The Cozy at Home Gift Guide
KANDY’S CORNER 8.9.20
Happy Sunday friends! I’m hoping this week is good to you. It was a little rough for me last week as I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m on the mend. I got some good news, and I also started a re-watch of one of my favorite shows The Vampire Diaries. I’m team Damon BTW.
Just in case you missed it I covered the #NSALE all last week. I’ve got you covered for activewear, loungewear, capsule piece, and beauty! Cardmember access started Aug 4th for Icons, 7th for Ambassador, 10th for Influencer, and 13th for Insider. The sale opens up to everyone on Aug 19th and runs until Aug 30th. Weekend reads after the jump!
This is a really good article on digital blackface. We talk about cultural appropriation, but there isn’t enough said about how the technology and social media have attributed to this.
A love letter from black women to Meg Thee Stallion. We love you sis.
I have no idea if football is happening this fall. Regardless, I will be indulging in all of my favorite game day foods nachos. These chipotle chicken nachos are the perfect game day food.
This jacket is number one on my wishlist for the #NSALE.
This cherry swirl bread is next on my list of baking projects. It’s the perfect breakfast food or mid-afternoon pick me up!
Interesting article on the concept of a “forever home“. I go back in forth on whether home ownership is something I really want, and this is a refreshing perspective.
This is the only hand cream you will ever need.
Accounts of how the coronavirus has impacted 6 different jobless workers on 6 different salaries.
#NSALE : MY BEAUTY PICKS
Hello Lover
Happy Thursday y’all! Still covering the #NSALE andwe have made it to my favorite topic, beauty products. I love beauty and I am super picky about what I use. With that being said I wasn’t super impressed by the selection available this year. There are a few gems, so check them out after the jump!
I know we’re all doing alot of hand washing these days, and if you’re like me your hands are dry all the time. Kiehls makes the best hand cream I’ve tried, so you need to pick it up. I use it right before bed so I wake up with soft hands.
In my not so humble opinion, the French always come correct in terms of beauty products. I discovered this L’Occitane almond shower oil via Youtube years ago, and it’s a staple in my collection. It smells amazing, and if you use it to shave you will have the softest, silkiest, skin EVER.
Since smelling good is a must I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about a body wash option. Malin+Goetz falls under the radar in my opinion, and their rum body wash falls into the category of sexy grown up scents.
If you’re like me and have a hard time picking out fragrances, than a mini set is the perfect way to try out different scents before you commit to one. Jo Malone has a diverse range of fragrances, and this collection is a perfect way to try them.
As far as skincare not much stuck out but there is one product I recommend. If you have large pores, acne prone skin, or just want to look more radiant overall than Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid is a must. It’s a chemical exfoliant instead of a physical, and I use it in the mornings a few times a week. After you cleanse and tone, use your hands to pat it into your skin before applying moisturizer.
We can’t forget hair and this set from Briogeo is a perfect introduction to one of my must try black owned brands. The scalp revival is perfect for clarifying and removing buildup, and the mask is great for repairing damaged hair.
Last but certainly not least, I couldn’t cover beauty without mentioning at least one face product. I saw a makeup artist say once that eyes will get you noticed, but skin will get you paid. I couldn’t agree more. Setting your foundation is key to making it last all day, and the Laura Mercier setting powder is a cult favorite for a reason. This set is a great way to try the powder and the foundation, and I’m sure it will convert you to a believer.
Those are my beauty picks folks! I don’t think you need every beauty product, but I do think you need a carefully curated collection of things that actually work. Let me know what you’re looking forward to buying in the comments!
#NSALE : MY WARDROBE STAPLE PICKS
One of the first staple pieces I purchased.
Hey friends! It’s Wednesday and we are full steam ahead into #NSale picks. Today I am covering wardrobe staples. If you missed any of the previous days you can click here and here
for my activewear and loungewear picks. They say that with age comes wisdom, and when it comes to clothing one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is you get what you pay for.
With that being said, I firmly believe in investing in high quality pieces that will last instead of cheaply made fast fashion that may last a season if they don’t unravel in the wash. It’s better to spend a bit more for something well made that you can wear year after year. Giving you my picks after the jump!
Coats & Jackets
If you want to pull an outfit together quickly throwing on the right jacket or coat can make all the difference. Blazers are a great statement piece. I found a couple of great plus size options here and here. This blazer comes in several colors and this camo utility jacket goes up to a 3x.
