jeans + a tee + routine

this week has been an extra long one. albert came home from a work trip to England with a cold. before i knew it our whole little family was coughing and splattering around the house.

before i became a mommy, being sick was no fun, but at least i could wallow in my self-pity anyway i saw fit. now that i have a small nugget to tend to, being sick is pure torture. Lyla needs attention 24/7 and laying down while you work through a bad cold is not an option.

all this being sick business makes me realize how grateful i am for the "everyday". sometimes i get bored with routine, but when things get rough i want it back asap! i can't even imagine how you mama's with more than one babe handle life when you (& them) get sick.

here's hoping for a healthier and brighter weekend. and if you're a family dealing with a more severe form of illness (mental, emotional or physical) - i pray you find greater healing,  constant support and love.

///on a lighter note, we spent some time in the fresh air, while wearing our favorite pair of jeans and plain white tee, all in the name of being BORING!

WHAT WE WORE:

Lyla:
tee/CARTER'S
jeans/OLD NAVY
moccs/FRESHLY PICKED

me:
necklace/JAMES MICHELLE
tee/ZARA
jeans/ZARA
sneakers/ZARA

   

FOGO

FOGO (not to be confused with FOMO) also known as "Fear Of Going Out".

this is an anxiety i picked up after having a little lady named Lyla.

let me explain. when i first became a mommy (and the few weeks that followed) going out of the house was something i had NO desire to do. i was still recovering and Lyla was still adjusting. all we needed was eachother and large amounts of sleep.

flash forward a few months and getting out of the house was great... as long as i was accompanied by the hubbs or one of Lyla's grandmas and/or aunts. in my mind i couldn't handle it if for some reason Lyla had a melt down in public and i didn't have anyone to support me while dealing with the situation at hand... be it hunger, or sleep, or a dirty diaper! ::sigh::

this anxiety soon passed and i became much more adventurous, but Lyla decided travel was not her thing. while i have always loved driving in the car, my babe couldn't stand it. most moms will tell you how their kids love the car and how it even puts them to sleep - that's just not how Lyla rolled. and so my FOGO returned.

now days, my FOGO comes and goes. Lyla is much more compliant in the car as long as she has a snack in hand (she takes after her momma) and we are moving - i rebuke all traffic lights. however, naps are still a problem as they greatly interfere with when we can go out and how long we can stay out. trying to plan activities or play dates takes a masters in time management for me. some moms will understand this and others won't.

i realize to some my FOGO might sound like no big deal... and i definitely know this is a first world problem, BUT it still greatly effects my day to day life.

i share these thoughts not so you can judge me, but to maybe connect with someone else who feels the same way and can now rest assured they're not alone, or to enlighten someone who is not yet a mommy or soon to become one. embarking on this journey of motherhood is so eye-opening and life changing. personally, i never thought i would have had half of the experiences i've had so far and Lyla is only 14months. bracing myself for the future...

FOGO is just one of the little bumps i've recently had to overcome. yours might be something totally different. regardless, if it matters to you - it matters!

below are some pics of my daily motto on a shirt //

WHAT WE WORE:

on me:
shirt/TARGET
jeans/GAP
button down/H&M
bralette/SPIN GALLERY 
ring/JCREW

on Lyla:
bow/TARGET
shirt/CARTER'S
leggings/GAP
shoes/FRESHLY PICKED

   

winter... are you there?

 

this year has been the craziest winter weather i have ever experienced in Miami. 

it's no secret that most states across America are experiencing hotter than usual temps... but do i really have to have an 80 degree Christmas day?!

i've collected some really great coats, jackets, and sweaters over the years - mainly from living in Connecticut - and i'm itching to wear them as best one can in Miami.

sweaters with cutt-offs anyone?

the other day i started organizing some winter wear in my closet to put in storage and found this amazing jacket. it's a Connecticut thrift store find and definitely from the 80's... and i LOVE!

it also reminds me of Joseph's coat of many colors from the Bible. 

this jacket is surprisingly versatile, very comfy, and obviously super unique.

just for fun i paired it with a light long sleeve shirt and my cut-offs, then added some ankle boots and prayed for colder weather. 

needless to say,  i had to pack my jacket away b/c after 10mins of wear i was sweating.

oh the struggle...

what i'm wearing:

necklace: james michelle

shirt: GAP

jacket: thrifted

shorts: one teaspoon

boots: sam edelman

   

zara for the holidays

ummm... have you seen what Zara's got in its stores for the holidays?!

if you know me at all, you know i have a slight obsession for this store. so like a true stalker, i downloaded the app and check it on the daily.

in a time when fashion has become disposable (you can buy shirts for $7.99), trends come and go like the wind, and even hand washing items doesn't guarantee they won't come out toddler size... it's nice to have a store like Zara.

i have gathered a few of my favorite items and shared them below... who doesn't  need glitter sneakers (genius!), a 90's relaxed blazer, pops of coral, statement earrings, lace detailing, turbines, and the most awesome velvet bucket purse with beading and. a. tassel!

bring on all that is festive ///

sweeping the grass.

had such an awesome birthday weekend for Lyla. honestly, i could not fully express in words how much my now one year old has changed my life. there are the obvious things like less sleep, more doing, and showers becoming a luxury. BUT more importantly and more personally she has shown me what selfless love really looks like - it's kinda scary. she has also taught me that i am (or was) a super lazy individual - when i used to complain about not having enough time in the day i really had NO IDEA! lastly - well at least for this blog post - she has shown me how important family is. without family i could not have got thru this first year. my family and my hubbs' family have been a loving, motivating, comforting, disciplining, and self-checking force. and for ALL of the before mentioned i am extremely thankful.

so thankful.

on a lighter note - below is a little photo session spurred on by Lyla sweeping the grass before leaving for her 12month check up and shots - poor baby had no idea what was coming. Lyla is in an adorable outfit given to her by my bros girlfriend and i'm in a Canadian tux inspired by OneTeaspoon.

Lyla:
dress & cardi - Carter's
moccs - Freshly Picked
Me:
sunnies - Spin Gallery (local to miami)
shirt: Madewell
shorts: OneTeaspoon
shoes: Converse 

   

a pumpkin post.

fall is here! so as usual my sister has turned all festive. she literally won't leave you alone until you join in on her merriment. if you enter a store that happens to have seasonal candles she will smell everyone -- then ask your opinion on her favorites to make a final decision.

needless to say, she has way too many candles. 

with all these celebratory acts of fall going on my sister decided to rope me into decorating pumpkins with her -- oh the joy!

well, if i'm going to spend a day decorating a food that will eventually perish in the sun, why not document and blog it. my sister started with this little guy:

i wasn't going to purchase any pumpkins, but once we got to Home Depot i couldn't resist this cream colored pumpkin and this light peach pumpkin that looked like someone threw-up on it. i bought some iridescent copper paint by Ralph Lauren and lightly painted the bottom half of my cream pumpkin as such: 

 my sister continued on her merry decorating spree with gold and silver spray paint by Rust-oleum, some glitter, and painters tape.

clearly she was a very proud mother hen. she is also a perfectionist and needed to make deep inspections at the completion of each pumpkin decor endeavor... as seen below:

after we completed our pumpkins we put them together for a little photo shoot. i think my sister's orange and gold striped pumpkin is reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

i put my two pumpkins on a mirrored tray with some candles and and scented pine cones.
yes, my sister won me over and now our house is all fall festive.

of course Lyla had to give her approval -- and by approval i mean she needed to taste the pine cones.

and if you're interested my sister even took the time to name each pumpkin.
she REALLY gets into this seasonal stuff.
mine on the top and hers on the bottom: