Holiday Gift Guide #2

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It’s time for Holiday Gift guide #2! I stayed up super late last night searching for these items. Everything in today’s post is from Nordstrom (not sponsored) and direct links can be found within the post, in black text. One of my favorite things about Nordstrom, is that the shipping is always free, so if you purchase any of these items you won’t have to pay shipping! Yay! I’m really excited about ALL of these things and think any lady in your life would love to receive them.

  1. You guys know I’m a bag lady. Rebecca Minkoff is one of my all time favorite brands. It is high end, but not ridiculously priced, and such good quality. The bags are still an investment but they wear so well and last forever. This black studded crossbody was my favorite one on the site!
  2. I am loving all things studded. Not only do these booties have studs, but they also have a scalloped top which is adorable. Short booties are so in, and these are probably my favorite pair I’ve seen! They’re super trendy and unique, but not over the top. These are on my personal wish list!
  3. For day to day life, I love a good pair of mules by the door! So easy to slip on and off, and so comfy too. These studded loafer mules are currently on sale, for under $100, and come in 5 colors.
  4. Nude lips are my fav! This Bobbi Brown nude lip gloss set, is perfect for the makeup lover in your life. It comes with 4 limited edition nude shades, and the holiday pouch to store them in.
  5. Jewelry is always a fun holiday gift, but so is something to store it in! I found this black studded travel jewelry case and thought it would make a great, unique gift. It is made of leather, so it’s good quality and will last a long time, and it comes in white too. I love the size of it because it’s small enough to throw in a carry-on bag or purse without taking up too much room. It is priced just under $50, and is perfect for your friend or family member who loves to travel.
  6. I recently became a big fan of Charlotte Tilbury makeup. I use her iconic nude lip liner every week. This highlighter trio palette contains two gold, and one rose gold shade. Charlotte Tilbury makeup is super high quality, and paraben free.
  7. I love initial necklaces! They are so versatile, you can wear your own initial, your boyfriend or husbands initial, or your child’s initial. This initial necklace by Nadri, is such a great value, at under $50. All of the letters come in silver, rose gold or gold. I have had many Nadri necklaces over the years, and they all still look brand new. Even the ones I left on for weeks at a time and wore in the shower (oops!) This is a dupe for a high end necklace by Bony Levy which looks almost IDENTICAL, except it is $500. I’d choose the Nadri one 😉
  8. When looking for the travel jewelry box, I also found this monogram keepsake box. It is priced just under $40, and is so my style! I love anything black and white. This would look so pretty sitting out on your bathroom counter or nightstand, and is a really great price point.
  9. And finally, sunglasses. I wear sunglasses all year round. I always panic when I get in the car and don’t have a pair. They’re an essential for me. I picked this pair of black aviators, because they’re simple, classic, and most people would like them. I have heard great things about this brand too.

So that’s it for this week’s gift guide! I hope it gave you some good ideas. Let me know if you’re going to purchase any of these items for yourself or as gifts! Check back every week for a new gift guide all the way up until Christmas! XO, Erica

Holiday Gift Guide #1

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Happy Monday! So I decided that this year, I’m going to get ALL of my Christmas shopping done in November. I would rather get started early, and give myself plenty of time to find thoughtful, great gifts than be rushing around last minute. Plus, I want to spend all of December doing fun wintery things with my family-not inside of a store. I LOVE going to see Christmas lights, ice skating, etc. I also love and truly enjoy giving gifts and think it is so much fun.

To help you all out with your shopping, I’m going to be posting a weekly gift guide, every single week up until Christmas! I am going to cover gifts for women, men, household, etc.

All of these things are currently in stock at the time the post goes live, but I imagine they will sell out quickly. You can find direct links to each of the items in this post by clicking on them below.

I am going to be super intentional about the things I pick out for you guys, so know that these are things I actually really like and would buy. I’m going to try to keep it very affordable for you as well.

