Last year around this time, I had the incredible opportunity to see the magic behind the nostalgic and fabulous brand that is MacKenzie-Childs. You may have seen the post here!
I remember thinking during the trip “I wish my mom could see this” about 5x a day. Of course I discovered the brand through her love of the company. She is artistic and has been inspired by the bold and creative brand for as long as I can remember (we later determined she discovered MacKenzie-Childs in 1992).
When we were invited on a mother/daughter trip last month, I knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I am so excited to share a peek into the week we spent in Aurora, New York with several other mother/daughter duos!
Because the travel distance + time change, Mom and I flew in the day before the festivities began. We were able to settle into our Courtly Check-themed room, visit the gym and spa and cozy on into upstate New York life. I gotta say… I could easily get used to small town life again!
Then I got to show Mom the stunning MacKenzie-Childs Farmhouse –
Can you believe that incredible home? Some of you may have seen it in insta-stories, but the detail in all things MacKenzie-Childs is what continues to blow me away.
Mom has a few pieces she has held onto from my grandmother’s home in Greenwood, Mississippi, and I know she was so inspired on this trip to go home and start painting.
Her favorite part – the tour of the Warehouse –
And the MacKenzie-Childs team was so sweet to host a fun little interview with Mom. Meet Karen. 🙂
I LOVE that little backgammon tray. How brilliant is that? To have little trays for checkers, chess, etc. that you can place on a side table. Gotta have it!
I had such a great time with my Mom on this trip. It was really cool to combine something I’m incredibly passionate about – this blog, style (fashion, home and travel) photography, social media – with my Mom’s interests – art, design, painting and pottery.
She and I both love and appreciate the detail and thought that is put into each MacKenzie-Childs piece that is uniquely its own. This of course is in thanks to the dozens of craftsmen and artists working everyday in the warehouse in both New York and other locations throughout the world.
When I was in college I remember giving my mom this mug for her birthday or Christmas, so I have no doubt that a MacKenzie-Childs piece is the perfect gift for Mom for Mother’s Day! She also recently got these and they are adorable.
Below are some of my favorite picks for the special ladies in your life –
You can also see the details of these outfits under the “shop my Instagram” page!
Did you grow up with MacKenzie-Childs in your home? Having known about the brand for the majority of my life, I love seeing it pop up in the homes of celebrities (hint: here and here). Their iconic Courtly Check design is so fabulous and classic, it will always be a favorite for me. Love the Parchment Check too!
– spending a few days in La Jolla and eating my way through town –
– and visiting some of my favorite little sea animals at the Cove –
– visiting the Flower Fields and being totally captivated –
– my first pair of Sarah Flint heels that I tried on with the designer herself at Cindy Crawford’s home (I mean… who do I think I am?) –
– trying Moroccan Oil shampoo/conditioner for the first time (they smell incredible) –
Happy Friday! I just got back from spending several days in La Jolla at the Hyatt with Nikki, and we had the best time exploring the property and area! My sister actually used to live in La Jolla with her husband, and while I’ve been to La Jolla once or twice since then, it always feels so neat to go back and remember how amazing it was when I visited her when I was in college.
Of course, I had no idea that I would also be moving to Southern California one day. Crazy how things work out –
We stopped by the Flower Fields on our way home and WOW. I couldn’t even believe my eyes! I knew it was incredible, but we’re talking miles of rows of color-coordinated flowers. Truly a captivating sight to be seen. I’ll be sharing a full blog post from the visit soon!
Christian’s softball team was named champions of their OC adult league (haha!), so now that I’m back in town we plan to celebrate this weekend, maybe take a little visit to the beach and enjoy some down time. We just booked a tropical trip that will be here in less than a month – so we are both excited to make some plans that we can continue to look forward to for the next several weeks. Don’t you agree that looking forward to a trip is such a huge part of the fun?
What do you plan on doing this weekend? Fill me in! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Ooohh girl, a little self tanner and a mini dress – is it summer yet (and if you see self-inflicted tan lines… I’m gonna need you to graciously let that go)!?
