Fashion
June 18, 2016

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP + FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

White and denim. Is there anything better? I love an all white look that adds just a touch of denim. It’s classic and summery all in one. When wearing one color on the top and bottom like this, it always helps to break it up by adding a slight tuck of your top like I did. It gives your outfit definition, and makes it so you don’t get lost in all the white. When adding shoes to an all white look I always consider the accessories and bag I want to wear, and then find something that fits in the same color family.

 WHITE LACE TOP SOLD OUT (SIMILAR HERE) | DISTRESSED JEANS | CREAM FAUX LEATHER JACKET | KATE SPADE BAG | OPEN-TOE BOOTIES | BROWN LEATHER WATCH | GOLD CUFF BRACELET

Sometimes dressing up includes jeans instead of a dress or skirt. When dressing up jeans, I love adding pieces like these open-toe booties and this lace top because they add style and elegance. The high neck on this top also adds some sophistication to the look, which adds to the dressiness. It’s easy to associate high neck tops with fall, but with choker necklaces making their comeback, high neck tops are definitely a trend to try this summer.

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WHITE TOP | WHITE PANTS | COGNAC WEDGES | GOLD BANGLE BRACELETS | GOLD CUFF BRACELET | GOLD SCREW CUFF BRACELET | SIMILAR PHONE CASE | NECKLACE | TURQUOISE RING
Adding texture is an easy way to wear all one color. My white top stands out from my white pants because of the eyelet detail. And I break up the color even more by adding cognac sandals (they look nude in the picture, which would totally work too) and gold jewelry. You can just as naturally add a pop or color in your shoes, which is another reason I love the versatility of an all white look. 
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WHITE LACE TOP SOLD OUT (SIMILAR HERE) | DISTRESSED JEANS | CREAM FAUX LEATHER JACKET | OPEN-TOE BOOTIES | BROWN LEATHER WATCH | GOLD BANGLE BRACELETS | KATE SPADE BAG 
I wish this lace top was still available because it’s just so lovely. It has such pretty details on it that make it unique. I linked to a similar lace top, that is just as pretty and elegant though! It’s hard to go wrong with white, lace, and denim. And I love how lace has such a graceful way of effortlessly dressing up an otherwise basic look.
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FATHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH

Happy Saturday everyone! Don’t forget that tomorrow is Father’s Day! It’s so important to make sure the dads in our life feel loved every day, but tomorrow we get to really spoil them more than usual.

I put together a Father’s Day gift guide below, and I made it really easy to shop the items right from this post. So if you forgot, or haven’t had time to run out and get something for all the dads in your life, this list will hopefully help you with some simple, affordable (all items are under $50!), and meaningful gift ideas.

Have a wonderful weekend celebrating Father’s Day and enjoying time spent with family!

Father’s Day Gift Guide
Clothing:
  • For the stylish men in your life (or the ones you’d like to make a little more stylish) this short sleeve button-up shirt is versatile enough to wear out for a date night, or just running errands on the weekends. 
  • The classic knit polo is another versatile option (and one a lot of the older dads may like), and it comes in lots of colors so you can really tailor it to the dad you’re shopping for. 
Activewear:
  • For the active dads in your life, a new running top like this Nike zip-up or this Under Armor hooded henley are always a good option that won’t break the bank and end up getting a lot of use. 
  • Hats are another great gift option for dads who like to wear them because they can be thrown on right away. This Nike hat is a great option for a more active look, and this Brixton hat is great for adding to a more casually dressed look. 
Accessories:
  • You can’t go wrong with a S’well water bottle for any of the dads in your life. The colors available for men are basic, but still sophisticated and stylish. 
  • If your go-to gift for Father’s Day is always a classic tie, try changing things up this year with a floral tie. This one is really subtle in black and white floral. You can go a bit more out there if you want, but I think even the more conservative tie wearers could pull this one off. 
You can shop all my Father’s Day gift ideas here:

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Dressy
June 16, 2016

OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS TUTORIAL

 DRESS MADE BY ME (ALMOST IDENTICAL DRESS HERE AND AN OPTION UNDER $40 HERE AND HERE) | GOLD GLADIATOR SANDALS | STRAW POM POM TOTE BAG | SUNGLASSES

I posted a little sneak peek of this dress when I wore it in Hawaii, and I’m excited today to bring you the full tutorial on how you can make a custom off the shoulder dress for your next beach trip! Before we left on our family vacation to Hawaii last month, I was itching to sew an off the sleeve dress for a beach cover up. There are so many adorable off the shoulder dresses for sale (this one and this one are my favorites), but I had some really pretty lightweight coral fabric in my stash that I wanted to use up. I came across this dress online and I knew I had to recreate it with my coral fabric.

