Monday, October 12, 2015

Scenes From Our Weekend

Happy Monday Friends.  Poor Sterling ran a fever all night so I have a sick boy home with me today.
Luckily he got to enjoy our weekend before he got sick.

Thursday I took Frances to the pumpkin patch at her school.  She was so excited to see all the pumpkins.

Since Matt had friends in town, Friday we decided to head to my parents condo and have a sleep over with some of Sterling's friends.  
I had not made a cheese platter in forever so I whipped this up for me, Caycee and Ashley.
This Pinot Grigio is a new favorite. 
On the platter : Raisin crisps, grapes, truffled mustard, Brie, 365 crackers, pepperoni, salami,  prosciutto, peppered goat cheese, and white cheddar.

All the kids before bed.
Me, and Caycee, and Ashley.  We had way too much fun after we put the kids to bed playing on Snapchat and Dubsmash.  The kids snapped this picture hence why I am half cut out:)
We saw the most amazing sunset. It truly was breath taking.  Lately Charleston has had the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.  They almost remind me of what the Northern Lights might be like.

Saturday  comfort was key as we had a rainy day again.
I have been living in this tee shirt lately.  I love that it is long enough to wear with leggings.
The leggings are the Spanx leggings I mentioned last week.  They seriously suck you in- they are especially great post baby.  I bought mine right after I had Frances to suck it all in.


 We ended up keeping Ashley's daughter Wheeler for the day and another sleepover.  I took the kids out to lunch and loved that they wanted to share a drink.

After lunch we looked at boats and watched the storm roll in.

Sunday was low key.  
I stayed in my lounge clothes most of the morning.  This is BR fringe sweater and JCrew sweatpants I mentioned in Saturday's post, both are on sale.


I caught these two sneaking in a nap.


We have become quite addicted to Quick Foxes a food delivery service in Charleston (they also have one in Charlotte too).  Lately we have been loving Tasty Thai.  This Tom ga Kai Soup is amazing.  I always get it Thai hot.


Have a great start to your week.






Saturday, October 10, 2015

Weekend Style + Weekend Sales

Happy Saturday!  Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend.  Matt has a few guy friends in town for the weekend to fish so the kids and I are solo.  But we have lots of play dates planned and fun activities. 

I wanted to share my outfit from yesterday.  I am still loving the off shoulder look and the print on this blouse is so good!

Sizing wise I would say it runs on the larger side.  I am wearing a size XS
Here is a better look at it on.

Since Monday is Columbus Day there are lots of sales going on.

30% off full price styles and 40% off sale.
Use code WEEKEND.
My leopard Blouse, that I love is now 30% off.

These sweatpants are my favorite.  I own the light and dark gray.  They are on sale right now plus extra 30% off.

Lots of new markdowns.
The cutest workout pants by Onzie which I have heard great things about.

I really like this Free People Tunic Dress.  My friend Ashley wore it the other night and it looked so cute on.  Currently 40% off.


Friends and Family Sale 25% off with code WEAREFAMILY


If you are looking for a cross body/clutch this one is my favorite.
Friends and Family event, 20% off site wide.
Use code STYLE
Their bed sheets are awesome.  We have these crab sheets in Sterling's room.  They wash really well and so soft.
Also love their crib sheets.  We have this trelis one in Frances Moon's nursery. Currently on sale + additional 20% off.

40% off many items and 50% off some with code BRSAVE.
I just ordered this fringe sweater and LOVE it.  Runs on the large side size down.  Now 50% off.
 
I also really like this pleat back blouse.  The color is so gorgeous for Fall.  Also 50% off.


Happy Saturday and Happy Shopping!



Friday, October 9, 2015

Frequently Asked Questions

I often get questions on my blog and comments on instagram that I can't respond to because there is no email address associated with the comment.   Lately I have received many of the same questions and comments so I thought I would address them.  If you ever have a question just email me directly and I will do my best to respond fairly quickly.


ARE YOU COMPLETELY MEAT FREE NOW?
No, I am not completely meat free although I would say I eat vegetarian now 90% of the time.  I still eat fish and occasionally chicken.  Oh and Bacon, love my bacon. I really don't eat red meat anymore though.  Matt is completely meat free and has been for almost 3 months now. That is why the majority of the meals I cook and post lately are meat free.  and yes I feed the kids what we eat so they eat vegetarian the majority of the time too.
While I really don't miss meat it is sometimes hard to think of filling vegetarian meals so if you have any great recipes please do share. 

HOW IS STERLING ADAPTING TO KINDERGARTEN?
Sterling's transition to kindergarten has gone so well.  I honestly worried more than I should have.  I think part of it was a part of me mourning the fact that he was growing up and turning into a big boy.  My heart broke that first day we dropped him off and he walked into school all by himself.  He seemed so old yet still so young and naive at the same time.  Luckily that afternoon when I picked  him up he raved about how much he loved school and how much more fun it was than his old school.  We are zoned for one of the best schools in Charleston so I didn't worry a bit about the quality of the school but he started not knowing one kid in his class.  I was worried about this and the longer hours too.  His previous school was just 3 hours. Thankfully kids are so resilient and he has made so many new friends.  The hardest part has been the early morning wake up.  I wake Sterling up at 6:30 every morning and it is a struggle to get him out of bed.  He complains every morning that it is too early.

