Call Your Mom!
Posted on May 5th, 2016
I know the last thing you’re looking for is me to talk about my mom. Again. But I just can’t help myself!
Hello from 2004.
On Mother’s Day, your Instagram feed will be full of everyone saying they have the best mom in the world. And the thing is, they’ll all be right. The people who took care of us and raised us made us into who we are, and for many of us, our mom is a central figure in that. Our moms are all the best moms in the world for us because without them, we would be completely different people.
I understand how varied the manifestation of a healthy, positive mother/child relationship can be, but I’m firmly in the “my mom is my best friend and I will smother her in affection accordingly” camp. I wrote about my Mother’s Day surprise earlier this week, but this is just one final reminder to shower your mom and all the amazing women who have influenced your life in love. Shari’s Berries reached out to me with this adorable list, just in case you need a bit more convincing:
I’m pretty into bragging about how responsible I am and also begging her to send me pictures of my dog, but I try to sneak in some appreciation and love with every phone date. And if you want to do more than call her, you can also send her chocolate covered strawberries for $15 using this offer. It’s not too late!
Wedding Wednesday: Bachelorette Planning
Posted on May 4th, 2016
April raced by, so here we are in May and my bachelorette party is this month! I think bachelorettes are a little bit extravagant, but since I don’t live in the same city as any of my bridesmaids I really wanted us to all have some time together before the craziness of the wedding weekend. I’m not really a Vegas kind of girl, but I wanted to go somewhere with warm weather where we could have fun, enjoy being together, and do some quality exploring. By which I mean eating.
Source 1 // Source 2 // Source 3 // Source 4 // Source 5 // Source 6
Five of my bridesmaids and I are headed to Charleston for Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve never been, but I have always wanted to go– I’m expecting to fall in love. I wanted to stay somewhere centrally located with a pool, so we’re staying at the Mills House, but otherwise I’m excited to see what my bridesmaids have in store for us! (VERY weird for this control freak not to be making a plan!)
What things do you think they should put on the list? We’ll be there from Saturday morning to Monday night, so plenty of time to explore.
Wallpaper Wake Up
Posted on May 2nd, 2016
When you’re in school, it feels like something is always just around the corner. It’s back-to-school season, or finals, or spring break, or football season. Things change in a meaningful way every few months, whether you’re starting a new set of classes or relocating for an internship. One thing to which I’m still adjusting about life post-academia is how much everything runs together. I think of the various times of year as the holidays, summer (essentially just July and and part of August, when some of your coworkers may be on PTO), and everything else. More aptly at Nordstrom, we have Holiday, Anniversary, and everything else 
I try to do what I can to note the passage of time at the beginning of every month. I look through the calendar, think about the upcoming weeks both professionally and personally, flip over my Nico & Lala monthly desk calendar, and to really keep my life fresh and exciting, I change my computer desktop. Such a little thing, but it’s as close as we twenty-somethings get to the thrill of buying new school supplies.
I rotate between a few sources that put out some great monthly options:
- Evelyn Henson– the source of the darling champagne option above! I have her lemon print on my work computer right now.
- Ivanka Trump– random, yes. But some of them are surprisingly gorgeous (They haven’t put up their May options, yet, be patient!)
- May Designs
- Sugar Paper– always keeping it simple and elegant
- Ashley Brooke Designs– for when you’re feeling a little sassy
- Oh So Beautiful Paper– this stationery design blog features all sorts of designs, and their monthly downloads round up is one of the best
- Avocados– if you’re feeling Cinco de Mayo
- #hustle– I LOVE this one. Definitely my next pick. I might even go crazy and mix it up mid-month!
Changing your desktop is also a good way to add a pop of color and personality to your beige cubicle life without going full-on pink feather pen and losing your credibility. As they say, it’s the little things! Use this as an opportunity to choose a little joy for yourself.
Making Mother’s Day Magic
Posted on May 1st, 2016
Growing up, Mother’s Day was one of my favorite days of the year. Celebrating my mom gave us the opportunity to make her feel appreciated, it brought the five of us together for a day of family time during the busy end-of-school period, and it provided a preview of the beautiful fun in store in the summer months. Happily, the brunch we had at our club was also one of the best meals of the year.
Of course, it is hard to get home for Mother’s Day at this point in my life. I hate that I can’t be there to wake my mom up with a latte in bed and go on a long walk with her before getting dressed for brunch, so I had to settle with a long distance version of a long-held mother/daughter tradition: choosing her clothes. I can’t be there in person, but I can still micromanage her outfits.
Earrings, manicures, candles, and coffee table books all make excellent Mother’s Day gifts, but there is something sweet and personal about trying to create mother/daughter experiences from thousands of miles away. I had so much fun shopping for my mom and putting together a little gift package for her! I definitely suggest it if you are looking for a way to shower your mother in affection. Bonus points if you call your other out-of-town siblings and arrange to pay for brunch, too.
I picked this Diane von Furstenberg dress for my mom. The navy/pink combo is fabulous, and the zipper in the back is a little unexpected without being too edgy. I promise it’s not nearly as short as it looks! A super flattering silhouette for all body types. My other picks for great spring dresses:
textured blue shift // printed wrap dress // striped shift
floral fit & flare // navy & ivory lace // cathy shift
shell print fit & flare // short sleeve lace // floral & fringe shift
For those of you lucky enough to live near your mothers, take her shopping! And for the rest of you, all of these dresses are on free shipping, and don’t forget to call! Your mom is beautiful on the inside, and you can help her feel equally beautiful on the outside, too.
Ghosts of Prom Past
Posted on April 25th, 2016
Ah, prom season. My littlest brother went last week and said as school dances go it was “way less horrible than usual.” In other words, a huge success. Like a total cliche, I actually did go to prom with my future husband senior year, which was the second best aspect of the evening. The first was going to a Japanese steakhouse. And the worst aspect was my dress. I don’t really want to go to prom again. Or high school. But I’m always ready to shop for fancy dresses.
Really, my dress could have been worse, but it definitely could have been so much better. So what would I wear if I had a do-over? My first rule would be no rhinestones. And no ballgowns. And no tulle. And nothing that’s suggestive for, you know, a minor. Nothing black, because it’s prom and you aren’t the Mother of the Groom at a December wedding. Maybe something like this…
Colorblock Cut Outs // Lilly Maxi // Floral Chiffon
Blue Column Gown // Berry T-Back gown (on sale under $150!) // Navy embellished maxi
Emerald Pleated Gown // Strappy Tie Neck Gown (also on sale under $150!) // Strapless Rose Print
I think having a disdain for your prom dress selection is a rite of passage, so I’m not particularly concerned with my 2010 selection. I’m sure were I to choose one of the dresses above I would have reason to throw shade at them in twenty years, too. But if I were choosing again right now, I would definitely make a more exciting and flattering choice than this:
Welp. #blessed to have aged gracefully.
Travel Togs
Posted on April 19th, 2016
At this stage in my life, I pretty much always have a weekend trip just around the corner. I have taken at least one trip every month since last July, and as I was thinking through the schedule for the upcoming months I realized I currently have nine short trips planned before Labor Day! I’m excited to have so much fun heading my way, but I know it will take careful planning.
I have one thing down pat: my travel togs. Simplicity is sacred with packing in general, but when it comes to sweaty yet simultaneously over-air-conditioned airplanes and road trips, comfort is crucial. I usually leave town directly after work on Friday, so the outfit needs to pass the Casual Friday, work-appropriate test. My formula is hardly groundbreaking: jeans, top, flats, cardigan, simple jewelry. But the key is to look polished, dress in layers, and choose breathable fabric.
I only wear J. Crew jeans, and they’re good for traveling because they have a nice amount of stretch. The Minnie flat has travel in the name, so I’m hardly going out on a limb in recommending them, but they do literally fold in half so it’s easy to swap them out with whatever heels I have on at work or sandals I may be putting on (wearing sandals on the plane is just too cold!). Especially in the warmest weeks of summer, I usually make sure I have a pair of chino shorts at the very top of my suitcase so I can do a quick wardrobe change when I land.
In terms of tops, there are tons of cute options. These are all cotton and not too tight, so you should have the mobility you need to fight the person next to you for arm rest real estate.
Embroidered Circles // Pintuck striped // Lace T
Striped (Love the peplum back, and the blue color option too!) // Eyelet Yoke // Printed Cap Sleeve T
Peplum tank // Embroidered with tassels // Ruffle Sleeve
Coincidentally, I debuted this monogrammed duffel on the weekend trip where Ian proposed and I found out I would be changing my name in the near future, but I’ve been loving it. It holds a ton, but since it’s soft-sided it’s easy to stuff into even the smallest of overhead bin space crevices. I always travel with a big tote, and my exact scalloped one is sold out, but here are some similar options: one // two // three.
Looking cute and being comfortable are not mutually exclusive. Do not let any midday-pajama-wearing vacationers try to convince you otherwise.
The Random Reunion
Posted on April 18th, 2016
Weddings, graduations, and other major life events often come with the added bonus of getting to congregate with those we love. Other times, as was the case in Los Angeles this weekend, love is the only excuse we need.
Ian and I had tons of fun visiting friends living in Los Angeles in September and again in January, so I really wanted to squeeze in one more trip before the summer craziness. Our friend (and best man) grew up in LA but is living abroad for graduate school, so when we heard he would be home visiting his family in mid-April we were in. After that, things fell into place in the most wonderful way– another groomsmen from LA decided to use it as an excuse to come home, and my maid of honor, Kimberly, didn’t want to miss out on all the fun, so she flew out from DC, too.
There was sunshine, the beach, and lots of food, but most importantly there was time to be together. One of those absolutely simple yet absolutely perfect weekends when you just want to say thank you. Each of these seven truly have large slices of my heart.
Speaking of gratitude, to the team trying to meet a sales goal at Sugar Paper on Saturday: You’re welcome 😉
Escape to Tulip Town
Posted on April 13th, 2016
Part of learning a new part of the country is seeking out adventures, however little they may be. The excursion we took on Saturday was as idyllic as they come. We had heard about magical fields full of gorgeous blooms about 90 minutes north of Seattle through the grapevine, but weren’t exactly sure what to expect from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
…which in retrospect is a little silly. We should have expected acres and acres of tulips. And Tulip Town delivered in spades. As y’all know, I feed on color and sunshine. I was on cloud nine.
{Rocking the activewear because we got in a quick hike near Mount Vernon after leaving Tulip Town} This little slice of heaven was the best springtime surprise. The Netherlands ain’t got nothing on Washington State. Things like this make us more appreciative of this Pacific Northwest chapter.
Greek Revival Fixer Upper
Posted on April 7th, 2016
Other than sports, I keep up with very little TV. This is regrettable, I am a social pariah, and I miss that lurching feeling in my stomach that only Shonda Rhimes can give me. But there is one show I do try to track: Fixer Upper on HGTV.
Three main reasons I love Fixer Upper:
- Chip & Joanna Gaines (the show’s stars) are everything I want in a marriage. They’re the most adorable, endearing, entertaining partners.
- The work they do is gorgeous. My jaw is constantly on the floor during the reveals at the end.
- I can’t get over how affordable everything is in Texas and I want to move there immediately.
Chip & Joanna have just purchased a 103-year-old Greek revival in Waco. The amount of character in the home is fabulous! I know it takes a lot of effort to maintain a home that old, but (particularly with a few cosmetic refreshes) this one seems to be worth it. To save you the trouble of Googling, I already found the listing for you here.
PS Does anyone want to visit their bed & breakfast with me??
INTHEFAM with Shopbop
Posted on April 5th, 2016
The Shopbop Family & Friends sale is here! Promo code INTHEFAM gets you 25% off– no minimum spend required. I was a little late to the game on Shopbop, but have had some awesome experiences that will make me a repeat customer. Best of all? As they are an Amazon subsidiary, you can use your Amazon Prime shipping to have your purchases at your door in 48 hours for free! Because there is nothing worse than having to wait so long for an online order that you forget what you got. Looking at you, J. Crew Factory.
So stock up! My picks:
Amanda Uprichard Alex dress // Gray Malin print // Alice & Olivia Prescilla dress // Isa Tapia sandal
Charlotte Olympia suede pump // BB Dakota striped dress // Ray-Ban Erika sunglasses // Cooper & Ella top
Milly dress // Club Monaco skirt // Loeffler Randall sandals // Yumi Kim printed dress
Clare V clutch // ban.do phone case // Waves Stripe tee // Jill Jill Stuart gown
Sizes go fast, so don’t hesitate if you see something you like! They carry several hundred designers, so I’m pretty sure you’ll find something 😉
