My favorite sale of the year has finally arrived and it's time to do some serious shopping! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the biggest fashion event of the season and you don't want to miss out on all the great deals and season's hottest new styles! Nordstrom card members shop 7 days before everyone else and unlock exclusive perks! Make sure to use your Personal Double Point days when you shop the #nsale to earn points twice as fast!!
Early access for Nordstrom card members begins July 12th and runs through the 18th. The Anniversary Sale opens to the rest of the public on July 19th and concludes on August 4th. Make sure you shop early as popular items and sizes sell out quickly!
Visit this page for your exclusive guide to all the best deals, styles, and trends from the sale! I will continue adding content throughout so check back on a regular basis to see what I've found!
Happy Shopping!
Hayley
From leopard, snakeskin, zebra, python, leather, and croc...
the season's hottest trend is animal prints!
Which is your favorite?
Color Block and Stripes are on trend for fall
as well as warm and cozy sweaters and cardigans to pair with your jeans and booties!
Last summer, I posted about how much fun we had with our kids and a few of their friends at our local county fair. We were really looking forward to attending the California State Fair this summer. Unfortunately, we recently learned that due to COVID-19, the state fair has been cancelled. There may be many other local county fairs that are impacted as well. You can check this link here for the latest updates in California.
This past Sunday was the last day of the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, CA! So we grabbed our kids and a few friends to check it out! To be honest, I haven't been to the fair in decades! I have great childhood memories running around the San Mateo County Fair, where I grew up. My mom and dad took my siblings and I on discount wristband days - riding every carnival ride, eating all the sweet and savory food, checking out the cute 4H animals, and browsing the shopping halls. I'm not sure why, but there's something so nostalgic coming back after all these years. Some things have stayed the same and others have changed so much!
Food:
The biggest surprise to me was the vast selection and variety of food, drinks, and desserts! I opted for a good old fashioned corn dog and 805 beer for lunch but was astonished by all the cultural diversity of eats offered. From chicken tacos, barbecue pork ribs, fried egg rolls, Hawaiian skewers, carne asada burritos and old fashioned favorites like hot dogs, corn dogs, turkey legs, and corn on the cob...there's no reason for you to go home hungry from the fair....and the food was good!...REALLY GOOD! There were lots of shady picnic spots with tables and plenty of chairs to take a break and enjoy the food with my family. There was a great selection of beverages to choose from including local brews and wine selections, lemonade, soft drinks, and water to keep you hydrated during these hot summer days! Here's a peak at some of the wonderful food, drinks, and desserts...CAUTION...you're mouth will be watering in 3...2...1...
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Carnival Rides:
We found the classic carnival rides I remembered as a child (e.g. the ferris wheel, giant slides, zipper, gravitron, and fun house) to name a few. However, the newer fair rides are bigger, faster, and higher than ever! We purchased unlimited ride wrist bands for $35 each with the kids and enjoyed a full day of thrills and fun! There was a designated carnival area for younger kids/toddlers which is really beneficial for those with younger families to have a fun experience at the fair as well! Here are a few pictures to show off our favorite rides! Check out this link for carnival ride highlights!
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Games:
There are plenty of carnival games to keep your entire family entertained with fun at the fair! My husband Chris put his aim and arm to work throwing baseballs at the glass bottles and our friend Dave did a few rounds with the shooting game! Needless to say, we didn't come home with an overstuffed teddy bear or prizes of any kind but it sure was fun to watch them give it a good old try!
Entertainment:
There's plenty of entertainment for the entire family at the fair! Our personal favorite venue is the Concert Series in the amphitheater! From country, to R&B, to 80's rock...the line up of entertainers this past year was outstanding! All amphitheater concert seats reserved online include Fair admission ($15 VALUE), if purchased before entering the Fair. Also, all headliner concerts are free to watch from the Concert Lawn outside the Amphitheater on the Jumbotron, just in case you aren't able to get your tickets ahead of time! Other fantastic entertainment options include:
E-Sports Gaming Tournaments
Extreme Rodeo, Monster Trucks and Demolition Derbies
Arenacross Nationals racing
Horse Racing
“The Last Ride” Cattle Drive on Opening Day
Cooking Demos with Top Chefs
Tasting Fests - Beer & Wine
Nightly Fireworks Show
and..
Grounds Entertainment and Stage Acts (e.g. Street Drum Corps, Great American Petting Zoo, Racing Pigs, and Kids Tractor Pull!
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Although the Alameda County Fair is over, there's still plenty of local fairs throughout California you can enjoy in the later half of summer! Make sure to plan ahead and check the local fair website for dates, details, and events! It's a fun and nostalgic activity that your kids will remember forever and it also makes for a great date night!
Here is a list of all California Country Fairs and dates (subject to change due to COVID-19). If you are not located in California, you can easily search the internet for a listing of fairs in you local area or state!
Happy Summer!
xoxoxo,
Hayley
*some pictures included in this post are c/o Alameda County Fair
