Friday, May 28, 2021

Memorial Day Weekend Sales


This is the weekend sale roundup of all weekend sale roundups. I spent hours upon hours going through all of my favorite sites for the best of the best sales. You'll see 'the SparkNotes below where I link specific items that I think are most worthy of mentioning. I was extremely discerning in the 'SparkNotes' list. Then, at the bottom, you'll see all of my favorite brands and their sale details. 

A lot is going on in this post and a lot of writing and a lack of photos, but I wanted to be as precise as I could because these sales are so good. 

The Sparknotes of the sales:
- I ordered this linen tank, these cropped pants, and this dress. I tried them on in store and loved all three pieces. They didn't have the sizes I needed, so I ended up ordering online. Size down, it seems like all of their stuff is running roomier than usual this season... I rarely ever wear XS in tops but had to in everything I tried on. Everything is SO much prettier and nicer in person than online. I'd never look at any of this online and order it... Like for example, the dress's print online looks cheap to me and it's acutally beautiful in person! The textures and everything are just great in person!

- I bought these slippers after feeling them in the store. Softest slippers EVER. Like beyond cozy. They're an extra 40% off making them $18!!! 

- I use these rattan placemats all summer long- they are my very favorite and right now, 20% off! 

This solitaire diamond necklace is on sale for under $500 and looks just like the one I wear every single day. 

- As of publishing this post, there is one Barbour jacket in this style left on major sale. I have it and it is easily one of my most favorite jackets that I own. 

- I got this navy tank and love it. Such a classic with a pretty neckline and wonderfully soft fabric. On sale it's only $12!! 

- Love this swimsuit SO much and just ordered these linen pants, all 25% off! 

- Tons of beautiful and classic cashmere on sale! This is the time I purchase my cashmere- always trying to get a good sale!


- I am not a huge fan of shorts but I LOVE these and they are 25% off! 

- This dress is in my Lilly cart and qualifies for the GWP! 

- My very favorite vitamin C serum is 20% off with code SALEAWAY. Here's a full review post, here

- 20% off Westman Atelier products, discount applied at checkout. See my WA review, here. 

- Love this tablecloth on sale right now- wish it was the right size for my table! 

- This jewelry box is on the way to me. I really liked the glass top on it. 

- The most classic sweater ever, 40% off. 

- My coffee table is 20% off! You can read my full review post, here. We also just got this light fixture for above our dining table and I LOVE it and it is included in the sale! 

- Even on sale, this sailboat skirt is pricey, but oh my goodness is it gorgeous! 

- I am thinking of ordering this dress for our minimoon. It's stunning. 

- This striped dress is going to be one of my most worn pieces of the season. It's currently an extra 40% off. Size down one size. 

Ann Taylor//40% off full-price items.
Anthropologie// Extra 40% off sale items, 20% off ready-to-ship furniture and decor, 30% off summer entertaining essentials. 
Athleta// Up to 50% off. 
Barrington// 15% off with code MEMORIAL. 
Bloomingdales// 60-70% off, extra 50% off clearance. 
Brooks Brothers// Up to 70% off. 
Club Monaco// 25% off everything with code LONGWEEKEND. 
Dermstore// Up to 20% with code SALEAWAY.
Gap//50% off tanks, tees, and dresses. 40% off everything else with code SUNSHINE. Extra 10% off with code ADDON. 
Jack Rogers// 30% off with code SUMMER
J.Crew// Extra 40% off sale, 25% off full-price using code WEEKEND. 
J. McLaughlin//Up to 40% off.
Lacoste// 40% off everything. Use code FORTYOFF.

