Sunday, May 31, 2020

Sunday Night Thought


Thursday, May 28, 2020

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

Kate Spade always seems to have the most perfectly timed surprise sales. This week has completely thrown me off – I can’t believe it’s already Thursday! I have been the worst shopper during the season of covid: Can’t sleep? Why not online shop? Hitting a wall? Online shop for a little happy. Feeling stressed? A new dress might cure that… see where I’m going with this? PayPal and online shopping is the best worst thing ever invented; it just makes shopping too convenient sometimes. On the plus side I have loved everything I’ve ordered and the sales have been amazing, and everyone know that Kate Spade has the best sales of them all!
With the summer season just ahead of us it’s the perfect time to stock up on a few cute dresses, accessories, and handbags, and there is no better opportunity than a Kate Spade Surprise. Here are a few of my favorites…

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Sunday Night Thought


Guest Post :: 5 Best Ways To Improve Your Health During Quarantine

With the current living circumstances we are living under it is so easy to get off track. Even though a few businesses have started to open in some places, things feel a bit off… It is strange how fast things can change… I think it’s safe to say most people went from a pretty busy routine to a slower pace in just a mater of days. Coming off of your normal everyday routine definitely had its pros and cons. One con for me personally is that I stopped making healthier choices; i.e. having a regular bedtime, eating habits, and workout routine. Today Peter Minkoff is sharing his top five ways to improve your health during quarantine. 
We’re living in a very challenging world these days, when millions of people all across the globe are either in quarantine or in self-isolation. This happens because of the new virus that has spread literally everywhere within a couple of months. So, if you want to learn how to stay sane and healthy during quarantine, we’re here to help you out. Here are five great ways to improve your health during these difficult times, so check them out and get down to it right away!

Make Sure To Eat As Healthy As Possible

You’ve probably already heard it a million times, but let us say it once again – your eating habits matter more than you could ever imagine. This is particularly true nowadays, when people are closed in their homes due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which is why you should step up your diet and stick to healthy food choices. Yes, we know that chocolate chip cookies and delicious pasta carbonara are much more tempting than broccoli puree and grilled chicken breasts, but you know what? The latter option is way healthier and much more nutritious, so try to pick such meals as often as possible and you’ll do the right thing!

Don’t Forget To Work Out


A well-balanced diet always goes hand in hand with physical activity, and it should be the case during quarantine, too. So, if you want to stay fit and improve your overall health during the lockdown, just come up with a workout routine according to your current needs and abilities. There are many amazing YouTube workout videos you can go for, from cardio workouts to strength training, and we’re sure that you’ll love them all. However, if these aren’t your cup of tea, you can go for yoga or meditation instead and stretch your muscles while unwinding at the same time. It doesn’t really matter what kind of workout you’ll pick as long as you’re staying active!

Opt For Healthy Supplements

Apart from healthy eating habits and establishing a workout routine, supplementation is another crucial factor that plays a huge role in everyone’s health these days. As this new virus is spreading all across the world, a lot of doctors and other medical professionals keep saying that a strong immune system is essential for staying healthy and not getting sick. Well, that’s exactly why you should incorporate different supplements into your day-to-day routine. For example, vitamins C and D3 are a great choice, as well as magnesium, zinc, and selenium. On the other hand, ladies who need them can opt for quality menopause supplements that can relieve their menopause symptoms during these tough times. These can balance out hormone levels and boost their mood while reducing inflammation at the same time. You surely won’t make a mistake if you give them a try! 

Stick To Your Regular Bedtime Routine


Even though quarantine is the perfect time to do everything you didn’t have time for earlier, you must remember that sticking to your regular bedtime routine is beyond important. Binge-watching your favorite TV shows late into the night can be very tempting; however, do your best to resist that urge and get enough sleep every night. Disturbing your sleeping pattern can result in sleep deprivation, bad mood, and even weight gain, so don’t do it and you’ll see what we were talking about. Aside from allowing your body to rest, a good night’s sleep can also help relax your mind and body. These are the benefits that mustn’t be overlooked, right?

Avoid information overload

Last but certainly not least, taking care of your mental health during quarantine should be as important as taking care of your physical health. And what does that mean? Well, it means that you should be very careful about what you watch and read in the first place. In case you weren’t aware of it, reading and watching too much negative news can increase your anxiety and raise your stress levels. That’s right, so make sure to limit your screen time and use the extra time to read your favorite book, watch a movie, take a relaxing bath, or do something fun with your family. This is vital for a healthy mind, so remember that and you’ll do a fantastic job!
As you can see, improving your health during quarantine doesn’t have to be as tricky and challenging as you probably thought. All you have to do is to stick to our five useful tips and you won’t fail to make it happen. Just follow our guidelines and you’ll be more than fine, that’s a promise!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Memorial Day Inspiration

In my family we usually don’t do too much for Memorial Day if anything, just because we all usually do our own thing and we usually have a lot going on during the summer and it is usually a holiday that we don’t do too much for. However, this year with all the limitations and everything that has been going on we decided to do a little something for this year. 
I’m sure other people have found themselves in a similar situation this year and thought it would be fun to share a little Memorial Day inspiration. After all, who can resist a holiday when red, white, and blue is involved?!

