Friday, July 28, 2017

TGIF - thankful Friday

Like I mentioned on my Instagram, I am currently listening to the book, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. In her book she mentions that on Fridays she creates a gratitude list and I really love this idea. Practicing gratitude is known to improve health, well being and happiness. There is a lot of research on the subject. If you're interested in learning more, check out my suggested reading list at the bottom of this post.

Here is what I am thankful for this week:

1. I'm thankful for the time this week I have had to bond and train my new dog, Max.
2. I'm thankful for the healthy body that I have.
3. I'm thankful for the sunshine and natural beauty that surrounds us in our neighborhood, especially the vibrant blue flowers that Max and I see on our walks.
4. I'm thankful for the opportunity to shoot with an awesome photographer this week, it was really fun!
5. I'm thankful for the opportunity to get settled in my new home with few distractions, and ample time.
6. I'm thankful for the time I've had this week to be creative and practice calligraphy and hand lettering.
7. I'm thankful for the fun times I've had with friends this week.

What are you thankful for today?

Suggested reading list:


Thursday, July 27, 2017

grey ruffle top




 Gray Ruffle Top / Jeans / Heels (in biscotti suede, on sale, only a few sizes left!) /
 Bag (looks like the gucci one but it's under $25) / Earrings

I love items that I can wear to work and on the weekends. Since I work 40 hours a week on top of blogging, most of my wardrobe consists of things I can wear to the office (black pants, blouses, heels, etc.) I fell in love with this ruffle top and bought it in navy as well. It's on sale right now for under $46 until August 6th! I recommend sizing down because it's a boxy fit. I love it. It's feminine meets casual, which is my style to a t. It's almost made of a light sweatshirt material so it's incredibly comfortable but the ruffle detail makes it look more formal, so it looks professional.

Have a great Thursday! Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

#NSale Basic Long Sleeve Tee (And a big announcement!)





long sleeve tee (on sale for under $20 and comes in 10 colors!) / jeans (great staple) / choker / earrings / similar leather jackets from the #nsale: 1 (under $65) / 2 /

Hey friends! Happy Tuesday! I hope you're all having a great start to the week. I have some big news to share... I am moving to Seattle in August!! My fiance and I are super excited for this new chapter in our lives and we can't wait to share it with all of you. Thanks as always for your support and for following along on this journey with us!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is still going strong! While a lot of items are sold out, my long sleeve tee which comes in 10 colors is still available in many sizes and is on sale for $19.90. (I'm wearing it in Grey Ebony in a size small, for reference.) My faux pearl studs are not on sale but they are super cute and great for work or every day wear, and they are only $38. I bought my leather jacket at Nordstrom Rack a few years ago, but I linked this year's leather moto jackets (the embroidered one is super trendy this year.) While a lot of the #NSale is geared toward stocking up on fall items to wear later, there are a number of items that can be worn now, especially great basics like tshirts!

Have you gotten anything at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale this year? Comment below with your finds. And also, if you're from the Seattle area, let me know if you have any recommendations for what SH and I should do!!

Photography by Megan Nealy

Friday, July 21, 2017

Shop my Under $30 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks!

The Christmas in July sale is finally open to the public!! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale aka #NSale has the most amazing discounts on fall items, so stock up now! Almost everything I linked in under $30!

Thursday, July 20, 2017

28 Things About Me

 It's my birthday!! So, in light of my birthday, I thought I'd share 28 things you probably don't know about me!

1. I'm an avid reader and listen to a ton of books on Audible. I listen to four-five books a month, sometimes more.

2. I love pepperoni or cheese pizza.

3. On average, I eat an orange a day.

4. I have a dog, his name is Max and he's a rescue. He's sooo cute!! Check out pics of Max on my instagram @mapleandmint :)

5. I have traveled to 14 countries.

6. I caught the fish at Pike Place Market once, like Catherine and Sean did on The Bachelor.

7. I've worked in higher education for three years.

8. In college, I was Panhellenic President.

9. My fiance and I have lived apart for 9 months.

10. I'm moving to the Seattle area (where he lives) in August!

11. In middle school I was a competitive horseback rider and won multiple National Championships.

12. I have lived in 5 different homes in the 6 years I've lived in Los Angeles.

13. I have a master's degree from USC.

14. I was accepted to several doctoral programs this year but decided to wait and apply again in a future cycle.

15. I'm a soprano and I love to sing. My voice teacher described my voice as very "disney princess."

16. In my freshman year of college, I was on a club ice hockey team for about a week, haha.

17. I moved to California from New Jersey with my family when I was six.

18. My Myer's Briggs type is ISFJ.

19. I speak French Fluently.

20. I once acted in a 7 person stage production of The Laramie Project.

21. I have visited and camped in many National Parks: Yosemite, Glacier, Zion, Pinnacles, to name a few.

22. I love string cheese.

23. I take a lot of naps on the weekend! I love naps!

24. I drink a cup of tea and a decaf coffee (or decaf americano) every morning.

25. I love cream and sugar in my coffee.

26. I enjoy baking pies but I don't do it that often.

27. I am in the process of planning my wedding.

28. My fiance caught our entire proposal on camera! He's the sweetest!

Thanks, as always, for reading!


