Looks

November 18, 2017

Instagram Round Up + Weekend Sales

How is it already Thanksgiving next week?! We are so excited to be heading down to St. George for Thanksgiving to be with our family. It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to drive down for the holidays, as Joe would usually be working the entire weekend in California. So we’re excited that we are able to make the short drive down! We just had our first mini winter storm this weekend up here in Utah and things have definitely gotten chilly, so to say I’m ready for some warmer weather is an understatement, haha! I’m not sure if I’m quite ready for these Utah winters just yet!

Also, I rounded up the best sales from the weekend below!! And if your still looking for good gifts ideas for your people – check my holiday gift guides for men, baby, women, and stocking stuffers. Stay tuned for more gift guides to come next week! I’ll also be rounding up all the best items from the Black Friday sales next weekend as well!

xx kails

. . WEEKEND SALES . .

Gap: 40% off your purchase with code GIFT.

J. Crew Factory: Online only: 50% off the Gift Guide. Plus, 40-60% off everything else in stores + online.

West Elm: Up to 40% off Pre-Black Friday deals. Plus, 25% off all rugs, bedding, curtains, pillows + throws.

Pottery Barn: 20% off your order with code: THANKFUL. Plus dozens of Pre-Black Friday deals.

Anthropologie: 20% off tops + sweaters.

Old Navy: 40% off your entire purchase + 50% off all jeans.

Minted: 15% off holiday cards with code: BEMERRY

ASOS: Up to 60% off selected items.

top | jeans + similar | flats | wallet

cardigan + here | top | jeans + here | shoes || harper headband + outfit + moccs

jacket | top | joggers | flats

cardigan | top | jeans + here | shoes

similar nightgown | houstons pj’s + here | harpers headband + onesie + bandana bib

pink sweatshirt (sold out) – similar | jacket | jeans + similar | booties || harper: outfit | headband | moccs

cardigan | top | jeans | booties

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Holiday

November 17, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

. . SHOP MORE LITTLE KIDS . .

Stocking Stuffers are usually pretty easy to come up with. But this year I wanted to try and think outside of the box! Because my people are growing up, its been trickier to find things that aren’t too babyish for the older two…but not too boring either. For some reason they don’t think underwear is very exciting! So with that in mind, I set out to find more creative ideas this year. I took those ideas + my favorite go to’s and came up with 50 awesome ideas for baby to teen! Hope your able to find something for your littles!!

xx kails

. . SHOP MORE BIG KIDS . .

. . . . .

. . SHOP MORE BABY . .

. . OTHER STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS . .

jewelry kit or here

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Holiday

November 16, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide: Women

Today’s Gift Guide is for all the women in your life. Whether you are shopping for your mom, sister, best girlfriend, or even needing a few ideas for yourself I’ve got you covered! I tried to include some amazing, yet still inexpensive items, that fit a variety of women, as well as my favorite splurges – my sunglasses! They are the only item over $100. I just found this AMAZING distressed hoodie + joggers and I am in love!! Plus both are under $75Check it out, and tell me what your favorite things to get or give are!

Also if you missed it I shared one of my best MENS GIFT GUIDE + BABY GIFT GUIDE of the season!!

. . SHOP WOMEN GIFT GUIDE . .

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Home

November 14, 2017

House Update: Part Two

cardigan | top | jeans + similar | shoes || hayden jacket | jeans | boots || houston outfit || harper headband + outfit | moccs

. . SHOP THE POST . .

The house is coming along slooooowly but surely! Right now our potential move in date is somewhere between December 1st + 8th!! We are feeling like we should make a paper chain count down to celebrate! With that being said, there has definitely been a lot of progress since my last post! I thought it was a good time for a house update to give you an idea of where we are!

