Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

We are less than one week away from the start of Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale!!! Get ready for deep savings on some of your favorite brands. I know I’m late for the party, but I have been obsessed with Nordstrom for a few years now. It was not my usual go-to at the mall, but now I will specifically choose the mall based on if they have a Nordstrom. The brands I find there are amazing and sales like these make it affordable. I’m not the one to break the bank on a pair of shoes (girls got bills to pay) but I do like to shop for great clothes at a fraction of the cost.

So you lucky Nordstrom card holders, you get the luxury of peeping out the deals and shopping first. July 12th – July 19th, you get to shop in-store or online. For the rest of us, we get to shop July 20th – August 5th. If you would like to apply for a card, you can do it here.

This sale, I’m a girl on a mission. Number one on the list is a good pair of shoes. I’m preparing for the fall, so a good pair of booties are a must. Now, it doesn’t get cold in Houston until about December but a cute bootie must not be passed up. Here are a couple I’m eyeing. A white bootie was so hot last year and it looks like the trend is coming back this fall!! And a leopard bootie? I mean, how could you not?

Next on the list… a good pair of pajamas. I know, yawn! but if you could see me now. I’m still sporting my maternity PJs like heyyyyyy! Now that I am done breastfeeding, I think I can do away with those easy-access breast flaps with the clasps. Here are a couple of sweet ones. And you know my MIL lives with me so there will be no lingerie to sleep.

And just because, as I told you before, it’s Summer weather in Houston about 10 months out of the year, I figured stocking up on some cute dresses would be ideal. Both of these would be perfect for a beach stroll in late August.

And finally, there will be some free workshops around the country if you’re a Rewards member. If you’re not a Rewards member, head over to Nordstom’s website to join, it’s free! I’ve narrowed down the Texas workshops below for my Lone Star peeps. There will be three different workshops. Click on the link and it will take you to the RSVP page. The workshops are already filling up, so RSVP today. Happy shopping!

WORKSHOP NAME

Now & Later

Dallas Galleria

5220 Alpha Road | Dallas, TX

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

The Domain

3111 Palm Way | Austin, TX

Thursday, July 26, 6:00 P.M.

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Houston

5192 Hildalgo Street | Houston, TX

Workshop Full

Stonebriar

2613 Preston Road | Frisco, TX

Thursday, July 26, 6:00 P.M.

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Skin Care Clinic

Dallas Galleria

5220 Alpha Road | Dallas, TX

Workshop Full

The Domain

3111 Palm Way | Austin, TX

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Houston

5192 Hildalgo Street | Houston, TX

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Stonebriar

2613 Preston Road | Frisco, TX

Sunday, July 22, 1:00 P.M.

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Woodlands

1201 Lake Woodlands Drive | The Woodlands, TX

Sunday, July 22, 1:00 P.M.

Sunday, July 29, 1:00 P.M.

Color Studio

Dallas Galleria

5220 Alpha Road | Dallas, TX

Workshop Full

The Domain

3111 Palm Way | Austin, TX

Thursday, July 26, 6:00 P.M.

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Houston

5192 Hildalgo Street | Houston, TX

Thursday, July 26, 6:00 P.M.

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Stonebriar

2613 Preston Road | Frisco, TX

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Woodlands

1201 Lake Woodlands Drive | The Woodlands, TX

Thursday, July 26, 6:00 P.M.

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 P.M.

Summer Beauty Survival Kit

It’s here!!  The unofficial start to the summer, or better yet, Memorial Day.  First, let’s take a moment to thank all of the brave men and women who serve or have served to protect our freedom.  THANK YOU!!!

Now, as we kick start the beginning of pool days and sun rays, let’s talk about some essentials that will make surviving this summer a breeze.  For one, the proper outdoor protection is crucial.  So stocking up on some sunscreen is a must every year for me.  Don’t forget that sunscreen does expire, so you want to make sure your SPF is still kicking.  I usually have one for my face and one for the rest.  I like Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100.  Now, I’ve heard it doesn’t make any difference once your SPF reaches 50 or 75, but I’m going to take any extra precaution and do it 100!  Even at my ripe, young age (insert laughing emoji here) I’ve started to notice some fine lines around my eyes, so I don’t play with my face.

