Simple summer outfits are all we are looking for these days, aren’t we? The combo of throwing on a bodysuit plus a skirt makes for an easy breezy look you can wear almost anywhere. My love for bodysuits continues to grow as is evident by the collection in my closet. I love the simplicity and sleekness that they add to any outfit. In my experience it takes a bit of trial and error to find the ones that work best on your body, but once you do, you’re set. This particular bodysuit is one that I’m a huge fan of. It’s just thick enough to be forgiving and comes in a bunch of great color options. The midi skirt was a Target find that you could just as easily pair with a cute t-shirt, a button down chambray or any other top that you could tuck into the smocked waistband. And then you can always toss on your favorite jean jacket for good measure!
This past week we spent with our toes in the sand in Stone Harbor, NJ with our dear friends. We typically visit every year and it truly feels like a second home the second we pull into town. We have a routine, know the local spots we like to hit and enjoy every bit of it. Since I know a bunch of friends and followers vacation there as well or have inquired about visiting, I decided to share some insight into our week.
Even though we stayed a few blocks from the beach, the walk was pretty much a breeze now that we’re past the baby/toddler phase. Well, maybe it was a workout for the dads, but I didn’t hear any complaining ;)
We’ve stayed at numerous places over the years, bayside, beachside, close to downtown and there honestly isn’t a bad area in my opinion. I think my personal preference is to stay within walking distance to downtown since it’s a place we frequent both morning and night. Coffee Talk is our morning ritual for the best flavored coffee (salted caramel iced coffee is my go-to!).
Even though we had a party of ten, and the town was quite busy, we didn’t have much trouble getting into restaurants, although having a reservation would be recommended when possible. Quahogs is a favorite and they offer both restaurant seating as well a a to-go Taco Shop. Some of our other restaurant favs include The Watering Hull, Stone Harbor Pizza, Mack’s pizza, Fred’s Tavern, Borgies on the Bay, The Fishin’ Pier for breakfast, Playa Bowls (for acai bowls) and Green Cuisine for healthy lunch options. There’s also Crespella Gourmet Creperie which offers amazing sweet and savory crepes and Springer’s Ice cream Shop which is all the rage.
The bulk of our days were spent on the beach, enjoying the sun and the sand and the boogie boarding.
This girl and I grew up less than 30 minutes from each other in Pennsylvania, but didn’t meet until we were both living in Hoboken 12 years ago. We didn’t yet have children, became instant friends and have been raising our families together ever since despite being separated in miles once again. We think alike, act alike and now not only do we get mistaken as sisters, but our kids were assumed to be cousins <3
It’s been forever since our kids have gotten to spend this much time together and I can’t tell you how much they enjoyed it. I know mine were quite emotional to say goodbye at the end of the week!
My beach babes, growing up much too quickly.
Every year I enjoy running around town, admiring the homes and getting inspired by their beauty. There are homes of all shapes and sizes, each with their own personalities. Plus, the landscaping is to die for <3
I always get asked where we stay and for the most part we tend to bounce around quite a bit. We’ve always worked with Diller & Fisher Realtors, renting through them, and would recommend searching through their site. We don’t always luck out with a pool, but it’s a huge perk when we do!
The dads and the older kids took a boat out to fish one morning, so the moms and these cuties headed out to brunch.
This year we stayed on the bay which was quite convenient for our fishermen.
The neighboring town of Cape May has a local zoo that we have been to a number of times and the kids love. It’s great to visit on cloudy days or when you need a beach break.
We also took a drive down to Cape May’s Washington Street Mall which was full of cute shops and eateries.
We grabbed lunch at Big Wave Burrito where we surprisingly found some of the best smoothies and acai bowls!
This guy started out the week a little under weather due to what was eventually diagnosed as a staph infection. Thankfully he was able to quickly get on the right meds so that he could finish out the week strong! So very thankful for this time with him, our kids and our best of friends in one of our very favorite places <3
Laid back, put together style feels like my go-to lately. Regardless of the season, my day-to-day typically allows for casual dress, yet at the same time, I like to feel as though I put a touch of effort into my outfits. Playing around with color combos and various materials are two ways to to do that. I love this mix of dusty green and mauve, topped with denim which grounds the look. I had been eyeing this particular jacket for a while because I constantly read rave reviews about it. Once I received it I immediately understood the hype. It’s feels as though you’ve worn it for years, with a perfectly broken in fit. It has the appeal of an over-sized jacket yet at the same time gives you some shape without looking like a sack of potatoes! The gauzy material of this top feels like you’re wrapped in a cloud while the light, linen shorts complement with another casual element. I’ve grabbed a few different styled neutral sandals this summer and these slides are some of my favorites. Cute, comfortable and they pair with just about everything!
When it comes to pretty and unique items for myself or a gift, Rifle Paper Co. is one place I’ve always turned to. Their bold and beautiful designs are striking to me and can turn any ordinary item, like an umbrella or a lunch box for example, into something eye catching. They started out with stationary and have grown into so much more. I had been on the hunt for a living room rug for our home and finally discovered exactly what I was looking for at Rifle Paper. Although I love their bold prints, a more subdued rug is what I was looking for and this one was absolutely perfect. And when I was on the hunt for a cute new keychain, this is where I found one!
I love all of their collaborations as well. The rug that I mentioned was in collaboration with Loloi Rugs, they partnered with York Wallcoverings to create the prettiest wallpapers, and their collection with Corkcicle includes the prettiest insulated drinkware I’ve ever seen. They also create gorgeous sneakers with Keds and their most recent collection with Summersalt swimwear had me ordering immediately!
From accent pillows to party supplies, their merchandise is sure to be appreciated and noticed by your guests, gift recipients or yourself! Why settle for plain and ordinary when you can add a little pretty to just about anything <3 If you’ve ordered from them as well, what’s been your favorite purchase? Let me know in the comments!
School’s out for summer rin our household! Granted, we still have to wrap up dance with a recital and soccer with one more game, but no more homework or having to pull kids out of bed for now :) Swim team starts this week and it’s been such a great experience with my older two over the years. Audrey is still a new swimmer, but we’re going to give it a shot with her and see how it goes! I love that we can have one activity that they all enjoy and having strong swimmers gives me as a parent, such peace of mind.
I wore this top a couple of times this past week and absolutely adore it. Of course I love florals and a cute ruffle detail, but the colors on this one are what drew me in. You could pair this top with a pencil skirt for work, skinny jeans for a night out or with wide leg pants as I did here for church. If you don’t own a pair of these Everlane wide leg pants, I encourage you to try them. They are incredibly flattering on all shapes/sizes and the quality is amazing, especially for the price. I’m so glad I ordered them in this bone color because I’m wearing them even more than I expected. I often wear these pants with flats, but threw on my wedges with this outfit as well as my go-to bracelets. If you haven’t checked out the variety of bracelets that Magpie and Bobbin offers, browse them here and use code Lovely20 to get 20% off your order!
Today is the last day of school for my kids, which means summer is full speed ahead! We spend a great deal of time at the pool throughout the summer because my kids are basically little fish, but we also have a beach trip planned for the end of June. I know many of you are looking forward to some upcoming vacations as well, so today I put together a little beach inspiration board for you. For those of you that won’t be hauling any littles to the beach, a comfy chair and an umbrella are basically all you need! Toss some drinks into a cooler tote and a book and towel into a bag and you’ll be set for the day. For those that will be sprawling out and bringing all the things along with your kiddos like us, you’ll have a little more in tow…but it’s totally worth it! We’ve been taking family beach trips since Jack (12 years today) was a baby. We’ve been through all the phases of lugging tents and baby pools and huge coolers and strollers, not to mention toys, toys and more toys! These days, the three of them spend the bulk of their time boogie boarding in the ocean and then running back to re-fuel and re-lotion. I’m not exactly at the point in my life where I can peacefully read a book, but I absolutely love watching them enjoy every ounce of the day.
There are some key items that enable our family to settle in and enjoy some long days under the sun. A wipeable blanket that easily allows you to shake off sand is a must. No one wants to sit down for lunch worrying about sand getting into their food! This is also why I love turkish towels for everyone. They don’t hold as much sand as other towels do There are multiple ways to transport everything down to the beach, but a collapsible wagon has been our go-to. Jack makes it look all too easy as he pulls it through the hot sand ;) Cooler bags packed with food and drinks are another must have as we typically pack our lunches as well as snacks and drinks for the afternoon. Toys are somewhat necessary, but I’ve found that good shovels (key for digging those moats), a few buckets and something fun like an icecream cone set are really all we need. Who doesn’t love a good sand cone, or 20?! Speaking of toys, a mesh bag is perfect for carrying them all without bringing half of the beach back with you. A waterproof bluetooth speaker one final item that we always have in hand. Listening to a little Bob Marley totally makes a beach day :)
Here are links to everything above as well as some additional options to help make your beach vacations run as smoothly as possible!
With Memorial Day upon us and summer just around the corner my guess is many of you have already begun spending more hours outdoors. Each year I tweak our back porch a little bit and it becomes more and more inviting to both our family and our guests. Seating is a great place to start. Whether it’s a dining table or a place to lounge, it’s important to determine exactly how you’d like the space to be used. We utilize a table as well as a couple of rocking chairs on our deck to provide extra seating. We also have some adirondack chairs in the yard which are perfect to relax in while reading a book or chatting with a friend. Lighting is another element that we added last year by stringing lights across our deck (which you can see here). The ambiance in the evening is unbeatable and it was a relatively inexpensive way to pack a big punch. Fire pits are another way to help create an environment where people like to gather. Plus, they are great for smores! You can then add in color that works with your home and your outdoor areas with rugs, pillows, plants etc. Like I said, it’s taken me years to really hone in on what works best for us, so don’t feel the pressure to pull everything together perfectly in one season. It’s an evolving space, just as the rest of the rooms in your home are. Little by little they come together exactly as you need them too.
Here are three inspiration boards that I hope are helpful in bringing your own spaces to life…
Shop this space:
If you have a group of friends that love a good time or you have kids in your home, you’ll be drawn to a space that can live and move with you. There are so many outdoor games that are not only fun for everyone but also aesthetically pleasing, in case you care about that ;) Set up a smore station and you’ll win everyone over….again and again!
Shop this space:
Creating a place that is meant for relaxing with a good book, sitting around a fire pit chatting with friends or enjoying drinks together is exactly what I envisioned for this space. A soothing blue color palette while bringing in some natural greenery creates a peaceful space anyone would be drawn to.
Shop this space:
This final board was so fun and festive to put together. I had seen the wooden flag in store and thought it was such a cool piece of decor. I love that the whole look gives off a patriotic vibe without being too over the top (ie cheesy)! This setup is great for all your summer BBQ’s and beyond!
I popped into Loft the other day to see what new arrivals had come in and have some of my favorites to share with you today. Their current sale gives you 50% off three or more pieces, 40% off two pieces or 30% off of one. These pieces are more on the casual side this time around. I think my brain is ready summer! If you have any particular questions on sizing or fit, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll get back to you.
I love a good summer sweatshirt. The comfier the better for tossing on once the sun sets. This ombre is beautiful and also has matching shorts. I didn’t try-them on as they looked rather short for me, but I’d probably size up in them regardless.
This sweatshirt was another favorite. The graphic print isn’t typical for Loft, but I’m a big fan! Will be pairing this with cut-off shorts throughout the summer.
You’ve seen me try on monochromatic looks before and here’s another great example. Such a casual chic vibe with the wide leg pants. Size down in these, they run large.
This sweater is a good option if you’re frequently in air conditioning. Soft and pretty and looks so good with white/off-white denim. The sleeves run short on my long arms, so you could size up or wear it as a 3/4 sleeve.
I thought the flutter sleeve on this top was so pretty and loved pairing it with this white denim skirt. If you’re 5’5″ or under, it may run too long for you, but this is another cute option. With this length of skirt, I prefer to wear a wedge or heel which I find to be much more flattering for the legs.
The days are growing longer and longer and although I may not often see that sunrise, I appreciate the growing lateness of the sunset each day. As we continue to wait for the summer heat to creep in, summer sweaters like this one have become my go-to. I’ve also been pairing this one with these linen shorts that I can see being on heavy rotation this summer.
I hope everyone’s week is off to a great start! We only have a few short weeks until school lets out for summer!
This Mother’s Day was extra special as I shared the day with my baby turning 6 years old! It was the best excuse to gather our families and have one big celebration. These three kids fill our house with joy and laughter…and noise, lots and lots of noise! But I know without a doubt that I’ll be missing all the chaos life with three kids brings one day, so I’m going to continue to remind myself of that and embrace all the crazy that these days bring.
I randomly found this dress at Target last week and was eager to wear it for Mother’s Day, despite the chilly weather that we’ve been having. I love the floral print and all the feminine details that are tied into it. It’ll be great as the warmer months roll in. Plus it falls just under $40, which you can’t beat!
