Blushing (OOTD & Anniversary Sale Find)

It's been a while (almost a week!) since our last post. I admit, I'm a little ashamed that I've been such a bad blogger. *blush*

Shirt: Peter Pan Collar Blouse, Colors of Benetton (super old - similar here, here, and here)

Skirt: Lillith Striped Skirt, Kate Spade

Handbag: Marc Jacobs Karlie in "Blush" (available through Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, 7/15-7/31, or via pre-select now, for Nordstrom Card holders. Similar available here, here, and here) 

Shoes: Tod's Tasseled Slingback Pumps (similar here, here, and here)

 Earlier this week, I went to do my pre-select for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I got some cute stuff for the kiddos but left with only one thing for myself - this Marc Jacobs Karlie handbag. It had me at "hello." This is not to say I didn't see a ton of super cute things - in fact, I've got some fitting room reviews from the Anniversary Sale selections in my queue for later this week. If my budget was bigger, I'd say there were several things I'd have loved to add to my work wardrobe. But my love for this bag won out. I love the blush color (so pretty and still neutral!), the size, and the shape - big enough to carry all my stuff easily but not a giant black hole like some bigger bags can be. It's structured well and the zipper cuts low enough that the bag isn't unmanageably deep, if that makes sense. Also, considering all the hardware (chain strap - love), it's really light! And on sale, well...it didn't take too much to convince me to pass on all the sweaters, blouses, skirts, and (gulp) shoes, and stay focused with this one thing.

The Anniversary Sale is quite literally my favorite shopping event of the year. For those of you unfamiliar with it, it's Nordstrom's biggest sale of the year, and it's on items that are pre-season. Meaning, the stuff you're buying are not the mark-downs from the current or past season. Rather, it's the upcoming stuff for the pre-fall and fall seasons, which means that when the Anniversary Sale ends, the prices on AS items actually go back up. Yep, you read that right. The stuff on sale gets marked up at the end of the sale period - which happens to be July 15th - 31st.

This year, there are some changes to the way the Anniversary Sale is rolling out. Pre-select (shopping the sale early) is happening now, and is open to all Nordstrom Card holders. If you're not a Nordstrom Card holder, you won't be able to shop the pre-select period, as your card needs to be swiped to even start the transaction process on the registers. If you'd like to shop the pre-select period and you're not a Nordstrom Card holder (the popular items often sell-out quickly, so pre-select allows you to secure your items early), you're welcome to open a Nordstrom Card when you go in to shop. This year, pre-select shoppers get to take there purchases home early! That's right - you get to choose and make your purchases, then take them home the same day. No more waiting until the first day of the sale to get your goods! No more possibility of missing items or losing out on something that was there when you pre-selected but ran out before your SA could pull it for your order. No more waiting impatiently for weeks before posing with it in an OOTD photo. ^_-

*blush*