your holiday gift guide from bartell drugs

the holidays are upon us, and it

is never too early to begin the somewhat daunting

task of finding those 'perfect' gifts. 

who are you shopping for this year? your mom,

dad, brother, or sister? spouse? friend?

extended family member? regardless of who is on your

holiday gift list, this gift basket (and all of the

festive, tasty, and adorable goodies inside) 

is seemingly perfect for anyone!

instead of scouring department stores

or the local grocer, my mom and i visited

bartell drugs. we were eager to find something

special for my aunt and uncle, our gracious

thanksgiving hosts. fortunately, we live

just over a mile from bartell drugs and were

able to forgo the crowds and black friday chaos

to complete our holiday shopping.

before our shopping trip, my mom and

i planned to curate a unique (and fun) gift basket

for my aunt and uncle, while also stocking up

on miscellaneous goodies for a neighborhood gift

exchange, secret santa games at work, and of 

course, a few delicious treats for our pantry. 

who can say 'no' to dark chocolate?

disclosure: a special thank you to bartell drugs for providing me with a gift

card used to purchase the items in this post. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

we may have been slightly over-zealous

when putting this basket together (it was heavy),

but we couldn't help ourselves! bartell drugs, a 

local, family-owned company, carries a variety of

washington-based brands, including food, 

beverages, beauty, and personal-care items.

in our basket, we included:

beecher's handmade cheese crackers

biscoffee shortbread cookies (espresso coffee)

hallmark 'thank you' cards

joes chocolates (in midnight coconut)

market spice tea (in cinnamon orange)

maury island farms jam (in strawberry rhubarb)

northpole throw blanket (in white)

rub with love chicken rub

seattle chocolates pike place espresso truffle bar

snowman spatula

torch illumination candle (in blood orange)

uncle woody's popcorn (caramel corn)

photos by karya schanilec photography

as we walked up and down the (not-so-

crowded, and well-stocked) aisles, we pointed to 

different goodies and said 'oh, yes, this!' and 'oh, they 

would love that.' a few additional chocolate bars may or 

may not have ended up in our cart, too. 

when planning your holiday shopping, don't forget

about your local bartell drugs. in addition to 

carrying an assortment of home goods, 

pharmacy products, and other locally sourced items, 

bartell drugs is passionate about giving

back to our community. during the holiday season

(and throughout the year), they support and

contribute to our community at large by

partnering with organizations such as food lifeline,

school tools, teddy bear patrol, seattle's

union gospel mission, and more!

have you started your holiday shopping?

i have to admit, while i enjoy shopping for myself,

shopping for others is far more fun!

xoxo.

my top cyber monday picks

we celebrated thanksgiving, enjoyed far
too much pie (and later braved the gym crowds),
hunted for the best black friday deals, and now,
cyber monday is here! grab a cup of coffee
and cozy blanket, as i share my 25-favorite
fall and winter items, perfect to gift
or purchase if you want to treat yo' self.

did you brave the mall on black friday?

i went briefly (or as brief as one can be
when sandwiched amongst 1289819031
fellow shoppers) and then came home to finish
my shopping online. who can turn down
free shipping while shopping from
the comfort of your couch?!

happy cyber monday, everyone!
i found this forbes article, predicting how much
consumers (on average) will spend on cyber
monday, particularly intriguing.
which deals/retailers are you most excited
to shop?
xoxo.

fresh flowers & a fred meyer adventure

last week, i had the pleasure of attending the grand opening

of the newly renovated fred meyer in bellevue. 

'grand' may be an understatement, as the gorgeous store

is comparable to a whole foods or metropolitan market (think

gourmet grocery and home shopping!). in addition to the large

grocery, home decor, and apparel departments, fred meyer 

has an in-house starbucks (with ample seating for your morning 

or mid-day coffee break), and a hot food area with 

a variety of delicious lunch and dinner items.

disclosure: i received store credit for my review and event recap. 
as per usual, all opinions are my own!

the home and garden department

has beautiful flowers, and i am now more excited than 

ever for springs arrival. seattle sunshine, if you would

just cooperate, too!

 store renovations included: energy efficient lighting,

polished concrete floors, a murray's cheese shop,
a bistro with an assortment of middle eastern food,
sushi and other seafood in the ready-made area
 and an incredible growler and wine bar (with ten different
beers on tap and 16 rotating wines to sample!);
shop, sip and enjoy!

i must admit, i left the party happy and very, very full.

i sampled grilled cheese, cake, hummus with fresh vegetables, 

cheese and crackers, cookies, chinese eggplant, pitaya, salami and a cupcake;

if only my weekly trip to the grocery store could be this gratifying!

