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.

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!

Building a Work Shoe Wardrobe

I've recently had a few readers ask about what kind of shoes I have in my work shoe wardrobe and whether I spend entire days in high heels. Short answer: I only spend the day in heels if I absolutely have to--so most days, I wear both heels and flats. (Very) long answer: settle in with some popcorn and get ready to go through several years' worth of wardrobe building. I'll be discussing all the shoes pictured above--these are all actual shoes I own and wear to work (the photos are all clickable links).

A little background: I am a full-time lawyer who goes to court 1-5 days a week. Whenever I go to court, I'm dressed "business formal," although the particular court I usually work in has a somewhat relaxed version of business formal, so there's a little leeway for bolder fashion choices. I always wear a jacket and closed-toe shoes in court.

The environment in my office is more relaxed. If I don't have any meetings or court appearances, I am able to wear nice jeans or business casual attire. Unless I have clients coming in, I am usually in flats at my office to try to save my feet a little. Read the whole breakdown after the jump!

Bundled in Gray + Rose Quartz [+ J.Crew Sale Picks]

Coat: H&M | Denim: J Brand | Scarf: J.Crew (on sale!) | Boots: rag + bone | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Earrings: J.Crew | Watch: The Horse

After being disappointed with the last few colors of the year (Marsala was not for me), I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this year's picks. I already had quite a bit of blush/"rose quartz" in my closet, and I've been pairing it with simple neutrals for a minimal winter look.

The scarf I'm wearing here has been one of my favorite new additions to my closet this winter, and it's on a major sale right now at J.Crew--an extra 40% off the already-reduced sale price. There are a lot of other great pieces in their sale, including this luxe cashmere infinity scarf for a steal, this work-appropriate rose quartz skirt, my Chateau Parka I reviewed here, and my Stewart plaid shirt I wore in this post (only a few sizes left). You can shop my sale picks by clicking the photos below!

Happy Friday! Hope your weekend is wonderful!

x, Tam

Happy Holidays + Resolutions for 2016 + End-of-Year Sales

Coat: J.Crew | Shirt: J.Crew (sold out, but I like this one that's still available) | Skirt: ASOS (exact cut is out of stock, but this slimmer cut in the same fabric looks great) | Scarf: J.Crew Factory | Bag: Valentino | Boots: Stuart Weitzman | Lips: Stila 'Fiery'

Sean and I spent a wonderful Christmas holiday in the Winter Wonderland that is Breckenridge with family and close friends. We loved every minute of skiing, drinking hot chocolates and hot toddies by the fire, soaking in the hot tubs and watching the skiers go by, and stopping by the cute little shops in town.

I'm a little sad that Christmas is over, but even though I'm not much for resolutions (they fall apart so fast!), I think I'm going to try to instill a few. My husband wants us to slow our lives down and eat a little better, which is a great idea. I want to improve my blog and hopefully find more time to share what's in my head with you. We both want to exercise more since that so easily goes by the wayside when you're two busy lawyers with dogs, hobbies, volunteer work, and other obligations taking away your free time. I think the gist is that we want to encourage ourselves to find that "productive downtime" that has been seeming so elusive for us. Wish us luck!

For those of you who are looking to do a little wardrobe refresh in the new year, I thought I'd do a quick run-down of after-Christmas sales for you.

• Nordstrom: the Half-Yearly Sale has arrived, with sale prices up to 60% off + price matching. My top picks are these extra-comfy Sam Edelman ballet flats that are pefect for commuting or running errands without a blister in sight, this amazing Bobeau wrap that works for any and all figures, and these rarely-on-sale glossy original Hunter rain boots.
• J.Crew: 40% off hundreds of styles, including certain colors of the coat I'm wearing in this post. My favorite petite tee is on sale, too.
• Ann Taylor: 50% off all items + free shipping with code EVERYTHING. I love this pink tweed skirt with matching top and this all-season stretch dress that seems like the perfect addition to any closet.

Happy holidays!

x, Tam

Holiday Cozy Outfit + J.Crew Chateau Parka Review + My Picks from the Best of Cyber Monday 2015

Coat: J.Crew | Sweater: J.Crew (40% off today with code MONDAY) | Denim: 7FAM (40% off today) | Boots: MICHAEL Michael Kors | Bag: Coach | Sunglasses: Karen Walker (part of Shopbop's Cyber Monday tiered promo with code GOBIG15) | Necklace: Slate + Earrings: Gorjana via Rocksbox | Watch: Michael Kors

Yesterday was a gray and chilly day in Denver, so Sean and I headed over to Union Station to get brunch and check out the pretty Christmas decorations. We braved the cold for a few photos but mostly stayed cozy inside. It was the perfect opportunity to test run my new Chateau Parka.



