Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Manicure and Pedicure


Wedding Wednesday: Manicure and Pedicure
OPI Love Is In the Bare

Wedding Wednesday: Manicure and Pedicure
OPI Bubble Bath 

I got a lot of requests for what manicure/pedicure color I will be wearing for my wedding. This is a fun question because I love to have my nails/toes manicured. I don't actually like going to the salon, but once they are done, I feel like a new woman. 

In everyday life, I typically stick to OPI Big Apple Red for a true, classic red and then OPI Bubble Bath for a natural pink. Other than that, I rarely stray. 

Every once in awhile, I will get OPI Lisbon Wants Moore which is like a more opaque Bubble Bath or OPI I've Got the Blues for Red around Christmastime which is more of a deep burgundy red. OPI Let's Be Friends used to be my go-to... it was a milky pink somewhat similar to Lisbon wants Moore, but they discontinued it! 

In terms of manicures and pedicures, I always match my toes to my nails. Always. For my wedding I'll likely do OPI Bubble Bath or OPI Love is in the Bare as seen in the images above. Love Is In The Bare is hard to track down. It's very similar to Bubble Bath but is less streaky! So if I can hunt that down, that's what I will do and if not, I'll be doing Bubble Bath. Pretty boring, honestly, but I just want my nails to look like they usually do.

I'll likely do a dip manicure just because the chances of it getting messed up or chipped are slim. I do prefer the look of the gel, but gel is a gamble because I have chipped that before (I'm rough on my hands) so dip is the safest bet for me personally. I just get regular polish on my toes. You won't be able to see my toes, anyway, but I'll know they are manicured and it will make me feel better and 'finished'.

What color did you wear on your wedding day? What is your go-to everyday polish color?

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Weekend Fun


I thought I would share a bit about our weekend in today's post- taking it back to the early blogging days when I would diary about my days! I loved sharing and I still love sharing here and there! 

Friday morning, I made the sous vide egg bites from Costco. I had shared these on my 'Lately' post but wanted to share a photo of them. You can see that they look exactly like the Starbucks ones and they are delicious. I highly recommend them! 

Friday night, we made fajitas which is one of my favorite things to make at home. Then we went to see The Lion King. I didn't take any photos so here's a cute photo of Henry from Friday! I thought it was so funny that he was actually using his pillow all on his own! 

The Lion King was so good- both my fiancé and I loved it and even sang along at parts, ha! I definitely recommend it. It was pretty true shot-by-shot from the animated movie but there were a few small scenes here and there added in!

The next day, I went shopping with my friend, Aly! We started off at a furniture consignment store that neither of us had been to. We loved it- it was chock full of pretty pieces. I snapped a photo of this beautiful mid-century modern sideboard that I was just drooling over. Doesn't it look like something from the set of Mad Men? Unfortunately, that's not the look I have in my home so I didn't get it, but it was just SO beautiful and well-made.
I ended up leaving with a pair of ceramic blue and white elephant candlesticks- I thought they were quirky and fun for my office!

We then stopped into Anthropologie and were so impressed with all of their hair accessories. Seriously, if you are looking for fun hair items, this is the place to go. 

We also stopped into Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma. Pottery Barn had this candle and we were both OBSESSED with it.  It's a cozy scent that's a bit manly and has a wood/fire hint to it. The most perfect candle for the upcoming fall season. I also loved these wine glasses because they are beautiful and have a slightly modern vibe to them. I promptly added them to my list to remember to register for them! 


We met my parents and family friends at the Le Mont for cocktails on Saturday night. The Le Mont is a restaurant on Mt. Washington. For those of you who don't know, Mt. Washington is the mountain that overlooks the city of Pittsburgh so it's where you get the prettiest skyline views of the city! It's where we got engaged! The Le Mont is an upscale restaurant but they have a bar that has the best views so we often go there just for drinks. The Le Mont's food is just OK and I find the decor to be in desperate need of an update but it is a Pittsburgh classic and serves up a great martini with an incredible view!
After cocktails, Andrew and I headed downtown where he had planned a fun dinner at Eddie V's. We love the bar there because they make incredible martinis and the live jazz is always a treat. This time, we had dinner there and it was so delicious. The seafood tower is a must! 

