The biggest sale of the year is here and I wanted to share some of my favorite affordable and luxurious finds for beauty, home, and kids from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
If you’ve been around for a bit, you know I love a good find, especially if it’s on sale! I have shopped the N Sale for the past few years and love that they offer more items than just women’s and men’s clothing and shoes. It’s my favorite time to not only stock up on those items, which you can see a few of my picks on this post – but also to stock up on items for Christmas, for homes, and for the girls for the year.
Because my girls aren’t in massive growth mode, I usually buy one size up. And they can wear them for the entire year, and some beyond.
I’m always shopping for our short term rental properties. So some of the items are pure luxury and so soft that I have them in our own home. And give them as gifts too! What better way to welcome others into your home, but not really your personal home, than some of your favorite things!
Before we get too much further, I have to let you know I’ve included affiliate links. Which means if you shop through my link, I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, and it makes me smile a little more 🙂
$1,000 Gift Card Giveaway
And I also have a fun giveaway for someone to win a $1,000 gift card to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which will basically run the whole month of August! Enter below.
I have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give YOU a chance to win:
a $1,000 Nordstrom Gift Cards to shop the Anniversary sale!
Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada only and runs until 8/17. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
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Ok, so now onto my favorites for finding luxurious items for home, beauty, and kids. If you click on the photo, it will take you directly to my liketoknow.it where you can shop my picks and add them to your wish list for when you are able to shop.
Happy shopping and wish list building! Only a few more days until the sale opens 🙂
As I have been looking for furnishings for our new home, I wanted pieces that would last for a long time, but also transition from one age to the next. The first was with Leila’s room as she’s going to be – dare I say it – a preteen and teenager sooner than I’d like to believe.
When I was searching for her things, I wanted the base to be cute and acceptable for an 8 year old. But also something that would work for her a few years down the road with simply changing the sheets and accessories.
New Bed from Delta Children
Insert this awesome bed from Delta Children! It fits my farmhouse style. But will work for a few years because it’s a twin size!
The bed was easy enough to put together that Leila and I did it by ourselves in an afternoon. And the instructions and tools come in the box. So that was super helpful! It also might have been a bit easier because her room was completely empty because we didn’t move in yet and gave us a ton of extra room that we wouldn’t have normally had.
I love that it can fit multiple ways in a room.
Either against the wall, with side tables, or even have a chaise at the end. For when she’s growing and wanting to change her room around.
For now, we placed it against the wall on one side because she doesn’t have side tables. She and Finlee have so much fun playing and reading in her bed.
This is our temporary home until our forever home is being finished. So the wall colors and curtains are more a neutral aspect that will completely change with her new room. This bed is for that future space. Not this current one.
That being said, I love how the grayish color of this bed fits into this space. And also the more colorful palette we have picked out, proving it’s versatile.
Another great thing about this piece is it’s available at Walmart and Delta Children – making for very easy access to many people.
This bed was the first piece I picked out to move into our current space with aspirations to move into our forever home. I think it really helped solidify my style of Industrial Modern Glam Farmhouse!
My entire life, I’ve always wanted to be straight and flat on every inch of my body.
Straight and flat hair that would be straight to my head and not poofy. Straight legs and chest so I could wear the things I would see on tv and on the mannequins at the store. Flat stomach and muscles because that’s what seemed to get the dates and boys to look at them more.
Except I was made for Texas. Big hair that’s a lot and thick – that NEVER lays flat straight to my face or head. My body shape has curves in all the right places. So I’m learning and never before have really loved.
For most of my entire 32 years, I could have fit in better as a Kardashian sister and their bodies than I do with my own family – except I haven’t ever had a knife touch my body outside of 2 C-Sections which is about to change.
Body Image Issue
I thought that my curves, broad shoulders, booty and thick thighs were a shame and something to hide. And I dressed that way. I would wear flowy and billowy clothes because I thought that was making my body look better. I didn’t understand that an hourglass shape is something to be desired. Ok, maybe in my early 20s before kids and when I was in great shape. I did understand this, but I was definitely doing it for the wrong reasons. Dresses too short and way too see thru to wear outside of the house let alone to a club or to dinner.
But becoming a Mom does a lot to your body that many don’t understand, especially guys. And really other women that seem to bounce back right after baby. And never look like they were pregnant in the first place…
..yeah, they don’t get it either.