I've had this coat on my wishlist since last winter, and I waited and waited for it to go on sale as the $365 full price was a bit steep. Unfortunately, it never seems to be part of the percent-off promotions J.Crew often runs. I waited until they had a tiered promotion and went for it then. When it arrived, I was happy to see that the quality was similar to my other higher-end wool coats. There is some pretty topstitching on the zipper placket and all seams appear to be well-constructed.

I did find that there was a less expensive version of this coat at J.Crew Factory: the Vail Parka. I had the opportunity to try it on in person in regular sizing, and while the finishing wasn't quite as nicely done as it is on the retail version, and the wool isn't quite as heavy, it is still a very cute coat, and the price point is much more affordable. It is down to only $115 for select colors ($139 for the rest) today as part of their Cyber Monday deal.



I took my regular J.Crew coat/dress size, 00P, and it fit me as expected. I saw some reviews that advised to size down, but I disagree. The 00P was the right size for me, especially given that in cold temperatures, I want to be able to layer or wear bulkier sweaters under it. At 4'11", the petite sizing was the right choice for me, but if you're a couple inches taller, I'd consider trying this coat on in regular sizing to make sure the overall and sleeve length work for you.

Another common complaint I noted in reviews was that the body of the coat was "too big." The body is an A-line, swing coat shape and bells out at the bottom. For me, I liked the silhouette and found it looked flattering and different from my other wool coats. The swing shape and fur-trimmed hood were what ultimately convinced me that this piece would be something unique in my coat closet.



Yesterday's temperatures only reached a high of 27°F/-3°C, and I was comfortable taking an evening walk in this coat with a chunky sweater underneath. I was lamenting my failure to bring mittens or gloves, but the front pockets kept my hands relatively warm despite a chilly wind. I was warm and dry even when a light snow began to fall, but heavier snow or wetter conditions would mean bringing out my water-resistant down coat or parka.



I'm so excited for decorating my house this week now that we've returned from our Thanksgiving weekend in the mountains. I am trying to get my shopping done as soon as I can to make the Christmas season as stress-free as possible. If your inbox looks anything like mine, making a plan for shopping today is a struggle. Here's my culled and curated list of Cyber Monday deals and my favorite pieces from each:

• Nordstrom: sale prices up to 60% off + price matching. My top picks are here.
• Bloomingdale's: 25% off almost everything, including fine jewelry + a rare 10% off most beauty items with code BEAUTY10
• J.Crew: 40% off 507 styles, including the sweater I'm wearing in this post
• J.Crew Factory: 50% off + an extra 15% off + free shipping. My picks: this plaid skirt and this incredibly soft buffalo check scarf.
• Hanky Panky: Signature Sale with 30-40% off classic styles with petite sizes available.
• Loren Hope: 20% off with code THANKFULLY (including the Blythe Necklace I'm wearing here).
• 7 For All Mankind: 40% off full-price items (including the white jeans I'm wearing in this post) + 20% off sale + $99 styles for men and women.
• Madewell: get 25% off your entire purchase, including already marked down items. I have my eye on this gorgeous Zip Transport Tote as a potential new work tote and this cute checked cape scarf as an easy one-size-fits-all gift.
• Shopbop: spend-more-save-more promo with code GOBIG15. If you spend $250, you will get 15% off; $500+ gets 20% off; and $1,000+ gets 25% off. This offer includes all full-price and sale merchandise. A few of my go-to pieces: Karen Walker sunglasses, Clare V leopard clutch, and these distressed J Brand skinnies.
• Ann Taylor: 50% off all items + free shipping with code EVERYTHING. This burgundy lace dress and festive red skirt caught my eye.
  
• LOFT: 50% off everything with code CYBER50 + free shipping. I have this sweater in gray (runs large) and this sweater in ruby (runs small) and both have gotten lots of wear already this fall.

Hope you find some great deals and stay warm this Cyber Monday! x, Tam

Thankful + Best of Black Friday 2015

Hi, there! Hope all of my fellow American readers had a happy and delicious Thanksgiving. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you so very much for following along with this little blog of mine. It is hard to believe I've been blogging for over four years now--time has flown! I am so thankful to have your support, especially when life gets in the way of writing and posting pretty pictures. I'm thankful for all the imperfect moments (like the one in the photo above--I don't recommend shooting outfit pics with two rambunctious dachshunds "helping") that remind me that life is about so much more than beautiful photos and perfect styling.

