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What I Wore + Stories, 8/30

Favorite Cashmere Sweater (Have you seen the new navy striped one?! Also love the Halogen and Everlane versions.) / Hudson Jeans (SO SOFT and stretchy but don’t lose their shape. Btw: My favorite AG skinnies are 40 percent off, which never happens. My eye’s on this pair, too.) / Madewell Loafers (More traditional version here. They’re back! The Sperry pair is just as comfy, btw. Can’t decide which I like better.) / Dooney & Bourke Bag (Also at Macy’s.) / Polka Dot Scarf / Pottery Barn Rug / Serena & Lilly Kids Table & Chairs

Okay, hi! 👋🏼

Last week, I started a new series: “What I Wore.” (Here’s the first post!) The concept is pretty simple: I’m featuring iPhone photos of the everyday, very casual outfits that don’t make their way to the blog for one reason or another. (Because let’s be serious: not every part of one’s life can–or should be–professionally photographed. 😂)

As I said last week, I’ve wanted to start this for over a year now, and I’m so excited to finally be doing it! I’ll say that pretty DSLR photos of styled looks have their place, and I do intend on starting back up with shooting. (Soon. Just haven’t been into it as of late.) But everyday real life stuff–wrinkles and basics and messy hair and terrible lighting–has its place, too. Right?!

How We’re Saving for Emma’s College Education

Vineyard Vines Women’s Shep Shirts, Men’s Shep Shirts & Kids Shep Shirts / VV Hat, Breaker Shorts, Leggings

Photo by VV Photographers Jacob True / Erick Dent

Mitch here! It’s been a while. Missed you guys. 😉

Recently, Kelly wrote this post about lessons learned from five years of blogging. In it, she touched upon the importance we’ve placed on allocating money for retirement, health insurance, emergency/rainy day funds, and college costs. In this post, though, I want to dive a little deeper into that last one: Emma’s education savings, and how, exactly, we’re planning for that. Because YIKES. It can be overwhelming for parents. I know it’s been for us!

Note: Let it be known that it took us a considerable amount of time to come up with plans for all this stuff. Don’t freak out if all your ducks aren’t in a row yet. It’s a process, and the hardest–and easiest–part is starting!

“In the Age of Fear”

in the Age of Fear

Seersucker Tie-Front Dress (On sale! In blue here.), Mitch’s No-Wrinkle Shorts and No-Wrinkle Shirt, Emma’s Shorts and Shirt c/o / Jack Rogers Sandals / Emma’s Jack Rogers (Also on Nordstrom!) / Mitch’s Sperrys (Old, but similar here.)

Photo by VV Photographer Jacob True

By now, I’d expect that a good number of you have read Kim Brooks’ essay “Motherhood in the Age of Fear,” which first appeared in the New York Times in late July. While it was Mitch who originally sent it my way, it circulated quickly around the few mom circles I “belong” to, and it continues to pop up in conversations. With friends and family members who aren’t mothers, too.

If you haven’t read it, do so. But it begins with Brooks telling the story of how instead of dealing with yet another temper tantrum, she left her son—four years old at the time—in the car for five minutes while she ran an errand. It was a cool, 60-degree March day in Virginia, but she cracked the windows, enabled the child safety locks, and set the alarm… and when she returned, he was still sitting there, happy and unharmed.

August 2018 Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale Announced! +$200 Giveaway

2018 Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale

Lilly Pulitzer Bailor Dress (J.Crew also makes a VERY similar dress which is awesome and wrinkle-resistant.) / Jack Rogers Sandals

GUYS. This is it!

Today, I’m leaking the official details of the 2018 Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale. It’s going to start on Monday, September 10th around 8 a.m.(ish) EST and end on Wednesday, September 12th at 11:59 p.m. EST. So exciting!

I’m also hosting a new $200 giveaway to shop the sale. Edit: CLOSED. Congrats to Desiree T. for winning!  (Congrats to Heather W. for winning the last giveaway!)

How to enter/a few things you should know:

We Haven’t Forgotten

Nantucket

Favorite J.Crew Bathing Suit / Emma’s Lilly Pulitzer Navy “Fish” Dress c/o / Vineyard Vines Tote  (Smaller version here), Shorts, Coverup, Hat, Emma’s Bathing Suit (On sale!),  Mitch’s Polo and Bathing Suit, BeachMate x Vineyard Vines Beach Play Set c/o / Emma’s Black Dog Hat / Emma’s Gingham Bathing Suit is old, but this one is even cuter and on sale! / Sammy’s Gingham Bathing Suit is old, but I think it’s from MANGO?!

Do we like how I’m getting this up at 10:30 p.m. tonight? In an effort to be kinder to myself, though, I’m still totes counting it as my Sunday post. 😂

10 Awesome Podcasts

awesome podcasts

Camel Blazer (Factory Version here.) / Favorite White Skinny Jeans / Faux Leather Tote (Under $50!) / Favorite Loafers (Run TTS and super padded. I also love this pair from Madewell. Madewell makes a mule and a traditional penny loafer, too.) / Striped Tee (Also available here. Here’s the long-sleeved version.)

Mitch here!

“Mitch time” is in short supply these days and in between tantrums, daycare drop-offs, diaper duties and, you know, work–I have to find little moments for myself.

So I’ve become a bit of a podcast guy. I freakin’ devour these things. So now, instead of reluctantly doing the dishes with Kelly after dinner, I jump up from the table and get started. Sometimes I even let her get out of cleanup time and send her off to play with Emma so I have more podcasting time. The kitchen’s never been this spotless!

Here are some awesome podcasts that I’m currently enjoying along with the gear I use. Please let me know what I forgot, and share your favorites in the comments below. Here goes nothing!

Emma and her Crew

Lincoln Park

This morning, Mitch and I dropped Emma off for her first day of “school.” Clad in a navy polo dress and her little gingham backpack, she took a quick photo with Noodle (who didn’t seem pleased), and then proudly marched herself into the classroom. She ran back to hug our legs at first, but then saw all the other kids hanging their backpacks up in the cubbies and joined them.

What I Wore + Stories, 8/22

Stories, 8/22

Tuckernuck Navy Top (Also available here, and this is the dress version!) / Vineyard Vines Tote  (Smaller version here) and Shorts c/o / Jack Rogers (On sale! Pounce for next year.) / Nearly Identical Sunglasses

I’m starting a new series! I’ve actually wanted to do this for like a YEAR, and can’t believe I haven’t done it until now. (Need to take my own advice.) But better late than never.

In an effort to share more of my day-to-day style, I’m going to start sharing iPhone pics of outfits that perhaps wouldn’t otherwise make it to the blog for whatever reason: not enough time to shoot, not interesting enough to necessitate a full post, neglected to do my hair or put on makeup, forgot the camera, etc. etc. 😜

Personal Lessons Learned from 5 Years of Blogging

5 years of blogging

Loafers (Same style but SO much more affordable here. Mules here.) / Sweater Blazer (Love this one, too.) / Nearly Identical Plaid Flannel / Legging Jeans / Louis Vuitton Tote (Available here, here and here. Looking for an affordable brown tote? I LOVE this one!) / Initial Necklace / iPhone Case

I recently celebrated 5 years of blogging. And by “celebrated,” I mean that I poured myself a glass of wine and gave myself a mental high five. 😉 Because in some ways, it seems downright crazy that I’ve been doing this for so long… but in most others, the five-year marker feels very ordinary. I kind of can’t imagine my life without this creative outlet, and I mean that in a healthy, non-insane way!