I know a lot of girls are peonies girls but my favorite flower by far are hydrangeas, preferably (of course) white or blue. But as much as I love them, I had the HARDEST time really keeping them alive in my apartment. I know I don't have much of a green thumb but I couldn't even keep these perky for 24 hours.
I started reading around and trying out new things and now want to share some tried and true things that really work!!
1. Give them HOT water -- for some reason they love and respond to hot water over cold.
2. Give them a LOT of water -- they drink water like crazy so give them water from the stem AND the flower. To bring them back from the edge of death just dunk them head first in a bowl of water for an hour or two. For day to day maintenance, I also use a spray bottle for the tops of the flower as well as replacing their water every day.
3. Stem Maintenance -- You really have to take care of the stems since it's like their lifeline to the water. Like with most flowers, take off the leaves and cut the stems at a serious angle. Also be sure to keep up with cutting them every few days so they can continue to drink happy!
And with these three things, you should have very happy and healthy hydrangeas! PS -- my parents new house has HUGE hydrangea bushes all over the front and back yard and I'm obsessed. So thanks Mom for letting me pick these!!
Weekend Plans: My friend Morgan and I are heading out to Montauk this weekend with Aperol for a fun weekend away! If you're out there, we're having an event Saturday that you're all invited to :) Just email me!!
I actually got this dress for National Wear Your Lilly Day and have already worn it about 5 times since. It's just a really beautiful simple silk dress. The style and fit is perfect because it's a shift and lose but also really flattering on the body. I love it because of it's watercolor print!
I'm wearing my normal size M and sometimes with Lilly shift dresses they tend to run a little big but not this one! I don't feel like I'm drowning in it so that is a good thing!
I know after the Nordstrom sale and at the turn of August, we start to get all fall crazy but hopefully we can still celebrate summer and what we have left of it with this dress. I'm heading to the Hamptons this weekend actually and I will probably bring this dress along with me. It's so easy to throw on and go!
Happy sale day! The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is finally open to the general public and almost everything has been restocked!! Sharing a full review of my hits and misses, what you need from the sale and a fun try on video for you guys below!
Eliza J Dress: Can read more about it HERE but this dress might low key be one of my favorite buys from the sale. I've already worn it to work this week and it is just the most beautiful dress. It fits like a GLOVE and hugs in all the right places :)
Ralph Lauren Coat: You know I've been talking about this all week but I'm just over the moon excited this jacket is back in stock. I just got in the black in the same style and I'm just as obsessed as I was when I got the beige in. It's not a jacket you want to pass up!
Wacoal Sports Bra: You guys seriously do not care about this bra but it's my favorite thing I got. Who knew you could fall in love with a sports bra? I just like didn't know I needed it in my life until I had it and now I wonder how I even survived all those years without it.
Grey Tie Blazer:I knew I was excited about this blazer when I ordered it but man oh man do I really love this! It's just so unlike anything else in my closet and it's so simple yet sophisticated. I can't help but smile when I wear it. I'm thinking about getting it in black too?
(should have made the list but I didn't have photos of: my favorite bras -- t-shirt style and contour style!)
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Not Pictured That I Kept:
1. Lush White Tunic Top: It's in THIS video but I finally pulled the trigger on the basic top everyone has been talking about and I get all the hype. It's a great basic top and I can't wait to start wearing it.
2. Ralph Lauren Wool Black Coat: Yes it's the same coat as above but just in black this time! I didn't picture it yet but it is still something I totally swoon over!
3. Theory Cashmere Sweater: I technically did post a picture HERE but wanted to mention it again because I really love this sweater! Cashmere doesn't go on sale often so when it does, I need to take advantage of it. The sweater is also so unique I love it!
4. Nike Sneakers: They are also in the video but these will be my new work out sneakers! My (super) old black and white Nikes have seen better days so it was time for an upgrade. Really excited about them!!
Things I Liked But Didn't Love:
1. This Long Cardigan: I know everyone has been *raving* about this cardigan but I just didn't fall in love with it like everyone else. It's cute but the drop sleeve shoulder I think was my breaking point. Just not worth the hype!
2. This Tory Burch Bag: I wanted it to be brown and I loved the size of it (good for a work purse) but I didn't love love love it or need it so for that price I didn't keep it.
3. These Nike Sneakers: I have and wear my Thea's a lot because they are great shoes but they do need some softening/breaking in before really wearing them around. I'll keep them because they are still really cute but I was hoping for a little something more. Idk
4. These Slide Heels: You know I love my nude slides more than anything but these just weren't as cute as the ones I currently own! I did like them but I just didn't *love* them.
Things I Hated:
1. This T-Shirt Dress: You can see it featured in THIS video but it really just was not cute. There wasn't anything fun about it -- really it just kind of looked like a bag on me. So it was returned ASAP.
2. This Gingham Scarf: Saying no to gingham is not something I say often but this scarf just wasn't cute or worth the price. I love scarfs too but I wouldn't waste your money on this one!
3. These Joggers: Was SO excited for these but they were more PJ pants than joggers and they just didn't fall well on the legs. They were like tight but baggy and they had the most unfortunate crotch situation going on. Hard pass.
Is it just me or have work out items become more expensive? I was (thankfully) waiting for this sale so I could stock up on some new items and boy did I hit the jackpot!!
I've been getting more into fitness lately and I realized I'm going to the gym in my college attire: an oversized t-shirt and nike shorts (which are on sale BTW!). But I guess things have changed -- everyone looks SO cute in my classes and I'm over here looking like a bum (a cute bum but still a bum). So I told myself to just hold out a little longer for the sale and then I could stock up on some cute items!
