Life Update

Jumpsuit only $23! // Tee // Fanny pack // Shoes // Sunnies: Old Zara

I'm back. Honestly it didn't feel like 4 months have passed but I guess it did. Serious props to all the mamas out there who work full time, raise kiddos and manage to blog to. I seriously don't know how you do it. I've barely started this post and I'm already tired. 

Want to know what's going on in my world? Well it's all pretty busy but typical. School is just always going to be a high stress environment. I mean, what part of 22 children around you at all times doesn't sound stressful? Just a day in the life. 

This is also the first time I can remember that I took on a design client with my company Jill of All Trades, during the school year (usually I only take bigger projects during summer break) and although it doesn't sound like much, Its alot when trying to run a blog, business, home and classroom. Thankfully I have awesome and patient clients, this time is no exception.

A few new things I'm loving right now?

1. Sitting here currently with Olaplex on my hair so we will see the verdict on that one tomorrow. 

2. My Dyson Air Wrap. Sweet lord, that thing is just amazing. The better I get at it, the more I want to return my Dyson hair dryer. I'm finding it is able to replace that and I never thought that was possible!

3. Gal Meets Glam Dresses. Pretty much every month I want a new one but I have to restrain myself. I love the floral pattern on this one and I decided to keep this pink maxi after showing you all in my Instastories. 

4. Checkerboard Vans! I got these dusty pink ones for myself and  this pair for Athena, but she told me as soon as I opened the box that she didn't like them and wouldn't even try them on. You guys, they were adorable and hot pink! What's not to like. I returned them because lord knows, I'm not forcing her to wear $30 toddler shoes if she doesn't even want to wear them. 

5. A lace kimono. Finally found one that I think is the perfect mix of Free People vibe for a 30 something woman.

Health...

Still going to Core Body Pilates at the crack of dawn, but looking to get out into the fresh air soon too. I always think I'm going to start running outside and then I try and remember how much  I HATE RUNNING!

Still trying to calorie count but i just finished doing a whole 30 and want to be a little more loose with the actual counting of the calories and just be free to eat lots of veggies. What I discovered after doing this last whole 30 is that I really do like to eat whole foods the best and I don't even really put much on them and I'm still happy. So I'm going to just eat my cucumber salad with nothing on it but some salt and pepper and oregano  and deal with however many calories are in it without stressing about it. I mean has anyone ever gained a bunch of weight eating too many cucumbers?

This Outfit

I pined over this pair of shoes for literally 1.5 years and then I some how managed to score them for 70% off during the holiday Net-A-Porter sale a few months ago! Finally, they are mine!

This jumpsuit I now own in both colors and I suggest you do the same. It's so affordable, easy to wear and layer for spring and summer. 

Last but not least, the Dagne Dover fanny pack! Are you even cool if you don't have one? I think not. Ok, just kidding. But really, it's the most chic, easy-to-wear, bag I own and I love that it makes me feel waaaay cooler than I really am.

The Perfect Plaid Blazer

Blazer // Bag // Tee // Sunglasses // Rose gold driving mocs

I searched high and low to find a plaid blazer that was affordable, neutral enough to match with many colors, and have modern silhouette as to not look too masculine or boxy over dresses and I found it right here. The red in the plaid gives it a faint pop of color yet still remains classic. Overall this blazer is a winner and runs just under $70! it also runs a bit big so order one size down. 

Rainbow Sweater

Sweater // Driving Moccasins (on sale right now for 50% off!!) // Jeans // Dagne Dover Petite Tote // Sunglasses

Usually I don't seek out rainbow clothes. I'm a school teacher and mom so I don't really need much more that screams "I hang out with kids all day" like rainbows tend to do. However, something about this sweater was just so happy and fun. It was the perfect amount of color to wear with jeans. The best part about this sweater is that it's under 20 bucks! Also when my friend Sandy saw me in it, she knew she had to order it for herself. After that I proceeded to get multiple compliments on my sweater all over the mall and then the next day in Park city because I wore it two days in a row. No judgement. You know a piece is good when strangers on the street inquire about it. I wanted to play on the bright colors in the sweater so I paired it with my bright yellow driving mocs and poppy red Dagne Dover bag. 

Floral Midi Dress Under $35

Dress (only $33!) // Shoes and similar // Bag // Sunglasses // Belt (mine is a faux but this is the real deal)

Coming to you very quick as I write this on a school night. My Family was in from Chicago and we had a busy but fun weekend in Park City. I think I have the energy to even write this at all because Athena slept for 17 hours last night! I'm not exaggerating! We took her with us tubing and I think we wore her out. I'm not complaining.

