Browsing Tag:

weekend outfit

  • Everyday Fashion, Family Life

    Hoppy Easter

    Hoppy Easter!!! (super corny I know!)

    Easter is often looked upon as a time of “rebirth”.  As a Christian and someone who celebrates Easter I must confess that this year is the first in many where I have taken the time to reflect on the meaning of this holiday.  Now, I am not going to preach at you nor will this post be heavily loaded with religion but as you have come to know I try to be honest in my writing.  This Easter brings some new and different reflections.  As Easter is in spring and spring is a time of regrowth, rebirth and starting anew I could not help but to see a parallel between my life and this Easter season.

    Over the last few weeks you may have noticed (or not, which would be great) that I have been a bit off or a bit scatterbrained and even a bit negative.  At the beginning I thought it was just because I did not want to leave London but as time has gone on it is has become more apparent there are deeper feelings here.  I have felt, for some time, a serious dichotomy between my life here on the blog and social media and my life offline…. they did not seem to mirror each other.  I am in control of what I put out into cyberspace and I took great care to showcase myself in the best light possible- to be fair to myself who wouldn’t?!?  BUT it is time that I begin to showcase my life as I see it everyday.  As a stay at home mother and a wife.

    Photos: Zoey Grace Photography 

    Shop My look: dress // cardigan // booties // earrings 
    shop Declans look: pants // polo // sport coat // sneakers 
    shop Brendans look: pants // polo // shoes // watch 

    Dressing for Easter is one of my favorite things because it always reminds me of getting dressed up as a little girl.  This year we are spending Easter in Chicago with Brendan’s family and I am so very excited to get dressed up.  Finding my whole outfit at Old Navy was a pleasant surprise for me as I went in looking for some stuff for Declan.  I am loving this duster length cardigan and this pin tuck dress- both easy to wear, trendy and comfortable.  Declan’s sport coat was a random find but isn’t it just ADORABLE. I am one who does not like to spend a lot of money on clothes for my three year old boy as they either end up with food, dirt or boogers on them so I was happy to find his Easter outfit for under $25.  These skinny chinos and this bicycle polo still allow him to run around yet look put together.    Brendan’s classic style suits him so well as he just loves his chambray and polos– it is seriously his dadiform!!!

    rebirth of Pish to Posh

    It is time that I begin to weave my online life with my real life… starting with the fact that I am a mom and wife and a friend.  I started this blog as something for myself and worked very hard at keeping it separate from my life as a mother and a wife… but over time that has becoming impossible to keep up.  Rightfully so!  Do I still love fashion- yes!!  Do I still want to inspire you to feel good through fashion- yes!!! Are there are other aspects to me that I want to share with you- YES!!!!   I am more than just a fashionable person (and somedays I am not even that) and there are so many pieces that make me whole.  My goal to inspire you remains at the core of my journey but I want to inspire you to be real and authentic in your own life- to cherish and foster your passions, to admittedly accept your challenges and to be proud of all the things that make you whole.  So, as we approach Easter Sunday and celebrate the rebirth of Christ I am anxious to begin to rebuild, regrow and refine my blog and social media to showcase that I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a lover of Sauvignon Blanc, a passionate lifestyle fashionista, a little girl at heart, an avid recipe experimenter and an entrepreneur.

    I hope you continue to travel this path with me- I hope you find inspiration for yourself-

    With Love,

    Make sure to subscribe so you never miss a post- some exciting things are coming soon!!!

     

  • Everyday Fashion

    Multitasking: Athleisure

    Go here.  Do this.  Call them.  

    I challenge you to read this blog post without doing anything else- not because the content is mind boggling or I have any breaking news but because multi-tasking is a hard thing to break…

     

    M U L T I – T A S K I N G is crucial to my life.  B U T I know how terrible it is.  So, what am I supposed to do??  There are only 24 hours in a day and I certainly do not feel like that is enough.  So I work, while making calls to the insurance company all while drinking my coffee and eating breakfast.  Or I update Instagram while talking on the phone to friends all while watching Declan play at the park.

    it has become such a habit for me and I assume for many of you.  But according to all the latest research and writings it is terrible to do.  I recently read an article on how multi-tasking is actually extremely unsuccessful and useless.  But then why do I feel so productive when I am able to do all these things at one time?  When I get some emails sent while eating my lunch or when I am able to respond to blog comments while out on a walk with the dog I feel like I really was much more productive than if had I chosen just one task.  I think the concept of multi-tasking is much more generational (or so it seems).  If the phone rings while my parents are watching TV they turn off the TV (or pause it) to answer the phone.  Neither of my parents can walk and text at the same time.  They have to stop and write their text then continue on.  How inefficient is that?  Well, actually it is much more effective than my ways and they likely accomplish more throughout the day and with more care and detail than I do.  According the research your brain can not really focus on more than one thing, in the detail needed, to effectively complete the task.  Blahhhh.

    So, now what?  Do I stop doing all the things I need to?  Honestly, that is not a feasible solution.  I need to check things off my to-do list.  I need to get never ending list of errands, blog work, parenting and fun accomplished.  Well, it is time to start prioritizing and setting up a system to effectively manage my tasks while giving each one the attention and detail it demands.

    Photos: Jenna Sparks Photography

    shop the look: leggings // sweatshirt // trainers // bag

    So, while I am multi-tasking through life I like to keep it simple and active in athleisure wear.  It is easy to put on, comfortable (obviously) but can still be sleek and trendy.  Gone are the days of baggy sweatpants and over-sized hoodies to run errands. In replacement I offer these leggings and fleece lined hoodie.  I am obsessed with these leggings to the point where my husband has asked me to maybe give them a break!  They are softer than your normal legging and the added detail of the knee patches are my favorite.  I love love love the pattern and the color.  I would assume they are fabulous for a run outside but in full transparency I have not tested them for that yet!  This sweatshirt is perfect for everything. EVERYTHING.  It is fleece lined so it goes with me to the mountains, it is a slimmer fit so it is easy to pair with some distressed skinnies and it has a pocket (everything is better with pockets).  The neutral gray is right up my alley but it does come in other colors.  Super soft and easy to throw on over a tank until the weather really gets warmer.

    New trainer alert!!! I find myself wearing trainers more often now that I am home- which seems the opposite to me as I hardly walk anywhere but I am i love with these Nikes.  I was searching for a replacement/addition to my Flyknits and these were perfect.  I am a Nike girl and I realize there are many brands to choose from. I love white despite my running around all day with my toddler!!  The brightness and lightness of these babies are what keeps my feet super happy!!!

    THIS BAG.  THIS BAG.  A late Valentines Day present from Brendan but soooo worth the wait.  It is personalized, fabulous and extremely functional.  Not only do I use this for groceries but I use this for swimming lessons (waterproofed on inside), taking the dirty dry cleaning and an all around catch-all.  Northcote Rd was the name of our “high street” (main drag) in London and this bag hold an abundance of sentimental meaning.  I know that 15 years down the line I will still have this bag; it will become that one perfect bag.  I am so excited to start to use it at the farmer’s markets and for picnics.  I am obsessed.  You can have it personalized to anything you want- make sure to check them out- makes a great gift.

    conquering multi-tasking

    To start I have begun prioritizing my to-do list.  Like many bloggers, moms, women, humans my to-do list is about seven months long but I am working at setting myself up to be more intentional and realistic on what I can accomplish on any given day.  I literally make a hand written list, each morning, of tasks to accomplish that day.  My attempts at making them realistic size is still a work in progress but each day I am getting better.  Additionally I am putting my phone down… a lot more.  When I am with other people or Declan I try to leave my phone in another room this way I am not tempted to multi-task.  Am I perfect or consistent??  NOPE but I am actively trying these small things to feel more accomplished.  I try to attend to one task at time to ensure it receives the mindset, dedication and attention it deserves; even the little ones like sending a quick text.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    With Love,

  • Everyday Fashion

    Holiday Traditions in Chunky Knits

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…. and I could not be happier!!!

    In fact, here in London, due to no Thanksgiving it has been looking a lot like Christmas since the beginning of November.  All the shop windows are decked out in Xmas themes- this year Liberty took on the Nutcracker and their window displays are amazing.  We have started decorating at home but with Brendan and I jetting off to Marrakesh this past weekend we still have a bit of work left to do on the decorating front.  But with my mom in London for the next two weeks and Declan old enough to start to understand Christmas I am so excited to begin indulging in all my favorite holiday traditions.

    Photos: Victoria Metaxas 

    Shop the look: Denim // sweater // flats <similar> // ring // clutch 

    This cute little cupcake shop has the most amazingly sweet holiday decorations and I loved shooting here.  Just after our shoot Victoria, my photographer, and I indulged ourselves in these amazing cakes and coffee.  While it was freezing outside I was perfectly warm in this over-sized chunky cable knit sweater.  I can not get enough of this sweater.  It is big enough to layer underneath and the neutral color is perfectly paired with any trousers or denim.  These jeans are my new favorite and should look familiar from this post here.  Perfect fit, perfect distressing and perfect color.  Adding a fun red shoe just made the whole look pop and scream H O L I D A Y.  While these flats are a few seasons old I have linked similar pairs <here> and <here>.  My clutch actually comes as part of the Neverfull that I am obsessed with but I have linked a few other clutches <here> and <here>.

    For as long as I can remember I have gone with my mother to see the Nutcracker- each and every Christmas.  In fact, this is the first year in as far back as I can recall that we will not be going together (living in a foreign country will do that).  The thrill of getting dressed up, enjoying a nice dinner and then watching Clara be swept away by her Prince never gets old for me.  For generations my family has been having the same Christmas Eve dinner and the same Christmas morning breakfast- I remember my grandmother cooking both when I was a child.  Now-a-days my dad makes the noodles and coffee cakes and recently my brother has begun to take on the job.  With my in-laws we always have Eggs Benedict for breakfast on Christmas morning.  This year in London I will have both my dad’s homemade coffee cake and Eggs Benedict- I simply can not wait.

    There are endless memories of years past where I find myself with my dad finishing shopping and wrapping presents on Christmas Eve  Some of my most favorite memories of Christmas are from learning to wrap presents… a little unknown fact about me: I can tie a perfect bow and I learned this from watching and practicing with my mother for hours.  The joy of wrapping up gifts is one of my most favorite things about the holidays.  I love picking out the wrapping paper, deciding which bows and ribbons to use and then finally addressing them  Gift giving is something I enjoy so much and I love to see beautifully wrapped presents.

    For the first time Brendan and I will be spending  the holidays away from both of our families (however my sister-in-law will be joining) and it will be a small affair.  We will have a tree, Declan will get to begin to learn about the magic of believing and we will spend the day being forever grateful of what we have.  This year we start new traditions for our family, we will carry on those from generations and we will celebrate the meaning of Christmas- together in our small London flat.

    Cheers Everyone-

    ajm

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