Fall will be here before we know it and Sam Edelman has some beautiful plus size options. A classic trench and this baby blue statement coat. This camel coat from Kenneth Cole and this dark grey coat are great classic pieces to go with any outfit.
Pants
The faux leather leggings from Spanx are undefeated. I have a camo pair and they are perfect. I recommend getting them in black, and their available in both regular and plus sizes.
Every woman needs a good pair of jeans. It doesn’t get more classic than a dark wash. I prefer a dark wash skinny jean. Wit & Wisdom has some great options in regular and plus sizes.
Blouses & Sweaters
Keeping with the them classic a button down never goes out of style. Treasure & Bond has us covered in this beautiful baby blue and white stripped number. In both regular and plus sizes. A couple of beautiful camisoles in magenta and leopard print. When sweater weather hits this camel sweater and baby blue sweater are perfect for layering up.
This wraps up my #nsale clothing picks. For what it’s worth every item I shared has a plus or extended sizing option. As a plus-size woman I know how difficult it can be to shop and the options are never as plentiful or as cute. I only picked items that I truly liked and would wear myself. Let me know what you’re picking up!
#NSALE : MY LOUNGEWEAR PICKS
Current mood: Lounge, but make it fashion.
Oh hey it’s day 2 of my Anniversary sale coverage! If you missed day one, you can can check it out here. I covered all things activewear. Today we are covering loungewear. Most of us are spending alot of time at home these days, and we want to be put together, but comfortable. That’s where lounge wear comes in. You can lay on the couch and binge watch a new show and hop on a Zoom call right after. See my pics after the jump!
Joggers
So I was late to the joggers game, but I am fully onboard these days. I never wore sweatpants because I always felt like no matter what you did they looked sloppy. Sloppy is not cute. This is where joggers come into play. They provide the comfort of sweatpants but their tapered eliminating the slouch factor. Our good friend Zella has us covered for basic black in both regular and plus. I love a pop of color so these baby blue joggers are perfect, as well as these pink ones.
Cozy Sweaters
It’s still pretty hot around these parts but before we know it the weather will turn ( thank God) and a chill will be in the air. I personally try to avoid paying an arm and a leg in heating bills, so this is where bundling up comes into play. This leopard print number is gorgeous, and this striped one is right up my alley. For those of us that prefer more toned down colors you cant go wrong with a classic grey, or an army green. Both of these come in several other colors too!
Robes
Nothing says lounging quite like a soft plush robe. This chenille grey robe and this UGG number are my picks.
That’s a wrap on the loungewear friends. Let me know in the comments if you pick up something cozy!
#NSALE : MY ACTIVEWEAR PICKS
Working out my fitness.
Happy Monday friends! This week I am going to be covering my Nordstrom anniversary sale picks. I surveyed y’all, and activewear was the most requested item. I have started working out consistently in the past several months, and know from first hand experience that you need dedicated workout clothes. Let’s be real, workout funk, and regular funk are too different beasts. Sharing my recs after the jump!
First up, leggings I have a few different brands I recommend. Zella is number one my wish list. Specifically their high waist leggings. They come in regular , plus, and maternity for any expectant mamas.
Spanx also make great leggings. I own a pair of the faux leather camo leggings and they are super slimming. They’re available in regular and plus.
Last but not least, Beyond Yoga. I kept seeing this brand pop up in my ads and asked members of a Facebook group I’m in if they were worth the hype. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so I’m including their high waisted leggings as well.
Next up for my shorts people the Nike dri fit are a must. They come in regular and plus. Biker shorts have made a big comeback lately which is both a blessing as a curse. The blessing is that they are easier to find, the curse is that people want to wear them with regular outfits and It’s a hard pass for me.
With that being said, I think they are great for high impact workouts where you might be doing lots of cardio. Spanx has a great option from sizes XS-3X.
I personally am all about a sleveless tank when I workout. Zella has us covered in both regular and plus. For my ladies that prefer sleeves, Zella and Nike have us covered.
Last but not least, sports bras. Working out in regular bra is a recipe for disaster. Nike coming thru with great plus size options here and here. Wacoal makes a padded sports bra up to 42DDD, and Zella once again coming thru with a longline bra option.
That’s it for loungewear folks! Hopefully, you can find something you like in these recommendations. Let me know what caught your eye in the comments.
