Damsel In Dior - Life

How Do You Get Out of a Funk?

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 08:00:05 GMT

This is sadly a question I’ve been getting a lot lately.

I have to be honest, I’ve had a lot of down in the dumps days this year {who hasn’t!?}. Feeling low doesn’t always have to mean that you are clinically depressed. I also have to be honest and say that I disagree with the “pull up your bootstraps” method.

Sometimes you can just feel down, and that is okay!

It is absolutely vital to take care of your mind this year. There is an incredible amount of “noise” in the world right now so it is especially difficult to get in tune with your own thoughts and calm your mind. Please note that I am not a medical expert and you should consult your doctor if you are having any suicidal thoughts or ideas. You can also call the The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Here are a few things that I do to try and get out of a rut:

Quiet Your Inner Voice

I don’t know about you, but when I’m having an off day my inner voice turns to a very negative place. You should hear the awful things I tell myself inside of my head. Whenever you are feeling a little bit off, be especially conscious of what your inner voice is saying to you.

Set a timer for 1 minute and turn off all distractions.
Get a piece of paper and a pen and let all of your rage out on to that piece of paper. Whatever you may be feeling, just draw it out. It can be words, phrases, a lengthy journal entry or simple sribbly lines – just let it all out.
Once the timer goes off take your piece of paper and either light it on fire (in a safe place) or tear it up into the smallest pieces you can and thrown it away.
Let that shit go!

Get Outside

It’s amazing what a little fresh air can do for the mind, body and soul. Try setting your alarm an hour earlier this week and get outside. Take a walk, go for a run, or simply sit in nature.

Make A Bucket List

No, I don’t mean a master bucket list of things you want to do in the big game of life. I mean a small, simple list of things you want to do by the end of the week. The easier, smaller things you put on the list, the better. For example:

Cook pizza one night from scratch
Call my grandmother
Send someone a home-made card
Create a new Pinterest board

Clean Your House

This might sound simple but if you have a cluttered home you will have a cluttered mind. Any time my mind is feeling a bit jumbled up I not only clean my house but I open up all of the windows, light some sage and candles and literally say out loud “new, fresh, energy!”

Pay Attention To Your Clothes

This seems very, very trivial but this is a fashion blog after all! If you are wearing your pajamas 24/7 these days {which a lot of us are, no judgement} then you might feel a little sloppy on the inside too. Try getting dressed one day and maybe even toss on a little make-up to see if that affects your mood at all.

How do you get out of a funk? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks!

10 Small Ways to Make a Big Change for the Climate

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:00:15 GMT

I’m worried about the planet, are you?

From hurricanes to fires, to heatwaves and cold spells, it’s become increasingly difficult to avoid the very real issue of climate change, the consequences of which are devastating communities across the world.

We are really good at avoiding issues when the repercussions of them don’t feel like they are directly affecting us. However, climate change impacts everyone.

So what do we make of all of this?

It can feel very daunting, but little tweaks we make in our everyday routine can make a big impact. So start small – your dollar is your vote for change.

Shopping small is always a sustainable option. But big brands are making waves as well. I am so proud of the brands we work with for doing their part. Boll & Branch prioritizes the planet through the entire production process. They ship their materials, instead of flying them in, and source organic cotton, which does away with harmful pesticides. Amazon has launched a 2 Billion Dollar Climate Pledge Fund. I of course recognize that fast fashion and larger companies take a toll, but these businesses are also trying to make a difference, and for that I am thankful.

In addition to all of this, I have rounded up 10 of my favorite little ways to make a big difference. Let’s do this together.

Every little thing counts, and collectively we can work towards change.

Feature Image sourced from here

Why You’re Always Tired At Work

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:00:52 GMT

It’s 2 p.m. and all I want to do is put on my pajamas and curl up in bed.

For the first few weeks of feeling this way, I chalked it up to Covid-19. The underlying stress and anxiety of a global pandemic are certain to cause some unwanted and unforeseen changes in our mental health. But as someone who has always had a WFH {work from home} job, I have really started to see some major red flags with my productivity and energy levels when it comes to getting my work done.

In many ways the lower production effect has been great for my life. Before my work fatigue I often found myself sitting at the desk for 20-40 hours a week which wasn’t productive either. After all, my job is to create content and share my life, not sit behind the desk all day. But lately I have been feeling so incredibly exhausted the moment I sit behind my desk that it’s resulted in e-mails being saved in a “To Reply” folder that I’ll get to later and an editorial calendar that isn’t flushed out. While I used to plan my content out month’s in advance, I’m not writing a blog post a day or two before it’s “live” date. Again, it’s the not the worst thing ever, but it’s also starting to somewhat bother me.

I am not a lazy person!

After doing a deep dive on the internet, researching the causes of what they call “work fatigue,” I came across a few interesting points that I wanted to share. I know many of you are also working from home and may be feeling similarly. And while some of us {hand raised} are used to WFH life, for a lot of you this lifestyle is still very new. But I wanted to point out that you aren’t just tired at work because work is now at home. And because work fatigue can quickly lead to burnout, it’s important to better understand how and why you may feel this way and learn how to handle it.

Understand Your Productivity Curve

Firstly, it’s important for us to all understand when we can perform work at our best. The beauty of working from home for many of us is that we don’t have a set schedule which can really open up room for improvement. Are you most productive first thing in the morning at 8 a.m. or are you more of a night owl? Before I had a child, I was a huge night owl and would get a big surge of creative energy around 5 p.m. Lately, I can barely keep my head up past 1 p.m. I now aim to get big chunks of my work done before noon and schedule any calls during that time too so I’m alert, focused and ready to rock.

Not Enough Sleep?

It’s a pretty obvious thing to say that if you are feeling fatigued it’s because you aren’t getting enough sleep. But the question to truly ask right now is if you are getting good quality sleep. I go to bed at 11 p.m. every night but I sleep as light as a feather. Even the slightest sound and I jump out of bed like a crazy person. The CDC has declared a lack of sleep a public health epidemic! If you allow yourself one or two nights of logging in some extra Zzz’s, it should make a great improvement on your work fatigue.

You Are Burned Out

Job burnout, or just being “over” your job isn’t really a medical diagnosis. However, many experts believe that other underlying conditions such as physical or emotional exhaustion can lead to feelings of loss of personal identity. Many people who experience symptoms of job burnout don’t believe their jobs are the main cause. Whatever the cause, job burnout can affect your physical and mental health. Consider how to know if you’ve got job burnout and what you can do about it.

What To Do

Work fatigue can lead to poor decision making, lower productivity and even injury. It can have a very real effect on your work and workplace {home!}. A few key take aways on how to handle:

Consider a shift if your schedule. Pay attention to what time and days you feel most productive. If possible, strive to take two consecutive days off each week.
Have an honest conversation with yourself and/or your superior about balancing your workload to set realistic expectations. We are in unprecedented times and most employers will be very understanding and flexible.
Take a look at your workplace atmosphere. Do you have a designated office space? Even if it means working from the kitchen table, be sure to have a designated work space that feels nice and cool with minimal noise and vibrations.
Do you best to log in some extra sleep. Whether it means turning off Netflix an hour earlier or asking your spouse to take the nightshift with your little ones, it’s extra important to allow your mind, body and soul to get some rest right now.

Please note: I’m not a doctor! Please check with your healthcare professional if you are struggling greatly with sleep deprivation or depression.

The Secret for Good Sleep

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 08:00:31 GMT

Lately I haven’t been sleeping too well.

A good night’s sleep is essential for most everything, but especially so if you’ve got a toddler to chase after. It’s recommended to get at least 7 hours of sleep, but I think there’s a difference between sleep and good sleep. I’ve been doing some research, and here are some tips to get your best sleep:

Do you have any sleep tips? I’d love to hear them!

Your Family Questions, Answered

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:00:26 GMT

Picking back up on a popular series that we started on Instagram.

We’ve divided up your frequently asked questions in to sections. I started with Fashion questions and I’m now moving on to Family! Please feel free to ask more in the comments!

Do you think you and Grant will have another child? – Caryle

You know, I’m not really sure at this point. There are days where I cannot imagine a life without more baby June’s running around the yard and then there are days where we are very thankful and happy for our family of three. I really can’t answer that at the moment.

Did vital proteins work for post-partum hair loss? – Samantha M

These He Shou Wu vitamins worked for me but be sure to talk to your doctor before starting anything new.

Favorite toys? – Molly P

June is growing so quickly that it truly varies and changes monthly. If you check this page you can find my updates on family life where I include things that June is liking. I also update my Baby Favorites list on Amazon in real time.

Where is Grant from? – Shannon P

He is from Los Angeles, CA.

How did you know you wanted to marry Grant? – Jasmine H

I knew that Grant was the best person for me to spend my life with because he helps me to become the best version of myself in any situation or scenario. I honestly feel that if I had to select someone in the world to talk for me or on my behalf that Grant would be the best possible person. He is also just a better person than I am overall. His incredible patience is really great for my fiery spirit. He also makes me laugh every single day.

Have you brought your nanny back since Covid hit? – Becki G

Yes! We absolutely love our nanny and didn’t have her for the first few month’s of Covid. Her daughter has an auto-immune disorder so she is extremely safe and so are we. She is now back full-time.

Is Grant an employee of your business? – Bronwyn K

Yes! He has a few other things that he works on, but he’s now full time at Damsel Inc.

How’s motherhood going? – Madeleine D

It’s better than anything I could have ever imagined. While it’s the biggest challenge of my life at times, it’s also the greatest reward.

How do you memory keep for June? Journal? Baby book? – Mariana L

I continue to print photo books every 6 months using Artifact Uprising. I’ve also been documenting my time on the blog.

What kind of car seat does June have and do you like it? – Kara

We have the Clek Foonf and I absolutely love it. It’s narrow enough to fit three in a row in the back seat and sits high so that June can see out the window. It’s also flame retardant free: tailored in 100% Merino wool to help naturally regulate the child’s body temperature keeping them cool in the hot summer. It allows rear facing for longer (up to 40 lbs).

What shoes does grant like? – Mackey V

He really loves his Golden Goose sneakers we got in Italy last year. He also loves Common Projects.

What is your favorite thing about June right now? – Delaney V

She is learning to talk so when you ask her things she can respond. Communicating with her is melting my heart.

Why do you play Mexican music to June? It’s hilarious – Angelica L

Ha! I play all sorts of music around the house. From classical, jazz, country and rap to world, opera and oldies. I’m a daughter to a music teacher and strongly believe that music can heal, teach and inspire us.

How did you know you were ready to have kids? – Sofia K

I didn’t. But here’s a blog post on “How We Knew It Was Time for Baby”

How would you have named June if she had been a boy? – Nina R

Saving those names just in case we have another baby

Are your parents still married? Do they live in the same place? – Samantha K

I’ve been getting this question a lot and I think it’s because my mom moved to Los Angeles when we had June. My dad lives in Texas and my mom lives here so she can be close to the grandkids. It works for them.

Do you think you’ll get another bully? How are you doing? – Adrianna I

We aren’t going to be getting another dog for a while. It’s just so damn hard to say goodbye. We are also looking forward to traveling more (once Covid heals) and not having that type of responsibility. Maybe when June gets a bit older.

Best neighborhoods in LA for a family? – Becca M

I love Hancock Park, Larchmont, Brentwood, Manhattan Beach…

Will you get a Polly tattoo? -Lin D

Yes!

What resources/advice do you think new/experienced moms need? – Dr. Elizabeth H

To practice self compassion. It’s the hardest thing you can do for yourself but it will help you become a better parent. I also would suggest investing in a self care regime that’s just for you to do. Whether it’s yoga, pilates, therapy, church or anything that you can do that is solely for yourself, just do something to take time for yourself.

Thoughts on the Snoo sleeper? – Sarah J

It wasn’t for me but I hear amazing things about it. I was too worried about it becoming a sleep “crutch.”

