If you know me at all, it is no secret that my favorite color is black. Whether it’s in decor or fashion, I just love what a classic bold statement it makes. Since it is a color I naturally gravitate to, my closet seems to be full of it and it’s always the color I grab first when shopping for a new basic tee or pair of shoes, so I wanted to share some of the reasons why an all black outfit is one of my favorite go to’s! Plus it’s a great color for fall!!
Black is SLIMMING…
I don’t think there is anyone that can’t get on board with this reason! Wearing all black is slimming for any figure and is a great way to helping you look long and lean. It gives your body one nice line and there aren’t other colors drawing attention to any specific areas.
Black is Easy to Style…
Black is by far the easiest look to dress up or down. I love taking the same black skinnies and basic tee and pairing them with my tennies and a ball cap for an easy day look, and then switching it out for some fun heels and a leather jacket for a more dressed up evening look. By just switching your accessories, but keeping that solid canvas, you can transform your look completely.
Black is CLASSY…
Black is a color that no matter what, it is going to be on trend. (it’s not going anywhere ladies) haha. It is so classy and timeless, and will make you look + feel put together with little effort. Which who doesn’t love that.
Well hope you all have a great weekend with your people!!
So this subject has been weighing on my mind a lot lately and when I reached out to all of you guys and asked your feelings about it the response was crazy!! So many of you feel this on the daily. Honestly, I couldn’t believe how hard we are on ourselves. I was filled with soooo many feelings that it took a bit longer to put all these words together.
So most importantly, I want you to walk away from this feeling stronger + knowing that you are doing your absolute best! Also know that YOU are enough + exactly what your little people need. I shared a few ways to help us all push through mom guilt below.
5 Ways to Push Through Mom Guilt
1. Ask yourself if it’s really worth feeling guilty about.
I think we are all so hard on ourselves even for things that really don’t matter at all in the scheme of things. For example: you didn’t stay up all night making the perfect “All About Me” poster for your kindergartner vs completely forgot about the “All About Me” poster.
2. Realize as much as you want to, you can’t do everything
This one might be the hardest for me. I want to be able to do absolutely everything how I “should” for myself, my job, and my family, but any realistic schedule is not going to allow it. For me this means…take out often fills their bellies more than a home cooked meal so we can all make it to cheer Hudson or Hunter on at a game. It means my house is often not the picture perfect clean I wish it was when Joe got home. Because instead we made it to school on time without cleaning up. You know?
3. Give yourself a mommy time out to reset and just have a breather.
Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes to just breath. To take care of your kids you have to take care of you too. Taking care of you includes focusing time on you. Whether you need gym time, quiet time, spa time, or my favorite, date night. Growing stronger as an individual + couple always results in a better you for your kids.
4. Remind yourself the grass is NOT always greener on someone else’s Instagram feed.
I have such a love/hate relationship with Instagram. Of course it plays a big part in my career which I’m so grateful for. Plus I’ve made some of my closest friends through its connections. At the same time, it is a comparison trap. I know a bunch of us often find ourselves scrolling through thinking “I should’ve done this or that” better as a mom because so and so did. We need to remember, it’s just ONE SECOND in someones life. For most, it is a place to document the happy joyful moments they want to remember, and rarely includes real life baby blowouts, messy cars, or fighting kids.
5. Make simple changes to daily life to avoid the guilt provoking moments.
A lot of the things we feel mom guilt over, can be decreased by making small changes. If you feel a lot of mom guilt about having a clean house, try scheduling a “power hour” with your kids. Turn up the music + you each bust out cleaning assigned spaces in a fun way, or come up with another cleaning schedule that will help messes from being your focus.
If your guilt stems more from not spending enough time with your kids, or giving them individual attention, schedule date nights once a month with each child so you can focus completely on them and give them the extra love you are feeling guilty about. Or I think we would all be surprised what just 10 minutes of one on one time during the day would do for our people.