NO BUY JULY: CHALLENGE UPDATE
Hello friends! It’s August so that means the No Buy July challenge is over. I started this challenge a few years ago to curb my spending on beauty products. This year I upped the stakes, and added fashion to the mix. It got off to a rocky start, but I’m happy to report I finished strong. Sharing a few lessons learned after the jump!
I’m no longer using afterpay.
Oh afterpay, you sneaky thing you. It’s quite possibly the best worst invention ever. I use it often, and I realized it makes it too easy for me to justify buying things I would normally deem too expensive or unnecessary . Even though I wasn’t shopping last month I was still paying for a pricey dress through Afterpay. I’ve decided if I can’t afford it or I’m not willing to buy it outright, then I don’t need it.
Delete your shopping apps and unsubscribe from store emails.
You never realize how many emails you get about sales and new items until you’re actively trying not to shop. It can be overwhelming, especially if your getting multiple a day from different stores. Unsubscribing and deleting your apps helps get rid of temptation.
The universe always balances itself out.
Remember those shorts and shirt I bought? Well the shirt didn’t fit and it was a close out item so I couldn’t exchange it. I was sent the wrong shorts and the correct one’s were no longer available. So even though I attempted to stray, the universe had other plans. I’m pretty sure there’s a life lesson somewhere in there about being saved from yourself.
I was more prepared for an emergency
Without putting all my business in the street, I had a sudden drop in income in the middle of the month. It was unexpected, and I’m grateful I hadn’t done any frivolous spending that might have put me in a bind otherwise. You never know what might come up, and I’m glad I was prepared.
All in all, I’m glad I did it. Adding in fashion was harder than I expected and I missed out on a couple of capsule wardrobes I was interested in. That sucked, but I’m grateful I was disciplined enough to stick to my guns. If you did the challenge with me, I hope you’re proud of yourself too! Let me know what you learned in the comments!
KANDY’S CORNER 8.1.20
When I realize it’s August and I can shop again.
Hey friends! I hope you’ve had a good week. It’s August so that means I can shop again. If you’re unfamiliar with my No Buy challenge, you can read about why I started it. I’ve been cooking alot this week, as well as rewatching E.R. Basketball restarted, and I’m looking forward to seeing my Grizzlies play. Weekend reads after the jump!
John Lewis was laid to rest this week, and he wrote this opt ed to be shared the day of his funeral. His words moved me, and his belief in our ability to change this country give me hope.
The U.S. birth rate is falling steadily, and this article sheds light on a generation of women who don’t want to be mother’s.
I made this one pan chicken and rice dish for dinner a few nights ago, and it was delicious. It’s perfect for any easy weeknight meal.
This article perfectly sums up my feelings about the lack of media coverage and public support Megan Thee Stallion has received in the aftermath of her shooting.
This might just be the best pair of jeans I’ve ever owned. Seriously.
I found the perfect small batch brownie recipe. Fudgey, rich, and delicious, I’ve already made them twice this week.
Deftones White Pony turned 20 this year, and I enjoyed learning the backstory about how this album defined the band.
For the first time since the magazine’s inception, Oprah did not appear on this month’s cover of O. Instead, Breonna Taylor appears on the cover, and Oprah reminds us that we can not be silent when it comes to the death of black women.
What have y’all been up to this week? Leave me a comment so we can chat!
KANDY’S CORNER 7.26.20
Hey y’all! I’ve been a bit quiet the last week but I’m ready to jump back in. I was feeling a bit stuck honestly. Dealing with some personal issues, hitting a wall with workouts, being in a creative rut etc. So I took a step back, re-evaluated, and gave myself grace to work through my issues.
We’re living in precarious times, and I often feel like there is too much emphasis placed on pretending like everything is normal. NOTHING IS NORMAL RIGHT NOW. I think 2020 has made alot of people take off the rose colored glasses they normally look through. My hope is that we’re able to bring about lasting impactful change. Weekend reads after the jump!
Matisse Thybulle has been vlogging his experience in the NBA bubble and it is the purest thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Clueless turned 25 last week, and this is an excellent write up about the film’s origins and impact.
AOC buried Yoho in her speech this week, and she’s the leader women and little girls need representing us.
This lemon chicken recipe is on my menu this week!
Food blogger Deb Perelman sheds light on the conundrum many parents are facing this fall in terms of child care and unpaid labor.
Going to make this lemonade while peaches are still in season.
The Nordstrom anniversary sale starts soon, and you can preview some of the items here. The sale starts for cardholders on August 13th, and the general public August 19th.
That’s all this week folks! Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments.