J. McLaughlin dresses – Best Dresses for Women

If you don’t love J. McLaughlin dresses, you likely haven’t been introduced to them yet. They are my hands down absolute favorite dresses. J. McLaughlin dresses are amazingly soft, comfortable and extremely flattering. Second, need I say more than their Catalina Cloth? Soft, comfortable, stretchy, and just thick enough to smooth out all areas, it’s by far my favorite fabric blend of nylon and spandex. And third, their Bainbridge cloth is equally flattering and comfortable, and just a bit thicker for a more all-season option.

Most importantly, J. McLaughlin has the best dresses for women because they are made to last. They are timeless, high quality, comfortable and very stylish. Most of them are hand washable but I typically throw them in the wash and dryer on low – they do show wash wear over time but it’s sooo much easier! The dresses can be dressed up or down, and easily paired with flip flops, heels or even boots! I love to add one of the J. McLaughlin cardigans or jackets for an additional layer.

J. McLaughlin Dresses come in a variety of styles, with pockets and without, collared necks and v necks, faux wraps and more. Finally, they are perfect as a work dress, going casual or more dressy for a night out, as wedding guest dress, or a dress for a casual day at the beach. To sum it up, J. McLaughlin dresses are the ones I get the most compliments on, hands down! Nearly every time I wear one, someone asks me what brand it is – they are that flattering!

A few of my favorite J. McLaughlin Dresses:

Emma Dress. A truly timeless dress, the Emma features two front pockets and an easy pullover style. It comes with the choice of sleeveless, cap sleeves or 3/4 sleeves, a soft square neck, banded waist details, and is typically about 36″ in length. The link is to an Emma dress I have for sale in my virtual closet on Poshmark. 20% of all proceeds go to local charities. Other styles, colors and sizes are available. If the dress is sold out by the time you click the link, you can view other items in my J. McLaughlin sale.

Sage Dress. Classic and contemporary, the J. McLaughlin Sage dress comes in 3/4 sleeves or sleeveless. It is ruched on the right side to offer a bit of fun sass to a streamlined easy dress. Approximate length is 39″, and it has a boat neck. The link is to a Sage dress I have for sale in my virtual closet on Poshmark. 20% of all proceeds go to local charities. Other styles, colors and sizes are available. If the dress is sold out by the time you click the link, certainly you can view other items in my J. McLaughlin sale.

The J. McLaughlin Lola Dress was my first J. McLaughlin dress ever(!), and began my obsession. Most importantly, after it’s amazingly soft and flattering fabric, is the fact that it features a figure-flattering wide waistband with ruched details, and is about 38″ in length. It comes with the choice of 3/4 sleeves or sleeveless. The Lola Dress is currently sold out in my closet.

Even more J. McLaughlin dresses:

The J. McLaughlin Bedford Dress is gorgeous, but unfortunately it doesn’t work so great for this long-waisted girl (hey, J. McLaughlin, if you’re reading this PLEASE make a tall or long torso version!). They are very popular as they are made in both the Bainbridge all-season fabric as well as the lighter, stretchier Catalina cloth fabric. They feature a quarter zip front and typically are long sleeve. They also make a shirt in this style.

View my sale on J. McLaughlin gently used dresses; they sell quickly, so move quickly if you like something! I price them very competitively, and sometimes even have new with tags J. McLaughlin on sale!

Shop today for up to 70% off J. McLaughlin retail prices! Use the filters to only see items that are new or specific categories (like dresses) in your size.

Love this J. McLaughlin Dress?

It’s the Lacey Swing Dress in Cheetah Jacquard

Back in stock! Retail $268; Gently used only $50!

Another beautiful J. McLaughlin Dress in Size Medium – made with Catalina Cloth – Gently used only $49!

Interested in selling items from your own closet? Check out my top tips for selling more on Poshmark post.

See my current J. McLaughlin items (& more!) for sale in my Poshmark closet. Bundle items together for a discount you can save even more! See only J. McLaughlin sale items by filtering by brand.

Best Suitcase Organizer

suitcase organizer

Hello beauty blog lovers! Have I got a great suitcase organizer tip today! I just found the best suitcase organizers ever – I’m always over stuffing my suitcase and wondering how others can pack so neatly and easily! I pack items I don’t use and don’t have items I want. Not anymore!! This suitcase organizer is awesome!

