Friday Finds

Happy Friday! Did anyone else have some serious struggles this week? This week is actually my only full work week for the whole month of July (because we're headed to Napa for a long weekend!), so it was really dragging for me. I'm really looking forward to 5pm tonight - besides having some friends over tonight, we're free as birds the rest of the weekend! Someone make sure I do something fun instead of plugging away on my laptop all weekend.

Anyway, onto today's finds! I thought you might be tired already of hearing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so instead here's all things I found outside of Nordstrom - and a lot of these are on sale too! Off-the-shoulder romper, anyone?

one / two / three / four / five

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What I'm Shopping at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Good morning and happy first day of the #Nsale preview! Yes, that's right, in case you somehow hadn't heard, today the Nordstrom Anniversary Sales starts in preview mode for all cardholders. Before you get completely inundated by the sale, I wanted to share what I'm actually shopping for.

I don't even want to think about fall yet, but the sale is full of cute new fall goodies (and some summer styles too!) marked down up to 33% off, so really I'm willing to just consider my fall wardrobe a little. So what exactly am I buying during the sale?

Fall Basics:

Fun Fall Blouses & Sweaters & Dresses:

Fall Accessories:

Booties & Flats:

Coats:

Are you a fan of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, or is it all too much for you? Personally, after going through literally everything that's for sale, it seems a little overhyped this year. That being said, a few things did make it into my cart - this trench (I've been wanting one forever!), these cute flats, this pair of waterproof booties (perfect for Chicago winters!), these jeans, and this cardigan. I'll let you know what I think once they arrive!

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InstaLately

Oh hey there! I've been seriously (err, at least seriously trying to) step up my Instagram game lately, and have been using LikeToKnow.it to link a lot of the stuff in my posts. Now, personally, I don't like using LikeToKnow.it, but I started using it because I know that people want direct links to products versus just knowing the store something came from. If you haven't used the app before, simply download the LikeToKnow.it app and then either screenshot photos marked with the @liketk.it tag or 'like' them to get the details. Or, if you'd prefer not to download the app, just visit the new Shop tab in my header to shop all of my Instagrams at once.

But, for those of you who don't want to bother with LikeToKnow.it at all, here are some direct links to what I've been sharing on Instagram lately! I usually share outfits earlier via Instagram than I do here, so some of these are a sneak peak of what'll be coming to Kristina does the Internets in the next week or so:

Dress / Similar Earrings / Bag

I wore this dress to the Cubs game we went to on Sunday, and you guys, it is so fun. It's supposed to have a belt, and that's how I wore it the last time, but I decided it's officially better as a shift dress and cut off the belt loops. 

Dress (a rental for just $30!)

On Friday we drove down to Champaign for Jeff's cousin's wedding, and look! Look! I actually managed to get a photo with Jeff! Haha it really is a wedding struggle for me, we always are all dressed up and I say we're going to get a picture, and then I completely forget and suddenly it's dance floor time. Oh and this dress? Perfect for a wedding!! It's fun, it's somehow sexy while still being really covered up, and the shape is super flattering. Definitely my favorite rental every! 

Top / Jeans / Similar Bag / Similar Sandals / Similar Earrings

A little pre-dinner date snap outside of Tuco & Blondie before we filled ourselves with all of the tacos and many margaritas. Really, I ordered a combo fajita plate and Jeff ordered something that included one of each taco on their menu, so it really was all of the tacos. If you go, be sure to get the passion fruit margarita - so good! 

Tee / Shorts / Similar Sandals

While we were down in Champaign, we had to stop by Pandamonium Donuts! My friends started the business after graduating from U of I, and have since gone from a few batches of donuts made out of their home kitchen to a food truck and now a storefront! I'm such a proud momma over here ;) 

Lamp / Flag / End Table

We hosted a little Fourth of July party at our place last Tuesday, and it was so fun!! We used to host big parties back in the day (before we got married and our parents kept wanting to take trips for the Fourth) and when I went to find our decorations, all I could find was this giant American flag that we once used for a photobooth! I guess everything else got thrown out when we moved. Well, anyway, if you're looking to host a Fourth of July party, really, all you need is a giant American flag. Hang it up and you are done! 

Similar Tee / Earrings / Shorts

A snap from the parade party my parents hosted - the parade in my hometown goes right in front of their house! I haven't been in years and it was so fun to be back. Also, this exact top sold out a while ago, but I found this almost identical tee that's currently on sale for just $13!!

Tank / Skirt / Jacket / Flats

Just a quick snap on my way to work!

Sweater / Shorts / Similar Bag / Similar Earrings

We had a chilly weekend a couple of weeks ago, and I had to pull out this sweater for a wander through Wicker Park. The sweater is somehow warm but light, definitely perfect for summer! 

Suitcase (currently on sale!) / Sneakers / Similar Tote

I've been traveling a lot (for me at least!) lately, and you guys, I've got this thing down to a science. This suitcase is all over bloggerland, but for good reason! It's so cute, it's really easy to pull around (which is kind of silly, but it's so much better than any other suitcase I've owned!) and the zippered compartments inside help keep me really organized while packing. I always get questions about keeping the white clean. It's a hard-shell suitcase, so if I end up having to gate check and it gets a mark, I just wipe it off with a magic eraser and it's good as new again! I got the 21 inch size, which fits perfectly as a carry-on for domestic flights. 