I'm starting to get really excited about spring for obvious reasons but the other is that I'm FINALLY loosing some weight. It's been a really hard battle to figure out what works for me since having Athena. After always being pretty successful eating mostly whole 30 recipes, and then it not working for me AT ALL post baby. I realized I'd make a recipe that needed vegetables added to complete it and then I'd wind up just eating the protein part and not have time to cut up and prep all the veggies. Anyone who's done a whole 30 knows the prep work is a beast. 

Finally my doctor suggested just using all that I learned from Whole 30 like what foods make me feel bad and then just counting calories. And after a month it's working! I'm down about 14lbs! I use the My Fitness Pal App and it's super easy! I'm not where I want to be yet but I'm going with slow and steady for now.

So as I said I'm excited for spring because of bare legs and pretty dresses like this one here but also for buying clothes in smaller sizes and shopping my own closet of things that used to fit prebaby! I even went and exchanged a bunch of stuff for smaller sizes today and it felt so good!

This dress and all others at Target are buy one get one 50% off so if you want to get some new cute dresses for spring, now is a great time to do so. 

Have a great Monday all!

5 Things for the New Year

Jacket: Zara (old out but similar here) // Jumpsuit: Madewell (on sale for an extra 30% off the sale price right now) // Tee: Target (2 for $18) // Boots: Zara (old) Bag: Dagne Dover petite tote(part of the end of season sale making it $89!) // necklace "5" charm

Five things for the New Year:

Bed is my bestie! I love my bed, my beautiful king-sized bed. Always have. But now I dream of it. Count down the hours and minutes 'til I get to dive in there and close my eyes. It's my own little slice of heaven. That is, until the alarm goes off at 5 AM. Ugh.

Have good friends who get it and get you. Don't waste your time on anyone who doesn't think you are awesome, wonderful, smart and special and you think the same of them. I love my friends and think they are pretty much the coolest people around and I'm lucky to have so many women I look up to and can count on.

Being a working mom is hard. Like, really hard. I feel like I hit the ground running for hours even before the baby is awake and then I'm go-go-go all day until well after she goes to bed. And moms who teach little children is like next-level momming, in my opinion. You leave your own kid to go care for 30 other kids, and then go back and get your kid. It's a whole day of various children in need of your constant guidance and attention. It sucks you emotionally dry in a way I can't explain. Luckily, I love being a teacher or I would find myself a job where I got to sit down for more than two minutes at a time.

Comfort takes on a whole new meaning. There are sweatpants, and then there are your comfy pants. You know what I mean? The ones you would pick over all the others. They may even be really ugly (I know mine are) but sometimes you need to take it up a notch to mega comfort when your days are nonstop movement, and you want to come home and put on your best and coziest. I am kind of a snob about my lounge wear this year and as you may have seen on my Insta stories, adult onesies are my jam. Two pieces that topped this list this year are these two variations of the same thermal shirt, crew neck and cowl. I may even be wearing one right now. Shout-out to my Ugg slippers that are ugly as eff but so comfy I sometimes accidentally wear them out in public.

I have enough stuff. This is one I have been working on and plan to continue working on. We really want Athena to not grow up in a house full of clutter so we do a really good job of limiting her toys and the amount of new stuff we bring in. I want to work on this for myself too. I am at a point where I kind of have all the things that I really need, so as for new gadgets, furniture and even clothes, it feels unnecessary. I am trying to be really thoughtful of any more clothing purchases I make. It does make blogging a little harder because I won't have a bunch of new clothes to show you but when you do see me buy/rave about something, you know it's something I really value. Like this sweater jumpsuit I'm wearing in the post that I literally wore out of the package!

On that same note, THANK YOU to everyone who reached out to me this year about appreciating how real and honest I set out to be. I really do value my integrity as a blogger and will never sell you on something just to make money. I love that you guys trust my recommendations because you see me using the things I recommend day in and day out and know I actually stand behind them. I love this space and I'm so happy you all come back for more, even if it takes me a month and a half to put up a new blog post. Thanks for being real right along side me! 

Kiss Me Kate Dress from BURU

Dress: BURU // Shoes: Coach // Bag: c/o Dagne Dover // Tee: Aritzia

Back into the swing of things and twirling through the school day in this super cute dress I treated myself to with my first paycheck. Good thing I held out for so long because BURU was offering 60% off on this Kiss me Kate dress when I bought it.

I wasn't the only one who loved it. My students were highly interested in the pattern when they realized it was a very abstract lip print covering this dress. It was so comfy and the fabric was dreamy, getting me through those first few super hot days of the school year. Temps in the 90's and being on your feet all day with students isn't easy. 

As for my teacher wardrobe, I love to add a bit of whimsey into my outfit, even if it's only accessories, and these heart sunnies did just the trick. Footwear however HAS to be comfortable and nothing is more comfy than my Coach loafers, especially since many of my flats are  a little too small now after having Athena. 

Thanks to my buddy V for snapping these pictures across the street from the courthouse after I officially got my name changed ... after almost 6 years of marriage!

