Friday, August 11, 2017

Friday Favorites #22. {8.11.17}

Hey hey hey hey!!  Happy Friday, friends!!   I must admit, I've had no idea what day it was for the past week!  But I'm always happy to see a Friday!  

If you are a new reader then first of all---hi!  And the reason for my obliviousness is because we've been in a salt water haze at the beach since last week and we had an AMAZING time!  Although I hate leaving the beach, it felt so good to pull back into the Mckinney, TX city limits!  There's no place like home and all that.  ;)


I'll be posting what will pretty much be "A Week in the Life" on Monday so I hope you come back to check it out!  I have so many pictures and so much to recap!!  We managed to get ourselves into a few pickles (because no vacation is perfect...at least not in our world!) but it was SO MUCH fun and incredibly relaxing and just what we needed to end the summer.  We LOVED our condo this year as well as our new Beachcomber.  #musthavebeachproduct  And I finished another Kristan Higgins audiobook AND a "real" book by one of my other favorite authors, Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

These are a few pictures I've already got on my computer.  If you follow me on Instagram or saw my last post, you've probably seen most of these already but I'm saving the rest for Monday.





You can follow me on Bloglovin' here, Instagram @amandanall and my Etsy shop @thatinspiredchick.


Moving on to FRIDAY FAVORITES though!  Like (almost) every Friday, I'm linking up with some of my favorite Mckinney mamas, Erika, Narci and Andrea and sharing some of my favorites from lately!  So on to #1!


Like I mentioned above, I got to actually sit down and READ (as opposed to listening on Audible) an entire book!  And thanks to a sweet reader's suggestion, the book I chose was an easy decision!  

I have been a Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan for YEARS now.  I've read 17 (maybe 18?) of her books!!  I just haven't given them much thought lately with my current love affair with all things Kristan Higgins.  :)  

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a Wynette, TX series and a Chicago Stars series as well as completely individual books.  The Chicago Stars series is what caught my attention all those years ago though.  I think I read my first one right after Craig retired from the NFL.

The Stars are a fictional professional football team and the entire series revolves around quarterbacks from the team finding their one true love.  Each book takes on a new quarterback and of course, over the years, QBs come and go.  (Something my family knows all too well!) 

The characters in her books are always so complex and just so endearing.  The men are all rugged and handsome and usually completely closed off.  And then they meet their total opposite and fall in love.  The women are always strong, smart and sassy!  If you want to give one a try, start with the Chicago Stars Series Book #1 (here), It Had To Be You.  I really think you'll be hooked!!

But S.E.P. hasn't had a new book published in awhile...until this summer!  I had no idea until a reader commented the other day saying I should try S.E.P. and when I replied letting her know I have all the heart eyes for S.E.P. she mentioned her new book that I didn't know existed.  So I made sure to run out to pick it up before we left.  I knew First Star I See Tonight would be my beach book.

I had to laugh at my before and after pics of my new book!!

Day 1:  All new and shiny!


Day 5:  Wrinkled, curled, sandy pages!



That poor book took a beating!  But it sure was good!  And if you are wondering if you HAVE to read them all in order to understand what's going on, the answer is no.  It is so fun to know the backstories of the characters from previous books when they make a cameo but it isn't necessary.

I also finished another Higgins book but I'll put that in my August book review at the end of the month.

You can check out my Mid-Summer book review here, in case you missed it!


Before we left for the trip, I ran up to the mall to grab a few little things I still needed and HAD to swing by Nordstrom to see if I had overlooked anything in the Anniversary Sale.  ;)  #priorities

Of course, I got completely distracted by all the stuff that wasn't on sale instead but I showed restraint and instead bought something I actually needed.  I've been on the hunt for new black flip flops all summer and just couldn't find any I loved.  But on the way out of Nordstrom, I walked past the shoe department and these caught my eye....and I'm SO GLAD THEY DID!!!




They are the most comfortable flip flops I've ever owned as well as being super cute.  (I love the sparkle!)  But back to being comfortable...it's like walking on memory foam!  And they have great arch support.  I wore them every single day on vacation.  I think there were only a couple of times all week that I needed brown sandals instead of black but guess what??  They come in tan as well!! And since they are affordable, I just may need that tan pair too! 



I just wish I would have found them sooner!  You will wonder how you ever lived without them. ;)  Thankfully, in TX, we tend to wear flip flops even into October.  So I've got awhile longer to enjoy them this season!


My Etsy Shop is officially open again!!  I've enjoyed my time off but I'm ready to get back to it!  Hop on over to check it out HERE.
























Whew.  I know that was a lot of pictures.  ;)  And since you stuck it out, be sure to use the code BLOGLOVE for 10% off your order!  Offer good through this Sunday night!