When it comes to picking up some super cute spring pieces, I’ve been loving the Moon & Meadow collection at Bloomingdale’s. Within this collection there are five brands, and they have so many adorable dresses and sets (like this top with these pants = need) that would be perfect for festival season. I’m sharing some of my picks below!
And this dress has oranges on it… so I felt like I needed to wear it in Orange, in Orange County… because I couldn’t help myself. Now I just need to hold an orange and think of the right tagline. Suggestions welcome!
photos by Christian Barnes
dress (if you’re in between sizes, size up) – and know this mini is just that – it’s short! I’m 5’7″ for reference, pants version here | heels, look for less here | similar bag, also love this one | similar sunglasses | similar hoop earrings here and here | similar necklace here and here
I’m sharing a few other super cute picks from the Moon and Meadow collection below!
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 – comes in 18 colors! | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 – you’ve seen me wearing these all over my blog like here and here
Sharing some of my favorite spring/summer looks for less in the accessory department… and I definitely feel like I need these. Literally they’re under $25!
Y’all know I love a dupe. I see nothing wrong with wearing a luxury investment piece like a Chanel bag with designer espadrille dupes. I don’t mind splurging on a handbag or piece of jewelry, but I’m a little less indulgent when it comes to shoes because I can be really rough on my shoes. And when I scuff an expensive pair of flats or heels I want to cry!
Shed no tears, sister. Save your dollars on some of the look-alikes above this summer! Have you recently scored an awesome look for less? Because you know I want to hear.
I recently went down a fashion-inspired rabbit hole that is Tash Sefton. She is an Australian fashionista who thinks outside the box and has this laid back, cool girl interesting but not too styled look that I can’t get enough of.
One thing I saw her doing that I’d never thought about before was turning a dress into a top. I think this idea works particularly well with a dress that buttons down the front like this one. You can unbutton the bottom and let it hang naturally for that “who, me?! I just couldn’t decide what to wear so I wore both” kind of look.
I have another shirt-dress-as-a-top look coming soon but a little bit different… and 9 to 5 approved!
Would you ever consider wearing a shirt dress as a shirt? I’m telling y’all – get all your wears out of it, sister! You know I love discovering ways to maximize my closet.
I’d love to challenge you to look in your closet and see if there are any dresses that button down the front. Unbutton everything below the belly button, throw on some skinny jeans and see how you feel. You might be surprised!
I’ve been wanting to put together a post like this for a while. I am all about some luxury pieces, while mixing in lower price points and “looks for less.” I recently shared a post about high/low mixing here and some of my favorite investment pieces here, but this concept of mixing Target and Chanel will always be something I’m preaching. You don’t have to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks!
That being said… I’ve made some (self-proclaimed) excellent luxury purchases and some not as great choices. I thought I would go into further detail of WHY as to hopefully help any of you looking to make a luxury accessory investment!
Let’s get the least worn out of the way first, shall we?
YSL Sac De Jour
I saw this bag in a department store and immediately absolutely loved it. I love a structured bag. It maintains it’s shape so beautifully and I thought the dark gray would go with everything. When I held the empty bag, it had some weight. I didn’t think too much about it, but once I put in my wallet, knick knacks and so on… it felt like I was carrying a “sac” of bricks. I later realized the interior was lined with suede and now they make them with a sleek leather interior which cuts the weight at least in half. I actually ended up buying one of the newer designs and love it so much more only because of the weight factor!
SO my advice: if it feels heavy at all when it’s empty? Girrrll… pass.
Gold Hoop Earrings
These hoops actually are from Macy’s and not Tiffany’s – I just keep them in that little duster case because they fit perfectly.
I wanted a pair of quality gold hoops and my mom and I picked these out in college. They’re lightweight, the perfect size and gorgeous.
BUT, because they have a clasp situation instead of a post back… one of them falls out of my ear constantly. I’ve even taken them to a jeweler to see if I could change the design to a post back and he said I couldn’t. It bums me out because otherwise I adore them! In the future I would never invest in a nice pair of earrings that has a push clasp backing (I don’t know the correct term for this!). Le sigh.
