I have to say, I’m feeling pretty ready for fall. I’m enjoying the last of the sunny days and plan to sport dresses as much as I can – but I have some fantastic Fall finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that I’m impatiently waiting to wear!
TOP :
One my fave fall finds is this sassy plaid shirt by Treasure & Bond. The material is super soft, is has a nice relaxed fit, and the cuffs are long with 3 buttons that give it a little something extra. My favorite part of the shirt is the open back. You can definitely wear a regular bra with this shirt (I did), but if you want to throw on a fun bralette, it’ll look super cute showing through the opening. It comes in Blue Shadow and Red Baroque – and both are beautiful in person. Perfect for fall! It is relaxed fit so you can get your true size and it should have some room. I got the red in XXS and the blue XS to compare – and I like them both. Definitely a perfect fall staple!
BOTTOMS:
My jeans are the Donna Ripped Crop Jeans by Kut from the Kloth – but they are currently sold out. When they are back in stock – definitely snag them! They are crazy comfortable and super cute! They have a ton of stretch and run a little big in my opinion. I got them in a 0 but they feel more like a 2 to me. I would size down if you want them tight. These are two other options that are just as cute and perfect for fall!
Women’s Kut From The Kloth Connie Step Hem Ankle Jeans
These run a little large like the ones I have by Kut From the Kloth above – so size down if you are between sizes or want them on the tighter side. I kept my size 0 jeans because they are super comfy around the waist, not crazy tight, but they are still skinnies. These have raw step hems and come in this beautiful dark blue wash with golden topstitching. They are under $90 and have free shipping!
Women’s Articles Of Society Sarah Skinny Jeans
These jeans have a vintage feel but you don’t need to break them in! Super comfy with a good amount of stretch – and the perfect amount of distressing. These fit more true to size in my opinion. They do stretch a bit from wear so you could size down, but I think they fit pretty perfectly and a good wash is all you need for them to bounce back. Raw hems make these super on trend and will put you in the perfect position for fall. These jeans are under $65 and a total steal!
SHOES:
Now for my shoes! You guys – these Halogen Corbin Slide Loafers are everything! I wear them all the time and love them. I’ve already ordered them in the other colors and can’t wait for them to arrive. I got them in black because I wanted something classic – but I’m super excited that they also come in Silver and a beautiful Wheat color. You can see me sporting them in the photo at the top of this post – but this close up should help as well. Don’t hesitate – get these loafers! They are under $90 and so worth it!
Time to get ready for Fall! Happy shopping! xo
Who doesn’t love cute and SUPER comfy sandals? I posted the photo above with my daughter the other day and got lots of questions about where I got my sandals. The answer is Nordstrom – and they are on SALE!
The Rosaria Sandal by Sofft in Black is shown on me above – and shown in the stock photo to the right. It has extra cushioning under the ball and heel of your foot so it is nice and squishy. It also has multi-textured straps and a low, walkable wedge. I’ve included the photo where I’m sporting them in black, but I have them in both available colors and love them! They are incredibly comfortable, and easy to run around in for errands, or if you have active kiddos (like me)! 🙂 I pack these for vacations, but also use them regularly with sundresses, skirts, shorts and jeans. Ladies – these are beyond comfy but the straps add a little sass which is nice when you’re on the go!
The Rosaria Sandal in Metallic is beautiful and very versatile. When I need a lighter sandal but I know I’m going to have the kids with me – these are my go to! So pretty and also so practical. The straps have a neutral tone but they are sort of a mixed media – so there is a metallic tone with varying shades. They are so pretty and an absolutely must for mommas! Not to mention they are under $50! You are basically getting both colors for the price of one…how can you say no?
The Nolan Strappy Wedge Sandal by Hinge comes in 4 colors, shown below. The heel is only 2 1/4″ which is pretty perfect – and the straps are on point! Overall – rave reviews when it comes to comfort and style. They are also on SALE for under $40! Total steal for these beautiful and very stylish momma friendly! Going fast so hurry and check them out!
Time for some sassy flats! These Halogen Molly Pointy Toe Flats come in 5 gorgeous colors shown below – and they are crazy cute! Go spicy with red, classic with nude or black, or soft with light blue or grey. These comfortable flats are a perfect transitional shoe from summer to fall.
They can be dressed up or down, and work perfectly with jeans as well as dresses. Some reviews say to size up, though I feel they are more true to size. If you have a wider foot, you may want to go a half size up, otherwise I would order your actual size. Another perfect pair on sale for under $50! Sizes are going fast so snag them now!
I hope these help you chase your little ones in comfort and style! Happy shopping! xo
Finding the right pediatrician for your baby and your family can be very stressful. There are so many factors, and truthfully, it all depends on what you feel is most important. Every parent has their own method, this is mine. I hope it helps guide you in the right direction as you look for the pediatrician that best fits your wants and needs.
Step 1:
Make a quick list of what you are looking for in a pediatrician. I call this the list of musts. My list of musts is below – in no specific order. You can use it as is, or let it inspire your own.
Mommy Lexi List of Musts:
- Close proximity to my home
- 4-5 star reviews on yelp
- Great reviews on doctor websites
- Referrals from friends and colleagues
- Relationship with delivery hospital and/or OBGYN
- Accepting patients
- Great bedside manner (makes me feel comfortable, is caring, listens, asks questions, doesn’t rush me, etc.)
- Easy to get in touch with via phone and email
- Has after hours contacts for emergencies
Step 2:
Ask your network (friends, close colleagues, neighbors who have kids) for their pediatrician of choice. Facebook and Nextdoor are my personal faves for this task. Will they all meet your list of musts? Most likely not. Will it give you a great list to work off of? Absolutely!
Step 3:
Look at Yelp reviews. Is Yelp the most reliable source in the world? No. Does it help in this process? Yes! I think parents take things very seriously (myself included). Reviews by parents are often times emotional and have a lot of extra detail. That helps when looking at pediatricians (and other kid related things like schools, daycares, play places, dentists, etc.). Yelp is a great place to look at pediatricians in the area very quickly. You can do a search based on your current location (home) which I love because I don’t want to travel far with my kiddos if I don’t have to. Close to home is best as it means there is less of a chance we’ll be late or miss appointments! A MUST! 🙂
Step 4:
Look at doctor review sites like the ones listed below. It’s worth looking at more than one for more perspective.
Please be careful when it comes to reading through the reviews on these sites as well as on Yelp. As previously mentioned, parents can be emotional about things that involve their kids ( yes…I am part of that group). Read the reviews and take them with a grain of salt. Each pediatrician has their strengths, and as a parent, it is up to you to figure out what is most important to you. For example, if promptness ranks at the top of your list, keep that in mind if there are bad reviews about wait times. If bedside manner is #1, keep that in mind as you read reviews about how the doctors interacted with the parents and kids.
Our pediatrician has a great bedside manner and we adore her. The practice overall has mixed reviews when it comes to wait times / promptness. That has nothing to do with our specific doctor, but it is something that was in her reviews as part of the overall practice. She is very prompt but other doctors in the practice can run behind. Keep things like that in mind as you review these doctors, and if you got a referral, ask your friends about their personal experiences. It makes a big difference when you know who is giving the review.
Step 5:
Cross off the pediatricians that you didn’t like from your research to form your short list. Call your short list to see who is taking new patients. That will further shorten your list. Some practices that are very full do a lottery system to keep it fair. We experienced this first hand and got picked right away (at random)! It was so worth it and I would not let something like a lottery of sorts detour you. Give it a go – you may win a fantastic pediatrician!
Step 6:
Of the remaining pediatricians who came recommended, passed your online research, and are taking patients – see what their process is before and after delivery. Our pediatrician has a great relationship with the hospital where we had our kids. She showed up the day our son was born, did the same when our daughter was born, and has been a fantastic doctor to us for the last 4 years. She knows our kids well and I love how much she cares about our family.
Step 7:
Trust your gut. At the end of the day – this doctor has to fit your family and you. If you feel like they are too structured, not holistic enough, running late all the time, bedside manner could use work, or anything else – decide if you can live with it and move on if you can’t. Find the right pediatrician and trust that you know who that person is. It is a process – but it is well worth it!
I hope this helps and that you find the best pediatrician possible for your family! XOXO
When I was a kid I loved fruit rolls! They were a great treat in my lunchbox, fun to play with and even more fun to eat! My favorite ones were red – which usually meant they had some sort of strawberry flavoring in them. I have no idea what was in the the fruit rolls of my childhood, but I can tell you exactly what is in the fruit rolls I make for my kids! They are fresh, delicious, and crazy easy to make! Not to mention, they are a great way to use up fruit that is super ripe and needs to be eaten fast!
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 Cups – Fresh ripe (or slightly over ripe) fruit of your choice
- 2 Tbsp – Fresh citrus of choice (lemon, lime or orange)
- Optional: 1/4 Cup Sugar (You can omit completely if your fruit is super ripe and sweet, or use a couple tablespoons of honey or agave if you prefer)
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Baking sheet (13×18 or 13×15 both work fine)
- Blender
- Spatula (I use an offset spatula because it tends to work best for spreading in a nice thin even layer)
- Large bowl
INSTRUCTIONS:
- First, line your baking sheet with parchment paper. I like to use parchment because it can be used when rolling up the fruit rolls once they are baked and cooled. You can also use a silicone baking mat. Make sure it covers the whole baking sheet.
Wash and cut your ripe fruit into medium sized pieces that are easy to measure in a measuring cup and easy to blend. Make sure you have 3 cups of fruit and put into a large bowl.- Squeeze 1 lemon, lime or small orange. Measure 2 tablespoons and add to your bowl of sliced fruit. You can also just add it to the blender on top of the fruit.
- Pour the fruit and juice mixture into your blender.
Measure 1/4 cup of sugar and pour into the blender on top of the fruit. As mentioned above, you can omit the sweetener if your fruit is ripe and already very sweet. Adding sugar does make the fruit rolls a little more chewy in texture – more like a store bought fruit roll – but it is delicious no matter what!- Place top on the blender and blend until almost smooth. A little texture is good. Your puree should be thin enough that it pours – and thick enough to stay put when you spread it on the pan.
Pour the mixture onto your lined baking sheet. Use an offset spatula to spread the mixture about 1/8″ thick.- Bake at about 170 degrees Fahrenheit for around 5-6 hours (might take longer depending on the thickness of your batch and what fruit you used. You are baking this low and slow to basically dehydrate it. If the edges start to get dark, take the pan out of the oven and brush the edges with
a little water to help rehydrate it. If they are a little overdone at the end, just cut the edges off or try brushing with more water to make it more pliable. I baked my batch for about 4 hours and then turned off the oven and left it there overnight. My oven takes awhile to cool off so it continued to bake and then fully cooled by morning. If 
you need to bake it a little longer in the morning, that is totally fine, it won’t hurt it at all. If it is pretty close to done, keep an eye on it as you don’t want it to overcook and get crispy. For the first couple of hours you can be very hands off and just let it do it’s thing. After about 2 hours, it is usually a good time to test how done it is. If it is still very soft, set your timing for another 60 – 90 minutes or so and then check it again. Use the tip of your finger to test it by touchingthe center of the fruit mixture.
It should notstick to your finger or leave an indent when you touch it. - Once it is fully cooked and cooled, use kitchen scissors to cut into long strips, roughly 1-1.5″ thick. I eyeball it so my fruit rolls are not perfect – but I think it’s fun that way 🙂 They fit perfectly into kids lunches and you actually know what
is in them! YUM! - Roll the strips into little rolls with the parchment paper and put into an airtight container for easy storage (mason jars or tupperware work great).
- Now, go enjoy your sweet and healthy treats! Don’t forget to share with the kids! 😉 XOXO
NOTE: I made 2 batches which I took photos of for this post. The first was made with 3 cups of strawberries and the juice of a small ripe orange (2 tbsp). For the second batch, I used 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup pear, 1 cup apple and the juice from 1 lime which came out to exactly 2 tablespoons. Both batches came out delicious! Use what you have on hand that needs to be eaten/used up! Also, look for ripe organic fruit on sale! Super ripe fruit is usually being sold for a great price before it goes bad – and it is perfect for these fruit rolls!
Weeknights are always so busy! I wanted to do something easy and fun with the kids as an after dinner activity and treat. Then I remembered Jigglers! I haven’t made Jigglers since I was a kid! I used traditional Jello for this recipe, but I’m sure you can look into Vegan options for this as well.
This is my super simple recipe so you can give them a try!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 – 6 ounce packet of Jello (I used strawberry but pick your favorite)
- 1.25 cups – Boiling water
- 1 – 9×13 baking pan (Use a Pyrex if you have one – the higher sides help)
- Saran wrap
- Cookie cutters
INSTRUCTIONS:
Line your baking pan (Pyrex) with Saran wrap leaving a little overhang on each side. This will make it much easier to get your Jigglers out later – and makes it so you don’t have to grease the pan.- Next, boil the water in a sauce pan.
