In the Rearview :November

This will be a recurring series I will feature at the end of each month. I used to look back over my journal entries every few weeks/month and kind of see where I had been and what was going on and get some perspective for the future.
I decided to adopt a similar philosophy on the blog at the end of each month to wrap things up and showcase all the highlights.

I can't believe the month is over already. It has literally flown by. Christmas will be here and then New Year's before I know it. Looking back over the past few weeks I have been all over the map.
Emotionally and mentally. I feel like my mind is racing at all times.
Sleep has gotten better and more consistent which I love.
I've gotten back into a morning workout routine and have maintained getting up early to shower and dress for the day for the whole month! (this is impressive. I am not a morning person)
It seems to be working. I think the morning yoga is definitely helping. It's not just a workout routine it helps me to clear my head for sure and get my gears whirring to get ready to accomplish my tasks for the day. Yoga is such a place of serenity and happiness for me and I am loving how it is making me feel. Not to mention the change I've seen in my body as well.
I'm really enjoying this stage and place with Carson and Camryn. It was a bit rough going a few weeks ago but right now, things are really good. I will relish these moments for I know they are fleeting and precious.
The pending sale of my childhood home rocked me a little more than I thought it would.
But the promise of a fresh start for my parents has got me eager to see what awaits in the horizon.

I've been making a point to really take care of myself the last few weeks. Taking time to do things that make me smile and light up. Not to be selfish but there is a lot that gets done around here without anyone thinking about it because I take care of it. I was starting to resent that
Getting out of the house to just spend a few moments at the book store with myself and catch my breath. Enjoying a fun evening of trying on beautiful clothes and experimenting with trends while hanging with old and new friends. Sipping on champagne and noshing on cupcakes.
Spending an evening with other mothers delighting in decadent food, great conversation, excellent company and delicious drinks.
Writing. Oh so much writing. And brainstorming. Ideas bubbling and thoughts tripping over each other. Plotting and planning for the future and daydreaming about what's in store.

source

Loving each and every moment.
Taking it (somewhat) slow and savoring the day like I do my coffee, my quiet time and writing.
Outlining a plan and schedule of how to get to where I want to be in all areas of life, writing and praying it out in hopes of bringing it to fruition.
Seems to be going well at the moment.
Looking back I can see how things have changed over the course of the last month. I can see how I've changed over the course of the last few weeks. Things have been brought to my attention and now I am once again re-evaluating things and restructuring my course.
I am in a bit of a restless spell but I know part of that has to do with the end of the year. The need to wrap things up combined with the Holiday bustle that is beginning.
Y'all know I love the Holidays and am excited that they are here but at the same time it all seems to be going by so quickly! Where has the year gone?
This month has flown by! Seems like yesterday was the first of November and then D was asking if I wanted him to pull the Christmas decorations down!
They say time flies when you're having fun so I guess we must be having a blast.

The last two days have been rainy and the weekend is promising more of the same. I'm excited I was finally able to bust out some boots, leggings and cozy sweaters. Luckily we were able to get the kids some cold weather gear before the weather got wild. We plan on staying in, decorating the tree, the house, listening to some Holiday tunes, watching movies and baking. Taking full advantage of the yuck outside.



And just like that, winter and the Holidays are here.

Happy weekending everyone!

Outfit Post: Thanksgiving style

Please note: The title can only properly be said in my Psy "Gangnam Style" voice

"Oppa Thanksgiving style....Ehhhh Sexy Lady....."

Speaking of Psy - did y'all seem him perform with MC Hammer at the American Music Awards last weekend?

Oh.my.word. 

So good.

I was all "oh heyyy Hammer pants are making a comeback" and then two seconds later there was MC Hammer! 

What the what!

Totally off the subject but still......great performance and catchy song none-the-less.

So....Thanksgiving: Last year I was all kinds of big and preggers allowing me to spend the day in a sweater, leggings and some cute boots. And eat to my hearts content.

This year I wanted to wear something fun and girly but didn't want to be too over the top.

I mean, this is my family after all and there is no reason to get brand new for some folks who've seen me in my pj's more times than I can count. I also wanted to still have some wiggle room to get wild with my food intake and stuff myself if need be.

This skirt, button up and boots combo was the perfect mix of casual elegance. I loved the juxtaposition of the rugged denim and the subtle sparkle of the sequins mixed together with a casual ankle boot!

Top: Merona for Target

Skirt: H&M (old)

Boots: Sole Society  Elsa (last seen here)

*photos courtesy Sweet Pea

The loose waist band of the skirt held up through dinner and dessert and the solid chambray kept me from fretting about getting 'accessorized' with Baby Ninja's dinner!

Score one for Mom!

Did you get dressed up for the holiday?

Linking up for Real Girl Glam

and 

What I Wore Wednesday

p.s. this outfit was re-created for the purpose of this post. the original photos from the day of were awful.

thanks to my Sweet Pea who took both sets of photos and did her best to get Mommy's best side!

Thankful

Oh the Monday after Thanksgiving, it's like being semi hungover and having to go to work the next day. No bueno.
This morning was a bit rough getting everyone out of the house after being off for an entire week.
I really enjoyed the moments and took a bit of time off from all my social media (sort of) and just focused on my family. The days seemed to both speed and drag by. By Saturday I was so confused about what day it was it didn't even register the next day was Sunday until my husband asked about dinner for the week.

We spent Thanksgiving out in the Valley at D's cousin's house and as usual there was an abundance of food and family all about the house.
(I made Mac & Cheese and a few Sweet Potato pies)

But there was so much love and a sense of family that was overflowing , it made my heart happy to see everyone bustling about.  For once I didn't stuff myself (chalk it up to feeding the baby and trying to eat at the same time) so I was able to walk away and not feel like I was going to explode.
A rarity for me. It was also the first time I didn't wear pants to dinner.
I wanted to be kind of snazzy but not over dressed.
A sequin skirt, chambray shirt and ankle booties seemed like the way to go.

Baby Carson truly enjoyed his first Thanksgiving and sampled pretty much everything from the main course while voicing his pleasure.


He was a hot mess with cranberry sauce and turkey all over his face. After a quick change into jammies he passed out as soon as we got in the car. It was odd not being in the kitchen helping to put things together but someone had to wrangle the baby.....I can't complain at all.
I have so much to be thankful for this year.
My cup is truly running over.
This time last year, I was incubating the tiny pumpkin and now he is here and making our lives that much more enjoyable each day.
I am so grateful for this addition to our family. I am thankful he is happy, healthy and was given to us. He is such a loving and cuddly boy.
I had no idea the joy I would feel about having a boy!
I am overjoyed watching the relationship between my husband and his children grow each day.
I love to see them laugh at him and vice versa. To listen to him play with them and hear their squeals of delight when he walks in the door each day.
I am blessed to have such a hard working man. A man who supports his family no matter the cost.
A man who protects his family from all harm and makes all their dreams come true.
Thankful for my husband who supported my desires to stay home with my baby and be present for each and every milestone.
I have a beautiful little girl who is growing up to be quite the young lady. And I am able to watch it first hand. Up close and personal. I thank God for that. I thank Him for allowing me to have patience when speaking with her and the experiences to be able to help guide her as she navigates the pre-teen world.
I am so happy that she loves her brother the way she does. I love to see her play with him. The look of pure adoration in his eyes when she comes towards him and his deep belly laughs when she does something funny.
We are blessed in that our family is in (predominantly) good health (most days) and we have both our parents living.
I am grateful for the relationship with my brother that continues to grow stronger and deeper each year. I am so happy he is coming for Christmas next month and can't wait to spend some time with him!
I love that we have this great group of both friends and family that we have come to lean on in times of hardship and joy.
Our famdamily is so important to us and it means the world to me to watch our kids grow up together.
We have all been so blessed over the years and in the past year especially with the abundance of babies and love that seem to be pouring out of every crack and crevice.
Yes, there are many things to be thankful for this year.
I am delighting in all of them.
This holiday season is going to be spectacular.....I can already tell and I will be savoring each and every second spent with family and friends.


How was your holiday?

Style Post: Nine months gone!

Hard to believe I'm nine months postpartum today. Yep. Nine whole months. Fully dressed and back in all of my clothes. Seems like just yesterday I was happy I showered, put on mascara and pants that didn't have an elastic waist band. Now, here I am nine months later with my updated mommy chic style in full effect.
I've worked through dressing my ever changing postpartum body and rediscovered & grown my style in the process. I'm feeling good about how my body is looking these days and its starting to show up in my outfits.
Today I took Carson for his nine month well baby check up and was torn between wanting to be comfy in a sweat suit/leggings or actually getting dressed and show off my Fall style.  Well, basically, just dress like I was actually going somewhere grander than Fresh & Easy. On Sunday I'd pulled a couple of looks (ooh don't I sound like an 'in-the-know' stylist type) for the rest of the week which was great as I was having second thought my leggings and reverted back to my original outfit plan:
Skinny cargo's, a button down shirt and yet another pair of Sole Society booties.

Top: Forever 21 (old)

Pants: Mavi Skinny Cargo's

Boots: Sole Society - Elsa

Necklace: Custom piece

*photos courtesy my daughter

I felt good all day. My pants were comfortable and practical for toting around a baby while the button down added some polish to what could be a generally mundane outfit.

And the booties, pretty much a perfectly practical shoe.

I love it!

Linking up with Lindsey for WIWW 

and Amber for Real Girl Glam

One Day : My new "normal"

Wednesday I took time out to revel in the mundane. I joined in with the Hollywood Housewife for her One Day photo challenge. The task was simple, take photos all day long and just use the hashtag #onedayhh to join in the fun. There were +1000 photos with that hashtag. Kind of amazing.  Most of the images were captured on my cell phone (sorry for the low quality) but not all made it on to IG thanks to spotty network coverage in the house.
I loved it because it reminded me to stop and savor the moments I have all day long.
Moments with my son; watching him play, learn and discover.
To pay closer attention to my daughter and her ever growing mind, answer her questions and ask some of my own.
Enjoying my husband, our conversations and his presence in our life.
Really reflecting on my new normal at this stage in my life.

6:30ish: Dragged myself out of bed to get up work it out with Jillian while hoping the baby stays asleep long enough for me to finish.


8ish - Someone is enjoying his blueberry smash


8:15 - Ready for school the "Princess" is so not about the drama. She does love her colored jeans though.

Finally coffee. Breakfast and morning routine were crazy so it took a bit longer to get here. Can't find my phone.
9am Playtime. PBS Kids & blocks. Everyday is a party for this kid.

10am: Nap time necessities - coffee, books, baby monitor & iPad to do some blog brainstorming


12pm Target run - so many cute things! I want them all! However I did stick to my list, this time.

2pm: Dinner already in the crockpot! Kind of one my game today! Chicken Tortilla Soup for all!


3:30pm - afternoon carpool and mail pickup; Good mail day for me! Target Beauty Box and the new InStyle - usually it's just bills.


6pm: Daddy's home. Best time of day!


8:30pm - Score! Washer & dryer delivered thanks to my dad's move!


9:40pm Stealing a few moments alone at the local Barnes & Noble to peruse some home decor inspiration.



Home a little after ten and in bed by 11pm.
Pretty much my day in a nutshell. It was kind of fun to look through my day through a different filter so to speak. Really look at it. Take joy in all the moments and pay attention to the details Capture the moments as they happen but still be a participant. It made a 'regular' day that much more special and meaningful.
I had a good time and definitely think this is something I could explore further as there are still more photos that weren't posted to IG.

