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!
I’ve been on the search for the best father’s day gift ideas out there and have come up with some any dad would love!
I’ve been on the search for the best father’s day gift ideas out there and have come up with some any dad would love!
Technically last year was Trey’s first time year celebrating Father’s Day, but G was only a month old and we didn’t really understood the significance of being a parent yet. Now that he is 13 months, it seems more real that we are responsible for this tiny human. Seeing Trey interact with G just melts my heart. They have such a sweet bond. Georgie babbles “da da” all day long. Whenever he leaves for work, there’s always a small meltdown that follows. He will even sit at the back door and hold his shoes. Then when he walks back in the door after work, G will get the biggest smile on his face and go to him as fast as his chunky little thighs will allow.
I bet there was once a day that people would bet against Trey as ever being a father (he had his wild moments…) but he sure is killing the dad game! He looks up articles on what we should be doing with him at each stage, gets up and makes middle of the night bottles, gets on the floor and plays with him, and shows him love and patience. You can’t ask for more than that!
So…. I wanted to make this Father’s Day really special and get him a bunch of things I know he needs/wants. I hope these Father’s Day Gift ideas give you some inspiration on what to get the special father (or father figure) in your life!
5 Father’s Day Gifts Ideas:
1. Tecovas Boots – I have had a pair of these for a little over a year now, and was so impressed with the quality for the price. Tecovas has removed the “middle man” from the process, bringing the price down and keeping the quality high. He has been asking for a pair of these for awhile… so what better time than now!
2. Framebridge Custom Framed Pieces I recently talked about Framebridge in detail, because I got him some concert tickets framed. You can read all about that process HERE. He’s been wanting to frame some of his client’s show posters and photography from meaningful shows. I couldn’t be happier with how these turned out! I used the designers help option… it sure makes life easier!
If you want to make sure you get your custom piece in time here are the deadlines to do so. My pieces were both “mail-in” items.
Mail-in deadline: June 5th 12am PST (i.e. Sunday night)
Upload deadline: June 12th 12am PST (i.e. Sunday night)
Designer’s choice reminder/deadline: June 14th 12am PST
Trey has had to travel a lot of 1 and 2 day trips lately, and has been in need of a good carry on bag. I found this carryall and must admit I’m pretty obsessed with it. I might just have to borrow this one. It’s made from 100% neoprene so it’s versatile and durable. It comes with several interior pockets, a shoe bag, a key leash, removable mesh pocket, a laptop pocket, and an exterior phone/ID pocket. I was so impressed with it’s functionality. This is the size large in the dark moss color.
4. Craft + Foster Candle These come in several manly scents like “whiskey and cola and tonic and talc”. The packaging is also “manly”. I’ve lovingly nicknames these his “mandles.”
5. Comfy Tees/ Grahpic Shirts- Ya’ll probably know by now I have an infatuation with Chaser brand. Well… they have guys now too. You can find that reflected moto baseball shirt HERE. I’ve also linked some other of my favorite Chaser mens tees below. Did you know Revolve has men’s fashion too!? This has been one of my go to sites to shop for awhile now, and they also have great stuff for the guys.
I’ve also added father’s day gift guide ideas on the “Shop Nordstrom Sale”.
Traveling with a baby is no easy task, but with some organization and patience it’s well worth the trouble! We are a family on the go, and often get asked “how do you do it!?” Not going to lie, it’s hard. I really love making the memories, and introducing G to so many new places and things. For our family, it’s worth the trouble.
This past weekend we took a quick Memorial Day weekend road trip to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area.
First, we went to a concert for one of Trey’s artist. It’s always fun to see G clap and dance along to the music. It’s SOOOO important to put noise cancelling headphones on your babies ears! You can shop the ones we use HERE. (These make a great shower gift for music loving couples….) One of the tricks (and we don’t have this mastered just yet, but we are trying) is to keep the baby on as much of the same schedule as possible. So I left the concert early to go back to our hotel and get G in bed close to his normal bedtime.
