Gift Guide for Men

Hello ladies,
We're only a week away from Christmas. If you're still missing a couple of gifts for a man in your life, then read on! Today I'm going to be sharing some last minute gift ideas for the men in your life - your husband, father, a male friend, brother, etc.These are items I've gotten my husband and father over the years and they have loved them so they are tried and true.

Don't forget to sign up for EBATES where you can get cash back for your online purchases (if you sign up through my link, you'll get $10!). My account already has over $200 from November and December along! (they have been doing as much as 15% cash back on stores due to the holiday season).

For Frequent Travelers:

NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONE


These headphones have been a game changer - my father has owned the Quiet comfort 25 for years and every time I travel with him, I get so jealous that he can just put those on and completely block out the airplane noise as loud neighbors or crying infants. My husband bought my a pair of the QUIET COMFORT 35 earlier this year since I fly overseas quite frequently for work.
These are the wireless versions of the older Quiet Comfort 25s, but can still connect to a aux cord that comes with the headphones. These also don't require batteries and come with a USB charger.

Price: $350

Sale: $299 HERE. 

Quiet Comfort 25 for $129 HERE

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

I'm rounding up some amazing Black Friday deals here for you all. Some of the items are true and tried and others are items that I took advantage of myself!

NORDSTROM:

FAUX LEATHER LEGGINGS 

RAW EDGE T-SHIRT - $11!

STUART WEITZMAN HILINE BOOTS

If you've been eyeing a pair of Stuart Weitzman over the knee boots, now is the time. These are origianlly $798 down to $599, still a hefty price, but in my opinion well worth it. I have several pairs of OTK boots and these are my 3rd pair of Stuart Weitzman boots and no other boots fit like them!

JCREW - the entire store is 50% off. I have several JCREW COATS - the quality and fit is amazing. 

From left to right: Topcoat, Lady Coat, and Lodge Coat.

And for the home,

I purchased a DYSON CORDLESS VACCUM. I've been wanting these for a really long time but couldn't justify the $400-$600 price tag. However with the sales that are going on, I was able to get the V7 for $199 at Bed Bath and Beyond. The 20% coupons can still be used on top of the black Friday sales.

I have a NESPRESSO MACHINE and love it. If you're a frequent latte/cappuccino drinker then I think it's well worth the price to get a Nespresso. Each pod costs about $0.79 or $1.25 for the Vituo line, but a cup of Startbucks ranges between $4.50-$6.00. This year I took advantage of the sale and purchased one for my dad as a Christmas gift.

Now the INSTANT POT. I received one over 3 years ago as a wedding gift, and at that time, no one heard of this thing. However it's been all the rage lately. Depending on the size, they are now on sale between $79-$139 from $100-$169.

I've linked all three of these below:

Some Burberry Sale items:

         

Stuart Weitzman for $279!

I wanted to share this amazing sale with you! The highly coveted and popular Stuart Weitman HILINE BOOT on sale for only $279!

The sale also comes with a bonus $20 gift card for every $100 you spend! I just ordered a pair in my usual size. You can purchase it HERE $279!!
If you shop through EBATES you can earn additional cash back!



These come in a variety of colors and are all on sale. These links will take you directly to the sale.

Designer Jeans for under $40 - Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Hi ladies, just doing a really quick post today. I shared some additional reviews on instagram stories INSTAGRAM STORIES and received many questions regarding these AG JEANS I got for under $40. 

There's a bunch of designer jeans on sale at the Nordstrom sale, however some of the prices are still quite high (over $150). Being 5'4, I figured I'd give these a try: AG JEANS $38 and HUDSON JEANS $31.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks - Photos and Reviews

Oh it's that time of year again (eye roll lol), the super hyped Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
Because of all the attention from the blogging community, this sale has turned into a race and year after year the website crashes. I remember when my mother and I used to shop this sale years ago and no one even knew about it.

Anyways, I wanted to share my thoughts on some items and hopefully this isn't too repetitive for you seeing that everyone and their mothers have posted about this sale. For a great tip on how to shop the sale without the credit card, be sure to read Jess' blog post HERE.

First off, I wanted to share some staples that show up in this sale year after year - these are items I have had for years and love.

