Home Design + Decor kids kids decor

Kid’s Room Inspiration: Chalkboard & Magnetic Wall

March 6, 2018

chalkboard for kids, kids playspace, playroom ideas, chalkboard and magnet board

kids decor, playroom ,kids playspace, chalkboard wall, magnet board

chalkboard, magnet board, kids playspace, playroom decor

I’ve wanted to create a chalk wall for Braden for awhile, so of course I turned to Pinterest for inspiration. I have two boards saved with  playroom and kid’s room ideas here and here. Give me a follow on Pinterest while you’re there! https://www.pinterest.com/laureenloves/

We have a space upstairs that doubles as a playroom and game room, and I debated whether or not I wanted to create this space in there, but ultimately, I landed on putting this space in Braden’s room instead because:

1) We are in the process of shifting him to a new room that’s just a tad farther from the master bedroom that’s more of a “big kid” room. His current room that’s closer to the master will be for the new baby. In B’s new room, there’s a wall that needed something on it, so the chalkboard idea made sense here.

2) I wanted to create space that made him feel special and excited about the transition. We have a queen bed in his new room. When we made the transition to him being out of the crib, I didn’t think he would be ready to go straight to an adult size bed since he likes to move around quite a bit, so I thought easing into a toddler bed in his current room, which feels familiar to him, before moving him to a queen would be best.

While it’s been nice having this room double as an extra guest room,  we’re not living in a McMansion with  multiple guest rooms; we’re making one guest room downstairs,which is actually my new office — also a work in progress.  I hope to share that soon! I’m definitely in nesting mode since I’m now in my second trimester and am no longer on bedrest, so I’m trying to maximize this time to get things done around the house. For me, this means it’s time to purge, organize and make some decisions when it comes to home decor. While on bedrest, I had a lot of time sitting, staring at blank walls, empty spaces and even boxes that still needed to be sorted through. Eek, I know. We’ve been in this house for almost a year, which I can’t even believe. While one would think you’d edit and purge before you moved to a new house, we did not because – well, because life. Building a house and moving while two people work full time jobs wore us down. I don’t think I ever want to move again.

Anyway, back to home decor. I think decorating is a marathon not a sprint, and I don’t have the budget or the decisiveness to pull the trigger on things and complete the transition from new house to new home. I love a curated home, and I’m definitely taking my time with picking up pieces here and there so I feel like our home has a personality. All that said, I’ve made quite the honey-do list for my handy husband and have prioritized rooms, with Braden’s being at the top of the list since he’s here and all. 😉 I don’t have the head space right now to think of the baby’s room yet (total second child problems already!).

So, that brings me to the chalk wall. I’m lucky in that I can show my husband a picture, and he can usually build what I want or tell me if it’s worth it to buy it. He’s my Ben of all trades!

Chalkboard and Magnet board details:

I wanted the chalk wall to also have a magnetic element to it. Braden is doing such a good job of learning his letters and our kitchen fridge is not magnetic. At our old house it was, and he was so good with learning all the different animals when he was younger while were in the kitchen cooking. Playing with magnets kept him entertained while we made dinner, so I would highly recommend these animal magnets for kids ages 1-2 and these letter magnets for kids ages 2.5 – 4.

I came across this chalkboard and magnet board, and I knew it would be perfect for B’s room. I love the barn door element. If I had my way, I’d have multiple barn doors around my house but alas, the hardware for barn doors is a little pricey. So, what a fun way to bring this element into the home and not break the bank. (I have a spot for a barn door in my house that we left open that we’ll put in one day. Don’t you worry, sweet husband. It’s on my list. 😉 ) I think this chalkboard is meant to be in a kitchen or mudroom, and I think hanging in these rooms would be fabulous, too! I’ve been finding some great things at this retailer lately. I bought this beautiful brass light fixture for our playroom/game room and I’m really happy with it. I’ll share more on that soon, but if you’re looking for a cool brass fixture, I highly recommend this one! And, good news — there’s a great sale going on now for up to 30% off, plus free shipping if you spend 100+. This sale ends on 3/6. Use code STOCKUP to take advantage of this amazing sale! I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything from this site without at least a 20% off coupon, so sign up for their email alerts so you know when the good sales are happening (which are pretty often!).

Details on the benches:

I have been a fan of navy buffalo check print for awhile and love that it has made a resurgence lately, probably due to Caitlin Wilson’s impeccable taste and design talent. I want EVERYTHING in her store and as soon as I win the lottery I will be buying tons of her rugs, throw pillows, and wrapping every room in grasscloth wallpaper, etc., etc., For now, her style serves as serious design inspo for me. So, when I saw these ottomans online, I knew I had to find a spot for them. I originally thought they would be great in front of B’s bed but I like them better in front of the chalkboard. B sits on them while he draws or plays and he can kneel on them  if he needs to reach a little higher.

I plan to share more of Braden’s room once I get it a little more squared away. Same on my office! I’m sort of working in chaos right now. I hope you enjoyed this little peek into B’s room, and check back for more home posts soon!

Chalkboard & magnet board | I like a couple of others as well – Farmhouse chalkboard or Gray Chalkboard | Buffalo check ottomans | Galvanized Metal Letter 

Animal magnets | Alphabet magnets | Eraser| Eraser & Chalk set

The links in this post contain affiliate links, and I will receive a small commission (AKA pennies) if you make a purchase after clicking on some of them. This is a mandatory FTC disclosure, which a lot of bloggers/influencers don’t follow, but I’m trying to follow the rules and be transparent. It takes some time to source things and share the things I love, and I’m happy to share the great things I come across, as I’m sure you might just love them as well. Thank you for your support and taking the time to read my blog!

Fashion + Style Shopping

Shopbop Sale Picks: A Mix of Basics and Vacation Favorites

March 1, 2018
Shopbop sale, OTS, distressed denim shorts, English Factory, Straw beach tote

I’ve linked several items I have that are available in the Shopbop sale. I own the majority of these affordable staple items like this pair of denim or this classic white top, and I get a ton of use out of them. I use the Shopsale to stock up on essentials and also get a few trendy pieces each year that won’t break the bank. I recently picked up a smaller straw handbag on Day 1 of the sale, and I don’t see it anymore – boo! But, I’ve linked a few others that I think are perfect. I’ve had this large straw tote for 3 years, and it’s a great carry-on when traveling and transitions well with vacation wear. I used it a lot when we went to Maui last year. I also noticed this OTS top, which I bought last year during a the spring Shopbop sale is still available and it’s only $16. Total steal! It’s final sale, and I’m wearing a medium for easy reference.

 

 

 

 

 

See a few of my other sale picks in the widget below. The sale ends on March 3 at 11:59 PT. Happy shopping!

Family

Family Update: Lucas Party of 4 Coming Soon

February 27, 2018
pregnancy announcement

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

family photography

family photogrpahy

pregnancy reveal, family photographyWe feel blessed to be adding to our little family! I’ve been a little quiet  online because life has been a mix of the eventful and uneventful the past few weeks. Adding another child to our family is something we’ve wanted for awhile. I know Braden will be the best big brother, and he has already been setting aside some broken toys and books with ripped pages for this little baby (how generous of him!) after telling him that he will have to share some of his things. 😉

I’ll hit the 22-week mark tomorrow, and I’m due July 4th. I’m genuinely happy and feel so, so thankful to be pregnant. However, I have to be honest and say that this pregnancy has not been all sunshine and roses for me. I’ve experienced a lot of anxiety this time around, and although I’m feeling so much better about everything, I still have my moments where I go down the rabbit hole of “what ifs” almost waiting for something bad to happen because I’m scarred from my last pregnancy. Part of the reason why I’ve been a bit quiet about this pregnancy has a lot to do with fear. I mentioned here and again in  this post, but we lost a baby girl in Dec. 2016 when I was pretty far along in my pregnancy. I pretty much have PTSD from that experience, and I was definitely anxious the first trimester this time around. And, nauseous. Oh my gosh, the nausea and food aversions are so much worse this time. Bless my husband for being a trooper through it all and for being the most hands-on dad imaginable.

At 13 weeks, at the end of December, I had a scare that landed me in the ER that made me even more anxious and put me on bedrest for almost six weeks. I don’t use the word “blessed” very often, but I don’t really know how else to describe how I feel to be expecting a baby after everything we’ve been through.

Here’s my story that’s led  me to where I am today, which is on my way to expecting a healthy baby. This is something  both Ben and I don’t  take for granted.

I went to the Texas Bowl game in Houston at NRG stadium at the end of Dec. with friends. I visited my OB that afternoon and all looked good with the baby, and I heard a strong heartbeat. I even had the conversation with her about how my chances of miscarriage at that point were pretty slim. I had no symptoms and no pain. I felt a sense of relief to be moving in a positive direction and to almost be in the second trimester. This wasn’t my first visit with my OB, as I was very honest about my anxiety after the way my second pregnancy turned out. That evening while in a crowd of thousands of people waiting to go up an escalator, I felt something strange. I was with my sweet friend Jeanette and thank goodness I was, as I don’t know what I would have done if I were by myself. I basically starting hemorrhaging. It’s a very scary feeling to look down and realize you’re standing in a puddle of blood and you’re covered in it. We rushed against the crowd so I could find a bathroom. I had never experienced anything like this, but I thought for sure I must be having a miscarriage. I was a bit in state of shock. I went into a bathroom and kept telling my friend I felt certain I was having a miscarriage and she called 911. Strangers were seeing the state I was in, the puddle of blood I was standing in and the mess I was creating. People were handing me paper towels and trying to offer comforting words all while my friend was on the phone with 911. We had taken an Uber there, and it was so crowded since it was about 15 minutes to the start of the game, so taking an ambulance to the hospital was really my only option unless I wanted to try to get an Uber and basically ruin someone’s car.

While in the bathroom, I was trying to call my husband who was out of town for work. I accidently dialed my mother-in-law instead since she was one of my recent Facetime calls. I Facetimed dialed my MIL while I was in the bathroom freaking out. I hear her voice start talking asking if I’m ok. Pretty sure most people do NOT want to Facetime with their MIL during that type of situation and told her to hang up because I was not ok and couldn’t talk. Of course, I scared her and she called my husband who then called me, and I told him I thought I was losing the baby. He was trying to calm me down and told me he would call my OB office emergency line and he’d call me right back. My OB happened to be on call, and he spoke with her, and she called me within a minute or two and she instructed me to get myself to the ER. She told me that if I was having a miscarriage, there was probably nothing that could be done to stop it, but with all the blood I was losing, I needed to get myself to the ER ASAP. Thankfully, NRG stadium is close to the med center, and my friend already called so it was just a matter of us getting to the ambulance. This was a crowded environment, but I felt fine to walk so we found the ambulance and they drove us to the ER. On our walk to the ambulance, I called my husband back and told him to get on a flight and come home, which he was already making arrangements to do. He was able to leave work quickly and catch the last flight out of Midland at 8pm to get to Houston by 9pm.

We rode to the hospital, and I was admitted really quickly and they immediately did an ultrasound. We saw the baby moving around and heard a strong heartbeat. I was so emotional at this point, crying out of relief and shock because I had convinced myself I had lost the baby at that point. After some of other testing and about 2.5 hours in the ER, the bleeding seemed to finally slow down and the ER doctor said it was a subchorionic hemorrhage. Basically, blood was collecting between the uterine wall and chorionic membrane.  Some people have this and it’s why some women spot during pregnancy; my situation was different in that it sort of just collected and released all at once. Before leaving the ER, I had another sonogram to see the baby and hear the heartbeat. The doctor said he was surprised the baby was fine considering how much blood I lost. I was so relieved, but at the same time, still very emotional about the situation. My other good friend Katie skipped the game and came to the ER to be there with Jeanette and me. At that point, Ben had landed and it made sense for him to go home since we were about to leave the ER. We had a sitter for Braden that night, so Ben just ended up going straight home to relieve the sitter, and Katie drove me and Jeanette home. I am so grateful for my friends for being with me that night.