Lilly Pulitzer// If you spend $100+, you get this adorable tumbler! I can't wait to use mine out by the pool!
Lisi Lerch// 30% off jewelry and select bags, $5 shipping. Discount automatically applied at checkout. 
LOFT// 50% off tees, tanks, shorts, and 40% off everything else. 
Mark and Graham// Up to 50% off Warehouse Sale
Moda Operandi// Designer sale up to 50% off.
Nordstrom// Half-yearly sale is live!!! 
Saks Fifth Avenue// Designer sale up to 50% off.
Serena and Lily// 20% off everything, use code DIVEIN. 
Talbots// 30% off everything. 
Tory Burch// Lots of things on sale! 
Tuckernuck// Almost 300 items on sale. 
Vineyard Vines// Up to 50% off. 
Williams-Sonoma// Up to 75% off clearance!

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Lately

We are almost to the long weekend! I'm hoping to spend some time outside and just all around taking it easy. We will be spending time with friends and family, sleeping in, going on long walks with Henry, and enjoying some good food and cocktails.

We also got a new refrigerator in the Memorial Day weekend sales at Home Depot. My parents actually spotted it when they were in the store and told us about it. I am way too excited about it but it is now in our basement and will be our 'Costco/drink fridge'! We had to move a few things around to get it all set up, but it's all good now! I bought the appliances for our home over President's day when we were about to move in. It's so helpful to buy when they go on sale. Each time I have saved hundreds of dollars! 

We are starting to wedding plan again as we are full steam ahead and just a couple months away. FINALLY!!!! So after 15 months of doing absolutely nothing wedding-related I'm trying to get back into the swing of it all. I feel a bit fish out of the water but my goodness, get us to the darn altar!!!!! I can't wait and yet I can't believe we have waited this long!

We have had a busy few weeks and it seems as though it's only getting busier from here. My parents got a new pup, Mother's Day weekend, my grammie's 95th birthday celebration, my sister's backyard wedding, next weekend is my fiancé's birthday, Father's Day weekend, we have a beach wedding, 4th of July weekend, we have another wedding, going to the lake, our wedding, our minimoon...holy cow I am just going to end there because wow. 

Wearing: So excited about this dress! It's so lightweight and I love the way it is cut. I will be wearing this a ton all summer long! 

Eating: This past weekend at my sister's wedding, we had the most delicious salad ever. The chef from The Vandal told us the tip is to add a splash of water to any vinaigrette and that helps the vinaigrette to coat every leaf of lettuce evenly. Not that I doubted him, but I tried it this week and it worked SO well. I will forever do this! I made this vinaigrette (I added garlic to mine, which I basically always add garlc to everything) which was a new recipe for me, and WOW. I highly recommend it- it was so easy and tasted so light and fresh. 

Drinking: We just cut up our first watermelon of the season and it has me so excited for fresh watermelon martinis!! We also got cherries and those two fruits just make me feel like it is officially summertime! Yum! 

Reading: A good Chik Fil A tip!! 

Sale: A full sale guide will launch Friday! I am excited about it because I have a ton of good finds for you all! 

Watching:
 I am currently watching Handmaid's Tale and Cruel Summer and am fully caught up on both. They are both SO good and sooo good right now. Is anyone else watching and all caught up?! I cannot wait for the next episodes!! 

Loving: In case you missed it, my sister got married this past weekend! Thank you all SO much for your kind and sweet words and well wishes for the newly married couple! I love my sister with all my heart and to see you all leave such lovely messages warmed my heart. My sister and the rest of the family read all of them and are also so thankful! Also, I truly cracked up at the DM's and comments about my fiancé and Callie's husband being brothers! There is no relation, but they definitely look alike. I think they look more alike in photos than in person, though! 
Wanting: How cute are these champagne birthday candles? LOVE. You can find my Amazon storefront, here

Pittsburgh: Animal Friends is a local Pittsburgh animal shelter and they have an Amazon wishlist. Please consider donating. I just sent over some Nylabones and it only took a few seconds and a few dollars to do. I know how much Henry loves to chew so I hope these pups are able to enjoy just as much as Henry does! 

Traveling: If you follow me on Instagram, then you know how badly I wanted to be able to go on our minimoon to the Cloister in Sea Island in Georgia. It has been fully booked. Well, we booked for later this year just for two nights and I am so excited!!! 

