I discovered such a great brand from Walmart a while back and I’m continually impressed with the cute (and budget friendly) piece they are pumping out each new season. I’m teaming up with Walmart today to give you the scoop on this brand (the brand is Scoop…see what I did there?) and share my top 10 favorite finds for Spring/Summer.
(I spy a sleeping Owen!)
I ordered thisgolden boho dressa while back thinking it would be so perfect for my bump, but it came in the mail after I had Eli and I love it so much for after baby (nursing friendly- it ties at the neck in the back). I posted a video of me wearing it on my stories, and the color in person is so good. It’s a dark golden shade (comes in black too) and incredibly figure flattering. I like that the elastic waist hits high and that I’m not swimming in a ton of fabric like many other caftans I’ve tried. This one is under $50and honestly looks like it should be double that price.
Have you ordered anything from Scoop at Walmart? I really feel like it’s a brand that deserves more attention in the Walmart fashion category. I own a handful of items already and I’m consistently impressed.
SHOP MY FAVORITES
Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
How great is this new dressI grabbed for fall? The drape and fit of it is spot on and I love the gold x black x geometric pattern. The fabric looks and feels like silk but without the price tag. This great new fall arrival is under $40.
TEN NEW PIECES I’M LOVING FOR FALL RIGHT NOW
I recently picked up this dark brown wool hat for the fall. Don’t let the strings on the hat throw you off, I just removed them (they look a bit safari to me). But the color and shape of this one is just right.
I’ve been eyeing this eye necklace(no pun intended). It’s fun and dainty.
The chartreuse color of this silky top is so good. My favorite detail is the extended shoulders that give it a military structured vibe.
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. We spent most of the day Saturday at home working on house stuff, but the real highlight of our weekend was going on a bike ride on Sunday. We just got bikes and we got Eli the cutest tag-a-long bike and it literally makes me giddy riding behind him, it is SO cute! If you have a little one that is too young to bike with the big kids I would highly recommend getting this bike for them! It’s adjustable and attaches onto an adult size bike. We rented one in Monterey and loved it so much we needed one.
Today I’m asking you girls if you will take a really quick reader survey for me. It’s kind of an awkward ask (just watch my stories….I’m so awkward about it) but having your input really helps us connect with the right brands and form partnerships that fuel and add value to the blog! I’m also giving away an adorable MZ Wallace Large Metro Tote bag ($235 value) to one of you for taking the survey!
Just take the quick online survey right here(I promise it just takes 2 minutes) and then head to my latest instagram post and leave me a comment letting me know you took the survey!
I’m living in sandals lately, so I’m always on the hunt for cute ones. Today I’m excited to partner with Macy’sbecause it’s the first day of their Great Sandal Sale! The sale starts today and runs through July 7th. You can score 40% off of almost all of the sandals on Macys.com including brands like Steve Madden, Lucky, INC, Marc Fisher, Vince Camuto, and more.
I rounded up three of my favorite sandals included in the sale and styled each of them with the same outfit. (I just tweaked a few things here and there). Scroll down to see all my favorite sandal picks, and save 40% off on new summer sandals right here.
I added a little western twist with these Lucky sandals(currently 40% off). They run true to size and this cognac color is so versatile.
I dressed up my same outfit with these strappy black INC sandals(currently 40% off). They make a casual outfit instantly chic.
I threw in a pop of summer color with these neon Steve Madden sandals (currently 40% off) which run ½ size small so order up!. Flats are my go to when I’m chasing my kids around the pool!
I love how many looks you can style with a great sandal. Shop all the sandals 40% off right now at Macys.com.
Spring officially starts next week, which means it’s time to start talking about beachwear. There are so many cute swimsuits, coverups, beach bags, shorts, sunglasses, and sandals out right now, so I wanted to gather some of my favorites all in one place.
I can’t resist a cute ruffle one-piece, and I love how clean and simple this white ruffle swimsuit is. This black polka dot one- piece is another favorite of mine, and a great alternative to a solid black suit.
These distressed denim shorts are a great staple to have on hand all spring and summer. They are great for wearing over your swimsuit to the beach or the pool.
This pink maxi dress coverup would be so cute at the beach this summer! I also love this cute cover-up romper for a day at the pool.
Woven straw tote bags are back again this season. This striped straw tote is easy to carry and big enough to hold all of your beach day essentials.
These platform wedge sandals are a staple for me all season. They work with dresses and jeans, and they easily dress up any look.
If you want more beachwear inspiration, here are six posts from last spring and summer to check out:
I picked up this suit a month ago and I love it! I love the tiny off the shoulder sleeves, and the top has a good amount of padding/support. I’m wearing a Small in the top and bottom.
I’m gearing up to hit the ground running into 2018, but I always make it a point to look back on my posts at the end of each year and highlight my favorites. There is a lot of content floating around on this blog, and my “Best of Elle Apparel” posts are a great way to scroll through a little highlight reel to see if anything catches your fancy. If you are new to reading Elle Apparel, its also a great way to play catch up. I often get asked questions on my instagram to do posts that I have already written, and it’s nice to bring them back to light every once in a while. I hope this is a helpful way to see a lot of the kind of content I have already covered all in one place…
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2017
I went to London and Paris with Garrett to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. You can see all of my posts from the trip here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And pictures from our Paris anniversary shoot here.
I attended my third NYFW, and got to meet with new brands I had been so excited to speak with. You can see all of my NYFW posts here, here, here, here, here and here.
I created a workout video of my full squat and push-up gym routine for you guys to do along with me.
I got to do a lot of more personal posts with Garrett this year, and even let him write half of this post without me being able to see any of it beforehand! I even got to brag on him a little bit in this post.
December is quickly approaching (yay!), and that means parties and gift giving. I love dressing up, so this is one of my favorite times of the year. I love finding unique dresses to wear to holiday events, and I love finding unique gifts to give just as much. I found this beautiful emerald velvet dress a few weeks ago when I was looking through Modcloth’s site. Like almost every piece I’ve ordered from them…I liked it more when I got it and saw it in person. Velvet can be tricky; it can come across looking cheap if it isn’t done right. I was pleasantly surprised with how luxurious this dress looks at such a great price point. I very rarely pair green and red together for a holiday look (I usually opt for a red lip to take the place of a red clothing item), but I actually love the look of these satin deep red heels with the dress. The shade of red fits with the shade of green and comes across as a little unexpected, but it works and it’s festive!
I have a Secret Santa party with my girlfriends coming up next month, so I also checked out the gifting section of their site. I found so many unique things to give as gifts like this pretty ceramic dish set and these pretty marble earrings. A handful of my close girlfriends are cat obsessed and they would get a kick out of this cat ring holder. I also found this cool camera lens mug that would be so cute to give my photographer! I’m adding Modcloth to my list of stores to shop this year!
SOME OTHER FUN GIFT IDEAS:
SHOP MY LOOK:
in partnership with Modcloth | photography by Jordan Zobrist
This post is brought to you by CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service. Thank you American Eagle Outfitters for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from American Eagle Outfitters, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.
This is the time of year when holiday get togethers and gift giving start pressing in on us. It’s always really busy right around the holidays, so now is the time to start thinking about putting together comfortable holiday looks that are perfect for casual events and gatherings.
It’s no secret that I love a good layered look, especially this time of year. Having a quality cardigan sweater that I can throw on is a must. This waffle knit cardigan comes in six colors, and it’s the perfect extra layer for a casual look. It runs true to size, and the fit is narrow/fitted in the arms with a looser oversized fit in the body. And, the arms actually stay in place, so you don’t have to constantly re-adjust and pull them up!
Under my cardigan, I have found that my shirt makes a huge difference in how comfortable I feel the rest of the day. And when you’re entertaining guests or standing around at a holiday event, you don’t want to sacrifice comfort. This plaid shirt is the most buttery soft top I have. I have it in two colors because I love the feel and fit. It runs true to size, with a narrow but slightly oversized fit. I love that I can wear this shirt on its own, without a cardigan, but it also looks really cozy and festive under a cardigan.
You obviously never want to sacrifice comfort with pants or shoes either. Finding pants that you feel comfortable moving around in is so important. These black pants are amazing. They are super soft and stretchy (perfect for holiday parties where eating is involved), but not too thin, and they are the most flattering high waisted jeans I have found. I’m wearing a 0, and they run true to size. And these booties are also really comfortable. I walked all over town in them the other day, and my feet were totally fine at the end of the day. They also run true to size, and they also come in black.
With holiday parties in mind, it’s also important to think about gift giving. I know clothing can be a tricky gift to give, but it can also be a really personal and thoughtful gift that people actually really enjoy receiving. Because I love the pieces in this look so much, I would feel totally comfortable giving them as gifts. This grey cardigan is a great basic, and it would work to give to women of any shapes or sizes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about getting the fit just right. I have a lot of people on my list to buy for, but I know how much my sister-in-law loves comfortable clothing, so this plaid shirt would be the perfect gift for her. It’s really fun to think about what kinds of clothing and colors the people we are buying for love best or would look great in, and then finding those pieces. American Eagle Outfitters makes holiday dressing and gift giving easy with quality items at great price points. You can take the stress out of finding a holiday-ready look and getting that perfect gift because there are so many options to choose from.
Right now is the perfect time to stock up on these gifting staples because American Eagle Outfitters has a 40% off sale on tops, bottoms, and footwear. You also get free shipping at AE.com!
Garrett’s birthday is this weekend, and we are spending it up in Big Bear. We are so excited to relax, unplug, and just enjoy time together with the boys. Since it’s his birthday weekend I thought it would be fun to do a little men’s look outfit post. If you’ve joined me here for while, you already know homeboy has a killer sense of style. He gets men’s fashion, he gets women’s fashion, and he has good taste. One thing we both agree on is that Nordstrom is a one-stop shop for all his favorite styles. They have a great suit selection. If your man is on the hunt for a new suit and clothing/style isn’t really his cup of tea, take him to Nordstrom and have him try on one of their fitted European cut suits. They are Garrett’s favorite. I probably like them a little more than he does. Garrett’s firm requires a suit five times a week…and you won’t hear me complain about getting to see him dressed up all the time!
We wanted to do something fun for this post, so we each wrote down five things about the other person that are funny/quirky that you might not know about us. I haven’t read what he wrote about me as I type this…so I’m just going to be very trusting and copy and paste his list below.
FIVE THINGS ABOUT LEANNE (written by Garrett)
She does not like feet. Like, at all. She’s not as bad as she used to be, but she used to be hyper-aware of any feet near her. Any time a foot would touch her, even discreetly or innocently, she wiped whatever it touched–whether skin or clothing–on something nearby.
Listen, everyone. It’s a real thing. She does not have a sense of direction. Doesn’t matter what location you’re talking about, she does not know where it is from here. Not without a minute to think about it. Actually, give her a minute to look at the map. Wait, that map doesn’t make sense…hold on. Can you just tell her?
In the four years we’ve lived in Pasadena, she has driven us home from Camarillo once (one hour drive to our parents’ house). If I’m available to drive (i.e., if I’m in the car), then she’s either working, taking a nap, or both during the drive.
Leanne is humble. Any time she gets a message from someone, she’s so flattered and surprised. “Sometimes I think it’s pretend. There aren’t real people who see these posts, right?” She is beautiful and strong and confident and talented and charming. But she is also self-conscious and self-critical. And humble. (I should note, she receives many nice comments and she always talks about her “followers” as her friends. “I got a sweet message from a friend today…” I don’t want to give the impression I’m saying this so people are nice. You’re already nice!)
Leanne is a good cook. She doesn’t cook enough to be a great cook, but she has it in her. Like her many other talents, she is very good at catching a vision, improvising, and adding a personal touch when she cooks. However–how do I say this?–Leanne cannot bake. We’ve speculated as to why, and I’m sure it would help to have a proper mixer, but if it requires flour or yeast or whatever else… it might not turn out.
FIVE THINGS ABOUT GARRETT (written by Leanne)
Garrett reads the Wall Street Journal almost daily. He also reads news constantly throughout the day. Anytime I’m excited to tell him about something…he’s already heard about it. I used to call him Wiki-Garrett because he’s my personal Wikipedia. He knew about Beyonce being pregnant with twins before I did. I was so excited to tell him about it, and after I did he said, “you are just now finding out about this?”
Garrett married me and then all of a sudden decided he wanted to buy a motorcycle and join the military. Um….what? He didn’t say two words about either one before marriage. I told him military service and motorcycles are two things that must be disclosed prior to marriage.
Garrett made up a song for each of our boys when they were babies. They are all different and he would still sing them to each of the boys at night. It’s so cute! Some of them are so random though. Eli’s song goes, “My name is Eli, you spell it E-L-I, I am the coolest guy, and I will tell you why, I’LL PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!” See? Random central!
He is good at every sport. He’s just naturally athletic. He says, “I just have good balance.” I can never beat him at anything. When he came home from his mission, I had just finished a racquetball class, and he had been in a third world country for two years and had never tried racquetball; I was sure I had him. He beat me easily the first two games we played. I was soooo frustrated! Then, I was right behind him towards the very end of the third game, and I was so determined to win when I saw he was playing with his left hand! He still won. I get super competitive when I play a game against him!
Garrett has a very good memory. He can remember details about conversations we had ten years ago. He can tell you the name of the lady we met at the car dealership 6 years ago, and her dog’s name, and what I was wearing when we met her. But he cannot (CANNOT) remember how old he is. It’s been like this since his mission. The other day he voice texted me from the car because he was sure he was turning 32. He’s not. He’s turning 33. Even using the calculator he couldn’t remember he is 32.
With my birthday weekend celebration, I thought there was no better occasion to get dressed up and put on some amazing, timeless pieces of jewelry! But as I was thinking more about it, I realized there are so many moments I have to celebrate. At Jared The Galleria of Jewelry all feelings are turned into jewelry, and reasons for dressing up and wearing that most perfect piece of jewelry are not limited to just the major milestones in our lives. Putting on a special outfit and beautiful jewelry should be something we do more often, because honestly everyone has something to celebrate! We are surrounded by little and big moments that make each day brilliant and exciting. And what better way to say you’re celebrating these moments than with an incredible piece of jewelry from Jared.
I love the selection that Jared has to offer in all price points. And I love the message each piece sends and celebrates. I chose this simple and elegant white gold diamond bracelet because it’s something I can wear for date nights with Garrett. It’s a reminder of how much he supports me and cherishes me as a mom and wife. I wear my gold initial necklace all the time with the boys’ initials on it, and it means so much to me. But I loved this white gold diamond necklace to go with the bracelet because it too is a reminder of how blessed we are to have our three boys. The necklace and bracelet together allow me to wear pieces that remind me of just how lucky we are as a family to share life’s precious moments together.
Jewelry is so personal and meaningful, and it is a great way to remember special moments you want to celebrate forever. These moments may be big milestones, but they are also all the little moments in life that we should be celebrating every day!