Suitcase Organizer

I’m so excited about these new ebags I had to share them with you immediately! They best suitcase organizercome in a lot of different sizes and shapes, I bought one with the three size options – one for my socks, underwear and bras (yes they all fit in the smallest size!), one for bathing suits, cover ups, workout clothes if you’re so inclined, and/or sleepwear, and the largest for pants, shirts, etc. I was able to use these three and pack for a 7 night vacation overseas with still room for my shoes in the suitcase!! And room for souvenirs!! Oh, and I had to get one of these beauty suitcase organizer because it folds flat, holds everything that my giant square one holds, and fits much better into my suitcase – another best suitcase organizer! I could not believe best travel beauty organizerhow much more the beauty organizer held versus my old one – I have contacts and glasses, and of course want to bring my razor, toothbrushes for me and two kids, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, plus makeup remove and makeup – and it all fit!

 

I am thinking about getting the whole suitcase from this company I love the organizers so much, but I haven’t quite jumped yet – the price is a i want this suitcaselittle steep, but if I love it as much as I love the suitcase organizer, I know I’ll love it. One of these days I’ll jump! I hope you love the organizers as much as I do! I love these best suitcase organizers ever!!

The photo below is the beautiful view we saw when traveling in Spain!

Spain

Best Gifts for Mom

Best Gifts for Mom Avid Book Reader

Each year, the challenge of what to get for mom seems most heightened as Mother’s Day and birthdays approach. We all want to get the best gifts for mom, and maybe even get better gifts than our siblings! Here’s a list of great gifts for mom depending on the type of mom you’re buying for this year.

Best gifts for mom – Stylish

Stylish Great Gifts for Mom. Small Harmony in Straw

Small Harmony in Straw (more expensive than regular Small Harmony but beautiful!)

One of my favorite hand bags is the Small Harmony by Kate Spade. I do not treat purses with care, often overloading them with water bottles, snacks, along with a host of other items. They hold up very well, look great, have the look of a very expensive stylish bag, but the price still comes in as pretty reasonable for the value of the bag. If you are comfortable paying a bit more, you can get the Kate Space Cedar Street Small Harmony bag (see photo) as it’s a gorgeous bag with a lot of life.

If your mom isn’t into bags or purses, many of the stylish items Kate Spade offers are great gifts for mom as they hold up great, and look simple yet sophisticated.

Best gifts for mom – Book Lover

The new kindle - for mom!If your mom loves books and has had a Kindle for awhile, this is a great upgrade for her – with a battery that lasts for months instead of weeks, a lighter weight, and all the same great benefits of her current Kindle, the new Kindle Oasis is a great option. They are not in stock until June 1, but you can pre-order it now, and show her that the order is on its way soon (you know mom secretly wants it first!).

If your mom loves books and hasn’t tried out the Kindle yet, this is a Kindle as a Mother's Day gift ideagreat low-cost option to try. Every avid reader I know who has tried the Kindle has loved it! It’s lighter weight than holding or carrying around a book, and it’s much easier to read at night with a built-in light. In addition to these benefits, if she’s off to a vacation and will read more than one book, the Kindle can be stocked up with hundreds of books without adding any bulk. There are a number of different Kindles out there now, but the basic one is still my favorite escape (I use my iPad for everything else – my Kindle is for my me-time with the books!).

If you do go with the Kindle – be sure to get her the 30 days of Kindle Unlimited – it’s like access to a virtual library via Amazon! Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Great Gifts for Mom – When You’re on a Budget

Great earrings for Mother's Day giftOne of my most favorite pair of earrings look like pearls with small diamonds and are absolutely stunning. Best of all, they cost less than $20. No one ever would guess! I’ve bought these multiple times as gifts, and have a pair myself. I love them! Definitely a great low cost gift idea for mom.

Best Gifts for Mom – Fitness Fun

FitBit bracelet for mom
For the moms who want it all and want to track it, the fitness market has opened up a great range of opportunities. From the FitBit clip on (my favorite, and great for women who don’t want to wear the bracelet style – hint: clip on bra so don’t throw in wash) to the many stylish bracelets, the fitness tracking and now sleep tracking opportunities are just getting started. I see this market continuing to grow as an ever-growing number of people continue to work to better their fitness. Mom will love to challenge herself to take even more steps and compare with friends.

Hope these ideas help you find the best gifts for mom this Mother’s Day!

 

Great Watches for Men Under $200

best watches for men

If you’re looking to step up your watch game to the next level, these great watches for men are a great place to start. Although many great watches for men are offered at higher and lower levels, a watch just under the $200 price point offers a lot for the money.