Quoting: 'You cannot share your life with a dog or a cat and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings.' - Jane Goodall // See more of my favorites, here.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

The Perfect Summer Shirt





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I shared this outfit to Instagram on Saturday afternoon and declared this striped tunic top one of my favorite items of the year. It is truly the BEST top. I cannot sing its praises more. So here's what I love about it... 

- The fabric is so lightweight so it is perfect for the summer months. It almost feels 'cool' against my skin. 

- The fabric doesn't wrinkle easily so it looks polished and crisp while you wear it. 

- The collar stands up and STAYS up. 

- It can be tucked in as a top, but because it is a tunic length, it can be worn as a swimsuit coverup! 

- This is a classic piece of clothing but the lucite buttons make it feel a little more modern and updated.

The tunic top runs big. I'm wearing a size small, which is my usual size. It's very oversized but not in a frumpy way. I would say take your usual size if you're OK with something oversized, but size down if you prefer a little more fitted. I think this is one of those pieces you can buy in multiple sizes for very different looks.  

And I also wanted to touch on these Linen Pants. I've had them for a few years now, they are currently on sale, but they're so good, I'd be willing to pay full price for them. They are comfortable and flattering and you cannot see the pockets through the material at all. They run true to size! 

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Red, White, and Blue

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We are almost to Memorial Day weekend and not too far from the 4th of July (crazy to be halfway through the year almost), so I thought I would share some red, white, and blue favorites! There are SO many good things out right now. 

I love a good red, white, and blue palette! In case you are in need of some inspiration, I did a cute 4th of July tablescape last year that I still love! 

Do you all have any fun plans for the holiday weekend? I am going to try and not work on Friday- we will see how that turns out, ha!! We will likely be spending most of our weekend at our club as the pool opens! It's been so hot here but sadly, it will be getting cooler this weekend so I can't say that I'll actually be getting in the pool. The forecast says it is only supposed to be 58 degrees on Saturday, what on earth... I do love a summer sweater though. 

Monday, May 24, 2021

My Sister Is Married!!!!


















I am kicking off this week with some very exciting news. This past weekend my sister got married!!!!!!! I am beyond happy for Callie and Timmy. It was the most perfect evening! 

Their original wedding was planned for May 22, 2021, at Phipps Conservatory here in Pittsburgh, but about 6 months ago, they decided that they wanted to postpone their big wedding and honeymoon to a year later. There was still too much up in the air in terms of the pandemic and they were not able to enjoy anything leading up to their wedding (like a bridal shower or bachelor/bachelorette parties). They were also inviting 250ish guests so with restrictions still in place, they would not have been able to have their dream wedding. 

So instead, they had the most beautiful intimate backyard wedding to officially tie the knot and then next year they will do a vow renewal and big reception with all of our family and friends at Phipps! Callie says, 'So nice I get to marry him twice!'

Callie and Timmy met in high school, true high school sweethearts! They went to school dances together and only started dating at the very end of their senior year when they went to prom together. They stayed together throughout college (where they went to different colleges) and even after they graduated, Callie was in Pittsburgh and Timmy was in North Carolina until finally, Callie made the move to North Carolina. 

The evening was truly so special. We lucked out with the most beautiful weather the entire day. Our parents all planned something so memorable. It reminded me of a tiny scale Father of the Bride situation- only 10ish people in the backyard/driveway.

I took all of the photos and it was so fun to play photographer for the night. I am so used to editing photos of myself and setting up the shot for just one person so this was a bit out of my wheelhouse but I think they turned out nicely and will be a keepsake for our families for a lifetime. I definitely plan on framing some!

Once Callie and Timmy said their vows and exchanged rings, we all toasted with bubbly and enjoyed all sorts of hors-d'oeuvres. Timmy's sister made a signature drink, a Paloma which was also wonderful! 

Callie wore a dress by Fame and Partners. This is not the dress she will be wearing next year, but she still wanted to find something bridal and elegant. She ordered so many dresses and finally landed on this one. It looked absolutely stunning on her. She wore our Grammie's opal ring, which is incredible and looked so beautiful on Callie. She did her own makeup and had her hair blown out at DryBar. 