So for the rest of us who do get changed during pregnancy and the time after, I didn’t feel like the same person. Post C-Section and lack of sleep are quite the combo that makes you not even really appreciate all the things your body does for you, let alone feel sexy in it. ….. well for me anyways. I didn’t and sometimes don’t understand what my husband sees when he looks at me with all the love and affection he does. There are days still. Almost 4 years post baby that I don’t like the image I see in the mirror.
I still look at my body longing for the pre baby, super fit, small waist, perky breasts that are undamaged. A scarless lower stomach and give it grief for the way it stares back at me in the mirror. Asking why there’s extra cellulite, less muscle tone. Why it doesn’t look good in short dresses like it did ‘back in the day’. For some women, this can lead to disordered eating, the obsessive need for weight loss, and a negative body image. Throw in social media, and these are all prime risk factors to developing an eating disorder.Â
Another factor we maybe don’t talk about enough is the fact that the way us moms behave and act can start affecting our little girls at a young age. If us moms are strict on the way we treat our bodies and unkind, our little girls can grow up doing the same thing.
But the reality is, my body is pretty great. I have a great shape that looks good in bodycon and athleisure.
It has curves and muscle and can make my husband stop what he’s doing in a second and be completely lost in my presence.
And this year, yep, just this year, I realized that the clothes I was putting on my body aren’t allowing me to put my best body forward. The billowy, drapey clothing were just making my body look like a blob. The shoes I was wearing were making me look clunky. And like my muscular legs didn’t have any definition or length at all. This part wasn’t about body dissatisfaction but more about comfort. I might have had a positive body image, but I really wanted to be comfortable, and the billowy clothing was more comfortable for me.Â
For 7 years, I’ve been buying clothes and shoes that people who are 21 are buying and I didn’t know any better! I would look at these models and watch tv and see what they were wearing and just get that – except with a muscular, curvy body. As a person who loves a boho life and less structure in my clothing than my morning schedule, it is tough to realize your clothes are the biggest obstacle in your life! Now that I know what shapes and types of clothing fit for my body type, I know what to steer clear of in the store. And what sections I should absolutely go to! I know which brands are good and which aren’t great.
It has made my life much easier!
I may not be the most stylish or fashion forward with the trends. But I know what fits my body and what makes it look good. My confidence has increased, and I feel like I’m not hiding anymore. I feel comfortable in my skin and my clothes wherever I go. I don’t feel like I’m not enough or should hide in the corner anymore because of the way I look. Now, I can also only add key pieces to my closet and keep the rest out!
So, all of this to say that yes, I will be accepting my body as it is, but also that I will try to make it better and ease the stress I’m putting on the inside of my body. Like the organs and joints and muscles.
I’m going to get my breasts reduced and lifted because it will allow my back pain to ease. It will also allow for exercise to return much quicker and easier. This in itself will bring more confidence to me, but most importantly will allow me to do things I haven’t because of pain associated with the weight. I will have my herniated umbilical fixed so there’s no longer discomfort randomly in my stomach.
I’m eating better and doing things that will help reduce the load and cellulite on my body.
So it can be toned and healthy from filling it with good for me things.
The clothes are minor, it’s the other things that will help my body live it’s best for the next 30+ years that are major changes in shape, size, pain level, and health. And the thing we don’t talk about enough, the mental health aspect of life of feeling like you actually belong in your body and can love it.Â
What are a few things you are working on right now to love you more and more?
For anyone that knows me well, knows that I like good food, but most days, I’m a simple cook.
If I don’t order it, it may come in a box, a cup, a bowl, or something similar. If none of these, then it’s fresh, raw fruit or veggie.
That being said, for me to make an elaborate, multi-step meal with multiple courses isn’t realistic.
I’ve tried and partnered with nearly every meal prep and delivery service out there. And still, meal time is a struggle for me nightly. And if I’m being honest, like I always am, the idea of making meals and dinner stresses me out more than most things in my life. I know that if I had a personal chef that would make the things I need to eat (like fruits and veggies) it wouldn’t be a problem.
If this person would also cook for my husband and children, I know it would take a lot of stress off my life.
The book that teaches you how to cook like your Grandma did
So, when I was offered to test out this new book, “The Anti-Cook Book” by Shelley Onderdonk and Rebecca Bloom, I was intrigued by the title. Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living it goes on to say…
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
You can do this!
Even for those of us who pretend to know what they are doing with our nutrition and in the kitchen (ME too).
