Saint Martin: Top 6 Beaches for the BEST Caribbean getaway

Saint Martin, also known as “The Friendly Island” is a unique getaway with some of the most gorgeous beaches in the caribbean. There is a perfect beach for EVERYONE on this island, and I hope this guide helps you to plan your next trip to optimize your time at the beach (or beaches) that will make your getaway unforgettable.


My husband and I recently returned home from our AMAZING getaway to St. Martin & I couldn’t wait to share about the unique & beautiful beaches we found on our trip! We only stayed in St. Martin for 6 nights, so we didn’t venture to EVERY beach, but I spent time researching leading up to the trip & I hope this list saves you time by having all the top spots in one post! 

This post is dedicated to our favorite beach spots & I will follow up with another blog post on tips for traveling to St. Martin including our favorite restaurants!


#6: Mullet Bay (Dutch Side)

Mullet Bay was the first beach we visited on the island. It’s located on the Dutch side of the Island & wasn’t far from our hotel near Princess Juliana Airport. As soon as we parked our rental car in the free lot, we were greeted by a friendly local (I believe his name was Chester) who was selling beach chairs to sit on with umbrellas. This is fairly common in St. Martin so be sure to bring cash to the beaches if you don’t have a chair of your own. We arrived around 1 pm & paid $15 for 2 chairs + an umbrella located front row to the water. This was technically mid-day, so if you arrive earlier, you will likely pay a little more for the chairs/umbrella combo.

This beach has a fun vibe with a beach bar, Rosies Rib Shack (which are termed as the best ribs on the island) & beautiful views. This is a beach where group excursions make a stop, so be prepared for random influxes of 100+ people at a time jumping off a catamaran and crowding the beach. It was definitely a fun spot, & if you love a busier/robust atmosphere, this is your spot. 

One of my favorite parts of my day at this beach was getting a fresh (chilled) coconut for $5 to sip on. I also paid another $5 to add rum to make it the perfect refreshing cocktail to relax on the beach with!


#5: Maho Beach (Dutch Side)

This is the infamous beach on St. Martin that tourists frequent to watch the planes fly overhead (literally) as they land at Princess Juliana Airport. It’s definitely a “Must see” on the trip, but it wasn’t somewhere we spent more than an hour at the entire trip.

Maho is a very small beach & It gets extra crowded in the afternoon (between 11:30am – 3pm) when the biggest planes are usually flying in. I would try to avoid this beach on days where cruise ships are in port since it seems to be the spot most cruisers will visit for their day in St. Martin.

You can grab drinks at one of the beach bars on either side of the beach and enjoy lunch in the area as well. The Sunset Bar has a surf board out by the beach that lists the times of incoming flights for the day so you can be prepared for your perfect photo op! (They also make a pretty strong painkiller cocktail!)

A little tip: I checked the airport website which listed which planes were coming in & also alerted to incoming flights that were arriving earlier than scheduled.

Luckily our hotel was walking distance to Maho, so we got to spend some time there on our last day when it wasn’t so crowded getting my plane photo-op & checking that experience off the bucket list!


#4: Anse-Marcel Beach (French Side)

Anse-Marcel was a random lucky find for us. How did I find this beach? I looked on our map (since we had no wi-fi when off our resort) and picked a spot that looked like it had a beach… & so the adventure began!..

Anse-Marcel beach is surely an adventure to get to. It requires a drive over steep mountains on narrow winding roads with little to no partition between the road and the edge of it. Be sure to have a more experienced driver take the wheel for this one! There’s also a few stops you can take along the way with gorgeous scenic overlooks of the island.

When you get to the beach at the bottom of the hill, you’ll notice it’s on a resort where you can also rent beach chairs & food. We opted to sit in the center of the beach on our towels with our own beverages that we packed in our cooler & enjoy the sights since it was a little later in the day. There weren’t many people there & it was a nice break from the more crowded beaches.

This beach is technically a cove, beautifully nestled between sets of scenic mountains. The water is calm and it was a pleasant escape from the intense winds we had at Orient bay for the first part of our beach day. If you have an especially windy day on your trip, this is definitely a good option since the mountains shelter this beach from the wind gusts. 


# 3: Orient Bay Beach (French Side)

Orient Bay seemed to be at the top of every list I found for beaches in St. Martin. It’s an absoutely GORGEOUS beach & was the largest one we visited on the island. It had numerous options of beach clubs to rent chairs for the day & eat/drink at. If you want to sit at those spots, outside food/drink is not allowed, & much like Mullet bay, there are fees for renting the chairs/umbrellas.

This beach has a lot going on, so its perfect for a group that wants to stay busy & have options for their daily activities. Water sport rentals are available if you want to wind surf or you can opt to rent a jet ski, go on a banana boat and enjoy other water activities. I was content just watching the wind surfers.

FYI: If you walk to the northernmost end of the beach, you will find the nude beach. So if you want to go for a swim in your birthday suit, this is the spot! (or if you’re not a fan of this type of experience, here’s your warning to avoid that side of the beach!)

I believe our experience at Orient bay was a little skewed by the intense amount of wind on the day we were there. The sand was blowing hard at us so we decided to spend our time on Orient Bay taking a walk along the beach to take in the views before headed to another location. 


# 2: Grande Case Beach (French Side)

The Grande Case area was one of my favorite places in St. Maarten. We started our day with brunch at a beautifully decorated restaurant called Rainbow Cafe. It’s curated so aesthetically & feels like a bohemian getaway in itself. After our delicious brunch, (be sure to make advances reservations) we opted to rent lounge chairs from the restaurant & spent our day relaxing there & ordering delicious cocktails served right to our seats.

The water on this beach is the most beautiful shade of blue & the tide is very calm allowing you to enjoy the water without big waves. Another perk that made me absolutely fall in love with this beach was how much beautiful sea-glass I found! There was so much green, aqua, & clear sea-glass on our walk along this beach that I couldn’t even carry it all. We even found very rare blue & white ceramic pieces!

FYI: The Broken pottery pieces are called “Chaney”. The word derives from “China” & “Money”. One story of how this came about is: When passenger ships traveled across the ocean from Europe, passengers would dump their China that broke along the trip overboard to avoid paying taxes since these items were taxed upon arrival according to their weight.