The off the shoulder trend is one of my favorite trends this summer, because I feel like the clavicle and shoulders are such a pretty and classy way to show a little skin. Plus, you don’t have to worry about getting tan lines if you wear it as a cover up to the pool and beach.

To style an off the shoulder dress, I would say skip the necklace, especially if you are wearing it as a swim cover. Throw on a simple pair of stud earrings intead, and pull your hair away from your face a bit. If you throw too much jewelry on it distracts from the silhouette of the dress. When it comes to resort wear, I really think something more simple, understated, and less styled ends up looking a lot more chic and timeless.

GET THE FULL TUTORIAL FOR THIS TOP AFTER THE JUMP BELOW..
If you don’t know how to sew, now is the time to learn! We are running our big summer sale over at moderngirlsewing.com where you can get 25% off of any of our online sewing courses with the code: SUMMER25. The sale ends on Monday! Summer is the best time to sew, and this dress is really great for a beginner. You can find out more about the courses here.

 

Materials:
  • 3 yards of fabric (I used a light weight polyester/cotton blend)
  • 1 1/2 yards of 1/2″ elastic
  • matching thread
STEP 1:
Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric that measure about 1 1/2 x your chest width, and 28″ long (you can make it as long or short as you would like). Cut out small arm holes (keep in mind these can be very short holes, since the top will hit you a few inched underneath your armpit).
STEP 2:
Lay your 2 bodice pieces Rt sides together and stitch up either side with 1/2″ seam allowance (sa).
STEP 3:
Open your bodice and serge around the armpit opening, then fold under 1/4″, press, and stitch.
STEP 4:
Cut your 2 strips of fabric 15″ wider than your bodice pieces, place them rs togther, and stitch up the sides with 1/2″ sa.
STEP 5:
Serge around the bottom of your stitched together strips of fabric, fold under 1/4″, pin your trim along the edge and stitch.
STEP 6:
Fold the top of your long strip over 1″ and stitch all around leaving a 2″ opening.
STEP 7:
Slide the bodice through the exact middle of the long strip of fabric and place the seam allowances together. Stitch all around the top of the round strip with a 5/8″ seam allowance, leaving a small opening where the elastic will fit
STEP 8:
Insert one of the ends of the elastic into the top of the bodice through the 3″ opening. Pin the end of the elastic in place so it doesn’t pull all the say through, and stitch the 2 ends together. Hem along the bottom of the bodice with 1/2″ sa.

 

I found a lot of similar dresses that you can shop here:

 

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Family
June 14, 2016

OUR HAWAII TRIP (PART 1)

We got back from our trip to Oahu a few weeks ago, and I’m already getting antsy to start planning our next vacation! I was a little worried that traveling with all of the kids was going to be completely exhausting. Well, it was…but it was WORTH it! I’m recapping the first part of our trip today, and I put together a little video below. The pictures are so fun to have, but it’s the video that really shows what a blast we all had!

 

The first part of our trip we stayed at The Outrigger Reef Waikiki. It’s a gorgeous family friendly resort right in the heart of Waikiki.
FLORAL BATHING SUIT
because of the time change, we all work up really early Hawaii time, so we would walk down to a pier at the hotel and watch the sunrise. (can you tell it’s 5:30am? haha!)
 
(my suit is 30% off right now! you can find it here)
The boy loved having their own room at the outrigger. We got 2 rooms that joined and it was so nice to be able to close the boys door once they were all asleep. We all got a good nights rest because of it!
DELSEY LUGGAGE | PINK SUIT (CURRENTLY 30% OFF!) | STRIPED CROCHET BAG
NAVY OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS
ELI’S OUTFIT
The boys weren’t too into snorkeling, but they were obsessed with watching the fish with their goggles. Even in such shallow water they could see lots of fish!
During our stay at The Outrigger Reef we checked out the Waikiki Beach Walk, right next to the hotel. They have great shopping, yummy restaurants, and this cute splash pad for the boys to play in.
I stopped into a cute little boutique called Mahina that had the best stuff! Lots of light airy pieces with a laid back beachy feel. I picked up some white cut off shorts and a cute turquoise ring.
They even had a spot in the store with toys, so the boys were entertained while I shopped!

 

The boy’s favorite store by far was Candy Bar. They were in heaven because we pretty much let them have all the sugar they wanted. This candy shop has the most amazing cotton candy. We also got a box of chocolate covered macadamia nut balls.  OH my gosh! I cannot stress to you enough how amazing these were. I honestly ate 90% of the box myself.

 

We also stopped in Truffaux, a boutique that carries the best panama hats. All the hats are hand woven and take between 4-6 months to create. It was so interesting to learn about the how these hats are made, and we each walked out with one that we wore pretty much the rest of our trip.

 

I snuck off to the gym while the boys were all napping. I sweat way more in Hawaii than I usually do during a workout!

 

I made my coral dress (tutorial coming soon!) but you can shop an identical one here.
 
We got the boys squirt guns for the pool before we left and they carried them everywhere we went!

 

We loved every minute at The Outrigger Reef Resort and I would highly recommend the resort, especially if you are traveling with kids. It was super family friendly and we met lots of other families while we were out at the pool. The staff was so friendly and the bellmen were all so cute and nice to the boys (even when they climbed all over their luggage carts like monkeys).
On our last night there we let the boys swim and we ordered dinner poolside from the restaurant they have next to the pool. Garrett and I sat at our table eating while we watched the boys swim and listened to the live Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing!

 

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Sewing
June 13, 2016

THE MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO SEWING SUMMER SALE!

Our Modern Girl’s Guide to Sewing Summer SALE is finally here! Merrick and I both love sewing sun dresses, beach coverups, and skirts during the summer, and we want to teach you how to also! We thought a sale would be the perfect way to kick off some summer sewing. Head over to moderngirlsewing.com to grab our Beginner Course and/or our Intermediate Course for 25% off with the code: SUMMER25 from now through June 20th.
Our Beginner Course has a full step-by-step video tutorial at the end on how to make this elastic waistband skirt, and our Intermediate Course walks you through how to make this shift dress. Both are perfect for the summer!
The Modern Girl’s Guide to Sewing is a two part online video series where Merrick and I teach you everything you need to know about how to sew your own clothing. We start at the very beginning (how to thread your machine, all the different kinds of fabric and stitches, etc) and we take you clear through to the more complicated things like how to insert an invisible zipper and insert a sleeve. You can watch a clip that shows just how fun our courses are here.
If you’ve had your eye on these course, make sure you jump on the chance to get 25% off! We would love to teach you everything we know about clothing design and construction!.

 

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Fashion
June 11, 2016

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

WHITE TOP | WHITE PANTS | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE | SIMILAR RING HERE AND HERE | GOLD BANGLES | GOLD LADDER CUFF BRACELET

All white is one of my favorite go-to looks for summer. It’s clean, simple, and elegant. I love adding pops of color like the turquoise in my necklace and ring, and some gold bracelets. You can never go wrong with white and gold. 

NAVY OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS | SUNGLASSES | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE
This lace off the shoulder dress is the perfect little blue dress for summer, and it’s currently $50! It’s easy to wear to the beach because it’s light weight, which I love, but can just as easily be worn throughout the day. 
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WHITE TOP | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE | PHONE CASE (SOLD OUT) SIMILAR HERE | LIPSTICK
Another white top that I absolutely love! The crochet detail is so pretty and feminine. It would so be easy to add this top to some jeans during the day, but it would also work with a cute knit midi skirt to dress it up for date night or a girls night out. 
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WHITE DRESS | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE | PHONE CASE (SOLD OUT) SIMILAR HERE
This dress is so perfect. It’s the perfect length (I ordered a large so that it would come to my knees), and it has really pretty details in the sleeves. It will be one of those dresses you want to wear everywhere! It’s light weight, which is perfect for hot summer days, and currently on sale under $40 with 25% off if you order online! 

