The Most Flattering Swimsuits For A Mom

Praise the high heavens because this mama finally found herself a flattering swimsuit!

Working out and doing the Bikini Body Guide has helped tone up my body, which obviously helps things fit better, but the cut of this suit is made for pulling in and sitting at all the right places. It is the Retro Ruched One-Piece Swimsuit in Midnight Black Stripe from Garnet Hill. I cannot recommend it enough should you be on the hunt for a flattering one piece. I have some junk in the trunk, and it doesn't cut in on my booty either.

I am thinking about getting the floral or blue paisley one, too. And they are on sale for $78 right now. It is worth every penny, and I think you get a 15% off coupon for signing up for their emails.
Also, this rose floral tankini looks like a winner.

Hope this helps if you are looking for a cute suit that helps out that post-baby body! Happy shopping!

Cute And Colorful Summer Outfit Ideas For Little Boys

Three years ago when we found out we were having our first boy, some of the initial fears and concerns that played through my mind were, Boy clothes are ugly! What in the crap do I dress him in?! There are, like, only three things boys can wear. 

I am kind of rolling my eyes as I write this, but it was true. I am a girl, therefore I was only familiar with girl clothing and fashion. (Give me all the pink, ruffles and florals!) And I honestly think that is part of the million reasons it is fun being a mother to little ladies. Although, I can give you a billion reasons why being a mom to boys is even better ;)

Anyway, it turns out that boy clothes aren't just dinosaurs, trucks and cars. Imagine that! There are plenty of adorable places to shop for man child clothes. (See this hilarious meme—I'm sorry, but I started crying from laughing so hard when I saw it for the first time. I also just spent the last 10 minutes searching for it. You're welcome).

My favorite places to shop for Luke and Wesley's clothes are Gap, H&M, Old Navy, Target and Zara. They are actually the only places I shop and I hit the jackpot every time without breaking the bank.

These three cute and colorful summer outfits for a little boy above are all from Zara. They are high-quality and survive the beatings boy clothes go through—and they make great hand-me-downs, which we believe in. Now that I have two boys, I have realized the little fellas really don't need that many clothes either. Really. Boys are simple, and boys are messy, and it's easier to dress them if there aren't too many options to choose from.

Here are the basics of what you need for a little boy summer wardrobe:

• A few tee shirts. It's good to have some printed and graphic ones, as well as a couple of plain basics.
• A couple pairs of shorts. Again, one solid and one with a fun print, or overalls.
• Basic pair of pants or denim. Gray denim pants are my favorite. They go with everything.
• A light sweatshirt or jacket. I've found that picking a vibrant color can actually pair well with most things.
• A pair of sandals, a pair of sneakers (red is also a color that looks awesome with most things), and a pair of docksiders for dressier occasions.

And there you have it! Maybe get them a cute baseball cap or some shades to accessorize and you have a stylish little dude on your hands.

Giraffe Tee | Overalls | Sandals

Sweatshirt | Shorts | Docksiders

Happy Boy Tee | Gray Denim | Sneakers

Black Friday Sales And A Giveaway!

Hello, hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was full of delicious food and time spent with Matt's family. (That is our Thanksgiving picture above. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get everyone smiling and looking at the camera at the same time? Nearly impossible, I tell you!)

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and share the online Black Friday sales happening at my favorite stores. Sometimes it is worth it to stay in your jammies, avoid crowds and get all your shopping done online while eating leftover turkey sandwiches, am I right?

LOFT. Everything is 40% off.
Anthropologie. Take 25% off with code HOLIDAY25.
Old Navy. Everything is 50% off online and in store!
Madewell. Take 25% off your online and in-store purchase with code GIFTON.
J.Crew. Get 30% off full price items and 40% off sale items using code HOLIDAY.
Gap. Take 50% off with code BLKFRIDAY.

Also, there is an amazing new ponchos sweater and a giveaway up on my Instagram shop, Gumption Shop! I will be having a Gump Guest every month to pick out their favorite items, and this month is Destiny! Her Instagram is a must-follow and her baby boy, Truman, is ADORABLE. It is fun to see how different everyone's style is, and the poncho sweater she picked is beautiful. It has a great design and details, and would normally retail for around $50 and up, so be sure to go snag your size since there is a very limited amount. You can see the poncho sweaters here. Make sure you enter the giveaway, too. Since the prices are always at a Black Friday type of deal, we thought it would be fun to celebrate with something fun. You can see what we are giving away here. (I'll give you a hint... it goes on your head and it is one of my favorite things to wear!)