My Favorite Everyday Skin Care Products/Sephora VIB Sale

Sephora's having their annual Insiders sale where everything is 10-15% off depending on your status, just use these codes below!

This is the perfect time to purchase some items you've been eyeing since it's rare that some of these brands go on sale such as Lance, Shiseido, La Mer, etc.

Here are a few of my favorites that I use on a daily basis.

LANEIGE BB CUSHION PORE BLUR         

I purchased this at the duty free shop on my way back from Asia last year (I believe I paid $24 at the duty free shop). This is the first BB cushion I've tried and I really do like it. I have a lot of pores on my cheeks and this does a pretty decent job covering them up without making it look like I've caked on 5 pounds of foundation on.

Current Sales & Istagram Lately

Happy Wednesday, everyone. Hope you are all have a great week!

I received several messages regarding some of my recent outfits,  so I'll be posting all the details here. Some of these are on clearance as well!

This beautiful LACE YOKE TOP is probably one of my favorite purchases last summer. It's currently on clearance for $34!  I love how simple and easy this shirt it - it's just a cotton-t, but the details and flowy-ness makes it look more dressy. I have to say, Abercrombie is stepping up their game, I  really haven't shopped there since high school, but I've been loving their denim and shirts.

Lace Yoke Top - on clearance for $34
White Chino Shorts - Sale $35
Similar T Strap Sandals - $22

I love a good classic cross body. I think the cognac color is the most classic because you can literally throw it over anything and it wears well throughout the different seasons. The one I'm wearing is from COACH and retails for close to $400. There are several less expensive alternatives (linked below the picture). 

Another wardrobe classic is a cargo jacket, the one I'm wearing is the MADEWELL SURPLUS JACKET. 

Coach Saddle Bag - $395

Similar Items at different price ranges:

Faux Leather Saddle Bag - $22

Madewell Crossbody - $98

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac (have and love!) - $195

Thigh-high Tights That Actually Stay In Place

Today I'm coming at you with a review on a pair of thigh-high tights.

When VienneMilano reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair of their thigh-highs, I must admit - I was beyond intrigued because this is not something I typically gravitate towards.

I am wearing a pair of MATTE BLACK tights with a striped band.

Despite being a medium weight, these stay rather opaque which is something I really like in tights.

Vienne Milano is a luxury hosiery brand and prides itself in their high quality thigh high tights. All the tights are made in Italy and made for woman who want to "reveal their style and confidence by being sophisticated, playful and seductive in every occasion."

The texture is extremely smooth and has amazing stretch. It is medium weight, which I think is perfect for this winter to spring transition weather. Thicker tights may be too warm at times, but the thigh-highs allow your legs to breath.


I have definately tried other thigh-highs in the past, but was never a fan mostly due to the fact that they start sliding down my legs and the constant pulling to fix it is quite unattractive. The Vienne Milano's is the perfect solution (and this is definitely my favorite feature) - the entire band is lined with a thin strands of silicone lining which prevents any sliding! I wore these out all day and I must say, I did not have to tug on them at all.

At Home Workouts

Working out has always been a struggle for me during the cold winter months. I love to run, and take full advantage of great outdoors during the warmer months and mix in 3-4 gym visits during the week for strengthen and weight training, but I find myself finding excuses to not go to the gym during the colder months.

There are just a few items you should have on hand at home for a full-body workout.

• Thick yoga mat
• Light weights (I have 5 lbs and 8 lbs). Light weights are key if you want to tone, not build large muscles 
• Yoga ball (make sure to get the right size for your height)

ABS:

• AB VIDEO: I consider myself to have strong abs, I have no problem doing 200 without being tired, so I find it challenging to find ab workouts that really work my abs. However I love doing Blogilates EXTREME AB video. I can definitely feel my abs hurting after doing this video through once, but sometimes I will do this workout twice back to back if I want to focus on my abs.

• YOGA BALL PASS: This is definitely one of the more difficult exercises for me. You lay on your mat for extra back support and extend your arms and legs straight. You start with the yoga ball in your hands and make a V-shape with your body and pass the yoga ball to your feet, then lay back down and extend the arms and legs. You pass the ball back and forth and repeat for 20. I try to do 3 reps of these and by the 2nd, my abs are shaking.

