This week is one of my personal favorites..a mix of all the pretty things I’ve seen online and am loving. Along with my own personal summer bucket list at the bottom!
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I can’t get over these slingbacks. I love them and keep *almost* purchasing them. The mini-heeled version is fabulous too!
If I had any travel planned with Christian, I’d be wearing this dress to dinner.
I am loving the shape and size of this cooler. I feel like we never need a big cooler, but just something compact and functional. Add it to my wish list along with this cup.
I ordered these sandals after seeing how wildly similar they are to these designer versions. Fingers crossed they show up as beautiful as they look!
As for my own summer bucket list, it’s looking a little something like…
What’s on your bucket list? Let’s make it realistic. There’s no point in setting ourselves up for failure, right? I have to remind myself that Christian and I both continue to work throughout the summer, so the schedule isn’t going to be flipped upside down if you feel me.
Thank you so much for checking in and reading – xo –
We don’t use our formal dining room often, and it feels like wasted space. My thought is that I could keep the dining room as is but set up the table more like a desk. If we needed it for dining, I could just move my computers into our bedroom.
Turns out, it’s been so convenient to be downstairs. I love the view of the windows from the dining room, and I think this might need to be a more permanent change.
3. This has made me have the wild hair to change up the wallpaper. Whoops. I have the nature-inspired mural coming that I’m really excited about! I will share more details once the installation begins.
4. I binge-watched Selling Sunset‘s new season over the weekend, I think I’m over this series. The framing of the constant chase of ego and money is starting to feel a little sad to me. Does anyone else feel that way? I know many shows are like this, but the “reality TV” element of this one makes it feel extra depressing.
But I did watch RHONJ wedding special and part 1 of the VPR finale and that was a great time.
5. The pool has started a soft open and I’m gearing up for one on two under 3.5 years old at the pool. Prayers are appreciated!
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and stays safe and cozy. Thank you so much for stopping by and checking in. Talk soon xo –
I couldn’t think of a great theme for this week, so instead I decided to share what I’ve been perusing myself in the LTK app. Man… when I start scrolling over there I’m in trouble.
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage –
If I didn’t have a similar pair of brown sandals I would save for this sandal splurge. I keep seeing so many gals wearing sneakers like this with classic denim and even though I don’t think the look will serve my body… I still keep thinking about them. What do you guys think about these retro chunkier-style sneakers? I tend to stick with classic chucks when I feel like having a throwback moment.
I ordered two of these black diamond sisal rugs for our front and back doors because I couldn’t help myself. Do I need them? No. But I can’t wait to get them in. Love this one too.
I might be putting this diamond wrap ring on my birthday wish list. I really don’t need it but I really love it.
Thanks so much for checking in and reading! Talk soon xo –
1) I watched BEEF this week on Netflix. I often watch stuff with around 65% attention while I’m working on my computer. This show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s so original and layered. It’s funny, intense, suspenseful, and more. And definitely hard to stop watching once you start.
2) I made this shawarma bowl for Christian and myself and it was SO good. I don’t think Trader Joe’s carries cauliflower tabbouleh anymore, but I instead used chopped red onion/cucumber/bell pepper and squeezed some lemon juice. After I baked the chicken thighs, I shredded the chicken. The marinade provides liquid and flavor that doesn’t really require an additional sauce other than hummus and lemon juice.
I served it on brown rice with pita bread. Lots of flavor – we will make it again. I’m sure you could add to it and make it even better!
3) I spent an afternoon working on my computer on a breakfast tray in bed. Honestly felt so luxurious. Highly recommend.
4) Hudson and I are featured in a commercial for StitchFix that some of you may see on TV! I am hoping it will get added to YouTube so I can share it with you guys. It was challenging but rewarding working with a 3-year-old. Hudson has frequently asked me, “hey mom – remember when we worked together? I liked that.”
It would be cuter if he hadn’t been so *challenging* to work with on said shoot day. Toddlers!
5) Christian and I watched A Man Called Otto, and it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. It was a little more depressing than I felt the trailer led on. But it was definitely a great reminder of the importance of relationships. Not just romantic, but friendships with people within your community of all ages. It only enriches life.
In one scene, Tom Hanks’s character said, “Our friends said we were like night and day. My life was black and white before I met Sonja. She was the color.” And Christian rested his hand on my arm with a sweet look. I hope that memory locks in.
Thanks so much for reading and checking in. I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend! xo –
I bought these heels and this dress from The Nat Note x Dillards collaboration and love both. The dress especially looks so cheerful and luxe in person, and I know the heels will go with everything this spring and summer.
