“Life is always better with a closet full of tulle, frills and glitter!” -Anonymous
Though I am not sure who said this cute quote, I agree with it fully! Does anyone else have visions of being Carrie Bradshaw running around NYC in a tulle skirt and heels? It is so feminine and badass – all at the same time! The pic above is my own little Carrie moment – but in the Bay Area. It was a hot day and I felt super sassy in this nude skirt and white crop.This perfect skirt is from Chicwish and I’ve linked it below. Might I add that it’s on SALE?!? Keep scrolling to see some family photos where tulle was a must! Scroll to the bottom to shop my look. Muah!
Tulle has a special place in my heart and always will. It is so fluffy and fun, and feels a lot like playing dress up, but in an adult appropriate way! Haha! You can put a tulle skirt with a tshirt, denim top, soft sweater, crop top, leather jacket, booties, heels, cute flats…I mean it’s crazy how versatile tulle can be – and really is! Dress it up or down…make it look fancy or edgy. I’m clearly a fan of tulle in its many forms.
For both of my maternity photo shoots (for Gabriel and Sofia), I chose tulle because there is something so soft and elegant about it. I think it works beautifully for maternity and baby photos. One of my all time favorite photos was taken while I was pregnant with Sofia. Gabriel (who was 1 at the time) was hugging me. We staged the same photo after Sofia was born, and the photos turned out absolutely beautiful. The photos have such a softness and glow from the tulle, that works perfectly with the tenderness of those special moments. I’ve included one of the photos below so you can see what it looks like from our newborn photoshoot. I’m sitting on a white bed and the tulle is almost like a puffy, white, soft cloud. I was clearly in heaven with my babies! 🙂
We’ve also used tulle for some of our fun family photoshoots. Sofia’s 1st birthday was a perfect reason to put both of us in tulle dresses (see photo below in pink and gold). For our holiday photos the last 2 years, I chose tulle but in different colors. Last year was black tulle (see “JOY” photo above) and this year was red tulle (see my latest holiday post). Tulle is fun and flirty and festive. It is also very forgiving and photographs really well!
As you can see, anytime we have an event or photoshoot – I always find a way to incorporate tulle skirts or dresses. To properly show my love for tulle – I’ve pulled together my favorite items that will help to round out your closet. Think holiday parties, New Years, birthdays, family photos…trips to NYC where you can get your inner Carrie on! Do it all!!!!
I hope this roundup helps you find a new fave tulle item for your next event! Happy shopping!
Photo credit: Dekker Photography
The recipe for my chili is below along with some kitchen hacks. You’ll notice that I modified the recipe a bit in the video. I did that because I was using things I had on hand. That is exactly what you should do. Take this and make it your own by using what you have on hand. My pantry and freezer are always well stocked with organic items that can be made into a healthy and hearty dinner on busy weeknights. I hope this becomes a regular meal in your home as it is in ours – and that you enjoy it!
RECIPE
PANTRY ITEMS:- 1 – Organic yellow onion
- 1 – 15 oz Can organic cannelloni beans (salt free)
- 1 -15 oz Can organic black beans (salt free)
- 1 -15 oz Can organic pinto beans (salt free)
- 1 -15 oz Can organic kidney beans (salt free)
- 1 – 28 oz Can organic fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 – Jar organic chili powder (no salt blend)
- 1 – 16 oz Bag organic fire roasted corn
- 1 – 16 oz Bag organic three pepper blend (sliced bell peppers)
- 1 – 11 oz Bag Beyond Meat (or alternative vegetable – meatless protein)
- Plug in Slow Cooker and put on low.
- Dump entire can of fire roasted tomatoes into slow cooker – juice and all.
- Open all 4 cans of beans and drain them. Dump the beans from all 4 cans (without the liquid) – into the slow cooker.
- Dump entire bag of three pepper blend into slow cooker.
- Dump 1/2 the bag of fire roasted corn into the slow cooker. Save the other half in freezer for another recipe.
- Dump entire bag of Beyond Meat into slow cooker.
- Dice entire onion and add to slow cooker. Stir everything well with large spoon.
- Let cook on low for 8 hours. Add 5-6 tbsp chili powder (more or less depending on your preference). I use at least 6 tablespoons of chili powder because I like a good amount of chili flavor. The kind I use is NOT spicy because I make it for my whole family, and my kids are still young. Keep that in mind and add more of a “hot and spicy” mix if you want more of a kick.