This is killer! Picture is from Women's Health

• Hip Dips. I absolutely love doing this! Get in a plank position on your forearms and lower your right hip to the ground, while maintaining the plant, get back to plank position, then dip your left hip to the ground. Repeat this 30 times, 5 reps.

Photo from Sassyfitgirl

CARDIO
I also try to do some cardio at home when I can't get to the gym. However, I loive in a condo and try to avoid jumping up and down and annoying my neighbors. So here are some quieter cardio workouts that are apartment or condo friendly.

• MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS: using a yoga mat or 2 for more cushioning (and quieter), I love doing mountain climbers (pictured below). I typically do 5 reps of 30 to get my heart pumping. The bonus here is, not only is this cardio, it also works your core at the same time!

You can do these quickly or slowly depending on your level of comfort. These images are from popsugar

LEGS:

• Lunges are a great way to work your legs. I try to squeeze these in while watching TV.

Photo from StyleCrazy

I also find cute workout clothes helps with motivation! Here are some of my picks. I have several of these and love them all!

The Perfect Reversible Minimalist Handbag

If you're looking for a versatile handbag then I have the bag for you - this A-BAG PLUS REVERSIBLE TOTE by PALLA HANDBAGS!

The bag is reversible with both darker and lighter color, perfect for transitioning through the seasons.
I had such a hard time picking from the gorgeous selection of colors, and finally decided on the pink/mocha color combo since I don't have a pink bag. This bag can be carried as a tote or as a shoulder bag using the longer straps.

The Perfect Time-Piece For That Special Someone

Valentine's Day is right around the corner which means it's time to give some serious thought about the gift you'll be gifting to that special someone. If you're like me, you want to find the perfect gift, but never know what to get, so when JORD reached out to me to work on a collaboration, I was beyond excited!

After browsing through the countless number of watches on their website (there are 12 different watch series!), I decided the the two-toned Zebrawood & Dark Sandalwood watch would be most fitting – I loved the classic design contrasting the two different brown tones. This specific model is also made of sapphire crystal glass, and is self-winding (aka no batteries needed!).

The watch comes in this beautiful magnetic wood box! 

My husband has quite a few watches, all of which are stainless steel or stainless steal faced with brown and black leather straps-- nothing like this! A refined wood timepiece was the perfect gift to add to his collection.

The watch arrived in a gorgeous engraved wood box along with a polishing cloth and wood polish. My husband loved the watch and seriously thought it was the coolest thing ever! He’s already worn it several times; I’m honestly surprised how versatile this watch is and have seen my husband pair it with both casual and business clothes.

I must say, their customer service is amazing - live chat available while you shop online to help with any questions you may have and they also offer an engraving service for an added personalized touch (I had my husband’s watch engraved with his initials).

GIVEAWAY:
Now, onto the fun part - GIVEAWAY TIME! I've teamed up with JORD Wood Watches to give
away $100 to one lucky winner (however, everyone will receive a 10% promo code)! To enter, please fill out THIS FORM. The giveaway will close February 11th, 2018 at11:59pm. Both the $100 and the 10% off codes will expire on February 25th, 2018

Here are some helpful links to help you while you shop! 

JORD WEBSITE

THE EXACT WATCH PICTURED ABOVE

The entire collection of ZEBRAWOOD watches 

MEN'S WATCH PAGE

WOMEN'S WATCH PAGE

Check out their HASHTAG WALL for pairing inspiration! 

ENGRAVING SERVICE:

-Jules

Watch Gift Ideas

Instagram Lately - Winter Staples & Reviews

Hope y'all are having a great weekend (long weekend!) I've received several questions regarding my recent outfit stories wearing the below outfit. So I figured I'd review some of the items more in depth.

CARDIGAN - oversized fit, wearing XS
JEANS - currently 60% off for $39, TTS
BOOTIES - 50% off, fits TTS
STRIPED SHIRT - XS

My winter uniform is leggings/jeans, with some sort of a long sleeve T layered under a long cardigan. I don't think you can go wrong with this formula and it's great for those lazy days when you don't know what to wear.

This DOLMAN SLEEVED CARDIGAN has navy and gray specks that originally caught my eye  and I immediately purchased it. I thought it added some interest to an otherwise plain piece of clothing. It's a dolman sleeved cardigan with a looser fit. I could have gone with a XXS, but went with the XS instead.

My jeans are by BLANKNYC and are currently almost 60% off for ~$39, a steal from the original $90 price tag! These fit true to size and wear/wash well. 

And of course, my favorite ankle booties that I love. These are so comfortable! I reviewed them HERE  with several links to sales. 

One of my closet staples in the colder months is a PACKABLE DOWN VEST. This Uniqlo vest is great for travel and layering. It bunches up into a tiny ball, so fit perfectly in your purse of carry on.
Because it's made of down, it is extremely warm, but is light enough for wearing under jackets without adding bulk. These run a little small, the XS was tight on me, so I went with a S. The S has room for layering over thicker sweaters and sweatshirts, but is not baggy where it looks too oversized.

COAT - Currently 50% for $114, 00
BOOTIES - TTS, 6
LEGGINGS - XS
PACKABLE VEST - navy, XS

Hope you found this helpful! Where are your winter closet staples?
Jules

Post Holiday Sale Picks - Stuart Weitzman, J.Crew City Coat and Adidas

Happy hump day, ladies! I'm having a crazy week at work and working late nights; hope your week is going smoother than mine. Anyways, I wanted to share some great sales items I recently purchased and love!

If you've been on the hunt for some over the knee boots, now is the time to grab them while they're on sale! The highly coveted Stuart Weitzman's are on sale from 30-50%. I recommend sizing down half a size for all SW's. I own two different styles, both in 5.5 (I'm normally a 6).

Stuart Weitzman Tieland boots (30% off) HERE

Stuart Weitzman - have and love! currently 50% at under $400!

Moving on to sneakers and tennis shoes - Here is a pair of classic white kicks that every gal needs in their closet. This is a staple that's great for travel, walking all day or looking stylish while looking like you haven't tried hard.

ADIDAS STAN SMITH
I had a pair of these back in middle school as well as the SUPERSTARS, definitely feeling a little nostalgic (and old). These are the quintessential classic white sneakers. I have a pair of the navy as I find they pair easier with colors.

Left - on sale for $48 ($85 original) HERE (run half size large)
Right - Adidas Stan Smith

The Stan Smith retails for $60, and is currently on sale HERE and applying code 'LTLOVE' for 20% off making them $48! These run about 1 whole size larger, I take a 5 in these. The Superstars a little pricier, at $80, but they are currently 25% off at BLOOMINGDALES.

Moving out to Outerwear:
The J.Crew Factory CITY COAT is one of my all time favorite jackets, I own one in black and one in beige. Below, I am wearing size 00 Petite (the one pictured is from 2 years ago, however I noticed this years is much thicker, a definite plus!). J.Crew Factory is currently running a 50% off certain item sale and this coat is included, with a final price of $114 - a steal in my opinion for such a versatile coat.

Version from 2 years ago

This years version - much thicker than previous years!

Hope you found this helpful! Happy shopping.

-Jules

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018 - Sam Edelman Blake and Marc Fisher Adalyne Sale

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you had an amazing holiday and new year surrounded by loved ones.
I spent the end of 2017 in Cancun Mexico and returned back to Boston a couple of days ago to frigid temperatures below zero. Those of you in the Boston area, stay warm and safe in today's blizzard (we are expecting up to 15 inches of snow!)

I wanted to share a few amazing sale finds on some of the most popular shoes from 2017 I came across in the last couple of days.

Marc Fisher Adalyne

Sam Edelman Blake Bootie

The oh-so popular SAM EDELMAN BLAKE booties from last year are no longer in stock at the major retailers, however while at my local Nordstrom Rack I saw several pairs of these in my size in several colors for only $59. I purchased my black pair last year for ~$160 and they have become one of my most worm ankle boots. I wore them so much I ended up purchasing the Woodland Brown color as well. I get compliments every time I wear them!

I also spotted the ever so popular MARC FISHER ADALYNE.  There were several colors  (blush, cognac, black) in the smaller sizes that seem to be all sold out online. 

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