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Okay, now onto what you've come here for: Black Friday sales. There are so many great deals out there today, and shopping online means you get to stay in your pajamas, sip hot cocoa, and not worry about battling the crowds at the mall. Here are my favorite sales and some curated picks from each. I'll continue updating througout the day today as I spot more great buys.

Nordstrom: their fall sale is still in full swing, but now selected items are an additional 25% off (so great!). The sale includes the Bobeau wrap cardigan I talked about in my last post, now down to only $29 with lots of sizes available. A couple of my favorite pieces that rarely go on sale are also part of today's deal: the Frye Melissa Button Boots (see my review) and the rag + bone Harrow booties (see my review).

Madewell: get 25% off your entire purchase, including already marked down items. I have my eye on this gorgeous Zip Transport Tote as a potential new work tote and this cute checked cape scarf as an easy one-size-fits-all gift.

Anthropologie: 25% off everything with code SHOPTOIT. An all-inclusive sale like this one is very rare for Anthro! The Carissima Sheath I wore in Paris is still one of my favorite pieces in my closet. I also have my eye on this simple and chic red dress for my office holiday party.

Shopbop: has a spend-more-save-more promo today. If you spend $250, you will get 15% off; $500+ gets 20% off; and $1,000+ gets 25% off. This offer includes all full-price and sale merchandise. A few of my go-to pieces: Karen Walker sunglasses, Clare V leopard clutch, and these distressed J Brand skinnies.

Tory Burch: 30% off if you spend $250+.

ASOS: 30% off everything with code BLESSED. I recently ordered a couple dresses for holiday events: this black velvet beauty and this sparkly one that seems perfect for New Year's Eve.

7 For All Mankind: 40% off full-price items and 20% off sale. I wear the 7FAM jeans I have constantly, and I'm a huge fan of the Slim Illusion Skinny in Stark White--of all the white jeans I've ever tried, these are best fit and most durable (see them on me here and here).

J.Crew: 30% off your entire purchase + 40% off sale items with code HOLIDAY. I'm currently loving my petite Excursion Vest I bought earlier this fall and the Chateau Parka I received last week. These red plaid pajamas are on my Christmas list, and these luxe leather gloves would make a perfect gift. Almost every year, I buy Sean one of J.Crew's men's cashmere scarves--they are amazingly soft and hold up well with wear.

Happy Black Friday!

x, Tam

Cozy Cardi + Current Sale Picks

Cardigan: Leith via Nordstrom | Turtleneck: J.Crew in XXS | Denim: Topshop (same style in black)
Boots: rag + bone | Bag: Valentino | Necklace: Loren Hope | Earrings: Nadri
Bracelets: David Yurman | Watch: Michele

Hi, guys! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I started a little holiday shopping and worked on getting my guest room ready for family and friends coming to visit. Today I am sharing a cozy outfit from the weekend and a few of my picks from the various sales that are currently happening.

Nordstrom has been having a fall clearance sale for the last week or so, and a couple of my orders came in at the end of last week. After seeing how great it looked on Jean, I decided to try out this cute waterfall maxi cardigan. Although it's not petite-sized specifically, I thought the XS was a good (oversized) fit on me. I'm also loving this Bobeau wrap (I went with XXSP) I got in a couple colors; I'm planning to pick up a couple more to give as holiday gifts. I noticed my recently-purchased Cole Haan flats (so comfy!) are on a price-matching promotion right now, and this pretty Tory Burch bucket bag is also part of the sale and on my wishlist at the moment.

J.Crew is also having its share of sales in anticipation of the holiday weekend. Many newer arrivals are 30% off, and sale items are up to 50% off. I ordered the turtleneck tee I'm wearing in this post a while ago, and it finally arrived last week. After wearing it for a day, I already have a few more on my wishlist. It seems like it'll be a versatile layering piece that should be wearable all the way into spring. My other picks: the Cambridge Cable turtleneck sweater I wore last week, this hat I have been loving (coming to the blog soon), this cozy flannel button-down, and my favorite tee (all available in regular and petite sizing).