The book is sprinkled with personal stories and easy, simple recipes with minimal instructions needed. And a bit of spunk and quirk along the way keeps you (it did me anyway) interested in the story and reasoning for the choices made in the book. Another sprinkling throughout the book that usually goes with a story:: Real text message conversations from the authors’ lives.
It supports the story and also that they know what they are doing.
Most of the cook books I’ve ever owned or seen have a full page, or very near full page, dedicated to a single recipe. This book combines story, ideas for using the recipe, proof it’s a great one, and then the recipe in short form. All on the same page. Incredible work and less intimidating for those of us (ME too) who don’t even want to open a recipe book because they are already checked out of the process.
Throughout the book are useful tips like planning meals for the whole week, without spending hours on end in the kitchen making them. Or when is appropriate to use Google because I know y’all pull out your phone or ask Siri whether you want to admit it or not!
It’s the perfect time of the year to gift this book to a Grad or a Dad in your life, or heck, an overwhelmed, underblessed Martha Stewart Mamma (also Me) who just wants to make their life a bit easier.
Grab the link here and get yourself and those who need this the most a copy. (It’s the cheapest cookbook I’ve ever seen!)
And leave me a comment letting me know your cooking/Martha Stewart style too. I’d love to know where you stand on this and if this book is on target or way off the mark for you!
With the increasing use of technology and the decreasing age at which children start learning technology, it’s becoming difficult to connect any toy in a past generation and keep interest for very long.
That’s where LEGO’s come in!
No matter what, even in technological games, you have to use your imagination and create something new. And that’s all LEGO’s have ever been about!
Why you should consider the Perfect Toys that have withstood Generations
I remember as a kid having a HUGE blue bucket full of all different shapes, sizes, and colors of LEGO’s that my siblings and I could spend HOURS creating whatever we wanted. I usually built a house that was very elaborate (big surprise that I love architecture and imagining what the house could be now, right?!). While my siblings built cars and such (also very telling to today’s interests.)
Since Leila was little, she’s always loved LEGO’s and has a table with little pockets to store her creations and extra pieces in her room. Now that Finlee’s showing an interest, I thought it would be perfect to partner with LEGO to showcase the new and classic options for World Creativity and Innovation Week.
Why you should consider the Perfect Toys that have withstood Generations
Leila got to build the new, LEGO friends collection as it has specific directions to ensure the shop is sturdy and stays together. Finlee played with the classic collection that’s seen a bit of an update and comes with pieces that have eyes and wheels.
It was super fun to be able to help them and tell stories of my siblings and I spending hours playing with our LEGO’s but also fun to watch their little minds work and put together all the pieces to their creations. And when Grandma came over, she could then tell her stories of playing with LEGO’s herself.
After they built their creations, they played with them for the next couple hours and even continued on with them for the next few days, taking a piece or a part along with them in the car. They still held up and didn’t break! I call that a win for no tears and unhappy kiddos!
If you are needing a new toy to help your kiddos take a break from the technology, but still get their creativity going, I highly encourage you to revisit LEGO’s as they will help in also developing their fine motor skills, which is important for school learning just as much as technology!
What are your favorite LEGO stories from when you were growing up?
M O M…. A three-letter word which I avoided owning for a very long time.
I didn’t think I was good enough to be a Mom and with some tragedies that happened in my life, I honestly didn’t think I wanted the responsibility. I didn’t think I was deserving of being a Mom when I became one. In fact, I wasn’t married, I wasn’t done with school. My life thus far hadn’t accomplished much to be proud of. And I didn’t think I knew enough to be a Mom to a child. I certainly wasn’t set up financially or stable even myself enough to care for the child. And I didn’t have a relationship with myself. Or one which I could rely on and know who I was when things got tough.
I thought that the most important thing was for me to put myself out there for men to like me. And that would mean I would love myself. When I found that didn’t work, I would go shopping to make myself feel better and ‘connect to me,’ which didn’t work either. I started moving my room around. Rearranging furniture in my house, throwing things away that I no longer needed amongst other things.
On the second to last day of camp counseling for the summer, I blacked out while running to a slip and slide in the grass. I remember running to the slip and slide, and then things went black. And I remember hitting the ground, and waking up with a really bad headache.
I was driven to the nearby hospital with the Camp Director. And when the nurse told me I needed to get a CAT scan, I needed to take a urine sample because they needed to make sure I wasn’t pregnant. I, of course, said there’s no way that’s possible but took the test anyways.