As I mentioned before, we are working with Gordan Milar and his son. While this has been the longest process, I still couldn’t ask for a better more professional team to work with. Every change or detail I request, they are on it and always willing to go back and forth until we have the same vision. Their whole team is full of the nicest workers and we feel like they have become family because we see them so often! So on to more details…

First off the paint is done and I am SO happy with the color! It is exactly what I was hoping for, which made such a stressful choice worth it!
Tile + Showers are allll in!! The hardware for the bathrooms + kitchens arrived this week too!
Next week the wood should be installed! This update alone might be my very favorite one! We had so many set backs + challenges, but I know it will be worth the wait!
Half the cabinets are in and they will finish those up this week too!
Appliances come the day after Thanksgiving and I can’t even wait! I feel like they will be the thing that make the kitchen feel complete. I’m dying to see it come together!
Also the yard should be done the week of Thanksgiving too! The trees will look dead thanks to winter, but I’m so excited for the little people to have a big open space to run around in after being cooped up in the rental.

It has been a long road with more than our fair share of delays and set backs. We were suppose to move in, in September, so that has been a hard pill to swallow. Also squishing our family of 5 in to a tiny 2 bedroom rental for so much longer than we planned has been far from ideal. But we are really trying to remember everything happens for a reason, and look for the blessings in this crazy time of our lives.

The biggest blessing we’ve had with the delay, is the chance it has given us the chance to save more money for our down payment. Because we have been living in a 2 bedroom apartment with no cable/tv..or any other bills besides 1 credit card payment, we have been able to save more than planned and it has helped out so much.

We may only have furniture for the Master Bedroom + the nursery…but being able to spend the Christmas season in our home as a family is the best present I could ask for!! Let me know if you guys have any questions about anything. Building, picking out items, delays, anything and I will try and answer the best I can in the next house update post. Love you all + thank you for your support!!

xx kails

builder: milar construction + photos: aubrey taiese

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Baby

November 13, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide: Baby + Harper 10 Month Update

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Our sweet Harper girl is growing up faster than any of us like and we can’t get enough of her! Today marks 10 months that she’s been a part of our little crew and it just keeps getting better! I love sharing updates with you about fun milestones + her current favorites so I put together a little list.

With Harper celebrating 10 Months, I thought what better time to share Holiday Gift Guide #2, one of my very favorites to put together…BABY! As a mom of 5, I consider myself just a little experienced in buying for baby. haha!

MILESTONES…

She is constantly pulling herself up on EVERYTHING and loves to be right in the action. I don’t think it will be too long before she tries to take on walking too!
Wearing mostly size 3 diapers (but could easily wear a 4) and size 12-18 months in clothes. She is so squishy I could eat her right up, and she is catching up to our skinny Houston fast!
Saying “Dada” all day long but has no idea what she is actually saying.
Eating pretty much allll the big people food we are eating and hasn’t found anything she doesn’t want to devour!

SWEET THINGS I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW…

She has started doing a fake laugh all the time and it has us all cracking up. The kids will do anything they can to get her to do it and think it is hilarious.
Starting to show a sweet bashful side and it is so adorable. When someone will look at her she will bury her head into my chest and peek out every once in a while to see if they are still looking.
Was totally scared of Harley the new puppy. She is just now finally adjusting and not screaming anytime Harley walks by.

After all the years, I definitely have a list of my tried + true must have products that I recommend to anyone. They are all products that make both you + your babies life just a little happier, easier, and maybe even cuter too. So whether you are shopping for baby, or a soon to be mom, I’ve included my favorites in today’s Gift Guide!

xx – kails

over $70 : ergo carrier | high chair | nuna sena | dock a tot

. . SHOP THE POST. .

ALSO!!! I forgot to include our favorite swaddle sack and we use everyday + night!! You can see it HERE!

photos : aubrey taiese

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Family

November 9, 2017

5 Tips +Tricks for Family Pictures

joe: t-shirt | jeans | shoes || me: leather jacket | top (similar) | jeans | booties hunter: dress | booties || hudson: shirt (similar) | pants | shoes || hayden: top | pants | booties | backpack || houston: shirt | pants (similar) | shoes || harper: headband | dress + leggings | shoes

. . SHOP our LOOKS . .