  1. Cozy pajamas- I LOVE matching pj sets! In fact- I spend 90% of my time in them. If you come over to my house at any point during the day or night, you’ll probably find me in a robe or matching pajama set! Haha. I love this leopard set, and pink striped set. Both are a silky material and under $25!
  2. If you’re a viewer of my YouTube channel, you know I love cute coffee table decor! I found this adorable Tic Tac Toe coffee table game, and I think it would make an amazing gift for a home decor lover. Such a great price point too at $20!
  3. As I mentioned, I love coffee table books. I think cute coffee table books, or cook books are a perfect gift. They take up minimal space, and are fun and useful! I love when guests browse through my coffee table books. I love this pink Grand Budapest Hotel book for a girly-girl in your life, and this beautiful healthy cookbook. It contains 131 healthy recipes, and I think the cover is gorgeous with the subtle marble design.
  4. Who doesn’t love a new blanket?! Since I was little, I’ve always had a blanket addiction. I just love anything cozy! I have this fringe blush pink blanket in my office, and use it everyday! It’s only $15 and very nice quality.
  5. Hoops are back! It took me awhile to jump on board with the hoop trend, but I have to say, I kind of love it now. I only wear them when going out at night, but they’re a fun change from my standard pearl studs! Personally I think hoops look best in gold. I love that these are forward facing, and have pearl detail, you know I love my pearls. They are a great size- not too big at all, and they are 14k gold. I think any lady in your life would absolutely love these earrings.
  6. Are these the cutest rain boots you’ve ever seen?! I love short rain boots. I think they’re so cute and more modern looking than the typical tall ones. These quilted boots are a fun gift, and only $25. I love the gold detail too.
  7. Finally, makeup brushes. These beautiful black and rose gold marble brushes are a personal favorite of mine. I actually own these exact ones. We all have a friend who could use some new brushes. It’s one of those things that you kind of forget to treat yourself to. They are under $15 for the set, and if you’re having a secret Santa party with your girlfriends, I think they would all love these!

I hope you enjoy these gift guides, and get your shopping done early with me this year! Be sure to check back every week for a new one. XO, Erica

Red peplum OOTD + Cutest shoes ever!

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I wanted to share a casual weekday OOTD with you! As you know I work from home, so I pretty much live in robes, pajamas and athleisure clothing! When it comes time to run out I love cute basics that are super easy to style but have a little special touch! That’s why I’m so in love with this peplum top. It is just as easy as a basic tee, but the peplum detail makes it a little cuter. I absolutely love the bright red, but it comes in 6 colors and is on sale for under $15! I’m going to order the blush pink next.

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My favorite part of this outfit is the shoes! I just got them last week and they have quickly become my favorite! I am a big fan of studded shoes and love that the studs are not only on the straps, but on the heel too! They also come in white & black. They run true to size, and are great quality. I have already gotten tons of compliments on them and I’m sure you’ll see them in lots of future posts.

My jeans are from Target and I can’t find the exact pair online, but I found them in store on clearance for $6! My sunglasses are designer dupes and under $15!

Hope you guys enjoyed this quick outfit of the day! Direct links for the top, shoes and sunglasses are in the post above. XO

My Spring Shoe Essentials

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Today I am sharing all of my spring shoe essentials! Clearly I have a thing for nude, black & pink 😉 I was able to direct link most of these, or a similar affordable dupe! I’m going to quickly recap why I love each one & share a mini review.

