Small Shopping Haul: Nordstrom, AE, Ban.do, and More!

If you read my last post, then you know I'm leaving for Universal Orlando this coming weekend for my brother's 17th birthday. I wanted to pick up some last minute things for the trip, so I thought I'd share them real quick because they are some pretty adorable (and practical) finds.

The first thing I picked up is this Street Level Reversible Tote Bag from Nordstrom. I had a gift card from my birthday burning a hole in my pocket, so when I was at the mall I decided to check Nordies out. Department stores are obviously pricey, and I wanted my gift card to go pretty far so I went to the Junior's section upstairs because they have some good deals I can sometimes score.

They had tons of these tote bags in various colors, but I was immediately drawn to the Cognac/Aqua color. I had been seriously considering the Madewell Transport Tote in English Saddle for weeks prior, but could never justify spending the money, especially because I wanted my initials embossed on the bag. My mom knew of my dilemma, and basically enabled me to get this one because it was much more affordable. I knew I could always return it, but I absolutely fell in love! I'll be doing a post reviewing this bag in the near future letting you know my thoughts once I've taken the bag out multiple times. For now, I plan on using it as a carry all type tote for when we leave for the trip this weekend. 

Oddly enough, right across from the tote bags is a whole slew of hidden stationery goodness. I spotted a small collection of Ban.do goodies, and saw the 'Looking Good - Selfie' Makeup Bag which contains an adorable print of cartoon people taking selfies. I'm not a huge fan of the whole selfies craze, but I thought this was too funny to pass up. Initially, I saw it as an ideal bag to store my planning and stationery essentials in on the go, but I'll be testing it out as its intended purpose in the near future.

Before all that happened, American Eagle had this unbeatable promotion: 25% off your purchase when you buy something through the mobile app. Of course, I jumped at the chance to snatch that Button Down Denim Skirt I've had my eye on for weeks (see my AE Fall Fashion Preview post for more on that). It's just such a nice alternative to my usual jean shorts. What can I say?

Lastly, I had been in the market for a nice after shower lotion for awhile now, and hate to use up all of the Philosophy body butters I received for Christmas last year (I'm trying to conserve them so I can use them during the holiday season when it's more festive and appropriate in my book). But dry legs call for desperate measures, so I was excited to see EOS come out with my favorite Berry Blossom hand lotion in a full size product! I did pick up the smaller size just to try it out, because in case something happens, I didn't waste my money on the big boy. You just never know when you have sensitive skin. It's also a cap closure, so it will travel nice in my suitcase.

I realize I've been hauling a lot lately, but that will all be over after one more post. Perhaps, on the other hand, my hauls are doing you justice, and you happen to have similar if not the same taste as me! That would be splendid. Hah! My writing voice feels a little British right now (I just finished watching The Theory of Everything - great movie by the way!).

Until next time, 

~Alexa~

What's in My Bag? Theme Park Edition

Since I was a little girl growing up in Florida, the Orlando area has been my second home. My family loves going to amusement/theme parks, and with Disney World and Universal Orlando only a few hours drive away, we take small vacations here and there to get out of town every once in a while. 

This coming weekend, I will be heading up to Universal Orlando for my brother's 17th birthday, so I thought I'd share how I prepare for these types of vacations for you all in a few posts leading up to my trip. 

When I go to Orlando, it's usually only for a couple of days or the weekend, so I like to pack light with a small suitcase. I plan on taking two purses this trip- my carry all tote, as well as a small crossbody purse to use during the day and at night. The small crossbody type purse I've decided to take this trip is my new Ban.do Flip Side Clutch. See my recent Ban.do Unboxing and Haul for more details on this bag if you are interested.

Now, you're probably wondering: why would you want to bring a bag to a theme park? I agree that there are a couple of reasons why you would want to carry the least amount of things as possible, but in my case, there are some things I will need to have with me for various reasons. So, let's go ahead and jump in to what I keep in my bag: theme park edition.

First of all, this bag is super slim and compact. It's very lightweight, and that's not because I'm carrying only a few things in it. The blue side is made of a patent material (it's very shiny and smooth) and the metallic gold side is made of a leatherette. So, even thought it will be super hot outside, I will hardly recognize my bag weighing me down because it really won't be. It will also fit into the small lockers outside of the rides, so I dont have to worry about where my bag will go when I'm not with it.

Also, the easy zip access will allow me to grab whatever I may need while walking around. I like to keep a B&BW Pocketbac hand sanitizer, small lip product, EOS lip balm and hand cream, as well as my cell phone inside. That's really it!

 

 So, what about your money and important cards you may ask? Well, I like to take this Universal lanyard that has a small wallet with an ID slot at the end of it to carry that sort of thing. It holds my annual pass, money, photo ID, as well as my express pass (to skip the regular lines) and my room key. You can get these at virtually any gift shop on the property. My sunglasses and croakies will likely be around my head/neck for most of the day, but when I do go on rides I plan to store them in my bag right before I put it in a locker.

There you have it! The slim crossbody bag mirrors the minimal contents of my bag for a hassle free and fun day at the parks! If you are considering taking a small bag for your next trip to a theme park, consider these tips and you're bound to be gold!

Until next time,

~Alexa~

Ban.do Unboxing and Haul!

I recently discovered my addiction to Ban.do goodies last week, and quickly placed an order on their site. They were having a sale at the time, where the items will be discontinued if you didn't jump at the chance, so naturally, I did.

Ban.do (pronounced Ban - doh) is a company that draws inspiration from disco parties, confetti, cake, and all things girly - right up my alley to say the least. From stationery goodies to tech accessories, Ban.do is a fun little shop with items made to brighten up our sometimes dull lives. Read further to see my personal unboxing and order from shopbando.com - you won't want to miss out!

When you first see the Ban.do website, it's a little overwhelming - bright colors and flashing images are their go to aesthetic, plus there's just tons of product to browse and you just find yourself thinking: I want everything.

 Ban.do Sticker Book

'Stay Gold' Party Banner Necklace

'Mega Babe' Rough Draft Notebook

Flip Side Clutch in Mermaid/Metallic Gold

The Ban.do Sticker Book was first on my list. As a planner girl, I'm always looking for stationery items to spice up my daily planning. This sticker book comes with 35 sheets with over 700 stickers! For $12, I thought this was an amazing price when compared to a Kikki.K sticker book which retails for $20 (and is in Australia instead of the U.S.). 

After browsing their main selection of products, I headed over to the sale section because I knew if I liked anything from there, this was my chance to get it. I REALLY liked the Ban.do jewelry - the witty and cute sayings plus bright colors really drew me in. Although I loved the bangles, I am more of a necklace girl, which brings me to my next item - the "Stay Gold" Party Banner Necklace. 

I went for this particular color because not only will gold go with everything, I also just loved the saying "Stay Gold" - it immediately reminded me of Johnny and Ponyboy from The Outsiders, and as a literature lover, I got sucked in. Lastly, can we take a minute to appreciate this adorble hot pink packaging? I'm definitely going to be repurposing this box.

The "Mega Babe" Rough Draft Notebook was the next item I went for. At $5.40 I couldn't not add it to my cart even though I needed another notebook like a hole in my head. What I ultimately pictured using this for is as decor for my future desk, but I'll also use it to jot down thoughts and ideas, of course. Aaaaand the inside even comes with a pocket. 

The last thing I ordered is the Flip Side Clutch in Mermaid/Metallic Gold. I am a crossbody purse fanatic, so when I saw how different this clutch was, I knew I had to grab it. It was also super reduced from it's original price, so I was just sold. I love how this bag works in so many different ways - you can use it as a clutch or crossbody with the strap it comes with, plus you can decide whether you want the blue or gold side to show while you hold it. I saw it as the perfect day to night transition bag- the fun blue patent side is more daytime while the metallic gold side looks dressier and fancy for a night out. It really is an all in one bag. The mini red all over heart print and two interior pockets makes it even more worth it.

Well, that kind of wraps up my very first Ban.do haul! I'm glad I was able to share a few of my finds from there, and I do hope y'all go out and check the site. Although some of these items aren't avaliable directly on the site, they are available elsewhere, which I have provided with links. I definitely plan on making a second purchase within the coming months soon!

Until next time,

~Alexa~

Outfits of the Week: Mid August

Hello, all! In honor of the back to school season, I thought I'd share my outfits of this past week to give you all a little inspiration for the new year. These outfits are extremely casual but definitely school appropriate. Even if you're down in those last-week-of-summer blues, these few ideas of how to stay cute but comfortable throughout the rest of your days might just cheer you up. I have included a small description with each outfit, so you know how I'd dress under each circumstance. Also, you may notice I skipped Friday - I stayed indoors all day and didn't wear anything special, so that is why it's absent!

MONDAY

On this rainy day, my dad and I drove to pick my mom up from the airport and went for a nice dinner after to hear about her trip.

 AE Floral Button Down Dress (Similar) | AE Factory Dark Denim Jacket (Similar)

Longchamp 'Small Le Pliage' Tote in Beige | Sperry Topsider 'Seacoast' Boat Shoe in Navy

TUESDAY

I went for a similar look for a movie date with my boyfriend. The jean jacket was great because it gets rather chilly in the theater.

This dress is super soft and long, so it kept me warmer than most of my dresses and I still got to wear one. The dress is from Nordstrom Rack and it's actually my friend's that I borrowed many years ago. I really should give it back to her! The brand is lush. The jacket, purse, and shoes are the same (see above).

WEDNESDAY

I went for a casual dinner with my dad to Outback, so I threw on a tie front top and some distressed crop jeans. I also paired it with a long necklace, as well as my usual starfish necklace from Little Switzerland. I love the layered look of necklaces!

 AE Chiffon Tie Front Top | AE Destroyed Crop Jeans (Similar)

AE Star Necklace (Similar)

THURSDAY

Another rainy evening - this one spent hanging out at my bf's house.

AE Boho Printed Muscle Tee | AE Hi Rise Festival Shorties in Light Destroy Wash

Vans Tucson Crossbody Bag (Similar)

SATURDAY

If you saw my Saturday Night Adventures post, you'll know I wore this to dinner and dessert that night. Super casual, comfortable, and perfect for these stormy summer days lately.

  Billabong Day Dreamy Tank Top in Lavender | AE Jegging Crops in Indigo Nightfall

SUNDAY
My mom and I went to the mall to pick my brother up some back to school essentials while it was still tax-free week. I threw on something comfortable yet cute since I knew I'd be gone for a few hours.

 

Billabong Day Dreamy Beach Dress in Bikini Red | Ray-Ban Flash Clubmaster Sunglasses in Blue Tortoise

After seeing what I wear during the week, surely you'll notice some trends, because I definitely do. Perhaps I have some wardrobe changing up to do!

Until next time,

~Alexa~