watch me!

Cartel in Rose Gold
by Rockwell Watches

Never say that guys can't teach you anything about fashion.  I'm relatively new to the world of watches, but I have come to appreciate the watch as a valuable accessory, thanks to a few of my more fashion forward male colleagues.  You see, men have far fewer options when it comes to accessorizing in the corporate environment.  After all, one suit looks like the next--but ties, socks, and especially watches really set a guy apart. In fact, one of my best guy friends has a dozen statement watches, and by example has taught me that the right timepiece can totally complete a look.  

As a woman, of course, I don't lack for options when it comes to accessories, but a watch is something different.  As a piece of jewelry that serves fashion and function, it has become a valuable part of my arm candy and overall look too.  Oh, and it tells time--added bonus.

My new favorite: the Cartel by Rockwell Watches in rose gold.  Seriously, I'm obsessed.  If you're not familiar with Rockwell, you should be.  I personally love large face watches for their statement power, and Rockwell takes it to the next level.  You should see some of the huge watches they have for the guys in your life!  But I digress...  The Cartel is one of their medium styles, which is more than enough on a woman's arm.  It is available in a number of styles, but I especially love the rose gold for its versatility.  As a self-proclaimed fashionista, turned working mama, versatility is mandatory.  If I am going to invest in an outfit or an accessory, my rule of thumb is that it needs to work in a range of settings; this watch does just that.  Watch me:

1.  Dressed down mama: Marathon Monday was the most gorgeous day of the year so far here in Boston, and so I simply had to get the littles out of the house to enjoy the sun and fresh air.  We decided on a picnic at the sculpture park with some friends, and our artsy field trip called for a boho chic outfit, of course. Clothes: orange denim, a chambray shirt, a hair scarf, and flip flops (hallelujah for nice weather!).  Arm candy: the Cartel, lotus seed mala beads, and a DIY Burberry fabric wrap bracelet.  I love mixing materials and textures, and so the combination of metal, wood, and fabric creates a softer, funky look that I love for casual days.

2.  Corporette: I work in finance, and since our clients are typically more conservative, so is our office dress code.  But I love a challenge.  A pop of color or a bold pattern (preferably both!) make my army of pencil skirts, Tippy sweaters, and Reva flats far more interesting--as do my carefully selected accessories.  Clothes: patterned pencil skirt, black sweater, and black patent leather flats.  Arm candy: the Cartel.  Some opt to remove a link or two from their watch band to make it fit just right, but I like mine worn loose so that it's more like a bracelet than an ordinary watch.  Can we call it a watchlet??  Is that a thing???  Whatever the case, this watch is cool enough to be worn all by itself.

Photograph by Peter Frailey

3.  Girl on the go: Like many working moms out there, I wear a lot of hats.  Okay, so maybe not hats so much, but definitely shoes!  Many days, I go from work to home, and then sometimes out again; I love that my new watch can go with me!  Last weekend, after a family Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning, I waved goodbye to my husband and kids and dashed out the door for some much needed girl time: mani/pedis, a late lunch, and a little shopping with one of my favorite fashionista friends.  Clothes: distressed denim, white tee, and grey Toms.  Arm candy: the Cartel and a mix of silver and gold Alex and Ani bangles.  The rose gold watch works perfectly if you like mixing metals (I do)--and as it turns out, looks amazing with white Shellac polish too. 

One watch, three ways--and counting...  Watch me!

the summer report

Happy 30th birthday to me!
And goodbye to summer...

With Labor Day now behind us, as far as my calendar is concerned, summer is over.  True, the autumnal equinox isn't for a few more weeks, but doesn't it just feel like fall?  And with that sentiment in mind, it's time for me to disclose the outcome of my summer to-do list...
  

1.  Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

Done!  No matter how many times I reread this story, I love it all over again.  It is always makes me feel a little nostalgic, perhaps because I was in high school when I read it for the very first time, and I can't help but feel reminded of the passage of time--which is, of course, is a central theme in the novel.  The tale of Nick, Daisy, and Gatsby is yet tragic, yet beautiful, and it will always remain my favorite summer book.

2.  Finally complete Harper's baby book

Speaking of the passage of time...  It was quite something to relive the first year of Harper's life through photographs, as a story in pictures--particularly, as we approach the arrival of her baby brother--and shortly thereafter, her second birthday.The finished baby book is simple, but I'm so happy with how it turned out and to have the ability to look back through something tangible, rather than scrolling through the photos on my iPhone.    

3.  Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

Done--and yum!

4.  Redo my bedroom décor

While I sincerely wish I could say that this task was completed in its entirety, it remains a work-in-progress.  However, I still feel excited about the progress being made.  My devoted husband is hard at work on our space-saving bed, and the rest of the room will come together around this central piece.  It was my hope (okay, demand) that all of this be finished before the arrival of our baby in a couple of weeks.  Alas, the bed will be completed by this time (demand), but the full redo will likely continue on well into the fall.  Isn't that just the nature of home projects--particularly when the demanding one is too pregnant to do much about it!  Shrug.

5.  Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

My amazing friends helped me check this one off the list with the incredible beach day they planned in honor of my birthday.  And this wasn't your run-of-the-mill tote bag and towel beach experience either.  Rather, my kind and creative friends created a luxe cabana area for us to lounge for lunch, including the fixings for beach-inspired mocktails, homemade lobster rolls, and lots of time for gossip and conversation.  After a few hours in the sun, we showered, changed and dashed off  for birthday cupcakes and shopping in the quaint, seaside town where my darling friend, T, lives with her boyfriend.  And I even bought a jacket for fall!  Perfection.

6.  Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

Technically, this is a FAIL--and now she is gone (tear).  But what we lacked in picnic time, we made up for with a fun, family walk to our local ice cream parlor on the night before she left town.  What better way to say, not goodbye, but see you later?

7.  Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

Maybe "long" is a bit of a stretch, but lately Harper and I have been enjoying strolls through our neighborhood, along with purposeful treks to Starbucks for cool refreshments. It is either really wrong or totally amazing that she can recognize the Starbucks logo on the cup.  Either way, we have been trying to get out and enjoy the fresh air during these late summer and early fall days.  Soon the leaves will be changing, the temperatures dropping, and we will be wishing for the chance to do so again.

8.  Do more yoga 

Do my amazing new hot pink Wunder Under Crops from Lululemon count?  My attendance in yoga class this summer has been embarrassing.  I can only hope (pray) that my postnatal practice will be far better, especially if I'm motivated by those extra lbs...

9.  Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

Sadly, another fail.  But next year I will be sure to remember that fiddlehead season is in MAY.   This year, it's crossed off the list as an impossibility due to my poor time management.  I used to be an organized person.  That was before I (literally and figuratively) came unheeled.

10.  Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

Hello, 30!  I had a truly amazing birthday, thanks entirely to my amazing family and friends.  Following my indulgent spa date with my sister, I enjoyed: a beach day equipped with homemade lobster rolls and time to read FIVE magazines in the sun with some of my dearest friends; a birthday weekend out at my family's home in the Berkshires, complete with a family trek to the county fair; AND finally a lavish gold-themed surprise celebration with some fabulously golden girl friends.  Do I sound spoiled yet?  While my list may have suggested that I be the one to plan my perfect 30th, this was far, far greater.

While I didn't finish every single item on my list, I have to say that it was really helpful to have made one.  It made me feel accountable for how I spent (or didn't spend) my time.  I should say that there were things NOT on my list that ended up being fun summer activities too--like splashing in the pool with Harper, mani/pedi dates to blessedly air-conditioned nail salons with friends, trips to the farmers market, and trying delicious new recipes from Pinterest.  I have to say that it has certainly been a productive summer, but I couldn't be more ready for fall.  It feels only right to end summer the way we started, with F. Scott Fitzgerald:

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.

I couldn't be more ready for those crisp fall days.

au revoir twenty-something

Once upon a time...

Today is major, as I say goodbye to my 20s and prepare to join the ranks of a new decade.  I have been having issues about this milestone.  When I was little and played with Barbies, I would make Barbie's mom 30; it seemed old, very adult-like and serious.  So I was shocked when it came upon me so quickly.  I thought I would own my own home by now, or at least my own Chanel handbag!  But...

I like to think that what I lack in status symbols, I make up for in other ways.  While there is actually a lot that I don't remember about the last decade of my life, I have experienced the utmost in triumphs and tragedies--but have so much to be grateful for today.   Namely I am thankful to be standing on the brink of a new age bracket with outstanding friends and an amazing family by my side, all of whom have made my birthday month ridiculously special so far--and it's not even my birthday yet!

I have had this week off work, which may be one of the very best ways to celebrate any birthday.  So today, while Harper did a half-day at school, I took the opportunity to run some errands AND treat myself to the obligatory mani/pedi so that I could feel truly ready to be a grown-up tomorrow.  While my tootsies were being polished and pampered, I caught up on the September issue of Glamour, which must have been fate since one of the featured articles was Olivia Wilde's "Advice for Turning 30."  

Unlike my husband, Olivia Wilde has never exactly been on my radar, but it turns out the girl can write!  As a fellow almost-30-year-old, she calls our impending milestone the "Cut the Bullsh-t and Go Be Awesome stage," which is definitely something I can get down with. I mean, please, I'm already awesome! Of her list of dos and don'ts for thirty-somethings out there, here are my three favorites--which made me laugh so I had to include them in their entirety rather than paraphrasing (I might be awesome, but I'm not exactly what you would call funny):

DON'T freak out about all the brilliant people who accomplished more than you by 30.
Yes, Einstein had discovered the theory of relativity by your age, and Emily Brontë had written Wutheringfu*#ing Heights, but honestly, what you achieve is far less important than what kind of human being you are. What do you want people to say at your funeral: "Olivia may have cured HIV, but she ran over my cat and drove away laughing"? No, thanks! I'd rather be a good person who makes people happy than a dick who wins a Nobel by 32.

DO reap the benefits of your accumulated wisdom.

You're 30: You know stuff now. Your twenties were for "ducking up," as my auto-correct would say, and learning from those mistakes. (For instance, never again will I convince myself that sleep is for sissies and go straight from a party to the airport. You will not "sleep on the plane"; you'll vomit in the security line. Go to bed.) Now you get to live with that knowledge under your belt. Also, make it a nice belt. You're 30. Stop dressing like a hobo.

And DON'T be bogged down by your past.

Saturn has now orbited the sun once since you've been alive; make this next go-round whatever you want it to be. Consider your baggage (bad boyfriends, job setbacks, body issues) lost by the airline of life, leaving you empty-handed at your new destination with only one choice: Go shopping.

That's it. Now go—be awesome.

The reality is that 30 is upon me, whether I'm "ready" for it or not. So what choice do I have but to boldly go where everyone 30+ has gone before?

I may not have discovered the theory of relativity or even invented Post-Its, but I feel like I'm doing okay nonetheless and have left some room for growth too... I have become a little bit more domestic (thank you, Pinterest!); learned how to say no when I'm feeling stretched too thin; embraced flats; have started my own little family with my amazing and ridiculously tall husband; refuse to paint my own toes but can totally handle a DIY mani; stopped apologizing for my taste in bad tween TV; love where I work; have some seriously fabulous friends; and feel anchored by my faith.  I told you I was already awesome!  So 30 years old?  Maybe I can handle this after all.

• To read Olivia Wilde's "Advice for Turning 30" in its entirety, click here--and enjoy!

• Harper and I were photographed by the talented Miss Emma Taylor in Fall 2012; check out her blog here!

summer update part 2

Last month, after an embarrassing update, I promised I would have at least three more items crossed off my summer bucket list at the beginning of August.  Since we are now forging into the middle of the month, I felt like I should make good on my promise.  Here's where I stand...

My husband (on the left), making me the perfect s'more.

I am obsessed with s'mores right now.  In fact, did you know that this past Saturday was National S'mores Day?  I actually didn't discover that fun fact until Sunday, but at least my obsession is a timely one.  I've had the chance to enjoy s'mores on several occasions in the last month.  The best was definitely the traditional version, enjoyed around an outdoor fire with family and friends at my mom's house in Western MA.  With Harper on my lap, my obliging husband was the one who actually made my s'mores (yes, I ate two), and he has basically perfected the art.  Thanks to the life-changing powers of Pinterest, I have also learned about and successfully recreated a version of s'mores that doesn't require a camp fire.  Behold, the s'mores bite; I know that s'mores sans fire sounds blasphemous, but these are pretty darn close to the real thing.  If you don't believe me, just try them:

Yet another reason I love Pinterest: s'mores bites

Ingredients:
-6 graham cracker sheets
-6 large marshmallows
-12 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Directions:
-Break graham cracker sheets in half.
-Cut each marshmallow in half.
-Heat oven to Low Broil.
-Align graham crackers in the center of a cookie sheet about 1/2″ apart from each other.
-Top each graham cracker with a marshmallow with the cut/sticky side down.
-Place marshmallow-topped graham crackers under broiler.  Don't walk away!  Watch them, as they will toast quickly, allow to toast until marshmallows are golden.
-Once golden, immediately remove from oven, and place 1 Hershey's Kiss in the center of each toasted marshmallow and gently press down.  
Yum.

It is indeed possible I have been eating so many s'mores in a desperate attempt to ignore the fact that I'm turning 30 this month.  I've been trying to adjust my attitude though, since the truth of the matter is that aging is a gift that not everyone is able to enjoy.  I haven't actively been planning the party of the century or anything, but I feel like my "perfect 30th birthday" is totally within reach, with my birth month off to a fabulous start.  On Saturday, my lovely sister treated me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, followed by window shopping, and then an indulgent spa facial.  It feels a little symbolic that I've shed a layer of skin (okay not really--but exfoliation counts) to greet a new decade.  Regardless, sister spa time was a truly incredible birthday gift--and my skin feels amazing.  Also amazing was the watermelon mint cooler I had at lunch, which I am now inspired to recreate at home.

Watermelon Cooler at The Cottage in Wellesley, MA

In fact, home creations just might be the theme of this month.  I have been wanting to redo our bedroom for a while now.  The décor just isn't working for us; it is dark and, despite our best design attempts when we moved in three years ago, just misses the mark.  At the top of my "must have" list is space-saving storage, and to that end, I have been coveting an amazing storage bed from Pottery Barn that is simply not within our budget.  So my handyman husband found the plans online and began construction this weekend; I am nervous but excited to see how it will turn out.  I have given him a pretty tight deadline of two weeks so only time will tell!  Also part of the bedroom redo is a new color scheme palette.  Right now, blue is our central color, but we're trying to move in a softer direction--perhaps a light grey, maybe accented by a pale aqua...  We have nothing set in stone yet, as the bed is taking precedence, but I am looking forward to the finished product.

So here's the official report:

Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

• Hoping to accomplish this while I'm off work next week...

Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

• Planning to finally order prints tonight!

Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

• Done--and yum!

Redo my bedroom décor

• A work in progress!

Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

• On the calendar for this weekend with some of my besties--another early birthday celebration!

Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

• Hopefully this week?

Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

• A walk is not the same thing as walks so clearly I'm still working on this one...  Fortunately for me, the temperatures have been lovely this month so far--so let's leave it at "to be continued."

Do more yoga

• Haven't been back to class yet...  Le sigh.

Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

•  Impossible (poor time management)

Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

• A work in progress...

I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm feeling much, much better about my progress this time around.  Things weren't looking good for me for a moment there, but I'm grateful that I actually put my summer goals in writing so that I can truly hold myself accountable.  Thankfully now it's all happening!  Stay tuned for the final report...

 

stealing from friends

Last month, I attended a health and beauty exchange with some of my favorite ladies.  For those unfamiliar with this type of event, it is like a Yankee Swap but far more fabulous.  Here's how it works: you set a price point for a favorite health or beauty item; buy enough for all who will be in attendance; and get together to exchange and dish on your health and beauty secrets.  So fun, right?! 

I picked up some helpful tricks of the trade, and a few particulars have already been implemented in my own personal regime:

All About Eyes, $30 for 0.5 oz.
by Clinique
Available at Sephora

The lovely Genevieve shared a beauty secret she learned during her time in France: under-eye cream is a MUST.  She swears by Clinique's All About Eyes, applied twice daily as part of her morning and evening routine.  Since my under-eyes haven't exactly received rave reviews since my adventures as a fashionista became the unheeled adventures of fashionista and baby, I had to try it for myself.  I have been using All About Eyes for only a couple of weeks now so I can't speak to the long-term results, but I already love the restorative, moisturizing lightness of this cream and the fact that a little goes a long way.  Hopefully I am also on my way towards looking as fresh-faced as Genevieve and the tres chic women of France.

 

Almond Supple Skin Oil, $40
by L'Occitane

The lovely Mary shared a very helpful beauty secret for expectant mamas, the Almond Supple Skin Oil from L'Occitane.  Having recently moved into my third-trimester, this seemed like a necessity.  Made of almond and Cameline oil, your skin is left feeling deeply moisturized and more toned.  It is safe to apply all over, and since I find the summer to be a very drying season, particularly as Harper and I frequent the pool, I've also been using it on my legs to combat dryness.  I had shied away from oils in the past for fear that I would feel greasy or sticky, but this oil is light and absorbs into the skin quickly.  Those who know me also know that I am olfactorily-challenged, but from what I have heard, the scent is delicious too!