The next day we headed over to Dollywood. If you are a Tennessee native, I recommend this park for the little ones! It’s a nice and clean family park that’s nestled in the Smoky Mountains. There are lots of trees for shade, and it’s extremely stroller friendly. They had a little baby splash pad and playground with soft foam that G just loved! Trey and I ate our way through the park. I’m talking corn dogs, potato twirls, funnel cake, root beer floats….no calories were spared here. It was a pregnant girls dream. We also had fun going to the fair section and playing the games. (Trey even won Georgie a little stuffed animal!) There were also a couple baby friendly rides that G could do.
Tips for traveling with a baby on a road trip:
* If you can schedule to leave the house right when they typically nap it is easiest. This way they can sleep as much of the car ride as possible, and stay as close to their daily schedule as possible.
*As tempting as it is to stay out late and just have them sleep in the stroller, do your best to head back to the hotel and let them sleep in a pack in play or something similar to their home schedule. A crabby baby doesn’t make for a fun trip….
*If they sleep with a sound machine, special blanket or anything else…bring it along! Keeping that home like feeling is key!
* Have lots of snacks, books, and toys on hand! If one of you can sit in the back during the car ride itself and read or play…bonus points.
* Stay calm. HA!
We are a t-shirt and jeans kinda family. I truly swear by Chaser brand because of the quality and how soft the fabric is. I just realized G can fit in their smallest size…and I couldn’t be more excited! Now we can all wear it.
I know I’ve mentioned the jeans G is wearing before, but they are the best out there. Trust me, I’ve tried A LOT. They are designer, but at a great price. They are made of a knit material and not a typical denim, so they are super soft and strechy. You can shop them HERE.
I’m still stuck on the white on white trend this summer. Pretty daring with a baby…
Daniel Wellington just launched the classic petite leather watch in white!!! IT goes perfectly with my white on white summer uniform. The one pictured is with the rose gold detailing. You can get 15% off by using promo code “BEAUANDARROW” when you shop the watch!!
This pregnancy has truly flown by, but I wanted to take a moment to reflect and give a little 32 weeks pregnancy update!
With Georgie, I had some complications along the way so I was always thinking about being pregnant and I really noticed all of the little aches and pains along the way. This time around I’ve been so busy chasing G around, trying to keep up with the house, blog, travel, and everything else that happens on any given day, that I haven’t tuned in to my body. I wanted to take a minute and reflect.
At the beginning of this pregnancy I truly felt great! Other than the first trimester tiredness, I was feeling really “normal.” I felt like I could accomplish so much in a day during the second trimester. My energy levels were up, my aches and pains were minimal and that chronic sleepiness had worn off. BUT THEN….. the third trimester hit. Day after day I feel like I push myself to the complete limit, and then when my head hits the pillow at night all of the pregnancy pains hit like a ton of bricks. Sleeping is next to impossible, which is all I want to do!
So 32 weeks seems like an accomplishment! From here on out I’m pledging to be a little easier on my body and on myself in general. Some things will just have to wait. I’ve been getting asked a lot how I do it all, and I don’t want to fool anyone. I don’t! At the end of every day there are still things that haven’t been done on the to do list. I do believe that keeping active as long as you can really will help you feel your best during pregnancy!
When people ask me how I’m doing, I always respond “great!” One because I don’t think anyone truly wants to hear about how bad my back hurts, that I can’t sleep or that I’m constantly tired and two because I truly believe keeping a positive attitude is key! If I keep telling myself I’m doing just fine, maybe just maybe I’ll trick my body into believing it. Worth a shot!
I want to really embrace these last couple weeks, and prep for the arrival of baby #2! I’m so excited to meet him. We had an ultrasound done the other day and he was looking a lot like G. I’m curious to see if they will look alike, or if this one will favor Trey more.
As the timer till his arrival ticks away my main goal is to soak up my time with just G too!!
Anyone out there with babies very close in age? I need all the advice I can get!
Also, I’m really not into buying many maternity clothes. I look for things that will accommodate the bump and also work after. The lowest rise jeans are key for this! I live in graphic tees, as you have probably noticed. Starstruck vintage in Nashville is a gold mine!!! She hand distressed them and I’m completely obsessed! It’s a vintage shop and there are always amazing finds in there. If you aren’t local to Nashville you can find her HERE. You can thank me later… 😉
If you happen to have followed me during my first pregnancy, you know that I didn’t invest in many “maternity” clothes, this go around Blanqi maternity leggings and the tank top have been the exception!
If you happen to have followed me during my first pregnancy, you know that I didn’t invest in many “maternity” clothes, this go around Blanqi maternity leggings and the tank top have been the exception!
At 30 weeks pregnant today these are still the only maternity type item I’ve worn. This go around my back has really been bothering me. I’m not sure if it’s pregnancy related or Georgie related. (He weighs 23 pounds, and wants held A LOT..) Either way, the support from these leggings and tank have helped. The other reason that I can validate purchasing something “maternity” is that these are great for after.
I was not prepared for anything after birthing Georgie. I had no clue what to expect. Any mamas out there know you feel just a little strange, and having support over the belly is needed!
Blanqi maternity leggings/tanks are completely seamless. They can be worn on their own (this is how I have them pictured), but you can also treat them as a “base”. Meaning, you can put a t-shirt over the tank, or a kimono on over the set. (Ya’ll know I’m kimono obsessed, so I wear them like that a lot.)
Since, I have been loving them so much I’ve partnered with the brand to do a giveaway. Head over to my Instagram for all of the details. (@beauandarrownashville)
Side note, the mom guilt has been real lately. With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I’ve really been doing a lot of reflecting. I’m so excited for G to have a built in best friend in just a few short weeks, but I’m so worried he will feel left out or like he’s not getting enough attention. He’s still so young, and he’s used to having my full attention all day every day. (Well besides the once a week we have a nanny come, and he still gets all of her attention…)
Mom guilt is just one of the things that you never think about before you have a baby. I need time away to have a few moments to myself, but then feel guilty being away. I have mom guilt over staying home with him. Am I doing him a dis service not having him in a program with other kids?! Then I have mom guilt over thinking about sending him to a mom’s day out program, when I could have one on one time with him those two days.
I know we are all out there doing are best, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters! One thing is for sure, and that’s G will always know he is loved by me!!! (Maybe, too much. Mom guilt.. am I smothering him?!) HA! Hope everyone has a great Mother’s Day week!
Balance. How can we have it all, do it all, be it all, see it all?
The Creative Souls Tribe reached out to me to write a piece about balance for their May blog series, and I was so happy they did! First off, if you’ve never heard of them you MUST check them out. “Creative Souls is a community that inspires and equips females to take action in their creative endeavors. Our mission is to connect and empower women to get in touch with their true creativity.” I mean how amazing is that?! They also have meet ups and community outreach. Check them out HERE.
I wanted to share with ya’ll my thoughts from that…
Balance. How can we have it all, do it all, be it all, see it all? In today’s society it is normal for us to wear so many hats. For me, it’s mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, blogger, traveler, chef, house cleaner, traveler, believer, decorator, teacher, wannabe fitness junky, and the list goes on and on. How is it even possible to balance all of these things each and everyday? It seems overwhelming just typing it out. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s not possible. More importantly, THAT’S OK.
Since having my son, Georgie, I feel some days are just a whirlwind. I’m not sure there has ever been a day where everything has gotten crossed off the to do list. You may start the day with the best of intentions, but then he crawls in your lap and needs attention, misses a nap or spills his lunch on top of his head (yes this happens) and needs a daytime bath. From there the whole day is thrown off, and the productivity goes on a downward spiral. Before you know it, I’m on the couch eating Halo ice cream and bing watching ‘Teen Mom.’ (Hey, don’t judge.)
I’m constantly seeking that perfect balance. Being a great wife, keeping a clean house, having healthy home cooked meals on the table, teaching my son as much as possible, taking him to as many activities as possible, working out, spending time with my friends, creating great content for my blog, and who even knows what else. It’s easy to get anxiety attempting to balance it all.
I was once told you always have time for the things you make time. Simple, but true. I’ve tried to use this as my key to keeping balance in my life. Think of it as a scale, some items are heavier than others on some days. For me, I never want to compromise being a mother, wife or friend. Those are my “heavy weights.” So to keep the scale balanced, I always put those on the one side, every day. Then I can add a few of the extras to the other side to balance it out. If you were to add every single other thing, the scale wouldn’t be balanced.
Being stubborn at heart, it’s always been hard for me to ask for help. You want to wear that superwoman badge, and be able to tackle everything without reaching out for any assistance.
Good luck to ya. I’ve learned to allocate outside help whenever I can. It’s like being able to wear all the hats, but having help putting them on. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?
If you want to eat healthy, but don’t have time to cook that day, then get a delivery meal service that offers homemade healthy meals delivered. If you want to get your workout class in, but don’t have a babysitter that day during the class (ahemmm my everyday scenario), then take a quick jog, do some squats while you do your hair, some calf raises while you make dinner, and a few planks before bed and call it a day. If you want a clean house, but just can’t seem to have time, splurge on a house cleaner that week. You get the picture. Leave your pride at the door, there is no shame in the help game!
Somedays, Georgie may not get learning time, park time, and a bath in during the course of the day. I might have to do a little more work for the blog, or help a friend with some errands. That’s ok, I try again the next day.
For me, that key to balance in life has been a two-parter. First, prioritizing what is truly important to me and gives my life purpose and meaning. Concentrating on those things, and feeling fulfilled with those things alone. The second, learning not to compare my life to others, and losing the need to compete with others to keep up. Can we all make a pledge not to judge one another? You really never know what someone is going through. It may seem like they have it all together, but if you take a closer look they could be falling apart. Find what works for you and be happy with that. And if your day ends on the couch with a tub of Halo, hey, that’s ok too.
Now that we’ve agreed not to judge one another, I can let ya’ll know I have literally worn this every day for the last 5-6 days now. My obsession with longhorn everything is strong, and I couldn’t resist the back detailing. It’s also made with a loose knit so it’s cool and perfect for spring and summer. The white on white trend is as strong as ever, and easy to do. I’ve probably mentioned my favorite v-neck pocket tee a million times, but it’s the easiest go to piece. Of course I paired it with my white cut off denim shorts. These are a great low rise fit so I’m able to continue wearing them preggo because they hit under the bump. Hallelujah!
One of spring and summers biggest trend, is floral. I’m all in on this trend, but wanted to share a couple of easy ways to incorporate floral fashion into your wardrobe.
First of all, you must go see the Amelia’s flower truck when visiting Nashville. It is usually parked in the 12th South area, it’s the cutest little thing!
All the floral fashion has been giving me heart eyes lately, but I know it can seem overwhelming to style.
While on the hunt for white booties when I found these dreamy flower applique studded booties. I didn’t have them on for 5 minutes before I got stopped asking where I had found them. I like to add floral fashion in small doses, and this does the trick. Pair it with an easy boyfriend tee and some cut offs and you are good to go. You may be sick of me talking about these boyfriend style pocket tees, but they are under $20 and come in so many colors. This olive version just got added to my closet. My go to denim shorts will always be these one teaspoons. I finished the look with my go to spring handbag (how pretty is the handle detailing?!) and this marble wrap necklace.
5 Tips To Incorporate Floral Fashion Into Your Wardrobe:
1. If the floral print is large keep your other pieces very neutral. I’m all about a floral print, but bold on bold just gets to be a bit much.
2. Look for embroidered florals. This is my favorite way to incorporate two hot trends, and keep the floral look very classy. (A few post back I featured this embroidered floral moto jacket and it showcases this perfectly!)
3. For small florals, or a single floral go ahead and mix it with a print. These shoes would love great with a striped blouse, or a dress with a boho print.
4. Look for pieces that have really delicate florals or “prairie florals.” This is a new hot trend for spring/summer and has that boho vibe. (Love that!)
