So I get that a themed holiday wish list is perhaps a little too late here… BUT in my book red, white and blue is on theme on summer long! Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day – it all works. So let’s see what you think about these summer picks.
To shop, simply click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage –
I don’t feel that I personally have the body type for long denim shorts like this, but dang… they are SO CUTE. I love the looser fit and raw hem. Maybe, just maybe I’ll give them a try.
I recently got this top in black after keeping my eye on it for quite some time. It is also available in navy and white, and looks so cute with relaxed jeans or you can dress it up with a sleek midi skirt or pair of slacks for an office gig. I think it’s really versatile, especially in a solid color.
I absolutely love this dress, and if I didn’t already have way too many white dresses in my closet, I would purchase it in a heartbeat. Perfection in every sense! It would look great with these designer dupe slides.
Some of you might remember this top from this Instagram post, and it is so beautiful in person. I have a long torso, so it is a little short in length on me. However it works with high waisted jeans and for someone who doesn’t have a super long torso, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Lastly, Amazon has so many great statement earrings (and these sunglasses that I have in both black and white) that would be fantastic for summer or a summer holiday! I am loving these and these and both come in a variety of colors.
Thank you so much for reading! Friday’s highlights coming soon – XO –
If you’ve been around here for a little while, you know I love a midi dress. It looks great with any kind of shoe (sandal, flats, sneakers, ankle booties, taller boots) and I find them incredibly comfortable and easy. Summer midi dresses with tie shoulder straps and pockets are the cherry on top.
When I saw this dress at Shopbop, I thought it was so sweet. Almost retro, like a dress my mom would have worn 30 years ago. The pockets are really nice and deep, and while I’m not pregnant, I do think it would be a great dress for someone in their first or second trimester as well.
These pink heels must also be mentioned because I bought them on sale years ago, and they are so well made. They make me just as happy now as they did then! A chic pair of Loeffler Randall heels is an investment, but they’ll take you far. I also have these and they are so so so fun. You can see them styled in this post.
I sized up one size in the dress based on the review listed, and I think it was the right call. There isn’t stretch in the chest and I didn’t want it to feel too tight with the button detail. Linking a few similar styles I’m loving from Shopbop at the bottom of this post!
dress – Shopbop (I sized up one size), also love this one, this one and this one | similar heels, also have and love this pair | love these earrings and these | similar bracelets here, here and here
I had intended to post this roundup last week but… life got in the way so we’re a little later than expected. But we’re here now, baby!
I grew up going to 30A with my family every summer for as far back as I can remember. I actually worked at the Watersound Beach Club the summer after my sophomore year of college! So I’ve loved this area for so long as it holds so many special memories.
The past 10 years, my dad has rented a big house for all 15 of us. 7 kids under 9, three sets of tired parents, and one set of incredibly generous grandparents who book the house and feed all of their offspring which requires regular visits to the grocery store. I don’t know how much longer we will all be able to fit in one house, so it’s really special to enjoy it while it lasts! You can find houses available to rent here.
We skipped last year’s visit as it didn’t feel worth the risk with so many physicians in the family who didn’t have access to the vaccine yet. But this year it was back on, and after skipping last summer I appreciated that fluffy sand and warm teal water more than ever. I love the California and Georgia beaches but they are just not the same as Florida water and sand. Not even close!
PRIME DAY is here and it’s going to be two days of epic deals and there are even live musical performances from Billy Eilish and Kid Cudi… seriously.
I wanted to share some of my top picks in fashion, including a few items included this year that were hot hawt haute last year. Some of my favorite brands included that I’ll be shopping from are Amazon Essentials, Levi’s, Daily Ritual, Samsonite and CRZ Yoga.
Lets dive in! To shop, simply click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
Unsurprisingly, Levi’s is going to have some major deals. I have too many pairs of Levi’s in my denim drawers to count. They’re so classic you truly can’t go wrong. Some of my top picks are these jeans (I have the “worn out” shade, have stretch and run TTS) and these crisp white jeans.
This sweatshirt + sweatpant combo was a hot ticket item last year, and I’m glad to see it back again this year! They also offer a sweatshort version. I bought these leggings in my usual fitness size and they are amazing. They have thigh pockets on each side and have a super high waist. I can’t believe they’re only $25! I also ordered these, but I think it’s better to size down so I plan to return them.
I think this would be such a great, super soft maternity dress, and this dress has so many color combos was super popular last year.