My dress is Catherine Deane. I got it back in January from The Outnet. I love it and was so glad to have an occasion to wear it! I wore these Lilly wedges

Timmy wore a tux from Suit Supply. He looked so handsome. My fiancé loved Timmy's tux so much he is now thinking of ordering from their site! Timmy also wore my dad's cufflinks which I thought was so sweet. 

The food was catered by The Vandal and it was absolutely incredible. We had chicken, pork tenderloin, broccolini, a vinaigrette salad, potatoes, and finished off with the most delicious chocolate cake from Butterwood Bake Consortium. The flowers were from Mt. Lebanon Floral

My sister is 4 years younger than me and I always think of her as 'little'. It's sometimes hard for me to fathom that she is not so little anymore. She has found the love of her life and they have a home and a dog together. I am absolutely thrilled for her- all you want in life is for your loved ones, especially your siblings, to be happy. It was a dream come true to witness them make a lifelong commitment to each other and see how happy they are. I am so excited to watch them go through life together. I have never had a brother so I am delighted that I officially have one and so thankful that my fiancé and Callie's husband are friends!  Timmy has a wonderful family and we are so excited to finally have them as a part of our family, too! 

We missed our extended family and loved ones greatly, but we cannot wait for next year to do it all over again!! We have so many things to celebrate and be grateful for. I am thankful that I still have time to prepare my maid of honor speech, ha!!! Here's to Timmy and Callie and a lifetime of love, health, and happiness!!! 

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Saturday Shopping

Friday, May 21, 2021

Grammie's 95th Birthday Party








Henry eyeing the veggies. He LOVES carrots. 

Grammie loves to take photos with her iPad so I caught her in action! 

This past Monday 5/17 was my Grammie's 95th birthday. We celebrated with a birthday dinner for her on Monday night, but this past weekend, my parents hosted a lovely evening for her at their house. It is such a monumental birthday and we all had such fun and were so incredibly glad we were able to celebrate my grammie this year!! She is the best. 

My mom is the hosting queen. She always sets a gorgeous table and often hosts last-minute, more casual things like homemade pizza and wine night in their backyard... in fact, we are headed over there tonight for pizza and it is a beautiful evening to enjoy their patio! 

This time, my mom was serving a full dinner so we just did some light, pretty snacks on the patio. We majorly lucked out with the weather as it was gorgeously sunny and even stayed somewhat 'warm' as it got darker. 
I ordered a few things from Walmart for my mom so she could set them out for guests. They have so many perfect summer entertaining things and if you didn't know, they have a huge home section!  I got this melamine tray and it was the perfect thing for veggies. I loved the pretty blue and white pattern. I think it would also be great for chips and dip. I also found this beautiful wood board for charcuterie. It looks pretty online, but it's even better in person!!  I ordered a few of these pillows to put around on the patio and we had a few of these solar lanterns on hand which gave off the prettiest glow once the sun set. 

My favorite part of the charcuterie board was the pepperoni rose. My sister told us about it and it's so easy to make! This YouTube video will show you how to do it! 

My aunt read a poem by Helen Rice that my Grammie picked out that says...

'Friendship is a priceless gift
That can't be bought or sold,
But its value is far greater
Than a mountain made of gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless,
It cannot see nor hear,
And in your times of trouble,
It is powerless to cheer.

It has no ears to listen,
No heart to understand.
It cannot bring you comfort
Or reach out a helping hand.

So when you ask God for a gift,
Be thankful that he sends,
Not diamonds, pearls, or riches,
But the love of a real, true friend.'

It was truly so sweet and I am so thankful for wonderful friends that are in my grammie's life that enrich her life. I know I am so lucky to have my grammie in my life and I know so many others that value her as a wonderful, true friend. Truly, to know her is to love her!!! 
Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own. Check out some more summer entertaining items I love above!

