Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks 2016

A little foreword: it's hard to believe how long it's been since my last post! Thanks to all who texted, emailed, or messaged me making sure all was well. Your concern is very much appreciated! Because of a very busy work schedule for the last few months after I returned from Japan plus some family issues, I have been on a blogging break. I've kept a low profile on social media, except for Snapchat (username is helloframboise), where I love posting tidbits from my travels and everyday life. I'm hoping to get back to regular blogging soon--I have so much to share with you all!

Onto what you came here to read! I've had a couple requests from readers for my picks from the 2016 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which is open to the public today. I'm more than happy to oblige since this is my favorite sale of the whole year. It's a great opportunity to stock up on new arrivals for fall at reduced prices. The graphic above has some of my top picks from the sale, and all the item photos are clickable and will take you to their respective product pages on Nordstrom's site. More on my favorite pieces below!

Shoe Picks

• The rag + bone Margot Booties: I splurged on these during last year's Anniversary Sale, and they were one of my favorite purchases of 2015 (review and photos here). This year, they have a neutral pair that's similar to the camel-colored ones I have and a fun gray version with fringe on the side zippers. The gray color looks to be the same as my Newbury booties, which have held up nicely for several winters now (see them on me here). The Margots are so comfy, but make sure to order a full size up as they run quite small.
• The Frye Melissa Button Boots: I've been a fan of these for ages and own two pairs myself--see my review and how I style them here.
• The Tory Burch Dillan Sandals: I just received these and am loving how comfortable and well-made they are. They run a little small, but I didn't size up because the leather will stretch.
• The Cole Haan Marina Boots: these over-the-knee boots are on my wishlist, but I haven't sprung for them quite yet. They look fantastic on Jean of Extra Petite, so it seems they work well on a small frame.
• The Aquatalia Olita Boots: after eyeing them for most of last winter, I decided to add these weatherproof leather boots to my closet. They came in yesterday, and they are just beautiful! I braved the heat and tried them on for a little while, and so far so good. I'll post a real review once temperatures drop and I can actually put the weatherproofing to the test.

Sakura in Kyoto (+ Travel Tips for Japan)

Location: Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
Top: Topshop | Denim: J Brand 'Maria' | Bag: Valentino | Scarf: H&M (old)
Shoes: Splendid (also on major sale at Nordstrom Rack in limited sizes | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors

I'm so excited to start sharing some my photos and outfits from Japan with you! As most of you probably know, the week before and the week or two after a longer vacation are the worst. I've been running around like crazy trying to make sure things are under control at work. As soon as I got back, I had to grind through a killer week of legislative work, trials, post-work events, and getting through the piles of stuff on my desk, plus all the stuff that had accumulated at home. That left very little time for blogging, so that's why these pictures are showing up here a couple weeks after our trip.

We had a wonderful time in Japan and would highly recommend it to anyone who's ready to see a lot of beauty, technology, food made of fish, and a totally different culture. We loved being immersed in a new world of sights, sounds and tastes, especially during the incredibly gorgeous cherry blossom season. While Japan's natural beauty is stunning on its own, the cherry blossoms just made everything feel magical.

Girls in kimono at the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and Shrine

The main temple house at Kiyomizu-Dera

Travel by train:

While we spent about a day and a half in Tokyo adjusting our body clocks, our first big stop was Kyoto, which was only 2.5 hours away on the express bullet train ("shinkansen"), the Nozomi Express. We loved the train system in Japan. Once we got our bearings a bit, it was easy to figure out, and it's such a nice, comfortable way to travel. We purchased first class seats when we could--they were not too much more expensive, but they gave us tons of space, a drink and snack service, and a nearly empty train car.

We couldn't take the shinkansen everywhere we went, but the local trains were nice, easy-to-access, and always on time. The best way for us to navigate the system was to use the "public transportation" option in Google maps when you navigate from one point to another. It would tell us how long it would take, which trains (and platforms sometimes) we should board, and how much it would cost. The tickets can be purchased as needed with a quick ATM-like transaction (in English!) at a computer before you enter the area to go to the platforms.