On another night of our trip, we returned to Grand Case to watch the sunset and it was absolutely beautiful! There are also many other restaurants in the area both on the water as well as along the street which make it a perfect spot to spend an entire day.

In a future trip to St. Martin, I would most definitely stay in a hotel or Air B&B in this area since it had so much to offer & we spent a majority of our trip there. 


Number 1: Happy Bay Beach (French Side)

Happy Bay Beach was definitely my number one beach during our trip. Not only does it have beautiful views & calm waters for swimming, but it also remains fairly secluded because its a little off the beaten path. Getting to Happy Bay beach requires a 10-ish minute “hike” from the more touristy “Friar Beach”. During our day at Happy Bay Beach, there was never more than 20 people total at one time & the trip was well worth it.

  • How to get there: Park your car at Friar Beach & walk to the north end of the beach where you will see a small dirt path leading up a small hill. I recommend wearing sneakers for the hike because it’s unpaved, rocky & easy to trip. This short hike is uphill but doable for anyone in average physical condition. During your walk, you also can stop to take in some beautiful views out into the ocean along the coastline.

If you plan on staying on the beach for an entire day I recommend you bring a cooler with drinks/snacks & either beach chairs (if you have them) or beach towels/blankets to sit on because there isn’t any rentals available due to the “hidden” location of this beach.

FYI: since this beach is secluded, nudity is allowed (but not required), so you might see some people topless or fully nude. Feel free to join them if you wish!  


I don’t think you can really go wrong at any beach on the amazing island of St. Martin. It was honestly pretty hard for me to rank them & the experience we had on our trip may vary with weather, tourist flow & your own personal expectations. The biggest piece of advice I could give you for your trip is to rent a car so that you can travel around the island freely & not be tied down to a single area. There is so much to see & I’ll have to make another trip to visit the beaches we missed on this trip!

I will follow up with another blog post on tips for traveling to St. Martin including our favorite restaurants!

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6 Tips you need to Kickstart your Morning Fitness Routine…

I’ve always believed the rule that you can create a good habit by committing yourself to something for 30 days, so if you’re looking to change your routine by adding in early morning workouts… these 7 tips can help you (like they’ve helped me) be successful on your venture to become a “morning person”.

For reference… I HAVE NEVER BEEN A MORNING PERSONlike ever. For a majority of my adult life I worked the night shift (but now work 7a-7p) and on a day off from work I can easily sleep until 11am with no issues. BUT, by implementing these steps, I’m able to wake up between 4:15-4:45 on work days to fit in my workout before I start my day at the hospital. My husband thought I was crazy when I first told him of my plan to start doing my fitness routine before work… but here I am.. loving it & feeling so much more alert, refreshed & overall happier on days I make my goals a priority before I give my energy to my patients at work.

Follow these steps to turn your goal into a HABIT…

1- Plan Ahead:

Make a solid decision of what workout you plan to do in the morning, whether it’s planning out your lifting moves, picking your favorite peloton ride, planning your running route, finding your favorite you tube workout, etc. If you know exactly WHAT you want to do, you’ll be more likely to stick to it!

2- Set Your Alarm:

Set your alarm at a practical time that gives you enough time to get your entire workout in (including a proper warm up & cool down), & be ready to leave for work on time (or before your kids wake up). Having enough time to fit in all of your tasks decreases the stress of running late & will help you continue to keep this routine. If you’re stressed after a workout, it’ll bring negative feelings about your new routine and affect your mindset & drive to continue to move forward with it.

Mastering your morning fitness schedule may even help you with time management in other parts of your life too!

3- Have your workout clothes ready:

I make sure to have my workout clothes together in another room so I can sneak out of the bed & get changed without waking up my husband (& dog). I know some people who actually sleep in their workout clothes so they can get up and have one less step of getting dressed in the morning. Whichever is best for you.. all that matters is that you don’t skip this step because this could be the make or break between rolling back into bed for another hour or getting your butt in gear!

Sidenote: If you’re going to a gym to workout instead of staying at home, make sure your gym bag is packed with all necessities for your workout and post workout (shampoo, conditioner, towel, shower cap, makeup, hair brush & tools, shower shoes, etc.).

4- Have your hydration ready:

Have your water bottle &/or protein shake pre-made in your fridge so you can just grab it on your way out the door or to your workout space. It’s so easy to procrastinate in the morning when you’re tired, so not having an excuse of something to waste time doing will help you get moving faster.

5- Have a quick post workout snack prepared:

After your workout you need to fuel your body to help aid recovery…. Whether it’s a healthy protein bar, hard boiled eggs (I always make & peel in advance once a week), fruit & nuts, or a Turkey Sandwich… having something healthy that you can grab & go will keep you from reaching for an unhealthy snack as you head out to start the rest of your day. 

6- Go to sleep early!!

Why is this the LAST item on the list? Because this step won’t be possible if you don’t get all of the above steps done BEFORE bedtime. You should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If you’re usually getting less than that, try your best to hit the hay an hour or more if possible earlier to let your body feel rested enough for your wake up time. 

Also something to note, after getting used to my routine, I am able to ease back into staying awake a little later (ex: instead of going to bed at 8:45 I can go to sleep at 10 and still be able to get myself up for the workout, I know that’s less than 8 hours, but I balance by not setting an alarm on the days that I don’t have work to let my body catch up.


Don’t know where to start?

If you’re stumped on what types of workouts to do, I highly recommend the RP Strength Gym Free Workout Templates (if you have minimal equipment) or their Female Physique Templates (If you have access to a gym or more equipment at home). I have been using the Female Physique Templates along with the RP Diet App for years & have seen an amazing change in my body composition. You can use my personal referral code (FITSEDATION) for 10% off their ebooks, templates, & other products. You can also receive 33% off your first 6 months with the RP Diet App.


Good luck & Crush those Goals Girlfriend !

Disclosure: This Blog post contains affiliated links for which I can earn a small commission for. There is no extra cost to you for shopping through these links. All reviews are my honest opinion & review. I do appreciate it when you use my links & referral codes to shop because it helps cover the costs associated with maintaining this blog & creating more content to share with you!

