Between secret santa exchanges with friends and work yankee swaps, I've found myself looking for a lot of gifts under $25. I always struggle with this price point because I want to get something meaningful for the recipient rather than something they'll just end up re-gifting next season. That being said, it can be hard to find great gifts at a relatively low price point. I hope that you enjoy the options (including some for guys!) I've rounded up below, and that even if they aren't perfect for you, they at least provide a good jumping-off point for other gifts! In addition to the ones below, I feel like you can't go wrong with a cute succulent, a restaurant gift certificate, or homemade baked goods.
I feel like this could also be called a list of things I own and love/things I want. Honestly, it was tough to keep this to just 18 items, but I think I rounded up some great options at a variety of price points up to $200. Things I already have and love include: this go-anywhere weekender (30% off!), these wireless headphones, this personalized dog mug (got it for my mom last year!), truly the best sweater, this customizable luggage tag necklace, the coziest pompom sweater (up to 30% off!), and the world's best slippers (25% off!). I know I'd love to receive any of the rest under the tree/hanukkah bush 😜.
Now for the notoriously difficult gifts: the ones for the guys in your life. If you're lucky enough to have the "I don't know" and/or the "I don't need anything" type of guys it can be hard to know where to start. I like to think the options I rounded up below work for most or can at least be a great jumping off point for other gift ideas. The majority of them are things I've gotten for my boyfriend/brother/dad in the past few years and to my knowledge they haven't been returned 😅, so I can confirm they're good options! You can never go wrong with these joggers, these must-have mocs, or a better sweater. If you feel like splurging, this drone or these noise cancelling headphones would fit the bill. Check out the rest below:
The best shopping weekend of the year is officially here! It seems like every store has stepped up their discount game, so budget your time (and money) wisely. Check out my roundup below:
Click on store name to be brought to the site!
Adidas // up to 50% off select hoodies, fleece, tees, tracksuits, footwear and more
Aerie // 40% off the aerie collection + free shipping; 10/$35 underwear; all pj pants $20; free blanket with $75 purchase
American Eagle // 40% off + free shipping; select sweaters, flannels, & fleece $25; free blanket with $75 purchase
And Other Stories // 20% off everything w/code FRIDAYNOIR20
Anthropologie // 30% off everything
Athleta // 20% off everything w/code BLISS
Banana Republic // 50% off regular-priced items; extra 10% off with Gap Inc. card w/code BRCARD
Banana Republic Factory // 60% off entire store; extra 15% off w/code BLKFRI
BCBG // 50% off everything
Bergdorf Goodman // additional 25% off previously reduced items; up to 50% off select designer items
Bloomingdale's // buy more, save more up to 25% off; loyallists get $25 reward for every $100 spent
Club Monaco // buy more, save more up to 35% off
Dagne Dover // 20% off everything w/code GRATITUDE
Evelyn Henson // 20% off everything w/code GINGERBREAD20
Evelyn Henson // 20% off everything w/code GINGERBREAD20
Everlane // for every order placed, one pound of plastic will be cleaned from a beach
Framebridge // 20% off black frames w/code BLACK20
Free People // 50% off select styles; additional 25% off sale styles
Gap // 50% off everything w/code BLKFRIDAY; extra 10% off w/code TREAT
Glossier // 20% off everything + free shipping over $30
Intermix // $50 off every $250 spent; free shipping + returns
Jack Rogers // up to 80% off select styles
J. Crew // 50% off your purchase w/code TGIF
J. Crew Factory // up to 80% off clearance items w/code ADD2CART; extra 40-50% off sitewide (all online only)
Levi's // 40% off everything w/code INDIGO
Lo & Sons // up to 50% off + 60 day extended returns
Loft // 50% off your purchase w/code FRIYAY
Lord & Taylor // extra 10% off your purchase (in-store only); extra 40% off newly-reduced styles; $25 off purchases $200+ w/code BONUS
Lulu's // 25-90% off everything w/code BF25
Macy's // extra 25% off w/code BLKFRI or $10 off purchases $25+; free shipping over $49
Madewell // 25% off your purchase w/code DEALWITHIT
Mark and Graham // 20% off everything + free shipping w/code FRIENDS
Neiman Marcus // up to 60% off select items; $50 off purchases $200+ w/code THANKFUL
Nordstrom // up to 60% off select items
One Kings Lane // up to 20% off sitewide + extra 10% off w/code OKLCYBER18
Outdoor Voices // up to 40% off select styles
Pottery Barn // 25% off everything + free shipping w/code BLACKFRIDAY
Ralph Lauren // 40% off $125+ w/code TAKE40; extra 10% off select outerwear + cold weather accessories
Revolve // up to 65% off select items
Saks // up to 40% off designer selections; up to 60% off select items; earn a $75 gift card with $150 purchase w/code THANKFUL
Saks Off Fifth // up to 90% select styles w/code AMAZING
Shopbop // buy more, save more up to 25% off full-price items + up to 75% off sale items w/code MORE18
South Moon Under // 30% off everything; free shipping + returns
Stuart Weitzman // up to 40% off select styles
Tory Burch // up to 60% off w/code THANKS
Tuckernuck // buy more, save more up to 30% off entire store
Urban Outfitters // buy one get one 50% off
Vineyard Vines // 40% off sale styles + 25% off full-price items w/code HOLIDAY18
Waiting on Martha // buy more, save more up to 30% off
West Elm // buy more, save more up to 30% off w/code SAVEMORE
I'd love to hear what deals and steals you find!