Have a wonderful week!

x, Tam

VIB Sale Picks at Sephora + Weekend Sale Links

Sephora's big VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) member sale begins today! This is one of my favorite sales of the year because I can stock up on all the beauty products I love at a rare 20% off with no exclusions at all. This year's holiday gifts sets have also debuted, so I'm also picking up a couple Christmas gifts early. This weekend, VIB Rouge members--those at Sephore's highest rewards level--get first dibs with code ROUGE20, and next week, all of the VIBs get access to the sale. I'll update this post with the VIB code for next week once I have it.

I've included a couple of my all-time favorite beauty products above. I've previously written a review about the NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer, which is oil-free, light, moisturizing, and fantastic at helping makeup stay put all day. I've also reviewed the Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder in a prior post.

Also in my collage above are my "Holy Grail" lip products: the Fresh Sugar tinted lip balms and the NARS lip crayons (in satin, matte, and gloss). I wear one or both of them on my lips every single day. I'm pretty thrilled that there's a value set of every color of the Fresh Sugar balms available since I'm almost out of most of the colors I own. (Note: the collage I've made above is clickable, so anything you click will take you right to that product on Sephora's site.)

There are a couple other great sales going on this weekend: Nordstrom has its Fall Clearance with up to 40% off, J.Crew has 30% of its sale items and 25% off many full-price styles, and Saks Off Fifth has tons of designer fall items discounted even more than usual (I'm swooning over this pair of Stuart Weitzman's coveted OTK boots). I'll try and post some picks from these sales over the weekend.

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Transitioning to Fall: J.Crew Denim Jacket & rag + bone Margot Booties

Jacket: J.Crew | Top: Anthropologie (last styled here) | Skirt: Urban Outfitters | Booties: rag + bone 'Margot' Bag: Coach | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklace: Loren Hope c/o Rocksbox (detailed Rocksbox review here) Earrings: Gorjana c/o Rocksbox | Watch: Michael Kors

Last fall, I got my first pair of rag + bone booties, the 'Newbury' style from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (see me style them here). After finding them to be very cute and comfy, I then decided to add the 'Harrow' booties to my collection over the winter. When I started walking in them and found that the 3.5" heel felt like no heel at all, I was hooked (full review here). Now I've fallen hard for another style: the 'Margot,' which I'm wearing in this post. I had initially ordered them in black, but found the leather to look too similar to my Newburys and returned them; I was thrilled to finally snag a camel pair (thank you, Nordstrom Customer Service!).

Similar to my Harrows, the Margots are extremely comfortable, and it's hard to believe how high the heel is when you walk in them. The camel suede is a beautiful color, and it has a nice leg-lengthening effect. I like the ankle area of these more than my Harrows, actually, as it's more fitted for petite ankles. I'm wearing these now with skirts and shorts, but they'll transition nicely into cooler fall weather. A tip if you decide to spring for a pair: rag + bone footwear seems to run about a size small. I normally wear a 35 (5-5.5 US) in designer shoes, and 36 fits me well in all the styles I've mentioned here.

J.Crew has started offering some of their petite line in XXXSP and 000P, and when I saw this cute denim jacket on Kelly of Alterations Needed, I ordered an XXXSP to try myself. I think I would have been fine with my usual XXSP given how this jacket fits, but I like how slim this one is. Although it's too fitted on me for layering with long-sleeved tops, it's a nice late summer/early fall jacket. I'm looking forward to wearing it more often soon, but I'm going to fully enjoy the 90+ temperatures forecasted for this weekend.

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Weekend Vibe + A Couple Reviews of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

Top: Urban Outfitters (on sale!) | Denim: ASOS | Shoes: Joie via the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (#NSale) | Bag: Mansur Gavriel (hint: these are notoriously hard to find, but you can pre-order one at Barney's right now!) | Bracelet: Vintage | Earrings: Nadri via the #NSale

Some of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks from my previous post have finally arrived! While not everything is summer-appropriate of course, I thought I'd show you a look with couple pieces that I was able put to work right away and will transition easily into fall, my Joie lace-up sandal-booties and the Nadri Ear Jackets. Remember, the Anniversary Sale is still going on this week, but prices go up on August 3.



I've been looking at earrings in this style (with a back jacket) for a while now, and these pretty Nadri ones really caught my eye while I was browsing the Anniversary Sale. I was delighted to find that they are even prettier in person, and they are light as air on my ears.

I find it difficult to wear heavy earrings for an entire day; these are so light I even forgot to take them out before bed and had no trouble sleeping in them. The jackets have a couple different holes where you can insert the earring, so you can control how low you want them to hang below your ear. The backs are nice and sturdy, so you don't have to worry about them loosening or falling out. I think I'll be wearing these a ton this summer and fall!