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The Best Nashville Weekend in your 30’s

Nashville, also termed as “Nash-Vegas” has become one of the biggest party cities & a popular bachelor/bachelorette party destination in the United States. For 30+ year olds (or those who may not want to spend the full weekend based solely around drinking), I’m sharing some of my favorite spots, & ways to balance your weekend in Nashville between experiencing the amazing culture of the city with all the fun Honkey Tonks & events. It’s hard to see everything in a weekend trip, so be sure to plan ahead for the things that are a “must-do” for you, and things you wouldn’t mind missing out on in your first trip. 

Day 1: (Wednesday – half day)

Our flight landed in Nashville around Noon on a Wednesday, which is one of the quieter days in the city, so this is the day of the week that’s best to do the “touristy” things that you don’t want to fight the crowds the rest of the weekend doing.

We used this half day to scope out Broadway, try on cowboy boots, & go to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We opted out of the RCA studio tour (which is where Elvis Presley recorded), I don’t regret skipping it, but maybe I’d do it on my next trip. 

Night 1 we had pre-ordered tickets to the Famous Grande Old Opry. I ordered them a few weeks in advance to assure we would be able to get a good seat. We purchased the package that included a tour of the Opry after the show, and tickets to tour the Ryman the next day. If you want to do these 3 things, you save money by purchasing the bundle from Opry.com

Pro tip: The Grand Ole Opry is NOT CLOSE to downtown, so plan for a 20 minute uber ride to get there.  Also, be sure to book your Opry tour right before or right after the show to avoid having to take that ride twice.  

Day 2: Thursday

Thursday morning we HAD to head over to the Gulch & get brunch at Biscuit Love. The wait was only about a half hour (the next day the line was over 100 people long). Brunch was 100% worth the wait, & on another trip I would probably wait longer to get inside if I had to.

Biscuit Love Must try menu item: Hummingbird Family Reserve & of course, the biscuits with fresh jam

The Gulch is a really fun part of town to walk around & is full of instagram worthy photo spots like: The Nashville Wings & Amelia’s Flower Truck.

We fit in our Ryman Auditorium Tour after brunch since we were too full to start drinking at a honky tonk. This tour was totally worth it. There was a 10 minute interactive movie that went through the history of the Ryman and was so fun & entertaining. The tour included a free photo of us on stage at the Ryman which was also a great perk.

Pro Tip (from our Uber Driver): Tootsies Orchid Lounge shares an alley way with the Ryman. This is the entrance singers like Johnny Cash used to take to sneak into the Honkey Tonk between sets at the Ryman. Just for fun we walked in through that entrance to channel our inner Johnny Cash. Tootsies was 100% my favorite Honky Tonk because of the small dive bar feel and the history behind all the autographed photos on the walls… also, the band playing that day was AMAZING.

Thursday evening I booked a photo tour with a local photographer to get some shots in front of all the unique murals in the 12 South area of Nashville. This is where you’ll find the “I Believe in Nashville” mural, as well as Draper James infamous blue & white striped walls, and many others. I fully recommend booking a shoot with a local photographer at 12 South at some point in your trip (Bachelorette parties especially can have a blast with this !)

Thursday Night we stopped by a great speakeasy called the Patterson House on our way back to our Air B&B. This place has a total 1920’s prohibition vibe with one of the most amazing cocktail menus I’ve ever seen. The bartenders only serve patrons that have a seat, (so it never gets overcrowded) and they spend their time to make the drinks perfect. We were lucky to get there on a night that wasn’t busy so we were seated immediately. This was a low-key night but it was one of my most memorable spots in Nashville. I loved my maple bacon old fashioned, and the bartender made my second drink based on some questions he asked me about my favorite flavors and liquors (it was delicious!).

Day 3: Friday

Friday morning Nashville becomes a whole different beast, lines for brunch at the hottest spots are around the block, the pedal taverns & honky Tonks on wheels are packed with bachelor & bachelorette parties & Broadway is packed. This is when the party begins.

We started Friday with Brunch at Milk and Honey in The Gulch. The wait was about an hour, but they text you on your cellphone so you’re able to window shop in the area (or take your Nashville wings photo only about a block away) while you wait, which made it not too terrible. Again, the food was worth the wait.

Milk & Honey Must try menu item:

Shakshuka (no, I cannot pronounce it). Basically it was eggs poached in marinara sauce that arrived to the table on a steaming skillet. it is still one of the most delicious breakfasts I’ve ever eaten (& one of the more healthy options I ate during the weekend).

Friday Night was probably my favorite of all at the Skulls Rainbow Room Burlesque show. Skulls is a speakeasy type restaurant & bar with such a cool vibe. My husband claimed his strip steak was the best he’s had in his entire life; & my pork chop was life-changing. In addition to the delicious dinner, the Burlesque show was so much fun. This is a great spot for a formal dinner for a Bachelor or Bachelorette party. It’s located on a very fun street called Printers Alley which is also a must see spot in Nashville.

Pro Tip: If you want to get into Skulls for Dinner & the Burlesque show (Friday & Saturday nights) you MUST make your reservation a month or more in advance.

We spent Friday & Saturday afternoon Honky Tonk Hopping on Broadway, my top spots were (in order):

  1. Tootsies Orchid Lounge
  2. Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk (this was a surprise to me but it was by far the most fun spot)
  3. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar
  4. Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row
  5. Ole Red (The rooftop had the best view of Broadway during the day, & at night, the downstairs stage has some amazing acts.

Day 4: Saturday

After we had our fair share of Honkey Tonk Hopping we took advantage of the rental Scooters that are all over Nashville and took a joy ride to Hattie B’s for their famous Nashville Hot Chicken. This was another spot with another long line that was worth the wait.

Pro Tip: Order a Large plate for 2 people to split to save money. It’s the same amount of chicken per person as the 1/2 bird platter and even if you add an extra side you’ll save about $10. I PROMISE you’ll have more than enough food.

Saturday night Hootie & The Blowfish and The Barenaked Ladies had a concert at the Bridgestone arena (just one block from our Air B&B). We got tickets last minute online (literally 30 minutes before the show started). It was an amazing show, especially for those of us in our 30’s… so moral of this is to make sure to check to see if one of your favorite artists are playing at one of the concert venues while you’re in Nashville.

