20 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

Things have been crazy since we've been back from Hawaii! I've been slammed with all the work I didn't do while on vacation, and the biggest news...we got cats! Yep, we adopted two eight-week-old kittens from Beth Stern. I'll be doing a larger post on them (and on the whole process of adopting one of Beth's coveted Instagram cats) soon, but in the meantime, just know that Bobby and Lulu are pretty much the cutest things I have ever seen. 

And for proof of that, you can follow them on Instagram at @bobbyandlulu. If you've been watching my Instagram Stories, you know that I am actually incredibly jealous of their account. (And I wish I was kidding about that!) They have unbelievable engagement from their followers, and usually get 2,000 likes for their photos! I would say that I need to know their secrets, but I'm pretty sure it involves a furry coat and looking tiny and adorable. ;)

This weekend, we are going to be laying low. Next week is going to be even busier, so I'm hoping to squeeze in some relaxing time while I can. 

Whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope you make it a great one. Here's a few fun links to check out in the meantime.

• Love the exposed buttons on these high-waisted denim shorts! (FYI, you can get 20 percent off these or anything else at Madewell with code FOLLOWURCART)

• Such an easy, breezy, pretty summer dress. (Love those pom poms!)

• Since I'm into poms poms right now, I'm also really loving this cute straw pom pom fedora. It's also 40 percent off with code HAPPY, so it's actually under $20 at the moment!

• Beauty product I'm loving right now: Sunday Riley C.E.O Rapid Flash Brightening Serum. My skin has seemed extra blotchy lately, so I was looking for a good vitamin C serum, which is the best OTC thing for brightening--and for preventing new spots. I love that this one has a creamy texture, which makes it really easy to spread. It also smells fresh and lovely (very unusual for vitamin C products!) and really does seemed to have already brightened my skin noticeably in just a few weeks. 

• Speaking of vitamin C, I really liked this PureWow guide about why it's important--and how to find the best vitamin C product for you.

• How pretty would this dress be for a spring wedding?

• This roundup of beauty products that seem like scams was kind of great. (And I totally agree about lip scrubs. An old toothbrush is far superior--and less messy.)

• I wrote about great beauty products that contain jasmine for Refinery 29!

• Busy Phillips is my absolute favorite person to follow on Instagram Stories. She's so funny and so relatable. So I loved this behind-the-(Story)-scenes profile of Busy.

• There is pretty much nothing more important this year than the midterm elections in November. That's why I love this t-shirt from Rebecca Minkoff and Cosmo. It encourages women to vote twice (once in the primaries and then again in November) and even includes the primary dates on the back. But best of all, all proceeds go to Ignite, an organization that gets young women involved in the political process. (And that's something I think we can all agree is a good thing, right?)

• Keto, Paleo, low carb, low fat--there are zillions of diets out there these days but the basic facts about healthy eating remain. This fun Q&A cuts through all the B.S. out there in the food/diet world and tells you what you really need to focus on. Such a good read!

• Speaking of healthy, this vegan truffle potato bisque from my friend Hitha is so. damn. good. (And it does not taste vegan!)

• Flat shoes are officially back. Thank GOD.

• The New Yorker wrote this really snarky review picking on Girl Boss magazine, but you know what? I think it sounds pretty awesome. I love that there's actually a magazine for tween girls that focuses on business tips rather than boys and beauty. I would have loved it as a kid--and I totally want to get  copy for my daughter.

• Things to make you happy.

And in case you missed it, I...

• Went a little crazy in a big box store.

• Packed for a beach vacation.

• Had a sick kid...on a plane!

• Watched my other kid turn 8 years old.

• Fell in love with some beauty products.

Have a great weekend!

SHOP THE POST

12 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that, last week...I MET MADONNA! I repeat: I MET MADONNA! You guys, I want to play it cool, but it was everything. Here's how it went down: I was invited to the launch of MDNA Skin, Madonna's new skincare line. We were told Madonna would be there, but you never really know. Still, I was SO nervous in anticipation. In my career, I have been fortunate enough to meet many celebrities through their beauty launches, but (and no offense to Katy Perry, Usher, Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake, etc) this was MADONNA. Totally different level.

I mean, I listened to her True Blue cassette tape and watched her videos on MTV constantly as a child. I even dressed up like her for Halloween. So, I was so freaking nervous the moment she walked out in front of the crowsd. She spoke about her line for a long time (funny enough, she actually sounded nervous while speaking up there!), and then stayed for a full hour after the presentation taking photos with everyone there. (And chatting with you while you were photographed with her! I just basically said "Uh huh" and nodded during this time, because I was about to throw up from nerves.) But I love the photographic souvenir I have now--and I really love that they retouched my skin and made it all glowy, too. Gotta love PhotoShop.

So, what are you up to this weekend? I'm not hanging out with Madge, sadly. Nope. Ours is going to be pretty low key--kids' parties, playdates, a date night. But whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope you have a great one. Here's a few fun links to check out in the meantime...

• Banana Republic is having a 40 percent off sale right now! And I really think they have gotten so good in the last year or two. I just bought this sweater in two colors (pink and yellow) and this supercool blush-colored camo sweater, which I LOVE. I also have my eye on this jacket. It's so cool!

• I gasped when I saw this slouchy Frye boot, because 1) It looks almost identical to one of my all-time faves, this Jimmy Choo boot--also pictured on me here (Oh my god! Look how young my daughter looks in that post!). 2) It costs about $1000 less than those Jimmy Choos! and 3) It's on sale!

• I'm ordering this: a puffer jacket that actually looks flattering and it's in an amazing color and it has gold buttons! (Plus, it's already on sale and you can get an additional 20 percent off with code MORE.)

• This is my new favorite skincare thing: Strivectin Advanced Acids Rehydrate + Replump Hyaluronic Dual-Response Serum is a hydrating serum that feels super light and totally not greasy. (It feels like you're hydrating your skin with water--not with oil.) I wear it morning and night under moisturizer and sunscreen and it's keeping my face so much softer.

• This vegan-leather dress is kind of sexy and SO cool (but still work appropriate)! At first I balked at the price, but Rebecca Taylor is having a 25 percent off sale right now, so I'm definitely considering it! Use promo code 25FAMILY for the discount.

• Random but awesome find: I make smoothies almost every morning and was starting to stress out over the number of plastic straws I was going through--and then discarding. So I found these reusable metal straws on Amazon and I love them. Simple to clean and now I'm putting much less plastic into the landfills.

• I'm thinking about getting this framed art piece for our guest room. Isn't it fun? Love the top knot and the bright pop of color!

• This week, I shot a fun Facebook Live with hairstylist Marcus Francis and Suave for Total Beauty. If you'd like to watch--and learn how to create the easiest-ever braided updo--you can check it out here.

• If you haven't been reading Dear John--the L.A. Times true crime serial that is drip, drip, dripping out one chapter at a time--you must start! It's basically a great Netflix doc...in print! The final installment comes out Sunday. In the meantime, here is the first chapter if you want to check it out. (You'll be hooked!)

• I can't tell you how many people shared this on my Facebook feed, but when I finally clicked on it, I was so glad I did. The author talks about how women expend a lot of "emotional labor" in a relationship--especially when they're moms--and oh my gosh, it rang so, so true.

And in case you missed it...

• My daughter got a major haircut...and I'm the one who freaked out.

• I shared a deal for free home products--in yummy fall scents. (FYI, the promotion technically ended, but insider tip: I'm pretty sure you can actually still get freebies if you click on the link!)

Have a great weekend!

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Our Holiday Photo Mini Session

 

A few weeks back, I took the kids to a local park for a mini photo session with photographer Morgan Bayard. (She has photographed for us before at this party and this party!) This was actually my first time doing a mini session, which is essentially a "quickie" shoot where you get a block of just 20 minutes. It costs less than a full shoot, and honestly, it's better for little kids anyway, because very few of them want to be posing for an hour. (Case in point: this disaster of a holiday shoot.)

Although, truthfully, my kids couldn't even properly hold it together for the 20 minutes here. Even under the promise of ice cream, I spent the entire time standing behind Morgan and threatening to take away the ice cream, future treats, iPads, etc. They were acting so silly the entire time that I was genuinely worried that we wouldn't get any good shots. Luckily, we managed to snap a few cute ones. :)

I'll be using one of these for our holiday cards this year. I'm going to be ordering from Minted again, because we've always had such a great experience with them. I'll be revealing our card here soon! But if you're planning to order cards, now is a good time, just FYI, because Minted is having a 15 percent off sale throught tomorrow night. Use code HOLIDAY15.

(Oh! And I've linked to their clothes below, if you're interested. I'm obsessed with the Mini Boden outfit my daughter is wearing. I want to recreate it in my size!)

Any guesses as to which shot I'm using for our cards? ;)

SHOP THE POST

15 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

When the weather is as frightfully cold as it's been and the cabin fever is at maximum levels, might I suggest having a bubble dance party in your basement?

I always hate it when bloggers (myself very much included) start a post with some version of: "Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted much this week." I always think: "Oh. You didn't? I had no idea." The truth is, I almost never notice when a blogger--even my very favorite ones--slack a little on their posting schedule. There's just too much content out there, and the way I tend to consume it (almost always via Bloglovin or social media shares) means that, if it's not in my feed, I'm just going to read what is--and then catch those favorite bloggers next time they do show up.

So every time I'm tempted to apologize for not posting as much as I'd like (like this week), I try to remind myself of this: No one but my mother noticed. (And, actually, she's on vacation this week with no wifi, so there goes that.) 

Am I alone in this? Do you guys notice when your favorite bloggers miss a day of posting? Do you notice if I post three, four, five times one week and then (gulp) twice the next? And if you do, do you even care? I would actually LOVE to know.

That said, I did post today (woo!), so here's a few fun links. Enjoy!

• I thought my husband was insane when he bought this bubble machine. But now I think he's genius. It has been saving us on the weekends when we can't take the kids to the park or....anywhere, really. We switch on the machine; turn on some Becky G, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift videos on Apple TV; and sit back while my kids have a "bubble dance party." (See above!) Kids and bubbles, man.

• Gap has been killing it lately with their sweatshirts. They're cute and very reasonably priced. I love the quilting and boxy cut of this one and this tropical print is kind of amazing, no? (Best part: The sweatshirts--and everything else on the site--is on sale through tomorrow. Use code MAJOR for 30 percent off.)

• My daughter is really getting into Dr. Seuss lately, so I was excited to see that there's a new, long-lost Dr. Seuss book coming out! Just pre-ordered it here.

• Death to The Chicken Finger: A fascinating examination of how we've managed to create a generation of picky eaters.

• I'm obsessed with this beauty look. (Even if I'm too chicken to actually pull it off in real life!)

• I made this sticky apricot chicken earlier this week and it was so yummy, had very few ingredients, and was super, beyond easy.

• An awesome takedown of the suckage that is TV news these days.

• This blush pink leather moto jacket is heaven on earth.

• I'm featured on the Retail Me Not blog this week sharing some winter fashion favorites!

• A little post-Valentine's Day truth for my fellow moms out there.

• Bailey McCarthy, (the awesome interior designer I'm working with who I introduced you to here) and her company Biscuit Home, just launched their latest bedding collection (Boone and Bloomsbury) and it is so good.

• I can't wait to see this documentary about the surprisingly small group of people who have been behind the misinformation dissemination for everything from tobacco to toxic chemicals to climate change.

• What happens when an abandoned Walmart becomes the world's coolest library.

• The snow situation in Boston is just insane. If you live there, tell me: Is it is terrifying as these pictures make it look?! They seriously freak me out!

And in case you missed it, this week I...

• Shared my favorite nail polish, two gorgeous lip colors, a cool (and crazy-good-deal!) bag, and more. 

On My Wish List

necklace; sweater; white-and-gold pouch; lavender bag; swimsuit; rain boots; lipstick; pillow; decorative books

I recently discovered artist Ashley Longshore's work and I just love it. There are so many pieces that speak to me, but the one above is a favorite. How gorgeous are those colors? They're inspiring some of my wants this week. There's a colorful sweater to break me out of my current gray rut, decorative books in supercool antique gold for styling spare shelves, a flattering lipstick in the cutest case, the sweetest little girl's bathing suit, and lots more. 

What's on your wish list right now?

18 Cool Things You Need To Click On Today

This little guy's first time walking in the snow; mani courtesy of Olive & June (nail polish shade: Deborah Lippmann's Dark Side of The Moon); why, yes, my four year old is rock climbing (indoors!); a fresh, healthy, yummy lunch at The Little Beet with Felicia (awesome conversation, not pictured)

This week was a tad crazy with the move, the freezing temps, and a few fun activities. For one, I  attended my very first book club! Like many book clubs (so I've heard), the discussion was about 2% book, 98% other stuff, but it was fun! I met a great, new group of women, and if nothing else, the experience forced me to power through a book, rather than take my sweet time. We read Cutting For Stone. Have you read it? I loved it. It was a very slow start and I almost gave up, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. It was great.

Today I'm meeting up with my friend PJ to talk Alt Summit! She's attending next week, and suddenly, in a last-minute turn-of-events, for the first time, so am I! It hasn't totally hit me that I'll be in Salt Lake City in just a few days. Crazy, huh?

Here's some fun links. Have a great weekend!

• This metallic sweater is cool...and under $42! (Plus you can get an extra 20% off through Saturday if you use the code LAYER.)

• This ponytail tho.

• I love everything Tia writes so much, and this is no exception: "I Was Called Racist For Hating Kerry Washington's Gown."

• This cage shelf is kind of awesome. It would be great in a kid's room as clutter control. I'm picturing plush animals artfully stuffed into that cage.

• These dairy-free, gluten-free pesto zucchini rollups look fantastic. So making them!

• I already own one Ann Taylor sweatshirt and love the way it fits. This pretty, lacy one is on sale and next on my list. (Plus get an extra 60% off--!!--by using the code SHOPBIG.)

• Hitha beat me to the punch posting this piece, but it's SO fascinating that I still had to share: "The Genius of Taylor Swift's Girlfriend Collection." (h/t Felicia)

• I am truly the worst because I am so guilty of this. Anyone else? (Also: Hilarious!)

• Things they should have told me about motherhood.

• Are you following Unspirational on Instagram? So wrong that it's so right. Not to mention so funny. (This one cracked me up.)

• Grace relaunched her site! It looks amazing and makes me covet a re-design of this blog something fierce.

• Are you living with a "threenager?" I am.

• Here's why having an unlimited vacation policy didn't work for one company. They've now switched to a minimum vacation policy and I am officially jealous.

• Okay. So, I hesitated to even post this next link, because 1) I don't know if it's really true, and 2) It's incredibly depressing. But a lot of it is definitely true (these beggars--very common in big cities, I see them in the NYC subway all the time--are usually controlled by a crime ring), and I've noticed firsthand that the children in these situations are always, ALWAYS sleeping as the article states. So I fear it may be real. If it is, I hope the attention causes something to be done to stop it: "Why Is The Child In The Hands of The Beggar Always Sleeping?" 

And in case you missed it, this week I...

• Got personal and revealed a few intimate details about my life.

• Said good-bye to the Brides magazine offices.

• Shared the first Brides hair how-to video. (FYI, it is truly for everyone--not just brides.)

• Gave step-by-step instructions for recreating the world's coolest ponytail.

The 7 Best Black Friday Sales

shoes (30% off); sweater (50% off); necklace (15% to 35% off); jacket (50% off)

When it comes to Black Friday, I'm not a big get-in-line-outside-of-Best-Buy-at-3-a.m. kind of shopper. But I am a major sit-at-my-computer-and-scoop-up-great-online-deals type of shopper. Sound like you, too?

