It’s Friday! We have had a full but great week. Everyone is back in a rhythm, football season has started. That combined with school being in session means people are finally back in town and all the fun gatherings have started!
We were able to spend some time with our close friends at the lake last weekend. Hudson had a BIG time. He’s been asking me about his friends and when they can play again, so we’re going to have some families over tonight for another play date. This is a new phase of life where he actually has friends and looks forward to seeing them and doing activities. It’s really cute!
I haven’t been sleeping great… and while it might be because I have a little too much on my plate, I plan to catch up on some sleep this weekend. Along with watching Elvis on HBOMax! Who’s seen it? My parents said it was so good.
Like most of you, I am a HUGE lover of denim. I think it’s one of the easiest things to throw on with a tee or sweater when you’re getting dressed quickly. There are also so many cuts, washes and styles that you can get so many great looks out of a few great pairs of denim.
Today I’m rounding up some of my favorite styles. Below I break down which styles I personally own and love!
To shop, click directly on the jeans or find their associated number below the collage.
These are by far my most worn denim. In fact, I have my usual size and a size up for when I’m postpartum (or in the early stages of pregnancy). No stretch, but they always look A+ on.
I get a lot of messages and emails from you guys asking about outfits for SEC game days. So I’ve been looking around and found some of my favorites for looking cute and staying cool in the early fall heat.
These are a lot of red for both Ole Miss and UGA (it’s all I know!), but most of the dresses below come in lots of colors. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below.
To be honest, I’m out of the loop a little bit. I went to Ole Miss games up to around 2012 and then we moved to California.
When I came back to the South, we were going to UGA games which is a completely different vibe and is more casual than Oxford. So I think a lot of it depends on the style of the city and the school that you’re attending. But, I always think it’s better to be a little overdressed in a dress than underdressed.
Dresses like this and this are my absolute favorite for long days outside. Cool, comfortable, breathable – what else do you need? Pair with fun earrings like this and a fashionable clear bag (I have this one), and you’re set.
I have this necklace and definitely plan on wearing it to some games. It’s so cute on and makes a statement even if paired with a simple shirt dress.
If you’re looking for an easy Amazon pick under $40, this one and this one are my favorites.
Let me know if y’all want more of these. We can do one for the chillier months also! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Pesto eggs have been going around social media and it’s as good as it sounds and incredibly easy. A really great lunch or super quick dinner!
Ingredients:
slice of bread – I used sourdough
goat cheese
pesto
egg
s&p + red pepper flakes (optional)
Directions:
Toast your bread and then spread goat cheese on it. Put a dollop of pesto on a hot skillet. Once the pesto is warm, crack your egg on top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook egg until the whites are set, four to five minutes.
That’s it. Try it and let me know what you think! For more recipes, check out the food & drink category of this site. Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I love this jumpsuit and this one, and this duster cardigan is the only non-sale item I had to include because it’s finally back in stock and I live in it. I have it in two colors and trust me, it’s the best.
– tell me you have a little boy without telling me –
– this mini stool that I just love so much –
The last Friday in August – wow! Summer has been fun, but I am always ready for some fall changes. I recently shared some fall decor favorites here, and I bought this essential oil last week to put in our kitchen diffuser for a woodsy fall scent.
I saved oyster shells from some oysters rockefeller we had last weekend with my parents, and now I’m not quite sure what to do with them. They were just too beautiful to toss! My mom cleaned them well, we let them air out outside for a week and now I’m convinced I need to make a garland. Stay tuned.
I binged Echoes on Netflix over the week and wow. WOW. What a weird, trippy, Harlan Coben-y style show. I would highly recommend it! I’ve always thought it would be so cool to have identical twins but that show left me feeling a little differently. Clearly, it is not based on true events but it was a wild ride, full of twists and turns.
This afternoon I’m taking Hudson to a high school pep rally. Our sweet babysitter is a cheerleader and I didn’t realize we could go to the pep rallies, so he is going to LOVE IT. I haven’t been to a pep rally since I was in high school, so I honestly can’t wait to go myself!
