Summer nights with the boys – we went out biking and skateboarding the other night and let the kids stay up late. June is flying by and I’m like oh man Father’s Day is JUST around the corner.

I found some Father’s Day gifts while I was trying to brainstorm gift ideas for Cody so I put together some of my favorites from Amazon, some of my favorite splurge-worthy gift ideas, and also asked Cody what’s on his Father’s Day wishlist this year – there are options at all price points so you can find something that works for your or your kids budget and things that he’ll use and be excited for.

Let me know if you guys have any ideas this year for Father’s Day you’re excited about! The more inspo the better, right? 🥰

NIKE LOGO SHORTS
BASKETBALL SNEAKERS
UNLIMITED POPCORN REFILL BUCKET (under $25)
NIKE DUNKS
ENGRAVED BRACELET
ENGRAVED DOG TAG NECKLACE

First on Cody’s Father’s Day wishlist this year was a new pair of basketball shoes since he gets so much use out of them. He prefers the lower sneakers so he liked these Lebron 19 Low shoes – love the bright orange color but they also come in black. I also loved this pair if your S/O or dad likes a higher sneaker. Cody wears this Scott Bros bracelet every single day – he wanted something engraved with the kids initials and had this tie bracelet already so I wanted to get him something a little different and ended up finding this engraved dogtag chain necklace. Super minimalist and easy to wear with everything so I think it will end up being another piece he wears daily. Cody also wanted this endless movie theater popcorn bucket with free refills (under $25) at his favorite theatre since we love going to the movies. This is such a simple and cute gift idea that any dad will appreciate! Lastly, Cody wanted some Nike Dunks because he loves matching the kids with theirs 🙂 and since he lives in Nike shorts, he also dropped a hint for a new pair. 😏

RAY BANS SUNGLASSES
ASH COLORED SWEATSHIRT (under $15)
POWER WASHER (on sale – 25+% off)
PICTURE FRAME (under $40)
CLOUD SLIDES (under $25)
ELECTRIC SHAVER
COLLAPSABLE LADDER
DOLCE & GABANNA COLOGNE (on sale 45% off)
BUTTON UP SHIRT (under $20)

I wanted to put together an Amazon gift guide with some of Cody’s tried and true favorites from previous years as well as some affordable gift ideas that will work for any budget. This collapsable ladder  has tons of high reviews and is more convenient to store than a regular ladder. Also this power washer (currently on sale for 27% off) which Cody has used a ton since he got it. I know we hit on this with Mother’s Day and talking about getting luxury appliances or household items haha so I cleared it with Cody and he agreed he would’ve loved to get either for Father’s Day gifts. For affordable dad-approved gifts these cloud slides (under $25) are a great option! Cody loves his just as much as I love mine and we both wear them a ton. Also you can’t go wrong with this sweatshirt – It comes in a bunch of colors. We both wear the XL in ash grey and share it) – it’s SO comfy and under $15!

PIZZA OVEN
RETRO KEYBOARD
FLOATING GOLF TURF
ESSENTIALS SWEATSHIRT (under $100)
SUNGLASSES
TOM FORD COLOGNE
PICKLEBALL SET (under $100)
NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES
BLENDER & HYDRATION SET
HAND HELD MASSAGE GUN

I picked out some splurge-worthy Father’s Day gift ideas too. I loved the idea of a pizza oven for the backyard – would be such a fun activity for the kids to do with Cody. I am also obsessed with the idea of this floating golf turf! We don’t really golf but I feel like all of my friends husbands do, and even though we don’t really know what we’re doing I could see us having hours of fun getting competitive with this at the pool or lake. Since Cody likes to workout everyday, I thought these items like the handheld massage gun for muscle soreness and this blender & hydration set are perfect since he always makes a protein shake right after. Also, these sunglasses and this Essentials brand sweatshirt (under $100) make such nice gifts as well!

Sharing a few more Father’s Day Gift Ideas at every price point below – feel free to add more ideas in the comments!

XX, Christine

The post Father’s Day Gift Ideas At Every Price Point appeared first on Hello Fashion.

BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $50)
DENIM SHORTS
WHITE COWBOY BOOTS (UNDER $50)

 JO MALONE CANDLE (under $50)
GUCCI RING
DIOR EYE PATCHES (UNDER $50)
BANDOLIER PHONE CASE (under $50)
MAMA GOLD NECKLACE (under $50)
NEON SCHUTZ SANDALS
GUCCI FLORA FRAGRANCE
STATEMENT FLOWER EARRINGS (under $15)
LANEIGE LIP TREATMENT (under $25)
CARAWAY POTS & PANS SET
NIKE DUNK LOW
DOUBLE AIR FRYER
BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY SWEATSHIRT (under $50)
GUCCI LIPSTICK (under $50)
TOM FORD FRAGRANCE & BODY OIL SET

I put some of my tried and true favorites on here like the Bandolier phone case. I just ordered it in purple, It’s cute and functional and comes in tons of colors. I also can’t get enough of the Tom Ford shimmering body oil (it’s so pretty on and seriously smells amazingg.) Some home items I love as well – the Caraway pots & pans set and the double air fryer (such a game-changer.) I also found this cute graphic Mother’s Day sweatshirt for under $50 (size XL.) I even got the kids matching versions which are currently sold out atm 🙁 but the adult version is fully stocked!

 CLOUD SUMMER SLIDES (under $50)
ROMAN NUMERAL RING (under $15)
ELEMIS CLEANSING BALM
GOLD WATCH (under $100)
PINK CHECKER BLANKET (under $100)
CAN SHAPED GLASS SET (under $30)
GRATITUDE JOURNAL (under $30)
PEARL HOOP EARRINGS (under $15)
WORKOUT SHORTS (under $50)
PASTEL LOVE HOODIE (under $30)
DIOR LIP GLOSS
CREAM COFFEE TUMBLER (under $10)

I found so many affordable Mother’s Day gift ideas on Amazon from home to beauty to fashion items (all under $100.) My everyday jewelry: this Roman Numeral ring is so cute and under $15 and my gold watch (under $100) a staple jewelry piece every mom will love. I also included some of my most-worn clothing items like these workout shorts (I have them in neon green too! – size S) they are SO flattering and comfortable at a great price point with high reviews. For affordable beauty gifts I can’t recommend this Elemis cleansing balm enough, it’s been a favorite of mine for years. Gifts for the home – I love these soda can shaped glassware for iced coffee or my smoothies in the morning (comes in a set of 8 for under $30.) I also found this adorable pink checker throw blanket, it’s so soft and I’m obsessed with the print.

GUCCI SANDALS 
BYREDO PERFUME
STRIPED TOTE
APPLE WATCH STRAP
CE FERULIC ACID (MY STAPLE)
DIOR LIP OIL (USED HERE)
CHANEL BACKPACK
GIVENCHY SETTING POWDER (COLOR CORRECTING!)
PRADA SUNGLASSES
BRASS SALT MILL

For the moms who love the little luxuries of life, here are some splurge-worthy gift ideas she will love. I’ve had this Apple watch strap for a year and still get tons of questions on it when I wear it. It’s amazing quality and makes me feel like I’m wearing one of my favorite designer watches but I still get all the convenience of having a smart watch. I also included some of my favorite high-end beauty products, both tried-and-true (this CE Ferulic acid is my holy grail) and new favorites (this lip oil is everything and I instantly converted to this color correcting setting powder when my makeup artist used it on me.)

HUMIDIFIER (UNDER $100)
STEAM MOP (30% OFF)
PEBBLE ICE MACHINE
ROBOT VACUUM (39% OFF)

A few of these cult household products are on sale right now so I wanted to share a few that I think mom would love! I know some people have strong opinions about getting household products as Mother’s Day gifts haha but me and my mom love cleaning and organizing and I feel like these are little life luxuries that some moms won’t splurge on for themselves. I use my pebble ice machine all day everyday. It’s one of those simple pleasures that will totally change your day!

If you’re looking for more high-ticket gift ideas for mom that she will use everyday…

– APPLE AIRPODS MAX: I have yet to make the switch from the Airpod Pros but I’ve heard amazing things about these! They come in so many pretty colors too.

– DYSON AIRWRAP: These are hit or miss just because they can be tricky to find in stock – I found it in stock here and here this morning but I’m sure they will go fast. Every time I use mine I get tons of compliments on my hair – obsessed with the volume you get!

Linking a few more gift ideas for mom at various price points if you need more Mother’s Day inspo:

XX, Christine

The post Mom Will Love These Gift Ideas, No Matter Your Budget appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Love the cut out detail on this sleeve! Between the color and the sleeves, it feels like a major statement moment.

The boys in their matching Easter outfits. So cute!

Boys think shaking their booties is the funniest thing. Ollie has started “dancing” like Beckam and Wes and it cracks everyone up

DETAILS: GREEN EYELET-SLEEVE DRESS – WEARING SIZE S | NEON HEELS (UNDER $150)| PEARL EARRINGS

CODY: TAN BLAZER | TAN SLACKS

WES: BUTTON DOWN (ALSO LOVE THIS ONE) | KHAKI PANTS

MARA: RIBBED LONG SLEEVE TOP | ORANGE FLORAL DRESS (ON SALE UNDER $10!) | NEON NIKES

BECKAM: KHAKI PANTS | NIKES

OLLIE: KHAKI SUIT | WHITE BUTTON DOWN | BLUE NIKES

Our family easter pictures are always one of my favorites of the year – with 6 people, getting a family pic with coordinated outfits can be rare 😂 so I always get excited for our family Easter outfits. I feel like the kids are all finding their own style, this year more than ever, and we are all obsessed with Nike Dunks right now so I thought it would be fun to embrace the color this year, especially with our shoe game. We all wear our Dunks and Jordans so much – they go with everything and come in so many different colors. The kids love them so much that they have saved up to buy their own pairs. Super comfortable and great quality 🙌🏼

Mara picked out her dress, I loved the colors and it’s such a good price point. she had idea to wear long sleeve underneath since it’s still kind of cold here. Cannot believe it’s $7.25!!

I always end up ordering pieces pretty last minute once I get a better sense of direction for our outfits so I wanted to share a few of my favorite retailers with quick shipping in case you’re in a pinch for an event or occasion:

ASOS – Great options for both him & her – lots of occasion dressing too! Love their price points and they have fast shipping – arrives in 24-48 hours if you join the unlimited shipping for $20.

AMAZON – You guys know how much I’ve been loving Amazon – I feel like they’ve been adding so many brands recently so their designer and budget-friendly options are insane. If I’m in a bind I hit prime filter at top and you can even click how soon you need it delivered like by tomorrow or same day.

SHOPBOP – One of my favorites when I’m shopping for dresses, and other designer pieces. They are good at their overnight shipping it’s not like 2-3 day processing time like a lot of other retailers. They are great with really getting things overnight or if you have prime membership you can get in 2 days.

Linking more from our Easter outfits here:

XX, Christine

The post These Sneakers Go With Everything appeared first on Hello Fashion.

SCHEDULES/LIFESTYLE

Q: Do you get a long with Cody’s ex-wife? Do you guys hang out?

A. Im really grateful we all get a long. 

One thing I wished could have been different for me growing up, was that when my parents got divorced they would have been friends (I love both my parents very much and I know no family is perfect, but it was hard at times feeling that tension). They lived across the country from each other, so they didn’t have to see each other much. When I would go to visit my mom I would fly by myself (I don’t know if they still do this, but I started at like 5 or 6 years old and my parents would walk me to the gate and then you sit in back row by flight attendant and do the flight on your own. I actually have a lot of fun memories with super kind flight attendants who would play games and stuff with me. I think this is also part of the reason I learned to become pretty independent at a young age, and traveling alone hasn’t ever really scared me but anyways…), but ya I still always felt that awkward tension whenever they were in the same room. I remember even on my wedding day being worried about making sure both parents felt they got equal attention and love. And maybe that was something I created in my head, but it made me want to make it a priority when we got married that we have a good relationship with Cody’s ex, so that the kids never felt that tension or stress, and so we could all go to the kids events and it not be awkward. Again, this was not an overnight thing, it took years to get to that point. Especially if this is a fresh situation, it will take a lot of time.  But as a kid who has been on that side of divorce, that was one thing I really wanted different for our kids.

Time, time, time! I think it all just takes time, but I love talking to their mom about the kids and sharing excitement for the things they are doing, or things they are learning or going through. We all sit by each other at most of the kids games and events, it’s in a good place.

Q. Do you get a say in making all of the decisions about schools and such. How do you deal with that aspect? 

A. Long story short, I have no say haha. Cody talks to me about it, but that is one of the hard parts of being a bonus mom, you love your bonus babies and help raise them but in my case I’m not really a decision maker. I mean day to day what we are doing Cody and I decide, but bigger decisions Cody and his ex wife work out together. 

Q. As the bonus moms/parents, are you involved in communication to his ex or just Cody?

A. In our situation, Cody and his ex work out details for the most part. Obviously there are times when Cody is still at work or out of town or something so I pick up/drop off the kids, etc. but the majority of communication is between her and Cody. We recently started a group text for sports and school scheduling and sometimes share pictures of the kids from school or sports too, but most scheduling goes through them.

Q. How do you handle frustration with your step kids’ schedule?

A. One thing that took time for me to realize and understand is that when you’re a step parent (not always the case, but at least in my situation) even if you all get along, at the end of the day you have little say over holidays, school schedules, really just plans in general. For me, somebody who likes to plan ahead and be in control, it’s sometimes hard. For example, when we were trying to plan a trip and I would ask Cody if he had texted the kids’ mom to make sure certain days work and I would want immediate answers for things 😂 and he’s like I haven’t talked to her yet, and I’m all well call right now, what’s the hold up 😂😂 I eventually realized that 1) sometimes you don’t get immediate answers because she has a life too obviously and you can’t expect immediate responses all the time and 2) things take longer to coordinate and plan than it would with your own kids, so you have to plan ahead a little further. 

Q. Do you have full custody? How often and how long do your bonus kids stay with you?

A. We have joint custody so it alters. Right now, every other week we have them for Thursday/Friday, and then the next week 4 days Thursday-Sunday.

Q. Would you ever travel without the bonus kids?

A. I think our situation is a little different because we LOVE to travel and also travel quite a bit for work, but we always make sure to plan all our “big trips” when we can go together as a family. For example we usually do a big 2 week trip every summer and we always do that with all the kids. (One exception is like spring break – we alter years with their mom for spring break so if Mara and Wes are with their mom those days, we will still take Beckam and Ollie on a spring break trip). If your family typically only goes on 1 or 2 trips a year, I would for sure try to make it work to include everyone. We have so much fun when we travel with all the kids and Beckam and Ollie love being with Mara and Wes as much as we do, so we wish we could always travel together but it doesn’t always work out that way. That’s another thing you realize after you have kids of your own- both parents want as much time as they can with their kids. If it’s a challenge to get additional days or switch schedules for trips, try to have perspective and realize their other parent wants to hang out with them as much as possible too. Not saying it never sucks or their aren’t still disappointed parties, but its kind of an “it is what it is” situation. But honestly it always feels like something is missing when we travel with out them. 

Q. Do they go school 30 minutes away? How does that work?

A. They used to live 10 minutes away from us for like 8 years and recently they moved a couple towns away. I’m so thankful they are still within driving distance because for me growing up, that wasn’t the case, so I’m just grateful we still get to see them so much. But it has definitely made it a little more challenging, especially now that they are in multiple sports, and Mara and Wes are in two different schools (junior high and elementary) they go at different times. Everyone has different practices and schedules after school, so it gets busy but we are glad they are still close.

Q. Are they open to talking about things they do with their mom around you?

A. I feel like they are super open with us, but I guess I wouldn’t actually know how much they are choosing to share. I know as a kid, sometimes I would feel nervous telling the other parent what I was doing when I was with my other parent (even now sometimes, actually haha) because I didn’t want to make the other parent feel bad, so I hope Mara and Wes don’t feel that way but also I guess I can’t know 100% for sure since we aren’t with them 24/7. 

Q. How do you split up firsts or special times with their mom and you guys?

We haven’t had a lot of firsts where we can’t both show up somewhere to support them. For their first time to Disney, we did ask the kids’ mom if we could take them but other than that, there haven’t been a lot of times when we need to split up firsts.  

Q. How do you guys handle holidays/birthdays? 

It’s kind of changed over the years. We always split Christmas – I know thats not as popular. I think a lot of people do every other Christmas. Thanksgiving and Spring Break we alternate every year. Sometimes Easter falls over Spring Break, etc. Birthdays have changed – sometimes we alternate years and sometimes we stick to the schedule. When they were younger, one person would get them the night before and half of their birthday, and then the other would get the other half of the day and the night. At first I think everyone was hypersensitive and micromanaging time and things have relaxed since then. I would get in the mentality of trying to make sure everything was ‘fair’. But in a blended family, it’s impossible to make everything 100% fair.

We would also have traditions that we do every year with the kids, like carving pumpkins and decorating gingerbread houses. And we’ll wait to do those traditions until we have Mara and Wes with us so we can do it all together as a family. I think it makes the holidays feel more special and we’re even more intentional about our time together during those times.

SUPPORT:

Q. Do you feel you need to know other bonus moms for support? I don’t have anyone in my life.

A. I know like one or two other bonus moms but now that I’m thinking about it I don’t know if I’ve ever really talked to them a ton about it. My step mom is and I’ve talked to her of course 🙂 We have 2 step dads within our extended family, but otherwise I feel like my physical circle of bonus moms is pretty small. If you’re joining an online group of other blended families, I would look for one that’s goal is a positive family environment – there are so many that can become super negative and that energy will just detract. But I think bonus moms can be a great support for each other. 

DISCIPLINE/PARENTING FOR BLENDED FAMILIES:

Q. Did you do any discipline when they were younger? 

A. Yes, but nothing major.

Q. How do you not step on any toes/do you feel like you can discipline them? Do you ever put boundaries or is it Cody’s ‘job’?

A. I never want Mara and Wes to feel like they get treated differently, so we try to say consistent through everything and that includes with disciplining and rules. For example: If they make a mess in the living room with Beckam, I wouldn’t only make Beckam clean it. And if they don’t listen, which they are kids and sometimes they don’t haha, they will get a different chore. But I do that exact thing for all the kids. 

There are 10000% times I will say to Cody though, will you be the enforcer this time, I don’t want them to hate me.  And sometimes he will, and other times he’s like you are still a mom to them, they love you and it’s ok for them to have consequences. I think he gages my mood haha. I’ve been in their life over 10 years, and know they love me, but sometimes still worry “what if they think I’m the evil step mom!” So I think you gage what feels most natural and comfortable for you.

Q. Do you give your bonus kids chores?

A. 100%, but all of the kids have weekly chores (– one thing Cody and I both feel strongly about is teaching our kids work ethic, so that goes for all the kids obviously). For us it just wouldn’t make sense if only Beckam and Ollie were doing weekly chores and Mara and Wes just sat on the couch. We are a family and we all have responsibilities.

Do I ever feel guilty about it?  There are some times when it’s the last hour or two before Mara and Wes go back to their mom’s house and Cody tells them they need to clean up a mess and pick up the room, and I tell him they only have 1 hour left and to let them just have fun. He says no, they are still our kids they need take care of their responsibilities, which is really what we would do with Beckam and Ollie. So the times when I am a little more lax about chores or picking up after themselves is before they leave, but during the regular day to day, they do the same things my kids do. (And Cody is really good about being consistent no matter the circumstances.)

Ok that wraps up this post! A lot of you have questions or advice about dealing with biological moms or establishing a bond with your bonus babies – I’m really want to be an open book and share as much as I can, so I’ll save that for the next few posts, including tips for bonus moms and tips for bio moms since I got a few questions from you guys too ❤️ I’ve loved hearing from you all about your own blended families and how much you love your bonus babies!

XX, Christine

The post Bonus Moms & Blended Families – Part 2 appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Picnics – such a great mom & son date night

As Beckam has gotten older, I’ve noticed that Cody always has a million cool ideas of things to do with Beckam. Riding motor bikes, soccer-bouncing contests, ninja obstacle courses – especially now that Beckam cit old enough to keep up with Cody. They share an interest in a lot of the same things so it’s easy for them to find things to do. (And it’s the same with me and Mara. We can always go get pedicures or go shopping.)

I love the relationship Cody and Beckam have so much but it’s also made me realize that with the boys, I have to put more effort into activities that don’t come second nature to me so I wanted to think of creative ways to spend time together and make new memories this year. So that’s the back story behind why I made this list of mom & son date night activities – I wanted to have a list of cool, fun ideas of things that we could do together so every time he says, “Mom, do you want to play with me?” I have a whole list of ideas to pull from instead of just wasting time trying to brainstorm ideas.

I shared the Q&A on Insta stories a week or so ago and there were so many great ideas so I put together a little graphic of bucket list activities for you guys to print out or just save to your phones for a quick and easy reference point. Hope this list is helpful! I made it specifically with mom & son time in mind but it really could work for girls too if you’re looking for more ideas!

PIN NOW – SAVE FOR LATER

If you guys have any more ideas, please add below in comments so we can keep adding to our mom & son date night ideas list!

XX, Christine

The post Mom & Son Date Night Ideas appeared first on Hello Fashion.

**ICYMI: You can shop my favorites from the sale in this post**

LOOK 1: 10/10

ADIDAS LOGO TEE (UNDER $15) | ADIDAS SHORTS (UNDER $20) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50) | SOCKS (3 PACK UNDER $15)

This was Beckam’s favorite look. He started with a 9 thinking he had to choose between 1-10 and 9 was the highest but then he switched to a 10/10. He loves sportswear as much as his dad, so I wasn’t surprised.

LOOK 2: 1/10

CHAMPION TEE (UNDER $15) | DENIM (UNDER $20) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50)

Beckam used to love skinny jeans up until he started kindergarten- I don’t know what it was but all of a sudden he refuses to wear jeans! I think it has something to do being able to do his ninja tricks at recess haha. So now he hates wearing denim otherwise I think this would’ve been another winning look. If I get my vote, I give it a 10/10. Jeans are such a back to school staple and I was dying at how cute he looked in these. (on sale under $20). I kept them and said sometimes you have to wear jeans to certain events, so hoping I can convince him to give denim another chance haha.

LOOK 3: 5/10

NIKE HOODIE (ON SALE UNDER $30) | NIKE LOGO SHORTS (UNDER $30 – COMES IN 3 COLORS) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50)

I made him try on a sweatshirt when it’s 100 degrees outside, so he docked points for that 😂 but he said it would be a 9 if it was fall/winter. LOVE these cute logo Nike shorts. They come in multiple colors. The whole look reminds me so much of Cody, so it’s another winning look in my book.

LOOK 4: 4/10

GREY POLO | NAVY JOGGERS (UNDER $30) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50)

He docked the look again because of the pants 🤦‍♀️The polo and sneakers were both wins in Beckam’s book (the sneakers were his favorite buy :). I also got the matching toddler pair for Ollie. Also how cute are these baby NMDs!?

OLLIE’S LOOK: NORTH FACE PUFFER | DENIM (UNDER $20) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50)

Cannot handle Ollie in these cute sneakers and his little North Face jacket!

MY LOOK: SWEATER | SHERPA JACKET (UNDER $100) | DENIM (UNDER $100) | BOOTS (UNDER $150)

Obsessed with this sherpa coat from the Nordstrom sale!! It comes in 2 colors and it’s on sale under $100. Also linking my denim under $100 and can’t wait to pull out these boots this fall.

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE KIDS SELECTS

1. NORTH FACE COAT | CHAMPION TEE (UNDER $15) | DENIM (UNDER $20) | VELCRO CONVERSE

2. ADIDAS LOGO TEE (UNDER $15) | ADIDAS SHORTS | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (UNDER $50)

3. NIKE JUST DO IT TEE (UNDER $15) | NIKE LOGO SHORTS (UNDER $30)

4. NIKE HOODIE (ON SALE UNDER $30) | NIKE LOGO SHORTS (UNDER $30)

5. GREY NIKE HOODIE AND JOGGER SET (BABY/TODDLER – ON SALE UNDER $30)

6. NIKE LOGO TEE (ON SALE UNDER $20) | NIKE JOGGERS (ON SALE UNDER $30)

7. CAR SEAT AND STROLLER

Linking more of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale favorites for kids here!

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Nordstrom.

The post Beckam Rates My Picks From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale appeared first on Hello Fashion.

4th of July Options For Her:

DETAILS: 1. BLUE SWIM TOP | 2. RED LOVE BRACELET (UNDER $50) | 3. BLUE AND WHITE SHORTS | 4. STAR EARRINGS (UNDER $100)| 5. FLOWER STUD EARRINGS (UNDER $100) | 6. STAR SANDALS  | 7. BLUE DRESS | 8. VEJA SHOES | 9. RED BANDANA SLIDES (UNDER $50) | 10. ISABEL MARANT TOTE | 11. BLUE COWBOY BOOTS | 12. RED BANDANA TOTE | 13. WHITE HAND BAG (UNDER $100) | 14. OVERSIZED DENIM JACKET  | 15. WHITE CROCHET CROP TOP (UNDER $100) | 16. RED & WHITE PRINT DRESS | 17. WHITE ONE-PIECE (UNDER $100) | 18. RED & BLUE TOTE BAG | 19. DENIM BLUE JEWEL SLIDES (UNDER $100) | 20. TANK CROP TOP | 21. STAR HAND BAG | 22. DENIM SHORTS | 23. WHITE BLOUSE CROP TOP (UNDER $100) | 24. PLAID SUNGLASSES

DETAILS: BLUE FREE PEOPLE DRESS (WEARING XS) | WOVEN BAG

Obsessed with this dress! I love the flowy high low shape and mixed stripe with chambray – not to mention it’s the perfect color for the 4th and very 90’s! It’s a loose fit  so I ordered it in an XS -I would say size down if you’re in between sizes. I paired it with this festive red and blue tote bag – love the color combo but the woven detail is so good to bring in some texture and interest to your outfits yearround.

DETAILS: WHITE CROP TOP (ONE SIZE TOP-UNDER $100) | DENIM SHORTS (WEARING SIZE 25) | ISABEL MARANT TOTE BAG (UNDER $150) | INITIAL NECKLACE (UNDER $15)

How good is this crochet crop top! It’s under $100 and a one size fits all top. Such a cute option for the 4th and also doubles as a swim coverup top. I paired it with this oversized Isabel Marant tote bag with the red logo for a festive touch. It’s a great size for a summer picnic or watching fireworks at the beach. These denim shorts are a great fit and i’m wearing the 25 here. I rolled the bottom of them up but you can also wear them down for more coverage.

DETAILS: WHITE BLOUSE CROP TOP (WEARING XS- UNDER $100) | DENIM JEANS (UNDER $60-WEARING SIZE 25)

THIS TOP!!!! Honestly this brand is just so good. Love the crop with the string ties. It’s more of a sophisticated, dressed up option for your 4th festivities. It’s also under $100 which is a steal. I paired it with these oversized denim jeans (under $60).  Think blue kitten heel and red lip to keep it dressed up but still festive.

DETAILS: RED EMBROIDERED DRESS (WEARING SIZE SMALL)

I love the fit of this red embroidered dress, the drawstring waist is super flattering and the blue detail makes it perfect for the 4th! This exact version has only a couple sizes left so I linked the other color here it’s super cute and fourth of Julyish too!

4th of July Options For Him:

DETAILS: ONE (UNDER $50) | TWO (UNDER $30) | THREE | FOUR (UNDER $30) | FIVE (UNDER $70) | SIX (UNDER $30)

Ordered this red shirt for Cody to wear on the 4th, he was super impressed with how soft the material is and loves the red and blue colors. Linked some similar options for the holiday that fit his style as well here and here. All of these shirt options are budget-friendly and under $50! These blue swim trunks are great if you’ll be swimming or by the beach for the holiday, they are under $70!  I included these navy blue Vejas tennis shoes that are under $200 so the whole family could coordinate with matching shoes 🙂

4th of July Options For Kids:

DETAILS: ONE (UNDER $30) | TWO (UNDER $100) | THREE (UNDER $20) | FOUR (UNDER $50) | FIVE (UNDER $20) | SIX

These kid’s 4th of July pieces are the cutest! I ordered this white Nike shirt for both our boys and a Nike shirt & shorts set for Ollie. These mini tennis shoes are for Ollie to match mine and they are under $100. I included these Givenchy swim trunks which are definitely a splurge but I think they are adorable.

What are your plans for the 4th? Do you guys love dressing up as much as I do?  ⭐️

xx, Christine

The post 4th Of July Outfits For The Whole Fam appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: MENTAL HEALTH CLUB SWEATSHIRT (WEARING SIZE L) | TIE DYE TEE (UNDER $50 – WEARING SIZE S) | RIBBED BIKER SHORTS (UNDER $50) | SNEAKERS | YELLOW CLOUD BAG (UNDER $100) | OLLIE’S TRIKE

And we’re off!! The beach has been calling our name! Travel style always means comfy style – I bought this cute tie-dye tee but always freeze on the plane so it’s the sweatshirt travel style life for me haha. Also loooove these APL sneakers! It’s my second  pair, but first one in this style. I know I’m late to the game but I am obsessed with these ones. So comfortable and love the speckled detail on the sole! I’ve had these biker shorts for a year now and they are hands down my favorite – you guys are probably sick of seeing them 🙈 but the ribbing is so soft and comfortable – seriously the best and under $100! Also using this yellow bag again – I think I found my new go-to travel bag. It’s huuuuge and fits pretty much everything you could possibly need for the flight. (It’s also a really comfortable plush material and really comfortable to carry around the airport.)

A lot of recents DM’s from you guys have been about a few Ollie/travel-related things so I thought it would be a good to answer in a post with some of the common ?’s and some of my tips.

The Trike/Stroller

Most genius invention ever. It’s a mix between a trike and a stroller and perfect for toddlers, both while traveling or at home running errands, going on walks, etc. It folds up so you can fit it in a backpack it comes with. We didn’t have anything like this when Beckam. It’s a must! (Also make a great gift since it’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s worth every penny.) If your baby is younger the Doona stroller that converts from a stroller to a carseat was a FAVE of ours too. We loved both Doona products.

Lap-seat or splurge for a separate seat?

Almost all airlines will let you take an infant (under 2) without making you purchase a separate ticket for them. The only catch is no ticket = no seat so they have to sit on your lap for the duration of the flight. After Ollie turned one he stopped falling asleep in my arms, so I usually decide whether I get him a seat or not depending on how long the flight is. For flights under 2 hours I’ll usually just have him sit on my lap and not spring for another ticket. For flights over 2 hours, I’ll get Ollie his own ticket so I can bring his car seat so he’ll be able to take a nap during the flight.

Car Seats

Which brings me to this point – bringing a car seat on the plane. I was surprised at how many DMs/comments I got that some of you didn’t know you could bring a car seat on the plane. A lot of people will check or gate-check their car seats but you 100% can take them on the plane. It makes naps sooo much easier when traveling – especially with long flights.

Milk

This is a random one, but so many flights don’t have milk on the plane anymore. So don’t forget to bring milk on longer flights.

Use Food As A Toy

Ollie is still so intrigued with snacks, I always bring lots of snack options over toys. Especially when your landing and taking off, something they can suck on or chew helps their ears pop.

Don’t Board First

Okay a lot of times were late 😂 But even when we aren’t I never board first. It’s more time your child has to sit in their seat. It definitely takes a second to get settled with kids but if your traveling with someone maybe have one person go on first and get seat set up and put stuff away while the other tries to get as much energy out of your little one as you can.

Crying is OK

I think one of the biggest things, especially with long flights is managing expectations. Your child might cry and that’s ok. But kids pick up on our stress so if your freaking out it will only stress them out more. 90% of the time people are super understanding and you’re probably more worried about it then they are. I always have an emergency treat in case all else fails, but I try to save it as a last resort. For Ollie it’s suckers or mints 🙂

Hope this helps a little! I know some people ask if I’m glad we travel with the kids and the answer is 100%. Some of my favorite memories ever are on trips. We’ve had bad flights, but once you get to your spot and get to make the memories you will quickly forget and enjoy the family time!

Linking to more of my travel favorites below!

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Nordstrom.

The post 7 Tips For Traveling with a Toddler appeared first on Hello Fashion.

I’m so excited to start this series! Questions about being a stepmom/bonus mom and our blended family are always my most asked questions. So I wanted to start a series about blended families, being a bonus mom, and growing up with divorced parents.

My parents divorced when I was little, 4 or 5. I primarily lived with my dad (in Washington state) and then would go spend half the summer with my mom (in Virginia). My dad got remarried when I was 5 or 6, and my step mom became a big part of my life too. Very grateful for all of my parents, but I think going through a split family dynamic growing up helped me understand a few things as a step/bonus mom and brought some perspective to certain things I see my bonus kids go through now.

Before I start, I want to preface this by saying, no two situations are exactly the same, but being a parent (bonus mom or regular mom) is always easier when you have a community, friends, or family to rely on or talk to. I feel like you guys are all my besties so I hope this series can maybe help anyone navigating being a bonus mom, or dating someone with kids. And in case you don’t follow me on  instagram and are wondering where these questions below came from- I did a Q&A and had you submit all your blended fam/bonus mom questions. I compiled the most asked questions and will be breaking them into different posts (And it will also give you guys time to ask questions in comments below that I can include in my future posts.)

So here we go…

THE BEGINNING

Q. How long have you and Cody been together and where did you meet?

A. We’ve been married for 10 years this fall! We met selling alarm systems door to door in South Carolina and Texas. We both sold 🙂

Q. How many babies did you birth? Which ones are your step kids?

A. The oldest two, Mara and Wes are my bonus babies (Cody was married before and had Mara and Wes with his ex-wife). Beckam and Ollie I birthed, and are my biological children.

Q. Was it hard for you to date Cody initially because he had two babies?

A. I actually had a serious boyfriend in college who had kids. I knew I always wanted to have a big family and I had a great example of a stepmom/bonus mom growing up, so dating a guy with kids was never a big deal for me. I know this is not always the case, a lot of you have  messaged me saying it’s been a hard transition dating someone with kids, but the biggest piece of advice I can give you is give it time. Our situation wasn’t easy at first. The divorce was hard on a lot of people and things took time.  Eventually you’ll develop a structure, find what works for you and your family, and get into the swing of things. I would also say for the kids’ sake, unless you really see yourself with this person for a long time, I wouldn’t rush to meet the kids if you don’t see it being long term. 

Q. How do you handle emotions about his past/firsts? (Jealousy, resentment, sadness).

A. For the most part, I didn’t really think about knowing he had done things without me or experienced things first before me.  It wasn’t something I consciously thought about or dwelt on,  but there were a few random moments when it hit me…

Right after I had Beckam there was a moment I was like ‘Oh, he’s already done this’. He had gone through and experienced a lot of the first time parent things already.. I thought to myself I could be mad or jealous he wasn’t going through it the first time with me or I could look for the positive like ‘hey he will know what to do maybe in times I won’t’. This is a life lesson I’ve learned over the years in general, you always have a choice on your mindset to focus on positive or the negative. 

I do remember asking him when we were home one of the first couple days with Beckam, “Does it feel any different this time around?” I am always pretty open with how I feel. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I think communication is even more important with blended families, because it’s really easy to let emotions/feelings bottle up inside and it super important to have a lot of communication to understand and support each other.

The other time I can really remember was when I wanted to go to Paris for the first time. Cody had gone with his ex-wife and didn’t love all the touristy things (he’s not big on museums or seeing all the sites) so when we first got married he wasn’t super anxious to go back and I hadn’t been to Europe in years, and didn’t want my first time being in a city I had been dyiiiing to go to to be thinking about him and his ex wife. I honestly don’t know why that event stood out to me, but it’s the one thing I didn’t want to repeat. Instead of going with Cody, I decided to take Beckam.

He was 6 months old and my friend Amber (you guys probably know her – Dae/Barefoot Blonde) and I took our babies with our friend Jaci and it was such an amazing trip! It’s honestly one of my favorite memories with Beckam to this day. And now we’ve been back to Paris as a family a couples times and I love it. It’s one of my favorite family spots. But for some reason that first time to a bucket list place I didn’t want to be thinking about what he did with his ex wife 😂 

I think there’s something about those ‘firsts’. Maybe we build them up in our head, but if there is something that is important to you, talk to your spouse or significant other. I was really up front with Cody about it and he understood. I mean I don’t think he totally understood my emotions behind it, but he supported us going and wanted me to go have fun. On that same note, and I want to emphasize this, you are entitled to all of your feelings. You’re entitled to feel jealousy at times, resentment, or sadness. But then how you handle it is on YOU. You have a decision to make: what are you going to do about it? You can just sit in your feelings and build bitterness, or you can acknowledge them and then try to grow and change. I know everyone will handle things differently – and it’s not to say I have never felt sad, jealous or hurt, but I hope it can bring some connection and encouragement to those of you going through the same thing. 

Q. Tips for dating someone with 2 kids with someone else?

A. I think my biggest advice would be to put the kids’ wellbeing first and foremost. That might not be what you’re expecting, but instead of thinking how the kids could affect you or your relationship, think about how you could be affecting the kids. My #1 piece of advice: wait to meet the kids. Don’t rush things and give it a little time, just out of respect for the kids. Especially if you don’t see yourself getting really serious with their parent – it’s not fair to them to have a new person in and out of their lives that doesn’t intend to be in it long-term. Put yourself in their shoes. 

Q: How did Cody introduce you to the kids? About to go through this & I look up to your family. 

A. This can vary so much depending on your situation, the kids ages, etc. I think meeting somewhere that’s neutral territory is a great idea. Somewhere outside your space and outside their space so everyone feels comfortable. Another idea is to do some sort of activity you can do together so you all have time to warm up and conversation can flow easier and more natural. It’s funny I had forgotten about this until you guys asked, but I met Cody and the kids at the McDonald’s Play Place – and we got ice cream. 🥰

Q. How soon did you meet the kids when you and Cody were dating? Did they accept you at first?

A. I met Mara and Wes 6 months after Cody and I started dating. They were honestly so young I feel like they warmed up super easy, and I love kids, and babysat and nannied a lot so I feel like overall I’m good with kids which made it easier. I’ve known Mara and Wes since they were toddlers so I’ve been lucky that they’ve mostly grown up with me in their life. 

Q. How did your family accept that Cody had kids?

A. I touched on this earlier, but I was pretty serious with the guy I dated before who had kids, so I don’t think this was ever an issue really for my parents. I never straight out asked them though… I think their main concern was that if I married someone with kids, he was a good dad. It’s funny, I think seeing guys as a dad helps you identify the good ones even faster. 

Q. What did you do for your bonus children when you guys got married?

A. Mara was our flower girl and Wes was our ring bearer. I honestly can’t remember if I got them a specific gift or memento for the wedding, but I’ve seen the cutest ideas and gestures online after we got married – there are so many creative and thoughtful things you can do to make them feel special and loved! I think ages play into this on what kind of gift or sentiment to do 🙂

BALANCING BONUS & BIO

Q. Do you ever feel like your own kids get put second to your bonus kids? Struggle bus here.

A. Hmm this was an interesting question… I think having limited time with my bonus kids makes me want to make sure we are making the most of that time, so I feel like Cody and I are more intentional and mindful of that time. With Beckam and Ollie, its more routine if that makes sense, but the days we have Mara and Wes we try to make sure we are wrapping up work right at 5 or earlier so we can get more quality time together, planning something fun for the weekends, etc. So it’s not that we treat Ollie and Beckam different, but we do treat the time we have with Mara and Wes differently, if that makes sense…. 

The other time it feels like we do things differently is holidays, and it’s not that I feel like our kids get put ‘second’, it’s that we have to make some adjustments for schedules and splitting times on holidays. So that becomes the priority vs how an unblended family might celebrate. For example, we always split Christmas with Mara and Wes’ mom, so some years Beckam has to wait until the afternoon to open presents or on Easter we do the Easter egg hunt later after we get them. So not getting put second, just adjusting some traditions because we would rather have Mara and Wes with us to celebrate together as a family.

Q. How long were you a bonus mom before having Beckam and Ollie?

A. 3ish years I think… honestly I have the worst memory with dates, Cody is so much better at that than me 🙂

Q. How did you feel the change was when you had B?

A. There were two big changes for me – #1) Before I had Beckam, Mother’s Day sucked. Of course Mara and Wes are going to spend Mother’s Day with their mom, and I would never want or expect them to be with me instead of their mom on that day. But as a bonus mom you spend a lot of time loving and nurturing and building a bond with your bonus babies, so selfishly I wanted to celebrate with them too. I was/am so grateful for them and for the love they have brought into my life, so it was hard not getting to be with them on that day. Cody was always thoughtful and did something before Mother’s Day with all of us to celebrate being a bonus mom, but it’s still a reminder on the day of when so many people were celebrating that you just wish you could hug your bonus babies. Once I had Beckam and Ollie, Mother’s Day changed for me and took some of that away. I still miss seeing Mara and Wes so much on that day, but it’s nice I get to be with the other kids.

 #2) Having Beckam and Ollie brought so much perspective to how it might feel on the other side of the equation, things that until you have kids of your own probably won’t make sense. Like in some ways I wonder if I was too involved before… some of this is hard to put into words, but it brought perspective to not feeling like I had to be a part of as many decisions with Mara and Wes, and to give their mom space like at school functions. Example… before I had Beckam and Ollie I signed up to help in Mara and Wes’ classes and volunteered for things, and yes I’m so glad I did that, but I also realized maybe that’s something their mom just wants to do…as I’m writing this I realize I probably should have just asked her instead of assuming either way 😂 . I also felt like it brought perspective to her side of splitting time… Splitting time sucks for both parents 100%, but before I had my own kids, I always sided with Cody, and then once I had Beckam and Ollie I imagined having to share so much time with Beckam and Ollie with another woman/family, not seeing every milestone, splitting holidays, all of that sucks… of course you want your kids to be loved by as many people as possible, but it made me understand her point of view a little more in some ways, that until you have your own kids you don’t really understand as a bonus mom. 

Q. How did you guys decide on “ours” babies. My bf is 10 years older and 3 kids – I’m worries he’s done. LOL

A. This is a conversation I would FOR SURE have before you get married. I thought Cody and I did but he says he doesn’t remember 😂. He was always on board for us to have one together, but I always wanted at least 2 because I was an only child and always wished I had a sibling. Since we don’t have Mara and Wes full time I didn’t want one of our kids to be by themselves when Mara and Wes are gone, so I always wanted at least 2. Cody didn’t realize that so he thought he was done after Beckam and it took me yearsssss to convince him on another. Obviously he’s glad we did now that we have Ollie, but it’s still an important conversation to have prior to make sure you’re on the same page.

Wes and Mara with baby B ❤️

Q. How did you talk to the kids about having another baby (meaning before Beckam was born?)

A. Honestly it’s been so long ago that I don’t remember how we told the kids, but I remember surprising everyone in our family somehow. They were really excited – both with Beckam and Ollie.

Q. I had a really awful step-mom experience – did you ever worry about treating the kids different?

A. I’m so sorry – I feel like I get messages like this A LOT  and it makes me so sad.  I pray everyday my bonus kids feel loved when they are with us and know how much they mean to me. I’m sure I’ve done things wrong, but I think as a parent we always want to strive to be better, so I hope they always know how loved they are, not just them but all our kids.

That wraps up part one! Some of the upcoming posts will talk about schedules, things I’ve learned being a bonus moms, discipline/parenting my kids vs. bonus kids, how involved I am with ex-wife, etc… if you have new questions or questions about anything above drop in the comments below.

XX, Christine

The post Bonus Mom Part 1 appeared first on Hello Fashion.

WILLIAMSBURG TRAVEL GUIDE

Traveling as a family is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s so amazing to see the kids exposed to new cultures, foods, history, and people. I love watching them experience things for the first time through their eyes. Every summer, we go on a big family trip and spend multiple weeks abroad bouncing between places, but it’s looking like this summer (like last), we will be staying closer to home. Unlike last year when we barely traveled at all, this year we have been exploring more within the U.S.

A couple weeks ago, we got to go to Williamsburg, VA, and we had so much fun! It was a super family-friendly destination, so I wanted to share where to stay, where to eat, and where to play – for both parents and kids 🙂

MUST-STAY IN WILLIAMSBURG: KINGSMILL RESORT

I’m a sucker for splurging a little extra to stay somewhere nice when we travel. Especially with kids, having somewhere comfortable and cute to come back to at the end of the day or a cool property where the kids can swim and play games – it’s priceless. The Kingsmill Resort did not disappoint. 🤩  It’s right on the James River so it has the most beautiful views, especially at sunset!

We stayed in the cottages, which are super cute and great for families. I slept sooo well while I was there (not enough, because we were moving non-stop trying to see it all). The beds were really comfy. They have cottages with 3 or 4 bedrooms, so it’s the perfect spot for families. They have full kitchens, washer and dryer, LARGE bathrooms, plus each bathroom has a full-size jetted tub. You also have full access to all the resort amenities – two championship golf courses, the tennis club, marina activities, multiple restaurants, etc.

DETAILS: WHITE DRESS | SUNGLASSES | SANDALS

Prettiest cherry blossoms!

We were there pre-season, so the outdoor pool wasn’t open yet, but since we were there with Visit Williamsburg, they let us check out the pool at The Estate at Kingsmill. It used to belong to the Busch Family (of Busch Gardens and Budweiser Beer), but they sold it to Kingsmill, so now it’s available as a luxury rental. The home is so gorgeous! The decor is sooo stunning and all of the bedrooms are insane. It would make for an amazing family vacation rental for a big family get-together! We loved spending our nights swimming there!

The prettiest pool overlooking the river – sunset was so magical!

DETAILS: GRAPHIC HOODIE

MUST-EATS IN WILLIAMSBURG

ELECTRIC CIRCUS TACO : 9 times out of 10, you’ll find us either at a Mexican or Italian restaurant. We ended up at Electric Circus Taco for lunch the first day, and it was the perfect intro to the Williamsburg food scene. It’s right in the heart of Williamsburg, so you can walk and tour the city after. The restaurant has tons of arcade games for the kids, so they loved it!

ANTONIO’S RISTORANTE: We got this to go after we went to Busch Gardens and the garlic knots were amazing! Thin crust New York-style pizza too. It was one of our favorite meals! 

WATER STREET GRILLE (Yorktown): Nothing beats a good pizza 😉  Cody took the healthy route and ordered a steak salad. Loved the views and they have the prettiest tables out on the balcony that overlook the river.

MAURIZIO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO: This was a local favorite – it was super busy, and the pasta options were all really popular, but we were craving pizza again, no surprise haha. It’s right at the entrance of the resort, so it was super convenient to stop and grab food. 

MOBJACK BAY COFFEE ROASTERS (Yorktown) : I could talk about this place for hours! It’s the cutest coffee shop with all handmade (and amaaaazing) pastries. The building it’s in is actually one of 7 buildings that were built in the 1700s. At one point, it was owned by a female who actually sold coffee – the current owner was so inspired that she wanted to open a coffee shop of her own with her family. The owners have also had multiple ‘ghost’ encounters in that building (but friendly :). Such a cool spot with soooo much history! They also had a picnic area in the back with an outdoor fire going. You’re also within walking distance of a lot of the historic sites in Yorktown.

Favorite thing we tried: Nutella Donuts – we had waaay too many! The kids loved the pink macarons. Also loved the Caramel Macchiato – their coffee is all roasted in-house so it’s super fresh. This place was probably my favorite!

WYTHE CANDY & GOURMET SHOP: Cody always finds the best sweets! This place had caramel apples, homemade fudge, chocolates, and more. Also, our fam loves jelly bellies, and they have a wall with all the flavors.

MUST-PLAY & MUST-DOS IN WILLIAMSBURG

*Disclaimer – we aren’t much for museums. Our kids have pretty short attention spans and would rather be outside or doing something active. There’s soooo much to do in Williamsburg that I didn’t think the kids would gravitate towards the more historical or educational elements, but they totally did! Tons of live exhibits and replicas make it feel like you are there experiencing it and not just listening to an audio recording looking at pictures on the wall.

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT: Jamestown Settlement was the perfect mix of history and interactive experiences – the kids loved it! They kept seeing “come see this” or “wow! look at this!” It was honestly the best museum-type experience we’ve had. Wes kept talking about what he had learned in school, and it was cool to see it all come to life for the kids.

While there, you can see re-creations of the ships that first came to Jamestown in 1607. They have replicated a lot of the original structures and ships from early Jamestown. We got to board a life-size replica of Susan Constant – the biggest ship that brought over the original settlers of Jamestown. There were 71 people that came across on that ship, which put it all into perspective how cramped and uncomfortable the journey overseas would have been. They also had a recreation of a Paspahegh town to see how Powhatan and Pocahontas and their people would have lived. So cool!

DETAILS: DENIM JACKET (SIMILAR HERE) | TANK | BLACK DENIM | WHITE SNEAKERS

BIKE RIDING: Without really meaning to, we’ve started the tradition of renting and riding bikes on almost all our vacations – The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the beach in Newport Beach, and now we get to add along the Greensprings Interpretive Trail in Williamsburg. We love being active and outdoors, and riding bikes is the perfect way to combine the two and get to explore new places. We rented bikes from Spoke + Art Provisions Co – they had options for a hybrid or recumbent bike and also have toddler wagons available. The trail was sooooo beautiful! So green and tons of wildlife (including a baby deer!). Also had the cutest wood bridges over different ponds, and the woods were gorgeous.

After the bike ride, we went back to return the bikes and got to talk to the owner more. He’s from England, so I got to talk to him about our obsession with “The Crown” haha. They have a cute outdoor sitting area in the back where you can get snacks, have coffee, and listen to live music either before or after your ride. They also do a British tea once a week! Such a cute spot and one of my favorite things we did on this trip.

SISTER CITIES FRENCH MARKET: The Yorktown Market Days are a Saturday staple, with special theme markets through the year and our weekend corresponded with the Sister Cities French theme! It was the cutest waterfront farmers market complete with food trucks, cute shops, and artists, and more. Yorktown is the sister city of Port-Vendres, France, so the market is re-creation of their Saturday market and has the coolest French feel to it! Cody snuck away for a crepe and didn’t save us a single bite haha. 

HISTORIC YORKTOWN: Yorktown was such a cool village to visit. I love cute picturesque towns and fell so hard for all the beautiful buildings here (as my 100 pictures in front of the buildings can attest haha). It was crazy to think how much those buildings must have witnessed over the centuries

We stopped at Yorktown Bookshop and got to see a Bible they have for sale from the 1600s. 🤯 The kids each got to pick out a vintage comic book, too, and they already looked them up to check resale value haha. One of them was already worth $70!

We also got to watch The Fifes and Drum of York Town play 18th-century field music, and it felt like we were taking a step back in time. During the war, they couldn’t hear the commander, so drummers would play specific beats to send orders to the troops.

DETAILS: WHITE PULLOVER | DENIM | SNEAKERS

BUSCH GARDENS: (Tied: Kids’ Favorite) We couldn’t come within miles of the iconic Busch Gardens and not go… haha. Wes is always pulling up videos of roller coasters, so he was probably the most excited. The Williamsburg Busch Gardens also has 9 European village ‘replicas’ throughout the park. Their Food & Wine Festival is taking place right now (through May 23), so you can try authentic foods from around the world. Such a cool way to bring Europe to us since we can’t go to Europe this summer.

Post-park nap 😂  Always a sign of a fun-filled day.

I got a lot of questions about Covid restrictions. They limit the number of people who can enter the park each day, so you have to reserve your tickets beforehand, but it was actually nice to not have it so crowded. Most of the roller coasters and rides were open, and the kids got to go on every open roller coaster. Cody and I both went on a few – I made him go on the crazy upside-down roller coaster, so he got his moment to shine as the adventurous parent haha. Everyone wears masks unless they are eating. It was our first theme park experience post-Covid and was just like the old days, plus masks and minus insane crowds haha.

Have you guys been to Williamsburg? If you have any favorite places to stay, restaurants you recommend, or other activities you would suggest, leave a comment below for others planning future trips. 🥰

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Visit Williamsburg.

The post U.S. Must-See Destinations: Williamsburg, Virginia Travel Guide appeared first on Hello Fashion.

How much has Ollie grown this year 🥺🥺

The first thing I picked for this space was this tile. When we were building I really wanted beautiful patterned tile everywhere haha I’m a sucker for cool tile! But as we really started to nail down decor, we settled on a few little accent details through out our home. The laundry room is a really safe place to have fun with pattern or color.  I love the pretty blue tone that feels really bright and clean.  I’m so happy with how it turned out! The majority of our home is really neutral, so it was fun to bring in some blue in such a bold way!

We don’t get natural light in this room we went with 2 of these chandeliers. I can’t find them in stock anywhere (they were from Wayfair, I’ll keep an eye out if they come back in stock) but found this one that’s super similar. A few weeks ago I switched out the bulbs from a warm bulb to a brighter watt with white light and it’s night and day difference. These were ones I got and love. Wish I had done it earlier!

Ollie concentrating so hard to get his head up 🙂

From the beginning design process I wanted to try to set up as much storage and organization as possible.  Obviously I don’t have a foolproof system because if you’ve seen my insta stories its still a mess a lot of times haha, but a couple organization things I love. The tall drawers next to the sink have dirty hampers for Cody, mine and the kids clothes. Each drawer has two bins, one for darks and one for whites (I also LOVE the brass and lucite pulls on these drawers!) For clean laundry, we got these lined baskets and added these gold label hooks to them for the kids. So when I’m organizing the clean laundry I throw all their stuff in each basket for them to put away.  I also love these apothecary jars to hold things like detergent, pods – basically whatever products you use that has packaging that doesn’t flow with your color scheme. 😂  For some of my other go-to laundry brands that are a little more aesthetically pleasing (love Laundress & Honest Baby), I love displaying them and setting them out with more intention. You might not think to put your pretty trays and baskets in the laundry where most people will never see them, but whether you hate to do laundry room or already love it, adding some decor brings a totally different energy and will change the game.

OUTFIT: BLUE SWEATER (LAST SEASON – SIMILAR HERE) | DENIM | EARRINGS

FIXTURES & HARDWARE: BLUE PATTERNED TILE |  BRASS SINK FAUCET & SINK | AMEROCK BRASS KNOBS | AMEROCK LUCITE PULLS | CHANDELIERS (ALCOTT HILL HULSEY – SOLD OUT; SIMILAR HERE)

DETAILS: SQUARE WHITE CAKE STAND (SIMILAR HERE) | BLUE BOWLS  (SIMILAR HERE) | APOTHECARY JARS | LAUNDRESS WHITES DETERGENT & ALL-PURPOSE BLEACH ALTERNATIVE | WOOD HANGERS | WOVEN STOOL

BASKETS & TRAYS: RATTAN TRAY (SIMILAR HERE) | RECTANGLE BASKET WITH FRINGE | WOVEN RECTANGLE TRAY (SIMILAR HERE)  | WHITE LINED STORAGE BINS &  GOLD LABEL CLIPS | LARGE STACKED BASKETS

WALL DECOR & PRINTS:BEACH HUT PRINT

LINENS: WHITE FRINGE RUG (SIMILAR UNDER $20 HERE) | TOWELS

CABINETS: MARWOOD DESIGN

APPLIANCES: ELECTROLUX shown here, but our dryer just went out (after having it repaired multiple times) so we just switched to LG. These are the ones we got, only had 2 days but so far LOVE them. I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts 🙂

Our interior designer for our home was Erin Hansen, she is amazing and helped style this space too. You can see her insta here.

1. WHITE LINED BASKET | 2. BRASS KNOB | 3. WOOD HANGER | 4. BRASS SINK FAUCET | 5. BLUE PATTERNED TILE | 6. APOTHECARY JARS | 7. WOVEN STOOL | 8. SINK | 9. THE LAUNDRESS BLEACH ALTERNATIVE | 10. WHITES DETERGENT | 11.BEACH PRINT | 12. GOLD CHANDELIER | 13.  TOWEL

Linking more of my decor finds from my Laundry Room Reveal below! Let me know in comments if you guys have any questions about any of the details 🙂

You can also see our kitchen reveal here and our bathroom reveal here.

XX, Christine

*Photos by Rebekah Westover // INTERIOR DESIGNER: ERIN HANSEN 

The post Laundry Room Reveal appeared first on Hello Fashion.

CLEAR STACKABLE DRAWERS (20% OFF)

I’m obsessed with these clear stackable drawers (20% off right now)! Especially with standard closets, they are the perfect solution for storing things that are hard to organize and would usually end up on the floor or piled on shelves. A great piece for kids closets, especially since you can fit so much more. I love that these are stackable too!  I use these to store things like diapers, wipes, and other items accessories like beanies and hats etc. The bigger ones are great for baby shoes or leggings. Both are on sale 20% off right now too!

GARAGE RAIL & HOOK SYSTEM

Tackling the garage has been on my list forever. I knew we needed some kind of storage or organization system and this one was the perfect first step. I read SO many reviews and this one had the highest rating. It has a bunch of different hooks to hang various items (we also ordered these extra hooks to go with it). It saves so much floor space and I loved being able to see such an immediate difference so quickly! It has amazing reviews and they were spot on – super easy to install!

VERTICAL BALL ORGANIZER 

Another garage must-have if your family is super into sports like mine – this vertical ball organizer  attaches to the rail system above and makes it really easy to get all the various basketballs, volleyballs, footballs, etc. into one place. Seriously no better way to store them! I also love the flexible bands in front so the kids can grab any ball they want without a hassle (and also makes it easy to put them away). Another one that lives up to its glowing reviews!

DRAWER DIVIDERS

Once you go draw dividers, you never go back. They make finding and putting away clothes so much easier and helps you visualize everything you own quickly. I especially love them for kids drawers! This one works for smaller drawers too but also extend out really long so they can work for longer drawers too. These are on sale right now too!

ROPE  BASKETS

These rope baskets are another one of my favorite products. I’ve actually had them for years but just got a couple more for organizing so everything matched. They come in multiple sizes (here and here) and are great for storing some of the eye-sore items that don’t really have a good spot otherwise. Not just for kids’ bedrooms either! Great for linen closets, pantries, toy rooms, family room. Great price point too!

Are you guys on an organizing kick too? I would love to learn about any favorite products or hacks you have! Let me know below in comments!

XX, Christine

The post 5 of My Favorite Recent Organizing Buys appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Love my mornings & early cuddles with Ollie!

He loves to look out the window and watch the cars go by. When big trucks go by he makes a grunting noise it’s so funny.

His cute sleep sack is on sale right now. They also have girl prints too 🥰

I love the mornings with Ollie. He’s extra cuddly when he first wakes up. He’s such a busier baby than Beckam was so I love the morning cuddles while he’s still waking up, especially while he drinks his bottle. We are supposed to start weaning him off the bottle and I’m not excited about it 😂 he never took a pacifier but he likes to suck on his empty bottle like a pacifier so I’m kinda nervous to cut it out. 🙈 

Honest Baby is one of my favorite baby brands. We have used them since Beckam was a baby and now again with Ollie. They launched a new shop, Honest Baby Clothing – a full baby clothing line this year and Zulily is running a flash sale running right now on a lot of their best selling pieces. Their wipes (both baby and anti-bacterial) are amazing! It’s the only place you can get Honest Baby apparel up to 15% off. It’s all 100% certified organic cotton and doesn’t have any harmful dyes. They have onesies, sleep-sacks, pajamas, crib sheets and swaddles – pretty much all things cotton for babies! The baby pants run a little big so size down 🙂 Ollie has crazy sensitive skin so their stuff is a go-to 100%.

If you’re rushing to get some last minute gifts, they also have a Melissa & Doug event running right now (another baby brand favorite especially for kids toys!) and Burts Bees. 

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Zulily.

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I’m dying over his little Adidas fleece. 

DETAILS: WHITE SHERPA PUFFER COAT (UNDER $100 – WEARING SIZE SMALL) | MARA’S BLACK SHERPA PUFFER COAT  (ON SALE UNDER $100) | OLLIE’S PLUSH PLAYSUIT | BECKAM + WES MATCHING TEES 

Hope you guys are having a good weekend! We have been running errands getting little things to get our house ready for the holidays! I know it’s been a busy weekend of shopping and sales, so I wanted to share some more budget-friendly gift ideas. Mara and I got these matching puffer coats – they have a sherpa-lining and are super cozy. Love the zipper detail! They also come in a pretty bright red and navy and are usually $200+ but on sale right now for $60 at Zulily.

You guys know Zulily is one of my main partners this season and I’m even blown away by all the different product they have. They run flash deals for a limited time with huge brands – UGG, Free People, etc. They also have some big brands that they have consistently like Levi’s, Lego, Melissa and Doug. I’ll share some of my favorites further down, but their prices are so affordable. (They have a ‘Best Price Promise’ on some of their prices basically promising you won’t find it at any other retailer else for less. So a lot of toys are even cheaper than amazon!)

DETAILS: 1. STEVE MADDEN TAN PUFFER COAT (UNDER $50) | 2. FREE PEOPLE SWEATER (UNDER $50) | 3. FREE PEOPLE DENIM JACKET (UNDER $100) | 4. KNIT BEANIE (UNDER $20) | 5. SLIPPERS (UNDER $15) | 6. WHITE SHERPA-LINED COAT (COMES IN 4 COLORS)

Right now they have a Free People event (ends in 2 days!)  You guys know I’m obsessed – this sweater and denim jacket are both 50% right now and prices are going quick. Also these slippers are under $15 right now – love the shearling! This beanie is also super cute. Love the multi-colored stitching that makes it feel a lot more expensive. Couldn’t believe it’s under $20!

DETAILS: 1. CROQUET SET (UNDER $40) | 2. DINOSAUR TRACK (UNDER $20) | 3. WOOD BLOCK SET (UNDER $15) | 4. WOODEN MUSIC TABLE (UNDER $50) | 5. MAGNETIC USA MAT (UNDER $20) | 6. GIRAFFE ROCKER (UNDER $50)

Zulily is a jackpot for kids toys. Seriously, they have everything you can imagine. I love this cute magnetic map and this giraffe rocker! Adorable! This croquet set would also be so fun for the family (under $40).

DETAILS: 1. MEN’S SHERPA BOMBER (60%) OFF | 2. KID’S SWEATSHIRT  (UNDER $20) | 3. LEVI’S LOGO TEE (UNDER $10) | 4. MEN’S LEVI’S LOGO TEE (UNDER $10)| 5. DENIM (UNDER $50) | 6. KIDS’ HOODED DENIM JACKET (UNDER $30) | 7. HIGH-RISE DENIM (UNDER $50) | 8. VINTAGE LOGO TEE (UNDER $10) | 9. MEN’S TRUCKER JACKET (60% OFF – UNDER $100)

Levi’s is a go to family brand. I love this trucker jacket (Cody has one almost identical) and this sherpa bomber – both are 60% off right now! Their tees are also under $10. That’s like 30% cheaper than I’ve seen at any other retailer sites or sales. It’s the perfect way to stock up on some good graphic tees for you, your S/O, or your kids and it’s a great brand you know they’ll love to wear.

DETAILS: 1. AIRPLANE LEGO SET (20% OFF) | 2. STAR WARS LEGO SET | 3. NINJAGO LEGO SET (20% OFF) | 4. WATER PARK LEGO SET

Zulily also has lots of LEGO sets. My kids are all obsessed with LEGO sets and I love that it’s an activity they can work on together. I get them a LEGO set every year for Christmas and love these! Tons of options and a bunch of them are on sale (this plane set and this Ninjago set are 20% off right now).

Also wanted to note that anything with a Rocket Ship icon means quick shipping and any items with the red ‘present’ icon is guaranteed delivery before Christmas. I’ll be sharing more of my finds throughout the next few weeks so if you’re looking or anything specific, comment below and I’ll see what I can find!

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Zulily.

The post The Retailer You Didn’t Know You Were Missing appeared first on Hello Fashion.

One thing on my holiday checklist is getting new ornaments for the kids every year.

My parents are building a house this year so I got them these cute ornaments as a memory!

DETAILS: HOLIDAY ONESIE PAJAMAS (UNDER $20) | HOLIDAY PAJAMA SET (UNDER $20) | REINDEER SLIPPERS | HOUSE ORNAMENT SET | COKE CAN ORNAMENT (ALSO LOVE THIS BOTTLE VERSION)

When I was a kid, my stepmom would always get me a new ornament every Christmas – something to represent my year, big milestones, hobbies, or whatever I was into at that point. We’ve continued the same tradition with our kids – both with new ornaments and painting/DIY our own ornaments. We dress up in matching holiday PJs and put up the trees. We have a tree we set up in the living room and then another kids’ tree with all the ornaments we’ve made and collected throughout the years and every year it’s like a walk down memory lane! My hope is when the kids grow up and have families of their own I’ll give them a special box of all their ornaments through the years. I will always treasure traditions passed down from generation to generation, but also love trying out new activities, so I wanted to put together a list of some holiday checklist with tradition ideas, old and new:

1. Decorate for the holidays
2. Buy/make new Christmas ornaments
3. Curl up with Christmas books
4. Teach the kids to ski/ski trip
5. Explore some hot springs
6. Go night-sledding
7. Make cinnamon rolls
8. Gingerbread houses
9. Make/paint Christmas mugs (great gift idea!)
10. Have a wrapping party
11. Rent a cabin in the mountains ⛰
12. Build a fort & watch Christmas movies
13. Advent calendars
14. Make & deliver neighbor gifts
15. Try snow-shoeing
16. Take family Christmas pictures
17. Make a holiday playlist, hot cocoa, & go on a lights-seeing tour to look at Christmas lights
18. Give back (donating, service projects, etc.)
19. Write letters to Santa Claus
20. Set up Zooms or FaceTime family that live far away
21. Bake & decorate Christmas cookies together
22. Set out gifts for the delivery drivers
23. Random acts of kindness

This year Zulily is celebrating all the Mrs. Clauses out there – the ones behind the scenes creating new memories, passing down traditions new and old. I’ll be working with them throughout the season sharing some favorites items. You can get so much of your shopping done all in one place! I’ll be giving you some ideas of fun activities to do as a family, and also we’ll be doing some giveaways for your Mrs. Claus to be able to treat herself. We’re kicking off the campaign with a huge giveaway: over $1300 worth of toys and prizes for the fam including a $500 gift card for mom to treat herself. To enter, share what the Mrs. Claus in your family is busy doing this season – whether that be you, your mom, grandmother, a friend, your kids’ babysitter, a single dad – this is the time to celebrate the people working hard behind the scenes to make this season more magical than ever! Aside from the grand prize winner, there will be 10 bonus winners who will win a $100 Zulily gift card. (Full giveaway details listed here!) Giveaway ends 11/30!

What are some of your favorite family traditions to add to our holiday checklist? Don’t forget to check out my shop on Zulily. I curated my faves for me and my family. This is live until the 11/26 so don’t miss out.

Xx, Christine

*In collaboration with Zulily.

The post 20+ Things On My Holiday Checklist appeared first on Hello Fashion.

How cute is this vintage Disney sweater?

Pulling out all things Disney to add some extra magic to the holidays this year!

Aaaaand… finished!

DETAILS: RED DISNEY PULLOVER | MICKEY MOUSE HOLIDAY MUG | HOLIDAY PUZZLE | MARVEL MONOPOLY | MICKEY MOUSE WAFFLE MAKER | MICKEY DESSERT PLATE | MINNIE DESSERT PLATE | MICKEY TRAIN BOWL SET

Last winter after Ollie was born and we were spending more time at home, we got in the habit of doing a new puzzle together as a family every month. The dropping temperatures have helped revive that tradition and it made me realize how much I missed having a puzzle out to work on with the kids. I told Mara to pick one out and they chose this Disney one. It has three different puzzle piece sizes – small, medium, and large – so it’s actually designed for everyone in the family to be able to enjoy together. We also got this Marvel Monopoly game that we broke in last weekend with Mara and Wes – such a fun twist on a classic fave!

I have been dying to take Ollie to Disney for his first time (well he was in my belly the first time but that doesn’t really count ;). I ordered a few more Disney pieces to bring some of the magic home and create some of those early Disney moments until he can go in person. Honestly I think it will make his first visit to Disney even more special tying in all the memories from home. (Like these Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast!)

They also had the cutest holiday mugs and plates! I let the kids pick outa set of holiday plates each year and I’m hoping when they are older they all take one to pass down to their kids. This year we went Disney with these matching cocoa mugs and dessert plates for each of them (this one for the boys and this one for Mara). I feel like they will be a holiday favorite every year when we pull them out! Also got this bowl-train set and can’t wait to use it for a Christmas party – maybe a hot cocoa bar with toppings or to hold sprinkles, etc for decorating sugar cookies.

Below are some more Disney favorites to bring a little more magic to our festivities this year (that I think we could all use right now haha):

XX, Christine

The post Adding Extra Magic to the Holidays appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: RIBBED BEANIE (ALSO COMES IN BLACK) | PADDED JACKET (ALSO COMES IN BLACK) | SNOW PANTS (COMES IN 3 COLORS) | BLACK-LINED BOOTS (COMES IN 3 COLORS)

Babies in beanies are my biggest weakness! We have this one in multiple colors (more color options here).  Also I know it seems kind of early to post but their winter pieces sell out quick and they are super budget friendly (each piece is under $35) so I wanted to share asap.  I love this padded jacket and matching snow pants – can’t wait to watch him play in the snow this year!

DETAILS: PINK BEANIE (COMES IN 3 COLORS) | KNIT SET | PINK SNOW PANTS | WHITE LINED BOOTS

I’ve always loved baby girl clothes! There are so many pretty pink and nude tons this year especially – dying over these snow pants in pink! These boots are also a great basic. We got them in multiple colors for Ollie including this white pair.

DETAILS:  WOOL COAT (COMES IN 4 COLORS) | LINED BOOTS (ALSO COME IN PINK) | KNIT HAT | KNIT LEGGINGS (COMES IN 3 COLORS – LOVE THEM ALL!)

This wool coat is one of my favorite baby layers I’ve seen this season! It comes in 4 colors and they are all so good. I also love the knit leggings for babies – especially with cute fall booties. These leggings are one of the best baby basics. They are great gender neutral color combo and they also come in a pretty deep green set and a navy set. You can’t have enough of these! So comfortable and versatile.

DETAILS:  WOOL SOCKS | WHITE LINED BOOTS  (COMES IN 3 COLORS) | RIBBED JERSEY SHIRTS (COMES IN 3 COLORS) | RIBBED 2 PIECE SET (COMES IN 3 COLORS)

Honestly, cute socks are probably the last thing I think about when it comes to baby but a pretty knit sock actually goes a long way! I love this ribbed set – Ollie has been living in them! I’m also obsessed with these ribbed shirts. They comes in 3 color combos – one with pinks and another with the prettiest nudes and light blue.

More of my favorite fall baby basics linked below:

XX, Christine

The post Fall Baby Basics to Mix and Match This Season appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Ollie’s first birthday party! Love how the teddy theme turned out!

How perfect is this cake by my friend Megan!? She does alllll our cakes. Not only are they always the cutest, they are also so yummy!

Missing Mara and Wes 🙁 We didn’t get them until later that night from there Moms  so I didn’t get as many pics with them other than when we did cake 🙂 but so happy they were here to celebrate with us during the party!

I am so obsessed with how the whole balloon/teddy bear installation came together! Pop Park City does such an amaaaaazing job with the colors and balloon arch. They have such an eye for detail! We got the marquee letters from AlphaLit – another one of our go-tos for any big events or parties we have.

DETAILS: CORDUROY MINI DRESS (WEARING SIZE 0 – RUNS BIG! SIZE DOWN AT LEAST 1 SIZE) | BOOTS | GOLD WATCH || TAN DRESS FROM THE CAKE SMASH (WEARING SIZE LARGE SO ITS LONG AND OVERSIZED)

OLLIE:  RIBBED BEANIE | GREY ONESIE | CORDUROY OVERALLS | BROWN SOCKS | WHITE SNEAKERS | HIGHCHAIR | CROWN

PARTY DETAILS: CAKE BY MEGAN FAULKNER BROWN | BALLOONS BY POP PARK CITY | LETTERS BY ALPHALIT SLC | BEAR

OUR BABY BOY TURNED 1!! I seriously can’t even believe it. How is he ONE! It was birthday marathon at our house last week. Wes birthday was the 26th, Ollies was the 30th, and Cody and my moms birthday was on the 4th. So it was party after party 🙂 The day before Ollie’s birthday I cried my eyes out haha. Cody and I went on a date night and in the middle of dinner I just started crying. Knowing this is most likely our last baby, all these emotions just hit thinking about how much he’s grown, our time at the NICU when he was born, it was just a flood of emotions. But then on his actual birthday it was just PURE JOY. When I was little I got a teddy bear I carried everywhere named Oso (spanish for bear – I was fluent in Spanish as a little girl 🥰). So I was up super late one night (my creativity always hits super late at night) and it hit me how cute would a teddy bear theme be for his first birthday! I found this ADORABLE bear that’s actually the same brand as the one I had growing up. 🙂 So I ended up using that teddy bear as inspo for the theme and love how it turned out, especially with all the fall tones.

We used Pop Park City for the balloons and Alphalit SLC for the letters. I have used them for other events and they are seriously SO TALENTED. They made custom ballon colors to match my vision, and the balloon tassels, and confetti balloon are all hand made so they match the balloons perfectly. It was seriously even prettier in person if you can believe it! The darkest balloons are a gorgeous dark brown (hard to see it in pictures they read a little more black here but soooo gorgeous in real life). They put so much detail into it and come to your house and set it up – such an amazing service! (They also have no-contact delivery if you prefer.)

I am so in love with all these pics, I can’t wait to make a little book out of them for memories.

XX, Christine

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