Health + Fitness

September 30, 2019

Mixing Up My Workouts For Fall

Fall is officially here, and as much as I’m a Summer girl, I’m kind of loving it!! At least as long as it doesn’t turn into a frozen tundra any time soon! With all the schedule and weather changes that come with Fall, I’ve been making some tweaks to my workout routine as well. And since it has been one of my most asked questions lately, I decided I would share a little bit about how I’m mixing things up in 3 different ways with my workouts for Fall. Plus I’m sharing some of my favorite workout basics from lululemon.

:: HOME WORKOUTS

If you follow along over on Instagram, you know we just finished up our Home Gym! I love it so much, because it really gives me no excuses to get my workout in sometime throughout the day. A lot of you have asked how I do workouts from home and know what to do. I’m no fitness expert, so YouTube and Instagram fitness accounts have been amazing for finding new ideas, and still getting that sense of motivation even by myself. Stay tuned because I’m planning a post full of my top fitness accounts to follow for inspiration soon!

. . .

. . .SHOP MY FAVORITE WORKOUT TOPS FROM LULULEMON . . .

:: FITNESS CLASSES

You may be thinking, “Fitness classes?! You have a home gym!”. And you are right. But there is something about that class/group setting that I crave. Knowing that everyone in the room is pushing themselves for that goal is so motivating for me. Plus as I’ve shared before, working out and getting healthy is SO much about full body health, both physical and mental for me. Having that “escape” from real life and a little social me time has been such a game changer for me.

. . .

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE WORKOUT BOTTOMS FROM LULULEMON . . .

:: OUTSIDE

This weather is the dream for taking your workout outside!! I am loving taking walks or jogs around the neighborhood while its still warm enough. Even doing circuits outside in your backyard or driveway would be a great option for Fall workouts! I love grabbing a lululemon jacket because they are so comfortable and the perfect lightweight for these fall temps.

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE LULULEMON WORKOUT ACCESSORIES . . .

. . .

Whatever you do, do it for you! For me, working out is so much about both physical and mental health, so when lululemon reached out to me to share more about what my workouts look like and my idea of #sweatlife I was thrilled! It is no secret that I am beyond obsessed with all of their apparel, but I’m even more in love with their vision + focus on #sweatlife. It is all about showing up for yourself and others, doing your best and always pushing yourself, but cheering those around you on along the way. I love the community they’ve created of inspiring and motivating men and women that you can learn from just gain so much strength from.

So I want to know…what keeps you motivated? What does your workout look like for Fall? What do you want to see more of here for inspiration?

in partnership with lululemon

Comment

Leave A Comment

Lifestyle

September 27, 2019

Our Travel Guide: San Francisco

my top + jeans + sandals

Is it just me, or do you not realize how much you NEED a girls weekend until you finally get one and are in pure heaven?! That was me this past weekend on my little girls getaway to San Francisco! I met up with 3 of my very favorite residency family girls and we had a blast! You guys are always asking how I survived the medical school + residency years, and girls like these are the answer! I love them like sisters and we had a blast exploring San Francisco! I’ve had some requests to share more details on what we did, as well as all your amazing recommendations, so I thought I’d put them all together as part of our “travel guide” series here on the blog!

If you know me, you know I basically plan my trips around food! Haha! But luckily my amazing girlfriend planned out the best itinerary, and we had the funnest time eating shopping and sight seeing! I’ve starred my favorite restaurants that we tried below. I honestly could’ve stayed for a week just for all the amazing options, it was hard to narrow it down!!

By far my favorite thing we did was GoCars. If you ever visit San Francisco, it is hands down the thing I recommend most! It is a little GPS guided story telling car. So you get all the perks of learning about different tourist sites, but with the fun of driving around a little car! Oh my gosh we died laughing and had the best time! You can go at your own pace, but if you follow the route, you get to see:

Fisherman’s Wharf :: Ghiradelli Square :: Fort Mission :: Crissy Field :: Fort Point :: Golden Gate Bridge :: Baker Beach :: Sea Cliff :: Lincoln Park Golf Course :: Legion of Honor :: U.S.S. San Francisco Memorial :: Land’s End :: Sutro Baths :: Cliff House :: Ocean Beach :: Golden Gate Park :: Dutch Windmills :: Spreckles’ Lake :: Buffalo Paddock :: Japanese Tea Garden :: deYoung Museum :: California Academy of Science :: Stow Lake :: Conservatory of Flowers :: Strybring Arboretum :: AIDS Memorial Grove :: Inspiration Point :: Palace of Fine Arts :: Bombard “Crookedest Street”

As you can see, if you have limited time in the city, it is such an amazing way to see it all, and laugh like you never have before!

The rest of the weekend was full of shopping and catching up with my girls! You guys had so many fun recommendations I wish we had more time, but I can’t wait to go back and try them out! I put together a little video of highlights and all our favorite things!

. . .

:: YOUR AMAZING SAN FRANCISCO RECOMMENDATIONS ::

First up let’s talk food. From the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted, to steak and seafood, you guys had alll the recommendations!

-Bi-Rite Creamery (the BEST ice cream I’ve ever had in my life!)

– B Patteserie

– Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

– Roam Burger

– Park Tavern

– MyMy

– Causwells

– Tartine

– Burma Super Star

– Absinthe

– Nopa

– Laguna

– Arsicault Bakery

– The Slanted Door

– Golden Boy Pizza

– Scomas

– Shanghai Dumpling King

– Hillstone

– Coqueta

– Spruce Restaurant

– Fog Harbor Fish House

– Che Fico

– Kokkari

– Bobo’s

– Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

– Rich Table

– Plow

– Octavia

– Ghiradelli Ice Cream Shop

Now for things to do around the city! Of course you came through with flying colors on this too and had so many great ideas!

– GoCars Tour *** (so WORTH IT)

– Pier 39

– Westfiled Mall

– SF Giants Game

– Ride Bikes through Golden Gate Park

– Museum of Candy

– Hike Slacker Hill for amazing views on a clear day

– Union Square Shopping

– Ride A Cable Car

– Ride the Ferry From Fisherman’s Wharf to Sausalito

– Alcatraz

– Fisherman’s Wharf

– Ride bikes or walk across the bridge

– Painted Ladies

As you can see, it is such a fun fun city and one I highly recommend visiting!! Can’t wait to go back and see more!

Comment

Leave A Comment

Family

September 23, 2019

Behind The Scenes Of Family Pictures

Fall is making its way into the air here in Northern Utah. Fall screams cozy sweaters, halloween, and for a lot of us, the dreaded Family Pictures!!! Haha! I think just about everyone can agree that family pictures bring out allll the emotions. Whether it is the stress of outfit planning, the toddler (or husband) tantrum, or even feeling a little sentimental, they are full of emotions and can be a challenge, especially with a lot of people to coordinate. You typically just see our final “perfect” product at the end here, so today I wanted to do something a little different and show you the real life behind the scenes of getting family pics with us + I’m sharing a few tips and tricks from lots of years of practice to help your family pictures go a little smoother!

CAN YOU HEAR . . .

“PLEASE don’t spit.” || Joe, “I am smiling, it’s FAKE but it’s a smile.” || “Don’t pick your nose.”

Now that you’ve seen how family pictures really go for us, let’s talk tips!! While I’m not claiming these will make you love family pictures, they are a few tried and true things I do every time that have really helped to save our sanity!

(candids are some of my absolute favorite images…so don’t stress if everyone is not looking)

hunter’s top + skirt + shoes | harpers romper + shoes | my dress | hayden’s romper + shoes

:: PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST

If I could shout this one from the rooftops I would! It is so so important. Mom’s aren’t really known for dying to be in the picture with our little people. But you guys, we need to be part of the memories too! By picking your outfit first, you will guarantee that you feel confident + comfortable. When you feel good about yourself you’ll love your pictures more!! Trust me on this one.

:: THE LESS MATCHY MATCHY YOU ARE, THE BETTER

If I’m being honest, all of our last-minute pictures where I’ve had to throw random outfits together that necessarily don’t match perfectly always end up the best. Figure out a main color palette, and then focus more on everyone being comfortable instead!

hudson’s top + pants | houston’s top + similar jacket + pants | joe’s top + tie + pants + shoes

:: TIMING IS KEY

Timing can be the difference between smooth sailing and a total melt down! Try to do a time when you know your baby or toddler will be happy. Like right after nap time, or dinner. I think this helps the mom’s stress level a million times. Also, make sure your people are all fed and not hungry because that makes a huge difference with their moods. Gosh, I even get hangry sometimes!

*TIP: give them time…and take their mind off of the actual pictures. Like ask them to pick their nose and trust me you’ll get a smile!

:: GET THE MONEY SHOT FIRST

If there is a shot you have in mind that you have to have, do it very first. Usually for us, it is the full family shot. Get the must haves out of the way in the first 5 minutes. You never know when someone is going to lose it so get what you want most first!!

:: BRIBERY WORKS

I see absolutely nothing wrong with bribes for family pictures!! I usually have skittles or gold fish for the kids in Joe’s pocket and will pop one in the kids mouth here and there when they are listening. AND, tell your kids they can get a reward like ice cream or a night at the park if they will listen to the photographer without a fuss. It always helps and we really go and do it afterwards, because who doesn’t need ice-cream after all of this craziness!

joe’s top + tie + pants + shoes | my dress

Hopefully these tips and tricks are helpful when your family pictures roll around! Remember, like the video shows, it is never perfect smooth sailing for everyone. Just be your natural self, try to roll with the punches, and I promise the moments you want to pull your hair out will probably turn into your favorite raw real pictures!!

(also let their personality come through…it’s those little quirks you want to remember)

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Looks

September 19, 2019

Accessorizing Tips with Victoria Emerson

When it comes to putting an outfit together, for me it never quite feels complete without the accessories!! Gimme alll the layered necklaces and stacked bracelets!! Something about adding those final touches just pulls your whole outfit together. It can really take it to the next level. I’ve been in the market for some new bracelets to interchange and layer. So when I came across Victoria Emerson I instantly fell in love with their bracelets!! I love to share a good find, so today I’m sharing a few little accessory tips, as well as why these bracelets are my new favorites + how you can score them for a crazy deal!

My first tip is one you can carry from interior design right over to fashion design. Whether you are designing a room in your home or an outfit for date night, you always want to get different colors + textures involved. While I will always have a love for classic gold jewelry, don’t be afraid to be different. Bring in some pops of color, new materials, or sizes so you get a funner look! That is why I love these bracelets from Victoria Emerson. They have such a great variety of skinny to thick, bulky stones or smooth flat stones, all. the. things. so you are sure to find something that matches your style.

Each bracelet is full of fun chunky textures and pops of color, so they look great on their own or stacked like I have them. And the quality is amazing too! So you know you are adding something to your jewelry staples that will last for years.

Another tip that goes right along with the first, is to stack and layer your pieces for a more put together look. When it comes to bracelets, you can never really have too many in my mind! I love choosing 3 or 4 to stack along with my Watch to bring in more of that texture and color I mentioned in the first step and just add some dimension!

Now let’s talk sale!!! The only thing that could make me love these bracelets more is scoring them at an awesome price! Right now they are having a Fall sale where their ENTIRE WEBSITE is Buy One Get One Free!!! That is unheard of!! So head over there now and snag your favorites to create your perfect bracelet stack!

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITES . . .

in partnership with Victoria Emerson

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Family

September 13, 2019

Our Hayden turns 8!

baptism dress | similar hair clip | necklace (awesome discount for you coming on the 27th!)

You guys! Somehow I blinked and this sweet girl is EIGHT years old! I cannot believe it. It feels like time has flown by, but at the same time it is hard to remember things before our little firecracker joined our crew. She has always had the most hilariously fun personality, with a little dash of spicy in there to keep us on our toes, and we couldn’t love her more! To celebrate her big day, today I wanted to share 8 things I love about my Hayden girl.

::SHE IS HILARIOUS

If you’ve been around Hayden for even 10 minutes, you’ve probably heard something hilarious come out of her mouth. She always has us cracking up and is definitely the funny one in the family. Some of our very favorite videos to watch are from when she was little because she has always been all attitude and such a crack up.

:: SHE IS STRONG WILLED

As much as this characteristic can be a struggle as a mom, I love it so much about Hayden. She knows what she wants and does not settle until she gets it. I can already see her determination and strong will is going to do big things for her in the future and I can’t wait to cheer her on.

:: SHE IS SO TALENTED + BELIEVES IN HERSELF

This girl. The talent that comes out of her little body is mind blowing at times. She is kind of a natural at just about everything she has tried, we just need to get her to focus on what she loves the most so that talent can grow. I think a lot of it has to do with her confidence. She is never too scared to try something and has so much faith in her abilities. It never comes off in a cocky way, she just truly believes in herself and pushes herself to be her best.

