Scenes From Our Weekend

We started the weekend off with playgroup Friday afternoon.  We all have been so busy this Summer our play groups have been hard to schedule.  It was great to catch up, enjoy a glass of wine and let the kids play.

I always like to serve some fun snacks for the ladies.  My sister turned me on to pickled okra stuffed with pimento cheese. It is so easy and so tasty!

Table Runner is World Market

I love this picture my friend Krystine snapped of me and Frances Moon.  It is definitely a framer.  I mentioned my dress Saturday, Frances Moon's dress is Target (on clearance for $10)

To beat the heat we got a cheap pool from Walmart.  We have a neighborhood pool but Frances is so wild these days with no fear that it is hard for me to take the kids alone if Matt is not home.  The cheap pool was a genius idea, the kids loved.

Afterwards Frances decided to read my new Vogue:)  She is deep in thought about Fall fashion.

I hit up the Farmers Market with the kids Saturday morning and used my goodies to make my first ever Panzanella.  I will share the recipe soon!

I have been getting so much wear out of this white fringe top from Loft.

White Festival Fringe Top

Necklace is Theodosia

Saturday night we met some friends out for dinner with the kids.  Frances had a major blow out and of course I was unprepared with no clothes, I figured we were past the blow out stage.  So Frances enjoyed dinner in her diaper.  She obviously could care less.

Sunday we were finally able to make it to church.  We have been traveling so much lately that it had been a few weeks since we had been.  Felt good to get back

Loft Dress + JCrew shoes (on major sale)

Our boat has been broken most of the Summer.  Anyone who owns a boat knows what a money pit they are!!  Always something wrong.  We fnally got her fixed and we were all loaded up and ready for a boat ride when a storm rolled through.  Just our luck.

I was all ready for the boat in my LemLem Tunic.

Lem Lem Tunic (same style different colors) + Shorts

I made some nibbles for the ride that we enjoyed anyways.

Tortellini + mozzarella balls + cherry tomatoes + pesto

Once the storm cleared we took the kids to the Yacht Club to play.

Matt gave Frances a kit kat and she was in heaven.  She is like nobody touch my kit kat.

Here's to Monday.

Children's Book Review with Fran Hawk | Vol 3 School

Happy Sunday!  I am starting back up the children's book review series with Fran Hawk.  Today Fran discusses books about kids and school which is perfect timing since school starts back in less than a month! 

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“Take a Kiss to School” by Angela McAllister. Reassuring.

“Pirates Go to School” by Corinne Demas.  Funny.

“Spider School” by Francesca Simon.  Gently scary.     

The subject of school is endlessly interesting to children.  Authors for children are endlessly creative. That combination makes for a burgeoning genre of books about school.    

 Most books focus on the child who goes to school. What about the child who is left behind?  “Maple and Willow Apart” by Lori Nichols is the third book in the delightful “Willow” series.  Each of the books explores aspects of siblings and sisterhood for children ages 3 to 5. In this story, Maple is starting big-girl school. She comes home each day from kindergarten bursting with stories about her exciting class.     

Willow is playing alone at home for the first time in her life. She misses her sister and invents an interesting way to compensate for her absence. The sisters find a sweet middle ground that brings them close together again-especially on weekends.    

 Getting to school will be a special challenge for the child who dawdles. “Dilly Dally Daisy” by Mark Fearing is exactly the right book for children who are easily distracted from the immediate task at hand. Daisy knows that it’s important to be on time for the school bus. But she can’t brush her hair because she’s been using her hair brush as a paint brush. She decides to cover her hair with a hat, but it takes time to choose the absolute best hat. And she must move her stuffed animals to the window sill so that they can see her departure. Daisy is a cautionary tale. A hilarious cautionary tale.     

When you’re looking for books about school for children, I can almost guarantee that you’ll find the right book for the right child at the right time.

Fran Hawk

Big thanks to Fran!! Can't wait to order a few of these books for Sterling!

Weekend Style + Fall Favorites from the Nordstrom Sale

Happy Saturday!  

I wanted to share I dress I recently bought and I am loving.  I am wearing a size small.  It also comes in ivory but I love the bright red.

Free People Dress

available at a few places below but select sizes.

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE FALL FAVORITES

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale opened to the public yesterday.   If you didn't have a Nordstrom card to shop early now you can!  Plus some new styles were added!

Love these Tory Burch Riding Boots

 These Sam Edelman Booties are perfect for fall.  They come in 4 different colors.