  1. I find myself reaching for these espadrilles all the time! They are so comfy, easy & cute. I can’t think of a time I wore these & didn’t get a compliment. They are under $20 which is such a steal for nice espadrilles. The black/silver combo isn’t available anymore, but I am OBSESSED with the new silver & gold pair, & am going to order them today! They also come in nude & gold, & honestly I’ll probably order these too 🙂
  2. My husband got me these Tory Burch sandals for my birthday last year, & I’ve been obsessed ever since. Mine are in the color ‘makeup’. I feel like these are such a classic staple to have in your closet! They go with everything, & look super nice on. The best part about designer sandals, is that even if you’re wearing a basic tee & shorts, you can throw these on & it instantly makes your outfit look nicer. They are more of a splurge but worth it in my opinion!
  3. I found these crushed velvet mules at Target. I was unsure how I felt about mules, so when I fond these on clearance for $8 I thought they were worth trying! So the verdict is, I LOVE mules! They are such a great, easy alternative to a flip flop or sandal. Perfect for those days when your pedicure isn’t on point;) I love leaving them by my front door & throwing them on to go check the mail, go for a walk, or whenever I’m just quickly running out the door! The exact pair isn’t available anymore but they have classic black ones.
  4. I found these Rebecca Minkoff studded flip flops at Saks off 5th. I wear these all the time, & they still look brand new. They are an older style so they aren’t available online, but you’re in luck because I found these cute studded flip flops at Target for $20! They give the same look for a lot less!
  5. Again, these Rebecca Minkoff nude sandals are an older style so I cant link them, but I found these studded sandals at Target for less than $30! They have great reviews too. Throwing on some studded sandals is one of my favorite ways to make a plain outfit more interesting!
  6. I have so much love for jelly sandals. Not only are they super comfy, but I love taking them on trips with me & wearing them to the pool, & in the ocean because they’re waterproof & durable. Most sandals would get ruined if you got them soaking wet, but not these! Plus you don’t have to be careful with them at all, & when they do get a little dirty you can wipe them right off. The color selection changes constantly but right now I’m loving the rose gold glitter and nude/white.
  7. I am obsessed with these chain slides! I wore them on our recent trip to Mexico and got so many questions about them on Instagram. Slides are so in right now, & I love the black on black look! These look very high end & similar to the Chanel ones, but they are under $20. They aren’t the comfiest pair of shoes I own, but I absolutely love how they look.
  8. My pink Tory Burch Espadrilles are my absolute favorite shoes right now. They are so perfect for this time of year, when it’s too hot for boots, but too cold for flip flops. They are very classic & preppy which I love, & comfortable too. They come in pink & white or navy. They are just under $150, & worth every penny! Tory Burch usually has a 10% off coupon available on their website for signing up for their e-mail list.
  9. Nike roshe sneakers are hands down the comfiest shoes I have ever owned in my life. I bought my first pair in black a little over a year ago, & was hooked! I recently found this bone/gold pair, & couldn’t love them more! 10/10 for comfort & style. The gray/bone color is so pretty with the gold logo. I absolutely love this combo. They are currently on sale from $90 to just under $50 so get them while you can! You won’t regret it. Tons of my viewers have ordered these because of me and LOVE them! 🙂

I hope you found this helpful! I will be living in these shoes all spring & summer long. Let me know what your go-to style of shoe is & if you’re going to be ordering any of these! XO

How I clean my makeup brushes

Hi everyone! As you know if you watch my YouTube videos, we are in the process of a big move! We sold our house in one day, and purchased our dream home about a week later. (Lots of home decor posts to come!) In preparation for the move, I have been spending my time cleaning and decluttering everything.
On my list of things to do today, was clean my makeup brushes! This is a task I used to absolutely dread. Fortunately I have found some amazing products that make it so much quicker and more enjoyable, so I thought I’d share my routine with you.

1 all products
The tool that I can’t live without is my Brush Cleansing Palette which I purchased from ULTA! It is under $15 and an absolute must-have. I used to just use my hand when washing brushes, and let’s face it, your hand doesn’t really get up in there between all the bristles and deep clean. It is made of high quality silicone and you can even throw it into the dishwasher if you want! I usually just rinse mine off with soap after each use and let it air dry which works perfectly.

2 Brush cleaning tool

3 Back of tool

It has a little strap on the back and fits right over your hand which is so convenient!
As far as actual brush cleanser, I have tried many, and my favorite thing to use is Dawn Platinum Foaming Dish Soap. You can get this for less than $3 at Target, online, or at your grocery store, and I personally think it works way better than the fancy expensive ones!
The fact that it is in a pump bottle is perfect for cleaning brushes, because you don’t have to keep picking up and putting down a bottle over and over. You can just easily squirt some into the brush cleansing palette. Aside from the fact that it works SO well and is extremely cheap, it smells really nice and really cuts through all of that gunky liquid makeup.

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Before I start the cleaning process, I take a clean hand towel, fold it in half, and roll the top twice to create a slanted ‘pillow’ for the brushes. This ensures that the brushes drain downward and creates the perfect drying space.

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After the bristle part of the brushes are clean, I go one step further and clean off the handles. A lot of people skip this part, but I think it is super important to make sure your handles are clean and sanitized as well. Plus they look so much nicer when they’re clean and shiny!

8 Brushes with dirty handles
To clean the handles, I use my Method Anti-Bac spray. You can get this at Target or, if you live in the US and have never ordered from Grove Collaborative, you can use this link and get it for free: https://www.grove.co/referrer/629731/ (This link will give you $10 site credit to Grove to use on anything you wish) My microfiber cloth is also from Grove Collaborative.

7 Dirty handle

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I just spray a little of the Method spray directly onto the cloth and wipe down each handle. It is amazing the difference this makes! You don’t realize how gross your handles are until you do this and see them shining!

5 Brush holder
I get a lot of questions about my actual makeup brush holder when I show it in my videos, and if you like it, you’re in luck because it is from Target and only $8! It is the perfect brush holder because all of the divided sections make it easy to sort your brushes into categories.

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So that is how I clean my brushes! Now that I have a routine and great products to use, I really don’t mind doing it! It takes about 30 minutes or less for the entire process. I try to do this about once a week but sometimes I go a little longer. I’m curious to know how often you clean your brushes, so comment below!
I hope you found this helpful!!

XO

Erica

My Spring Fashion Wishlist!

Today I went shopping at Nordstrom, not looking for anything in particular, I just wanted to check out all the new spring items! I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get so excited for spring, upcoming vacations, and retiring my Uggs for awhile. I thought it would be fun if I took pictures of my favorite things, like a wishlist, and share them with you guys. Obviously I didn’t buy all of this, but these are all really cute things that I love and totally would buy (and may in the future!) I have direct links to all of these items for you if you’re interested. Let me know what’s on your spring wishlist! XO

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I’ve had my eye on this bag for awhile! I knew that if I didn’t get my Louis Vuitton Neverfull, I was going to get this intead. I ended up going with the Neverfull, however if you want a similar style bag at a GREAT price point (under $200!)- this is it!! It is so cute, amazing quality, and the perfect size. It comes in few other color combos but I love the black and white. You could use this as an everyday purse, work bag, travel bag, or even diaper bag.

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Then I found these beauties! They have a slightly higher price point, but they are all leather and not canvas. I love the pretty metallic neutral colors, and the fun tassel.

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Ok, as soon as I put these sunglasses on I felt like they were meant for me. I think they’re super flattering on, and they fit my face really well. They are a great price point for designer sunglasses at $126. Much cheaper than Rayban, Celine, Gucci, Tory Burch etc. I’ve never seen Lonchamp sunglasses in person until now, or heard anyone mention them, but I love them! I keep thinking about these and plan to order them soon. I love that they’re black on the front and the sides are tortoise shell. Such a classy and timeless combo.

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I found a couple great options for crossbody bags! I have always been a big fan of the Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac, and I have a few in different colors. They are always one of my go-to easy bags. I also love the ‘small love’ and think its especially pretty in this gray color. I took a side shot so you could see how much would fit inside. The mini mac would definitely hold a little more but both are so cute, and if you’re a crossbody kind of girl who doesn’t carry a bunch of unnecessary stuff, these are perfect for you!

IMG_E0719This past year I’ve really become a shoe person. As someone who wears a lot of neutral colors and more classic clothing pieces, I’ve started to really get into different shoe options. I am a big espadrille fan, however often times they hurt my heels. These mule espadrilles eliminate that problem and are the perfect slide for spring and summer! Click here for the gray ones and here for the fun embroidered ones.

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For a more casual option for by the pool or on the beach, I love these rubber slides. They’re super durable and more fashionable than your standard rubber slides. I love both colors but think I’m leaning toward the blush pink! Blush pink with a tan is my favorite!

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This pullover totally reminds me of a Wildfox jumper, except it is much more affordable at under $65. This would be so cute on a vacation or for a casual comfy airport look. It is super soft and would be perfect with leggings and slides or sneakers.

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I love preppy athleisure looks, and think this Vineyard Vines Quarter Zip is one of the cutest I’ve seen. I love stripes, and I love pink so this has my name all over it! It is currently on sale from $118 to $70!

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I stumbled across this adorable Kate Spade Folio Case, and fell in love with the pattern! Is that not the prettiest floral pattern ever?! Love the blush pink, green, white and black together. It has card slots inside so it doubles as a wallet on the go. I’ve been thinking about going back and getting this, but need to figure out if I’m keeping my phone or upgrading before I buy it. It is available for the 7/8 and the X! If you’re into small leather goods, you will love this.

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Nadri is my favorite fashion jewelry designer at Nordstrom. They have such great, very high quality pieces at affordable prices. My everyday solitare necklace that I wear in most of my videos is by Nadri. I found these crawler earrings (under $50!) and thought they were so fun. They wouldn’t work for me personally, because I have my ears double pierced, and triple pierced on one side, however if you like the look of multiple piercings but don’t want to commit, these are perfect. I love that they are dainty but still a statement earring.

 

That’s it for now! I plan to go back to Nordstrom and do another post like this soon. Let me know if you’re adding any of these items to your wishlist, or what is currently on it! XO

March 1, 2017

MY EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS + MARBLE CAKE STAND

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I had to share this great find with you guys. I frequent stores like Home Goods, TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby. I love browsing and always check out the clearance section. I saw this gorgeous marble and gold cake stand and instantly fell in love with it. It is so heavy and well made. I love that it is made of genuine marble. The original price was $60, and I was lucky enough to get it on clearance for only $12! This is a piece that could be used many different ways. Of course you could be traditional and use it in the kitchen, but I decided to use it to display my most used products on my bathroom vanity. Personally I don’t like having a ton of things out all over the counter, but think this is a really pretty way to tastefully display your most reached for items.

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I found this milk bath at TJ Maxx, and I have to say the packaging sold me. It is really classic and I love the old fashioned look of the bottle, and the little cow. My strawberry lotion from The Body Shop is a must have, and I usually get this from TJ Maxx as well. I also displayed some of my new Victoria’s Secret body sprays. These are old favorites of mine that I continue to repurchase. I bought Bobbi Brown Beach right before my wedding and honeymoon, so I will forever love this scent and the memories it brings back. I stopped using it for a few months over the winter, and I’m so excited to start using it again soon! I will do a more in depth post on my skincare routine soon, but I like to keep it simple and stick to just a few products. I have been using this amazing Doll Face mask that I was sent, and it has quickly become my favorite mask. It is a charcoal mask, which I love, and every time I use it I can actually see a difference. Mario Bedescu drying lotion is essential for those annoying little pimples that pop up. You just use q-tip and dab it on, and it helps speed up the healing and fading process by drying it out. This Estee Lauder cream is great for smoothing fine lines. Another new favorite that I have been using every day is my Lip Sense lip moisturizer. I am super picky when it comes to lip products, and this formula is seriously amazing. It provides great moisture and makes your lips nice and smooth and plump, therefore making lipsticks and glosses look way better on! I especially love to use it before I apply a matte lip product. I keep one in my nightstand too, and have been applying it every night before bed. This is one of the only lip balms I have tried that really works!

Monday, February 27, 2017

MY FIRST LOUIS VUITTON PURCHASE

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I recently made my first Louis Vuitton purchase, and wanted to share a mini review with you. I plan to make a whole video on this, but for now thought I would share a brief overview.

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I have always been a lover of key pouch card cases. I think it is so convenient to have your keys and cards together in one place, and be able to run into the store with just those things, and leave your big bag at home or in the car. I had been eyeing this Louis Vuitton key pouch for awhile, but always went for the more affordable designer options. I have a few from Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Minkoff, etc. that are high quality leather options, at a more affordable price. I still LOVE these and plan to keep them, but decided I was ready to splurge for the timeless classic Louis. This card case retails for $200. I feel like this is a pretty reasonable price for a Louis Vuitton piece. Some of their handbags are outrageously expensive in my opinion, but I think this was fair. The keychain itself feels nice and sturdy, and is gold plated. I’ve heard that after awhile they tend to chip, but this is to be expected when metal keys are scratching against it all day. The zipper is nice and smooth, and it actually fits a lot of cards! I went for the damier ebene print, and am so happy with my choice. I was deciding between this and the classic monogram but really love the ebene. I purchased mine from Saks and it was a great experience. I am already planning my next Louis purchase, so keep an eye out for that. 😉