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Additional Red, White, and Blue Required

Dress (similar Lily, I also love this one and this one) - Lily Pulitzer / Bag - Old Navy / Earrings - BaubleBar / Sandals (similar) - Sole Society

Oh, I'm sorry, is the Fourth of July over? Because I'm not quite ready to put away all of my red, white and blue! I actually kept wearing it all of last week, and I'll probably keep on going the rest of the summer. It definitely helps that those are the colors for the Cubs!

I have a busy week ahead, between a couple of parties in my work life and my outside life, and trying to fit in all of the family time I can before my brother and sister-in-law head back to South Korea next week so I'll leave it here for now - hope you have a good one!

Add caption

Dress (similar Lily, I also love this one and this one) - Lily Pulitzer / Bag - Old Navy / Earrings - BaubleBar / Sandals (similar) - Sole Society

Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, Style Sessions, Trend Spin Linkup.

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This Weekend...

This weekend I...

...drove down to Champaign (where I went to school!) for Jeff's cousin's wedding! We met up with Jeff's grandma to see her new digs and took her out to lunch, and then went into full wedding mode. The ceremony and reception were at the i-Hotel which is just off campus and was so fun. I even saw a sneak peak of some of their wedding photos that they took on the football field! We had a great time hanging out with family and, of course, hitting the dance floor. I rented two different dresses, but ended up going with this one partially because my neighbors didn't try to hide that package from me, and mostly because it's the cutest!
...went out for date night with Jeff after taking a three (!!!) hour nap to Tuco & Blondie for many margaritas and all of the tacos. No really, Jeff ordered something off of the menu that included all. of. the. tacos. If you go though, be sure to get the passion fruit margarita - definitely the best one!! \
...tried to do a little shopping, but couldn't find enough to get free shipping to bring this tasseled romper home - how freaking cute though?! Maybe I'll just order a million pairs of dress pants to make it worth my while.
...had family night (err, afternoon?) at the Cubs game on Sunday to watch the Cubs get absolutely crushed. But, you know, it gave us lots of time to catch up and gossip, so a long, painful game is never much of a problem for me!
...forced Jeff to go out to dinner with me to Glenn's Diner, which has seriously some of the best local fish in Chicago. I had the walleye and it was definitely one of the best walleyes I've ever had. If you aren't from the Midwest, I promise that walleye is delicious and not as weird as the name sounds ;)

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Rosé in the USA!

Top and Shorts (both on sale!) - LOFT / Tote - Old Navy / Sandals (super similar) - Dolce Vita / Earrings - BaubleBar / Hat - Toucan Hats 

If you're here in the good old U S of A, then I'm wishing you the happiest Fourth of July! Three cheers for America turning another year!! I hope your day is full of sunshine, fireworks, and maybe a cocktail or two ;) We're celebrating at home with a little party on the roof (and hopefully a little rosé!!) I'm taking off for the rest of the week (unless I'm feeling truly ambitious) so I'll see you back here next Monday - hope you have a good one!

Top and Shorts (both on sale!) - LOFT / Tote - Old Navy / Sandals (super similar) - Dolce Vita / Earrings - BaubleBar / Hat - Toucan Hats 

Linking up with Style Sessions.

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This Weekend...

Tee / Earrings 

This weekend I...

...started off our three birthday parties for our friend Eddie and literally 95 of his friends and family members at a White Sox game. I have absolutely no idea what happened during the game, but had so much fun tailgaiting, eating hot dogs and all that other delicious ballpark food, and chanting for Eddie that I don't think it really matters.
...headed out to birthday party number 2 on Saturday morning for our friend's baby Henry, who made eyes at me all through dinner the week before. Turns out he has a couple of girlfriends to flirt with so I got a little jealous at the party ;)
...had a fun daytime hang with some of our friends at Gene's Sausage Shop, which has one of the best rooftops in our area. They literally only serve German sausages, German sides, and German beer (although this summer they've added a little bit of wine and sangria) and have a huge space on their roof full of picnic tables - perfect for setting up shop for a couple of hours! We headed to The Fountainhead afterwards which also has an awesome rooftop (and great food!), but had to wait so long for a table on the roof that we were basically ready to go home once we got seated. Note to self: next time, go early!
...headed out to the suburbs to celebrate my niece Mae turning two!! Her birthday this year was on the same day as the town Fourth of July parade that goes past my parents' house so we added parade watching to our to-do list. I haven't been to my parents' for a parade party in years so it was really fun and nostalgic to be back. When we were little, the Fourth of July party was the one big party my parents threw every year and they would invite everyone. It was fun to be able to finally share that with Jeff, and reminisce about the time my brother and I tried to drink out of one of the kegs as little kids (don't worry, we couldn't figure out how) or all of the times my aunts managed to make their way into the parade after a couple of cocktails. This year we made a new fun memory when a guy handing out popsicles got stressed by how many people were at our house and dumped about a hundred into my lap, which we then passed out to other people in the parade including a huge group of guys on dancing horses. Yes, that's apparently a thing.

I hope you had a good weekend and are enjoying the holiday! I'm planning on posting tomorrow but have a bit of a crazy week including our party tomorrow afternoon and a wedding on Friday, so will probably keep things pretty quiet around here the rest of the week.

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