My Prime Big Deals

As we are preparing for Hurricane Milton, I'm also trying to see what deals I can secure before we possibly lose power for an indefinite amount of time. I'm of course hoping we don't lose power, but our area is expected to have widespread power outages. The generator will hopefully keep our fridge running so we don't waste any perishable food and our phones charged, and we'll use the grill to cook and have plenty of snacks and water. We are just praying there isn't any damage to our home, and of course for those who will be impacted the most over on the Gulf Coast. So heartbreaking. 

On that note - we were extremely fortunate that Hurricane Helene barely clipped us, but as Milton is continuing to build and barrel towards our beautiful state of Florida there is something different in the air this time. 

What is on sale on my Amazon Wish List

There is a lot of nitty gritty nooks and crannies around the house (I'm looking at you washing machine!) that need a deep cleaning beyond what good ol' fashioned elbow grease can accomplish, so I am finally springing for a handheld steam cleaner and love that it's a part of the sale. 

I'm a big Real Housewives fan (have been watching since RHOC debuted and started it all), and am a huge Teresa Guidice fan (love her and her dorters). If you follow her on social or her cooking YouTube channel you'll see how much she loves her vegetable chopper. I believe her chopper is from Pampered Chef, but I found a good dupe apart of the sale for only $21. Sold! Roll the flashback of when I got to meet her in Daytona Beach at a book signing circa 2013 and my blonde hair.

I've been swooning over this console table for years, and think it may be time to finally go for it. I'm thinking of using it as a vanity table. Thoughts?

I'm a stomach sleeper, and as much as I try to sleep on my side or my back I always feel the most comfortable on my stomach which leads to a lot of chronic neck and back pain. I'm hoping this pillow will at least help alleviate some of it. 

Some fashion pieces that have been on my wish list for a while are a part of the sale - this cutout dress is perfect for date night or to go in my suitcase for our next vacay and I have this romper in green and now want to scoop up the fun palm print as well. I'm also one of those moms that is in car line or running errands in athleisure, and sometimes it's so bad I'm happy to not get out of the car. I'd like to make a little more of an effort with tennis dresses like this. On certain days... ha! 

Lil' Miss and I enjoy lots of time together in the kitchen baking this time of year especially through the holidays, and these mixing bowls would be a great upgrade to our current ones. Love that they come with lids!

We go through a lot of cereal in our house for breakfast and snacking, and since I mostly buy organic cereal they tend to go stale quicker (no preservatives). These cereal containers should help them last a little longer. 

I'm looking forward to Lil' Miss being able to re-join her swim team (she hasn't been able to attend practice since her ear surgery last month, but should be cleared to go back soon), and she needs a pair of swimming fins as they practice laps. Of course she wants them in hot pink! 

Lil' Miss rarely orders lunch at school, and I usually pack her fresh lunches in her Bentgo box. I like knowing what she's eating, but of course don't mind her ordering pizza or chicken nuggets once in a while. Her Bentgo lunch bag is TIRED, and needs to be replaced. I picked this unicorn pattern with the dark purple colors so it won't get as dirty so quickly. And this reusable utensil set is perfect for her Bentgo box or with her thermos that I fill with leftovers sometimes. 

What are some sale items you're scooping up for Christmas gifts or simply to treat yourself?

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Lately

Anyone else hear Tyrese singing with the title "Lately"? Just me - the elder millennial? Ok. Man, where do I start? I am usually pretty private on Facebook, but shared an update of all that's been going on the past several weeks. My mom had a heart attack and has been hospitalized three times, my dad who we have also been concerned about was hospitalized during her 3rd visit and they were 2 floors apart as she was quarantined with the flu. And this all happened while I was traveling for work. Yep.

Oh yeah work... I was let go out of no where from the job I love and have been thriving at for over 6 years. No one knows why, and my boss has been fighting for me and showing why it was such an awful decision but the new owner just won't budge. No one understands it, and it just is what it is. Things had gotten incredibly toxic, I was incredibly burnt out and not fully present with my family - so it's definitely for the best as hard as it is to accept. 

Then to top it all off, we experienced a big scare with Lil' Miss accompanied by an ambulance ride and an emergency room visit on her last day of school for the year. To say I am stressed out is an understatement. I am incredibly thankful for the friends and family who have rallied around to support and pray for us as we deal with a lot all at once. 