Quick tip: don't arrive at a train station with just enough time to get on your train--the train stations, especially the bigger ones, have a plethora of shops, food stands, restaurants, gift shops, clothing shops, bookstores, and even whole department stores inside the station. Leave yourself enough time to wander around the train station and check out all the fun stuff you can sample and buy before you board your train.

Where we stayed:

We arrived at Kyoto Station, and the hotel we chose there, the Kyoto Century, was an easy two-block walk from the station. The hotel staff was extremely helpful and gracious, and it was nice to be able to converse with them in English since our Japanese is pretty much non-existent. Although the rooms were small, the location near the train and bus station was very convenient, and we had a huge, delicious breakfast at the hotel every morning, which was great for long days of walking and sight-seeing.

I had looked at a lot of higher-end options in Kyoto, but booking them was a challenge due to the high demand for rooms during cherry blossom season (generally the last week of March through the second week in April). If you want to go the traditional route, staying in a ryokan, or Japanese Inn, is such a fun and interesting experience. The ryokans I had seriously considered were in Gion, the old city: The Hatanaka and Kinoe (here's a handy list of the 20 best ryokan in Kyoto if you're interested). Luckily, we got to stay at a beautiful ryokan with a hot spring (onsen) up in the mountains in Hakone as soon as we left Kyoto.

What we ate:

Japan has so much variety in its delicious cuisine. While we were in Japan, we had sushi, ramen, yakitori, kaiseki, izakaya food, and lots of desserts made with matcha green tea (I've come back obsessed with it and have been drinking it nearly every day!). They use so much of what's in the sea in their cooking, and it's all so yummy. While we were in Kyoto, we celebrated our second anniversary at a fancy kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) restaurant called Chihana, and while we enjoyed our meal there, the kaiseki meals we had in our ryokan in Hakone were better.

On many days, we would just stumble into a ramen or sushi shop and order something, and unfailingly, we got really excellent food for the price. Japanese food is pricy, so it was good to balance fancier meals with noodle shops and conveyor belt sushi when we could. We also tried to check out at which restaurants it seemed like the locals were willing to stand in line and then line up with them. The results were always worth the wait. We also found that searching for well-liked restaurants on TripAdvisor or Yelp was another way to make sure we got a great meal, which segues nicely into my next tip below.

Staying connected:

There is no way we could have had such an easy, smooth trip through Japan without our smartphones. They were maps, translators, quick guides to sights we were seeing, and a way to communicate with each other in case we were separated--something that was definitely possible when we were in big cities with giant train stations and tons of people everywhere. On our first day out in Tokyo when we arrived, we found the nearest Bic Camera, which sells tourist SIM cards. Since both of our iPhones are unlocked, it was easy to insert a new Japanese data SIM with a preloaded amount of data on it that would be good for several weeks. This took about 30 minutes and cost about US$35, and it was worth every penny. I know I've given this advice before on previous travel posts, but for us, this is the best way to take a lot of the hassle and stress out of our trip.



We had some of our nicest weather in Kyoto (and some inclement weather too), so I happily got to wear my off-shoulder blouse I had brought with me, and I even busted out my platform sandals in the sunshine. Walking down cobbled, uneven streets like the ones in Gion in platform shoes is a little sketchy, so I had my trusty Cole Haan flats (in the photo below) with me as well.

At the entrance to Fushimi-Inari Shrine, home of thousands of torii gates; jumpsuit via Topshop

Walking through Gion, the old geisha district

Hope you all enjoyed my Japan tips and photo diary from Kyoto. I'm planning a few more Japan posts with more info on this gorgeous country soon, so stay tuned. When I travel, I always try to take lots of photos and videos and post them to my Snapchat story (I posted a couple minutes' worth each day while we were in Japan). If you have Snapchat, add me (username: helloframboise) to see the very latest of what I'm up to. There are also a few more Japan pics over on my Instagram.

