Happy Friday…. and Happy Valentine’s Day (at the risk of sounding totally cheesy). Low key weekend planned over here. We’ll do our typical take-out + champagne tonight… and then we have a date night planned for Saturday (but we both have small colds right now, so that’s tentative)… but TJ has Monday off, so it will be a nice, long weekend over here…

I hope you all have a great weekend as well! It’s been a little while since I did my monthly Champagne Chats so returning to them today!….. I picked some frequently asked questions over the past couple of weeks and answered them here. Cheers!
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1. Any home ideas to refresh my home on a budget??

I think when I look back to our renovation (which, we still haven’t completed, still have two bathrooms) I think about what we would have done if we couldn’t have gutted it. The first thing would have been to sand the floors and re-stain. This was significantly cheaper than laying all new wood floors. Then a fresh coat of paint. I think painting anything makes it look so fresh + new. I would have painted the cabinets + all the walls and I think it would have made such a significant difference. In one of the bathrooms that we still haven’t renovated, it was cobalt blue. So “in your face.” I couldn’t believe the difference a simple coat of white paint made. The bathroom looked fresh, clean, and new. I also think if you are handy + have the time, doing things yourself saves so much money. When we received all of our quotes a lot of the money went to labor.

2. How do you decide what to buy? Do you have a limit on number of items or a budget?

TJ + I have always had a budget, since we were married. It has changed over the past 10 years, but we still follow it. In that budget, we include the obvious (mortgage, utilities, etc…) but also things like “shopping.” For me, I have a personal rule. For 95% of the items I purchase, I need to make sure that they can easily fit in with other pieces I already own (say 3-5 outfits). The other 5% can be “fun” purchases… maybe items that I won’t wear as much, but they still serve a function in the wardrobe.

3. Do you have any easy breakfast ideas?

This post has several of my favorite breakfasts… super quick + easy.

4. What are some fun places + activities to take toddlers to in Orange County?

A few favorite places include Fashion Island (it’s a super family friendly mall + all the kiddos love the koi ponds), Balboa Island (super kid friendly beaches), Santa Ana Zoo (not the best animals but it’s fun for families), Zoomers Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano (fun to take the train there), Pretend City, Disneyland, + the beach in the summer.

5. What are some of your baby essentials?

I wrote a blog post on my postpartum baby essentials here. Yet, here are a few that readily come to mind: this bathtub (used for both girls + it’s so simple… both loved it), babybjorn bouncer, babybjorn mini carrier (my all time favorite new find this time around… so easy to use), this swaddle, these bottles, pacifiers, high chair (of course, this comes much later, but we had this one with Harper and still use it!), + the Guava family bassinet worked really well for us!

6. What are some of your favorite places for baby clothes?

I love Nordstrom (because they carry a wide variety of brands), H&M (great prices + well made), Baby Gap (for more neutral/traditional items), Zara (so cute right now), and Old Navy (super cute right now too).

7. Any good crock pot meals??

I turn to skinny taste when I want a delicious crock pot meal!

8. Be honest… the Everlane Leggings versus the lululemon Align Leggings?

So, they’re very different. The align leggings are more of a buttery soft leggings. I wear it for workouts, and it’s great, but it doesn’t strike me as a “workout” legging when I first put it on. I think it hugs the body nicely, has an interior pocket, and they’re super comfortable. I’ve gone on long runs + completed spin classes in them. The Everlane leggings are more of a compression workout material. They’re great as well. High waisted, hug the body nicely, and also have an interior pocket. There is a significant price difference (Everlane is about half the price of lululemon) but you can’t go wrong with either. I would say Everlane wins for holding everything in nicely + lululemon wins for soft comfort.

9. Do you have a good one piece swimsuit that you love??

I bought this white ruffled back one piece suit two years ago + still love it! Great booty coverage + love the low back….

10. Can you share some go-to tops and bras for running the heat? Florida girl here!

My two favorite sports bras are this one + this one. I’ve had both for over a year and think they’re great. As far as tops go, this mesh tank, racerback tank (I’ve had this one for years), and this power Y tank (another item I’ve owned for years) are all great options.

11. Do you have a pair of underwear that you recommend to wear under leggings?

This pair! Seamless + doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything!

12. Which rooms have you remodeled in your house and how was the process?

We gutted the entire house, with the exception of two bathrooms. It took an entire year to complete the renovation. We lived with my parents for 6 months of that time and then we lived in another part of our house while the master bedroom/bathroom were completed. It was a huge process, one I’m grateful we had the opportunity to do, but one I don’t ever want to do again!

13. How do you stay calm + patient with a testy 4 year old? I have one too!

I’m not calm and patient all the time and have my moments! I did see someone say something like this: when my child starts acting out I just say “oh they’re acting (insert their age)” and it just puts their behavior into perspective. I thought that was SO good and it’s something I have been using. I feel like I find myself getting the most frustrated when I expect a 4 year old to have the problem solving/cognitive/emotional abilities of an adult. I also walk away if I feel myself getting really frustrated and let her know that I need a moment and will be right back… and will encourage her to do the same when she gets frustrated.

14. Would you suggest getting a job after my bachelors in PSY or get my masters done ASAP?

For me, personally, I knew the only route to go was straight into my Master’s program. The thought of taking time off, then starting school all over again, seemed dangerous (haha). I figured that since I was already in “school mode” it was best to just keep it going. That being said, I can see how it would be helpful for some people to take time off in between. It could be beneficial to get a job in the field to see if you still like psychology…

15. What’s the most colorful item in your closet right now??

Hands down this flowy dress! Bought it in October + love it!

16. How do you satisfy your sweet tooth??

I love Lily’s chocolate chips. I’ll have a handful of them after dinner + it seems to do the trick!

17. Any gift recommendations for my 4 year old little girl? I’m at a loss!

So we got Harper a lot of “pretend play” items. As parents, we bought her this trampoline, which is great given her activity levels. Gifts from my family included this grocery shopping set, cash register, Disney princess costumes for dress up, + puzzles.

18. My girls are the same age as yours…. what are you guys doing to save for their college?

We’re investing in college education funds, primarily a 529 fund, through a financial advisor.

19. What is your favorite lounge set to travel in? I have a long flight to Europe + want to be comfortable, yet still look pulled together!

I always recommend the Lou + Grey set. It’s so incredibly soft inside + when you pair both pieces together looks super chic + pulled together. You can’t go wrong with it. It’s currently 40% off right now!