On Sunday, it was SO hot but we still decided to go for a 4-mile walk around our neighborhood. We had most definitely earned out gluttonous dinner of Five Guys and Fro-yo. I hadn't eaten at a Five Guys in years and forgot how delicious their burgers are for 'fast-casual'! We ended the night watching the Netflix movie 'Secret Obsessions' and it was so bad we laughed through it. It definitely had  Lifetime vibe to it. All-in-all it was such a nice weekend in Pittsburgh! The next two weekends will be spent in Georgia at the lake and we can't wait! 

Monday, July 29, 2019

How to Hide Cords and Wires in Your Home

How to Hide Cords and Wires in Your Home
This might be considered one of the odder posts I have ever done, but I wanted to share because it took me a lot of googling and researching to find out what the best option was to hide cords underneath my desk! I also wanted to share because when I posted the before and after on my instastories, I got flooded with DM's asking how I did it. 

The photos are ugly- sorry- but there's really no way to make these 'pretty'!! But hey, it works, and I'm so pleased!

It's actually really simple, and you only need 4 (inexpensive) things! Here's what you'll need:

How to Hide Cords and Wires in Your Home
First, plug everything into the Surge Protector and make sure it all works/fits into the first Cord Storage Tray. This tray is nice because it's very open, so there is a lot of ventilation. The tray came with screws where you could screw it into your desk, but I didn't want to do that on my antique desk. So, I decided to try Command Strips

I started with the first command strip straight (as you can see in the photo above), and then I decided it would make more sense to make them diagonal (very professional, as you can see, ha). These are designed to hold 16 pounds which is WAY more than necessary. 

Then, I removed the surge protector so I could hang the tray and then let it affix to the desk overnight. I did the same thing with the second tray that came in the kit. The second tray is for holding all of the wires! 

The next morning, I put the surge protector into the tray and then started bundling the wires. I had to tape some of the wires to the back of the desk to get everything completely concealed, so I used painter's tape because I didn't want to mess up my desk! It's not the best hold, but I don't mind fixing it here and there to save anything from messing up the desk! 

Then, you just coil each wire into a neat grouping and sit them in the second tray. Voila, wires are completely out of sight. 

This was SO easy to do and inexpensive. You can do it anywhere in your home, too. I am so glad to get rid of that mess of cords. It was driving me absolutely nuts!

Saturday, July 27, 2019



Lots of good finds for you on this gorgeously sunny Saturday! This is our last weekend in Pittsburgh for a few weekends as we are headed to the lake next Friday! I can't wait! We have reservations at one of our favorite spots downtown tonight and tomorrow we plan to tackle a few house things! 

Friday, July 26, 2019

Books I've Read Lately

summer book recommendations

I love to read but I wouldn't consider myself a 'big' reader. That's because I ebb and flow in terms of how much I read. In the summer months, I read a ton because I have vacations and create more downtime for myself as I sit by the pool! 

During the fall and holiday seasons, I just don't read much because I don't find the time. I find it hard to read around bedtime because I either get so drawn into a book, I can't put it down and am then so tired in the morning. Or, I fall asleep way before I was meaning to. So, I like to do my reading in the early mornings with coffee, in the later afternoons or after I'm done working for the day. 

Since we are in the busy season of reading for me, I thought I would share some books I have read recently because there are a few very good ones that I am recommending! I also thought I would share what is on my to-read list! 

If you have any book recommendations, leave them in the comments so we can all benefit from the suggestions!
Books I've Read Recently 
Verity// I didn't even read the description on this one- it was free with Kindle Unlimited so I started it and had absolutely no idea what to expect. It was so good. I read it in about 48 hours. The first 20-30 pages are weird and aren't anything that will suck you in, but once it gets going, it's a page-turner. The ending will shock you. It's definitely a thriller and even scared me a tiny bit at times. Plus a love story plus a mystery of sorts. A good beach read. This gets a 9/10 for me (a 10 is near impossible on my scale, ha!).