:: SHE IS SUCH A GOOD FRIEND

Hayden has always been such a good friend. She loves being around other people so being social has always been her thing. That being said, she does not put up with crap from anyone, and will walk away from a friendship if it isn’t worth the drama to her. To have that figured out at such a young age is amazing to me, because I think that is something we as grown women struggle with!

:: SHE IS SUCH A BIG HELPER

Hayden is totally in the big helper stage and I LOVE it! She loves to take the babies and play with them for hours. I know I can trust her to help me out with chores around the house and she is always willing to just be there and help me out!

:: SHE THRIVES ON ONE ON ONE TIME

As much as Hayden is growing up so fast, I love that she still lives for one on one time. She loves to hold my hand and go out just the two of us. Even if it is just a Target run or just the two of us playing a game, it is her favorite thing. It can be hard at times because she craves that attention so much and I have to split myself between everyone, but that one on one time is so special with her.

:: SHE IS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING

Hayden is never one to sit around doing nothing or complaining she is bored. She is always going from crafting to playing soccer to coloring and she never stops. I love that she finds joy in so many different things in life and never limits herself to what she can do. It really makes her so fun to be around.

:: SHE IS A TOM BOY + GIRLY GIRL ALL IN ONE

As I mentioned before, Hayden doesn’t let anything stop her from doing what she wants. That includes things that are typically more gender specific. She loves fresh nails and lip gloss as much as the next little girl, but a skinned knee and dirty face from playing outside is usually just as common. I love that she is such a fun mix of tough and girly girl.

Now that I’ve shared a little more about our sweet + sassy Hayden, I wanted to talk gifts. Since I’ve mentioned her birthday, I’ve had a lot of requests for gift ideas for 8 year old girls! And since Hayden likes doing just about everything, I thought a roundup would be perfect!

. . . SHOP HAYDEN’S FAVORITE THINGS . . .

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Looks

September 11, 2019

5 Fall Staples From Walmart

my top | jeans | booties | jacket | sunnies

Fall is slowly but surely starting to make it is way into Utah. You can feel that little bit of crisp in the air in the mornings, and as much as I love Summer, I’m ready for Fall. One of things I love most about Fall is the fashion! Gimme all the booties, denim jackets, cardigans, and layering!! I’ve been on the hunt for some new fall favorites and scored some great finds at Walmart!! I love that they have so many great options for your basics PLUS the option to do 2 day shipping or pickup so I am saving tons of time too. A lot of you have been requesting some more affordable options for those go to staples, so I thought I’d share my new finds with you today!

:: GRAPHIC TEES

I am well aware that you all know about my love for a good graphic tee. I just did a whole post on my favorites + how to style them last week. While graphic tees usually scream summer, they are such a good fall staple too! I love pairing them with some skinny jeans and booties, or layering them with a jacket on cooler days. They make for the perfect relaxed and comfy look. Walmart has some options Hunter and I are both loving this year!

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE GRAPHIC TEES FROM WALMART . . .

:: BLACK JEANS

A go to wardrobe piece + definitely one of my fall staples is a good pair of black jeans. I love how versatile they are. They pair perfectly with tennies and a tee for a relaxed every day look, but can easily be dressed up with a good pair of heels and leather jacket for a date night look. I found so many good pairs of jeans for Hunter at Walmart back to school shopping that I thought I’d check for myself too and loved what I found!

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE JEANS FROM WALMART . . .

:: BOOTIES

Fall and Booties go together like macaroni and cheese. They are made for each other and for sure at the top of my fall staples. Finding a good comfortable pair that can be a neutral throughout the season is a must for me, so I fell in love with this black pair. Love that they are comfortable but still again versatile so you can dress them up or down.

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE BOOTIES FROM WALMART . . .

:: JACKETS

Fall fashion is all about the layering, which I love! Bring out all the cardigans and the jackets. I love that they not only keep you warm as the weather turns, but they add more texture and dimension to your look. Denim jackets are one of my favorites to dress up with a skirt and booties, or stay casual with a tee and tennies.

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE JACKETS + CARDIGANS FROM WALMART . . .

:: ROMPERS + JUMPSUITS

This last category isn’t always necessarily something that jumps to the top of the fall staples list. We all love them for summer, but then they tend to get pushed aside. I am telling you they are a great go to for Fall too! Throw them on with a great jacket like we talked about above and you are set! They are great for these first few weeks of transitioning into Fall.

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE ROMPERS, JUMPSUITS + DRESSES FROM WALMART . . .

I’ve said it lately a million times, but Walmart has totally stepped it up in the fashion department and we are LOVING all the fun finds, especially as we transition to fall. Happy Shopping!

in partnership with Walmart

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Lifestyle

September 4, 2019

My Trick To Tackling The To Do’s With Toddlers

If you are anything like me, your to do list is kind of never ending. Every time I make progress it seems to be short lived. The second I open my email or the people come home from school there is more. And if you have toddlers or little kids in tow, tackling your list without feeling like you are neglecting them can get a little tricky. So today I’m sharing my number one hack for tackling the to do list with toddlers!

One thing I’ve noticed with allll my little people, is they honestly just want to be right there with you doing what you are doing. Toddlerhood brings its own new stage of being independent. They want to do everything themselves, so why not use that to your advantage. So here is my “hack”. Instead of finding something to distract my littles while I work, I let them feel “big” and do their own mini version of exactly what I’m doing. It’s not rocket science, but it has been SUCH a game changer for us. They still get to be close and “helping” but I’m still able to get things done too.

For example, we have these darling pink dishes I love using for parties or special occasions. The girls are always wanting to use them to play, but of course that’s not happening. So with my love of Walmart lately, we got online and came across their new Flower Kids Line with Drew Barrymore and the girls fell in love! It is full of the cutest stuff (I’ll link my favorites below) – including their own darling set of plates, cups, and straw tumblers. Now every time I am meal prepping, Harper + Houston will pull out their dishes and do the same at their little table. If I’m setting the table, they will set their own table. It is so simple but they love it! The girls even had little “lunch dates” in the summer just like I would have with my girlfriends.

That is another reason why I’m such a fan of the play kitchen. They get to be just like mom and make dinner right along side me. If I’m working on the computer or my list in my notebook, they can sit down at their cute table and work on their own “lists”. They want to be just like you! Harper girl will even carry around her little straw tumbler to be just like mommy with her straw water.

. . . SHOP OUR FLOWER LINE FAVORITES . . .

As moms we get a lot of pressure to be able to do all the things. We basically want to be juggling all the things at once. So next time you are feeling a little overwhelmed on how to get things done with your toddler, I hope you’ll try out this little trick. And share with me here because I’d love to hear about it!

in partnership with Walmart

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Looks

September 2, 2019

Labor Day Sales

pants (on sale for $35 normally $130!!) + similar top (on sale for $9!)

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!! I hope you are all enjoying some fun in the sun with your people! This is one of my favorite weekends of the year. It is still warm enough to play outside, and we are going to soak up all the pool time we possibly can!! It doesn’t get better than sunshine, good food, and the ones you love!

In addition to all the family fun, Labor Day Weekend is also known for having some of the best sales!! Since I want you to be able to spend the majority of your time enjoying your weekend and not sorting through a million sales, I rounded up some of my favorite stores deals + linked some of my favorites from each! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

:: ANTHROPOLOGIE

Anthropologie’s Labor Day Sale is a big one. You can take an extra 50% off sale items! And you guys, they had so many good things from my favorite stripe pants to home decor, all sale is included!

. . .

my leggings + tank (both 40% off!)

:: NORDSTROM

Nordstrom’s deal this year is a spend to save style. Spend $150 get $30 back… spend $250 get $60 back … or spend $400 get $100 back. In addition to that money back deal, some of my favorites are on sale as well!

. . .

tee (on sale for $10) + similar jeans (on sale for $72 regular $135)

:: MADEWELL

It is no secret that Madewell is one of my favorite places to shop, so I love finding a sale! Also right now for Labor Day they are doing a summer send off, offering 20% off all sale items with code SEEYA.

. . .

jeans (40% off) + sweater (on sale for $51 normally $150!)

:: REVOLVE

While they don’t have an extra deal for Labor Day, Revolve has added so many items to their sale products, including some great jeans and one of my favorite verstaile sweaters!

