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outfit: summer nostalgia with wrangler

May 25, 2017 No Comments

it’s been a few years now since i’ve been back in southern california where i grew up as a kid. and for the first time since i’ve gotten back, i’m finally starting to head out to explore and rediscover some of the beauty out here. it’s easy to get distracted by day-to-day life and forget that i live pretty close to all sorts of fun adventures: i’m a quick drive from the historic route 66, the iconic dinosaurs at cabazon (and hadley’s date shakes!), and a massive expanse of desert including palm springs, joshua tree, the salton sea… so when i feel the urge to get away, it’s just a quick drive down the highway for a major dose of nostalgia and summer fun.

so i headed out this weekend for a little bit of exploration in my new wrangler denim. i’ve partnered with them on the launch of their limited release collection to celebrate their 70th anniversary with styles inspired by designs from the archives. i picked up this classic pair of women’s 70th anniversary flare jeans with a retro screen print tee and cropped denim jacket and felt like i was in a vintage picture postcard stomping through the desert in my 1970s getup. but this is not a drill: these pieces are only available in very limited quantities, and they will sell out fast!

if you’re someone who loves vintage as much as i do, then you know how hard it can be to find the perfect pair of vintage jeans. i feel like i’m always searching, so i get super excited when an iconic brand like wrangler decides to give us a little peek into their archives. i often fantasize about being able to just walk through the vintage vaults of a brand like wrangler just to pick and choose all of my favorite styles from decades past. so of course, i’m pretty excited about this huge 70th anniversary celebration with more limited releases expected throughout the year.

so don’t miss out. shop the wrangler 70th anniversary release and sign-up for email alerts when more of their upcoming limited releases roll out!

this post is sponsored by wrangler. all opinions expressed are my own.

home

a dining room refresh with cb2 x framebridge

May 2, 2017 1 Comment

this is not the first time i’m sharing a glimpse of our dining room, but it is the first time that i feel good about it haha! we’ve officially been living in our house for two years, but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that we finally pulled together the dining room. for the longest time, i had a pretty cool mid-century dining set that my mom found at the thrift store for $80. it served us well, but it was really rough around the edges. it was this very dark stain with a shiny almost plastic table top. the chairs started falling apart– while people were sitting in them. i replaced them with these vintage cesca chairs that i found on craigslist, but then we had this whole mismatched situation going on because i could not commit to a new table. no, it was not the end of the world, but it feels really good to finally put together this space in a way that i like. i toyed around with a lot of different ideas for how i wanted it to look, but ultimately decided to keep things really really simple because the table and chairs make a statement on their own. and all i really wanted was a big graphic print up on the wall to complete the look.

so as fate would have it, my friends at framebridge asked me if i’d be interested in picking a print from their newest print gallery collab with cb2. together they curated a really great selection of prints by up-and-coming artists, all of which are now available on the site. i chose this print titled “keep swimming” by new york-based artist amber vittoria. i really like the bold colors and exaggerated shapes for my dining room, and the theme is perfect for the spring and summer months. and of course, the frame was handcrafted here in the united states by framebridge.

i’ll share some more photos to show the rest of the room soon, but was so excited that i had to at least give you a peek of how things are shaping up in here. i’m also very excited about our stokke tripp trapp chairs, and i really love the way they blend in with the vintage chairs. but i’ll save that for another day!

shop the cb2 x framebridge print gallery

keep swimming print courtesy of cb2 x framebridge
cb2 silverado chrome dining table
vintage cesca chairs designed by marcel breuer
planter found at home goods
stokke tripp trapp chair

my style

the plunge with third love

March 9, 2017 7 Comments

if you’ve followed my blog for a long time, then one thing you may have noticed about me is that i hardly ever wear something low cut. it’s funny, because i think a lot of people assume it has something to do with modesty. but if i may be frank, it’s because i have really big boobs. my size fluctuates a bit, but i’m currently fitting into a 32F. and i know this probably sounds like sacrilege, but to be completely honest, i do not love it. and i am forever envious of my smaller busted friends who talk about the liberation of going braless– and wearing all sorts of revealing clothes while doing so. unfortunately for me, that is literally not possible– especially because i’m still breastfeeding, but also because it is not a comfortable (or socially acceptable) option for those of us who are naturally very well-endowed.