The Last Mrs. Parrish// Read this while at the beach and I'm pretty sure I devoured it in 2 days. The first half of the book goes along and it's good- not great. You're kind of wondering where this story is going, and then BAM! Halfway through, the book changes and it's a page-turner! It's not really a thriller but it is definitely shocking. I give this a 9/10.


The Light We Lost// I loathed this book. The only reason I finished it is because the storyline was SO drawn out. I kept turning the page to find out if anything was ever going to happen. It was boring and the end falls flat. I do not recommend this one at all. I'd give this a 0/10.


One Day in December// I was really excited about the prospect of this. I love a rom-com-style book and loved that this one was set in England. But, the characters bored me and I just thought it was all a little ridiculous. It was an OK read, though. It held my attention and kept me through the end. Definitely a chick-lit type of book... I give this a 6/10.

All We Ever Wanted// A lot of people DM'd me saying that they didn't love this one so I had very low expectations for this. I actually liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. It's about a wealthy Nashville family who has a child at a private school and 'something' happens and that is where the story takes a twist. It was likable enough and a good beach read. I give this a 7/10.

Once We Were Brothers// This book is set in the 2000s in Chicago and it's all about WWII in Poland. It's an interesting story and I love how the author seamlessly wove the two very different time periods and places together. I also learned so much about Poland and WWII as the author was so descriptive and painted a really great picture of what was happening. Not to mention the twist and turn towards the end! I give this book an 8/10.

Books I Want To Read
The Towering Sky // I have read the first two books in this series and I love them. They are about a futuristic society in Manhattan and it's really a YA series, but it's so good and they are really easy reads! 

The Nightingale// I've had this one for forever but just forgot about it. It gets rave reviews and I've heard it's similar to All the Light We Cannot See which I loved. 

A Man Called Ove// My mom and grammie loved this book so I thought I would read it. They said it is interesting because it's set in Sweden and even just learning about life in Sweden was interesting. 

Summer of '69// I love Elin Hilderbrand so I am excited to read her latest novel set on Nantucket. 

Lilac Girls// I heard this is another good WWII book similar to Once We Were Brothers, All The Light We Cannot See, etc. 

The Alice Network// Another WWII book- can you tell I enjoy books set in that time period? 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz// And another one! I saw this recommended to me after Once We Were Brothers- it's been on my list for a while. 

American Royals// This doesn't come out until September 3rd, but it sounds like a fascinating read. It's a story about George Washington becoming a king (aka America has a monarchy) rather than a democracy. 

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Lately


Wow- we are on our last full week of July. How insane is that?! The time has been flying by in 2019 and soon enough fall will have arrived! After this insane heatwave, I'm just dying for fall weather. I've shared this before but I'm not the biggest fan of the summer! Luckily, we have found respite from the heat thanks to a big storm earlier this week.

We got back from the beach super early last Friday morning and it had thrown my entire sleep schedule off... I just started to feel back on track with sleep yesterday! Isn't it funny how one day can throw you off?

I had my parents over for dinner the other night and I shared my plates napkins on instastories and got so many requests for the links to everything! So I'm sharing it all above!

This weekend we don't have much planned other than a fun little date night. It's our last weekend in town before we head to the lake for 10 days (woo!!) so we plan to enjoy being home and possibly tackle a few decorating projects.


Eating: If you are a Costco member, run do not walk and get the sous vide egg bites! I FINALLY found them at my local Costco. The brand is 'cuisine solutions' and they are exactly like the Starbucks ones. I wish they had other flavors because I love the egg white one at Starbucks and this is just turkey sausage and cheddar. 

Drinking: I tried Trader Joe's sparkling watermelon juice (in green cans) and while I didn't love it to drink on its own (too sweet), I think it will be great to pair with tequila and lime sparkling soda for a lower calorie 'watermelon margarita'. 

Reading: A peek into Ralph Lauren's personal interiors- his office, his home, and his ranch are all incredible.

Watching: The Trailer for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood has been released and my heart just swells for this! It highlights this incredible city I love so much and highlights a man that I so look up to. Fred Rogers is one of the most inspiring human beings- I have read a lot about him over the years and I consider him to be one of my heroes. You know the question 'if you could invite any 5 people to dinner-dead or alive- who would make the list?' Fred Rogers always makes my list. It's also going to be so fun to watch this because a lot of the movie was shot right by my apartment. I would be walking Henry and see scenes set up- once a block of Pittsburgh was turned into NYC and it was really cool to see. 

Listening: You guys. This Barstool Sports post of Wiz Khalifa paying tribute to Mac Miller at his show gives me chills. It might seem off-brand to those of you who are not from Pittsburgh, but Mac and Wiz are both from Pittsburgh and me and all of my friends grew up with their music and watched and rooted for them as they rose to fame. This clip gives me CHILLS! I don't know if I've shared this before (I think I have) but the song that gets me super pumped up is Smile Back by Mac Miller. I listen to it before anything big and important like public speaking and it oddly gives me confidence and energy. If I was a baseball player, this might just be my walkout song.

Wanting: We are in that awkward period of changing seasons in the retail world. Right now, all of the summer items are starting to be put on major sale and pre-fall items are starting to hit the shelves. I am not a huge fan of summer clothing, but it's just too darn hot to start shopping for fall just yet! I do LOVE these shoes- like I think I need them as my 'splurge' fall shoe. I also love the look of this handbag- looks so much more expensive! I love this navy top that is a beautiful shape as well as a perfect neutral. 

Pittsburgh-ing: Good Morning America is in Pittsburgh this morning! What a fun thing for the city of Pittsburgh!

Traveling: So excited to be headed to the lake next weekend! It's my happy place and all of my people are in one place. It's a lazy week with delicious food, lots of dock/boat/lake time, refreshing cocktails, movies, and games. I fully plan on unplugging and enjoying! 

Quoting: 'We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.' - Max Depree // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Pittsburgh Wedding Venues We Looked At





The Twentieth Century Club
Today I wanted to talk about what hasn't gone smoothly in our wedding planning process. I think there are so many wedding articles out there that are all positive and not a lot of articles that discuss the issues you might run into when planning an event or wedding! 

We got engaged on December 28th. I had always wanted a December wedding so, in my mind, I thought, perfect, a full 12 months to plan a December 2019 wedding!

Pittsburgh is on the smaller size in terms of US cities, and I thought I would be pretty safe planning our wedding from a year out. I know in bigger markets, it's much more competitive. 

So we waited a week after we got engaged to choose a date. We are getting married in a Catholic church (that I grew up going to and where I got all of my sacraments) and that was an absolute must for me. There was nothing in December that was available for the church. Nothing. I did not want a Friday wedding, but at that point, I was willing to be flexible but not even a Friday was available.

We are getting married at The Duquesne Club and I have always pictured getting married there. It's a private club located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful places in all of Pittsburgh. I never even gave thought for a different venue. There were no December dates available for our venue. Cue my panicking. 

A lot of event planning, in general, is out of your hands, but at the same time, there is a lot you can control. 

I honestly didn't know what to do because I just assumed we would get married at my church, get married at The Duquesne Club, all in December. You know what they say about assuming... ha!! 

Since the church was a must, we started trying to find a date for the church. I didn't want to get married in the winter if it wasn't December so we started looking at late spring/early summer 2020. We found a date in early summer with the church, but the venue was not available. 

I sat on the early summer date for a week or two and just couldn't do it... the reason was that the church was available but our church offers two time slots for weddings. A 1pm wedding ceremony and a 3pm wedding ceremony. I know a measly 2 hours does not sound like a big deal but I just really didn't want that gap that a 1pm ceremony creates. So, we decided to basically say to the church 'what do you have available for a 3pm time slot in 2020'. And we finally settled on a date... for about a week and a half, we also thought that The Duquesne Club was not going to happen with the date we chose for the church.

So, during that time, we looked at other venues. Like I said before, I never ever thought I would get married anywhere else so it was tough for me to be open minded. I knew a lot of venues from my former event planning job, but a lot of them didn't have the vibe I wanted, some were too big, some too small, etc. 