What does a day in your life look like? Would you take part in this type of photo challenge?

Featured: Lucky Magazine

Happy Thursday everyone!
Just a quick update to let you all know that my posts about Mixing it up with Maxwell & Madewell along with my Closet Classics were featured over at Lucky Magazine's community section today!
I love getting those notifications in my inbox! Makes for such wonderful feeling and adds excitement to the day!

So please go check out my posts. Tell a friend. Tweet about it. Share it on Facebook.
Ya know, show a sista some love!

It'd be greatly appreciated.

Thankful Thursday

The last few days have been a flurry of activity around these parts. In regard to furniture and decor that is. I mentioned before that due to my parents both moving we are inheriting some quality furniture, appliances and other family heirlooms which is all kinds of awesome. However we had to get rid of our current pieces to make room for the new stuff and that has been kind of a slow process.
We sold our buffet/sideboard and we spent most of Saturday boxing up currently unused bar ware cleaning and re-organizing the kitchen, which turned into rearranging things in the living room and making more space for activities!
We were happy to help someone else out and sell our washer and dryer last week. (bonus: great excuse not to do laundry for awhile. downside: laundry piled up)
Thankfully my dad was finishing up his move and had the movers come out to our house and drop of this lovely set!

Pretty much brand new front loading stack-able washer and dryer! So stoked about this! I can also take them down (which  Damon we will for sure be doing this evening) so I can reach everything.
He also put his fabulous kitchen table in storage for us until we are ready for it.
While talking to my mother earlier in the day, she inquired as to when we were going to pick up the dining table and chairs she is giving us.
I am over the moon excited about all of these pieces!  Quality furniture for free and I can customize it as I see fit! I just got goosebumps.
Of course we have to move first and find a place that works for us but I can't wait to see how it's all going to come together.
Being that my mind is racing with home design ideas I had to get out of the house after the kids went to bed and get some visual inspiration that didn't involve staring at a computer screen. God bless my husband for understanding my need for a quick roam.
I went to one of my favorite haunts; Barnes & Noble, and found myself perusing the back wall of design tome heaven when I zeroed in on the blueprints that are going to help me pull it all together when the time comes.
Domino: The Book of Design, Jonathon Adler: Happy Chic Colors and Young House Love


The first two books alone have been on my radar for some time but for some reason I was sleeping on the fact that Young House Love had been turned into a book! How did I miss that?
They have all the perfect tips for how to DIY ourselves into our dream home!
This makes me excited. (and also gave me an idea for a Christmas gift for another friend!)
See, I plan on painting all the new(old) furniture we'll be getting, reupholstering the wing chairs as well as the dining & kitchen chair pads and of course want to make sure it's done properly and this book breaks it all down. I got all of that in a 15 minute flip through. Must purchase immediately.
Obviously Domino is great because it has all kinds of design ideas from a grander point of view ranging from layouts to color schemes and the like. I must have it. And Jonathan Adler - need I say more? He just oozes inspiration. I like to have visual references for all my hare brained decorating schemes. It helps to show my husband I'm not totally crazy.

I have all these ideas swirling in my head (& accumulating on my Pinboards) and can't wait until I get to the point where I can finally put them all to good use!
Pray for us that it will happen sooner rather than later!

I am so thankful for all the wonderful things that have been happening in our little world as of late. All these pieces of the puzzle coming together slowly but surely.
The future is so bright and promising and I am thankful each and every day for all the opportunities we have been afforded.
I am in such a honeymoon stage in my life that even when the outlook may be kind of grim things are still sunshine and roses in my heart.


What are you thankful for this week?

Style Post: Mixing it up with Maxwell & Madewell

We all know I'm in love with my boyfriend jeans and am all about finding different ways to style them. I posted about this outfit a few weeks ago and was lucky enough to have the opportunity (and the pieces) to recreate it at a Madewell shopping event I attended last week.