Family pictures . . the thing every mom dreads + loves all at the same time! It always seems to be the day our little people are their craziest!! So just about everything goes wrong! haha! The prep that goes into getting the perfect pictures can put our stress level over the edge. But the results are some of our most cherished possessions. I’m a mom of five, so I’ve tackled the task a few times. And I’ve learned a few tips + tricks to making the whole process go a little smoother + almost stress free.

dress (sold out) – similar here | cardigan | bracelets || girls dresses | harper headband || hudson shirt + shorts || houston shirt + shorts || joe outfit

a few favorite maxi dresses HERE . HERE . HERE

. . SHOP our LOOKS . .

. FIVE TIPS FOR FAMILY PICTURES .

Don’t get too matchy matchy: I have learned, that the less I try to match perfectly the more I end up liking our pictures. Focus more on coordinating, and less on exact matches. While a perfectly matched picture can look good, the more candid, real looking shots always win my vote. Go with some staple pieces you already have that your people feel comfortable in. Plus you can remember as some of their favorites.
Pick out your outfit first: As women, we are allllways our harshest critic. If you don’t feel confident + comfortable in your outfit going into it, you probably won’t end up liking the final results. Flowy dresses are usually my go to, because while they keep a nicer look, they also aren’t too tight on the areas I’m a little more self conscious about.
Add Variety: I always like to have someone in what I call the “wild card” outfit. Whether it is a floral dress on one of my girls, or a brighter pop in a shirt on one of the boys. Added texture + patterns give the pictures more depth + dimension, and help keep things from getting to matchy.
Timing: Especially when babies are involved, you know the difference in a couple of hours can make or break you family pictures. Schedule your shoot for your family’s “golden hour”, when bellies are full and naps are done to avoid anyone being grumpy or hangry (adults included!)
Bribes: Yes I am that mom…haha. At least when it comes to something like family pictures. I usually hide a pack of Skittles in Joe’s pocket and sneak one in their mouths when they are listening extra good. Also I plan something I know they will be excited about. Like getting ice cream, and make sure to remind them that if they do their best smiles and cooperate, we get to go! Plus I feel like Joe + I deserve that reward by the end too!

With the holidays just around the corner, Christmas Card prep is in full swing. So I hope these tips help getting that perfect shot just a little easier! I’d love hear any tips you use too!

xx kails

(let’s be honest…we usually get a few of these during family pictures as well!! haha.)

photos: aubrey taiese + corissa

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Holiday

November 8, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide: Men

. . SHOP THE POST . .

I don’t know how it seems to happen every single year, but time has flown by!! And somehow Christmas is just 6 weeks away! I’ve tried to be on top of it a little better this year. A few weeks ago I asked you guys what you wanted to see most in my holiday content this year. I was thrilled to get SO many responses requesting Gift Guides!

I love putting them together and they actually help me get my shopping done at the same time! This year I thought I would start off with the HARDEST one for me…and a lot of you…the amazing MEN in our life! From my favorite go-to gifts, to some new ideas I have for Joe + my dad this year, I hope you find something that works for the men in your life!

. . click any image below to shop . .

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Holiday

November 7, 2017

Our Favorite Holiday Family Traditions

girls pajamas | boys pajamas | boys snow boots | girls snow boots

Not too long after Joe + I were married, we had to move out of state for school. I am super close with my family, and the thought of being away from them during the holidays was so hard. So Joe + I decided we should start some holiday family traditions of our own! Hunter was just barely 3 years old, and Hudson only 1, but I was determined to start creating memories for my little people to always look forward to and get excited about! I’m sharing some of our favorite holiday traditions below.

