August Finds
Stay cool and keep some extra cash in your wallet.
Cute and Comfy Sneakers
I put many kilometers on the old model of these walking through Europe. Love.
Knit Weighted Blanket
If you’re like me and don’t want to shell out $250 for a Bearby napper, this one’s for you.
Ribbed Bodycon Dress
This classic style comes in a nice ribbed fabric and I dig this seafoam green color.
Flamingo Floatie
Milk this last month of hot summer fun by cooling down in a pool with this darling float.
Checkered Oven Mitt
It’s got a new classic kind of vibe with the checker and it’s $9 from Anthro. I mean, how could you not?
Le Pilage Tote
This is a serious discount on these bags! I’ve had the red and the grey and both have lasted years.
Rainbow Eye Earrings
They’re probably a little heavy but perfect for wearing to an event with all eyes on you ;)
Body Gua Sha
Add this to your dry brush and shower routine and get that lymphatic drainage going!
Daisy Ceramic Mug
How darling is this mug?! Handmade ceramic adds such a coziness to my mornings.
xo
em
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: My Top 10 Picks
I confess: I love Nordstrom. It’s where my mom would take us shopping as children, where we’d pick out a first day of school outfit, where I became enchanted with the color and sound and motion of a crowded shoe section. I miss the days of the live pianists, the pink cookies, the cafe.
To me, Nordstrom will always represent the highest quality of customer service. And, of course, it is my preferred shop given their free shipping and returns and price-matching. Unrivaled! Their anniversary sale lasts through Sunday, July 31st, so hurry on down to the store or over to the website and see if there’s something you’ve wanted or needed finally on sale.
Here are ten of my favorite things from the sale, focusing on pieces that are steeply discounted, well reviewed, long lasting, and classic.
by BERNARDO
$200 $120
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more flattering design for a packable puffer. Ditch the straight across lines and go with the butterfly quilting!
The Perfect Vintage Straight Leg Jeans
by MADEWELL
$129 $75
Look, I have some beef with Madewell’s non-inclusive sizing and sales tactics. AND these jeans are great. Both can be true.
by FRENCH CONNECTION
$138 $80
The LBD hero we’ve been waiting for. She’s flirty, she’s formal-ish, she’s fun.
by COLE HAAN
$195 $135
Jackson owns a pair of these and I’m obviously jealous. They’re unisex IMHO and bring a little polish and pizzazz to any outfit.
by AVEC LES FILLES
$290 $160
You know I can’t leave a good pink coat behind. This combines a classic line with a bold color.
by HALOGEN
$39 $25
Where wouldn’t you wear this?! Halogen really nails it when it comes to basics. This is a wardrobe staple throughout fall and winter.
by BLANKNYC
$98 $60
I didn’t think I’d ever want “faux leather culottes” but here we are. These are fabulous and chic.
by BAREFOOT DREAMS
$120 $80
Every Barefoot Dreams piece I own is a dream come true. Amazingly comfortable and durable thanks to bamboo fabric.
by HANKY PANKY
$22 $17
I only wear these underwear. No joke. And a sale is hard to come by on these. You will not regret the purchase.
by GOODLIFE
$125 $50
This is Jackson’s favorite sweatshirt. A hundred bucks is steep for a sweatshirt, but snag it at less than half the price!
Girls Night Out ft. Graphic Eyeliner
When I got the email from DoMore615 that I had two tickets to Mandy Moore at the Ryman, my initial reaction was, “really?” No offense, Mandy, but it’s been a minute. Come to find out the girl had a new album out. AND performed that evening 6 months pregnant alongside the ghost voice of her husband, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (who I’ve also seen at the Ryman), who was performing off-stage because he was covid positive (truly LOL). Camille texted me she had gotten the same email and we recruited Whitney and Liz to join us for a GNO.
You know when a stranger happens upon your selfie struggles and offers to take your picture and then takes like 18 pictures? That’s what happened here. We milked it. Please appreciate my double wine because ya girl is not missing “Only Hope” for a refill. Beginner’s mistakes, y’all. That ain’t it.
On a side note, I’ve been enjoying playing with graphic and colorful makeup styles lately. Feeling inspired by those little Gen Zers, ya feel. How’d I do?