Overall, Nashville stole my heart and I definitely plan to be back again soon!

Is there any spots I didn’t include in my trip that are a MUST ADD for next time?

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Nashville Girls Weekend Travel Guide

Nashville is one of my favorite places…. The live music, delicious food & southern hospitality is second to none. I took a quick trip to Nash with some amazing ladies & am finally sitting down to share this travel guide of how we made the most of our time during our trip. I’m including some Covid related topics in this guide, because this is our current situation & I want to share my experience so you can know how to plan & what to expect for your trip.

Nashville does have a little different feel in the midst of Covid… there were some restrictions that we stuck with to stay safe during our weekend & also some regulations that were mandated (eg: masks indoors, no more than 6 people at tables when dining out, & an 11pm curfew for bars)… but this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your stay. Compared to my last trip to Nash, I would say that honky tonks, restaurants & Downtown in general were much less crowded. I did appreciate that everywhere we went to was doing their best to accommodate our “new normal” & I felt very safe everywhere we went.

Where to Stay:

I was so grateful that Bode Nashville hosted us for our stay in one of their enormous apartment like suites. I was so impressed by the size of the living room, family room & kitchen, as well as the 5 bedrooms in the suite. This was definitely the most spacious hotel I have ever stayed in, and having a full kitchen was also a huge perk. One of my favorite things about Bode was its awesome outdoor space. They had 2 firepits, giant jenga, corn hole & so much space to hang outside with your crew. This was the perfect spot for our last night in Nashville to relax with some wine before our early flights home. Bode was also walking distance to Broadway which is so convenient.

Exclusive Discount offer: Follow Bode Nashville (@bode.hotels) on instagram & shoot them a DM mentioning me (@fit_sedation) to receive 15% off your stay at Bode!

What to Do:

Music City Crawler Pedal Tavern: Okay, So I have been wanting to go on a pedal tavern for the longest time & finally got to have this fun experience. This was such a fun few hours spent singing & riding around Downtown with our fun driver & Bartender. This is such a fun event to plan with a group of friends to kick off a day in Nashville.

  • Just a heads up… You actually DO have to pedal otherwise you will not make it too far. So make sure to wear a comfy outfit & get ready to lose your voice from singing & cheering so much.

Walk Along Broadway: This is where you will find all the best Honky Tonks in Nashville. Walking through the streets you can hear the live music & either choose to hop around or stay at one spot for the night.

  • Some new changes during Covid is limits on the amount of people allowed in the Honky Tonks. The positive part of this is you’re not squeezed into a crowded bar fighting to get a drink…. The only negative was that all I wanted to do was get up & dance to the music but couldn’t.
  • If you do go to Nashville at this time, be sure to bring cash to tip the Band. The bands & artists that perform at venues in Nashville get paid solely on tips… with a lot less people traveling to & allowed inside the venues, they are making a lot less money. We have to support these talented artists so that they can continue to keep “Music City” alive.

Visit Painters Alley: Painters Alley is a small street downtown that gives all the feels of the 1920s with speakeasy type bars & bright signs lighting up the entire street. This is one of those places that you visit that just sticks in your head and is a must see in Nashville

Photo Tour: Although we didn’t have time to squeeze a tour of the 12 South Murals, it is another fun activity to do while in Nashville. There are a bunch of murals in this area, & you can easily book a tour with a local photographer. On my last trip I booked a photo tour with Kristen Sheft Photography, it was perfect because she knew where all of the murals were
located so we could get so many fun shots during our session. This would be a great idea to book for a Bachlorette party or girls trip to get fun photos of your group (without having to flag down a stranger to take a photo)… it’s also a perfect option to sightsee in Nashville while being outside & away from large crowds.

Shopping: No trip to Nashville would be complete without a little shopping! I was so excited to discover Molly Green Boutique in Nashville that has some fun & stylish clothing finds. We also enjoyed our trip to Kendra Scott where we got to experience the Color Bar & design some beautiful jewelry pieces! You can also find some great shops on Broadway that sell a huge selection of cowboy boots!

Donuts at Five Daughters: So I am a bit of a donut snob, & I can say honestly that these were some of the most delicious (100 Layer) donuts I have ever eaten! I didn’t take the trip to the shop, but they have some adorable & instagrammable spots to grab a cute photo while you enjoy you one of a kind donut! My favorite was the “King Kong” which had maple glaze & candied bacon!

White Limozeen: Sadly, our reservations to this spot were cancelled due to the venue closing for safety reasons in regards to Covid… but you bet your butt I’ll be making sure I get a reservation to this Dolly Parton themed indoor/outdoor rooftop restaurant on my next trip to Nash. Reservations are made on line and open up 14 days in advance (& book FAST), so be sure to plan ahead if you want to make this spot a part of your trip.

Where to Eat:

Hampton Social: I loved this spot for brunch. Not only is the menu great, but the decor inside is gorgeous! This is the location of the beautiful blush pink ombre “Hey There Nashville” flower wall you see in so many peoples Nashville Instagram posts. I highly recommend the shrimp tacos that are served during Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.

Restoration Hardware: A.K.A.. the furniture store… I didn’t know what I was getting into for this brunch reservation but it sure was an amazing experience. The cafe in RH is GORGEOUS, with a beautiful courtyard feel including a fountain & beautiful chandeliers & natural light.. I felt like I was dining in the courtyard of a European villa. On top of the beautiful ambiance, the food was TO DIE FOR… I’m pretty sure the RH Scramble was the most savory scrambled eggs I’ve ever eaten. I can’t wait to go back here on my next trip to Nashville to try some of their other dishes!

Nada: Who doesn’t love delicious Tacos & Cocktails? On our last night in Nashville we were hosted by Nada for a delicious dinner. I’m pretty sure we tried every item on the menu…. and there was not one thing I didn’t like! This is also the perfect spot to go as a group to share assorted tacos & side dishes. Just a heads up… the queso is AMAZING, so make sure to plan for a double order for your group because it goes FAST!

Honorable Mention to some of my other favorite Nashville food spots from my previous trip:

  • Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
  • Bisquit Love
  • Milk & Honey

Tips for your first trip to Nashville..

My first & most important tip is to do your research in advance. Make a list of the must see sites & things you must do vs. things you can save for your next trip. Nashville is surprisingly big with so many different areas to see & things to do… it’s impossible to do it all in one trip. This girls weekend was jam packed, but didn’t include sightseeing any famous spots like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, etc. (You can refer to my “Nashville in your 30’s” post for details on these places I visited on my first trip to Nash). Also, it’s a good idea to reach out to spots you’d like to go to for reservations in advance as well as any information in regards to specific Covid rules.

Like my Nashville outfits?

You can find all of my Nashville fashion picks linked on the liketoknow.it app…

Is there any other spots I need to visit on my next trip to Nashville to add to this list? Please share in a comment below!

Disclosure: This Blog post contains sponsored content & affiliated links for which I can earn a small commission for. There is no extra cost to you for shopping through these links. All reviews are my honest opinion & review. I do appreciate it when you use my links to shop because it helps cover the costs associated with maintaining this blog.

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What you ACTUALLY need for your New Puppy…

If anything good has come out of the year 2020, it’s that many families finally had the time to add a fur baby to their families due to decreased vacations & more time working from home. I brought home my first puppy this year & want to share the items you ACTUALLY need to be prepared to welcome home this new member of your family & make your transition to “Pawrents” easier.

Are you ready to be a “Pawrent”??

Before deciding to adopt a dog, make sure your lifestyle, schedule & budget can accommodate it. You don’t want to bring home a lovable puppy, only to find out that you can’t afford it or are too busy to give it the time & attention it deserves. Having to re-home a puppy after getting attached could be heartbreaking; especially if you have children; so be sure to be honest with yourself about if you can realistically handle the responsibility of a puppy.

Are Dogs expensive?

Many people don’t think that dogs are expensive (especially if you adopt from a local shelter), but even if you’re not spending thousands of dollars on a pure-bred dog from a breeder, dogs still can get expensive in their daily needs & bills. Some of the costs that are associated with having a dog are:

  • Dog Food & Treats
  • Veterinarian Bills ( I highly recommend getting pet-insurance, I’ll elaborate later in this post)
  • Grooming (depending on the breed, this can be expensive)
  • Dog Walker or Doggie Day Care (if you don’t work from home)

Is pet insurance worth it?

I did a lot of research on pet insurance before bringing my puppy home. Most pet insurances cost about $25-$50/month based on the plan you get. Many pet insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions, so it is best to get your pet insured as young as possible to prevent paying high vet bills if your dog is hurt or gets sick. Puppies especially have a way of getting into trouble & can easily run up a vet bill for tests and procedures. Some people opt to make a savings account for pet related costs, but after hearing stories of friends who had veterinarian bills that were thousands of dollars, I decided that pet insurance was the best choice for us. I opted for a plan that includes “wellness checks” so annual vaccines and check ups are covered as well.

What do I need to have for my puppy when I bring it home?

Just like a baby, it’s so easy to be sold on every fun item you see at the pet store or online for your fur-baby. But to save you some money & stress, these are the items that I felt were MUST HAVES when I brought home my dog:

  • An appropriately sized dog crate: I was never a fan of the idea of dog crates, but after doing a lot of research, it seemed that this was the best way to get a puppy trained quickly & also give them a “safe space” within their new home. Crates aren’t very expensive, I ordered this one which was under $20.
  • A Cozy Dog Bed: When I purchased my dogs bed, it was honestly because I thought it was cute because it was furry… but when she came in the house and found her bed she was so happy in it. I actually bought a second one so I leave one in her crate, and one where she likes to sleep during the day.
  • A Snuggle Pup: The Snuggle Pup is a stuffed animal that has a sound box inside that has a heartbeat sound. Put this in your pups crate at night to calm them down (it sounds like their moms heartbeat) & keep them from crying while transitioning to sleeping in their crate in their “New home”. I made sure to have this on hand before bringing my dog home, and she never had a night where she cried while in her crate. This is probably the best $40 I spent in preparation of bringing my puppy home.
  • Bully Sticks: I will warn you now, these dog treats STINK (& they’re literally made of a Bulls private parts), but dogs LOVE them. The trade off of the stinky and odd dog treat is that dogs will learn to chew this and not acquire bad habits of eating your shoes, trim on the walls, carpet, or other items that you don’t want to be ruined.
  • Training Bells: You want to start potty training your dog the day you bring it home. I ordered these inexpensive bells to hang on our door handle to teach our pup to ring the bell when she needs to go potty. Starting the day I got her, I would tap her nose on the bells before taking her outside to relieve herself. Within a week she caught on and would ring the bell if she wanted to go out & she had very few accidents in the house… I attribute it to the bell training. She is now 6 months old and has mastered the art of ringing the bell to let us know she wants to go out.
  • A Dog Carseat: This is something many people overlook, but even if you’re not taking your dog for joy rides, you will have to bring them to places like the vet or groomer. Having them sit on your lap when you drive can be unsafe for both you and the dog. I tried a few carseats when I got Paisley, but this one was the easiest to put in the car & take out, & also lets the dog look out the window & attaches to their harness to keep them in place if you stop short.
  • Toys: I might have purchased too many toys for my pup, but 2 or 3 is more than enough to keep a new dog entertained. Think squeaky toys & balls. These are some of my pups favorite toys:
  • Waste Bags & Dispenser: You don’t want to be unprepared if your dog leaves a little surprise on one of your neighbors lawns… so having waste bags readily available in a dispenser on your leash is the best way to prevent being rude & not picking up after your dog.
  • Stain & Odor Eliminator: Your new pet will DEFINITELY have some accidents while getting used to their new home. it’s best to be prepared with a product that will deter them from having an accident in the same spot again while also keeping your home clean.