Thanks so much for reading. Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Spring Pleats + Denim

Jacket: J.Crew | Tee: J.Crew | Skirt: J.Crew | Shoes: Joie (here in metallic or similar in black via Nordstrom) | Bag: Valentino | Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Lots of love for J.Crew this spring--I'm wearing my favorite tee, denim jacket, and twirly new pleated skirt in today's weekend look. This skirt is even prettier in person and swishes nicely when I walk (you might have seen me wearing it a couple days in a row on my Snapchat--username is helloframboise). It seems like sizes and colors are going very fast, so jump on it quickly while it's 25% off right now (code: SHOPMORE).

I've written quick reviews of my tee (read it here) and jacket (read it here) before, and these are both pieces I find myself reaching for over and over. These closet staples are 25% off as well with the current promo, so it's a great time to scoop them up to add to your spring basics wardrobe.

I've been loving all the lace-up shoes available this spring, but it's tough to find a pair that doesn't start to get uncomfortable or dig into my skin quickly. My shoes here are a Joie pair I scored at last year's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but they're still available at reduced prices in some other colors at Saks. If I were to choose a current-season pair that looks to be similarly comfy, well-made, and budget friendly, I'd pick this Vince Camuto pair via Nordstrom. As far as lace-up flats go, I'm still enjoying my Steve Madden Eleanorr flats, which are currently price-matched at 25% off.

Denver had lovely weather again this weekend, but I actually got to spend a little time in the mountains on Friday and Saturday doing some spring skiing. Despite a somewhat slushy conditions, Sean and I still had a great time on the mountain. We hardly missed the hour we lost switching over to daylight savings. With our jobs keeping us past 5 pretty much every day, we love having a little bit of sunlight in the evening when we finally do leave the office.

Hope Daylight Savings treats you well, too! Happy Monday!

x, Tam

Stripes, Button-Up Denim, & the J.Crew Chateau Trench

Coat: J.Crew Chateau Trench in 'Barley'-- 20% off right now with code GETSHOPPING
Striped Tee: Topshop | Skirt: ASOS | Shoes: Converse | Bag: Chloe 'Drew' in 'Motty Gray'
Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: kate spade | Necklace: Roberto Coin | Earrings: Gorjana via Rocksbox

I'm sharing a casual spring look from the weekend today--we are still loving our early spring weather in Denver. (And it's hard to believe that bare legs are possible in early March!) The spring temperatures have brought us some rain instead of snow recently, and my new spring trench from J.Crew is perfect for cooler, damp weather.



You may remember that the J.Crew Chateau Parka was one of my favorite coats this winter (read my review here), so I was happy to see that J.Crew had taken the same silhouette and designed a similar spring coat in a lighter, water-resistant fabric. The Chateau Trench is lined in a darling gingham fabric and has slightly longer sleeves than the Parka, so turning up the cuffs to reveal the lining is a must.

I debated between the Barley color I got and the bright red Fiery Sunset for a bit. I love bright-colored outerwear, but I felt the more traditional color was a better fit with my mostly-neutral work wardrobe. I saw the bright red on Kelly in the City recently, and love how the color looks in contrast with the gingham lining, so if red works well in your closet, go for it!



Since the coat is advertised as water-resistant, I decided to take it for a spin while walking Stanley during a light evening shower. As raindrops hit me, I could see them bead up on the fabric and run off without any soaking through. While I'm not sure if it would keep you totally dry during a downpour, I'm happy with how the Chateau Trench protected me from the average spring rain. I also gave it a quick test under a faucet for about ten seconds, and my arm stayed dry even though the sleeve was completely wet on the outside.



As far as sizing goes, I took my normal 00P, but I noticed that other reviewers thought the fit was a little small in the shoulders. I've found that many of J.Crew's coats are on the smaller side in the shoulders, so if you're looking to layer underneath, it's often a good idea to size up. The bell shape of this coat (something I really like about it) is not as obvious in photos as it is in person. If you're looking for a more fitted, classic trench, this coat is probably not for you. I'd suggest the Icon Trench instead--it's also available in petite and regular sizing and is currently 20% off as well.

This button-through denim skirt is another new addition to my closet. I have a couple denim skirts in my wardrobe already, but I liked the A-line shape and 70's styling of this one. It's such a versatile piece and can be styled for warmer or cooler temperatures. At under $40, it was a budget-friendly option, too! When shopping at ASOS, keep in mind that their sizing runs quite small. I'm wearing a Petite 0 and could have probably gone up a size if I wanted it to sit a little lower on my waist.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Morning Radiance with St. Ives

Those of you who know me in real life know I am not a morning person at all. Rising and shining is definitely a daily struggle for me! Most days, I have to be out the door at a totally uncivilized hour, so I rely heavily on my morning routine to make sure I look and feel radiant.

Enter St. Ives and OatMeals--they sent along this lovely care package that made my mornings brighter this week. It contained two servings of OatMeals' special St. Ives Radiance Boost Bowl oatmeal in cute individual mason jars along with the new St. Ives Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Body Scrub and Nourish and Soothe Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion, which gently soothes skin, restoring its natural radiance. I love that the lotion is made with 100% natural moisturizers, including shea butter and glycerin.



Here's a peek at what my mornings usually look like:

• First things first: a long, hot shower to wake me up. I like using an exfoliant like the Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Body Scrub every other day to keep my skin soft and glowing.
• As soon as I'm out of the shower, I put lotion on while my skin is still damp to lock in the moisture. The Nourish and Soothe Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion smells great and keeps my skin from becoming dehydrated in our dry Colorado air.
• I wrap my hair with an absorbent towel, put on my cozy robe, and eat breakfast while I read my favorite news sites and blogs.
• Next I dry and style my hair, clip it back, then put on sunscreen and makeup.
• My last step is to put on the outfit I've laid out the night before (accessories and perfume included), pick up my already-packed bag, and rush out the door.

Breakfast is such an important part of starting my day. I'm often on my feet in court all morning, and there's no way I'd make it until lunchtime without a healthy and nutritious meal before work. Oatmeal has nutrients that are known to give the body energy and boost overall health, like whole grain and soluble fiber.



You can find more info on the St. Ives products I'm using here on their website. Both the body scrub and lotion are available at Target, and are a great value at $4.99 each.

I hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into my morning routine! Have a wonderful weekend!

x, Tam

Thanks to St. Ives for sponsoring this post. The opinions and text are all mine.

Work Outfit: Spring Colors

Jacket: J.Crew 'Sidney' (most similar current style) | Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: J.Crew | Shoes: L.K. Bennett | Bag: Givenchy
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelet: Loren Hope
Earrings: Trina Turk via Rocksbox (use my code helloframboisexoxo for a month of free jewels)

I am enjoying this early spring we're having in Denver and trying to incorporate some springy pieces into my work wardrobe. This pretty blush skirt was a recent sale find from J.Crew, but in a classic style of theirs that fits me well without alterations. I like my work skirts to have a little breathing room in them so I can tuck in thicker blouses or shells and not have anything look too tight or lumpy.

As I mentioned in my last work outfit post, I like the way shorter jacket sleeves work on my petite frame. The look is more proportional and feminine, and it leaves my wrists exposed to display a watch and a bracelet or two. I am a huge fan of J.Crew's old 'Sidney' blazer, which I'm wearing here, but sadly, it was discontinued after the AW 2014 season. I've bought two on eBay since then, but I wish I'd had the foresight to get one in every color when I saw them on deep discount. The new 'Campbell' blazer is the closest jacket in their current line, but when I tried it, the shoulder area didn't sit properly on me, and my tailor thought altering it would be too risky and expensive. I'm doing my best to take good care of my Sidney blazers so they last a long, long time, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that J.Crew's next slim-cut blazer will be a better fit for me.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Oversized Sweater Love

Sweater: Banana Republic (similar from ASOS) | Denim: J Brand | Scarf: LOFT | Bag: Valentino
Boots: rag + bone | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: The Horse

Sharing a quick casual outfit post today! This sweater is one of my favorite pieces I own--it's the perfect weight and coziness for travel and easy weekend looks. I think I've worn it at least once a week all winter, so I thought it was about time I posted one of the outfits I've created with it!

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Neutral Separates

Jacket: Ann Taylor (old, similar here) | Blouse: Ann Taylor | Skirt: J.Crew (on sale!)
Shoes: Loeffler Randall (current version) | Bag: Valentino | Sunglasses: Karen Walker
Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: Roberto Coin
Earrings: Trina Turk via Rocksbox (use my code helloframboisexoxo for a month of free jewels)

Today I'm sharing a work outfit I wore to the office last week. The warm weather in Denver lately meant I could skip tights with this look (which feels completely crazy in February).