I can't believe it's already the time of year to start thinking about gifts, but with Black Friday in less than a week I feel like maybe this post should have gone out earlier! I figured I'd start off my gift guides with monogrammed gifts as they usually take an extra week or two to ship. I know I would love to receive anything rounded up below. I especially love these notecards - I don't know about you, but I never keep notecards on hand and then scramble to find some when I need to send one. Having some pretty monogrammed ones would solve that! Plus, what's better than receiving a handwritten card? I also adore anything and everything by Evelyn Henson. I got my mom the personalized dog mug last year and she loved it. (Everything on her site right now is 25% off!) Check out my other favorites below:
After Budapest we hopped on a bus to Vienna then got on a train to Salzburg. The trip took about five hours but gave us (barely) enough time to watch The Sound of Music...for the first time ever 🙈. The list of "classic" movies I've seen is embarrassingly small, but that's a story for another time. We loved our time in this area of Austria and felt that two and half days for Salzburg and Hallstatt was just right. Salzburg itself is a pretty small city and the Old Town section is easily walkable in a day. The only part I didn't love was the food - as someone who's gluten free and (tries to be) dairy free, Salzburg was not the place for me. Austrian cuisine is pretty much just sausages, fried meat, and potatoes. At one point I begged to go to an Indian restaurant for dinner because I couldn't eat one more potato 😂. Also, finding gluten free beer was a bit of a challenge but we did succeed once! Read on for more of my recommendations:
// S T A Y //
We stayed at Hotel Stein, the only non-Airbnb during our trip. The room itself was small, but really nice, with an amazing view out over the river and up to the castle. There was also a breakfast buffet (on the rooftop!) in the morning for an additional charge. As for the location, it was perfect. It's situated in the midst of a pedestrian-only street and right across the bridge from the majority of the Old Town. It was so nice to be able to head back to the hotel after a day of exploring and relax before dinner without feeling like we were trekking super far out of the way.
// D O //
Mirabell Palace/Gardens - We enjoyed wandering the grounds here and looking at all of the different flowers and landscaping. You'll also recognize the gardens from the "Do Re Mi" scene in The Sound of Music.
Old Town - This is where pretty much all of the touristy things are. Super cute small streets with a mix of boutique shops and larger international stores. Not to miss are Mozart's birthplace, (we just walked by it) on the main shopping street, Getreidegasse, Chapter Square, and Salzburg Cathedral. There's also the two main squares: Residenzplatz and Mozartplatz. While we were there, Mozartplatz had a small farmer's market going on with all sorts of pastries and produce for sale. As usual, I enjoyed wandering all the small winding side streets the most.
Hohensalzburg Fortress - Otherwise known as the castle on the hill (@Ed Sheeran). If you choose not to take the funicular up (this way saves you a few dollars) you can enjoy (?) a super steep trek up to the top of the mountain. Once at the top, we bought tickets to see the fortress and walked around the grounds before starting an audio tour. One weird thing to note is that the audio tour is still done in groups, so you go from room to room with your group, but you're all listening to your own headsets. The tour was about 20 minutes, so not too long to get boring. Plus, it ended on the roof where you got an incredible view over the city. There's also two lunch spots on the grounds; the nicer one overlooks the backside of the fortress out onto the countryside. The food was nothing special but the view made up for it.
