Classy Cut-Outs

Hope everyone had a fun/relaxing/productive/peaceful/whatever-you-needed-it-to-be Labor Day holiday.  We did extended family time on Sunday (BBQ at the grandparent's with my sister and her family), then Monday was just our little family.  We got up early, because with a toddler there is no such thing as sleeping in, and drove to Long Beach for breakfast, then to Huntington Beach Dog beach with the vision of letting the dog off the leash and the toddler splash in water.  But we learned that even just the flow of a crashed wave up the sand is a horrifying thing, and even mommy and daddy shouldn't let the wave water get them.  Even if they're are laughing and having fun. It is not a fun thing to witness, it is very upsetting.

So the dog beach was a bit of a bust, though the dog had some fun. The little guy fell asleep shortly after departing the beach, and took a nice long nap.  Then we were able to salvage the water experience of the day by going to the pool, which little dude loves, and he and daddy splashed there til dinner time.

For the beach I just wore my swimsuit and denim cut-offs.  But after cleaning up, I was loving this new top I got (under $20!)  It is minimalist and modern, with cut outs that reveal a little skin without revealing too much. You can wear a normal bra with it, and it is so easy to dress up or down.  Here, I dressed it up with some wide leg slacks and leopard print heels, keeping accessories to a minimum, to keep with the mono-chromatic minimalist vibe.

If you're on Snapchat, find me there at edstilettos, and you can follow my little family adventures.

Fairlytale Wedding

We were able to attend a very lovely wedding this past weekend.  The ceremony and reception were both at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, and a better evening could not have been ordered.  The ceremony was outside on a private lawn, the weather was so perfect, and then the reception followed in a beautiful ballroom.  The bride is very much in to Disney princesses, so her style was very romantic and fairytale.

With a little help from some double-stick tape, I was comfortabe all night.
 

Please forgive my paleness.
 

Beaded shoes. 
 

Details.
 

When there's a photo booth, you gotta take photos.
 

My dress and shoes are on sale right now, you can get them both below.
 

Kimono in the Woods

I've been meaning to, and hopefully this is the start, post more outfit pictures on the blog.  I'm good about it on Instagram, but those are selfies, and I can't get as many variety of shots.  

Here's a look I packed for a recent trip to Arkansas. I'd never been to Arkansas before, and was expecting (from checking my weather app) warm weather with humidity.  Perfect for sundresses. And we were going to be seeing family (the trip was for my husband's grandpa's 90th birthday party) as well as trying to squeeze in some sight seeing of the country, so I wanted to be cool but comfortable and still look put together.  

I love the mixed patterns of this dress. It looks like a wrap dress, but its not, just a pull over. Light cotton fabric and kimono sleeves kept me cool (though I should have taken the pictures before I sat in the dress and got it wrinkly - sorry!) I paired it with my Dolce Vita sandals (that are about the only shoes i can wear right now because of a jammed baby toe) and brought my light scarf for an extra layer, just in case (just in case of what, I don't know, because even at night it was never cooler than 70 degrees).  And to minimize and simplify my travel items, I only brought my one white bag, that was multi-purpose purse, diaper bag, lunch bag, shopping bag, etc.

We rented a small house in a wooded area, so we could have a separate room for our Little Dude. Everything was/is so green and fresh.  Not the same as drought-ridden SoCal.  

And of course had my sun hat.  Have to have the sun protection. And this is a great one to travel with, because it rolls up and fits in a suitcase easily, and can be be reshaped and adjusted with ease.

And I added a tassel and pearl necklace for a finishing touch.

We had a beautiful day, and fun family time.  If you're ever in Northern Arkansas, I recommend visiting the Crystal Bridges American History Museum.  Its open everyday except Tuesday, and admission is free to all (thanks to the Walton family.) A great collection of American art, showcased in a beautiful, new and modern complex, surrounding a small lake, with beautiful outdoor grounds to explore as well.

Wrap Me Up Pretty

Ok, so here's the reality: while I would love to look crisply attired and professionally styled at all times, that just ain't happening when trying to chase a toddler around.  What I need is simple outfits that I can put on quickly, but that still have some character and style to them. I need to look like I tried without having to actually try that hard.

That's what's so wonderful about scarves.  They are simple pieces that come in a vast variety of colors and patterns, and can instantly take the simplest outfit and add that element of style that pulls it all together.  Jeans and a T: comfy, practical, but boring.  Add a brightly colored scarf and you have instant detail and interest with no fuss.  And they're not just for cold weather anymore.  They come in a variety of light, airy fabrics that feel just as spring and summery as tanks and sundresses (both of which you can add a scarf to.)

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Additionally, they're  a functional accessory, particularly good for air travel, when you encounter a variety of temperatures and can be hot one minute and cold another.  Light scarves can provide just the right extra layer to adjust to temperature changes.

And there are so many ways you can style them, its like 20 pieces in one.  And you can easily find so many styles at very affordable prices. So its a win all around.  And who doesn't like winning? :)
 

Click this image for instructions on these looks and to visit a website dedicated to how to tie scarves