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Friday Favorites–July 14th, 2017

After lots of baby posts, I wanted to use this week’s Friday Favorites post to change things up a bit, especially for those readers who have no interest in reading about newborn life. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock and haven’t heard yet, it is that time of the year when so many people spend hours perusing the racks or website of Nordstrom. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has the reputation of being one of the year’s best sales and features the next seasons picks versus the leftovers. Right now only Nordstrom credit and debit card holders can shop the early access sale but those of us who don’t have cards can put together a wish list based on the items that are shared via Nordstrom’s Sneak Peak Page.

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Below you can find the items that I either have and love or are currently lusting over and waiting to buy on July 21st when the sale opens to the public. You’ll find an assortment of items ranging from pajamas to makeup brushes. If you are looking for more detailed posts, especially featuring women’s fashion, here are my a few great posts I’ve seen thus far:

Here are my pics, without the stylised images as this nursing, pumping and baby cuddling momma doesn’t have time for that this week! Happy shopping and let me know what your top picks are, as unfortunately for my wallet, there is still time to add more to my wish list!

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Home

  • I love the Diptyque candles but due to their cost, I tend to only buy them a few times a year or add them to my birthday and Christmas wish lists. I love this miniature candle set as it includes some of their most popular scents such as Baies and the small sizes make these perfect for different spots in your home or gifting. I love to keep one in our living room and one on our bedside table for easy access when I want to relax and unwind.
  • One of my favorite candle brands, I always buy at least a few during this sale. My favorite scents include clean crisp for our bedroom and honeysuckle for the Summer months.
  • These personalized coasters and cheese boards make the perfect gift whether for a wedding, housewarming, birthday or hostess.

Beauty

  • Bo swears by Supergoop sunscreen for his fair, sensitive skin. The water-resistant, easy to apply sunscreen features Vitamin C, wet and dry formulation as well as a better-for-you ingredient list versus many of the sunscreens on the market today. At 30% off this set of 3 is a great way to stock up for the Summer months.
  • I’ve been focused on better a better skincare routine for my skin especially as I dealt with pigment and texture changes during pregnancy. One of the most frequently recommended skin care items is this Clarisonic Mia. I used to have one that I loved and used daily, but lost it during our move back from Geneva. As soon as I saw it on the Anniverary Sale I added it to my wish list!
  • Don’t remember the last time you cleaned or replaced your makeup brushes? This MAC makeup brush set is less than $50 and valued at over $150 so this is a great time to replace your makeup brushes!

Women

  • Perfect for Fall and Winter this cashmere and wool drape front sweater vest will pair perfectly with jeans and tall boots for weekends or black pants and heels for work.
  • These faux leather leggings have over 150 5-star reviews which is proof that everyone, regardless shape or size, seems to love them. Their forgiving nature will be appreciated by this new mom while the faux leather will allow me to feel just a little bit cool and edgy. I could pair them with the above drape sweater or a silk blouse, making them perfect for any occasion.
  • I’ve owned this North Face trench-style rain coat for three years and love the chic design while the performance fabric keeps me dry and cool. Unlike most rain coats, it is fitted so make sure to review the sizing before you order!
  • I’ve heard so much about the Zella Live In Leggings that I finally decided to buy two pairs – one pair of full length live in leggings and one pair of colorful, keep it cool cropped legging!
  • I have these Stuart Weitzman Over-the-Knee boots in leather but love the look of the suede boots, especially the black. If you’re in the market for an investment boot, at 35% off,  this is one of the best deals I’ve seen on this Stuart Wetizman classic.
  • I had to retire my favorite JCrew booties this year after four years and therefore decided that this sale is the perfect time to buy a new pair of booties for Fall. Historically I’ve owned black booties but after seeing so many friends wear and love these Rag & Bone booties and reading the reviews, I decided to add the lighter color to my wishlist.
  • I have used this Longchamp convertible tote for everything from weekend trips to errands during the past three years that I’ve owned it. The water-resistant tote easily doubles in size with a simple zip and is chic enough to go from airport to happy hour.
  • After seeing five different Nordstom Anniversary Sale posts include these Moonlight pajamas, I knew I had to add them to my wish list. Their soft, lightweight material makes them perfect for all seasons and the button down top allows me to wear them during my nightly nursing sessions.

Baby

  • We use these Aden+Anais Muslin Cloths for everything and anything including swaddling and burping. Even though we have six of them, I already feel like this is something we could use more of to keep at our grandparent’s house as well as in our diaper bags and the stroller! While you can find this brand at multiple retailers, including Walmart and Target, it seems that they each have a different quality. My friend swears that the Nordstrom-exclusive version is larger and softer than any others!
  • You’ve seen this diaper bag in multiple pictures already as Bo is obsessed with it and carries it everywhere! The perfect diaper bag for dad or for someone looking for a messenger style, it is equipped with everything from a changing pad to insulated area for botttles!

Your turn – What other items should I add to my list?

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Friday Favorites–June 30th, 2017

pig beach

Happy Friday friends! I am in shock that I have the time to blog today, but thanks to Katie sleeping well last night I am feeling rested and energized today. I have no clue whether last night’s sleep pattern will work again tonight, but I’m thankful for the cumulative seven hours of sleep that I enjoyed in between her feedings last night. This weekend is going to a one filled with friends, family and love as we my in-laws arrive this afternoon and my best friend Amy arrives with her son and husband later this evening. Tonight our plan is a casual cookout in the back yard to welcome everyone and hopefully enjoy some time with Katie in between her naps.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

Books

  • While I was in the early stages of induction, I had time to relax in the hospital bed and read Jojo Moyes’ One Plus One. The story of a single mom and her crazy family as their paths cross with a wealthy, quirky entreprenuer who has troubles of his own, I really enjoyed the story and found myself not wanting to put the book down. The main character’s bad choices were sometimes hard to read, but by the halfway point of the book I was looking forward to seeing how it would all unfold.

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Bars

Food

  • My sweet friend, Julie, sent the most adorable care package for Katie which included a onesie and sweet book for Katie, some pampering items for mom, and her delicious Chocolate Chip Almond Butter bars. We devoured the bars within days as everyone, including my parents, loved them!
  • Since my breast milk has still been very slow to come in, I’ve been eating every food that is recommended for lactating mothers, including flax seed, Mother’s Milk tea, a Goat Root supplement and my personal favorite – oats. I’ve been having Quaker Oats at least 2-3 times a day either in the form of morning oatmeal, blueberry lactation bars, or banana muffins.  My mom and I have made two batches of our favorite Maple Sweetened Oatmeal Banana Muffins this week since they are perfect snacks for everyone!
  • Last night we headed to Pig Beach for barbeque, frose and fun with my parents and Katie. This popular Gowanus spot has increased in popularity recently due in part to it’s inclusion in Eater’s popular restaurant list as well as their incredible barbecue, fun atmosphere and specialty drinks.

Beauty & Fashion

  • The exhaustion that comes along with a newborn baby is very real. A few days this week I basically looked like a walking zombie until I washed my face, put on some cream and makeup. My favorite eye cream right now is Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum which I put on after wearing these hydrating, cooling eye patches.
  • I hear that Parisian mom’s secret to looking rested is to wear a bright lipstick. Yesterday I swiped on Lipstick Queen’s Medieval lipstick which is a vibrant, hydrating, sheer red lip tint that is easy to apply while providing a much needed pop of cover. I can understand why this is my mom’s favorite lipstick as it instantly gave me a boost and made me look more put together.
  • After receiving the pair of Lilly Pulitzer 5” Katia Shorts that I ordered two weeks ago, I fell so in love with the elastic waist, perfect length and comfortable fit that I ordered two more pairs! I’m loving the Resort White, Multi Purrfect and Indigo Night prints!
  • These JCrew White Seaside pants are perfect for Summer and the elastic waist will hopefully make them forgiving for my post-baby body.
  • This red and white flounce sleeve top is perfect for the Fourth of July and may just coordinate perfectly with Baby Girl Diamond’s Fourth of July red and white romper.

Your turn – What are you loving this week? Any big plans for the long weekend?

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Friday Favorites & A Giveaway – June 16th, 2017

Happy Friday! Today is supposed to be my last day of work before beginning maternity leave but if Baby Girl Diamond decides to take her time, I’ll be working and blogging next week until her arrival. I have a few more posts that I am working on unrelated to the baby such as my Savannah and Brooklyn recommendations and a virtual coffee date where I share some of the things on my mind as well as some of our plans post baby. Until then, I’m trying to stay busy with work, some last minute errands, and workouts. I am skipping today’s Orangetheory workout since it is a very fast-paced tornado workout and opting for prenatal pilates and swimming instead.

We may get to participate in our first neighborhood block party as tomorrow our street is being transformed into a block party complete with bounce houses, face painting and more! A popular Brooklyn tradition, we are looking forward to meeting more of our neighbors if Baby Girl Diamond is still nice and cozy. Otherwise, the weekend should be pretty relaxed as things are growing pretty uncomfortable these days. Since there is very little space left for her I have a dull, constant pain in the back of my right ribs and am having a hard time sitting in chairs.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week as well as a GIVEAWAY!

Books

  • I loved Slightly South of Simple and finished it within 24-hours this week. If you’re looking for a fun, Southern read this is a great option. Now, I just hope that she releases the next books in the series sooner versus later.

Food

  • After seeing many friends and fellow bloggers rave about Banza pasta, I picked some up at Whole Foods last week. This will definitely be a staple in our house moving forward as Bo and I were both very impressed with the flavor and consistency of the Banza Rotini chickpea pasta. The nutritional stats are pretty impressive as one serving includes 14 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber!
  • We paired the pasta with our favorite, store-bought pasta sauce – Rao’s Garden Vegetable Sauce. I love that this chunky sauce has actual chunks of mushrooms, peppers, and onions and only has 3 grams of sugar which is far less than other store-bought sauces.
  • If you love potato salad, this Serious Eats German Potato Salad recipe was easy to make, delicious and kept perfectly as leftovers!
  • If you are like me and love creamy popsicles versus icy, fruit ones then these Whole Foods 365 Everyday Organic Greek Yogurt Strawberry Dessert Bars are a perfect freezer staple. Now, if only they had more flavors than just blueberry and strawberry.

Beauty & Fashion

  • A few weeks ago my friends at Brooks sent me the new Women’s Glycerin 15 to enjoy in my new, pregnancy shoe size 11. While I typically don’t run in the Glycerin, these have felt like walking on clouds during the past few weeks of workouts, errands, and walks.  The super soft cushioning has provided my sore, swollen feet with some much-needed support and cushioning while the air mesh and stretchy fabric kept my feet comfortable during this week’s heat wave.
  • I know that elastic will be my best friend this Summer so what better time to invest in Lilly Pulitzer’s Kat Shorts? I ordered two pairs of these this week and can’t wait to wear them all Summer long!
  • Because I’m nothing if not reliable, I couldn’t order just one thing from Lilly Pulitzer so I may have added the Essie Top in my cart at the same time. The fun colors and forgiving fit will bring some life to this exhausted momma.
  • I can rarely find Jack Rogers on sale in colors that I love but this metallic pair are 33% off and gorgeous!

Pregnancy

  • As you guys know, I’m having a pretty horrible time with melasma aka pregnancy mask. My favorite foundation no longer matches my skin tone and while I hate to spend money on buying a new foundation, I think I may have to go to Sephora this afternoon. This round-up features the best foundations for melasma, many of which are paraben free and have SPF!
  • If you’re pregnant and still finalizing your registry, a number of friends recommended the Skip Hop Grab & Go Stroller Organizer. We were debating between a number of them including the one that is made by our stroller company but in the end, we figure if more than 50 friends and local moms recommend this one it will definitely work.
  • Experiencing pregnancy pains? Find it impossible to get comfortable in a regular chair? A local mom gave me her large, exercise ball today and it has provided INSTANT relief for my rib cage pain and pelvic discomfort. Why didn’t I get one weeks ago?

GIVEAWAY ENDED — WINNER IS bexpenn@gmail.com. Congratulations! 

 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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