Dawned On Me

June 14, 2019 / Friday Favorites, Lifestyle

Friday Favorites – 10 Things I Love On The Internet This Week

Top | Denim | Heels (TJmaxx in store-same here) | Gucci Bag | Watch c/0

I heard about this shaving product on the radio of all places! Don’t giggle now! This Coochy shaving cream, (yes, that is the name!) is said to be awesome in reducing razor bumps and in-grown hairs down “there”! Let me tell you…this shaving cream is AMAZING! No bumps, no razor burns! These women on the radio SWORE by it and I do too! Get if for bathing suit season and thank me later!

Reader Linda V commented that she enjoyed the Netflix series Dead to Me that I shared here last week. She also plugged the series, Black Spot on Netflix. You can read about Black Spot here. Looks good too! (And thank you to Linda and everyone who comments on their favorites so I can share them here!)

If you love home reveals as much as I do, then you’ll love watching this too! Jessica Alba opens up her $10 million home and walks us through the interior in this youtube video! I really enjoyed seeing it!

I love this little multi-tool key you can just put on your keychain! It’s a screwdriver, bottle opener, box opener and more. You always have your keys with you. Perfect when you’re in a pinch and takes up no space.

I just used this new Bissell portable spot cleaner yesterday and LOVED it! I have an upright steam cleaner but really felt like I needed this for my upholstered items. We have upholstered kitchen chairs which came with the house. (Typically, I’d never buy upholstered chairs for everyday dining with kids) This cleaner was so easy to use and got all the stains out of my chairs! The water was surprisingly really dirty! If you have a Kohls charge card you can get 30 percent off like I did with code FAMILY30 through June, 19. You can also find this machine here.

Another helpful tool in keeping our upholstered chairs stay clean are these Smartseat dining chair covers and protectors! I keep them on each of the boys’ chairs. I bought the sandstone tan ones. We’ve had them for about 3 years and what a GREAT investment. They have velcro straps that easily attach under the chair. They wash like a dream!

Things that make ya go hmmm. I saw this Cellu-Cup cellulite reducing tool and wondered what the heck it was and why it got so many great reviews! It’s supposed to reduce cellulite while tightening and toning the skin! I’ll take two in that case! 🙂

I have never heard of this 4d mascara before, but the reviews and photos of reviewers have me very intrigued. Ordering for sure!

While surfing the internet, these Curad Bloodstop Gauze pads popped up on my screen! It’s supposed to seal a wound. Reading reviews, people say they are great for nose bleeds too. Seems like a great product to keep in your First Aid Kit.

I might just be the only person who does not own one of these portable battery chargers! The only time I think about getting one is when I’m up the creek with no battery life left on my phone! Then I go home and forget about it. LOL! So, I’m biting the bullet and buying this one! I like the orange one because it’s easy to spot! Do you have a portable battery charger?

Shop My Look:

June 12, 2019 / Fashion, Lifestyle

An Easy Guide To Shop And Tour Milan In Just One Day

We just recently got back from a vacation to Italy. We only had a week. We started in Venice and then took a train to Milan and spent 2 full days in Milan.

If you’re in a time crunch and only have a couple of days like we did, but still want to tour AND shop in this beautiful and bustling Italian city widely known as the fashion capital of the world, it’s easy to do!

I’ve put together an easy guide to shop and tour Milan in just one day!

Tour the Duomo Cathedreal and then do some shopping:

It’s easy to kill two birds with one stone because the largest and most luxurious shopping district is right next to the Piazza Del Duomo. Seeing Milan’s Duomo is a must. The Duomo is the fifth largest church in the world, adorned with over 3-thousands statues. It’s an amazing sight to see! We bought tickets to the lift which took us to the rooftop for incredible views of Milan and the breathtaking architecture of the Duomo. The tickets get you an elevator ride to the rooftop which eventually leads you down by stairs inside to the cathedral.

Rooftop of the Duomo

It took us under a couple of hours to see the outside, the rooftop and the interior of the Duomo. We had lunch at a cafe nearby and then headed to the shops. Now we’re talking lol!

Shopping on Via Monte Napoleone:

Via Monte Napoleone is the key designer shopping street in Milan and is just a minute or two walk at most from the Duomo Cathedral.

Via Monte Napoleone is home to the heavy-weight designers like Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Valentino, Fendi, Versace and much more! It’s an irresistible place to indulge in luxury bags and accessories at quite a substantial savings!

