Helllooooo!
We made it through another week, so here’s another Recent Finds:
Recent Finds, 8/15
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Try-On: Rounds 1 & 2
$79.90 Madewell Balboa Oversized Jean Jacket (Also available at Madewell) / $15.90 Caslon Striped Tee (Short-Sleeved here) / Spanx White Jeanish Leggings (Also try Hue’s version) / $39.90 Steve Madden “Feather Loafer” (Solid colors here)
Edit: Aaaand we’re back! I’m adding my second try-on session to this post. :)
If you’re new to my blog or Instagram, hi! I’m Kelly. I live in Chicago with my husband, Mitch (with whom I’m currently at war because of a suitcase he’s refusing to unpack 😆 #help); my little girls, Emma and Lucy; and my bizarro but adorable miniature dachshund, Noodle. And today, I’m sharing and reviewing some of the products I ordered from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. As you’ll see, I really only ordered basics both because of the global pandemic and the fact that I’m a parent to little children and live in casual stuff!
Note: I’ll be adding to this post as I try on more products.
Note #2: Have you entered to win my $500 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shopping Giveaway? Entering takes 30 seconds and your chances are actually VERY good, haha!
Jack Rogers Comfort Sandals
Jack Rogers Comfort Sandals c/o (Shop the entire Comfort Collection here. I also love the Leopard, the Cork and the Slide versions.) / Same Tiered Knit Maxi Dress (Here with lace at the bottom. Similar here.) / Kids’ Jack Rogers (Emma’s are rare toddler Jacks that are sadly no longer carried. But they’re called the “Little Miss Lauren,” and I’m just a psychopath and ordered several sizes for the girls because I sensed they were being phased out.) / Emma’s Dress & Lucy’s Dress / Play Mat / Stroller / Scooter
It’s happened, guys.
Jack Rogers launched a comfort collection, and the sandals are now available to ship.
Minimal Makeup Routine
I finally have it down!
Minimal (but effective) makeup that stays in place from morning ’til night.
And I have to say: It’s pretty darn life-changing. I can do it in under five minutes (sometimes even more quickly!), and I feel confident all day long.
Until this year, I really had an issue with my foundation “disappearing” sometime around noon. And if I had a nighttime event or date, I’d always need to wash it off and start over. (So time-consuming and frustrating!) Now, though, I’m just good–all the time. If I want to, I can apply a bit more blush or eyeliner at the end of the day, but I don’t need to. It’s lovely.
Of course, I’m seeing fewer people than ever before, haha. So… who cares? But hey. I feel better. And when the world starts back up again, I’ll be ready. :)
Biking the Chicago Lakefront Trail with Small Children
We dusted off our bikes last week and rode the Chicago lakefront trail for the first time since having kids, and it was SO GOOD FOR THE SOUL. 🧘🏼♀️ (And yes! Mitch’s helmet is on its way. Edit: Just arrived. The old one apparently did not make the move.) A few things:
Sarah Flint Giveaway
Sarah Flint Grear Sandals (Sign up for SF e-mails here and be entered to win a free pair in “Saddle”! And use code “SARAHFLINT-KELLY” to take $50 off your first order. Also love Sarah Flint’s Joy Sandals and Perfect Block Sandals!) / Hydrangea Dress (Sleeveless here) / Market Tote / MZ Wallace Backpack (Also here.) / Similar Sunglasses / Emma’s Tangerine Dress / Emma’s Sandals / Lucy’s Lilly Shift / Adult Helmets / Emma’s Helmet (Also here.) / Lucy’s Helmet / My Bike (Try the “Nel Lusso.” ~$260 here and ~$300 here.) / Mitch’s Bike (Old eBay find.) / InStep Kiddie Bike Trailer
These photos perfectly portray my life: Somewhat together in the morning; looks like I battled a tornado by the afternoon. 😆
Over the weekend, we took the girls on a bike ride downtown to get ice cream–and that’s when the pics were taken. What a gorgeous day! I can’t tell you how much we’ve been enjoying our bikes. We don’t love driving, as it’s kind of a big hassle in Chicago. (While parking is better than it is in New York, it’s still not great.) The bikes, though, have really helped us explore parts of city that we otherwise couldn’t reach because we’re not taking the subway right now. I’m publishing a big bike-riding-with-kids feature on the blog tomorrow, so stay tuned if you’d like to learn more. :)
But the big news today is that I’m giving away a pair of Sarah Flint Grear Sandals in “Saddle”! (Btw: You can use code “SARAHFLINT-KELLY” to take $50 off your first order.)
