Happy Friday! I hope you have all had a great week celebrating with your friends and family. It snowed on Christmas Eve and that’s when it really started to sink in that Christmas was here – such a magical night! After all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I feel like eeeeverything goes on sale! Obviously that’s an overstatement, but shopping always slows down after the holidays and retailers are trying to close out their inventory before the end of the year so it’s always a great time to shop. So many of my favorite retailers have major post-holiday sales going on right now – below are some of my picks!
Revolve: I always find some of the best pieces at Revolve that I can’t find elsewhere, so make sure you check out their sale too! How good are these jeans under $100? Also love this faux fur coat – obsessed with the green!
Below are a few more of my favorites to shop during the post-holiday sales!
XX, Christine
xo, Christine
3 Pants Trends to Try This Season
Obsessed with the tortoise button detail onthis henley. I’ve been wearing mine on repeat with everything from jeans to trousers to jogger pants. It comes in 3 colors and is so comfy!
A couple months ago I discoveredVerishop and they have quickly become one of my go to retailers because they do FREE overnight shipping! Am I the only one who the second they see something online they want it on their doorstep the next day. They carry everything from women’s to menswear, kids clothes, beauty and wellness (just ordered the Vitamin C and cleanser fromthis line to try), and even home decor! I love the vibe of their store, timeless classics. It feels like a curation of all of my favorite things I just hadn’t been introduced to yet. They have some brands that I’ve worn and loved forever, like Free People, Vince, etc., but then also some of the more unique brands you have to hunt for. One of the denim brands, Trave, I found on there and it is now one of my go to denim brands. They are super comfortable. Do you remember these cute cream jeans from this pic?
Last week I went on a pants spree – there were so many new styles I have been excited to try now that I don’t have a baby bump! Below are three pant trends I’m loving and direct links to all the pants from my latest haul.
Although I’ve always loved faux leather leggings, I love that they incorporating the leather look into trousers now! It is such an interesting piece to add to an outfit, and easy to dress up with a pretty blouse and heels, or dress down with a tee and white sneakers. How good isthis pair of coated, cropped, flared pants? It’s like all of my favorites in one piece!
I also ordered multiple pairs offlared denim and love! After years of boyfriend/skinny jeans, I love the fresh feel ofcropped flared denim coming back!
I fell so hard forthese trousers that I got them in bothblack andcream. Such a flattering cut and I love the belt detail. (They areboth on sale right now too, so they are a great price, especially for a pair that looks so high end!) Also lovethese camel colored trousers and they are even more beautiful in person!
These are two brands I just discovered and love from Verishop, Lett and Billie. I’ve been hunting for a good voluminous sleeve for my winter wardrobe – they make such a pretty but simple statement. I lovethis one – it’s really soft and also has shoulder pads to keep the shape of the sleeve. (On sale under $100 right now!) I also got thisballoon sleeve sweater and it’s such a pretty color!
Below are a few more Verishop pieces that are next on my list:
If there’s one thing I’ve come to believe about buying things for your home, it’s what a difference little luxuries make. Today I want to share some of my favorite bathtime luxuries that will have you looking forward to your next chance to relax and unwind at home.
First and foremost, nice towels! I feel like this one is a progression, when you start with a regular bath towel you don’t know what you’re missing, but gradually as you invest in softer, plusher, and thicker towels you realize you can never go back. There’s nothing better than a feeling of a soft, new towel after taking bath in the winter (try throwing it in the dryer so it’s warm when you get out too and it’s a double win). I just added these Kohler towels to our bathroom. Our tub is Kohler and I’m a big fan of the brand, so I was excited to hear they were launching a linens collection! Their towels are 100% Turkish cotton and really high quality, and I love the texture and subtle pattern to spice up towels since I usually keep it neutral with whites. We got the standard bath towels but also a handful of the oversized bath sheets so you can really wrap yourself when you get out of the tub.