// E A T + D R I N K //
Die Weisse - We went here our first night, looking for an authentic beer garden experience, and that's what we got! It's a little outside the main touristy area, but they had a small outdoor seating area and cozy indoor seating. Expect classic Austrian food (read: sausages, wiener schnitzel, potatoes) and lots of different beers. But! They do have gluten free beer, and I didn't totally hate it, so that's really a ringing endorsement because I usually hate any and all beer.
Darwin's - We went here after Die Weisse for some cocktails. They have a great assortment in a small and cute atmosphere but it's not cheap. So, needless to say, we only stayed for one drink.
Augustiner Brau - If you want a beer garden experience that's a little more lively than Die Weisse, this is the place. They make one beer and one beer only, so if you want something else you're out of luck. (Or sneak your own alcohol in and mix it with a lemonade bought from the brewery 🙊.) The outdoor seating area is huge and it was crowded the whole time we were there, which was not even on a weekend night. There's also a bunch of small stands indoors with different food options (pretty much all varieties of Austrian cuisine).
Gasthaus Zwettler's - Okay, if you're going to eat Austrian food, go here. The atmosphere is so cute and feels very Bavarian. And I actually enjoyed my dish with potatoes, fried egg, and sausage, so that was a plus. Also! They have the most insane giant meringue dessert thats gluten and dairy free. You have to try it. The service was super quick and the prices were affordable as well.
Taj Mahal - This would be the Indian restaurant I begged to go to on our last night in Salzburg. Honestly, for being in the middle of Austria, this was high qual Indian food.
Enjoy Salzburg!
Budapest was easily our favorite stop on our trip around Austria + Hungary. Having received a ton of recommendations from family and friends ahead of our trip, we allotted the most time to Budapest, staying for four nights. I think four to five days is the perfect amount of time for exploring the city. I like to think I've been to a fair amount of cities in Europe and yet Budapest really stood out to me. It has such a unique personality, with funky cafes and restaurants on every corner and truly diverse neighborhoods. We're also not museum people and yet we were never at a loss of what to do. One of my favorite ways to explore a city is to just start walking, and in Budapest I was never disappointed. On top of all of this, the city is so cheap. Drinks for 2 Euro? Count me in.
// S T A Y //
We stayed at a private Airbnb apartment right by St. Stephen's cathedral and found it was a great location. The neighborhood itself was pretty residential and quiet, but the apartment was only a block from the metro and a 5-10 minute walk to major sites. 10/10 would recommend.
// D O //
Hungarian Parliament Building - Such impressive architecture! We just walked around the outside of it and oo'd and aah'd at just how intricate each detail is. Also worth looking at it from across the river.
Chain Bridge - Chances are you'll walk across this bridge to get to Buda, but the views from the bridge are unparalleled. We liked walking on the right side of the bridge (when facing Buda) as it had better views.
Fisherman's Bastion - An iconic viewpoint that looks across the river to Pest. Crowded, but definitely worth the views.
Matthias's Church - One of the coolest roofs I've seen. Weird sentence, I know, but the roof is composed of these small colored tiles and it's so beautiful. We didn't pay to go inside because we're cheap but the outside of the church was impressive own its own.
Old Town - This area is in Buda, right by Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias's Church. It's easily walkable in a few minutes, but the candy colored buildings mixed with old churches and towers are worth the detour.
*For all of Buda, we bought a ticket for the Budapest Castle Bus, which for 7 Euro brought us up the hill and stopped at 4 locations throughout Buda in a hop-on hop-off fashion. We thought it was totally worth the money!
St. Stephen's Cathedral - One of the only attractions we actually paid for, haha. With a small donation we were able to walk around the interior of the church and take in all of the gold detailing and stained glass windows. The true highlight, though, was taking the 302 stairs up to the top of the church and enjoying the 360 degree view of the city. We went right before sunset (unintentionally) and it made it that much more beautiful. Can't miss!
Szechenyi Baths - The iconic baths of Budapest. Touristy and crowded, but for a reason. We bought a day ticket and, stupidly, rented towels and slippers, which ended up being waaaay overpriced. Note: bring your own towels and flip flops. Otherwise, we loved our time at the baths. It was about 70 degrees out when we went so we spent most of our time in the outdoor bath, but there's also a bunch of different (and hotter) baths indoors. The place is huge! We may or may not have gotten lost a couple times 😂. *Also, we did not buy tickets ahead of time and had no wait in line when we arrived.