I was told to follow up with my OB the next day and instructed to stay on bedrest. After about a week on bedrest, my doctor said I could get up a bit more, but still take it easy. So, about a week after my ER visit, I had another episode of bleeding – much less severe, but still concerning — when I was out and about shopping with Ben, so at that point, I had to go back on strict bedrest. At my 15 week visit when I was doing an ultrasound, I guess the baby was getting big enough so more things could be seen. At that visit, I was diagnosed with placenta previa. This occurs when the placenta partially or totally covers the mother’s cervix – the outlet for the uterus. I am not a medical professional so I won’t get into all of this, but it causes severe bleeding for the mother, and depending on the severity of it can impact the pregnancy and delivery differently and put me at risk of hemorrhaging. After discussing best and worst case scenarios, bedrest at home became my new focus all to avoid hospital bedrest and danger for me and the baby.

There’s no rhyme or reason to why this happened, but pretty much just bad luck.  I was told to stay on strict bedrest until the baby grew bigger.  Bedrest means being in bed or sitting. No walking around, doing chores or standing for long periods. When you have 3.5-year-old and a husband who is typically gone half the month, this isn’t ideal by any means. I had to stop lifting Braden and adjust how I interacted with him because I couldn’t lift anything (or anyone) heavy, so no more picking up my 32 lb. baby to snuggle when he asked. Ben was home for three weeks right after it happened taking the best care of our little family. My mom came and stayed with me as well once Ben went back to work for two weeks. I was on bedrest for a total of 6 weeks.

At this point, my restrictions have recently been lifted to be on “light activity” since having a recent sonogram that showed the previa seems to be shifting. A partial or marginal previa often goes away or doesn’t cause the complications that a complete previa does. So, I will continue to be monitored a little more closely, but the MFM (maternal fetal medicine) doctor I saw believes the previa will go away or continue to be a partial previa, which is a much better scenario. So, things seem to be moving in a positive direction, which is a huge relief.

Bedrest was hard for me, as I am not a sedentary person, and I just got achy sitting around all day. I haven’t been able to exercise at all  during this pregnancy, which is atypical for me. Bedrest has given me a lot of time to think and worry, which isn’t healthy, I know. I even bought a heartbeat baby monitor so I can check the baby’s heartbeat regularly for more peace of mind. I’ve prayed a lot during all of this, hoping for a healthy baby, and I know that has helped given me some peace about the situation. I’ve had a lot of family and friends praying for our family, and I appreciate it immensely. I truly feel blessed that we are moving toward having a healthy baby.

Now that I work from home, I was still able to continue with my work, but I did have to pull back on some things and cancel some meetings. This was frustrating for me as someone who is working to start up a business, but I knew it was for the best. I had to live day by day for a while or I would get too far down a rabbit hole of fear and anxiety. I am so glad I transitioned to working from home as I am much less stressed with the environment and schedule I now have, plus it gave me the flexibility I needed to stick to bedrest.

I don’t think I’ve been able to enjoy this pregnancy yet since I’ve been stressed, but I am starting to get there. We really are so, so happy to be adding to our family.  Both Ben and I dreamed of a future with two children, and I feel grateful we’re on our way to completing our family. We do know the gender, but we’re keeping that to ourselves for a bit longer, but we’ll reveal soon.  I’ll try to provide more updates as things progress.

More soon!

LL

Photos by Katie Hill Photography

Food Shopping

Trader Joe’s Staples

February 22, 2018
trader joe's staples, avocado toast, pantry staples, healthy eating for family, everything bagel seasoning

When it comes to food, I am a planner. I try to map out meals for the week, and we cook most our our meals from home because I like to know what I’m eating, and I feel like the only way you can truly do that is if you’re cooking it.  I keep a lot on-hand to make quick and simple meals. I often have friends come over, and they seem to amazed at how much is in my fridge, pantry and freezer. I don’t think it’s anything extraordinary; it seems quite efficient and smart if you ask me.