i tend to wear full-coverage bras with lots of support to hold me in place, to push everything upwards and inwards– and out of sight. it’s never particularly bothered me because in many ways, it’s just how i feel more comfortable. but lately, i’ve been itching for a change. maybe it’s because i’ve gotten older. or maybe it’s because i’ve had two kids and i just don’t feel the same way about my body as i used to. maybe it’s the patriarchy getting me down, but what they heck? why not show a little more skin every once in a while?

so this season, i challenged myself to try some new clothes. i picked out a few new things for spring, including this reversible tank top with a deep v that can be worn in front or in back. i thought i would just wear the v in the back, but then i discovered the new thirdlove perfect contour plunge bra. i often choose clothes with more coverage to avoid showing any lace or straps, but if you’re wearing the right bra, who’s to say it’s such a bad thing to get a little peek of an elegant detail? the perfect contour plunge has an elegant sheer mesh overlay along the front, and most importantly, it is made with super-soft memory foam cups that provides a very natural lift that is universally flattering, even for someone with an F cup like me. it is very soft and comfortable, while still actually providing support. and dare i say, i might be liking it even better than my usual full coverage bras. it’s given me the freedom to change things up with my wardrobe, and it’s made me realize that there are other ways to be comfortable in a bra that don’t involve always being covered up!

shop third love and find the perfect bra for your body. use the fit finder and try before you buy!

this post was created in partnership with thirdlove. all opinions are my own. thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make this blog possible!

my style

the 24/7 classic by third love

December 1, 2016 11 Comments

true story: i was a bit of a “late bloomer” as they say. starting around junior high, my mom and grandma would take me to mervyn’s (rest in department store peace) every year around the holidays to ceremoniously pick out a new bra. mind you, i had no need for such a contraption at that age, but i was far too old for the training bras you would find in the little girl’s department. so i would wander through the racks of plastic hangers with magic brassieres stuffed like pillows, on the hunt for a lady bra that would somehow fit my stick thin frame. my mom would shoo me in to the dressing room unattended, where i would struggle with the straps and hooks, and break into a sweat trying to wrangle one on. of course, i knew nothing about proper fit, so the band would inevitably be about 3 sizes too big and the cups had no purpose at all. and i would spend the rest of my pre and early-teen days playing tug-of-war with my bra while it migrated up towards my neck beneath my shirt.

fast forward more years than i’d like to count, and things have obviously changed. somewhere in my twenties, i gained about 5 cup sizes and now i have the opposite problem. post-baby #2, it’s no secret that my body has changed quite a bit. in fact, it still hasn’t stopped because i’ve been gradually losing those last few pregnancy pounds and i’m currently breastfeeding, so my bust size is literally changing from hour to hour. and if they were big before, let’s just say that my cups now truly runneth over. needless to say, it’s been an interesting experience stepping into the department store and having to ask for a size 32G, which at this point is closer to a hat size than an actual cup size. if you have a small band size and a large cup size like i do, then you know the selection at most stores is slim to none. you might walk out with some vaguely skin-colored minimizer bra fit for a granny, or else you’ve got to drive over an hour to an expensive boutique just to find your size. so you can imagine my relief when thirdlove asked me if i’d be interested in partnering-up to experience their one-of-a-kind “try before you buy” program that matches you with your perfect bra, giving you 30 days to try it out before you make a purchase. i was skeptical at first, but after trying the fit finder, there it was: the 24-7 classic in a size 32G.

these days, i’m mostly interested in something that looks natural and feels like a second skin. i really don’t want to fuss with itchy lace, and i have to be careful not to wear anything too restrictive. but at the same time, let’s be frank, my boobs are huge. so i still need some level of support beyond a flimsy bralette. the 24-7 classic ticks all the boxes. it’s made of a very soft and stretchy microfiber jersey with just the right amount of memory foam in the cups to make sure you’re comfortable and covered. and it comes in a variety of band sizes from 28 to 38 with full and half cup sizes from a size A to G. they have a 100% fit guarantee meaning returns and exchanges are free, and they’ll even connect you with a fit expert who can help you trouble shoot to find exactly the right fit. it’s a far cry from those early days of bra shopping with mom and grandma in tow. bless their hearts, but i’m glad i’ve found an alternative.

my style, kids

family style with the new zappos loyalty program!

October 4, 2016 5 Comments

this post is sponsored by zappos.

if you’ve been following my blog for a while, then you probably know that i’ve been a zappos customer for years. i think i made my first purchase on the site before i was even a blogger, and i’ve been doing this for over 8 years now! so you know i was excited when they let me know about their brand new zappos loyalty program! whether you’re brand new to zappos or have been shopping there for years, it’s free to join and you can instantly start earning points towards perks and benefits like free expedited shipping and early access to sales. earn 10 points for every $1 spent, earn 50 points just for logging in, and earn 100 points each time you leave a product review. the more points you earn, the more rewards you get! and for a limited time, existing zappos customers will get a $15 zappos reward code when they join the zappos loyalty program.

so here we are outfitted in some of our zappos favorites for some fun family photos. i’ve been trying to make a better effort to get photos of us all together, which i have to tell you, is no easy feat! but getting some new early fall clothes in the mail was certainly a good excuse to do it! i’m having a lot of fun putting edie in little vintage dresses with tiny cardigans, while adam is going a bit more practical with sturdy pants and comfy sweaters. but this is california, so you know we all love our sandals, haha! these are some of my favorite classics from saltwaters sandals, swedish hasbeens, and birkenstocks. they all stand up to constant wear and go with pretty much everything. and i love the convenience of being able to buy all of these brands in one place with free shipping, free returns, and excellent customer service.

i’m wearing: colorant cashmere sweater, samantha pleet plank jeans, swedish hasbeens braided high clog sandals

edie is wearing: vintage dress, petite soul bonnet, pumpkin patch kids chunky cardigan, saltwater sandals sea wees

adam is wearing: fairends camp hat, polo ralph lauren kids hooded pullover, volcom kids frickin slim chino pants, birkenstock kids roma sandals

all linked items courtesy of zappos

lifestyle, home

high traffic with stainmaster

September 29, 2016 7 Comments

we’re just getting into the fun stage with edie! she turned 5 months old this week and is getting pretty eager to start her adventures in crawling. it will probably be another month before she’s up on all fours, but for now, she’s having a heck of a time trying! so last week, i took to the living room to make things more baby-friendly to help edie along on her adventures. because when it comes to our decor, i think of the house as a living, breathing space that changes and grows with my children. i removed the coffee table completely, and decided to get a nice plush rug for her to roll around on. i know i just got finished talking about some of my previous rug mistakes, but when i saw this plush masterpiece in light colors, i had to have it. i know it goes against all of my own advice for keeping a house with a toddler and a baby, but if ever there is a rule, i have to break it. even when it’s my own rule!

it arrived in the mail just last week and we all oohed and ahhed as i laid it down in the living room. adam started running around on it and i took off my shoes to feel the softness beneath my feet. but if you so much as look at the thing, it gets dirty, haha! the living room is a well-used space, so i know this rug is going to be experiencing some heavy traffic between adam tracking in dirt from outside, edie drooling all over the place, and a rotating cast of friends and family coming to visit the kids. thankfully, i’ve been working with my friends at stainmaster to keep my beloved rugs clean, so i pulled out my stash of stainmaster rug and carpet cleaners to see what i could do to give this rug the longest life as possible. my current favorite? the high traffic cleaner. this heavy duty foaming cleaner loosens and lifts tracked-in soil, then goes a step further by applying an invisible shield to repel dirt and protect against resoiling. all you have to do is shake the can, spray the foam from about two feet away and spread it around with a sponge or mop, then wait for the foam to dry so you can vacuum to remove loosened dirt and dry foam. i get to keep my pretty rug and the kids get to play on it without giving me a heart attack.

lifestyle, home

home improvements with the munchkin vibe gate

September 20, 2016 5 Comments

as you know, a big focus around the house lately has been in making improvements wherever we can–some large, some small. but with edie and adam to watch after, we’ve had put off some of our bigger projects until we can figure out the logistics of living through renovations. which means we’ve had to do a lot of improvising when it comes to creating a pleasant and kid-friendly space in the meantime. i’ve talked about this before, but a lot of the guiding principles in our home decor are centered around creating a montessori environment whenever possible, but as any parent will tell you, that isn’t always possible. especially when you have a half-finished kitchen that isn’t exactly toddler-proof!

which is why we were so excited to partner with munchkin to try out the vibe gate. the idea behind the design of this sleek baby gate was to turn an everyday safety item into a beautiful addition to your home decor. and you know how much this concept speaks to me! even though we’re putting a big focus on function, it’s still really important for me to have a beautiful space that both kids and adults can enjoy together. this gate functions exactly as it should, it’s constructed out of incredibly sturdy steel and mesh with a very simple turnkey mount that literally takes a few minutes to install, and it comes in a range of 5 different colors and designs, whether you want something minimal and neutral like ours, or you want to go more bright and playful with a pink hello kitty! from the moment i opened the box, i could tell they paid attention to all of the details, from the simple packaging to the easy closing latch that clicks perfectly into place.

it’s taken adam a bit of getting used to, but it’s given me some peace of mind without being an eye sore. i love the way it blends in with our mid-century modern decor, and i feel so much better knowing that i don’t have to worry about my toddler sneaking in to the kitchen–or his baby sister crawling in after him!

lifestyle, home

don’t sweat the small stuff with stainmaster

September 9, 2016 6 Comments

as i’m sure you know, the past couple of years have seen a lot of change around here. it’s been an adjustment getting used to life with a toddler and an infant, on top of settling into our first home together as a family. the place has really started come together decor-wise in recent months, but it hasn’t always been that way. let me tell you a little story: before adam was born, i was never really into home decor. i was into punk as a kid and as i grew older, my various apartments were mostly filled with random thrift store furniture, house plants, half-finished art projects, piles of laundry… i didn’t know a thing about lamps or rugs or accent pieces. but in those last moments before adam was born, my hormones kicked into high gear and i suddenly found myself in a nesting frenzy. i was literally rearranging furniture at 38 weeks pregnant, and in a panic because his nursery wasn’t even finished. and in my rush to get the house perfect for the baby, i made some… interesting design choices. for one, i fell in love with a very stunning (and very expensive) vintage kilim rug with a pale floral pattern. and then adam was born.

shortly after his birth, our doctor referred to him as a “happy spitter,” which was basically a polite way of saying that he was a puking machine. he didn’t have anything medically wrong with him, he wasn’t sick or suffering from reflux or anything, he just puked. a lot. within months, my entire apartment was literally covered in baby puke. and that beautiful pastel rug i was talking about? let’s just say it was a small sacrifice to pay for a happy, healthy baby. fast forward a couple of years and i’ve learned quite a few lessons about decor and housekeeping. for starters, it’s probably a good idea to choose a rug in a more forgiving color scheme and pattern, preferably something that was designed for high traffic areas and lots of messes. we swapped out our beloved vintage rug for indoor/outdoor rugs made of 100% recycled plastic bags! they look like wool, but they do a really good job of repelling dirt, so they require a lot less care than a super absorbent natural fiber. but also, there are such things as cleaners that you can use to clean up messes before they get out of hand. yeah.

enter stainmaster carpet care. we teamed up with the brand to try their line of carpet care products, which are specifically designed to treat stain-resistant, nylon, and polyester carpets and rugs like the ones we now use. they have several different formulas designed to remove tough stains while leaving behind an invisible shield to repel dirt and protect against future stains without sticky residue. those two simple solutions have totally changed the way i react to my little “mess makers” around the house. now when edie spits up or adam drops his food, i’m not stressing myself out over ruined rugs. we simply wipe it up and move one to more important things. which is exactly the type of outlook us mamas need to keep sane and enjoy these precious moments with our little ones before they’re all grown up! oh, and it doesn’t hurt when dad pitches-in and helps us clean our messes, too!

my style

four eyes

September 6, 2016 No Comments

little known fact: i have terrible vision. i’ve been wearing contact lenses for so long that most people have no idea i need glasses to see. it’s funny, too, because i had to wear glasses for so many years that i still think of them as being a part of my identity, even though i don’t tend to wear them outside of the house all that often these days. but wearing contacts every single day is not quite so easy on the eyes. i’d been meaning to get some new glasses to give my eye balls a break, but i’ve been so busy lately that it’s been hard for me to find time to even pick out a pair! so i was really excited when eyeconic asked if i’d be interested in partnering up to give them a try! i picked out a pair of non-prescription sunglasses that shipped out right away, and also found a fun new pair of prescription glasses that came with scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses and uv protection, which is especially helpful in avoiding my coke bottle lens problem! yes, my vision is that bad.

one thing that makes me kind of anxious about buying glasses online is that i never know what to do if i need to get them fitted. the nice thing about eyeconic is that they’ve partnered with a network of 37,000 local doctors for frame adjustments and content lens consultations at no additional charge (yes, they sell contacts, too)! and if you place an order that just doesn’t work out, they also offer free shipping and returns, which is an even bigger relief. fortunately for me, i’m really happy with my selection, and i’ve been having fun incorporating them into my wardrobe. so far, my sunglasses seem to go with everything i own, and i’ve been playing around with more geeky looks to go with my thick-rimmed glasses. but of course, these are only a teensy tiny glimpse at what they have to offer, so go take a look at eyeconic now!

look number one:
g-star raw caramel crystalline sunglasses courtesy of eyeconic
elizabeth suzann top
m.i.h. nautical cropped trousers
young frankk orb cuff
vintage salvatore ferragamo sandals

look number two:
mcm tortoise frames courtesy of eyeconic
vintage shirt and jacket
neuew denim paris crop jeans
young frankk orb cuff
giantlion scoop ring
benah handbag

food

after school snack: beet, yam, and broccoli tots

August 30, 2016 2 Comments

adam is back in school, which means that he’s super hungry when he gets home! and having a quick snack ready is my first line of defense against toddler meltdowns. during the summer break when he was home all of the time, i kinda slipped into the bad habit of feeding him a lot of packaged snacks. they aren’t terrible or anything, but a fresh start to the new year has got me brainstorming ways to feed him quick, easy, and healthful meals and snacks. so when got milk? asked me if i’d be interested in partnering up to share a fun and savory milk pairing for kids, i knew just the recipe to share!

adam is pretty good about eating fresh fruit, but i have to be sneaky when it comes to convincing him to eat his veggies. thankfully, i’ve figured out a way to pack in tons of nutrients into these colorful little tots! the concept is pretty simple: swap out potatoes for any veggie you want. three favorites around this house are beets, yams, and broccoli. and they certainly aren’t just for kids. adam likes them plain, but i like to toss in a few spices for myself and dip them in a chipotle aioli sauce. add a heaping glass of organic whole milk and enjoy!

after school snack: beet, yam, and broccoli tots

Ingredients

12 oz. veggie of your choice (we used beets, yams, and broccoli)
1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar
1/2 cup panko or bread crumbs
1 large egg
salt and pepper to taste
a side of chipotle aioli, mayonnaise, or ketchup

Instructions

preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit
blanch your veggies in boiling water until slightly soft. the cooking times will vary depending on the vegetable you use, but no more than 2-3 minutes each. shock in cold water and drain. use a paper towel to remove excess moisture if necessary.
in a bowl, combine veggies with cheese, panko, and egg. quickly stir them together to incorporate, then drop them in the food processor and pulse a few times until they are chopped finely. you can play around with the texture you prefer.
using a tablespoon to measure the size of the tots, form them into little spheres and line them on a baking sheet. spray with cooking oil.
bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
enjoy with a tall glass of california milk!

i’ve gotten into a habit of preparing three batches at the beginning of the week and then storing them in the refrigerator so they’re ready to bake right as adam is arriving home from school. he’s a bit young, but he does enjoy helping me shape them into tots as well! if i make a handful for him and myself every day, they usually last all week!

this post is brought to you by got milk? food loves milk.

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