If you invest in one piece for fall/winter I highly suggest a leather jacket. I get the most use out of my leather jackets. They never go out of style and can carry with you year after year. I love the moto cut of this Rebecca Minkoff version. It’s been on major repeat! It’s got a clean look, but with just a teeny bit of edge.
As eager as I am for fall to arrive, Tennessee isn’t quite cooperating just yet. I paired the jacket with this blouse and a camo skirt. The other day I wore this camo skirt with a graphic sweatshirt and sneakers to run errands. It’s a really easy to throw on, versatile piece. Once the temperatures start moving on down, I will pair this jacket with a sweater, some jeans and some over the knee boots. My all time favorite look.
We had the best family day yesterday. Wilder and I grabbed a coffee with a friend and took a few pictures. Then we took Georgie to pick out a pumpkin. He was more interested in throwing the pumpkins, but he had a great time. Then we went to lunch at a little spot in 12th south. It mimics a ski lounge and has a really cool fire pit in the center. G loved it! It made me extra excited for Trey and I’s getaway to our “happy place” (AKA Colorado) next weekend.
October gives me all the feels, from the fashion to the weather, the smells in the air. I just love it all. Top that off with lots of family QT and I am one happy lady!
P.S. I’ve got something really BIG to share with ya’ll this coming week, so make sure to stay tuned. I mean… really BIG!
Yay for Friday! This Friday is extra special because Trey’s entire family is coming into town. The Nashville Food & Wine festival is this weekend and it has become a tradition over the past few years for us all to go together. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year, and I’ve greatly been looking forward to it!
Call me superficial, but I love my designer pieces. However, I also love a good deal!Saving money on designer pieces always feels so much better. I get a lot of my higher end pieces from Nordstrom. One hack I have for getting designer pieces at a much better deal, is finding a boys size 12 (it fits the same way as a womens’ small). The same look for much cheaper! This Gucci Logo T-Shirt has been on my wish list for a long time, but it carries a pretty hefty price tag. The boy version is $300 less, and looks identical!
It’s so easy to throw a super cozy cardigan over a designer tee shirt with some jeans and my favorite snakeskin slide mules. I’ve been getting lots of questions on these shoes via Instagram. Size up a half size! They run small. They are so easy to throw on and go, and I just love the grommet detailing on the sides. I get so many compliments on them! One of my favorite purchases I’ve made in a long time.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! I will be sure to share our Food & Wine festival pictures soon. If you are a Nashvillian, come check it out!
I like to think that this blog will one day be a journal stamped in time that I can go and reminisce on, and even one day my sons can do the same. Not to long ago I saw a fellow blogger say that she writes letters to her children on each birthday. She keeps the letters and will one day let them read them. Such a precious idea that I plan to borrow, but I wanted to go ahead and write one for G now. He’s in such a sweet stage and I want to remember all the little idiosyncrasies he has. So I thought I would share this letter to my son…
Dear Georgie-
There isn’t a thing in this world that makes my heart happier than hearing your sweet giggle. Right now you are a little giggle box, and it’s a sound I want to freeze in time. I know one day it will go away, and that will be the saddest day for me.
We thought you would be so jealous when Wilder came into our family, but you proved us wrong. The innate love and protective nature you have over him might just be the sweetest part about you. You are so proud to show him off to any new visitors; grabbing their hand and dragging them to him. When he cries you bring him a blanket or a pacifier, or even the remote control. Hey, what man doesn’t want control over the remote?!
You love food. (You get that honestly…) Currently you are a bottomless pit. You take your whole hand and shove as much as you can into your little mouth. I’ve yet to find anything you don’t like. Guacamole and meatballs are the current favorite. I wish it were socially acceptable for me to pick up the bowl of guac and lick the bottom like you do. If it were, I would sure join you. You and I are the same like that.
You are curious and adventurous. Your battery operated 4-wheeler can’t go fast enough. You can’t rock your rocking motorcycle (thanks to grandad for that one) hard enough. The look in your eye when you get your mind on something is mischievous, but in the sweetest possible way. With that curious spirit you aren’t afraid to climb up hills, jump off couches, slide down stairs or eat some dirt. However, you are terrified of anything in costume and even some stuffed animals. I secretly love when you are scared of something and run to me and cling to me. I hope I can always be the open arms you run to for protection.
“Da-Da” is by far your favorite word. Ya’ll are the best of friends. He can’t walk out of the room without me hearing the pitter patter of your feet chasing him down. As much as I want you to be a mamas boy, I love watching the special bond ya’ll have. Seeing your daddy like that makes me love him even more!
You’ve never met a puppy you didn’t like. It’s so sweet seeing how big your eyes get when you hear a bark. Then you will point and repeatedly say “pa-pa-pa” and try to find the puppy to snuggle him.
There is never a stranger in your eyes. You wave to every person, car, puppy, and plane that goes by. You might be stingy with real kisses, but you can blow kisses with the best of them. When you do finally give in to giving me a kiss, it is only done for the applause. That sweet little clap is my favorite.
I love watching you grow, but I sure wish you would slow down. Love you sweet boy!
Xo,
MAMA (P.S. You still refuse to say mama, my heart might melt right away when you finally give in and say it…)
Real talk… getting myself and the boys ready for this picture and packed in the car to meet Trey and my friend/photographer might have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It took hours of planning, packing their diaper bags, sippie cups/snacks, change of clothes, loading the car. Then waiting till G napped to rush in the shower and attempt to do my make up. Then getting each of them ready without the other one crying, etc. Whew. I’m exhausted just thinking about it again.
Once we got there G decided he wanted nothing to do with picture taking that day. Par for the course. He normally is so sweet and cooperative. Not this time! Baby tantrum. He only wanted to play with a puppy he spotted from afar and eat dirt/throw sticks.
My original idea for this post was tips on taking family photos, because I do get asked that a lot. However, given the train wreck that was my children during these, I decided to stick to some tips on coordinating outfits. At least I got that part down!
How to Coordinate Family Photo Outfits (without looking cheesy)
1. Everyone does NOT have to match perfectly. (I know every family has done the all white beach pics, but we don’t need to all match. Keyword here is coordinate.
2. Make sure and choose a fairly neutral backdrop. You don’t want something super bold in the background to steal the show, or compete with anything else in the shot.
3. Don’t be scared of a little print. (However, no ones prints should match exactly.)
4. If you are unsure, stay in the neutral family. (Grey, black, white, tan, denim, etc.) They can all be mismatched easily.
5. Pick one persons look to start. (I knew I wanted to wear this dress. Even though it is orange, there are white, tan, grey, and sage colors in it as well. I pulled those colors for the boys!)
6. Don’t pick anything overly “trendy.” Fashions and trends are constantly changing, there is no way around that. However, if you want something that stands the test of time don’t go head to toe trendy fashion on every family member.
One of my favorite fall trends is mixing prints. This bomber jacket is under $40 and can be paired with so many different things this season. I partnered it with this polka dot blouse (under $25!) and wore the ruffle cuff longer than the jacket length to add interest. It would also look great over a dress worn buttoned up, or over a graphic t-shirt and some leggings with sneakers. These studded booties sold out so fast during the Nordstrom sale, but they are back fully stocked in all sizes and worth the $$. The block heel makes them wearable for everyday, and they add so much to a look. I love adding some texture to an outfit. The weather has yet to cooperate with my fall loving self just yet. It hasn’t stopped me from rocking fall trends already! I’m so very ready for sweater weather, and to be able to take the babies outside for longer periods of time.
It was Wilder’s one month birthday yesterday, and I took him along to try out the new Cafe Roze in East Nashville. The interior decor is adorable, and they make a mean iced latte. (AKA mom fuel.) This past month has been a complete whirlwind, and we are still adjusting to the major lack of sleep. I’m literally surviving on coffee. Speaking of, I’m working on a post with all of my favorite coffee shops in Nashville. There are so many great ones. (From a self-proclaimed connoisseur, of course…)
The Nashville Guide has so graciously let me take over their social media channels today so that I could share some of my favorite local hot spots. I’d love for you to give them a follow and check it out!
This t-shirt dress has been my go-to post baby look. It’s so easy to throw on and go!
We are down at the beach soaking in some family time with the boy’s and their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and some of our good friends. I was wearing this dress out and about running errands to get ready to come down here and I’ve also been using it as a cover up now that we’ve arrived here.
