Weekend Style Files: Black on Black

Is there anything more chic than an all black ensemble?  I think not.  I am a huge fan of all black. It always looks effortless and pulled together.  I think a few nice black pieces should be an investment, like a great pair of black jeans and boots- don't skimp on those.  They are classic pieces you will wear time and time again.  I plan on living in black this Fall (before and after baby)

I rounded up several different options for the entire outfit. You know I am always a fan of Rag and Bone Jeans and the Rag and Bone Newbury Booties, so they had to be on here:) As far as sweaters go Vince makes my favorite sweaters. For some reason two of the sweaters are showing up white in the picture but if you click on them they are available in black too. 

Just The Two of Us

Let me start this post by saying I am over the moon excited I am pregnant and having a baby girl. I think most of you know that it was a struggle for us to conceive baby number two and I have taken nothing for granted this pregnancy, I am so thankful to be pregnant and can't wait to meet this little baby growing in my belly.  I am so excited to turn this family of 3 into 4.

But that being said sometimes I get sad thinking about another baby entering our house. You see for the past almost four years Sterling has been my side kick, it has just been me and him and I have loved every minute of it.  I love our lunches together, our strolls together, our play dates, our conversations; I really treasure this time with just me and my little man.   He is such a sweet soul filled with such a big personality. I love him so much it feels like my heart will burst sometimes. I get sad thinking about not having all this one on one time with him once the baby arrives. I don't want him to be neglected once the baby comes. I know a sibling will be a great thing for him, trust me he needs to learn that he is not the boss of this family and to share.  I just hope I have enough time and energy for Sterling and his sister.   As our due date rapidly approaches, I mean we have less than 95 days to go, I just want to savour these last few weeks that it is just me and Sterling. 

I wanted to capture this moment in our lives when it was just me and Sterling and his sweet personality at age 3.5.  I had my friend Brook Bertschy take some pictures for me and I could not be happier.  If you live in Charleston and need a photographer, Brook is amazing with kids and super reasonably priced.  Her contact info is HERE if you are interested.  Her photos are really special and amazing.

Here are a few of my favorite snap shots from our shoot,  Just me and my firstborn son who brings me more joy than I ever thought possible.

The last picture totally captures Sterling's personality exactly, such a ham for the camera!  It was a miracle we got any of him just smiling because he was acting up so much!  That is how good Brook is!

Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo

My Must Have Beauty Items

I am a creature of habit when it comes to my skincare and beauty routine. When I find products that work well for me, I stick with them.  These are my tried and true Beauty favorites that I use everyday and swear by!  I am always open to new products to try so if there is anything I am missing out on please share!

SHISEIDO PRESSED POWDER-  This is the best face powder around.  My face can tend to get a little red around my nose and cheeks sometimes and this always provides such even coverage but it doesn't look like you are wearing powder.  I hate when I can see a women's powder or foundation lines.  This is seamless and works really well.

NARS BRONZER IN LAGUNA- I have tried many a bronzer and this is hands down my favorite.  The perfect subtle color without looking too orange. 

LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURIZER IN NUDE- I apply this before my powder to help even my skin tone even more.  On lazy days I just wear this and no powder.  It feels silky and provides the perfect hint of color for your face.  I also love that it has SPF 20 already in it.

SHISEIDO PURIFYING FACE WASH- I love this face wash it  up really well and gets all my make-up off.  A little bit goes a long way so this face wash lasts for awhile. My face feels really clean after.

TWO FACED THREE WAY EYELINER- This eyeliner is so precise, its crazy.  I like it so much better than the pencil kind you have to sharpen.

MAYBELLINE GREAT LASH MASCARA-  I have been using this mascara as long as I can remember.  I swear it works as well as the expense brands and its only $4!

URBAN DECAY NAKED EYESHADOW PALETTE- I love this eye shadow palette because it has so many great neutral options.  I don't like too heavy of an eye during the day and this has some great flesh tones that I love.

NARS LIPSTICK IN DOLCE VITA- This is the best lip color ever, I think it is flattering on everyone.  I prefer a subtle lip for during the day and this gives the perfect hint of color.

SHISEIDO BENEFIANCE EYE CREAM- Can you tell I am a huge fan of Shiseido products?  This eye cream is so moisturizing and smells great.  I apply at night and in the morning before I apply my eye make up.

CHANEL NAIL POLISH IN VAMP- I don't splurge on nail polish often but I swear by this color.  It is the perfect dark red.  Always such a classy color.  My nails are this color most of the Fall.

CLU DE PEAU CONCEALOR- This concealer is pricey but worth every penny.  I have really bad under eye circles and this is the only concealer I have found that really covers them.  Mine lasts for about a year so it is worth the splurge.

CLARISONIC MIA-  I really believe in exfoliating your face.  I keep my Mia in the shower and use it about everyday with a scrubbing face wash to exfoliate my skin.  I do my whole face and neck too.

CETAPHIL MOISTURIZING LOTION-  I slather this stuff on everywhere.  I use it as my daily lotion and my face cream at night.  It is a bit greasy but I have found no lotion that works as well as Cetaphil.  Plus it always comes highly recommended from dermatologists and its cheap, $10 for the large jar!

Obsessed: BB Dakota Jasper Drape Front Jacket

Normally I don't do two posts in a day but my BB Dakota Jasper Drape Jacket just arrived and I had to share how fabulous it is.  For the price, $88,  it is worth every penny.  It is Faux Leather but I swear it looks real in person.  It is so soft and flattering.  I will be wearing this all Fall.  It just came out in black too so snag this jacket before it sells out!

{BB DAKOTA JASPER DRAPE FRONT JACKET}

 Jasper Jacket available in black and brown HERE.

Here are a few other fabulous jackets from BB Dakota- scroll thru to see them all. I swear BB Dakota is becoming my new favorite brand.  It is so affordable and great quality!

Harvest Salad with Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette

After a particularly glutinous weekend, Sunday night I decided my parents and I needed something healthy to eat so we whipped up this Harvest Salad.  It was filled with so many tasty ingredients, it will be a salad I recreate many times again.  I loved the addition of dried apricots to the salad it is something I never think to use or eat.  I usually use my old standby dried cranberries but the apricots were so good and I found out Sterling loves them too- I think he thought they were fruit chews but he gobbled them up.  Next time I make this I may alter the dressing a bit and add a bit of Cayenne Pepper just to give it some extra heat and spice but the cinnamon was really nice in the dressing.  This would be an excellent main meal with some grilled chicken on top of it.  It presents beautifully too, so remember it next time you are entertaining and need a salad recipe! 

:: H A R V E S T  S A L A D  W I T H   A P P L E  C I D E R  V I N I A G R E T T E ::

adapted via 

1 Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper
8 cups salad greens, such as arugula, red leaf lettuce or Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 ounces)
1/2 cup pistachio nuts

Cover apple slices with cold water. Add lemon juice. Let stand until ready to serve.

Mix vinegar, honey and roasted cinnamon in small bowl with wire whisk. Gradually add oil, whisking until well blended.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

To serve, divide greens among 8 plates. Top each with drained apple slices, apricots, blue cheese and pistachio nuts. Serve with dressing.

 

Obsessions

{JCREW SWING SWEATER}

 After seeing Emily of Ivory Lane wearing this sweater I became obsessed with it. I went directly to JCREW that day and they had one small left, lucky me,  and I brought her home. Ladies this is the most comfortable sweater ever.  Perfect for Fall, it comes in navy and poppy as well. I kind of want another color I love it so much. Great for any of you preggos too because it is loose. 

{BB DAKOTA FAUX LEATHER MOTO JACKET}

BB Dakota is killing it with their jackets this year.  Love this take on the Moto jacket and the price is just as fabulous as the jacket!

