Easy Breezy

I was immediately attracted to this top when I saw it.  The white breezy linen and  intricate lace sleeves just make me want it to be Summer forever.  I've worn this top with a number of different bottoms, but I really love this combination.  These billabong beach pants were a South Moon Under purchase a couple years back and they are the quintessential Summer pant.  We have had a little bit of a break from the hot weather lately and today it was warm and breezy.  It was the perfect day for this easy breezy outfit and a lovely start to my birthday week.



Top: Holding Horses via Anthropologie

Pants: Billabong (love these) , (these) , and (these)

Sandals: Steve Madden (similar)

Happy Birthday Mr. Jax

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While I don't know Jax's actual birthday, I am unofficially making it August 1.  He was about 4 months old when we adopted him at the end of November, so it's a pretty logical guesstimate. That, coupled with Matt and I's birthdays being in August, I thought it was fitting to make us a big ol' family of crazy leo's.  Here is a fun list of Jax's favorite things (1,3,5,6, and 7) and some things I'd love to spoil him with (2,4,8, and 9).  Seriously though, I will be making that Dog Tipi.

Here are some of my favorite pics from Jax's first year.

I've got some little treats tucked away, but the best gift of all will be a nice long walk in a pretty place with lots of great smells, how do you spoil your dog?

xo Bridget

Flouncy Floral

Every once and a while, I buy a piece for a specific outfit and end up being able to wear it with multiple others.  I just love that!  I picked up this tank top from Nordstrom when I was in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago.  I was exiting the store after scoring a super sale on two skirts at Anthropologie and saw this tank hanging on a rack by the door.  I knew I needed a black tank to go with one of the skirts that I had bought and it was inexpensive, so I picked it up.  The tank is cropped, which doesn't usually appeal to me, but it looks great paired with almost all of  my high-waisted bottoms, including these shorts.  I love these shorts but have struggled in the past to find the right top for them, they needed a top with just the right amount of flow.  I am so careful about what I buy these days, so it really makes my day when I can use a new purchase throughout my wardrobe.

Tank: Lush

Shorts: Free People (love these) 

Shoes: Crown Vintage (similar)

Clutch: L.A.M.B. 

Drugstore Pick-Me-Ups

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If I'm ever feeling down or in the mood for a little sprucing up, you can find me at the drugstore.  I just love the drugstore, lots of little pick me ups that I don't have to spend a lot of money on.  My main hits have always been CVS, Walgreens, and Target just because they have always been local to me, but I love to stop into an independent, old school type pharmacy if I come across one.  And I must admit, I sort of seek them out when I am traveling as well - Boots & Superdrug are a necessary stop whenever I am in the UK.  Here are some of my favorite drugstore pick me ups.

1. Baby Lips Dr. Rescue in Pink Me Up  - I bought the clear version of this lip balm last winter and loved it.  It's not too tingly, it just has a nice fresh mint feel and the idea of having the sheer, pretty pink color added in seems just right.

2.  NYX Roll On Shimmer in Nude -  I love these shimmers, I literally own all the neutral colors.  This one has been my current summer favorite, it looks awesome with a sheer pink lip.

3. Essie Nail Polish in Imported Bubbly - It is inevitable that I will leave a pick me up trip to the drugstore with a new nail polish, pretty nails always make me feel put together.  Essie colors are my favorite.  I love this color, it seems to me like a fancy neutral.

4 - 6.  Nugg Soothing, Revitalizing, and Exfoliating Face Masks -  Face masks always make me feel refreshed and renewed.  I loved doing these cheapish single use face masks when I was a teenager, I'm not sure how effective they actually are, but they always take me back to fond memories of sleepovers and girls nights.

7. L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara -  I love drugstore mascara. I usually have one department store brand and one drugstore brand on hand for alternating.  I have heard lots of great things about this new L'Oreal mascara and want to try it once my current one is ready to be replaced.

