Lifestyle – Page 3 – Collectively Kaitlyn

Nordy Under Forty

Nordstrom Early Access

I know, I know. You’ve seen this sale taking over Instagram and circling the internet, but, with good reason! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a great time to stock up on the latest pieces for fall at discounted prices. If you’re a Nordstrom card holder you’re able to shop the sale before it opens up to the public on July 21st which is great because so many items on your wish list will completely sell out!

Okay, let’s get into the title of the blog post, “Nordy Under Forty”, what in the world does that mean? Well, I wanted to share with you my favorite, “need to have” pieces from this sale all under $40! Is it just me or does every company have incredible sales this time of year? I know my wallet is feeling the burn from it and yours probably is too.

First, we’ll start with a few basics. Basics are staple pieces that have to be in everyone’s closet because of the versatility each piece offers. Here are a few of the basics I snagged:

BP Pocket Tee 1890 vs 29

BP. Pocket Tee $18.90 VS $29.00 after the sale

Lush Raw Edge Side Slit Tee 1590 vs 24

Lush Raw Edge Side Slit Tee $15.90 VS $24.00 after the sale

Madewell Modern Linen Tee 3890 vs 5950

Madewell Modern Linen Tee $38.90 VS $59.50 after the sale (Madewell tees are the absolute best!)

Lush Side Slit Tank 1890 vs 29

Lush Side Slit Tank $18.90 VS $29.90 after the sale

Socialite Cozy Thermal Top 2490 vs 38

Socialite Cozy Thermal Top $24.90 VS $38.00 after the sale (skeptical at first but this is literally the softest top I own)

Next, I’m bringing you what I like to call the “I didn’t try too hard but still look put together” tops. These type of tops are my go-to when it comes to a lunch date, a casual meeting, or even to wear to work on some occasions.

Calson Stripe Bell Sleeve Tee 2590 vs 39

Caslon Stripe Bell Sleeve Top $25.90 VS $39.00 after the sale (white and black stripes + a bell sleeve = automatic favorite)

Lush Cold Shoulder Top 2990 vs 45

Lush Cold Shoulder Top $29.90 VS $45.00 after the sale

BP Lightweight Rib Cardigan 3190 vs 49

BP. Lightweight Rib Cardigan $31.90 VS $49.00 after the sale

Leith Bell Sleve Sweater 3890 vs 59

Leith Bell Sleeve Sweater $38.90 VS $59.00 after the sale

Gibson Tie Front Cozy Pullover 3990 vs 59

Gibson Tie Front Sweater $39.90 VS $59.00 after the sale (love the tie front detail!)

Okay, I can’t let this post go live without including some of the best deals in the athletic wear category too! I’m all about buying workout clothing at a discount but still having the option to wear name brands and look cute while I’m at the gym or in the spin class sweating it out – who’s with me?! These are my top picks for workout wear during the anniversary sale:

Nike Breathe Training Tank 3390 vs 45

Nike Breathe Training Tank $33.90 VS $45.00 after the sale (love this tank for spin class!)

Zella Constellation Kinetic Legging 3890 vs 59

Zella Constellation Cropped Legging $38.90 VS $59.00 after the sale

Nike Sportswear Essentials Tank 2690 vs 35

Nike Sportswear Tank $26.90 VS $35.00 after the sale

Last but not least, I have to throw in these jeans. They’re not under $40 but that’s why I saved them for last. I absolutely love AG denim and these jeans are priced at such a huge discount it’s totally worth the splurge. These are the hands down the most flattering pair of denim I own. I typically don’t like to spend crazy (in my mind) amounts of money on jeans but these are totally worth it! I know you’ll love them just as much as I do.

AG The Legging Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jean 14990 vs 225

AG Raw Hem Legging Jean $149.90 VS $225.00 after the sale

There you have it, my list of top picks under $40 from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Items are selling out quickly so my advice is to buy now or forever wish you had. What’s on your list of “must haves” from the sale?

xx, Kaitlyn

Tanning for Pale Gals

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by the sun.

