A few weeks ago, TMBR wood watches reached out to me to collaborate. While I enjoy such partnerships, I'm very particular about what I share with you all here because authenticity is important to me and as such, anything I share with you has to be a natural fit into my mostly classic wardrobe as well as something I'd truly recommend. After having the opportunity to wear it on a few different occasions, I can say that my new rose gold wood-face helm watch fits that bill, TMBR also has a handful of other beautiful women's wood watches. What I like most is that it's so versatile for everyday wear because the face is light and simple, the brown leather band adds a bit of a casual aesthetic but the rose gold balances it out as it adds a feminine vibe, it's also affordable at under $100. A classy woman should invest in a few different watches for her wardrobe to coordinate with various outfits. I like how this one is different than the others I already own, a great addition to my collection. Here's a look that I wore recently on a cooler California day.
It's no secret I love the weather here in the Bay Area, one day we'll get an 85-degree dose of blazing sunshine perfect for spring days by the pool, and the next we'll be back into the 60's and layering up once again. I wouldn't have it any other way-I appreciate the variety as I really enjoy wearing layers. I wore this outfit a couple weeks ago to check in on a few properties we were staging that happened to be under renovation. As much as I gravitate to heels for my professional attire there are days where I have the ability to dress down more casually and flats just make more sense in terms of safety. I've been living in these sneakers lately, especially walking up and down steep hills in San Francisco, while in homes under construction still and while on-the-go with my busy preschooler. Although I often use my phone to keep time when running from appointment to appointment, I still prefer to wear a watch, so this one has become the perfect addition to wear on more casual days.
My sweetie could tell you that I've literally been living in these skinny jeans on weekends, which you may have noticed if you follow my insta stories. I purchased them in black as well as the dark wash several months ago and wear them so often that I just bought another identical pair of each color as they're currently 40% OFF right now so it's like getting a pair for free. They have great stretch, fit true to size (for reference I'm wearing a size 4 tall). It's hard for me to find long jeans that fit like a glove in a longer length so when I discovered these which are super soft and comfortable, I knew I'd be buying them in more colors-they also come in white which is a staple for summer. For the past couple months I think I've worn this Tory Burch bag nearly every day as I love the adjustable strap which can be worn longer over the shoulder, cross-body or doubled up like I'm wearing it here. It's the perfect size, fits all of my necessities and is so versatile that I can go from a day of client meetings in a dress or suit to dressing up a pair of jeans after hours, it is the perfect classic go-to bag in my opinion.
Happy early spring! The weather here in the Bay Area has ranged from the 50's to the low-70's. While I've mostly been bundled up in a scarf and coat for chilly early mornings, I did get to shed those layers to enjoy my first dip in the pool a couple weeks ago! That said, I'm sharing a mix of both cooler weather staples such as classic coats coupled with swimwear as many plan an escape from the cold and we move towards open-toed shoes once again.
A few notable trends for springs are: black & white gingham paired with denim, ruffles, stripes, the colors lavender as well as yellow (particularly a hue of golden mustard) and accentuated sleeves of all types. As always, I like to work in a few trends while maintaining a classic aesthetic that can be enjoyed for many years to come. You can shop any of the looks below or get more details by clicking on any image in the boutique.
Hi Lovelies! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day weekend with your mom and/or families. We sure did and the weather was just perfect for it! We typically spend the day together with my husband's parents who live nearby (since my own mom lives back home in Toronto) however this year, my in-laws decided to escape for a week-long getaway so we're planning to celebrate with them later this week when they return. Since it was just our little family of 3, we decided to keep things simple by enjoying brunch at home then heading to the beach for the afternoon followed by a casual family dinner out.
We had the best time at the beach building sand castles, jumping through waves, splashing in the water and taking in the warm salty air. Lily was so focused on digging in the sand and filling up her pail, it was cute to watch. Although we were only there for a few hours, it was still relaxing and exactly what we needed. The beach is definitely our happy place, there's something so wonderful about getting a dose of natural Vitamin D, Vitamin Sea, feeling warm sand under your feet and hearing the waves crashing, it seems to make all the cares of the day disappear.
