Other

This is going to be quick today because I’m at the gate waiting for my flight home. I meant to do this last night but I fell into my hotel bed with the fitted sheets and that was all she wrote.

The first three things today are from Loft and the Junk Gypsies, but all the rest are some fabulous deals available at Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale that’s going on right now. From now until July 16th you can shop early if you’re a Nordstrom card holder, otherwise you’ll have to wait until the 17th to take advantage of these deals or go get yourself a Nordstrom card.

(Which I highly recommend by the way. Free shipping, free returns and you earn reward dollars)

1. sleeveless eyelet shirt dress

This also comes in black.

2. gypsyville campus vintage shirt

Well. I am in love with this.

3. diagonal stripe maxi skirt

Love a striped maxi.

4. zella peace out studio tee

These studio tees come in a bunch of colors and are on sale for $28.

5. north face glacier quarter zip fleece

I am powerless to resist a North Face fleece. I will wear this all winter long and there are a bunch of colors to choose from all on sale for $39.

6. onzie low rise capris

Love these. They come in a few different patterns and are $39.90. I’ve finally accepted that this is the kind of stuff that fits into my daily life because why dress up when you can wear work out clothes instead? Working out is optional.

7. sam edelman fringed bootie

Really like these and they are on sale for $109. I’m a fan of the low heel because they’re perfect to wear everywhere.

8. street level vegan tote

If you’ve had your eye on a Madewell tote but the price made you choke, here’s a deal for you. Super cute tote on sale for just $31.90 but I’m betting the cognac color won’t last long.

9. frye heidi fringe bag

But this is also a great time to splurge on a really nice bag if you’ve been in the market for one. This Frye fringe bag is on sale for $305 and is normally $450. And there are a lot of great deals on various bags during the sale.

10. barefoot dreams drape front cardigan

My friend Sheaffer named this the blardigan a couple of years ago and insisted it was a must have. I finally listened and I have to admit she’s absolutely right. It’s the softest, best thing ever and now it comes in this fun stripe, plus it’s on sale. Perfect to stock up for Christmas gifts or for yourself. I pretty much wear mine around the house all the time.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

I’m currently sitting in a hotel room in Nashville on a bed that I’m delighted to report has a fitted bottom sheet. The fitted bottom sheet is like the elusive rainbow unicorn of hotel experiences and so I always embrace a hotel stay that doesn’t require me to re-tuck in the flat bottom sheet posing as a fitted sheet. Also, I just called and requested that they bring me four extra pillows.

I prefer not to use the term “high-maintenance”. I just like things the way I like them and I require a lot of accoutrements to have a proper sleep experience. Says the girl who travels with her own bedside fan.

Anyway, I’m here to shoot a video for the Dot Mom conference with Sophie and have already gotten to visit with some friends and will see more tomorrow so that’s fun.

And so I’m really just checking in to say hi. How are you? Anything new?

I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about tomorrow but the most exciting thing going on at this moment is that I bought a new suitcase before I left town and it has those wheels that are very spinny and can go in any direction you want. It’s from Target so you know it’s fancy.

I always feel like our summer really kicks into full gear right around the fourth of July. And by full gear I mean that we are sleeping later than ever and I haven’t cooked dinner in at least a week and the stress of the school year schedule is but a distant memory.

Which is great for life but not great for writing a blog because I can barely distinguish one day from the next.

However, I guess last Wednesday stands out a little bit because that’s the day Piper and Mabel got dismissed from their second camp of the summer. That’s right. Two time losers. I even took them to the dog park for an hour before we went to camp in the hopes it would burn off their stress and energy.

To be fair, they did last about one hour longer at the second camp than they did at the first. However, I still had to make the walk of shame into Pawderosa Ranch to pick them up after their expulsion.

Normally Mabel does all the writing and journaling, but I think she was too stressed out by her two hour camp experience and she just curled up right next to me like the raging codependent she is.

But Piper actually put her thoughts to pen and paper this time.

KAMP IZ 4 LOOZERS

Um.

She lacks some of Mabel’s eloquence.

Many of you suggested that Gulley and her boys could watch the girls but this is problematic because they are actually going with us to the beach. And so I’m now looking into finding a pet sitter that can come to the house. Mimi and Bops have also offered but I’d really like to find a solution that will always work and doesn’t depend on them being in town. I mean one of these days we may all want to travel together.

In other news, we had a great July 4th weekend. We started Saturday morning at our neighborhood parade.

And then we headed up to the pool with Gulley and her family later that afternoon. The kids attempted an egg toss competition with results that weren’t optimal, but Will brought home the belly flop championship so it was a proud day for all of us. Jackson and Caroline decided they were too old to belly flop this year and it was time to give the younger kids a chance at belly flop glory.

After Will received his winnings, we packed it up and came back to our house to grill hotdogs and shoot off fireworks. Which resulted in the police doing a drive by and caused all the adults to relive our teen years because we immediately all ran for cover and left our kids to fend for themselves. Fortunately, they gave the neighbors a warning about their fireworks and totally missed that we were doing them also.

On Sunday morning we met for our Community Worship Service and served communion for the first time which was great except for the gluten free wafers I ordered. They were proof that sometimes you need a little gluten, even when eating the Lord’s supper.

Then that evening we ordered pizza and watched the U.S. Women bring home the World Cup title which was just the best. Particularly Carli Lloyd’s 60 yard goal that caused us all to lose our minds.

And so that’s what’s been going on here.

As for tomorrow, I have big plans to buy dog food and make a run to the grocery store.

And what’s more appropriate to celebrate fifty of anything than Sally O’Malley.

However, on this podcast we neither kick nor stretch. Also, we didn’t even realize it was the fiftieth one until Sophie’s son told her.

And so if you listen until the end, there is a very special, well thought out giveaway in honor of this important milestone. By well thought out, I mean that we literally came up with something in that very minute.

We also discuss Piper and Mabel’s latest escapades, the fact that we’re relieved to be raising our kids better than our dogs, Apple’s new music streaming program, and – of course -mascara.

Here’s the code:

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

Or, as always, you can subscribe on iTunes.

Just FYI – here’s where you can get more info on the products / places we mention (these aren’t affiliate links – just regular ole links):

– Jen Lancaster’s I Regret Nothing
– Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies
– Benefit They’re Real! Mascara
– The Most Awesome Power Ballad Mix Tape Playlist (by Sophie via Apple Music)

I am pleased to report that both God and Leonardo Da Vinci were with me yesterday as I took Piper and Mabel to the vet.

It also helped that I took them to the dog park for an hour before their appointment and let them run out all their nervous energy.

Of course they still plotted their escape once we were in the waiting room at the vet’s office.

But after they’d gotten all their vaccinations and several treats as bribery, they were all smiles.

Even though Piper may have felt a little insecure because she weighs twenty more pounds than her sister. Which might explain why she growled at a Pomeranian on the way out.

And of course Mabel wrote a couple of haikus about the experience after she came home.

A trip to the park!
Wait! Now we’re at the doctor?
Why must people lie?

Sister bribed with treats
I know this game, won’t be fooled
with beef-flavored snacks