With summer in full swing I know many of you make your way to the water at some point over the next few months. We don’t head to the shore until August when the kids wrap up swim team and the water has reached a temperature that I can handle! I figured I’d share my inspiration board that consists of all things beach related. Some things I have (like the swimsuits I shared with you on Instagram last week and these easy pull-on shorts) and others I need (like these water proof phone cases). This year we are past the point of needing a baby tent. Alternatively I can rarely get my kids to sit still in any shade for brief periods of time when we’re at the ocean! It’s the place that everyone is content and can play for hours on end without any signs of boredom. You could say it’s our happy place :)
If you’re planning a trip, where do you head? I love hearing about everyone’s go-to’s! You can find us at our favorite little beach town, Stone Harbor, NJ come August <3
I hope you all had a great weekend! The rain finally gave us a break and we had the most gorgeous few days enjoying the sunshine. We took a family bike ride and spent quite a few hours enjoying the pool. What’s better is that our week looks promising as well!
National Stripes Day was last week and although I may have missed the day, I love that they are celebrated because, why not?! Stripes have a way of bringing interest to any piece of clothing without being too intimidating. From pin-stripes to thick bold stripes, they run the gam-mot in size and color alike. Had this skirt been a solid color, I likely would have passed on it, but the stripes gave it a fun, playful vibe that I couldn’t pass up. I’ve paired it with a chambray top as well, but this time around I wanted something comfortable and casual so I decided to tie up a light-weight tee and define the waist a bit. A cute graphic tee is another option I’ll likely pair it with as well. You know I love those mix and match pieces!
It’s no secret that Everlane is becoming one of my new favorites. Their wide-leg crops are what I was first drawn to (you can see how I styled them multiple ways here), but I also found that I love their straight leg crops just as much. And dare I leave out my favorite black, high-rise denim that fit like a glove! Needless to say, when Everlane reached out to ask if I’d be interested in sharing and giving my feedback on some of their products, I was thrilled! I can’t speak highly enough of the quality and fit of those pieces I already own, and knowing they are all ethically made is basically the cherry on top.
This time around I wanted to focus on some warm weather pieces. I selected two pairs of shorts as well as one of their denim skirts. Spoiler alert, I love them all! I hope you enjoyed the video above, but I also wanted to go into a little more detail on each piece for you.
These shorts have a very similar style to the wide-leg crop pants. The cotton twill material is also the same which I’m a huge fan of because they have a great, comfortable structure to them. I sized down to a 0 in the cropped pants, but went with my true size 2 in these shorts. They make a great alternative to denim shorts but I can see myself reaching for them just as often!
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for an elastic waist. These shorts have a casual vibe and a perfect length, short but not too short. I’ll likely be wearing them casually more often than not, but I could also see them paired with a button-up chambray and a cute pair of wedge sandals for a date night. These shorts also run true to size, I’m wearing a size 2.
I cannot tell you how happy I was to find this denim skirt. I have this one from J.Crew which has a longer length and I love, but I had been on the hunt for one that was more of a mini skirt without being too mini. I couldn’t be happier with the fit of this one. I’m wearing my typical size 26 and it fits just the way I’d like it to. I likely could have sized down and had it fit my waist a little closer, but the length would almost certainly have gone too short for my comfort. I’m 5’7″ for reference and this falls just about mid-thigh on me. I also love the ‘faded indigo wash’ as well as the slight distressing. It’s a big winner overall in my book!
Thank you to Everlane for gifting these awesome summer pieces! I’m thrilled with them all and you’ll surely be seeing much more of them over the coming weeks!
There are some color combos that I just adore together, pink and green ranks towards the top of them. Pink and navy is right up there too, they’re just so good together! If you’re looking for a sleek pair of cargo pants, these are it. They have a great fit with a bit of stretch and don’t give me the ‘rear gap’ as I often encounter which is in part thanks to the higher rise. They also come in a few other colors, but the green was the most appealing to me and I appreciate how well they’ll work when we head into fall. This blazer was one that I took into the fitting room with me during my latest Loft try-on and I instantly fell in love. Of course the pink lured me in, but the relaxed, drapy fit with its longer length is what hooked me. It would obviously make a great layering piece if you work in an office, but I’m also drawn to the casual vibe of throwing it on over a cami or t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Either way, it’s a great addition to any closet!
Enjoy the start to your week. We are heading off to a chilly, rainy first day of swim team practice. Wish us luck!