Top: 14th & Union via Nordstrom Rack

Bottoms: AG Cropped Ex-Boyfriend

Shoes: Maxwell by Sole Society

Bracelets: H&M

Clutch: H&M

I wanted to be comfortable and still feel like I was dressed enough for a fun evening but not overly done for the middle of the week.

I loved how it turned out! Very me; casually comfortable yet feminine, somewhat bohemian and a little bit of trend. At almost nine months postpartum and I'm really getting into my mommy style groove and that feels good. I love clothes I feel comfortable in and still feel like I look good!

These spiked Maxwell booties from Sole Society are my current favorite 'dress up' shoe.
I've been wearing them everywhere! A welcome addition to my collection.

Linking up with Real Girl Glam 

Midweek Mingle

I had the pleasure of attending the Madewell fashion event hosted by Pollinate Media Wednesday night at the beautiful South Coast Plaza. It's one of my favorite malls and used to be one of my go to shopping meccas back when I lived in the LBC.
I've been all over the place this week, full of ideas and motivation but lacking in time so I was truly looking forward to a little mixing and mingle with some like minded women!
There was tons of pretty jewelry and gorgeous clothes.

Mingling and networking is both comfortable and awkward for me. I'm incredibly social and I love to meet new people but am always hesitant at introducing myself. I get nervous and can be terrible with names.
Last night however was warm and welcoming and just an all around good time.
I met some lovely ladies and scored a wicked pair of  green cords. #winning

So excited about those. They were so soft and comfortable. It was like wearing pajamas.
I got to catch up with my friend Andrea ,

'officially' meet Mandy ,play a little dress up and get a
wicked deal on some cute threads!
Oh and did I mention there was champagne?

And Cupcakes?

Yeah.
I also re-created this outfit with a few twists. More on that later.

Everyone loved my shoes. I love my shoes.


So, so excited about them.
It was nice to put on my heels and be kind of a hot mama for a change. Especially in the middle of the week! I do love a midweek meet up don't you? It's just the pick me up I needed to get my head out of the clouds and get on my j-o-b!

Tell me, how do you normally get over the hump?

Closet Classics: Boyfriends, Blazers and a White Tee

Can we just talk about how I'm totally smitten with boyfriend jeans these days?

They have now made it onto my list of wardrobe staples for this season of my life and are the perfect anchor to pair with both edgy and classic pieces to up the ante on any occasion.
The classic combo of a White Tee, Boyfriend Jean and Black Blazer are in pretty heavy rotation in my wardrobe. I love how all these pieces can be worn together or separately for simple yet chic ensembles.

White Tee + Boyfriend Jeans + Blazer + Nude pumps:  A great outfit for Back to School Night or Open House. It doesn't scream I'm trying too hard and allows me to still  be casual enough to not freak out if the kids (or me) spill something.  It can also take me out to dinner with my husband by adding some glamorous accessories.

White Tee + BF Jeans + Ankle Boots: I love this outfit for a switch in looks. Pairing the wedge booties with sleek sunnies and some funky jewelry makes this outfit easy for an afternoon lunch date and looking good while running errands.

White Tee + BF Jeans + Ballet Flats: The quintessential errand running get up. The patent on the flats keep the look from being too frumpy and makes me feel like I have a touch of style if I add some dazzling earrings and remarkable arm piece. Sometimes I throw on the blazer for a more polished look but love that the simplicity of the flats keep it casual.

What are some of your favorite wardrobe staples?



*collage image via my polyvore

Linking up with the ladies for Loving Lately!

You can also share what you're loving lately as this is a weekly link up hosted by the fabulous Kristen, Niki , Rachel and Carly!  Join us and link up what you're loving lately! Whether it's fashion, color, crafts, interiors, beauty products, yummy and delicious, or really anything else, we want to know!