Tiered Knit Maxi Dresses
Tiered Knit Maxi Dress (Same dress in solid here. LOVE this similar solid one with lace at the bottom. Striped Midi Version Here. Also similar here and here. Also love this one. Another beautiful option here. Okay, sorry. Haha. More below!) / Similar Sandals (Also love these and these.) / Emma’s Dress in Red/Pink + in Navy/White / Emma’s Scooter / Emma’s Sandals
How did I not realize the magic of tiered dresses until 2020?! (Don’t answer that.)
First Bike Ride
J.Crew High-Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans (Size down. Also love this wash, this wash and this wash. I have and love this button-fly straight leg pair, too. Looking for skinny jeans? Try this pair–my favorite! And hold the phone: The famous striped jeans are back in stock!) / Interlocking Sandals (They also come in brown, black and white.) / Short-Sleeved Striped Cardigan (Also comes in hot pink. Love this navy cardigan sweater as well!) / Woven Market Tote (Also in rainbow here.) / Girls’ Heart Tees / Emma’s Seersucker Ruffle Shorts / Newer Girls’ Sandals / Lucy’s Shorts / Mitch’s Button-Down and Shorts
Eeeeee!
NSale: What’s In My Cart
First, I need to point out my super impressive Photoshop skillz. Don’t you just love how the products get larger and larger as you go down? And man. That randomized spacing; it’s so artistic… and brave.
Anywho, these are the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale products I have in my cart right now. Of course, I will not be checking out until I narrow things down. 😆 I’m a slow shopper. But when I do make up my mind, I fully intend on going the contactless curbside pickup route so I can review everything for readers on Monday or Tuesday. :)
In the meantime, though, please *enter to win $500 to shop the sale.* (It takes 30 seconds and your chances are good, haha.) And here’s what I’m considering:
$500 Giveaway + 2020 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Guide
Sale Sweater: CozyChic Lite Long Weekend Waffle Cardigan (Also look into the CozyChic Lite Long Cardigan.) / Sale Top: Gibson Cozy Collection / Similar Sale Black Boots: Steve Madden Nifty Over-the-Knee Boots, Sam Edelman Davis Knee-High Boots and Blondo Waterproof Over-the-Knee Boots / Similar Sale Jeans: Rag & Bone High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans and Wit & Whimsy High Waist Skinny Jeans / Similar Sale Tote / Similar Sale Sunglasses
Early access to the long-awaited Nordstrom Anniversary Sale–the biggest sale of the year, when new arrivals and bestsellers from top brands are temporarily marked down–starts Friday, August 7th for “Ambassador” cardmembers!
Below, you can find more details on when everyone can shop. (Everyone can, however, add products to their carts right now, which is nice! They’ll be saved to your “Wishlist,” and you can simply check out once you gain access to the sale.) One fun thing everyone can do right now?! Enter to win $500 to shop the sale, just by leaving a comment at the bottom of this ridiculously long blog post! Btw: I recently fixed the comments section section of the blog, and I’m really excited about it. 😆
Here’s how to enter to win $500 to shop:
Mitch’s Samsung Frame TV Review
Samsung Frame TV (65″)
Mitch here!
TV, or not TV, that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler for the house to suffer a giant black rectangle on thy wall or for thine TV-watching fortunes to die—to bingewatch no more.
That is to say that the Great TV Debate continues. In our house, the traditional battle lines were drawn: I wanted a TV so large that it’d need to be airlifted into the living room with a helicopter. Kelly, of course, voted no TV at all and wanted some painting of (now dead) people from the 1800s or something. So we compromised and bought a Samsung Frame TV which claims to “TV when it’s on and art when it’s off.” (Cute.) But does it really work like that? How good does it actually look? Will you trick people into thinking it’s art? Will your wife be happy? Is it worth the price?
Answers to those questions and more below.
Laundry Room Renovation
This post is in partnership with Elkay®; all opinions are my own. As always, thank you so, so much for supporting the projects that keep Kelly in the City up and running!
I really thought that we’d need to put our home projects on hold until 2021 due to the pandemic, which I was 100-percent fine with; so not important! But we’ve had a few safely come together over the last month due some creative tactics, and it’s been really exciting. 😁 One of my favorites? Our laundry room!
Pocket Tee Dress
Gap T-Shirt Dress (Runs big! This gray t-shirt dress and this black t-shirt dress are AMAZING, too.) / Mark & Graham Tote / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers / Similar Sunglasses here, here and here
As a followup to this post, let me introduce you to the pocket tee dress!
Photo Diary: Family Park Day
Old Dress (Similar Here, Here, Here and Here) / Sarah Flint Sandals c/o / Classic Coach Bag (Also at Coach) / Emma’s Dress (Available Here and Here. Printed Version Here.) / Emma’s Huarache Sandals / Lucy’s Bubble (Old Ralph Lauren; Newer Version Here) / House of Noa Play Mat / Mitch’s Vineyard Vines Polo
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
2020 Virtual Ducky Derby
Mitch here!
The Special Olympics is my favorite charity, and, due to the pandemic, they need our help now more than ever. And due to the pandemic, most important fundraising event, the Ducky Derby, has gone virtual. What is the Ducky Derby, you might ask? I guess you better read more to find out.
Recent Finds, 7/31
$15.96 Red Sandals (WHOA. So comfy! I went up a half size. $15.96 with code “SALETIME.”) / Slim Boyfriend Jeans (On sale for $55) / Classic Coach Bag (Also available direct from Coach.) / Everyday Striped Shirt (25 percent off with code “SALETIME.”
Okay, so three big things this week re: sales:
J.Crew is offering 72 percent off its sale section. That’s crazy talk. I’ve included my favorites below but the prices really are insane! ($15.96 for these wildly comfortable sandals?! Score.)
Persifor is having a big sale, too. My favorite is the classic Winpenny dress, which is 50 percent off right now.
The timeless Coach crossbody is BACK. I kind of can’t believe it. I get questions about my old Coach Court bag all the time, and this is the CLOSEST I’ve seen to it in a decade. I can’t imagine that it’ll stay in stock for long; you can find it at Nordstrom and Coach.
Textured Knit Wrap Dress on Crazy Sale
J.Crew Factory Wrap Dress (One of the only that’s worked for me!) / Mark & Graham x Caitlin Wilson Tote (Old, but the tote is still available in brown, white and black leather! It’s wonderfully soft.) / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers (Favorite lace-up sneakers here.) / Similar Sunglasses here, here and here / Emma’s Dress / Faux Topiaries / Planters / Wreath / Newer Large Lanterns / Newer Small Lanterns
Okay, Friends. This is a FIND.
Introducing the cutest gauzy textured wrap dress–that actually stays up! And that’s on crazy sale.
Andie vs. Summersalt
Have you heard of Andie? An advertisement for the company popped up for me somewhere, and I clicked. 😆 But guys. I’m VERY interested. Mostly because of the beautiful textured “Terra” fabric so many of the suits come in (shown above), but also because of how many options there are–specifically long torso options. (It’s crazy! Every suit I looked at came in long torso in a few colors.)
Tiered T-Shirt Dress
Gray Tiered T-Shirt Dress (Comes in black and pink, too. Also check out this Pocket T-Shirt Dress. Here’s J.Crew’s Tiered T-Shirt Dress + the brand’s Tiered Maxi Dress!) / MZ Wallace Navy Backpack (Also at Nordstrom in Black and Gray) / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers / Similar Sunglasses here, here and here
Oh, hey. 👋🏻 It’s me. Back in another t-shirt dress.
Easy Homemade Neapolitan Pizza
Chef Mitch Here!
The great pizza debate rages on and I’m desperate to know where you fall. Click the “Continue Reading” button below for a Pizza Pie Poll to solve the pizza puzzle once and for all. And, yes, there will be a pie chart.
Subscribe & Follow
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Let's be Friends