When coming up with a tradition, I wanted it to be something timeless + practical. I really wanted it to be something simple enough that we could continue to do it for years to come. But exciting for all of us to look forward to too. I loved the Christmas pajama thing on Christmas Eve. But it always bothered me that you had to wait until Christmas Eve, to wear your holiday pajamas. Plus within 24 hrs the holiday was over. So I decided to put a little twist on it for my people. Every year on Thanksgiving night, the little people get to open their new Christmas pajamas, so we can enjoy them all December long!

I love any chance I can get to make my people match, and that definitely applies to this pajama tradition. As Hunter has gotten older, and our age range has grown, it’s been harder to find coordinating picks that work. So I was thrilled when I came across Gymboree’s Holiday Collection. They have pajamas as small as newborn all the way up to a size 12 for both boys + girls that go together, so I could grab all of them in once place. I also love that they aren’t the cheesy options you find in a lot of holiday pajamas. I like to keep them fun for the kids, but love keeping it to a simple pattern and Gymboree’s options are exactly that!

It’s such a simple tradition, but one that brings us closer together and always brings out that extra excitement in my people! I love reliving these special moments through their eyes. Plus how fun it is to be a kid again so we try to fit in as many fun traditions as we can! Some of our other favorites are below!

. HOLIDAY TRADITIONS .

Decorating the Tree… As simple as it is, the little people always have a countdown going for this tradition, because it officially means the holidays have begun! We love to turn the fun Christmas songs up loud, and dance around while we decorate!
Polar Express Night… Every year we plan out a night that will be our Polar Express night. We get in our comfy new jammies, snuggle up together, and watch The Polar Express and drink hot chocolate.
12 Days of Christmas Books… We have done this tradition for the longest, and one of my very favorites! At the beginning of the month I wrap up 12 Christmas Books. Every night counting down to Christmas Eve, my people get to choose a book to open and snuggle up to read together. It has been a great tradition to help us take the time to slow down + just be together during the rush of the season.
Gingerbread Houses… We can’t forget about Gingerbread House decorating. With Hunter + Hudson getting older, it has turned to a more competitive tradition that we all love! I love seeing their creative designs + their totally different personalities shine through.
Christmas Lights… This one is by far the simplest, but so fun for the littles too. We all load up in the van in our new jammies and favorite blankets, and drive around the city into different neighborhoods looking at the different Christmas lights. It will be so fun to be in a new spot this year and find new favorites!

Whatever your traditions might be, the holiday season is the best time to be a kid, am I right?! I love to just see their eyes light up at all of the magic that comes this time of year. So you know I always love to hear from you friends. So what are some of your favorite traditions + I’ll add them to the list above so we all can enjoy them!! Love you guys!!

xx kails

in partnership with Gymboree

photos: aubrey taiese

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Looks

November 6, 2017

Favorite Accessories

. . SHOP THE POST . .

It’s no surprise that my “momiform” is always on repeat over here. Gimme alll the basic tees and jeans! If you are going with such a simple look, the key to making it look and feel put together is the accessories! Surprisingly, this is one of the things I get asked about the most both on Instagram + here on the blog. Where are mine from + what are my favorites, so today I’m tackling that by sharing all my must haves with you!

simple necklaces – are defiantly my go to!! I love that they are delicate and my “h” has meaning behind it.
bracelets – are for sure a fun extra + keep the babies entertained.
rings – add so much. You can add a few simple ones or go for one big thick ring like I usually do.
earrings – I don’t always wear these…because with my hair being down so often you hardly ever see them. Plus it’s the one thing Harper likes to pull on.
sunnies – of course these are a no brainer! haha. A good pair of sunnies always make any look (even sweats) look like a stylin outfit!! Plus i love that they can cover your tired eyes – if needed.