Below, I've gathered some of the very best deals out there, focusing on retailers that I already frequent regularly who are offering really great sales. I also stuck to the retailers doing sales on everything on their site. Otherwise, it's just annoying. I hate having to hunt and pick and try to figure out whether an item is included in the sale or not. Inevitably I fall in love with something and then get to the checkout and realize, D'oh! It's full price. Ugh. THE WORST.

I've also combed through the sites, picked my very favorite items that are now on sale, and included links to them, below. The items include things I already own and love--and some fun wish-list pieces that I'll be after at the sales, too. 

So, here you go! A few of my favorite things from a few of my favorite sales. Happy shopping!

BEAUTYBAR: $15 off $75, $35 off $150, and $65 off $250 with code BBCYBER14 (this one is especially cool because beauty products almost never go on sale)

ANN TAYLOR: 50% off everything

BODEN: 30% off sitewide (which I'm actually crying about because I just finally bought these amazing sparkly shoes at full price)

GAP: 50% off sitewide with code BLKFRIDAY

PIPERLIME: 25% off sitewide with code THANKFUL25

BAUBLEBAR: 15% off 2 items with code FRIDAY15; 35% off 4+ items with code: FRIDAY35

MADEWELL: 25% off everything with code GIFTON

The Best Summer Dresses for Work

From left: Tory Burch (on major sale!); Gap; Diane Von Furstenberg

As you may have read, I had a bit of news this week. And this is the kind of news that brings...new clothes! (It was necessary, I swear!) See, for the past few months, I've been freelancing. And working from home (or the coffee shop) can mean wearing anything from a casual chambray dress to cutoffs to--ok, being real here now--pjs. And considering that last summer, I had just had a baby, and basically lived in sweats, I hadn't really gone shopping for new summer work clothes in, like, forever. It was time for an upgrade--a.k.a. New Dress O'Clock.

I love dresses for work, don't you? They take so much less time in the morning since you don't have to think too hard about what to pair them with. Plus, they're so much more flattering (for me, at least) than separates. Specifically, the most flattering dress silhouettes on my body are the ones that are fitted on top, flared on the bottom, and usually sleeveless, so that's what I tend to gravitate towards. I also love me a good cap sleeve, though, too. And, I have a definite soft spot for an embellished neckline. Case in point: This LBD. (Can't believe it's from Ann Taylor! Looks so similar to a Phillip Lim dress I bought a few years back. Going into the cart in 3, 2, 1...)

Here are a few more dresses that I love for work. There's a few I've actually already purchased (this one, this one, this one, and this one), along with a few more I've got my eye on. Which is your favorite?

SHOP MY FAVORITE SUMMER WORK DRESSES

5 Great Maxi Dresses for Day

From left: Gap (on major sale!), Rachel Pally (on sale!), Splendid, Calvin Klein,  Heather

Now that it's getting warmer (and I'm days away from dropping about 30 pounds!), I've finally started thinking about new clothes. Specifically maxi dresses. I love, love, love living in a maxi in the spring/summer, but here's the thing: Honestly, a lot of them make me feel a bit self-conscious during the day when in the city. I mean, if I'm walking around running errands in a long, floral-patterned, strapless or spaghetti-strapped dress, I always feel a bit like I should be on an island beach, not a sidewalk. (Am I in the minority here??) 

But this can all be solved easily. Add a little width to the straps so that they become tanks--or even short sleeves--and stick to solid colors (or something classic like stripes) and now you've got a perfectly daytime-appropriate maxi that works for brunch, shopping, or lazy summer days whether you're in the concrete-jungle...or a tropical one.

Check out a few of my favorite day- and city-ready maxis above. Only one is (slightly!) over $150--two are even under $100! I already own the grey Gap one (SUCH a deal) and I've got my eye on the short-sleeved Heather number or versatile navy Splendid tank dress next. Okay, who am I kidding? I'm totally getting both. (Or all five maybe? Eek!)

Which maxi above is your favorite? And what are your best tips for making a long dress daytime-appropriate? Tell me below!