Obsessions

{SERENA AND LILY BASKETS} 

If you didn't know Serena and Lily is having their huge 50% off sale right now.  There are some amazing deals so check it out HERE.  These baskets are headed our way for baby girls room.  I also snagged this white bumper and white changing pad cover. 
The Mercado Baskets I blogged about last week are also on sale and so is our shower curtain in Sterling's bathroom (the shower curtain rocks, I get so many compliments on it!
 All the Hannah Anderson PJS are marked half off too (love these for baby girl and Sterling) Don't forget to use code BIGDEAL for free shipping on all orders.  Sale ends Wednesday so go get your shop on!

{PARKER LAYNE DRESS}

I have loved this maxi for a long time and it is finally on sale.  It is the perfect maxi to carry you into Fall with its geometric pattern.  Just pair it with a leather jacket for cooler temps.

{VELVET LEOPARD DRESS}

I about died when I found this Leopard dress like the skirt I blogged about last week.  It is perfection.  It is stretchy material so I can wear pregnant too.

{EVERLY CROCHETED BLOUSE}

I can't stop swooning over this beautiful blouse and the price tag is even better, $49!!  I love the red so much but the navy is so classic!

{MENU PIL BREDAHL STAINLESS STEEL WATER JUG}

I was recently gifted this amazing water jug from Erie Drive.  If you are not familiar with Erie Drive you must check out their website, they have such cool products.  I have been using this Carafe for lemon water, iced tea, and wine.  It fits perfectly in my fridge and looks gorgeous for entertaining.

{JCREW FACTORY DRAPPED GATHERED BLOUSE}

I bought this blouse last year in a nude color and it is one of my favorite blouses.  I feel like it is hard to find cute short sleeve blouses.  This one fits great and looks so good with skinny jeans and heels.  I love the new colors for fall: black, olive, and navy.  They are on sale right now for $59, a great price for such a versatile blouse that could work for work or play!

{BB DAKOTA JASPER DRAPE FRONT JACKET}
This jacket is such a steal.  It looks just like the Vince and Theory leather jackets I have lusted over that are $900+.  The beauty is only $88.  A great way to get the draped leather jacket look without breaking the bank!

{FREE PEOPLE STRIPE COLUMN SKIRT}
I have been wanting a Maxi for Fall to wear with booties and a cute jacket.  This one won't break the bank and I love it!  It also come is burgundy and cream.  It reminds me alot of a Marc Jacobs version I wanted last year but never bought.

Back to School With Carters + Giveaway

I have to start off this post by saying that Carter's contacted me about writing this post. I get contacted by quite a few companies to do sponsored posts and I take this very seriously.   I never write about products or lines we don't use and love in our house. I have been smitten with Carters since Sterling was a baby.  Their clothes are super cute and affordable, always key when your kids grow up so fast. 

Carters is working on a Back to School Campaign right now (all their current Fall stuff is 50% off!) and I have to say they have some really awesome items for older kids as well as the babies.     Sterling lives in his Carters pj's.  Like he must nap in a pair and then have a different pair to sleep in at night- he's crazy particular like that.

I found several cute everyday wear items for Sterling while shopping at Carters that looked to me like CrewCuts or Mini Boden but for a fraction of the cost. 

Case and Point this adorable Dinosaur Tee Shirt.  Tell me it does not look like the more expensive kids brands, but it only cost $7!  My little man loves it.

 [ Carters Dinosaur Tee]

We also picked out this adorable outfit for Fall.  It is too darn hot here to sport it now, but it is going to look so cute once we get some cooler temps.  I love boys in fleece vests.  This vest is comparable to Patagonia and its only $18 right now!  It comes in navy as well, I was tempted to buy both!

[Bear Tee, Fleece Vest]

Here are a few of my other favorites form the Carters site. From babies to older kids Carters has some really great clothing options.  We picked up the Skeleton pajamas,  Sterling was not leaving the store without them- and they glow in the dark! A real steal at $10!  Plus baby girl is getting the onsies and white pants, so sweet!
To find your local store click HERE.

 

Per Carters 
"Whether they’re headed back to the classroom or taking their first steps across the living room, Count on Carter’s for the best Back to School or Back to Play looks.
·        Your little ones will be at the top of the class with their new school clothes! Carter’s has all the perfect fall looks for your class act including tunics & leggings, mix & match tees, everyday dresses, athletic pants and more.
·        Even your littlest ones will look great this fall with new baby clothes that make for easy outfitting.  Be sure to stock-up on must-have 2-piece sets or colorful separates that you can mix and match for baby.
·        Carter’s easy layering makes outfitting stress-free for kids of all ages. With new jewelry and matching sets, it’ll be easier than ever to get your little ones ready for whatever is on your plate that day."

For all you lucky readers, Carters is offering a $50 giftcard to one lucky winner.  Trust me $50 goes a long way there!  

Heres how to enter:
1) Be a Follower of DBDD
2) Leave a comment with your favorite Playground look from the Carters Site!

You have til Thursday at Midnight to enter and I will announce the winner Friday.  Be sure to leave your email address associated with your account so we can contact you if you win.


Don't forget to   “Like” Carter’s on Facebook, mention @Carters on Twitter and follow them on Pinterest  to discover the latest great deals, exclusive events and offers for your little ones! 

Happy Monday!
xoxo
............................................................................


 Carter’s Disclosure Statement
Carter’s partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote Back to School, Back to Play. As part of the program, I received product or gift cards.  Carter’s believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words, and therefore did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products I used. Carter’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. The winner of any giveaway in this program will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.
 

Weekend Style Files: Chambray + Neon

I pinned this cute outfit awhile ago. I loved the combination of the simple Chambray Dress paired with a neon statement necklace and cross body bag. It seemed like such an effortlessly cool outfit.   Perfect for running errands during the day or to go grab drinks at night.

I included a few different Chambray dresses to take you into Fall.  The Hatch Dress for all you preggos is a new Maternity line that is made to wear before and after baby and does not look like Maternity wear.  I love their Chambray Boyfriend Dress in a major way.  The Rebecca Minkoff Shift and L'Agence dresses are on super sale right now.  All the statement necklaces are super affordable ($40 and under!) and would be cute paired with a white tee, blazer/leather jacket and jeans for Fall as well.  I will have a cross body bag soon, mark my words!

Rebecca Minkoff Chambray Dress | Splendid Chambray Dress | L'Agence Chambray Dress | Hatch Chambray Dress

Aqua Fiesta Fringe Necklace |  Neon Alaqua Bib | Coral Tevaro Pendant | Colorful Crystal Craft Collar

Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 Zip Bag |  Rebecca Minkoff Quilted Mini | Tory Burch Robinson Tote

Thoughts For Friday

Thank goodness for the weekend. I finally got my act together and we are entertaining tonight. Having some friends over for dinner- hopefully I can make it up past 8 (haha). I get so darn tired at night, I have been way more tired this pregnancy than my first! 

This week I had a craving for a fruit crumble and I immediately made Val's Strawberry Crisp.  This was so amazing I can't even put into words how good it was.  Even better served with vanilla ice cream over top!

:: VAL'S STRAWBERRY CRISP::

I have turned into a coffee table book hoarder. Thanks to my sister this is my newest addition.  You can find one HERE.

Target has some of the cutest girl clothes for cheap.  How sweet is this stars dress?  It came with bloomers and a stripped cardigan as well.  I swear it looks like some of the expensive French Lines I have seen.  I could not find it online so check your store.

This dress is also adorable, not in my Target store but I found it online.  Way to go Target with cute affordable clothes!

:: Cherokee Newborn Dress ::

Thank you to whoever recommended the book Island Girls to me.  I picked it up at the library this week and I am loving it.  Two days in and I am more than halfway through!  A great easy and entertaining read!

I am completely obsessed with this 10 Crosby Derek Lam Dress, but the price tag not so much.  Someone find me this on sale!    The jacket is equally as fabulous!

Our Rug for the nursery arrived last night and I am totally smitten with it, Sterling is too:)  Nursery is slowly starting to come together.

::Lulu & Georgia Ink Dye Rug::

Please tell me y'all remember this game? My sister and I used play all the time and I just found it for Sterling.  He loves it.

Lastly, I leave you with these tips for a happy marriage, I thought they were spot on!

Have a great weekend!

Bootie Rocking

Is it Fall yet? While I love Summer, Fall is hands down my favorite season. I love the cooler temps and Fall fashions are my favorite! I am such a bootie person come Fall. To me they are so much easier and more versatile than knee high boots. They look great with jeans, dresses, and even shorts! I don't buy shoes often, like I maybe buy two-three pairs a year.  I like to invest in shoes that will last me awhile and while some of these are expensive I find it is worth it to occasionally spend a little more money on shoes.  You want them to be comfortable, look good, and last!

I rounded up my top 9 Bootie picks for this Fall. 

SAM EDLEMAN MORIILO BOOTIES- You can not beat the price of these cute booties.  Love the lower heel and detail on the side. 
TWELFTH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT WEDGE BOOTIES- I love a wedge bootie, they are so comfortable and the color of these is perfect.
SAM EDLEMAN SHAY TWO TONED BOOTIES- Another fabulously priced bootie.  The fact that it is two toned makes it so versatile.
RAG AND BONE CLASSIC NEWBURY BOOTIE IN GRAY- I actually own these booties in Gray and they are worth every penny, I promise you!  They fit well and look great with everything.  You can find the Camel Color onsale HERE.
RAG AND BONE HARROW BOOTIES- These are going to be my next booties, I am saving now to buy them.  I tried them on and fell in love with them.  Love the leather strap detail and Rag and Bone never disappoints.
MADEWELL BILLIE BOOTIES- Love the darker color of these booties and I have heard Madewell makes awesome shoes, they also come in black.  
SAM EDLEMAN SHAY BOOTIES- A great affordable black bootie that would go with everything. 
BANANA REPUBLIC RYANN BOOTIE- I have to say I am a big fan of Banana Republic shoes.  For the price they hold up really well and are good quality.  I love the skinnier heel on these, perfect for a dressier bootie.
REBECCA MINKOFF OPEN TOE BOOTIES- These are the perfect booties to wear now and latter with the peep toe.  

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Side note if you need new shoes for your kids Piperlime is having their back to school sale and you can get up to 30% off all kids shoes including sale shoes.  They carry some really great brands so check out the sale HERE.  Don't forget to use code SCHOOL when you check out!

 

 I am getting Sterling these Pumas and Minnetonka Boots

SImple Baked Lasagna

I know, I know there are a million lasagna recipes out there and trust me I have tried many of them. But this one is different, it tasted how lasagna should taste- amazing and fresh.  This is hands down my favorite lasagna I have made. 

 This recipe came highly recommended from my sister who received quite a few lasagnas after her son was born, and this was her and her husband's favorite.   I made it the same day she sent me the recipe. What I like about it is it is relatively easy to make.   You use no bake noodles and you only have to make one sauce, the other layer is sour cream (or creme fraiche).  You do have to chop up a few veggies and cook meat but once the sauce is made and simmering you are good to go.

  

The recipe seems long but once you read it, I promise it is not bad to assemble.  You could easily make two lasagnas out of this recipe in square dishes if you needed to take food to someone or make it in one large dish if you are entertaining.  I promise this will become your new favorite lasagna!

Plus how gorgeous does it look with the tomatoes and basil scattered over the top?  The perfect lasagna I tell you!

:: S I M P L E  B A K E D  L A S A G N A ::

adapted from Jamie Oliver's The Food Revolution Cookbook

Serves 4-6

For the bolognese sauce:

- 2 slices of smoked bacon, preferably free-range or organic (I used the pre-cooked Hormel kind)
- 2 medium onions
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- olive oil

 - 2 heaping teaspoons of dried oregano
- 1 pound of high quality ground beef or pork or mixture of two (I used only beef)
- 2 14 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
- sea salt and pepper
- fresh basil
- 2 oz of parmesan cheese 

For the lasagne:

- 8 oz dried egg lasagne sheets (I used Barilla No Boil sheets)
- 2 cups of creme fraiche or thick sour cream (I used a 20 oz container of sour cream)
- 4 oz of parmesan cheese (I also added in some shredded mozzarella too)
- 1 large ripe tomato, sliced ( I needed two small tomatoes)
- 4-6 basil leaves

To make the bolognese sauce:

Finely slice the bacon and chop up the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery into small dice.  Place a large casserole-type pan on medium to high heat and add 2 lugs of olive oil, bacon and dried oregano cook until bacon is lightly golden.