So, I turned to WeddingWire, which was a lifesaver. They list all of the wedding venues in your area. You can sort the list by size, date, vibe of the venue, etc. Not only that but if you click on the venue, you can learn everything you want to know and see real reviews from real people. I think reviews are SO important in the wedding industry and I also think getting tips from other people who have already planned an event in the same venue can be immensely helpful, too. 

We ended up looking at The University Club and The Twentieth Century Club. If you are in Pittsburgh and are looking for a venue for your wedding, I recommend both places, but really loved the Twentieth Century Club the most. We toured both and met with the coordinators at each venue. The terrace at the University Club is incredible and The Twentieth Century Club had the old school, traditional elegance I was looking for. The WeddingWire reviews were so helpful and are what helped us to ultimately choose what we wanted to tour.

We also toured our country club that I have gone to since I was born. While I love our club and it holds so many memories, it just didn't have the old school vibe I was looking for and is also located in the suburbs which is also not something we wanted.

Lo and behold, we ended up being able to secure our date at our #1 venue choice, The Duquesne Club and I literally cried tears of joys. I don't typically cry so you can see how incredibly thankful I was. It's crazy how things work out, right?

The University Club
For anyone who has never gone to look at venues, my biggest tip would be to keep an open mind because when we toured The University Club, it was being set up for a corporate event (as you can see above). So the chairs and things like that have to be overlooked because that is obviously not what you would be using for your wedding! Look more at the bones of the venue and the service and things like that! Another thing to keep in mind, for example, if you weren't planning on renting anything- then it's important to see what the venue offers. Sometimes venues only offer plain white poly linens or chairs that are not the look you would like. Heck, some venues don't even offer tables let alone anything else...you rent everything down to individual forks! So if certain details are important to you, it's important to factor things like that into your decision. When I saw the Twentieth Century Club, I loved that their chairs looked like traditional dining room chairs... I had full intentions of renting chairs (which we are renting from Eventioneers among other things) but had we chosen the Twentieth Century Club, we would have used their beautiful chairs and it would have saved us money!

There are several lessons you can learn from this story. The first is that it is never too early to start planning! I thought a year was plenty of time in Pittsburgh but it seems as though things are starting to get competitive like in larger cities! The second is that if things aren't working out the way you want them to, you have the power to change that and you have the power to change your attitude. Third, keep an open mind, not everything always works out. We were going to create a beautiful wedding day for ourselves even if we weren't going to be able to get everything we initially wanted! And lastly, at the end of the day, all that truly matters is that you are marrying your best friend and making a lifelong commitment to each other! 

Thank you to WeddingWire for sponsoring this post, all opinions are my own! 

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

The Best Makeup Product for a Natural Glow

The Best Makeup Product for a Natural Glow

I have shared this info on Instagram stories before, but I wanted to write a full blog post about two amazing makeup products that I have been loving lately. 


Let's rewind for a second. I used to swear by this foundation. I don't wear makeup everyday. I prefer to go bare-faced whenever I can because I feel that is what is best for my skin. But, when I would wear makeup, I would apply this foundation. It's still a great product. It offers full coverage in a non-cakey way and really looks flawless. 

Well, a makeup artist was doing my makeup a few months ago and I was telling her what products I use and she said not to use the foundation for every day. She said since I have beautiful skin, I should show it off and use something that doesn't cover it up. Apparently, foundation can also age you, too! There is a time and place for it- like if you are being photographed for something special or a special occasion, but I liked the idea of not covering my skin. I use so many products and work so hard to keep my skin in great shape that I wouldn't mind showing it off!

Charlotte Tilbury
charlotte tilbury unisex glow
Before CT Unisex Glow// After CT Unisex Glow

Products are rubbed in, but not fully blended. 

I decided from then on I would use Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer. I am obsessed. It might be my favorite makeup product ever. Here's what I love about it... 

- When you first squeeze it out of the tube, it's white so it looks and feels just like a moisturizer. Once you start rubbing it in, it changes to a bronzey glow but continues to feel like a moisturizer on your skin.