One of my other favorite pieces I ordered from the #NSale? These Joie sandals (booties? a hybrid?). Getting into them takes a little effort, but once they're on, I found them to be very comfortable as long as I left myself plenty of room in the laces. The heel on them is a very walkable stiletto, and the leather is buttery-soft, so no blister issues there. I'm excited to style these in a bunch of different ways--they have so much potential!



I wore the look in this post yesterday, which was a very busy Sunday. Because of our work schedules, Sean and I don't get to run many errands during the week, so we jam as many as we can into our weekends. When we stopped to quickly take these photos, we had a car full of groceries, so I decided to grab my bunch of supermarket roses and use it as a prop here.



This location is another great Denver spot. Behind me you can see the interesting architectural features of the Denver Art Museum, and I'm standing on the promenade between the museum and the Denver Public Library. There are some fascinating pieces of public art around this park--here's a little more info on some of the big pieces if you're interested.

Happy Monday!

x, Tam

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2015 Picks

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is live and open to the public today! This is a great time to start stocking up on fall necessities before cooler temperatures hit. This sale is one of my favorite of the year because you can get discounted, new-season fall items that will be full-price come August 3. I'm sharing some of my favorite pieces from the sale--which is open to the public beginning today, July 17, 2015 at midnight Pacific Time. (All the photos above have clickable links!)

Boots & Booties

After falling hard for rag & bone's Harrow Booties last winter, I decided to order the Margot Booties, a Nordstrom exclusive, based on their similar shape and style. I've also been in the market for a more open lace-up bootie, so I am trying out the Joie 'Quinn' Sandals. I snagged a pair of Joie sandals on discount earlier this summer and have been very pleased with the style and quality of those, so I have my fingers crossed that these will fit what I'm looking for. If I had a little more money to burn, my next pick would be these classic Aquatalia by Marvin K 'Gianna' Boots, which are weatherproofed for those of us in northern climates this fall, winter, and (sadly much of) spring this year.

And since it's still going to be sunshine and warm temperatures for several months, these simple Tory Burch 'Melinda' Sandals will probably come in handy until October arrives. I'm hoping they might work for my upcoming beach trip.

Bags

I probably own too many Longchamp Le Pliage/Le Pliage Neo totes, but I use them for absolutely everything. I love this fantastic expandable one that's back in this year's sale after disappearing quickly last year during Early Access. It can be zipped from a medium tote back to a larger tote in a jif, and it folds up nice and neatly and can pack into your other handbag or purse.

This lovely Tory Burch Tote would be another great one for work. It looks very stylish and chic, and it looks like I could probably stuff my MacBook Air + a few legal-size files in there without too much trouble.

Jeans

I love rag & bone jeans, but they can be really difficult to find in a size 23, so I was happy to come across these dark-wash Skinny Saxby Jeans on sale in my size. I am dying to get my box and see how they fit on Monday. I'm sure they'll need some minimal alterations, but this brand generally fits my frame well.

Beauty

There is also a good crop of beauty items and exclusives that are part of the Anniversary Sale. This year, I knew the True NARS Lip Pencil Set had to come home with me. These chubby, velvety lip pencils have upped my lip game significantly. I usually wear the NARS pencil beneath as a base look, then add just a teeny bit of Fresh Sugar shine over top for a perfect pout that stays (almost) all day. I love that my favorite shade ('Yu') is part of this bunch. Best bright pink lipstick ever! I also love NARS' highly pigmented cheek and bronzer colors, and this pretty palette gives you a bunch of NARS signature shades for a great package price. I also came away very intrigued by the YSL Glossy Stain Trio, which looks to contain some bold and classic colors.

On the skin care side, the Clarisonic Mia 2 looks to be a reasonable price for this wonder brush for skin. I started using mine six years ago, and it still works perfectly, and I love how clean it leaves my skin. It's a great tool to have in your beauty arsenal, and snagging one on discount can be difficult, so act soon if you're interested.

Accessories

I always manage to find some interesting accessories I want to try. I've been seeing the Frends headphones everywhere when I've been travelling or commuting, so I decided to order this set with both in- and over-ear phones to test out how they sound. If I like them, Frends has all sorts of neat caps you can get to jazz up the earpieces.