This sweater dress and this oversized turtleneck sweater were big hits last year, and I think they’re going to be hot again this year. I love all the variations of this classic crewneck sweater, and I bought this jersey tank in peach and it’s sooo cute with blue or white jeans. I think I’m going to need more colors.
When it comes to tees, there’s not much more bang for your buck than jersey blends 2-for-1 in black and white for $26. I love these nude strappy block heels for an everyday heel you can actually wear for long periods of time. These black sunglasses were a top seller last year and I expect the same this year! I’ve had this little designer zebra dish for many, many years and can’t believe they now make a dupe for under $10.
Now is a great time to get a suitcase for a deal, and believe it or not, you can even get a discount right now on diamonds. You read that right, diamonds.
I know it’s 105 degrees outside so you’re thinking, “coats? Has she lost it?” BUT, last year Prime Day was a little later in the year and so many amazing coats were top sellers. So even though this requires truly thinking ahead, some of these pieces are too hard to pass up.
I have a faux leather-style puffer from last year and I wore it constantly. Which is why you know I’m loving this patent puffer and this hooded one.
I’m all about green and this casual jacket and this cozy one are A+ in my book. And while we’re talkin’ cozy, this jacket is impossible to beat.
Christian has a Patagonia jacket like this one and they look nearly identical.
I’m going to be keeping this blog post updated today and tomorrow! I’ll also be sharing some items I have included in the sale on Instagram Stories. Thanks so much for reading and let me know what you snag! XO –
It’s Friday! It was good to get back in the rhythm this week, and I also took half a day off work to spend some sweet one-on-one time with Hudson. I used to have “summer Fridays” in my corporate job. So this year I’m trying to extend that same seasonal treat to myself. Just time to shut the computer, put down my phone, enjoy the sunshine and do something that I wouldn’t normally get to do on a weekday. Like picking blackberries in the yard, swinging on the swing set or drawing on the aqua doodle with Hudson (these things are amazing!).
This week I unboxed a few goodies that really made my head turn. I now have two Ouai fragrances, Dean Street (after a street in London) and Rue St. Honoré (a street in Paris). Both really blew me away because they are so intoxicating. Amazing for $56, a round of applause! I also got to try many new shades of Gucci’s nourishing lipstick and am loving both shades Call It a Day and Linnet Stone. They really feel more like lip balm than lipstick.
This week I watched The Housewife and the Hustler and it blew me away. It was tough to watch, and things do not look great for Tom and Erika. I am also hoping to watch In the Heights this weekend. I saw the musical many years ago, but don’t remember it in detail. Christian and I saw Hamilton live, but the made for TV version didn’t hold our attention. So I’m curious is this will be the same way or not? Was anyone else that way?
Tuesday also marked the second appointment (the first was delayed due to production) to have our new front doors installed and they arrived… the wrong size. Which is especially concerning considered they were custom-made!? We’ve been working on this since February, so I was definitely disappointed and am not quite sure where we’ll go from here. However I managed to channel my inner calm and somehow was oddly zen about it. A mix of my expectations of others getting a lower and also just being too busy to put much energy into being frustrated. So… we’ll see what ends up shaking out, but I’m so thankful we aren’t remodeling an entire house because I have discovered it is not for me.
I’m off to a reformer pilates class for the first time in two weeks. I’ve been doing mat pilates and other exercises, but it doesn’t feel the same. I need that deep stretching!! It always feels as good on my back as a massage does, and the effects last longer for me.
I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. If you need any ideas, I have a gift guide here. When in doubt, I’ve found baked goods or a big breakfast area always happily received! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Today we aren’t talking practical, we’re talking a little over-the-top and a LOT of fun. I once heard on a podcast that your child’s childhood is also your own second childhood. A chance to play with the toys and do the things you either wish you had done or your parents did with you and you simply don’t remember.
Running through sprinklers, riding bikes around the neighborhood, playing kitchen or reading books by flashlight in a tent. Now is the time to bring back the childlike wonder!
So we are going to dive into 8 toys I think have been worth the splurge and why below. Let’s go –
A few months ago we added this beautiful toy kitchen and refrigerator to our play area, and Hudson loves it even more than I thought. We have slowly added toys like this waffle maker and salad kit, and we both have fun playing with it together. And this bread basket!? Come on. Adorable.
Before I was even pregnant, I remember seeing this table and chairs online. I thought it was so cute and such a great little play area for little ones. So as soon as Hudson could walk, we ordered it and he will sit here and have his snacks or play with toys. As he gets older his feet touch the ground (!!), I know we will use it more and more.
I can’t begin to explain how beautiful this fabric is in person. The tassels alone are such a fun addition! There are also interior pockets to store things like books or toys, and a little tasseled window on the opposite side. We plan to string some lines along the inside so we can read nighttime books in the tent.
This was a thoughtful gift from a dear family friend, and it used to be in Hudson’s room. He loved sitting in it there, but when I read an article about how small children are often looking for a place to sit, it made me want to bring it down to our main family room. And the article was right! He will pull it out to sit and watch Sesame Street or sit and drink his milk. It makes so much sense and because we don’t have any poufs or anything on the main floor, so I love having his little chair.
We have logged quite the amount of hours in this chair and continue to sit and rock in it daily. Outside of the crib and changing table, I would say a great glider is top of list for a nursery.
I should have ordered these items 6 months ago, but as soon as the weather warmed up, I wanted Hudson to get in on the bike-riding action. He is a brave little guy, and I knew it would love it!
He rarely sits still, but singing songs, swinging and bike riding are the things that always enthrall him. We now ride bikes all of the time because he so happily goes along for the ride. A+!
We tried to get away with not having a high chair for quite some time. Babies aren’t really eating that much on their own until they ditch the bottles at one, so it didn’t feel necessary yet. But around 15 months I realized… I was wrong. We needed a high chair with a larger tray that would help him not accidentally drop so much and keep him safely strapped in.
I love this Lalo high chair because it’s both beautiful and functional. We don’t keep it in our kitchen, rather in a little nook right outside the kitchen. Hudson will actually go over to it and reach up, signaling to us he’s hungry and wants to sit and eat. It comes in several colors, and my sister actually also got one for her baby girl!
Christian’s parents got this little Dutch-made trike that converts to a bike for Hudson for Christmas. Now that I’m looking at it, it’s probably time we go ahead and convert it for him! We keep it inside and he will zip around the downstairs. I actually attached a white wooden crate I had with zip ties to give him a basket, but they sell this adorable one as well!
And that’s my list for now. Are these items necessary and must-haves? Of course not. BUT they make our lives a little happier and a lot more fun. So for me? They’re totally worth it.
If you have any toddler toys or accessories that are worth the splurge, I’d love to hear! A few things on my toddler wish list are a little mini Dyson vacuum and a motorized car or vespa.
– pulling out this beautiful maxi dress for a trip to the beach (I sized up one size) –
– and so many palm fronds, my favorite –
– Hudson’s power walk when I offer him a cookie –
– an attempt at a family photo (dress is Tanya Taylor from last year) –
– the sweetest baby swim sets from Sun House Children’s –
We are rounding out our family trip to 30A. We take these big family trips each summer and this year has been a little extra special because we had to postpone last year’s trip due to covid. So we were able to push back our trip a year and stay at the same house, which is really fun!
It’s been extra chaotic, as expected, with 7 kids under 9 (and one birthday while we were here!), but I’ve managed to snap iPhone photos along the way so I hope to put together a camera roll post with more snippets of the week. But here are a few favorites. Hudson being able to walk has made this beach trip much easier and more enjoyable. Just chasing him around on the boardwalks and grassy lawn is so fun.
I put an out of office on this week and disconnected more than usual, it’s been really nice. Truthfully I’ve enjoyed the golf cart and bike rides as much as the beach and pool. There’s nothing that says summer like biking around in a swimsuit, drying off from a day in the water. I mean… that’s maximum happiness for me.
I’ve been binging Mare of Easttown late at night in bed with my AirPods and it is SO GOOD. If you’ve watched, let me know! I’m halfway into episode 7 and there are twists and turns all throughout. Kate Winslet is amazing.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! If you’re looking for Father’s Day gift ideas, I dedicated a full gift guide to it here. XO –
It’s the weekend!! This week has been a busy one filled with appointments, deadlines and emails in preparation to take next week off. I so rarely fully disconnect from work for more than a day or so at a time, but 2020 taught me how important it is to allow myself that time. So you won’t see any blog content next week other than (hopefully) a Friday’s Five with some beachy photos!
I have been so pleased with the beautiful quality of this children’s play tent and cushion. The fabric is so stunning, and Hudson loves crawling inside and closing himself up inside. He loves to be cozy with his sleep sack, stuffed animals, book and blankets. So it doesn’t surprise me that he loves having that little space to himself. I also may have recently purchased this toy salad set and cash register that I honestly just wanted to play with myself!
We are heading to the beach soon for a trip that we intended to take in 2020 but we pushed back due to covid. So 14 of us will be in a big house together with 7 kids…. and it should be eventful. I can’t wait to see Hudson at the beach now that it’s warm and he can really play. I know he is going to have so much fun!
Other than that, I am really trying to take time to relax, live my life away from my desk a little bit more, be present with Hudson and spend more days off of my phone. It’s something I really have to be intentional about or I will just truly work through my life. And that’s not what I want to do! Another one of the blessings that was gained from 2020, setting more firm boundaries in order to have more day-to-day happiness. This summer I plan to take summer Friday’s,” which I haven’t done since my corporate job.
If you haven’t had a few days off the grid lately, I would really encourage you to consider doing the same! Thank you so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend – XO –
This year Father’s Day is June 20th, but it’s still a good time to start brainstorming some ideas of what you think your dad and/or significant other might like! Guys are typically challenging to shop for, particular a guy you’ve been shopping for for years and years.
To shop, simply click directly on the item or find it’s correlated number below the collage –
When it comes to buying for guys, I have a few places I’ll visit first like Nordstrom, J.Crew, Mark & Graham and Tommy John. These are places that I have routinely found winning gifts for Christian, and a few items I spotted this year I think would be great gifts!
Kiehl’s is one of the skincare brands that C has repeatedly purchased from, and I think they are great for sensitive skin with little to no fragrance. Bose speakers or any kind of speaker (Sonos speakers are also a big hit around here) is a man’s love language. Tommy John has a second skin line that has some of the softest pieces with great longevity. They have pajamas, loungewear and even polos.
Speaking of aprons, I’ve heard a lot of positive things about these mini pizza ovens. Does anyone have one? I read some of the reviews, and I’m intrigued!
I got Christian these sandals for his birthday and he’s been wearing them nonstop. I think they look so great with jeans or shorts and match everything. I don’t know if these sneakers are Christian or my dad but how cute if they were!? I mean… I kind of want my own pair.
If you have any winning gifts, please share with the class. I’m always looking for ideas! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Diving into this month’s top sellers that include a handful of major Amazon wins, a $20 splash of leopard I most definitely do not regret and the oversized Malibu sweatshirt that I have worn multiple days in a row without regret.
I haven’t put together a “top 10” post in quite some time, but I love taking the time to step back and see which items you guys really connected with. Let’s get into it!
– installing a custom Roman shade in the kitchen and loving the way it turned out –
– the most beautiful floral surprise from my friends at Sasha Nicholas –
– bringing two of these iron shelving pieces back from Mississippi for our home –
– finally receiving this little vase I ordered in March –
– this year’s hydrangeas seriously peacocking –
I hope everyone has some fun or relaxing plans ahead of them for the long weekend! I’ve kind of felt on vacation this whole week because I didn’t come back from Mississippi until mid-week and have been unpacking all of the treasures I brought with me before my parents sell their house.
It’s really nice to be home. I already miss seeing Hudson with my parents, but we will see them at the beach in a little over a week so we will all be reunited soon!
I wanted to include some of my favorite sales happening this weekend! I will continue to keep this post updated with new sales I discover, and you can find some additional MDW picks in this post.
Thank you so much for reading, thank you to everyone who has loved ones who have served for our country, and I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend! XO –
I can’t believe Memorial Day weekend is coming this weekend, and I’ve already got my American flag flying out front in preparation! Personally, I think red, white and blue feels right all summer long, but I wanted to round up some of my favorites for this week’s wish list.
I plan on sharing holiday weekend sales, and a few that have already started you can find below. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage –
How cute is this bag? I love the size and think it’s so cute for a summer bag or beach bag. On that note, this $38 straw visor, linen cap and this red hat are *chef’s kiss.* I also love the simplicity of these $50 sandals and these sneakers.
Annie Selke has a major sale happening this weekend, and CBL girls have early access with the code KBMEMORIAL21 for 20% off. This is a special sale that is pretty significant for those who love fabulous rugs, and I had to include this Hugo rug that we have in two kitchen runners. You can see them in last week’s Friday’s Five here, and we love love love them. More of their rugs in our home in this post!
And what is a summer holiday without chic grilling accessories and festive serving pieces? I love this little set (much prettier than what we currently use) and I’m a big Juliska fan, so this platter definitely caught my eye. Pair them with a classic apron, and you can’t go wrong.
I just got back in town last night, so I’ve got to get back to unpacking all of my childhood gems I brought back with me! It is always good to be home, but I already miss my parents. So does Hudson – he enjoys the attention a little too much. Thank you so much for reading! XO –
