Life Update + Answering Your Questions + What’s Up Weekend

Happy Weekend! Were you as messed up as I was all week about which day it was? 😂 Crazy! Honestly, I really feel like in the empty nest, there really is no “normal” week. (Which is good because that would be boring!) 🙃

Amazon Sleeveless Ruffle Sleeve Swing Dress (Quality is 👍.) | Walmart Platform Wedge Heel Sandals | Colorful Cheetah Watch Band | Rattan Earrings

How was your Independence Day? Our July 4th mostly consisted of a total of 6 adult people staring at this little peanut and taking turns holding her. 🤣 I hope yours was good!

Life Update

There is a lot going on right now! Bob and I are keeping our sweet 5-month-old granddaughter, Lily, right now, and on Tuesday morning, we leave for our big family wedding in the Seattle area! (See all of my wedding outfits HERE and my shoes HERE.)

Wedding Week

Abby’s Engagement Photo Look: Reformation Kastoria | Pearl Drop Earrings

On Tuesday evening, we’re kicking off wedding week by going to dinner with our bride, Abby, our son, Connor, and Abby’s parents. We thought a sweet triple date would be the most lovely way to start our celebration together! We adore Abby and her parents, so this will be a treat. Here’s what I’m wearing for our dinner.

100% Organic Cotton Tiered Maxi Dress | Antonio Melani Palmetto Raffia Mules (on sale, limited sizes remaining!) | Lobster Earrings 🦞

This organic cotton tiered dress from Quince (one of my new brand discoveries this year) is under $70. It’s a high-quality dupe of a similarly-styled dress at J.Crew (($248) and Anthropologie (($168). My dress looks WAY more expensive than it is! As you can see above, it comes in several colors, and I love the versatility! It’s cute with sneakers, flat sandals, wedge platform sandals, or block-heel sandals!

On Wednesday, Bob and I are spending the whole day with Connor, just the three of us. We’re so looking forward to long conversations, lots of laughter, and the sweetness of a day with togetherness at the forefront. We’ll also be assembling the party favors for the Rehearsal Brunch we’re throwing on Friday. I don’t want to spoil anything for those who may be attending, so I’m not going to say much about them. 🤫 Don’t worry! I’ll share a full run-down on those favors after the wedding!

On Thursday, Bob and I will make one more trip out to The Woodmark Hotel, where we’re holding the Rehearsal Brunch. We’ll be finalizing details, meeting with the event planner one more time, and taking the placecards and favors. We’ll also be taking the table name cards with us to drop off. Yep! You read that right! In lieu of using table numbers for seating, I decided to use table names — with each table named after a place that is special to Connor & Abby. 😁

Thursday night, we’ve got a casual backyard dinner to attend for out-of-town guests, and I’m wearing a dress I haven’t shared with you yet! We’ll take some photos at the event, but until then, here are some dressing room selfies. 📷

Ulla Johnson Matilde Tie Strap Eyelet Sundress (Bought on major sale – sold out in green but found it in light blue.) | See other dresses by Ulla Johnson HERE.

On Friday, we’ll be hosting the Rehearsal Brunch! If you’ve been following along, you probably know these details! But if you haven’t, let me fill you in. It’s at The Woodmark Hotel under their beautiful Olympic Terrace Tent that overlooks Lake Washington. I’m using a Garden Party theme, and there will be lots of flowers! 💐 THESE are the invitations, and THESE are the placecards.

Friday night, after the wedding rehearsal, we’ll be heading to a special dinner with our extended family and Connor. This is what I’m planning to wear!

Talbots Paisley Botanical Voile Maxi Dress | Talbots Black Block Heel Sandals | Talbots Raffia Burst Drop Earrings

This Talbots fit & flare Paisley Botanical Voile Maxi Dress is so special! It’s fully lined, cool 100% cotton, and the drawstring waist with side ties makes it super flattering. I paired it with Talbots’ super comfy Block Heel Sandals and topped it off with Raffia Burst Drop Earrings that I’ll wear into the fall.