Central Market Hall - One of the biggest food halls I've ever seen. The ground floor is mostly stalls of fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, with some ready-to-eat food and souvenirs interspersed throughout. Upstairs is where you'll find the takeaway food and a whole section of kitschy souvenirs and textiles.
Andrassy Avenue/Hero's Square - Andrassy Avenue is the main shopping street of Budapest with all of the classic high end stores. If you follow it all the way up, you'll hit Hero's square, which has some impressive statues and is at the entrance of the park where the baths are located. A solid stop if you're walking up to the baths.
House of Terror - Okay, so we didn't actually get to go here, and I'm really bummed. We tried to go on a Monday (our last day in Budapest), only to realize they're not open on Mondays. So don't make the same mistake as us!
// E A T + D R I N K //
Blue Bird Cafe - Located in adorable pedestrian alleyway near the Jewish district, this was the perfect low key breakfast spot.
A La Maison - If you're looking for more bougie brunch vibes, this is the spot. From the gold accented furniture to the grey velvet chairs, I was ready to move in. Don't worry, the food was good, too 😉.
Gossip Coffee - On our way back from the baths I could not for the life of me find a casual place for lunch with GF options. We finally settled on Gossip, and although the menu is limited and it's definitely more of a coffee shop, I was able to make it work.
MRKT - Of course after eating at Gossip, we stumbled upon MRKT, which was exactly what we were looking for (🙄ugh). A counter-serve place with a burger counter, a Mexican counter, and a beer counter, it's perfect for a casual lunch or mid-day snack. We enjoyed nachos from the Mexican counter and they seriously hit the spot.
Papitos - This little stand was right by our apartment and had cheap and delicious Mexican food. We both had tacos and were happy to not spend a ton of money on dinner.
Tom George - Also nearby our apartment, we went here for dinner on our first night. Gluten free pasta is pretty much all you need to know. But actually, make a reservation because we got the only open table available.
Spoon - While we were in Budapest we celebrated our fourth anniversary and I was lucky enough to be taken to Spoon to celebrate. The restaurant is on a boat on the Danube overlooking the Buda Castle. From the best seat in the house to complimentary champagne and the best salmon I've ever eaten, I can't recommend it enough for a special occasion! Truly one of the best meals I've ever had.
Szimpla Kert - Probably the most popular ruin bar in Budapest, but for good reason. From the random assortment of plants and objects that kind of look like they were collected at the local dump, to the themed rooms, this bar is one-of-a-kind. No matter what vibe you're looking for when you go out, you're bound to find it at Szimpla.
BB'z Bar and Grill - So if you happen to find yourself in Budapest with someone who has to watch the NFL, find your way to BB'z. Truly the best of both worlds - they show football games in a modern space that has a wide variety of cocktails and food options. We just ordered some bar food but the rest of the menu looked good as well.
My Little Melbourne Coffee - We're always trying to find coffee that compares to that of Melbourne, so we figured this would be a good option. Our flat whites did not disappoint!
Naspolya Nassolda - A GF/vegan bakery with lots of raw bars and brownies and coffee options. A great place to stop by for a snack.
// S T A Y //
We stayed at a private Airbnb apartment right by St. Stephen's cathedral and found it was a great location. The neighborhood itself was pretty residential and quiet, but the apartment was only a block from the metro and a 5-10 minute walk to major sites. 10/10 would recommend.
// D O //
Hungarian Parliament Building - Such impressive architecture! We just walked around the outside of it and oo'd and aah'd at just how intricate each detail is. Also worth looking at it from across the river.
Chain Bridge - Chances are you'll walk across this bridge to get to Buda, but the views from the bridge are unparalleled. We liked walking on the right side of the bridge (when facing Buda) as it had better views.
Fisherman's Bastion - An iconic viewpoint that looks across the river to Pest. Crowded, but definitely worth the views.
Matthias's Church - One of the coolest roofs I've seen. Weird sentence, I know, but the roof is composed of these small colored tiles and it's so beautiful. We didn't pay to go inside because we're cheap but the outside of the church was impressive own its own.
Old Town - This area is in Buda, right by Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias's Church. It's easily walkable in a few minutes, but the candy colored buildings mixed with old churches and towers are worth the detour.