A bathtub tray. I am the type that loves to camp out in the tub and relax for a lonnnnng minute. Just add some magazines, a relaxing candle, and your favorite bath products and it’s spa time.
Yummy soaps and scents. I am a sucker for good hand soap! I love exploring new scents. I just got this Blush Floral collection for our bathroom and completely underestimated how much I like having matching labels throughout. I love the pretty black and floral accent it adds to the room!
A cozy robe. Bathtime in the winter is a nightly routine for me, and one of the simplest pleasures is having a robe hanging up waiting for me. These are sooo soft! (And would also make an amazing gift for any of you last minute shoppers ;).
Fresh Flowers. Last but not least, fresh flowers! It might not be a staple, but I love having fresh blooms around the house when I can. It’s the final touch to bring that effect of a spa to your bathroom.
Have you upgraded your towels yet? What are some of your favorite bathtime luxuries? Let me know what I need to add!!
XX, Christine
xo, Christine
Home for the Holidays our Christmas Decor
I was soooo excited to decorate this year! Well lets be honest I’m really excited every year, but it’s our first Christmas in our new home so I wanted to set up early this year. Even with setting up before Thanksgiving – I feel like the Holidays have come so fast I want it all to slow down! I went really classic white, red, and greens for our Christmas decor this year. We’ve done a flocked tree for the last 4 years I wanted to switch it up so we did a classic green tree. I love how it all came together!
We went full plaid mode downstairs – I wanted it to feel extra cozy! I found these plates, bowls, and mugs that add a really homey feel. Upstairs we kept it more classic and neutral with tons of greenery. You can see another holiday post of our family room downstairs here. I love the holidays so much!
Below are some other holiday decor pieces I’m loving. What is you guys’ holiday style? Let me know below in the comments!
I’m excited to share our cozy basement family room. We have a living room upstairs and then a more casual family room hang out spot downstairs. When we picked out furniture for that space I knew I wanted an oversized, comfortable sectional to keep that space feeling homey. I found this one from Joss & Main and immediately loved it. We got in in the ‘Conversational Ivory’ color and it’s super comfortable and fits the whole family, and then some. Can’t recommend it enough! The ends also recline out which is an extra bonus!
Our family room has a view of the kitchenette and theatre room which we did in a deep blueish/green, so I knew I wanted to keep our living room pretty neutral, plus it makes a really versatile, neutral palette that you can transform with season accessories (i.e. all our holiday decor!). I loved this black console table and it fit our TV wall perfectly, plus it has great storage for games and remotes. We also got these pretty leather armchairs – I love the warm tones they add to the space!
XX, Christine
*In collaboration with Joss and Main
xo, Christine
How To Make a Memorable Night At Home On Any Budget
Can’t believe how early it gets dark now! I feel like I always forget until winter comes and I’m like is it 10 o’clock?? Oh wait it’s 5:30! One of our favorite things to do with the long nights is MOVIE NIGHT! Cody especially loves the movies and he’s got the kids into them too. We have all been counting down the days for Disney+ and were so excited when it launched! I love being able to watch the Disney classics and they have really good series too. Mara and I are currently hooked on High School Musical: The Musical haha it’s so good ;).
But let’s talk movie night – there are tons of ways to spice up your movie night to make it feel even more magical.
Pick a theme. Based on the movie you pick, put together treats and have the kids dress up according to the theme.
Build a fort: Put together a blanket fort to cozy up in during the movie.
Pretend you’re at a restaurant: When Mara and Wes are over she loves being in charge of making popcorn and drinks and the kids like to “take our orders” and serve it like a restaurant before the movie starts. 🙂
Movie trivia: We all have classics we love to watch over and over. Pick one of your favorite classics and and then play a game of movie trivia that ties into the movie.
It has been so nice having all of the best stories I grew up with all in one place onDisney+. You really don’t realize how many childhood movies you may have forgotten about until you start scrolling throughthe Disney+ movie collection. Beyond the classics, they also have tons ofPixar andMarvel movies (not to mention the latest Star Wars release,The Mandalorian), so there is something for everyone in the family. The monthly subscription is less than having a large pizza delivered – so worth it! It gives you unlimited access to all your family’s favorites, old and new. If you haven’t signed up yet, you canstart your free 7-day trial or subscribe here. It would be such a good family present for Christmas!
XX, Christine
xo, Christine
Nursing Diaries
Happy Friday, mamas! Let’s talk nursing… whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or using formula, when it comes to feeding our babies I feel like people are really passionate one way or the other. I remember when I had Beckam, my milk dried up really fast and I felt like I was failing as a mom. I think a big part that was that breastfeeding in general was not as openly talked about as it is now. As a first time mom, I wasn’t as confident in my “mom skills” as I am the second time around. So I just wanted to start this post with whatever you are doing to feed your baby, that’s amazing!
When we had Ollie this time around, I wanted to try breastfeeding again. He did really well at the beginning, but as time went on my milk supply started to lower. My milk wasn’t coming out as fast as the bottle so when it came time to feed, he would get really upset and wouldn’t latch. Sometimes if he was really tired, he would latch and I LOVE that time with him so much. There is no better connection, but most of the time after the first 6 weeks, it just didn’t work… Some days it’s still hard and I miss having that connection time breastfeeding him, but I’m also really thankful he can still get some of my milk other ways. And I’ll be honest, it’s not much some days, but I’ve learned to appreciate my body at this stage and to be thankful for everything it’s done – like carrying him through a healthy pregnancy. Whatever stage you’re at, appreciate your body!
When we were at the hospital they kept telling me I could get a nice pump covered by insurance. I went to multiple pharmacies to ask, but got blank stares each time. I almost gave up but then I heard about Aeroflow Breastpumps. The company specializes in helping women get a breast pump through their insurance. They also offer pregnancy and postpartum support garments, like maternity support bands, compression socks, etc. As well as essentials like milk storage bags and nursing pads, cleaning supplies, and hands-free pumping bras – and you can even use your FSA/HSA funds to purchase these items! They take care of the entire process for you, filing the claim and getting documents from your doctor – all you do isfill out this form and Aeroflow Breastpumps will check to see if you qualify for a pump through insurance and do the rest. They also have a ton of breast pumps to choose from.The Lansinoh Smartpump is amazing – you can track/monitor your pumping schedule from your phone and it actually mimics baby’s natural feeding patterns, so it’s really efficient. This pump is covered through most insurance plans, too!Breast pumps can really add up but if your insurance covers it, it’s a great way to snag a nice one. Plus you can save money to splurge on something else – like a car seat or stroller.
XX, Christine
*In collaboration with Aeroflow.
xo, Christine
11 Baby Products Worth The Hype
One of the questions I get the most is about which baby products I recommend. These last two months we have tried a ton of baby products – some tried and true that I used with Beckam and some that I am newly converted to! There is so much information out there on the internet, but I wanted to put together some of my baby products that I think are 100% worth the hype. Here’s my list!
The Snuggle Me Organic is one of our most-used baby products so far. It is super convenient to be able to lay him down anywhere and just move him around to any room, depending on where we are hanging out. They also have interchangeable covers so you can pick a pattern to match your aesthetic. So glad we went with the Snuggle Me Organic – we love it!
The tradition continues with these Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles. Beckam did so well with them and now Ollie is following suit. He doesn’t like the ones with the wide neck nipples, but these standard sized nipples like shown above work great.
I had a few different strollers with B, but we never tried the Doona so I was really excited to get one for Ollie after everything I’ve heard about it. We travel so much and I loved the idea of a convertible stroller that folds into a car seat in just a few quick steps. We have yet to take our first big trip with Ollie, but we already love it so much! It’s so lightweight and so easy to use – this is an amazing stroller! My only issue is that it doesn’t have a storage compartment underneath, so I just bought a handbag strap so I can hang my diaper bag on it.