Lastly, there’s nothing quite as good as the feeling when your white denim jumpsuit finally fits you after 2 years of it not because of Covid times leading to your body shape changing. Weight is whatever. But this feeling? THIS is it.
July Finds
Stay cool and keep some extra cash in your wallet.
Poppy Giant Scarf / Top
It’s a scarf. It’s a top. It’s a hair ornament. It’s fabulous and only $40 at Anthropologie. Catch their other summer sale items, too!
Set of 7 Makeup Erasers
You will thank me since you’ll never need a disposable makeup wipe or cotton pad again! I’ve been seriously impressed with these.
Cut Off Shorts
Summer is HOT in the South. Shorts are my least fave cooler option, but these from Free People do a great job of balancing function and form.
Set of 12 Solar Yard Lights
I’m not a Walmart girlie, but these lights are well-reviewed for the price. I’m ordering like 100 to make my yard a little paradise.
Pink Flamingo Tiki Mug
These hand painted mugs are darling and cheaper than you’ll find them on Etsy or in a vintage store.
People We Meet on Vacation
Everyone needs a good beach read. This one will transport you, even if you’re reading from your backyard instead of the beach.
KoKo’s Ice Cream (Nashville)
Order yourself some dairy-free, vegan ice cream at a more-reasonable-than-Jeni’s price. We’re a dairy-free household these days and the flavors are delicious!
Intant Pot Air Fryer Lid
Save yourself the counter and storage space by buying this air fryer lid instead of a whole air fryer. Instant Pots are lifesavers (and usually findable on Facebook Marketplace for cheap).
Outdoor Rug
This cute lil 5x8 rug is a steal at under a hundred bucks. It’s perfect for your porch or patio, where we spend most of our time in the summer. I love that the pattern is more neutral than busy.
xo
em
Gel Manicures At Home
I haven’t seen my naked nails for more than the hour between polish changes in I don’t know how long. My mother passed on this trait from her mother to my sister and me: we pretty much always have our nails painted.
I used to want to grow up to be the person who named polish colors. In part, it’s a fun femme expression for me when I otherwise have to keep my nails short for music. My natural nails have become brittle and striated in the past few years, so keeping it colorful helps me feel a little more put together. Colors and patterns and gems. But when it chips, it bothers me. So much.
Enter: gel polish.
It’s a little more expensive and a good bit more time-consuming than regular polish, but it’s chip-resistant and has a lacquered finish closer to acrylic nails than to standard polish.
After researching any side-effects of the UV light (it turns out the data isn’t much nor is it conclusive regarding any cancer risk increase), I went online, got myself a starter kit, and haven’t looked back. I’ve tried several brands of polish and this is by far my favorite.
I like to change up my nails about once every 10 days and of course I have gotten back into nail art with the zillion tiny brushes I have.
I tend to alternate between solids and patterns, between muted and neutral tones and bright splashes of color.
I’m still on the hunt for the perfect pink. Suggestions welcome.
xo
em
Bougie on a Budget: March
How is it March already? Hasn’t it been March for a year now?
How is it March already? Hasn’t it been March for a year now?
Feeling like these are both relevant questions. How about some spring-ish things that are a little bit hopeful?
Lele Sadoughi Studs
Yoga Block
Marc Fisher Heels
Acrylic Whiskey Glass
La Neige Lip Mask
Gingham Mask
Cinq A Sept Silk Mini
Wave Pillar Candle
Wondergloss with Collagen in Spicy Pink
Pastels and the hint of the idea of being outside (with those whiskey glasses): bring on the spring vibes!
xo
em
Red and Pink and Hearts All Over
Y’all. I luuuuurv Valentine’s Day. I love putting red and pink together. I love the thoughtful notes and gestures. I love the dedication to romance.
Y’all. I luuuuurv Valentine’s Day.
I love putting red and pink together. I love the thoughtful notes and gestures. I love the dedication to romance.
But don’t get me wrong: I can leave all the candies and roses and cards. I don’t think these are essential. I don’t think the holiday requires us to be in a relationship to celebrate. My take is this: we all could use a day to appreciate the marvel that is love in all its mystery and beauty. And if that means appreciating it with your friends or by yourself or with a partner, then that is worthwhile.
I like to surround myself with reminders of seasonal events and holidays like Valentine’s.