 

photos by jenn from hello rigby 

blouse: zara (exact here), jeans: american eagle, 

leather jacket: nordstrom, boots: c/o bohoo, fringe purse: target,

rings: forever 21

fred meyer was already my grocery and

cosmetic/drugstore of choice (hello to all the shampoo, 

face wash and makeup products!). visiting the new

location in bellevue has me loving fred meyer more! 

fun fact? when working at preschool, the kids and i would

walk to the local fred meyer each week for fresh fruit

and snacks to share. it quickly became a favorite 'field trip'

of sorts - for both the students and staff.

the new store is located at:

 2041 148th avenue north east,

bellevue, washington 98007.

next time you're over in bellevue, be sure to stop by!

i will be making a special trip to the east side for lunch and

grocery shopping this weekend.

i am looking forward to the tasty wood-fire pizza, an array of

fresh fruit, and of course, a treat from the bakery.

xoxo.

happy easter!

^^^ and an easter outfit roundup! ^^^

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 

happy easter, everyone!

this dress and accessories roundup is slightly belated (i tend to be a bit of a 

last minute shopper, however). i cannot get enough of all the gorgeous 

spring florals, and they're readily available on a variety of different 

dresses, skirts and rompers. 

whether you're headed to church, brunch with family and friends, 

or on an egg hunt, these outfit ideas will keep you comfortable and feeling

stylish. i especially love the last dress (available here), and it's less than $100!

1 // 2 // 3 

a neutral shoe is essential for spring and summer. a few of my favorite 

styles are the peep toe bootie, the lace up flat, and the studded block heel.

i recently picked up the above peep toe bootie in black at my local nordstrom,

and they are incredibly comfortable!

1 // 2 // 3 

as with any outfit, accessories are a must! while i'm not typically an earring girl, 

i love this statement pair from sole society. this bucket bag can easily be dressed up

or down (and is trendy while still providing ample storage space for all my 'stuff').

this kendra scott stone pendant is gorgeous and can be paired with all

of your spring blouses, tops and dresses.

i am planning to enjoy brunch with my parents, an afternoon walk 

(weather permitting!), and indulging in far too much chocolate. 

i hope you have a wonderful day!

xoxo. 

happy holidays!

happy holidays, everyone!

the decorations are up, food has been prepared, and the presents

are wrapped (or mostly wrapped). 

we are headed to dinner with my grandma, aunt, and uncle tonight

and will spend tomorrow in my pajamas while watching copious

christmas movies and exchanging gifts - i can't wait (!!!). 

a coworker of mine gave me this beautiful scarf

as an early christmas gift. it is the perfect layering piece!

let's talk about this outfit! my skirt, sweater and backpack 

are from my most recent stitch fix.

aren't familiar with stitch fix? it is a customized box of clothing, jewelry

and/or accessories that are delivered to your doorstep. 

you can receive your 'fix' once a month, every other month, or however often

 works best for you; i currently receive a box monthly. 

to sign up, simply pay a non-refundable $20 styling fee which can be applied to 

any item(s) you choose to keep!

send back anything that does not fit or is not your style in a postage paid envelope. 

you have three business to decide what to keep - 

try everything on, assess what you have in your closet, and keep the pieces you love!

photos by michelle dorman photography

already a stitch fix lover? or do you have a friend or family member 

who might enjoy this service? purchase a stitch fix gift card for the holidays here!

it's never too late to give the gift of a personal shopper and new clothes!

xoxo. 

a tour of the new flagship filson store

seattle's premier outdoor and luggage retailer since 1897, filson, 

recently opened a new flagship store. just in time for the holidays, too! 

the store is located at 1741 first avenue south and is 6,500 square feet larger 

than their previous location. 

i had the pleasure of attending their grand opening 

two weeks ago, and 'event' is a bit of an understatement; it was a party!

the opening featured live music, bites from tom douglas,

and a selection of local beer and wine. 

^^^ my dad attended the event with me, and he 

greatly enjoyed learning about the repair process. these are original filson 

bags that have been redone and are available for purchase! ^^^

filson is known for their attention to detail, quality customer service, 

and lifetime guarantee. the new space is gorgeous and includes 

the warehouse, store, a community meeting space, and home

to artifacts from the klondike gold rush era and other original filson products.

we had a wonderful time at the opening and loved learning 

more about filson. i may or may not have brought home a few

things to give to my family for christmas (!!!). 

have you had a chance to stop by their new location? it's worth the trip!

you can learn more about filson here.

xoxo.

holiday shopping with spring!

source

wireless speaker // terrarium // blanket

it's hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner!

have you finished your shopping?

with the cold weather and seemingly never-ending seattle rain,

walking downtown or heading to the mall 

is the last thing on my mind (and finding parking? no, thank you!).

with the spring app, however, i can check off items on my holiday 

shopping list from the comfort of my apartment (while sipping

hot coco and wearing pajamas, too!). 

spring carries 800+ brands and receives new arrivals daily! 

many items are discounted and can be purchased directly from the designers

that make them. the variety of pieces are endless;

whether you're shopping for a fashionista, tech-savvy family member, 

or a home decor-loving individual, spring has the gifts you need.

book // watch // boots

you can learn more about the mission behind spring here.

some of the brands they carry include:

everlane, frye, j brand, joie, ray ban, shinola,

kate spade new york, jo malone london, smashbox cosmetics, and more!

bucket bag // jacket // sunnies 

i had to pick a few of my favorites, of course! i sure

wouldn't mind opening that gorgeous black and white bag - 

the size and shape are perfect for this teacher-on-the-go. the best part?

it's under $100! there are many beautiful accessories from spring, too.

do you have the spring app? i'd love to know what you think.

and happy shopping, everyone!

xoxo. 

holiday gift guide for her

thanksgiving is over, which means!? it's time for 

anything and everything christmas! 

will and i started decorating our apartment yesterday.

as we live in a studio, we don't have space for a christmas tree,

but you can bet i've hung ornaments and decor in every nook and cranny!

one of my favorite parts of the holiday season is shopping for 

friends and family. shopping can be stressful, but certainly doesn't have to be!

i put together a few gift guides for the upcoming holiday season- 

this first one is dedicated to the women in your life;

all of the items or services are local to seattle, too!

filigree & sea foam green bracelet by lk designs // black & crystal drop filigree earrings by lk designs

burgandy flower & pearl earrings by atelier godole // golden flower pendant necklace by lk designs

jj caprices, founded by jennifer jedda, 

is an online-based bellevue boutique. each of jennifer's pieces

are hand chosen from all over the world! they are gorgeous and unique, 

yet affordable. i'm lusting after all of the above items (especially 

the black and crystal drop filigree earrings, by lk designs).

best of all, a portion of the proceeds from each sale is 

donated to world vision to help women and girls in need.

you can learn more about local boutique, jj caprices here.

photo from here

do you have a fashion-lover in your family? 

or could a lucky lady in your life benefit from a closet makeover?

styled seattle is the answer!

with styled seattle, you can provide someone the opportunity to work

with a professional stylist. the stylist will examine

what is already in their closet and help recommend or fill in potential gaps.

visit styled seattle here to purchase a gift certificate.

photos from here

located on upper queen anne, bella fiore organic med spa

offers a holistic approach to skin care and treatment. bella fiore uses the latest

in organic skin care technologies to provide lasting, beautiful results. 

they also offer med spa facials, laser hair removal, and detox retreats. 

this year, treat your mom (or girlfriend, aunt or grandma!)

to the gift of happy skin at bella fiore. 

learn more about beauty packages and services here.

photos from here

the gift of good health? priceless!

for the health and wellness gals in your life, 

a subscription box or gift certificate to jujubeet is simply perfect.

organic and artisan juices, smoothies, and tasty treats

are just some of what is on jujubeet's menu. i am anxious to try the 'green limeade'

(spinach, parsley, kale, celery, cucumber, apple and lime!!). 

you can find a jujubeet location near you here!

happy shopping, and stay tuned for additional

gift guides coming soon!

xoxo. 

purpose boutique anniversary bash!

cue the excitement, anticipation, and shopping mania!