I was on the fence about The Snoo at first. My friends raved about it but when I first put Ollie in it, he wasn’t convinced. I shared my honest feedback that Ollie wasn’t loving it on Insta stories, and then a bunch of you suggested we swaddle him before we put him in the ‘sleep sack’ and that did the trick! He also has reflux, so they have little risers for purchase so you can elevate two of the legs of the Snoo so it would sit at a slight angle. Now he loves it!
It took us a few tries before we finally found the right baby bath accessory, but I swear by this one now. It keeps him propped up really well and it’s also easy to wash. I really can’t recommend it enough – it has completely changed bath time for us!
The nuna car seat deserves all the hype they get, too. I asked you guys on stories for light carseats and this one won by a landslide and now I totally get why. It’s sooo super lightweight – I couldn’t believe how much lighter it was than the one I had the first time around with Beckam. I also love the color options they have available and the leather strap is super chic. And Ollie loves it!
This is the other stroller we have – it definitely weighs more than the Doona but it has more storage and also has options for forward or rear facing so it can grow with your baby.
Ollie loves this bunting bag! It’s perfect for winter, so you can just zip it around the car seat or use it for bunting when he’s in the stroller out for walks or running errands. It’s so convenient and a great substitute for blankets that always end up falling off at the worst places!
Now onto the less dreamy but equally necessary products… the Fridababy Windi is amazing. I’ll spare you guys details on how it works, but it is a must for baby gas. Trust me on this one!
And one that same note, the SnotSucker Saline Kit is perfect for dealing with congestion and stuffy baby noses. I didn’t totally understand how it worked and I thought the snot could potentially end up in your mouth, but it doesn’t haha. There’s a filter that stops it! Another one you don’t think about, but it’s an absolute lifesaver!
Would love to hear what some of your must-have baby products are that are worth their weight in gold! Leave a comment below with what I need to try.
XX, Christine
xo, Christine
Room Reveal: Wes’ Bedroom
I’m so excited to share another room reveal in the house: the boys room! It’s mostly Wes room, but Beckam likes to follow everything his brother does and have sleepovers when they are at our house (Wes and Mara are my step babies for those new here 😉 so B likes to think it’s both their room 😉
Love these NBA sheets, sometimes I feel like patterned sheets can get cheesy but I love these!
We’ve had this little grey chair for years! They make the best lounge chairs – and they are great for playrooms and watching movies the kids take it everywhere in the house! You can customize and put their name on them or their initials – They are on sale right now too – make great gifts!
Wes is super artistic, and loves to take pictures and videos, so we found some old school cameras for his room I was really excited about.
I love collecting books for the kids – Pottery Barn kids has some of the best unique kids books. I usually get them one from there every Christmas. Wes picked out this cute shark one this summer.
One by one, we are finally putting the finishing touches on different spaces in the house! Wes room was the first kids room to be completely done so it has for sure become the kids’ favorite spot in the house – it’s the new hang out spot, for sure.
Wes loves basketball and skateboarding, so over the last year we have been collecting different pieces for his room. This neon basketball light was one of Wes’ favorite things about the room and I also love this LED basketball hoop. He is at that in-between age where he’s not really a teen yet, so we got a mix of products between Pottery Barn Kid and Teen, and I love how it turned out! It’s versatile enough that all the decor can grow and transition as he does. They have tons of cool decor accent pieces to bring a personal touch to a room. Wes’ favorite team right now is the Golden State Warriors and favorite player is, like every 10-12 year old right now, Steph Curry haha. We also got this customizable grey jersey throw at PBTeen and it’s super soft and comes with tons of team options and it’s also on sale right now under $40 (gift idea alert! ;).
This bed is Wes’ other favorite piece in the room. When Mara and Wes are with us, Beckam loves to have sleepovers in their rooms so I knew I wanted a queen bed. I also love all the extra storage it has. All of his clothes fit in his closet, but I feel like no matter how much space kids have, something always finds it’s way to the floor so I love having these drawers available to store some of the messes and also storage for their car tracks and stuff. We also got this sectional couch as a hang out spot for when his friends or cousins are hanging out.