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Casual
June 10, 2016

TOP 10 SPOTS TO VISIT WITH KIDS THIS SUMMER IN LOS ANGELES

ON ME: WHITE DRESS (sold out) SIMILAR WHITE DRESS (on sale for $36!) ALSO LOVE THIS SIMILAR DRESS AND THIS DRESS (both are on sale!)| SIMILAR SANDALS | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR HAT
It’s official! Both of the boys are done with school for this year, and summer has begun! I always have a little mixed feelings when it comes to summer break with the kids. Part of me is excited to sleep in a bit and have lazy mornings at home, and part of me thinks “what the HECK am I going to do to entertain them for 6 weeks?!”
In order to keep us all from going stir crazy, I wrote down a list of some of our favorite spots to take the kids in LA during the summer. These are places that would make perfect play dates with your friends and their kiddos too! They are all kid friendly and budget friendly, and most of them are inside, away from the beating summer sun. Sound amazing? They are. I’ve listed them all at the bottom of this post (along with a few new ones on our list that I want to check out).
No matter where we go, I always love dressing my boys in clothing from Old Navy. They always have the best selection of boys clothes, and their prices are so affordable. I can just let the kids play and enjoy our outings without stressing that they will ruin their clothing because I didn’t spend a fortune on it!
ON ME: WHITE DRESS (sold out) SIMILAR WHITE DRESS (on sale for $36!) ALSO LOVE THIS SIMILAR DRESS AND THIS DRESS (both are on sale!)| SIMILAR SANDALS | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR HAT

ON BRADLEY: STRIPED TOP | ORANGE LINEN SHORTS | SANDALS
ON CASH: PALM TREE PRINT TOP | GREEN SHORTS | SANDALS
ON ELI: BUTTON UP PLAID TOP | OVERALLS | SANDALS

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MY TOP FAVORITES: 
 
SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK
I met up with Merrick and her 3 boys earlier this week at the Santa Anita Race Track. I went to a Breeder’s Cup race there with Garrett a few years ago, and I was so excited to go back with the kids! The area is absolutely gorgeous, and the building looks like it’s right out of a movie (which it is…it’s where they filmed Seabiscuit). This is one of the very first times Merrick and I have gotten together for a play date with all 6 boys, and they loved running around looking at the horses.
Every morning on the weekdays they train the horses from 5am-10am, and entrance is free if you want to take the kids and come watch. They also have free general admission and free parking every Thursday and Friday during the summer to watch live horse races from 2pm-6pm. They have lots of family events happening there on Saturdays too. You can view their calendar here.
 
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
I love taking the kids here! It’s located right next to USC’s campus in a really fun part of LA. The museum is huge, and there is plenty for the kids to see and learn. I usually plan on spending most of the day here. One of the levels has a giant aquarium that you can walk through, and the boys love it! Admission to the Science Center is FREE and parking is $12 (CASH ONLY!). It also houses the Spaceship The Endeavor. You have to buy a separate ticket to see the space shuttle, but I definitely think it’s worth paying to see it on your first trip. It’s incredible! You can read more about this museum here.
*note: There are other museums that you get access to after you pay to park, but most of those cost around $15 per person. This one is just as good and free!
LA ARBORETUM & BOTANIC GARDEN
This giant beautiful arboretum is located right across the street from the race track in Santa Anita (just down the street from Pasadena). Adults are $9, kids 5-12 are $4, and under 5 are free. They have acres and acres of gardens (about 9 different kinds), a giant lake with fish and ducks, and peacocks that roam around. This does require lots of walking, which is great for tiring out kids with lots of energy! They have lots of kid-centered activities going on. They also have an amazing night concert series with performances by bands and symphonies.
LACY PARK
This park might be my favorite of all time. I love taking the kids here! Merrick and I stopped here for a few hours to feed the kids lunch and let them ride scooters after visiting the race track. It’s located in San Marino, home to the most beautiful mansions in the world, so the drive there is enough to make it worth your time. The park is huge, with a giant running track surrounded by palm trees, with a giant grassy field and baseball field in the middle. It’s a great place to go running, because there is plenty of room on the track for kids to ride bikes or push a stroller. The play structure was just redone and is really fun. They do charge a little on the weekends, so keep that in mind.
I’m not a car fan in the slightest and I love this museum! It has some really incredible cars and my boys go crazy over it. On the second floor they have an entire room for kids that is all things from the movie Cars (they can touch and play anything there- the other floors have incredible cars they just can’t be touched). They have a giant life-sized Lightning McQueen that kids can touch! I usually save this floor for last though. We explore the other rooms and I’m careful to let my boys know they can’t touch the cars and they usually do really well! Then when they get antsy I move to this last floor and let them go crazy. This way they don’t start the museum thinking they can touch everything.. I save the best for last! (Also makes for a fun date night)
THE LAST BOOKSTORE
The coolest bookstore you will ever see. Stories of cool books for sale, with rooms full of books all the same color, a tunnel made out of books, and a section of really really old books to look through. It’s kind of like a book museum. It’s free and right in the heart of Downtown LA.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
 