One of my most favorite watch brands at any price is Citizen. They are smart, sleek, sophisticated, priced fairly, and built to last.

Seiko: Great Watches for Men under $200

. Seiko, a well-known watch brand, offers many different price points for their watches, and when you spend in the $100-$200 range, you get a lot for the money.

The Seiko SKA413 Adventure stainless steel kinetic diver watch is an excellent choice for divers. It is not only rugged, but high quality and sophisticated. It’s resilient to bumps and great watches for men Seikoscratches, and the strap is ample and comfortable. It’s not quite Omega diver quality, but the price isn’t Omega style either. And it’s quite precise! After three months of daily wear the watch has gained only 5 seconds. Its style, workmanship, quality are all superior to others in similar price points. It’s a great watch at a great price, especially for divers.

The Men’s Seiko SNA411 Flight Alarm Chronograph watch is a beautiful watch for the pilot or aviation lover – or the engineer or anyone who loves things precise! At less than 5% of the cost of a Breitling watch, the Seiko SNA411  is a wonderful alternative. The photo does not do it justice – the face has depth and it has much more pizzazz than the photo offers. Seiko great watches for menThe face is almost 1/2″ thick – so it’s very substantial. The look is classy, and the raised sides likens the watch to a much more expensive version. It features an alarm, date window, and a stopwatch that can measure in 1/5 of a second increments. The face is Hardlex crystal, and very scratch resistant. Water resistance is to 200 meters, so swimming, showering, snorkeling, and even skin diving or water sports are not a problem with this great watch.

Citizen: Great Watches for Men under $200.

Citizen, known throughout the world as a high-quality watch, offers great watches under the $200 price point. And the newish Eco-Drive uses the power of light from the sun or other sources of light and converts it into energy so the watches never need a battery.

The Citizen Mens AT0200-05E Eco-Drive stainless steel watch  was inspired by the military, with its green canvas band and round dial and red contrasting second hand. As great watches for men citizenan eco-drive watch, it runs on natural sunlight or indoor light and does not need batteries. It’s water resistant to 330 feet – great for snorkeling, swimming or showering, but not for scuba diving. It’s very easy to set and forget – and because it’s an eco-drive watch, you don’t have to wear it every day, and the light will help it keep it’s charge. The lighting is subtle for viewing in the dark. The wristband isn’t very big, so those with larger wrists may need an upgrade on the watch band. All in all, it’s a great watch for under $200.

Another great Citizen watch is the AO9000-06B Eco-drive stainless steel watch. Its simple beauty lends to a timeless look of sophistication and class. Most people will guess you spent about $1,000 on this watch, it’s that gorgeous.  This is a simple watch for telling time without all the fuss and ruggedness of other watches. Like a fine piece of jewelry, it must Citizen great watches for menbe catered to, but only to protect it from water. Otherwise it’s fairly rugged, and as an eco-drive, no batteries are required. This is a great watch for someone who appreciates simple sophistication and has class without the excessive bling. The watch looks great with business casual or professional attire. The price point is excellent.

Want something under $100, try these watches for men under $100.

Great Watches for Men under $100

Men's watches under $100

There are a number of great men’s watches for under $100

Seiko Watches for men under $100. Offering a number of options, Seiko is a timeless choice that ignites a love of watches for many men. They are durable, look great, and last. When you buy a Seiko, you know you’re getting a good quality watch.  There are a number of options for under $100, and many options for if/when you’re interested in spending more. Note – the retail value of many of these watches is over $100, but they are often on sale for the price point under $100. As of this publish date, all are under $100.

The Seiko SNK805 green / SNK807 blue / SNK809 black is a great watch. As with most watches, the photo online doesn’t do it justice. The watch has a nice weight to it, and is a great bargain for a Seiko. The luminous hands last for a good 20 minutes, and the watch comes with a three-year warranty. With a slight military influence, it has a rugged yet sophisticated look and feel.

The Seiko SNDC33 with the chronograph dial watch is another great option for a Seiko under $100. If you want a chronograph but one that isn’t the size of NASA, this is a great option. Most men will find this the perfect in size – not huge, but not too small either. The time and date are easy to set, the luminescence is great making the three hands easily visible in the dark. The band is stiff as you need to break it in a bit, but it’s built to last, and is a great first “real” watch.

