Coastal Collective Kids: Back to School Ideas

July 17, 2015FashionAnneke McConnell

Hello friends! With summer in full swing, it's hard to even think of back to school, but I made a deal. My oldest daughter approached me awhile back about starting her own business. Ahem.....you know.....like mommy? Lol ;-) After much persistence from her about this "business stuff", I asked her if she'd be interested in working with me on a kids segment for the new blog, to which she replied an enthusiastic YES!

With the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in full swing, it was the perfect opportunity for her to share some ideas she had and get some back to school shopping done. These deals are crazy you guys! I picked a few ideas and said no to some others, but for the most part these are her own picks. She's not fussy about fashion, but she is particular about how she pairs things for certain occasions and not when she's not off playing on the beach or climbing trees. I'd like to introduce you to my beautiful, sweet, smart daughter Annabelle.

Yup! Holding our sweet little malitjpoo puppy Copper! I haven't even introduced him really, but he is turning out to be the absolutely sweetest pup ever with just a bit of sass and spunk - perfect for us!!

So today's post is focusing on back to school fashion and hopefully in a way that can help you choose pieces for your kiddos that will last and are transitional in between the seasons. We were looking for well fitting jeans [I'm SO impressed with the fit on these!], under tanks, warm cardigans for layering, comfortable booties, boots, and flats, and then I let Annabelle pick out one item on her own that was a really BIG deal to her. She feels so grown up - it's too cute. I hope you enjoy the outfits we've put together and future Coastal Collective Kids posts - if so, please share. It will make her day I'm sure!! Thanks!

There are so many great items to choose from for your kid's back to school clothes in this sale. Here are a handful of some other favorites we found. Jeans, sweaters, jackets, shoes, tops, you name it. Some of these we bought for my other daughter too!

Ok, and if there is ONE thing from this entire amazing sale that I could pick that you should get for your daughter, niece, mom, friend, sister, teacher, etc., it has got to be THIS necklace. I'm serious....stock up now for birthdays, Christmas, wedding showers, and more. It's the perfect mix between a statement necklace and a delicate necklace - just the right touch of sparkle! For under $40 during this sale, it's a beautiful steal.

My boxes of goodies from Nordstrom just arrived in the mail yesterday, so I'll be sharing more on sizing and whatnot in an upcoming post or two, but overall I'm super happy with what I was able to find. I will say that I tend to buy sweaters larger because I love the oversize fit, and almost every sweater I bought I ordered up a size and could have just ordered my regular size. I'm debating exchanging them so I hope they aren't sold out! Am I the only one who wears an XS to XL around here? Lol The fit of items is all personal in my opinion. ;-) I've link up my big girl, Pacific Northwest stay at home mom, work at home mom picks below - photos coming soon! Happy shopping you guys!!

xo,

Anneke

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Accents Chairs That Make A Statement for Less

July 14, 2015Home Blog Posts, FashionAnneke McConnell

I've always felt that certain elements in a home's design are like icing on the cake, one being lighting (which I shared a few tips for choosing HERE), and the other being your accent chairs. Whether you have one or two in a bedroom sitting area, a child's room, your living space, or flanking your dining table, they are the perfect opportunity to bring a greater sense of your personal style to a room. You can literally have all the same elements in a room, and a statement chair or two will change the look of the space depending on what you choose.

Below I am sharing some great deals on accent or statement chairs, most of which are under $500. I hope you find something that suits your home. I personally have my eye on this one which is currently on sale! It's everything I look for in a good chair: comfort, style, and family friendly. ;-)

Also, I'll continue to share my faves for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It's still only open to cardholders, but it is super easy to sign up now. Things are already starting to sell out and those awesome post-season prices. I'll continue to say that I believe in buying less and choosing well - I'm just here to point you in the right direction. So if you're on the lookout this upcoming fall season to add a new pair of boots to your wardrobe, find that perfect faux fur vest, booties, or pretty little dress for the holiday season, this is the time to jump on these great deals! The sale opens to the public this Friday if you'd like to wait, but I say if you know what you're looking for, go for it!

xo,

Anneke

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - Top Picks for Fall 2015

July 12, 2015FashionAnneke McConnell

The thought of writing "Fall" seems crazy with this gorgeous Summer weather we are having right now in Seattle, but with the Nordstrom Anniversary sale in full swing, it really does feel like Christmas in July! I'm here to share my favorites and what I think is worth getting savings now.