The next part was probably the most embarrassed I had been in my life to that point. The nurse came back into the room I was waiting in, with the MALE Camp Director waiting right outside my room with an open door, and told me that I was pregnant.
I think I went dark again. From embarrassment, from shock, from shame, from disappointment, and probably from the concussion I had.
I remember being wheeled into the room with the CAT scan, with the Camp Director following right behind the bed. And the intern doctor further explaining the reason they have to put a lead cover over me so they don’t hurt the baby.
I wanted it to be over and the quicker the better.
I was hoping it was all a bad dream. And that I would wake up and life would go back to normal. I don’t remember how I got home that day. I do remember going straight to bed, and trying to stay in bed for the next 2 days.
It might have been the first time I had depression in my life. I’ve never had it, but this is how I imagine it being. I didn’t leave my room, I didn’t eat, I called off work of my Serving/Bartending job. And I didn’t do anything except get more and more anxious and worried about this new situation.
I was about to enter my senior year in college – 2 semesters and I was done. First person in my family to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree and I thought my world was ending. In my mind, I was a huge disappointment, a failure, that my family would disown me, that I didn’t know how I was going to care for this little thing, how I was going to feed it, how I would keep a roof over its head, I was barely paying my bills for me.
I think at one point, I thought that I could wish and think it away. Which worked until the morning sickness settled in and I had a hard time brushing my teeth without feeling sick. I was so tired. I wasn’t waking up for classes. And I was still in denial and trying to figure out the perfect situation and time to tell everyone…. Which didn’t happen until I was almost 6 months along.
I went to all of my appointments alone.
I got myself government assistance alone. And I decided on a first name alone. I thought this situation was one I needed to face alone, because I created it and didn’t want to burden anyone else with it. I didn’t feel like I deserved to be the M O M word so I wasn’t going to share with anyone that I was soon to be one.
Once I finally let the cat out of the bag, I didn’t have to hide this, and my family didn’t disown me. I did receive support, and I didn’t have to do it alone anymore. It became increasingly difficult as my belly was growing to avoid or convince my mind that this was a dream. It started to become more of a reality and one I’m still not fond of after having a second child.
When Leila was born, I think it started to sink in that I was M O M. I was Mom because I nurse her. Because I carried her in my belly for 9 months to the day, because I bonded with her quickly. I had very little patience in settling her if it was the middle of the night, or if I was stressed out, which made me wonder ‘Am I worthy of being a Mom if I can’t deal with my own child?’ I didn’t feel worthy a lot of times when I couldn’t help her or couldn’t figure out what was going on. When she started talking, I don’t think it still settled in because I still didn’t know who I was at the core. I knew that I was Leila’s mom, and that I went to school for my degree, that I worked for X company.
At the end of the day, I didn’t know who Amy WAS.
I didn’t know anything about her. I didn’t know what she liked to read, what her passions were, what she didn’t like, people she called her friends and why, or even why Leila liked her so much.
Fast forward to when Leila was 2 ½, I made the decision that we were moving half way across the country to take a job because I was bored and desired change. I thought that Arizona was the key to all of my questions. When we arrived, it was only the two of us and plenty of time for me to discover who I was. Leila was pretty self-sufficient, and I felt like I had a new outlook on life. I started discovering things I was good doing. Things I didn’t like to do, and really enjoyed getting to know who Leila was becoming.
I learned to be ok with myself and that I didn’t need someone else there to make me happy. I grew to be happy with my thoughts and what my mind was saying. And I finally knew who Amy was at the core. I then realized that I am worthy of that three-letter word… M O M.
I finally believed with all of my heart and mind that I was a good Mom.
And I finally believed that I was capable of being a Mom. I finally realized that Leila came into my life when she did because I really needed her and not that she needed me. I needed her to show me I am capable, I am responsible, I am patient, I am worthy, I am/was ready, and I am deserving. It may have taken 2 ½ to 3 years for me to realize, and I may have missed out on some early memories with Leila because that depression came in, but I am forever grateful to have taken the time to learn.
Now, I get to teach Leila and sister, Finlee, who’s now 2 ½ all about discovering themselves. I get to empower them on their journey through life and someday, hopefully very far away, that they are fully deserving, capable, and worthy of that 3 letter word…. M O M.
Another great thing about this piece is it’s available at Walmart and Delta Children – making for very easy access to many people.
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
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