TRAVEL TOWN
When my boys were a little younger and obsessed with trains, this place was heaven for them! The entrance and parking is free, and there are tons of old trains for the boys to walk through and explore. They have a small air conditioned museum, and you can buy a ticket to go for a ride on a mini train around the park. Super cute!
LA ZOO
Cute smaller zoo, right next to Travel Town.
PARK CONCERTS AT THE LEVITT PAVILION
Free concerts in the park at a darling location in the heart of Pasadena.
KIDSPACE
Right next to the Rose Bowl, and indoor/outdoor kids museum.
 
ON MY LIST TO VISIT THIS SUMMER:
 
THE BROAD MUSEUM
This museum looks amazing! It’s free, but there is a waitlist to get tickets. I’m putting my name on the list in hope that we can get some tickets this summer.
LACMA MUSEUM
This is the museum with the section of hundreds of darling light posts you see all over instagram. I’ve always wanted to check it out, and this summer it’s on my list!
LA CENTRAL LIBRARY
The outside of this library looks incredible! I’ve heard it’s huge and fun to explore with kids. Right in downtown LA.
Make sure you pin this one for your next trip to California. Now hop on over to Merrick’s blog today, she is sharing all her favorite kid friendly spots in Orange County!
WHITE DRESSES CURRENTLY ON SALE:
 
WANT MORE MOM FRIENDLY POSTS?
in partnership with Old Navy  |  photography by Kendra Maarse

 

 

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Dressy
June 8, 2016

THE FAUX-WRAP DRESS TUTORIAL

WRAP DRESS MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW) SIMILAR DRESS HERE AND HERE | SUNGLASSES | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE | SIMILAR TURQUOISE RING

 

I made this dress a few months ago and instagramed it when I wore it to one of the parties during the Reward Style Conference I attended. The dress code for the party was resort style, and I knew we had our Hawaii trip coming up in a few weeks, so I figured I would make a dress that I could wear to both places! This dress is easy and fun to wear. I thought about making it an actual wrap dress, but thinking about trying to keep it tied as I hold Eli and move around on the beach made me decide to do an elastic waistband instead. I’m so glad I did! It was easier to make and much easier to wear.

 

The dress was great for Hawaii because it worked as a beach cover-up, or as a dress for dinner. When it got wet in the ocean it dried quickly, and the light fabric kept me cool. I had this fabric in my stash forever (what’s new!), and I’m so glad I finally found the right occasion to use it!
photography by Kenna Reed
If you would like to make this dress but don’t know how to sew, make sure you check out my online sewing course at moderngirlsewing.com. We will be having our summer sale starting next week, so it’s the perfect time to grab a course! We announced the dates and details of the sale over on our Modern Girl Sewing instagram, so make sure you follow along there so you don’t miss out on any of our sales!
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE FULL TUTORIAL..

Materials:

  • 3 yards of lightweight chiffon fabric
  • 3 yards of lightweight liner fabric (optional)
  • 1/4″ wide elastic
  • matching thread

*I listed all of my pattern piece measurements for reference, but here is a simple guide for cutting out your pieces:

BACK width = 1 1/2″ x your actual back width
FRONT width = actual front width + 2″ (apply this to both front sides)
SKITH length = measurement from your natural length to the floor, + 1″ for s.a.
ELASTIC = measure around your waist so it pulls taught but not too tight



Step 1:
Finish all raw edges of the 2 FRONT pieces. Fold back the diagonal side 2″, press, and stitch in place at the top and bottom. Repeat this for both pieces.


Step 2:
Finish all raw edges of the BACK piece. With right sides together, lay the one of the FRONT pieces on top of the BACK piece and stitch along the shoulder seams and under the arms. Lay the second FRONT piece on top overlapping and also attach at the shoulder seams and under the arms.


Step 3:
Stitch around the bottom of the FRONT pieces, securing them in place.


Step 4:
Fold and press your CUFFS lengthwise, stitch up widthwise so they create a circle, and attach them to your arm holes.


Step 5:
Wrap your SKIRT around so that the front overlaps and that it is the same circumference as your bodice. This will be larger than your natural waist measurement until you add the elastic. Turn your bodice inside out and upside down and slide the skirt through your bodice. Stitch all around connecting your bodice and skirt with a 1/2″ s.a.


Step 6:
Stitch your elastic onto the waist from the inside of the dress. Sew right along the same line of stitching around the waist that you just sewed, and pull your elastic as you sew so that it stretches all the way around the waist. Hem the bottom with a 1/4″ s.a. and hem any remaining raw edges.

 

 

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Fashion
June 4, 2016

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

DRESS MADE BY ME SIMILAR HERE + HERE + HERE | GLADIATOR SANDALS | STRIPED STRAW TOTE BAG
Off the shoulder tops and dresses are making a huge appearance lately, and I love how easy they are to throw on for a casual beach day look. Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make the one I’m wearing. I’m so excited to share all the details just in time for summer. I’ll be posting it on the blog soon! I did find some almost identical versions of my dress though, so I linked to those below in case you can’t wait for the tutorial 😉 

GINGHAM TOP MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL HERE) SIMILAR TOP HERE AND HERE | WHITE SHORTS | COGNAC SANDALS | STRIPED STRAW TOTE BAG
Another off the shoulder look I couldn’t resist. And gingham.. It’s a win-win. I love how this top turned out. In case you missed my post on how to make it yourself, you can find the full tutorial here. And this bag is so easy to grab and go for strolling around the beach, or just running errands this summer. The orange in it is the perfect color compliment to the navy gingham, plus I love that it has the cognac color from my sandals in the strap. 
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DENIM JACKET | WHITE EYELET TOP | WHITE PANTS | WEDGE SANDALS | LADDER CUFF BRACELET | BANGLE BRACELET | SIMILAR RING | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE
White and denim are always a good idea in the summer. My wedges and jean jacket add just a touch of contrast to my all white look. But I love that the details in my eyelet top are still the focus, making the top stand out just enough, even over white pants. 
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WHITE TOP | DISTRESSED JEANS | HAT | SIMILAR RED FLATS | GOLD WATCH | INITIAL NECKLACE 

You can’t go wrong with a red, white, and blue look. It’s classic, simple, and easy to throw together for casual summer days. Running around with the boys this summer, I know I’ll be throwing on my hat tons. It’s the easiest way to get up and go while still looking cute and put together.

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Casual
June 3, 2016

HELLO SUMMER

SWIMSUIT TOP AND BOTTOMS VIA MODCLOTH | FLAMINGO | SUNGLASSES (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR COLOR AND STYLE)
Yesterday was Bradley’s last official day of kindergarten, and that means that summer is here in the Barlow house! It certainly felt like summer. We baked in the 90 degree sun at the park after school! Poor B was really sad for the year to come to an end. He loves school and loves getting to be with his friends.
This weekend I am going to put together a summer bucket list with the boys and write down everything we want to do while school is out. I really want to try to get out to the beach a few times a month. We loved spending so much time on the beach while we were in Hawaii, and the boys love it.
I wore this suit from ModCloth while we were in Hawaii last week, and I love it! I saw the suit in person about a month ago, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. When we booked our trip for Hawaii I knew that was one that needed to come with me. The pink and chartreuse are so cute and vibrant, and it is one of the most flattering high-waisted suits I’ve ever tried on. ModCloth makes so many really cute unique suits. I was pouring through all of their swim options and saw so many cute suits I had never seen before (like this one and this one). And I just couldn’t resist bringing along this blow up flamingo. Even though Garrett rolled his eyes at me, it was so fun to float around on at the beach. We made quite the spectacle on our way down to the ocean, but we had the cutest flotation device in all the land, so we didn’t care. ModCloth also had this cute watermelon float that I almost got instead!
Happy summer!

 
in partnership with Modcloth

 

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Casual
June 2, 2016

SUMMERTIME CLASSIC

STRIPED SUIT (CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR $50 OFF!) | WATCH c/o DANIEL WELLINGTON (GET 15% OFF WIDH CODE BARLOW) | LAZERCUT SUN HAT (SIMILAR HAT HERE AND HERE) | ROUND BEACH TOWEL

While bright colors are always so fun and playful for summer, I have a soft spot in my heart for a classic pairing of black and white. This striped suit has the cutest big bow across the front and is currently on sale for $50 off! The simple clean chic design of my Daniel Wellington watch is also a great summer classic. I have had this watch for a few years now, and recently added this new style to my list of favorite watches.

Daniel Wellington watches are beautifully made. The design is clean and not fussy, which makes them super versatile. Most of the watches are unisex (Garrett wears my black watch almost as much as I do). Right now you can get 15% off any watch with code: BARLOW. These would make for a great Father’s Day gift (and you might be able to get some use out of it too)!

 

in collaboration with Daniel Wellington

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Casual
June 1, 2016

THE OFF THE SHOULDER TASSEL TOP TUTORIAL


TOP MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW) SIMILAR TOP HERE AND HERE | WHITE SHORTS | COGNAC SANDALS | STRIPED STRAW TOTE BAG | SUNGLASSES | PANAMA HAT | LIPSTICK NARS ‘CLAUDIA’

 

I’ve been wanting to make an off the shoulder top for a few months now, and I thought it would be perfect to take on our vacation to Hawaii last week! You might have seen a little sneak peek of this over on my Instagram a few days ago. I love this tutorial because it really is just a few rectangles sewn together. Adding the trim is a fun touch that adds visual interest to the cut ruffles along the top. And the gingham pattern is perfect for summer! Check out the full tutorial below!

 

Materials:
  • 2 yards of fabric (I used a light weight cotton)
  • 2 yards of trim
  • 1 1/2 yards of 1/2″ elastic
  • matching thread
STEP 1:
Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric that measure about 1 1/2 x your chest width, and 20 1/2″ long (add 1-3″ if you have a longer torso). Cut out small arm holes (keep in mind these can be very short holes, since the top will hit you a few inched underneath your armpit).
STEP 2:
Lay your 2 bodice pieces Rt sides together and stitch up either side with 1/2″ seam allowance (sa).
STEP 3:
Open your bodice and serge around the armpit opening, then fold under 1/4″, press, and stitch.
STEP 4:
Cut your 2 strips of fabric 15″ wider than your bodice pieces, place them rs togther, and stitch up the sides with 1/2″ sa.
STEP 5:
Serge around the bottom of your stitched together strips of fabric, fold under 1/4″, pin your trim along the edge and stitch.
STEP 6:
Fold the top of your long strip over 1″ and stitch all around leaving a 2″ opening.
STEP 7:
Slide the bodice through the exact middle of the long strip of fabric and place the seam allowances together. Stitch all around the top of the round strip with a 5/8″ seam allowance, leaving a small opening where the elastic will fit
STEP 8:
Insert one of the ends of the elastic into the top of the bodice through the 3″ opening. Pin the end of the elastic in place so it doesn’t pull all the say through, and stitch the 2 ends together. Hem along the bottom of the bodice with 1/2″ sa.

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Casual
May 31, 2016

SUMMER SWIMSUIT TREND FAVORITES

FLORAL SWIMSUIT (SIMILAR SUIT HERE AND HERE, SAME PRINT SUIT HERE AND HERE) | STRIPED STRAW BAG | GOLD GLADIATOR SANDALS | SIMILAR SUNGLASSES
There are so many good swimsuit trends this year! When I was shopping for suits for our vacation, I kept my eye out mostly for suits that I would feel comfortable chasing around my kids in. I was blown away by the selection of once piece suits at Nordstrom that were right on trend for this season. 
I picked out my favorites in each of the top trends for this year- floral, Americana, cutouts, and crochet…

FLORAL




I’m loving these prints! The florals keep the suit pretty and feminine and that is right  up my alley.
AMERICANA 
This is such a cute trend, especially with the Fourth of July right around the corner. The full American flag suit is bold, which I sometimes shy away from, but I love this one! I also rounded up a little more understated Americana suits that are darling. 

CUTOUTS 

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I love cutouts in one pieces! It keeps the suit fun and gives it a little personality.

CROCHET

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The visual interest of crochet suits is so pretty and delicate. Since they can be a bit busy, I usually stick to black or white crochet suits. 
Shop my look here:  
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Don’t forget the Nordstrom sale is still going strong! You can shop all my favorites in this post.

in partnership with Nordstrom
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