The jacket I'm wearing is one of my favorites. Although it can be worn just like a typical black blazer, the tweed fabric, grosgrain trim, and shorter sleeves make it look more interesting and feminine. I've found that three-quarters or bracelet sleeves can be more flattering on a petite frame than full-length sleeves, so quite a few of my jackets have shorter sleeves. I also like how a shorter jacket looks proportionally.

Suits are a mainstay in my work wardrobe, but when I'm not in trial, I wear a lot of separates to the office. The look is a little less formal but allows for more variety in my outfits. Mixing and matching lets me get more use out of my work pieces, and putting together just a couple neutral colors keeps the look appropriately professional.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Rosy Red

Jacket: Arden B. | Cami: J.Crew | Bag: Reed Krakoff
Pants: Banana Republic (note: mine are the old Sloan fit and were altered to slim the waist and seat)
Shoes: L.K. Bennett (red is out of stock on their site, but available on sale right now at Gilt Groupe)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lariat: Gorjana via Rocksbox c/o

Well, it's a bit late to be posting my outfit from Valentine's Day, but even with the holiday on Monday, work has been crazy this week, and when I spend 12 hours a day lawyering, it's hard to get up the gumption to do more "work" when I get home. When I get home really late, all I can handle is dinner, a relaxing shower, and maybe a little TV before bed. Anyone else with a full-time job feel that way?

Sean and I had a low-key Valentine's Day, which was perfect for us given our hectic weekday schedules lately. We saw Hail Caesar and ate a cute little restaurant that had a yummy special tasting menu for the holiday.



The weather in Denver has been so phenomenal lately that I was able to wear this outfit with no coat for a walk around downtown and out to dinner. For the last two weeks, we've been having highs in the sixties and seventies. It feels like I brought the Phoenix weather home with me when I returned from my weekend in Arizona!

The silk cami I'm wearing is a new addition to my closet via J.Crew's sale, and although it turned out to be much too low-cut to wear under a blazer for work, it's pretty and breezy for an evening out. (Pro tip: a little fashion tape goes a long way in preventing any wardrobe malfunctions with a low, looser top like this one.)

Hope you've had a wonderful week!

x, Tam

Review: Chloe Drew Bag

Bag: Chloe Drew in "Motty Grey" with gold hardware, available at Nordstrom, or Farfetch
Outfit 1 (top right): details here
Outfit 2: (bottom left): details here

Today I'm sharing my review of the Chloe Drew bag you've seen so often here and on my Instagram feed lately. I first noticed this bag in street style shots at various Fashion Weeks and on celebrities about a year ago, and I've been admiring (okay, stalking) it online ever since. I love how it instantly elevates any outfit and gives the simplest looks a chic, ladylike vibe. Click through for my full review!

Arizona Weekend

Top: Anthropologie | Denim: J Brand | Shoes: L.K. Bennett (a few sizes left on Gilt)
Bag: Chloe (available at Nordstrom or Farfetch, where I got mine)
Bracelets: Loren Hope, Vita Fede | Watch: The Horse

Sean and I had so much fun visiting friends in Arizona this weekend. If you've been following my Snapchat (username: helloframboise), you probably saw that I caught some of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, ate some of my favorite foods, and got to go to my bestie's gender reveal party (she's having a boy!). It was wonderful to get a break from the cold and soak up a little sunshine.

Hope your weeekend was just as fun!

x, Tam

Laced Up

Jacket: Zara | Turtleneck Tee: J.Crew | Overalls: Topshop
Bag: Chloe (available at Nordstrom or Farfetch, where I got mine)
Shoes: Steve Madden | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: The Horse

Quick outfit post for you today! We've had some extra-gray and cold weather this week in Denver, but today the sun finally came out and the snow started melting. I'm currently packing for a quick getaway to warmer temperatures and am excited to be wearing these cute lace-up flats again soon!

Thanks for reading! Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam