Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Style Files Vol 5 | Ombre Maxi

I love, love, love a good maxi dress.  I think they are perfect to year round because they look super cute alone but also paired with a fun leather jacket or blazer as well.

This is one of those maxi dresses that could work year round. I love that you can pair it flats for a casual look during the day but you could easily dress it up for a wedding or night out with heels and fun jewelry!

What I am Wearing:



My fringe purse has been on constant rotation lately.  It comes in about 10 different colors.   
I am carrying the sandstone color.  It is the perfect neutral to go with any outfit. I like that you can carry it as a cross body or also as a clutch.  

Both sides of the dress have a slight side split.  The dress is also fully lined.  As far as sizing it runs TTS.  I am wearing a small.  

These sunglasses are so awesome and under $70! I love the lighter frame with the mirrored lens.

I adore the pattern on this dress, it reminds me of an old Tibi pattern but the price is about half of that! The dress is from the Nic + Zoe line carried at Nordstrom.  They have some really cute stuff at a good price point.  
It also comes in these two blouse versions as well.




I styled the dress 2 different ways to give you a more casual option and a few dressier options.  Keep in mind for the dressier option I would pair it with just a necklace or statement earrings, probably not both together!
All the jewelry pictured below is under $60 too!
nic + zoe





You can shop my look below!



Thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post!





Monday, March 7, 2016

Scenes From Our Weekend + Charleston Food and Wine Festival

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  This weekend was definitely a fun one!!

Thursday after hitting up the Troubadour Sample Sale I went to Leon's Oyster Shop for lunch, still one of my favorite places in town.  I normally get the Siam Salad which is amazing but decided to branch out and try the fried fish sandwich.  It was so good!  Their fried Brussels Sprouts are also delicious. I am still dreaming about this lunch.
Wearing:

Friday I met up with a friend to try the infrared sauna at Seeking Indigo.  Instead of a wet moist heat like a regular sauna it is more of a radiant heat.  We did 30 minutes and I really enjoyed it.  Next I plan to try the detox foot soak and the infrared massage.
After the sauna we grabbed a delicious lunch at Monza.  This antipasto platter was so good, I def want to try and recreate something similar at home.  Loved the addition of the arugula.

Friday night we met up with my parents for happy hour.
I always love the view on the deck of their condo.
Love having my parents in town!
Mom is wearing a Joie Blouse ( that I can't wait to borrow!) 

Saturday I attended the Locavore lunch at SNOB.  It was 5 courses and all the ingredients came sourced from local farms.  This noodle bowl and the swordfish were two of my favorites!

 The wine was amazing too.  It was from a vineyard in California called Luli.  We sampled their Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and they all were delicious. 

After that we headed to the tent tasting at the festival!
The weather was perfection.  We enjoyed so many delicious wines!  They also had some really cool cooking demonstrations too. 

We even had the pleasure of meeting the gastronaut! 
We sampled so many great wines but there were also several liquor companies  at the Festival as well.  This black cherry vodka was amazing.
Sunday the weather was nice again so the kids and I headed to the beach.  It was too cold to swim but they insisted on wearing their suits.

Frances showing off her belly! This picture cracks me up!

Enjoy your week!







Saturday, March 5, 2016

Weekend Deals

Happy Saturday!  I am off the to Food and Wine festival today!  I will share my thoughts and pictures from the event Monday!  I can not wait to sample some tasty wines and food.  Plus the weather is going to be gorgeous a perfect day to be outside.

30% off select styles
I ordered this tie back dress, I figured it will be perfect for our St Maarten trip this Summer.  I have this same style in another print from last Summer.  I like the slight cut out detail but I also like it doesn't show too much skin at all.  The tie back and looser fit bottom make for a flattering fit. sizing wise I am wearing a 4, runs TTS.


I also love this swing dress style.  It makes for a great dress or beach cover-up.
This is what it looks like on, I am wearing a different pattern. I am wearing size XS.
I have mentioned this style shirtdress many times on here but it is such a great dress.  It runs on the large side so size down.  I wear an XS.
Same dress but different pattern to show you the fit.


This is the last day to save at the Shopbop event.  Don't forget to use code FRESH16 at checkout.  I have been browsing daily and keep finding new things I love.

I ordered these shoes Wednesday and they just arrived yesterday and I love them!  Super cute in person!  
I ordered the lighter color but I also really like this caramel color too.


I was so excited to see this maxi out in a new pattern.  It is such a great maxi and under $100.
I am contemplating a new Annabel Ingall tote for spring, I love my old one so much.


Obsessed with this black dress by MLM Label, the same brand that makes my black off shoulder blouse.
How cute is this embroidered blouse and it is only $60!