Friday, July 14, 2017

What I bought at the #Nsale!

Friends! I had so much fun last night! I went to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at the Grove and then went to my friend's improv show at Second City Hollywood. I ordered my #nsale items online and then picked them up in the store. This is my favorite way to shop!! I picked up my items and then tried them on to make sure they fit. (They did and I kept all of them!)

I'm sorry in advance for the not great quality of these photos but I want you to see fit, color and sizing details on all of the items I went home with. So here it goes!

1) Ruffle sleeve blouse. True to size. I loved it SO MUCH when I put it on that I ended up buying it in baby blue as well! (I also tried it on in the polka dot but I did not like it at all. Black and blue all the way.) The ruffle detail on this blouse is just so perfect, see a close up below. Seriously I haven't loved a top this much in a while-- it's so feminine, sweet, and on trend, but it's conservative enough that I will be able to wear it to work. Win win!! It will be very easy to go from work to date night in this blouse! You can find it here. It comes in 5 colors.
#NSale Price: $31.90. After Sale Price: $49.

2) Okay let's talk about these skinny jeans. They fit TTS. I'd never bought this brand before but after hearing so many bloggers rave about them, I knew I had to try them for myself. Well let me tell you. They are the real deal. Normally I live and die by Joe's Jeans but this brand may have turned me! This jean is easy to get into (not stiff) but is also not overly stretchy. You know how some jeans you have to jump up and down to get them on?! Not these. They go on nicely but they hug in all the right places. I don't have a thigh gap (#loveyourbodythewayitis!) these jeans are super flattering and slimming and I can't WAIT to wear them when it's not 90 degrees out. I know they are expensive but trust me ladies, they are the real deal. You can shop them here.
#NSale Price: $149.90. After Sale Price: $225. 

 This is what the jeans look like from the side. I love how they make my figure look! Also these photos are not edited so this is what they look like in dressing room lighting. 

 This is kind of a weird angle but I wanted you to see how they fit in the butt. 

 3) Grey Cardigan of my dreams. It is an oversized fit so I sized down. Holy crap is this thing soft. It is so soft I didn't want to take it off even though I was sweating bullets in the dressing room. I wasn't sure about the color when I ordered it online and thought maybe I should have ordered the burgundy, but grey all the way, peeps! I tried on the burgundy and tan colors in the store and I don't know why, but the quality just didn't seem the same. They weren't as well made, they weren't as soft, and they were also not as flattering on me. I am definitely glad I went with the grey. I can't WAIT to wear it in fall! Did I mention this cardi has pockets?! Find it here and run run run because it's going to sell out! It comes in three colors.
#NSale Price: $49.90. After Sale Price: $75. This is SUCH a good deal!



 4) Red Turtleneck with an Open Back. I sized down one size! I love the way this turtleneck feels. It's not super soft ,but it feels like high quality stitching and it's a brand I trust and have purchased a lot of in the past. I just really like how it looks on. They don't show you what the back looks like on the website which is annoying, but I ended up liking it on anyway. See below for what the back looks like. I will still wear this to work but I will probably wear a cami underneath. It comes in three colors. I like the red. You can get it here.
#NSale Price: $44.90. After Sale Price: $68.

 Cute untucked as well.
4) Ankle booties (see above.) TTS but I didn't wear socks with them in the dressing room because I forgot to bring a pair, so I will report back when I have tried them on with socks. I bought them in Toasted Barley Suede and I was worried it was going to be too taupe (and I already own two taupe pairs of booties) but I was happy that it looked more like a chestnut brown to me. I love the chunky block heel (sorry it was hard to get a pic of them in the dressing room!) You can get them here.
#NSale Price: $99.90. After Sale Price: $158.95. Great deal, these will definitely sell out!

Those are my finds! I hope you like them, follow me on instagram @mapleandmint for more #nsale strategy tips and leave me a comment if you have any questions about anything!

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Currently Craving


The #Nsale this year is too good!! I'm loving the rose gold, burgundy and blush tones. I cannot WAIT until ankie bootie and sweater season... I found so many cute items under $30, $50, and $100! Let me know if you have any questions. You can find me on instagram: @mapleandmint!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks!!

Woohoo it's Christmas in July, friends!! Today the best sale of the entire year starts, and lucky me... right before my birthday!

The deals this year are absolutely insane! Later I"ll be sharing dressing room selfies (sorry not sorry!!) to show you fit and help you figure out what to get. But for now here are some majorly discounted picks from brands like Tory Burch, Topshop, Madewell, and more:


Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Fall Wardrobe Building

Hey friends! Happy Hump Day! Fall is my favorite season and it might seem crazy that I'm thinking about flannels, rainboots and trench coats when it's literally 90 degrees in LA, but I can't help it! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is just around the corner and I want to help you get ready! It's time to take an inventory of your fall/winter wardrobe and figure out what it is you already have, what you might be missing, and what you really want or need to upgrade/replace. Time to get you started thinking about your fall wardrobe! There's no sense in buying something you already have! For example, I already have a gorgeous pair of black OTK boots, so I won't be buying a second pair this season! There are some things I like to have multiples of, like jeans, so I'll walk you through which items you need for fall and which you might be able to forgo.