Read my blog post here on how much I saved buying luxury brands in Italy!

The architecture here will leave you in awe. Even if you’re just window shopping, Via Monte Napoleone offers a beautiful setting with high end shops, nice restaurants and gelato parlors.

Shopping on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II:

Also conveniently located near the Piazza Del Duomo is Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. A short walk will land you here to shop mid-range labels at more accessible price points.

Here you can find the likes of Zara, H&M, Mango and more.

I have two boys so they are always bored to death with my incessant urge to visit every shop I see. LOL! They were very patient I must say on this particular day. (Bribing with gelato helps;)

I was able to shop for some cute hats and dresses in H&M for about an hour!

Other Quick Tips For Shopping and Touring Milan In A Day:

Getting Around Milan:

We got around entirely by taxi using the MyTaxi app. We really liked it!!

It’s Very affordable and just like using Uber.

There were a few drawbacks. Not all taxis use the app. We found during the busy times, we had to wait a while for the app to find us a taxi.

Instead of just waiting in one spot, we started walking in the direction of our destination. As we moved to a new location, we found a taxi was more readily available. The cars are impeccably clean and the drivers were all very nice! As always, make sure you know the address of where you are staying and insure your phone has a good charge.

Touring The Last Supper:

My husband is a Delta pilot so our trips are usually always thrown together very last minute. We fly space available and on flights to distant destinations, we jockey for business class. Where we go is largely based on how many seats there are up front. (Can you blame us? lol) That said, we don’t plan too far in advance. Unfortunately, seeing. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper requires tickets MONTHS in advance. I would have loved to go on this tour but there was no way. So, if you’re able to plan your trip well in advance, make sure you get your tickets EARLY!

Have you been to Milan to see The Last Supper? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it! Leave your comments below.

Thanks so much as always for stopping by. Below you can see what I wore for the short time we were in Milan.

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

Sweatshirt (on clearance!) | Denim | Belt | Fendi Bag | Sunglasses

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

Top | Denim | Earrings | Straw bag | Sunglesses

You can also shop my outfits here:

This Shopping in Milan Post Contains Affiliate Links

June 7, 2019 / Uncategorized

Friday Favorites: 10 Things I Love On the Internet This Week!

Friday Favorites: 10 Things I Love On The Internet This week:

Last week I told you how much I love TJmaxx’s online store here. So, I wanted to share my latest find: these great Mother The Roller jeans (pictured above) I just got a couple days ago! They have nice stretch and are amazingly comfortable! They’re under $80 and retail for $238 and run TTS. I forgot mention last week, that I read Marshall’s is also coming out with an online store too! (You can shop my entire look above near the bottom of this post)

On the topic of jeans. Did you see Sofia Vergara has a clothing line at Walmart? They can’t keep this style of denim in stock. I kept checking back and finally got my size. They seem to keep restocking them so if you want a pair, just keep an eye on them if they don’t have your size at first and there is a good chance they’ll be stocked again.

I was listening to Just Jenny on Sirius radio this week and heard a fascinating interview with the author of the book: The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest – Author Dan Buettner and other researchers traveled the world to interview the people from areas where the population lives the longest – as he calls them “blue zones.” He shares their lifestyle and diet – secrets researchers believe are the keys to longevity. On my list to read next!

Speaking of books, I saw Today Show’s Jenna Bush has a book club #readwithJenna. Jenna’s June book is Searching for Sylvie Lee: A Novel. Gets great reviews so you might want to pick it up this summer!

Did you catch my Wednesday’s blog post: 10 Unique Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually love? Since Father’s Day is next week (June 16th) I wanted to add one more gift idea for the man in your life! These men’s Croc Reviva Flops (lady’s version here) are said to be the comfiest foot flops ever! They look it! Just another idea for you if you don’t know what to get dad!

Since sandal season is in full gear, this Amope auto foot file is a must have! Takes a couple batteries and is a workhouse for smoothing rough callouses on your tootsies! Dad could use one of these too!

I’m a huge fan of flossing. I floss morning, noon and night most days! I just discovered these Oral B Gum Care Floss Picks. You’re able to squeeze the handle to adjust the tension of the floss and it makes it real easy to get a very good clean especially around the gum line. I’m hooked!

I have an annoying groove around our stove that catches a ton of crumbs. I could not figure a way to get it clean. I bought this OXO brush/crevice tool. I love it. So many uses for cleaning hard to reach places!

