Summer Style with Warby Parker
When Emerson had broken my only pair of glasses, I decided I needed some new eyewear asap. But, as a stay at home mom, I rarely have time to shower daily, never mind go to the eye doctor and spend my precious time placing frame after frame on my face to find my favorite pair of glasses. What’s a mom to do? Enter the wonderful world of buying glasses online! Thank goodness for the internet. During nap time I was able to purchase a bunch of new frames with my prescription and have them sent directly to my doorstep. Warby Parker eyewear takes the experience one step further. They send you 5 frames to try to, for free, to make sure you love them before purchasing! As a very visual person, this is fantastic. Not only am I saving time, I now get to choose bolder frames that I would be too timid to choose knowing if I hated them I’d be stuck with them. Take a peek at some of the glasses I tried from Warby Parker. I would have never gone for the bold Tilley, or the classic Upshaw, since I always figured they wouldn’t look great on me. But you know what, I ended up loving them! What type of glasses do you gravitate towards?
If you’re in the market for new glasses make sure you head over to Warby Parker and take a look around. They offer both men and women’s frames. Summer’s not over yet, so make sure you’re protecting your eyes and pick up a pair of sunglasses!
European Capsule Wardrobe
Life recently handed us an opportunity to head to Europe and we decided to seize the chance, since neither the hubby nor I had ever been to Europe before. We both felt strongly about bringing both girls, so that’s what did. In order to survive with as little luggage as possible, since we were navigating with a baby and a toddler, we packed as light as we possibly could bringing only the essentials.
Enter the capsule wardrobe.
As you may, or may not, know- I am a huge fan of capsule wardrobes! A vacation is a perfect introduction to a capsule to see if it is something that would work for your lifestyle. It’s an easy way to try it out without committing to “all or nothing.” When packing for vacation, especially for different destinations within that vacation, it’s all about the layers! I checked the weather forecast before hand to know what kind of weather we would be planning around. We had mid 70’s to low 80’s all week and sunshine.
Here’s a look at what I brought for our 9 day Europe vacation:
When planning any capsule wardrobe it’s all about versatile neutrals. You want to aim for pieces that look great alone but also layered together. Since I packed a muted, neutral palette I made sure my shirts had interesting details in form of fabric choice and fit. Both my white and aqua tee-shirt had pretty eyelet panels. A 3/4 sleeve striped shirt added some interest along with a bold polka dot print with my wrap dress. I stuck to skinny jeans and ponte-de-roma leggings for easy packing and comfortable travel days. Since I’m breastfeeding I opted to bring a trio of neutral cami’s instead of bras. This also helped extend the life of my shirts since any sweat would be absorbed into the cami instead of the shirt itself. A sheer white blouse, a chambray button up, and a dark grey cardigan rounded out my tops. I opted not to take a jacket, but if I had I would have chosen my army green military style jacket. For shoes I went with my grey Chucks, and a fun pop of maroon for my flats.
I kept my accessories simple, as it’s one less thing to pack and keep track of. I brought sunglasses, a watch, and a camera bag back-pack, that also doubled as my diaper bag. All in all, I was very pleased with my vacation wardrobe. The only thing I would have changed would have been to switch out one of the tee-shirts for a tank top and I would have also pack a skirt.
Stay tuned for a look into the capsule wardrobes I packed for both kids, and what baby gear we decided to bring with us!
2017 Summer Capsule Wardrobe for the Stay at Home Mom
This summer is all about light, fun and airy colors. As always, with any capsule wardrobe, you should always have a base of complementary neutrals. Next, layer in patterns, textures and pops of color(s). Here I chose to have a light lavender accent, with a base of grey’s, blue’s and white.
With a summer capsule wardrobe it’s important to also include versatile layering pieces. I made sure to include a light sweater, a jean jacket and a light, airy black shawl. You should also have pieces that are easily dressed up for any special occasions you might need to attend. In this capsule a floral maxi dress takes the role of special occasion dress if needed, but it can also be dressed down by throwing on the jean jacket, or layering one of the blouses, or button-up, on top. Besides a staple pair of stiletto pumps for special occasions and date night’s, a Mom’s capsule wardrobe should have practical footwear. Any heels should be chunky or wedged for maximum stability & agility. <Because it’s pretty important that you’re able to run after your crazed 3 year old who suddenly decides she should run away in the Target parking lot. #realmomlife>
This sample capsule wardrobe includes:
1 jacket ::: 1 cardigan/shawl ::: 1 blazer
2 long sleeved blouse ::: 1 light sweater
4 sleeveless blouses ::: 3 short sleeve t-shirts ::: 1 off the shoulder shirt
6 dresses ::: 3 pairs of denim ::: 3 pairs of shorts
1 pair of wedges ::: 1 pair of sandals ::: 1 pair of sneakers ::: 1 pair of booties ::: 1 pair of heels ::: 1 pair of flats
1 large tote ::: 1 medium back pack ::: 1 small cross-body bag
sunglasses ::: black choker ::: simple gold necklace ::: 2 earrings ::: 1 bangle ::: 1 watch
1 large tote ::: 1 medium back pack ::: 1 small cross-body bag
sunglasses ::: black choker ::: simple gold necklace ::: 2 earrings ::: 1 bangle ::: 1 watch
Shop exact:
Black Maxi dress
A Holiday Maternity Look & Pink Blush Giveaway!
Just the other day something incredible happened. I received an email. Now, this email was like no other email I’ve ever received. This email was from a company, specifically Pink Blush, asking if I was interested in collaborating with them as a blogger. Say what? Cue the happy dance. No, really, I did an actually happy dance – my husband can testify to this fact, I’m pretty sure he wishes he recorded it as it was a really sweet dance.
Well, not only was this company one I had heard of before, but it was one I actually did a lot of fake online shopping to. Fake online shopping includes picking out items, putting them in your online shopping cart and then when you’ve racked up a huge sum from all the amazing things you’d love to buy, you close the tab and go to bed. Needless to say, I was very familiar with their cute maternity clothes and immediately jumped at the opportunity to work with Pink Blush.
With the holidays coming up this was the perfect opportunity to find something comfortable, trendy and versatile enough to dress up for the holiday festivities but also wear on a day to day basis – because let’s face it, when you hit the 3rd trimester almost everything stops fitting.
It was so hard to choose, but when I saw this dress, I knew it was the one. It was perfect to dress up for the holidays but just as easily dressed down for a more casual look. Not to mention this dress doesn’t make me want to change into sweatpants 10 minutes after I put it on. It is so incredibly comfortable and the fit is spot on. I have plenty of room for my growing belly in this dress, thanks to the stretchy fabric, which is a relief because I swear I’m getting bigger every single day in this last trimester.
I’ve also rounded up some other amazing options for the holidays on the Pink Blush website which could be yours because Pink Blush has so graciously offered a $75 gift card to their store for one of my readers! Make sure you head over to my instagram to find out how to enter. Not pregnant? No problem! Pink Blush isn’t just maternity clothing, they also offer women’s, plus size, cute baby items, and even things like accessories and shoes! Seriously, what are you waiting for? Go enter this giveaway!
I received my amazing plaid dress for free in return for my honest opinion. This has been your friendly disclosure statement.
Lancôme Définicil Mascara & Drama Liqui-Pencil Review
Every now and again I get sent some awesome things through influenster* to try out in exchange for a review. This is one of those times. Although I received these products for free, these are my own unfiltered opinions.
I love makeup. As a teen I would often hole up in my room on school-nights and give myself grand makeovers. Bold and daring lip colors, wild eye-shadow combinations, and trying my hand at the latest makeup tricks from the trendiest magazines. It helped that I had an older sister who paved the way into luxury brands for me. I would often get in trouble for sneaking into my sister’s room to raid her ever-growing luxury product collection in hopes that I could save myself some money but still wear the good stuff. As I got older and my preferences got more defined, I felt comfortable splurging on high quality makeup products, always with the help and guidance from my sister, the lovely Sephora staff, and of course Youtube’s top beauty guru’s.
Now, as I’m gearing up to leave my 20’s and enter my 30’s I feel very confident and comfortable with my makeup skills and product selection. As a SAHM, or Stay At Home Mom, it’s important to me that I still wear makeup because it makes me feel put-together, confident, and normalizes my life in bouts of sickness. I know I can still look decent even if my Cystic Fibrosis makes me feel like an 80-year old chain-smoker. Because of this, I still love trying new brands and new products I wouldn’t normally purchase myself. Sometimes all we need is a little nudge outside of our comfort zone to discover a groove we didn’t know we had!
When I was chosen to review some Lancôme products I jumped at the opportunity. A luxury brand that I haven’t ever really dabbled in. I have used one of their mascaras in the past, but that was about it. So when I was greeted with a bright purple eye-liner, I was ecstatic. Just what I needed to leave the comfort of my daily neutrals and vamp up my everyday Mom look.
My go-to for eyeliners that last all day, have intense color, and glide on your face like butter is Urban Decay’s 24/7 line. I’ve tried quite a few other liners but these still win out every time. Imagine my surprise when I use Lancôme’s Drama Liqui-Pencil for the first time and I had to double check to make sure I didn’t accidentally pick up my UD 24/7 liner. The texture was creamy, easy to manipulate and the color payout was fabulous. It was easy to smudge on my lower line and most importantly it stayed put all day long. I even had my daughter poke me in the eye several times for the sake of the experiment. Okay, so that was purely coincidental, but Emmie really did jab my eye lids a few times since she was pretty enthralled with my new purple eyes. While the purple colored pencil was beyond my expectations, the deep noir color dissappointed me. I had high hopes for a comparable Urban Decay Zero type black, but it lacked the intensity I hoped for. The pencil was also not quite as easy to use when lining my waterline and needed a few passes. Overall, if I’m looking for a colored eye-liner to add to my collection I will definitely be considering Lancôme’s Drama Liqui-Pencils.
Mascara is another item that I am ultra picky about. I have decently long lashes, but they’re pretty thin. I like my mascara’s to be volumizing, dark, and non-clumping. I aim for a very natural look. If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s clumpy, flaky lashes. I am also pretty picky about my brushes. I find that the little spiky brushes lend themselves well to my goal of natural-looking lashes. Lancôme’s Définicils Mascara claims to be a lengthening and defining mascara for a natural, yet striking look. It definitely lengthened my lashes but one coat was not enough to cover my need for volume. I swiped on 2-3 coats. There was minimal clumping and hardly any fallout over the course of the day. My biggest gripe was the brush. I found it awkward to use and hard to manipulate my lashes to get an even coat. My final verdict is a pass. I love that it stayed on all day, but it just doesn’t suit my specific needs for fuller lashes. If I needed luxuriously long lashes I would be singing a different tune!
*this is a referral link: if you sign up via this link and I get points. Points for what? I don’t really know, honestly, but I figured if they have a referral link, why not use it? And this has been your honest disclosure statement *
First Trimester Must Haves For Your Second Pregnancy
Now that the cat’s out of the bag, I wanted to share the things that really helped me get through the first trimester, the second time around! I consider these the 1st trimester must haves for your second, or third, pregnancy.
1. Water Bottle for you and for your little. Staying hydrated is so important when you’re pregnant. Not only do you need the extra fluid to start making extra blood, amniotic fluid, and help flush out toxins but staying hydrated can make sure you’re combating pregnancy fatigue to the best of your ability. Dehydration can make you feel sluggish & slow. A thermos, or water bottle, is the perfect way to always ensure you have something to sip on. If your little one is anything like mine, having a second – smaller- water bottle can help curb tantrums and help your first baby feel special. Plus, if your nausea is out of control you can easily hide ginger ale in your water bottle while serving water in your little’s bottle.