Add veggies to the pan and stir every 30 seconds for around 7 minutes or until softened and lightly colored. Stir in the ground meat and canned tomatoes. (I cooked the meat separately and drained it to rinse the grease off before adding to sauce)

Fill one of the tomato cans with water and add to pan (For future, might not need any added water if the tomatoes came with a lot of juice so add as needed)

Stir in a good pinch of salt and pepper. Pick the basil leaves off and put in fridge for later.  Finely chop the basil stalks and stir into pan.  Bring to boil.  Turn the heat down and simmer with lid on for 45 mins, stirring a couple times.  (I had to simmer with lid off because I added too much water)

To finish the sauce:

Preheat oven to 375. Remove the bolognese sauce from heat. Finely grate 2 oz of parmesan into the sauce.

Tear and stir in any larger basil leaves, keeping smaller ones aside for top.  Taste sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed.

To make the lasagne:

Grate 4 oz of parmesan. If you don’t use No Boil sheets, boil some water in a pan, then add the lasagne sheets with a drizzle of olive oil and blanch (slightly soften) for 3-4 minutes.  Drain sheets and carefully pat dry with paper towel to absorb excess water.  Spoon a third of the bolognese sauce into the bottom of a overproof dish.

Follow with a layer of lasagne sheets.  Dollop a third of the creme fraiche or sour cream and smooth over the lasagne sheets.  Sprinkle one third of the parmesan cheese. (For future, I will use less cheese)

Add another layer of sauce and repeat with sheets and cheese, ending with creme fraiche and parmesan on top layer.

Top the creme and parmesan (added mozarella here) with sliced tomatoes and small basil leaves, drizzle with olive oil.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.  After that, remove the foil and bake for 35 more minutes until the lasagne is bubbling and golden. (Place on a baking sheet in case there is bubbling over)

Obsessions

{SERENA AND LILY PEWTER MERCADO BASKETS}

I am loving these baskets for our nursery.  How cute are they?  It is great you get two to a set.

I would use one for bath toys in our bathroom and one for toys in the nursery.

{JEFFERY CAMPBELL D'ORSY FLATS}

I think these are pretty much the perfect flat shoe for Fall.  I will be getting a pair of these.  Nude + Black is always a good combo.

{BUMP NEST BODY PILLOW}

As I am sure any of your preggos know the larger you get the more uncomfortable it gets to sleep at night.  When I was pregnant with Sterling I just used a King size pillow, but this time the people at Bump Nest were sweet enough to send me a real pregnancy pillow.  This pillow is amazing.  It is the softest most luxurious pillow ever and their pillowcases come in such cute fabrics.  I am pretty sure I will be sleeping with this even after the baby comes- that is if I can get it back from Sterling he is obsessed with it too!

{PIM AND LARKIN PRINTED SHIFT DRESS}

This is the cutest shift dress ever.  As you can tell by my header I am a fan of pink and orange.  This dress would work well into Fall too paired with a cute leather jacket and booties.  Even better it is less than $100!

{JBRAND MARIA HIGH RISE POWERSTRETCH JEANS}

Besides my Rag and Bone Jeans, my other favorite jeans are the high rise JBrand ones.  They sit higher up and suck in all your muffin top- I promise.  I am smitten with this charcoal gray color for Fall.

{VELVET VERNA SLUB STRIPE TOP}

I am a sucker for cute stripe tops.  They look so chic in the Fall.  Especially layered under blazers and sweaters.  Velvet is one of my favorite brands for Tees, they fit well and are so soft.  This tee is a must for me this Fall!

{VELVET LEOPARD PENCIL SKIRT}

Of course after seeing the stripe top with the Leopard Skirt I became obsessed with it.  It is sold out already on Shopbop but I found it on Zappos.  It is the perfect leopard skirt, I love the colors and pattern!  The skirt is a cashmere blend so I am sure it is so comfy and the price is a steal!  I am thinking it might even fit me pregnant because it has stretch in it!

{GAP TERRY MOTO JACKET}

I love the look of this casual jacket.  It looks like tweed but it is Terry.  An easy jacket to toss on over anything.  You can get 20% with code GAPNEW