It’s not always easy, but taking a step back and making simple changes, can really eliminate the negative from creeping in. I’m really trying hard to just make small simple changes and focus on the good. I want to thank you all for your dm’s, emails and suggestion about this subject. I really tried to include everyone’s suggestions and opinions. Thank you for your love and support here in this space + for all your friendships!!
One of my favorite things about Fall weather are all the chunky cardigans that go with it! I love a good chance to layer pieces, and my favorite way to do that is with cardigans! Also I love any chance to be comfortable but look put together at the same time. And that describes a cardigan in a nut shell! haha! They are so easy to throw on over a t-shirt and your favorite jeans when its not quite cold enough for a coat, and they are a great way to dress up a simple t-shirt dress! Because they are definitely an item I turn to on a daily basis, I wanted to share my 10 favorites this season with you! Enjoy!!
Fall is the time of year that just screams fashion to me! From the layering, to the darker colors, (you know my love for black) to the booties, and of course comfort. It’s full of looks + trends I can’t get enough of! We really haven’t experienced a true fall season for at least five years – because California doesn’t believe in fall. haha. Second I’m praying our Utah Fall holds out for at least another month before I have to whip out the gloves and snow boots. So today I rounded up some of my personal favorite fall outfits below + these will for sure be on repeat!!
One of my favorite trends that works all year round, is STRIPES! Whether it is on a top, a bag, or incorporated into a pair of shoes, gimme allllll the stripes! I really can’t get enough of them and I think they are so fun to add in to just about any outfit. They give the look a little more dimension + variation from the plain tee/jeans look, which is my go to around here!
The balanced pattern catches the eye, but still looks effortless with your solid staple pieces and can be just the thing to add something new and change up your outfit completely. The best thing about stripes is they really won’t ever go out of fashion, so you are investing in pieces that will be with you for the long haul! I have so many striped pieces I love, but wanted to share some of my current faves with you today! Hope you all have a happy day!!
One of my favorite things about being back in Utah is being able to enjoy the beautiful mountains! So as much as we are struggling to remember what its like to live in cold weather, it is so nice to be somewhere we get to experience all 4 seasons. But I am still not ready for winter. So if you’ve never been to Utah in the fall, you need to come and experience it! It is absolutely gorgeous! So with that in mind, we loaded up all of our people this weekend and headed up to the mountains to see the leaves. It was so amazing, and freezing! Ha!
I’ve mentioned already that we have all our winter clothes packed away, so it is the perfect excuse to do a little fall shopping and of course our first stop was Rack Room Shoes for some cute new booties + boots for the whole family!
I always love Rack Room Shoes because it is one place I feel like I can find the styles I love for everyone from Joe down to Harper in the same place. (and usually on sale) Also, they always have the best prices. So when my little people are constantly growing out of shoes, we aren’t breaking the bank!
What are some of your favorite fall family traditions? We can’t wait to start making some of our new traditions here in Utah! I would love if you would share any of your fun all traditions or activities below!! Thanks friends!!
First of all how is time flying by and this little girl is already NINE months old?! Can you believe it?! I swear I blinked and we got to this point! She is such a happy baby, and we can’t imagine our lives without her. We still fight over who gets to hold her, feed her, and all things Harper. And I wouldn’t have it any other way! I love sharing updates with you guys and hearing how you relate with your own babes, so here is whats new with chunky girl!
MILESTONES…
Unlike my other little people, Harper girl completely skipped the traditional army crawl stage and jumped right in to full on crawling everywhere! If she sees something she wants, she is on the move.. and fast! She is even starting to pull herself up to everything, and loves to stand up. She loves to clap and her brothers + sisters think it is so fun to get her to do it. Teething is in full swing around here too, which as taken away a little bit of our happy girl, but she already has 3 teeth on the bottom and 2 trying to make an appearance on the top! If you have any teething remedies I am all ears!!
EATING…
As you can see, she isn’t struggling in this department! ha, She is already just about the same size as Houston, and we are loving her chub! We started feeding her the Gerber Baby Food cereal a few months ago and she loves them! Her favorite is definitely the fruit with oatmeal mixes they have. Since they keep her fuller longer + are already mixed together it makes things easier when we are out and about!
