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Chirag Diyora
It’s that time of the year when holiday wear and family photos are in full swing. I for one love matching with my kids all season long. I can’t help it! That being said, I don’t want to spend a lot to do it. So that begs the question…how to twin without breaking the bank?! I’m going to give you my top tips to save you time, money and hassle – so you can enjoy matching your family and put those funds towards more important things this holiday season! Keep scrolling for more…
1. Matching Doesn't Need to be Exact
Matching does NOT need to be exact. Do I like to match in identical outfits with Sofia? YES! There are times when we match to a T! BUT – I also love to look for similar items and colors that we already own for matching moments. It’s way more cost effective, creative, and fun! The image above is a good example. My scarf was on sale for under $10, and Sofia’s jacket is from last season but I had sized up so it still fits! Perfect! We’re twinning in leopard and it took very little to make it happen. I looked at what we had, found something I wanted for Fall and Winter that was on trend and inexpensive, and made a matching moment out of it! Win!
2. Start with What you Already Own
Start with what you already own and work from there. In this photo we are in in plaids (Dan needed his scarf but 3 out of 4 is a win in my book). 😉 My shirt is from 4 years ago, but it’s buffalo plaid so it is absolutely not going out of style for the holidays! Gabe’s shirt is from last year and still fits (for another month, so it’s time to use it again)! The only new thing in the photo is Sofia’s leggings which I believe were around $6 from Target. I paired them with a red top (basic staple item that was in her closet). BAM! We are twinning and it all started with looking at what we already own!
What if you don’t have items in a similar pattern? Scroll down to tip #3…
3. Use a Common Color Pallet
If you don’t have any matching patterns like leopard or buffalo plaid, try a color pallet that goes together. For our Christmas card last year, I wanted to match but not be exact (tricky I know). 😉 I accomplished this by picking a color pallet that would tie us all together. I chose red, white, and black. That made it easy for me to use items we already had in our closets that worked well together. It’s also a great way to save money and get a cohesive look. Think about the holiday or occasion coming up, pick your color pallet accordingly, and then look in your closets! Just as an example, for New Years I would pick gold, silver black and white. Those are fun celebration colors and it would work well for a family color pallet. For Easter, pastels like pink, peach, light blue, and white. Hopefully this gives you some ideas so you can give it a try this holiday season!
4. End of Season & Holiday Specials
There are always amazing deals at the end of the season and for the holidays. I do a lot of my Christmas shopping on Black Friday, which is when I get more expensive clothing items for at least 40% off (if not more)! Keep an eye on your favorite items and when they go on sale – that’s the time to pounce! Size up if you’re planning ahead for the kids. These matching green dresses are my favorite, and they are from last year. I sized up Sofia’s dress (yes…I do that a lot) and we were able to match again this year (this photo is from last weekend)! I have my eye on some other beautiful dresses to match my best girl, but I’m waiting for them to go on sale as the new stuff comes in and they need to make room. Check online as the holidays get closer, and be sure to get on your favorite store email lists so you stay on top of the sales!
I hope these tips are helpful as you think through your family photos, events, holiday cards and more! I’ve also linked most of these items which are easy to access from my IG bio! Head to @mommylexiloves for more tips, fashion finds, and favorite things for the whole family! Comment with any questions or additional tips – and enjoy! xo
Is anyone else excited about cooler temps so we can pull out cute jeans and cozy outdoor wear? Sofia and I are ready and waiting for snuggly clothes to become our regular attire! We snagged these cozy faux fur coats at Target and they are BEYOND soft! Truthfully, I got both of our coats in the kids section and just got one of the larger sizes for myself (being 5’2″ makes that easier).
That being said, the one for Sofia is a Small (she is in size 6 these days so it fits TTS) and it is perfect for Fall through the holidays! It will match so many things with the three colors, it has snap closures so she can do it herself, and the lining is silky soft! It also comes in grey tones, but I opted for the pink because it’s her fave and it’s so festive! It’s under $35 and will look great all the way through New Years (yes, I want her to get use through Winter)!
