In This Post: Even though I wear cute outfits (sometimes) and take pretty pictures, my Sunday Edit posts are all about connecting with you on the real, not so Instagram worthy moments that happen each week. I also include a few of my favorite things!
**This post may contain affiliate links (which means I make a small commission when you shop from them) and gifted items because we all have to pay our bills, and I’d rather keep creating awesome content for you than get a real job. All opinions are my own.**
This Week on The Gem:
- How to Find the Perfect Jumpsuit for Your Shape
- Late Summer Palm Prints
- The Sunday Edit – Volume 33
- Three Dresses to Add to Your Closet Before Fall Gets Here
- Exploring Savannah, Georgia
- Most Read Post: The Sunday Edit – Volume 33
- Most Purchased Gem Find: Gal Meets Glam Collection Morgan Dress
- Most Clicked Gem Find: Kaya Faux Leather Laptop Backpack
This Week in Life:
Hi Gems,
When I think back about this week, I think more than anything, it pulled me back into alignment in some ways. I’ve been getting really frustrated with social media lately and it’s left me feeling insignificant sometimes – like the words I have to say don’t matter as much as they used to.
It’s hard to keep up with the frequency of content I want to be putting out when the very people I’m writing it for barely get to see my stuff (thanks for that Instagram algorithm). This blog, this space, has never been about me. For most of my life, I’ve let stress take away a lot of things from me – moments, relationships, happiness. At the core of this blog is the mission that I just want to encourage you to make small decisions every day that help you stress less and shine more. Some days I feel like no matter how hard I try, or how good my content is, I can’t even live out that mission because my words don’t feel like they travel very far on the Internet.
This week though, I was reminded that it isn’t about the numbers. On Friday, I was laying in bed trying to unwind from the day, but anxiety just kept taking over. Yesterday was the first day in forever that I didn’t have anywhere I absolutely had to be and I was worried I must have forgotten to put something on my calendar. I felt the itch to ask other people what they were having anxiety about, so I created a question on Instagram that asked, “what are you having anxiety about right now?”. I only had one response, and it read, “feeling behind in life, for example, not having kids yet”. This happens to be something I struggle with every single day, which I shared in another Instagram story, which then evolved into more people sharing their stories and support with me, which I continued to spread to others!
Overall, this put me back in check with my favorite power that social media has – to help people feel like they’re not alone. I’m hoping to bring that renewed sense of purpose online into this coming week!
Keep scrolling for this week’s shines and struggles, what I’m loving, photos from this week, sales you don’t want to miss, and what I could use your help on!
Shines:
- Feeling extra grateful for Stacy Carosa! She needed a dress for an upcoming trip and not only did she ask me for dress recommendations, but when she decided what she wanted, she asked for my link (which means I added my tracking code onto it to get a commission from the sale). This is one of the best ways you can support your favorite bloggers. Most bloggers can make a custom link to any product on most major retailer websites in seconds. All you have to do is send them (I don’t even care if it’s me, just support bloggers!) a link to what you’re going to buy, they’ll send you back a link to buy it from, and you help their business with a purchase you were already about to make!
- So many people read last week’s Sunday Edit! I put a lot of thought into picking moments to tell from my week that are going to be impactful and relatable while featuring products that are truly going to be helpful in your lives. So, it feels great when I feel like a post accomplishes that!
- At the beginning of the week, I truly had nothing ready for my next Charleston trip in September, but I’m feeling accomplished for making progress on that this week! I’m partnering with two beautiful hotels for my content and I can’t wait for you to see inside of them!
- On Friday, I hung out at my mom’s house to spend some time with my favorite 4-month-old (pictures below! How stinking cute is that tutu?!)!
- On Saturday, I discovered Forsythe Miniature Golf & Snacks, which is truly a Gem in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. I was sold from the countless online reviews that raved about their homemade ice cream sandwiches, but I was even more delighted when I saw how cute and charming this place was in person. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Kristi, who was so sweet. You could tell how much passion and joy she has for running the place! There’s ice cream, candy, and soda to enjoy aside from playing mini golf! It’s a small course, but they added plenty of creative twists to make a round or two fun, interesting, and unique. I just loved the atmosphere and energy of it all!
Struggles:
- I’m feeling really frustrated that many adult tasks are never-ending (when they should be). I was so excited that my landlord was having the shower/tub at my house replaced! Well, the company that did it damaged some things in the process, so now the supervisor has to come to look at it, and then someone will come back to fix it and I’m irritated that something that should have been done in a day is now taking at least three days to be resolved. I still have an ongoing battle with AT&T for $100+ in charges on my account that shouldn’t be there. It’s just frustrating when I set aside time to deal with something only to still not be able to cross it off my todo list (while new things to handle continue to be piled on). Trying to remember that life doesn’t pile more onto your plate than you can handle.
- Have you ever had an experience where your anxiety holds you captive? Like you’re so anxious about something that it just consumes you and your anxious self is in the moment doing all the wrong things when the real you is caged in the background watching the mess unfold screaming, “you’re okay, you can do this, I’m here to help” but your anxious self just won’t listen? I had an experience like that this week. It was awful.
- STILL trying to come up with a new blog name to call this space. Please send help!
Currently Loving This Week:
- This oxblood ruched shoulder crop jumpsuit. Yep, as you can see from the above picture, I wore it again this week. Twice actually, haha.
- Then there’s this blush jumpsuit (on sale!!) that would look so chic with a black or navy blazer for a professional and stylish summer to fall transitional look.
- These color of these lightweight, moisture-wicking leggings
- Currently looking for an excuse to wear this leopard print dress again (styled here)!
- The most clicked item by everyone this week was the Faux Leather Laptop Backpack from Calpak – and for good reason! Whether you’re headed back to school or have upcoming travel plans, this backpack is perfect because it’s stylish, durable, and not bulky – it definitely won’t take away from your outfit!
This Week in Sales:
- The linen floral jumpsuit that I’ve been living in this summer is on sale for 50% off (yes, it’s a classic style that you can wear for years to come, so grab it now!)
- ALL of Aerie’s sweaters are 40% off right now. Don’t miss out on shopping the dreamy, buttery, made-for-leggings goodness like this cozy cable knit sweater (9 color options!), this so so soft chenille turtleneck (6 color options!), this under $30 easy pullover sweater (6 color options!) and this throw-on-and-go shawl cardigan (3 color options).
- VIB members take 15% off with code SUMMERSAVE through 8/27 at Sephora.
- Check out what Gal Meets Glam Collection dresses are currently on sale here.
This Week in Photos:
Two photo sessions and some tummy time captures of my niece!
Asking for help on:
- I would really like to start expanding my blog in the travel space more! Pinning any of the images from my travel-related posts would be so wonderful of you. Thanks in advance!
- Please let me know if you ever see typos in my content! I’m a one-woman show and it’s always so helpful when people catch the mistakes a miss.