What I Wore - A Lesson in Layering

Layering clothes isn't easy. I love seeing people turn dresses into shirts or skirts, wear three top layers, layer a shirt under a dress, or double up on necklaces. Recently I took a maxi dress that doesn't look very good on its own, added a chambray shirt, a belt, and a jacket, and it was ready for prime time.

Sometimes with layering, it takes a few tries. But don't be discouraged, when you get a look that's right, it's kind of amazing (it's the little things that bring me joy). 

Here are a few layered looks from Atlantic Pacific you could use for inspiration. 

Products We Love

A few months ago, my good friend SW and I were discussing the items we had "on hold" in our Amazon "shopping carts". One of her items was The Wet Brush.

I knew nothing about it, but subsequently added it to my cart as well. I know she has good taste, so I figured I must want one too. I ordered it thinking it would be good for the Mini Fashionista. Her hair is curly and very easily gets to be a tangled disaster, especially after swimming lessons.

For weeks I have used it on her hair, and then just the other day, I tried it on mine. WOW! I Love it! This brush is fantastic for brushing wet hair (go figure) and dry hair. It gives your scalp a nice massage, runs easily through tangles, comes in a variety of colors and most importantly doesn't cost a lot of money. 

So, if you are in the market for a new brush, I highly recommend The Wet Brush! You can even buy a Mini Brush for your purse or for your Mini!

Keeping It Real

As you may know, The Mini Fashionista is the wonderful age of two. And that means all the behaviors that come along with it; testing boundaries, finding her voice and exerting her power and place in this world. It’s a time of great discovery and development for her little brain, but also a time of great challenge for both of us as she learns the difference between right and wrong.

One of our recent challenges has been the act of saying “I’m sorry”. For whatever reason, she doesn’t like to do it. Maybe you’ve experienced this with your child. They do something wrong or hurtful and you want them to apologize, but they won’t. The Mini shows remorse, dropping her head, sometimes crying, but nine times out of ten, she refuses to apologize. Most of these instances involve minor accidents or general courtesies, so it’s not as if she bit the kid next to her and refuses to say she is sorry. Regardless of the severity of the incident, like all parents, I want her to learn and “feel” the emotions that come along with hurting someone and/or their feelings and the act of apologizing.

The challenge is this...I cannot force her to say “I’m sorry”.

After some thought, I’ve decided maybe it is better not to. Here is my reasoning. Forcing a child to apologize often results in fake apologies. We all know that kid that quickly and without any authenticity or care says “I’m sorry” just so he can be over and done with it. The apology is not at all genuine, and the child learns nothing about actually “feeling” sorry and showing remorse. That is definitely not the lesson I want to teach my child. Children need to learn that their actions have ramifications and they need to be willing to accept them, good and bad. So again, how do you teach that to a two year old? She isn’t exactly a rocket scientist...not yet, at least!

A friend of mine told me that at her child’s school, they don’t force kids to say “I’m sorry”. Instead they encourage actions that are a display of care and remorse such as painting a picture and giving a hug or a high five. Yes, this is a bit touchy feely, but isn’t that what apologies are all about? You sure “feel” a lot more remorse when someone gives you a big hug than you do when they say “my apologies or I’m sorry”. In this case, like in so many others, actions speak louder than words.

Clearly, I am no expert. I am not a child psychologist, and I don’t pretend to know any more about raising a happy, healthy and caring child than any other mom. But, I will refer back to a term I have used a lot lately, I am “aware”. I am aware of my child’s behavior now, and I know how my reactions to her behavior will shape her future behavior. So for that reason, I put a lot of thought into these types of situations. And that seems like a good start.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, especially those of you with older children. Did you have similar struggles? What strategies did you find most successful?

A Royal Collaboration

It's no secret that one of Kate Middleton's favorite dress designers is Issa London. I mean...if I looked this good in those dresses, it would be my favorite too!

Issa dresses start in price around $300 and go upwards to $800 or $900, so they are certainly priced for a duchess and not your average Kate. 

Cry not my fashionista friends, on August 13th Banana Republic and Issa London, in collaboration, release a 40-piece collection that focuses on the U.S. brand’s “safari heritage” and “spirit of exotic journey.” There is also talk of animal-print pieces, kimono tops, and oversize accessories.

There haven't been any photos released of the actual collection, so these sketches will have to suffice until August 13th.

What I Wore

I only purchased two articles of clothing on our recent trip to San Francisco. You saw the maxi dress that I got in a previous "What I Wore" post.

Today's post is to share with you the blouse that I purchased. I bought it in a random store on Clement Street in the Richmond District. I think I paid $39 for it. The brand is "Peach Love Cream."

During our recent trip to Sun Valley, I wore the blouse for a date night with my +1. I paired it with my new favorite jeans, the Gap 1969 Skimmer Jeans and navy and white stripe Merona wedges that I bought at Target last summer. Oh, and of course, no outfit is complete without an Angela Caputi Bracelet from Serena Italian Imports! 

Products We Love

Despite being a fashionista, I am also a serious mountainista! And recently, thanks to my +1, I have found the best trail running/hiking shoe I have ever worn. Anything I call "the best I have ever worn" must be worth sharing! 

Let me introduce you to the Salomon SpeedCross 3! 

I realize they aren't the cutest shoes you have ever seen, but I promise you they are by far the best performing trail shoe I have ever worn. The traction is incredible, the Sensifit system ensures a snug, contoured fit that is perfect for my narrow foot, and they are super comfortable! 

So, if you are looking for a new pair of trail shoes, these should be at the top of your list! 

Brahmin Worthy

I was perusing instagram the other day and noticed an incredible handbag in the background of one of my friend's photos. Why look at her husband and adorable dog when I can admire her purse (sorry JPF)?! While I was skeptical that said handbag was available to those on the other side of the pond (she lives in Switzerland) inquiring minds had to know where it was from. Shocker - the manufacturer is just up the road (i.e. a short flight) in Fairhaven, MA.

Brahmin is a family-owned handbag company started in 1982 by Joan and Bill Martin. The name Brahmin was used in Boston in the 1800s to describe a cultured person from an established upper-class family, and was chosen by the Martins because they wanted to create a handbag that would meet the expectations of a Brahmin. Makes perfect sense to me. 

Coincidentally, Regan blogged about a Brahmin bag earlier this year that Kendi Everyday was carrying.  But after a stroll through their site, it only seemed right to share some of their other designs with you. Here are a few I'd have no problem carrying. 

Anywhere Weekender

Alexis Clutch

Tucker Tablet Flap

Adele Satchel

Annabelle Satchel

What I Wore

If you read about my recent trip to Richmond here or here, you might have noticed there were no outfit photos. If you blog you'll understand...everyday content requires saving some of the good stuff. We can't give it all away in just one post! 

If you were also reading at the end of June, you might remember my trip to San Diego and a visit to the awesome boutique Mimi & Red where I got some great finds, but, again, held out on you with one last dress. The things we do to our readers! We've got to keep you coming back somehow, right?

Well, here it is (it's likely you don't remember either post, but I appreciate you sticking with me)! 

This Lani maxi dress was perfect for a car trip and the hot day! I love the colors and how summery it feels. Add some Angela Caputi bracelets, my "bank bag" as Dr. B calls it, and my FAVORITE sandals, and I was set. 

I can't track this one down online, so here are a few maxis I'm currently loving that won't break the bank (mine was $46).

Maxi Bra Top Dress

Monki Body-Concious Midi Dress

ASOS Maxi Dress with Tiers

Mossimo Womens Crossover Maxi Dress

Alternative Eco Racer Maxi

The Skimm

I've never been one for watching the news. In past years, I enjoyed eating my breakfast while watching The Today Show, but since the arrival of the Mini Fashionista we try to keep the TV off. And to be completely honest, I'm more up to date on current trends in fashion than I am in current events. It's a bit pathetic. So how do I work to improve my worldly knowledge?

Enter the skimm!

Thanks to my BFF Katie (as in my sister) for introducing me to my kind of news source. TheSkimm is a daily newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the educated professional who knows enough to know she needs more.

They do all the reading for me and then explain it with fresh editorial content, breaking down exactly what I need to know so that I don't sound like a completely out of touch idiot!

Theskimm allows me to stay in touch with everything going on in the big world while I am busy taking care of all the important things in my little world! 

Sign-up today! You won't regret it! 

C & C in the Kitchen

One of my favorite things about summer is all the incredible food. Peaches, corn on the cob, avocados...I could go on. I also love dining al fresco (a photo from a recent Saturday night enjoying our deck).

I've been trying a lot of new recipes lately with fresh summer ingredients and thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you. Put these three together and you've got a delightful summer meal.

image via cookingchanneltv.com

This peach salad with tomatoes, feta, and basil vinaigrette is incredible! I substituted the sherry vinegar with champagne vinegar. It seemed to make a lot of dressing, so I put away half for my salad the following day. 

image via Week of Menus 

I'm a quinoa fanatic. I could eat it every day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, you name it. I doctored up this recipe for avocado, tomato, quinoa salad with red and yellow bell peppers. We ate it for dinner and I had it for lunch the following day. Nutritious and delicious. 

image via Butter Me Up

But I can't have you just eating side dishes (that's what Dr. B tells me). These apple turkey burgers with brie and caramelized onions from my childhood friend, are TO. DIE. FOR. Even you reluctant fowl eaters will enjoy them. 

Happy cooking and eating! 

Products We Love

In today's iPhone age getting a good tip on an app is like 50% off at your favorite store. It's BIG HUGE. Remember when we told you about Red Stamp? It's still one of my go-tos to send a fun note to friends and family.

Today, I've got another one for you - also photo-related. Developed by bloggers Elsie and Emma, BeautifulMess is the #1 paid App in the App store. They developed it as an easy way to make your photos pretty and to share them with friends. You can also make images with graphic templates to email, text, or post to Facebook and instagram. Here are a few of my creative attempts.

Check out their blog for more detail on the app and for inspiration in designing your own photos. 

The Future of Window Shopping

How would you feel if you were out to dinner with your friends or your +1 and a courier showed up with a new handbag you'd ordered on the street just an hour before...or maybe it's a skirt you need for later that night.

That. Can. Happen.

Kate Spade and eBay have teamed up to give you a sidewalk shopping experience that is much better than your average window browsing. Check it out. Now this is my kind of retail!

What I Wore

I recently won an Irene Wood necklace on instagram! I NEVER. WIN. ANYTHING. You know we're big fans of Irene's work here at C & C, so needless to say, I was kind of excited (understatement of the century). Since I got this amazing necklace for FREE, I thought I at least owed something for it...so how about a "What I Wore" post for payback.

I paired the necklace with an Anthropologie white blazer, a white theory silk shell, a belt from Urban outfitters, a pale pink tulle skirt from H & M, and DVF suede heels. I like how the neutral palette allows the necklace to stand out. 

Here are a few of my other favorite Irene Wood pieces available right now.

Purple Fields

The Sky Was Violet

Emeraldscape

Specter

Sapphirescape

Delphinium

Keeping It Real

“I can’t believe I ate that brownie. I am so fat!”

“You must be joking — you are so not fat. Just look at my thighs."

"My butt is big. My stomach is flabby. My arms are wobbly. I’m enormous."

"No, I’m more enormous."

Have you and your friends ever had a conversation that sounds like this? I would imagine, at some point in your life, you have. It's called "Fat Talk".  Fat talk is the body-denigrating phrases many women engage in with their girlfriends. While it may seem like female bonding, it can actually be quite damaging to your self-esteem. Go figure!

I first became aware of this concept of "Fat Talk" after watching a segment on The Today Show. Subsequently I read an article on the same topic in The New York Times in which researchers called fat talk a “contagious” bonding ritual....93% of college women engage in it! I find that number astounding but not surprising.

So, why am I writing about this on C&C?

Because I know I've done it. Who am I kidding, I DO it! And with no good reason. I have no reason to be bashing my body. No one does. According to research, fat talk is so embedded among women that it often reflects not how the speaker actually feels about her body but how she is expected to feel about it.

And where do these expectations come from? From the blogs, websites and magazines I read every day. The media is most certainly to blame for these unrealistic expectations that girls and women place on themselves.

"Fat Talk" is most definitely a topic that all women should be aware of because the only way to create change in this type of behavior is through awareness.  My guess is you engage in it, but have you ever been AWARE of the fact that you do it? Think about how this kind of negative talk impacts your life and your relationship with your friends, your children, etc.

I have a little girl, and I don't ever want her to engage in such negative talk about her body. How can I help to make that happen? It means I have to make a change in my own behavior starting today! I must practice what I preach.

So, how do we break this cycle of fat talk in women? We start by not engaging. It's that simple. Don't say negative things about your body to your friends, to your children, and even to yourself. Appreciate it, celebrate it and honor it. If not for yourself, but for the little girls in your life who will grow up thinking it's okay unless we make a change now.

I would love to hear your comments on this topic!

Splurge vs. Save

Back in April you may remember how I won a set of dining room chairs from Industry West (post here). I had thought I would paint them to add a bit of color to the room, but instead I think I am going to have cushions made...I'll be sure to share once I do.

Back to the point of this post. These chairs, as well as others in this style, from Industry West sell for around $150 each! So four of the Marais Arm chairs would cost you $600!

Enter this week's save! You can get the same style chairs at Target, and you get two chairs for only $99! The Carlisle Dining Chair comes in Red, Copper and distressed metal!

They also have bar stools that come in a variety of colors and are also two for $99! 

Carlisle Metal Bar Stool

So, if you are looking to update your chairs or bar stools, these are a really fun and affordable option!