Style Files Vol 11 | The Off Shoulder Dress x 2

Happy Friday!  This is our last full day in St Maarten.  We have had such a wonderful time and I can't wait to share some of our pictures and favorite spots we visited next week when I can upload them!  I feel like this week has both flown by and gone by slowly because I am missing Sterling and Frances Moon like crazy.  This is the longest I have been away from them.  I know once I get back home and in the grind of things I will be missing the island life but for now I am missing them and their sweet faces!

My Off Shoulder Obsession continues.  I wanted to share 2 outfits I wore this week, both off shoulder of course:)

I showed this dress a few weeks ago and most sizes were sold out but it is now restocked.  I am wearing a size small for reference.  I love how lightweight this dress is, easy to pack and I didn't have to iron it (always a plus).  It also comes in a really pretty red color.

Off Shoulder Dress (only $46) + Necklace + Flipflops

Here is another way I styled the dress a few weeks ago.

Off Shoulders + Tassel Earrings both under $50 + Purse on sale + Sandals

I am a sucker for a white dress in the Summer.  I wore this one recently for dinner with my parents and knew the white would be perfect at the beach.  I found the dress on sale on several sites.

Neiman Marcus has the best price right now because today

 you can take an additional 25% off the sale price, making the dress $168 almost 60% off the original price (original price $375).  There are only a few sizes left though.  

I also found the dress on sale at Saks for $225 in all sizes.  

I am wearing a 2 for sizing reference.

NM Dress | Saks Dress

Another view of the dress from a few weeks ago.  I paired it with the same necklaces.  I love these Twine and Twig colored ones for layering.

Also don't forget today is the last day to take advantage of the Shopbop sale.  Use code 25EXTRA to take an additional 25% off sale prices. 

This Equipment Dress is hands down one of the most versatile dresses I own.  I can't tell you how often I wear it!  It comes to almost 50% with the sale.  I am wearing a size small.

Equipment Dress

I just ordered this snakeskin dress, fingers crossed it fits!

Equipment Snakeskin

Have a great weekend friends!

Shopbop Sale!

Happy Wednesday!  Today starts the Shopbop sale on sale!  Use code 25EXTRA to take an additional 25% off all sale items.  Sizes and items tend to go fast so definitely shop early!  The sale runs through Friday the 24th,

I have this blouse and love it.  The colors are so pretty.

RT Blouse

It also comes in a long sleeve version that would be great paired with skinny jeans or cut-offs.

RT Blouse

A few other fabulous items on major sale! Scroll through to see my favorite picks!

Hello From Paradise + 3 Mara Hoffman Favorites on Major Sale

Greetings from St Maarten!  We are here for the week and it truly is paradise.   I am not going to lie we are 2 days in and I am already missing my kids (I have mom issues), thank goodness for FaceTime and pictures from my parents!  This is the view from one side of the resort we are staying in- so gorgeous!

I wanted to share 3 Mara Hoffman favorites that I have worn while we were here.  They are all on major sale!  

Mara Stars Dress 50% off | also HERE

I actually borrowed this dress from my mom but I love it so much I may order it for myself!  I wore this for our plane flight.  It is a great travel dress because it is so comfortable and not too short.

Sizing wise I find this style runs on the large side, I am wearing a XS.   The dress also comes in a lighter print as well.

And how cute is my sweet nephew Rutledge?  I was so happy to get time to snuggle with him before we left!

Mara Cut Out Dress 50% off

This is such a fun style dress.  It ties in the back, which is super cute.   I have this in another print as well from last year but I especially love these bright colors for Summer!  I am wearing a size 4.  It also comes the same print but darker colors.

Mara Off Shoulder Cover-up/Dress 40% off

I bought this right before our trip and I am loving it.  You know I love anything off shoulder!   It is not see through at all so you could actually wear this as a dress too.  I am wearing the XS/S.  You can knot the front and back too, if you want it shorter.

Have a great Monday! 

St Maarten | What's In My Suitcase + What I will be Reading

On Saturday we fly out to St Maarten.  I can't believe our trip is here already!  I feel like the time has flown by since we booked our trip.  We are going with our same friends we went with last year, Erin and Jason.  Erin and I have been best friends since high school.  We no longer live in the same city so I really treasure the time I get to spend with her.  Our kids love each other too but this will be fun to have an adult only vacation.   

