Jul 5, 2017
The 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is about to be a very HOT topic in blogland over the coming weeks. I’m already getting tons of questions about it. And yes, I will be posting my picks and giving you recommendations for your fall wardrobe but while we wait…there are already some great deals to take advantage of now (while they’re in stock).
So if you’re itching to get a jumpstart, then this post’s for you!
Although I’m not a huge Nordstrom shopper, it is my go-to place to get cute tops and well-made basics – like tees and jeans. Today I’m giving you a sneak peek of some of my favorite outfit making pieces and classic basics that are already on sale.
Great timing too because I’ve got a Nordstrom Note burning a hole through my pocket! I’ve had it for three weeks and haven’t spent it yet, that’s got to be some kind of record. If you already have a Nordstrom credit card, then you know all about the magic of the Nordstrom Note (and early access to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!) If not, you’re going to want to stay tuned for this next part.
Here’s two awesome reasons why to apply for a Nordstrom credit card by July 9th:
- You’ll get a free $20 Nordstrom Note to spend
- You also get early access to the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale on July 13th, a week before it opens to the general public
If you’ve ever shopped Nordstrom sales, you know how fast items sell out. That extra week of early access makes all the difference. Don’t want another credit card? Just join the rewards program and you’ll still get a $10 Nordstrom Note. You can get all the details and sign up here.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 Sneak Peek
Outfit Making Tops
Embroidered Trim Back Pleat Top
Stretch Crepe Top
Bow Front Top (also comes in blue/white stripes)
Cold Shoulder Ruffle Sleeve Top
Off the Shoulder Poplin Top
Classic Basics
Knot Front Tee
Frayed Hem Skinny Jeans
Peplum Utility Jacket
Distressed Boyfriend Jeans
Footwear
Block Heel Mules
Block Heel Sandals
Affordable Accessories
Striped Tote
Pink Rose Gold Watch
Tassel Bracelet Set
Stone Fringe Necklace
GYPO Collection Sale
Speaking of sales, all of the limited edition silk scarves in the GYPO Collection are on sale for a limited time! These wearable art scarves made in the US are outfit makers that support a great cause. Shop the collection HERE.
I Feel Pretty Link Up
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir, Jo Lynne Shane, and A Little Bit Of Everything.
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (
Bloglovin‘,
Facebook,
Instagram or
Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to GYPO (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties.
Jun 28, 2017
By Jessica Pigza
Is it over the top to say that some beauty products are life changing? Maybe, but when you find something amazing, you question, where has this been all my life? Below are my top 5 life changing products.
This product is especially perfect for anyone who is constantly washing their hands, which is pretty much every mother I know. As crazy as it sounds, we really do not like to go through the day with our kid’s snot, dirt and stickiness on our hands. But all that washing is VERY drying. I didn’t realize how rough and dry my hands where until one night my son asked me to stop rubbing his back because my ‘nails’ were hurting him. I wasn’t using my nails, my hands were just that neglected. I love using this product because the paraffin helps to keep my hands moisturized amid all the washing and I don’t have to constantly reapply. I’m happy to report that I’m no longer “scratching” my kids with my rough hands. Get it here.
In my list of life changing products this is BY FAR my number one! I’ve tried other eyelid primers and they turned out to be a wasted step and a useless product until Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion. My face is oily and my eyelids are the same. Within an hour of application, my eye makeup would look like it was melting and have horrible creases. Because of this I would always wait until the last minute to do my makeup which made me feel rushed and unpolished. Then one day the heavens opened up and an angel appeared and told me about this amazing product! I may be exaggerating a bit, but to me, my friend who did tell me about it will always be a little angelic in my eyes. I was truly blown away with how well this product worked. It kept my eye makeup intact which was a totally new concept for me. Being able to put my makeup on hours in advance seriously changed my life. No joke. I could do my makeup in the morning and know that it would still look good going into the evening. This also meant I could put my makeup on for an event while the kids where at school and then actually spend time with them when they got home instead of spending all my time in the bathroom then running out the door. I use the original formula but it also comes in six other formulas including anti-aging, vegan and tinted. Get it here.
Fresh eye makeup using my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original.
My eye makeup nine hours later and it’s still there!