5. Mix it up with some of spring/summers other hottest trends to curate go to pieces for any occasion. (Think one shoulder tops, blouses with ruffles, on a sweatshirt with denim cut offs, etc.)
I’m not sure why I’ve been on such a tiger kick lately, but I’ve been loving them! Chaser brand is my go-to for summer graphic tees! This tiger version makes a statement without being too much. I like to add some white jeans to my wardrobe to brighten outfits up for spring/summer. Once it really starts to get warm I’ll go with cut offs. I’m on the hunt for the perfect distressed white pair now! I swapped my typical bootie for these black and white Marc Fisher platform wedge sandal. Comfort is key with shoes these days, being pregnant and chasing an 11 month old. It took me a minute to find the perfect pair that were super easy to walk in, but these ARE IT! My other latest obsession is the third eye.. it started with this manicure. Then I found this dainty necklace and I’ve been wearing it on repeat.
I’ve got a super busy week, but lots of exciting things happening! We have a meeting with a home builder today, I have a couple blogger events around town, and I’ll be doing lots of prep work for Georgie’s birthday party next weekend. I’ve been pinning woodland animal ideas and home decor inspiration like a mad woman, so if you don’t follow along with me on Pinterest you can find me HERE. If you have any pins for these things, I’d love if you could send them my way!
If you have been following along with me for awhile, you know I love finding charitable fashion companies. I love when a business takes initiative to do more and in give back. Nena & Co is one of those amazing companies. Each purchase helps enable them to make a difference in the Guatemalan lives of artisans that make their one of a kind creations.
The give back by providing purified filtered water or a scholarship to help Guatemalan artisans receive a better education.Their “One of a Kind Collection consists of products constructed using curated vintage fabrics purchased from loyal Guatemalan market vendors.” How cool is that?! I love knowing that not only is this bag one of a kind, but an artisan took the time to craft it. The bag has already lived a life and has a story! Plus, it helps that artisan better their life in the process. Since this is such a special company, I couldn’t just keep all the goodness to myself. Head over to my Instagram (@beauandarrownashville) to enter to win one of these amazing bags!
Another amazing company is Nashelle Jewelry. All of their pieces are handmade in the USA using recycled materials. For each piece of jewelry purchased they donate a plate of food. I love the texture on these rings, and they would make a great gift!
Everyone knows about the little black dress, but for spring and summer I love to replace the classic with a little white dress. I love the natural look of this dress and the bell sleeve detailing. It does run pretty short, I would size up if you are on the taller side like me! I paired it with suede studded clogs. Clogs are having a moment and I am totally okay with that!
I use to do a lot of volunteer work, and since Georgie has been born I have been horrible about doing my share. It’s something I really miss in my life and want to work about getting back into. While I am in baby mode, I love shopping with companies that are giving back so I know I’m helping, even if it’s in the smallest little way. I would encourage you to go out and to do the same!
How cute are these embroidered denim shorts? I went to college at the University of Memphis (besides my short one semester stint elsewhere) and one of my favorite boutiques to shop at during my time there was Mozelle’s Boutique. The owner, Karrie, is a huge sweetheart and they have some great, affordable pieces. She is starting to sell more online, so be sure to go follow them on Facebook/Instagram!
I paired the shorts with an oversized boyfriend button down. I love mixing prints and stripes & floral just screams spring to me. You could also wear this button down un-done as a swim cover up. It runs long enough to do so. (Always great to have options!)
After looking for a perfect neutral bag for quite some time I ran across this tan shoulder bag. I loved the gold detailing on the strap. After I had already worn it I found this version of the same bag that has studs all around it, and I’m really loving that stud detailing.
If you are in the Nashville area, be sure to come see me at Kendra Scott this Friday April 14th for an in store event at the Green Hills location from 5-7pm! We will be celebrating the stores 2 year anniversary and showcasing the new summer collection. I love this jewelry brand, because they put so much focus into giving back to the community and as great as fashion is, giving back is better.
