My Favorites On Sale!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you're having a fun day full of family and food. We're trying to pack up and head out to our first meal, so I thought I'd just pop in quick and share a couple of my favorite things that are currently on sale. I'll come back and update this tonight & tomorrow, so be sure to check back!

I did a tiny bit of shopping myself. I went into the J.Crew store to return something on Tuesday, and got to try on this coat. Determined from the try on that I definitely needed a tall, so I ordered it at 50% off in the camel color - so beautiful!! I also got this sweatshirt that I tried on, it's so soft inside (it's lined in fleece). And I've been wanting another pair of winter boots since I basically just wear my bean boots every day, so I decided to throw these in to give them a try.

I also ordered this (decidedly less fun) Dyson vacuum for $200 off. Now that Mia is starting to get mobile, I want to be much more on my game for cleaning our floors, and I love that this is cord free! 

Shirt - 60% off - J.Crew Factory / Jeans - 30% off - Madewell

Scarf - J.Crew Factory - 59% off

Sweater Blazer - J.Crew - 50% off

Sweater - Target - 30% off

Coat, hat, and jeans - J.Crew - 50% off 

Jacket - J.Crew - 50% off

Sweatshirt - L.L.Bean - 20% off

Mia's Fleece - Old Navy - 50% off

Jacket - Old Navy - 50% off / Bag - Madewell - 30% off

Dress - LOFT - on clearance for $20!

Sweater Tee - LOFT / on clearance for $15!

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Black Friday Shopping Guide

Oh hey there, happy Black Friday!! Did you have a great Thanksgiving yesterday? Ours was exhausting but so so fun - it was great getting to see a ton of family and having not one but two Thanksgiving dinners!

On Black Friday, my mom's family always goes into downtown Chicago for our traditional "Christmas Walk." I'm told back in the day it involved actually walking around, looking at decorations, and shopping, but ever since I can remember we've just picked a restaurant and parked it for a few hours ;) A slightly lazier "walk" haha. So I usually don't hit the stores, but I do plan on doing a bit of online shopping today to get some of my Christmas shopping out of the way. Here are a few ideas I put together in case you're shopping online too: 

For the traveler: headphones / mini speaker / cosmetics bag / travel organizer / carry-on suitcase

For the homebody: blanket / fleece / joggers / slippers 

For the selfie-obsessed: iPhone ring light

For the kiddos: tea set / unicorn snow sled 

For the concert & sports lover: clear stadium bag

For the guy who "doesn't need anything": scarf / mug / sneakers / slippers / raincoat

For the person you don't really know: poncho / herbivore body set 

For the hostess: casserole dish / marble cheese tray

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A Little Black Friday Shopping

Oh hey there! A Black Friday post say whaaaaat?! I'm surprised myself that I managed to pull something together considering yesterday I was fully committed to family and red wine.

When it comes to Black Friday, there are so many deals floating around it's easy to get overwhelmed. It's also easy to get pulled off track or off budget (I may or may not have just ordered a new watch because it was half off). I say stick to your favorite stores and try to ignore the rest of the hype, and then go back for a second helping of turkey. Here are a few of my picks:

J.Crew - 40% off your entire purchase with code HOLIDAY. This is crazy because J.Crew never goes higher than 30% off for their sales! It's the perfect time to pick up some of that holiday plaid.

J.Crew Factory - 50-60% off everything (no code needed), plus an extra 40% off sale with code HAPPYSALE.

LOFT - 50% off everything with code FRIYAY.

Banana Republic - 50% off up to 5 full-priced items with code BRFIVE.

Ann Taylor - 50% off everything with code CELEBRATE.

So tell me, are you doing a lot of shopping this weekend? What's on your list?

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Black Friday Sales

Oh hey everyone! It turns out I was motivated enough to post a few sales! I get overwhelmed just seeing all of the stores and discount codes, so instead here are a few picks from my favorite places. I hope you score some good deals! Oh, and more importantly, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

LOFT - 50% off everything with code CORNY

Banana Republic - Half off sweaters and 40% off everything else with code BRFRIDAY

Ann Taylor - 50% off everything with code CELEBRATE

J. Crew Factory - 50% off everything plus free shipping on orders over $50 with code SHIPGIFTS

BaubleBar - 30% off everything with code THX

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Why I'm not hitting the mall on Black Friday

Next Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year.  And I love to shop (not sure if I've made that obvious on here).  Yet I never go out on Black Friday.  For me, it just isn't worth it.  So why am I staying home?

Who wants to shop when it's so crowded?
Ummm, not me.  When I was in high school and was done for the day obscenely early (like, 1:30 I think?  Did I even go to school?) I would do all of my shopping early in the afternoon before the crowds took over.  I just prefer not to fight for a parking spot, not to stand in lines, and not to have to beg for the sales people's attention.  The busiest shopping day of the year just does not sound fun to me.

It takes away from family time.
Every year Black Friday deals seem to start earlier and earlier.  Last year the mall in my hometown opened at 10pm, and I'm sure it'll be earlier this time.  Think about all of the people who have to go in and open the store before you rush in to shop.  I get sad every year when my family members who work in retail have to head into work while we're still stuffing our faces with pumpkin pie (or, in my case, sneakily searching for ice cream in the back of my grandma's freezer, - no pie for me, thanks!).  Every year that stores open earlier, it means the employees get to spend less of their Thanksgiving with their families.

Why hit the mall when I can shop online in my pajamas?
So last year I looked at ads and sale emails to see if I should change my tune about Black Friday.  And you know what?  A lot of the deals were the same, if not better, for online stores.  Now, I wasn't shopping for a new flatscreen or anything, for something like that you probably have to go to the store.  But for clothes and accessories and other little Christmas gifts, shopping online in my pajamas worked just fine.

So what about you?  Do you go out on Black Friday?  Or is it a shopping holiday you prefer to skip?




P.S. I'm being featured on Simple Easy Style today!

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Merry Christmas (to me!)

On Black Friday I read an article that said people are more likely this year to "self-gift" than they have in the past.  I thought, well why not?!  If you're already planning on getting a big ticket item, why wouldn't you buy it on Black Friday or Cyber Monday/Cyber The Rest of the Holiday Season when it's on super sale?

On that note, I've been eyeing a new camera for almost two years, trying to bite the bullet and make the purchase.  On Cyber Monday, the camera I've been lusting over was on super sale (yay!) so I decided to go for it.  Helloooooooo new toy/baby/love:

Once I get a chance to test it out I'll let you know what I think!  

Have you been self-gifting this year?  What are your thoughts, so good or no good?