. . .

very similar top (on sale for $9!) + similar jeans (on sale for $44)

:: ABERCROMBIE

This is one of my favorite sales I found for Labor Day weekend! You can find a lot of items up to 50% off + Abercrombie Kids is 50% off jeans and 40% off a ton more! I have always loved Abercrombie of my kids and have been loving it more for me lately too!

. . .

white tunic (on sale for 30% off + comes in a cute pink or black too!)

:: SHOPBOP

Shopbop’s Labor Day Sale is an extra % off already sale items, and there are some good ones. My favorite is this Free People Tunic that doubles as an amazing swim cover up or every day top too! Love it in the white and the pink I have!

. . .

So I hope this helps you find the deals you were looking for quickly so you can get back to all that fun family time! Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Comment

Leave A Comment

Family

August 30, 2019

Summer Recap

hudson’s tee + shorts + shoes || hayden’s top + shorts + shoes || houston’s tee + shorts
my dress + hat + shoes || harper’s dress + shoes || hunter’s tee + jeans + sandals

As much as I hate to admit it, Summer is coming to a close and we are officially back to school. I say it all the time, but this summer really flew by so dang fast!! We were constantly on the go and trying to fit in all the things, which I love, but I swear it made it fly by even faster!! So since we did so much that I didn’t even have time to really share, I thought it would be fun to do a little summer cat up recap!

houston’s top + similar jeans || joe’s tee + shorts || hayden’s top + shorts || hudson’s tee || harper’s similar romper || my top (sold out) + jeans || ballon banner

:: BIRTHDAYS

We love our summer birthday boys!! In July we celebrated our little Houston turning 4 and insisting he is NOT A BABY anymore. I am so big mom! You can check out some more updates on him and funny things he is saying here. Then in August we celebrated our Hudson turning 10!! He is so sweet and also such a big helper! I shared a few of my very favorite things about him over here. I can’t believe how quick they are growing up!

. . .

hayden’s tank + shorts + flip flops || similar suitcase || harper’s top || houston’s top ||
my top + jeans + sandals + sunglasses

:: TRAVEL

We spent a lot of the summer traveling! Although being cramped in the van together may not be my favorite thing in the world, making all those memories together as a family was so worth it!!

hunter’s cardigan + shorts || joe’s tee + shorts || hayden’s top + shorts || houston’s shorts ||
my top + similar shorts + sandals + hat

So our first big trip was to California for Hudson’s baseball tournament. Harper was quite the terror in the car, so we made a pit stop at Nana’s house to calm us all down and take a breather. Then it was on to California! It was full of a lot of baseball games, but we managed to squeeze in some fun in the sun and yummy food too!

At the end of July we headed up to Idaho to spend some time with Joe’s family. It was so fun to just relax and catch up with them! Then we continued on up to Yellowstone for a little vacation with my sisters. We stayed at my brother in law’s family cabin right on Hebgen Lake, and it was stunning. We loved getting to go out on the boat. The bigger kids got to try wake boarding and surf for the first time and LOVED it! I even showed my stuff and proved to them I could ski! I’m pretty sure they thought I was too old to do anything cool. haha!

We spent one day in the park too to check out the sites! It is such a gorgeous place and we couldn’t believe all the amazing things to see! Our favorite spot was Grand Prismatic because the colors were unreal!!

joe’s tee + shorts + shoes || my tee + jeans (+ similar) + shoes + sunglasses

Our last trip this summer, Joe and I took a little weekend trip to Boston. Neither of us had ever been, and we had so much fun! We loved seeing Fenway, shopping, and eating our way through the city. You can check out all of our favorites as well as a ton of recommendations from you guys over here.

. . .

my tank + leggings + similar shoes here + here

:: NEW PROJECTS

And of course it wouldn’t be summer without a few home projects to make us crazy?! So call us crazy, but we decided to add on a home gym on the side of our house, and Joe convinced me to do a pool in the backyard!! We did the majority of the gym ourselves with the help of my brother in law and it is just about done!!

As for the pool, it was full of a lot of delays thanks to the weather, but just in time for the last week of summer we got it done!! As a result, the kids have spent basically every minute possible in it and we are already loving it so much!!

. . .

That about sums up our summer! So as much as we hate to see it go, we are ready to take on a new school year and some more routine in our days! So I wanna know, what was your favorite part of summer?!

Comment

Leave A Comment

Looks

August 28, 2019

Why Athleisure Wear Is My New Favorite Momiform

hoodie | joggers | shoes

This post is sponsored by Finish Line + ShopStyle

Being a mom of 5, I am pretty much always on the go. From school pick up and sports practices, to grocery shopping and other errands, we are busy!! When I think about my personal style, the thing that matters most to me is that it fits that busy lifestyle. I’ve talked about my “momiform” here on the blog before. If you are unfamiliar, to me a “momiform” is that go to outfit that checks all the boxes for your lifestyle. With the changes I’ve been making in working towards a healthier/active lifestyle, my go to momiform has changed a little bit too. So today I wanted to talk about the athleisure wear trend, and why it is quickly becoming my go to style!

black leggings | tee | sweatshirt + similar hoodie | shoes

:: VERSATILE

My first reason for loving athleisure wear is how versatile it is. The pieces are great to wear to the gym in the morning, but they can transition easily for running errands or being comfortable around the house. There are so many cute options (you can shop my favorites below)- that you no longer have to feel frumpy if you are running straight from a workout to the store.

. . .

hoodie | joggers | shoes

:: COMFORTABLE

I don’t know about you, but the FIRST thing I do the second I get home from somewhere that requires dressier clothes or even jeans, is to change in to my comfortable clothes. Now I’ll be honest, that used to be my beloved robe! Haha! But thanks to athleisure wear, I’ve stepped up my comfort game, and I’m all about the cute sweat pants and leggings!! In addition to loving that comfort at home, I want to be comfortable while I’m out and about as well. I love choosing options like these jogger sweat pants paired with a cute graphic tee. So comfortable, but you’re still going out in a cute outfit and not pajamas.

black joggers | tee | sweatshirt + similar hoodie | shoes

. . .

:: PUT TOGETHER

The last reason athleisure wear is taking over as my new momiform, is that while it checks my versatile and comfortable boxes – if you do it right, it still looks like a cute put together outfit! Athleisure wear outside of the gym can get a bit of a bad rap, or looked at as lazy. But if you work with the right pieces, you can still achieve the “put together” look that is definitely acceptable for your next baseball game or grocery run.

I recently went to Finish Line and loved that they have so many cohesive pieces for outfits. They carry so many top brands in one-stop, giving you great options. Looks like these cute joggers with the matching hoodie look polished and then you can mix it up with a tee and have another great look. Mixing and matching pieces makes it so easy to keep your closet minimal but still have fun options!

. . .

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE ATHLEISURE WEAR LOOKS . . .

When it comes to choosing your “momiform”, keep it true to you. Shop pieces that match your lifestyle and will keep you feeling like a rock star no matter what is on your schedule!

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Family

August 26, 2019

Back to School Basics For Your Tween

So, if you have a tween girl, you are well aware of how tricky it can be to find clothing options that check all the boxes. Things that they like AND you like at the same time. Not too little girl but not too mature, and affordable so they don’t break the bank. I am right there with you in the frustrations. Because Back to School season is normally a reminder of how hard it can be too find those rare pieces. But you guys, I’m happy to say I have found the most AMAZING tween pieces that check every one of those boxes and can’t wait to share them with you today!

One of the biggest things I look for when I am doing any shopping for my little people, is budget friendly basics. I shared some of my favorites that we found at Walmart this year over in this post, and you guys loved them just as much as we did! We were especially blown away by the pieces we found for Hunter. Every single thing we pulled out of our online order was even better than we could’ve imagined. The quality is great, the fit is amazing, and they will all work as perfect versatile and transitional basics. They honestly look like the super expensive options other department stores offer, yet every single thing you are seeing here is from Walmart AND under $35.

top | jeans | similar shoes | backpack

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE BASIC TOPS + DRESSES . . .

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE GRAPHIC TEES . . .

. . . SHOP OUR FAVORITE JEANS + SKIRTS . . .

So to all you tween moms, I see you and feel allll your shopping frustrations! I can’t wait for you to shop these amazing basics from Walmart, because they make the perfect Back to School outfits you will both love!

in partnership with Walmart

photos : aubrey taiese

Comment

Leave A Comment

Health + Fitness

August 23, 2019

Amazon Favorites: Fitness Edition

leggings | sports bra top | shoes

It should be no secret around here how much I love AMAZON! From kids toys + snacks, to meal prep containers + workout equipment, they have it all!! Top it off with ordering in my pajamas from my bed and receiving it in 2 days?! I am SOLD! I always love hearing people’s favorite Amazon buys, so I thought it would be fun to start an Amazon Favorites series here on the blog! Since my most asked questions lately are in regards to my workouts and meal prep, I decided to make the first round be a fitness edition! So keep reading below to check out my top 5 fitness favorites, all available on Amazon!

:: LEGGINGS

Chances are you have probably heard about the infamous “lulu dupe” leggings on Amazon. At $28, they are a STEAL in comparison, and a great quality legging. Will I go as far as saying they are an actual lulu dupe? No. You can bet I will keep my workout drawer stocked with my go to favorite Lulu’s because you just can’t beat them, BUT these are an amazing close second and SUCH a steal for the quality!

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE AMAZON WORKOUT WEAR . . .

. . .

sports bra | leggings | shoes | watch band

:: WEIGHTS

Since our home gym is still a work in progress, you can usually find me getting my workout in at a local gym. But I still love to have good options for at home workouts when I can’t make it out of the house. I usually follow along with youtube videos or something similar, and having a great set of simple weights, a medicine ball, or kettle bell can be so helpful and really amp up those basic go to moves.

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE WEIGHTS + HEAVY EQUIPMENT . . .

. . .

sports bra | similar leggings | shoes

:: TRAVEL FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT

While I love a good heavy weight, the lighter resistance based equipment is more my jam. These booty bands are INCREDIBLE and bring such a burn when you pair them with a good workout. My sweet friend Shayli has such a good booty burner that I have loved pairing with these bands + gliders. I love having the option of this lighter equipment because it is so easy to throw in my suitcase to enhance a quick travel friendly workout like these.

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE TRAVEL FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT . . .

. . .

:: HEADPHONES OR SPEAKER

I don’t know about you, but when I workout I HAVE to have good music to motivate me. So a good pair of headphones or bluetooth speaker is key. I personally love using my airpods because they are so minimal and stay out of my way, but always stay put. If I’m at home and don’t need to keep the music to myself, I love using a good blue tooth speaker option. Whatever your preference is, good tunes are always a good addition to your workout.

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE HEADPHONES + SPEAKERS . . .

:: WATER BOTTLE

One of my biggest goals this year was to drink more water. It seems so simple, but it has never come easy to me. One of the things that has really helped me get it in everyday is this water bottle. I love that it holds and keeps it all icy cold for hours. So if I’m in my car running errands or playing outside, I know I’m still going to have a refreshing drink waiting for me. We have the same bottles for my kids too and I love that they are such high quality durable bottles without any gross tastes for plastics.

. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE WATER BOTTLES + ACCESSORIES . . .

. . .

Those are my favorite fitness finds from Amazon! I’d love to hear your go to’s! I can’t wait to share more Amazon favorites with you soon!

Comment

Leave A Comment

:: HOME WORKOUTS

:: OUTSIDE

:: YOUR AMAZING SAN FRANCISCO RECOMMENDATIONS ::

:: PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST

:: THE LESS MATCHY MATCHY YOU ARE, THE BETTER

:: TIMING IS KEY

:: GET THE MONEY SHOT FIRST

:: BRIBERY WORKS

::SHE IS HILARIOUS

:: SHE IS STRONG WILLED

:: SHE IS SO TALENTED + BELIEVES IN HERSELF

:: SHE IS SUCH A GOOD FRIEND

:: SHE IS SUCH A BIG HELPER

:: SHE THRIVES ON ONE ON ONE TIME

:: SHE IS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING

:: SHE IS A TOM BOY + GIRLY GIRL ALL IN ONE

:: GRAPHIC TEES

:: BLACK JEANS

:: BOOTIES

:: JACKETS

:: ROMPERS + JUMPSUITS

:: ANTHROPOLOGIE

:: NORDSTROM

:: MADEWELL

:: REVOLVE

:: ABERCROMBIE

:: SHOPBOP

:: BIRTHDAYS

:: TRAVEL

:: NEW PROJECTS

:: VERSATILE

:: COMFORTABLE

:: PUT TOGETHER

:: LEGGINGS

:: WEIGHTS

:: TRAVEL FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT

:: HEADPHONES OR SPEAKER

:: WATER BOTTLE

30 DAYS TO AN ORGANIZED HOME

LET’S CONNECT