Thursday, May 7, 2026

Lately


Had to get a photo with Grimace! So fun! 

A cocktail at Frick Park Tavern. It is one of our favorite spots. The bar is beautiful, and the space is so cozy and charming. We love the food, too! They need a satellite location in the South Hills! 


Sizzle and I at the hat luncheon this weekend!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! This week felt pretty normal with a few fun things thrown in!

This past weekend, my mom and I attended the annual Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Hat Luncheon. It was at Highland Park this year; the parks rotate each year, and it's always so well done. I love seeing 600+ Pittsburghers dressed up in their spring hats while supporting such a great cause for the city! Though the weather threw me for a loop! I was going to wear this dress, but unfortunately, it was 40 degrees and raining, so I had to pivot on the outfit. Though it didn't feel very 'spring', I loved what I ended up wearing. I have worn an iteration of that sweater + skirt several times before! 

We also went to my aunt and uncle's annual derby party, which coincides with my cousin's birthday celebration. Lots of fun was had! 

Henry got a bath this week, which is the BEST. He is so fluffy and looks so handsome! One of you recommended the mobile groomer we use, and she is truly the best. I am still so thankful, years later, for that recommendation! 

I attended an event at McDonald's in Penn Hills (on Frankstown Road- go there for your Diet Coke and fries fix!!!) hosted by one of my best friends from high school and her husband, who owns three local stores. They were celebrating the launch of the new McCafĂ© Refreshers. It was so cool to see my friend and her husband's hard work not only come to fruition but also in action. We just love them, and I am so thankful for our friendship and so happy for all of their success. That's what life is all about! 

This weekend, I’m hosting Mother’s Day dinner, which I always love doing. Though if you ask me, my mom deserves to be celebrated 24/7! I’m excited to give my mom her gift, and my husband is planning to make something delicious for dinner. Then next week, one of our family friends is getting married, so we have family coming into town and lots going on leading up to the wedding. It should be a busy but good week ahead. For now, though, I’m looking forward to a quieter weekend with my husband, running errands, and hopefully sneaking in a little date night! 

Sweatshirt (wearing a size small)

Sweatshirt// Skort (I sized up to a medium in both)


I was gifted these, and they are beautifully made with a padded footbed. I am still playing around with them, figuring out how to style them, but I like them with white jeans! 

Gingham Pants (use code SYDNEY15)// White Shirt// Bag

I was sent these heeled mule sandals, and they are wonderful. So simple and chic, yet incredibly comfortable on first wear. 
Wearing: It was a hodgepodge this week. The weather has been all over the place, such is May in Pittsburgh! Keeping me on my toes, that's for sure! 

You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website! 

Gummy Candy use code QUEEN20 for 20% off!
Eating: I was thrilled to see this gift from BonBon land on my doorstep. I LOVE gummy candy, and BonBon has the best. They are doing a 'secret' code for 20% off right now! They have different mixes, and you can even customize your own, but I love the sour mix best! 

Drinking: At my friend's McDonald's in Penn Hills (Frankstown Rd, go visit!!) they were celebrating the launch of the new McCafĂ© Refreshers, which are lemonade-based drinks you can customize, and 'dirty sodas,' which are sodas with whipped cream on top. I liked the passionfruit and strawberry refreshers best- so light and truly refreshing! It was fun to taste them all, and you cannot go to McDonald's without getting some fries!

Watching:
 We started watching Blackbird on AppleTV. It's a gritty crime series with such an interesting plot. I'm loving it so far. 

Listening: My latest 'pump up' song is Let Em Know by TI! So good for workouts! 