The Seiko SNE098 two-tone stainless steel watch usually hovers right around the $100 price point, and offers the sleek bracelet styling. This is a gorgeous watch with the gunmetal sun ray dial and steel band. It’s water resistant to 330 feet, so great for pool play and showers or snorkeling. It’s also a great choice if you want something beyond the metal or canvas band, as it’s a great comfortable choice. If you prefer a Seiko with all silver or all gold coloring, those are available as well.

G-Shock Watches for Men under $100. Casio has made a great comeback with their G-Shock watches hitting the style market not long ago. They are sleek, fun and very practical as they are extremely rugged.

If you want a watch for under $50 that’s easy to read and rugged, the Casio Men’s DW9052-1V G-Shock Black Stainless Steel and Resin Digital Watch is a great choice. It has a great durability, excellent time functions, it’s easy to read the display, has a comfortable band, and is an overall fantastic value. The battery is rated for two years, and the water resistance includes recreational scuba diving and water sports. It’s a great first watch, or a great simple reliably rugged watch.

 

The Casio GA-110TS-1A4 G-Shock analog digital watch  is another great G-Shock under $100 to consider, and especially for those who travel frequently and who prefer an analog watch. It’s shock-resistant like all the G-Shocks, but also features 29 time zones (48 cities), daylight savings on/off, home city/world time city toggling, plus five daily alerts with one snooze alarm. It’s water resistance goes to 660 feet, so serious water sports are not a problem.

 

The Casio G-Shock Limited Edition GA110GB-1A men’s watch is usually hovering around the $100 price point, and offers a lot of watch for the money. Its rugged and stylish look offers a lot of watch for the money. If having a statement watch on your wrist is important, this is a great watch to consider. It has multiple alarms and a snooze alarm, all the bells and whistles of a typical G-Shock, and it looks great. For all the flash included, it’s actually not super easy to actually read the time, so it may be suited best for those who don’t need reading glasses quite yet.

Still not sure what to get? There are many watches for men under $100 to choose from, and this blog simply focuses on watches for men under $100 – willing to spend a little more? Here’s a list of men’s watches under $200!

 

 

Best electric toothbrush

A good electric toothbrush can make your mouth feel really clean and fresh. Great toothbrushes are an important part of good dental hygiene, and may help make those dentist visits a little less painful (both for you and your pocketbook!). Which is the best electric toothbrush? These are our top picks.

Overall Winner

1.The Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, HX6211/30Best electric toothbrush overall winner made it squarely on the top of our list for the best electric toothbrush. It’s light, convenient, and very simple and easy to use. Most Sonicare toothbrushes are similar – they vibrate and use the same brush heads. The way this one stands out is in its simplicity. You don’t need all the bells and whistles to have a great toothbrush that cleans well, doesn’t break easily, and holds the charge a good long time.

They are built to take a beating, so they’re also great for the kids. They last much longer than the average $20 or less disposable electric toothbrush. They’re well worth the additional investment. The simple design leaves less to break, and they stand up well.

Best Value

2.Philips Sonicare Essence Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – It’s easy to see why this model often tops the list for Best Electric Toothbrush as it’s simple, inexpensive, and works well. If you’sonicare best toothbrush overall valuere looking for the cheapest good electric toothbrush, this is likely your model. It cleans the teeth well, helping to reduce gum disease, tooth decay and tartar build-up – all table stakes for today’s electric toothbrushes.

It holds a charge well, and works like a charm. The only complaint is around the handle, as it does seem to get dirty and need to be cleaned. This was still a seemingly small price to pay for a cheaper version of a great toothbrush.

Best Connected Toothbrush

3.Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Black Electronic Power Rechargeable Battery Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity Powered by Braun – The Oral-B Pro 7000 is one of the latest electric toothbrushes in technology with its Bluetooth connectivity. If you love your FitBit, wait until you get a hold of this gem! The only brush on our list to reach up to the $100 club, the Oral-B Pro 7000 is sophistication in a brush.

The Bluetooth technology allows you to track your brushing habits and customize your brushing experience. It’s a great way to get more involved in understanding your brushing. Yet even without connecting it to your phone, the brush alerts you to move on from that same area you like to get stuck in to make sure you’re brushing all of your teeth well. It also will slow down the pulsations if you’re brushing too hard. This feature is a great way to help train users on the proper use of an electric toothbrush, no app needed. If you want clean teeth with some insights, this is the brush for you.

Now that you’ve got those teeth in shape, how about protecting your skin with the best sun protection out there?