Checklist of other items you will need when your pup comes home:

  • A collar (be sure to order the correct size. If you are taking home a small puppy, you might want to purchase a small sized cat collar instead of a dog collar)
  • A harness: Again, with a small puppy, you might want to purchase a more affordable cat harness to use until your puppy grows a little bit.
  • ID Tag: I made sure to have an ID Tag ready on a collar before I got my puppy so that I could put it on her right away. If you are waiting to name your pup until you get them, maybe consider getting a more affordable tag with your contact information just in case.
  • Leash: Don’t forget a leash so you can walk your pup!
  • Food & Water Bowls: I found some cute bowls at Target, but you can pick whatever style dog bowl fits your home decor or budget. You can also find a bunch of options at TJ maxx, Marshalls, & other stores.
  • Dog Food: If getting a puppy from a breeder, it’s best to start off with the food that your dog was eating there, and then ease them into the brand of food you wish to feed them regularly.
  • Training Treats: Make sure you have healthy dog treats available that you can use for teaching tricks and rewarding your pup for doing good things (like going potty outside!)
  • Blanket: I bought a cozy sherpa throw blanket at TJ Maxx to use as the dogs blanket so she had something else to snuggle in.
  • Misc. Items that I found useful: medicated ear wipes, doggie boots & jacket for cold weather, brush & grooming kit.

What I bought & wasn’t impressed with…

I went a little crazy purchasing everything I could find for my pup, but there were some things that were unnecessary, so I’m going to share them so you don’t waste your money as well!

  • Bitter Apple Spray: For some reason my dog LIKED the taste of this stuff… I don’t know how because I actually tasted it and it was AWFUL. Some people do swear by it, but for me, it was a waste of money.
  • Wee-Wee pads & Holder: I initially thought I would use these, but decided that I didn’t want to confuse my dog that she can go potty inside. I think this is why we were able to get her housebroken so quickly. In my opinion, if you are able to avoid using wee-wee pads you will make potty training (and your life) a lot easier in the long run.

Is there any thing I forgot on these lists? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclosure: This Blog post is not sponsored, but does contain affiliated links for which I can earn a small commission for. There is no extra cost to you for shopping through these links. I do appreciate it when you use my links to shop because it helps cover the costs associated with maintaining this blog.

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2020 Top Style Picks for Her: Holiday Edition

If you’re planning to dress up this holiday season, I’m sharing some of my favorite finds that are festive & perfect for whatever type of celebration you plan to have this year.

This outfit from The Pink Lily Boutique is the perfect look for holiday parties or for your holiday photos. The houndstooth print of this skirt is festive and looks great with a pair of ankle booties.


These next 2 dresses were also from The Pink Lily Boutique. The turquoise polka dot maxi dress is colorful, fun & festive for the holidays paired with a fun hat. The blush long sleeve velvet dress was also a beautiful (and surpringly cozy) dress for the holidays. I paired it with black booties, but you can mix it up with nude pumps as well, depending on how dressed up you want to be.


This beautiful black lace top & Wine colored long sleeve dress are both from The Mint Julep Boutique. Both of these looks are perfect to look dressed up but still feel comfortable during the holidays. I paired both looks with these under $50 over the knee boots.


This embroidered mini-skirt is one of my favorite affordable holiday outfit pieces & is under $20 in this color, it also comes in green, black & other colors as well. The print is actually embroidered into the skirt, which makes it look a lot more expensive than it is. I paired it with a black off the shoulder sweater I already owned & a pair of over the knee boots.


This sweater dress is comfortable & flattering. It’s under $30 & comes in a variety of colors. I love the tie waist that helps to give this dress shape but doesn’t add any weight to the outfit. You can pair this dress with over the knee boots like I did, ankle booties or other shoes to fit your style.


This outfit from Nasty Gal is more of an edgy look with the white leather zipper-detail mini skirt & fun sequin flowy top. This can be a great look for New Years Eve or any other holiday celebrations. Also, I have to note these AMAZING embellished boots that were so comfortable and totally tied this look together.


I love this under $25 white floral long sleeve romper paired with over the knee boots as a cute & feminine holiday outfit. The skirt has a fun ruffle hem that gives a flowy shape to the outfit. This is another look that’s also comfortable to wear & with the affordable price tag its an easy sell.


I got this dress from Abercrombie in TWO colors last year because I loved it so much, & they re-released it this year (probably because of how popular it was), so I had to add it to this years holiday outfit roundup. This dress is a warm flannel material & looks so festive in any of the plaid prints you can choose from. This is a dress you can keep in your closet for years that won’t go out of style quickly.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links for which I could earn a small commission from without any extra cost to you. I appreciate you shopping via these linked items to help me to cover the costs of maintaining this blog & compensating me for my time

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The Ultimate 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday shopping is hard, & this year a lot more shopping will be done online due to our “new normal”. I’m going to be sharing gift guides for 2020 in categories below to be your one stop shop for holiday gift ideas. This year I am focusing on sharing mostly items at lower price points since many of us are shopping on a tighter budget.

I will be updating this blog post through out the holiday shopping season, but to stay the most up to date with my favorite finds & sales, be sure to follow me on liketoknow.it & Instagram.

To make it easier for you to shop, I have included links to all items featured in each collage below it. This way you don’t have to search for these items I have included in this guide.

Gifts for the Ladies in your life:

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a beautiful or useful gift for the favorite women in your life. These Kate Spade & Kendra Scott Jewelry pieces I’ve shared are all under $50 & high quality, beautiful pieces.

This Revlon hairdryer is my go-to that I use on the regular.

The makeup bag shared is also perfect for travel or daily organization.

These items can be perfect gifts for women of any age because they’re beautiful, practical & useful.


When shopping for stocking stuffers for the ladies, you can’t go wrong with beauty products (ex: lipgloss, beauty blenders, bath bombs), Candles, Small jewelry pieces or chocolates.

Also, this heated eyelash curler (lower left) is under $20 & such a great tool that I use & love.


www.tula.com

Tulas products are clean & utilize probiotics to keep skin healthy. They are non-toxic, free of Parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates & retinol. On top of the clean ingredients, their products also work great & smell AMAZING. The individual products make great stocking stuffers, or if you opt for the holiday gift sets, they are perfect gifts for anyone who loves to treat their skin to great products. Remember to use my code: FITSEDATION at checkout for 15% off your order.


Gifts for the Men in your life:

Through the years I’ve noticed the best gifts for the men in my life are the ones they can actually make use out of instead of clothes or silly video games. For a fun gift idea for your boyfriend, husband or even Father, you can purchase some of his favorite craft beers & place them in this wooden beer caddy & maybe even including some snacks to go along with it.