Wanting:
I'm such a sucker for hand engraving, and this Etsy site has the most beautiful options for a gold pendant! These western-inspired photo frames are unique and pretty! This pink hat was made for me! This silver snack server is gorgeous. Want this peplum- so chic! This brand makes the best swimsuits because they are like shapewear and so flattering. I love that they came out with a printed swimsuit! Such a good 'throw on' dress and could even be worn as a cover-up! These shorts are pricey, but they are simple and timeless. What really sets them apart, though, is that they have a 6" inseam, which is so hard to find! I have these pants in black and need them in the new linen fabric! Really cute lounge pants. Seersucker is always a favorite of mine! These woven flats are somehow timeless and on-trend at the same time. The prettiest take on a nap dress! I love the silhouette of these shorts. This new print from Lilly is SO good. Such a fun ice bucket for entertaining. A scalloped hat for beach days. Such a cool vacation dress; I love the colors. Cute gingham shorts for lazy summer days. Just ordered this sheer button-down in pink. The most fun and punchy terry swimsuit coverup.  This handbag is such a good Gucci look-for-less! I've been so into chartreuse lately, and this bucket bag is so good in that shade! A really pretty pillow cover. I read somewhere that a room always needs a small pop of red! Napkins perfect for the spring/summer season. Love this under $40 scarf in red- perfect pop of color! The blue hues in this little crochet dress are lovely! Love the colors and print on this one-piece swimsuit! The millennial in me would call this a 'going out top'. A fun and flirty bold red dress! I want to order this set, but I can't decide between blue and pink. Another adorable terry coverup

Pittsburgh: The lineup for the Pittsburgh Arts Fest is live! I also saw that there is going to be a free Nelly and Third Eye Blind concert at the point this summer! I want to check that out! 

Amazon Rec: I randomly stumbled upon these vases and had to order them. My expectations were low, but I was so pleasantly surprised. They are both beautiful! I prefer the yellow, but my husband likes the green. I think I'll definitely keep the yellow, TBD on the green! Both vases cost less than that mug, wild!

When we were in Florida, my mom accidentally dropped my travel mirror. It was no big deal, and I told her I would just get a new one. Well, she was ahead of me and ordered me a new one. I love this mirror so much. It folds up thinly, like an iPad! It's the best for travel when the lighting isn't great, or a bathroom is occupied, and you need an extra mirror!

You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!

Smelling: I got a cute PR package from Hotel Lobby featuring their new candle collaboration with Nespresso. I am not one to like gourmand-type candles, but I think if anyone is going to nail a coffee-scented candle, it would be Hotel Lobby. Sure enough, they did not miss! This smells so cozy, and you can definitely smell the vanilla, but it's not cloying. It's so different than anything I have! 

Quoting: // See more of my favorites, here.

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you). 

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Must-Have Pet Hair Removal Tools


Must-Have Pet Hair Removal Tools

Like many dogs, Henry sheds like crazy. Fellow pet owners often message me asking how I manage to keep my home clean and free of dog hair. The honest answer? I don’t! Well, not completely, anyway. I love Henry more than anything in the world, and while the constant shedding can be a bit annoying, it’s part of having a pet. Someday, hopefully many years from now, I know I’d give anything to see Henry’s little tumbleweeds of fur rolling across the floor again. His hair is part of him, and I cherish every bit of it.

That said, I’m also a recovering Type A personality, so I do what I can to minimize the mess. I vacuum frequently (often daily), change our bed linens twice a week, and use a handful of tried-and-true tools to reduce pet hair on our furniture, rugs, and bedding.

If you're looking for ways to keep a clean home with pets, especially if you're dealing with stubborn dog hair on upholstery or carpets, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite tools and techniques. These are the things that truly help me stay on top of the shedding and keep our home feeling fresh.

Whether you have a heavy shedder like Henry or just want to cut down on the fur buildup around your home, these pet hair removal tips will hopefully make a big difference.

This one is cute and functional. I hide these lint rollers behind things like chairs and beds so I can quickly grab them and touch up when needed. Having multiple around the house and quickly accessible makes this chore feel as effortless as possible. The sheets are so sticky, and what sets this apart from others like it is the sturdy metal handle. The plastic handles are so flimsy that they don't do as good a job as this metal-handled version!

3-Pack Tools

The tool in the middle with the teal handle changed my life. No exaggeration. It will change yours, too, if you have carpeted steps. No matter how much I vacuumed our steps, I always felt like hair would build up in the creases and sides. I use this tool about once a month because it takes a little extra time and effort, and we have two sets of steps in our home. I vacuum the steps a few times a week, but this tool removes the extra hair the vacuum can't pick up because of the steps' shape. You just run this in the crevices and near the edges, and it picks up the hair. If you ever notice hair piling up near the baseboards, this works there, too. It works SO well. I would only use it on tough carpeting because it's harsh. The other two tools are gentler for things like upholstery and work well. 

I keep some sort of hair remover in every room so I can grab a tool and tidy whenever I have a few minutes. I even keep one in my nightstand drawer so I can use it every morning when I'm making the bed. 