I might be late to this party but all the rave reviews of the Netflix series Dead to Me have me thinking I need to cozy up on my couch for some binge watching! Have you watched it? If so, let me know your thoughts in comments please!

If you’re looking for a stunning area rug in ivory this one is a fabulous deal. I love the great reviews and seeing photos of it in the reviewer’s homes. Would be pretty in a bedroom under a king bed!

Thanks as always for stopping by! Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

xoxo

What about you? What’s tickled your interest this week? Let me know your Friday Favorites in a comment below

SHOP THESE FRIDAY FAVORITES:

You can shop my look in the photo above here:

This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links

June 4, 2019 / Lifestyle

Top 10 Unique Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually Love

Father’s Day is almost here! June 16th to be exact! If you’re struggling with some unique Father’s Day gift ideas, look no further! I put together 10 great gift ideas he’ll actually love and use! Check it out:

Top 10 UNIQUE Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually Love:

1. On The Rocks Glass with Ice Ball Maker – These glasses are so cool. It’s hard to see in the photo, but the bottom is not flat. Instead, the glass comes up like a mini cone. It allows the big ice ball to gently roll around the glass cooling off your Scotch cocktail. The ice mold works awesome and the design is such that it creates a slow melt and doesn’t water down the drink too much.

2. Joke Book for Dad – My dad LOVES to tell jokes. Mostly corny ones and we hear them over and over again! LOL! This book gets really great reviews and is also fun for the kiddos! In fact, he JUST called me with this one: What do you do when clowns are attacking? Go for the juggler! ba ha ha ha

3. 7 in 1 Tech Tool Pen – Is it a ballpoint pen, stylus, bottle opener, mini flat-head, Phillips screwdriver, metric and inch ruler or phone stand? It’s ALL those things! How handy and clever is this gift? Every dad could use this!

4. Untuckit Shirt for Dad – I saw these shirts advertised in the Delta Magazine when we were flying to Italy. I think it’s a great idea. It’s a man’s shirt that is worn out but is cut in a way that is more flattering to the body. It tapers in and isn’t as long as a regular shirt! It just gives a more fitted and neater appearance. An added bonus is this company supports the military and extends a 25% off discount to all active duty, veterans and military families!

5. Wooden Grill Scraper Cleaner – I bought one of these grill cleaners a couple of years ago and Bill really likes it! It does a stellar job cleaning the grill and will lasts a long time.

6. Dolce + Gabbana Light Blue Cologne – This scent has been one of my favorites for almost 2 decades. It has the nicest, cleanest and freshest scent. Not too overpowering. Just perfect to keep dad smelling nice!

7. Hanging Dop Kit Toiletry Travel Bag – For the well organized man (or to get him to become organized 😉 This travel kit holds a lot in a small space. Super handy to hang and grab his toiletries as he needs them.

8. Popcorn Maker – For the man who loves popcorn! (who doesn’t?) This takes me back to the 70’s when my mom would pop corn for us on Friday night before “Creature Feature”…if you’re from the Chicago area you’ll know what I’m talking about! This corn popper gets great reviews.

9. Magnetic Tool Wristband – This is such a cool gadget for the handyman dad! What a novel way to to hold those screws. Beats holding them between his teeth while he hammers the hole in the wall!

10. IPA Beer Brewing Kit for Dad – This kit looks so fun. Uncommon Goods has so many interesting and great gift ideas. Check out the entire site for gifts that might be perfect for your dad!

Still in search of that perfect Father’s Day gift? You can check out my post here for more gifts for him!

I’d love to hear what you’re getting for you dad this Father’s Day! Please let me know in comments!

Shop my Top 10 Unique Father’s Day Gift Ideas He’ll Love here:

Thanks as always for stopping by!

**This Post Contains Affiliate Links**

May 31, 2019 / Friday Favorites, Lifestyle

Friday Favorites – 10 Things I Love On The Internet This week

Oh boy! The one thing I’ve learned writing these Favorite Friday posts is how FAST the weeks flies! Can it be the weekend already!?? Even more so, can June possible be here? Half the year down! Sheesh! I need to stop time.

So without wasting another minute, here’s today’s

Friday Favorites: 10 Things I Love On The Internet This week:

I wanted to tell you about this MINI blow dryer I can’t live without! Let me tell you it is TINY but really packs a punch. It’s super powerful and is terrific for travel or to keep in your gym bag!