We have this sofa in our living room and absolutely love it. It’s beautiful and comfortable and we opted for Sunbrella fabric, making it extra durable.
I know design pros say these egg chairs are no longer cool because they’ve been a bit overdone, but man, we love them. We also have a three-seat sofa outside and so rarely sit on it. Usually, at least two of us are cozied up in this big egg chair. It’s SO comfortable.
I have these $50 heels in three colors. They’re the best bang for your buck.
I can’t believe how comfortable this wireless bra is. This bra is SO GOOD. Trust me.
2) Ashley Robertson recommended this $33 maxi dress, so I bought two and can’t wait to get them in. I think they’re the kind of dress you can live in during months of Southern heat.
3) I found this Gwyneth Paltrow interview highly fascinating. I loved hearing Brad Pitt sounds as dreamy as we all envision him to be! It also made me really respect how Gwyneth really sounds like someone who is able able to embrace change and new life chapters with gratitude and positivity. I admire that.
4) Yesterday I had a glass of wine with lunch and worked outside on my patio. It was low-key magical. Highly recommend.
5) I ordered these shoes and they’re every bit as wonderful as I thought they would be. When I first saw them, I thought they were designer. Turns out they’re not but they definitely look it.
I made this white bean chicken chili (I sub the black beans for white beans), cornbread and this arugula salad for a friend this week. I made the same thing for our family and man – it is so good. And incredibly easy.
Thank you so much for checking in and reading! xo –
I placed a BIG order from H&M yesterday because I wanted to get some fresh linen casual pieces for Christian. I saw they had an awesome collection of linen right now which inspired this post!
This is the kind of stuff I live in during the summer months in Georgia. Southern humidity is not a joke! To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I have been a longtime fan of MacKenzie-Childs. I’ve shared pieces we have and love before in this post as well as their headquarters in this post, but I grew up admiring the creative designs and unique pieces. There’s no one else like them. They stand out for being original and the opposite of blending in.
And you know I love that.
I have always gravitated toward the classic courtly check collection pieces. Not only is it a little bit more natural than the other collections, but as a fan of the brand, it is so classically MacKenzie-Childs.
Below are some of my favorite courtly check pieces in our home. Links to the exact pieces are at the bottom of the post!
What I love most is that I didn’t even take all of these photos on the same day. I took them slowly over the span of a week because I love how easily we incorporate these pieces into the daily come-and-go. I once saw a CBL girl comment “she actually uses her courtly check kettle!” and it made me laugh. But you should try to use all the beautiful things in your home! If you wait for the “special occasion,” you won’t get to enjoy it nearly as much.
I’ll be sharing some video content tomorrow of a few favorite pieces, so check that out on Instagram! Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. If you have a MacKenzie-Childs tea kettle or a favorite piece or collection yourself, please share! xo –
The first Friday’s Five in a while! I’ve been working on some fun website content that I’m excited to share with you guys in the next week.
We have finally completely finished Christian’s closet organization install with Modular Closets (KATHLEENBARNES for 10% off!), and I can’t say enough how pleased we are. We chose the gray closet kits because it made the most sense for his two closets, and the end result is so sophisticated and sleek. He absolutely loves them, and we finished the look with six LED rechargeable motion light strips, wooden hangers and updated pull chains. Check out a before and after reel here.
We have a full agenda for the weekend but full of lots of fun things. Excited for the week ahead! Thanks so much for reading and stopping by. Don’t forget about the big Shopbop Spring Sale! xo –
We are outside more than ever right now, and I love seeing how many of you are also enjoying your outdoor spaces.
I wanted to round up some patio pieces I’ve seen that I think are extra cute. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
When we lived in San Francisco, we didn’t have a balcony or patio of any sort. We really only had the fire escape, which I did in fact crawl out to sit on a few times to feel some fresh air. Even though that was just one year, I was surprised how much I missed having a patio, however small, just to sit with a coffee or sit for a phone call. We really treat our covered patio like an extension of our home and spend a lot of time out there. Forever grateful!
We have two of these adirondack chairs and really love them. I like that they’re finished, they aren’t oversized, and they’re super comfortable. They now have a rocking chair version and cushion inserts – how cozy!
We have some of these ruffle planters and they’re a splurge, but let me tell you – they are gorgeous in person. If you want a little taste of this, this trio of planters is adorable. You can use it for plants, herbs, flowers, etc.
Friday’s Five coming tomorrow – some fun things to share! Thank you so much for checking in and reading – XO –
A few weeks ago I started a conversation on Instagram stories centered around my perspective of millennial career women. When I say that, I mostly mean women who have been in a traditional job or career for 10 years or longer (millennials are those born between 1981 – 1996).