YSL Oil-in-Stick Lipstick
These lipsticks are gorgeous. But the go on like a chapstick and the pigment doesn’t last more than an hour. Again – they’re beautiful but if you’re actually looking for lip color… pass.
Manolo Blahniks
I got these two pairs of Manolos at the same time and while they are some of the most comfortable designer pumps I own… I rarely reach for them. When they’re on, the leopard looks more like an overall brown and the gray is this blueish-gray that when worn neither looks blue or gray. I’m sure I’m overthinking it, but it just pains me that I splurged on them and rarely wear them!
Christian Louboutin So Kate’s (not pictured – sold)
I mean… these heels are basically a five inch heel with no sole platform at all. It’s like walking on stilts. I could barely stand in them much less walk so I sold them (with a warning that they’re the most uncomfortable heel of all time). I then vowed I’d only buy Louboutins with a 100mm heel. I can’t even pretend to walk in the 120mm!
Gucci Sunglasses (not pictured – sold)
I bought a pair of Gucci sunglasses on a whim in Florida and they just didn’t work for my face shape. They were a different shape than I normally wear and ultimately I never wore them, so they went to a new home. Now if I splurge on a luxury pair of sunglasses, I make sure I already have and like a similar shape already first!
Now let’s dig into the most loved items! I could have added so much more to this list but I really wanted to focus on the crème de la crème.
Chanel Jumbo
Christian gave me my first Jumbo bag for my birthday, and it remains my most loved bag in my collection. It’s a caviar beige leather and such a dreamy bag I know I’ll be wearing for decades. I love it so much I ended up getting a gently used black version of the same bag (full blog post here).
I only go for caviar leather over lambskin because while they’re both beautiful, I am not delicate enough with my bags to maintain lambskin. The caviar leather is definitely more durable!
YSL Wallet on a Chain
When I got this bag from Luisa Via Roma I had no idea how often I would wear it. You can wear it as a clutch or crossbody and I’ve gotten so much use out of it! They make this little bag in a ton of different colors and I really only have great things to say about it.
Christian Louboutin Pigalle
Now these are Louboutins that I can walk in (shoutout to the 100mm heel). I bought the nude first and then snagged the black. They are easy to keep clean and I probably wear the nude more than the black… but it’s a pretty close race!
Gucci Belt
I bought this belt as my Paris souvenir and I’ve worn it even more than I thought I would. It looks great with denim but I think it looks even more fabulous over a coat or faux fur vest! Everyone asks me about the sizing and I don’t even know what size mine is… I tried on two and ended up buying the smaller one and added a few extra holes in it using this. There’s a size chart online – I’d recommend using that!
Chanel Brooches
I bought the big pearl one for myself and then my mom gave me the cz one on my wedding day. If you’re looking for a a smaller sized accessory splurge, I would definitely recommend a brooch. You can put these on blazers, coats, dresses, on top of a tie waist dress. This might serve some inspiration!
Stuart Weitzman Nudist
I have these in nude and black and you can tell… I wear them a TON. They are the most fabulous strappy sandal I’ve ever had. They look amazing with everything and have that perfect tall-but-not-too-tall stiletto heel. Can’t say enough great things about these.
Prada Cahier Bag
Ok I must confess that neither of these I paid full price for. The pink/red velvet (sadly it’s been sold out) was a Cyber Monday score and the leopard was a gently used bag I had to have! When making a big purchase, I tend to go solid and neutral so I can get the most wear out of the piece.
I stand by the neutral investment theory, BUT… a patterned piece can be REALLY fun. I’ve been so surprised at how much these two Prada Cahier bags go with, and they definitely get way more attention than any other piece I have. They’re a great size and I’ve enjoyed them so much more than I thought I would!
Was this helpful? I hope that my experience with these pieces helped provide a little insight if you’re looking to splurge on a fancy accessory. I try to put a lot of thought into big purchases, but sometimes I still miss the mark. Learn from me so you don’t waste your dollars!