Do you have anyone in your family who is hard to deal with? – @lovelookswitheyes

Naw. My family is perfect All jokes aside, yes…. When I’m confronted by a person or situation that is hard to deal with, I imagine and bubble or shield around me and whatever it is that’s bothersome I picture it bouncing back off of me and on to them.

Where do you get June’s solid color ribbed outfits? – Sivan G

They are from Amazon, linking here.

What are your biggest stresses as a mom? – Sheena

Honestly? Just keeping my daughter healthy and safe.

What formula did you use? – Carrie G

Hipp Anti-Reflux

Al Fresco Dining Must Haves

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 08:00:32 GMT

Last week we hosted my in-laws for a birthday dinner at our home.

It was one of the first times since Covid-19 that we have hosted a small dinner party and boy did it open my eyes up to the fact that we need an outdoor dining room set up. Our outdoor area is, for lack of a better word, neglected. When we moved into our house two years ago, we focused most of our energy {and budget} on dressing up the interiors. Now that June loves playing in the backyard, and it’s one of the only “vacation” destinations we’ll be taking this year, I think it’s time to slowly start investing in some nice outdoor furniture, starting with dining.

Hosting dinner parties looks a lot different in 2020 than years past.

For us, it means playing it extra safe by dining al fresco. We do live in Los Angeles where the weather is top notch throughout most of the year. As I venture down the big rabbit hole of outdoor dining options, I thought I’d throw together a post of my favorites. Please leave a comment to share any resources you know of for outdoor dining table. Also, I’d love to hear which is your favorite from my list!

Dining Table & Chairs

The foundation of the outdoor dining setup. This is all dependent on how many people you are hoping to entertain. Outdoor furniture can certainly add up quickly, so I found this more lightweight, affordable option. I also love the idea of having a bench instead of individual chairs.

Linens & Place Settings

This part is so fun. I swear I could look at linens forever. I’m all about mixing and matching napkins, but I truly love having a full set. I think this is a really fun way to add a little color to your tablescape, but I am also all for keeping it neutral if that’s more your speed.

Glassware & Serving

Is anyone else as obsessed with seagrass glassware as I am? It just immediately screams summer if you ask me. Big platters are also key especially when serving things up family style.

Feature Image Sourced from here.

Life with a 17 Month Old

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:00:43 GMT

My sweet baby girl is 17 months old and with every week she changes more and more.

It’s really starting to sink in that we have a full blown toddler now (tear). We are slowly starting to transition her fully off of the bottle and it’s kind of making me sad. Some people say she should have already been off the bottle by now, others say to take your time. I say to trust your parenting gut and do what’s best for your baby.

If you scroll down I’ll share a few more new developments and changes that have happened since my last post.

Emotions Are High

Over the past month, June has really started to express herself and push boundaries. Thankfully, since last month, her biting has stopped {phew!}. However she is really testing the waters with how much she can control Grant and I. We do our best to stay very calm during her emotional outbursts and explain to June what is happening in the moment.

“I understand you want to play on the neighbors lawn but we need to play in our own grass. Do you want me to carry you or do you want to walk?

It isn’t 100% working, yet. June will still scream bloody murder as I carry her back to our house during her outbursts, but I do believe in this method and strongly feel that she will eventually understand what is happening.

Sleeping Is Back

We went through a few rough patches over the past few months where June would randomly wake up at 5:45am or have a hard time falling asleep. We stuck to every book I’ve read and used the exact same methods we implemented in the very beginning and thankfully she’s back to being a great sleeper!

June Has A Belly Button

And a nose and ears and eyes and can now do “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!” It’s such a blast watching her learn things in real time!

I’m Raising A Determined Woman

I am very proud to make the announcement that my daughter is going to be a strong, independent, fierce and determined woman. I know this because she is positively confident with whatever she is doing. She literally runs straight for the pool and leaps in without hesitation. If I try to carry her or hold her hand, she pushes me away with great force and screams. She leaps, jumps, runs, tumbles and screams at the top of her lungs. “I’m a woman hear me roaaaaaarrrr!” I am all smiles writing this because I know she is a wild child and I love her for it. There isn’t a thing I want to change about her “wild.” We’re doing everything in our power to keep June curious, adventurous and wild.

She Stopped Eating

For some reason a few weeks ago June lost interest in food. I did a bit of research and learned to divide her food up into options. I use a silicone grip plate and lowered her high chair so her plate is on the table versus the high chair tray. Ever since I did this she’s been eating better than before. I think it’s because she can’t mix her food all up together. It stays categorized so she knows what she likes and wants.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Maybe it’s because we haven’t spent much time in the car lately (thanks Covid). Maybe it’s because she got my inner ear genes (awful motion sickness). Maybe it was just a fluke. But apparently June gets car sick – she got it from her mama. I’m hoping it was just a one time thing on the winding road to Lake Arrowhead but June threw up all over on the way home and on the way there her lips turned blue. Poor girl.

Do you have children? How old are they? Please share what you are experiencing these days!

My Al Fresco Dinner

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 08:00:36 GMT

I had hit a big cooking rut.

I love cooking! In fact, it’s my only true “alone time” I really get during my day. Grant and I both work from home together and are either working or watching over June. So, every day at around 5 or 5:30pm, Grant takes June outside to play in the yard while I play in the kitchen. I turn on some tunes, find my groove and get to cooking!

But as we enter our…6th? month of dealing with Covid (has it been six months?) I have definitely hit a wall with my cooking. I always make the same thing and it’s gotten quite boring. When Grant invited his parents over for a birthday dinner, al fresco style, I dug up some new recipes to try from my good friend “What’s Gaby Cookin.”

Firstly, I have to share that I see Gaby three times a week. She’s one of my real life friends that you don’t always see on my feed. I do not have enough nice things to say about this amazing person. Gaby is incredibly optimistic, funny and such a joy to be around. Her energy also bleeds into her recipes. We love, love her oils and spices from her William Sonoma Collection. Also her bloody mary mix is the best I’ve ever had {yes, ever!}.

I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to actually try out one of her recipes {embarrassing} but boy am I glad I did! I’ve also included my Mom’s simple salmon recipe below that was a home run at our dinner too. Each recipe is linked below the pictures.