8.  Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask - This hair mask is amazing.  I buy this when my usual It's A Ten Hair Mask isn't in my budget.  It works just as well and is less than half the price - so, really, in writing this I just convinced myself to switch to this one permanently - ha!

9 - 10. Aveeno Positively Nourishing Smoothing Body Wash & Energizing Body Lotion -  When using drugstore body wash and lotions, I usually stick to Nivea.  On my last trip, they didn't have anything that I wanted so I gave these Aveeno products a try.  I was surprised with how much I loved them and I will definitely be purchasing them again; great product, nice scent, and amazing value.

xo Bridget

Savory Cherry Quesadillas

I ran into Publix last week after work to pick up something for dinner and they happened to be sampling their featured recipe of the week, which was a Mango Cherry Salmon Dish and these Savory Cherry Quesadillas. Both samples were lovely, but I wasn't in the mood for cooking fish so I quickly picked up the ingredients for the quesadillas.  In my opinion cheese, fruit, and salad always works and I love this unusual combination. I will definitely be making these again.  The biggest challenge was pitting the cherries, but luckily my husband volunteered to do that .

Easter Dress

A couple months back, I wrote this post about starting a new job.  My parents were here visiting the week before I started, so we spent a morning picking out some new work clothes for me.  I picked two practical work dresses, which I love and have gotten lots of wear out of.  This dress was my third pick, but my parents were insisting on buying and I didn't want to be greedy and take all three.  I really loved this dress too and I think they could tell, because about a week later it arrived on my doorstep.  It was a sweet reminder of their visit and it was just in time for Easter.  It was hard having to spend another holiday apart, but it really cheered me up having this dress to wear. 

This past week, I really had the blues and putting on this super cheerful dress with all the good vibes it holds really brightened my day, ah the power of clothes!  The season for wearing this dress is quickly coming to an end - I need to remember to pull it out and give myself a bright boost a few more times before the Summer months end.

Dress: Cynthia Rowley

Bracelets: Lily and Laura

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar)

xo Bridget

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale Picks

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Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale starts today - woo hoo!  I look forward to this sale every year, it's a tradition that my mom and I head out to Nordstrom on the first day and make it a day of relaxing, lunching, and doing a little fall splurging on ourselves.  The sale always falls two weeks before my birthday, so I usually get some really amazing birthday gifts from the sale too! Sadly, we could not be together to shop this year, but we consulted with each other throughout the pre-sale and tried to enjoy it anyway.  It's a unique sale, because it's all new fall merchandise that they markdown for two weeks and then put back onto the floors at full price once the sale is over.  Some of my most favorite things have come from this sale, I definitely get lots of use and wear out of everything that I purchase.  These are a few of my favorite things on sale this year.

one: Nars Cheek Palette - I passed on this palette last year and regretted it, it was definitely a must this year.  It iterally includes every cheek color that you could ever need!

two: Julep Nail Color & Treatment Duo - I just recently starting using Julep nail colors.  They are 5 free (which I love), the colors are richly pigmented, and most importantly they don't chip easily.  These colors are gorgeous for the fall.

three: Wildfox La Femme Deluxe Sunglasses - The wildfox sunglasses that I purchased are now sold out, but these were my second favorite, especially if you can pull off the cat eye.

four: Liebeskind Anny Leather Crossbody Bag - I have a love for Liebeskind bags, they are made well, out of the softest leather, and they are reasonably priced - even more so with this sale!

five:  Tildon Scoop Back High/Low Shift Dress - I had to have this. I can just see it with tall boots and a furry vest for the fall.

six:  Voluspa Maison Jardin Candles - My mom bought a couple packs of these last year and paired them with fancy matches to give as gifts.  I was on the receiving end of one of them and loved it so much that I am getting a whole set for myself this year.

seven: Philosophy Coconut Frosting Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Shower Gel - I am a sucker for Philosophy and coconut.  You can't beat that value!

eight: Converse Snake Embossed Leather Sneaker  - These just look cool, I would pair them with some dark jeans, a hoodie, and #4 for the perfect casual fall day outfit.