I’ve linked Sofia’s jeggings as well – they are $10 normally and 25% off right now with code JEANS (click the photo below for details)! My jeans are only $20 and have the perfect wash and wear – and my booties are from last season so I linked a similar pair that are on my want list from Target! I hope this helps as you get ready for Fall! Enjoy and have a great week! xo
Anyone else ready for Fall? I am SO excited to decorate my front door with Autumn decor, like pumpkins, hay bails, and a new wreath! Not to mention all the new fun Fall fashion finds out there! So, to kick off my Fall obsession, I’m sharing some key finds that I snagged at Target yesterday (so they are new and easy to find)! Woohoo! Almost my entire outfit is from Target – super versatile – and affordable!
For fit, my jacket is a size 2, which ended up being perfect. I sized up because I want to layer with a light sweater as it gets cooler out. I have a tank on underneath in the photo, and it has room without being oversized. I would size up in this jacket because it is lined and gives you a little more room for both comfort and function.
The jeans are super soft and stretchy so I sized down. They are also on sale at the moment for $22 and most sizes are still in stock! Amazing reviews too! Check them out!
My tank is true to size and only $8 – such a deal! It came in other colors as well – so you can stock up for layering. It’s a fitted tank, not loose, so keep that in mind for fit. I got it in an XS and it fit comfortably. Because it’s a bit long, it’ll be nice tucked into skirts and layered under sweaters as well.
My shoes are also from Target and I got a size 6.5. I’m between sizes at Target and end up between a 6.5 to 7 depending on the style. I could have gone either way with these shoes, but went with the smaller size because of the open toe. An open toe generally means a little more wiggle room. I do not have wide feet, so keep that in mind if you are between sizes (you may want to size up a half size – not down). They have a buckle detail on the size, and a zipper in the back. The heel is stacked, making them easy to walk in. I love how comfortable and cute they are! I would say they are a little tiff at first but they softened after my first use – and they are now perfect! I put another very similar target bootie below as well – that is nice and soft from the get go! I love a good bootie as we transition into cooler temps.
Scroll down for all my fashion finds, including my bag, which is vegan leather and the perfect shade for Fall! Enjoy and have a wonderful day! xo
It feels like Fall and it’s time for something warm, comforting and yummy! This recipe comes together incredibly fast, is healthy, and complete. You can add additional veggies if you like, or keep it simple with the ingredients below. I’m so sorry there’s a lack of photos! I threw this together in a pinch for the fam – and they loved it! I’ll take more photos when I make it again – and will update this post! One thing to note – I get my diced veggies from Trader Joes (mirepoix mix – see image below) and it pretty much takes away my prep! I threw this together in under 5 minutes – set the cook time – and it was done in a flash! Scroll down for the details and enjoy! xo
Ingredients
- 2 LB Chicken Thighs
- 1.5 Cups Brown Rice
- 1 Cup diced carrots
- 1 Cup diced yellow onion
- 1 Cup diced celery
- 2 TBSP Garlic Powder
- 2 TBSP All Purpose Seasoning (salt free)
- 1 Large packet ranch dressing (powder)
- 4 Cups water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gently place your chicken thighs into the Instant Pot – they should be equally distributed at the bottom of the pot.
- Add water and all of the diced veggies (you can also use a package of mirepoix mix for convenience).
- Next add the brown rice, ranch seasoning packet, garlic powder and the all purpose seasoning.
- With a big spoon, gently give the rice, veggies and water a stir (it’s all above the chicken so don’t stir too deep). When it looks combined, you’re good to go.
- Close the lid and make sure the vent is set to sealing. Cook on high for 20 min and let it slow release for 5 min.
- After the slow release time is up, release the rest of the pressure by turning the valve to venting.
- Use a clean large spoon or ladle to stir the pot well, season with a little bit of salt and pepper to taste and that’s it! You can also top with some fresh parsley, hot sauce, or chili flakes. My kiddos had it as is, but Dan loves to add some spice! 🙂 Enjoy!
Jumpsuites can be so much fun, stylish, easy to dress up or down…and a challenge if you have to go to the bathroom quick! Ha! I happen to be a big fan of jumpsuites, but being 5’2″ it can be tough to find cute ones that fit right. The one I have on today is my favorite to date – but it’s also more $$$. I’ve pulled together some alternatives that are just as cute, versatile, and way more budget friendly (as in under $30)! I hope you like them as much as I do!
Scroll down to shop my look, find my faves that are seriously good deals, and can still be dressed up or down with some flats vs. heels, and the right accessories! These are all super flattering, the wide leg and overall shape works well on most body shapes, and they are such a fun new item for Summer! Have a great day and enjoy!