- Because it's technically a moisturizer, it keeps your skin hydrated all day (seriously) and it is SO easy to apply because you can just rub it all over your face... no brushes or blenders needed.

- It's one color- there are no shades so you can use it year-round. I am naturally pretty pale, so in the dead of winter, I do find that this is a little too much color for me.

- The product name does what it says- it provides me with a bit of coverage and the color is just natural, sunkissed and glowy. It's like my skin but better.

- It stays on all day and is easy to remove at night.

You can see from the photo above. It's not a miracle worker but it hides dark circles, it gets rid of the redness around my nose and mouth and just overall evens out my skin tone.


Tula
No filter- just an iPhone snap in the daylight in my bathroom! 

The second product was just recently released. It's Tula's Face Filter Blurring and Moisturizing Primer.  The CT product and the Tula product are similar but also different. Here's what is different about Tula's product.

- The product squeezes out and is a milky white/pink color. The consistency is much thinner and not like a moisturizer- this is more of a true primer. You can see the difference in the photo above.

- Similar to the CT product, once it is rubbed in, you start seeing color. The color from this is less than that of the CT. I plan on using this during the winter months when I am paler and can't handle as much bronze.

- The color of this is more of a pinkish undertone whereas the CT product is definitely bronze. The colors in the images are showing more similar than they are in real life! No filters were added to these images so you can see the true color!

- This definitely has a more blurring effect where rather than add color like the CT product does, it creates a really smooth pore-free complexion.

- The CT product is a moisturizer and while you could use it as a primer under foundation or whatnot, it's really to be worn on its own. The Tula product is great to wear on its own for a no-makeup look. You will not look like you are wearing makeup, but rather your skin will just look great.

- Since the Tula product is a primer, this can be layered with lots of different makeup to create a full-blown made-up look.

- Use code SYDNEY for 20% off.
Fully Blended In

They really are two different products but if you want to show off your skin and create a natural, youthful, and glowy look with your makeup, I could not recommend these two products more. As I mentioned, I will be using the Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer in the summer and then the Tula Face Filter Blurring and Moisturizing Primer in the winter.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Ferragamo Vara and Varina Review

Ferragamo Vara and Varina Review

Ferragamo Vara and Varina Review

Are they worth it?
I say this every time, but it's hard to say if pricey designer items are 'worth it' because it's so subjective. Me, personally, I find them to be some of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I get tons of wear out of them, both casually and dressy, and they have lasted tons of wear for years now! I would say they are worth it.


How much do they cost?
At full price, the Vara is $595, and the Varina is $575.

Are they well-made? High quality?
They are made from thick, beautiful patent leather, and the hardware on the bow is beautifully substantial and shiny. The construction is impeccable, and if you just hold the shoe, you can tell it's high quality! You can also get them in regular leather, quilted, suede, etc.! They release different styles each year. 

What is the difference between Vara and Varina?
The vara is the one with the block heel. The heel is 1.75" and is covered in the same patent leather as the shoe. The Varina is flat and a classic ballet flat. I think the vara looks a little more ladylike and dressy, and the Varina can be dressed down better. I find that the vara is a little more of a sophisticated shoe and the varina is more youthful- something even an older teenager/college student would wear! 

Which is your favorite?
I personally love the vara (the one with the heel). This is because I have high arches, and the added heel gives my foot so much support. I also love the structured ladylike look of them, and the nude color elongates my legs because of the slight heel! Honestly, though, the Varina is right up there! 

Do you have to break them in?
Yes. I wouldn't walk miles in a brand-new pair. They have never given me a blister or anything like that, but the leather is quite stiff. Once you wear them a few times, the shoe will form to your foot and become so comfortable. 

Do they stretch out? 
Yes, a bit after a lot of wear...the usual amount for a leather product, nothing that noticeable. 

Are they comfortable? 
Yes!! They are crazy comfortable, which is one of the reasons I have so many pairs. I could walk miles in these, and they never hurt my feet. I also love that they look so structured, you'd think they would not be comfortable, but they are- a deceiving design! 