I am all about some plaid for fall.  This coat is a beauty and a real steal.

Kenneth Cole Plaid Coat

I live in these Vince Crewnecks.  They are the softest tee shirts and easy to throw on with anything.  I just ordered another one.

Vince Crewneck Tee

 Hunter Boots

I finally bought a pair of black Hunter boots last year and I can't tell you how often I wear them.  I love the black because it is classic and goes with everything.

Leith Tarpeze Dress 

This dress is under $40.  Comes in 4 colors.  I think it would be great now and into fall paired with tights, booties, and a cool jacket.

Sam Edelman Leopard Calfhair Pumps

If you don't own a pair of leopard pumps you need a pair for Fall.   These are a great deal and look way more expensive in person.

Trouve Drape Collar leather Jacket

This reminds me so much of my Vince leather jacket but it is a quarter of the price. Such a great deal for a classic leather jacket.

Rebecca Taylor Fringe Cardigan

I am obsessed with this cardigan.  Love the fringe detail.

Rag and Bone Skinny Jeans

My favorite jeans ever.  

Other fall favorites!

Non-Maternity Maternity Style

Today is a reader request day.  I received an email wanting some suggestions for non-maternity clothes that you could wear during pregnancy and after.  With both of my pregnancies I bought minimal maternity clothes. It seemed like such a waste to me to buy something I could only wear 9 months plus I was not a fan of most of the maternity items I came across.  Really the only maternity pieces I bought were a pair of jeans (old navy has great cheap maternity jeans), jean shorts, and several maternity tanks.  Otherwise I tried to use pieces from my closet. 

A tip is to shop at TJmaxx or Marshalls and Forever 21 for cheap finds.  You can always size up from your normal size and find some great cheap alternatives there.  ASOS also has a great maternity section if you want actual maternity wear.

A few non-maternity maternity staples for me were:

ONE | Spanx Leggings

I wore these my entire pregnancy. Towards the end I would just wear them under my belly.  They were even better afterwards.  I swear they helped flatten my stomach.   I wore them almost everyday for the first month after I delivered Frances and I still wear them!

TWO | One Resort Maxi Dress 

I lived in this dress while pregnant and I still wear it now!  It is so loose and flowy you can wear it the whole nine months.

Here is a view of me wearing it pregnant and not pregnant. and yep I love it so much I own it in 3 colors:)

THREE | Wilt Trapeze Dress

Trapeze dresses are always perfect maternity dresses because they flare out. This one also comes in gray.

  

FOUR | Hatch

Hatch is line that came out right at the end of my pregnancy with Frances.  It is genius.  The clothes are made to be worn during your pregnancy and after.  I love all the Hatch Designs, I wish it would have come out earlier in my pregnancy.  If you click on the link for the dresses it will show you a non-pregnant model wearing the dress as well so you can see how it fits both ways.  You can view the entire Hatch collection here.

Slouch Dress | Stripe Dress

Grecian Dress | Lawn Dress

Tee | Blouse

Henley | Stripe Dress

FIVE | Poncho

I loved ponchos while I was pregnant. I had a Vince one I wore all the time over jeans and dresses.  This Vince version is 50% off.  A classic piece you could wear during and after pregnancy.

 Here is picture of mine paired with a stripe dress. The stripe dress I picked up at Old Navy. I was 9 months pregnant here, that is the great thing about ponchos you can wear them the entire time.

SIX | Stretch Skirt

I know this seems weird but I loved a fitted knit skirt while pregnant.  It was so comfortable and it looked so cute with loose blouses and tees.  I owned this Alexander Wang skirt in green and wore it all the time.  Below is a picture of it and another example of a fitted knit skirt.

SEVEN | Swing Sweater

 The JCrew swing sweater was my favorite during my pregnancies.  I actually wore it to the hospital the day I delivered Frances.  Stock up on these they are amazing.  The lightweight linen version is on sale now too. Use code GOSHOPPING to get extra 30% off.

This is picture of me wearing it right after I had Frances.

NINE | Liz Lange Tank

These tanks are Maternity but I swear by them!  I actually still wear mine today.  Since they ar longer they are great layered with skinny jeans and leggings.  You will not find a better tank top for the price, $12.99. And right now they are buy one get one 50% off. 

I rounded up a few other pieces that are Non-Maternity but would be great for before and after.

I always welcome reader requests so shoot me an email if you have an idea!