- Pour the Jello powder into the boiling water, turn
off the heat, and gently mix with a whisk until completely dissolved - Pour the hot Jello mixture into your prepared pan. Be careful, the liquid is very hot so pour slowly.
- Put the pan into the fridge. Please be sure to clear a shelf so there is room for the hot Jello pan to sit flat in the fridge. Do not set this on top of anything but the shelf in the fridge.
- Let the Jello set in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Do not add any cold water or ice – that will dilute the Jello and you won’t have successful Jigglers!
- Once the Jello is fully set, get out the cookie cutters, make shapes, eat up and have fun!!!!
NOTE:
There is a new NATURAL Jello available flavored with real fruit juice and other natural flavors. It looks like this! I believe these come in a 3 ounce package, so you would need 2 packages to make this recipe.
A VEGAN NOTE:
For those looking for a vegan or vegetarian option, google Vegan Gelatin for some fantastic alternatives. I also found a great recipe (listed below) with information about Agar Agar (vegan) – so check it out! Try out her recipe – so worth it!
Agar Agar Fruit Jellies – The Food Librarian
Floral dresses are sweet, flirty and versatile! There is a beautiful femininity that only florals can provide. You can dress them up or down, wear them short or long, there are florals perfect for weddings, dates, festivals, casual errands, and more. There are so many amazing options out there right now – I had to pull together some of my favorites for you. I hope this helps you find the right floral for you!
The floral dress in this photo, which inspired this post, is one of my favorites! It’s off the shoulder, is the perfect length and flows beautifully. I always feel so beautiful when I’m in this dress. Unfortunately, this lovely dress from Nordstrom has completely sold out. I’m so sad because I know you would love it! These other floral options are also from Nordstrom, and are still in stock (for now)! Take a look and let me know if you have any questions! XO
Women’s After Six Floral Chiffon Off The Shoulder Gown
Off the shoulder, beautiful floral, perfect for a wedding or more formal event. This dress is perfect in so many ways – but please note that it is very long and may need to be hemmed if you are on the shorter side (like me)!
Women’s Jenny Yoo Cassie Flutter Sleeve Surplice Gown
The flutter sleeves on this dress are enchanting! This floral gown is delicate and beautiful. It comes in blush (as seen here) and black. Another perfect floral for a wedding or other formal summer event. Note that this is another long dress. The beauty of a dress that is long is that it can be hemmed to fit you exactly. Pick your shoes and make sure the dress fits you perfectly.
Women’s Missguided Bardot Off The Shoulder Midi Dress
This sassy floral is perfect for so many things! Summer date night, brunch with the girls, a cocktail party, and more. It is form fitting with an appropriate bust and shoulder action. The off-the-shoulder part of the dress fits well and doesn’t ride up or fall down. It is a midi length dress so keep that in mind if you are shorter. I love this dress so much and it’s under $100!
Women’s NSR Ruffle Dress
This sweet little floral is the perfect length, has beautiful ruffles, and is very flattering. I love it can be dressed up or down, and is still a little flirty. I do think it runs a little small so keep that in mind as you order this dress. The great news is it’s under $100 and Nordstrom has the best return policy ever so it is easy to size up or down as needed. I plan on bringing this on vacation to Hawaii! Yay!!!
Women’s Eliza J Floral Print Halter Maxi Dress
This dress is stunning! It is a halter with a beautiful shape and sassy back. This is perfect for a tropical vacation, summer wedding, date, party, formal photos or other fun event! It comes in a couple different prints and has a sash. The fabric is lovely and Nordstrom does a fantastic job shipping this dress so it isn’t wrinkled when it arrives! So worth it!
Women’s O’Neill Cambria Maxi Wrap Dress
Ok – you need this wrap dress! It’s under $60, this blue is stunning, and it can easily be dressed up or down.
-Mic drop –
Women’s Wayf Love Note Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress
This floaty floral maxi is in my top 3 right now. It fits beautifully and can easily be dressed up or down with the right accessories. It covers problem areas and fits beautifully. The waist runs a little small so you may want to size up. Did I mention it is under $90? Honestly – you NEED this dress!
Women’s Bb Dakota Gaila Tiered Maxi Dress
AMAZING! This floral is super flattering with flowing tiers, a high back (easy to cover bra straps) and a sexy neckline. The colors are even more beautiful in person, and it works for a number of events. Don’t hesitate – it’s 40% off!!!
Get your floral on and enjoy!! Happy shopping!!