If you can think of any similar topics you’d like to see on this blog, I’d love to hear. I love hearing from you guys! Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to check out Shopbop and Bloomingdale’s MAJOR sale happening. More details here! XO –
There are some amazing sales happening this week that I definitely want to share with y’all! Above I’ve rounded up some cute picks for spring, and below are some additional selects in activewear, denim, dresses and more. This is such a great time to pick up a great pair of shorts, highwaisted jeans (I love this pair and sized up one size because they have zero stretch) or spring/summer espadrilles. I’ve been on the blazer hunt and there are so many good ones!
I don’t know if everyone is aware of how versatile kimonos really are. When I saw this beauty (an exclusive item to Bloomingdale’s), I thought it would be such a great piece for spring and summer!
A few ideas on how to wear a kimono:
Over a solid color (usually all black or all white).
With a belt bag to cinch your waist.
As a swimsuit coverup.
With a camisole, cutoffs and slides.
If it’s big enough wrap it totally closed and belt it as a dress!
Seriously, ladies. Do you have a kimono in your closet? If so, pull it out!! If not, you might need this cute yellow number. The pattern is so fun and only available at Bloomingdale’s, as well as this dress in the same print!
Above are some kimono picks I really love that I think would work for so many of the styling tips mentioned above! Do you have any kimonos in your closet you could pull out? And have you checked out all the adorable pieces 100% exclusive to Bloomies? So many great items for spring and summer!
– dropping a penny in my tulips vase and despite conflicting thoughts online, they’ve stood straight way longer than in times past –
– enjoying sunshine with Miss Bailey on the patio –
Happy Friday! It’s been too long since I shared a Friday’s Five. It feels good to share some of the weeks highlights!
There’s something so comforting about being home. March was a doozy with travel and April is looking so blissfully chill. I dig it. I’m trying to use this time to get organized, schedule all those dentist appointments, hair appointments, etc., and also just generally enjoy the quiet. We all get so “busy” and sometimes it can be so refreshing for our minds to shut off and enjoy the slow times.
In other news, The Real Housewives of New York is BACK, BABY! The previews have been outrageous, so yeah, I’m pretty excited about this season. Who else is watching?
I had fun trying some new recipes this week and this Thai Peanut and Quinoa Salad was an A+. I’m attempting making ramen tonight on my own – wish me luck!
Thanks so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend – XO –
A great white button down shirt can go with everything. I recently shared this shirt here in an outfit that I think any woman of any age or size can rock.
Now that it’s getting warmer, another way to rock a classic button down shirt is to tie it at the waist! There are shirts like this being sold online… but why buy another shirt when you can just tie up something that’s already in your closet?
You can do this with any high waisted skirt, pants, and so on. I even think it’s really cute over a swimsuit if you want some coverage without putting on a full coverup.
I can’t go without acknowledging all of your incredible feedback and stories in yesterday’s post. Y’all amaze me when you share your stories. I learn endlessly from all of you. THANK you so much for being so supportive and encouraging. Truly means so very much to me.
I hope you’ll be inspired to recreate some looks with that button up shirt in your closet! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
I remember when this happened to me, over two years ago, and thinking I wanted to share this experience on CBL. But I was still so taken aback and honestly, embarrassed, that I didn’t know how I could share it without sounding whiney or like I was fishing for validation (which I promise you I’m not!).
BUT, it has been on my mind and heart lately and I thought… let’s just go for it. I think this is something that we can all learn from – because I know I learned from it.
What Happened
Several years ago I flew across the country to attend a college girlfriend’s wedding. I hadn’t seen a lot of these gals in the years since I’d moved out West. The bride had flown in for my wedding, which meant so much to me, and I wanted to return the love on her big day. Several of the college friends I would get to see had bought homes and had babies since we’d last seen each other, and I was really excited to hear about their new lives.
My bestie was also flying in for the occasion but wasn’t getting in town until the day of the wedding. After the Friday night welcome party, I went to the hotel bar with the others there to chat some more before calling it a night. I was solo but genuinely excited to see everyone.