Yesterday was my sweet Sofia’s 4th birthday! She needs to stop growing up so fast! Can I please slow down time??? There are so many things I want to teach my children, but thinking about my baby girl, there are a couple of things that I want her to learn and remember forever. Though I’m listing my top 3 things, know that there are many many more that I want to teach her, and Gabriel, to be fantastic adults and global citizens. Scroll down for some fun photos from her birthday yesterday, and to read my top 3 things that I think every little girl should know. Enjoy! xo
- Girls are brave. Too often girls (truthfully – women of all ages) underestimate themselves when it comes to how brave. I believe every little girl should be taught that they don’t need to be the “princess in distress.” Being brave is important in everyday life – no matter how big or small. My sweet Sofia does think she is a princess, but she also knows that she is very brave when it comes to a variety of things. One example is from our last trip to lake Tahoe. Sofia was 3 at the time and wanted to try a bungee trampoline ride where kids are in a harness and go really high into the air. She watched as older kids did it and asked if she could as well. She is tall and weighed enough to do it, so we said yes. They put her into the harness and started slow to see how she would react. She loved it! She jumped up high, did flips (with the help of the guy who worked there), and asked to go again the next day. I’m so impressed by how brave she was then and is every time she tries something new. Every little girl (and every child) should know they are brave and can do so much more than they think possible. I know that each time she is brave (no matter how small), will help her to be a brave adult someday and accomplish amazing things!
- Girls are strong. It is very important to me that Sofia knows that she is strong and can stand up for herself. Sometimes she gets upset about things her brother does and cries. We make it point to tell her to be strong, use her words, and stand up for herself (we tell Gabe to do the same thing). I want her to grow up knowing that she is a strong girl (and eventually a strong woman) who can and should stand up for herself. We also talk to her about strength in other ways. That she is strong enough to do things on her own and not depend on us to always do things for her. She is little, but she is very capable. She is strong enough to carry certain things on her own, to help move things around, etc. Strength can be shown in many ways, and it is not just boys who are strong. Every little girl should know she is strong inside and out!
- Girls are smart! Again – Sofia thinks she is a princess. She loves all things pink and sparkly. She loves dresses and unicorns. All of those things are fine by me, as long as she also remembers that princesses (and girls in general) are smart too! She absolutely loves books, coloring, legos, science experiments and crafts. I’ve made it a point to find activity books with unicorns and princesses that practice writing and numbers. She loves them! She is a smart girl who likes what she likes – so we’re connecting it all to keep the learning fun! Does she want to be a beautiful princess? Yes! But she also wants to be smart and grow and learn. She wants to make a volcano in the kitchen, make dinosaur fossils out of homemade clay-dough, and learn how to build huge towers with her brother. She wants to jump in puddles, ask lots of questions about how things are made, and wants to try new things each day. She knows that she needs to go to school to learn, and she loves it. She knows she is smart – which makes me very happy! Fostering her love for learning and reminding her how smart she is is key. I want her to know she is smart from now, and help her to grow and learn and continue to have that love for learning into adulthood.
If you are a rosé fan – you are going to love frosé! I’m a little late to the game with this trend – but I’m on board now and planning to make this recipe a lot this Summer! We were recently in Vegas with some of our best friends and discovered frosé at the pool! It’s cool, refreshing, and delicious! I wanted to make these at home and this is what we came up with! Scroll down for this super simple recipe and enjoy! xo
Ingredients
- 1 bottle rosé wine (doesn’t need to be expensive. Get one with a good rich pink color)
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 6 Tablespoons strawberry infused simple syrup
- To make the strawberry infused simple syrup:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 8oz diced strawberries
Instructions
- Pour rosé wine into a freezer proof dish or pan. We used a loaf pan which was the perfect size and easy to fit into the freezer. Freeze for 6-8 hours (or overnight).
- For the strawberry infused simple syrup, combine water and sugar in a small sauce pan. Stir consistently until the sugar dissolves. Add the strawberries to the pot, turn off the heat, and let sit for 30 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a mason jar and chill for another 30 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and put back into your mason jar so you can save the leftovers in the fridge for later. You can toss the strawberries or use them in any way you see fit (on top of ice cream, blended with your frozé, etc.).
