Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen the thousands of people that have been flocking to spring and summer music festivals the past few months. It’s about that time! When it comes to getting that “festival vibe” while staying comfortable and without looking like you tried too hard, you can’t beat a classic Levi’s look.
Today I’m sharing a festival-inspired look that doesn’t involve body paint, braids or swimsuit tops. I think I’ve found a new love in these classic jeans. A old school “mom jean” fit, but with mega stretch so you stay super comfortable. This tee is so perfect for summer months and as a transplant, you know I had to have it. Below I’m sharing several more super cute tees that would work with this look!
And one of my favorite Levi’s pieces lately – this denim jacket that I made my own with patches (more on that here) that feels very festival-appropriate.
I mentioned recently here that I finally visited the Carlsbad Flower Fields for the first time, and WOW. We were completely blown away!
I knew it would be beautiful but I didn’t prepare my mind for the miles of flowers that would be waiting for us. It was truly a spectacular site to be seen. I wanted to pluck a flower behind my ear and run through these rows and rows of beautiful blooms!
It was such a beautiful, sunny day when we visited. Honestly I didn’t plan on taking that many photos but it was too special not to, so I tried my best!
I must confess, I had quite the polo shirt collection in high school. I had all these spring colors that I would wear with my bootcut jeans and summer shorts, but the one that got the most wear was my classic white one.
I love a collared shirt, so why not pull out my high school favorite again? And better yet… let’s double that collar, girl.
This look is a fun little twist on how I use to wear my Polo Ralph Lauren shirts (classic with denim). I love the idea of layering it with chambray and tucking them into a mini skirt. Classic can still be unique and flirty!
Happy Friday, ladies! This week has breezed on by… almost too quickly I might say. BUT, Christian has the entire weekend off so you best believe we’re going to make the most of it.
I’ve been working on slowly starting to purge the little corners of our townhouse. After watching some Marie Kondo videos on YouTube to get inspired, I started by going through all the books we’ve acquired over the years. Then I moved onto trinkets and clothes. I went to my favorite consignment spot, sold a ton of clothes, shoes and accessories… and came home with a few pieces including a teal Balenciaga bag (hello, fabulous!).
That’s one of the many amazing things about consigning. You feel better about reselling pieces that are no longer bringing you use or joy, and you can put that toward a trade or cash. Crossroads will give you 50% trade or 33% cash. Sometimes I choose trade, other times cash, but when I see J.Crew heels and Balenciaga bags… you best believe I’m going to choose trade, sister!
So perhaps the purge thing isn’t going so well… ha! BUT I feel better taking the next 4-6 weeks to slowly sell items to used book stores, consignment shops, Craigslist, Salvation Army, etc. It’s always great to put gently loved items back into the neighborhood when you can, right?
Just a short PSA for consignment. I really can’t say enough about consignment shops – one of my favorite ways to buy and sell items. I’ve found so many gems that way!
Of course I have to say something about all these amazing skincare goodies from D’Andra Simmons of Real Housewives of Dallas and Hard Night | Good Morning! We connected over email and I am so excited to try some of her skincare items, especially the L22 Elixir (RH-watchers know what I’m talking about, reminder here). She also told me it’s Mama Dee-approved, and as a MAJOR fan of Mama Dee, you know that’s all I need to hear.
Tell me your weekend plans! And if you have purging-before-moving tips, I would be SO grateful! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
My eldest daughter (our yellow lab, Bailey) is turning 11 on May 3rd! I feel like I’ve said this 20x on this blog so forgive me if you already know, but I helped Christian pick out “his dog” when we were in college and had been dating for about a month.
Clearly I didn’t really think I was actually picking out my own dog also. We’ve been together ever since, and Bailey has always represented how long we have been together which feels extra sweet!
For the past several years I’ve made her a cake or cupcakes on her birthday. I’ve bought treats from dog bakeries before, and while very cute, she was never that into them. I found this crazy easy recipe online several years ago and she goes CRAZY for it! So much so that I started making them in cupcake tins so I could give her one a day (and monitor how fast she eats them). I’ve made these treats for my brother’s dachshund when I kept her (and she was having her own birthday), gave one to our neighbor’s dog who is a picky eater… I’ve literally never seen a dog not eat the entire thing (and want seconds).
Best of all, you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge. I usually just need the shredded carrots and I’m set!
This is the recipe, and sometimes I’ll add a few spoonfuls of canned pumpkin to add some moisture. If you decide to go the cupcake route, I bake them at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Yes, these are the kinds of things that people without kids do for their dogs. Would you believe that I didn’t buy anything for this setup? I used old decorations from this party. HA! Y’all… I’m cuckoo about this dog. She has been such a great pet to us, and working from home I really feel like she and I have this secret bond.
I feel so lucky to have 11 years with her and look forward to the years to come. I hope y’all will be able to use this recipe for your pup and let me know if they like it! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
After debating destinations for months, Christian and I finally decided on a spot for our May vacation. Now it’s almost all I can think about! I’ve been thinking of some of the items I’ll be packing, and I’m feeling vacation vibes in a major way.
I’ve been using this tinted moisturizer and really love it. With just enough coverage and color, it’s packed with SPF. A win-win! This yummy bronzer can be used on your entire body and smells like a coconut dream (I have and love it). A round beach bag tends to be my favorite right now, and this beach hat has literally lasted me years.
These sunglasses are the kind that you can wear with absolutely everything, and this slip dress is exactly the kind of midi I want in my suitcase. Lastly, these shorts are beyond worth the splurge. I wear them nonstop and even ordered a second pair. A must-have summer item for me! They run TTS (true to size) for me – you can see them styled here and here.
AND Urban Outfitters is currently offering 25% offswim selections. So that’s another great place to score some vacation pieces marked down!
More items I’m crushing on below –
Do you have a warm vacation ahead of you? Are you a lazy vacationer or adventure-seeker? I am the former and C is the latter, so we usually split our trip in half to enjoy both! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
I’ve been an eBay shopper since high school (yes, you read that correctly… I was trolling the shared family computer for vintage Lacoste polo shirts), so I’m obviously excited to partner with them today to talk about gift ideas for Mom!
Mother’s Day is around the corner, and I think beauty picks and fragrances are always a great gift idea. Even if it’s a statement lip color that she can pull out for a party or date night, it’s always fun to give her something that she might not buy for herself. What most people might not know is that over 80% of the items listed on eBay are actually brand new!
When it comes to fun lip colors, you can’t beat Smashbox and MAC. I wear Smashbox’s Be Legendary Matte Lipstick and Always On Liquid Lipstick. I love the color payout of both! My mom is the person who actually introduced me to MAC, so I know that a classic matte color of theirs is a surefire hit.
I’ve had this Lancome fragrance for a year or so now, and every time I wear it Christian makes a comment. It smells so good! A little sweet and flirty (hints of magnolia), but it’s such a popular fragrance I think it would be a great pick.
A few other items I think would be great are an Urban Decay Naked Palette (you know I have each one and I’ve actually given my mom one for a holiday before!) and a Mason Pearson brush. Both of these items will last you years.
Have you ever shopped on eBay before? I have gotten so many great things there, both used and brand new. I’m telling you, once you start you’ll realize two hours have passed and you’re bidding on a Polly Pocket. This is not a drill!
Would love to hear what you plan to get your mom this year for Mother’s Day and your experience with eBay. You can also find the most current deals on their Daily Deals page. Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –
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!