Also, this “Bug As-Salt” rifle has been a hit for all the men in my life who I’ve gifted it to. It shoots salt out at flies instead of using a fly swatter…The best part is, men love testing their aim when using this… AND it actually works!


If you plan to purchase items for the fitness lover in your life, I suggest you do so ASAP! Due to many gyms closing & people working out at home, these items sell out QUICK, but the good news is, if you can snag any of these items for that person on your list, they will be extra excited to get these items that have been hard to come by the past few months!


Shopping for someone who loves coffee? Consider getting them a new single serve coffee machine or this espresso maker (both on sale now for under $125). Another great idea are these stainless steel reusable pods for either the Nespresso or Keurig, they’re cost effective & good for the environment as well! This set of glass coffee mugs is on sale for almost 50% off. And lastly, this coffee themed gift set is around $30 & includes everything you need to gift to a coffee lover.

Be sure to check back to this page for updates & new items added to this guide as the holiday season progresses!

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links for which I could earn a small commission from without any extra cost to you. I appreciate you shopping via these linked items to help me to cover the costs of maintaining this blog & compensating me for my time.

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How to Host a “Safe” Party or Gathering in 2020…

2020 & Covid-19 has brought about many changes in our lifestyle… “Social Distancing” has become a common term & we’ve had to start to put a little extra thought into our day to day activities & plans. With the holidays soon approaching, & many of us itching to see our friends & family, it’s good to prepare in advance for how to host a gathering as safely as possible for your guests.

I recently threw a small housewarming party for some of our friends, & took a few extra steps to be sure our guests felt safe & comfortable while still being able to enjoy some good food & share good company.

Before getting into the actual planning details, I wanted to emphasize that during these “uncertain” times, be sure to not take it to heart if some of the people you invite choose not to attend because of their comfort level of being around groups of people other than their normal circle. I promise they do still love you & will be sad not to attend, so don’t be offended or mad at a RSVP of “No”.

I also want to emphasize that being cognizant about the space available in your home, not over-inviting & utilizing outdoor spaces (weather permitting) are very important details that should be considered in the initial planning stages of your celebration.

Party Setup

Avoiding the awkward conversations…

I wanted guests to have a way to convey their comfort level with social distancing, hand shakes, etc… so I found this cute idea of having these wristbands available in the colors Red, Yellow, & Green.

Green: Okay with hugs & high fives, Yellow: Okay with Talking & Elbow Bumps, Red: Okay with waving from 6 feet (I purchased less red ones because if someone was that uncomfortable I doubt they would have attended.

I printed out this sign that I designed and placed it in a pretty 8×10 frame that I purchased from the dollar store & had the bracelets displayed at a table when people arrived. There are also some fun printable signs that you can purchase on Etsy already designed for you.

Keeping it Clean…

I also made sure to have a bottle of hand sanitizer at every food station & near drink stations with cute sayings that I printed & taped onto them: “Wash your hands you filthy animal” & “Be wise, sanitize”.

Another thing people overlook when having guests in their homes is bathroom hand towels. In both of the bathrooms our guests would be using, I supplied paper hand towels in a tray to avoid guests from reusing a cloth hand towel (even though your hands SHOULD be clean when you use it).

The Menu

In regards to food options, I nixed any idea of community chips & dip bowls, cheese & fruit platters, or anything that would require people to be reaching their hands into a platter & touching foods others would eat. I decided to portion all foods in single portions, this took a little extra work on my end, but it made for a great visual & also was a noticeable precaution to our guests. All of these items would be great options for a Fall gathering, Thanksgiving, or even a Christmas party. I’m including the recipes for the items I prepared below as well.

Appetizers

Veggie cups with Hummus:

These were simple & most of the prep work could be done in advance. About 2 days before the party, I cut up fresh carrots & celery and bagged it so the morning of the party I could put together the cups in about 10 minutes. I purchased a large container of hummus from Costco & that filled about 25 cups with enough hummus for a single serving. I topped the hummus with a sprinkle of smoked paprika (from trader joes) & a few sliced black olives (from a can). I ordered these cups, they were the perfect size to portion out these appetizers. I also placed these cute housewarming themed picks into the cups as well as a decoration.

Tip: Make sure to cut the veggies long enough that they peep out of the top of the cups. Many precut carrots & celery from the grocery store would have been too short for these cups.

Antipasto Skewers:

This was another simple appetizer to prepare, and some of the prep work could be done in advance. I purchased Costco tortellini & cooked it the night before the party. I tossed it with olive oil and a small amount of Trader Joes pesto sauce (so it wouldn’t get stuck together) & refrigerated it overnight. The day of the party I assembled the sticks with: Grape tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella Balls, Basil Leaf & 2 tortellini noodles on these pretty skewers.

“Tasting Spoons”

I found these cute plastic spoons that were the perfect size to portion out small seafood appetizers. They looked pretty & were another easy appetizer to prepare the day of:

  • Shrimp Cocktail: I purchased a bag of large frozen precooked tail on shrimp & thawed them overnight, rinsed & dried them off before placing them on top of some cocktail sauce on the spoon.
  • Smoked Salmon bites: This is a surprisingly tasty snack, I peeled & sliced an English cucumber and topped it with a small dollop of fat free whipped cream cheese, a small slice of smoked salmon & fresh dill. These looked beautiful and tasted even better!
  • Smoked Tuna on Seaweed Salad: I had a great find at Trader Joe’s which was smoked tuna with everything but the bagel seasoning, it was an “opportunity find” & not always available, but if you can get your hands on it there or at anywhere else, this was a hit. You could also make something like this if you purchase some sushi grade tuna at a local fish market.

Chips & Salsa

I packaged nacho chips in separate bags so no ones hands were reaching into chip bowls repeatedly. I pre-portioned salsa in 4oz plastic containers a few days before the party as well so there would be no “double dipping” in a salsa bowl.

Planning tip: Be sure not to bag the chips too early so they don’t go stale before the guests arrive.

Grab & Go Entrees

Autumn Salad

I made these salads the morning of the party, it took less than 15 minutes to make 25 salads and they tasted amazing. I portioned each salad in a paper box with the salad dressing separately portioned in a 4 oz portion cup so that the salads would not get soggy.