Since we had a few food struggles with Houston, we have also been trying a new food mix-in with Harper called SpoonfulOne. The idea behind it is to include the main 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, + wheat) in her everyday meals. So that her body can gently get used to them, and build up an immunity before they become allergens. It comes in little single serving powder packets (which are great for on the go) and we just stir it in to a single serving of whatever we are feeding her. Whether its baby food, yogurt, or one of her favorites…lasagna! I love that a product like this has been created, and are excited to see how it works for her!
SLEEPING…
Oh man..this one makes me tired just thinking about it! Harper is no longer sleeping through the night. So you can cue the tears from me! haha! If you’ve been around here for my other little people, you know that I love getting them on a sleep schedule early, and they have all slept through the night by around 3 months. Harper was doing great, but with the move, traveling, + the joys of teething, she has started waking up again at least once. I’m hoping to try sleep training again in the next couple weeks. Two game changers for us that I’ve shared before, especially for good naps, have been her sleepsack (and this one) + white noise machine. She loves getting all snuggled in and already recognizes them as a cue that its time to sleep.
WEARING…
She is growing fast so she is flying through all the clothes we had for her in between the move! Since I can’t say I’m complaining because I love a good chance to grab a few new baby outfits – but man this is crazy! She is already wearing 12-18 month clothes in pretty much everything and has already moved up to a size 2 in her Freshly Picked Moccasins. Just like with Houston, I am obsessed with these moccs for Harper. I never have to worry about her feet being cold, and they just keep coming out with more colors + designs I love! Plus they stay on!!
So I think that’s just about everything Harper. Most of all, I wish she could just stay little forever so she would snuggle on me more. Isn’t sad they have to grow up? Hope you all have a great weekend!!
When you are going through the stress of prepping for a business trip, couples getaway, or family vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is what to wear on the flight. No matter where I’m headed, comfort is key for me! But I’ve learned a few tips through traveling so I thought they might be helpful to you guys! I’ve narrowed it down to my 3 go to outfits that I always turn to when I’m traveling!!
Sweats: Did I mention comfort is key for me? This is obviously the case in my day to day life. So of course it is important to me when traveling. Airplanes are usually far from comfortable, so you don’t need your outfit making things worse! I love wearing a comfy, but fitted pair of joggers like these, that still have you looking put together, but honestly feel like you just stepped out of bed. Pairing them with a basic tee + some classy sandals that are easy to remove for the security checks, is one of my go to outfits, especially for longer flights.
Jeans + Basic Tee: My next go to outfit that is another favorite is comfy jeans + a basic tee. It is a small step up in looking a little more put together than the sweats, plus this look is what I always choose when I know I’m headed straight to dinner or a meeting after a flight. It’s easy to throw a leather jacket over and switch your shoes to some heels and be ready for a night out.
All Black: This option is my go to when I’m traveling with my kids because it hides everything! With babies on your lap, you can almost guarantee there is going to be some kind of food smeared or smashed on you, or some spit up, and black is a great way to hide most of those stains! Also an added bonus…it is slimming and easy to throw together quickly but still feel like you took the time to get ready for the day.
If you’ve been around for a while, you probably know that I don’t share too many beauty products. My typical beauty routine is quick and simple because with 5 little people and their crazy schedules, we are almost always in a hurry to go! So I usually stick to my basics go-to products for everyday. However, the products I do use are ones that I feel like are my tried + true must haves and I would recommend to any girlfriend. So since I get asked a lot here, I thought I’d share my top SIX beauty items I can’t live without!
Beauty Blender : This little sponge is so simple but such a game changer. I swear I have saved so much money on wasted makeup because it doesn’t over absorb! I also love that it helps your makeup go on super smooth without any added lines or creases.
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish : I really cannot go without having my nails painted. I just feel so much better. Ha! With that being the case, I am obsessed with this Essie Gel Polish! It stays on my nails for about 10 days and still looks like I just painted them! Yes please! There is no light needed either, just a simple coat of polish and a top coat to seal it in. It comes in so many fun colors too!