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Links I'm Loving

The past few weeks have obviously been pretty uneventful for the most part, and I will say at first that it drove me up the wall and back down again, but after I’ve adjusted to a different pace I have come to enjoy some aspects of it. Last year, at times, it could just be unbelievable crazy and stressful and I just felt like a was spread so thin, I will say there are some pluses to being forced to slow down your life {I am ready to return to the old normal though…} you have a bit more time to spend with friends and family, on yourself, and on things you enjoy doing that would normally be placed on the back burner. I like to think you can find a bright spot in any situation and thankfully there are a few in this one.
Does anyone else out there still consider grilled cheese sandwiches to be the ultimate form of comfort food? I’m kind of obsessed with watching cooking shows on YouTube, there’s just something relaxing about it… 

I’m convinced that I would have totally crushed in the 50’s/60’s… I wear dresses all the time, can knock out a flower arrangement like a pro, and love to host a gathering. These Herend look-alike chargers would be such a fun addition to a dinner party and would really elevate a white dinner plate

For the most part I automatically love pretty much anything that is blue and white, and One King’s Lane is like the promised land of blue and white home décor. Right now you can save up to 80%, plus another 20% off with code OKL20MORE

I love Jennifer Garner’s Instagram. She just makes you feel like you’re best friends who haven’t met yet. Here latest Instagram video is just too cute and too funny

In my honest opinion, you can never have too many T-strap sandals, and Tory Burch’s are my favorite. PSA: if you have a narrow foot, these sandals are for you. I already have these in ambra and definitely plan on getting this gold pair as well. 

Friday, May 15, 2020

How To Unwind Before Bed

With everything that’s been going on and just the current reality of things it makes it a little bit of a challenge to settle into a routine, especially at night.  For me personally where I am not doing as much during the day in terms of going here and going there it really creates a feeling of just being restless at night and a flurry of completely random thoughts floating around at night, that can, at times, definitely create a feeling of anxiety and having way too much active thinking going on to be able to fall asleep at a reasonable time. 

As probably everyone does in the age of technology I have googled a few things and searched for a few tips via hashtags, some of which have actually helped a bit. I’m sure I am not alone in having a difficult time falling asleep at night, so… here are a few tips that I have personally found to be useful!
1.      Deep Breathing// It’s recommended to do deep breathing exercises for 10 minutes; I personally find that to be a bit too long and cut it in half. I have to say a little deep breathing before a shower really does help!
2.    Take a Hot Shower// Sometimes I feel like a nice, long hot shower really does rinse the stress of the day off and help you to relax. Sometimes at night when I wake up and can’t go back to sleep I hop in the shower for 5 minutes and it does the trick
3.    Netflix// I know it is usually a faux pas to watch TV or check your phone an hour before bed, but I have found that I can tune out by watching a 30 minute show right now a lot better than I can by reading a book {which I normally love to do}
4.    Exercise// Obviously don’t do this one right before bed, but at some point during the day.
5.    Positive// Mentally make a list of all the positive things that happened throughout the day and the accomplishments you have made over the course of the month/year thus far. With everything on the new lately it’s hard to not get dragged down by all the negative news reporting and the current situation, and I have found that focusing on a few positives makes all the difference
6.    Write It Down// as cliché as it sounds, sometimes it really does help to write down what is bothering you
7.     White Noise apps// If all else fails white noise apps are great to help you relax and drown out some of the thoughts you have running through your head

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Mid-May Sale Roundup

Has anyone else been doing an unusual amount of online shopping lately? Because I, unfortunately, most definitely have… There have just been so many great sales going on lately and I give into the temptation. The only thing I have had buyer’s remorse over is swimsuit…I didn’t think about it at the time, but will pools even be open this year? And I feel like vacations are on hold for a little while…I guess I can always wear it next year… For now here is a list of all the sales going on right now! Shop smart and avoid buyer’s remorse!
Abercrombie// Up to 50% off sale and 25% off 2 or more items
Ann Taylor// Extra 50-70% off all sale styles
Anthropologie// Up to 30% off furniture and décor event 
Banana Republic// 40% off everything
Brooks Brothers// 30% off casual pants, shorts, and more
Gap// 50% off shorts, tees, dresses, and more
J. Crew// Up to 60% off feel-good styles
J. Crew Factory// 40% - 70% off everything
Kate Spade// 30% off when you spend $150, 40% off when you spend $250, and 50% off when you spend $350 with code NEWYOU
Land’s End// 40% off with code FRIENDS 
Loft// 40% off full-price styles
Macy’s// Extra 25% off with code REFRESH
Mark & Graham// up to 40% off bags & accessories
Pottery Barn// The Outdoor Event - up to 50% off
Old Navy// Up To 50% off everything
One Kings Lane// 20% off orders over $500 with code OXLXTRA20
Serena & Lily// 20% off with code ATHOME
Vineyard Vines// Up to 50% off sale
West Elm// Up to 40% off kitchen and dinning, up to 40% off frames, vases, mirrors, and more, and up to 60% off outdoor furniture and decor

Saturday, May 9, 2020

April Reading List

Raise your hand if at the start of quarantine {can’t believe I’m using that phrase…} you optimistically made of list of something along the line of: I’m going to… 1) read more 2) go to bed earlier 3) be so on top of email {I currently have 200 I need to respond today K…} 4) use this time as an opportunity to make healthier choices and get in shape 5) use it as a time for reflection 6) catch up with family and others close to you

I totally made a mental list that looked like something along those lines. What I didn’t count on was what an adjustment it would it be to transfer off of your normal routine and settle into a somewhat productive new one. Towards the end of March my mind was buzzing so much with random thoughts that I just kind of gave up on reading before bed for a while and gave into watching Netflix instead. For April I had a little bit more mental clarity going on and was able to settle back into my normal routine of reading before bed. As many of you know, one of my New Year’s Goals was to read more, and I am up to a grand total of 9 books so far for 2020!
Confession, I bought this book based on the fact that I just loved the cover… I mean who can resist a book with a cover with a woman in a pink coat, holding the Eiffel Tower in her hand, and a dramatic scene going on in the background?  For some reason it took me a little bit to get into this book… I think it was just because of everything that was going on and the style in which the story was told….

This love story is very appropriately told by the goddess of love, herself, Aphrodite. As she weaves together a story of hope and love set during World War I and II; a time where optimism at times be a difficult thing to find. 

Primarily set during World War I, this story follow four different protagonists and the development of their love story during difficult times. Even through all the active warfare, the struggles of day-to-day living during the times of two major wars, and just the active hardship during these times, the author still manages to shed a ray of hope and leave cracks for light to shine through. 

Even though I was never able to get 100% sucked into this book, I really do have to say that Berry did a fantastic job of weaving the story together. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book is definitely worth a read.

This is the first book I have ever listened to on audible/book on tape format, and I actually really enjoyed it. At first, the opening of the book was very descriptive and my first thought was ‘I think this might be better in a written form’, but it was actually really enjoyable and has a fantastic story line.  

Mother City is set in Cape Town and centers around the Goldwyn family; a well-to-do couple whose special needs son is tragically kidnapped by a member of the jihadist group. The kidnapping exposes a jihadist’s group operation of kidnapping children and converting them to extreme Islamic believes and all that encompasses. 

This is the first ‘thriller’ I have read in a good while and I was so impressed with the amount of research that went into this book and the individual character development over the course of the story. You will seriously not be able to put down this book. Highly recommend 

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Stripes On Stripes On Stripes

Completely unintentional, but everything I picked out for this post is blue and white… Two things 1) I think it’s safe to say that blue is officially my favorite color 2) blue and white just go hand-in-hand with stripes; am I right or am I right? 
In Nashville lately you can experience all four season just within the span of a week… Sunday felt like summer, Tuesday felt like fall, today had a strong winter vibe {I even had to make a fire today}, and tomorrow might just feel like spring, but you never know… I for one am ready for it to just be like a nice 75, slightly cloudy {aka the perfect spring weather}. I’m also ready for some warm weather fashion and stripes is basically the epitome of classic fashion.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Links I'm Loving

I am in slight disbelief that it is already May… even though we are living under different circumstances at the moment; I still wish time would slow down a little… If Covid – 19 suddenly decides to go away that would be great too. I have honestly lost track of the days on a few occasions…  Despite it all, there are still some great links to be shared!
Who else secretly love boxed Mac & Cheese? I used to eat this stuff by the box, on a daily basis when I was like ten. Being at the age I am it’s kind of turned into a guilty pleasure… The Bon Appetit chefs have come up with varies ways to improve boxed mac & cheese and I am seriously tempted to try a few…

I absolutely love Mi Golondrina dresses. They are some of the most comfortable dresses ever mad and can be dressed up or down with the simple change of a shoe. This white dress with navy embroidery is one of my personal favorites! 

A few year’s ago one of my friends one of my friends became part of a county music duo, Hadley Park, and they are amazing! They just came out with a new album – download it; you will love it!

Who else has been playing board games with their family a lot lately? I love how board games have taken on being a functional design element for a family room. In all honesty, I am a big fan or acrylic, so, you can basically sign me up for any acrylic board game out there

There could not be a better time to start read a new book during a time like now. Kristy Woodson Harvey always comes out with such great spring/summer reads, and her new book has been simply fabulous so far! Be sure to keep an eye out for an official review, coming soon to the blog…