WHY DON'T YOU CUT YOUR HAIR AND NOT DYE IT SO BLOND?
I will be the first to admit I don't have the best hair.   It is super fine and totally gets stringy when it gets too long.   But I just love long hair.  Hair is such a personal thing and different people like different styles and I prefer longer hair.  Lately however I have toyed with the idea of doing a long bob to switch things up.  I just need to get the courage to chop my hair.  I know it would be healthier.  So stay tuned a long Bob may be in my future.
I will most likely always have really blond hair.  I have had almost every hair color from dark brown, to red highlights to dark blonde.  But I just like my hair really blonde.  I can't explain it but my motto is the blonder the better- haha.  

WHY DOES MATT WEAR DAD JEANS?
Matt wears "dad jeans" because he likes them and frankly I have no idea why this even bothers people.  Matt is not into fashion one bit, it is just not his thing.  He is happy as a clam in his old levis. I have tried to get him to branch out but he doesn't care to. 

WHY DOES MATT NEVER SMILE IN PICTURES?
Matt does not like being photographed.  He actually prefers for the most part not to even be on my blog. I think many men probably prefer not to be photographed all the time.  We actually joke that Sterling has inherited the same deer caught in headlights look in photos that Matt often has. 

HOW IS MATT'S BACK?
After Matt hurt his back last November, I have received so many sweet emails and comments wondering how he is doing.  After being laid up on his back for almost a month the end of last year including one scary visit to the ER he is doing better but not totally back to normal.   He ended up having three spinal injections which helped.  He still has numbness in his right leg and foot and is constantly worried about pulling out his back again.  He had an MRI and there is a lower back disc problem but of course our insurance won't cover surgery so we considering other options.  Right now he is doing well though and we pray there won't be a relapse.

HOW IS RODNEY FITTING IN?
Rodney is fitting in great with the family so far.  We have had some issues with his tail and the fact that he is runner.  If anyone opens the door even a little bit he tries to bolt out.  This has been the most challenging part and the fact that his tail is so crazy and frequently hits the kids. He also has crazy attachment issues and does not like to be left alone ever.  I think this my be why the other families gave him up and that has made his anxiety even worse.  Otherwise he is the sweetest dog.  He loves to be cuddled and lay his head in your lap.  I will be honest I never wanted to get a dog so quickly after Nelson died. I wanted to wait until the kids were older and able to help out some. I also felt like we didn't get to truly mourn Nelson but Matt was insistent on needing a new dog immediately to help with the grief.  It was hard on me the first few weeks because puppies are a handful.  That first week Rodney ate all our blinds and bathroom molding but he has since calmed down.  Now we can't imagine our family without him.  

WHY SO MANY SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES ON THE BLOG?
 Clearly spelling and grammar is not my strong suit.  I try to use auto correct and proof read but I know there are still many mistakes.   I am usually trying to do my blog quickly because I am dealing with the kids hence the many mistakes.  I should do a better job proof reading but tending to the kids comes first.

WILL I HAVE A THIRD BABY?
I think we are most likely done with 2 kids. I go back and forth on this but Matt is fairly certain he just wants two kids, although I occasionally try to convince him otherwise:)
 We are blessed with 2 healthy kids that keep me very busy so we are most likely done.  Plus my clock is ticking as I turn 36 next year.

HOW IS FRANCES MOON'S HEAD?
About 6 months ago we last met with our neurologist who measured Frances Moon's head and said it was evening out with her body.  He said this meant the fluid around the brain was draining on its own so no need to drain it.  He still asked us to monitor her and look for signs like being lethargic, vomiting, and not acting normal which would mean the fluid was leaking out.  Thankfully we have had no issues.  Frances is doing great and I think our sweet girl just has extra large head:) 


FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP FOR MATERNITY CLOTHES?
I get asked this question a lot and the truth is I did not buy many maternity clothes.  I just worked with what I had or bought a larger size in regular clothes.  I do recommend Forever 21 and Asos for cute inexpensive maternity clothes.  I also love the Hatch line carried at Shopbop.  It is clothing that can be worn while pregnant and afterwards as well.

FAVORITE TEQUILA?
Casamigos hands down is my favorite tequila.  George Clooney and Randy Gerber clearly know their tequila.  In fact I might just have to enjoy some this weekend! 

HAPPY FRIDAY!






Thursday, October 8, 2015

One Dress Under $50 | 3 Ways To Wear It + Gigi New York Friends and Family Event

Today I wanted to share one dress styled 3 different ways. 
 I found this dress in the Nordstrom Juniors department while I was in Charlotte over the weekend. 
Best part is it is only $48.  It is a basic shift dress that you can easily dress up or down.

 The juniors department is a great place to shop for inexpensive items to add to your closet.  While many things are hit or miss in the juniors department and the fit can be questionable you can occasionally luck up on some really good finds (and save money).  I like to mix things from the Juniors department with more expensive items.

I will say I am almost 5'10 and this dress is short on me, but I didn't find it too short to wear.  It is also cute as tunic with leggings if you are concerned about the length.  If you are not as tall as me the length will be different on you.


ONE
 I honestly like this dress alone, paired with a cool necklace.   I love the wine color for Fall but it comes in 6 different colors if you don't like this color.  I almost bought the Navy color, such a great classic color that looks good on everyone.
  Sizing wise in the juniors department I usually recommend going up a size.  I am wearing a size Medium.
My friend English designed this necklace and I just adore it.  Her jewelry is just so beautiful, she hand makes each necklace and it shows. The necklace she designed me with the kids names is one of my favorites


TWO
This vest is one of my favorite purchases this Fall!  I toss it on over everything.  It works perfectly with dresses and blouses.

THREE
I think you could easily toss any cute leather jacket or blazer over this dress for a super cute Fall look. These are the Steve Madden Ballet Flats I mentioned yesterday, I love them!
 
 I also wanted to mention the Gigi New York Friends and Family sale started yesterday.  You can take 25% off your order. Use code WEAREFAMILY
This is a great time to start Christmas shopping early while everything is on sale!
I own that same bright blue cross body in the picture.  It is great for travel because it is not too big to pack in your suitcase.

This All in One Clutch is a favorite of mine.  It is great because you can carry it as a clutch or toss inside your tote.
I also love the Bucket Tote.

The Collette Hobo is a new style they just launched this Fall and I am so in love with it!

The Teddie Tote is a great everyday purse.

The 3 Looks:





Wednesday, October 7, 2015

10 Neutral Shoes For Fall

There are so many great shoes out for Fall.  For some reason I tend to gravitate more towards neutral shoes.  I love nude and tan colors because I feel like they just go with everything.  Most of these come in black as well if you don't love the nude.

I mentioned these before, on here.  I own them in the plain leather (not suede) version and love them.  Sizing wise they run TTS.  They look equally cute with dresses and jeans.


Dolce Vita always has such great shoe options for under $200.  I saw these in person and trust me they look even better in real life.  The perfect nude shade and heel height.
These remind me so much of the Chloe version but a quarter of the price.  

I love a D'orsay style pump.  I think it is so classic and goes with everything.  I love the textured look of these and they are under $100.



These are the perfect bootie.   They also come in 4 other colors.


I have been really impressed with Kristen's shoe line.  I especially love the simplicity of these over the knee boots.  I have been lusting after a pair of them.


I can't get these out of my head.  I keep hoping they will go on sale.  Love the fringe and slight dip in the front.

I am kind of obsessed with these.  The strap detail is so gorgeous.

Love the back cut out detail of these booties.

I own these flats in a few colors and love them.  They are so comfortable.  Love the Blush color.  These are under $100 too.

You can shop them all below.







Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The Best Eggplant Parmesan

I love eggplant Parmesan but I have never attempted to make it before.  It is one of my favorite Italian dishes.
This recipe blew me away.  Both Matt and I loved it.  Matt said it was the first recipe since going meat free that he felt really satisfied from.  I will say it is a bit time consuming to bread the eggplant and fry it.  That took about 30 minutes but the layering part is super easy and the effort is well worth it.  We both went back for seconds and it made enough to last for two dinners. 
Fresh mozzarella makes such a big difference so don't skip that part!  I opted to use Panko breadcrumbs because I prefer them.  I think they are lighter and not as dense as regular breadcrumbs but feel free to use either. 
I paired ours with a small green side salad and it was a perfect filling vegetarian meal.
Enjoy!

|| E G G P L A N T   P A R M E S A N ||
adapted via Table for Two

Ingredients 
- 1 large eggplant
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 jar marinara sauce (I always use Raos it's our favorite)
- 2 cups Italian Panko Breadcrumbs
- 3 eggs 
- 1/2 cup milk
- 8 tablespoons peanut oil for frying
- 1 ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- fresh basil

Slice eggplant and place in colander and sprinkle with salt.  This will help all the extra water come out of the eggplant before you cook it.  I placed my colander in a bowl in the sink and let the eggplant sit for an hour to drain off water.  Afterwards pat dry and brush off extra salt.

In a shallow bowl mix the milk and eggs.  In another shallow bowl add the panko breadcrumbs.  You can use regular breadcrumbs but I prefer the panko because they are lighter.

Dip the sliced eggplant into the milk/egg mixture first, then the breadcrumbs.  Lay all out on baking sheet or parchment paper. 

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet.  I cooked about 3 eggplant slices at a time.  Cook until they start to slightly brown, just a few minutes on each side.  Place on paper towels to drain afterwards.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a baking dish cover the bottom with about 1/4 cup marinara sauce.  Layer on eggplant, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan and then marinara..  Saving enough cheese and marinara for 2 more layers.

On the last layer end with eggplant and the sliced fresh mozzarella.  Top with fresh basil.

Bake about 30-35 minutes.