Blogger Meet Up

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a blogger/Instagram meet-up with six lovely ladies whom I had never met before. We ate brunch in downtown San Diego at a former Top Chef contestant's restaurant called Searsucker. I was extremely nervous because I get social anxiety, even around people I know! My husband did the usual "just relax and go" speech that morning as I was contemplating backing out. There is no logical reason for my nerves, and I am perfectly aware of that. So I went, and I had a great time. All of the ladies were friendly, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to. Putting myself out there is difficult, but I never regret it. Think of it like going to the gym. You may come up with excuses as to why you can't go, but as soon as you're there, you are proud of yourself and you feel so accomplished afterwards. I definitely feel like I've made some new friends and I hope we all keep in touch. Connecting is honestly the best part of blogging. It may terrify me, but it's also a great way to network with like minded people.

I hope you'll take a look at their blogs and Instagram accounts. Here they are in order from left to right:

Jean - @ThePreppyPHD

Alyssa - @AlyssaGutten Blog: Alyssa with an A

Norma - @NVCampos She also makes jewelry: normavcampos.origamiowl.com

Crystal - @Caligirl_Fashions 

Megan - @mkashing Blog: A Stylish Start

Sara - @skashing Blog: A Stylish Start

I had the crab eggs benedict and it was heaven. I'm a benedict addict, and if it's on a menu, I'll always order it without fail. 

After the meet-up, we all parted ways and my husband and I caught up with our best friends. They live in Little Italy, so we spent the rest of the day people watching since it was comic-con week in San Diego. I hope we have more meet-ups soon, starting with my lunch with Gina this coming Monday :)

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Sparking Joy & Blog Birthday

Wearing //

Express top (last year), but love this

F21 cami underneath

Topshop skirt, similar

Nordstrom bag, similar

Asos pumps

Kendra Scott necklace

HRH collection bracelet

Beauty //

Lancome Lip Lover #334

O.P.I. nails in Funny Bunny

Thank goodness for flippy skirts with elastic waistbands. It amazes me how many times I've worn this one, and each time I do, I feel like a million dollars. Isn't that the point of wearing clothes? Well, aside from the fact that we can't all be running around naked. But what I love about this outfit is that it sparks joy, as beautifully explained recently by Gina and Laura. If you love something, you'll feel confident in it. When you feel confident, you're happier. And when you're happy, you feel like you can conquer anything. So wear what you love and hopefully that will translate into all aspects of your life. Oh, and if it has an elastic waistband that can allow you to eat like a glutton (which I did after these pictures were taken), even better. 

On a side note, I believe it's my blog's birthday. I don't know the actual date but it was around the 15th of July in 2009. Happy birthday blog! You've been a great friend over the years. We've laughed, we've cried, and together we have made some wonderful friends. It's been six years since I started Beautygirl24 and I am still in love with (almost) everything about this community. Thank you so much for supporting me. Thank you for reading. You really have no idea how this outlet has impacted me in a positive way...More to come.

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#NSale {My Wishlist}

So I normally don't do sale picks, guides, or wishlists these days because, well...I figure you ladies are savvy enough to pick your own (or to refrain altogether). But if you've been reading my blog from the beginning in 2009 (I'm totally dating myself here), then you know that I shop for at least one or two key pieces from the Nordstrom anniversary sale each year. In fact, because I started my blog in July, it was one of my very first embarrassing posts. I'm not going to link to it. It's embarrassing.

I don't have the capacity to go out and shop in a major way every season, but I do like getting at least one investment piece that will get me excited about cooler weather in the Fall. I also prefer classic looks over trendy items that won't last. It's a smart way to get more bang for your buck from these types of sales.

I have a budget in mind, so my wishlist is very small this year. I'm going to head to my local Nordstrom next Friday, when the sale is open to the public. If you are a card member, you can shop now! I plan on trying a lot of things on, so look for Instagram photos and a possible follow-up on here once I do my browsing. I love shopping online, but for this event, I always buy in-store. It's part of the experience!

My wishlist this year:

Rebecca Minkoff bag

(Looking at this pretty shade but it also comes in black and white)

Louise Et Cie flats

(Notice my red theme here?)

Voluspa candle trio

Halogen long cardigan (available in petites!)

I think there MUST be more items available in-store that I might be interested in, so even though this is a tiny list, stay tuned. I may or may not find something else. 

Do you have any plans to shop the sale? 

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