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2. Doggie Bags. Towing a toddler around is trying in by itself, but have you ever tried to actually get somewhere fast with toddler in tow? It just doesn’t happen. Especially when it’s important. By keeping a roll of doggie bags you can feel assured that you always have a fail safe plan in case that “morning sickness” sneaks up on you and the nearest bathroom might as well be back at home. It’s not the most glamorous but works well in a pinch! I tote around these scented bags.
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3. Lotion. The second time around your body knows what it’s doing. Muscle memory from the first pregnancy takes over and you start growing sooner. I found my skin to be much itchier this time around simply due to things expanding earlier! Regularly applying lotion helped keep the itchiness at bay.
4. A great-smelling candle. During the first trimester my gag reflex is so much more sensitive. Combine that with a heightened sense of smell and a toddler on hand… well, I often found myself lighting a candle to help mask the smells of daily tasks such as making my toddler lunch or changing a diaper.
5. Snacks. Keep them with you at all times. I loved things packed with protein to keep my blood sugar levels stable. I tried to find snacks that I didn’t mind sharing with my toddler. I saved the Oreos and Doritos for nap time.
6. A soft, stretchy cami-styled bra. Again, your body remembers pregnancy this time around. With my first pregnancy my chest grew slow and steady over the whole 9 months. This time around? Not so much. I’m already at the same size I was when my milk came in with Emerson. Needless to say having a larger sized, soft, stretchy cami-style bra has been essential. It doesn’t feel restrictive like a traditional underwire bra, and having the lightly lined soft cups has been helpful for my sensitive and itchy skin.
7. Meal replacement drinks. I always find these handy to keep around for those days when you just can’t eat a single thing. You still need to get high quality nutrition, but if you can’t keep solids down, this is the perfect solution. Some of my favorites are Svelte and Orgain.
What were your must haves for your second pregnancy?
Fall Capsule Wardrobe
August is officially over and September has graced us with pumpkin spiced everything, deep maroons and the promise of cooler temperatures. We slowly start to trade our shorts, sandals, and summery dresses for our comfy cardigans, booties and army green jackets. Yes, it’s that time. Fall is here! But what should you wear?
As a stay at home mom do you ever feel like you almost never leave the comfort of your yoga-pants, beat up t-shirts and worn down sneakers? I certainly have those days. It’s usually on those days that I run into someone I know at the grocery store and I leave the impromptu interaction feeling self-conscious and frumpy. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! Dressing yourself in the morning can totally change the way you feel throughout the day. Wearing things that make you feel good can really go a long way. Dressing up doesn’t have to mean sacrificing functionality or comfort! To prove this I’ve pulled together a sample capsule wardrobe for this fall season.
The key to a capsule wardrobe is finding pieces that serve you and your lifestyle. As a Mom, being able to run after my toddler is a top priority so I choose articles of clothing & footwear that allow me to do so. I look for comfortable, easy to care for fabrics and a figure flattering cut.
Fall is all about layering! Temperatures vary greatly so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of options for layering. A base wardrobe should consist of mostly neutral colors with a few pops of color for interest. In this capsule I decided to stick with taupe, cream, grey and olive for my neutral base and added in some mustard, maroon and deep teal for my pops of color. By keeping a mostly neutral palette you can be assured every piece in your wardrobe will be complementary, making getting dressed a snap.
Your capsule wardrobe should always include at least a couple of basic t-shirts, a pair of jeans, one dress or skirt, and a basic button up. Then, add in your seasonal items: long-line cardigans, over-sized sweaters, flowing tunics and we can’t forget the staples like a classic trench and distressed denim. Indulging in a few seasonal trends, like a comfortable pair of over-the-knee boots, can really make you feel current and confident.
Just because we spend our time wiping boogies from noses, cleaning up spilled milk, and chasing kiddos around the park doesn’t mean we should sacrifice ourselves. As a mother we already give so much to others. Shouldn’t we take a few minutes to make ourselves feel as amazing as we really are? For me, a capsule wardrobe helps me feel put-together, organized and ready to tackle the day. I’d say it’s almost as important as coffee…. almost.
Cheap to Chic: How to make your clothing look more expensive than it really is
Being a stay at home Mom means my family lives off of my husband’s salary. This means I don’t have the luxury of buying my dream wardrobe full of designer labels and costly price tags. Now there are certainly pieces I feel are worth investing a little more money in, like a great fitting jacket for example. Things that will not fall out of style and will be worn for many years. Yet, for the vast majority of my closet, investing in higher-end pieces just doesn’t make sense. Just because I can’t spend a lot of money on my wardrobe doesn’t mean I want to look frumpy or cheap. I figured I can’t be the only Mom on a budget so, I decided to share some of my go-to secrets in how I make my affordable, and sometimes down right cheap, clothing look more expensive than it really is.
To illustrate these tips and tricks, I decided to show you what a cheap dress (less than $10) can look like styled poorly and styled well.
There are a few rules I generally follow in order to enhance the appearance of my cheaper articles of clothing. In this first picture, I’m breaking all the rules! The dress is fresh from the dryer but is super wrinkly. Undergarments were chosen poorly and visible bra straps are distracting. My accessories are presenting conflicting messages. I have a glamorous bracelet and earrings, but my flip flops suggest a casual style. The long necklace draws focus to the fact that the eyelet lace is wrinkled and misshapen. The soft structured bag accentuates the softness of the dress, but not in a positive way. And lastly, my hair is a mess which just reiterates the whole idea that my outfit is messy.
Now, let’s look at the contrasting photo. Right away you notice the dress doesn’t even look like the same dress in the previous photo. A little starch and a hot iron go a long way in making clothes look their best. This is the first rule: take care of your clothing. Cheaper articles of clothing tend to be made with cheaper fabric. This can mean that the item won’t hold up well to washing or drying. Wash only when necessary and wash according to the stated directions on the tag. When in doubt, gentle cycle and hang dry. After washing, iron that sucker. Again, read the care tag! It will tell you if your specific item can’t be ironed or needs a cool iron setting vs. a hot iron setting.
Rule #2: choose the right undergarments for you clothing! White dresses, or sheer dresses warrant a slip. In addition to a slip a nude bra & undies set will eliminate the see-through appearance. Choose the right bra style for your article of clothing. Seeing a rouge bra straps detracts from the overall quality of your outfit presentation. If you want the best bang for your buck, make sure your wardrobe has a nude convertible bra. That baby will have you covered no matter what you choose to wear.<pun intended>
Now, let’s talk accessories. Rule #3: choose cohesive accessories that work for you. Think about the overall aesthetics of the outfit you’d like to create. Are you going somewhere casual? Somewhere more formal? Or perhaps somewhere in-between? All your accessories should correspond to where you’re going and what you’re going to be doing. You wouldn’t wear a ball gown to go gardening would you? Well, maybe you would, but be consistent in choosing cohesive accessories!
For my second, well polished look, I chose well-constructed but understated items to help make my dress the star of the show. A simple set of earrings and matching bracelet. A well structured bag, and well kept, detailed wedges help boost the level of chicness. By choosing not to wear a necklace I leave the focus on the pretty eyelet detail of the dress along with the crisp boat neckline.
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| 1. Ironed, well kept & well fitting dress 2. Cohesive accessories 3. & 4. The correct undergarments for the outfit 5. Cohesive accessories |
Lastly, let’s talk fit. When choosing something to wear, regardless of price, it should fit your body. Go ahead, be picky! Do not fall into the trap of only buying it because it’s a bargain. If it doesn’t fit you well, and you don’t feel great in it… it’s just not worth it – no matter how cheap it is.