I round up a bunch of my favorite accessories from Nordstrom below. These are my go-to’s on a daily basis

. . SHOP MY FAVORITE ACCESSORIES . .

in partnership with Nordstrom

photos: aubrey taiese

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Looks

November 4, 2017

Instagram Round up + Weekend Sales

knit cardigan | top | jeans + here | shoes | clutch

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks over here. The house is coming along well + I can’t wait to show you all a house update next week!! The weather is still warm (well it hasn’t snowed yet) I guess people here are still calling this warm. haha. We are missing the southern california weather right about now – but we are loving the fall leaves and all that goes with it. I rounded the past few weeks outfits (most of them are on sale) + all of this weekends sales!! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and check back next week for some of the first gift guides of the season!!

xx kails

. . WEEKEND SALES . .

Nordstrom: up to 40% off through nov. 12th

Gap: 40% off everything + 50% in store

J. Crew Factory: extra 25% off with code: BUNDLEUP

West Elm: 20%-40% off seating sale

Pottery Barn Kids: 30%-60% off backpacks and luggage

Pottery Barn: extra 20% off your order with code: FRIENDS

H&M: up to 50% off dressy styles

top (sold out) + similar | skirt (sold out) + similar | heels | clutch || joe’s suit

cardigan | top | jeans | shoes

jumpsuit + similar | shoes

leather jacket | top + here | joggers | tennies

sweater | jeans + here | shoes

leather jacket | jumpsuit (similar) + here | booties

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Beauty

November 3, 2017

A Busy Mom’s Guide for Getting Ready

sweater | pants | jacket | hat (similar + here) | watch || harper headband + outfit || houston shirt + pants

. . SHOP THE POST . .

With 5 little people in tow, you could say our schedule is a little crazy! You can often find us trying to get ready, eat breakfast, and finish a few last minute school projects all at the same time. With being busy and on the go so often, I’d like to think I’ve kind of mastered getting myself put together quick! As much as I’d love to stay in my robe all day everyday, I always get more accomplished (and less awkward looks) when I pull myself together. That being said, it doesn’t have to be hard, so today I’m sharing my busy mom’s guide to getting ready I use just about every day!

HAIR…

DRY SHAMPOO IS A GIRLS BEST FRIEND! … You know that question you always hear in “getting to know you” games.. “If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you take? Guys..I think Dry Shampoo might be one of my picks! haha! It is the one product I use more than anything else, and can be such a game changer. Curls can last for days, but if your roots are looking greasy, you aren’t fooling anyone! Dry Shampoo is a quick way to freshen up yesterdays hair in a flash. And it does not have to be the high end salon brand either. My go to is this super inexpensive one!
HATS AREN’T JUST FOR BOYS…Growing up, I always felt like boys had it so easy! Messy hair? No problem! Just throw on a hat! I am loving that hats have become so much more on trend + popular for girls because they are for sure another one of my quick getting ready hacks. Whether its my favorite ball cap or a a more girly hat, I love to throw one on and be out the door in no time!
MESSY BUNS, YES PLEASE …It’s not secret the messy bun is on repeat over here. If I don’t have time for my everyday curls, it is straight to a messy bun. It is so quick and easy, but looks like you put a little more effort in than a typical ponytail. My favorite way to where it is more on the side so I can throw a hat on top, but whatever way you go for, it is sure to cut your hair time in half!

FACE…

5 MINUTE MAKEUP … If you follow me over on Instagram, you have already heard all about my quick and easy makeup routine with Maskcara. I rarely have time to sit down and put my makeup on in the morning before we need to be out and about, so having something I could pull together quick in the car was a must for me. I’ve timed it a few times and it never takes me more than 5 minutes. It gives you a really natural look, but still enough of a boost that you look more awake and freshened up. The fact that it is all together in one easy to grab compact is so helpful too.
EYELASH EXTENSIONS … I wouldn’t call myself a high maintenance girl at all. My beauty + fashion routine is really pretty simple and nothing special, but there are a couple things I am willing to kind of “splurge on” for myself, and one of those is eyelash extensions. I can’t say enough good about these, and they might be my number one trick to getting ready quick, because with them, I really don’t have to do much to look awake and ready to go, and sometimes I never get around to putting makeup on because they do enough. I would 100% say they are worth every penny.
EYEBROWS … These are my other “treat yo self” splurge that I absolutely love! Something about having your whole eye area feeling put together without any daily maintenance is soo nice.

my colors: (top left) stone – walnut – aura (top right) nude, baby watermelon, petal

CLOTHES…

JOGGERS, THE FANCY PJ’S… If I could fill my whole closet with joggers and basic tee’s, I probably would in a heartbeat. It had to have been a busy mom that first designed these because they are perfection. Just as comfy as wearing your pajamas all day, but presentable to the world. I love pairing them with a basic tee and my favorite tennies.
JEANS + BASIC TEE ON REPEAT… We’ve talked about it before, and I like to call it my “momiform”, but you can’t get easier to throw together than jeans + a basic tee. I like to stick to a neutral tee to keep it clean and simple. One of my favorite things about this look is being able to switch out the tennies for heels + adding my favorite leather jacket and I am ready for a work meeting or date night, with almost no effort.
DRESSES… It’s no secret I tend to collect t-shirt dresses, especially in the summer months. They are so easy to quickly throw on, and so so comfortable. Now that Fall is bringing some colder weather, I’ve been pairing them with my favorite cardigans for a quick cozy look.

denim jacket | t-shirt | joggers + here | shoes (similar) | sunnies

Kailee Wright_Nordstrom Anniversary Sale_Grey Dress

photos: aubrey taiese

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Family

November 2, 2017

Hunter Growing Up Way Too Fast

in partnership with OLLY

hat – similar + here | cardigan | t-shirt | jeans + here | necklace | bracelets || hunter cardigan | top | jeans | OLLY vitamins || faux tree | similar couch | rug | throw blanket

. . SHOP THE POST . .

I don’t know how it happened, but I swear I blinked and my Hunter grew right up! Her birthday is coming up next week and it has me feeling alllll the feels! Wasn’t she just barely my first little babe, teaching me how to be a mom?! It is crazy! She has been starting to ask all kinds of questions. From if she can shave her legs….to when she can start wearing mascara (shoot me) and I just don’t know if I’m ready for this, but I thought I’d share an update on what is new + a few things we are trying!

Like I said, growing up has brought up so many questions + topics she was never interested in before! She is asking to shave her legs, and I told her once you start there is no turning back! haha! So I think we are now holding off on that for awhile. She also has been begging to wear makeup too! I keep telling her it will give her zits and to just wait, which totally worked because she saw that I just recently got a zit and asked if it was because I wore make up everyday and of course I told her YES!! but I think she has me convinced to let her start with mascara in the next year or so.

She has also started asking a lot of questions about my prenatal vitamins….like what it does, and how it is different from the kid gummies they usually take. We’ve talked about how they support healthy hair + skin, can give you more energy + a stronger immune system. Since we’ve been talking about them so much lately, when OLLY reached out about their new Multivitamin for Girls, we thought it was the perfect time to give them a try. So far she has loved them, and feels extra grown up graduating from the gummy the rest of the little people take, to something more like mine. I’ll be sure to share an update once she’s tried them a little longer!

In addition to all the questions, she just keeps getting busier and busier! She is an amazing soccer player and spends the majority of her free time practicing and playing for her competition team. On that same note, she has already started talking about soccer scholarships (what 10 year old does this?!) and I’m over here remembering her first tiny pair of cleats! Hunter also LOVES tending kids and is such a little mom. She has been asking if she can start tending for neighbors and friends, but for now I just want to keep her and her skills all to myself! haha.

So at what age did you start wearing make up? Or when did you let your girls start shaving + doing the make up thing? I really want to know. I honestly didn’t even wear maskcara until 10th grade!! Can you see why I’m so hesitant on all this talk? I really love hearing from you all and taking in all your advice!!

xx kails