I always like to have my nails painted. It’s a Grager girl thing I share with my mom and my sister Camille. But my nails are brittle and sad and chip easily and I hate how they look when they’re chipped SO I do gel polish. I ain’t got the money to do the salon for that. I do it at home with a lil UV light and some Aimeili polish. This week, I went for colorful kisses with a matte finish.
In the spirit of love, here are a few of my fave finds. Some are more bougie than budget, but hey dreaming is free.
Candle by Ginger June
$24
Billie Eilish Record in Red,
$22 (BOGO records at the Sound of Vinyl right now!)
Gold Star Necklace by Adornia
$25 (was $170)
LBD by Dress the Population
$198
Red Felt Rancher by Free People
$98
Fuzzy Slippers by Chinese Laundry
$15
Congolese Basket by Tirzah
$45
L’amour Plate by Anthropologie
$16
Y’all got fun Valentine’s / Galentine’s / Palentine’s plans?
xo
em
Bougie on a Budget: February
February is all about sharing the love. So here’s some love from me to your wallet.
February is all about sharing the love. You know I’m always trying to share things that are from small, woman-owned, black-owned, environmentally sustainable, and local businesses. So here’s some love from me to your wallet.
Also, I absolutely love Valentine’s Day (my first date with Jackson, as cheesy as it is) and the colors and patterns that come with it so enjoy.
Puppy Love Card
Delicate Pearl Necklace
Floral Heart Bath Melt
Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
Loving Art Print
Custom Love Letter Blanket
Cookie Mixtape from HiFi (Nashville)
Candle Date Night Kit from Wooden Wick
LBD
The cookie mixtape is the way. to. go. It’s from HiFi, a deliciously local Nashville biz right on the east side (so near us!). And as someone who loves letters and blankets, I wouldn’t be mad about my valentine getting me that custom gift (HINT HINT).
xo
em
Bougie on a Budget: January
Kicking off the new year with some extra well-priced goodies.
Kicking off the new year with some extra well-priced goodies. Jackson and I did a complete inventory of everything we regularly use in our home that needs purchasing or refills: soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, and so on. A few of our favorite finds are below!
Blueland Handsoap Tablets
Who Gives A Crap TP, 48 rolls
Vermillion Vase
Sam Edelman Faux Fur Jacket
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Color Pop Bronzer (a Chanel dupe)
The Ordinary AHA+BHA solution
Colorfulkoala Black Leggings
16 oz. All Purpose Cleaner
I just ordered stuff from Blueland and am excited to try it out.
But let me tell you about these leggings. They are my favorite. I have eight pairs. They are all I wore on our camping trip across country. They are so reasonably priced and they are lululemon comfortable. They have rave reviews on Amazon, but we’re trying to #quitAmazon for lots of reasons. So yeah buy them directly please.
be comfy and be budget-friendly!
xo
em
Bougie on a Budget: December
Santa, if you’re reading this, the wireless charging mat is at the top of the list.
Time for the next round! I’ve maybe made a bit of a Christmas list here… jk I do own the hairdryer/straightener and it’s amazing! Santa, if you’re reading this, the wireless charging mat is at the top of the list.
SONOS SYMFONISK speaker
Mini Latte Bowls
Wireless Charging Mat
Short UGG booties
Fee Brothers cocktail bitters set
Star Boots
Chemex holder and filter caddy
Fabric face masks
One-Step Hairdryer and Volumizer
Bougie on a Budget: November
I’m a sucker for luxury goods on a limited budget.
I’m a sucker for luxury goods on a limited budget. My friends don’t call me the Queen of Craigslist for nothing — we found our house, two couches, a guest bed, our outdoor furniture, and most of our house plants there.
So when I find a good deal, I hang on to it. And share it with you.
Here are a few of my favorite bougie-on-a-budget items of late:
100% Mulberry Silk Sleep Mask
Washable 100% Silk PJ Set
Italian Leather Crossbody
Epicurean Pizza Paddle
Cactus Tiki Mug
Lemon/Lime Peeler for bartending
JAPANFUSION™ Supreme Cream
Warm Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette
TN Tri Star Ice Mold
Goodbye, wallpaper. Hello, paint!
When wallpaper is too expensive but you still want a pop of color and pattern in a space, painting is the way to go.