mom jeans + puff sleeves – est. 2008
it’s summertime and i’m back in action. i’ve been collecting some really excellent vintage clothes and accessories that are perfect for trekking through the desert, lounging on the beach, and everything else in between. everything is made with natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, and leather. so make sure you’re following me at @calivintageshop on instagram because this stuff sells out fast. i’ll be listing these gems, and lots more starting tomorrow!
when it comes to anything woven, lately it seems that i can’t have enough! so when i came across abacÁ¡, i was instantly in love. the manila-based brand offers a small selection of woven backpacks, purses, and totes alongside a few select accessories and home wares. each bag is traditionally handwoven using abacÁ¡, a very strong natural fiber made from banana leaves native to the phillipines, which is highly durable, flexible and resistant to salt water damage. obviously, the bags are beautiful, but i also love that their mission is to support communities and preserve traditional craft. all purchases contribute to a sustainable livelihood for weavers in southern luzon, philippines with a portion of proceeds going to right start foundation, a non-profit, non-government organization for underprivileged filipino children.
this post was sponsored by ALDI as part of influencer activation for influence central.
it’s been quite a while since i’ve shared a recipe, or even written about food, but i certainly haven’t stopped cooking! in fact, in more recent months, i’ve been making a very concerted effort to cook most of my meals at home. it’s almost too easy to order takeout, especially with a rambunctious toddler and a newborn to take care of. but those two growing babies are exactly the reason it’s so important to cook healthful meals at home. and while it certainly is a time commitment, we’ve found a lot of value in getting adam involved in the kitchen while we prepare our food, and we all feel really good about what we’re eating. the only catch is that it’s surprisingly expensive to buy fresh, high quality and organic food. so when ALDI got in touch and asked us if we’d like to visit one of their 25 new southern california locations, i jumped at the opportunity.
i have to admit that i wasn’t entirely familiar with ALDI before they got in touch. they’re new to southern california, so this was my first visit to one of their 25 newly opened locations. i had a vague idea that they sold products at an affordable price, so i wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. but as i started to browse through the aisles, i was really surprised to see that they had lots of fresh produce, and a really great selection of organic products. it’s memorial day this weekend, so i focused on some of my summer favorites: ingredients for ground beef tacos, chicken tortas, lots of guacamole, and a big pitcher of white wine sangria filled to the brim with fresh fruit.
one of the ways that they’re able to offer such affordable prices is with their own ALDI-exclusive brands like SimplyNature, which includes usda certified organic and non-gmo verified items, liveGfree gluten-free products, and NeverAny! products that are free from added antibiotics, hormones and animal by-products. and since they forgo the typical flashy marketing of other grocery stores, the savings are passed on to customers. seems like a pretty smart business model to me!
so i thought i’d share a little peek at my ALDI haul. i went in with $100 and despite filling up my cart, i still didn’t manage to spend the whole thing. everything you see in the photographs totaled $60, that includes the extra produce that didn’t fit into the photos, a bottle of organic wine, organic meats and cheeses, tons of produce, and a few name brand items as well. so i guess this means i’ll be heading back for more soon!
as time goes by, my style has seen a lot of subtle change. one major focus for me in more recent years has been a movement away from fast fashion, with a focus on timeless, understated pieces that can be worn any time of year, regardless of the trends. so of course, the new jane sews slow fashion lookbook is right down my alley. the collection is crafted from natural fabrics, like pure linens and super soft tencel. i love the pared-down aesthetic with lots of relaxed pieces that can be layered in any number of ways or worn simply with a few key accessories.
if you’re not familiar with the brand, jane sews is an independent clothing and footwear brand based in durban, south africa. each collection is designed in-house by their small team of makers, and they do not outsource or mass produce any of their products. the focus is on quality and classic design translated into key pieces that you can build your wardrobe around, with everything made from quality materials and designed with great care.
photographed by rebecca meissner
worn by monique irma schreiber and philippa godson
styled by amy venter
about a week after edith was born, i was surprised to discover that her precious baby skin started to peel! my only experience was with adam, and this never happened when he was born. it was a little disconcerting to see so much of her skin start to flake and peel off, but i talked to her pediatrician who reassured me that it’s completely normal for most babies. she recommended that we take care not to bathe her too frequently, and that we could apply a very gentle lotion to help keep her skin moisturized. so when we got home, i decided to incorporate a daily moisturizer into her routine.
when babies are so tiny, their skin is sensitive, so i was thankful when Aveeno got in touch and asked if i’d like to try their Baby Wash & Shampoo and Baby Daily Moisture Lotion. i especially love the moisturizer because it’s a hypoallergenic formula that is free of fragrance, harsh chemicals and allergens. i’ve been using their products since i was a kid, so i felt more than comfortable using it on edie, and i’m so pleased with the results. her skin is baby soft, just the way it should be.
this time around, when it comes to bath time, my trick is to wait until her belly is full and she’s been napping for a few minutes before i gently pick her up and very slowly dip her into a luke-warm bath with the water running. with the temperature just right and the white noise of the water, it’s such a soothing experience that she actually stays asleep or just flutters her eyes a little bit during the entire bath! she stays completely calm and relaxed, even as i gently remove her from the water and quickly wrap her in a warm towel. then it’s the perfect opportunity to moisturize her skin with some lotion while i give her a baby massage. it’s great because i can tend her delicate skin and enjoy some special bonding time with my baby while i rub her little fingers and toes. it’s tiny moments just like this that i know i will cherish forever.
share your #TinyMoments and tag @AveenoUS to show off your #AveenoBaby.
i partnered with Aveeno® on this post. all opinions are 100% my own.
i may have had my maternity style all figured out, but even after two years with adam, i never quite figured out the most important of all baby accessories: the diaper bag. i’ve used a few different bags and backpacks, but i’ve never actually settled on anything i love. somehow, my diaper bags has always been more of an afterthought, even though it’s such a crucial item to have with me when i leave the house! so now that i have two kids to contend with, i’m thinking i might finally need to up by game and ditch that canvas tote for something a bit more grownup. granted, only one of my top picks was actually designed as a diaper bag, but i really don’t want anything that screams baby. i’m not one for puffy-sided totes or juvenile prints, and i really want something that can also be used for years to come, even after my kids are potty trained.
the julien backpack diaper bag by leader bag co. this is the only pack on my list that was truly designed as an actual diaper bag. it’s got all of the bells and whistles: it’s very chic and comes in a variety of neutral colorways, it has detachable stroller straps so you can keep it handy while walking baby, and you can buy it in a bundle with a matching change pouch and mat, so you can keep all of your diapering essentials right at hand. and it’s handmade in nyc.
the harvest backpack by kika ny. while not designed solely for the purpose of carrying baby things, the sleek and simple all-leather design of this backpack makes me swoon. it’s essentially a leather tote with a zipper top, but instead of shoulder straps, it’s got backpack straps. it does come with a divider and large pocket on the inside, as well as a small zipper pocket on the outside. the leather is vegetable-tanned and water resistant, and i love that it will come in handy long after the toddler years as a regular backpack. it’s also hand-made in nyc.
the mini bike to beach bag by alite designs. this simple canvas and leather bag is both a tote and a backpack. i like the minimal design and easy-access to all of the things inside. the straps across the front of the bag can actually be adjusted so you can secure a rolled up a blanket or jacket, so it’s got a bit of sneaky extra storage. and it’s made in san francisco.
the clare v.messenger tote and flat clutch. i actually already own this classic design from one of my favorite handbag designers, but i was recently thinking that it might be a great contender. as you can tell, i definitely prefer backpacks, but this messenger tote can be comfortably worn cross-body so you don’t have to worry about dropping it off your shoulder while trying to manage a newborn and a toddler. simply add some zippered pouches to keep everything compartmentalized, and you’re ready to go.
so what do you think? do you have any favorites? any seasoned mamas have a few words of wisdom to impart?
i can still vividly remember taking vitamins when i was a kid. my dad was a pretty big health nut, so he insisted that we swallow these terrible, uncoated, yellow speckled horse pills every morning. every time he would call us over to take our vitamins, there would be lots of moaning before we took them. and no matter how hard i tried, i would always get that bitter taste in my mouth before i was able to force it down. sure, it was good for us to supplement our diets since kids can be picky eaters and vitamins are important for growing bodies, but taking those nasty pills bordered on traumatic, haha. so when my friends at olly asked me if i’d like to try their new kids’ wellness boosts, i was totally on board. i’m a fully grown adult and i still can’t force myself to take anything but their women’s vitamins, so i knew that their new kids’ formulas would be a huge hit with adam.
the best part is that each formula has a different color, flavor, and purpose. every day, as part of our routine, adam gets to pick between four options: happy tummy is bright yellow with probiotics, prebiotics, and peppermint. super brainy is aqua blue with omega-3s, blueberry, and choline. growing bones is pretty in pink with calcium, vitamin d, and sea minerals. mighty immunity is dark orange with cherry, elderberry, and zinc. he gets to pick his favorite (lately he really likes the pink!) after dinner and before our bedtime routine. the best part is that he comes running from wherever he is in the house and happily takes his vitamin every single time. in fact, as you might expect, we have to hide all of the bottles or else he asks to take them all the time!
to celebrate the new kids’ boost launch, olly vitamins is giving away a huge prize package! click here to enter their up, up and away giveaway for a chance to win:
a couple of weeks ago, one of my dear internet pals relaunched her beautiful shop, wild poppy goods. this portland-based online shop boasts an incredible selection of minimal vintage clothing and housewares in addition to a selection of affordable handmade jewelry and luxurious apothecary goods. if you’re looking to shop responsibly, support local businesses and international artisans, then you really need to look no further. her aesthetic is on point, and i pretty much wish my entire house could look just as elegant as her shop!
shop wild poppy goods!
believe it or not, adam never took a bottle his entire life. shortly after he was born, i made the decision to work from home, and i was all in. i didn’t know it or plan it beforehand, but i ended up being a total crunchy mama. i was all about attachment parenting, baby-wearing, breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping, night-nursing. sure, there were a few times when i tried to get him to take a bottle or a pacifier, but in the end, i was never away from him long enough to even warrant the need. i have no regrets with how i chose to do things with him, but in hindsight, my dedication came at a cost. i often wore myself thin and pushed myself to the limits. i didn’t take as much “me time” as i should have, and i probably made it harder on myself than it had to be.
now that my little edith is here, i still intend to parent the same way, but i am definitely feeling more comfortable letting go and giving myself a break more often. in fact, this time around, i’ve already gone on a date with brendan, and she only turned three weeks today! i don’t even think i had left the house at this point after adam was born. not kidding. and over the weekend, our entire little family packed up our bags for a picnic in the park, and i didn’t sweat it at all. i pumped a few ounces of breast milk, and took it as an opportunity to get some fresh air and to let brendan and adam get in some much-needed bonding time with the tiny new addition to our family. and it just felt so good to get outside.
obviously, i want the best for both of my children, but i think that this time around, i’m learning to strike a better balance around taking care of myself so that i can truly take the best care of my baby (and toddler). so of course, it was really great to have the opportunity to team up with my friends at munchkin to try out the munchkin latch bottle. the idea behind the design is to help baby transition from breast to bottle and back again. the accordion-style nipple stretches and bends like the breast, allowing baby to latch on correctly. and it has an anti-colic valve to keep air from traveling through your milk. and i’m happy to report that edie took the bottle on her very first try and had zero issues going straight back to breastfeeding after we got home. it went so well, that later that evening, grandma was on duty while brendan and i went out on our date!
this post was sponsored by munchkin latch.
when it comes to handbags, clare v is definitely one of my favorite designers. every season, she comes out with a fresh crop of minimal handbags that are never short on style. for spring, she introduced plenty of her signature french-inspiration alongside mini versions of some of her classic handbags, along with a good dose of fun prints and interesting textures. my favorite is probably the round sisal alice bag. it seems like the perfect upgrade from my smaller round canteen bags and simple sisal totes from seasons past. and i am always smitten by the fun designs on her simple flat clutches.