I have a question for all you ladies, does anyone else have eyelashes that have absolutely no curl to them? My eyelashes are the epitome of the anti-curl and head directly south on my face. Any previous attempts to wear mascara only made a mess under my eyes and countless eyelash curlers left my eyelashes in even worse shape. Some couldn’t reach my eyelash base and they would get crimped in half or even worse, they would get pushed down in the rubber and painfully plucked out. I seriously don’t have enough eyelashes to have them ripped out everyday so I stopped doing anything to them all together. I had sad eyelashes until the found Sephora’s Show Curl XL. (Also available for deep set eyes) I’ve had mine for 4 years and I still have yet to replace the silicone cushion! No more crimping or plucking, just cute curled eyelashes and my mascara stays where it’s supposed to be.
Tip: While curling your lashes, don’t use too much pressure and slightly tilt up while curling. Also curl first then apply mascara, doing it the other way around will make your eyelashes stick to the curler. Get it here.
It’s recommended that you should wash your hair every other day and even wait up to a week if you can. But what do you do between washings, especially if your hair gets oily like mine? I heard somewhere that I could use baby powder to help soak up excess oil, so I tried it. It worked okay but then my scalp developed a buildup and it began to itch. Yuck! Then my hair dresser told me about dry shampoo and made me promise never to ever use baby powder again. Dry shampoo is amazing and it’s available in powder, liquid and aerosol form. There are even tinted dry shampoos to match your hair color and help with a little root cover up between trips to the salon. Bonus! My favorite is Bumble and bumble’s Prêt-à-powder which combines dry shampoo, style extender and a volumizer in one formula. Much better than baby powder, healthier for my hair and it makes my hair look great between washings.
Tip: Since my dry shampoo is white and my hair is dark I will sometimes put extra on at nights to help absorb oil while I sleep. Then in the morning I just use a little before heading out the door. The white does blend, it just takes a few minutes. Get it here.
I LOVE lipsticks and lipgloss. I feel like it’s the icing on the cake of a finished makeup look. And with LipSense by SeneGence, it’s some long lasting icing! It seemed like LipSense was filling up my Facebook feed with promises of 4-16 hour color. After seeing all these promises and some testimonials, I finally broke down and decided to try it. I didn’t like it the first few times I wore it. It came off easily but then I was told it wasn’t staying on because it was taking off all the old skin and wax left behind by my chapsticks. After a few more attempts my lips actually looked better and the color stayed on way longer. LipSense comes in a ton of different colors and paired up with a handful of different glosses, the color combinations are endless. I put it on in the the morning and it’s still there when my husband gets home from work. The top gloss can come off so a reapplication may be necessary but even without the gloss, the color is still there and I love the way it feels on my lips! No more naked lips, lipgloss kisses on my kids’ cheeks or passing on the “tingle” from my plumping lipgloss to my kids or husband!
Here I’m rocking some Blu-Red with a Pearl gloss. I’m trying to be more adventurous with my lip color and wearing red can be a very intimidating. At least I have confidence in knowing the color will stay on my lips and not end up on my teeth or anything else.
About Jessica
Jessica is military wife, married to her husband Nate of 14 years, and stay at home mother to three energetic and fearless children, Sophia, Brandon and Rachel. Originally from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the military life has given her a chance to live all over the United States and meet many amazing people along the way.
Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge – ON SALE!
The Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge is now ON SALE for $29! You’ll get your summer trends shopping list and access to all 23 days of looks (plus six bonus outfits) immediately upon sign up. We’re going to start styling the outfits all over again in our private Facebook group so now is the perfect time to join!
I Feel Pretty Link Up
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir, Jo Lynne Shane and A Little Bit of Everything.
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (
Bloglovin‘,
Facebook,
Instagram or
Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to GYPO (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties.
Jun 21, 2017
It’s summer vacation week for the Lumbatis family! This inevitably brings back memories of a few years back when I was a terrible over packer. At least 75% of what I brought on vacation never even came out of the suitcase.
I’m now a recovered over packer and can even go as far as calling myself a minimalist packer (pats self on back). The secret? I started to apply the same capsule wardrobe logic that I use to plan the GYPO Style Challenge but on a much smaller scale.
I now follow these capsule wardrobe rules while packing for every vacation:
- Only include pieces that can be paired up in at least 2-3 different ways.