This is better for the environment and your wallet since you won't have to purchase refills. It's so easy to use, you just pull back on whatever surface, and it traps the hair. This is a must-have for me, but it's not perfect. I love it on upholstered furniture. I use this for maintenance, and then when I really want to make sure things are 'perfect', I go in with the disposable sticky lint roller. There is a reason this thing gets over 100k 5-star reviews, and it's one of those things where I believe the brand name is worth the slightly higher price tag. This is pretty gentle, but because it has a rubber part, I wouldn't use it on anything with beading or detailed embroidery. 

Lint Roller Brush

This is very similar to the roller above, but it is a wand version and doesn't have a rubber part, so it's gentler. I use this on my 'fancier' fabrics, and because it's slimmer, it's easier to get around things like curved arms on chairs. I like this on bedding, too.

Mitt

This is very similar to the roller and the wand I shared, but I love the mitt format for quickness and ease. I think this is quicker than the other methods, particularly for our bed! Then I'll go in with the sticky lint roller to make sure everything else is picked up.

Car Tool

I keep this tool in my car. It is small and compact. It removes hair from carpeted areas in a vehicle SO well. With its shape, you can get into every nook and cranny. Sometimes, when my husband is driving, I use this, and it feels like I'm multitasking.

You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website! 

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).

Monday, May 4, 2026

Fun and Unique Handbags


I love handbags, but it's rare that I spend over $1000 on one. I have a few bags, like my Chanel chocolate bar, that I have invested in over the years, but I'm less drawn to the status of a logo on a bag and more interested in a bag's quality, uniqueness, practicality, and functionality. I also love the thrill of the hunt on sites like Fashionphile and The Real Real

This past holiday season, I scored the most charming Santa handbag by Timmy Woods on The Real Real. I have never received more compliments on a bag. It is such a fun, whimsical (and slightly impractical) handbag. You can see it here! Ever since, I've been drawn to unique statement pieces! I've also been into lots of colorful handbags lately. When it comes to shoes and bags, I'm often someone who plays it safe with color. Neutral shoes and bags offer a lot of versatility, whereas a bold-colored pair of shoes can seem limiting. However, I've been slowly collecting more colorful pieces, and I've realized that sometimes that's what really makes my outfits interesting and unique to who I am. Plus, a pop of color handbag is a lot more versatile than I originally thought! 

I've also realized that, with my lifestyle, I need a big tote-style bag to schlep all my stuff, or a small bag for the evening that just holds lip gloss, a card, and a hair tie. 

So today, I'm rounding up some unique handbags under $1000. Life is too short, carry a fun handbag!



You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website! 

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).

Friday, May 1, 2026

Weekend Wish List


Some items of note... 

- I love the print and colors of this Floral Athletic Dress. As much as I love a simple, solid colored athletic dress, I think something like this is fun and different! 

- These Bracelets are currently on sale for $10! I love bracelets like these to stack with a swimsuit or to bring on vacation! 

- This Hand Cream Gift Set would make for a lovely Mother's Day gift. I have this and love the chic little dispenser, and the hand cream contains retinol for anti-aging. 

- I cannot stop thinking about this Fringe Scarf!!! I've always admired the Hermes fringe scarf they release every so often, but it's priced well beyond what I would ever spend on a scarf. This one is still pricey, but a fraction of what the Hermes scarf would cost!
 

Some items of note... 

- I have these Linen Pants in the black original fabric, and now that they come in linen, I think I need them. I love the fit and how comfortable they are! I'm picturing these pants paired with the Pleated Sleeveless Top I also featured. Such a cute and simple summer outfit! 

- I was recently sent this Face Serum in a PR package, and it's pricey, and unfortunately, really good. Though anything Obagi makes is good... I've never tried a product I didn't like! My code SUMMERWIND should work on this. You may also want to check code OBAGI 25, which might be a better discount if it's still active! 

- How fun are these Lobster Sandals?! Beaded pieces are really having a moment right now, and I love that there are a few different designs/colors in these sandals. 

- This Crochet Dress is the perfect vacation dress because you can wear it to dinner one night and then repurpose it the next day as a swimsuit cover-up! 



For your weekend reading, here are blog posts you may have missed from this week:




You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website! 

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).

 

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