Do they ever go on sale?
Yes! Different colors that are seasonal go on sale and different styles. For example, sometimes they add metallics, quilting, etc., to change up the look. Here is a pair on Shopbop that's over $150 off! The classic styles in the classic colors rarely go on sale, but they do every once in a while. Shopbop has a few sales per year where they are usually included within the sale and are 25% off, which is a big saving! 

Where can you purchase them? 
So many retailers carry Ferragamo! Nordstrom, Shopbop, Saks, Neimans, etc. I've linked to them at the top of this post! 

Can you buy them second-hand?
You can find them on eBay and consignment websites like The Real Real. The only annoying thing about finding vara and varinas on websites like this is that sometimes they are truly vintage shoes. The truly vintage ones from the '80s/'90s are cut differently than the shoes today. I don't really love how the older pairs are cut, so when shopping second-hand, you just need to be conscious of this and look for the newer pairs! Here is an example of an older pair- can you see how the shoe's shape is slightly different?

How is the sizing?
For a European brand, I find that they run big.  With other brands like Gucci, I usually wear a 39, and in Ferragamo, I wear a 38.5. I wear an 8.5 in most American brands, so I would say it's more in line with American sizing! Either get your usual European size or size down a half size. 

What are the widths?
You can get a regular width, but you can also get wide with, which is usually denoted with a 'C.' I have never tried the wider width, so I don't have much to say about this. I have a 'normal' width foot, and the normal in Ferragamo suits me fine. 

Do they go out of style?
In my opinion, no. They are an iconic style from Ferragamo that they sell year after year. The style has been around for a very long time. I personally think they are timeless and ladylike! 





Which looks best with jeans? 
I think both. I really like Varas with boyfriend jeans... it dresses up a rather casual look! See above for a few outfits that I have worn with them in the past! 

Are these a comparable alternative to Chanel flats?
The varinas are a somewhat similar ballet flat style, but I don't think they are all that comparable. They are two very different shoes because of their construction. They are thicker, structured patent leather, whereas Chanel flats are more flexible and casual. I definitely think my varinas and varas give my outfits a totally different look than my Chanel flats!

Is there a look for less?
Yes! I think these nude bow flats have a very similar vibe for a lot less. These are almost identical to varinas but in my opinion, they look a little cheap! It might be worth ordering, though, to see if they are better in person! 

Friday, July 19, 2019

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Public Access 2019

I wrote a bunch of blog posts on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale already for Early Access, but today is the start of Public Access so it's only fitting I do one for today, too! Here are more posts about the sale that I have already written that will prove most beneficial. The sale officially ends August 4th, but this is the last post you'll see from me on the topic!


Today I thought I would share the pieces that I ordered from the sale and what I am keeping and what is going back! Head over to my instastories around noon to see videos of everything and a try-on. Head back to this post closer to the sale go-live time and I will upload all of the images of me trying on the pieces! 
Cashmere Funnel Neck Sweater// I like this sweater. I have the Vince version in black and wear it constantly. It's very similar- not exactly the same quality (it's a little thinner) but similar enough and for the price, it's a decent value. Unfortunately, I am returning this one because I got the beige heather color which looks like a very pale camel online. In-person, it's a much darker shade- still very pretty but I was hoping for/needing that light shade! I find this to also run big so size down!

Short-Sleeve Cashmere Sweater// I have one of these already in cream from last year and get so much wear out of it. It's still a bit pricey in the sale, but with the amount of wear I get out of it, it's worth it to me. This is just an overall great closet basic. I love layering this under a blazer in the fall. This runs true to size. Keeping this!

Giraffe Throw Blanket// Obsessed with these blankets! They are so expensive for a synthetic throw blanket but they are SO soft, it's crazy. I had to get a second one since we have two living areas!