- Stir well and serve hot.
- Pre-washed spinach from the bag
- Pre-sliced organic mushrooms
- Any other type of organic bean that you like for chili
- Chopped garlic (fresh or pre-chopped from the jar)
- 1 – 15 oz can organic tomato sauce (for a saucier version)
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped parsley
- Chopped cilantro
- Avocado
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Scallions
- Sour cream
- Fresh diced tomatoes
- Tortilla chips
Yes this is a vegetarian chili. You can add meat – but it will take a lot of extra time to cook the meat, drain it, and add it into the chili. Also, you will miss out on the added veggies from the vegetable protein that I use.
Beyond Meat (or similar substitute of choice) is a fantastic mommy hack to get your kids to eat more veggies! The texture is like ground beef – but it’s a lot healthier! The one I use (see above) is soy free, non GMO, gluten free, cholesterol free, vegan, and kosher! Not to mention has 13 grams of protein per serving! You can also try Quorn which is another fantastic plant protein crumble that mimics ground beef really well in chili. Plant protein that tastes like ground beef in your chili! Yes please! Great trick to get kiddos the veggies they need! 🙂
Also, for any canned products you purchase (for beans, tomatoes, etc.) please be sure to only pick cans that have a BPA free lining! This should be available in most if not all grocery stores these days! 
One last trick – don’t tell your kids what’s in the chili if they are picky eaters! Let them try it and see how it goes! My nephew didn’t want to eat this chili because it has onions – and he “hates onions.” That being said – I told him that I took the onions out and he ate the whole bowl and asked for seconds. Yes…I know I fibbed a bit…but he needed to try his dinner and he ended up loving it! lol! If it tastes great – is super healthy – and was crazy easy to make – why ruin it all by telling them what’s in it??? Once they love it, tell them what is in it and have them help you make it! Fun!
Enjoy!! xoxo Shop My Faves
It’s November, which means Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, and Black Friday are around the corner. It also means making your list and checking it twice…which can be stressful. I believe all shopping, including Holiday shopping, should be fun! That being said, I do have some challenging people to gift each year.
Because of the lovely yet challenging people I need to purchase for, I have gotten creative over the years. The main person in my life who has everything and is really hard to shop for is my husband. To make it even harder, his birthday is the first week of January, so I need to purchase holiday gifts and birthday presents very close together. Arg! I always end up getting him a lot of beautiful sweaters and shirts for Christmas, but that isn’t as much fun for him as it is for me. 😉
I’ve been looking for creative gifts for the last couple of months, not just for him, but for all the special people in my life. The good news is…I know I’m not alone! We all have a couple people in our lives that have everything – which makes the holidays all the more interesting and fun!
Below you will find my holiday shopping guide – and everything is under $100. This is really only part 1 in a series of holiday shopping guides. I will have future posts for other family members (like kiddos) and other fun things YOU might like to receive from the people you love most. I hope this particular list helps you find something special for the people in your life that seem to have it all!
Happy shopping! XOXO
Shop My Look
Being a Minnesota girl, I love Fall and all it has to offer. I’m used to the leaves changing, the crispness outside, being able to see my breath in the early morning, the crunching leaves underfoot. It’s all part of the Fall beauty and experience.
Living in the Bay Area has a lot to offer, so I can’t complain, but Fall feels a bit different to me. The temps are hotter so it definitely takes longer to be able to sport your Fall gear. That being said, it is stunning outside, and there are some amazing things to do and places to see to truly enjoy the change in seasons. Being November in the Bay means it finally FEELS and LOOKS like Fall! Yay! I’ve pulled together some of my favorite things to do in the Bay area in the Fall. I hope you are able to take a look and enjoy!
To shop my look – scroll down for outfit details and links! XO
The Sweet Farm
This amazing place is a must visit all year round. There are member days that are filled with activities, learning opportunities and fantastic animal encounters. Becoming a member is easy – to learn more click HERE. They also have a U-Pick Club where you get 10 weeks of heirloom veggies and flowers (click HERE for the U-Pick Club details for 2018). The Sweet Farm is a very special place where you can meet animals like a mini cow named Gizmo and his BFF, a horse named Stergis. They have lots of other buddies on the farm, including chickens, super friendly goats, and more. They have a fantastic mission which includes “empowering people with the knowledge needed to lead a more humane and sustainable life.” Not to mention, Half Moon Bay is gorgeous and worth visiting in the Fall!
Japanese Tea Garden
Another fantastic place to visit all year round. The trees throughout the garden change in the Fall and create a beautiful blanket of colors. Enjoy tea, explore the grounds, take photos while you take a relaxing stroll. This is a perfect spot to visit to experience some Bay Area Fall beauty. It is open daily with no holiday closures. For information on hours and location, click HERE. Admission is under $10, free before 10AM on certain days, and free for children under 4 years of age. A very cost effective, fun and beautiful activity in the Bay.
Wine Tours
The wine country is a gorgeous place to visit. The vineyards, rolling hills, colors, smells, and tastes are all exquisite. As many of you know, the wine country is having a tough time in the aftermath of the fires that ravaged the area. If you would like to help, I recommend visiting for some fantastic food and wine! There are still some absolutely stunning areas to see the foliage and changing colors, AND you can stop at several wineries to sign up for wine clubs, do tastings, eat great food and more! Fall is a beautiful time of the year to visit! Bring layers as it does feel like Fall at this time of the year – even though it is California. 🙂
Bike Rides
Though this isn’t a specific place to visit – it is a WAY to visit lots of places in the Bay. Fall is such a perfect time for outdoor activities. What better way to explore the city than by bike? For bike trails and maps – click HERE. You can bike across the Golden Gate bridge, or take a ferry ride with your bike to Angel Island or Tiburon. In the Bay – the scenery is amazing, activities are endless, and you can stop for food and drinks along the way! Take advantage of the Fall temps and beauty and hop on a bike to enjoy!
Bay Cruises
Taking in San Francisco Fall from the water is always fun! There are a couple of cruises that I really enjoy on the Bay. The first is the Red and White Fleet. I find this cruise to be more casual and a lot of fun during the day. If you are looking for fantastic views on the Bay – but without a huge price tag – this is a great option. If you’re looking for a cruise that includes drinks and/or a meal with your view, I would recommend the Hornblower. I’ve experienced the Hornblower for more casual cruises with drinks, and for formal dinner cruises with dancing and music. It is a fun and unique way to experience the beauty of the Bay!
Shop My Look
Isn’t it funny how we spend so much time picking the right swimwear only to search for the right thing to cover it up? Ha! If that’s you, don’t worry, you are NOT alone! 🙂 I love cover ups because it helps me with the many moods I find myself in while on vacation. Some mornings I wake up and feel like a champion – ready to take on the day in my bikini. Other times I wake up feeling like I need some full body coverage to get me through the day. No matter the mood – I’ve got you covered (literally)!
These are my fave cover ups for your next vacation. Yes the temps outside are making sweaters and jeans the go to items for fashionistas everywhere. BUT – there are vacations to be had and swimwear that is needed! Check out my top picks for cover ups – all under $20!
I’ve had a lot of questions about which cover ups I brought on vacation to Hawaii. Some of my cover ups are sold out – but I was able to find similar options and some of the exact ones in the photos you’ve seen in my IG stories and in my feed (some are in the photos above as well).
Click on the photos below to get your own cover ups for a serious deal. Covering up shouldn’t cost a lot! I hope this makes your next vacation all the more enjoyable! xo
In the past, when I thought of a one piece, I thought of swimwear. That is no longer the case! Jumpers and rompers are popping up everywhere right now. They are comfortable, easy, sleek, and work for almost any occasion.
What I love about rompers and jumpers:
- They are all one piece
- They come in all shapes and sizes
- When fancy, they are sleek and stylish
- When casual, they are perfect for a BBQ, the pool, or even running errands
- They are great for traveling
- You can dress them up or down easily with the right accessories
The drawbacks:
- They are notorious for being a challenge when you need to use the potty! Haha!
- That’s pretty much it! Otherwise – they are fantastic and are totally underrated.
I packed a couple of my fave rompers for vacation, one for a fancy date night out, and one more casual fun one for bopping around town and hanging by the pool. You can see the casual checked romper that I packed in the photos above. There are so many great options available and at such varying price points.
To make it easy, you can shop my romper and jumper roundup below. I’ve included a couple of long options that are perfect for weddings, dinner out on the town, events, etc. You’ll also see some fun short options that work well with OTK boots or heels – so you have versatility over the upcoming holiday season. Lastly, I’ve included some fun summery options that are perfect for any upcoming vacation plans. The price points start under $5 and go up from there. Please comment with any questions – I’m happy to help!
Happy shopping ! XO