Pale Gals

We’ve all been there. Sunburnt, red as a lobster, in pain … you get the picture. If you’re lucky, your sunburn fades and a beautiful bronze glow appears, taa-daah, you’re tan. For some of us less fortunate than most, our skin burns (really badly I might add) and then fades back to the lovely shade of off white that we once were. Hey, maybe if you’re one of the chosen few your freckles will come out in full force. Freckles on fleek. I feel you. I am that person.

Now, I don’t hate being pale, I’ve learned to embrace it … for the most part. However, we can all agree that it’s nice to look sun kissed once in a while especially in the summer. So, being that I’ve had my fair share of self tanning mishaps, I thought I would share my absolute ride or die self tanning products with you! We can all always use options, right?

If it’s a self tanning product, I’ve probably tried it and I’ve probably been orange because of most of them. It’s fine, high school was hard for all of us. There are two products that I will always reach for when I’m looking for a quick, natural tan. One is a lower price point and the other one, well, you might have to sell your soul (I’m kidding) for it but it’s worth it!

I’m sure we’ve all heard the hype about St. Tropez bronzing lotion (or bronzing mousse) and I’m here to say that the hype is completely true! St. Tropez retails for around $40 per bottle and truly gives a beautiful bronze glow without that icky orange hue that so many self tanners have. This is a product I’ll use if I’m going to an event or prepping for vacation, it’s not my every day self-tanner but it’s the one I gravitate towards when I’m in need of a quick, flawless tan. Bonus Tip: Use a self tanning glove when applying this lotion because it is pigmented!

Jergens Natural Glow. Commonly found on the shelves of Target, Walgreens, etc… Skeptical? Don’t be! I use Jergens almost every day and have for over 10 years. Jergens Natural Glow typically retails for around $9 per bottle and glides on evenly like any normal lotion. I like to use Jergens for my “every day” self tanner because the subtle color pay off gives me a very natural tan that compliments my skin tone nicely. Recently, Jergens launched their Wet Skin Moisturizer in shower self-tanning lotion which is awesome because you can literally apply this product to wet skin! I jumped on that bandwagon early and let me say, I am in love with it. I like that there isn’t a wait time between showering and applying tanning lotion but more importantly, I really love the quick drying time. I’m a busy lady and I don’t have 30 minutes to stand in front of a fan or hang out in the robe waiting for my tanning lotion to dry. Thankfully, Wet Skin Moisturizer only takes 5 minutes to dry and I’m not even joking.

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So, there’s the skinny on my opinions of the best of the best self tanners on the market. If you’re new to the self tanner world or if you’re a pro, I know you’ll be happy with the results of my favorite tanning lotions!

What’s your go-to self tanning lotion?

xx, Kaitlyn

Rooftop Season

Raised 1

Rooftop bar season is possibly my favorite time of the year, especially in Chicago. With so many unique, fun rooftops to choose from it’s often hard to pick just one! I’m here to give you in the inside scoop on one of the best I’ve been to. I classify best based on price of drinks, atmosphere, and view. Raised, one of my favorite rooftops in Chicago, is located just south of River North in The Loop district right on the river. As you can imagine, the views are absolutely killer!

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Raised has an upbeat, urban vibe complete with some of the friendliest mixologists around. One of the best things about this place is that there is an indoor section too so you can enjoy Raised all year long! Personally, I feel like this place is a hidden gem in the rooftop bar scene because, while steadily busy, it’s not overly packed like some locations are. Okay, let’s talk about the goods, the cocktail menu. Every signature cocktail on their menu creates a special euphoric experience hand-crafted for patrons to enjoy in good company. They don’t pay me to say this, I swear. My favorite is called the Jenever which is a beautiful blend of lavender, strawberries, lemon, and Bombay Sapphire – SO good!

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Next time you’re in the windy city make sure this place is on your list of go-to’s. Go get yourself a Jenever, an order of Truffle Frites (or any type of French Fries on their menu tbh), and grab a seat overlooking the Chicago skyline. Trust me, you’ll thank me later! Check out their Instagram page for more stellar views and pretty drinks (@RaisedBarChicago)!

What’s your favorite rooftop bar?

p.s. slightly embarrassed, slightly proud – this is me actually gawking at an order of the truffle fries I mentioned