Packing for a 9 day trip with 2 babies under 2 is no easy task. We decided to fly so I had to really plan out the suitcase situation, and be mindful of space. (Rolling up their clothes really does save a ton of room!) There were so many bottles, toys, clothes, swim gear, etc. I didn’t have much time to pack for myself (or much room.) I stuck with easy pieces like this dress, jean shorts, tank tops, etc. One of the best parts about heading down to the beach is how laid back the days are. I have yet to wear any eye makeup or heels of any sort.
I hope everyone had a great week. I’ll be sharing lots of beach pics soon!
P.S. Check out this other post with another one of my favorite graphic tank dresses HERE.
Being a mom to a new baby is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting. One of the main reasons for this is adjusting to a newborn sleep schedule. (Or should we say lack there of.) Not only do you need to wake up baby to feed every couple of hours, but also to every little sound they make.
I held George to sleep for every single nap, and throughout the night. (Yes, I know this is horrible.) I was able to do nothing else during the day when Trey wasn’t home. Having a one year old this time around, this simply wasn’t possible to repeat with Wilder. (I also wised up and realized it truly wasn’t in his best interest either.) I did tons of research on best sleeping habits with a newborn and swore I wouldn’t make the same newborn sleep mistakes twice.
First, we got an owlet smart sock and baby monitor. As a parent, the constant worry about the wellbeing your baby is real. The owlet uses pulse oximetry to track your infant’s heart rate and oxygen levels and is designed to notify you if something appears to be wrong. Peace of mind is priceless, in my opinion. The fact that I can put this device on Wilder, and sleep better myself, is one of the greatest possible scenarios for a new mom. Their motto is “love more, worry less.” This has proven to be true when we are using the sock. If you need to get a gift for any family expecting, there isn’t a greater thing you could get them. These are changing lives, and saving mothers’ sanity. You can find more information on the logistics of how these socks work HERE.
I also added a Dockatot to my baby supply arsenal. We use this method during the day for naps when I am keeping a close eye on him, but can’t hold him. (NOTE: The Owlet is meant to be used in a crib with nothing else in it, and not in co-sleeping situations.) We make sure Wilder is full, burped, has a clean diaper and then we swaddle him. (Little Unicorn and Modern Burlap are both great swaddle brands.) This method has really worked for us so far. (Knock on wood!!)
Also, the first go around I didn’t want Georgie to wear any baby “gowns”. I thought they were too “girly”. This time around Wilder is in them every night. It makes it so much more accessible for late night diaper changes, and he doesn’t get as upset undressing him and having to get him dressed again. These organic gowns have been my favorites.
Very recently a friend tragically lost her baby to SIDS. It made this post so much more meaningful. I feel compelled to help spread the word about the Owlet Smart Sock and how they can empower parents with the right information at the right time. I do want to share and be clear that because the cause of SIDS is unknown, Owlet cannot and does not claim to prevent it. Jana has quickly made it her life mission to equip families with the owlet to provide parents peace of mind. Owlet has SO GRACIOUSLY offered to match the funds that she raises to provide the socks. It would mean so much to me if you would make a small donation to help raise awareness and provide these to sweet moms who can’t financially manage to purchase one on their own.
You can read more about her story, her son’s legacy and how you can help HERE.
Thanks to Owlet for sending this product for review. All thoughts are my own.
Fall is right around the corner and I’m more than ready for the fall outfits! Ya’ll know I’m such a sucker for a graphic tee! I replaced the tigers I’ve been obsessing over with this cute snake tank. If you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed I’ve been wearing this striped cardigan pretty much everyday. It’s comfy and easy. Perfect for mom life. These jeans were one of my favorite purchases from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. (P.S. The sale is winding down… shop the new fall items now before prices go back up!) You can check out my favorites HERE. I stocked up on lots of great fall items and can’t wait to style fall outfits after this heat wave passes.
Ok, so now on to a “mom life” update. Holy heck it’s hard. Thankfully, my mom and Trey’s mom both took turns staying with us to help the first few days. So “real life” just truly kicked in. No moms, Trey’s back at work, and it’s just me responsible for two babies everyday. I’m pretty much saving G’s life 10 times a day. He’s constantly trying to jump off the couch, open the door to run outside, jump down the stairs, etc. That in itself was exhausting enough, but adding a newborn who feeds every hour to the mix, and things are pretty crazy around here.