*For all of Buda, we bought a ticket for the Budapest Castle Bus, which for 7 Euro brought us up the hill and stopped at 4 locations throughout Buda in a hop-on hop-off fashion. We thought it was totally worth the money!
St. Stephen's Cathedral - One of the only attractions we actually paid for, haha. With a small donation we were able to walk around the interior of the church and take in all of the gold detailing and stained glass windows. The true highlight, though, was taking the 302 stairs up to the top of the church and enjoying the 360 degree view of the city. We went right before sunset (unintentionally) and it made it that much more beautiful. Can't miss!
Szechenyi Baths - The iconic baths of Budapest. Touristy and crowded, but for a reason. We bought a day ticket and, stupidly, rented towels and slippers, which ended up being waaaay overpriced. Note: bring your own towels and flip flops. Otherwise, we loved our time at the baths. It was about 70 degrees out when we went so we spent most of our time in the outdoor bath, but there's also a bunch of different (and hotter) baths indoors. The place is huge! We may or may not have gotten lost a couple times 😂. *Also, we did not buy tickets ahead of time and had no wait in line when we arrived.
Central Market Hall - One of the biggest food halls I've ever seen. The ground floor is mostly stalls of fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, with some ready-to-eat food and souvenirs interspersed throughout. Upstairs is where you'll find the takeaway food and a whole section of kitschy souvenirs and textiles.
Andrassy Avenue/Hero's Square - Andrassy Avenue is the main shopping street of Budapest with all of the classic high end stores. If you follow it all the way up, you'll hit Hero's square, which has some impressive statues and is at the entrance of the park where the baths are located. A solid stop if you're walking up to the baths.
House of Terror - Okay, so we didn't actually get to go here, and I'm really bummed. We tried to go on a Monday (our last day in Budapest), only to realize they're not open on Mondays. So don't make the same mistake as us!
// E A T + D R I N K //
Blue Bird Cafe - Located in adorable pedestrian alleyway near the Jewish district, this was the perfect low key breakfast spot.
A La Maison - If you're looking for more bougie brunch vibes, this is the spot. From the gold accented furniture to the grey velvet chairs, I was ready to move in. Don't worry, the food was good, too 😉.
Gossip Coffee - On our way back from the baths I could not for the life of me find a casual place for lunch with GF options. We finally settled on Gossip, and although the menu is limited and it's definitely more of a coffee shop, I was able to make it work.
MRKT - Of course after eating at Gossip, we stumbled upon MRKT, which was exactly what we were looking for (🙄ugh). A counter-serve place with a burger counter, a Mexican counter, and a beer counter, it's perfect for a casual lunch or mid-day snack. We enjoyed nachos from the Mexican counter and they seriously hit the spot.
Papitos - This little stand was right by our apartment and had cheap and delicious Mexican food. We both had tacos and were happy to not spend a ton of money on dinner.
Tom George - Also nearby our apartment, we went here for dinner on our first night. Gluten free pasta is pretty much all you need to know. But actually, make a reservation because we got the only open table available.
Spoon - While we were in Budapest we celebrated our fourth anniversary and I was lucky enough to be taken to Spoon to celebrate. The restaurant is on a boat on the Danube overlooking the Buda Castle. From the best seat in the house to complimentary champagne and the best salmon I've ever eaten, I can't recommend it enough for a special occasion! Truly one of the best meals I've ever had.
Szimpla Kert - Probably the most popular ruin bar in Budapest, but for good reason. From the random assortment of plants and objects that kind of look like they were collected at the local dump, to the themed rooms, this bar is one-of-a-kind. No matter what vibe you're looking for when you go out, you're bound to find it at Szimpla.
BB'z Bar and Grill - So if you happen to find yourself in Budapest with someone who has to watch the NFL, find your way to BB'z. Truly the best of both worlds - they show football games in a modern space that has a wide variety of cocktails and food options. We just ordered some bar food but the rest of the menu looked good as well.
My Little Melbourne Coffee - We're always trying to find coffee that compares to that of Melbourne, so we figured this would be a good option. Our flat whites did not disappoint!
Naspolya Nassolda - A GF/vegan bakery with lots of raw bars and brownies and coffee options. A great place to stop by for a snack.
There are too many good sales right now to not make a post. In my opinion the best ones are at Bloomingdale's and Tuckernuck. Between the two there are a lot of deals to be had for under $50. I'm trying to resist buying anything because I don't neeeeed anything (famous last words), but if you're in the market for anything now is a good time to buy! I tried to stick with items under $50 but if you're looking to splurge a bit, I'm in love with this wear-anywhere shirtdress and you can never go wrong with a classic leather tote. Also these leather espadrilles are only $38. I know.
Bloomingdale's is offering an extra 20% off a great selection of sale and clearance items
Tuckernuck is offering 25% off the entire site (!)
Click on the images below to see product information.
If you live in Boston, you know that about 70% of apartments have a September 1 lease date. If you don't live in Boston, please stay as far away as possible on and around September 1 unless you enjoy being stuck in traffic on Storrow Drive because people forgot that their UHauls won't fit under the bridges.
Seeing as many people will be moving soon, I figured it was appropriate timing for a post about how I decorated my room. I've always thought that - if I were more artistically gifted - I'd love to be an interior designer. So, decorating my room was something I invested a lot of time into, because I’m someone who finds scrolling through 50 pages of headboards fun.
I soon realized, however, just how expensive furniture is. Seeing as I was fresh out of college last year and hadn't started my job yet, I took it upon myself to decorate with affordable finds. It wasn't easy, and definitely took a ton of time, but I'm so happy with the little oasis I've created for myself, soooo 100% worth it. I'm hoping that this post can help some of you save the time and money spent on decorating.
Where to start? Besides knowing the dimensions of your room (super helpful!), I like to start big and work my way in. Many of you may not be as neurotic as me, but I knew I had a general vision of what I wanted (read: all white everything), so I turned to Pinterest to fine tune it. I made a board of different rooms I liked so I could get a feel for how I wanted mine to look and how different pieces would fit together. Then, it was time to start looking. Wanting to stay on as much of a budget as possible, I tried to keep each piece under $200. I know that sounds high, but even items at Ikea are over $200.
Throughout my search, I perused a ton of sites, not wanting to miss out on anything. (You could say I have a “grass is greener” mentality when it comes to shopping.) I had the most success, however, at Overstock, PBteen, World Market, and Jet.
To begin my search, I started out with the focal point of my room, the bed. I knew I wanted a mostly white comforter, but still something that had some accents or detail, especially tassels and/or pom-poms. Whenever I looked on various sites, I always filtered by color and price. I also shamelessly googled “white tassel comforter” and “white pompom duvet.” You never know! I ended up purchasing my comforter (currently on sale!!) from PBteen of all places. They frequently have sales, so keep an eye out. Another one of my favorites for all white bedding is The White Company. I had one of their duvets in college and loved it.
Since my bedding is white with grey accents, I knew I wanted to play on that grey with my headboard. I found the best affordable headboards at both Wayfair and Overstock, and ultimately purchased mine from Overstock (currently on sale!) Both sites have great filters - I knew I wanted a grey fabric headboard that was tufted, so being able to narrow my search down to only those headboards was super helpful.
Once I had my bedding and headboard, I literally took their product images from their websites and created my own Pages document with the bedding and headboard together. From there, when looking for other furniture, I would drag the images into my document so I could see what everything would look like together. (Do you think I’m crazy yet??) This was super helpful when it came to playing with gold in my room. For some reason, I was obsessed with having gold accented marble tables as my nightstands. Just a tad specific…but I love them! I saw a few on Wayfair and Overstock, but ultimately chose ones from World Market (similar here). (And one fell off the truck on the way to Boston so, sorry to I-90, but you're welcome, World Market, for me buying three nightstands.) Having this document helped me to see if adding in my gold legged desk was too much. Answer: nope.
Finding said gold legged desk was not easy. PBteen had a few but they were super expensive so those were out of the question. I did check craigslist and local FB tag sale pages to see if anyone was selling one, but I didn’t find anything great. Again, my google searching came in handy! I found my desk through some random brand via Google image search, but it ended up being stocked through Amazon, so ordering was a breeze.
I’d say my biggest risk with the room was my hot pink rug. I had seen rugs like mine all over Pinterest, but I still wasn’t sold. I couldn’t tell if it would be overwhelming in my room or a nice way to add some color. As many of you probably know, rugs aren’t cheap, so I wanted to make sure I liked it. Once again, having my document I could play around in helped me to make my decision. Since I was on the fence, I went with the most affordable option I could find, and ended up ordering mine from Jet. For being so cheap, it’s held up really well and looks great in person.
With so many showy pieces (i.e. tufted headboard, gold desk, gold Framebridge map print, hot pink rug), I decided to neutralize the room a bit by adding in a ghost chair and a plain dresser. Ghost chairs are another item that are crazy expensive, so I bought mine from Walmart and I have no complaints so far. I added a little bit of texture back in with a fur chair cover from Safavieh. (They also have some at Bed Bath & Beyond.) For my dresser, I went with a simple white one from Target that was not-so-simple to assemble. Lastly, I bought this enormous mirror from Ikea a few months ago and I love how it adds another little dimension to the room.
You may think I’m insane, but I’m a super visual person, so having my document where I could play around with pieces and see how they worked together made the whole process so much easier. Rather than ordering things and having to return them if they didn’t work with my room, I already knew everything would be cohesive. It was also helpful when it came to figuring out accessories, such as artwork and throw pillows. Speaking of artwork, to keep the costs down, I reused the framed sayings I had in college. To make those, I downloaded the prints on Etsy for about $2 each, printed them on nice paper at Staples, and bought 6 white frames from Michaels. I then spray painted three of them gold. Although the spray paint didn’t turn out as great as I’d hoped (probably because I didn’t use any type of primer), I love having my own little DIY project donning my walls. For my dog print, which I picked up in Nashville, I bought a simple gold frame off of Amazon. Other accessories, like fake plants and candles, I picked up at my local Homegoods for relatively cheap.
My room was definitely not decorated in a day, and I still finding myself picking up little decor items here and there, but I absolutely love how it turned out and I hope this post helps you decorate your dream room on a budget!
I'm not sure why it's taken so long for Club Monaco to get on my radar, but after spending some time in the store this past weekend at the Greenwich sidewalk sale, you could say it's now one of my favorites...especially when there are discounts to be had. The normal prices are higher than I'd like to spend on most items, but that being said you can definitely tell they're high quality pieces that will last you many seasons. Plus, a lot of the designs are pretty timeless, so it's not like you're paying $200 for a trendy dress that will only be in style for a few months.
Regardless, with an extra 40% off sale items, now is the time to shop! I'm only slightly salty, though, because when I was in this past weekend they were only offering an extra 30% off. Win some, lose most, you know? On the bright side, I picked up this wear-with-anything white top, this fun take on a button down, and these incredible striped culottes. Buuuutt, now with the 40% off I'm thinking I may need to order this LBD. My mom got it for herself and I've been eyeing it ever since.
One thing to note is that it seems they are restocking relatively often (and selling out relatively often!) so if you don't see your size, definitely keep checking back. Below I've rounded up some of my favorite items from the sale. Enjoy!
On the odd chance that you don't follow any bloggers on social media, allow me to introduce to you to Nordstrom's anniversary sale. Every year they offer some really great discounts on both summer and fall apparel, shoes, and accessories. People go somewhat insane over the sale because it's pretty abnormal to see a retailer offer discounts on items before the season even starts. Usually we have to wait until December to see discounts on fall items. That being said, even though it's 90 degrees out and you probably can't fathom donning a sweater, this is a great time to stock up on some items for the coming seasons.
Up until July 20th, the sale is for cardmembers only. If you're a plebeian like myself, you'll have to wait a week to shop. But, there's no harm in taking a peek now and shortlisting the items you want once the sale opens to the public. Below I've rounded up some of my favorite clothing items; click on the image to be taken to product detail page.
I'm really loving this floral dress, this suede moto jacket, this striped jumpsuit, and these tie-waist pants.
Happy shopping!
Hello! It's been a minute since I've posted. Buutttt, here I am with some too-good-to-resist July 4th sales. I'm not really one to buy an outfit solely for the 4th, but there's plenty of deals on items that you can wear all summer long. This is the perfect time to pick up my favorite weekender bag, this adorable apron top, my go-to white sneaks (60% off!!), or splurge-worthy bedding.
Check out all the sales below!
