Pineapples For The Win

Because your phone needs to look good too, right?

Wearing: Lahaina Purple and Beverly Hills Sonix iPhone Cases c/o, Free People Dress c/o, Alex & Ani Bracelets

If you're looking for cute tech accessories for your GalaxyS5, iPhone or iPad, meet Sonix. A new brand we recently discovered, they specialize in meeting fashion with function, which you know we love. Their iPhone cases have dual layers for extra protection; a rubber case and a hard shell. If you're like me Erika, you will really love the raised rubber edges which protect your screen from any damage if when you drop it (love ya, Sista!). But the best part is, they are a totally trend conscious brand, always coming up with the cutest designs, so you never have to worry about your phone or tablet going out of style. Case and point: The Lahania Purple and Beverly Hills iPhone cases. What's hotter than pineapples and palm print this summer? Oh, yeah...Nothing! Don't worry, if you're more of a white and gold stripes kind of gal, they've got you covered too. :)

Earring Game

photos by Tammy

Wearing: Target Tee, AEO Jeans, T.J.Maxx Shoes, 424 Fifth Clutch, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, Les Nereides Earrings c/o

Last week my friend Haya and I were talking about how we love earrings but didn't like how they looked on us. I'm more of a bracelet and ring kind of girl. And we both agreed we always end up feeling like they're just "too much." But, when I got these amazing statement earrings from Les Nereides, I knew exactly how I wanted to wear them; dressed down, of course, with baggy jeans, a relaxed tee and heels. I took off my necklaces, and let my hair air dry that day as well, because I really wanted things to stay simple and casual, even with such a large and brightly colored earring. This look would have been really cute with a pony tail too, I think I'll try that next time. This is why I always say, don't rule anything out from your wardrobe or style. Dressing is really a science, you just have to find that magical equation that your comfortable with and then stick with it.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of the best sales of the year. Being able to shop the newest styles for the upcoming season seems so backwards, but we can't get enough of it. I went in to the Nordstrom at Pentagon City last week for a special sneak peek and left with a coat and sweaters in the midst of summer that I'm already dreaming of wearing (Nordstrom cardholders get to shop the Anniversary Sale first every year, so if you aren't a member already, we urge you to sign up here). The sale can also be a bit overwhelming, so many good prices in one place, so we put together this post to help you navigate through all of the fun stress free.

The images above are of our top twelve favorites from the sale, listing some of the items we got, and then below we've listed more options from different categories. Both the above and below lists, you can click through to shop directly from this post to the Nordstrom site, so we hope this makes it super easy for you. Also, be sure to share your best finds using #NSale on Instagram or Twitter. Happy Shopping! :)

Tops:

Sweaters:

Jeans:

Handbags:

Shoes:

Accessories:

Beauty:

Skirts & Dresses:

Coats & Jackets:

Active Wear:

Settled

As we approach the second year mark in our new home, I can't help but celebrate the little things that come with owning your own home. Full disclosure, I don't own our home in any way, my boyfriend does, but it's thanks to him that I get to reap the benefits of owning too. Besides the obvious financial advantages that come along with it, I really enjoy things like not having to look for a new place to live every 12 months, or worrying about my rent going up, or begging the property management to not charge me a million dollars to own two, small dogs that more resemble squirrels. And it's thanks to my mister that we can really settle and there's something to be said for that.

Renting versus owning means freedom. Freedom to paint the walls, knock one down if you want to, take your time shopping for furniture, building your own personal style and making your home feel like your home. We've been decorating (and redecorating) and renovating since the day we moved in it seems. But, I love it! It's a fun thing that we can do together and I've enjoyed making our house a home every (tiresome, grueling) step of the way. Also, the comfort of knowing we have that home stuff taken care of has really given me the confidence and extra push to focus on things like this blog and even recently making a big career change. It's helped me to grow too, by learning how to take care of a home. I'm finally able to put all of the good "first-home" tips my family gave me along the way to good use.

Our open-style kitchen was what sealed the deal for us. The previous owner knocked down a wall and left us with a neutral pallet to work with, which was ahhh-mazing. It's also helped me to actually enjoy cooking now!