That said, I thought I would share some of my Trader Joe’s favorites with you since many of these items help me make quick and simple meals for my family. I don’t get to Trader Joe’s regularly. I tend to go only once a month since the locations in Houston aren’t in my neighborhood. I’m really just about convenience, so I shop mostly at Kroger because it’s one street away. I only hit up Trader Joe’s if I am near it for another reason, otherwise I have to make special trip. I think going once every month or so is worth it to stock up on affordable food staples and produce.

Even before I became a mom, I just kept a well-stocked pantry. It’s how my family grew up, and I guess I just inherited that. I’m the best person to stay with during a hurricane because I already have everything, and I’m not scrambling like everyone else out there! We’re pretty healthy eaters because I dictate our meals, meal plan and and do our grocery shopping, but I am also very realistic. Until recently, I had a job where I was not getting home until 6pm or later most days. Even though I work from home now, and I’m not scrambling in the evenings as much, I still don’t want to be a slave in the kitchen because I want to spend my time with my kid and husband or wind down doing something relaxing for myself. I stick to real, organic foods most of the time and supplement with convenience foods as needed. I think there are a lot of good brands out there now (including great organic brands with affordable convenience items) that make life easy for you, so why not help yourself out a couple of nights a week so you can spend more quality time with your family? Some of these convenience items like Mandarin Orange Chicken aren’t necessarily the healthiest, but they taste great, can be made quickly and help satisfy our Chinese food takeout cravings. Again, I’m just realistic. I find myself supplementing my meal planning with items like this or a frozen pizza now that I’m a parent, and I don’t feel bad about it. I’m definitely live by the “everything in moderation” mantra. Good for you if you’re gluten free, paleo or on the Whole 30 bandwagon. I have never dieted in my life, and I am not a restrictive person. I’ve trained myself to like real food and I crave it, and this lifestyle has worked for me for the past 18 years. I have no plans of changing it up anytime soon and I’ve become even more flexible since being a mom.

All that said, here’s a highlight reel of some of my favorite Trader Joe’s staples.What are some of your favorite Trader Joe’s items? I love that they are constantly coming out with new things to try and I pick up something new or seasonal every time I go. I just picked up these creamy tomato soup crackers, but haven’t tried them yet, but Braden is obsessed with tomato soup so I feel like he’ll like them.

Everyday Trader Joe’s items and Pantry Staples I love: 

  • Organic Liquid Stevia – I use a few drops in my coffee every day. I have three in my cabinet right now, and this costs half as much as what you’d find at Whole Foods.
  • Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend – so delicious sprinkled on avocado toast, eggs or roasted veggies.
  • TJ Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I know some people are really picky about olive oil, and I do know a little about olive oil because I previously worked on a few olive oil brands that we had as PR clients. Trader Joe’s Premium EVOO and their regular EVOO are both  really affordable — I think around $6.99 for a 33 oz. bottle of the regular and $8 for the premium. I use both for everyday cooking. The Premium is slightly more fruity and comes in a quart container.
  • Organic EVOO spray  – This non stick cooking spray isn’t in an aerosol can and has no propellents. I use olive oil spray for quick cooking things in like eggs all the time.
  • TJ Coconut Oil Spray –  This non stick cooking spray is great for baking and high temperature cooking. It has a mild flavor either.
  • Organic condiments such as ketchup, yellow mustard, mayo etc. Organic condiments are expensive, but at Trader Joe’s they are typically less than half of what it cost at the mainstream grocery store. I think mustard is less than $2 and that’ll last a few months in our fridge.
  • Organic Coconut aminos – If you’re a Whole 30 or paleo devotee, you’re probably familiar with coconut aminos. It’s a seasoning sauce that can be likened to soy sauce or tamari, but less salty. I made this recipe for Sesame Orange Chicken in the InstantPot a few days ago, and it was AMAZING. I’ll definitely be making it again.
  • Ghost Pepper Potato Chips – these are like crack. I love them so much and they’re not healthy but they’re soooo good.
  • Roasted Plantain Chips – I love chips and these make me feel like I am getting that fix.

trader joes favorites, trader joes staples

My Go-to Frozen Items from TJ’s:

  • Organic Brown Rice – We eat a ton of rice in our house, and I have a legit Asian rice cooker that we make jasmine rice and brown rice in, but you can’t beat brown rice in three minutes, especially for busy weeknights! We paired this with the Honey Sesame Chicken recipe I mentioned above.
  • Roasted Vegetable Multi-Grain Lasagna – this is actually quite good and I think it costs $6.99. Braden says it tastes like pizza and will eat a pretty large portion of it, and it has a ton of veggies in it.  I typically pair with a salad for another quick, last minute weeknight meal. I think I have three of these in my freezer right now.
  • Mandarin Orange Chicken – I also have three bags of this in my freezer right now. I wouldn’t call this healthy maybe more healthy-ish, but my husband loves it, as does my toddler. We make the frozen brown rice I mentioned and steam some broccoli, and it gives us our Chinese takeout fix.
  • Fire roasted bell peppers – We make fajitas a lot in our house, which we can do on the fly since we typically have chicken or flank steak in our freezer. Like I said, I like to have things on hand that make meals and that includes staple proteins like chicken breasts, flank steak, ground beef or turkey. So, these peppers are great to add to fajitas or tacos.

trader joes frozen staples

Regular Fridge Items:

  • Organic greens – Trader Joe’s has a plethora of organic bagged greens such as arugula, kale and spinach at great price points. When I am there, I’ll pick up about three bags of things which is what our family consumes in a week’s time. This kale is perfect for kale chips. I would buy more if I could get them to last longer.  I am a person who needs lettuce pre-bagged and ready to eat because it just saves me time.
  • Sliced mango – I just love mangos and could eat three a day so this is perfect for snacking since it’s all cut up.
  • Beets – perfect for quick salads
  • Salmon dip – I love smoked salmon on bagels but I don’t get to eat that too often. But, this cream cheese based dip when paired with everything bagel chips or pita chips reminds me of a lox bagel. Braden likes this dip a lot as well, and let’s face it. When you find something your 3.5 year old will eat a lot of it then becomes staple. My kid isn’t picky, but it’s hit or miss if he wants to eat.

trader joes staples, fridge staples at trader joes

 

Fashion + Style

Pink Dress with Bell Sleeves + Pink Wish List

February 8, 2018
atascocita photographer, eagle springs photographer, pink bell sleeve dress,

pink bell sleeve dress, spring dress

pink bell sleeve dress, spring dress, pink ann taylor dressAtascocita Photographer, Eagle Springs Photographer, Houston Family photographer, Pink Bell Sleeve Dress

pink bell sleeve dress, atascocita family photographer, eagle springs family photographer, Houston family portraits

First off, February is like the new January. That’s how I’m approaching this month. I’m determined to knock a ton off my perpetual to do list, so count on hearing more from me in the next few weeks! Pink is a great transitional color, and it helps me get out of my hibernation funk.  I bet you’re probably like me and counting down the days until we transition to spring. I don’t care what that groundhog thinks, I need a little warmer weather in my life! I bought this feminine pink bell sleeve dress awhile ago and am just getting around to sharing some pictures we took in December for some family photos. Even though I bought this dress in the winter, I knew it would be great for spring, making it a perfect outfit for church, baby showers, etc. It’s on mega sale now, so if they have your size, definitely pick it up!  I’ve rounded up a few other pink dresses + other pink pretties currently in my online shopping cart, so check those out below, too.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I certainly have pink on my mind. A pop of pink is always a festive addition to any outfit that can work well beyond just the holiday.  I love these pink tassel earrings that I bought last year, and I find myself looking for more occasions to wear them and other pink pieces because it just puts me in a better mood! Now that I work from home, I’m definitely wearing more casual pieces, so I’ve also shared other everyday items like this cardigan,which is perfect for me since I can wear it with jeans or dress it up a bit if need be.