Here's a look at what I wore on Mother's Day. I recently picked up this breezy red floral maxi dress locally and paired it with my favorite gray wedges (last seen here paired with blush pink + white denim, here with gray floral denim + black and a close-up worn with my very favorite nailpolish color here. It gets so hot here in Florida so quickly that I live in dresses 3/4 of the year. Lily was having fun picking jasmine flowers off our vine and offering them to me. Every year on Mother's Day it's a tradition that Lily and I take mother-daughter photos together outdoors (usually on our property). I realized that I haven't shared the previous years here (with the exception of my maternity photo below from this bump update post), so I thought it would be fun to finally share those photos below. It's amazing to see how fast little ones grow! :) She is at a stage that I'm loving, I honestly wish I could keep her this age for a long time. I will forever treasure these photos and I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mother.
2015- Lily was 20 months old.
2014- My 1st official Mother's Day! Lily was 8.5 months old.
2013- My 1st unofficial Mother's Day! I was 25 weeks along.
As a young girl, I always dreamed of being a mom one day and as an adult prayed for many years that I'd get to experience having a baby of my own, I especially wanted to have a little girl, which I'm forever grateful for now having. Having a daughter has changed me in the best possible kind of ways and above all other things, I believe that motherhood is the greatest gift and calling in life-nothing else compares to it! No matter what else I accomplish in my lifetime be it my career or otherwise, raising my sweet girl will always be my most important and meaningful life's work. Words alone cannot adequately express what my precious daughter means to me. She is the joy and love of my life, my best friend and each day I look forward to the funny new things she'll say or do and the sweetest cuddles + kisses. I live for hearing these 4 words: "I love you Mama'.
EARRINGS:Jewel Mint old(similar) // NAIL POLISH:Essie (color: Ole Caliente)
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During this time of year it's so easy for me to become distracted (anyone else?) while working at the kitchen table in front of our large window when the sunshine and warm breeze gently kiss my skin and tempt me to come out and play. Right now we also have a confederate jasmine vine in full bloom along our property that I just can't get enough of, the scent is both delicious and intoxicating!
I confess that I'm not someone who enjoys very hot and humidity weather for a long stretch of time so as you can imagine, living in Florida, this poses a challenge during the majority of the year. On a side note, we had the best time in California and there are serious considerations for moving there. I live for the months of January through April here and spend as much time outdoors as possible. A few days ago, I picked up some groceries along with a bunch of sunflowers then decided to make my way to one of my favorite local parks that just so happens to have the most fragrant and beautiful rose garden. The relaxing fountain and delicate roses made for the perfect backdrop for today's casual outfit shoot. This is a typical outfit that I wear daily when I'm not meeting clients, I always strive for a look that is somewhat effortless yet put-together at the same time. I definitely don't wear a lot of white around Lily, because let's face it, toddlers will destroy white faster than anything else however for drop-off and pick-up to school during the week, it's usually pretty safe.
I purchased this mint top locally a few weeks ago and knew it would pair well with both dark denim as well as white shorts, jeans and skirts. I've owned this pair of cropped white denim Merona jeans that I picked up at Target for a few years now, I bought them when I was in the very early stages of pregnancy with Lily because I loved how much stretch they had so I could wear them afterwards as well. Since they are not maternity, I still wear them however, in humid weather especially if I'm bending/sitting a lot the material is such that they tends to stretch out of shape (as they did this day after wearing them all afternoon since they were never a tight fit) so I'm on the hunt for a new pair that keep their shape, so far I'm loving these and they're 30% OFF right now!, or this pair under $75 and this pair comes in 8 other colors!
I decided to bust out a recent find which you may have seen on instagram-this structured navy Zac Posen satchel that I picked up for a steal. I had had my eye on this lighter spring version but I couldn't pass this one up as it was well under half off and more in line with my budget. Although it's technically seen as a fall color, I still wear navy well into the spring and summer as it pairs so well with red + white or with softer colors such as blush pink, pale blue or even bright fuchsia or yellow. I'm looking forward to using it year round and it's such a sturdy well-made bag that holds a lot which I've learned is very important with a little one as I've transitioned away from using a diaper bag!
I have had my eye on these gorgeous cat eye Tom Ford sunnies however, at $400 they are not in the budget right now. I was so excited to stumble upon this nearly identical dupe for less than $20! They are so much nicer on person than on the website and they have full 100% UV protection (not UV absorptive like many inexpensive sunglasses that allow the rays in-something to look out for). Even though she has her own, Lily loves to wear mama's sunglasses and broke a pair right before our spring break trip, so I tend to only wear budget-friendly ones around her now.
One of the perks of living in Florida is that something is bound to be in bloom year round-even it that just means palm trees or sea oats at the beach. This time of year makes me feel so alive and giddy inside. There's something so exciting about seeing the bright green new growth leaves sprouting out from our oak tree or hearing all the baby birds tweeting on our property and seeing flowers blossom all over the city. Our neighbor across the street has the most wonderful yellow flowering tree.
Above is a look at the rose garden at the Estate House of Cypress Grove Park. The trickling fountain in the center of the garden is so soothing, I was happy to be the only one there. The green & white estate house in behind is lovely and has a beautiful waterfront property overlooking the lake which makes for the most beautiful wedding ceremony backdrop, the outdoor garden and patio is equally as delightful. A girlfriend of mine got married here a few years ago and although it was sunny and quite hot in May, it made for a stunning garden party venue.
Just across the street from the rose garden in the main open portion of the park is a white bridge that leads from the lake side, gazebo, open grounds and playground to large open soccer fields and volleyball, basketball areas and more. This park frequently hosts jazz festivals and is home to some beautiful outdoor family gatherings and birthday parties with it's picnic tables and BBQ's. It's actually where we had Lily's 1st Birthday photo shoot (that was a crazy day which I still need to share here-it was literally the hottest most humid day of the entire year), August is a hot one here or else I'd love to have a casual gathering with all of our friends + family there this year for her 3rd birthday. Speaking of toddlers, a sweet little girl about Lily's age walked over to the end of the bridge smiling during the shoot and said "hi" to me, so this moment was captured. ;)
Hi Lovelies! It's so great to be back, Happy April! We had a wonderful family spring break vacation out west and arrived home bright + early last Tuesday morning and we're finally back into the swing of things and have adjusted back to our own timezone after a full week. After a 2 month hiatus from the series, I finally posted a new Manners Monday post yesterday, so be sure to check it out! Also, I'm so excited to share our trip pics, details and some of my favorite outfits and locations with you in the coming weeks (including a once in a lifetime helicopter ride + outfit shoot inside of the Grand Canyon!) so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, with April being a true spring-like month for most, I wanted to share the top trends for spring along with my favorite picks of the season below each!
The basis for a classy woman's wardrobe will always be the staple classic pieces, the ones you'll invest in and own forever. Wardrobe basics are a must to build upon and once those are in place, adding to them with a few trendy of-the-moment items each season will create a more versatile wardrobe, one that is also a lot of fun.
When it comes to my own wardrobe (as you've seen in my outfit posts here and on Instagram), I naturally gravitate towards timeless style and much of what I share was often purchased years prior, with some pieces being even a decade old Every season I get inspired by the current colors, textures and trends and make a point of adding a few that best suit my personality, body type and lifestyle into my closet. During springtime, dresses always pull on my heartstrings, especially given that I live in a warm climate nearly year round so I know I'll make good use of them. During our trip recently, I essentially lived in dresses and sandals, when the sun went down and the temps dropped I simply added a denim jacket, blazer or cardigan.
Today I'm sharing 7 Top trends for Spring with you! Beneath each one you can shop my favorite looks. Over the years I've honed in on what works for me and what doesn't, there are some trends that no matter how great they look on other people or how popular they are, I just can't embrace (like ripped denim shorts for example-I just can't!) because I feel silly in them but this list is perfect for every classy woman, they are all lovely styles to complement the basics that you likely already own and can't go wrong with!
1. Lace: Romance always comes to mind when I think of lace, it's so elegant, feminine and delicate. Lace makes a comeback every spring and is a popular selection for wedding dresses, however we're now seeing it everywhere in a big way and I'm loving it! There are so many gorgeous dresses-everything from casual everyday wear to formal dresses for special events. If you're looking to add a more feminine touch to your everyday career look, incorporate a lace blouse or even a lace pencil skirt (just not both at the same time). ;) Below are a few of my personal favorite lace pieces right now, and this classic style is one on my wishlist:
LACE
2. Bell Sleeves: This style evokes a more Bohemian look, a relaxed feel and one that you may associate with hippie days or those participating in festival season. When done right, they can be very elegant and can add the perfect touch to a pair of jeans or even a skirt. In order to keep it polished, opt for tops that do not have a busy print but instead something more solid with hints of color and pattern such as these below:
BELL SLEEVES
3. Off-the-shoulder Tops & Dresses: Another soft, romantic look in my opinion is anything off the shoulder. It shows just enough skin in the right places to be considered sexy and alluring without showing off areas that should be kept covered up. I've long loved this style as well as strapless dresses and halter tops for this reason. These are so feminine and a great option for brunch with girlfriends or a date night out. Take a peek at these beauties:
OFF THE SHOULDER TOPS
OFF THE SHOULDER DRESSES
4. Espadrille Wedges: While wedges of varying heights and flat espadrilles have been quite popular during the past few years, combined together as an espadrilles wedge they are the perfect choice for shorts, skirts, dresses or jeans-they're both stylish and versatile and can be dressed up or down. How pretty is this blush pink version?! *Many I've shown below come in several colors other than the ones shown.
ESPADRILLE WEDGES
5. Straw Hats: I love straw bags in spring and summer weather, I take them with me to the beach, to a resort with a pool or even just around town while running errands and straw hats are no different. Everything from boater hats to floppy hats can really help to block the sun's harsh rays all while looking stylish at the same time. My favorites right now are those with a message like this 'wish you were here' floppy hat or this 'lovely' version. I own this $15 black & white hat and it goes with so much!
STRAW HATS
STRAW BAGS
6. High Neck Bikinis & One Pieces: If you've been looking for a new swimsuit for an upcoming trip or just to round out your collection, you may have noticed that many have higher neck options which I really love because they are both practical and chic. As a mom to a busy toddler, I'm constantly bending over to build sand castles, dry her off at the beach and attend to her needs so tops where people have a clear view of my chest when I bend over is a no-no. Also, while swimming with her I find that somehow she manages to pull my bikini tops up (it's a constant battle) so this is a great solution as are one pieces. There are so many pretty colors and styles this season, take a peek...
HIGH NECK SWIMSUITS
7. Lace-up Flats & Lace-up Sandals: I don't know about you but I'm loving the look of lace-up shoes and sandals, particularly pointy toe flats. They add such a polished look to even the simplest skirt of pair of jeans, especially in classic black but I must say I'm loving bold colors such as cobalt blue and blush pink too. Last fall I started seeing them popping up everywhere and that trend has continued. Of course, many sandals with stiletto, wedge and stacked heels are also emerging and are equally as beautiful. *Many I've shown below come in several colors other than the ones shown.
SHOP: LACE-UP FLATS & LACE-UP SANDALS
Other trends that are worthy of noting but I haven't included above are: Ruffle hem tops (similar to peplum tops but I love the looser options this season), round sunglasses (such a 70's vibe as are bell sleeve tops, flare jeans and off-the-shoulder looks), pompoms on accessories such as shoes and straw bags (I love this clutch with pom poms-it makes me happy), tassels on handbags, clutches, shoes and other accessories such as earrings + bracelet sets as well as bold colors. It's such a great season to have fun with fashion!
Classic styles that you can never go wrong with this spring (if you're focusing more on building a timeless spring wardrobe) are: scalloped edges (love this tank which comes in 3 colors), pastel hues, ruffled details, gingham, rompers and of course everything lace.