They even have a sunscreen stick for babies that is easy to apply and gentle on their face.  The Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen Stick comes in SPF 60 to protect those chubby cheeks. Now that we have your skin covered, let’s not forget about your hair.  If you’ve ever had your hair treated, you will need to protect your investment.  Getting your hair professionally colored is not cheap.  So why take a chance with sun damage when you can take some extra precaution to keep your tresses looking lovely.  There are a few products I recommend and if you cannot buy them all, at least start with the Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil.  UVA/UVB filters help protect your hair from dryness and it smells AHHHHHmazing!  This baby is part of a 3-part sun care system. The Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser helps remove minerals that are found in pools (thanks chlorine) and may cause discoloration. It also removes salt and product build up, in case you’re hitting the beach this summer. Then you finish off your sun-protection trifecta with the Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque.

 

 

 

Third on our sun-protection crusade is SPF for nails.  Exposure to the sun may cause your fingernails to turn yellow.  So to protect them by applying your favorite nail color.  There is also this polish that claims to protect your nails from yellowing especially if you tan indoors.  I’ve never tried it, but its called Essie Sun-E and I found it on Ebay.  Or you can go my route with some cute polish and generous amounts of sunscreen on my hands.  Also, don’t neglect the back of your hands.  This skin is thin and gets daily exposure to the sun while driving, walking outside, even next to your work window.  So make sure you are slathering on the screen daily.  You can try to ward off the wrinkles on your face all day long, but your hands will tell your age.  Remember that!

One of the hottest items this season will also be a wide-brim hat.  There are plenty of straw hats that are not only cute, but can serve as extra protection against the sun’s harmful rays.  This sweet hat is only $35 at Nordstrom!

I live in Houston and Summer is the longest season for us.  It usually starts around April and can stretch into November.  Yes!  It’s hot here.  Always.  So I usually try to keep my every day makeup simple.  But one must have is my tinted BB cream.  I use the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-in-1 Skin Protector with SPF 30.  This gives me a bit of coverage while keeping my skin protected.  Now, the sunscreen in this formula does give me a bit of a shine so I have to dust some translucent powder to keep me looking matte.

And last on our Summer beauty survival kit is the good ol’ lip balm.  Unless you want dry, flaky lips (not here!) I suggest getting some lip balm with SPF and apply generously and often.  I personally am a Burt’s Bees kind of gal, but their SPF lip balm can only be found online.  So when I am in need I head over to Wal-Mart and pick up the Chapstick Skin Protectant With SPF 15 & Moisturizer.  It doesn’t have a color but it leaves my lips protected.  I like to wear it under some lip gloss to add some shine.

And there you have it folks.  My Summer survival kit.  Obviously, the most important beauty tip is to keep yourself protected from the the sun.  Keep yourself hydrated, drink plenty of water and don’t get shy with that sunscreen!  Stay safe this summer and have fun!!

My Precious Little Girl

Here I am, on the eve of my little girl’s 4th birthday and a rush of emotions has taken over me.  She’s fast asleep and I’m scrambling to get her backpack in order for preschool tomorrow.  Of course, I forget to wash her bedding so I’m up waiting on the washer so I can put them to dry.  I also have to find some way to haul 15 birthday cupcakes to her class tomorrow.

I’m so excited for her– her special day!  She doesn’t know what awaits.  Singing at school, a special video call from grandma and grandpa and, after school, pedis!!  She is going to freak. She has always been infatuated with my makeup and, as she calls them, my color nails.  She’s never had her fingernails or toenails painted.  I was so against it!  Somehow I felt that if I exposed her to makeup and nail polish, she would want to grow up too fast.  I just didn’t want that for her.  I wanted her to care less about beauty products and care more about having fun and being a kid.  Running around, learning new things, going outside and getting sweaty.

Fall 2017

I’ve thought long and hard –when is the right time? And you know, I don’t have that answer.  But I also know that the more you refuse, the more they push back.  It can’t be no, no, no all the time.  So instead I decided to use this time to treat her (just the toes, no fingernails).  And with all the attention her little sister requires, this will be a nice time with just us two.

Spring 2016

Spring 2015