14 Monday Jan 2019
Posted in Au Naturale, Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Dapper Dad, Fashion, Hair Game, Married Life, Motherhood
Wanted to share some highlights from our recent family photo shoot… Ryan and I still look at each other in amazement that we have two kids! Alexandra turned 4 earlier this month and Knox turns 1 in just a couple weeks. 
We shot with Brittany Nicole Photography at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, TX. Think you to Dry Society styling lounge for the amazing blowout!
19 Thursday Jul 2018
Posted in Dapper Dad, Fashion, Motherhood, Shopping
Tags
#NSale, Adidas Superstar sneakers, baby shoes, Down Jackets, Freshly Picked, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, Patagonia, School Shoes, Stuart Weitzman, Tall Black Boots, Winter Boots, Winter Jackets
Currently underway and officially open to the public on July 20th, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of my favorite shopping events of the year. This time around, I took out all the fluff and went with staples that will last for years. Picked up items mostly for my kids: winter jackets, school shoes, etc. Plus, some tall black boots for Mama!
Stuart Weitzman boots: You’ll usually find at least one Stuart Weitzman boot as part of the #NSale — I have a navy pair that I love and have been eyeing a tall black boot from this brand for years. Stuart Weitzmans start at a high price point and it’s rare to find their good styles on sale. I couldn’t decide which style to choose, so I was advised to just order both & return one. –These will sell out quick!
Patagonia Jackets: These ultra-lightweight, packable jackets are surprisingly super warm. The weight is perfect for our winters in Austin, Texas. Again, this is a staple that rarely goes on clearance. Love the basic black color, too — goes with everything. They have them in most sizes so you can outfit the whole family…we purchased these pictured below for my husband and daughter. The hubs liked that his came with a generous sleeve length to cover his long arms.
New Shoes for the Kids: We purchased the Girl’s Adidas Superstar sneakers for our rainbow-loving daughter. The classic Adidas 3-stripes are holographic & add a bit of spunk to this classic shoe. We’ll keep ’em bright & shiny for the rest of the summer and let her have them as her new preschool shoes. For my infant son, I went with the Freshly Picked oxfords. These are the only type of shoes that stay on his lil’ kicky feet. They come in a perfect neutral color that’s sure to match all of his Fall baby clothes.
09 Friday Feb 2018
Posted in Beauty, date night ideas, Fashion, Holidays, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tags
Advanced Cell Renewal Night Creme, CATRICE Cosmetics, date-night, fibi & clo, jewelry, makeup, necklaces, Night Cream, PUR attitude, sparkle, Ulta, Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I’m feelin’ extra lovey-dovey this year, with my new lil’ guy here in my arms. Our newborn son is the sweetest cuddliest Valentine I could ask for! Since family will be in town helping with baby, I have this crazy idea that the hubs & I will be able to sneak out for a nice dinner BUT in reality, that might actually be a quick run out to the fro-yo shop 🙂 However the evening plays out, I want to make Feb. 14th feel somewhat romantical during this trying transitional period known as the newborn stage. It’s helped me to do some little things to feel pretty & vibrant these days, even if I am sleep deprived & a tad hormonal. Even if it’s just a date night in, here are some fun things I’m using to get Valentine’s date night ready…
Add Some Sparkle: I love how necklaces dress up a basic tee like magic. I’m relying on them to be a quick outfit pick-me-up when all I want to wear these days are comfy clothes. Y’all may have heard of fibi & clo, a women’s shoe and accessories brand that offers unique and eye-catching sparkly designs. As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, jewelry gift ideas can come in large supply, but when they are affordable and on trend – even better. They recently released an all-new line of jewelry that is purposefully paired with their signature sandals. I recently got the Seahorn Necklace & the Montauk Necklace ($55 each) and am fawning over the amount of semi-precious stones on each…so sparkly!
Putting on a Fresh Face: One of the rituals I’ve tried to keep up with post-delivery is putting on my makeup. I’m a makeup-lovin’ girl, and for me, it’s something about getting ready for the day & putting on a fresh face of make up that makes me feel like normal again. Even if I’m not leaving the house, the process just helps me feel good about myself. I received a shipment of a new-to-me makeup line, CATRICE Cosmetics, and I have to say: I’m impressed with both the product and price point. 
If you’re not familiar with CATRICE, they are a European brand who just launched stateside. Originally from Germany, they are now available in 60 countries world wide and expanding to 300 ULTA locations in the U.S. this year. CATRICE is known for being a luxury product at an amazing price point, offering a wide range of complexion, eye and lip products, featuring luxury packaging, innovative ingredients and beautiful, on-trend shades.
New Night Cream: One of my favorite non-toxic skincare lines, PUR attitude, has just released Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème, a high-performance anti-aging cream that delivers key ingredients into the skin overnight via a natural polymer time-released technology.
While the health benefits of eating fermented, probiotic foods are widely accepted in the food industry at this time, their use in skin care is relatively new. Fermenting natural oils restructures complex molecules, transforming them into tiny “superfoods” for the skin, providing faster absorption that results in healthier, younger-looking skin. Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème uses a fermented olive oil for superior performance. –Kind of like Kombucha for the skin!
16 Saturday Sep 2017
Posted in Au Naturale, Beauty, Fashion, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tags
Beauty Blogger, beauty products, brightening serum, cooling eye wear, Diamonds, Diamonds Direct, Double Cleansing Botanical Face Wash, Facial Cleanser, FreezeFrames, ILLUMABOOST Brightening & Shield, inner glow, Nerium International, puffy eyes, Tacori
I’m always hunting for new tools & products to help me attain that inner glow. Anything labeled lightening, brightening, revitalizing…I’m all about it! Here’s a round-up of items that enhance that glow effortlessly.
Shine bright like a diamond: Something about the way a real diamond sparkles & reflects the light brings out lightening effects elsewhere, like the whites of your eyes & brightness of your teeth. When you put one on, it’s like your whole face lights up! –Talk about adding another meaning to the saying Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Diamonds Direct in The Domain for their “Love Comes Once in a Tacori Blue Moon” designer event. The selection of diamond engagement rings & colorful fashion pieces they have right now is astounding! I learned about current trends with wearing diamonds: mixing metals is “in” and you can add stacks of fun stylish bands to wear next to your engagement ring & wedding band. They are running an incredible September financing offer (0% APR for 5 years), so now is the time to buy that perfect bauble you’ve been eyeing!
Start fresh & boost illumination: Cleansing my face twice a day is a non-negotiable! I like to start with a fresh palette for my serums & makeup. With two newly released products from Nerium International, you can set yourself up with a clean fresh glow to start the day!
First, the Double-Cleansing Botanical Face Wash is an advanced, lightweight one-step facial cleanser that goes on as a nourishing oil and transforms to a foamy lather with the addition of water, to remove both makeup and impurities. It leaves behind soft, smooth, comfortably clean and hydrated skin. This multifunctional facial wash does double-duty as a makeup remover and is delicate enough to be used morning and night. 
Then, applying a few pumps of their new IllumaBoost Brightening & Shield fights discoloration and recovers your healthy glow for a fresher looking complexion. This booster ‘serum’ features a breakthrough delivery system that dispenses a fresh & potent dose of vitamin C plus other proprietary & proven ingredients to help brighten, hydrate and protect skin by simply adding a few pumps to any skincare product or directly to one’s face.
Brighten those eyes: A brand new therapeutic treatment for ‘Bad Eye Days’ comes in FreezeFrames Cool Eye Wear, providing soothing relief to puffy tired eyes through a never-before-seen unisex sunglass line. FreezeFrames were first conceptualized as a dual-purpose device for both 100% UVA-UVB sun protection and cooling eye therapy.
Reusable gel pads magnetically click into place within the frame casing and are anatomically engineered to discretely target zone-specific problematic eye areas unlike any other eye care product on the market today. These patented “Gel-Pad” attachments soothe ‘the puffy and tired’ with gentle cooling compression customary of how a nurse might apply ice to swollen symptomatic eyes areas.
Wear after a spa or medical treatment to decrease pain and bruising while also increasing the healing. Use to soothe allergic puffiness, PMS inflammation, computer dry eye strain, or revitalize after a long flight. Helpful also in relieving headache and migraine symptoms. End result: look and feel ‘cool’ while on-the-go!
21 Monday Aug 2017
Posted in Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Everyday Joie, Fashion, Life[style], Motherhood, Product Reviews, Shopping
Tags
baby shower gifts, bubble romper, children's clothing, cute clothes, fashion designers, high quality clothing, Little Goodall, Shop Local, Texas businesses, toddler dresses
Earlier this summer, I was sent a couple of clothing pieces for Alexandra by a family-owned children’s line called Little Goodall. I was intrigued by this label because it’s hand-sewn in TEXAS and created a fellow mom. When the box arrived from Dallas, I was delighted by both the high-quality fabrics & cuteness-factor of the dress & bubble romper designer Molly Goodall sent over. This weekend, we took some pics of our dear tot in her adorable new duds so I wanted to share them with y’all. I love the idea of supporting local Texas-based designers — the pride of the work really shines through in the finished product. 
This cold-shoulder gingham dress received so many compliments at church yesterday! Handcrafted in sewing rooms that have been producing fine women’s garments in the U.S. for over 20 years, the same classic tailoring techniques used on the best blouses — including deep hems, covered buttons, and bias ruffles — are applied to the children’s styles as well. Little Goodall’s collection is classic and made to last. Even better, both pieces pictured are currently at a reduced price as part of their Midsummer Sale!
Dress up your little ones in extra-special handmade outfits that look fresh, and feel soft & cool against sun-kissed skin. Thoughtfully designed for the activity and motion of a busy child, each Little Goodall piece is handmade with the highest quality and attention to detail so the outfits will last for years to come. Plus, their seasonal collections are only available in limited quantities, so you’ll receive a unique garment you won’t likely see another child wearing at the park or back-to-school. 
The collection includes outfits for boys and girls, including bonnets, dresses, rompers and more. All Little Goodall pieces can be mixed and matched. Effortlessly dress your little one in Bubble Rompers with a clever inner liner that keeps the perfect pouf shape no matter how active your little monkey. Shoulder ties are accentuated with signature bell tassels, and delightful prints match the bonnets. The imported Liberty London Cotton Lawn is the finest, smoothest, lightest, natural fabric for summer, in the loveliest tiny prints which delight and not overwhelm.
About Little Goodall: Little Goodall is created by artist and designer Molly Goodall. While a stay-at-home mother, Goodall was frustrated when her two-year old son refused to wear the hoods on his coats. Searching for a creative solution, she designed and made the original Ferocious Felt Lion coat to inspire him to put his hood up in the cold. Friends commented, orders were placed, and Little Goodall was born! Molly is also the author of the creative sewing book Wild Things to Sew and Wear, published in the fall of 2014.
12 Thursday Jan 2017
Posted in Au Naturale, Fashion, Fitness, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Snacks
Tags
Back to the Roots, black jeans, breakfast, cereal, Green Goo, Happy New Year, natural living, new year's resolutions, NextSugar, organic skincare, SlimSation, sugar substitutes
Happy New Year! How’s everyone doing with their New Year’s resolutions? I’m committed to feeling fit, healthy & energized this year and wanted to share a few products that are helping me along the way:
11 Tuesday Oct 2016
Posted in ATX Events, Fashion, Interviews, Shopping
Tags
designer, handbags, Kids, life hacks, mom-to-mom, monogramming, Neiman Marcus, Rebecca Minkoff, silver gel, tips
Earlier this Fall, I received an invitation to interview Rebecca Minkoff before her meet & greet event at Neiman Marcus – Austin. Rebecca Minkoff is an industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear and apparel. Her playful and subtly edgy designs can be spotted around the world on young women and celebrities alike.
Guests enjoyed light bites, cocktails, and hip beats while shopping a well-curated selection of Minkoff’s Fall ’16 line across all categories. The space was full of booties with embroidery and clutches with colorful tassels! A local artist was on-hand customizing pieces with monogramming, plus the designer herself signed purses for fans. At first I was a little embarrassed to bring in my ancient canvas & leather tote, but turns out Minkoff loved seeing this little blast from the past (it’s like 9 years old & bears her old logo)…and she even snapped a pic of it to share with her team!
Meeting her up close & personal was such a fun opportunity! She is everything you’d imagine an international fashion designer to be: tall, slender, styled all fashion-forward, but totally funny & charming, too. She runs a legit major fashion line with her brother and seemingly rocks her role of wife & mom, too. Of course, I couldn’t help but ask her about being a mom:
–What’s one thing every mom should have in her M.A.B.? (the ‘Morning After Bag’ that propelled her brand into the limelight)
RM: A paci and silver gel.
–Silver gel? Never heard of it! Is that like colloidal silver?
RM: Yes, it’s like this (gestures to a bottle of Purell on our table) but it’s natural. It’s great for kids because they’re always touching everything. You can put it on their fingers and just under the nose.
{Awesome tip for keeping the little ones healthy, right? Apparently it has powerful antimicrobial properties. Check out some brands & types of silver gel here on Amazon.}
–So I read somewhere that asking a woman “How to you balance it all?” is the new “What are you wearing?” …I still think it’s a very relevant question for moms, so I’ll go ahead and ask it anyway.
RM: It’s relevant because we’re all hoping someone has the answer, hoping someone’s got it all figured out.
–That’s comforting to hear that maybe even someone a successful as you is still perhaps feeling the same way as the rest of us! You totally seem to have it all together, though. What’s a mom-to-mom life hack you can share?
RM: Hmm, that’s a hard one! I try to do a very conscious job of not fitting kids into a mold. I let them be free as kids, rather than this force of boxing them in. I try & stay calm…just be a sea of calm, because they feed off how you react. Comfort is greater than sympathy.
28 Wednesday Sep 2016
Tags
Austin, books, boutique shopping, Cassie LaMere, Clutch purse, coziness, Grand Opening, guest blogger, Guest Post, Packable Travel Hat, Soft Surroundings, Tartan plaid, The Arboretum
Although temps outside may not scream hot cocoa, inevitably the months will sneak up on us and before you know it, you’ll be decorating your tree and wrapping the presents to go underneath. With the official start of fall now behind us, it’s time to begin thinking about holiday shopping lists to get those perfect gifts ready ahead of the eventful season! Now more than ever, busy schedules are the norm; we are all doing our best to find balance, which includes seeking ways to make more efficient use of what little time we have day-to-day. That’s why I love when I can find a thoughtfully curated shop that allows me to pick up a variety of items- only one parking spot and checkout transaction required.
Editor’s Note: Follow our guest blogger Cassie LaMere on Instagram @BonjourAmi for all kinds of inspirational Fashion & Event Planning goodness.
Imagine my delight to discover that dream destination exists in the new Arboretum boutique, Soft Surroundings! They’re new location, the first in Austin, truly is an ideal store for the multi-tasker in all of us. While browsing their items, I was excited to find pieces that would easily appeal to several of the very important people in my life. Soft Surroundings was created to be a multi-generational shopping experience where you and your mom, sister or daughter could each find something special that speak to your tastes and interests.
The perfect game-day clutch that can easily go from the cheering section to cocktails. $98.95
The diverse offerings of this boutique made it easy for me to select unique, personal gift options that I know will be well-received during gift exchanges this holiday season. But let’s be honest: if you’re like me, you can’t help but find something for yourself when out gift shopping for others. True to form, I found a new must-have accessory to add to my collection in between checking names off of my list. Although easy to sometimes forget, Soft Surroundings’ ethos about the importance of treating yourself is a welcomed reminder to pick up a new lipstick or travel-friendly hat in addition to tackling your task list.
