This week’s wish list is all about spring styles I have my eye on and that is usually a great spring/summer dress, gold jewelry and some neutral sandals. Let’s jump in, shall we?
To shop, simply click directly on the item below or find its associated number below the collage.
I love this dress in black – I have it and it also looks so fab belted or with a belt bag. This mini summer handbag is so cute and looks almost vintage, which makes it even more fab. I saw these heels on another blogger and they looked so chic. They’re a look-for-less of a more expensive pair, and I think they are really well done! I also haven’t had a pair of Tory Burch sandals in so long but I can’t get over how cute this pair is.
This keychain allows you to not touch door handles, and I’m not sure why I don’t already have one. This headband is on sale for $35 and looks 3x as expensive. I also love this chain for glasses or even a mask – so fun!
This dress is on sale and I think it is SUCH a great grab! The kind of dress you can put on with a low ponytail and sandals and instantly look put together. Add some classic chunky gold hoops or sleek drop earrings, and you’re stylin’ girl.
What have you added to your closet so far this season? You know I wanna hear! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Six months later… I’m finally sharing our full bathroom remodel! I’ve gotten many a message from you guys about when this would be posted, and I apologize for taking my sweet, sweet time. When we first moved from our 1,000 sq. foot apartment in San Francisco to this much larger home in Georgia, I was so fortunate to partner with brands on some of the room reveals in our house.
You can find them all in the “home” category of this site, but some examples are our dining room, living room, Hudson’s room, the den and bar, my closet and our bedroom. Because we partnered on them, we were on tight timelines and it can be hard to decorate so much of your home in a snap! We knew when we purchased this home that we would be gutting our master bathroom and starting from scratch, so I promised myself I would take my time making it feel “just right” before sharing it.
Hilariously (and appropriately), I have added some art since I photographed this in March, so even with six months I still ended up changing it around. But alas, we are here today with the big reveal!
You can find some “before” photos below. It was… something to see. Truthfully one of the only rooms in the entire house that hasn’t been renovated or updated in the past 5-8 years. We took everything out and without knocking out any walls and completely transformed the space. I am in love with the result!
Some of the biggest things I learned in this renovation that I will be sure to stay on top of next time are:
1. Have regular budget check-ins with your contractor.
Looking back, I should have scheduled a budget touch base with our lead contractor every Friday. That way we could routinely discuss where we stood, what surprises came up and what our options were.
Which leads me to…
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for estimates and options.
As a lifelong renter, I’ve only been a homeowner for less than two years. So I’ve never done any kind of renovation. In any project, hiccups and dilemmas are going to be discovered as the project moves along, and there will be repairs and additional expenses added to the list. I think it’s pretty safe to say… you will likely go over budget. But at the end of the day, monitoring how over budget you go is up to you to stay on top of. No one is going to care about your wallet as much as you are!
Our finished cost was 58% over the original estimate. And that was largely due to additional tile labor costs, a surprise subfloor replacement during high lumber costs (unavoidable), unexpectedly expensive French doors, etc. It would have been wise for me to ask for estimates and options instead of just saying, “sure, ok” and then being surprised when the numbers rolled in once decisions were already in motion.
Live and learn, that’s on me. Big picture, I’m so pleased with the results, I expected to go over budget and I would still do it all over again. But I definitely learned along the way.
3. If you’re going to do it, do it right. And that means hiring a designer!
Without a doubt, this bathroom would not look like this without the guidance of Theresa Costas Design. Theresa just has great taste, period, but she came in with knowledge and experience. She knew where the shower heads should be mounted, where to splurge and where to save and how to elevate the space with small tips and a refined eye. It also made me so much more confident in my choices to have her opinion on not only the big ticket items like tile and countertops but also the details like fixtures, hardware and sconces.
When you renovate a space, you’re going to spend money regardless. You might as well be spending it well. I am so, so glad I trusted her when I was hesitant (black vanities, marble subway tile over ceramic tile, mixing metals, etc.). Without a doubt, she was right, and if I could go back in time I would have never questioned any of her choices in the first place.
If you have a lesson learned in a renovation experience or have a project you’re thrilled to complete – I would love to hear about it! Our next big project are new front doors being installed… tomorrow. I am SO excited!
Thank you so much for reading, and you can find more home reveals and rooms in the “home” category of this site. XO –
– using this bag as the perfect catch-all beach bag last week –
Hip hip hooray we made it to Friday! It was really nice to be home this week, and I loved soaking up some extra time with Hudson after spending our first week away from him last week. I even kept him all to myself on Monday, despite the work I needed to do. I won’t deny, waking up on my own time with no baby monitor was some kind of refreshing. However did I talk about Hudson all day long, watch videos of him and watch him sleep and wake up from the Miku monitor every day of vacation? Yes.
I am excited to go to Scott’s Antique Markets for the first time this weekend with my sister and sister-in-law. I don’t think any of us have ever been, and it’s going to be an experience. I have only heard amazing things. I can’t wait to see what it’s like. My SIL advised us to arrive with list of items you’re on the hunt for because she’s been told it can get overwhelming. GREAT advice, and so far I have… one thing on my list. We’ll see how many coffees we need throughout the day!
In my most exciting news, this is our last week with our current front doors. We are getting long awaited front doors next week, and I am so excited! I knew when we bought this house that there were a few updates we would need to do, one being our master bathroom (reveal coming Monday – finally!) and another being replacing our existing front door for both functionality and appearance. So I will be sharing before and afters for both. I think it’s going to be pretty significant, and I can’t wait to see these door knobs installed. I love a good before and after!
I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend and Mother’s Day! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
I know you’ve probably heard about this pasta before, but I have been eating this probably a little too often lately, and I wanted to share how I make it!
Apparently supermodel Gigi Hadid shared her recipe for spicy vodka pasta on Instagram Stories last year, and it’s been all over the internet since. And it is crazy easy and wildly delicious. You could add a protein or a green side salad, but we usually just toast some garlic bread and call it a weekday dinner.
I usually double the recipe and half the red pepper flakes and still have a plenty spicy pasta with leftovers that warm up really well. When I made this for the whole family I eliminated the red pepper flakes altogether and Hudson loved it.
I’ve also made this with other types of pasta, and I really do think shells is the best way to go. The way it scoops up the sauce it’s just… *chef’s kiss.*
Ingredients (serves 4):
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1 – 2 green onions
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup pasta water
2 tablespoons vodka
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lb shells pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (fresh grated if you really want to go for it)
Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings: fresh shaved parmesan, chopped basil
Directions:
Heat the olive oil, garlic and onion in a large saucepan and cook until soft. I used my MacKenzie-Childs pan that I love so much for pastas or broth-y dishes.
Add the tomato paste and cook until it blended well and slightly darker in color. Add the heavy cream and vodka, cook until evaporated. Add in red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your preferred spice level) and salt & pepper to taste. Remove sauce from heat.
Cook pasta separately and save 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Add the pasta water and butter to the sauce. Once blended, add in your cooked pasta. Lastly, add in your parmesan cheese and stir it up.
Top with more salt and pepper to taste and freshly shredded parmesan and chopped basil. And tell me it’s not crazy good!
If you try it, I would love to know what you think! Thanks so much for reading, and for more recipes be sure to visit the “food + drink” category of this site under “home.” Happy eating! XO –
I’m asking for the same thing I asked for last year. Breakfast in bed, a homemade card (bonus points if there are handprints) and a happy day with no diaper changes. That’s my perfect day! I have the most delicious pasta recipe coming this week – excited to be back in the office. Hope everyone has a great start to the week! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
– discovering these Japanese roses in the back of our yard –
– spending a few days in Jekyll Island –
– and arriving in Sea Island for the first time –
We have been on vacation this week (without the babe), and wow – it has been complete zen. In fact, I feel like we have had so much relaxation time I almost feel uncomfortable with how much time I have. I have been napping on pool chairs, in the bed by 10PM and reading 80+ pages of books a day. Who is this person? REFRESHING. I now fully connect with why my parents frequently went on vacation… without us. No judgement!
But I’ll be honest… I can’t wait to see that baby boy. We creep on his crib monitor daily, watching him sleep and snuggle his stuffed bunny. We only have a few more days in paradise, so I want to be sure to soak it up!
I will be transparent that half our trip in Jekyll, while still lovely and plenty enjoyable, was operating at full capacity but had no services. No pool staff, no room service or housekeeping, no shuttles, no bell hop – there were hardly any employees. Yet they’re still charging full rate. And I’m pretty sure I got food poisoning from a salad in Jekyll… so that was less exciting.
The second half of our trip at Sea Island felt much more relaxing and appropriate with mask policies and partial housekeeping (water replenishment, fresh towels, etc) while still respecting covid restrictions. So if you are looking to travel right now, I would recommend asking about the services offered or not offered ahead of time. Because I think some places are worth the investment right now (Sea Island – yes!) and for others it might be worth waiting to visit until they are operating under full staff.
Everything is really blooming in Georgia right now, so we plan to head back today and spend a little bit more time with Christian’s parents before they return to Mississippi. We have a Derby party with friends this weekend, and I am so excited! I don’t know know much about the Derby, but I have a Kentucky girlfriend in Athens, and I look forward to seeing her in her Derby element!
This week’s wish list comes from coastal Georgia, so it feels appropriate we are focusing on swim! Some of these items I packed with me this week, but one thing is pretty consistent – I love a solid.
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage –
Many of these came by way of Amazon which were great because they were last-minute add ons that shipped quickly! I brought this coverup in white and it’s so cute open or buttoned. I also have these sunglasses in black, but the white pair is in my cart. They look so much more expensive than $15! This swimsuit looks like a cuter version of an Amazon scalloped two piece I bought in two colors last summer. I love the thicker shoulder straps!
This basket handbag is super cute and would go with all vacation looks. I love the sleek lines of this one piece, and this has been my beach bag so far this week and I feel like it’s the perfect size.
When I saw this dress on Amazon, I had to know if it was as cute and comfortable as it looked online.
And an update: it is. It comes in two colors, it’s under $45 and super soft. I actually plan on buying the camel as well now that I know that it’s such a great grab! I paired it with this croissant bag and these earrings, also conveniently from Amazon.
The reviews enticed me to order a size down from my usual size, and I would agree that’s the way to go. I also think if you were pregnant you could size up in this dress and it would totally work. In the winter this would look amazing with over the knee boots and maybe even with a turtleneck bodysuit layered underneath. And then you could carry the black croissant bag! Which, confession… I might also have.
Let me just show you one of the prettiest pairs of pumps in my closet. These Sarah Flint Parker 85 sheer mesh heels make a statement on their own, but I have some fun facts to back up their fabulousness.
They are a 3.3″ heel which feels sassy but still comfortable for several hours of wear. Like all Sarah Flint heels and pumps, they come with anatomical arch support and 6mm of extra footbed padding. You’ve gotta love womens shoes designed by a woman, am I right? They’re handcrafted in Italy in the same factories as Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo. In fact, When you order a pair ofSarah Flint shoes, you’ll receive a small card with the name of the artisan who put the finishing touches on your pair.
The black piping around the edges of this shoe style is called “french piping,” and is a laborious process where each artisan has to hand cut, sew and stitch the piping around the mesh. It’s those kinds of details that really make you appreciate the art of a beautiful pair of heels like this. It’s truly art!
It’s also worth noting that they come in black and navy as well as in a shorter heel height and a flats version, which I really love. Keep scrolling for a more detailed look of these beauties and a promo code!
This isn’t the first time I have told you guys that my go-to shoe preference has really changed over the past year and a half. If I’m really being honest, it probably started in San Francisco with all of the hills and walking everywhere. Followed by having an itty-bitty baby and of course covid flipping all of our worlds upside down. All of this leading to prioritizing stylish flats over heels. And much to my delight, I discovered that there are some seriously beautiful options out there, especially at Neiman Marcus.
Just because you’re opting for a sandal or sneaker over a heel does not mean your look has to be any less chic! Today I am sharing two brand new styles from Stuart Weitzman, both available at Neiman Marcus, and how I would style them during the week.
First we have these Goldie Pearl-Embellished Cheetah-Printed Suede Flat Sandals. The pearls, you guys. How fun is that? They also come in solid colors here, but the cheetah print is exclusive to Neiman Marcus which makes them a little extra special. I would wear this outfit to meet friends for lunch, take a work meeting or even a casual dinner with Hudson and Christian.
And next we have Goldie Pearl-Embellished Leather Low-Top Sneakers. I love the look of sneakers with skirts and dresses. The mix of feminine and sporty will never get old! These have the unique pearl detailing as well of course, and I love that the pearls are all different sizes throughout the design.
This is what I’m more likely to wear on a workday, running errands, or working a short day and taking the afternoon off to have an adventure with Hudson. As the weather gets warmer and warmer, I think they would look so pretty with a floral dress or even a wide leg cropped jean and tee. I did size down 1/2 a size in this sneaker as they are pretty roomy.
Do you own any pearl styles like this and if not, is it something you could see yourself trying? You can find all of these Stuart Weitzman styles at Neiman Marcus, along with tons of additional sandal and sneaker options that won’t compromise your style.
I’m sharing some video close-ups on Instagram, so be sure to check there if you want to see some more details! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
This dress definitely has some similar vibes to this dress, but I feel like this feels more suited for work, church or business meetings. It has some stronger boss lady energy!
I love pairing linen blazers with denim or white pants, but they can also be a great layering piece with dresses. If you have a corporate job, they can also make a feminine dress feel more business appropriate.
You can see other ways I paired blazers with dresses here, here and here.
– light pink azaleas blooming and taking my breath away –
– these $13 Amazon earrings being a major win, come in a ton of colors! –
– the cutest yoga mat I’ve ever seen from Jollie –
It has been a beautiful week in Georgia, with so much sunshine that I have been ditching my work to get outside and find any reason to work in the yard or garden. I knew I would love having a yard when we left our previous apartment to move into our first home. But I had no idea that I would be googling what every plant is (I love the free app: Picture This), making “to buy” lists for Lowe’s and Home Depot and routinely watering plants and filling my three bird feeders. It’s definitely surprised Christian, as I’ve turned out to be more of the yard maintenance person than he is – go figure.
We set up Hudson’s play kitchen from Milton + Goose this week, and I don’t know who’s loving it more – Hudson or myself. He got this mini kitchen toy for Christmas from my parents and he loves it. So of course now I’m trying to restrain myself from buying these toy eggs, this salad kit or this pizza making set. I have a theory that it’s good for parents to also buy the toys they always wish they’d had because it means they’re more likely to play with them with the kids. And that’s a win all around, right?
I watched the movie, The Stand In, on Netflix this week and it was such a unique concept – I really liked it. I cannot imagine feeling like I had no privacy out and about in the world. I’m sure any celebrity who watched it thought, “man… that might be nice.”
The Shopbop sale is ending soon so be sure to snag what you have your eye on before it ends! You can find my picks here.
I worked a good bit last weekend, so this weekend I’m hoping to spend some time outside, put my phone in a drawer and zen out. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, and sometimes just turning off the electronics can help with a reset. Thank you so much for reading and I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend! XO –