Lace Dress// I didn't love the colors that this dress came in, but I had seen so many people looking gorgeous in this dress. It's just not for me, so it will be going back, but the quality isn't all that bad for the price!
Leopard Print Scarf// Obsessed with this scarf. It's such a fun neutral piece and an easy way to add a bit of leopard print to any outfit. Oftentimes in the winter, I am always looking for something fun to spruce up an all-black outfit. It's soft and nice for the price- nothing luxurious but still nice!

Tweed Blazer// Wanted to love this but just don't. Normally, I find the Halogen tweed pieces to be of quality and nicely cut, but this just felt cheap to me. I do love the look of it, but it's still going back.
High Waist Leggings// Love, love love. I already love this brand and knew these leggings were great so I had to snag a pair. They are very high waisted so they suck you in and stay in place. They run true to size. Keeping this!

Crewneck Sweatshirt// The price for the quality on this is great and I love the high-low hem. I am a huge fan of crewneck sweatshirts, I feel like I can never have enough. Keeping this!
Nike Top// I got one of these last year and think they are such a good value! They run true to size and I wear mine all of the time with athletic shorts and leggings! Keeping this!

Faux Diamond Stud Earrings// I had heard so many rave reviews about these faux diamond stud earrings, so I decided to snag a pair. They are really beautiful. I have real diamond studs and love them and wear them basically all of the time. However, I love having a few pairs of faux studs to wear while at the beach/lake/pool, while traveling, working out, etc. Keeping this!

Contour Bralette// I snagged this last minute because I loved the shape of the neckline. It's hard to find a bra with such a plunge. I actually 'needed' something like this so this purchase cam more out of necessity. It's a nice price for what it is. Keeping this!
Laura Mercier Palette// So I got two palettes with the intentions of returning one of them. I think the palettes are such good prices for what you get and I especially love the range of beautiful colors in this one! The problem is, I love both!!!! I can't decide which to keep!

Nars Palette// This has a trio of highlighter, bronzer, and blush. The shades are gorgeous and I can always count on Nars for a great palette. Which one should I choose?!

Shop The Pieces:

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Lately








Blazer (old, similar)// Jeans// Striped tee // Tote

I am currently in North Myrtle Beach with my fiancé and his family enjoying the sun and sand! I am not a beach girl, but I am loving our time here!

I've still had to do a bit of work so I still have some things to share with all of you today.... we head back this evening and I'm sad to leave but also excited to get back into a routine. I am totally one of those people who thrive on routine!

Wearing: I wanted to style these Jeans to share how easy to wear they are! Dress them up with pumps and down with classic loafers! 

Eating: I know it's summer, but can we talk about egg roll soup?! I honestly love soup year-round and full intend to create this when I am back in my own kitchen. YUM. 

Drinking: We are headed to Georgia in a few weeks and they have the BEST peaches. I am always looking up ways to incorporate them into cocktails and recipes. I love this recipe for a fresh peach gin and tonic! I will definitely be recreating this. 

Reading: I just finished The Last Mrs. Parrish and it was SO good. The book took a turn about halfway through and I couldn't believe it! The most perfect beach read! 

Sale-ing: Tula's Summer State of mind set is SUCH a good value... It's $88, but with SYDNEY you get 20% off, making it just $70. The set comes with cleanser, scrub, gel-cream, 2 Masks and a cosmetic bag. If you bought all of the items separately, it would be $146! My favorite is the masks. They are SO hydrating and I see immediate results- my skin is hydrated and glowy and looks plumper. 

Watching:
 I have been so behind on TV lately! Need to play catch up, stat!! We did watch the entire season 3 of Stranger Things, though, and I loved it. I felt like it was very different than the past two seasons but I loved the strong 80's vibes! 

Loving:  I am loving adding items to my Amazon storefront! It's always there and I update it in real-time with all of the great buys I find on Amazon. 

Wanting:
 Have any of you purchased a pair of Sarah Flint pumps? I love the look of high heels, but the arch in my foot is seriously crazy so it is always so hard to find a high heel that is comfortable. I am thinking of getting a pair of these for fall... check out their website and pay close attention to the footbed of their shoes. They not only look impeccably designed and high quality but the footbed looks SO comfortable. 

Quoting: 'The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.' // See more of my favorites, here. 
 

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