Whenever it gets to be too much (which it does hourly) I try to take a deep breath and realize that they will only be babies for such a short period of time. One day soon they won’t truly need me anymore, and I will be wishing for this time back. That helps me put things into perspective and make it through until help arrives. HA! I’m SO grateful that Trey has been able to really help and go in late or come home early from work. These first few weeks are so important to bond with your baby, and it’s awesome that he has been able to have that precious time. It’s just as important for fathers as it is for the mothers. (IMO.)
My mother in law had two babies 13 months apart, and she always would tell me it’s best to be mentally prepared. I knew what I was getting myself into, but you don’t really know until you are “in it.”
I did not have high hopes for Georgie in the big brother department. I truly thought that he would have such a hard time sharing the spotlight. However, he has truly proved me wrong. He was acting out right before Wilder was born, but he’s been so sweet since he’s been home. Anytime visitors come he takes their hand and leads them to Wilder and points to him. He brings him blankets and pacifiers. If anyone is getting too loud he puts his little finger to his lips and says “shh.” He’s even brought him the remote control when he was crying, because hey what man doesn’t need a remote when he’s sad. It makes me so proud of him, and happy to see the innate love and protective spirit he has for him. As hard as it is having two babies it makes it seem worth it that they will be best friends.
With less than 6 weeks to go in this pregnancy, outfits are getting a little harder. BUT I’m loving graphic tees with overalls! Yes, you can totally rock overalls pregnant! These are not “maternity” so I had to leave the one strap down to be able to fit in them right. Ha! They do make maternity overalls that have extra space in the bump area, if you are more comfortable with that.
I loved that these overalls were black denim, distressed and under $60. Win-win-win! I paired them with a graphic tee, because let’s be real, when don’t I pair things with graphic tees? I also love these boots for summer. The cut outs make them more breathable for the hotter temperatures and they are flat. Flat and 8 months pregnant go together much better than heels these days.
We just got back from Santa Barbara for Trey’s brother’s wedding. It was such an amazing weekend celebrating! I will be sure to share lots of pictures from our trip. (Georgie was in the wedding, and his little outfit is just too cute!)
This pregnancy is nearing a close and I am feeling alllll the feels. I’m anxious to meet him, and see if he looks like Georgie, or favors Trey this time. I’m nervous to have two babies under a year and a half. We truly just aren’t as prepared as we were with G, but I’m really working on fixing that. The nesting has started to really take place here lately, and I’m hoping it will get my booty in gear. I’m also excited to share the name! It has been a secret thus far, and I’m ready to let everyone in on that secret!
How do ya’ll feel about keeping the name a secret? Curious to how other people have handled that!
I’ve really been on an organization kick lately, maybe it’s the pregnant “nesting” so when I found a bucket bag where function meets fashion I couldn’t deny it!
I’ve really been on an organization kick lately, maybe it’s the pregnant “nesting.” When I found a bucket bag where function meets fashion I couldn’t deny it! While pregnant with George I truly had that strong “nesting” feeling. We spent hours and hours organizing his nursery. This time around I’m so busy chasing him around most of the time, I haven’t really prepped in the same way. That “nesting” feeling has still been prevalent though, so I’m trying to calm it in manageable ways. First, was the planner. Now, keeping my purse more organized.
The bucket bag has been on trend for awhile now, but I never found one that had everything I was looking for to pull the trigger. This leather bag was a great neutral color, but the functionality is what sold me. The inside has a removable key leash, ID slots, lipgloss/pen loops, phone pockets, and various other pockets to keep everything organized. As you may recall from previous post, I’m NOT organized by nature. I need all the help I can get. This makes finding things in my bag so easy.
These jeans are not maternity, but I’ve been wearing them this whole pregnancy thus far. They sit below the bump and have lots of strech. Gotta keep it comfy these days. I pretty much wear a graphic tee or one of these ($20) v-neck tees everyday. They are easy and comfortable.
P.S. I’ve never worn these rose applique studded booties and not gotten complimented on them. I love that they cut low so they are cooler for summer.
P.P.S. Makeup was done by Chels Rey Makeup She does such a great job if you are looking for someone in Nashville!