Have a wonderful rest of your holiday weekend and happy shopping!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

The Quaintrelle Tee c/o Corilynn & Co
LOFT Ruffled Collar Trench Coat (similar)
H&M Imitation Leather Pants (similar)
Merona Bow Cloche Hat (updated style)
Mossimo Gail Ankle Strap Open Pump
Bella France Lip Pencil in Red

1. Let's talk about this tee. It's one you end up wearing with everything. It's comfy like a shirt I would sleep in, but chic enough to pair with some pumps and red lips, or dress it down with some jeans, flats and a baseball cap. (The latter is what I wear 95% of the time.) I am sure you have heard of Corilynn & Co from their beautiful skirts and dresses, yes? If no, you have to go look at them, stat. Also, they just launched a tee line and I am obsessed. FYI, "quaintrelle" means "a woman who emphasizes a life of passion, expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm, and cultivation of life's pleasures." Ummm, yeeeesssss to all of that! I will happily make that my life's motto. Also, let's talk about cloche hats for a quick sec! I have had this cute hat for almost two years and this is the first time I have worn it! Either my hair was too long or too short, so I have decided that the perfect length of hair for cloche hats is shoulder length. In case you have a problem wearing your cloche hat too. :)

2. Fact: Approximately 270 million turkeys are sold annually every Thanksgiving. That is about 7 billion pounds of turkey, which is about $3 billion in sales (source). That's A LOT of tryptophan pumping through people's bodies. No wonder everyone is so crazy on Black Friday! We are all just a bunch of tired chumps still trying to digest our billions of dollars of turkey.

3. So there is this girl at the local Old Navy who looks like me. Well, I guess I should say from the eyes up we look identical, although her eyebrows are shaped differently than mine, but they are the same color and texture and whatever. Anyway, the first time I saw her I was like, "Whoa! That girl looks like me! But her teeth and mouth are different... and her nose is a little more pointed... and her face shape is a little more square than mine." The next time I went in she was working at the register again, when another girl said to me, "You look a lot like our employee over there! Like, you guys could be sisters!" K, so now here is the kicker. I told Matt about this girl, so on Saturday we went in specifically to see if this look-alike was working. Within 10 seconds of entering the store, the greeter stares at me with a quizzical brow and says, "Wow, you look REALLY familiar. Wait a minute — you look like a girl who works here!" At this point I am absolutely gobsmacked and Matt starts laughing at loud. I tried to politely ask the girl, "No way! Where is she?!" so I could see her, but I already KNEW who she was and it was terribly awkward exchange between us after that. Neither of us knew what to say and she stealthily backed away into a rack of clothes within five seconds. Matt finally saw the girl and he was like, "Hmmm, I don't know. I could see how maybe she could be your little sister?" All I know is that every time I see her, I have what I would imagine a Parent Trap moment to feel like. What if?! (Could you imagine finding out you had a lost twin or a half sister?) Anyway, have you seen your own look-alike in person before? It's a bizarre feeling.

4. Look at what these dogs do when they are placed in a photo booth! So flippin' cute.

5. Would you rather eat your weight in fruit snacks or marshmallows?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

LOFT Oxford Shirt (similar)
Mossimo Ankle Pant in Atlantic Burgundy
ILY Couture Simple Bar Necklace c/o
H&M Handbag
Marc Fisher Leotie Sandals (similar)

1. These pants have the comfort of pajamas, the shaping power of Spanx, and a look that says "I'm a mature adult," although that last one might be a form of false advertising in my case ;)

2. Fact: My fly was unzipped for the first half of these photos, and Matt finally told me when we were almost done taking pictures. XYZ, guys, sorry. By the way, I searched the bowels of the internet for the etymology of "eXamine Your Zipper" to keep in tradition of giving a legit fact. I could not find anything other than some old dude's blog talking about how they used to say it in the 60's. Or I am simply a terrible Googler. There's a good chance it's the latter. I never make it past page two. I did however find what the "YKK" on zippers means, and it stands for "Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha," which is the world's leading zipper manufacturer (source).

3. I know I've written about this topic before, but I shared how I was able to let go of my fears of having a c-section over on What To Expect. If you are pregnant and going through a similar situation, hopefully it will be helpful and make a positive impact on your experience! (Hugs all around.)

4. Have you seen Barbie's Instagram? It. Is. In-credible. I am not exaggerating when I say it is now one of my top three favorite Instagram profiles. That girl's style is on point!

5. Would you rather have skin that permanently soaks in the scent of anything it touches, or skin that permanently soaks in the color of anything it touches? (Matt and I came up with this one together over a dinner of ribs, which was the inspiration behind it. Either one would be a lose-lose if you were to chow down on a fat stack of baby backs. You'd look like an eternal 6-month-old who manages to get their food everywhere except for their mouth, or you'd smell like a dirty, burnt sock that stepped squarely on a blob of BBQ sauce.) Choose wisely, friends.

Black And Grey

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, InStyle, Vogue and Elle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #inspirefallfashion http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Mossimo Blocked Sweatshirt in Black/White
Mossimo Textured Skirt
Mossimo Gail Ankle Strap Open Pump
Merona Geometric Clutch (this one is similar)
Xhilaration Round Sunglasses

If there is one thing to know about fashion, it's that September is basically its holy month. New York Fashion Week explodes in NYC, and of course the fashion Bible comes out. Yes, I am talking about the one and only September Issue of Vogue. (There is even a documentary about it! You should watch it. Anna Wintour really is scary.)

Since I am extremely intimidated by events such as NYFW (I seriously think I would need, like, three Xanax before stepping into that concrete jungle of aggressively dressed fashion mavens), I stick to my magazines. Vogue and InStyle have always, always been my prized fashion reads. You see, Vogue is for oooing and awing at all of the sparkly, shiny things. I swear I can smell the leather of the bags rising from the pages. InStyle is more my jam where I draw my everyday style inspiration, since they incorporate high and low pieces together into real life, workable outfits. Sure, a lot of it is still mostly high for my clothing budget since we have things like student loans and college for two kids to save for, but hey, a girl can improvise, right?

I thought it would be fun to recreate a look featured in InStyle on a small budget price range. The main trend I noticed was no fuss, no frills and clean lines. With a lot of black, white and grey. Taking that all into consideration, I decided to go with this boyfriend fit sweater and a flirty skirt with almond toe heels. You know, go outside of my usual outfit box of jeans and flat shoes of some sort!

It was actually a blast digging through racks to match the look best I could — kind of like a fashion scavenger hunt, if you will. I even managed to escape the grips of a toddler and baby, and get gussied up in heels! That is newsworthy information! That's it, I am declaring today a holiday! And using it as an excuse to eat some cake! But really though, in all seriousness I love the way this look turned out. It was sleek and sophisticated, and the black and grey combo cannot be beat. (And neither can an entire outfit for $100.)

I highly recommend you go pick yourself up a copy of Vogue and InStyle this week for your dose of shnazzy fashion. Right now at Target when you purchase two fall fashion magazines (choice of Vogue, InStyle, and/or ELLE) you get a $5 gift card, which you will then probably go buy some shoes with. I would if I were you — we can be shoe twins! The promotion goes through September 13. Happy reading and styling!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Liberty Sage High Low "Boyfriend" Tee c/o

Tribal Print Jogger Pants (similar)

Steve Madden Rubin Bootie c/o DSW

Anthropologie Manon Floppy Hat (similar)

ILY Couture Gold Simple Bar Necklace c/o 

H&M Handbag

MAC Lipstick in "Ruby Woo"

1. Yesterday on our walk back to the parking lot from a long and sweaty day at Disneyland, I stopped by Sephora to take a gander at all of the wonderful beauty products I never knew I was missing. Somehow I ended up in the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow section, and the Dipbrow Pomade changed my world. Have you tried that stuff? Holy eyebrow paradise! Makes for the fullest, archiest brows in all the land. Move over, Lily Collins! My brows are growing out and coming back with a vengeance!

2. Fact: According to a study, women's tears have been found to reduce testosterone and arousal in men (source). They theorized that the evolutionary effect of tears could be linked to menstruation. Women clearly cry more during that time of the month, which is obviously not the most effective time to have sex since getting knocked up probably ain't happening, and is obviously the most ideal time to decrease sexual arousal in your partner. Do what you will with this information, ladies, but don't tell your significant other I told you! ;)

3. So, what do you think about all of the celebrity photo hacking? I find it absolutely unnerving that their clouds were able to be accessed, and I also find it interesting that Apple has yet to release a statement about it. (Or at least they haven't yet as I am writing this at 11 pm on Monday night.) Seems more like may the odds be never in your favor, JLaw. 

4. Do you ever have those moments where you swear your Pandora station (I am not really a Spotify person — you could say I like the element of surprise) is peering into your soul and plays everything nostalgic and dear to you? Right in a row? That was last night. Every love song that I've ever weeped and rejoiced over played, like, for over an hour in consecutive order. Don't know if the universe is trying to communicate something to me, but I had butterflies in my stomach for a solid 45 minutes. The one that really tugged at my heart was "This Year's Love" by David Gray. That song holds so many memories and a special place in my soul, and the ironic part is I haven't heard it in years. My heart practically thumped out of my chest. Music is incredible, and I love the power it has to bring about a vivid rush of emotions and memories. That, and scents. 