Our living room looks completely different now, but this was right after we pulled up all of the carpeting and my handy-dandy boyfriend installed black, laminate flooring throughout the whole house! He did a great job, and wow was that a mess. We also painted the living room a really great color that I know we'll love for years to come; Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore.

I love to entertain now! Not having to pack up dishware every twelve months has helped me take the plunge and start buying adult-like things, such as large platters and every type of cocktail glass there is.

We're planning to re-do our closets soon with installed organization, but for now I'm enjoying buying small things like shoe bins and velvet hangers to make my closet a clean and organized space that I enjoy seeing every day.

Flower Pot is happy too, because now she doesn't have to pay pet rent and can just lounge all day long. :)

Maybe one day we can share my boyfriend's best tips for saving to own your home by the age of 26, since I can't really help you with that. Holler at me if you need help deciding which shoes to buy though! Spoiler: I'll probably say both. But I'm so glad I teamed up with State Farm to reflect back on those who have helped me a long the way. It's reminded me how happy and grateful I am for having that cute boyfriend of mine and for his hard work that's undoubtedly helped us get us to where we are today.

Like a good neighbor State Farm is there.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by State Farm via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of State Farm.

Find your #DCSoul with SoulCycle Essentials

SoulCycle is finally coming to Washington, DC! Their 30th studio nationwide is set to open August 2nd on M Street, and another SoulCycle studio is set to open in Bethesda, MD this fall. If you’ve only heard about SoulCycle (most likely from all of your trendy friends who live in NYC) here’s the scoop. Some of our favorite celebs are even SoulCycle regulars, including Madonna, Katie Holmes, David Beckham and Bradley Cooper. Here's what else we've uncovered:

SoulCycle has fast become a national obsession - the 45 minute group exercise classes sell out in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. They are attributed to reinventing the game of indoor cycling, by making it a full-body workout, in candlelight.

Candlelight?! Dance music?! We’re SOLD. Erika and I already have plans to attend a class once the studio opens and we’ll be sure to let you know how it went and if its #TFBApproved! We’ve made fitness a big priority in 2014, and we’re thinking about sharing more about that with you on the blog. From what to wear, new workouts to try, we thought you’d enjoy hearing about another important aspect of our lives. (Feel free to let us know if you have any thoughts/comments about this!)

For now, we wanted to leave you with a few tips on prepping for your first SoulCycle class!

WHAT TO WEAR

DO: Wear a loose tee or tank on top and form-fitting pants or shorts on the bottom.
DON’T: wear anything that will get in your way of riding the bike. Cool, sweat-wicking fabrics are key!
PSA: You’re no Serena Williams –ditch the hoop earrings and stacks of pearl necklaces.
SoulCycle DC will also have it’s own SOUL apparel boutique!! (These SoulCycle Bike Leggings are calling our names…)

SPIN SHOES?

Shoe rentals are available at all studios for $3, but you’re welcome to bring your own. SoulCycle recommends Look Delta clips, but pedals are also SPD compatible.

WATCH THE TIME

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your class. You want to make sure to secure and fit your bike!
If you are running late, you can give the SoulCycle studio a call (202) 659-7685. They will hold bikes for up to 10 minutes after class starts.

FEEL THE BURN!

Calorie burn per class ranges from 500-700 per 45-minute workout so we recommend…

H2O: Drink, drink, drink! The key to a healthy body is staying hydrated. So be sure to have water before, during, and after your ride. Bring a Nalgene or basic water bottle – there are filtered water fountains at the studio if you need to fill up. SoulCycle also sells small waters for $2 and large for $3.

NOSH: Words to live by - be sure to eat a little something before you exercise. SoulCycle recommends eating a light snack 30 minutes before you ride.

GYM BAG:

Here are some beauty essentials that will take you from the studio to happy hour (or the office) in no-time:

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, $7
Bobbi Brown Blotting Papers, $20
Deborah Lippmann Walking On Sunshine Crème Nail Polish, $18
Drybar's Detox Dry Shampoo, $20

Are you as psyched as we are about #DCSOUL ?! Tell us what you think and be sure to share the news with your friends!

Follow along with SoulCycle here: SoulCycle website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.