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Lately

I hope you are all enjoying your week! It has been the most gorgeous week weather-wise and I have been soaking it up. I think we are *finally* getting a little taste of summer!! Buddy came over this week to hang out with Henry and I finally got a great photo of the two of them together! They are warming up to each other more and more as each day passes! 

It's been insanely busy over here and I am grateful for it! I have a lot of fun projects I am working on, trying to get our house together/decorate a little more, our wedding is just months away (FINALLY!!!!!), and we have a lot of other social events and things going on. 
Dress// Cashmere Wrap (similar, less pricey)

This past weekend we had a birthday party for my grammie as she just turned 95 on Monday!! I'll share more about the party tomorrow. We went out to dinner to celebrate her actual birthday, too, which was so much fun. She is my only living grandparent and she is just the best. I am so grateful for her. I also hope I have her genes. At 95 she still lives in her own home, drives on her own, still hosts beautiful and delicious meals and more. I do know she uses Olay for her skincare, so hoping that works as well for me as it has for her, ha! 

I actually have so much to share- some home updates with photos and all of that, but I am still waiting on a few things and some really cute dresses and fun things so keep an eye out! 

Wearing: Loved wearing this sweet and simple eyelet dress on Monday. 
Eating: My fiancé made BBQ chicken for dinner the other night using Trader Joe's Carolina gold sauce and it was delicious. I think their gold sauce is my favorite jarred BBQ sauce ever!

Drinking: Vinho Verde is my favorite summertime white wine- I only discovered it last summer and I just put the first bottle of the season in the fridge! 

Reading: This is very specific, but we were hanging the new light fixture this week, and this guide on how high to hang it was really helpful. 

Watching: I think I am going to watch the show 'Cruel Summer' next! I have heard so many people raving about it. It's on Freeform and set in the 1990s! 

Listening: I've been listening to the 'Cocktail Jazz' playlist on Spotify. They have tweaked it a bit (it seems) and it's even better than ever. Perfect for when we are cooking dinner and finally being able to eat outside! 

Loving: I love love love grilled vegetables. They are one of my all-time favorite foods and so we basically eat them with every meal during the summer. This grill basket is amazing and what we use to grill our veggies! 
Wanting: Not a ton so far this week... I've been keeping my eyes out for pretty dresses and striking out still! 

Pittsburgh: I have not been to Oak Hill Post in Brookline yet but I drool every time I see their photos. Everything looks SO GOOD but especially the burger. Ok and look at this steak frites sandwich... WOW! We are going to go ASAP! 

Quoting: 'Many of us feel stress and get overwhelmed not because we're taking on too much, but because we're taking on too little of what really strengthens us.' - Marcus Buckingham // See more of my favorites, here.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Getting Rid of Dog Hair In Your Home

Getting Rid of Dog Hair In Your Home
Getting Rid of Dog Hair In Your Home
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We are heading into summertime soon and one of the ways I am well aware of this fact is that Henry is shedding like CRAZY! As a breed, Australian Cattle dogs are known to shed a ton, but it's truly remarkable when the cold weather starts to change to warmer. 

It's just an aspect we live with. We love Henry and since I grew up with an Australian Cattle dog, I knew what to expect. Our home will never be perfectly spotless because of his shedding, although I do really try to keep it spotless!

I thought I would share some ways I maintain our home to keep the hair at bay. Although the things I am about to share help a ton, I think my biggest tip would be to clean every day. I know some of you are thinking that is nuts, but I am often asked how I keep the hair off of our white bed and all of that, and the truth is that when Henry has a big shedding season, I maintain every. single. day. 

I feel like I have ordered every de-shedding tool and lint roller on the market and these are some of my favorites. You definitely don't need them all but I do find that some are better than others depending on the surface you are working with. 

I also recommend testing things out in a small patch on fabrics and all of that to see if it will work on your fabrics and floors and even on your pet! Everyone is different so this is what works for me, but may not be best for you, especially if your dog has very different hair than mine! Henry's hair is straight and short. He has a double coat and he doesn't get haircuts or anything like that.  