{VINCE HALO PLACKET TUNIC}

I have a real weakness for Vince dresses.  They are so effortlessly cool and comfortable.  

This one is on my radar for Fall. 

{BB DAKOTA AMBER OMBER COAT}

Had to include this BB Dakota jacket as well.  I am a sucker for anything Ombre.  This jacket will be mine come Fall.  Imagine the possibilities with it!

{JCREW STRIPPED SWEATER DRESS}

I picked this dress up a few weeks ago at the JCREW outlet and I am loving it.  The colors are perfect for Fall.  I wore it while I was in Charlotte with flats but plan to pair it with my Rag and Bone Booties once the temps cool down in Charleston.  It is a great sweater dress and fits really well.

{VELVET SLUB STRIPE TOP}

Velvet tops are my favorite because they are longer.  I love a longer tee paired with skinny jeans or leggings.  This one comes in two great colors.  It would be great layered under a cute jacket or vest as well.

{MISSONI MIXED ZIGZAG SCARF}

My parents gave me this Missoni scarf for Christmas last year that I am obsessed with.  These are on sale 40% off which is such a steal for Missoni.  Trust me you will wear this with everything. 

{MADEWELL TRANSPORT TOTE}

I am thinking about getting this Tote for my next diaper bag and having baby girls initials embossed on it in Gold.  I checked out the bag in person and love it.  It is the perfect shape and size.  A great timeless, classic tote.

Scenes From Our Weekend

This weekend Sterling and I headed to Charlotte for an engagemant party and to pick up a few things for Baby Girl's nursery. Matt stayed behind to have a solo weekend and do some fishing.   He's lucky right??  What's a solo weekend when you are a mom?  He deserves it though he has been working so hard at his new law firm.

 Before I left town I made a big batch of Seafood Lasagna. It is one of Matt's favorite meals and I figured that way he would leftovers for the weekend while we were gone.  I posted this recipe a long time ago when I started my blog, you can check it out HERE. It is so good and a different spin on lasagna which is always nice.  It is creamy goodness filled with crab and shrimp!

For the engagement party I wore my new favorite Rag and Bone Dress.  I am telling you I wear this dress all the time and I think I will love it just as much not pregnant.  It is such a great staple dress for your closet.  The navy version I am wearing is 60% off HERE and Shopbop has the gray version on sale for 50% off HERE.  Both only have mediums and larges left.  If you need a small SAKS has it HERE also on sale.  I got a small because it has quite a bit of stretch to it.

The party was a blast.  The bride to be Lauren is between my sister and I.  To the left of me is my sister in law, Katie.  My sister is wearing my ASOS Floral Dress that I love.

We had to snap a picture of us with my mom. So glad we are adding another girl to mix.  We are all so incredibly close it makes me so excited to have a daughter (heres to hoping she won't hate me).

There was so much incredible food at the party but my favorite was these Goat Cheese Balls with Crispy Apples on top.  I must learn to recreate these for parties.

I love coming to Charlotte because they have a Crewcuts store.  Why did the Charleston JCrew ditch the crewcuts section?? I miss it so much,  it is my favorite place to shop for Sterling.  My parents love treating him to back to school clothes and we picked these up- all sale items are additional 30% off with code SHOP30.   We got the Chinos in the bright yellow, green, and royal blue.  They are my favorite shorts for Sterling.

Camp Tee | Glow in Dark Dino Tee |  Chinos |  Sailboat Tee

Sterling is pretty obsessed with the Bulls Eye Tee and wants to rock it all the time.    He put together this outfit himself, and was pretty proud of it.

Sterling has been so sweet lately kissing my belly and talking to his baby sister or "my baby" as he refers to her:)  Matt wasn't home but I had to capture this sweet moment of him kissing my belly and telling her he loved her.

I am off to run some errands with my mom and that includes picking up some Fall Nail Polish.  Have I mentioned I am ready for fall?  I am searching for these two Essie Colors:  Don't Sweater it and Bopping for Baubles.

Happy Monday!

xoxo