Needless to say, I won’t be working next week! I want to be fully immersed in this once-in-a-lifetime week. (As I’m sure you can imagine!) I will be posting on social media, so be sure to watch my Instagram & Facebook Stories for some BTS posts from wedding week.

Answering Your Questions

Earlier this week, I took to my Instagram Stories and asked for your questions…about anything! I love doing that because I never know what I’m going to get! 😂 Here are two of my favorites.

1. What’s a good idea for a financial gift that you could give a baby?

Did you check out our Baby Gift Guide? It’s perfect for new baby gifts, shower gifts, or even gifts for new moms or grandmas. You can check it out HERE. One thing I didn’t include, though, is financial gift ideas!

I posed this question to my CFO/CPA husband, and he had a few great ideas:

• Buy a few shares of a stock that is either meaningful to your family or big at the moment (like, Apple, for instance).
• Open a Custodial Account with a broker. It’s almost like a Trust and would allow you to keep adding to it for years.
• Open a savings account in their name, and seed it with a deposit.
• Open a 529 college savings plan on their behalf. It’s a state-sponsored investment plan that enables you to save money for a beneficiary to pay for education expenses. You can withdraw funds tax-free to cover nearly any type of college expense. 529 plans may offer additional state or federal tax benefits.
• Buy a US Savings Bond for them.

2. Are you still booking speaking engagements?

Amazon’s The Drop Women’s Blake Long Blazer (MAY or may not be included in Amazon’s Prime Day sale this year. 🤫😁) | Gingham Lightweight Cotton Shirt

Yes! I’m currently scheduling for the fall! If your PTA, church group, book club, Bible Study, or other group is looking for a speaker, I’d love to talk with you! You can get more information HERE.

Coming Up on ENB

With the crazy timing of Amazon Prime Day(s) next Tuesday and Wednesday and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale next week, too, we’ve taken this past week to get ready so I can enjoy my time away! I’ve shopped both of these sales for years and am fortunate enough to have access to some insider behind-the-scenes information about both, so my how-to-shop posts should be a big help as you search out the deals!

Look for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post on Monday morning and the Amazon Sale post on Tuesday morning. The week after the wedding, I’ll be letting you in on what I bought in the Nordstrom sale, and we’ll be continuing our coverage of that as well as lots of other good stuff that is currently percolating in my brain:

• The Link Between Longevity & Exercise.
• 6 iPhone Hacks to Make Your Smartphone SUPER Smart!
• Great Ways to Save Money in the Empty Nest
• How to Transition Your Parenting as Your Kids Grow
• Grandparenting 101: What I’ve Learned

Let me know in the comments which one of these really appeals to you!

Amazon Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day start Tuesday, July 11, and continues through Wednesday, July 12. (Yep! It’s actually two days of massive savings!) Look for deals on things like Apple AirPods, Apple iPad, as well as fashion and accessory items from brands I love like The Drop, as well as Amazon private label basics like toilet paper and paper towels.

If you’ve never shopped this sale before because you found it overwhelming, I get that! I used to feel the same way! But let me encourage you to check out Monday’s post. 😊 As an Amazon influencer, I not only get my own Amazon Shop, but I also get early access to lots of the deals that will be LIVE on Prime Day! I’m bound by confidentiality, however, so I can’t release those deals until the actual DAY OF the sale! Look for that post in your inbox early Tuesday morning, and definitely check it out before you start shopping.

Here’s your first good tip: To create hype, Amazon drops Early Prime Day Deals leading up to the sale. Click HERE to check them out.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts next week too! As you probably already know, once a year, Nordstrom puts new fall and winter merchandise on Sale at 30-40% off for a limited time. It’s a huge sale! (Like to the point of being overwhelming!) It can also tend to get over-hyped on social media, and you don’t want to get caught up in that and overspend. (I’ve been there!)

I’ve shopped this sale for 15+ years, and I know tons of BTS tips and tricks, which I’m going to share with you on Monday! It will be full of all the insider tips and tricks you need to know. It’ll be complete with info on what you might want to consider buying and what you should skip. We want to make sure you feel equipped to shop if you want to shop, and if you’re not into the sale, no worries.

Here are the basics you need to know:

• Early access to the sale is determined by your Nordy Club loyalty club tier.
• Not yet a Nordy Club member? Click HERE to join for free.
• Not sure which Nordy Club tier you’re in? Click HERE to see your date of access.
• Note: Nordstrom credit card holders automatically gain early access to the Sale. Upon signing up, you instantly become an Insider. Even if you don’t increase your status before the Sale begins, everyone can shop starting July 17th. Right now, Nordstrom is offering a $40 Nordstrom note for new Nordstrom cardholders as an extra incentive. For more information on the benefits or to apply, click HERE.

The Sale Preview started July 3. If you haven’t already, you might want to check it out and create a Wish List in advance of the sale with all the things that look interesting to you. Once the sale opens to you (I don’t even gain access until July 13.), you’ll be able to go back to that Wish List and see what’s still available and still looks interesting. For me, shopping from my Wish List has proven to be a really good way for me to shop efficiently and thoughtfully without getting caught up in the hype.

What’s Up Weekend

Happy Weekend, my friends! I hope you’re enjoying the warm weather and sunshine where you live!

ICYMI (In case you missed it.)

Here’s what you may have missed the past few weeks:

• SO IN THE KNOW: WHAT I LEARNED & LOVED IN MY EMPTY NEST IN JUNE
• THE BEST SHORTS FOR WOMEN OVER 50 + THE BRAND I TRUST
• SPECIAL OCCASION SHOES FOR WOMEN OVER 50
• 10 WEIGHT LOSS TIPS FOR WOMEN OVER 50
• BEST BABY GIFT IDEAS FOR SHOWERS, NEW MOMS, BAPTISMS & MORE

Best Weekend Sales

BENEFIT COSMETICS | Take up to 65% off their must-have, best-selling products. I love THIS eyeshadow primer to keep eyeshadow from creasing.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY | If you’re a fan, now’s the time to buy! Take 40% off best-sellers now through July 17. Everyone raves about the Airbrush Flawless Foundation & I like the Hollywood Flawless Filter for highlighting!

CHICO’S | Up to 60% off sale styles.

J.CREW FACTORY | Nordstrom and other brands may be starting to focus on fall fashion, but I love that J.Crew Factory is still ALL about summer! This weekend, they’ve got wear-now summer styles from $12.95!

EASY SPIRIT | Right now, you can take $10 off customer favorites with 5-star ratings at Easy Spirit, plus don’t forget to take an extra 20% off your entire Easy Spirit order with code ENB20.

LOFT | Extra 40% off sale styles.

NYDJ | New denim just dropped! This is my favorite jeans brand for women over 50! They harness their Lift Tuck® Technology (a slimming panel with a criss-cross design) to flatten you in front and flatter your curves in back. Did you see my post about how much I love their shorts? Take their Fit Quiz HERE and check out their sale section HERE. You can take $20 off a $100+ purchase when you sign up for texts.

SOMA | Don’t shop yet! I’ve got exclusive advance scoop on one of Soma’s biggest sales of the year! Starting July 9, they’re having an epic online only bra sale with select $35 bras! This sale includes their best-selling Enbliss Wireless Stay Put Multi-Way Strapless! (Regularly $62!) Free shipping & Returns, so order away, my friends! Ends 7/12.

Talbots Pleated Sleeve Linen Top (take an additional 40% off) | Talbots Navy and White 10.5″ Gingham Shorts | Yellow Leather Espadrilles

TALBOTS | Semi-Annual Red Door Sale! Take an extra 40% off markdowns.

WALMART | It’s Walmart + Week! That means you can take 50% off their Walmart + Program (It’s their version of Amazon Prime.) Get FREE shipping with no minimum order. Plus, get early access to deals & limited-time offers. In honor of Walmart + Week, they’ve got incredible deals on everything from grills & patio furniture to luggage & soft-serve ice cream makers!

Happy Weekend, my sweet friends! Don’t forget to follow me all next week for wedding fun! xoxo