- Pack only one pair of each type of shoe. One flat shoe, one with heels, a sneaker, etc.
- Bring as many accessories as you’d like, they don’t take up space and they go a long way toward changing up the look of your basics.
- Take pics on your phone of all of your outfit pairings before you go. It makes getting dressed every day that much easier!
At the top of my blog you’ll find a little suitcase icon that says Packing Lists under it. As I’ve taken trips and created capsules through the years, I’ve collected them here. Click on the suitcase icon to find all kinds of packing lists and mini-capsule wardrobes that are perfect for just about any kind of trip you have coming up.
Today I’m sharing my Summer 2017 Ten Day Vacation Packing List + Outfits. This year’s summer vacation packing list is great for a beach vacation but also works for just about any warm weather trip you have on the agenda. It’s a mixture of versatile casual pieces and trends that can be easily dressed up a bit.
The best part? This summer vacation packing list has just 14 pieces, including accessories, that will last you a full ten days. You’ll be able to pack light, maximize your wardrobe and look great every day.
Tip: Pin this post so you have it handy when your next vacation comes up!
Ten Day Summer 2017 Vacation Packing List and Outfits
The Pieces
These links go to recommended items but may not necessarily be the same items pictured above due to sold out links.
Tops/Dresses:
Blue/White Striped Top, Gray Top, Printed Tank, Solid Dress
Bottoms:
White Shorts, Olive Shorts, Denim Shorts
Footwear:
Metallic Sandals, Neutral Wedges
Extras:
Swimsuit, Floppy Hat, Beaded Necklace, Tassel Earrings, Tassel Tote, White Stone Earrings
Optional:
Feel free to add in a denim jacket or cardigan if needed. You’re also welcome to add more shoes and as many accessories as you’d like (they don’t take up much room in your suitcase!)
The Outfits
If you’d like some additional tips and tricks for packing light, check out this Facebook Live I did recently.
Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge
All of the pieces in this ten day summer vacation packing list are also on the Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge shopping list. If you already have these pieces then you have a huge jump start on the outfits that we’re creating during our 23 days of looks. There’s still time to sign up and get all 23 days (plus six bonus outfit ideas) immediately. You get all the tools you need to build a summer capsule wardrobe plus the amazing support of our private Facebook group!
I Feel Pretty Link Up
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir, Jo Lynne Shane, and A Little Bit of Everything.
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (
Bloglovin‘,
Facebook,
Instagram or
Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to GYPO (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties.
Jun 14, 2017
By Jessica Pigza
After having kids I fell into the makeup rut that I’m sure most of us go through. I became an all or nothing girl. I either had everything done from the powder and concealer, to the eyes, lips and cheeks, or, nothing at all. Before kids I would take my time carefully and correctly placing each element on my face. It took some time to make this look a reality but I enjoyed it.
Then, a new reality set in, I had a baby, then another and another. I had three kids in four and a half years and how I spent my time completely changed. My makeup routine took too long for what limited time I had now and I didn’t know any other way, so I just stopped wearing any all together. I would save my makeup for church, date nights or fancy events. Sadly I didn’t feel pretty and I eventually realized I needed to have a middle ground.
Everything I’ve read said play with your makeup, try new looks, new ideas, but I never did. I always had an excuse. I never wanted to try anything new in the morning because I was always in a rush and the last thing I wanted to do was leave the house looking like a clown. And at night I was just too darn tired to put effort in, I wanted to get the kids in bed, shower and get in bed myself, makeup was the last thing on my mind. However, one morning something came over me, I felt a small desire to be hit with the pretty stick, I didn’t need to be smacked over the head with it, but just a tap would do. I didn’t have much time but I realized that even if it didn’t look perfect, I knew I was putting in some effort.
Four Simple Steps to Perfect Mom Makeup
So, I started by covering up the dark circles under my eyes (thanks kids), then used a light shadow, some mascara and some lipgloss.
Step 1: Conceal – Cover dark shadows and even out skin tone with a blendable concealer. Tip: Try one with light diffusing or reflective ingredients to brighten under eye area.
[Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer]
Step 2: Eye Shadow – A swipe of eyeshadow on the lid is all it takes to brighten your eyes up. Tip: Try a champagne shade, it flatters all skin tones.