Sugar Shine Lip Treatment, $18.50
by Fresh
Available at Sephora

 
The lovely Aimee introduced me to Fresh's Sugar Shine Lip Treatment, and I am a total convert.  In the past, I have used and loved their Sugar Advanced Therapy, and so I trust Fresh implicitly.  While it is difficult to compete with Sara Happ's Lip Slip, which has been my glossy go-to for what feels like forever, the Sugar Shine Lip Treatment brings the amazing powers of Fresh to a shiny new place.  This all-in-one lip remedy is neither heavy nor sticky, but it moisturizes while also adding gloss and a subtle sheen.   All of this has earned it a place in my handbag to be used for any and every occasion; I am completely obsessed.

I feel very fortunate to be in the mix with some totally dialed-in girlies and to have the opportunity to beg, borrow, and steal their secrets to health and beauty.  Hopefully this will be the first of many health and beauty exchanges to come!

summer update

Here's the dirty truth about my summer bucket list so far:  

I missed fiddlehead season--by a long shot.  Eating fiddleheads, as it turns out, should have been on my May to-do list.  Now that I know, you can count on me to be first in line at Wilson Farms next year (not that people wait in line for that sort of thing--but they should).

The summer walks haven't been happening.  With a few exceptions, the temperature has been hovering in the 90s for far too long.  Over the holiday weekend, Harper and I attempted a leisurely early morning walk, and we (me) basically had to crawl home and dip our (my) feet in a cold bath (hers).  Definitely NOT the ethereal summer exercise I had envisioned.  

I have gone to yoga all of one time.  In fairness to me, Harper and I were away this past weekend--but still.  I am pathetic.  Or maybe I just need some new Lulu gear to motivate me???

On the upside, I am happy to report that I haven't been letting summer pass me by and have been trying to embrace a more DIY spirit this summer to really enjoy the little things...

Pesto caprese

Okay, so I missed out on fiddleheads, but there is so much amazing produce to be enjoyed in New England during the summer that the consolation is huge.  Caprese has always been a favorite of mine, and I've had fun putting my own spin on it.  Since Dallin rather loathes tomatoes, when our friend, Rachel, came for Sunday dinner last weekend, I was excited for the chance to share my most recent caprese experiment, made with these incredible yellow tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and arugula lemon pesto (added bonus: the pesto was homemade by my friend, Talyn). You'll have to ask Rachel for a more objective report, but I was in love.

As I said, I've been trying to be more DIY lately, and this extends to the fashion/beauty realm.  This is in part a budget-driven endeavor, but it also feels good to accomplish something special on my own.  And given all the time I spend on Pinterest while we are watching TV in the evening, there's really no reason not to try some of my (p)inspirations.  Today's DIY attempt: watermelon nails.  Well, a watermelon deconstruction is perhaps a more accurate description, comprised of: Chanel's May, Maybelline's Green With Envy, and a pinch of pink fabric glitter.  While they may not be professional, they're totally fun and easy.  Which is also important.

Watermelon nails

Last week, my friend, Aimee, and I also began making friendship bracelets a la Martha Stewart.  I know I was bragging last month about how I used to make these all the time during my tween years, but as it turns out, it's not exactly like riding a bike.  Aimee and I both opted for the chevron "V" design; I have restarted my bracelet at least twice, and I think we also had to watch one YouTube video to help our technique.  Other things Martha didn't tell us: neon thread and metallic thread are really difficult, if not totally impossible, to work with.  That being said, fab company, plus ice cream from one of my favorite local spots and an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County was totally morale-boosting, and we will NOT give up until our bracelets look like they belong in Martha Stewart Living.  That is a promise.

To return to my summer bucket list, a little less than one month later, here's where I stand:

-Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

-Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

-Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

-Redo my bedroom decor

-Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

-Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

-Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

-Do more yoga

-Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

-Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

 Let's just say that I'm glad this is not school and that I will not be receiving a progress report.  Fortunately, summer is far from over, and so I will be so bold as to put it in writing that by, the time we turn our calendars to August (yes, I still have a real paper calendar hanging on the kitchen wall), at least three more items will be crossed off--and not because they are impossible to accomplish due to poor planning.  So stay tuned--and stay cool!

miss independence day: the 4th in 3 parts

1. My first peach cobbler was a success--yay!  And yum.

2.  My pretty little patriot--in her French stripes.

3.  Nailed it!  My Star-spangled nails, poolside.