Happy Friday friends… we made it! We’re heading into the weekend with nothing on the schedule… which feels so good! Sharing my monthly Q+A today…. Have a great weekend friends!
- I am looking for some dresses for events coming up for my wedding this summer – shower, rehearsal etc. I have a pretty similar build and style as you do. I am having a beach wedding and most events have a similar vibe. I tend to gravitate towards maxi dresses, especially something with a V and not something I get too lost in, though I am open to any suggestions. Thanks!
Congratulations! So exciting! I’m just going to toss out a lot of fun options, which can likely be appropriate for several different occasions. I am obsessed with this white eyelet jumpsuit, and think it’s such a gorgeous alternative to a typical dress. I wore this top + skirt combo as the MOH in my sister’s wedding, and it’s perfect for any beach themed affair…. and I’m obsessed with this white two piece as well (but not with the black shoes they styled it with….). This slip dress is super feminine and romantic…. as is this airy white crochet maxi dress. The back on this little white dress is beautiful, and this ivory and blush embroidered dress is gorgeous too. I personally own, and love this embroidered maxi dress, and it’s super pretty in the ivory and white combination. This white romper is adorable for a bachelorette party (if you’re going somewhere poolside).
2. I recently had twins…. You post a lot of your food which I really appreciate but could you do some breakfast ideas? I always feel like i choose things that are fast and not always healthy!
You are super mom… somedays I can barely make it with one! That being said, I typically have egg scrambles for breakfast because they keep me full the longest, but if you’re looking for a super quick option, I recommend these egg muffins. You can prepare them at the beginning of the week and just heat them when you’re heading out the door. I also love this oatmeal bake. You can make a batch, or bake it in cupcake tins, for an easy re-heat breakfast. Chia seed pudding is another delicious option that can be made ahead of time, and sectioned off into smaller containers for the week. Or, Purely Elizabeth oatmeal packs are great to just add water to, heat in the microwave, toss a few blueberries on and head out the door. Hope that helps!
3. I’m going to a wedding in DC in April. Any dresses you can recommend? There’s a rehearsal dinner and then wedding the next day. It’s at a country club in Virginia and pretty nice. Not black tie, but formal. Looking to stay around $100 if possible.
I love long dresses for formal occasions and love this dark floral option, beautiful lace dress (comes in so many gorgeous colors…), beautiful eyelet midi dress (love the fluted hem), the back on this LBD is gorgeous (dress it up with gorgeous accessories), and this gorgeous floral dress (it’s $150 though). For the rehearsal dinner, I love this tie waist ruffle dress, sheath lace dress (lots of gorgeous colors), and this faux wrap dress.
4. What do you snack on at home? I have a 10 month of and am getting sick of only eating Skinny Pop. Would love a clean easy option.
I snack on lots of things, but my favs are naturally clean eats bars, apple slices with almond butter + cinnamon, and beet chips + hummus, bell peppers with salsa + guacamole. I also love to make this smoothie when I have time!
5. I’m looking to change up my makeup routine. I am looking to add a lightweight face coverage. Do you recommend a powder of something like a tinted moisturizer?
My favorite tinted moisturizer is the Laura Mercier… it has just the right amount of coverage while still staying lightweight.
6. I have a feeling you would have a cute and creative idea…. what do you give Harper’s friends for their second birthday?
So, I always imagine that the kiddo already has enough toys than the parents know what to do with so I try to do something a little different. This past winter I gave a friend Harper’s favorite beanie and a super cute book…. and one of my favorites is a cute pair of shoes and a plush stuffed animal or book.
7. I’m in my third trimester with second baby and I’m looking to get into a workout routine post baby (I didn’t last time) but also want to breastfeed. Any recommendations for losing the baby weight??
I worked out and breastfed for 10 months, so you can do both… but every body is different. For myself, I didn’t loose all my baby weight until after I stopped nursing (the whole “nursing makes you loose weight” wasn’t how my body responded). For workouts I did BBG + running…. and I ate clean (like I do now) but was pretty hungry due to nursing so I for sure ate a little more to make sure I was nourishing my body. I think my biggest piece of advice would be to not expect to lose weight immediately and to have realistic expectations. It took 9 months to grow a baby, it’s going to take time, so don’t put pressure on yourself. Eating clean and working out will also help you feel good emotionally too!
8. Which shoes do you recommend for BBG program and training for a half marathon? And do you recommend getting a new pair of shoes right before a marathon since they will probably be worn out? And if so, how far in advance should I get a new pair?
For cross training/BBG my two favorites are this Adidas pair (featured here) + this APL pair (more APL colors options). I wear both a ton and find that they’re incredibly comfortable, and easy to take from the gym to everyday life. They both fit TTS. The Adidas pair is very lightweight, and both have a lot of cushioning. I don’t recommend either for running though (although a lot of people say APL kicks are great for running in….). I wear Nike Pegasus for my runs…… super comfortable and a lot of support. I personally would train, and run the half marathon in, the same pair of shoes. If you buy a new pair at the beginning of your training, they should still be in great condition of the race…. in fact, they’ll likely fit you like a glove by that point.
9. I know you love champagne just as much as I do! My husband and I are taking a road trip north in a few weeks. The farthest we’re going is Napa and I’ve been doing some research on the best champagne wineries. Just curious if you’ve been to one there and have a recommendation?
I hands down love Domaine Carneros…. the grounds are beautiful and the bubbles are just as good (especially the rosé). They do require reservations, so if you decide to visit them be sure to call ahead! We also love Mumm + Chandon.
10. What are some of your favorite budget brands/stores that have cute and on trend items?
BB Dakota (how cute is this top, and I love this floral top for a date night… and this pearl embellished denim jacket….) is one of my all time favorites, so is Endless Rose (specially this eyelet top, ruffled blouse, and jumpsuit…), LOFT (they have so many cute things right now, like this gorgeous top), and H&M has super cute pieces (also for the little one!).
11. What do you listen to when you run? It’s hard for me to choose something for a long run sometimes….
I shared my half marathon playlist in this post….
12. My boyfriend and I both have intense day jobs, but would love to start traveling more often to escape some of the craziness. I’d love to know any tips you have on how you budget for your getaways. I’m a big planner, both financially and otherwise and love to hear people’s tips on how to have a 5 star getaway without breaking the band.
Great question! First off, we have a separate account within our checking account that is designated for travel. So, after all our monthly expenses are pair, we allocate an amount to go into that fund. That way, we always have something in it should the travel bug itch. We also ask for contributions to this fund as gifts (i.e. Christmas and birthdays from family members….). All of that aside, we do follow a few strategies to be able to have nice vacations without breaking our bank (or draining that account). We try to travel in off season… when rates are generally lower. So, we go to Hawaii in October or April (not the middle of summer)… or Palm Springs in the middle of the summer (I recommend this if you can stand the heat, rates are so low)… we go to Park City before “ski season” when rates are well below their peak. We also use Homeaway whenever possible. It allows us to get excellent rates on “hotel” rooms that the actual hotel doesn’t have. You have to look for timeshare options here, but you can easily find them. For example, The Marriott in Maui is on there, and people place their “timeshare” week on the site… and it’s often significantly cheaper than the going rate at the hotel. We did this for an upcoming trip to Hawaii, as well as for our last trip to Palm Springs (our room ended up being half of what we would have paid had we gone through the hotel…). I also recommend being part of rewards programs and being loyal to a chair (Marriott, Westin, Southwest, etc…) it allows you to cash in on freebies. Last year, TJ traveled so much for work he had a companion pass on Southwest… essentially, everywhere we flew my ticket was free. We also have one credit card through Chase and can use all the points for airfare or hotels (we pay this off monthly though). Another way to save money is to stay at places that have kitchens… we do that a lot… which allows us to eat most of the meals in, saving tons of money.
13. What are some of your favorite sandals for spring? Even a cute pair of low heels?
I’m still obsessed with the pearl trend…. and these are my favorite pearl slides, as well as this pair (a knockoff of this designer brand) and this pair (in blush). I also found my favorite studded block heel sandals, and I love these rose gold slides (I also own them in black).
14. How many days a week do you work out and do you have any cheat days?
I workout 6 days a week and typically rest on Sunday. I do something different everyday to ensure different muscles are worked, and it also allows me to listen to what my body needs…. yoga stretching + centering, a long run, or a high intensity spin class. As far as cheat days go, I guess I don’t have a designated day, and just go with life. If there is a special occasion, then I’m going to enjoy myself… if it’s the weekend then I’ll enjoy some wine and cocktails. Every evening I have something small and sweet after dinner too. I don’t think depriving will do myself any good!
15. How do you motivate yourself to be in anything but atheleisure? I work from home and even when I shower after my workout I am drawn to my leggings and t-shirts. Any advice to get yourself to level-up?
Plan something out and about that requires you to change out of leggings! A lunch/coffee date with a friend, happy hour with your SO, an outing with your little one (that doesn’t involve crawling on the ground), a solo trip to the mall…. it’ll get you out of those leggings quickly. I also don’t follow any rules. If I feel like I’m sick of leggings and joggers, I have no problem wearing jeans for some errands or working at a coffee shop. It’s all about what makes you feel good… so if you feel good in those leggings, rock them! If you feel like you’re wanting a change for the day, just toss your fav jeans and a top on and own it!
16. Did you do anything to prepare for a possible emotional reaction in yourself when you ended nursing? I know it’s been awhile since you stopped that relationship but didn’t know if you remembered anything specific?
I know that a lot of women really love nursing, but I didn’t have that experience. I was very candid about that journey in my earlier months of motherhood, but it was something I struggled with. Harper refused to take a bottle, so in many instances I felt very “trapped.” I couldn’t leave for longer than 2 hours at a time, and having always been very independent that was hard for me. Towards the end of our nursing journey, when she just started to take a bottle (the Comotomo bottles worked best for us….), she also started teething and I would get lacerations when she would nurse… which was very painful. All that to say, when our journey was over, I actually felt closer to her. Being able to look into her eyes when I gave her a bottle was actually a bonding moment for me…. I did have feeling of guilt, and I managed that by finding other ways to feel connected with her… wearing her a little more (when she would let me) and snuggling her more frequently.
17. I’m looking for a good pair of white jeans, some distressing, any suggestions??
Yes, I love this pair in the light and dark wash, so I imagine they are just as great in white. I sized up in these, and they’re under $80! I also own this pair in a light wash and they look super cute in white too.
18. I’m looking for some cute jackets (preferably under $100) and something casual yet cute. Would love some recommendations!
This bell sleeved utility jacket is one of my all time favorites (styled here)…. it’s super cute for spring and summer… I also love this perforated faux suede jacket (such a cute shape and style) and this parchment colored twill jacket ($105). Of course, I always love a good denim jacket too.