I also have a bit of a thing with watches, which I know is kind of old-fashioned in my generation. I wear a watch every since day and feel naked without one. I have been eyeing the kate spade 'grammercy' style watches for a couple years now, and I might cave later on in the sale if they're still there. Since I have a rose gold/platium wedding set, I'm always on the lookout for other jewels with that same combination of metal colors.

If you've found any must-haves from the sale, please share! Once I receive the items (boo extended shipping timeline), I'll try to post some thoughts on what ended up working for me!

Happy Shopping!

x, Tam

Sunset in Perth

Tee: J.Crew (liking this current one) | Shorts: Topshop 'Hallie' (on a huge sale if you happen to be a size 10!) | Sandals: Splendid | Bag: Valentino | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bracelet: vintage (from my dear grandmother) | Watch: Michael Kors

After exploring Brisbane, Sean and I headed north to Cairns, where we saw the Great Barrier Reef and my fingers had their unfortunate encounter with the boat ladder. The day after I had surgery, we hopped on a plane across the continent to Perth, where we visited Sean's wonderful sister (and seriously considered staying forever).

My activities were somewhat limited with my recent injury, but I could still enjoy the gorgeous weather and unbelievable beaches. The climate and natural beauty reminded me a lot of California, but with so many fewer people! Perth is a bustling city, but not too far away, the natural landscape feels untouched and like it goes on for ages. It felt almost surreal to be so far from home.

Sean's sister took us to delicious Clancy's Fish Pub on City Beach in Perth for our first night there. The food was so fresh, and the view over the water was perfect. After a hectic few days getting there, the relaxed Western Australia beaches were exactly the recharge we needed.



After dinner, we snapped some outfit photos and watched the sun set over the Indian Ocean. It was my first time seeing this ocean, and it was beautiful (now I just have to dip my toes into the Arctic Ocean to complete my list--not sure if I'll be doing that ever).



One more snap from my Instagram to show you how lovely and turquoise this water was by daylight when we arrived at the beach. I ran in and dipped my toes in the water right after Sean shot this pic.

Hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse at Perth! More to come soon.

x, Tam

--

P.S. J.Crew's sale is on sale today only--50% off everything in their sale section! I ordered the Petite Bow-Shoulder Dress and this pattered Carrie Cami. I also noticed the perfect-for-summer leather Cypress sandals I wore in this post are a steal at $20 with code DAYTHREE.

Gift Guide: 10 Perfect Gifts for Him

1. A classic silk tie for the office or special occasion (in 15 colors!)
2. A cozy down vest: easy to size, easy to wear--a guaranteed closet workhorse
3. A cashmere scarf in plaid or solid colors (+ 30% off!) will keep him warm and stylish this winter
4. You'll want him wearing this appealing, confident scent from Creed all the time
5. American Bar: the Artistry of Mixing Drinks to help him master the perfect cocktail
6. Cozy winter jammies--in Christmas-y plaid or solid colors if that's more his style
7. Classic Ray-Ban aviators flatter every face (and remind him of Top Gun)
8. Love this tailored, grown-up dopp kit with a fun message inside
9. A monogrammed copper tray for storing essentials or jazzing up his bar
10. Touch screen-friendly gloves to keep him warm and in touch on the go

The hardest people on my list to find great gifts for? My dad, my husband, and my brothers, always. Today's list is for the men in your life, and it's all about the foolproof, classic pieces you'll see them reach for again and again. Hope this guide makes picking the perfect gift for the guys you love a little easier!

x, Tam

Gift Guide: the Perfect Gift for the Busy Girl

1. Garance Doré Greeting Card Set so she can jot a quick
thank-you note while she drinks her morning coffee
2. Portable Ultra-Thin Charger to keep her phone charged all day long
3. "Whistle While You Work" Tackle Box to make her workspace a little prettier
4. Dachshund Trinket Dish for all her little treasures
5. Glittery holiday earrings to add a little sparkle to her party dress
6. The Naked Basics 2 Palette, the only eye shadow palette she'll ever need
7. A Jonathan Adler Zebra Dish so she can keep track of her keys
8. The perfect coffee mug for the girl on the go
9. This cute kate spade pouch to keep her purse organized
10. A Smashbox palette for quick, foolproof contouring
11. Every busy girl needs to relax sometimes, too;
this heavenly set of Diptyque candles should help

Today's gift guide is for the women in your life that do it all--and do it with style. Is she rushing to a 7:30 AM meeting, putting in a busy day at the office, going out to dinner with friends then off to a holiday party? These picks have your busy girl covered from morning to midnight.