The last touches that we added were all the wall decor pieces and I was honestly surprised at what a difference it makes! My favorites are probably this LA license plate sign (we love going to LA as a family and dream about moving there one day!) and this triptych basketball print. It’s a great way to fill up an empty space if you have a long wall you need to fill.
Below are a few more of my favorites for a boys room. Let me know if you have any other questions!
XX, Christine
xo, Christine
The Cyber Sales to Shop For Everyone On Your List
Happy Cyber Monday! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend – we were going to go up to Montana to visit my family, but the flu was going around so we stayed home in Utah. It was a full-on blizzard last week so it was kind of nice to have an extra reason to stay bundled up inside at home with the fam.
The sales have been crazy this weekend and I had a few things I planned to pull the trigger on this weekend, but then life gets in the way and you realize how many people are on your Christmas list that you haven’t thought about yet and the pressure is on! So I wanted to share some of my favorite Cyber weekend sales to shop for everyone on your list!
The Nordstrom sale has endless gift options. It’s a great time to pick up high-end items at a bigger discount or also to pick up those items you would buy anyway and still save a few bucks. I love these boots for Cody – such a pretty color and on sale under $100!
SSENSE is one retailer that always has the most unique designer pieces and right now is the best time of year to splurge on designer anything. For that special someone on your list, make it a year to remember and go big or go home with a handbag or pair of shoes from one of her favorite designers.
Guysss I’m still drooling over all my Missoma pieces. I’ve been wearing them non-stop and they are my latest obsession. Probably my favorite accessory lately! Right now you can get 25% off site-wide with code: CA25 they made just for my readers!
I have been on the hunt for gift ideas for Ollie – he is so young that I know he won’t remember anything, but I still want to find something! I think the bulk of his presents will be the items we use on the daily, especially clothes! H&M’s sale is up to 60% off items – even this cable knit set (a new arrival) was on sale for 20% off. Definitely stocking up!
Anthropologie is always my go-to for any house-warming or hostess gifts. Everything is amazing quality and feels super luxurious (plus so pretty!) These candles smell like the freshest winter forest – one of my favorites! It also comes with the cloche which is such a pretty touch. Everything at Anthropologie is 30% off right now so it’s going to be the best time this season to stock up on candles, cute mugs, or anything gifts for anyone else on your list this year (or for you! 😉
Macy’s is a one of those retailers you might overlook, but they have a huge variety of items and their sales are no joke. This coffee/espresso maker is usually $300+ but on sale right now for under $100. It’s such a steal and the perfect present for your in-laws, home-body friends or also as a housewarming present!
I shared this sale on my stories this past weekend but this would make the best present for your pups this Christmas! It’s a dog camera that has 2-way audio, a treat-tossing system so you can toss treats even when you are out of the house, and a camera so you can see it all. Honestly Mio is parked in front of the Furbo when we aren’t home now – it’s so cute! Also it’s 46% off right now, which is the biggest sale they’ve ever had. Definitely recommend if you are looking for something for your pups this year!
Mcgee and Co is one of my go-to destinations for home decor and they are have a major sale – 20% off! It really adds up for furniture items especially like this oversized mirror. Also make sure to check out their holiday decor – so cute!
You know you are going to add those shoes, jeans, or sweaters to your cart at some point, so you might as well check out while it’s on sale! Shopbop is having their spend more save more sale, so you can save between 15-25% off your order. I have had my eye on SLVRLAKE jeans – they are definitely an investment pair but they are so good I keep coming back to look! Right now you can save up to 25% off your Shopbop order with code: MORE19.
Also make sure you check out the Revolve sale! They have tons of my favorite brands, but I feel like they have some styles that a lot of other retailers don’t carry. How gorgeous is this faux fur jacket and this striped coat is on sale.
Below are a few more Cyber Monday pieces that are perfect for the people on your list:
