glued on.

Since I plan on keeping these puppies forever, I’ll take the better made shoe, thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is a total splurge and I’m well aware of the fact that I do not need these shoes. But I bought them. And I loved them. And I highly recommend them! They come in tons of colors! I’ve linked them in the widget below.

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Getting Ready for Summer Sun!

Getting Ready for Summer Sun!We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Rounding up a few of my favorite items that I use for the Summer sun!  I know it’s *only* May, BUT here in California the weather is nice and I spend a lot more time outside!

Sun Hat – My new favorite sunhat UPF 50+ came from Amazon of all places and it was only $15.  It can roll up and is size-adjustable! I wore it in Hawaii and loved it! I also wear this sun visor as well!

Sunglasses – I love wearing sunglasses. Since I live in California, I wear sunglasses every day! Yes, even when it’s raining sometimes because it’s so bright!  I rounded up a few of my favorites in the widget below!

Swim Suit – I bought this swim suit (top here, bottom here) and got so many compliments from various people at the pool in Hawaii.  It is flattering! They also have a one piece version here too. I’ve also rounded up a few of my favorite swimsuits in the widget below!

Cover-Up– My favorite swim cover up company is Shahida Parides – found them by watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  No, they aren’t cheap, but I have never found a cover up as pretty as these ones!  Nordstrom rack occasionally gets them in and I found some on sale at Nordstrom Rack HERE! 

Tanning Products – If you want the tanned look, but don’t want to risk skin cancer, I recommend trying a self tan product.  St. Tropez Self Tan mousse has tons of loyal followers. I tried St. Tropez’s self tan in 3 min in the shower and liked it for a quick light color application. Kate Somerville’s self-tanner towelettes are easy for on-the-go application. Clarin’s has a loyal following. As does Coola.

Sunscreen – Obviously a must have if you are going to be in the sun!  My favorite face sunscreen I wear every day is by La Roche Posay here. As for body sun screen, honestly I just pick a spray sun screen and whatever is on sale is what I buy! I usually buy SPF 50+, but sometimes SPF 30+, again, depending on what’s on sale!

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My First Spray Tan Experience

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

This year before heading to Hawaii I decided to try a spray tan.  Someone told me that they always got a spray tan before they did a beach vacation. She said that way she could have the suntan look without spending the time in the sun getting skin cancer.

Since I do not want skin cancer, I thought I’d give it a try!

Grand Wailea, Maui

Having never been to a spray tan salon, I was a little bit hesitant as I was fearful I would get the dreaded orange tone that is sometimes seen.  I found a local salon just by searching Yelp and finding good reviews.  I then talked to the lady about what my goal was – a natural looking tan.  I was brave and went with the “medium” tone.

You strip down to a level of comfort – wearing less is better because then you have less tan lines. I just wore my panties, but suggest wearing whatever you feel most comfortable in.

Below left is the before. Below right is the after.  I can’t see too much of a difference in these pictures but it was noticeable in person. It is the same lighting conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the tan line that it produced.  I think you can see quite the difference below here.  After the tan, you are not supposed to shower, sweat (so no working out!), swim or bathe for 8 hours. The reason is because there is a bronzer placed on the skin too which develops over time, so if you doing any of the things above you’ll end up with streaks!

I recommend getting your tan in the morning, so that way you can shower before you go to bed.  The first shower you will notice the bronzer washing off – that is okay, do not panic! The tan will still be there.  The first shower you also do not use soap – it is basically just a quick rinse with warm but not super hot water.

Below is my tan 4 days after I had the spray tan, plus 1 day sun exposure in Hawaii.

Would I do it again? Yes, I think so. It was $45 for the session where I went.  Next I’ll try the St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse at home.
A Few Spray Tan Pointers based off a basic rule – the spray tan sits on the outer layer of skin. So anything you do that will cause the outer layer of skin to slough off will then cause your spray tan to slough off and last a shorter duration.

  • Shave and wax the day before the appointment.
  • Manicures and pedicures should done the day before the appointment as well.
  • Exfoliate the day of!
  • Do not shower, sweat, exercise, swim or bathe for at least 8 hours after your appointment to let your bronzer set in
  • The spray tan takes about 24 hrs to develop, so get it a day before your event
  • If you have never had one before and are getting it for say, a wedding, I would do a test run to make sure the color works on you and you don’t get an orange glow!
  • Wear dark loose fitting clothing to and from the appointment – if you wear tight clothes your tan will rub off!  I work black.  My underwear got spray-tanned, so it was ruined – wear whatever clothes you don’t care about.
  • For your first shower, do not use soap or super hot water.
  • If you WANT your tan to come off ASAP, exfoliate, shave and sit in a hot tub.
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