(i sure hope my wallet and closet are ready!!!)

purpose boutique, located in both bremerton and kirkland, 

is hosting their annual anniversary sale, starting saturday, august 1st

from 10am-8pm!

there will be additional markdowns every two hours! 

haven't been to purpose boutique?

purpose is a different shopping experience;

each team member is coached on current trends and styling techniques.

the staff are passionate about fashion,

women's empowerment, and giving back to their community.

in addition, the clothing and accessories at purpose are not only adorable

(and affordable, too!), but 10% of 

the net proceeds are donated to two giving partners:

'hope for our sisters' and 'rescue: freedom international.'

'we have been encouraged to know that together with our partners, 

customers, and communities, we are changing lives.'

source

purpose, i cannot wait to visit the kirkland location!

happy shopping, everyone!

for more information on the mission of purpose boutique,

or to shop online, visit their website here.

xoxo.

elizabeth roberts warehouse sale!

calling all seattle bloggers and fashionistas!

designer, elizabeth roberts, is hosting an incredible warehouse sale THIS week! 

located in bellevue, roberts designs embody 'a fusion of culture,

style, technology, and function.'

source

roberts primary focus is on women's outerwear.

she strives to create silhouettes that are practical, comfortable

and stylish for all women. her background in technology sets her apart

from other designers; blending both fashion and technology, 

roberts created a proprietary SMARTSHIELD™

cell phone pocket that reduces the absorption rate of EMFs and microwaves 

from cell phones by 98.8%.

source

be sure to visit the warehouse sale this week, as many of the items 

have been discounted to $99 or less :)

i hope to see you there!

happy shopping, everyone! 

xoxo.

flowy skirts & stripes

top: nordstrom rack, skirt: kohl's (cinderella collection!), 

hat: moorea seal, sandals: birkenstock

happy wednesday! 

there is a yucky tummy virus going around preschool, 

and i think it finally did me in yesterday.

stomach pains, hot and cold sweats, body aches, 

the whole thing - not a fun way to spend your work day.

after an early bedtime, i am feeling much better.

now if we were just a bit closer to the weekend,

i would be a very happy girl :)

i found this floral midi skirt in the juniors' section of kohl's.

when looking at the tag, i noticed it was part of

the cinderella collection.

i loved the bright colors, pleats, and of course, 

the midi length; i knew it had to come home with me.

kohl's is conveniently located right near preschool,

so i think i need to make another visit soon.

have a wonderful day, and thank you for stopping by!

xoxo.

shop local: moorea seal

^^^ sunglasses galore! ^^^

^^^ new to moorea seal, skin care and bath products, as well as natural oils! ^^^

^^^ finally brought home one of the above hats this past weekend.

i can't wait to share it with you! ^^^

^^^ i'll take one of each from this table, moorea seal. thank you! ^^^

^^^ i love how each piece is carefully displayed - 

each table is different, showcasing a variety of items.

there is so much to look at! ^^^

the moorea seal store, located in belltown, 

is the home to stunning accessories, jewelry, cards and gift wrap, 

home decor and more!

items in the store are predominantly handmade in the united states, 

with a few carefully selected pieces from across the globe.

the theme? chic, modern, and rustic tied into one beautiful, cohesive store.

an important component of the moorea seal store's mission is to 'do good, do great.'

thus, 7% of your purchase total will be donated to various non-profits;

moorea seal is not only committed to helping our local community, 

but society as a whole. 

what more could you want? buy gorgeous hat + help someone in need - 

moorea seal, i will definitely be back for more! 

to learn more about the moorea seal store, 

or to shop online, visit their website here.

xoxo.