Sales & Steals: Bloomingdales Friends + Family 20% Off

Bloomingdales Friends + Family sale is online now [and in stores starting April 2nd]. Use code FANDF at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase! I love this embellished Tibi dress for a summer party and this black jumpsuit and striped shirt are great year round pieces to have on hand. My favorite item is this gorgeous, neutral leather jacket which would definitely be an investment pieces but I know would be worn for many years! More dress picks below or start shopping here. XOXO

Fabulous Friday

Surprise roses from the Mr.

Moroccan Blanket + Maison De Vacances pillows from Calypso St Barth [West Elm pillow also pictured].

  

Trader Joe's tulips from last week.

Hope you all had a good week and enjoy your last weekend of March! So crazy that it's almost April... Heads up that the Bloomingdales' Friends + Family sale [20% off most items!] starts Tuesday, April 2nd if you want to do a little browsing before then. I'll post some of my favorite picks next week! XOXO

Beauty: Self Tanning Essentials

This week I made an excuse to pop into Sephora to cash in my VIB Rouge points for their amazing St. Tropez gift set. I love their Self Tan Bronzing Spray [although I haven't had the time to use it in awhile!] because it is one of the only self tanners I've used that actually gives a realistic glow. Super excited to try the products in the set: Everyday Gradual Tan, Bronzing Mousse, Self Tan Face Lotion, One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion and Tan Applicator Mitt. I also purchased a Nars lipstick in Roman Holiday [love their blushes but this is my first lipstick purchase from the brand] and was pleasantly surprised. The color is described as a sheer, delicate pastel pink and looks a little bright in the tube but goes on beautifully and has buildable coverage which I always like. The orangey red Heat Wave is next on my wish list! Any current beauty favorites? XOXO

Closet Clean Out Sale: Designer Handbags

Givenchy Nightingale Bag $1150 shipped.

Balenciaga Brief With Giant Gold Hardware $950 shipped.

Yves Saint Laurent Croc Embossed Black Patent Muse $900 shipped.

Email me at nicole.guidetostyle@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing and I am happy to send additional descriptions and photos of each bag [prices reflect shipping within the U.S.--international shipping is extra]. I still love these bags but they just aren't practical for me to carry with a toddler for different reasons and I hate watching them go unused! Also, some items are left in my February sale if interested here. XOXO 

Current Obsessions

Nars Eyeshadow Palette | Melanie Auld Double Knuckle Pave Ring | Illevsteva Sunglasses | Marni Sandals | Melanie Auld Square Stone Drops Earrings | Melanie Auld Labradorite Earrings | The World According To Karl Book | Bailey x J.Crew Hat | Isabel Marant Sweatshirt | Saint Laurent Sac De Jour Bag | RMS Raw Coconut Cream | Sugar Paper x J.Crew Note Set

A few of of my lust list picks for March! I'm loving the new baby size in the Saint Laurent Sac De Jour bag-- a great way to show off a pop of color without being too loud [swooning for the new neon pink]. Also, you have to check out the Melanie Auld spring collection if you haven't yet, it is stunning! I'll have a few purses for sale later today or first thing tomorrow so be sure to check back if you're on the look out for a new bag. XOXO

Sales & Steals: Gray Malin On One Kings Lane

If you need any art for your home be sure to head on over to One Kings Lane today and check out the awesome sale with Gray Malin! He is my favorite photographer [we have this, this and this hanging in our house right now] and I highly recommend his beautiful work... Some pieces are marked at over 50% off so now would be a great time to buy if you've been debating getting something [I'm loving this and this for other areas in our house]. Check out all of the pieces for sale here! XOXO

Recipe: Oatmeal, Almond Butter, Chocolate + Sea Salt Cookies

3 Eggs

1 Cup of Brown Sugar

1 Cup of White Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon of White Corn Syrup

2 Teaspoons of Baking Soda

1 Stick of Butter, Melted

1.5 Cups of Raw Unsalted Almond Butter

4.5 Cups of Oatmeal [I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats]

1 Cup of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chunks

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Mix together all of the ingredients listed above until just combined. Use an ice cream scoop to form uniform balls, place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and then lightly press on the top of each cookie to slightly flatten them. Sprinkle each cookie with the sea salt flakes and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

This is a new take on the Monster Cookie recipe [original recipe here] that my sorority house mom used to make for us in college! The almond butter makes for a nice change and the chocolate chunks and sea salt topping make the cookies a bit more fancy from the M&M version [although you can't beat the original!]. This recipe is also gluten free [as long as you ensure that you buy gluten free oats]! XOXO

Recent Outfit

1. Outfit Jacket: J.Crew | Scarf: Zara [sold out] | Shirt: Madewell | Denim: Henry & Belle Super Skinny Ankle | Boots: Stuart Weitzman 50/50 in Black Napa Leather. 1. Dark sapphire manicure in Essie Bobbing For Baubles 3. A little peek at our finished landscaping project.

A long lost outfit from earlier this month... this was from the weekend that we had the crazy rain storms [crazy for LA haha] and it was a nice chance to bundle up in some winter gear that is usually neglected. I wore this to a birthday dinner for one of our friends at City Tavern in downtown [great happy hour!]. This past weekend was beautiful and we were able to get our front yard finished just in time for spring! Hope you're having a wonderful week! New cookie recipe will be up tomorrow. XOXO

Sales & Steals: J.Crew 25% Discount

Last chance to get 25% off your purchase at J.Crew... the sale ends tonight at 11:59pm, just use HAPPYSHOPPING at checkout! It'd be a great time to get a few spring and summer pieces like these metallic sandals that can go from day to night or this cute silk cover up which would be perfect for a beach day or lunch by the pool! Start shopping here. XOXO

Hudson: First Birthday Party By Bloom Designs

 

On January 2nd, 2014 my baby boy, Hudson Duke, turned 1! The following weekend we had his first birthday party and my sister, Jenny of Bloom Designs, planned all of the details for us. It was such a special gift for her to give us and Hudson... all the details of his white, gold and burlap safari themed party were absolutely perfect! Check out more photos and details of Hudson's special day on her site, Bloom Designs, and shop the printables in her Esty store [direct link here]. Big thanks to my sister for creating such a special day!

Party Styling + Printables: Bloom Designs
Photographer: Stephanie Wiley

Hudson's Custom ONE Hat: Little Blue Olive

Hudson's Outfit: Gap Linen Onesie + Freshly Picked Moccasins in Weathered Brown

All images via Jenny Raulli of Bloom Designs, photographer Stephanie Wiley and myself. Please do not use without permission, thank you! XOXO

Sales & Steals: New Markdowns At Shopbop

Shopbop just had an awesome discount last week but today they've added new picks to their sale section! I love this floral print Equipment top and these Frye boots would be a great year round go to. Also, this white Tibi dress would be the perfect look for a bride to be! More of my picks posted below or head on over to the sale section on Shopbop's site here and take a peek. XOXO

Best Dressed: 2014 Academy Awards

 Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace. Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive. Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Reem Acra. Jessica Biel in Chanel Couture.

Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent. Olivia Wilde in Valentino. Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen. Anne Hathaway in Gucci. 

There were lots of beautiful looks at last night's Academy Awards but my favorite look, hands down, went to Kate Hudson. The fit, the bead work, the cape, hair and makeup were simply flawless! Btw, Olivia Wilde is probably the cutest pregnant girl ever... loved her black and white look with the beautiful jewelry and cat eye. Who rocked your favorite look of the night?

P.S. Totally forgot to add them but I also loved Jennifer Garner's whole look and Lupita Nyong'o's  gorgeous blue gown [didn't love the headband though]. XOXO