One reason why I LOVE this sale is because it is fully stocked pre-season inventory at post-season prices. You have the selection of sizes, but they are going fast. I've ordered half of my picks online and then headed in store to take our girls back to school shopping and try on boots myself. I have to admit, the experience in store changed what I thought I was going to go with!

Here are my Top Picks for Fall and then I've shared my faves in my top category for fall which is boots. I'll be back over the next week sharing my Top Picks at the end of posts for Tops, Kids, Home, etc. Remember this sale is for Nordstrom cardholders and then opens to the public on July 17th. It's easy to get in on the sales now before things sell out at those post season prices.

Some of the items I recommend as staples are good quality boots, everyday skinny jeans, comfy sweaters, layering tanks, a faux fur vest, a versatile coat that can be dressed up or down, and a nice blouse. I tend to avoid clothing items made with rayon as they usually end up shrinking on me. :-/ For that reason, I chose THIS blouse, which comes in multiple colors perfect for mixing and matching this fall.

You can easily shop the graphic below by hovering over the item and clicking. Happy pre-season shopping friends!

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So, as a born and raised Seattlite, if there's one thing that is top on our list of fall and winter staples, it's knee high leather boots and ankle booties, so I'll start there. It's true that although we have a reputation for rainy weather, I don't even know where the one umbrella I own is. It's all about boots, cozy sweaters, and laid back style. Shoes tend to run out of stock quickly pre-season because of sizing, so I say go for it with these fantastic Nordstrom prices. They offer free shipping and returns up to 90 days - pretty fantastic if you're feeling uncertain.

I personally have a tough time finding boots that fit right because I am petite at 5'3" and usually fit better with wide calf boots. I thought I was going to go for this Frye knee high boot, but after trying on multiple pairs in store, I ended up going for three different pairs.

First, I went with this one by Born in black, which I feel can be dressed up or down. It has an inside zipper, but I like how it is well concealed and the leather is sturdy but not stiff. The second pair I chose in black are these, which I loved for the comfort and gold detailing. The last pair I chose is a super comfy pull on style by Lucky Brand. The leather on these is AMAZING! All of these pairs come in different colors and either regular or wide calf.

To see other GREAT options, scroll through my top picks for fall boots below. Many of these are under $150 during the sale - such great deals! I would have loved to go for the Tory Burch boots, but sadly, they do not come in a wide calf option. If you were going to pick just one boot and don't need a wide calf option, I'd pick those!

Hayes Bootie

Kadie Bootie

Paige Ankle Bootie

Weatherproof Knee High Boot

Helen Knee High Boot

Over the Knee Ohanna Boot

Frye Wide Calf Boot

Zada Knee High Boot

Lucky Brand Wide Calf Boot

Stretch Rain Boot

Gold Buckle Wide Calf Knee High Boot

Tory Burch Joanna Riding Boot

Tory Burch Melinda Riding Boot

Lucky Brand Pull On Leather Boot

Frye Regular Tall Leather Boot

Jennings Knee High Boot

Have a beautiful day!

xo,

Anneke

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Artist Feature: Lucy of Craftberry Bush and Coastal Watercolor Art

July 7, 2015Interiors, Home Blog PostsAnneke McConnell

The talent and skill I see in the world of blogging and social media blows me away every day. When I first began blogging, I was immediately drawn to the talent of other bloggers, business owners, designers, etc. We all seem to have gone various directions, finding our way and working within the areas we gain the most enjoyment from, all while trying to help those who stumble upon our work and ideas.

With that said, it has been a JOY to see Lucy from Craftberry Bush grow in her artwork and really put it out there for the world to enjoy! You can see her beautiful summer home tour HERE.

My heart skipped a beat when she recently shared her watercolor series of coastal inspired motifs. They are SO beautiful and I couldn't wait to share them with you! I love that she is making her work available through Society6 and her art can be bought as a pillow (which I've highlighted below), iPhone case, t-shirt, mug, framed art, shower curtain, etc. There are so many options.

Her pillow designs come in sizes 16" x 16", 18" x 18", or 20" x 20" as a cover alone or with a faux down insert included. The throw pillows are made from 100% spun polyester poplin fabric, are individually cut and sewn by hand, feature a double-sided print and are finished with a concealed zipper for ease of care [as described in the Society6 site].