  • Trader Joes Champagne Pear Vinigarette Dressing (30mL in each portion cup)
  • One big handful of Spring Salad Mix & Baby Spinach
  • 1 TBSP Fresh Chopped pear
  • 1 TBSP Craisins
  • 1 TBSP Feta Cheese crumbles
  • 4 to 5 Candied Pecans (I used Trader Joes Brand but other brands do sell them)

Ramen Noodle Salad

This is a recipe I got from my mother-in-law that can be prepared 2 days in in advance & is sweet & different than a normal pasta salad recipe. I portioned separately in 8 oz containers the night before the party.

  • One bag of broccoli slaw
  • 3 Packages of Beef Ramen Noodles (with 2 packets of the seasoning that’s included) – Broken up into 1 inch pieces)
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup chopped scallions
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • Mix all ingredients in a large ziplock bag or bowl and let sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before serving.

Cole slaw cups:

I portioned a pre-made Cole slaw from a local deli in 8 oz containers for another simple side.

Assorted sliders:

This was the only item I can’t take any credit for making or portioning out. I pre-ordered 3 boxes of fresh made assorted sliders from a local shop in New Jersey called Pricillas Pantry. These were grab & go & so delicious. I made sure to make a sign labeling what was in each type of sandwich so people wouldn’t pick around in the box. If you live near by, I highly reccomend having these at your next party.

Desserts

Apple Cider Donuts

We purchased some fresh delicious Apple cider donuts & placed them all in separate fall themed baggies (from the Christmas tree shops, less than $2).

Pumpkin mousse Cups

This recipe is very simple to prep & I was able to make it 3 days in advance. I portioned in the cups the day of the party because we didn’t have enough space in the refrigerator to keep them. If you have the room, you can most certainly portion these out in advance. I found the perfect little cups that came with a cap & spoon:

Ingredients
  • 4 Packages sugar free vanilla pudding mix
  • 6 cups fat free milk
  • 2 (15oz) cans of pumpkin puree
  • 2 Tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 cups thawed fat-free cool whip
  • crushed graham crackers
  • Candied pecans
How to Make it…
  1. Whisk pudding & milk in large bowl for 2 minutes
  2. Add pumpkin puree & pumpkin pie spice
  3. Mix in cool whip
  4. Let sit in refrigerator for a minimum of one hour
Portioning cups
  1. Sprinkle a small layer of graham cracker crumbs into the bottoms of the cups
  2. Add pumpkin mousse mixture
  3. Sprinkle a generous layer of graham cracker crumbs on top of the mousse
  4. Top with a candied pecan.

Drinks

We decided to make this party BYOB, but we did supply cans of soda, small water bottles, & plastic cups. There were no community bottles of mixers or drinks, and this turned out just fine.

I did prepare a warm apple cider station (one which had vodka & brandy mixed in & one non-alcholic). I had a little fun with the quote by that drink station: “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away”. We supplied hand sanitizer & napkins to use while self-serving the drinks & opted for disposable insulated cups.

Presentation

Many of my display baskets were items I had laying around the house, but I am linking my amazing Crate & Barrel display towers here because they helped present all these foods so nicely without cluttering the table & requiring guests to reach over the foods. These trays were items on my wedding registry and I was so excited to finally get to use them!

Favors

You can’t send your guests home empty handed, so I bagged up some of my favorite kettle corn (Trader Joe’s Maple Bacon Kettle corn) for my guests to grab on their way out.

Do you have any planning tips to add to my list?

Disclosure: This page includes affiliate links for which I could receive commission from purchases made through them. I purchased all of the items used in this post.

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Nordstrom Sale – Look a Likes for Less

The Nordstrom Sale has some great discounts on high priced items, but some of those items are still more expensive than our budget allows. For those of us who want the look of the hottest items sold during the Nordstrom Sale (or the original items sell out before you obtain access to shop), and you want to spend even less, these look-a-like items are similar with a lot lower price tag!

These sneakers are almost identical besides the logo on the side. The Walmart version has a memory foam sole that is super comfy. I own both pairs.
This Free People Lace Bralette has been on trend for a while now and it isn’t going anywhere. I’ve linked some look a likes that are even lower priced than the Nordstrom Sale price.
You can’t go wrong with these almost identical animal print loafers than are more than half the price of the original Steve Maddens that are a part of the Nordstrom Sale this year.
Another great look a like find. I own the less expensive Brixton inspired hat in multiple colors & it is the perfect addition to your fall and winter wardrobe at a fraction of the Nordstrom Sale designer price.
I love Ray Ban Sunglasses, but if I purchased every single style of them that I loved, I’d be broke. So I love styles like this Ray Ban inspired pair from the Pink Lily Boutique.
This Madwell striped cardigan was so popular during last years sale that they decided to include it for the 2020 sale as well. Save even more money ordering the less expensive style linked here!
These Moonlight Dreams pajama sets sell out fast during the Nordstrom Sale every year, but you can get this less expensive, and still super comfortable set for less at Target. This PJ set comes in a variety of colors and designs, and would be the perfect getting ready outfits for the Bride & Bridesmaids for a Wedding Day. They also make a great Christmas gift for the ladies in your life.

I will continue to update this post as I find more items that resemble the Nordstrom Sale items. Save this page to check back for all of my best finds through out the month!

xoxo.

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Top Beauty Finds – Nordstrom Sale 2020

On top of all the great fashion finds for the Nordstrom Sale, there are also some amazing deals on the hottest beauty items included. I put together my list of the products and gift sets I love from this years sale to share with you!

Riki Mirror: I’ve had my eye on these Riki mirrors for a while now. This one is a little smaller than what I plan to purchase, but the price is incredible for the sale at $130 (Savings of about $70 off the original price)

Too Faced Duo: I love the Too Faced “Better Than Sex” Mascara, so I love being able to purchase it with another great too faced product to try at a discounted price!

Mario Badescu Trio: I have mentioned this before, but this is the BEST spot treatment I have ever used for those big ugly pimples you want to be gone FAST. I also love the rose water facial spray which is super refreshing and smells so pretty.

T3 Curling Iron (Black or White): This ceramic curling iron is a hot find and is on sale for over $50 off. If you have had your eye on this curling iron, now is the time to order it!

All items are linked below as well as on my liketoknow.it page!

xoxo.

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