Y'all, my kitchen doors made me so happy when I walked into the house yesterday after being gone a week! I had forgotten about them so they surprised me a little when I walked into the kitchen!  I still LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!

You can check out the whole post and see before and afters HERE.





Are y'all ready for fall?!  I love summer until mid-August.  It starts to get crazy hot and everyone is always "so bored".  And I start counting down the days until the kids go back to school.  We don't start school until the 28th so we have another couple of weeks.  (sigh)

Once school starts, we get distracted with all the new schedules full of practices, games, homework and real bedtimes.  (I love bedtime.)  But then I get to start thinking all things FALL!!  Fall decorations and fall clothes are definitely a favorite!

Lately, I've been browsing some of my favorite sites for fall clothes or clothes that will transition into fall and here are some of my favorites.


I love this top from Gap.  Soft, drapey and easy.  And it's on sale (almost 50% off!) + an extra 20% off with FREE SHIPPING!!  Sitewide at Gap.com!

I also found this one at Gap...


I love it paired with jeans and some colorful earrings!

And these Gap jeans are so cute!!  Get them now for under $50 with the sale!

I need an excuse to buy these earrings.  They've been in my cart for awhile now!

At Nordstrom, I've got this top in my cart.  It comes in several patterns/colors and has that fun tucked in look in the front but is longer in the back.  And right now, they are all on sale for 50% off!! 


And this one isn't on sale (yet!) but I have it in my cart and will be checking back often so I can snag it when it does!  So pretty for a date night!


But check out this pattern!  Heart eyes...


And finally, because I just can't have enough plaid button down shirts, I am obsessed with these!  They come in multiple colors as well and I kind of want them ALL.  (I'll limit myself to one though.)


I love the colors.  Find it here.  

Edited to add in that these plaid shirts look SO cute with a puffer vest!  (Thanks, Laura for mentioning that!!)  And right now, J. Crew has all their puffy vests on pretty major sale so if you've been wanting one or wanting to add a new color to your collection, do it now!!



Here a few more of my favorites.


For my bonus #icanteven this week we have.....


The Ta-Ta Towel!!

Uhhhh...how do we feel about this??  The towel is supposed to help absorb that lovely underboob sweat that happens to ladies with larger chests.   Do you wear it under your clothes?  Just while you're running around getting ready before you leave the house?  Wear it like swimsuit top?  Or just while you sit on the couch drinking tea?  (But how much are you really sweating when you are sitting down enjoying a cup of tea?)

 I'm just confused.  

What am I missing?

Anyway, thank you for joining me for Friday Favorites today!

Check out past FF here!

Happy Friday!!

(PS-This post contains affiliate links.  By clicking on a link and/or making a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you so much for supporting my blog!)
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21 comments

  1. I can't wait to hear all about your trip! And is it wrong that I want all of your signs? Like every one of them. Ha!

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    1. If it's wrong, then I don't want you to be right! ;) Thanks, friend!!

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  2. Can't wait for your recap on Monday! Looks like a great time. I had other things in mind to say,but I'm really thrown off by that ta-ta towel. Yikes! I have no clue what that's about either. :D Hope you have a great weekend!

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    1. Hahahaha...they do kind of make for quite the distraction!

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  3. I bought my first Kristan Higgins book this week and can't wait to read it!! Loving all of your holiday items in your shop!

    https://www.alexisdezayas.wordpress.com

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    1. Awesome! I think I've read 6 (???) of her books now and I still think If You Only Knew and On Second Thought are my very favorites!

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  4. That plaid shirt is so cute and festive! I think I need that to wear around the holidays with my navy puffer vest!

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    1. Me too!! And J. Crew has all their puffers vests on sale right now so I may need another color this year! I think I'll go back in and add that. Totally forgot until you said that!!

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  5. I'm anxiously awaiting that beach recap post!!

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  6. Is it bad that I am glad you are back from vacation so I can read your posts everyday? #greedy But seriously glad you had a great time at the beach! Also, your Fall signs are making me excited for it!! Happy Friday!

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  7. I love all of your signs! I'm not sure how I feel about that towel either.

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  8. Can't wait to hear about your trip. Those ta-ta towels are a hot topic right now. What the heck? No thanks! All those fall signs make me so happy! I love how your doors turned out. Happy weekend!

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  9. Can't WAIT to hear more about your trip!! That ta-ta towel..um no thank you... i thinkI would have more boob sweat and I'm not "large chested" HA
    The grocery sign above your pantry....did you make it???

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    1. Yes, I did! It was one of the first ones I ever made!

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  10. Hi! Where did you get the little tiered tray on your island? Love the makeover!

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    1. The Painted Fox! Here's the link. :) And thank you!!

      https://paintedfoxhome.com/product/the-english-sparrow/

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