We’re pretty low-key when it comes to Valentine’s Day, but I love making it fun and memorable for my mini me. Here’s a fun dessert fondue that’s great for the holiday or just when you want to change up your usual dessert routine. It’s really easy to make and perfect for kids, plus you can make it your own by changing what you dip. Indulge more with marshmellows or stick with fruit to be a little more healthy. I’m planning on tackling treat bags and some sort of festive dessert for B’s Valentine’s Day party this weekend. I’m pretty much a slave to my kid. I guess that’s just being a mom, and one day he’s not going to want my heart-shaped pancakes and cheesy tchotchkes from the Target dollar section, so I’m going to enjoy it while I can!  Do you have any fun Valentine’s Day traditions? I’d love to hear them!

Photos by Tiffany Harston Photography

Fashion + Style Shopping

Cozy Wear for Lounging & More

January 5, 2018

I am not made for the cold weather.  My No. 1 hobby lately = hibernation. Seriously though, I am a homebody and now that I work from home, I find myself wearing cozy clothes most days.  Add sickness on top of that, and well, welcome to the land of elastic waistbands, fleece and long-sleeve shirts with thumbholes. Even when I go out, I’m wearing leggings, a pullover and vest because it’s just easier and more comfortable to be in these types of pieces than skinny jeans and a sweater. I think many of us have been hibernating the past couple of weeks no matter where we live because we have all experienced our version of chilly weather. So, I thought it would only be fitting to share some of my true OOTD staples.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

I should have added this blanket to the mix. My friend gave this super soft throw to me as a Christmas gift, and I’ve been wrapped up in it ever since I unwrapped it! My kid and I fight over it, so I should probably just buy another since it’s under $30. Braden is so funny lately, and wanted to sit with it and not share, and he told me there are “plenty of other soft blankets in this room, Momma!” Sassy threenager stage for sure.

My most worn cozy pieces are definitely these high-waisted leggings I picked up  last year during the Nordstrom anniversary sale and my Uggs. I know a lot of people who love these leggings and wear them all the time. I don’t wear my Uggs out in public because it gives me flashbacks to 2003 when they were all the rage, but they are great to lounge in at home.  I have had a tan pair and pink pair since college so definitely have gotten my money out of my Uggs.

Stay warm, friends! I’m just getting out of my sick fog, so I’m busting out the laptop more both for work and for tackling blog stuff more consistently. I did binge watch two seasons of The Crown, and I don’t feel bad about it! It was SO good and I find myself googling the history of the royal family because I think it’s so interesting. Are there any new shows I should consider? I’m thinking Big Little Lies.

Family Holiday kids

Holiday Pajamas for Kids

December 18, 2017

christmas pajamas, holiday pajamas for kids, matching PJs

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids

Jack is a little skeptical of Braden’s affection.

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids

Kids in matching pajamas might be one of my favorite things ever. We had some family visit a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t resist getting some matching holiday PJs for Braden and his cousin Jack. They’re both at such a fun age right now where they can start to play together. Gifting matching holiday pajamas for siblings or cousins is a tradition I hope to continue!

Honestly, kids in matching clothing is sort of the best thing ever. I used to wonder why people did it all the time, but I get it now. I tried to get matching family pajamas for us this year, but Ben refused. I will have to be content with mommy and me outfits  for now.

I’ve linked a few more that are super cute and still available that you can get in time for Christmas! All the ones below I’ve linked are unisex and would look great on boys and girls (the ones I picked up for Braden and Jack are only available in one size, so snag them if you need a 3T. They’re from Old Navy, and they were really affordable!)