But let's rewind and talk about the past few weeks first shall we? Trips to Universal (of course) and preparing for an upcoming vacation. Could it BE here any sooner? Kind of need it right now...

Romper in Jade Green {only $25} | Sneakers

I was excited to be invited to experience the new Face Foundrie location in Orlando, and was treated to a Cryo Queen facial. I was nervous at first thinking it would be freezing, but everything was luxuriously comfortable. Oh and that glow - yes please!

Dress {wearing a size medium} | Sandals 

Lil' Miss had three "half days" (I say "half days" because they're not truly half days when they get out at 11:15 - crazy!) before the end of the school year. So, we had a mommy-daughter date at Universal's Volcano Bay where we finally got to ride the aqua coaster Krakatau which was AMAZING! Lots of fun in the sun, and quality time with my best girl after being so busy for the longest time. 

And then on Friday we celebrated the last day of 1st grade, and headed to her end of the year school wide celebration at the park. I used to be THAT helicopter parent at the playground watching her every move, and standing below her to help as she would climb. And the past few years, I've tried to let her be more adventurous on her own, and we had the biggest scare not long after arriving. She was running around with some of her classmates, and then we both noticed we hadn't heard her squealing down the slide for a few minutes and went to go look for her. There was a crowd gathered around someone lying face down on the ground. Queue immediate tears from me and hyperventilating (which I haven't done since I found out my cousin had passed away). I was ushered away by some of the moms as they tried to help me catch my breath, and drink some water. The ambulance arrived, and I boarded it with her while my husband drove our car down to the pediatric hospital to meet us. Everything is a total blur, and I was a mess crying while calling my mom and letting her know what was going on. I tickled her legs and feet to see if she would move, and she did as she giggled. Which helped me calm down immensely. 

She was upbeat at the hospital, especially once they took her off the board so she could move around and then took her for some x-rays. The x-rays came back clear, and the results were bruising on her mid-back and a possible mild concussion from the impact of her falling from so high. I am incredibly relieved, however still watching her like a hawk as we want her head to heal from the possible concussion. 

The next day was H's birthday, and we went to dinner to celebrate with friends. Lil' Miss brought a pillow for her back (so sweet!) and was silly with our friend's twin girls throughout dinner. It felt great to be with framily, and see her acting mostly like herself minus the pillow brought to dinner. 

Tie-Front Top {only $29} | Denim Skirt | Wedges {similar} 

We laid low at the house for the rest of the holiday weekend for some pool and grill time, as we continued to be over protective of our sweet girl. She is still sore, but definitely still holding on to her big personality and alllll the sass! I can't begin to describe how thankful I am that she's ok, as I watch other parents go through so much worse. Hug those kiddos tight - children, nieces, nephews, friend's kiddos - everyone! They are a precious gift, and can get hurt or sick at the blink of an eye. 

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Home Office Refresh

I've been fortunate to work from home since the beginning of the virus that shall not be named, and worked on creating a space that I look forward to spending time in each day. Even before the pandemic, I was able to work from home once or twice a week and utilized this space but it was a blank canvas until I knew it was more of a permanent situation.  

Once it became evident that we were home for the long haul (no complaints here - I never want to work on site again!) I began updating the space with a new desk, desk chair, curtains, artwork on the wall, and of course all the fun accessories. 

One of my favorite items is actually hanging up on the wall - it's a push pin map of the world showcasing different color pins for the following: 

1. Places we have all been as a family

2. Places H and I have been together

3. Places I have only been to (i.e. work trips)

4. Places we haven't been, but want to get to in the near future

I love the thrill of adding new pins or changing out the color from "place we want to go" to "been there, done that". 

Real Life: A peak at what the office looks like most days includes notebooks everywhere, slippers strewn about, weights out for Peloton workouts that I squeeze in, drawings from Lil' Miss, to-do lists, and of course the planner which is always open to keep me on track. Oh and cords everywhere - still haven't figured out how to properly hide them since my desk isn't up against the wall. Oh well. 

Separation of church and state - the pink laptop to the left is my personal computer which I use for work outs, contract work, blogging, online shopping, paying bills etc... while the black laptop and monitor to the right are for work.

I'm fortunate to love what I do, and of course have many stressful moments. I believe having a space that you love and enjoy to come to each day is the key to keeping a fresh perspective and a positive attitude. 

 

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Favs from Last Month

I may be a little late to the game because hello 2nd week of February, but I thought I'd share some of my favorite purchases from January. Some have been total game changers, and others I wonder where they were all my life. 