Recently I posted this photo on Instagram of me wearing a dress I got from TJ Maxx online! A lot of people commented that they had no idea TJ maxx had an online store! It’s SOO good! If you spend $89, shipping is free and you can also return to any TJ maxx store! They have some really good luxury brand items (use the tab: “Runway” to shop designer) like this Valentino Bag here, this raffia Fendi crossbody (OMG!), and this Gucci satchel bag! I just got and LOVE these J Brand Natasha jeans (retail is $278!), I’m also getting these Kendall and Kylie Three Band heels, and this pretty white eyelet dress! I also love big statement rings and get a lot of mine here. I love this statement ring! Some quick tips: You can’t search by designer here. It must have to do with selling off-price. When you get your items, they will not have TJ Maxx price tags on them. Instead, the items come in bags with a sticker attached detailing the item. It helps to take that packaging to the store if you need to return. You don’t have to have it, but it seems to save time and make the return easier on the TJ Maxx cashier.

Having 3 males in the house, I do some serious laundry each week! No matter what detergent I use to wash their clothes, It seems I can never get them smelling as fresh as I’d like until I discovered this Gain Fireworks in-wash scent booster! Just toss a capful of these beads into the wash prior to filling with laundry and the clothes come out smelling fabulous!

If you’re in the market for a patio umbrella, check out this Target Tiered Scalloped patio umbrella! The color is so pretty and it looks far more expensive than it is! Gets great reviews too!

Make up brushes aren’t cheap and to keep them in tip top shape, I think these make up brush guards look pretty cool! You can protect them when traveling. It is also a good way to restore the brush shape after washing your brushes.

Is it just me or do you have a hard time finding a good bra? I’ve been looking for years and I found this Bali Bra I really like! It provides nice coverage and is quite comfy!

Hot flashes anyone? This little handheld fan is the size of an iPhone but claims to provide some serious relief from the heat! So many uses. One blogger I follow loves it to dry her skincare products before her makeup!

Starting to look for furniture for the lake home we’re building (blog post on the project coming soon). I have my eye on this King bed in white! The price is so good and gets stellar reviews!

I took my pasta making skills up a notch when I got this clip on strainer! I have never used a clumsy colander again! It just clips on to my pot and I can easily drain the water when ready! SOO convenient and a nice space saver!

Just got this puff sleeve bodysuit last week! It’s really cute and for 18 bucks!!! The sleeves make it interesting and it goes with everything!

What about you? What’s tickled your interest this week? Let me know your Friday Favorites in a comment below!

Hope everyone has a great weekend as we begin the month of June!

Thank you for stopping by!

SHOP THESE FRIDAY FAVORITES:

This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links

May 28, 2019 / Fashion

How to Afford Luxury Items: 4 Easy Ways To Save Big Buying Luxury Items In Italy

We just returned from a fabulous vacation to Italy. We flew to Venice for half the week and then took a train to Milan for the other half. Both locations are very different but what they do share in common is fabulous high end, luxury shopping! I didn’t go to Italy with the intention of doing a lot of shopping but once I stepped foot in a few stores, I just couldn’t resist. I ended up purchasing a couple of things that surprisingly SAVED me a lot more than I expected. So if you’re planning on visiting Italy or have always wondered just how much of a savings you can get on luxury brands, I thought I’d share my experience with you.

The Luxury Items I Bought in Italy:

Fendi Runaway Shopper Bag:

^^Fendi Runaway Shopper bag^^

My first purchase was at Fendi in Venice. I bought this Fendi Runaway Shopper bag. I had my eye on this bag recently and it so happened to be in the Fendi storefront window calling my name! As you can see here, the price for the Fendi Runaway Shopper bag in U.S. dollars is $2,390.00. If I were to order it in the U.S, the price including tax (Michigan sales tax is 6%) would be $2,533.40.

The price of the same bag I bought at the Fendi Venice store was 1,850.00 Euros which included a 12% tax. That 12% tax was then refunded to me at the Global Blue counter (read more about Global Blue here) at the airport upon departure from Europe. (more on that in a bit) So, after getting refunded 222.00 Euro, my bag then cost me 1,628 Euros. Converted into U.S. dollars, my final cost for the bag was $1,821.97. That’s a whopping savings of $711.43!!

Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Shawl:

^^Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Shawl^^

My second example is this Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Shawl I had been wanting. I bought this in black at the Louis Vuitton in Milan. The U.S. Louis Vuitton website has it offered for $590.00. With sales tax (Michigan 6%) this scarf would cost $625.40.

At the Louis Vuitton Milan this scarf was 400.00 Euros which again, included a 12% tax that was then refunded to me at the Global Blue counter at the airport. After the refund, my shawl was 352.00 Euros or $394.00 U.S. dollars. The savings on this shawl was $231.40!

How to Afford Luxury Items in Italy: 4 Ways for Saving BIG when Shopping in Italy

1. Do Your Research:

Before leaving on your trip, it helps to do your homework. Know the U.S. prices of items on your wish list. It’s also helpful to take screenshots or photos of those items. Some of these stores are not all that big and not everything is displayed. If you are able to show the clerk a photo of the item, there is a chance they’ll have it in the stock room. Sometimes they have other stores in close proximity and if they don’t have it at one location, they might at another.

2. Take Your Passport When Shopping

In order to purchase an item you will need to have your passport or passport information with you. They will accept a copy of your passport or even a photo of it taken with your phone. It’s safer than carrying your passport around. The clerk will take care of all the necessary paper work which will include your receipt and the necessary Global Blue documents needed at the airport in order to get your refund upon departure.

3. Get To the Airport Early To Process Your Refund Upon Your Return Home

This process has been simplified over the years and I have had good experience dealing with the Global Blue Counter. However, I’ve only done this quite early in the morning and have only had a few people in front of me. I don’t know whether the lines might get longer later in the day. So make sure to allow ample time! Your refund is important and you don’t want to have to stress about missing your flight if the lines are long that day. While at the counter, the Global Blue representative will ask for your documents provided by the store, your passport AND your boarding pass. They must have all three things. It took under a minute to do. We swiped our American Express and received a receipt showing our refund. It was very easy!

4. Have Room In Your Carry-On For Your New Purchase

You certainly don’t want to place your new purchase(s) in your checked baggage for safety reasons, so make sure it will fit in your carry-on bag. Another option is to simply wear or carry it. That said, I still like to make sure I have ample room in my suitcase. Your purchase will likely include nice packaging like a box as well as a shopping bag. I always keep the original packaging in the event I should one day sell my item. I think it’s advantageous to keep all your receipts and original packaging if it’s ever resold. The buyer will feel more comfortable verifying the authenticity of the item and I think it also sends a message that you have taken good care of the item.

I hope this information serves as a helpful tool if you have an upcoming trip or if you’ve ever wondered if shopping duty free is worth it. As sited in my examples, the savings are certainly sizeable!

I’m curious what luxury brands and items you have on your wish list? Moving closer to the top of mine is this Chanel bag some day. 🙂

Thanks as always for stopping by!

I’ve put together an easy guide to shop and tour Milan in just one day!

Tour the Duomo Cathedreal and then do some shopping:

Rooftop of the Duomo

Shopping on Via Monte Napoleone:

Via Monte Napoleone is the key designer shopping street in Milan and is just a minute or two walk at most from the Duomo Cathedral.

Shopping on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II:

Other Quick Tips For Shopping and Touring Milan In A Day:

Getting Around Milan:

Touring The Last Supper:

Have you been to Milan to see The Last Supper? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it! Leave your comments below.

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

SHOP THIS MILAN LOOK:

**This Shopping in Milan Post Contains Affiliate Links**

Friday Favorites: 10 Things I Love On The Internet This week:

SHOP THESE FRIDAY FAVORITES:

You can shop my look in the photo above here:

** This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links **

Top 10 UNIQUE Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually Love:

Shop my Top 10 Unique Father’s Day Gift Ideas He’ll Love here:

Friday Favorites: 10 Things I Love On The Internet This week:

SHOP THESE FRIDAY FAVORITES:

** This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links **

The Luxury Items I Bought in Italy:

Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Shawl:

How to Afford Luxury Items in Italy: 4 Ways for Saving BIG when Shopping in Italy

1. Do Your Research:

2. Take Your Passport When Shopping

3. Get To the Airport Early To Process Your Refund Upon Your Return Home

4. Have Room In Your Carry-On For Your New Purchase

I’m curious what luxury brands and items you have on your wish list? Moving closer to the top of mine is this Chanel bag some day. 🙂

This Shopping in Milan Post Contains Affiliate Links

This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links

This Friday Favorites Post Contains Affiliate Links