Happy Valentine’s Day weekend, Gang. I’m…distracting myself from, uh, everything by eating too much sugar and reading Glamour. In happy news, side-parts and bangs are back.
I’ve gone cross-country skiing alllllmost every morning this week (finally feeling like I’ve maybe kicked that flu bug?) and the outside time, per usual, has done wonders for my mental health. It’s almost as good as bangs. 😉
We’re putting together a resource page (hopefully coming out in the next few weeks) that include some know-your-rights kind of stuff, as well as an index of where you can find reliable information. If you have any go-to sites bookmarked, let us know.
We’re expecting a storm up here in Vermont (oooo…it’s started) so I have high hopes for a very cozy end to the weekend.
If you, too, are in need of some distraction, the President’s Day Weekend sales are pretty fun. I’ve pulled together a little cheat sheet of my favorites (the team covered this in more detail, here). But if you feel like shopping local (Hi, Stowe, VT)…Archery Close is having a President’s Week flash sale, 20% off (I want these).
Abercrombie & Fitch – Take 20% off everything, but this linen-cotton blend mini dress (it’s actually a skort!!) is my top pick. Made from natural fibers, available in petite, regular, and tall sizes, and goes up to XXL. Get one of the prints – I’m thinking the cherries? This is the kind of piece I’ll wear allllll summer, and bring on every vacation. Soooo good.
Adidas – Take 30% off select products with code, SAVE. I’m really into the color, ‘trace brown’ – it makes these track pants look really chic (also available in a cargo pant version that are really lightweight and great for summer). I’m also considering these waterproof hiking shoes – so pretty!! – or boots, if you prefer some with ankle support.
Alohas – If you’ve been eyeing up this very exciting brand at places like Anthro or FP…maybe just check out Aloha’s own sale section. I have these exact sneakers in green – they’re great! The green color isn’t on sale, but there are some very cool red, pink, and brown shades, including a burgundy pair with – get this – crochet detail and ribbon laces. Sooooo pretty. Also, I didn’t realize that Alohas made clothes, but whoa: this seriously cool and unique top is also on sale, and this pair of denim trousers with an attached skirt (yes, I said what I said) is freaking FUN. This whole website feels like a breath of fresh air.
Aritzia – The sale section is huge, filled with everything from really chic work wear to the prettiest, I-Vacation-In-Italy linen sundress (and some cute sweaters thrown in for good measure), but it’s the Super Puff mittens and matching tote that got me oddly excited. Sooo functional, and sporty bags are the ones I use most in the winter (mittens also available in pink or a really pretty ‘slab blue’ – both have a bigger matching tote).
Avocado – These organic mattresses are 20% off this weekend, and they’re great. I had a hard time finding a mattress-in-a-box that was actually firm enough (we like ours pretty darn firm – even the boys), and this one works best (firm setting, obvi).
Blueland – We’re trying to reduce our exposure to microplastics, especially after seeing the possible link to dementia, and one easy way is to swap out plastic-free alternatives to those plastic pods we had been using in our dishwasher and laundry. Blueland’s laundry and dishwasher pods are great, and they’re offering 30% off new subscriptions. There’s actually a subscription that’s just the dishwasher and laundry tablets, but I’ve found that I really do need to add in the oxi booster with the laundry, just FYI. I would also avoid their Dish Soap – it’s gets into the air and makes me cough, doesn’t really work that well, and I freaking hate it. But the other products are great!
Dyson – I’ve resisted for years, but the Dyson v15 (the one with the green light that shines and shows you all the dirt) is a freaking game-changer. It’s…wildly good, and is so unbelievably effective that it is also somehow fun to use? As in, it’s the one chore my kids fight over (granted, it’s either vacuum the house or do dishes, but still). Anyway, it looks like Best Buy currently has the lowest price, but Dyson’s customer service is so epic, this is a product I’d easily consider buying refurbished, and Walmart is offering $200 off refurbished v15s. If you’re trying to avoid the big box guys right now, Dyson’s website has both a sale on the v15 and a v15 refurbished. WAIT!! Dyson just came out with a v15 that will also wash your hardwood floors, also $150 off.
Everlane – At the risk of boring you, my beloved Day Glove flats (in tan) are on sale for under $100. Gang…I keep trying other ballet flats, but the ones I wear the most – hands down – are still these. Everlane did come out with a Mary Jane version (check the reviewer photos to see them in action – they’re great), but I think they key is the fact that these shoes just vibe so European. They’re understated and cool, and have enough cushioning that I really can walk around all day long. It’s wild that I first wrote a full review on these shoes back in 2019 (in skinny jeans, haha)…and I’m still wearing the exact same pair. ps. While you’re at Everlane, this overshirt (in the light gray) is a pretty foolproof move if your guy needs help with date night outfits.
GAP – They’re having a long weekend sale, 40-60% off basically everything, but it’s this cute little 100% cotton striped sweater – in coral pink and tan – that makes my heart beat fast.
Mother Denim – Their sale section isn’t at all what I was expecting. Sure, there are some jeans (like this pair), but not that many! Instead, this sale section is filled with amazing vacation pieces, from brands I usually have trouble finding at the big retailers. For example, this Xirena top (100% cotton) has amazing details – I’d wear it now tucked into black trousers, and in the summer with white cut-off shorts and tan sandals – or this printed top that’s an easy, casual, outfit-maker, or this useful, cropped knit tank that’s a blend of cotton, silk and cashmere. Oh! Here’s a swingy, black silk tank that I’d actually wear everyday. I mean…these pieces are all I’d need for an entire summer, vacations included. That said, if you’re looking for a cute top to wear now, Mother’s cozy knit rugby shirt is freaking on point (oversized! cozy! yellow!!). I LOVE it.
Nordstrom – It’s a lot of the same shit we’ve been seeing all year (sigh), but after digging through many sale pages, the small little handful of sale products I did like are actually…pretty great. Warning: it’s mostly pants. Personally, I’m starting here, with these Paige jeans. I don’t always love Paige jeans, but this pair is *exactly* what I want right now. Straight leg? Maybe. Baggy? Uh…sorta. Wash? Not dark, but not light, either – just a perfectly broken-in blue. Next, these jogger jeans look much cooler than the name implies, and would be great for travel (or – haha – everyday). I love that there’s a drawstring hem so you aren’t stuck in jogger mode. Then there’s these striped boxer-ish pants with a seriously cool waistband that would be great for spring/summer. If you’re still trying to figure out boots with jeans this winter (haha me too), these Sam Edelman boots look like The Row. If you were really hoping for a top, this 100% silk top is my top pick.
Our Place – They’re having a huge February sale, and if you’ve been trying to find a safe (yet effective) nonstick, you’re in luck. Mike bought me the Titanium Always Pan Pro – their new nonstick pan – for Christmas, and it’s fantastic. I’ve always been deeply suspicious of nonstick pans – their coating is made from pretty nasty chemicals, which, with use, will leech into the food – but this pan relies on a physical construction to make the nonstick work, with zero chemical coating. It does require some oil, but I do love the results and peace of mind.
Saks – Um. This sale is wild. There are several gorgeous pieces normally $300 – $500 that are currently marked down to, like, $136. Check out this Alice+Olivia floral slip dress to start, as well as this fun, swishy number from Reiss. Both could be used for fancy events…or be layered up for a casual, cold-weather outing, too. I also keep coming back to this Reiss slip skirt. I can’t decide why it looks so versatile, but I think it’s something to do with the sporty stripes plus pretty lace. Or maybe the color combo (black and white), which means I can just as easily picture it in the winter with wool sweaters and boots (moto, tall, even UGGs?) as I can in the summer with a little white tank and flip-flops. In any case, the skirt seems really special and different. If you can go as high as $150, those navy Maje cords I own and love are also on sale (I wear size 38), but they’ll run short on anyone over 5’6″. They are one of my most comfortable, best-fitting pants – they’re really freaking cool. Lastly, if you’re looking for just an absolute WOW piece…this ALC silk gown made my jaw drop. It’s mostly silk (with a little spandex thrown in), so I’d honestly just hem it for flat sandals and wear it as an everyday piece. (Silk/spandex dresses I always hand wash cold, hang to dry. The silk won’t stay shiny, but I love a matte silk anyway.)
Enjoy the long weekend…
xo,
S