Red and green fair isle unisex PJs

Red and white bear fair isle PJs

Santa sleepwear

matching holiday pajamas, Christmas Pajamas for kids, toddler Pajamas

Fashion + Style

Casual Holiday Party Wear

December 15, 2017
black lace top, WAYF, casual holiday party look

WAYF BLACK LACE TOP, burgundy denim, holiday casual outfitMost of the holiday parties I go to these days are house parties, so I thought I’d share a  casual holiday party look perfect for drinking wine  and eating tons of yummy things off a charcuterie board, all while catching up with friends with a little Christmas music playing in the background. 🙂

Casual for me means jeans, and I’ve been wearing these burgundy jeans a ton since I bought them in the Nordstrom anniversary sale this summer. I’ve mentioned that I’m a fan of all things wine/burgundy, as you can see here and here. When these jeans are paired with this lace top, which could definitely be dressed up more with a skirt to be more cocktail appropriate, it all screams low-key fancy, which I basically just made up, but accurately describes how I like to dress.  This low-key fancy outfit makes me feel sort of festive yet comfortable so it totally works.

Velvet is something else that totally could be low-key fancy. I’ll probably wear this cami with a black tuxedo blazer to another holiday party I have coming up. And, statement earrings, of course, finish off a casual yet dressed-up holiday party outfit.

P.S. I’ve had these Nine West booties for six years, but I love them and find myself wearing them a lot lately. I linked a similar pair below.  I love when I can rediscover something I already have and love it again!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

Lace top   | Burgundy Denim | Shoes | Earrings | Marc Jacobs purse (old)

 

 

Gifts Holiday Shopping

Holiday Gift Guide: Monograms & Personalization

December 11, 2017

gifts for couples, gifts for friends, monogram giftsThe countdown is on! Christmas is less than 2 weeks away, so that means most online orders need to be put in this week to make standard shipping times. Eek! I try every year to not be a procrastinator, but here I am again, scouring the internet for gifts for family and friends. I love monogrammed or personalized gifts — maybe it’s the Southern girl in me — so I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite things this season. Some I already have like this necklace, which I wear several times a week, or this address stamp, which I included on a gift guide last year. These are all tried and true gifts perfect for friends and family! Happy shopping!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Fashion + Style Gifts Holiday Shopping

Gift for the Guy in Your Life with JORD Watches

December 4, 2017
jord, wood watch, holiday gifts, mens watch

wood watch, JORD, mens watch, holiday gifts for men

wood watch, JORD, mens watch, holiday gifts fro men

mens watch, holiday gifts for men, wood watch, JORD

jord, mens watches, wood watch, holiday gifts for men

A nice watch has always been a go-to gift for the special guy in my life. I’ve given Ben one or two watches over the years, and three years ago, I gave him a really nice watch that he loved. But, when we moved into the new house in April, he misplaced it. After months of looking, he still can’t find it to this day, so I knew I wanted to get him a new one this holiday season.

Christmas came early for Ben this year when JORD reached out to see if I’d like to partner together for a holiday post. JORD makes sophisticated timepieces for everyone, specializing in handcrafted wood watches. If you know my husband, he is a Jack, or rather a Ben, of all trades. 🙂 He’s probably the most handy of all husbands and has visions of creating a woodshop in our garage. (He’s even made a few kids’ picnic tables that rival Pottery Barn Kids). So, to be able to gift him a watch that’s rustic yet refined and made from wood is totally in line with his taste and his personality.

JORD has a ton of styles available, and this particular style is called the Dover Black and Koa. I like how unique the face of the watch is and that  it’s made of natural koa wood versus the standard stainless steel watches you see on most guys.  Also, I love that you can personalize the watch, too, with custom engraving. For Ben, I made sure his little family is always with him and had our first initials placed on the inside of the watch. What a special way to commemorate an anniversary or a memorable date for your favorite guy!

Currently, JORD has free shipping going on for holiday orders. PLUS, I  have a 25% instant coupon you can use when you place an order! All you have to do is enter a here, and you’ll be emailed a special discount code. Definitely take advantage of that before Dec. 19 when it expires (and before Christmas sneaks up on us!)

Watch c/o JORD

This was brought to you in collaboration with JORD. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Photos by Jason Fitzgerald Photography

fall family photo

A sneak peek of our fall family photos. You can see Ben’s already getting a ton of use out of his new watch! PC: Katie Hill Photography