With the kids home and summer in full effect, you’ll typically find me in denim shorts and a t-shirt if I’ve had the chance to make it out of my morning workout gear. I can see a post in my future sharing some of those every day go-to’s if you’re interested, but for today, I wanted to share simple pieces that allow you to look a bit more polished. I’ve been adding more casual dresses and skirts to my wardrobe than I’ve typically been drawn to in the past. I’m not sure if the selection has better caught my attention or if I’m just realizing that I can still dress casually while at the same time feeling a little more pulled together. Below is my curated collection of casual skirts and dresses that I envision wearing for everyday with the kids, picnics, amusement parks, church and and other relaxed outings you may have planned this summer. These are the types of skirts you can throw on a white t-shirt with or dresses that you can toss a denim jacket over. A handful of these pieces are already in my wardrobe, so maybe I’ll consider putting together a few outfits later on to give you some #IRL examples. If these ideas are something you’d like to see, let me know! :)
Date night is something that Jack and I do our best to prioritize in the midst of our busy lives with three young children. It can be a challenge, but it’s so necessary for us to recharge and have uninterrupted conversation! Once in a while we double date with friends which is all the more fun and just as refreshing.
I wore this look out last week and even though the temperature has warmed up, it’s guaranteed to be chilly in the air conditioned restaurants. This light weight sweater is my first piece of clothing from Stella & Dot (whose jewelry and accessories I love) which I discovered thanks to my girlfriend. I love the slight off-the-shoulder look as well as the asymmetrical hemline. I’ll likely be pairing it with these white cut-off shorts (which have a great fit and run true to size) later on this summer.
Baked oatmeal has become a staple in my diet lately. Since I started following the Faster Way to Fat-loss lifestyle (which you can read more about here), I started focusing more on getting healthy, whole foods into my meal planning. Baked oatmeal quickly became one of my favorite ways to break my fasts and after playing around with a few recipes, I settled on this one that I have yet to tire of. The mashed bananas, honey and cinnamon give it great flavor without being overly sweet. I love topping mine with some almond milk, especially when it’s still warm from the oven!
2 and 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 2 large bananas or 3 medium bananas) 3/4 cup milk* (I use almond milk) 1/4 cup honey 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries*
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan well with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the mashed banana, milk, honey, egg, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until everything is well incorporated. Gently fold in the blueberries. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and smooth it out into one even layer.
Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes or until the top is set and lightly golden brown. Mine is usually perfect around 35-36 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Slice and serve warm, or cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
NOTES Any kind of milk will work in this recipe, I use unsweetened almond milk.If using frozen blueberries, make sure to gently stir them in so they do not bleed their color and turn the oatmeal purple.
Now that we’ve turned the corner and entered June, we all know that Father’s Day is right around the corner! I tried to gather some somewhat authentic ideas and turned to one of the best dads around for recommendations, my husband :) I kept it short and concise, yet we managed to cover everything from cute little gag gifts to practical pieces, as well as a few splurge items. At this point, you’re still safe with shipping, just don’t wait too long to track something down and run into those shipping fees like I’ve been doing!
Allbirds: Jack had been wanting these sneakers for some time now and I finally gifted them to him for his birthday last month. He loves them for their simple and sleek look and raves about their comfort.
AirPods: This is another favorite in Jack’s book. Cordless headphones that stay in your ear, have a great battery life, fantastic sound and work with all apple devices. They’re great if you’re looking to spoil with a splurge gift.
Father’s Day Tickets: These printable tickets are thoughtful and adorable. It’s something you could have your kids put together as well, but at $5 I’d find it worth it to have them looking so well done in a matter of minutes.
Athletic Greens: When it comes to nutritional supplements, Jack has narrowed down his favorite to this one. He loves getting all his vitamins in without taking pills and mixes his with water or in a smoothie. This powder supplement helps with energy, immunity, gut health, hormonal support as well as healthy aging.
Birkenstocks: Perfect for picnicking and trips to the pool. All you have to worry about is picking his favorite color!
T-shirt: We always appreciate a good t-shirt and I’m eyeing this one up. My son would especially get a kick out of it! Here’s another one that I really like just as well.
FitBod: Jack is obsessed with this app. He relies on it to plan his workouts, which it custom develops based on his body and fitness level. This way he can walk into the gym with a little more confidence ;)
Socks: Need a good gag gift? These socks are hysterical and equally adorable once you slap a child’s face on there! What dad wouldn’t reach for these before work each morning?