We have a big weekend planned with lake swims and tiki parties, so I know it’s going to be a fun and exhausting one. I’m ready to get it started. Thank you so much for reading! XO –
This week’s wish list is for the gals attending fall weddings, black tie weddings, or fall galas. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I also put some extra things in the sliding widget below the collage. Too many pretty pieces not to share!
This dress is a splurge, but does it get any more beautiful than this? I think this is a dress that will stand the test of time. The kind of gown you could let your niece or daughter wear one day.
I think this dress is so unique and fun. Love the color and the silhouette.
When it comes to black dresses – this one is beautiful with the contrasting texture and lace. This one is classic and great for something with work associates in the mix. Great price point too!
I have two pairs of these heels and have never regretted them. They’ve been around forever for a reason. I also have these in leopard and love them. Have contemplated the gold for years!
For a splurge, this bag is gorgeous and comes in several colors. For a save, what’s more fun than this?
Let me know what dressed-up fall event you have on the calendar this year. A few more fall wedding wear inspiration posts here and here. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
Many months ago, I shared a 15-second story on Instagram about paying for an app called Get Sorted that was helping me clean out the massive amount of photos on my camera roll. I heard about it on a podcast and downloaded it. I have not done a ton of research on this topic, I’m sure there are lots of other apps that do similar things! But this is what I have used.
This leads me to why I’m sharing it here, in hopes that it will be more easily searchable and discovered by those looking for it!
This app kind of makes the process of cleaning out your camera roll a game, and I’ve found it helpful. Feel free to check it out and see what you think.
I am going to be sharing a reel of this recipe later today, but I wanted to break down all of the ingredients in its own blog post because you’re going to want to bookmark this one. Trust me.
I have been making this salad almost every day, and I can’t stop. Trader Joe’s bottled caesar dressing is really good, but if you can make it homemade… WOW. You will think this was takeout.
Feel free to be healthier and use a lighter vinaigrette like this recipe or substitute grilled chicken. But I’m making it just like this.
Salad Ingredients:
romaine lettuce, chopped fine (I use one head of romaine per person)
croutons (or make your own with chopped bread, olive oil, garlic salt, and your favorite seasoning in a skillet – I used Za’atar)
freshly grated parmesan cheese
fresh black pepper
breaded chicken bites/nuggets (I like Just Bare), air fried and chopped
caesar dressing – I use the recipe below or you can buy it bottled
tortilla – if you want to make a wrap!
Caesar Dressing Recipe:
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup mayonnaise
½ cup freshly grated parmesan
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Combine ingredients and tell me this isn’t the best. If you’re making a wrap, I like to spread a small amount of the caesar dressing on the middle section of the tortilla before adding the salad to it, rolling it up, and eating the entire thing in around 7 minutes.
This week’s wish list is full of fall decor… not because I’m personally already looking for fall decor but because the data shows that a large percentage of you are, so here we are!
If I buy another mug, Christian might leave me. But this one is tempting.
I bought these tissue box covers last year and really love them. However, if I didn’t already have them I might buy this one. So pretty!
I saw this rug recently for the first time and it’s so beautiful. Very Kelly Wearstler. Chic!
Let me know if you like to spice up your home for fall. Rather than buy candles, I’ll burn an essential oil in a diffuser like this one or this one. A lot more cost-per-use effective!
Tips on feeling chic on a day of errands, grocery, dropoff, etc.?
When I’m getting dressed quickly for a lot of “to-do’s,” I typically grab a white or black fitted tee or top like the above and denim. The above outfit is linked here! Easy, effortless, put together.
How do you pose for pictures? As in, what advice do you have for us camera-shy girls who want to look better in pics?
My recommendation would be to practice in the mirror and take mirror selfie photos of yourself. Don’t worry – you can delete them later!
But after you have a few selfie-style photos in different poses, scroll through and see which you like most of yourself.
Yes, I really love it and think it is beautiful, a great size, and incredibly well made. You can see it in the photo below!
Can you share a photo of how you style the open shelves in your home? Links?
