Friday Favorites: Special Mama Edition and Shopping with Sheaffer

On Monday I opened up entries for the first Special Mama Giveaway of 2016!
If you are new around here, at least twice a year I like to honor moms of children with special needs by hosting a giveaway just for them!  These moms give so much of themselves every single day, and I really love to pour some extra love onto them!
I was so touched and inspired by all of the entries.
There are some truly amazing mamas out there, and reading all of the entries just inspired me to be the best mom I can be.  So many of you ladies have really hard days every single day, but you are loving your kids fiercely and with everything you have.  And many of the women nominating the special moms talked about how these mamas are keeping their eyes on Jesus all the while!
I know many people read through the entries, and I feel confident that these mamas have a whole new slew of prayer warriors lifting them up.
I of course wish every single one of you could win (Heaven knows you all deserve it), but the winner (chosen by random number generator) is………..

CONGRATULATIONS to Leigh Ann Graham!!!! 
(nominated by Brittany)
   Leigh Ann, please contact me at pinteresttoldmeto@yahoo.com to claim your prizes!
You get to choose a $500 gift card to either Nordstrom, LOFT, Lou and Grey, or Old Navy!
And remember, you also get all of THESE amazing prizes as well!
(Thank you again to all of the sweet ladies that helped me host this giveaway by donating items and credits to their shops.  They were all excited to pamper a Special Mama as well!)

 I also have an additional (AND AMAZING!) prize to throw in your gift bag today, because my friends at Barrington are AWESOME and LOVE honoring Special Mamas with me!
You get a St. Anne tote (you get to pick the canvas pattern and the monogram) of your choice!!!!
Thank you Barrington!
Click HERE for the bag pictured.
My sister has the same canvas pattern below (and I ADORE it).  I think it’s fresh and ready for spring with the color combo below for the monogram!
Use the code PTMTSAVE10 for 10% off your entire purchase at Barrington!

If you’ve never checked out their interactive website, click HERE and play around designing your own bag!  It’s so much fun!

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So …..(and everybody else), I thought I would show you some of my favorite things at my favorite stores!  If I had a $500 gift card to one of these stores, these next highlighted items are things I would spend my $ on right now!

First stop:  Anthropologie!
I hadn’t been in an Anthropologie lately, and I found lots of stuff I loved!
They have a tag sale going on right now, where you can get an EXTRA 40% OFF of items already on sale.  Click HERE to shop the sale on sale!

plaid peplum blouse
I’m wearing a small in this blouse (and it’s obviously too small) across the chest.  I wanted to try a medium, but they didn’t have one in stores.  I still wanted to show y’all because I thought it was so unique and had a great back!

layered dovie pullover
You know I love a layered sweater, and this one is darling!
I sized up and am wearing a medium.

double v swing tee
So I told myself on this particular day that I was only browsing for blog purposes…but I left the store with this one.  Oops!  🙂  I love the bright and vibrant color, and the back is spectacular!  The site describes it as a tee, but I think the front is much more sweater like.  I can’t wait to pair it with one of my fun Accessory Concierge pendant necklaces…..and I’m thinking white jeans and booties!
For size reference, I’m wearing a small.  It’s loose and swingy, and I loved it!

And here it is in black as well!
Click HERE.

Maisy tee
For size reference, I’m wearing a small (true to size).
The fabric is so soft and I love the fit (very flattering).  Hop over to the site to see the detail on the shoulders and the back (very feminine and pretty)!
I might have left the store with this one too.
Okay, I did.
It’s great on it’s own, and perfect for layering!

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Second Stop:  Lou & Grey

If you follow me on ig or facebook (and you totally should because I give lots of sneak peeks!), then you saw this shirt yesterday.  I bought it on Wednesday, wore it on Thursday, and couldn’t wait to share it with y’all!

lou and grey plaid palette shirt
my new cross body bag
earrings/ arrow necklace / similar jeans ON SALE / watch / similar taupe buckle booties
For size reference, I’m wearing a small in the top, so I think it’s true to size.  I got several compliments on it yesterday, and I can tell it’s going to be a favorite for sure!  It’s so easy to throw on and look put together immediately!  Add my favorite turquoise necklace and BAM!

When in the Lou & Grey store, I also tried on this next top!

 gingham popover
For size reference, I’m wearing a small.  I’m not wearing a cami in the picture, but I would definitely have to with this top.  It’s a pretty bright blue and would be great to carry you into spring (and even summer)!

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I also popped in LOFT.

In the pictures below I’m wearing THESE cords, THESE abalone earrings, and THIS pendant necklace.  Please ignore the lint covered mirror in these pictures!

lou and grey tunic / shadow stripe sweater / boho poet blouse
I sized down and am wearing an x-small in the tunic, I sized up and am wearing a medium in the sweater, and I’m wearing a small in the blouse (true to size).

lace tee
For size reference, I’m wearing a small in this tee.  I took this back to the dressing room on advice of a lady that was shopping at the same time.  She said she had it and it was one of her favorite tops!  I wasn’t that impressed with it off the hanger, but I really loved it on!  The site describes this as a sweater, but I think it’s more like a tee.
For size reference, I’m wearing a small, so I think it’s true to size.

dotted 2 in 1 sweater (with FABULOUS reviews!)
I sized up and am wearing a medium.

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And you know I had to breeze through Nordstrom!


I tried on a couple of items in Nordstrom, but I’ve also ordered online from them recently and have a couple of things to show you!


This next top took me by surprise.
It’s thin, but it’s so soft and fleecy (act like it’s a word)!
I’m wearing an x-small on the left and a small on the right, and I preferred how the small fit.
This baby would be great to throw on with jeans and my slim profile UGG boots!
Click HERE for the top and HERE for the necklace.

Click HERE to check out this new line of bracelets that Nordstrom is now carrying!
Now I will warn you, if you have a large wrist, these probably aren’t for you. Getting them on (even on a small wrist) is a little bit difficult, but once you get them on they look great and are 
very comfortable!
They come in both gold and silver and have tons of different sayings on them!

I ordered this next cardigan on the advice of a reader. And I loved everything about it, except for the color. I will be sending this back, but I’m considering trying another color.
I feel like it’s a really light weight version of the original blardigan.
madewell v neck tee / two pocket drape front cardigan
For size reference, I’m wearing a small in the madewell tee (I have 5 colors of this tee and absolutely love it all year long) and a small in the cardigan.

But to be honest, when I hopped online to order the above cardigan in a different color, THIS one caught my eye.  AND it’s ON SALE!
Click HERE.

And below are some Nordstrom items I already own that you might be interested in!


Of you follow me on facebook or ig, then you already saw that I got a new military jacket for Christmas. I wore it with this casual outfit sometime a couple of weeks ago and loved it!
I’m super picky about my military jackets, and this is the best one I’ve seen in a long time!
madewell v neck tee / military jacket / similar jeans / shoreline converse/
abalone earrings / short bar necklace / similar long layering necklace
Again, I’m wearing a small in the tee…and a small in the jacket.

And I got this top on sale (I think it’s almost sold out now), and think it’s a great plaid.
 plaid button up / convertible saddle bag
earrings/ arrow necklace / similar jeans ON SALE / watch / similar taupe buckle booties
I sized up and am wearing a medium in the button down.

And I layered my new military jacket on top before heading out the door!
 plaid button up / convertible saddle bag /  military jacket
earrings/ arrow necklace / similar jeans ON SALE / watch


And just fyi, TOTALLY OBSESSED with the bag.
I’ve had a couple of people request me to show what fits into it, so I’m going to try to get that done next week!  It’s wide, but not deep, so things don’t get lost like they do in deeper bags!  The leather is super soft, and the bag itself is light!  I hate it when a bag is heavy before anything even goes in it!  And I feel like the light cognac color is good for now, but will be awesome in
 spring and summer as well!
Again, I’m wearing a medium in the plaid top and a small in the jacket.

WHEW!
That was a lot today girls!
Congratulations again to Leigh Ann, and thank you Brittany for taking the time to nominate her!
I’m hoping Leigh Ann might share some of her story with us, because she sounds like one amazing (and very special) mama!
Much love to ALL of you Special Mamas out there.  It is my hope that all of you feel recognized for the amazing job you are doing with your children!
I hope everybody has a wonderful weekend!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