MAC Lipstick + Gloss : I think I have tried just about every lipstick out there and I always go back to MAC. I love the way it feels on my lips. And it doesn’t dry my lips. My secret tip is to combine it with the MAC Prep + Prime Lip and it lasts me all day long! My favorite go to everyday shade is Angel. It’s the perfect shade of pink to give your lips just enough color.
MAC Lip Prep : I started using this about a year and a half ago when a MAC girl recommended it to me. To be honest I was a bit skeptical but after a few days I was completely sold on this lip prep!! My sisters use it as well and have had amazing results for helping your lipstick last longer.
Paddle Brush : With long hair myself + two girls with long hair, a paddle brush is a must around here. It is so gentle on all the tangles, my girls hate if I use anything else! It also leaves your hair looking so smooth and shiny!
Sonic Spin Brush : So a bunch of my girlfriends have had this for years and I’m not sure what took me so long to take the plunge to try it. I have never been a very good nightly face washer, but since turning 34 I’ve been on a mission to take better care of my skin and this little brush has been the push I needed to wash my face nightly.
Moroccan Oil : I have used this oil for years and have absolutely loved it! I like to put a little bit in my hair when wet after I wash it. It helps keep my hair soft, shiny and silky smooth as well as giving it a healthy boost of nutrients too!
Last week was a great week as my sisters and mom were in town. We went to the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert + spent a night up in Park City with the gorgeous fall leaves. It was a wonderful weekend to catch up and connect. The house is finally starting to come together again and we actually have a move in date!! We are hoping (if things stay on schedule) the week before Christmas!!
The weather has changed in Utah and it is cold enough to start wearing some of our boots, booties and cozy sweaters. It will be interesting to see how we all survive our first winter here. I hope you’re having a great weekend…I love you all and the friendships and support you bring to the space!!
xx kails
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I don’t know about you guys, but the last couple weeks has brought a change in temperature and everything is screaming all things Fall! The shelves are full of pumpkin spice + the beautiful leaves are changing already! One of my favorite things about Fall is all the fun fashion trends! I love all the layers and textures you start to see, the darker color palettes, and of course the chance to pull out my favorite booties!
I love booties because they are so versatile. They look great paired with a dress + can be the perfect addition to a sweater + jeans too! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale had so many cute pairs this year that I was actually dying for the season to change, and that is crazy talk from this California girl! Ha! I had to share all of my favorite finds, so I’ve put together 9 of my must have booties for Fall! Also I shared FOUR more looks that are perfect for paring with your booties below!!
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I have a really close relationship with my family. And when we first moved away for Joe’s school, I wasn’t sure I would survive without living by them! Honestly I was the hardest thing for me – and I really struggled that first year away. I couldn’t imagine doing holidays or birthdays without them there. Little did I know that as much as we missed both families, it would be the push we needed for us to make our own family traditions between Joe + I and the little people. Also I had know idea the we would make some incredible friends that have become like family!
Now that we are back in Utah, I can’t even tell you have much we have loved living by family again! The kids might love it even more than I do, if that’s possible! They get so excited for the unexpected morning visits from my sisters before they head to work – or after school visits, and especially love how much their cheering section has grown at games! haha!
One thing that has been an adjustment for all of us is realizing they have a life with responsibilities and other friends here too. And we can’t just play 24/7. We are so used to our time together being on vacations where everything is 100% family time. So it has been a little different to remember how to do everyday life! We all have busy schedules, but we are trying to get together for regular Sunday dinners. Plus we’re loving that both sets of grandparents are the perfect distance for a quick weekend getaway!
I feel so blessed to be back in Utah again — but I do have to say, if you ever get the chance to move away (even for a short time) do it!!! Honestly, it was the best thing for Joe and I and our relationship. Now I’d love to hear where you all are from + if your currently by family or on your own and what you love about it. Really I wanna know + love connecting more with you all!!
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