Shop the Post:





1. Plaid Flannel. First things first -- often we build our entire outfit around a flannel, jeans and boots in the fall! If you don't have any flannels I def recommend getting one and I love a good red.

2. High Waisted Jeans. These aren't for everyone but this pair particularly speaks to me and is in my shopping cart!

 3. Plaid Scarf. Must. Have. Scarves sold out SO FAST last year during the #NSale. This one is already on backorder! One of my favorite scarves is the leopard one I got during the #NSale a few years back!

 4. Over the Knee Boots. Another must have for fall but only if it's your style! That goes for anything but OTK boots can be particularly tricky and not everyone likes them on! I have a pair of suede Steve Madden's that I LOVE.

 5. Chambray Shirt. This one has a cute ruffle detail. It's a great transitional piece as it can be worn in summer tied around your waist when you're wearing a cute striped t-shirt dress, and then can be worn as a shirt when the temps start to drop.

 6. Ankle Boots. Everybody needs a pair of neutral ankle boots!! I have a few pairs of ankle boots and my favorite ones are heeled because they look super cute with dresses and jeans. Another great transitional piece.

 7. Hunter Rain Boots. These should be on sale during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale so don't buy these just yet! Read my post about #NSale strategy here!

 8. Striped boatneck. I have this shirt, I'm in love. It's so comfy and perfectly classic. I bought it to replace an old faded gap red/white boatneck that I had for years and wore to death.

 9. Distressed skinnies. Need I say more?

 10. Longchamp Tote. I have this in a gorgeous dark red/burgundy color, I just love it, it's perfect for fall because it can get rained on and not get ruined. I've ever thrown mine in the wash! It reminds me of going back to school because I used it in college and grad school to carry all my books and laptop :)

 11. Camel Trench. Another fall staple! This one is at a great price too! Whew ok! That is my list of what you need to build a solid fall wardrobe! All of the pieces above can be mixed and matched and worn in so many different ways which is really the best part!

Shop the Post:

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 - Let's Talk STRATEGY

Friends, the most amazing sale of the ENTIRE YEAR starts this Thursday, I cannot wait!! I thought I'd answer a few questions for you since I've been a Nordstrom cardholder for years and always get early access to the sale. See below for answers to common questions bout the #NSale!
 
What is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, otherwise known as the #NSale, is when Nordstrom releases brand-new fall merchandise (including designer merch) at amazing discounted prices!! Tory Burch, Kendra Scott, Michael Kors, Rebecca Minkoff... all your favorite brands. Some items are marked down by SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS! It's honestly the best sale of the entire year.

Why shop it?
Unlike most sales, where items start out full price and then are marked down, #NSale items start out at a lower price and then go back up in August! You will not find deals on brand-name items anywhere else for the rest of the fall/winter season, so buy it now, save (literally and figuratively) and wear it later! 

When can I shop?!
Nordstrom cardholders have Early Access from July 13-20. During these dates, only Nordstrom debit or credit cardholders can shop the sale. Items sell out crazy fast during this sale, so you definitely want to get first pick and make sure your size is available! If you do want to shop Early Access, you can sign up for a Nordstrom debit or credit card here. It takes a few days to process a new card, so sign up sooner rather than later if you want early access.

The sale opens up to the public on July 21, and prices go back up August 7!

How do I know what to buy?
Strategy, strategy, strategy!! You need to know what you are looking for in order to tackle this amazing sale. Go through your fall and winter wardrobe. Are you missing anything? Do you have brown riding boots? Do you have a trusty go-to cardigan that looks good with everything? Are your black work flats looking a little tired and sad and maybe need to be replaced? What about a new pair of ankle boots or a watch? Make an excel spreadsheet of what you already have and what you would like to have in your fall/winter wardrobe. The "would like to have" column will be what you look for during the sale!
 
Make sure you know your size for different brands, as well. Do a little research ahead of time and write down your sizes. If you still aren't sure and are worried about online shopping, don't fret! Nordstrom always has free returns! Order two sizes and send back the one that doesn't fit. You can also bring your return back to the store and return it in person. I do this all the time and they are always super helpful and understanding!
Make sure to follow me on Instagram @mapleandmint I will be taking you through the #NSale in person on Thursday. 
 
If you want to download the Sale Catalog (you know you do... you need to start making your must-have list!) click here



Amazon Prime Day Sale

Friends! The Amazon Prime Day Sale is here! There is a lot of great stuff on sale but I wanted to point you to my favorite deals:

1. Jord Watches - these watches are wooden crafted and SO BEAUTIFUL, I have one in zebrawood and turquoise. It's super unique and looks really nice.

2. Giant Jenga - SH and I want to get this for our wedding -- how fun does that sound, amiright?!

3. Coleman Tent - this is in my shopping cart because SH's tent has a hole in it and we get rained on when we camp :(

Those are my top three picks! What are you eyeing this prime day?

 

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