- Put the frozen wine, vodka, and strawberry infused simple syrup to a blender. Quickly then blend until smooth – start slow. You want to do a couple of seconds at a time – you don’t want to over blend or it won’t stay nice and slushy. Serve immediately and enjoy!
- NOTE: I plan on keeping a loaf pan of frozen rosé in my freezer just in case we have company or want to make this recipe on a hot day (without the wait). Truthfully, I would also make a double batch of the strawberry infused simple syrup if you plan to entertain or make this over a weekend. It goes fast and is worth making extra.
Summer vacation is upon us – which means it’s time to keep the kids busy all day long! We have one kiddo who isn’t old enough for camp yet (Sofia) and another kiddo (Gabe) who has a week and half before camp starts. We have been baking, crafting, running through sprinklers, swimming, and more! This particular activity is a lot of fun and very versatile.
The recipe below is for something that I lovingly call Clay-Dough and it is my favorite alternative to salt dough. We have dogs, and salt dough is dangerous for animals and kids who may eat the dough. It sounds silly, but little kids and animals are really good at putting things in their mouths and eating things that they shouldn’t. I’m a better safe than sorry kind of mama. 🙂 Not to mention, it is fun to make, easy to play with, you can make so many things, bake it, paint it, and more! Scroll down for the recipe and how to!
If you have a child or children who happen to like dinosaurs, grab any plastic figurines and use them to press feet, spikes, tails, etc. into the Clay-Dough and make your own fossils! It is so much fun and really easy! Please share this post with others and comment with questions or how it goes if you give it try! I would love to hear from you! Have fun, happy Summer and enjoy! xo
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Baking Soda
- 1/2 Cup Corn Starch
- 3/4 Cup Water
- Sauce Pan
- Baking pans
- Parchment or silicone sheets
- Plastic dinosaurs
- Cookie cutters (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175 -200 degrees F (depending on how low your oven goes).
- In a sauce pan combine the cornstarch, baking soda, and water. Stir over medium heat. After about 4 minutes or so, the mixture will begin to thicken. When it looks like instant mashed potatoes, turn off the heat and use a big spoon to put the Clay-Dough into a bowl. Cover it with a damp cloth to keep it moist until it is cool enough to handle.
- When it’s cool, place it on a piece of parchment or silicone mat. You can add a little more cornstarch if it feels too sticky (similar to how you would add flour to sugar cookie dough if too sticky to work with).
- Use a rolling pin to flatten it to about 1/4″ thick and use cookie cutters to make shapes. You can also roll into small balls and flatten with your hands (my kiddos did both).
- Push the plastic dinosaurs into the Clay-Dough to make fossils. We pushed their feet, spikes, tails, ribs, spines, etc. into the Clay-Dough and it looks so cool!
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper or use silicone baking sheets. Transfer your shapes/fossils to the baking sheet(s). Bake them for about an hour, turning them over halfway through cooking. Some of ours were a little thick in the middle and not completely hard after an hour of baking, so we let those air dry overnight.
- Enjoy your super cool creations! You can make this Clay-Dough for homemade ornaments, little figurines, sculptures, etc. Let your kids have fun using their imaginations! 🙂 xo
I love beauty products! So many fun new things to try, new looks to create or recreate, and beauty finds that can make you feel amazing! There are two things I don’t like though – spending a lot of $$ on products that don’t work – and spending $$ on products that make me breakout!
Now, let me explain why I no longer use MAC. Do I use any MAC products? Not really. I used a couple of their foundations, but I’ve sort of moved on! I tried MAC and found two that I liked enough to purchase.
Their Face and Body Foundation is a nice weight and has ok coverage. I liked that it wasn’t caky and left a sort of dewy look. That being said, I didn’t like applying it with a sponge because it was so light that a lot was wasted and soaked into the sponge (even though I wet the sponge fully and squeezed the water out before applying my makeup). Using a brush helped a little bit, but in the end, I didn’t like spending that amount of $ on a product that was a challenge to apply. It also required a couple of layers if I wanted more coverage, which ended up feeling heavier than I wanted.
The Studio Fix Foundation was the next one I tried, but it was a lot heavier than I wanted for a day time look. It was great for taking family photos because it gave me full coverage. It applied better with a sponge, and the photo finish was great! That being said, it didn’t get used much, and I spent all that $ on foundation that I would never use for my day to day makeup. It is way too heavy for me to wear for running errands, getting work done, etc. It was also heavier and caused me to break out after using it a couple of times in a row. I was not a fan of that!
Giving up on MAC was a bummer until I found my new favorite foundation – Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid. I use the Redefine Regimen by Rodan and Fields, and it’s been a total game changer for my skin. My skin is better now than it was 10 years ago, and it is definitely because of this skin regimen. Totally life changing for those looking for a way to get smoother, younger looking skin, without needles. That being said, I was super skeptical about their foundation. I should have known it would be good considering they specialize in skin products! 😉
I decided to order the Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid for a couple of reasons. 1 – it has SPF 30 in the foundation, so my skin is protected from the elements of the day by my makeup! 2 – it’s lightweight and oil free, with AMAZING coverage! It is buildable if you want extra coverage, though I haven’t had to build layers at all because the coverage is so good, natural looking, and has a beautiful finish. 3 – You have 60 days to try it risk free! Scroll down to see my foundation and makeup from Father’s Day – the photo is completely unedited. It is a selfie, so it’s not perfect, but I’m in love with the coverage and want it to be an honest shot!
I am personally between 2 colors – Sand and Golden. Sand is perfect for my normal skin tone when I’m not tan. Golden is perfect for Summer when I’ve gotten a lot of sun. I love that I can mix a little of each throughout the Summer, as I am more or less tan. I makes it more custom and actually matches my skin as the seasons change. Huge win! I also use a foundation brush which works beautifully. I’ve linked my favorite one below, or you can click HERE to check it out. It brushed the foundation on easily, doesn’t soak it up (so you aren’t wasting anything), and cleans beautifully!
If you’re interested in giving this foundation a try – or just seeing the different shades available – click HERE. If you want to learn more about how to get 10% off and free shipping – DM me via my Instagram or email me at themommylexi@gmail.com. I can answer any questions you may have about the foundation, what shade may work best for you, or other products you might be interested in trying (my other obsession is Lash Boost)! Keep scrolling for a couple other photos. I did not edit any of the photos in this post so you can see the actual coverage. At the bottom of the post I’ve linked the foundation, brush and a couple other favorites to make it easy. Enjoy and I hope you give this a try! Looking forward to connecting with you about this foundation and any other products that you have questions about! xo
A complete meal that the whole family will love? Yes please! My kids and husband devoured this dish – and it was so easy to make! It has chicken, brown rice, lots of veggies, and comes together into a wonderful dish that has the consistency of risotto. It’s creamy without the cream – so it’s healthy too! Did I mention it makes great leftovers? You can see Gabe taking it down in the photo above and another at the bottom of this post. Both kids asked for seconds – I may need to make a double batch next time! 😉 In any case, scroll down and give this one a try! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did! xo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small chopped yellow onion
- 4 medium carrots – diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups uncooked long grain brown rice (be sure to rinse and drain)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs/seasoning
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 10 ounces steamed broccoli
- Salt/Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Hit the sauté button on your Instant Pot. Add the olive oil, onion and carrots to your pot. Stir until the veggies start to soften, 3-5 minutes.
- Add garlic, garlic powder, brown rice, mustard, and Italian seasoning. Stir and cook for about more 1 minute. Turn off Instant Pot so nothing burns.
- Stir in the chicken broth and make sure it is combined well. Use your big spoon to scrape any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot or it may not pressurize.
- Scrape the bits off the sides and make sure that all of the rice and veggies are covered by the broth.
- Place the chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture and do not stir the pot. They should remain on top.
- Close the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealing. Cook on high for 20 minutes.
- After the timer goes off, turn the pot off and allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10-15 min (or you can let it fully release on it’s own if you have time).
- If only waiting 10-15 min, you can quick pressure release the remaining pressure but make sure to use a towel or something to protect your hand/arm from the hot steam when you turn the valve to venting.
- Open the Instant Pot and use 2 forks to shred your chicken. You do not need to take the chicken out to do this step. It will be falling apart easily and should shred with no effort using two forks.
- Once the chicken is shredded, add your frozen peas. You do not need to cook them before adding them. The heat from the rice and chicken will cook them after you stir them in.
- Take your broccoli and lightly steam it before adding it to the pot. I use a microwave steamer, but you can use your preferred method. Add the steamed broccoli to your rice mixture and stir.
- Serve with grated Parmesan and add salt/pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