5. Would you rather lose your ability to speak or read?

Spring & Summer Wardrobe Staples For Toddler Boys

Target tee. H&M tank tops. Target hoodie. Target play shorts. H&M colored pants. Baby Gap denim shorts. Target bow tie. Old Navy button-down. Janie & Jack overalls. Baby Gap sunglasses. Baby Bee sunscreen stick. Zara swim shorts. Hoy Shoe Salt-Water sandals. H&M flip-flops. Target high-top sneakers.

Whenever I am flipping through a magazine or see a really sweet men's outfit, I think to myself, "Man, sometimes I wish I were a dude!" There are some super sleek and awesome details about a man's wardrobe. And lucky for me I have not one, but two handsome fellows whom I can dress vicariously through!

These are all of my go-to toddler boy wardrobe staples for the spring and summer. The heat and sun are upon us here in Encinitas, so Luke's closet is basically a mirror image of this. I prefer to keep things simple for the summer since we are either at the park or beach most days.

The key to creating an affordable, stylish and effortless boy's wardrobe is to get basics that can easily mix and match. I shop at the listed stores above for all of my boys' clothing and give two enthusiastic thumbs up to all of the options and styles available for little guys. I've realized that boys don't need five million different accessories and doodads as I've trained my girl brain to think, so let this be a guide if you are feeling perplexed as to what shopping needs to get done for the warm weather.

-Tees. Luke lives in these. We get four to five tees for him that can color coordinate with bottoms.
-Tank tops. These are essential if you live in a warm place, plus they are darling.
-A hoodie. This is all Luke needs for when it cools down in the evening with a light beach breeze. I personally always opt for gray since it can go with anything.
-Play shorts. Luke also lives in these because you can't properly climb a jungle gym in anything more restricting!
-Colored pants. Luke wears these to church or if we need to go somewhere where the dress code calls for a more polished look.
-Denim shorts. We prefer the slim fitting cut-offs for the days we want to get a little more trendy.
-White button-down and a bow tie. This is Luke's church uniform, which is paired with either colored pants or overalls.
-Overalls. Because it doesn't get cuter than a toddler in overalls, and they can be dressed up or down.
-Swim shorts. I figure he will only be able to pull these Euro style swim shorts off while he is little and those legs and buns are all stocky and squishy!
-Sunglasses and sunscreen. Obvious necessities when the sun shines its glorious face.
-Sandals. They are worn with pretty much everything.
-Flip-flops. Because trying to fiddle with the buckles on those damn Saltwaters at the beach and pool makes me swear like a sailor.
-Sneakers. High-tops to be specific, because the kid needs to run and get a little crazy sometimes.

And there you have it. You need no more and no less to curate an adorable and affordable toddler boy wardrobe for the impending warm weather. Hope the sun is shining your way today!

(Shop the items from above right down here and check out my summer staples for a baby boy here!)

Dare I DIY?: Printed Leggings

I clearly have an obsession with painting something or other on fabric. About 80% of my DIY projects I decide to dive into involve me painting something. I just can't help it. It's just so incredibly easy (and we give big, fat air high fives to piece of cake DIY projects). That's probably why I do it so much.

Remember way back a few months ago when I made Luke a triangle print onesie? Creating printed leggings has been on my to-do list since then, but I just wasn't sure how to go about it. With the graphic print legging craze for the babes going on, I finally figured out what I wanted to do and pinpointed the look I was going for. As much as I love the shops that sell printed baby leggings, we've been looking for a more affordable option. There is nothing cuter than squatty legs in trendy triangle pants, and now we have some (for $5 a pop)! Scroll on down to get the details on how to create your own printed leggings for that wee one of yours!

Materials:

-Leggings (I bought mine in the girl's section at Target... shhh, don't tell Matt!)

-Foam board

-Fabric paint in colors of your choice

-Cardboard inserts for legs and upper portion of leggings

-Paint dish

-Scissors

1) Cut out desired shapes using foam board (I usually use tape to create shapes but I learned the foam board trick here). Insert cardboard piece into each of the legs and upper portion of the leggings.

 2) Squeeze approximately 1-2 tbsp of paint onto paint dish. Dip foam cutout into paint and start stamping in desired pattern on leggings. Allow to dry for 30 minutes, then flip over and stamp the same pattern on back if so desired.

3) Repeat step 2 using different stamp cutouts and colors based on how many pairs. 

4) Allow paint to dry for at least 24 hours before washing, then wash inside out.

 

Congratulations. You now have some of those coveted, adorable printed leggings that all those cute, hip babies wear. Enjoy!

And Your Bird Can Sing

 

 Lately we've been taking lots of naps,

moon gazing,

playing with family at the beach,

munching on cupcakes,

admiring nature from our window,

and practicing to be the newest member of KISS. 

Move over Gene Simmons. The Lukester knows how to rock n' roll all nite, and party every day.

This post officially has two great rock songs in it. I grant 500,000 awesome points and a virtual high five to whomever spotted it.