[Julep Eyeshadow 101 Creme to Powder Eyeshadow Stick – Champagne Shimmer]
Step 3: Mascara – Apply one to two coats to define your eyes. Tip: Curl your lashes before applying mascara to make eyes look more awake or try a brand with a brush that does the curling for you.
[Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara]
Step 4: Lip Gloss – A pretty pink gloss works for everyone. Tip: Splurge a little on one that feels truly special to add a little luxury to your routine.
[NARS Lip Gloss – Turkish Delight]
I wasn’t in full makeup but it was enough that I looked awake and put together and it took me five minutes or less. I went through my day feeling good, which I liked, and the icing on the cake came that evening when my husband complimented me on my experimental look. He couldn’t put his finger on what exactly I had done, but he said I looked different, but a good different. He liked it! It was then that I knew this simplified way of putting on makeup was more than enough. I went from an all or nothing look, to having something in the middle and now I find myself wearing makeup more by wearing less.
Just thinking about playing with your makeup routine isn’t enough, actually do it! You might be surprised by what you find you like and how easy your daily makeup routine can become. Don’t wait for a special occasion or a night out to feel pretty, remember that you deserve to feel pretty everyday!
Road trips with the kids equal fun chaos! A simplified makeup routine helps me get everyone out of the hotel and back on the road quickly, and I still feel put together. Photo courtesy of my oldest, Sophia.
About Jessica
Jessica is military wife and stay at home mother to three energetic and fearless children, Sophia, Brandon and Rachel. Originally from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the military life has given her a chance to live all over the United States and meet many amazing people along the way.
I Feel Pretty Link Up
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir, The Pleated Poppy, A Good Hue, Jo Lynne Shane, and A Little Bit of Everything.
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (
Bloglovin‘,
Facebook,
Instagram or
Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to GYPO (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties.
Jun 7, 2017
Happy June pretties! Summer is off to a great start around the Lumbatis household. We’re thoroughly enjoying our slowed down pace, days at the pool and planning out our upcoming beach vacation (which btw – I’m working on a packing list, so stay tuned).
If you’re new around here, the Pretty Fix is a monthly feature with budget-friendly recommendations for staying on trend. The idea for it was born out of frustration some of you have had with box styling services. The Pretty Fix allows you to shop for the pieces at your favorite stores so it’s budget and quality conscious. Of course, I always recommend that you shop your closet first!
This month’s Pretty Fix is basically my summer uniform – a t-shirt, denim shorts and some fun accessories to add interest. It’s also one of the outfits we styled this week in the Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge. P.S. There’s still time to join us and build your summer capsule wardrobe! You can sign up HERE.
Here’s my real life version of this month’s fix.
[Navy Tee: Similar/Olive Shorts: Same/Tassel Necklace (On Sale): Same/Tassel Sandals (On Sale): Same]
Let’s talk about these olive shorts for a minute. When I put these on the summer challenge shopping list, I still didn’t have a pair in my own closet. I searched high and low for the perfect fit and length and finally found this pair. I love them so much that I got them in blush too! For reference, I went up a size in these.
Pretty Fix – June 2017
Did I happen to mention that navy and olive is one of my favorite new neutral outfit color combos? I’ve kind of been obsessed with it since last fall. This navy tee is just drapey enough for a perfect half tuck. Here are some other options: 1/2
I know, I know – if you’ve seen me wear this red tassel necklace once, you’ve seen it a hundred times. There’s a great reason for that, it goes with so many things. I love how it adds the right amount of interest to this outfit and ties in with the tassels on the sandals too! Oh and by the way, it’s also on sale. Shopping options: 1/2
My love for these olive shorts has already been professed above but let me reiterate. They are a neutral that go with just about anything in your closet. Shopping Options: 1/2
Embellished sandals are having a moment! I went with this pair because I just love all of the colors and those red tassels. They’re also on sale. Here are some options: 1/2
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a member of the GYPO Style Challenge Community, check out these reviews!
I Feel Pretty Link Up
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir, The Pleated Poppy, A Good Hue, Jo Lynne Shane, and A Little Bit of Everything.
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (
Bloglovin‘,
Facebook,
Instagram or
Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to GYPO (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties.