Before I knew it, a girl who was an acquaintance during college (at best… let’s call her Sally) but mostly just friends with the same people, sat down at the table. Within minutes, she started in. Sally went on to tell me that “nobody likes you,” and then went on to critique my outfit and friendships, slurring, and asking her friends to chime in. They were telling her to be quiet, trying to escort her away, reel it in, apologize on her behalf, and some just silently left the table. I was in shock. All I could muster to say to her (somehow by the grace of God channeling my inner Erika Jayne, ha!) was, “you know, that’s fine. We’ve never been friends.”
Sally was escorted outside, and I was beyond humiliated, having never been spoken to like that before in my life. The more it sunk in, the more embarrassed I was. What had I gotten myself into and what did I do to trigger her to this extreme?
Later I got an apology text from Sally and information from others that this wasn’t the first time she had verbally attacked some unsuspecting person at a wedding. So there’s that.
What I Learned
I later learned Sally had some complicated stuff going on in her own life. After a few drinks, things would spiral out of control and her behavior was TBD. I’m not judging her drinking by any means. You know when I’m at a wedding or party, I’m going to indulge in some vino myself (cheers!). It was her behavior that was unacceptable, hurtful, uncalled for and reminded me why she and I were in fact, not friends in the first place. In this incident the girls I knew did a great job of shutting it down, and I am really grateful and appreciative of that. They did everything they could in this unpredictable situation, and I still love and respect this group of girls.
As a whole, I’ve always been taught that you are who you surround yourself with, and Sally will most definitely not be a reflection of me or how I speak to and treat people.
When people talk about you, it says more about them than it does about you. I barely know this girl, so it was highly unlikely I’ve had that much of an impact on her life.
Looking back, I wish I would have just stood up and walked away when Sally started acting inappropriate. I was frozen, in shock, and while I responded well initially, I ended up getting choked up after the fact and excusing myself. I didn’t even have the courage to tell Christian what had happened right away because it was so ridiculous and embarrassing.
Thankfully I was able to move past it and have a great time at the wedding. The bride was stunning and the wedding was beautiful, and I’m truly happy I went… despite this crazy story!
Today’s Thoughts
I’m not going to lie… I’ve definitely moved on but I can’t forget it. After thinking long and hard about the experience, it really proved that when people are rude or hurtful, it almost always is a reflection of something going on in their life. I don’t feel the need to lash out at others (besides occasionally Christian for leaving plates in the sink or my mom when she’s being high maintenance), so when negativity was so blatantly directed at me… I didn’t know how to handle it.
It also proved that while I live for Real Housewives, I am not cut out to be on TV. One confrontation and I was shook. Ha!
Ultimately I don’t regret going to my friend’s wedding. The bride even felt the need to apologize to me (which she didn’t need to whatsoever. She was not a part of any of this in any way), but I regret how I handled the situation. I should have walked away, no tears. Be the bigger person. Everyone is bigger than a Sally spouting off, ya feel me? And the great news is that I hear Sally is in a much better place now, and we all agree that this incident is water under the bridge.
Has anyone ever spoken to you so out of line that it stopped you in your tracks? Did you learn from the experience? I’d love to hear what you learned. I think there is so much knowledge when we can live and learn and share with each other.
If you made it this far… thanks so much for sticking around and reading! You can catch more personal posts here. XO –
I’ve been loving this denim jacket lately, and I’m so excited to share in this post how I made it my own… and how you can too!
Obviously I love the patch trend happening right now. A few weeks ago I shared in this post how I have even been sticking them on handbags. Am I taking this too far? It’s possible… but let’s get into it!
There are some seriously luxe patched-up denim happening right now, and I thought this was too easy to do at home rather than break the bank for. After perusing online for about 10 minutes, I bought a few patches, ironed them in in less than 5 minutes and voila! My own spin on the trend that is uniquely my own.
I chose to keep it simple with two patches for now so the jacket will still easily layer with almost anything – but you could totally get creative and do whatever you felt vibes with your style! I’m linking my patches and jacket below so that will serve some inspo if you’re looking to jazz up something in your own closet. This is such a fun way to make something you already own feel brand new.