First and foremost the thing I am OBSESSED with is this white sports bra. It's like heavy duty stuff here people! It will keep you in place ALL over and I've actually never had a sports bra be so supportive. I've been doing BBG and there is a lot of moving and jumping in there and I was kind of all over the place with my last bras. But with this one, I really feel like I'm going to crush it (but also I have no excuse to stop jumping now hahah).
Next I snagged some new Zella leggings (which are torture to wear right now if I step outside) -- I already have a few pairs that I absolutely adore. They are high waisted and really suck you in, are so long so they can be great for a ton of different girls and they ARE NOT see through! I've done the test and I've had others watch me do the test to make sure. Finding non see through black leggings for work out or yoga is a MUST.
Zella, aside from having nicely made items, has the CUTEST stuff! They are like so hip and trendy it's exactly what my closet needs. I think the cuter I feel working out, the better I will be at working out. I know it's just a mind game but still, it really works!!
As for sneakers, playing softball in Central Park has absolutely killed my nice new sneakers (all the dirt and dust from the field). So I was in need of a cute new casual and workout pair and there was no better time to wait to buy than the Nordstrom sale! I got THESE black Nike Thea's (above) which I love but aren't going to be for working out. They'll be for traveling or for casual days when I want to wear sneakers.
What I did just get in yesterday are THESE black and white Nike's that will be perfect for the gym and working out. They are so comfortable and really easy to wear. They are not so structured like the others above so my feet will really gel with these and feel comfortable. I almost picked up THIS pair of running sneakers but I have a pair of running shoes that I just don't wear so I skipped out.
Thought I could share some tried and true items that have been in my closet for over a year now that are included in the sale. This way you know that they are really worth the hype and you can snag them for yourself!
SHOP MY POST HERE:
1. Ralph Lauren Wool Coat: $139 - You guys already know how much I love this coat. I bought it last year in the sale and wore it ALL the time this past fall and winter. It is the most sophisticated and classic wool coat out there and it actually pairs so nicely with everything. You can see it featured on the blog HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE.
I know there have been a lot of items in the sale that people are pushing but I honestly think that if you were to only buy one thing from the sale, it should be this coat. It's marked down from $220 and also comes in black and grey if you find beige isn't your fancy. I decided over the weekend that I needed a nice black wool coat to wear in the winter when I'm more formal than casual so I pulled the trigger on it.
As for sizing, it runs TTS and I'm wearing my normal size 6. As for quality, it has stands the test of time and looks brand new even after a year. You can't go wrong with this purchase!
2. AG Raw Hem Jeans: $149 - Any time you see me on the blog wearing jeans, they are AG. I think I got my first pair three years ago based off a recommendation and haven't looked back. It started with a white pair and now it's grown to about 10 pairs of different washes and styles. What I love most about AG jeans is the fit. I'm a curvy woman and I need something that is tight in the legs but gives me and my hips room to breathe.
I always tell my friends AG jeans are like the sisterhood of the traveling pants. They fit everyone perfectly and you can't seem to take them off! Outside of their fit, they never stretch out. It's not like they'll get baggy around the knees or keep falling down around your waist. They stay true as the day you got them.
And out of all the pairs I have, my raw hem jeans get the most wear. It's probably because I can wear them to work without having to worry about it (can't have holes in your jeans at work) but also because it's my way of being trendy without being overly trendy. Does that make sense?
For sizing, they run TTS and I'm wearing my normal size 29! See them styled HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
3. J. Crew Regent Blazer: $147 - If you've been around the blog for a while you know my hands down go to blazer is the Regent blazer from J. Crew. There was a time in my life where I just couldn't for the life of me find a blazer that either fit or looked good on me. And I had tried a LOT of other J. Crew styles. I knew I wanted them for work (it's so easy to throw one onto any outfit) but I also knew it had to be what I was looking for. And in stepped the Regent Blazer.
I think what I love most about this style of blazer is that it's not too bulky. It's actually rather slimming and is structured so nicely for any body type. The collar is also a no mess collar so you really don't have to worry about it-- it lays nicely with anything underneath. I have this jacket so far in beige, red and a plaid print but I just put this navy one into my cart.
They are on the more expensive side for jackets but I think the quality is worth the purchase price BUT if you can snag it while it's on sale, you have to do it. As part of the Nordstrom sale, the black AND navy are included so try and get some while you can!
For sizing, it runs TTS and I'm wearing my normal size 6. You can see it styled HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE.
4. Tahari Wrap Wool Coat: $158 - As for the items on this list, this one is actually my most recent purchase. I've always loved (and wanted) a wrap coat since the first season of Scandal but I could just never find one that didn't look like a big blanket wrapped around me. I needed one that was nicely structured and perfectly put together so it looked as classy as Olivia Pope.
I snagged this coat in the middle of winter last year and really happy I did! It's the most beautiful blue color (that brings out my eyes) but besides that, the material and jacket are so nicely made. It's heavy and stitched perfectly and really looks more expensive than it is. The hood was able to be styled a slew of different ways with each one of them looking just as cute as the last. It's a more unconventional coat and out of this list it would be the one I least recommend but if you're in the market for a wrap coat, this is your big buy!
5. Natori Bras: Contour Bra $46 // T-shirt Bra $47 - If you remember by very popular bra post, then you'll remember these bras. They are my holy grail of holy grail and are a MUST have for any girl with a chest -- small or large! I personally wrote the post for larger chested girls like myself who have trouble finding anything that stands up to the test but I got a ton of emails and comments saying that girls without DD's love them too.