Vegetarian Mezze Platter

Peach Tomato Caprese

Spicy Garlic Green Beans

Mom’s Salmon Recipe:

Pre-heat oven to 400F.

Drizzle olive oil over baking sheet and place salmon on top. Drizzle olive oil on salmon and season with Gaby’s Go To Blend + Garlic Salt + a little pepper + Capers, lots of capers but not too much of the juice. Place a slice of butter on top of each piece of salmon.

Spread spinach and tomatoes around the edges of the salmon and add a hearty amount of olive oil {so they don’t dry out} and salt for seasoning. Lots of salt.

Set aside some tomatoes and spinach to decorate the plate with later.

Bake for 20 minutes

As soon you take salmon out, you can add a little more butter to the top.

Serve on a pretty dish and enjoy!

We’re Remodeling Our Kitchen

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 08:00:04 GMT

Without doing anything too dramatic, such as moving walls or cabinets, we have finally pulled the trigger on remodeling our kitchen.

This is something we’ve wanted to do since we first moved into our home 2 years ago. It isn’t that we didn’t like our kitchen, but I wanted to love the space. It’s easily the room we spend the most time in as a family {especially since quarantine}.

My biggest grievance has always been the pulls and knobs. I don’t love the clear plexiglax. It doesn’t match the rest of our home and felt cheapy to me. Grant’s biggest issue was the tile on the floors. I knew that if we dug into remodeling our floors that it would open a big ‘ole can of worms. I started to put together inspiration boards and pull materials with the idea of painting and reflooring. I was also starting to get in way over my head so we picked up the phone and called our amazing interior designer, Martha Mulholland.

Martha brilliantly suggested that rather than moving away from our existing tile, to select colors and materials to compliment it. She challenged us by saying “if we paint and redecorate and don’t touch the tile and you still hate it after we’re done, then we can discuss retiling.”

Boy am I glad we listened. We’re already loving all of the changes that are being made and if you follow on Instagram you may have noticed a few sneak peeks. But before we share our big before/after reveal, I wanted to share a few insights from the design process along with the amazing concepts that Martha created for us.

I will be sharing a FULL kitchen post in the next several weeks. We are still waiting for some art to return from the framer and one more light fixture before we are “done.”

Product in feature image: Lamp from Lulu & Georgia, Basket from Nickey Kehoe, Wooden Stool from Nickey Kehoe, Pitcher is Vintage, Salt Keeper from Amazon (or William Sonoma)

Martha gave us two options to select from and below you will find Scheme One. I was immediately drawn to the bold colors in the rug and absolutely loved the counter stools. My only hesitation and reason why we ended up passing on this option was because it was a little too bold for my liking. The other rooms in our downstairs are very eclectic and feature wallpaper, deep green in the dining room and vibrant rug choices. I wanted the kitchen to feel a bit softer and more feminine (more like my pamper room upstairs).

We ended going with the below option, Scheme Two. The minute we got the beautiful rug in I knew it was the best choice. I won’t be sharing all of the sources to the products that Martha pulled for us in this post to protect her creative privacy. However once our final kitchen is revealed I’ll be sure to link to everything we selected. I am so so excited to share more soon!

Which scheme is your favorite?

The Easiest Pancake Recipe on the Planet

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:47:16 GMT

Are you ready for your mind to be blown?

1 banana

2 eggs

Use a fork to whisk, whisk, whisk, and push, push, push until the consistency is like a batter. Use a small spoon to evenly distribute mini pancakes on to a pan and cook just as you would an omelette (about 3 minutes on each side). Be careful when you flip and consider using two spatulas.

VOILA! Best pancakes ever. You’ll thank me later.

Ways to Commemorate During Quarantine

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 08:00:55 GMT

There have been many celebrations and many sorrows during our time in quarantine.

Most recently, we lost our sweet pup Polly to a 2 year battle with cancer. Polly was 11.5 years old and if you follow us closely on Instagram you know that she put up a wonderful fight. I’ve been meaning to write a post about Polly. To be honest, I’m still at a loss and we are still grieving. While Grant and I are sadly familiar with this type of loss, I’m still not ready to write about it quite yet.

What I’d like to do instead of writing a long post about Polly and how much she meant to us, because that’s kind of a downer during an already sad time for everyone, is share a blog post about ways we can honor loved ones.

Whether it’s a birthday celebration or the loss of a furry friends, it’s more important now than ever before that we honor the important people in our lives. It can sometimes feel very challenging to hold some sort of service or throw a big birthday party {it’s flat out unrealistic for many of us}, but there are still a few ways to work around the system and make things feel special.

Hold Ceremony

The other day I was thinking about how we coped with the loss of William (Polly’s brother) many, many years ago. The most helpful thing Grant and I did when we lost William was to hold a ceremony in his honor. I think one of the harder aspects of losing a pet is that it almost seems silly to most people to have a funeral of sorts. Grant and I said a few nice words about William and then decided to both get “W” tattoos in his honor. It truly made us both feel so much better knowing we had celebrated his honor in this way.

Whether it’s planting a tree, visiting a beach to say a few words or even having a nice family dinner to walk down memory lane – holding some sort of ceremony really does the heart wonders. Because we aren’t able to get Polly tattoos quite yet {because of quarantine}, I’ve been wearing my Monica Rich Kosann locket. I received this locket as a gift after June was born and it has a picture of my two girls inside.

Throw a Party

Okay so you can’t have dozens of people over… but maybe you can have one or two friends over and keep a safe distance. What we did for Grant’s 40th birthday was spread out visitors over the course of one week. A few friends came on a Saturday and then a few different friends on a Monday. Honestly it was kind of like a nice week-long of celebrating and actually getting to connect with friends on a deeper level.

Make it Special

It’s very easy for all of us to say “it won’t count” and bury our heads in the quarantine sand.

Now is the time, more than ever, that we should be celebrating life!

Try your best to make the best of any birthday or special occasion. In fact, birthdays and anniversaries should feel extra extra special! For Grant’s 40th I emailed forty of his closest friends and family members to request 2-3 sentences of “why we love Grant.” I printed them all out and {funny enough} taped them up in the bathroom on the morning of his birthday. It started his day off on the right foot – with lots of laughter and warmth in his heart.

Home-Made Everything

I’ve taken a deep dive back into my arts and crafts side during quarantine and I’m secretly loving it. Hand-made cards, pictures that June scribbled and printing out photos for albums have been truly meaningful during this dark time. I’ve resorted back to snail mail for relatives too. The most meaningful gift I received over the past 4 months was a scribbly picture that June drew {with help from dad} for me for Mother’s Day.

Make it Tangible

So much of our lives are digital. When William passed away, I made an entire photo album on Artifact Uprising. I also did one for Polly most recently and it feels really nice when you get it in the mail. It’s almost like having this incredibly meaningful piece of them right there in your home with you. I have the Artifact Uprising app on my phone which makes it super easy to upload photos. I’ve also used their service to print out photos of June which I mail to my Meme in Texas.

Have you held a birthday during quarantine? What did you do to make it special? How have you coped with the loss of someone special and what are you doing to honor their name?

Life With A 16 Month Old

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:00:12 GMT

I cannot believe June is 16 months old!

In many ways, she seems so grown up and in many ways she is still just a baby. A lot of you have been asking me for more updates on what is going on with June so I thought I’d start a monthly series to share any new developments and what is working/not working for us. Please take this all with a grain of salt. As first time parents there is a lot of trial and error happening around the house but at the end of the day we have a toddler who sleeps through the night {most nights}, enjoys trying new foods, and seems generally happy and energetic so I can’t really complain.

Here are a few new(ish) developments that have been happening this month.

She Talks!

And I mean, the girl can TALK! June is constantly babbling in her own language. She holds her hand, or any object she can find, up to hear ear and chats away at her imaginary friends. In terms of actually speaking English {or Spanish}, June knows about 10 words in English and about 5 Spanish phrases thanks to our amazing, amazing nanny.

“No en la boca!”

June will still scream with frustration even when she knows the word for what she wants, but we try our best to calm her down, explain what is happening, and show her that she knows the words for what she needs or wants. She’s gotten pretty decent at sign language for “more” and “all done,” although sometimes she walks up to the pantry and gives the sign for “more” so I’m pretty sure she just thinks it means “food.”

Teething Time

June has gone in and out of teething phases and over the past month she’s had some pretty big back teeth cutting through. I’m always questioning if her moodiness is teething, but we can always tell by her #2 bathroom. If it’s runny then she’s definitely teething. The most frustrating part of teething is that it wakes poor June up sometimes in the middle of the night. Our poor girl is such a good little sleeper and it’s heartbreaking {for everyone, ha} when she wakes up in pain at 3am.

Products

June finally took to a lovie! “Bunny” is June’s new favorite toy. All of the products that I have used and loved are added to my Baby Favorites list on Amazon. Outside of Bunny, June absolutely loves this water table we got for her. Even before we took it outside to the backyard she was playing with it inside for days.

She Bites!

June isn’t perfect (ha!). A few weeks ago she started biting us (argh). After hours of research, I learned to take notes for a few days to look for patterns. I learned, rather quickly, that June only bites when she is hungry or frustrated that we are taking her away from a toy. Most of the time she bites us around the 4pm hour and it’s just before snack time. She also, on occasion, bites Grant when he is tumbling around with her. We quickly say “no biting!” in a firm voice and immediately walk away for a few minutes (knowing she is in a safe space). We then come back to June and explain to her that biting hurts and that it is not allowed in our house. It’s definitely been getting a lot better and has only happened a few times since I bumped up her snack time and put her mini time-out into practice.

So there you have it, a few little updates from life with a 16 month old. Any fellow mamas out there have any tips on what is to come? Any fun new toys or products to share? Please leave a comment below!

Black-Owned Home Decor Businesses to Support ASAP

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 08:00:21 GMT

A home decorating project might be my favorite thing ever.

I cannot wait to share these beautiful Black-owned home decor businesses with you all. I simply cannot get over how much I love these brands and how much inspiration their websites and instagram accounts lend.

Just warning you, you may want to get your wallet out now. These are some of the best finds in a while.

Tracie Hervy

Love, love, love everything about this ceramics creator. I am seriously drooling over every piece. The bottles she creates are simply perfection and the vibrant colors are exquisite. Check our Tracie’s website for a gallery of her work, retailers, and how to contact her about ordering. Follow Tracie on instagram @tracie_hervy

GOODEE

A sustainable marketplace with the best selection of original pieces. I can’t even handle how beautiful this stool is or how freaking cool this chair is. Get lost in their incredible inventory here and follow their instagram @goodeeworld for some serious inspiration

DOMAIN by Laura Hodges Studio

Get whisked away into the beautiful world of interior designer Laura Hodges. In addition to her design business {check it out for some major inspiration}, she created DOMAIN, a hub for sustainable home decor. Follow her on instagram for more inspo @laurahodgesstudio

Estelle Colored Glass

Very few things are more beautiful than hand-blown colored glass. These would make the most stunning addition to any dinner table, and the variety of colors and styles are extensive and unique. I’ve got my eye on the stemless wine glass in this color and this color just to name a couple. Check all of their creations out here and follow their instagram @estellecoloredglass

Bolé Road Textiles

Inspired by the intricate and colorful Ethiopian textiles in her house growing up, Hana Getachew envisions the most beautiful pieces. I am so in love with the simplicity of this curtain and the richness of color in this pillow. Check it all out here and follow her instagram @boleroadtextiles

Lolly Lolly Ceramics

I absolutely love finding new accessories for my home and may or may not have an addiction to ceramics. The unique handles on her mugs really makes this a stand out for me. Check out this beautiful company here and their instagram @lollylollyceramics

A Few More Favorites:

YOWIE – @helloyowie

Greenhouse Mercantile – @greenhousemercantile

Olphactory Candles – @olphactorycandles

Marie Burgos Design – @marieburgos.design

Clare – @clarepaint

Darryl Carter – @darrylcarterdesign

Ali Sandifer – @alisandifer

Jungalow – @thejungalow

Madame de la Maison – @madamedelamaison

Images sourced from: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

10 Anti-Racism Books I’m Reading to June

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 08:00:56 GMT

A few days ago I signed up for an online workshop called “Raising Race Conscious Children.”

After all, June is 16 months old and growing at a rapid pace and is quickly absorbing every single thing she sees, hears and does on a daily (make that hourly) basis.

There have been a lot of uncertainties in my life over the past several months. However I know one thing has always been certain for me, I am going to raise June to not only treat everyone with respect, love and kindness, but she will fight against racism. I was reading Untamed yesterday and something the author said really spoke out to me. She said that by the age of 10 we learn how to be “good girls” and “real boys.”

“Ten is when children begin to hide who they are in order to become what the world expects them to be… The way power justifies controlling a group is by conditioning the masses to believe that the group cannot be trusted.”

I always knew that the day would come where I’d start to talk to June about advocating, self-awareness and the difference of skin color. A lot of sleep training coaches advise new parents to begin “good sleep habits” the minute your newborn comes home. This offers the parents time to get used to having a schedule and a routine. It trains the parents into a way of thinking so that by the time the newborn is able to be sleep trained, the parent’s are already trained. That is how I’m looking at my anti-racism talks with June.

The conversations must start today.

I thought that by adding a few board books to our already existing collection it would be an easy way to continue our role as being good examples for June. Here are a few new favorites I came across.

Here are a few more great resources I’ve found over the past few days:

An age-by-age guide from Parents.com

A Guide To Diverse Toys

CNN & Sesame Street are hosting a Town Hall addressing racism this weekend!

Great books about racism for your kids – by New York Times

Also found a great article on how to talk to your kids about racism from The Tot.

What I Did On Blackout Tuesday

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:00:06 GMT

As we honored Black Out Tuesday yesterday, I wanted to share with you all how I used the day to learn more and educate myself.

Yesterdays “Black Out Tuesday” ended up feeling a touch controversial. I honestly understand both sides. I wanted to share what all I took the time for yesterday so my followers/readers don’t feel as though my voice was entirely muted. While I didn’t post to my Instagram account, my efforts to strengthen my knowledge and work as an Anti-Racist were very much at the forefront of my entire day, every hour of the day.

I understand many of my fellow influencers will be muting their voice for the entire week, however I chose to do so for only #BlackOutTuesday.

Please note that this post is in addition to my ongoing effort. I please ask that you offer a bit of compassion for my ignorance. I am simply sharing things as I go along in hopes that it will help someone, anyone, who is seeking resources.

As Instagram has been flooded with incredible articles, clips, shows, books and helpful resources, I took yesterday to not only look after my daughter June, but had ear pods blasting all day in my ears, books in my hands and articles circulating on my screen. It was a great opportunity to filter through all of this information.

I took any extra moment I had in my day to do the following {mind you I have a 16-month-old at home so time wasn’t exactly in my favor!}.

I PROTESTED

After spending the entire day completing the below list, I received a text from Catt about the Hancock Park protest. It’s my neighboring community and I could not get to my car fast enough. At 5 o’clock I joined the protest in cheering, chanting, yelling and was so incredibly moved by the speeches and passion in the air. I’m looking forward to finding more peaceful protests that I can join in the Los Angeles area.

I READ

What To Do When You Are Called Racist by Washington Post

The “Some Of My Best Friends Are Black” Article by New York Times

The “I’m Not Racist” Defense by CNN

6 Questions to Stop Asking Your Black Friends Right Now on Instagram

How To Make Sure You’re Donating Effectively by The Cut

Continued with my book reading “White Fragility”

I LISTENED TO

Listened to this audio book: How to be an Anti-Racist

I DONATED TO

The Conscious Kid

Minnesota Freedom Fund

Reclaim The Block

Black Lives Matter

Campaign Zero

Showing Up For Racial Justice

We Love Lake Street

Black Visions Collective

Rock The Vote

Justice and Equality Fund

and signed up for monthly contributions to NAACPLDF

I WROTE

Signed the Reclaim The Block Petition

E-mailed Minneapolis officials regarding George Floyd’s death and then DM’d 100 of my closest friends asking them to do the same.

Tweeted my Mayor

I e-mailed Mayor Eric Garcetti

I retweeted this.

I worked on my blog posts for the week featuring Black-owned businesses.

I SHOPPED

Registered for an online workshop called “Raising Race Conscious Children” for June 14

I purchased this book and this book to read to my 16-month-old daughter who loves board books.

A swimsuit from Jade Swim, a Black-owned fashion business.

This LemLem top, LemLem is also a Black-owned fashion business.

This might seem like a lot to some, this might seem like a little to others. This is my experience and just as I always have I will continue to share my real-time experience in life. I’m not looking for any pat on the back or accolades, just sharing links to information I found helpful in hopes that someone else would too. Let us not lose our momentum to affect change.

My Closet Before & After

Fri, 29 May 2020 08:00:19 GMT

I know you guys have seen tons of photos of my closet on social media.

After all, it’s where I take almost all of my mirror selfies and videos. But so many of you have requested to see a “before” shot as well. We worked closely with Martha Mulholland and Chad Peterson from Custom Closet by td[s] to build a custom closet that would compliment the original architecture of our home.

As you can see in the below, the “before” of my closet was just a blank space. We believe that this room was once a screened in porch and eventually the previous owners closed it in. The stained glass window was designed by the oldest stained-glass window maker in the United States, the Judson family. We wanted to work carefully to protect this beautiful piece of art, however I knew that in order to build a closet we would build over it.

On the front side of the stained-glass window, behind my closet, is the stair case. After many hours of pondering how to construct a closet with closing off natural light to our staircase, an idea finally popped into my head. We installed LED lights behind the closet wall so that we would still have, what seemed like natural light, brighten the stairs. The detachable walls behind my hanging clothes can be removed in the event that a light goes out and there is a little light switch outside of our master bedroom door that turns it on and off.

I thought this was brilliant!

Before

After

A lot of people are surprised to see that my closet isn’t monster huge. As I have shifted my career to being less of a “fashion blogger” and more of an entrepreneur over the past year, I wanted to really edit the amount of product I had in my closet. I’ve also gotten very creative with storage in my guest room closet and the additional bonus room off of our master bathroom.

Leather pulls: Etsy // Rug: Vintage // Chair: Vintage Arthur Umanoff upholstered in De Le Cuona Shepard’s Cloth – Tarn// Luggage: Vintage Louis Vuitton + Streamliner luggage from The Line // Wall color: Benjamin Moore White Dove // Dress: Forte Forte // Bag: Dior

My Egg Freezing Experience

Thu, 28 May 2020 16:41:59 GMT

I thought very long and hard about whether or not to share our IVF story.

Honestly, I am terrified of offending women out there who are struggling to have a baby. It truly breaks my heart that every woman cannot be given this gift. But while my story may be different, I still wanted to share it. It’s my job to share. It’s also my duty as a woman to open up, be vulnerable and hopefully share to help others and lift up other women.

A few months ago I wrote about “My Scary Postpartum” diagnosis. What I didn’t share with you is what happened shortly after my discovery – I immediately began the IVF process.

To be honest, I’ve always been interested in egg freezing. I’ve written about being afraid to have kids many years ago and as my biological clock was ticking {loud}, our conversations surrounding IVF became more and more frequent. As my 35th birthday neared, and my first egg retrieval was marked on the calendar, we finally made the choice to pull the goalie and see what happened. Then we were blessed with June.

Just before June turned one, we picked back up on conversations about what the future holds for baby number two. After learning about my adenomyosis condition, placenta accreta and the fact that I just turned 37, I honestly do not know what the future holds for us. We wanted to give ourselves options when it came to potentially having another baby in the future so we decided it was time to finally pull the trigger on IVF.

Every woman’s experience is wildly different. I’ve spoken with dozens of women, some who struggled greatly with IVF and others who found it to be less invasive. I think what made our process feel a little “easier” in comparison to most was that I was faced with horrific postpartum aches, pains and mental strains. I rarely share it, but while the first year of June’s life brought me some of the happiest times in my life, I was also delivered with so many hardships when it came to my body. Going through IVF, for me, also allowed by body to weirdly feel balanced hormonally because of my hormone imbalance. For the first time in a very long time I actually felt like my mood was stable. While I was aching and cramping and the shots hurt, it felt easier in comparison to the war that my body had been through postpartum.

It’s hard not to compare. I admit that I’ve looked at other women’s pregnancy and postpartum experiences and wondered “How was it so easy for her?” when it was so hard for me. It made me feel weak, lesser than and sad. I truly hope and pray that for whoever is reading this {yes you} and feeling like my IVF journey was an “easy” one that you aren’t playing that game. Every person’s journey is so wildly different. And while my IVF shots and procedure may have been paved an easy road, my family planning is not.

Will I ever carry another baby?

I don’t have that answer. I don’t know that I will physically be able to. I don’t know if I would want to risk my life for a chance at delivering another baby and put June in risk of losing her mother. These are questions we ask ourselves.

After my egg retrieval I was able to connect with my former OBGYN {who I love} who put me on a birth control that is specific for people with adenomyosis. I’ve since been feeling like my “old self again” and truly feel the world of a difference better.

Whatever your experience is and wherever you are in your journey, I want to send you all of my light and virtual love. This process isn’t easy for anyone, but it is definitely harder for some. I truly hope this video will help just one person, if anyone.

My Letter to June during Quarantine

Wed, 27 May 2020 08:00:38 GMT

Dear June, It is April 6, 2020 and we are in our fourth week of isolation and sheltering in place.

It wasn’t until a few evenings ago that I realized it’s been over 25 days since I have seen the sunset. Usually around 6 o’clock we start dinnertime, followed by a bath and then I’m in the room with you reading, singing and nursing you to sleep with a bottle. You fell asleep quickly with no tears which has been a continuing theme this month. When I walked downstairs, I caught the sun peaking through the front windows. Your dad was waiting in the living room, but something pulled me to go outside.

I walked out on to our front porch and there was a stillness in the air that I had never felt before. The air was incredibly calm, balmy and the temperature was perfect to where you only needed a light long sleeve t-shirt and jeans to keep you comfortable. A noise crept above me, breaking the silence, and as I looked up I spotted a tiny airplane leaving a trail behind and I wondered where that airplane was flying off to and who was on it. There couldn’t be more than a small handful of passengers, surely. The government has placed very strong recommendations against traveling because of the high risk to exposure. Suddenly, the world felt incredibly small. We are collectively going through a global pandemic but in that very moment, as I looked up at the sky, I realized that everyone in the world is being united by this experience.

A person passes by on the sidewalk and waves. I wave back curious what they are doing outside at this hour. She is wearing blue latex gloves and a cloth mask, which gives me a little reassurance. You don’t see many people walking out and about lately. The government has advised that if you absolutely must go outside that you should wear a mask to help reduce exposure to the virus. There are lines around the blocks of every grocery store. Empty shelves where key essentials like toilet paper, bottled water and pasta line the aisles of defeated shoppers and some people get into fights over products or prices with store clerks. Diapers, eggs, cleaning supplies and other produce such as meat tend to sell out quickly and it feels like hitting the lottery when you are able to get your hands on these items. Your dad and I have resorted to ordering things online from other states who aren’t considered “hot spots” and have more supplies to offer. The deliveries usually take a week or two, and we are also at risk opening up cardboard box shipments, but we open them outside and consider ourselves very lucky to have this option. The other night, we grilled up steaks that we ordered from Utah and it felt like a Thanksgiving feast! We lit the fireplace, opened up a nice bottle of red wine and counted our many blessings.

I stood up to leave our front porch and the woman disappeared in the distance. A familiar knot formed in my throat and I tried my best to push away sad thoughts that were fighting to enter my mind. So many people have died, so many people are sick and so many people have loved ones who are putting their lives at risk. We have several friends who have caught the virus, and we are stressed about our family members who are not following the rules, putting their lives at risk. Most of all, we are terrified of you getting sick. Every day we make calculated choices as to how we handle products, wash our hands and do everything in our power to keep the virus out of our home. We go to bed each night with a rising sense of panic and anxiety over how badly things have gotten. We live in fear over how much worse they may get.

At around 3am every night, I jolt from sleep thinking that someone is breaking into our home. I check all of the cameras and stir for an hour. Sometimes I look at real estate in Texas, or other more remote places where we could escape to. But I am always left with the deflating realization that there is no escape from this new reality. You cannot outrun the coronavirus. And some nights, when I am lucky, a few moments after I jolt from my sleep, you will begin to stir too. It’s like we are still somehow cosmically connected and you know that I need you to need me.

I go into your room with a pre-made bottle and happily settle into the rocking chair, holding you. There is no light but the hallway light creeping below the door and I rock and sing to you “twinkle twinkle little star… up above the world so high …” This is the best moment of my day. Up until a month ago, I was very guilty of living a life full of greed and an unsettling urge to go-go-go. What is next? What is the next trip? When is the next project? Where is the next restaurant we want to try? For the longest time I have prayed, begged and wished for a time to come in my life where I would feel settled – truly settled.

There is no feeling that is more unsettling that the world that we currently find ourselves living in, but somehow I have found peace in my moments with you. We build up blocks and knock them down together and scream at the top of our lungs with joy. We snuggle up in bed and watch a few cartoons on a gloomy day. We run around the backyard, playing with your new water sprinkler toy. You crouch down and stick your tongue out, trying to get some water in your mouth and look at me with the cutest face, knowing you aren’t supposed to be doing it. We crawl into your new chair and look out the window at the squirrels, you glance over to me to make sure I see them too. We dance to “Be Our Guest” in the kitchen while I make your dinner and you lay your head on the high chair grinning, making fun of me. We wait until the day comes that I can take you places. We wait until the day comes that I can show you the world as I once knew it. We wait…we wait…we wait…

There is a purpose in waiting.

One day I will tell you about this season of time when you were just a 14-month old baby, yet you taught your mom the biggest lessons of her life. One day I will share stories with you about our heroes, the heroes who are fighting every day, risking their lives, to protect us all. One day I will look back on these moments as the moments that I might have missed otherwise, and be truly thankful for this time we have together.

Until then, my sweet June bug, we have each other and we have our health and our home and that truly is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.

I love you always,

Your Mom

These photos were taken at a social distance by Morgan Pansing and Andrea Hawken for their series “Quarantine Americana” – a series of images depicting quarantine life in Los Angeles in the time of COVID-19.

The New Way I’m Organizing My Life

Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:15 GMT

I think it’s safe to say that we are all having adjust the sails a bit when it comes to how we plan out our daily schedules, routines and any ideas of travel that we may have for the rest of 2020.

I’m still ironing it all out not only emotionally, but mentally as well. How much do I want to pack into my day as it pertains to work? How much do I need to sit behind my desk versus creating content around my house or in my bathroom and closet? Do we want to take any trips this year and what will that look like? Should we host a small outdoor dinner party next week? Do I want to plan outings for the family in a safe environment?

These are all questions that are up in the air around our house lately. As someone who doesn’t deal well with the unknown, I thought it would be very helpful for me to restructure the way I go about my weeks. Pre-quarantine, I had a crazy slammed Google Calendar with appointments, meetings, drinks with friends, family outings and a pretty packed travel schedule. At the time I thought I really thrived off of staying so busy.

But now that I’ve had over two months of “safer at home” orders in Los Angeles, I’ve quickly learned to love the slower pace of life. My days feel more fulfilled when I’m balancing work with other things around the house such as cooking dinner each night for the family, gardening and working on other personal projects. But I still craved structure and missing having a schedule, so I decided it was time to make a change.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

I also recognized that many of us are slowly starting to reemerge into society and while I slowly begin to do this as well, I want to be very careful with how I am managing my schedule to meet the new needs and hopes I have on a personal level. Gone are the days where I will pack myself so full that I won’t have time to make dinner for June. Over are the times I will regret taking on a meeting or dinner that takes me away from other things I would rather be doing.

The biggest take away from quarantine that I hope we can all carry with us is that our time is precious.

No.1

Writing It Down

A long time ago, I used to be in love with my daily planner. I'm such a big lists person and love to write everything down. Over the years this has taken a backseat to my packed Google Cal and I think it's because I was planning, replanning and moving things around so much that it became impossible to have it all written down on a hard format. Now that my life feels slower, it feels better to simplify my schedule back into a written structure. I also love that I can look ahead to little victories such as our local flower market that recently reopened.

No.4

Proactive Planning

While living in isolation had a few silver linings, over the past few weeks we are being allowed to socially distance with friends. I have found that I have to be very proactive in making plans with friends. Gone are the days of a simple text of 'let's grab drinks.' The plans now involve setting up chairs in the backyard, 6 feet apart and coordinating a space so that everyone feels safe and respected. It takes extra time and effort but it is 100% worth the effort to socialize and get that quality time in with friends.

How are you adjusting your schedule to this new reality? Would love to hear from you in the comments below.

My Pamper Room {Before & After}

Fri, 22 May 2020 08:00:20 GMT

We had an extra bonus room just off the master bathroom that we nicknamed the “Pamper Room”.

Little did we know the nickname would stick and we’d make jokes every time we were in the room about how it was purely a space for me to pretend I’m a lady of leisure. Perhaps we should have made this room an additional closet space, but the beautiful windows let in so much natural light that idea of closing it off felt wrong. We were also toward the end of our budget for the master bathroom and closet redesign, so we worked with Martha Mulholland to build a feminine space that would marry into the historic elements of the home.

The space sits just opposite of the master bathroom and the hallway that my vanity sits in connects the two rooms. I actually spend quite a bit of time in this room. It’s where I sometimes enjoy coffee and, more frequently as of late, do my workouts and pilates classes in. I actually moved all of my workout weights and gear into one of the drawers because this room is a perfect retreat for me to squeeze in an online streaming class.