Can we first talk about how much I want this virus that shall not be named to go away and never come back, yet I love love LOVE working from home every day. It's been amazing not rushing out the door each morning, working in loungewear, and having more time with my family. It has been absolutely priceless. Why some people are trying to rush going back into the office is beyond me. It's working so well, and so many people are much happier without the commute and are more productive at home. The fluorescent lighting and incessant chit chat at the office is for the birds! Why it took me over 10 months of working from home to finally purchase a new office chair is another question. Insert this beauty, and yes she's rose gold. I almost went with the chrome, but then realized I would have regretted not going with the rose gold. 

This dress which was perfect for brunch al fresco. It was made for french toast and mimosas - if not then it should have been! Now I'm just waiting for another excuse to wear it.

The perfect basic tee and jeans. It had been a WHILE since I picked up a pair of jeans that weren't distressed or had holes in them. As much as I still love my distressed denim, I am also loving the sleek look and fit of this new pair. Plus, they're comfy which is key because other than a dinner out here and there I'm living in athleisure. 

New sneaks for Lil' Miss - girlfriend tears up her school sneakers on the playground - she seriously has a talent for it. So a new pair were in order, and she loved that these were sparkly. Another Prime win! 

Whenever the day comes again where we hop on a plane and go somewhere fun, I'll be ready with a spinner luggage set in rose gold of course. My husband and I hadn't purchased new luggage since our first big trip together in 2009. It was time. Our old sets racked up a lot of mileage and saw some incredible places around the world, and I can't wait for the new pieces to see even more. 

I used to brag about how much an amazing sleeper Lil' Miss was. Other than the first several weeks when she was a newborn which are ROUGH with a capital WOOF - she's been an angel. She started sleeping through the night around 8 weeks, and had been a trooper ever since. She always went to bed and down for a nap without a fight. Fast forward to a few months ago where she started resisting bedtime, and getting up earlier and earlier. Showing up at our door crying or slamming things around in her room. We finally caved, and are trying one of the ok to wake clocks. She's excited about it, but still left her room to play in her playroom along with some loud (yet adorable) singing before it was "ok to wake" errrr leave her room. Hoping it begins working better soon. If you've tried this method - has it worked?

Luna (the new pup) has been growing so fast, and she has snapped not 1 but 2 retractable leashes so far. I decided to try out a more heavy duty retractable leash, and I could immediately tell it would hold up better. So far so good! Plus it was $10 off and free shipping on Prime. Another win-win! 

Current Score: Luna 2 and Us 1

What were some of your favorite January purchases?

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My Birthday Girl

My sweet girl turned FOUR last week, and my heart still can't figure out how that's possible! She rocked her birthday shirt that I ordered from Etsy for her to wear at Magic Kingdom (still not sure when we are going) to school where she had a cupcake party in her classroom, and came home to her requested homemade "bah-nilla" unicorn cake, presents, and lots of FaceTiming with family up in Connecticut. Perfect day for my perfect girl since we skipped the party this year for obvious reasons.

I'd be lying if I didn't mention that I had been enjoying a slice of leftover birthday cake every day until it was gone. No shame in my game! Cake is my weakness! 

In other news, I found the coziest pullover sweater that is Prime eligible! How spoiled are we with 2 day free shipping?! I find myself having total 1st world problems when I order an item from another site, and it takes several days or gasp... over a week! I loved the color, and think it'll be great for Thanksgiving or Christmas as well. Still too hot to wear this outside of the house yet, but I have a feeling we'll get a cold front before we're actually ready for it. Eek! 

Pullover Sweater {only $21} | Jeans | Lipstick | Necklace | Ring in Rose Gold

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Camo Stars

Flowy long sleeve tops paired with shorts or skirts is my favorite kind of weather. Although, I don't complain too much about the Florida heat because I love being in the pool or at the beach and I will never forget the harsh winters from growing up in New England - I do enjoy being outside without sweating and of course patio weather! We will have a small taste of fall weather this week, and this top will be perfect with a pair of shorts and sneaks. A slight breeze mixed with the sun's warmth = watch Lil' Miss run around at the park and outdoor dining weather. 

Knotted Top {only $18} | Shorts | Shoes | Sunnies | Necklace Charms

*Love having a doggy photo bomber again*

Now, are you ready for some extra fun? 2020 hasn't been for the faint of heart to say the least, and Get Go Care wants to help you live your life and stay safe while you're on the go. From masks, gloves, to the oh-so-coveted hand sanitizer they've got us covered! To be entered to win the College Care Package, just leave a comment and say who you would give Get Go PPE to and why! **Winner must be located in the United States.