This robe is so pretty.  I like the fact that it is lightweight and the tassel details.


30% off everything and card holders can take 40% off! Use code FIRSTLOOK.
Some of their new arrivals are really pretty! 
I love the red pattern on this dress.
Also this blouse is gorgeous.  I love the idea of it with white jeans in the summer too.
You all know I love an off shoulder blouse.  This one is a steal at $44 plus the extra discount.

This is the cutest tote for summer.
This stripe dress is one of my favorites.  It is a thicker cotton which I like.


Happy Saturday and Happy Shopping!



Friday, March 4, 2016

Coming To Terms


I love this blog not only as a place to share things that inspire me and that I love but also as an outlet.  I find writing very therapeutic.  It helps me clear my head and center myself. 
   This may bore many of you but it is something I just feel the need to write about.  I am doing this more for myself than anything else.  Just like with meditation I find journaling and writing can be so freeing for your mind.  

The other day a women working at a store we were in said " Oh your kids are so cute,  you have a boy and a girl.  You are so lucky to have one of each. "  She then proceeded to tell me how she always wanted to have kids but it just hadn't happened for her.  My heart felt so sad for her and for the fact that whatever her life circumstances were she didn't get to have kids.    My heart breaks for people like that.  It made me think long and hard about my 2 sweet children and how lucky I am indeed,  but it didn't stop me from thinking and wishing I had another.  

Most days I try and convince myself that 2 kids is all I need.  Things are starting to get a little easier in our house now that Sterling and Frances are older.  They will actually sit and play together and that gives me time to get things done.  It is nice, I like the routine we getting in.   I like the fact that I am not nursing and not sleep deprived.   I also like the fact that I am slowly getting my body back into really good shape.   I feel good about our life and very blessed.

However as much as I try to convince myself 2 is enough, I still think about a 3rd child every single day.   I touched on this a year ago but most days I still feel like someone is missing and I want another child.   I can't even put into words why I feel this way.  Most days I am exhausted.  I find juggling two kids, my husband, and my blog overwhelming.  I wonder why the heck I have this desire for another child.  I think it is because my kids are growing up faster than I wish they would.  I want time to slow down, I want a little baby around the house again. I want to freeze time and stay in this time period while my kids are young and innocent.   I know these times are hard but I also know with certainty I will look back on these years as the best ones in my life. 

The problem is my husband does not want another.  Matt is very adamant he wants no more children.  I thought once Frances got a little older I could persuade him but alas he has become even stronger in his convictions that he wants no more children.   Matt can't even comprehend why I would want another.   I want to respect his feelings and views but man it makes me sad.  So what do you do?  How do I come to terms with this?

Every time I hear about another acquaintance  having their third child a part of me is jealous.  Thinking why can't I have a third.  Why is my husband the one that is not even open to the idea of another child??  
I remember when I was having a hard time getting pregnant all I saw were babies and heard announcements about friends getting pregnant.  I feel the same way now whenever I am out all I notice are moms with 3 kids.

I know plenty of people who have "accidentally" gotten pregnant.  But I just can't do that.  Our marriage is in a good place after some tough times and I know that third child might would push it to the dark side.  Is that third baby worth it??   Not only would it be a strain on our marriage but would it push me to dark the side?   Could I handle a third while giving myself the time I need for me?  I am just starting to feel like myself again after Frances.  

I try to be thankful that I have two healthy kids.  I know I am beyond lucky.  I know there are many of you out there struggling to get pregnant and going through IVF and many of you who have children that were born with some of a birth defect or illness.  My heart is with all of you who are struggling in some way.   

Sometimes I think maybe this was God's plan all along for me just to have 2 kids.  Maybe he knew 3 would be too much.   I know he has a plan for all of us and I whole heartedly trust that plan.   For all I know I could actively try to get pregnant again and never would.    I think in life what screws us up the most is the picture of what we think our life should be like.  I think we envision and dream things and then when that is not the reality it makes us sad.  Yes I had envisioned myself with 3 kids but maybe that is not my reality maybe my reality and life plan is just 2 kids. I want to embrace this life I have.

As the nice woman stated I am so lucky to have one of each.   I love my sweet Sterling and Frances so much and have enjoyed getting to experience the joys of both boy and girl things.  Still the yearning and the desire for a 3rd is not fading.  I hope with time it will and I can come to peace with this and the fact that I probably won't have any more kids.   

I don't want this to be a sad post because it is not.  It is merely thoughts that I am having.  I count my blessings everyday and I love having this space to share my thoughts, feelings and fears with you guys.   I am happy with my life and if I don't have another child things will be just fine.  

and because it is Friday and I don't want to leave you with too heavy of a post.  
Happy Friday! 
xoxo