“Claire” packable felt & wool hat: my personal new favorite item that makes accessorizing while traveling effortless! $49.95
What’s even better is with the head start, I’ve avoided the stress of making last minute purchases, which always seem to be a compromise, and instead I’ll have plenty of time to enjoy glasses of festive bubbly and time with loves ones! Below are some of my picks that will be sure to bring tidings of comfort and joy:
A selection of clever & insightful books for 9-to-5 and after 5 o’clock somewhere. $14.95 — $20.
Fabulous tartan plaid shirtdress perfect for holiday gatherings. $129.95
The absolute coziest jacket that you will literally want to live in. $64.95
14 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in Au Naturale, Fashion, Product Reviews, Shopping
Tags
airport, birthday, bracelet, brunch, designer, jewelry, June, leather, Pearls, poolside, Vegas, Weekend, Wendy Mignot
I’ll admit, I haven’t always loved my birthstone. As a June birthday girl, I used to think the pearl wasn’t as fancy or precious as say, the ruby (the stone for my mother’s July birthday). But, as I’ve gotten older & wiser –and my tastes have refined!– I’ve come to love the pearl and delight in wearing it with my summer whites all season long. I relish in the fact that each & every pearl is unique and are found in different colors and shapes around the world. I was honored to receive a unique fine pearl and leather bracelet from designer Wendy Mignot for my birthday this year and wore it all during my recent weekend away in Vegas…
No one takes the classic white freshwater pearl out of its shell and into fresh, trending jewelry settings better than designer Wendy Mignot. For over a decade, she has been the leader in fashioning pearls found naturally in freshwater rivers and seas with naturally tanned and hand-rolled leathers. I’m wearing the Coastal Single Freshwater Bracelet in White, size 6.5″ — the pearl is HUGE and the handmade quality is so good!
What I like about her designs that that they are a fresh mix of materials that work well with various looks & locations. My piece was just as fab with a dress at brunch as it was poolside. I’m rocking it in the pic above stacked with my watch for a casual but upscale airport look. View all of Wendy Mignot’s artistically designed creations at www.wendymignot.com
31 Sunday Jan 2016
Posted in Dapper Dad, Fashion, Holidays, Shopping
Tags
Benchmark signature service, gifts, Helen Ficalora, His & Hers, jewelry, love disk charm, Salon for Men, sterling silver necklace, The Boardroom, Valentine's Day
The perfect gift for HIM: This year, I decided to get Ryan something functional yet fancy at the Boardroom Salon for Men. He refuses to let me book him a massage and no way would he be down with joining me for a pedi, so this is about as close as he’ll comfortably get to a ‘day of pampering.’ Plus, he just started a new job and I know he’s focused right now on putting his best foot forward when it comes to looking polished & professional. He’ll be getting their Benchmark signature service, which includes:
Personal consultation
Tailored Cut
Rejuvenating paraffin hand dip
Energizing shampoo and conditioning
Scalp massage
Pressure-point facial massage
Steamed towel
Stress relieving hand massage
Cleansing rinse
Finishing touch styling
The perfect gift for HER: I was recently sent this necklace from Helen Ficalora: a stunning sterling silver “love” disk charm on an 18″ fine chain. The designer’s inspiration comes from her passion for her friends & family and this collection celebrates those we love and cherish. Each piece is handcrafted to express an appreciation for beauty, love and peace. –I adore this piece and the message behind it! 
Featured frequently in the media, Helen Ficalora pieces are a favorite among celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Julianne Moore, Tina Fey and Karlie Kloss, to name a few. The Valentine’s Day collection is available in Yellow, Pink, and White 14k Gold with select pieces also available in Sterling Silver. The prices range from $75-$1800, making them the ultimate gift for any budget. And, how cute is this pink packaging?!?
Blog Joie de Vivre 