Blue Floral Maxi for Back to Work

Dress: Forever 21 // Bag: Dagne Dover "Charlie"

Today is the first day back to work so I thought I'd get a little head start on blogging the back-to-work looks. I know if you have been a long time follower, my style has changed a bit for the last year, but I'M BACK! 

I'm a little bit worried that my work style will be a little weird at my new job. My style can be a little quirky at times and SLC is way more athleisure than my capes and bright colors. We shall see, maybe my style will evolve a little more now. After all, I'm still a mom and will have to go get Athena after work. Lets just hope I get really good at bending over in pencil skirts asap! Wish me luck at my first day back into the real world!

The Smart Tote Bag

Skirt: Ann Taylor // Scarf: Banana Republic (first non-vintage scarf I've bought in a long time!) // Bag: Dagne Dover "Charlie" // Top: Banana Republic (similar) // Shoes: Zara (sold out)

Well, hey there!

Yep, it's been a while but I'm back. So much has gone on. I got my hair cut (about 5 inches of it to be exact), we have had a month-long stream of family in town that is continuing this weekend, and Athena is apparently all grown up and going to daycare now! I've also been spending lots of my extra time on two interior design projects for two clients for Jill of All Trades! BUSY!

But before I get you up-to-date on life lately, let's talk about this Dagne Dover bag.

It seems to have a personality of its own because everywhere I bring it, people constantly ask about it and then the floodgates of praise open up. The smart features that put this bag above every other tote I have ever owned are what make it such a game-changer!

• It has a key leash so you don't have to dig when trying to open a door with something like, I don't know.... a 20 pound thrashy little human in your arms. 
• There is a Neoprene cup holder so that your water bottle or thermos stay upright and don't spill all over in your bag. 
• There are so many pockets, and guess what? They all have purposes! For example there are two side pockets but one is up high for your phone (i have a 7Plus and it fits!) so it doesn't sink into the abyss of all my stuff. 
• There is a sturdy and padded zipper pocket that holds my big Macbook Pro and tucks it away. 

Somehow even with all my crap in there it manages to remain upright! It's seriously magic. And have you seen how gorgeous it is? The leather is so yummy and the rose gold hardware is unlike anything I own! So much attention to detail in this bag! You all need one, so click over here to Dagne Dover! It's going to be the best teacher bag for the upcoming school year!

Ok, so the hair cut. Seriously I was just sick of Athena pulling it, and the longer it was, the more fun it was to pull for her! So in an effort to balance out my regrowth that looks like tiny bangs on my hairline and in an effort to make the pain less prolonged, I cut it off! Well not me but my favorite redhead Kate at Lunatic Fringe on 11th!

The Lob has always been a favorite of mine but the fronts of my hair would never grow out long enough to achieve the long angle. My post-pregnancy hair was long but lackluster so the length was finally where I wanted it to make the lob actually work. I'm loving it! I forgot though, how short hair seems to grow faster and you need to get it cut more frequently so I'm already headed back next Thursday for my next trim!

On to my favorite topic, Athena!

Guys! I was so sad and worried that she would hate daycare and cry and scream. Andrew and I both took her the first day to prepare for a meltdown (her or me) but she just went straight for the "bar" as we like to call it, the toy and activity table where all the babies kind of congregate, and she never looked back. We were strangely disappointed but overall really proud of her. The first day they said she would have moments of freak-outs where she realized that she didn't know anyone, but then the next few days she was getting better and better. She hasn't cried at all when I drop her off and when I pick her up she gives her little signature wave to her teachers and she's cool to go. It's a million times easier than I thought it would be and I'm so glad. Right now she has been going for between 3-5 hours a day and thats working really well. She is all tuckered out when she gets home every day. I have been taking advantage of having much more time to dedicate to my clients and myself and can get some big things taken care of before I go back to teaching!

One of the most important things I'm doing is working out earlier in the day. It was getting really hard waking up with Athena at 6AM and then trying to find the energy to go work out at 7PM after she went to sleep. Now I get my workout in as soon as I drop her off and then I feel energized and productive with the rest of my day. I swear I'm not running home and napping, but maybe I should try that before school starts!

I'm LOVING my new Reformer Pilates studio, Core Body Pilates. It opened 6 months ago near my house and I had been wanting to try it, and now that I have, I'm sad I waited so long. Reformer Pilates is one of my absolute favorite workouts ever. Those things look like medieval torture devices but I think that once you get used to them they fun and the possibilities are endless with the moves you can do on them. Every class and teacher is different so my body doesn't get used to it! I am for sure going to do the unlimited month pass next and my goal is to take 6 am classes every day before school in the Fall.

My father-in-law and brother-in-law will be in this weekend so I'm looking forward to spending time with Athena and family all together.

Have a great weekend everyone!