The College Care Package Includes a 1 month's supply in a portable, durable pouch.

• 60 packets of moisturizing & hydrating hand sanitizer
• 15 high-quality, disposable masks
• 5 durable, disposable gloves

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Hello September

I'm in total disbelief that we have officially entered September. This has been a strange year to say the least, and with that time has been something hard to grasp. It feels like it's taking forever yet also flying by. August was also birthday month, so a little extra shopping was in order with gift cards and simply treating myself.

I cashed in some rewards at Express, and took advantage of their sale items. This linen top is SO soft, and I scooped it up for 60% off. I'm thinking I need it in more colors now too! As I'm sure I'll be rocking tank tops for a few more months.

Linen Tank Top - 60% off

This peplum top is also 60% off, and will be pair perfectly with a pencil skirt or dress pants whenever we make our way back into the office. I'm not in a rush for that, but when the day comes I am ready!

Peplum Top - 60% off

When I shared the yummy smoothies from Revive Superfoods, I tried on this flutter sleeve tee which will also be great for the office or play. It comes in 5 fun colors, and is... you guessed it - 60% off! 

Flutter Sleeve Top - 60% off

One of many great Amazon finds in August was this loose v-neck top which can be worn off the shoulder if you choose to. I went with a soft blue color, and know it'll be on repeat when the temps drop.... in November or December - ha! 

Loose Fit Top - only $19 and available in 8 colors

The only item... I repeat the ONLY item that was left on my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale wish list when I was eligible to shop (even with early access as a debit card holder) were the infamous Spanx Leggings. So, I cashed in a $20 Nordstrom Note towards a pair and I get it now guys. For years, I didn't understand the hype and was happy with my cheap pair of faux leather leggings. I am here to tell you they are worth the extra money. I will be LIVING in them later this fall and winter. Please don't judge me if they are in 9 out 10 OOTD posts - ha! I'm also happy to report that they are true to size. WIN! 

Faux Leather Leggings

Speaking of the Nordstrom Sale, and the epic fail that it was this year - I ended up cashing in my Nordstrom birthday gift cards at Nordstrom Rack instead. I'm glad that I did, because I scored these wedges for half of what they are on the Nordstrom site. I also picked up this Free People tank for less than $20.

Espadrilles - 65% off

Did you know that if you sign up for emails on Kendra Scott's website, you'll receive a 50% off coupon valid during your birthday month? It used to be in store only, and until recently there wasn't a store in Central Florida so I never took advantage of it. This year I decided to AND was happy that I could use it on an online order especially since they offer free shipping (ALWAYS a plus)! I decided on this gorgeous ring which adds a statement to any outfit. 

Drusy Ring in Rose Gold

I was influenced by Biana and Danielle a while back on this primer which is available on Prime. I don't know why it took me so long to finally try it out, but am SO glad I finally did. I feel it's a great dupe for Benefit's POREfessional, and it glides right on to minimize pores and help your makeup stay put. Even in the Florida heat! 

In the spirit of working on house projects, we are also tackling some things in our master bedroom. I'm no longer feeling the gray paint, and want to go for a soft color that will accent the furniture and also replace the curtain rods and curtains. 

Curtain Rods in Pewter - Only $24 each

Now that the new pup has joined our family, she needed some doggy bowls and a non-skid mat. I almost went with pink, but decided on the mint green instead and it was perfect! I promise I'll share some photos of her soon, it's hard to capture an energetic puppy without it being blurry. Her name is Luna (as in Lovegood), and I can't get over how teeny tiny she is!

Lil' Miss broke her headphones for her Kindle, and with us working from home and her hanging with us most of the day a new pair was a must! She chose these unicorn headphones and they arrived in less than 2 days. Thank you Prime! 

I love having flowers around the house, but fresh ones all the time are not realistic. These peonies and pearl vase filler are now in the perfect spot above the fireplace for some extra cheer inside. 

I've been rifling through Jessica Simpson's book and can't recommend it enough. I loved her when Sweet Kisses came out, during Newlyweds, and beyond! Such a great read! 

Next up on my reading list is Finding Freedom with my favorite royals that I got for my birthday. Super excited to dive into this!

What were some of your favorite finds in August?

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