I am absolutely not a shelf styling expert. I styled these multiple ways over the span of a year or so before I got to a setup that I’ve left alone for a while. I would look at shelf styling in catalogs and magazines/coffee table books and then try to recreate the same look using pieces I already have.
I don’t have links for the majority of these pieces, but I do have some!
This recipe is from Courtney Kerr! Combine ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate. It’s the best!
COWBOY CAVIAR
3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
3 small cans chopped green chilies
1 bunch green onions
1 ripe tomato, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 TB cilantro
1 TB hot sauce
1 TB worchershire
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups Newman’s Own Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing
Outfits for girls’ trip to Charleston on Labor Day weekend!
I have been in Charleston during the same time of year, and when I tell you I have never sweat so much in my life. It was beautiful but incredibly sweaty. I would focus on breathable, comfortable, and something that won’t show a ton of sweat. Linen options like this or this would be perfect!
Sheets can be so expensive! Are the good ones really worth the investment?
We have Boll & Branch sheets (I love these and these), and while I know they are an investment, I have no doubts. They’re the best, they hold up incredibly well and they make me feel like I’m at a five-star hotel when I crawl into bed. What’s better than that?
Blog post on how to build a capsule wardrobe? I want to but don’t know where to start.
I get asked about capsule wardrobes in every Q&A, but I’ve never explored capsule wardrobes personally. So I’m not very educated on it!
But I did a quick google search and found this article that led me to Candice Tay who might be able to help you out. Itsy Bitsy Indulgences also provides some guidance in capsules.
What prenatal vitamin did you take?
Ritual. You can get 10% off your first three months with Barnes10.
For my body, I’ve been using this 2-hour self-tanner and applying it with a medical glove. I really, really like it.
Dress recommendations for newborn photos?
You can see what I wore in Theo’s newborn photos in this post and this post.
What do you use to make your hair so slick? It always looks perfect but not over product-y.
Thank you! The annoying news: I use nothing. After I wash my hair I use this thickening gel and Moroccan Oil on my ends. Then I air dry. I have naturally straight, fine hair but a good bit of it. I just pull it back and use a velvet scrunchie. If I need to tame baby hair, I use clear mascara.
I’ve been wearing the low bun for years because it works with my face and hair texture. It just happens to currently be a trend, but I do it more for a lazy hack!
Do we all agree that Hudson looks like Dad and Theo looks like Mom?
Hudson is definitely a physical clone of Christian. Not so much Christian’s baby pictures, but they look alike now (to me at least!).
I don’t see myself in Theo as much, but I do see my side of the family. He kind of looks like a combination of my siblings and myself as babies. If you compare Hudson and Theo at the same age, they do not look alike.
However, I do think the boys have a similar smile. And Hudson and Christian have different smiles, so I love that they uniquely share that!
One of the most common emails I’ll get, especially leading up to the holidays, is: “what should my family wear for family photos?”
I don’t know that I’ve ever bought clothes specifically for a holiday card or family photos. Instead, I will thumb through our closets and find pieces I already know fit well, make us feel confident and try to match color schemes. I usually lay everyone’s clothes out on the bed to make sure the fabrics/colors mix together in a coordinating way.
For example, in these photos, I wanted soft solids so they wouldn’t distract from the focus of the photos: our faces! I wanted our expressions to be what drew attention, not our clothes. I stuck to blues, creams, and Christian’s camel sweater.
I prefer family photos to look complementary but not necessarily “matchy-matchy.” A little bit more effortless than intentional.
Another tip for styling family photos: do your research! When Hudson was born, it was cold outside and we took photos in his nursery. Because Theo is in the same nursery, I knew I wanted our family photos with him to feel a little different.
So I looked on social media and Pinterest to find some photos that reflected the style I was looking for. I then showed them to Allie and together we created our own portraits based on the inspiration I showed up with. It really helps to have an idea of what you want the end result to be before getting started. It also keeps the photo session efficient. And when you’re including children, that is essential.
Is there anything about family photos that I missed? Let me know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