I finally bought myself some luggage.  Would you believe in the past I have just borrowed suitcases from my parents?  I decided it was time to own some of my own luggage.   I really liked that the luggage was hard (easy to clean) and that it was a color (so it will be easy to spot).  I actually lucked out and found my set at TJMaxx but they have the same set on Amazon in several color options.  The smaller suitcase not pictured is the perfect carry on size.

DVF Luggage Set

I will be the first to admit I always over pack.   I like to have options.  I know during the day I will mostly be in bathing suits and cover-ups but at night we do like to get dressed up a bit for dinners out.

I am sure more items will be added to my suitcase before I am done but these pieces are definitely coming with me.

Cool Change Cover-up | Pit USA Cover-Up | Off Shoulder Dress (50% off) | Tassel Cover-Up

Floral Swing Dress | Geometric Dress | Off Shoulder Dress | Floral Maxi

Strapless One Piece | Floral one Piece | One Shoulder Suit

Wedges (on sale) | Thongs | Fringe Sandals | Blue Clutch

Tee Shirt | Shorts | Cover-Up

Can't forget accessories!  A woman can never have too many accessories, something Frances Moon has clearly learned from her Momma:)

Top 2 Necklaces + bracelets are Holst + Lee

Middle Necklaces are Twine and Twig

White Rice Beads | Shell Collar | Tassel Earrings | Tassel Earings

Half Moon Tassel Earrings | White Tassel Earrings

Of course I did a little pre vacation shopping and picked up this off shoulder dress from JCrew.  I love the fun print, perfect for Summer.  Sizing wise it runs TTS, I am wearing a 4.  Sterling came back to try on a few things for him too.  Would you believe he is wearing a size 8 now!!

Off Shoulder Dress

And how amazing is this twin suit??

I am wearing an XS in the top and 4 in the shorts.

Use code SHOP40 to save 40% on both!!

Blouse + Shorts

I am so excited to have some downtime to actually read.  Lately I have been too tired at night to read more than a few pages, so I am looking forward to laying by the beach and reading.  So many of my favorite authors are releasing new books this Summer that I can't wait to read.  Of course I won't be reading all these books next week, but they will be read this Summer!

The Weekenders | All Summer Long | The Nest

Falling | First Comes Love | Here's To Us

Have a great weekend!!

Home and Entertaining Favorites

Hello Thursday!  Today I wanted to share a few favorites for the home.  

Table Runner | Napkins | Cheese Board | Stemless Glasses

I recently picked up a few new entertaining items from Nordstrom and have been loving them.  It is no secret I love a good happy hour spread and this is what ours looked like last night.  We frequently have neighbors and friends over for happy so I knew this runner and napkins would be used often!   I never met a cheese board I didn't like.  What I love about this one though is it is only $34 and the perfect size for light pre dinner nibbles.

A few other cheese board options all under $50.  These would make a great gift, especially a hostess gift!

ONE | TWO | THREE
FOUR | FIVE | SIX 

The Nordstrom Home Department has you covered whatever you need.  They have so many great options for your home, bedding, bath, kitchen and entertaining!  I desperately need some new bath towels and I really love these with the fringe detail.

Bath Towels

I am also convinced I need a round beach towel.   I love the colors in this one.

I had no idea that Nordstrom carried LeCreuset until I started browsing.  LeCreuset pots are hands down some of my favorite pots to cook with!  We received several pieces as wedding gifts and are still using them 8 years later.  This skillet is one of my favorites- I just recently used mine for our blueberry crumble and it is perfect for cornbread too!  I have the white but I love this new Hibiscus color.

Cast Iron Skillet

I also love this Oval Dutch Oven.  I use this size frequently for cooking veggies and beans.

A few other home favorites and guess what??  Everything here is under $100!  I have the Mexico Cookbook and not only are the recipes great, it is a gorgeous coffee table book as well.  We also have the steak knife set, I love the pretty bold colors when I set the table!

Pom Pom Blanket | Pillow | Bath Organizer | Turkish Towels | Pillow
Salut Glasses | Mexico Cookbook | Rug | Succulents | Marble board
Pouf | Towels | Knives Set| Basket

So many fabulous options for your home!  Nordstrom always price matches and offers free shipping and returns.  They also offer gift boxing if you wanted to send a gift.

Thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post! 

3 Veggie Sides + All White OOTD

Hello Wednesday.  I have a list a mile long of things to get done before we leave town and of course I have waited til the last minute to do it all and now I am stressed out! Today I wanted to share 3 easy veggie recipes plus an outfit.  I think I shared the cauliflower recipe on here awhile ago but I had a request to share again, so here you go!  These 3 veggie sides are made almost every week in our house.  They are easy to make and added bonus my kids will eat them and they are PICKY about veggies these days.  Monday night we had the cauliflower and okra with navy beans for our "Meatless Monday" meal. Btw I am obsessed with purple cauliflower it is such a gorgeous shade of purple.   I have been mixing it with the white cauliflower the past few times I have made this dish but feel free to just use the regular white cauliflower. 

 I hope you love these sides as much as we do!

S P I C Y  R O A S T E D  O K R A

1-2 pounds okra

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp paprika

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl toss the okra with the olive oil and hot sauce and then add in red pepper flakes, garlic salt, and paprika.  Mix all together and season with salt and pepper.  Place on a baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes.  I like my okra crispy so I cook it a little longer. 

R O A S T E D  C A U L I F L O W E R +  C H I C K P E A S

via My Father's Daughter Cookbook

1 14-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried

1 head of cauliflower, outer leaves removed and discarded, cut into bite-sized florets

3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

Coarse sea salt

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon seeded mustard (i.e., grainy mustard)

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set the rack in the middle. Toss chickpeas and cauliflower together in a large roasting pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Roast, stirring now and then, until everything is dark brown and the cauliflower is quite soft, about 45 minutes. 

2. Meanwhile, whisk together mustards, vinegar, and 1/4 cup of olive oil with a big pinch of salt and a few healthy grinds of black pepper. While the chickpeas and cauliflower are still warm, toss them with the mustard dressing and the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

P A R M E S A N   R O A S T E D   B R O C C O L I 

Via Back to Basics Cookbook

4 to 5 pounds broccoli 
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 
Good olive oil 
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. 

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot. 

.......................................................

I also wanted to share my outfit from yesterday.  I have been loving some all white this Summer.

I have this tee shirt in green as well and loved it so much I bought the white.  It is from the junior's section so I sized up and went with a medium because I like a looser tee shirt fit.  It also comes in black and wine.

Tee Shirt |  Shorts | Sandals | Necklaces| Tote | Ring

Another all white look from last month.  These jeans are the best white jeans!  They offer the perfect amount of stretch, and are not see through.

Blouse | Jeans | Sandals | Necklace | Ring

Obsessions | The Cover-Up Edit

Today it is all about the Cover-up!  I love a cute cover-up.  Between boat rides, beach trips and taking the kids to the pool I feel like I am frequently in a cover-up.  

Below are a few I have my eye on and I am also sharing some personal favorites as well. 

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX
SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN

Pitusa Cover-Up

I love this one so much I ordered a second color for our upcoming trip.  It is the softest thing ever!   Feels like you are wearing a worn in tee shirt but way cuter. 

It also comes in a long version.

also pictured: Doughnut Float+ Tote + Sunglasses

Mara Hoffman Tie Front Cover-Up (on sale ) also HERE

I am always a fan of anything Mara designs.  This cover-up as been my go-to lately.  I like the slouchy fit and how it ties in the front. 

also pictured: sunglasses + cooler + bathing suit

Tory Burch Smocked Dress also in RED

I bought this before I went to Dallas and it has been pretty much sold out but I found it in a few sizes and also in red!  

also pictured: sunglasses + earrings + tote

Mara Hoffman Swing Dress (50% off)

Mara always comes out with this swing dress in a few patterns every year.  I love this style and you can actually wear it as a dress too.  It is currently 50% off 4 patterns.  I am wearing a size XS, runs on the large side.

also pictured: sunglasses

also on major sale in this color option.

Tunic Cover-up (also in Gray) | Similar Style same brand

I will be packing many of these for our two upcoming beach trips in the next month!