Microfiber Cloths// These are what I use to dust with. They pick up a ton of dust and hair naturally without using products. I find that they work best on wood furniture and I prefer this over Swiffer dusters. 

Grooming Rake// This is good at getting the top layer of fur off of Henry and keeping his coat neat and shiny. He absolutely loves being raked, ha!! 

Extra Sticky Lint Roller// Sometimes this is the ONLY thing that will work on things like black sweaters. I mostly use it for clothing. 

Furzoff// Ok this thing is AMAZING. I really only use it in my car. I have the rubber weather mats year-round, but there is carpet underneath those and I find it SO HARD to get the hair of the car carpets. This is truly the only item I have ever found to work so well. I also really only use it in my car because it's not really gentle so I'd be worry to use it on upholstery. 

Reusable Lint Brush// I use this daily on our bed. We like percale bedding and sheets and so the hair doesn't really stick to the fabric, it just kind of lays there and this is like a magic wand and picks it right up. I do this daily right after I made the bed! 

Sticky Roller// Sometimes the reusable lint rollers won't pick all of it up so I find sometimes I have to use this as a secondary measure. 

Roller// This is similar to the reusable lint brush I use but I don't like to use it on our bed- I find a wand works better on the bed vs this roller, however, this roller works best on furniture. I use it on our upholstered chairs, our headboard, and so much more. It works well on clothing, but I truly think a sticky roller is the best when it comes to clothing. 

Travel Lint Roller// The perfect size for in my handbag and in the car, it's probably the least effective item out of this entire list, but it's necessary. 

Dyson Stick Vac// This picks up SO much hair, it's insane. Henry's in the shedding period where I am vacuuming at minimum every other day if not daily and this vacuum is just so convenient. 

Deshedding Tool// My thought process is to try and get the hair in the grooming rake and de-shedding tool BEFORE it gets onto our furniture and carpets and all of that. I regularly brush him and have been really trying to stay on top of it! 

Dawn Dish Soap// Just like human hair, dog hair can be oily so if there is a spot your pup typically lays and he sheds a ton, your fabrics can start to turn dingy. I use a TINY (like minuscule) drop of Dawn dish soap on the affected area and run it through the wash regularly and it usually clears right up. 

Magic Eraser// This is what I use for the baseboards. I use the Magic Eraser to pick up the dog hair that accumulates and then follow with a dry microfiber cloth to get anything left behind. The baseboards drive me nuts and are such a pain to do, but well worth it!

Monday, May 17, 2021

Styling a Midi Skirt






Tee// Skirt (look for less, here and here)// Basket Bag

I wore this outfit this past weekend on Saturday! We went out to lunch at Mediterra and then headed to the jeweler. Normally, with a midi skirt, I wear this white linen button-down. It's classic and beautiful and just easy to wear. I typically tie it up to create a defined waist without tucking anything in. However, I wanted to try out a basic tee to dress it down a bit for everyday wear. This is my favorite basic white cotton tee shirt and luckily, it is only $15! 

I actually had a navy cardigan on for earlier in the day when it was a bit chilly! It turned into a gorgeously sunny and warm day so I ditched the cardigan for these photos, but I will try this on for you all on Instagram stories and show it with a cardigan so you can see the versatility! 

This skirt reminds me so much of one of my very favorite prints by Schumacher, Pyne Hollyhock and that is why I was so drawn to it. It's just a lovely, bold, blue and white floral and this is so similar but on a smaller scale. I also loved the scalloped embroidered hem. There is also a top in this print and a dress and mules.  

I will say this is a nice skirt, but not the nicest. I do not understand what it is with clothing brands in the past few years- no one is lining anything and it is driving me nuts!! This skirt is not see-through at all, so from a 'need' standpoint, it doesn't need the lining. However, I think it would make the skirt look beautiful and more upscale had it been lined. I am especially 'harsh' about lining when it is a pricey item like this skirt. 

If you are looking for a similar look but for less, definitely check about this skirt and this skirt. Both are just beautiful! 
More Midi Skirts I Love:
 

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