Aerie // all clearance under $20 + 10 for $25 clearance undies
American Eagle // all clearance under $20 + 25% off shorts
Anthropologie // extra 25% off sale items
Athleta // new markdowns
Banana Republic // extra 50% off all sale styles + up to 40% off new items
Banana Republic Factory // 50-70% off entire store (excludes clearance); free shipping on orders $50+; extra 50% off clearance w/code CLEARANCE
BCBG // 40% off everything
Bloomingdale's // 30-50% off select items; take an extra 20/30/40% off items labeled "Deal Reveal"
Free People // new markdowns up to 70% off
Gap // 40% off your purchase w/code PARTYON; up to 60% off select items; all sale styles are under $20
J. Crew // up to 50% off select items; extra 20% off for cardmembers
J. Crew Factory // 50% off everything, online only
LL Bean // extra 25% off sale items w/code EXTRA25Lo & Sons // up to 30% off select styles
Loft // 40% off everything w/code HBDUSA
Lord & Taylor // 20% off regular & sale items w/code JULY
Ralph Lauren // take an extra 30% off select styles w/code JULY4
Sam Edelman // take an extra 20% off all sale w/code 4THOFSAM
Saks // up to 60% off designer selections; up to 30% off select home items
Saks Off Fifth // take an extra 20% off w/code DEALS4ALL, online only
Serena & Lily // 20% off everything w/code 4TH
South Moon Under // up to 40% off sale items
Stuart Weitzman // up to 60% off select styles
Urban Outfitters // take an extra 30% off all sale styles
West Elm // 20% off your entire purchase w/code JULY4Williams Sonoma // extra 20% off clearance; up to 75% off American-made favorites
Are there any of your favorite stores that I'm missing?
I feel like cashmere is one of those things that you don't understand the value of until you try it on and realize no other sweater will ever feel the same. That being said, however, cashmere is expensive, and as much as I'd like to, I can't fill my closet with it. But! I certainly like to try. A lot of department stores have their own private label brands with cashmere offerings, and so far my favorite has to be Bloomingdale's AQUA. I'm a huge fan of AQUA for everything from casual tees to cocktail dresses because the quality is high and the prices are much lower than other brands you'd find at Bloomingdale's. This past holiday season, though, I asked for this sweater for Hanukkah (catch it on Insta here), and from then on my AQUA cashmere obsession blossomed. Lucky for all of us, all AQUA cashmere is currently on sale for $59, which is up to 70% off! I just picked up the cutest navy and white striped hoodie that was originally $198 for $59 and I can already tell it's going to be perfect for chilly summer nights. It's currently sold out, but I'm hoping they'll bring it back. In the meantime, check it out on my Instagram here. The rest of my picks are below:
Shopbop sales don't happen that often, but when they do they're big. Pretty much all items are currently on sale up to 25% off. Spend $200+ and get 15% off, $500+ and get 20% off, $800+ and get 25% off all with code GOBIG18. I know the percentages don't seem huge, but these are items that rarely go on sale so you gotta take what you can get. My approach with these sales is to focus on investment-worthy pieces that are almost always full-price because you can usually find more affordable brands like Free People at deeper discounts elsewhere (like Macy's and Lord and Taylor!) Although I could easily make a cart worth over $800, I know it's not the financially sound thing to do ðŸ˜. But, if you've had your eye on an investment piece for a while, like Stuart Weitzman boots or a 3.1 Philip Lim satchel, now is a worthwhile time to pull the trigger as it's hard to find items like those on sale. I've rounded up some of my favorite picks by item type below, with a focus on (relatively) more expensive pieces, but I threw in some steals as well in case you need to add an item to bump you up to the next discount level 😉.
Tops:
this structured gingham top has my name written all over it
can't go wrong with an equipment blouse
the perfect lace-trimmed silk cami
Shorts/Skirts:
would live in these cutoffs
loving the scalloped hem on these
gingham and tassels
Dresses:
a little tablecloth, a lot cute
the most darling dress
obsessed with everything about this dress
Jeans:
been eyeing these distressed ones for a while
my favorite jeans in white
skinnies that are a closet staple
Jackets:
a vegan leather jacket under $200
yet another yellow raincoat I love
a trench to elevate your office style
Swim:
love the deep v of this striped one piece
the instagram famous marysia top
love this color orange and the lace-up detail
Shoes:
obsessed with the stripe bow detail
the cutest slip-ons
the only boots you'll ever need
Sunglasses:
a classic everyday pair
love the gold accents on these
a classic aviator style upgraded with tortoiseshell
Bags:
a new take on the beloved cult gaia bag
a go-to crossbody for everyday use
such a cool shape to this satchel