From that conversation, two articles were shared with me that rocked my world. Check them out here:
“When Kim Kardashian was dragged for declaring, in her signature vocal fry, that ‘nobody wants to work these days,’ she was a little bit right. We don’t want to work ourselves to the bone, clocking overtime hours without overtime pay, for a vanity title at a soulless corporation anymore. At this point in our collective professional history, women are looking for something more. Or is it something less?”
Once I entered my thirties, we moved from Orange County to San Francisco and then cross-country to Georgia, buying our first home. Christian became partner in a business. We experienced a global pandemic. I continued working solo from home. We welcomed two children with hopes and plans to add a third. We now live within driving distance from our families for the first time since we married in 2012.
As these major life moments have happened, I’ve found myself wondering what my new definition of success is. Because I know it’s not the same as it was in my twenties.
The beauty of this conversation is that there is no right or wrong opinion. It’s really about stepping back in each phase of life and reevaluating your choices. Reviewing how you spend your time in an effort to recognize what actually makes you happy. Have your personal goals changed? What does success mean to you in this decade of life? When do you feel most at peace?
“Yes, I’m ambitious,” a friend told me recently, “but climbing the corporate ladder does not interest me like it used to. A title, a bump in pay—it’s not satisfying. What I need to feel successful and fulfilled is completely different. Am I doing something that brings satisfaction? Do I feel like I’m learning? Do I feel like I’m contributing? Do I feel like I’m connecting to other people? Do I feel like I have flexibility in this new way we live and work? Am I given not only responsibility but autonomy? Am I in a place that aligns with my values? The things that I am looking for have changed.
… For many of us, the ambition to rise through the ranks in our chosen field has dissolved into something simpler: the desire to not feel so stressed and exhausted all the time.”
Perhaps what it comes down to is that this is the first time that my own professional ambition has shifted. It’s decreased. We decided to move to Georgia so we could have more space to accommodate a larger family, be closer to our families and enjoy a lower cost of living. To have an overall slower pace of life in general.
Then entered the children and yes, our day-to-day life changed but even more so, the source of our joy changed. From this, my personal definition of success has been altered. In the past, success meant working well past 40 hours a week to gain professional status and recognition in addition to earning as much money as possible to save for a home or even a second home. Earning enough to have flexible spending for vacations, luxury items, and so on. Now, my definition of success is taking on projects that make me happy and are fun, being my own boss so I can have a flexible schedule and only working from 10AM to 4PM so I can participate in daily family routines with my children and partner. I take weekends off, I rarely work overtime and I have a maximum number of partnerships a month I will accept (prior to children there was no number – it was limitless, and that was by choice! #hustle).
I am incredibly grateful for my career because it brings me so much happiness and creativity. I feel like I’m constantly challenged to learn new things and expand my skill set. I love having adult conversations and trying to become more intelligent, savvy, and productive with my working hours. It gives me confidence and is how I continue to invest in myself. And perhaps more than anything, I love being my own boss. I recognize what a total luxury and gift that is. I’m grateful for it daily and vocalize this gratitude repeatedly.
However, I also know what kind of mother, partner, and friend I want to be. We have a really special community where we live, and I want to be there for my friends when they need a hand or a hot meal for their families. I want to participate in our small group with other couples once a week without being stressed about the time commitment. I want to take Fridays off to alternate spending one-on-one time with my children and show them I’m invested in their hobbies and interests. To quote Kelly Wynne when she decided to close her retail business, “I want to give my children the best of me and not the rest of me.”
A book I’d recommend if you are a person of faith and interested in this topic is John Mark Comer’s Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. I was encouraged by some career women I admire to read it and they were right. It has changed the way I view how I spend my time. You guys often tell me you picked up this book at my recommendation, and I cannot tell you how much happiness that gives me. I hope it has blessed you as it has blessed me!
I really loved what Phoebe Robinson had to say about ambition:
“As I’ve gotten older, the definition has expanded, because it’s not just about the professional for me. I want successful friendships, romantic relationships, and hobbies. To me, ambition’s about working hard to have the life you want. Having that desire to take this one life we all get to live and do it our fiercely independent way and experience joy on our terms.”
I have a saved highlight on Instagram called “AMBITION” with more of this conversation, but it was so impactful to me that I also wanted to carry it over to the website where it could continue. You guys had SO many amazing things to contribute to the conversation on instagram, and I needed to highlight some of the direct messages so more could read your words!
If you have thoughts on this subject, please share them in the comments. I really love hearing what you guys have to say. Thank you so much for stopping in and reading, and you can find more personal content in the “personal” category of this site. XO –
